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Volume 8, Issue 3 September, 2019

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

1 From Your Pastor

2 WELS Missions - Nigeria

3 St Paul’s School News

4 FALL GATHERING/Choir/YOUTH

Sr. Ministry/Diaper Drive

5 Bible Studies/Men’s Conference

6 Confirmation Essay/Line of Credit

7 WELCOME HOME / PORKY’S

WELS CAMPUS MINISTRY

8 WELS Commission Evangelism

Contact Information St Paul’s Lutheran Church 101 W Chandler Ave Arlington MN 55307 Website: www.stpaularlington.com WELS website: www.wels.net Pastor Matthew C. Rauh 507-964-2731 Email: mrauh@gac.edu Email: church@stpaularlington.com Church Assistant Don Koch 507-964-5452 / 507-964-2731 Email: Don.koch@stpaularlington.com Principal Eric Kaesermann 507-964-2397 Email: Eric.kaesermann@stpaularlington.com

From Pastor . . . .

“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly,” Colossians 3:16. How would you describe the rain we had the past few months? Was it “richly” or “poorly?” You would describe it as “richly.” We had a lot of it;; in some ways, too much of it. We are rich in rain. How would you describe God’s Word in your life? What adjectives or adverbs would you use? In Colossians the Holy Spirit moved Paul to encourage his congregation to stay with Jesus Christ. By faith they are with him. By Baptism they belong to him. They are co-heirs with him of eternal life in heaven. He alone made that possible. He had no sin, but he became sin for us so he could redeem us from sin, death, hell, and the requirements of the law. We are with him. But how well do we stay with him? The key is God’s Word or here described, “the Word of Christ.” The Word wants to move in with you, to literally dwell or take up residence in your life and your heart. Do you let it, or do we close the door to it? And how much should that Word dwell in you? It says, “richly,” not hardly, not partly, not barely, but richly. If his Word is rain, Paul encourages it to come down on us like cats and dogs and flood our fields and keep our lawns green. September is an exciting month here at St. Paul’s. We come out of summer hibernation and go into full swing: Sunday School begins; our Lutheran elementary school starts up again; we will give Bibles to all second graders at our outdoor service (and we are giving away ten of them this year); Catechism classes resume. If it is compared to rain, it will be raining and pouring. How will it be with you? Can it be described that God’s Word is living with you as a part of your family? Is it dwelling richly, or barely like the dusty Catechism on our shelves? Does Christ enter frequently in our family conversations? Does a day go by without his name on our lips? Make it a prayer in your daily life. And don’t just pray for it, “let” it happen. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you, not as a guest, but as a dear, close member of your family, and let it dwell in you “richly.”

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WELS MISSIONS – NIGERIA The past three months we have given information about mission work in some other African countries: Zambia, Malawi, and Cameroon. This month we are looking at a fourth African nation – a nation in which our Synod has done mission work for over 80 years. Christ the King Lutheran Church of Nigeria and All Saints Lutheran Church of Nigeria are our two sister synods in the southeast states of Nigeria. Descended from the Synodical Conference first Lutheran mission, Christ the King and All Saints are true, confessional Lutheran synods. They are sister synods in fellowship with WELS, members of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC), and true mission partners with WELS. The 4,200 communicant members of the two Nigerian synods are currently served by 20 Nigerian pastors and more than 55 lay preachers. By God’s grace and through frequent visits by a WELS missionary, we aim to help the Nigerian church bodies capitalize on their on-going zeal and effort.

PRAYING FOR NIGERIA: Please pray that all Nigerian members remain faithful to the Lord and his Word, so they continue to share the saving gospel message with all Nigerians. Ask for God’s blessings on the presidents, pastors, and leaders of All Saints and Christ the King Lutheran synods. Pray for our indigenous health volunteers in both synods.

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St. Paul’s Lutheran School Arlington, MN “Preparing Children Now and For Eternity”

VOLLEYBALL and SOCCER TEAMS: Everyone is welcome to come and cheer on St. Paul’s. Volleyball matches are in our school gym and soccer matches are played at Frenzel Park. Go Saints! SCHOOL RECEIVES GRANT: Sibley County Health has awarded us $350 grant to support our breakfast program at school. They are impressed with our foodservice and want to update our equipment. Our school has qualified for about $5,000 in tutoring money from the state Dept. of education. Kari Schmidt serves as the Title I staff this school year. ACCREDITATION RENEWAL: Next year will mark the fifth year we have been an accredited education institution. It also means we are going to be hosting a site visit in the spring of 2020. As a congregation, we need to revise our school onsite report and standards. If you think you can be a part of this process or have questions contact Principal Kaesermann. Work in these groups can usually be done in two meetings. We had 60 people help last time and would like to involve even more over the next year. Thank you for your support. WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK: Keep up-to-date with all school events and happenings online. www.stpaularlington.com/school click calendar. Like us on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/stpaularlington UPCOMING EVENTS: September 3 First Day of Classes K-8th, PREK 3 in the afternoon 4 First Day for PREK4 5 First day for Home School Program 7 Redwood Falls Volleyball Tourney 10 Back-to-School Picnic 6:00 12 Soccer @ Redwood Falls 17 Soccer @ St. Peter 21 St. Peter Soccer Tournament 24 Soccer Home w/ St. Peter/ Vball Home w/ Gaylord 28 MLC Soccer Tournament October 1 Home Soccer and Vball Redwood Falls 4:30 4 Marathon Day @ Sportsman Park (7th Rain Date) 8 Home Vball w/ Gaylord 10 Soccer @ PLS (Gibbon) 4:00/ Vball @ PLS Fairfax 5:00 12 MVL Volleyball Tournament 16 Raking Day in our community/ Midterm Reports/3hr out early 17-18 NO SCHOOL Teachers Conference(@ Bethany College) 25 Family Harvest Party @ school 6:00-7:30 27 PREK-8th sing in church While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

September 2019 OPENING SERVICE: School opening service will be September 3rd, 8:15 at church. Everyone is welcome to attend this short service. BACK TO SCHOOL: It has been a wonderful summer at school. We are thankful to God for the wondrous blessings this summer. Thank you to the volunteers that made our projects possible. We welcome many new families to share God’s message of salvation with this year. Please add school to your prayer list as we begin the new school year. NEW BOX TOPS for EDUCATION: Like many products, Box Tops will no longer be cut and saved for school. It will all be digital. How will you do this: 1. On your cell phone download the Box Top App. 2. Set up the App to designate your groceries to St. Paul’s School 3. Scan your receipt with the app Box Tops will then automatically be calculated for our school! SCHOOL MARATHON: Our annual marathon will be held on October 4th. All members of the congregation, friends of the school, and families are invited to walk with us in Arlington on the path to Sportsman Park that morning. Children are looking for sponsors. You can find donation slips on the school bulletin board in the back of the church which you can return directly to the school or any staff or student. This year proceeds will go towards airflow ductwork at school, window sashes replacement, 10% to tuition endowment, and lunch license. SAINTS GEAR: St Paul’s clothing can now be ordered anytime go to- stpaularlington.com/school/. Click on the shirt logo

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CHOIR It’s time for choir to begin another year of singing praises to God. Please consider joining. Even though it does take some commitment ( 1 hour/week for practice and some services to sing), it’s well worth the time and effort! We begin practice onWednesday, Sept. 4, at 7:00pm in the balcony. Even if you miss the first practice, you CAN join! If you have any questions or would lke to join, please contact Don Koch at 507.964.5452 or email him at don.koch@stpaularlington.com.

FALL GATHERING

On Sept. 8

*Outdoor Worship Service (West Side of Church) 10:00A.M.

*Bring a friend or relative

*Second Grade Bible Presentation

*New Member Recognition

*POTLUCK DINNER

(with smoked pork chops – free-will offering) Bring a dish to Pass After Service

HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU THERE!!

SENIOR MINISTRY Senior Ministry will meet on Monday, SEPTEMBER 9, at 1:30pm. We start with a short Bible study followed by conversation, games, snacks and fun. If you would like any one of those, please join us. You are never too young and never too old. You will be glad you came!

September is Diaper Drive Month! The ladies of the Mission Society are sponsoring the annual Diaper Drive for the support of clients at New Day Pregnancy Counseling Center. New Day is an arm of Christian Life Ministries and counsels expectant mothers on options other than abortion. The diapers and wipes we collect are packaged in small quantities and distributed according to need. All sizes are needed. These small gifts open a door for sharing the gospel message with young mothers and their family members. Look for the “pack ‘n play” in the narthex to drop in your donation. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

YOUTH GROUP Fall Kickoff Meeting

September 8th at 3:30pm This is a family outing at the Scherer's (18609 391st Ave. Green Isle.) with games, fun and fellowship for all 7th thru 12th graders and their families. We will be grilling hotdogs (provided). Please bring salads, chips or desserts to share. Our meetings are usually the 2nd Sunday of each month. Bring your ideas and family calendars for making plans and commitments for the upcoming months. See you on Sunday!

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BIBLE STUDIES

SUNDAY MORNING FAMILY BIBLE During the month of September Pastor will be finishing the study on the book of James. Bible study begins at 9:00am. There will be no Bible study on Sept.1 or 8. Coffee and hot chocolate is served. WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY We will be finishing the series on Creation with a lesson on “Rest.”. Then we begin a series called “Pray, Praise, and Give Thanks: Favorite Psalms of God’s People.” This will be a look at individual Psalms. The schedule is as follows: September 4 -- Rest September 11 – Psalm 1 September 18 – Psalm 2 September 25 – Psalm 23

KEYNOTE ADDRESS – MEN’S CONFERENCE OCT. 26 – ROCHESTER CIVIC CENTER

It just seems that storms and life go together. There is no place on earth where God’s people can be free—completely free—from the stress, pressure, trouble or pain that sin’s consequences bring. And escaping the torrents of temptation, the gusts of guilt, and the currents which carry even the strongest man off his moral moorings is only a dream. . . a fantasy. Our need, therefore, is not to think of ways to get away from the storms but to learn the secret of going through them. In some of the final words Jesus spoke in His immortal Sermon on the Mount, Jesus used a vivid word picture of two houses, built on opposite foundations. From this familiar illustration, we can learn the secret of an unshakeable life…BUILT ON THE ROCK.

(More in next column)

This is the theme of the MEN’s conference on Oct. 26 at the Rochester Civic Center. It is sponsored by a WELS group called Men of His Word. Besides the Keynote address there are a number of breakout sessions in connection with the conference. Topics include “Identity Christsis: Seeking Self-Worth as a Young Adult," "Depression and Suicide in the Life of a Christian,” “Faith in Uncertain Times: Living in a Post-Christian World,” “Build a Marriage House that Doesn’t Break,” “Church and ... Change?,” “My X-Rated Life,” “Strengthening the Foundations of Leadership,” and “Gender Identity and Jesus’ Love.” For more information and to register go to: www.menofhisword.org.

MEN OF HIS WORD GAME PLAN: 1.Host men’s conferences that bring men together to discuss relevant issues and equip them to lead. 2.Develop and share resources for both individuals and groups to challenge men in their homes and congregations

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*How do I receive his gracious forgiveness? His word assured me that Jesus led a pure and holy life for me and died on the cross for me to pay the full price for all my sins. Through faith in Jesus, I have been clothed I my Savior’s perfect righteousness and holiness. *What further assurance do I have that Jesus is mine and I am his? In Holy Communion he gives me his body and blood together with the bread and wine as a truly life-giving food and drink to unite me with him and my fellow believers. By means of this sacrament, Jesus not only forgives me sins but sweeps away all my doubts about his love for me, gives me his own strength to live a God-pleasing life, and grants me a joyful foretaste of heaven. *How will I respond to this priceless gift from Jesus? I will daily thank and praise him for his love to me. With his help I will fight temptation, do my best to correct whatever wrongs I have done, and serve him and those around me with love and good works. *What are we confessing about our faith when we receive Holy Communion together with others? When we gather with others to take Holy Communion, we are confessing our unity of faith in our Lord Jesus. Being able to take Holy Communion with others that are of the same faith will help us to keep growing our faith in our Lord Jesus. So, I look forward to joining you for Holy Communion.

CONFIRMATION ESSAY On this page please enjoy another of the Confirmation essays:

Why I Look Forward to Coming to Communion?

By Morgan Thoele Daughter of Daniel and Jaime Thoele

Why is Holy Communion able to offer and give such great blessings? Holy Communion was given to us by our Lord Jesus. I Corinthians 11:23-25 states, “The Lord Jesus … took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ’This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper, he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ Because of these words, Holy Communion is able to offer and give such great blessings. The forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are all blessings that we receive through Holy Communion. In order to receive such great blessings, Holy Communion must be done with the proper words and items that Jesus had told us to use. Just as I would wash my hands before dinner, we also need to take the time before Holy Communion to properly prepare ourselves to receive the Lord’s Supper. What, however, is the one and only thing that makes us properly prepared to receive the Lord’s Supper? The one and only thing which makes us properly prepared to receive the Lord’s Supper is faith. Nothing but our hearts that believe are required to be fully prepared for Holy Communion. Before coming to church asking yourself the following questions will help better prepare yourself: *What does God tell me about myself in his Holy Word? He says that I am a sinner and deserve only his punishment. *When I realize that I have sinned against God and deserve his punishment, what should I do? I will confess before God all my sins, those which I remember as well as those of which I am unaware. I will pray to God for his mercy and forgiveness. (Continued in next column)

LINE OF CREDIT For those of you unable to attend the semi annual meeting there was an update on where we stand with our line of credit. Porky’s generated $9500 during the fair and the congregation voted to put the entire amount towards our debt. As we stand now it is down to around $23,000. At the annual meeting in January it was over $84,000. Truly amazing and a blessing how everyone has made this our “special project “ for 2019. This has also saved us a couple thousand in interest to the bank - money that stays in our church for the Lord’s work. Your church council wants to say THANK YOU to all who stepped up and helped in any way to bring down the deficit. What a blessing!!!

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SAVE THE DATE FOR WELCOME HOME SUNDAY: NOVEMBER 17TH

WHOM WILL YOU REACH? It happens for a variety of reasons. Christians stop going to church. Do you know one of the reasons people cite for not coming back to church? Fear. They are afraid they are going to be judged or someone is going to make a joke about their being gone. Welcome Home Sunday is intended to be a celebration of the blessing of Christian community our God gives to us. He intends his church to be just like a home: a safe place where we can live without fear. He intends believers to love and treat one another as kin. Our goal is to have 100% of our members in attendance on that Sunday. Thus, it is the perfect Sunday for someone who has been away from church for a while to come back. Do you know someone like that? Maybe it’s a sister or a son or a friend. They used to come, but for whatever reason, stopped. Reach out to them. Offer to pick them on that day. If they are afraid, assure them that is unnecessary. We are all sinners. We are all redeemed. And we are all family. On that day, everyone receives a warm “Welcome home!”

WELS CAMPUS MINISTRY

College Students and/or Parents of College Students: TAKE NOTE

Heading to college can be exciting, stressful, and everything in between. WELS Campus Ministry can help! Let us help you stay connected to God’s Word. To begin go to wels.net/campus-ministry and click the button “College students register here.” You can register for free subscriptions to Forward in Christ magazine and Meditations devotional booklets and will be connected to the campus pastor for your school. Students who have previously registered for WELS Campus Ministry are encouraged to check their profile and preferences and make any necessary updates.

Porky’s 2019 We had another very successful year. A big thank you to everyone who volunteered their time, made a donation of some sort, or came out to the fair to eat. Thank you also goes to Jim & Paul Soeffker for the work they have done on the building, and Nelva Lillienthal for painting the new signs. We had monetary donations of $1,900.00 (Cash donations of $650 and Thrivent Action Team gift cards of $1250). Receipts of $ 17,634.50 Expenses of $10,518,14 Our Net proceeds were $9,500.00 The committee recommended the proceeds go towards reducing the line of credit. This recommendation was approved at the semi annual meeting. 2019 was our 15th year of operating Porky’s. Total proceeds to date are $89,600. These funds have been used over the years for projects of the congregation which are not budgeted for. Some interesting facts from this year: We served over 1800 bottles of pop and water, over 2700 sandwiches, 225 pork chop dinners, and 30 gallons of potato salad. New members to the committee are always welcome. Please contact one of the current committee members if you are interested.

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I Need More… Knowledge The Church of Scientology teaches that people are basically good, that their capabilities are

unlimited, and those capabilities can be realized. People can also achieve new, higher states of awareness and ability. Scientology claims that the secrets to this higher knowledge can only be found in their church through a process they call “auditing.”

Seems strange? But honestly, a cultic religion that encourages you to look within yourself for

more knowledge can really satisfy an itch. Who doesn’t feel they need more knowledge? And how about being able to pat yourself on the back for pursuing it and supposedly finding that knowledge within yourself? That’s pretty appealing to the human heart.

But God’s Word sounds much different than L. Ron Hubbard, who authored the book that has

become Scientology’s bible. God says people are not basically good, that people’s natural capabilities are limited to sinning and rebelling against God. As a result, God says all people are the same: “There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God…The way of peace they do not know” (Romans 3:11,17).

God is right! Not L. Ron Hubbard! Need proof? Think about Adam and Eve when they pursued

more knowledge on their own apart from God. They rejected God’s Word and sinned. Look at what their own inner pursuit of knowledge got them and us! A world infected by sin so badly that everyone eventually dies.

Jesus knows we all lack knowledge, and he wants to fill that void. He does so not by telling us to

find it inside ourselves, but by telling us to look outside ourselves. We find knowledge in the Bible. Through his Word, God makes us wise; he gives us insight and understanding. (See Psalm 119:98-100.) That’s because God’s Word gives us knowledge that we can’t find or discover anywhere else.

The Bible tells about Jesus. It tells how wide, long, high, and deep Jesus’ love is for people. That

love drove Jesus to come to this world, bear the sin of every person, die on a cross, and suffer the eternal punishment for all sins. That’s love—love so amazing that God declares that your sins are forgiven because of Jesus. That’s love—love so beyond understanding that Jesus, the righteous one, should die for the unrighteous. But he did! That’s why the apostle Paul says that “this love surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19). In Jesus’ love for you, you have everything you truly need to know, both now and forever.