St. Paul's News

This Sunday, 2/17: The Saint Matthew Passion Begins The Saint Matthew Passion Sermon Series Begins This Sunday Dear St. Paul's Congregation, Three Tiered Budget. Unfortunately, we had ice and snow on the last Sunday in January and the first in February, when we collected our faith commitment cards. Our deacons are requesting that regular members and attenders at St. Paul's please return the cards through the mail, or fill out cards at church and place them in the offering container. This year, we have a three tiered budget, one based on "essential needs", one based on "faith," and one based on "vision." Your commitment cards will help the deacons make decisions about how many of our "faith" and "vision" initiatives can be funded in the coming year. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!

Saint Matthew Passion. J. S. Bach wrote the St. Matthew Passion Oratorio in 1727. But the words of Passion were recorded by Matthew in the 1st Century AD. This Sunday, Pastor Mark Friz will preach from Matthew 26:1-16, the first section dealing with the final week of Jesus' life on earth. This Sunday sermon is called, "Personalities of the Passion." Small groups will also meet to discuss Matthew's words throughout the week.

1st Sunday of Lent. Lent is a season of preparation and repentance during which we anticipate Good Friday and Easter. Historically, the practice of a forty-day preparation period began during the third and fourth centuries. The number 40 carris biblical significance based on the 40 years Israel spent in the wilderness and Jesus' forty-day fast in the wilderness. Perhaps this "Lenten Litany" will be helpful as you travel your journey to Easter:

  Jesus the Christ, you refused to turn stones into bread.   Save us from using our power, however little, to satisfy the demands of selfishness in the face of the greater needs of others.   Jesus the Christ, you refused to leap from the temple top.   Save us from displaying our skills, however modest, to win instant popularity in the face of nobler calls on our abilities.   Jesus the Christ, you refused to bend the knee to a false god.   Save us from offering our devotion, however weak, to cheap or easy religion in the face of the harder path on which you bid us to follow you.   Jesus the Christ,   Give us wisdom to discern evil, and in the face of all that is deceptively attractive, help us to choose the will of God. Amen.
Wednesday, February 20. D. J. Russell will preach concerning The Road to the Promised Land from Hebrews 11. Lenten supper starts at 6:00. Lenten worship starts at 7:15.

Grace, mercy and peace to all!

A. Mark Friz, Senior Pastor  follow on Twitter | like on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2013 St. Paul's Evangelical Church, All rights reserved.
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Today is Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday Service Today at 7:15 Dear St. Paul's Congregation, Today is Ash Wednesday! It is the beginning of a 40 Day Pilgrimage through the period called Lent.

• Just as Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness in preparation for his earthly ministry, so Christians throughout the ages have felt the call to spend 40 days in fasting and prayer in preparation for Easter and greater ministry here on earth.
• Just as Moses spent 40 days on Mt. Sinai when he received the law, so Christians have felt the call to spend 40 days each year seeking after God in a special way.

You are invited to begin that 40 day journey with us tonight, February 13, at 7:15 p.m. Communion will be served. I look forward to worshiping with you!

Grace, mercy and peace!

A. Mark Friz, Senior Pastor  follow on Twitter | like on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2013 St. Paul's Evangelical Church, All rights reserved.
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Dr. Cal Swan, District Superintendent, Preaching February 10 This Sunday at St. Paul's. Dear St. Paul's Congregation, Sausage Dinner. This Sunday our Sausage Dinner will be served starting at 12:30 and ending at 6:00 p.m. Come enjoy a traditional sausage dinner, complete with homemade mashed potatoes, sauerkraut and pie. Adult tickets are $9 in advance or $10 at the door. Children ages 6-11 are $5, and children ages 0-5 are free.

Worship with Cal Swan Preaching. Our center focus each Sunday is worship, and we have two wonderful worship opportunities available this Sunday, at 8:30 and 11:00. Dr. Cal Swan, our District Superintendent will be preaching on the topic, "The Mandate for Pilgrimage" from Hebrews 12:1-3. Let's all make a special effort to be in worship this Sunday to greet our Superintendent.

Cal Swan to teach Adult Bible Fellowship (9:45 to 10:45 in Auditorium). Dr. Swan will also teach a class on pilgrimage between services. He plans to show a DVD of his travels along the Camino de Santiago in Spain several years ago. Dr. Swan will explain the meaning and purpose of pilgrimage in the life of a Christian.

Let's remember that Sunday School for all ages is available between services.

Grace, mercy and peace to all!
A. Mark Friz, Senior Pastor  follow on Twitter | like on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2013 St. Paul's Evangelical Church, All rights reserved.
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Help Needed for Sausage Supper Help Needed! Dear St. Paul's Congregation, More help is needed for the Sausage Supper coming up this Sunday. We need help in the following areas:

• More pies and cakes are needed.
• Help is needed in the kitchen in the second shift (2:30 to 5:00).
• Help is also needed on all shifts, as you are able.
• Invitations for friends to come.

Please contact Frank May if you are able to help. His phone number is 314-423-3435.

Blessings and Thank You!

Saint Paul's Staff  follow on Twitter | like on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2013 St. Paul's Evangelical Church, All rights reserved.
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An Invitation to Honor Walt Caesar for Singers Past and Present An Invitation from the Caesar Family Dear St. Paul's Family, On behalf of my Mother and Father I want to thank you personally for everything this congregation meant to them in this life and how comforting it is to know that they are together now in peace in the loving care of our Lord thanks to the faithfulness of this church.   Chuck, Cindy and I cannot express in words what St. Paul's means to us spiritually and from a human perspective what it means to know that we are never alone on this earth.  That comes only by worshiping together in fellowship with you.   As you know Mom and Dad enjoyed many years praising god in the Music Ministry at St. Paul's and we plan to honor that legacy during Dad's funeral service on Monday.  We invite everyone that would like to participate to join the choir in singing "In This Very Room" during the funeral service on Monday.     Fern Black will be in the choir room at 10:00 AM Monday to rehearse.  If you would like to participate but are not able to rehearse please still join them in the choir loft.  If you know of anyone that doesn't currently attend St. Paul's or participate actively in the Music Ministry please let them know about this and that they are most welcome.   In Christ's love and with gratitude, Craig and the Caesar Family  follow on Twitter | like on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2013 St. Paul's Evangelical Church, All rights reserved.
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