www.stpaulcalhan.org

The Epistle

Pastor’s Letter for September - - 2015

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

Peace be with you!

September.

It seems that September is the month when everything gears up again and life begins anew. It all has to do with school

starting again and the summer ending. Isn’t it interesting how our whole lives seem to revolve around the school

calendar? Perhaps it has something to do with the importance of education and our need to learn and to grow; to have

what God has given each one of us tapped and explored by teachers and professors who care more about helping us

explore and discover who we are as God’s created than having imparted from others what they think we need to know.

Education is a major part of our lives and it is central to who we are as God’s children. More and more it seems that a

Christian education is important. The changes in our world; the fast pace; the world which seems to spew out more

information than a brain can handle; a world that seems bent on reform and changes that many of us don’t like and find

offensive; all of this calls us to listen to the Teacher who taught us only one thing: to Love one another and to love

God above all else. It seems to me that this is the basis for all education: Love. Somewhere in the hype of “teaching”

and pouring knowledge into children’s heads (Not my idea of education by the way!) and in this day and age of testing

and teaching for the test, we have lost the basic foundation of all our education. Imagine if we could teach and learn

and be parents and guardians who only were moved to deal with our children out of love? Imagine what the world

would look like. Imagine how different our education of young and old would be if we started with the premise that we

are all God’s children: loved, forgiven, and cherished. Imagine how we as parents, teachers and learners might

approach each day differently.

I know there are rules and basic truths that need to be taught - - told and exampled for others to learn. Not everyone

will understand this whole “love” thing. But maybe if you and I practiced it in our homes and in our community of

faith, maybe we could start a trend that might catch fire and burn a whole new perspective on education.

+

I realize I am sitting in my office with a pie-in-the sky attitude today. For some “holy” reason my cynicism has drifted

out the window. (Temporarily I am afraid!) But I pray that however you are involved in education - - parent, teacher,

student, or mere observer - - we might all begin a new year with a prayer that in all we do, God would inspire us to

look again at how we educate and how we learn to live with one another. Hopefully we will all see that Love is at the

root - - the basics - - the ABC’s of learning and growing in faith and life. With this in mind, we begin again, for Jesus’

sake.

And so I am your shepherd and your servant, learning right along with the rest of you,

+Pastor Tim

Hello from the St Paul Preschool class. Ms. Corie and I have been working hard to get the classroom ready for our little ones to return. Good news!!, We have only 2 spots available! We have new and returning students so it's going to be a

September 2015

St . Pau l Evangel ical Lutheran Church , 1450 5 t h St . , Ca lhan, CO 80808 719-347-2798

ON THE INSIDE... 4 Social Ministry

2 Birthdays & Anniversaries / Preschool News 5 Calendar

3 Rally Day / Thrivent 6 Servants

Page 2 The Epistle

September

3 Cynthia Wusk 4 Julian Drew 5 Wilbert Hoffman 10 Bryce Johnson 16 Kyle Bartling 17 Deb Drew 19 Ray Tukua 22 Ciara Monger 24 Amy Larvie 28 David Slothower Claire Tarpenning 29 Craig Nielsen 30 Gregg Doan

Happy Anniversary 4 Patty / Calvin Jolly 18 Diana / Carl Strobel

+Please let me know if a

birthday or anniversary has been missed.

amfowler@skybeam.com Thank you.

Preschool News… Hello from the St Paul Preschool class. Ms. Corie and I have been working hard to get the classroom ready for our little ones to return. Good news!! We have only 2 spots available! We have new and returning students so it's going to be a very exciting start to see how they interact. Ms. Corie and I would like to send out a big thank you to all of you that helped get things ready to go; the donations have been amazing, the clean-up day was terrific, the fundraiser that the BOD organized and the playground. The playground looks fantastic!! We included a little kitchen set with dishes and a basketball hoop. And we even found a few tricycles the children will be thrilled to ride around the sidewalk. Because of the weather and the improvements that had to be made we spent little time outside last year. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and let us enjoy our "new and improved" playground this year. Thank you!! The BOD are very much appreciated for supplying goodies for our "Back to School Night" last week, thank you ladies. We would like to invite you to stop by after service or during class anytime and see how successful our new school year will be!

The Epistle Page 3

.

“God’s Work. Our Hands.” -- Sunday, September 20th Card and Letter Writing Activity

Sunday, Sept 20, 2015 “God’s Work. Our Hands.” event is coming up soon. There are many of us that find it

a little difficult/ uncomfortable to work outside on uneven ground. I for one am useless when it comes to

outdoor clean-up projects. However, I still want to be connected with members of our congregation and church

wide as we celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — one church, freed in Christ

to serve and love our neighbor.

I enjoy connecting with members of our community and congregation. Maybe you do also. So…… following

morning worship and a potluck lunch, I will be hosting a opportunity time for sharing and caring for students in

college, those who are ill or shut in, service members, and others who are unable to attend our worship

services. There will be writing paper, cards, stamps, ideas and stimulating conversation. Join me and connect

with someone somewhere, love our neighbor.

Your sister in Christ,

Yvonne Page

NEWS RELEASE Thrivent Financial listed on FORTUNE 500 list for the 21st consecutive year For

the 21st consecutive year, Thrivent Financial has been named to FORTUNE magazine’s FORTUNE 500 list. In the May 2015 issue the organization is listed at 333 on the annual ranking. The ranking is based on Thrivent’s 2014 revenue of $8.5

billion. Thrivent was also classified by FORTUNE as the sixth-largest mutual life/health insurance organization in the United States. “Being named to the FORTUNE 500 list is one way we demonstrate our relative size and strength as an organization,” said Nancy Albertson, a Financial Associate with Thrivent. “It is affirmation of our commitment to success and the value we are able to provide our members.”

Thrivent Financial is represented in the local area by Nancy Albertson, Cheryl Mahon, Paul Gamache, Kaye Kerr, Matt Glenn, and Joel Wilson at 719-531-5900. About Thrivent Financial Thrivent Financial is a financial services organization that helps Christians be wise with money and

live generously. As a membership organization, it offers its nearly 2.4 million member-owners a broad range of products, services and guidance from financial representatives nationwide. For more than a century it has helped members make wise money choices that reflect their values while providing them opportunities to demonstrate their generosity where they live, work and worship. For more information, visit Thrivent.com. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter. Insurance products issued or offered by Thrivent Financial, the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Appleton, WI. Not all products are available in all states. Securities and investment advisory services are offered through Thrivent Investment Management Inc., 625 Fourth Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55415, a FINRA and SIPC member and a wholly owned subsidiary of Thrivent. Thrivent Financial representatives are registered representatives of Thrivent Investment Management Inc. They are also licensed insurance agents/producers of Thrivent. For additional important information, visit Thrivent.com/disclosures. 1217702-060415

Page 4 The Epistle

SOCIAL MINISTRY MUSINGS Submitted by: Nancy Rowles

Calling all hands…We Need YOU!!! Our ELCA National “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Day of Service

is fast approaching on September 13th and we need YOU and as many people from St. Paul as possible to

participate! We will be joining nearly 10,000 other ELCA congregations across the country to boldly

participate in God’s work in the world – restoring and reconciling communities, and pursuing peace and

justice. An important part of “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday is committing one day when our nearly 4

million-member church serves and shares God’s love with neighbors – together. Here at St. Paul, we are a

church that rolls up our sleeves and gets to work! There will be several activities to choose from, both at the

church and off the grounds, to accommodate interests and those with limited mobility issues. We will be

joining together for food, fellowship, fun, and most importantly, service!

There will not be the usual fellowship time after church; we will instead begin with a scrumptious potluck

after worship featuring Carolyn’s famous juicy burgers, then proceed to your chosen activity. There are three

different possibilities for service: cleaning up the very wild and overgrown Juris Slovak National Cemetery

(where several of our members are buried); writing cards, letters, or creating artwork (children’s efforts for

service are needed, too!) for those who are ill, service personnel, shut-ins, college students, and others; or

working on much- needed quilts for Lutheran World Relief. The last two activities will take place here at the

church. The idea is for us to spend two to three hours in some kind of service to others that day.

Items to bring to church on the 13th include a side dish for the potluck (vegetable, fruit, or dessert, etc.) and if

you are planning on working at the cemetery, please bring shovels, weed-eaters, and leather gloves if you

have them. No special supplies are needed for the activities based at the church -- they will be provided.

Suggested clothing to wear at the cemetery includes jeans, boots (if you have them) and a long sleeved shirt.

Sunscreen, bug repellant, and a hat for the sun would also be good ideas. Cold water and snacks for all

activities, along with cleanup supplies for the cemetery will be provided through a Thrivent Action Team

Project grant (Thank you, Ginger!) So, now all we need is YOU and your willing hands to make this day of

service, fellowship and fun a success!

Please join us after worship as we help our community and neighbors, both near and far, following Jesus’

example and commandment to love and serve one another. For more information, please call Nancy Rowles

at 649-2988 or Sally Fosha at 347-2785.

“God’s Work. Our Hands.”

The Epistle Page 5

1 8-11 Preschool

2 8-11 Preschool

6:30-SPSingers

3 8-11 Preschool

4 8-11 Preschool

5

6 10am – Worship

15th Sunday after

Pentecost

7

8 8-11 Preschool

9 8-11 Preschool

6:30-SPSingers

10 8-11 Preschool

11 8-11 Preschool

12

13 10am – Worship

16th Sunday after

Pentecost

*Synod Work

Day 5:30pm-Venture Crew

14

1pm – Bible Study

@ St. Paul

15 8-11 Preschool

6:45 - Council

16 8-11 Preschool

6:30-SPSingers

17 8-11 Preschool

18 8-11 Preschool

19

20 10am – Worship

17th Sunday after

Pentecost

Rally Sunday Sunday School &

Youth Group Kick-off

21

22 8-11 Preschool

23 8-11 Preschool 6:30-SPSingers

24 8-11 Preschool

25 8-11 Preschool

26

27 9:15am-spoken

Eucharist in Nave

10am – Worship Animal Blessing at

Big Sandy Ranch

+Quilting 5:30pm-Venture Crew

28 1pm – Bible Study

@ St. Paul

29 8-11 Preschool

30 8-11 Preschool

6:30-SPSingers

October 1 8-11 Preschool

October 2 8-11 Preschool

October 3

October 4

Page 6 The Epistle

THE EPISTLE Published Monthly by

St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church 1450 5th Street

Calhan CO 80808

719-347-2798 Andrea Fowler, Congregation Assistant / Editor

Pastor Tim Bettger—Pastor Tanya Luiten—Preschool Director

COUNCIL MEMBERS Nancy Rowles – President AJ Fowler – Vice President

Tammy Phipps – Secretary Heather Sheets - Member Bob Wusk - Member

www.stpaulcalhan.org

Office Hours: 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, Tuesday -Friday Pastor Office Hours: 8:00 am to 10:00 am - Mon 9:00 am-12:00 pm - Tues, Wed, & Thur.

Tasks September 6 September 13 September 20 September 27

Acolytes Dale Drew Emily Heikkila Ciara Monger Jaiden Monger

Altar Guild Nancy Chintala Shirley Tukua

Nancy Chintala Shirley Tukua

Nancy Chintala Shirley Tukua

Nancy Chintala Shirley Tukua

Asst. Minister Dave Slothower Darcy Wallace Deb Drew Ginger Flynn

Cantors Jim Buranosky Craig Phipps

Carl & Diana Strobel Stacie McCrary Darcy Wallace

Deb Drew Nancy Rowles

Communion Ginger Flynn George & Sally Fosha Anna May Hoffman Paul & Angelika Kernan

Hospitality Tracy Borders Deb Drew Heather Sheets Valorie & Mark Meyer

Lector Deb Drew George Fosha Matt Rowles Cynthia Wusk

Offering

Counter Deb Drew

Andrea Fowler Kristi Heikkila

Patty Jolly Della Mussey

Elaine Walberg Jeanette Bartling

Sally Fosha

Ushers Strobels Gregg Doan

Austin Strobel The Sheets Family The Bartlings

St. Paul Evangelical

Lutheran Church Mission Statement

We at St. Paul Lutheran welcome everyone, equip for discipleship, and send everyone out into the world to make a difference in

Jesus’ name.