St.Paul’s Lutheran Church September 2018 Newsletter W2604 CO HWY P, Merrill, WI 54452 715-536-8459 Please leave a message. Pastor Gregory Laska can be reached at Home #715-536-1511, Cell # 715-350-9741 email address is: grlaska@yahoo.com, or at church office on Mondays 9 am till Noon.

​ “St. Paul’s is Committed to Encouraging Growth and Fellowship by Sharing the Word and Gifts from GOD and by living our Christian Beliefs Everywhere and Always.” Information for newsletters needs to be sent to gmoestreich@gmail.com before the 20th of each month for the next month’s newsletter. This allows for planning, editing, layout, printing and mailing to members by the first of the month. If you would like your newsletter by email please send your request to gmoestreich@gmail.com so we can add you to the list of members getting this newsletter by email. All newsletters are available for pick up the last Sunday of each month in Church.

September Worship Schedule
September 2 Communion Worship Service at 9:00 am
September 9 Worship Service at 9:00 am
September 16 Communion Worship Service at 9:00 am
September 23 Contemporary Worship Service at 9:00 am September 30 Worship Service @ 9:00 am
Saturday evening worship services are offered at Luther Memorial-Gleason at 6 pm. All are welcome to Worship Services at St. Paul's 9:00 am or at Luther Memorial -Gleason 10:30 am on Sundays.

September Usher Schedule
September 2: Donna Stenberg, Marty Stenberg, Darlene Erickson, Dale Erickson – Elder
  September 9: Jeanne Schubring, Mark Kroening
September 16: Ron Beyer, Valerie Isaacson, Sandy Leskey, Don Voight - Elder
September 23: Mandy Sabatke, Sandy Leskey September 30: Robert & Lori Giese

Volunteers, please come 20 to 30 minutes before worship time to prepare the building for the Worship Service. Please take head count of attendance and write it on the clip board posted by the last pew on the east side of church each and every worship service. Please wear your Sunday best clothing, you are serving in the King’s house. Thank You for your service to our Lord and our Church Family.



Bethesda Volunteer Work Day St. Paul’s Lutheran Church is scheduled to work at Bethesda Thrift Shop in Wausau on the last Tuesday of each month. We are scheduled September 25th 1 pm to 4 pm, October 30th 1 pm to 4pm, November 27th 1pm to 4 pm. If these times do not work for you, just stop in at Bethesda Thrift store and talk to Alice about a time that works for you to volunteer. Enjoy the benefits of purchasing at a discount, no time clock to punch, lots of pleasant people to work with, and a feeling of serving through volunteering. We ride share and would be happy to include you, call Lois Oestreich @ 715-536-6965 for more information.

ADDRESS CHANGES? Do you live in Marathon County and recently received a new house number? Have you moved or changed your phone number? Please email changes to loriloug@yahoo.com or write out on a piece of paper and give to Lori Giese at church, Newsletters will only be available for pick-up the last Sunday of the month in Church, please pick up yours and family you will see.

Calvary Church Beef Roast and Auction: September 9, Calvary Church, Cain Creek Road. Polka Service, raffles. Kids games and play area

Craft Fair at St. Paul’s: Tentative date for the craft fair would be November 3. Anyone interested should contact Heidi Duley. Also please pass the word on to friends and family who would like a spot at the craft fair.

The Cody Clauson Family Trio St. Paul’s Church will host The Cody Clauson Family Trio on Novermber 4, 2018 in the Fellowship Hall. Tickets are available from Joe Schiefelbein for $37.50 per person. Tickets are limited to order early. No sales at the door on November 4. Order your ticket by mail, with a stamped self addressed envelope to Joe Schiefelbein with check made payable to St. Paul’s Church, or see Joe after services.

District Pastors Conference: Pastor Greg will be in Eau Claire September 24-25 so no office hours on September 24.

Annual Harvest Dinner Gleason Luther Memorial is having their on September 23 beginning at 11:30 AM.

St. John Lutheran Church & School Mission Fest: Sunday, September 9th, 10:00 A.M. at Sugar Hill Sugar Bush, 10108 Sugar Hill Lane, Wausau. There will be a Polka Church Service with the 2nd Edition Polka band. Our featured speaker will be Exec. Director Mr. Gary Vaught “Woody” from Camp Luther in Three Lakes. We will have a Beef/Pork lunch to follow. Please bring a dish to pass if you are able. We will have a Camp Luther presentation at 1:00 P.M. There will be kid’s activities, games and fellowship throughout. In case of inclement weather, activities will be moved to St. John’s gymnasium, 164923 County Hwy Z, Wausau. Tell your neighbors, friends and relatives, all are welcome!!

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Grief Share: Trinity Lutheran Church – Merrill will be starting Grief Share on September 10th. Please contact the Church office at 715-536-5482 to sign up or to ask questions.

Flower Bed: St. Paul’s is looking for a volunteer to take care of the flower bed in front of the church. Contact Heidi Duley for details if you would be willing to do this.



Parable of Grandma’s Prayer It was time for the Women’s Bible Study to end and someone needed to close with prayer. Before anyone else could respond, Ellen’s Grandma spoke up and volunteered. Ellen had brought her Grandma from the nursing home, thinking it would be fun to have her there with all the younger women. She was surprised that her Grandma volunteered to do the prayer. Grandma began, speaking slowly, yet loud enough for all twelve women around the table to hear. “Dear Lord, I often come to you with many complaints in my life. I complained every day when I went to school as a child that all I ever was given to eat was lard sandwiches. My mother would smear the lard between two old crusty pieces of bread. Lord, I also complained when my younger brother would sneak up behind me and throw a handful of wheat flour in my face. He knew it would make me sneeze something fierce.” Ellen raised her face to look at her Grandma, wondering where this prayer was going. She noticed a few other ladies were starting to giggle a bit. Grandma continued, “Lord I also complained how we often had to drink milk that was going sour. My mother told us that rich people paid extra for it and called it buttermilk, but I hated it. And Lord you know how much I hate it when my family puts too much salt on my food. It reminds me of how we had to keep our canned meat in jars loaded with salt so it would not spoil.” Now Ellen was wondering if she should give her Grandma a gentle nudge so she would conclude this prayer. But just then, Grandma raised the volume of her voice saying, “But Lord when lard and flour and buttermilk and salt are all put together it sure makes a fine batch of biscuits. Thanks you Lord, for taking all the things in my life that I often complain about: when the weather isn’t just right, when someone gets sick, when our money runs low. Somehow you take all those bad things and make my life just right, just like those biscuits. Keep baking for me Lord, because your recipe for my life has been just fine!” When Ellen looked up, she saw that most of the eyes of the other women were moistened with tears. It was the best closing prayer they ever had in their Bible Study.