St.Paul’s Lutheran Church MARCH 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.
“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.
. July Worship Schedule
July 1 Communion Worship Service at 9:00 am Guest Reverend Mark Shoenherr
July 8 Worship Service at 9:00 am
July 15 Communion Worship Service at 9:00 am
July 22 Contemporary Worship Service at 9:00 am
July 29 Worship Service at 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.
July Usher Schedule
July 1: Joe Schiefelbein, Ernst Voigt, Jeff Zahn, Keith Duley (Communion Elder)
July 8: Dean Hill, Linda Pankow
July 15: Heather Olivotti, Zoey Olivotti, Dakota Vasa, Dale Erickson (Communion Elder)
July 22: Anna Voigt, Kathy Schiefelbein
July 29: Mark Frederick, David Duley
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.
VACATION PLANS – Pastor Greg will be on vacation June 30 through July 6th and July 16th through July 22nd. In case of EMERGENCY you can reach Pastor Greg at 715-350-9741.
Parable of the Prairie Doll The guest room in Grandpa’s cottage was his collecting place. His granddaughter, Melanie, had heard about how older people had a tendency to start keeping everything from plastic bags to old magazines to junk mail. But after making piles of the things for only twenty minutes, she realized that these items were saved because they were like pieces of a giant mosaic that was their family. Grandpa sat on a padded chair and used his cane to point at various items. He seemed to be in full enjoyment of the process. Newspapers, yellowed with age, slid from the top of the knotty pine bookshelf. Melanie could tell that the papers were saved for a variety of reasons. Many were obvious by the front page headlines about war, assassinations, or great tragedies in the community. As Melanie picked them back up trying not to change their order she saw a small bundle of tissue that was wrapped around an object that felt to be the size of her fist. The tissue paper was more fragile than the newspapers that had been its hiding place. “Careful with that, Melanie!” Grandpa warned. He reached out toward her and his trembling hand invited Melanie to give him the item. “That tissue is wrapped around Mercy.” “Say that again, Grandpa?” she asked. “You are holding Mercy. It’s a doll that belonged to your great grandmother.” He tenderly pulled the tissue back to reveal what appeared to be a knot of rags, yellowed much like the newspapers. “Melanie, this is an authentic prairie doll given to your great grandmother by her mother. “And why did you call the doll Mercy?” “Sit down next to me, Melanie. I will make it all come together for you.” Grandpa paused with a smile, yet his eyes showed there was a lot to be told about this tiny rag doll. “This doll was actually like hundreds of others dolls that immigrant women from Europe made. Here in America they began to be called by the name, “prairie doll” because so many of the young children of immigrant farm families had this kind of doll as their only toy.” He hugged the doll to his chest and continued, “An excited child would stand before a grandmother after presenting her with the necessary amount of the muslin. The woman would use her fingers and hands to measure the muslin. Four hand breaths by two hand breadths for the first piece. Biting the edge of the muslin with her teeth, she then tore it to the measured size. She then measured off sixteen strips one finger breadth wide each and tore them strip by strip, with each strip being two handbreadths long. The woman would fold fifteen of the strips in half and then tie the remaining strip around the others to create the shape of a doll head and body with the tied strip at the neck. The loose ends of the tying strip would be used to create the doll’s arms. Then they would need a second piece of muslin two hand breadths square. She tore that piece in half and made a small hole in the center of each piece and slipped the two layers over the doll head. She then took the two ends of the strip that tied off the head crossing them in the back and around to the front and tied them there as folded hands. The last part was a triangular piece of muslin one hand breath and two fingers by one hand breath by one hand breath. It was used to make a bonnet with the two long corners tied under the chin. Dora took a few extra thin strips of muslin and tucked and tied them under the bonnet to simulate hair.” Then he held the doll closer to Melanie’s face, “If you look closely at this precious doll you will notice my favorite part of all. There, on the front just under the chin, you can see a tiny heart that is brown in color. The woman who made the doll would prick her finger and use a drop of blood to make the heart. Usually the parents would suggest a name for the doll that would reflect one of the Biblical virtues.” “So that is why this doll was called, Mercy?” Melanie asked. Grandpa nodded and said, “Yes, that’s part of the reason, but your great grandmother also treasured this humble doll because the heart image made from blood reminded her of the mercy of Jesus.” Melanie took the doll from him and smiled, “I know all about that! Jesus loved us so much that He shed His blood so we who believe in Him could live in heaven. You know, Grandpa, I think that this doll, Mercy, is the best doll I have ever seen.” Her Grandpa replied, “If you promise to take good care of Mercy you can keep her, but promise to tell this story when it is time for you to give Mercy to the next generation of our family.” Melanie agreed and said, “I promise to give “Mercy” to someone because Jesus gave us His mercy!”
Party on P
Lists of Winners from June 15th- 17th 2018 Large Raffle Ticket Winners Kymco UTV – Anna Voigt Raptor Zero Turn Lawn Mower – Rod Woller Freezer w/ ¼ Beef and ½ Pig – Amy Matz China Hutch – Mark Pofath Fishing Trip – Jeff Anderson STIHL Yard Package – Barry Ruhl Crossbow – Thor Anderson Owl On A Limb Carve – Denise Hackbarth 55” HDTV – Dave Peterman 10. Savage 17 HMR Rifle – Scott Kufahl 50/50 Winners $1,000 – Denise Hackbarth $500 – Cheryl Roets $400 – Irma Stine $300 – Jim Brannon $200 – Joe Schiefelbein $200 – Joyce Jarvis $100 – Dave Wendorf $100 – Sue Podeweltz $100 – Lorene Hass $100 – Michael Libbey Bucket Raffle And Silent Auction Miller High Life Sign - JR Voigt JS Plumbing Certificate $50 / Graykowski Hat/Keychain – Millie Behm Assorted Gift cards – Doris Clausen Tailgate Basket – Joden Dorneck Seagram Mirror – Matt Wallace Porcupine Pub for fish fry’s (2) – Mark Frederick 3 Food Certs Pizza Hut/ Kozy Korner/ Ku’s – Margie Rice JS Plumbing $25 Graykowski Hat/ Key Chain – Kathy Schiefelbein Hardee’s Biscuit Cards – Joyce Jarvis Salon 64 – Larry Erickson 31 Bag of Summer Fun – Shawn Zipperer Cosmo 1 Year of Movie fun – Jamara Winter Power Grease gun – Lori Giese Spaghetti Basket – Mark Kroening Gift Cards (Restaurant) – Christine Vorpagel Napa Pail – Dave Cooper Maple Syrup – Pastor Greg Gift Card Tree – Chansa Frederick Crocheted Rugs – Melissa Wanie Camp Luther – John Reich Grace & Sophie Owl & Certificate – Jeanie Schubring Family Movie Night – Milo Voigt Wine & Cheese Basket – Robert Daley Bath/ Body & Fun – Claire Duley Kitchen Table Basket – Anna Schiefelbein ½ Pig – Joy Ziegelbauer Wine/Glasses – Kevin Bolling Verdella’s Sweater – Cheryl Roets Camping Basket – Autumn Voigt Girl Scout Cookies – Sherry Matsche Auto Care Basket – Kathy Schiefelbein Aquatic Center – Beth Wyma Barn Quilt – JR Voigt Kids Summer Fun – Tess Clausen Metal Flower – Pat Sadowski Baby Basket – Elizabeth Giese Hoodie/ Viser – Chansa Frederick Ana Blair’s Boutique – Melissa Wanie Afghan – Mildred Behm Sports Basket – Sharon Zipperer Thermos & Bag – Chansa Frederick Bud Light Neon Sign – JR Voigt Movie Basket – Matt Wallace Script Cards – Josh Duley Beer & Glasses – Aimee Knospe Waves Hair Products & Certif – Jennifer Simon Fryer Basket – JR Voigt Cup & Cone Certif – Jeanie Schubring Booze Cooler & Snacks – Chansa Frederick Welcome Bear – Sylvia Siller Smore’s Basket – Anna Voigt Milwaukee Brewer Tickets & Bobble Head – Jessica Koehler Beach Basket – Judy Nelson Baby Basket – Stacey Lipke Bird Basket – JR Voigt Doll Carriage – Doris Clausen Doll – Lois Oestreich Beverage Dispenser – Kevin Bolling Culver’s Kid’s meal/ Ball/ Can Koozies – Kathy Schiefelbein Hanger & Alteration Certif – Kathy Schiefelbein Pumpkin’s (2) – Sharon Zipperer Beach Basket – Chansa Frederick Culver’s Gift Certif – Margie Rice Hand Knit Afghan – No Bids Ear Buds – Beth Wyma Beef Patties – Joy Ziegelbauer Beef Patties – Joy Ziegelbauer Charger/ Rod/ Reel/ Thermo/ Umbrella – Chansa Frederick 1/8 Beef – Deb Sadowski 1/8 Beef – Joy Ziegelbauer Tri City (Wausau) Restaurant Certif – Lori Giese 3 Restaurant Certif = Eagles/Friendship House/ Red Granite – Robert Daley Massage – Mariah Dupke 3’s Company/ Friendship House – Marianne Dinges Flower Basket – Kathy Schiefelbein Assorted Gift Cards – Delos Winter Grace / Sophie Large Flower/ Certif – Heidi Duley Salon 64 / Mustardseed Health Shop – Barb Grawien Graykowski Breakfast Basket – Jenna Podgorski Hardee’s Certif / T-Shirt & Hat – Anna Schiefelbein JS Plumbing $25 / Graykowski T-Shirt/ Hat – Joyce Jarvis Hardee’s Chicken Coupons - PE 2 Brickner’s Oil Change (1 Certi) - PE 4 Gift Cards – Rachel Gruett Brickner’s Park City (1) Free Oil Change – Tamara Winter MGD Mirror – Jaylan Dovneck
Thank You to everyone that worked during this special weekend at St. Paul's, contributed Silent Auction/ Bucket Raffle baskets and items, prepared food, served foods or drinks, set-up, cleaned-up, parked cars, ran Kids games, or helped in any other way. Without you this weekend could not happen.
Vacation Bible School Vacation Bible School here at St. Paul’s is scheduled for July 9th thru 13th. St. Paul's Lutheran Church invites children 3 and up to experience the ride of a lifetime with God at Rolling River Rampage Vacation Bible School! This white water rafting adventure includes singing, amazing science projects, creative crafts, fun recreation, and memorable Bible stories that will help children know God is always with them as they ride the rapids of life! The adventure runs July 9-13, 2018 from 9:00-11:30 am at St. Paul's. Join us for the ride of a lifetime! Registration will be on the first day. No need to pre-register. Wish list: 40 hotdogs and buns, chips, case of bottled water, pickles, juice boxes, watermelon (we are having a family picnic lunch on the last day of VBS) Anyone who would like to help can contact me at kellykbrink@hotmail.com
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 July 31st 1 pm to 4 pm, August 28th 1 pm to 4 pm, September 25th 1 pm 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? Have you moved or changed your phone number? Please email changes to gmoestreich@gmail.com or write out on a piece of paper and give to Lois Oestreich 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. Happy Summer to all <3vv
x