Sunday School Christmas Program - December 19th

Please join us for the Sunday School children's Christmas message with readings, song and costume this Sunday, December 19 during the 11 AM worship service.  Gift bags will be given to all children attending the service.  A special offering will be received for special children's ministries and the children's library.

Community Praise Night

Don't forget the 2010 Community Praise Night is going to be this Sunday, November 14th at 6:30 pm at the Dixon High School Auditorium.  Free passes are available on the table in the gathering area.

100th Birthday Open House

Irene V. Santee, a long time member of St. Paul Lutheran Church will be celebrating her 100th birthday on Sunday, November 7th from 1-3pm at Liberty Court Nursing Home with a small gathering of relatives and church friends.  Please no gifts or food.  She would enjoy receiving cards.  They may be sent to: 124 Liberty Court Apt. A-9, Dixon, IL  61021.

World Community Day 2010

Church Women United invite the public to World Community Day on Friday, November 5th at 1pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church.  This year's theme is "Building the Beloved Community."   Cookies, coffee and tea to follow in the fellowship hall.  An elevator is available.  Everyone is welcome!

Fall Work Day

Property committee invites everyone to join them in the fall clean up of the church property - inside and out.  The work will begin at 8am and should be done by noon on Saturday, November 6th.

Fellowship Potluck

Please join us for a potluck this, Sunday, October 31st after the 11am service.  The Fellowship Committee will provide the BBQ on buns and the drinks. Bring your own table service and a dish to pass.  We anticipate a good turnout and look forward to this gathering.

Confirmation Class to Visit the Mabley Center

On Wednesday, October 27, class will meet from 3:15 – 5:30 PM as we'll be visiting the Jack Mabley Center during that time (NOTE:  this is a change in time from our regular 4:30 – 6 PM time slot).

Junior/Senior Youth Movie Night

From 4 – 6 PM, Sunday (October 24) we will be watching "The Invention of Lying" [pg -13] on the big screen at the youth house (parish house north of church building – please come in back door, lower level).  This movie night is open to all 6th – 12th grade youth (& just out of h.s.).  Pizza dinner is optional ($5/person, includes a pop).  Pop or bottled water is a quarter.

ThankOffering Weekend

Beth Nelson Chase will make a presentation at all 3 services this weekend, October 23 & 24.  ThankOffering for the Missions will be given in special envelopes.  There will also be a presentation during the fellowship hour between the services.  Beth has led workshops, training seminars and educational forums as well as served as facilitator and consultant for organization, congregations, social service agencies and educational institutions.  Please join us.

Habitat For Humanity

We at St Paul are looking for workers to help with building the Habitat house on Cropsey Avenue, no special talent is required.  Date is Saturday, October 16th at 8 a.m.  This is a great opportunity to help your community by helping build a new home for a family. If you have a few hours to spare for this project, contact Lois Krieger at 284-5042 or the church office 288-2757and leave your name.  If you can be available at the last minute, just come.  EVERYONE IS ELIGIBLE TO HELP. Lunch will be furnished.

Let's Celebrate A Bountiful Harvest and Help Stock the Dixon Food Pantry

The Dixon Food Pantry is in need of food items and supplies. After each service on October 2 and 3, we will hand out paper bags, with a list of needed items for the Pantry attached. We are asking you to please fill these bags with some of the items on the list. Then return the filled bags to the church during the weekend of October 9 and 10. Let's try and fill the Gathering Area with bags of food. Thank you. ~~The Social Ministries Committee

Church League Volleyball

 Come join us for church league volleyball which starts up on Monday, September 27th at the Northside Baptist Church, 598 River Lane, Dixon at 6:15pm.  This year the games will be on Monday nights.  Guidelines and schedules are on the table in the gathering area. 

Jr-Sr High Youth Movie Night!

 From 4 – 6 PM (or shortly after 6 PM) this Sunday, September 26 we will be watching “The Blind Side” [pg -13] on the big screen at the youth house (parish house north of church building – please come in back door, lower level).  This movie night is open to all 6^th – 12^th grade youth (& just out of h.s.).  Pizza dinner is optional ($5/person, includes a pop).  Pop or bottled water is a quarter.

Confirmation Camp and 1st Confirmation Class

Confirmation Camp is Sept. 17 – 19^th at LOMC.  Students need to turn in registration forms and money. First day of confirmation class is Wednesday, September 22, 4:30 – 6 PM in the fellowship hall. 

Women of the ELCA Annual Convention

First Lutheran Church, DeKalb, IL is hosting the convention on Saturday, September 18th.  The theme:  Act Boldly: Seek and Support Equal Justice.  All women of St. Paul are invited to attend.  The keynote speaker:  Pastor John Nunes, President and CEO, Lutheran World Relief.  Registration fee is $30.00.  This will be a day of excitement, fellowship and learning. We will be taking a special offering for the WELCA Convention during the September circles.  For further information contact the St. Paul WELCA President or the church office at 815-288-2757. 

Rally Day - September 12th

Please join us for a BBQ/Potluck on Sunday, September 12th after the 11 am service.  Fellowship will provide the meat (hot dogs & brats) and drinks.  We are looking for 2 volunteer cooks with grills to prepare the meat.  Everyone should bring a dish to pass and your own table service.  There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the gathering area.  Any questions, call the office.  It's a family affair!

Lutheran College Fairs in September

 Attention high school students, you and your parents are invited to attend the Lutheran Colleges College Fair and Workshops.  Their events include workshops on College and Career Planning and on Financial Aid, and opportunities to meet with representatives from individual colleges.  For more information, visit www.lutherancolleges.org/events.  Dates and locations:  Monday, Sept. 20 6:45 pm – 9:00 pm – Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Naperville, IL, or Tuesday, Sept. 21 6:45 – 9:00 pm – Grace Lutheran Church in Rockford (Loves Park, IL).

162nd Church Birthday Celebration

Come celebrate our 162nd church birthday at St. Paul's this weekend during all worship services.  The sermon will be based on the history of St. Paul and there is a display of historical articles from throughout the years.

6th Grade Acolyte Training

For all youth entering the 6^th grade this year, you will get to be a part of a very fun ministry of the church starting this year… acolyting/lighting the candles for worship services.  The training session for acolyting will be at 9:30 AM (between worship services):  August 22^nd.  PARENTS AND YOUTH ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND.  If you cannot attend, please contact Gerad at the church office.  You should have received information in the mail about your new opportunity to serve your church and Jesus!  If you are older than 6^th grade and have not been trained, please contact Gerad at the church office.  All youth (6^th grade) through adult volunteers are welcome to acolyte.

Gospel Music Weekend

 Don't forget to join us for Gospel Music Weekend on August 28-29.  Come and sing some of your favorite songs!

Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church

 

All women of St. Paul are invited to attend an annual luncheon on Thursday, August 19th at 12 noon.  The luncheon will be at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 501 8th Avenue, Rock Falls.  Pastor Henrietta Milner will be leading the Bible Study.  Please bring your Bible and the August "Lutheran Woman Today" (if you have one).  Food will be provided by the ladies of Immanuel Lutheran Church.  Please call the church office at 815-288-2757 or sign up on the sheet on the WELCA bulletin board since reservations are necessary no later than August 16th.  Car pools will be arranged.

Come Join Us This Weekend For A Multicultural Worship Celebration

MULTICULTURAL WORSHIP CELEBRATION Saturday through Sunday, July 31 – August 1 at all services.  Welcome special guest, Michael Schmit, an NIU (Northern Illinois University) student who is affiliated with Lutheran campus ministry and is preaching at all of our services this weekend.  He will also be presenting in the fellowship hall on Journeys of Hope during the fellowship hour (9:30 AM) on Sunday.  Journeys of Hope is the organization founded by NIU Lutheran campus pastor, Diane Dardon and her husband Estuardo (building a school in Guatemala).  Worship will be filled with music from many cultures and lands.  Please wear something “multicultural” if you’d like (Hawaiian shirts work fine).  Join us as we celebrate the beauty in our cultural diversity, and as we pray, sing and worship with the global church of God.

It's a Boy!

Our congratulations go to Tim & Lisa Zielinski on the birth of their son, Trevor James Zielinski.  Trevor was born Sunday, July 18th at KSB Hospital in Dixon and weighs 7 lbs. 8 ozs. and is 20 inches long.  May God continue to bless this child and his family with health and happiness!

Vacation Bible School - July 19-23

St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Dixon invites children from all church backgrounds to join them on a VBS adventure of cosmic proportions.  Join the crew of the starship Galactic Praise to learn about God's love and God's creation through music, crafts, stories, games and more.  Preschoolers through those entering fifth grade are invited to join them from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 19-23.  There is no charge, but if someone wants to make a donation to help with expenses, they suggest $5 per child or $10 per family. 

Ice Cream Social - Saturday, July 17th

Everyone is invited to an old fashioned Ice Cream Social on Saturday, July 17th from 1-3pm on the Old Courthouse Lawn.  Proceeds to benefit the PADS Homeless Shelter.

PETUNIA FEST PARADE FOOD BOOTH

Our Jr. and Sr. high youth are serving hotdogs, popcorn, pop and water during the Petunia Festival Parade on Sunday, July 4 from 11 am through the end of the parade. Proceeds benefit our youth retreats. Thanks for your support!

Annual Church Picnic - June 27th

Just a reminder.....Our 11am worship service on Sunday, June 27th will be at Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center (LOMC) in Oregon.  Our Rejoice Band will lead the worship music in the LOMC pole barn.  After the service (around noon), we will have a potluck picnic, so bring a dish to pass and your own table service.  Drinks will be provided by the fellowship committee.  After the lunch, the pool will be open from 1-3pm or you may want to go fishing in Paul's Pond or bring some fun outdoor games.  LOMC has a basketball court and a volleyball net so bring your own basketball or volleyball.  Pray for nice weather, and we will see you at the camp on June 27th.    Reminder!  Our Saturday, 5:30pm and Sunday, 8:15am services will be at the church as scheduled. 

Pentecost Sunday, May 23

The drama of the passage from Acts, with its rushing winds and tongues of flame, is the most familiar image associated with Pentecost. Where God once confused human language and scattered human communities across the face of the earth as a response to human pride and isolationism (Gen 11:1-9), at Pentecost we remember how God creates community while respecting diversity by speaking to each of us in ways we can understand.

Yet it is the passage from John that hints best at what those gathered must have heard in their native languages. Jesus assures Philip, and the rest of us, that "whoever has seen me has seen the Father." This is the heart of the gospel and the content of our proclamation, that the nature of God is revealed in the nature of Jesus.

The notion that we can understand who God is by looking at what God has done in the person of Jesus and, by the power of the Holy Spirit poured out at Pentecost, through us as well is the foundation of our Trinitarian faith. In God for Us: The Trinity and Christian Life, Roman Catholic theologian Catherine LaCugna writes, "Theories about what God is apart from God's self-communication in salvation history remain unverifiable and ultimately untheological" (New York: HarperCollins, 1991, p. 231). We do not need to speculate about who God is because God has revealed God's love, justice, and mercy through the person of Christ Jesus.

At Pentecost we were drawn into the inner life of God, which is cracked open for the entire world to see. We were adopted into a family to which everyone belongs, where everyone is welcome. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are sent to do what Jesus did and even "greater works than these" (John 14:12), namely to proclaim God's reconciling love to people of every language and land. (image: Inspiration, by Paula Wiggins. © Paula Wiggins/TheSpiritSource.com. Used by permission.)

New Website

St. Paul welcomes you to its new website. The site still has some finishing touches to be done, but you can see the structure and general look. Let us know what you think. Contact barbara@stpauldixon.org with your feedback.