May, 2012
Worship Services 

May 3    Thursday   National Day of Prayer
Noon – Service will be held at St. Paul’s.

May 6   5th Sunday of Easter
  8:00 a.m. – Spoken Holy Communion
  9:00 a.m. – Sunday School Breakfast
10:30 a.m. – Holy Communion

May 13    6th Sunday of Easter  Mother’s Day
  8:00 a.m. – Spoken Holy Communion
  9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:30 a.m. –Worship

May 20    7th Sunday of Easter
  8:00 a.m. – Spoken Holy Communion
  9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Holy Communion

May 27    The Day of Pentecost
  8:00 a.m. – Spoken Holy Communion
  9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Comm/Confirmation

Connected for Life

A parent stands at the bus stop on the first day of school with a kindergarten student. Another parent lingers in the doorway of a first-year dorm after unloading the final box from the car. These parents are entering new times they will not be present to help their children make some important life choices, and words of advice slip from their lipseat your sandwich before your dessert, share with others, don't drink and drive, remember who you are. After years of preparation, their children step toward greater independence.

Jesus lingers with the disciples before his death and prepares them for the time when he will no longer be present day to day to help them make their way in the world. Words slip from his mouth: "Apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). These are difficult words as the disciples try to make sense of Jesus' impending death and the promise of his continued presence.

"Apart from me you can do nothing" may also be a difficult word for a self-reliant, individualistic culture such as our own, focused on personal achievement and success. God is the vine grower, Jesus the vine, and we the branches, who, separated from the life-giving vine, can do nothing.

Yet, these are gracious, gospel words from Jesus. He's been preparing his disciples for years to take this step. These are words that point not toward individualistic, self-reliant independence but toward dependence on the one whose life defies death and whose perfect love casts out all fear. Connected to the vine, these branches are given a death-defying life free from fear. These are gracious, gospel words from Jesus that point to a community nourished by this life-giving vine and bearing fruit for the sake of the world

With Deepest Sympathy we remember the family of
Catherine Haftel who went home to be with her Lord on May 24th. Catherine celebrated her 101st birthday this past April.   We pray that the family will find comfort & peace during their days of sorrow

We welcome and congratulate the following young people who have completed the Confirmation Classes and who will be confirmed today as full members of St. Paul’s       Lutheran Church
 Ashlyn Cantrel, Kaitelynn Cantrel, Jacob Hillegass, Skye James,
Morgan Meckes, Alyssa Rushatz, Amber Shook, Bryce Stothoff,
Courtney Vanek