October Epistle 2014

7/27/2019 October Epistle 2014

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/october-epistle-2014 1/8

The EpistleThe Newsletter of St. Paul Lutheran Church

October 2014

Come and See, Follow Me, the Gift of God, Jesus Christ, Has set us Free.

St. Paul Mission Statement

Reformation Sunday

October 26

It was 497 years ago, on October 31, 1517, to be exact, that MartinLuther began a movement to reform the Church of his day. That

movement is continued in the tradition of Lutheranism. WeLutherans aren’t a sect or personality cult devoted to Luther. Wearen’t a church of our own. Lutherans are clearly part of the oneholy, catholic, and apostolic church. Our aim is to insure that thetruth of God’s saving grace in Jesus Christ proclaimed in its purity

to all people everywhere.

We are most attentive to the Word of God to celebrating that Word made present in theHoly Sacraments. Our tradition is characterized by congregational singing and excellent

music. It is distinguished by loving pastoral care for the people of God through all oflife’s circumstances. It is possessed of a strong commitment to teaching the tenants ofthe faith and assisting the children of God of all ages to walk in the way of the Cross.

Our tradition also includes an acknowledgement of sorrow for the deep divisions in theBody of Christ that resulted from the Reformation in the 16th Century. We pray thatsuch divisions will be healed and that the will of Christ for the unity of his Church willbe manifest in our time.

Our church family will observe Reformation on Sunday, October 26 with Festival Worship at 9:30am.

Dear Friend: We hope you will find this publication interesting, and if you have never been to St. PaulLutheran Church, please come any Sunday at 9:30 am. We would love to have you worship and fellowship with us. We are located at 515 E. Line Street in Minerva.. You will be warmly welcomed.



FROM THE PASTOR

Essentials of Worship: Gathering

This month begins a four partseries on what the meaning of worship is, where it comesfrom, and why we do it. First

and foremost, the liturgy isbiblical! Several texts of ourSunday liturgy is straight fromthe Scriptures and illuminates

the heart of faith in understanding of who we areand what we do when we show up at 9:30 onSunday morning.

This series is going to be broken up into the foursections of Sunday morning worship: Gathering,

Word, Eucharistic Meal, Sending. These arethe four sections that make up the work of thepeople of God we call the liturgy. This month isabout Gathering.

“Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast, calla solemn assembly, gather the people” declares the prophet Joel (2:15-17). This firstsection of our liturgy encompasses things thatcenter us in the worship of the living God. On atypical Sunday you will encounter the following

(Essential things are in bold with options innormal font):

• Gathering Music—this used to be called“preludes.” Gathering music is not limitedto solo organ music. It may include otherinstruments and congregation singing. If you attended the recent installation of ournew bishop you encountered hymnsspread out among solo music to listen to Joel and “gather the people.”

•

Announcements—to be honest I am not ahuge fan of announcements. I try to keepit to things that aren’t listed in the bulletinbut it’s something that congregationspractice so it’s not going to stop. Themission statement is read together by thegathered people with the exception ofsome festival days.

• Confession and Forgiveness—is animportant rite. We find promise andforgiveness in the Scriptures (Psalm 102:2-3; 1 John 1:8-9; Matthew 22:37-39;

Ephesians 2). The seasons of Advent andLent there is an additional emphasis onself-reflection and self-examination.

•

Thanksgiving for Baptism—is celebratedespecially during Epiphany (January-February) because this is the season wehear of Jesus’ baptism by John in theGospels. It’s also celebrated during theFifty Days of Easter because of the gift ofnew life given in Holy Baptism. It’s in

baptism that we find “the fountain of livingwater, the LORD” (Jeremiah 17:13).

• Gathering Song—which is obviouslyhymns and spiritual songs where we “Singto the Lord a new song, God’s praise in theassembly of the faithful.” (Psalm 149:1-4)

• Greeting—are words straight out of theNew Testament. I don’t think we need topepper and make the language flowerydespite what some gurus might say. If it’sgood for St. Paul it’s good for us! (2Corinthians 13:13)

• Kyrie—is a Greek word meaning “Lord.”It’s a time for the assembly to ask of God’smercy (see Luke 17:13). Like theConfession it’s especially emphasizedduring Advent and Lent. But the Kyriemay be used on those days marked as“festivals” on your Church Calendar.

• Gloria—is straight out of the NewTestament (Luke 2:14; Philippians 2:11).

Usually done during a “program year”(September-May) this gives the assemblythe opportunity to give God the glory.Can I get an Amen?!?

• This is the Feast—was an option added toLutheran Book of Worship (green book) in1978 and continues today with EvangelicalLutheran Worship. The text alludes toIsaiah 25:6-9 but the bulk of the text isRevelation 5:12-13. This is often sung



through the Fifty Days of Easter andNovember emphasizing Christ’s victoryover death.

• The Prayer of the Day —is prayed by thepresiding minister. The assembly prays aprayer which connects to the theme andassigned readings for the day.

As you noticed there are many optional thingsand only a couple of essential things. The Kyrieand Gloria doesn’t need to happen every Sunday.By doing absolutely everything the same wayevery single Sunday contributes to making theliturgy something done by rote and doesn’t

engage the faithful with the Good News of theGospel.

As we move along in this series in the coming monthsI want you to engage with the meaning and purposeof what we do in worship. We all have biases andpreferences, but I am providing here the basicmeaning of our liturgical practice that is based on the

Scriptures. This is what defines worship in theLutheran Church.

To be continued…

Peace and Joy,

Pastor Steven Woyen, STS

COMMEMORATION OF ST. LUKE, E VANGELIST

St. Luke, the author of the Gospel bearing hisname and the Acts of the Apostles, was aphysician and he is considered a patron saint ofartists, physicians, surgeons, students, andbutchers. His commemoration day is Saturday,October 18. Since his commemoration is afestival day on the Lutheran Church calendar we will celebrate with worship.

Spoken Holy Communion (with service of healing and anointing)

Saturday, October 18, 5pm

COMMEMORATION OF SIMON & JUDE,

A POSTLES

Tuesday, October 28th the Churchcommemorates the lives of the Apostles Simon

and Jude. Outside of their names on the list ofthe Apostles in the Gospels and the Book of Acts not much is known about them. This isn'tto reduce their importance, but to emphasizethe power of God and on Christ the chiefcornerstone who builds up the Church. According to legend, most believe they didmission work throughout Mesopotamia and worked together in Persia and were martyredthere on the same day (October 28).

A revived piety in Jude arose in the 18th Centuryand is regarded to as the saint to appeal to indesperate cases ("lost causes"). This is probablybecause he shared the same name as the JudasIscariot and emphasis is placed in the Gospelson that distinction (John 14:22; Luke 6:16)

Spoken Holy CommunionTuesday, October 28, 7pm

Wine & Cheese Reception following



R EADINGS FOR OCTOBER

October 5th (The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost)Isaiah 5:1–7Psalm 80:7–15Philippians 3:4b–14Matthew 21:33–46

October 12th (The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost)Isaiah 25:1–9Psalm 23Philippians 4:1–9Matthew 22:1–14

October 18th (Luke, Evangelist)Isaiah 43:8–13Psalm 1242 Timothy 4:5–11Luke 1:1–4; 24:44–53

October 19th (The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost)Isaiah 45:1–7Psalm 96:1–9 [10–13]1 Thessalonians 1:1–10Matthew 22:15–22

October 26th (Reformation Sunday) Jeremiah 31:31–34Psalm 46Romans 3:19–28 John 8:31–36

October 28th (Simon and Jude, Apostles) Jeremiah 26:[1–6] 7–16Psalm 111 John 4:1–6 John 14:21–27

NEWS DEADLINE

The November Epistle deadline will be Tuesday, October 21st. Please be sure to submit to the office

anything you would like included.

PRAYER CHAIN

If you have concerns for the prayer chain, please contact

Rosemary McLaughlinat 330-894-2162

orThe Church Office

at 330-868-4918



W ORSHIP LEADERSHIP SCHEDULE FOR OCTOBER

October 5th Lector: Gary ProweCommunion Assistants: Kathy Kull & Logan MonterPowerpoint: Rosemary McLaughlim Assisting Minister: Kris Williams Video: Gary LautzenheiserBroadcasting: Sandra Siber

October 12th Lector: Kent KullCommunion Assistants: Kris Williams & Lisa RayPowerpoint: Rosemary McLaughlin Assisting Minister: Jennifer Crum Video: Jim ArrasmithBroadcasting: Tom Hawkins

October 19th

Lector: Jennifer CrumCommunion Assistants: Rob & Pat YeagleyPowerpoint: Jim Arrasmith Assisting Minister: Dick Swallen Video: Kent KullBroadcasting: Sandy Siber

October 26th Lector: Ray McElroyCommunion Assistants: Monica Kinsey & Brad Hooser

Powerpoint: Kent Kull Assisting Minister: Jim Arrasmith Video: Rob YeagleyBroadcasting: Ruth Ann Cox

Ushers: Richard Swallen, co-captain Tom Hawkins, co-captainSkip Willis Jeff McCloskyGene Fry Harold Davis

Altar Guild: Jeanne Hunston (330) 868-7694 Monica Kinsey (330) 868-3748 Vickie Ramsier (330) 862-2025 Lisa Ray (330) 868-5629

CONTACT INFORMATION

Church Office: (330) 868-4918Pastor Steven’s Cell: (330) 268-1583Pastor Steven’s email (Pastor’s eyes only): [email protected] Pastor Steven is also available through social media sites like Facebook(fatherwoyen) and Twitter (frwoyen).

mailto:[email protected]






COMMEMORATION OF THE F AITHFUL

DEPARTED

Commemoration of the Faithful Departed:Sunday, November 2 is All Saints Sunday .Our family in faith will gather to offer praiseand thanks to God for the lives and witness ofthose who have died in Christ. In celebratingthis great festival, we remember saints known

and unknown, recognized and unrecognized, who have helped to shape our lives of faith bytheir example.

In the Prayers of the People, we will recall thoseof our own parish who have died in the past year. During the celebration of HolyCommunion we are united with those who nowrest in the Lord. Their names will be read as thetower bell tolls, allow us time to reflect uponthe gifts and the joy they brought into our lives.

If there are names you would like to haveincluded in this “rolls call of the saints,”please contact Becky in the Church Office,or add them to the list that is available inthe narthex.

FYI

As of 9/19 according totown council the

contractors plan to startthe Jackson St. sewer lineproject. They sayconstruction will take 7 to8 weeks to complete. Access to & from thechurch should be by the

Line St. driveway. Jackson St. will be closed tothru traffic.

OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS

3 Judy Lautzenheiser4 James McLaughlin Sr.6 Claire Lautzenheiser8 Pat Morckel10 Lisa Ray, Jason Carver

22 Harold Davis, Martha Gartner, Kent Kull24 Dennis Clapper, Carolee McCauley25 Ruth Hillyer27 Natalie Clark29 Debby Clapper30 Amanda Lautzenheiser

W ORDS OF THANKS

Thank you to all who supported us through ourmum sale. The next fundraiser will be theannual calendar sale.

---The youth of St Paul

Thank you to everyone who provided pies forthe RC & Tim Miller Habitat for Humanity golfouting on Sept. 21st . Your generosity was verymuch appreciated.

---Habitat for Humanity& the RC & Tim Miller Family

Our Use of God’s Gifts 2014

Year to Date Income: $95,499

Net Operating Income $94,686

Year to Date Expenses $107.436 Net Gain/(Loss) ($12,750)

Current Fund Balance $26,693

Local Benevolence $10,493

Capital Improvement $47,151



V OLUNTEERS NEEDED

HERE I AM LORD! IS IT I LORD?

I HAVE HEARD YOU CALLING IN THE NIGHT!

I WILL GO LORD, IF YOU LEAD ME.

I WILL HOLD YOUR PEOPLE IN MY HEART.

The Worship Team is asking each of you – do you hear the LORD calling your name? Will you answerHere I am? – just show me the way? It makes no difference how old or young you may be – the Lordcould be calling YOUR name to help lead services at St. Paul. We NEED acolytes, assisting ministers,bell and choir members, communion assistants, lectors, ushers and powerpoint.

PLEASE, stop and listen! Is the LORD calling your name? Will you answer, Here I am Lord!

Volunteering for just one or two Sundays will be most appreciated. Signup sheets are in the narthex.

The Worship Team

The Discipleship Team is looking for anyone who would be willing to help community members withodd jobs such as cleaning inside & outside of homes, mowing , painting & minor home repairs. Pleasesignup on the bulletin board.

F ALL P ARTY

WHEN: Sunday, October 26th TIME: Beginning at 4:00pm WHERE: The Monter’s House

16355 Meadowville, Minerva WHO: All Youth & Their Families

Wear older clothes and dress for the weather. There is a signup sheet onthe bulletin board



YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED!

THE 29TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL

CELEBRATION OF THE REFORMATION

Reformation SundayOctober 26, 2014

7:00 p.m.

KOUNTZE MEMORIAL LUTHERAN CHURCH930 South Nickel Plate Ave.

Louisville, OH

With Guest Preacher

The Rev. Marty CashBurlessUnited Methodist Pastor

University of Mount Union Chaplain

Holy CommunionCombined Adult Choir

Staffed NurserySocial Hour after Worship

Documents

October Epistle 2014