THE MAGAZINE OF ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH February 2016 … · Zentangle® Method: A concept created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, a Zentangle is an abstract drawing created using

Journey | February 2016 1

journey Februar y 2016 T H E M A G A Z I N E O F S T. PAU L L U T H E R A N C H U R C H

2 Journey | February 2016

P A S T O R ’ S c o l u m n

F E B R UA RY 2016Volume 3 | Issue 12

E D I TO R Ann McGlynn

D E S I G N E R Lauren Brown

A D D R E S SSt. Paul Lutheran Church2136 Brady Street, Davenport, Iowa 52803

CO N TAC TEmail [email protected] 563.326.3547

M I S S I O NSt. Paul Lutheran Church is a faith community, shaped around five core values: radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith formation, adventurous mission and service, extravagant generosity.

Journey (USPS 8314) is pub-lished monthly by St. Paul Lutheran Church ELCA, 2136 Brady St., Davenport, IA, 52803. Periodicals Postage Paid at Davenport, IA.

P O S T M A S T E R Send address changes to Journey, 2136 Brady Street, Davenport, Iowa 52803

journey

Jackpot!

P E T E R W . M A R T Ysenior pastor

O N T H E CO V E R : Laura Torgerud’s crafting supplies

A Powerball official told this Munford, Tennessee cou-ple that they’d have to be content with an immediate check for a couple million dollars until the lump sum payout can be processed. That processing requires about 10 business days. It’s hard to imagine the delay posing a serious prob-lem for their weekend grocery needs. Lottery winners often share the distinction of lead-ing ruined lives after they win the jackpot. Friends easily exploit their windfall. Financial crooks and conmen (and women) swoop in. The illusion of spending the rest of life on easy street quickly disappears as winners discover that large sums of money do not provide any guarantee of hap-piness. The Robinsons may fare better than many other win-ners. They’re off to a strong start, by way of perspective, at least. The couple speaks of having no desire to alter the rhythm of their current life. They love their modest one-story home. John is a supervisor in a local warehouse. Lisa works in a dermatologist’s office. Both of them returned to work on the Monday after their winning ticket came to light. “That’s what we’ve done all our lives,” said John. “We’ve worked. You just can’t sit down and lay down and not do nothing anymore. Because how long are you going to last?” He’s right, if by work he is implying that meaning comes from doing one’s best on the job. One gets the sense that Robinson is not thinking of take-home pay as the sole reason for going to work. As for sharing from his now fattened wallet, Robin-son speaks of wanting to give to the Children’s Research Hospital in nearby Memphis. He also has a strong desire to donate to the family church. “I’m a firm believer in tithing [10 percent of household income] to my church,” he said. Since the $327 million prize is the after-tax sum this couple received, the volunteer treasurer at the church may want to recruit an assistant or two to help with the books. The church’s mission committee can now make plans to buy up every piece of available real estate in Detroit, should they be on the hunt for an urban outreach project. I know of Christians who launch an all-out assault when they hear the very words lottery or Powerball. They see the purchase of a ticket as morally reprehensible. As far as they’re concerned, it is the epitome of living in sin and failing to trust God for daily sustenance. The Bible verse, “Love of money is the root of all evil,” proves a favorite for these critics. Many of us who have never bought a Powerball ticket

still love money more than we should. And even though I’m no fan of the lottery, my disfa-vor is mostly due to the misshapen hope of ticket buyers with limited means who hold on to the dream of a windfall. I can’t find a verse in Scripture that reads, “Do not gamble.” There must be plenty of jackpot wannabes who are less worried about getting rich quickly than simply paying off immense medical bills. More than anything else, though, the fanaticism gen-erated by the large Powerball is striking. To stake so much on such infinitesimally small odds – one in 292 million – is humorous. The odds of getting struck by an asteroid some-time this week exceed the chance of winning the next big Powerball. Then too, what an interesting phenomenon that larger jackpots drive greater ticket sales, as if a paltry $300 million payout isn’t worth it, but a $1.6 billion one is. If given the choice between cultivating faith in luck, and being inspired by the constancy of God, I know where I tilt. Maybe my trust in the Lord is too serene. Yet to rely on the steadiness of God in all circumstances of life strikes me as a better bet than leaning into the lottery, at least when it comes to that deep happiness we all want.

The Robinsons should be able to purchase a reasonably good horse. That’s my assumption after they walked away with $327 million from the recent $1.6 billion Powerball. John and Lisa Robinson’s daughter wants a horse. Dad believes that’s now an attainable dream. I’ll bet John can even afford a spare grooming brush.


PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION BEGINS

N E W S b r i e f s

Nova Singers to present The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass The Nova Singers will present The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass on Sunday, Feb. 14, 4 p.m., at St. Paul. This unique piece combines traditional choral music with folk and bluegrass styles. The concert will include the professional bluegrass group, Monroe Crossing. Founded in 1986, Nova Singers is a 20-voice ensemble with a nation-wide reputation for expressiveness, virtuosity, and innovative programming. Tickets are available online at novasingers.com, or at the door.

St. Paul Lutheran Preschool provides a rich va-riety of age-appropriate developmental activities in a Christian atmosphere. Opportunities abound for growth and learning for kids ages 2-5. Fall 2016 registration for St. Paul Preschool will take place February 22-23, 9 a.m.-12 noon, for currently enrolled students. New students will reg-ister on March 2, 9 a.m.-12 noon. If you are inter-ested in enrolling your child, please contact Joanna Roland, 326-3547, ext. 219, or [email protected].

Walking the Grief Journey Facilitated by Lynn Batcher, this supportive series is for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Explore anger, depression, fears, accep-tance, and new strength for a hopeful future. This five-Sunday series, Feb. 21-March 20, 10:45-11:30 a.m., will meet in the Church House Living Room. Sign up online at www.stpaulqc.org/signups. Con-tact: Lynn Batcher, [email protected].

Prayer around the Cross

Four times a year, this worship service is held in the quiet of the Sanctuary. Participants sing, lis-ten to God’s word, and light candles in prayer. The next gathering is Tuesday, Feb. 16, 6 p.m. Contact: Pastor Katy Warren, [email protected].

St. Paul people support upcoming Vera French events An upcoming series to raise awareness about mental illness is receiving sup-port from St. Paul people, including members of the Mental Health Awareness Team. Through My Eyes will be Feb. 15-20. Tickets at verafrenchmhc.org. A Journey through Schizophrenia, Homelessness and Recovery: Wednesday, Feb. 17, 7 p.m., Bettendorf High School. A mother and daughter will talk about the world of schizophrenia. The nature, causes, life course, and management of ADHD: Friday, Feb. 19, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Genesis Heart Institute. Led by Russell Barkley. Through My Eyes: Saturday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m., Bettendorf High School. J.R. Mar-tinez, wounded U.S. Army veteran, will speak on recognizing every person’s worth.

Peter Marty named for The Christian Century The board of directors of The Christian Century, the flagship journal of Protes-tant thinking in America, has named Pastor Peter W. Marty as publisher. Pastor Marty’s role will be to advance the vision and financial strength of the publication, expand its digital reach, and position it as a continued leader in the mar-ketplace of religious news, commentary, and scholarship. He begins work as publish-er on Feb. 1, and will continue to serve St. Paul while leading The Christian Century. “I love the vigorous public witness of The Century that is rooted in the church yet broad in its concern for social, political, and cultural issues of our day,” Pastor Marty said. “Stepping into the publisher’s role at this time in life is a way of bringing together multiple passions of mine.” With the tagline “thinking critically and living faithfully,” The Christian Cen-tury is known for its reasoned and passionate voice in diverse religious circles. Its public witness, gifted writers, and thoughtful inquiry make it a popular resource for reflective and engaged Christians. In June 1963, The Christian Century was the first large-circulation magazine to publish the full text of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” The letter stood as the manifesto of those King led in pursuing African-American civil rights by means of nonviolent direct action. For more information about The Christian Century, visit christiancentury.org.


Kit Whan is very much a business-oriented person. She says she thought she didn’t have one creative bone in her body… until one morning she saw something on the Today show. It was a segment about adults coloring. With her sister in town for a visit, Kit decided that maybe this would be something they could do together. A couple of coloring books and boxes of colored pencils later, and Kit had a newfound love.

Now, she colors every Sunday night along with her sister in Texas. She also spends time coloring with her mom. “It’s me time, time away from the world,” she said. “It’s a way for me to relax and be creative.” Kit is one of the people behind Coloring and faith: An eve-ning of adult coloring and prayer. It will be held on Thursday, Feb. 25, 6:30-8 p.m., Library Commons. All supplies will be provided, as will childcare and snacks. Participants can come, learn about different methods of us-ing coloring as a time for prayer, exploring faith-related themes, relaxation, and creativity. Ideas from two different methods/artists will be introduced: Praying in Color: When multiple friends and family mem-

bers received ugly and scary diagnoses, Sybil MacBeth found herself exhausted by the words of her prayers and stymied by a lack of focus. She retreated to her back porch for a session of mindless doodling with a basket of her favorite colored markers. She drew a shape, put the name of a friend inside, and added lines and color. She drew another shape with another name and added detail and color. When the page was covered with designs and names, Sybil realized she had prayed – the action of drawing was a wordless offering of friends and family into the care of God. To learn more, visit prayingincolor.com. Zentangle® Method: A concept created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, a Zentangle is an abstract drawing created using repetitive patterns. They are created on 3.5 inch square tiles, done in black ink on white paper. One day, Maria told Rick what she experienced as she drew background patterns on a manuscript she was creating. She described her feelings of timelessness, freedom and well-being and complete focus on what she was doing with no thought or worry about anything else. "You're describing meditation," Rick said. The two went on to create the Zentangle Method (www.zentangle.com). The project for Feb. 25 will be the coloring of 2-by-3-foot Lenten posters created by pastor and artist Adam Walker Cleaveland, who is based in the Chicago area. The posters each represent a different theme: welcome, give, serve, listen, love, watch, risk, take & eat, forsaken, go & tell. “Each of the stories that these posters are based on comes from life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And so, these posters take people on a journey of Jesus’ life and teachings,” he said.

COLORING & FAITHAN EVENING OF ADULT COLORING AND PRAYER

“It’s me time, time away from

the world. It’s a way for me to relax and be

creative.”


KIT WHAN


Digital identity: WHO ARE YOU ONLINE?

Texting, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Twitch. The digital channels for kids (and adults) are many – the identity choices are, too. A new St. Paul faith milestone event this year for sixth-graders and their parents, Digital Identity explored the responsibilities carried with each username and interaction. “Your identity is already known and given to you by God,” said Andy Langdon, director of youth ministries. “But with teen-agers, they are naturally trying out different identities. Teenagers are in the act of decid-ing which ‘me’ they want to be, and social media gives them an endless playground to experiment with.” During the milestone session – which will become an annual event for sixth-grad-ers at St. Paul – Andy highlighted three con-cepts for creating a healthy digital identity. Integrity: Be the same person in every situation, online and offline. There is a real temptation for any user of social media to not have high integrity (to say or do things that they would never do in person). Be your best self in all situations. Transparency: Act in a way that others can see what you are doing. Kids, if some-thing is going on that you don’t want your parents to know or see, it probably shouldn’t be going on. Parents, your role with trans-parency is to be understanding, gracious, and forgiving, but always curious about your kids and what they are doing online. Balance: Just like overeating is un-

healthy, being overly attached to the social media in your world is, too. Be aware of your needs and wants, and make conscious deci-sions about what you need. Balance your time so that you can continue to enjoy the other people and activities in your life. Parents and kids also discussed specific ways to stay true to God and oneself, and stay safe, online.

▶ I will not give out personal information.▶ I will not post anything that might harm my reputation or the reputation of others.▶ I will only have online interactions with people I know in real life.▶ I will be mindful of how much time I spend in front of screens.▶ I will not say anything online that I wouldn’t say in person.▶ I will answer calls from my parents.▶ I will tell my parents right away if anything I see makes me uncomfortable.

“There is a lot of worry and fear when talking about kids going online,” Andy said. “There’s going to be some mistakes that are made, so kids and parents need support from other people. They are not alone in this.”

Middle school is a time of great transition for all kids, and some students are begin-ning to explore digital media.

St. Paul recently hosted a faith milestone for parents and sixth-graders – but creating and maintaining an identity that reflects God in our daily and digital lives is important for all who are online.

DIGITAL IDENTITY: PARENT CONVERSATIONSAndy Langdon, director of youth ministries, will host two conversations for parents of children and youth. No need to sign up, just come to the Luther Loft.

Sexual imagery: Monday, Feb. 1, 6-7 p.m.Selfie culture and digital drama: Thursday, Feb. 11, 7-8 p.m.


This is the fourth in an occasional series on faith pathways: Service, Nature, Study and Intellect, Contemplative, Artistic, Relationships, and Traditions. Meet four St. Paul people who connect with God through their artistic endeavors: Painting, Poetry, Sewing, Singing.

Music has been a part of Jeff Bass’ life since he can remember. His dad, in particular, loved to sing in the car – with a box of cassette tapes always at the ready under the passenger seat. Jeff started playing piano at the age of five, then he added in saxo-phone and guitar as the years went on. Choirs and bells joined his repertoire, too. He took so many music classes in high school that he had to take academic classes during the summer to keep up. When an injury sidelined his athletic career at Augustana, he turned more fully to singing in Augustana ensembles. “Music was always there,” he said. “I never felt like it was some-thing I had to reach for.” Today, Jeff sings with the Nova Singers (a top-notch ensemble that performs concerts regularly at St. Paul). Music is an important part of his life with wife, Keri, and their three kiddos (you can sometimes find them all dancing in their living room). “Faith,” he said, “is one of those things that can be tricky sometimes. Music can help people find that con-nection. It’s a tool when peo-ple can’t find the words or sentiment to express them-selves.”

Connecting with faith, CREATIVELY

Growing up along the banks of the Mississippi River in Buffalo, Iowa, Sheila Mesick spent a lot of time with her grandmother. Her grandmother found beauty – and showed Sheila how to find beauty – in the flowers and the moon, animals and the soil of the Earth, the colors and movement and ways they all change or grow. Sheila’s first husband, before he died, told her, “You need to be painting.” So Sheila went to college to learn how to be an art teacher.

“All of those seeds of encouragement he gave me came to be,” she said. “Art has always played a role when I’ve needed some inner healing.” She spent more than 20 years as an art teacher in the Davenport Com-munity School District. She loved all of the schools she taught in, but she felt at home at J.B. Young – just a couple of blocks from St. Paul. That feeling of comfort resulted in many wonderful creative experiences, including public art created by students that remains visible at the school today. Today, Sheila is retired from teaching, and is on the way to creating a new path for herself. “I really believe everyone is cre-

ative. It’s how we bring our own personal fingerprint to what we do,” she said. And when we create, we lift ourselves and God up. “Anything that is good comes from God – joy, happiness, peace, comfort,” she said.

Sheila MesickP A I N T I N G : Jeff BassS I N G I N G :


On a Spirited CelloMy faith travels with this cello tuned to the music of the shy, treetop scarlet tanager, singing along the banks of the Turkey River in Spillville, Iowa. Dvořák heard its New World songon his early morning walks,and I hear it every time I see this newest member of our familystanding in the living room. A visit to Spillville was enough for Helen and me, with Marie Greenhoe Lindmark’s suggestions, to sponsor a cello for the Centennial Seasonof the Quad City Symphony Orchestra.Augustana College artist Corrine Smith painted itwith her rich reds and blacks in her inspirational acrylic style. On tour, its peripatetic solotraveled to the Adler Theater,the Figge Art Museum and the Book Corner at St. Paul Lutheran Churchwhere Karen Holden featured it with a designer’s touch in front of a window, its four strings facing the reads and readers.Jan Bush selected the matching fabric to draw out its highly-accented tonal colors.In our home now,this cello needs no bow, no plucking, no sweep of a baton. It lives in family times, solitary timesand my deeply meditative times. I live more abundantly within when, after unforeseen slips, I adjust its moveable bridgeto those string tensions that call, sing and beautify life. I look up into high trees for those noteworthy prayers.

- Dick Stahl

Dick StahlP O E T R Y :

Dick Stahl writes from the sunny spot of his dining room table. Every day, he puts words to paper, expressing the beauty of so many things, the Mississippi River, a mama gorilla, Augustana College. A retired teacher, he served as the poet laureate of the Quad Cities in 2001-2003. His poetry graced the 100th anniversary celebra-tion of the Quad City Symphony, including the 100 cellos project (an initiative that in-volved dozens of artists creating pieces of pub-lic art from cellos – the cello he co-created was

on display for a time at St. Paul). To the right, he chronicles that journey, and how it continues to resonate in his soul.

When Laura Torgerud’s daughter Abby turned five years old, Laura handmade Abby a shirt to celebrate the occasion. “As I was making it, I prayed for her,” Laura said. Prayerfully Sewn was born. Laura – who creates in many other ways, including photography, greeting cards and paper art – learned how to sew from her mother-in-law, who also gave Laura her first sewing machine. Tucked away in an upstairs bedroom of the Torgerud home is the machine Laura now uses, a 14-year-old Elna 6003. She makes crosses, table runners, wall hang-ings, phone stands – the list is endless. For each person, whether she knows the recipient or not, she prays. And now, Abby has her own sewing ma-chine – right next to mom’s in that second-floor workroom. “I like making practical things. If I see some-thing that I like, and I think I can make it, I don't buy it. I create it,” she said. “To me, handmade gifts, or things I make for myself or my home, are an expression of love. I enjoy expressing God's love through my hands, through creating. There's a piece of God in everything I make.”

Laura TorgerudS E W I N G :

“I ENJOY EXPRESSING GOD’S LOVE THROUGH MY HANDS, THROUGH CREATING. THERE’S A PIECE OF GOD IN EVERYTHING I MAKE.”

— LAURA TORGERUD


Lent is a journey – a path for people from all walks of life – to the joy of Easter. There are many ways to explore the words of God and imagery of faith to prepare your soul for the Resurrection of Christ.

ASH WEDNESDAYFeb. 10, 12 noon & 7 p.m., Sanctuary

Christians gather on Ash Wednesday to mark the beginning of the Lenten journey to Easter. Pastor Peter Marty preaches for these services of Holy Communion. On this solemn day you’ll receive, if you’d like, an ashen cross on the forehead reminding us of our frailty and sin. It’s an in-vitation to make each day a new beginning, in which we are washed in God’s mercy and forgiveness. 12 noon: This 45-minute service is a meditative respite in the work day. 7 p.m.: The evening service includes music by the Chorale, along with a message for the children.

Worship | 12 noon-12:30 p.m. Chapel gatherings will include mu-sic, silence, a pastoral reflection, and Holy Communion. These more contemplative services will center on the same themes as Wednesday evenings.

Suppers | 5:30-6:55 p.m. Enjoy a meal in community. Catered by HyVee, there will be a different menu each week to feed stomachs and a sense of togetherness. A freewill donation of $7/ per-son or $20/family is welcome to cover the cost. Volunteers bring cookies to share. Red Apron Crew: This crew offers the warmth of hospitality and service. Put on an apron and help fill drinks, clear tables, and offer conversation to those who come to eat. To help, contact Joanna Roland at [email protected] or 326-3547, ext. 219. Green Apron Crew: Scrape some plates, make some friends. The Environ-mental Team will scrape and wash dishes to reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill. Scraps will be composted, too. To help, contact Jules Irish at [email protected], 309-269-0816.

Small groups | 5:30 – 6:15 p.m. With selections from Devotional Clas-sics, small groups will learn from a series of spiritual masters. Discussion will focus on five readings: Giving all to Christ by C.S. Lewis, Practicing the presence of God by Brother Lawrence, Waiting upon God by Catherine of Genoa, Dealing with money by Elizabeth O’Connor, and The habit of read-ing the Bible daily by E. Stanley Jones. Packets with the five readings will be available for free at the Info Center begin-ning Sunday, Feb. 7. Or, the entire bookwill be available for purchase in the Book Cor-ner. Signup at stpaulqc.org/signups. Note: One small group will meet after 7 p.m. worship.

Worship | 7-7:30 p.m. A service in the Sanctuary features the beautiful Holden Evening Prayer liturgy, led by the Youth Choir. Masterpiece is the unifying theme. A Lenten journey of artistic and biblical re-flection, these services will contemplate the meaning, message, and impressions of some great - and lesser well-known - works of art. Wednesday-evening Lenten services appeal to all ages. Children encouraged to worship; childcare also available.

The St. Paul community of faith gathers for worship services and meal fellowship on five Lenten Wednesdays, February 17 — March 16

CHOIR REHEARSALSWednesdays, 6 p.m., Feb. 10-March 16

All choirs will rehearse on Wednesdays during Lent. Children's and Youth Choir will be from 6-6:45 p.m.; Chorale will gather from 6-6:55 p.m.

S E A S O N O F L E N T 2 0 1 6

Wednesday nourishment in Lent

CONFIRMATIONWednesdays, Feb. 17-March 16, 6:30-7 p.m. Each week, confirmation students will explore one of seven faith pathways: service, nature, study and intellect, contemplative, ar-tistic, relationships, and traditions.


Giving for others

Blessing Bags Blessing Bags are a Lenten service project for age 3 through 12th grade. Sunday school classes will gather personal care items for men, women, and children in our community. Donation tables will be located in the Education Wing. On March 13, students will assemble bags to be delivered to those in need.

Feb. 28: Lip balm, lotion, band aids

Mar. 6: Baby wipes, deodorant, mouth wash*Nylon drawstring backpacks, new or gently used (clean), are a welcome addition!

Easter lilies Honor or remember loved ones with an Easter lily. The lilies will adorn the altar on Easter morning, a reminder of the beauty of the resurrection of the living Christ. Lilies are $12 per plant; forms are available at the Info Center.

Family Bible Study On Sunday, Feb. 14, 10:45-11:30 a.m., come to Fellowship Hall for a Lenten Bi-ble study led by Pastors Amy Diller and Liesebet Gravley. Centered around 1 Cor-inthians 13, discuss how we show God’s love to others. This family learning activity will take the place of regular Sunday school. Children grade 3 and younger should be accompanied by an adult. To help with planning, please sign up online at stpaul-qc.org/signups. Contact: Michelle Jueh-ring, [email protected].

Acts of love are among the spiritual disciplines that mark the season of Lent. Jesus calls us to encounters with justice and need.

Devotional book: Lent for Everyone Lent for Everyone: Luke, Year C by N.T. Wright provides readers with a gentle guide through the Lenten season, from Ash Wednesday through the week af-ter Easter. Wright, a popular biblical scholar and author, provides his own Scripture transla-tion, brief reflec-tion, and a prayer for each of the days of the season, helping the reader ponder how the text is relevant to their own life today. The book is available in the Book Corner.

Palm/Passion SundayMARCH 20 | 8, 9:20, & 11:45 A.M.Saturday worship at 5:30 p.m. With festive palm branches waving, the mood turns somber as we realize that Jesus goes on to die.

Maundy ThursdayMARCH 24 | 12 NOON & 7 P.M.In scripture, liturgy, and song, we mark Jesus’ last meal with his disciples. Our fourth-graders culminate a period of preparation with their First Communion at the evening service.

Good Friday MARCH 25 | 12 NOON, 4:30, & 8 P.M.The church gathers to remember the suffering and death of Jesus. Pretzel-making: Beginning at 3:30 p.m., children are invited to Fellowship Hall to form cross-shaped pretzels.

Easter SundayMARCH 27 | 6, 8, 9:45, & 11:30 A.M.No Saturday worship With shouts of alleluia, rumbling timpani, and triumphant brass, we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.

H O L Y W E E K and E A S T E R

By providing immediate relief to those who are hungry, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) World Hunger organization meets basic needs and recog-nizes the universal human right to food. But ending hunger is about more than food. By connecting people with education, health care, and sources of income, long-term, sus-tainable change can be accomplished.

The ELCA is active in 60 countries through World Hunger. Regular midweek Lenten offerings at St. Paul (known to some by the purple envelope)will be given to fight hunger. We hope to ex-ceed $20,000. If you would like to make an additional Lenten offering towards this cause, please earmark your check memo line with “World Hunger.”

SPECIAL OFFERINGS: WORLD HUNGER


Quilting at St. PaulA crew of quilters (with a wide range of abilities) gathers monthly to create quilts for others. The next meeting is Monday, Feb. 22, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Fellow-ship Hall. Stay for part of the day, or bring a lunch and stay for the afternoon.

EXPRESSIONS QUILTSMary Trafford rediscovers her love of creating, crafts art quilts for Library Commons

When Mary Trafford was 8 years old, her mom gave her a choice: learn how to sew or take piano les-sons. “I took piano lessons for two weeks. I’ve been sewing ever since,” Mary said.

Mary is the creative power behind two art quilts hanging in the Library Commons over the past eight months. She created a jazz quilt for Jazz Sunday in July. In December, a quilt with Mary, Joseph, and Jesus went up in time for Christmas. Art quilting uses both modern and traditional quilting

techniques to create art objects. Practitioners of quilt art create it based on their experiences, imagery, and ideas. They are generally either wall hung or mounted as sculpture.

For Mary, the creation of the quilts is a story years in the making. Once Mary learned to sew as a child, she often made her own clothes in high school and college. After college, Mary’s career took shape, and creat-

A LOT OF PRAYER GOES INTO THESE. WHEN I HIT A WALL OF DOUBT OR

INSECURITY, I PRAY. EVENTUALLY AN IDEA WILL COME.

ing fell a bit to the wayside. With her retirement from John Deere as an ac-countant, however, the desire to make beautiful things is coming to the forefront again. “This is my opportu-nity to pick up where I left off,” she said. She’s taken painting classes, here in the Quad Cities and elsewhere. She’s getting a feel for using watercolor, pastels, fabrics. Meanwhile, Mary volunteered to be a part of a committee for a special Saturday night concert of ChurchJazz, the beloved ensemble that travels to the Quad Cities from Chicago each year to play at worship at the end of July. She noticed the wall in the Library Commons (where the concert was held) was a bit bare. “I can make a real quick banner for the concert,” she thought to herself. So Mary started out with a pencil drawing. She wasn’t quite sure about the first, so she tried a different one – a saxophone. That was it, she knew. Up next, she did a little coloring, then drew it out on a large piece of muslin. Choosing the fabrics came next, then the piecing and sewing – the intricate sewing Mary uses is evident in the final piece. The Christmas quilt came about in a similar way. Mary also recently created a portrait quilt of a friend – a quilt that she prayed through while creating. It brought the friend to tears when Mary gave it to her. “A lot of prayer goes into these,” she said. “And when I hit a wall of doubt or insecurity, I pray. Eventu-ally an idea will come.”

in

Quilts donated in 2015: 216 quilts, afghans, and blankets to Christian Care, Lutheran Services in Iowa, Humility of Mary, Edgerton Women’s Health Center, and Lutheran World Relief.


FEBRUARY 6 & 7Transfiguration of our Lord

PREACHING5:30 Amy Diller8:00 Peter W. Marty9:20 Peter W. Marty11:45 Amy Diller

MUSIC8:00 Quartet9:20 Chorale, Jubilate Choir

UPCOMING worship

FEBRUARY 13 & 14First Sunday in Lent

PREACHING5:30 Katy Warren8:00 Liesebet Gravley9:20 Liesebet Gravley11:45 Katy Warren

MUSIC8:00 Quartet 9:20 Chorale, Wartburg College St. Elizabeth Chorale

FEBRUARY 20 & 21Second Sunday in LentNew Member Sunday, 11:45 a.m.

PREACHING5:30 Peter W. Marty8:00 Peter W. Marty9:20 Amy Diller11:45 Peter W. Marty

MUSIC9:20 Alleluia Choir

FEBRUARY 27 & 28Third Sunday in Lent

PREACHING5:30 Peter W. Marty8:00 Katy Warren9:20 Peter W. Marty11:45 Katy Warren

MUSIC9:20 Cantate Choir


Council Notes

St. Paul children were greeted by the energy and smiles of Camp Shalom staff during Sunday School recently. They played games, sang songs, and learned about the faith building and fun of Camp Shalom. Registration for summer camp will begin Saturday, January 30, at: campshalomia.org.

SUMMERY FUN WITH CAMP SHALOM

For more details on the weekly worship schedule at St. Paul, go to stpaulqc.org/worship

The congregation will consider approval of a $2.53 million daily ministry budget at the upcoming annual meeting, as recommended by the Congrega-tional Council. The proposed budget represents a 2.95 percent increase from 2015. Proposed benevolence and mis-sion giving – money that support work locally, na-tionally, and internationally – grows to $540,000, or more than 21 percent of the budget. The budget is created thanks to the faithful pledging of St. Paul people. For 2016, 1,035 pledges totaling $2.27 million were received, for an average pledge of $2,197. The council expressed gratitude for the seriousness of commitment by our members. The annual meeting will be at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 7 in the Sanctuary. This meeting includes approval of the 2016 budget, and the review of 2015 financials and

annual report. Pastor Peter Marty will present a state-of-the-church report, and a year-in-review slideshow will be shown. A vote will be held for the slate of can-didates for congregational council, mission board, as well as the endowment, memorial, and nominating committees. Candidates to be considered are: Church Council: Cynthia Weeks, Craig Witte, Jeff White; Mission Board: Andrew Sivertsen and Mary Trafford; Endowment Committee: Mollie Hart and Mike Mendelin; Memorial Gifts Commit-tee: Patty Maiden and Jill Lechtenberg; Nominating Committee: Todd Kunau and Scott McCartney.


2136 Brady Street

Davenport, IA 52803

ROLLER SKATING PARTYSUNDAY, FEB. 14, 5-7 P.M., ELDRIDGE SKATEPARK

Lace up your skates! The annual skating party is a rolling good time. Anyone is welcome. Sign up online at stpaulqc.org/signups.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost to attend is $5. Note: Skatepark takes cash only.

Documents

THE MAGAZINE OF ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH February 2016 … · Zentangle® Method: A concept created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, a Zentangle is an abstract drawing created using