Tangled
Blue --Aimée and Joel--create a unique sound that incorporates
Latin and electronic percussion as well as acoustic and electric guitars.
They were married in 2001 and first recorded in early 2003 from a farm house
in Menomonie, WI.
They now live in Minneapolis. They have a folk-rock blend of songs they
perform throughout the US at churches, coffee shops, colleges and festivals.
Free-will donations will be accepted at their 3 pm concert at St. Paul’s
July 27.
Joanne Warner is holding the flowers next to a bird's nest at Saint Paul
Lutheran Church on June 8, 2008. Watch for updates! -photo by Cheryl
Kemling
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL PLANS
VBS will be held July 21-25, closing with a funfest on Sunday. If you can
help in any way, please contact Connie Krueger at 269-5537. Donations needed:
metal forks, spoons, and knives for a craft--we will need 6 per child. Check
for them at garage sales. Also needed will be 2-liter pop bottles (not the
cap) & milk jugs.
BUBBLE BASH
Vacation Bible School will be July 21-25. The finale will be a “Bubble
Bash” on July 27 following worship. “Tangled Blue” will provide music
during worship services at both churches and a concert at 3 pm. Call Connie
Krueger, 269-5537, to help with VBS or donations.
The confirmation class from St. Paul Lutheran Church of 2008. Confirmation
was held on May 4. Pictured are Marshall Kemling, Caleb DeBoer, Pastor Dan,
and Taylor Kahler. -Photo by Cheryl Kemling
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus,
H .G. Wells once shared this insight:
Jesus was too great for His disciples. And in view of what He plainly said,
is it any wonder that all who were rich and prosperous felt a horror of
strange things, a swimming of their world at His teaching? Perhaps the
priests and rulers understood Him better than His followers. He was dragging
out all the little private reservations they had made from social service
into the light of a universal religious life. He was like a terrible moral
huntsman, digging people out of the snug burrows in which they had lived
hitherto. In the white blaze of His Kingdom, there was to be no property, no
privilege, no pride, and no precedence, no motive and reward but love. Is it
any wonder that people were dazzled and blinded, and cried out against Him?
Even His disciples cried out when He would not spare them that light. Is it
any wonder that the priests realized that between this Man and themselves
there was no choice but that He, or their priestcraft, should perish. Is it
any wonder that the Roman soldier, confronted and amazed by something soaring
over their comprehension and threatening all their disciplines, should take
refuge in wild laughter, and crown Him with thorns, and robe Him in purple,
and make a mock Caesar of Him? For to take Him seriously was to enter into a
strange and alarming life, to abandon habits, to control instincts and
impulses, and to embrace an incredible happiness. Is it any wonder that to
this day this Galilean is too much for our small hearts?
Wells is very right - Jesus is too great for many who call
themselves His disciples. The Kingdom of God which he brought to light with
his life, death, and resurrection is something incredible that scares many.
And yet, when one embraces the Jesus presented in the Bible for all He is,
the life He invites us to join Him in as part of this Kingdom of God, His and
our Father, is so incredible, so amazing, so awe-inspiring that you have to
wonder how you lived before you became a part of it. It radically transforms
your life, which is why it is still very hard for people.
We don’t like giving up our idols -- time at the cabin or
lake; sleeping in on Sunday mornings; time spent watching TV, mowing the
yard, tending the garden; money and power and prestige; etc - just to sit in
what we perceive as a boring worship service or Bible Study. We fail to
remember what Jesus gave up to come to this earth for our salvation so that
we could be part of the kingdom of God. Jesus willingly gave it all up so
that you could be a part of His Kingdom and enjoy the life that God desires
to give you in all its fullness. And what a life it is! Just try it and see
if God can’t fill you with a joy that goes beyond anything you have known,
a peace that provides tranquility no matter what storm is raging around you,
a desire to expand your comfort zone and His Kingdom, and other realities
that cannot be expressed in words. And then, try to out-give God in all areas
of your life! You can’t, and it is the most wonderful thing beyond what you
can imagine.
Very soon we have the opportunity to expand the Kingdom of
God through Vacation Bible School. There is still much work that needs to be
done so that we can proclaim Jesus to the children and their parents who come
during that week. Please, please contact Connie about how you can help! This
year, we are also adding something new. After the “Bubble Bash” on
Sunday, July 27, Tangled Blue will be performing their unique Christian music
and witness in a concert at 3 p.m. inside St. Paul’s. This family concert
is a great time to invite anyone, churched or un-churched, to hear some
really great music that appeals to all ages. Crystal and I are very excited
to have them here with us, as Aimee sang at our wedding 11 years ago! If you
haven’t joined us for a while, I invite you to come and see the things God
is doing in the lives of His people as we seek to live in His Kingdom. God
will bless your life as you commit your life to Him and His Kingdom that will
never end.
In His service,
Pastor Dan
-from Pastor Dan's July 2008 letter
ST. PAUL LUTHERAN LADIES AND LWML will meet on
Thursday, July 3 at 6 pm. Discussion will be on completing the basement
remodeling project, planning for the August picnic, and Vacation Bible School
meals. All ladies of the congregation are encouraged to attend.
ST. JOHN LUTHERAN LADIES will meet after worship
on Sun. July 6. LWML will meet on Wednesday July 9 at 7:30 pm in the
fellowship hall. Valerie Boche will provide the snack and Sharon Fouks will
lead the topic. The project is: Collection for Orphan Grain Train. Pack in a
clear zip-lock bag: Children’s underwear and socks (new in original
packaging) and a Christian tract or Bible Verse (inside bag). Other separate
new items: Shampoo-regular size; new child and/or adult toothbrushes in orig.
package, handmade or purchased quilts, any size.
BABY CONGRATULATIONS to Eric & Katie
Tarasewicz and grandparents Carolyn & Dave Mertz on the birth of Joseph
Thomas on June 24.
BAPTIZED at St. Paul Lutheran on June 15 was
Ella Lee Chute, daughter of Marc and Janna Chute. Sponsors are Andrew Krueger
and Lisa (Krueger) Dix.
LEAP YEAR BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
Donald and Bernice Krueger report the birth of a new great-grandson,
Zachary William Bakken, born on February 29. Parents are Julie and Marlin
Bakken; grandparents are Bob and Eve Krueger, all of Deer Park.
Camryn Kay Burback was born March 4 to April
(Duval) and Chris Burback of Eau Claire. Camryn’s brother Carter will be 4
on May 14. Grandparents are Jack & Kathy Duval; great-grandmother is
Margaret Duval. Margaret just celebrated her 90th birthday with a celebration
at the Deer Park Community Center on Apr. 19. Baptism for Camryn is planned
for Sunday, May 11 at St. Paul Lutheran Church.
WEDDING CONGRATULATIONS and God’s Blessings to
Matt Krarup and Holly Schult who were married at St. Paul Lutheran on June 7;
and to Lisa Krueger and Alex Dix who were married on June 21.
“CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES 2”
If you saw “The Church Basement Ladies” play at Plymouth playhouse,
you won’t want to miss the sequel. Or, if you didn’t see it, you won’t
want to miss this one!
Contact Char Croes, 269-5201, if you would like to go with a group on
Saturday, Sept. 27, for a 3 pm performance. The cost is $30 each (group rate
for 12 or more) for the ticket and we will be driving there in a couple of
vans, leaving about noon and having lunch on the way.
THANK YOU to all who attended the pancake
breakfast on Father’s Day.
This was an event that was decided just the week before, but even with
just the short notice, over $200 was donated towards the ceiling tiles and
lights for the kitchen and first section of the dining area. Thrivent
Financial for Lutherans sent $300 as part of the service project through
Caring in Congregations. The final $300 will be sent after the project is
completed. Thank you to all who came to the work night on June 23 to take out
the old tile.
YOUTH GROUP TO PRESENT SKITS
Members of St. John Lutheran Youth Group will be presenting skits Sunday,
June 29, at 2:30 pm and Tuesday, July 1 at 7 pm. Come and enjoy memorable
Biblical stories acted out and enjoy refreshments at the church. A free-will
offering will be collected for Camp Luther as they rebuild and remodel their
villages.
STUDENT INTERNSHIP
Jayme Anderson, who has been leading many activities of the St. John
Lutheran youth group, will be starting a 12-month internship in Director of
Christian Education at St. John’s in Elk River, MN in August. After that,
she will go back to Concordia to finish one more year of studies. Jayme
appreciates the support she receives from St. John Lutheran Church.
CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES
Members graduating from high school recognized at the May 18 services were
Karen Warner and Deanne Duval at St. Paul’s; Jordan Fouks and Rachel Benson
at St. John’s. Cheryl Warner graduated from WITC.
HELP WITH HELPERS is the theme for the July and
August Food Resource Collaborative food donations for those in need. You’re
invited to donate hamburger, chicken or tuna helpers or any pasta of your
choice to your church or local pantry. Thank you for your donations!
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Help Stanley Fouks celebrate his 75th birthday at a party in his honor on
Sunday, July 6, beginning at 3 pm at the home of Bruce and Becky Fouks.
YOUTH HAVE FUN AT WISCONSIN DELLS More than 20 youth and adults from St. John’s enjoyed Monday, June
23 at Wisconsin Dells with others from the North WI District. On the way,
they saw a lot of flood damage.
The Youth of St. John’s will meet on July 9 and 23 at 7 pm at the David
& Susan Anderson home.
“BLESSED BY GOD’S PLAN” was the theme of
the 32nd biennial North WI District Lutheran Women’s Missionary League
Convention held in Eau Claire in June. In attendance were 164 delegates, 32
board members, 14 young women representatives, 177 guests and pastors, and 9
special guests for a total of 396.
A van and pickup truck were needed to haul the “gifts from the heart”
items to the Time Out Family Abuse Shelter which includes 3 counties.
Monday’s agenda included registration, servant projects (making fleece
blankets, cancer patient head wraps, baby hats, and cards for military
personnel), and divine worship with communion.
Tuesday was a full day of sessions, meeting luncheons, checking out the
exhibits, banquet, and excellent speakers and entertainment. Beautiful
quilted banners from each zone were displayed and will be sent to the
seminaries as baby blankets.
Mission grants for $92,500 were voted for on Wednesday morning. (This is
from the money that we collect in our little mite boxes quarterly.) During
the convention alone, $5896.51 was collected for the missions and for Camp
Luther.
The ten missions approved were: North WI district professional church work
student grants for $20,000; Bible story books for Southeast Asia for $5000;
Wis. Division Orphan Grain Train - Disaster victims for $5000; Financial
assistance for Food & Clothing co-op Concordia Seminary, Ft. Wayne for
$10,000; Bibles for International Students for $5000; Training materials for
deaf mission outreach centers for $9000; Hmong Ministry in Appleton & Eau
Claire areas for $12,500; Ministry of Hope at Victory Lutheran Church for
$10,000; Seminary Expansion in Madagascar for $10,000; Bible study curriculum
for Bethesda Lutheran Homes & Services for $5000; and partial funding for
East Central Wisconsin Lutheran High School Association, Wolf River Lutheran
High School for $1,000.
Connie gave a very good speech with visual presentation about the national
convention in Sioux Falls, SD. Crystal and the Young Women Reps gave a
hilarious skit. And Alice, Lori, Cheryl and Char thank the Ladies for sending
them to represent St. John and St. Paul’s Lutheran Churches as
delegates.
The next convention will be in Houghton-Hancock, Michigan in 2010.
LLL CONVENTION IN KENTUCKY
The Lutheran Laymen’s League 91st
international convention will be held in Lextionton, Kentucky on July 24 to
27, 2008. The theme is “Live by the Spirit” from Galatians 5,
v16. Guest speaker will be Pat Day, most accomplished horse jockey in North
American history. He will tell how he turned from a life of alcohol and
cocaine after hearing the Gospel and realizing he needed a Savior. Other
uplifting events will be the Lutheran Hour Rally, devotions, worship services
and outreach training workshops. Registration information can be found in the
Lutheran Layman magazine or can be made on-line, or contact Floyd &
Adeline Scheunemann at 6785 North Road, Vesper, WI 54489 or call 715-569-4474
or e-mail at faschnn@tds.net. If you would like to take a bus tour to and
from the convention, which includes transportation from Wausau, 2 nights
lodging with breakfast buffet, Beef n Boards dinner theater, Kentucky Horse
Park admission, Creation Museum admission, Fair Oaks Farms with lunch, all
taxes and gratuities on included items, send a downpayment of $75 per person
by June 8. Make checks payable to Progressive Travel and mail to B3872 Hwy
13, Spencer, WI 54479. Please note on your check that payment is for the LLL
trip. Cost per person $449/double; $429/triple; $419 quad; $529 single. Tour
does not include the cost of convention and the 3 nights lodging for the
convention or anything of a personal nature. For more information on any of
the above, contact Yvonne Fouks at 263-2947 or yvonne@fouks.net. or check the
bulletin boards at the churches.
St. Paul
Lutheran Church
Daniel C. Voth, Pastor
Listen to Pastor Dan's
Memorial Day 2005 prayer
(2 minutes 33 seconds).
Listen to Pastor Coppersmith's Memorial Day 2003 address.