St Paul Church

During worship on Sunday, July 26th.

Sunday, May 10th.

May 25th during worship.

Crafts for preschool-5th grade and egg hunt on March 29th, starting at 9:15 am.

During worship on May 17th.

The Church Council is in the process of getting a new copy machine for the office, and though this process have found new ways that technology can help us possibly cut costs. They would like to know how many people in the church would be willing to receive their monthly newsletter via email or would be willing to pick it up at the church th elast Sunday of the month? If you would be willing to receive the newsletter in one of these ways, please contact the church office at 815-865-5314 or stpaulucc@stateline-isp.com as soon as possible. If there is enough interest, we would like to begin this new method as soon as the new copier has been purchased.

Thank you for considering this option as a way to help cut costs here at the church!

The Father-Son Banquet will be held here at the church on Saturday, April 4th at 6:30pm. There will be a delicious meal followed by a program presented by Terry Simmons, Vice President of Student Success at Gateway Technical College.

Terry is one of four children raised by Barbara and Jacob Wallace in Waukegan. He graduated from high school in 1980 and earned a Bachelor’s Degree In Criminal Justice and a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Higher Education Administration at Northern Illinois University.

He has worked in higher education for the past 19 years as an instructor, counselor, director and dean. He is currently the VP of Student Services for Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Terry enjoys playing golf, cycling, listening to books on tape, cooking, the Northwoods and coaching his children’s sports teams. Sue, his wife, Olivia, his daughter and Adam, his son, are the pride and joy of his life. Terry is also the son-in-law of Fred and Pat Smith.

Reservations for the banquet can be made before and after worship or by calling Helen Schneeberger. The cost is $5.00 for adults. $3.00 for children ages 6-12, and under 6 is free.

The Board of Christian Education met on March 9th, discussing the following:

• Secretary and Treasurer reports read and approved with a treasury balance of $2.054.07
• Rotation Sunday School leaders needed for April & May. Please check out the bulletin board in the North hallway if you are interested in helping.
• Sunday School teacher appreciation will be May 17th during worship. Gifts have been ordered and notes will be given to all teachers.
• Easter Outreach update – this will be on March 29th starting at 9:15am. There will be crafts for preschool – 5th grade as well as an egg hunt. Please encourage Sunday School familities to join us!
• Salvation Army collection for April will be cereal and juice or anything else people wish to give.
• Graduation Recognition will be May 25th during worship. High school graduates will receive an invitation in the mail. Gifts have been ordered.
• Festival of the Christian Home will be Sunday, May 10th. Karen will contact a family to see if they would be willing to lead worship that day.
• Vacation Bible School will be on July 20th-24th with the program on Sunday, July 26th. After contacting area churches and checking school calendars, this seems to be the best date we could find.
• Summer Sunday School – last year there was no organized classes for Preschool – 8th grade, but a one-room type class was offered each week. The Board will decide at the next meeting if this is what we will do for the kids this summer.
• Movie Night — the BOCE will sponsr a couple of movie nights featuring the movie Fireproof. Please watch the bulletin and newsletters for upcoming dates. There may also be a study group formed to “dig” into this movie deeper.
• CCCC Church Camp — talked about promoting this camp which is held at Rock River Bible Camp in Dixon the week of June 21st. The cost is $130/camper for the week. We will check with the Church Council to see if they would be willing to pay the registrationfee for anyone that attends. See camp flyer in the newsletter.

The next meeting will be April 6th at 7pm.

Thanks to all who came to celebrate our AWANA year with our leaders and students. We especially appreciate the dedication of the parents and grandparents who invested the energy and effort to bring these beloved young people week after week and our large group of committed volunteers who invested so much energy and faith into the goal of the AWANA club — which is to reach boys and girls with the Gospel of Christ and train them to serve Him! We have had a fruitful year, with many enthusiastic and active young people age 3 thru 6th grade, and it is a joy to see them grow in their knowledge of the WORD and love for the Lord.

Following is a list of those volunteers that helped throughout the year:

• Piggies: Adam, Christina and Jan Boyer, Barb Leifheit
• Cubbies: Pat Smith, Diane Meinert
• Sparks: Sally Kuhlmeier, Vicki Thomas, April Zettle
• T & T: Mary Gallagher, Shirley Goeke, Connie Marty, Jean Bechtold, Joanne Meinert, Diane Schurch, Jim Kleckner
• Game Leaders: Duane Schurch, Paul Babler
• Leaders in Training: Heather Niedermeier, Maycee Zettle, Stephon Terpstra
• General Secretary: Amy McKee
• General Help: Fred Smith, Russ Ellis, Carol Olsen, Fred Meinert, Pastor Dick
• Commander: Deanna Babler

Thank you so much!

March Meeting: Joanne Meinert was worship leader at the March 4th meeting of Women’s Fellowship. Bible study was from Luke 8, describing the grief of Jairus, whose daughter has died and how he appeals to Jesus as a last resort. Then later, a long-suffering woman is healed by Jesus, to her great joy for the miracle.

April Meeting: Women’s Fellowship will meet on Wednesday afternoon, April 1st, at 1:30pm — No foolin’! Pat Smith will lead Bible study from the Gospel of Luke, and Dorothy Schlueter will serve refreshments. St. Paul women are invited for Bible study and fellowship.

April is coming quicker than what we expected. We are in the middle of Lent and will be preparing for Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter. That means all of the choirs are busy preparing for this busy season of the year.

To start with, various choirs will be practicing the evening of April 1st for Palm Sunday. The Women will rehearse at 7pm, the Seniors around 7:45pm, and the Men will work their time in around 7:30pm. The Junior Choir will practice on Sunday, March 29th at 10:10am. Palm Sunday is April 5th and is observed as a music Sunday in our congregation.

For Easter, April 12th, the Juniors plan to sing as well as the Senior Choir. This will all add to our festive Easter service. The Senior Choir will practice Wednesday, April 8th at 7pm.

The Men will sing April 19th and will probably practice April 15th at 7:30pm. April 26th is Confirmation Sunday. A special group of young people will provide music for that service. The Bells will work out their own schedule and be sure to check with Bonnie on the times and dates.

This is a time of year when more people can be found attending church. Invite your friends to be a part of these important services of the church year.

Youth Fellowship will meet on Sunday, April 5th at 6:30pm. We will be planning the upcoming Easter Sunrise service and breakfast. We will set up and prepare for the breakfast on Saturday, April 11th at 9am. We will be contacting each family to help provide items for the breakfast. We will also meet on April 19th at 6:30pm. Please mark your calendars!

The Church Council is calling a brief congregational meeting following worship on Sunday, April 5th regarding the church cemetery. Please take note of this meeting and plan to attend.

The St. Paul Church COuncil met on March 16th and discussed the following:

• The purchase of a new copy machine for the office.
• Newsletter mailings – decided to see if people would be willing to receive via email or pick it up at church the last Sunday of the month. This would help reduce expenses.
• Offerings for bicycles for pastors in India totaled $1,617.00 or approximately 30 bikes. Thank you to all those that contributed to this mission outreach.
• Dianna Geiseman will serve on the Worship Committee. All committees have been filled! Thank you to those that have chosen to serve the Lord in this way.
• Fred Smith is willing to make wooden markers to mark the different sections of the cemetery.
• Discussed some wrok that needs to be done on the boiler. Wayne Blocker has been checking on the boilers regularly.
• Okayed the Sunshine Club from Davis to meet at the church due to future construction at the State Bank of Davis.
• Looked at proposals for projectors and screens from Raymond Electronics.
• Confirmation Sunday will be on April 26th with Statements of Faith being presented that day also. Holy Communionon April 26th will serve as our Communion for the month of May.

The next meeting is set for Monday, April 20th at 7pm.

The Board of Christian Education continues to sponsor monthly food drives for The Salvation Army, and the month of April will be a cereals and juices, or anything else you wish to bring. As always, thank you for your continued support of this outreach to our local communities.

Just a reminder that the times for Sunday School and Worship will change on Sunday, May 3rd. Sunday School will begin at 9am with Worship at 10am. Please mark your calendars now!

This is a reminder that all winter items need to be removed from the cemetery by April 1st. New items may be placed after May 1st. Thank you for your cooperation!

It’s that time of year again, time to start thinking about the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. The event will be held at Aquin High School on June 19th. We would love for you to join our team and help raise money for the American Cancer Society. If you can’t walk with us, but would like to make a donation to our team, please see April Zettle. A box for donations will be in the narthex beginning the first Sunday of April. Thank you for your support!

The Freeport Choral Society is presenting its spring concert Sunday, March 29th at 3pm at St. John UCC Church in Freeport. It is an interesting mix of music fitting for the Easter and spring season.

Our women’s ministry group will be starting an exciting series called The Bucket List. We’d like to encourage all women to be a part of this series. Amy McKee will host our kick-off night on April 3rd at 7pm. If you would like to carpool, meet at the church by 6:30pm. We will be watching the movie The Bucket List. This will lead into a 5-part study. Please consider being a part of this series. You might be amazed at what God will do in your life. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board and a clipboard will go around during worship on Sunday, March 29th.

** One question we’d like you to think about is this: Are you living out God’s purpose here on earth before you ‘kick the bucket’?

Sunday, April 26th will be Confirmation Sunday here at St. Paul. There are just two confirmands this year, so we will be having their Faith Statements that day as well as celebrating together their first communion. Our 2009 confirmands are Dustin Barnes and Lukas Wymer. Please plan to be in attendance for this special service.

• Restless Hearts by Marta Perry. A search for her roots brought midwife Fione Flanagan to Pennsylvania Dutch country– and made her wonder whether she should turn back. The area’s mixture of Amish and English culture confused her, and her first encounter with local police chief Ted Rittenhouse didn’t help. He’d thoughtshe was breaking into her own office! Despire the misunderstanding, Fiona could see that Ted’s tough-as-nails exterior hid a kind soul — one caught between two worlds seeking a place to belong. She felt the same but trusting him with her heart would require the biggest step of faith she had ever taken.
• Twice Adopted by Michael Reagan with Jim Denny (co-authors). “Have you ever felt that God was angry with you? Did you ever do something so shameful that you lived in fear that someone would find out? That your secret would be exposed? Did you ever feel that something you did was so horrible and vile that God could enver forgive you? Have you ever been convinced that you were going to hell and there was nothing you could do about it? Have you ever felt angry toward God — a raging anger over something terrible that happened in your life? Something that hurt you and violated you? Something for which you blamed God? Did you ever hate God? Did you ever believe that God hated you? That is how I felt the more than thrity years of my life. This is my story of redemption. This is the story of how I was twice adopted.” [Remember Pastor talked about Twice Adoptedin one of his sermons!]

** The Christian Bookstore in Freeport has a 40% discount on books for the church library. Please let Pat Smith know if there are any books that you would like to see in our library.

Easter lilies orders (with payment) are due by April 5th.

Easter lilies are again available this year at a cost of $9.00. This includes foil and a bow as well. There are forms available on the table in the narthex should you wish to order a lily in honor or memory of someone. Jeanne Fiene will be handling the orders this year and all orders need to be received along with payment by April 5th. Should you be unable to order at the church, please use the form (in the printed newsletter) and return to the churchofmail it directly to Jeanne Fiene.

The lilies will not be tagged again this year, so we ask that after worship when you take your lily, please cross your name off the list that will be provided. This will help  us to know who has taken their lily and whose are left. Thank you!

The Youth Fellowship will be leading our Easter Sunrise service on April 12th beginning at 7:30am. The service will be followed by breakfast. Please sign up on the bulletin board so that we can plan accordingly. Thank you for supporting the youth of St. Paul.