Newsletter Page Three

Malachi would have loved Aunt Jane

Everyone in church calls her Aunt Jane. She’s a sweet, thoughtful woman with a strong faith. One day she called the church and told the pastor, "I would like for you to tell the treasurer that I want my pledge to go up $1.70 a month."

"I’ll be glad to do that, "the pastor answered, "but I’m curious as to why you’re increasing your pledge by $1.70."

Aunt Jane replied, "I’m increasing it because my monthly social security check just went up $17.00 a month."

The prophet Malachi would have loved Aunt Jane. It was he who, speaking for God, instructed God’s people to "bring the full tithe into the storehouse.."(Malachi 3:10). The promise to the people was that God would open the windows of heaven and "pour down for you and overflowing blessing."

While the summer rains have been overflowing, I am sorry to say the summer offerings have not. As I write this, two more Sundays in August remain and we are $18,000 in the red.

Dr. Robert McCracken once said, "Our giving is the acid test of our consecration." The work of the kingdom of God is dependent to an extraordinary degree on the amount and spirit of our giving.

May we bring our tithe, our offerings into God’s storehouse so we may not fail the acid test and so God may pour down His overflowing blessings.

Twelve Elders met with Pastor Rich to discuss the importance and significance of communion. We also discussed the pros and concerns about elders bringing communion to the home bound. Here are some conclusions that were reached.

Elders bringing communion to the home bound DOES NOT mean Pastor will no longer do it. Pastor will continue to bring communion to the home bound as he has done in the past.

Elders would only bring communion to those people who do not object to elders bringing communion.

Elders would go in pairs to the home bound.

Pastor would accompany the elders on their initial visit.

After exchanging pleasantries I asked God, "What is the one thing that surprises you most about humankind?"

God replied, "That they get bored of being children, are in a rush to grow up, and then long to be children again. That they lose their health to make money and then lose their money to restore their health. That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present. That they live as if they will never die, and they die as if they never lived..."

TO BE CONTINUED

What is it?

It is a ministry of St. Paul’s.

It is our home bound.

It is a circle of Love and Caring.

It is a small group of people who give God’s love.

It is a pretty card on a gloomy day.

It is a voice on the phone brightening a day.

It is a visit you bring God’s presence.

It is loving God and neighbor.

Its motto is - I am only one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something with the help of God.

Its links are Marge Conger, Elaine Dittman, Alice Myers, Coralee Fabian, Chris Schmidt and Alice Plantec.

We would love to add you to our chain of care givers. With the list of home bound and those in nursing homes growing, we could use your help.

If you want to know more or volunteer to be a link, you can call the church office 828-0020 or speak to Alice Plantec.

Anna Nikola for donating the pair of Giant Season Tickets.

Al and Sue Hoiberg for taking responsibility for running the raffle.

Members and friends who supported the raffle by either selling or buying one ticket or one book.

Profit

$8,000+ dollars was raised and every penny went into the restoration fund.

Congratulations To:

Bertha Kovacs, this year’s winner.
Bertha is Tom Kovac's grandmother.