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St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church

107 Tustin Road Fremont, WI 54940 Office: (920) 446-3251

Website: www.stpaulfremont.org

E-mail: stpaulfremont@centurytel.net

The Christian Life Doesn’t Shift Automatically

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2

There used to be a show I enjoyed called Top Gear. It was about three Brits from England who road-tested, souped-up or modified automobiles. Some of the situations seemed ridiculous like having an off road race with travel trailers. Some were fascinating like traveling the Pan-American Highway from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina, a distance of 30,000 miles spanning two continents. Each episode celebrated the wonders of the combustible engine and the gear box which makes up what we know as the automobile.

But there is another gear that shifts at this time of the year: “Time to gear-up for Fall”. And that means that looking at the speedometer and tachometer of life, another stretch of the highway of life is before us as Fall comes on the horizon.

Hopefully the weeks of summer that are winding down have given you time to ease up on the accelerator of life. Kids were out of school. There were vacations to take and long weekends to enjoy. Maybe you had the opportunity to really slowdown so that you could enjoy life instead of it being just a blur of commitments and obligations.

Yet all of sudden, school begins, sports programs and practices are underway, and new projects to tackle at work. Before long with all the things that have to be done; life becomes an endurance race like the Indy 500.

However a question remains…”have we really switched gears?” In car talk, that means that you are “red-lining” the limits of your engine (your life). Our engines can spin so fast that it becomes dangerous and destructive. A choice has to be made. Either slow down or shift to another gear. When that happens, the speed of life can continue without destroying the engine.

As Christians, we make the mistake of thinking that our lives will shift automatically just like an automatic transmission in our cars and trucks. But the Christian life doesn’t have an automatic transmission.

The Christian life calls us to manually shift gears through the help of the Holy Spirit. That means the following: more time listening to the Lord as He comes to us through the Word and Sacraments at worship and personal devotions. It means more time in our life to talk with the Lord in our prayer life. It means thinking about Christ’s Words and Promises and how they apply and prioritize our life. The result is…more insight in God’s purpose for our lives day by day.

What it all means is that God is in control of our lives. He is the One who does the shifting and the breaking. The Lord doesn’t want us constantly “red-lining” it; trying to cram more and more of this life and having less and less of Him. With the Lord in control there is more power and less rattling so that life runs smoothly.

This Fall means God is shifting the gears of our life. For some, it means that God wants us to fill up to speed up so that our God-given faith that burns the fuel of God’s Word can run smoothly and efficiently; instead of running on “vapors”. For others, it means that God has to shift us down; so that we can still run smoothly and efficiently. Health concerns and personal concerns may mean that the engine of life is shifted down so that we can carry a heavier load for the time being. But in the end none of this is bad! The Lord knows how the engine of our God-given faith can run at optimal level. He knows the road ahead. The Christian life is all about trusting His love in His Word and Promises.

In the end, the Christian life is all about shifting gears so that we can meet the challenges of this open road. All of you and me is powered by God’s Word through the Holy Spirit. None of that happens automatically because the Christian life doesn’t have an automatic transmission. The Lord is our designated driver! He is in control! He desires that we make the most of the precious fuel of His Words and Promises.

So this Fall, if it is time to shift up to make better use of the Word and Sacraments in our life; or if it is shifting down so that God’s Word and Promises can pull a heavier load; may God bless your journey ahead. The Christian life opens before us!

September 2016

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Last Sunday of the Summer Schedule!

Please note that Sunday, September 4, 2016 (Labor Day Weekend) is the last Sunday of the Summer Schedule! The Fall/Winter Schedule begins on Sunday, September 11, 2016 with services at 7:45 & 10:30AM and the Christian education hour (Bible Classes and Sunday School) at 9:15AM.

College Students, Dads and Moms!

Hopefully your college bound students are back at school for the Fall/Winter term. Please take a moment to call the church office at 920-446-3251 or email (stpaulfremont@centurytel.net) with their college address and email. We will be happy to email or send you a copy of the monthly edition of the St. Paul Connection throughout the coming school year. Also if you need to find the name and address of the closest LCMS church to your campus; please either stop or phone Pastor Pope. Don’t forget to remind them that they need to take Jesus with them as they begin a new year of college!

Sunday School Kick-Off 2016

Sunday, September 11th, 9:15 a.m.

Once again the Board of Education is What’s your vocation? Mom, Dad, brother, sister, student, doctor, factory worker? What if God wanted you to be a juggler? How can you serve God by wearing yellow shoes and juggling? Come to the first day of Sunday School to find out:. Luke 1:37 – “For nothing will be impossible with God”. This year’s Kick-off for Sunday School will include Dan Kirk, The Juggler With The Yellow Shoes. Come to hear about God’s plan for Dan, and have fun! Sunday, September 11, 9:15 a.m.

Sunday School Registration Through The Website & At Church

Sunday School for 2016-2017 formally begins on September 25, 2016 at 9:15AM (*). (Oktoberfest will be held on September 18, 2016). Sunday School Rally Day will be held on Sunday, September 11, 2016. Registration can be done in two ways: 1) you can register here at church by picking up a Sunday School Registration form or 2) you can print off the registration form on line at the website: stpaulfremont.org. Please look for the Sunday School Registration Tab. Please download it, print it, fill out the necessary information and drop if off at church. There will be a box in the fellowship hallway to receive your forms. Having a registration card helps in 2 areas! 1st, we can locate parents with a cell phone just in case there is sickness or accidents that occur; 2ndly, it helps us plan for ordering of Sunday School materials. The cost of Sunday School materials continues to rise. The average yearly cost for our congregation is $2500 through Concordia Publishing House. We will only be ordering materials for those students who have registered. Your help in filling out these registration cards is greatly appreciated.

(*) Sunday School On September 18, 2016 Sunday School will meet at its regular time on Oktoberfest Sunday, September 18, 2016 at 9:15AM! As in the past, there will be a joint session held for the upper grades and another session held for the lower grades. Formal Sunday School instruction will begin on Sunday, September 25, 2016!

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Sunday School Teachers’ Commissioning Service

Commissioning of our Sunday School Teachers will be held on Sunday, September 11, 2016 in both services. Full-time, team teachers and substitutes as well as our youth group leaders are invited to come forward for the Lord’s blessing on their work. Sunday School teachers for this year are: 4K, Kindergarten & 1st Grade: Sheri Boettcher and Jen Titus; 2nd and 3rd Grade: Tara Pomrening and Mel Ebert; 4th and 5th Grade: Sarah Pope; 6th Grade: Mark Peters; and 7th and 8th Grade: Paul Krause. Sunday School Substitute Teachers are: Sandy Smith, Brenda Kester; Nikki Schroeder and Angie Hansen. May God richly bless your year of teaching God’s Word!

New Year of Catechism Class 2016-17

Catechism Class for the Fall & Winter term will begin on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 6:30 PM. This class is for all 6th, 7th and 8th grade children of our congregation in preparation for Examination and Confirmation in the Christian faith. This first class, parents are asked to accompany their students for the first session beginning at 6:30 PM. Information and registration ($25.00 to cover the cost of workbooks and materials) will be taken care of that evening. Catechism Class is a three year program of Catechism lessons, assignments, Bible history and memorizations of portions of Luther’s Catechism. Catechism Class lasts from 6:30-8 PM with three sectionals, a half hour each that consists of Catechism instruction, Bible history and workbook and memorization assignments. Full-time Teachers this year are Pastor and Sarah Pope. Like last year, parents are asked to take a turn each Wednesday class period to help with memory work. Currently we have 18 students for Catechism instruction.

Adult Bible Classes for ’16-‘17

Sunday Morning Bible Class kicks off for the Fall on Sunday, September 25th at 9:30 AM with a special presentation, “ A Man Named Martin – Part 2: The Moment” This is the second installment of a three year study series designed to honor the life and times of the German Reformer, his unpar-alleled contributions to the Christian Church and the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation on October 31, 2017. It’s a fascinating study! Please come! After this study is concluded we will continue our study of Route 66 (66 books of the Bible) as we conclude the Old Testament with the last four books of the Old Testament: Zephaniah, Haggai,Zechariah & Malachi. These last four prophets of the 12 minor prophets of the Old Testament give us insight into the lives of God’s people following their resettlement of Israel following the 70 years of Captivity in Babylon. The problems God’s people of old faced are remarkably similar to the problems that God’s people and His Church are facing today. Please come and be a part of the group and the lively discussions we enjoy every Sunday morning!

Wednesday Morning Bible Class continues during the month of September at 10:30AM. This Bible Class began a study of the Book of Genesis in June of 2015. We are over 3/4 of the way through the book of Genesis. Even if you have missed most of the book of Genesis, the last chapters of Genesis which deal with the life of Joseph are some of the most compelling and moving in all of Scripture. The Lord teaches us how to deal with the whole issue of “unresolved conflict” in our lives as we look at the life of Joseph. The word “genesis” in Greek means “beginning”. The Book of Genesis is made up of 10 “toledoths” or “histories or beginnings” of God’s people from Noah to Joseph and it traces the promise of God’s faithful love in sending the Savior. It has been said that if you understand what the Book of Genesis is all about you will have firm grasp of what the rest of Scriptures are all about. Come and learn the facts. Come and hear the Gospel.

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St. Paul Women’s Book Group for ’16-‘17

This year’s book for the St. Paul Women’s Book Group is “Living the Chocolate Life” by Deb Burma, published by Concordia Publishing House. Living a “chocolate life” means sampling everything from bitter nuggets of pain to sweet morsels of joy. Some days are dark and lumpy; other days are light and smooth…just like chocolate! Whatever the shape, flavor and texture of our days and whatever ways in which are lives are shaped and packaged; we can savor God’s endlessly rich supply of His grace in Christ! He wraps us in forgiveness and the Holy Spirit fills us with sweet faith in our Savior and His Words and Promises. The group meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:30PM beginning on Tuesday, September 13, 2016. The agenda that evening will be a discussion of the first chapter. Women of all ages are invited to come. Yes! There will be some form of chocolate served during each time we discuss a chapter!The sign-up sheet and a copy of the book (for you to look at) are located on the desk in the fellowship area. You can either buy your own book through Amazon for $10.00 or else a group order will be made. Sign-up for the group order by Sunday, September 4, 2016. Checks should be made out to St. Paul Lutheran Church and can be given to Kim (with an envelope, if you leave your order on her desk). If you have any questions, please call, Sarah Pope at (920)-993-9241.

Fall Bible Sale

Getting into God’s Word is a good thing for us as a congregation and as individuals. Concordia Publishing House in St. Louis, MO is once again offering its annual Fall Bible Sale through-out the month of September. Discounted prices for all of the Bibles offered by Concordia including the popular Lutheran Study Bible are featured with savings up to 45%. This year’s sale also includes ESV Lutheran Study Bibles that have a commemorative 500th Anniversary cover. The sale runs through September 30, 2016. For more information go to the website: cph:org and click the tab for “Bible Sale”. If you aren’t sure what kind of Bible is for you and what would be useful for a loved one that you are giving the Bible as a gift, please speak with Pastor.

Looking Ahead To Upcoming Events in October

On Sunday, October 2, 2016 ‘The Way’ Youth Group of St. Paul’s will be hosting a special Appreciation Dinner immediately after late service to say “thanks’ to the congregation for all their generous support for this summer’s trip to New Orleans for the National Youth Gathering. Menu for the day will be spaghetti with all the trimmings! Also the youth from our congregation that went on the trip will have a special presentation to the congregation about the National Youth Gathering. Parents of our youth group as well as youth group members are asked to watch for emails from Debbie Thorne about planning meetings for this event.

On Tuesday, October 25, 2016 you are invited to a special Preschool/Congregational Night featuring nationally known Christian recording artist, Jennie Williamson. The event begins at 5PM that day, with a pizza supper served for all who wish to come. At 6:30PM the concert will begin. The concert will last from 45 minutes to 1 hour. Jennie Williamson, will be in our area and she is well-known for the many Christian songs that she produces which our St. Paul Preschool and Sunday School use. Please mark your calendars for this event. We hope that many will take the time to come and welcome Jennie Williamson to our community. Please invite guests and visitors!

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St. Paul 10th Annual Oktoberfest – Sunday, September 18, 2016

St. Paul’s Oktoberfest & Pig Roast will take place on Sunday, September 18, beginning with an outdoor church service at 10:30 AM. A delicious German meal with all the trimmings, a silent auction, along with polka music, rounds out the day until 1:30 PM. Throughout the month of September there will be updates in the Sunday bulletin and from Doug Ehrenberg, our chairman for Oktoberfest. Again we are counting on everyone to help in some way, encouraging others to attend, purchasing tickets for a wonderful meal and fellowship, or by volunteering in the following areas: Pre-Oktoberfest Set-up Crew

Lending your Nesco roaster as well as moving food from the church to the tent

(Please be sure to put your name on your Nesco including the lid.)

Helping in the kitchen and helping to serve in the food line.

Baking one or more German chocolate, chocolate and white cakes

(disposable aluminum cake tins will be provided)

Post-Oktoberfest Clean Up Crew

Table and Tent Fall Decorations

Donations for the Silent Auction

If you are able to help in one or a couple different ways, please be sure to call Doug Ehrenberg at 446-3646 or 446-2288. It is important that if you can help that you would please call ahead of time, that way we can get an accurate number of people that we need for set-up and take down. If you can bake a cake, please sign up on the round table. The German Dinner menu includes the following: Roast Pork; sauerkraut; stuffing; baby red potatoes; corn; and dinner roll.

(hot dogs available for the children)

Dessert: Assortment of Frosted Cakes

Coffee and Milk included

Cost: $12.00(Pre Sale) per person; $14 (Day Of)

children 8 and younger free.

Carry-outs are welcomed

For advance tickets call the church office at 446-3251 or Doug Ehrenberg at 446-3646

or 446-2288

Also, your help in purchasing 10 meal tickets above your regular Sunday offerings to church, to sell to family and friends will be greatly appreciated.

This year we will again be having our St. Paul’s Preschool & Sunday School 4K-4th Grade singing as part of the church service.

See you at Oktoberfest!

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St. Paul Lutheran Church Council Meeting July 19, 2016

The meeting was called to order by Doug Ehrenberg at 6:29 pm. Pastor opened with a devotion. Roll Call: Matthew Voigt, Pastor Pope, Phil Lewin, Doug Ehrenberg, Ken Rothe, Scott Krause Absent: Eric Berndt, Bobbi Marks, Board of Education, Stewardship/Evangelism Minutes: The minutes of the June 21st meeting were reviewed. A motion was made by Phil Lewin, seconded by Ken Rothe to approve the minutes. Motion carried. Treasurer: The June 2016 treasurer report was reviewed. A motion was made by Ken Rothe, seconded by Phil Lewin to approve. Motion carried. Pastor: A big thank you to everybody that helped with moving stuff for the daycare for the flooring project. The youth kids are in New Orleans for the National Youth Gathering. Things are going well there. They will be home on Thursday. The second annual film fest is Friday August 5th. Looking at ways to get the youth involved. August 17th is the preschool open house. We will release Crystal Strasse to St. Peters, Weyauwega. Elders: Approved sending of third letter to those on the non-communicant list that have not responded. Looking for input on the service at the park with Dave Horn. We all thought it went well. We will see if we can’t continue to do this again next summer. Trustees: Remodeling is currently underway in the daycare upper area. Aeroloc finished today and flooring will go in later this week. Downspout extensions need to stay perpendicular to the building so that the water drains away. A belt broke on the lawn mower, Scott will replace. Scott spoke with Great Lakes roofing about a few leaks on the west side of the building. Board of Education: Daycare budget is doing well. Flooring will be going in upper daycare this week. August 17th is open house. Summer film fest is August 5th. Stewardship/Evangelism: We will pass on information about Dave Horn so that they can plan a future event. Old Business: None New Business: Chamber Membership: Our membership in the chamber of commerce needs to be renewed. A motion was made by Scott Krause, seconded by Ken Rothe to renew that membership. Motion carried. Concordia Plan Services: We need to review our insurance selection that we have through them. Our selected plan is still being offered and as nobody is currently on the plan we thought it best to maintain as is. A motion was made by Phil Lewin, seconded by Scott Krause to renew the existing plan. LCMS Foundation: We received our yearly statements for the Camp Lutheran Fund and the Westmeyer Fund. One fund lost money this year. We need to look into changes to these funds as they are essentially in CD’s. It was agreed to table until next month so that more information and a plan could be put together. Keys: Kim gave us a box of old keys for around church. Doug will check them and get rid of those that no longer have use around church. A motion was made by Scott Krause, seconded by Phil Lewin to adjourn. We adjourned at 6:57 pm. We closed with the Lord’s Prayer. Respectfully Submitted – Matthew Voigt – Secretary

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September 1 - Rebecca Emond

September 2 - Patricia Kester, Eric Toepke

September 3 - Robert Hartfiel, Kyle Kons

September 4 - Douglas Ehrenberg, Karen Looker

September 6 - Sarina Hanson

September 7 - Lanora Hartfiel

September 8 - LeVan Toepke

September 9 - Barbara Farb, Brent Reiland

September 10 - Lillian Hildebrand

Chuck Vanevenhoven

September 11 - Samantha Block, Nikole Braun

September 13 - Jordan Lathrop

September 14 - Tucker Kettner

September 15 - Greg Oehlke

September 16 - Sandra Smith

September 17 - Ava Schroeder

September 20 - Barb Buchholz

September 21 - Harley Bartel, James Struck

Kerri Anderson

September 22 - Matthew Voigt

September 26 - Brenda Hillskotter

September 27 - Christ Brogaard, Josh Lathrop

September 28 - Bonnie Gitter

September 29 - Shelly Kohl, Joanne Buss

September 1 – Lee & Julie Hansen September 2 – Pastor & Sarah Pope, Marlyn & Lorraine Ebert September 6 – Paul & Dawn Krause Glenn & Tara Pomrening September 7 – Jamie & Theresa Wohlrabe Matthew & Devin Oehlke September 8 – Scott & Kathy Krause September 9 – Kevin & Barb Miller September 12 – Duane & Pat Koplien Kevin & Bonnie Zeinert Seth & Katherine Miller September 15 – Josh & Stacy Dunaj September 19 – Ryan & Nikole Braun September 20 – Brent & Shea Reiland September 22 – Dennis & Gail Belling September 24 – Tom & Patti Schmoldt Doug & Kari Weisshahn September 27 – Ken & Brandy Borremans September 30 – Phil & Bonnie Lewin

September 4th, 11th & 25th

Greeters 1st – Lee & Julie Hansen 2nd – Inez Hanson

Ushers 1st – Ron Ehlke, Roy Toepke Lee & Julie Hansen

2nd – Scott & Kathy Krause Bill & Candace Mitchell

ACOLYTES

September 4 – 1st – Ellie Pomrening

2nd – Emma Looker

September 11 – 1st – Bohdan Witkowski

2nd – Hailey Wheaton

September 25 – 1st – Matthew Zeichert

2nd – Carson Kester

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St. Paul Child Care-Preschool Newsletter

September 2016

107 Tustin Road Fremont, WI 54940 Telephone:920-446-3633

E-mail:stpaulchildcare@centurytel.net

Director: Sandra Smith (920-407-1191) Preschool Program Teacher: Nancy Bleck School Age Teachers: Becca Mitchell Little Learners Teacher: Nan Young

Child Care Teachers: Shelly Kohl, Susan McGlin, Cindy Billington, Jane Freer, Tammy Ebert,

Lori Gabrielson, Tammy Yonke & Terry Fischer

Calendar

Thursday, September 1 Weyauwega-Fremont/St. Peter’s Schools Begin

Monday, September 5 Labor Day-Child Care Center Closed

Tuesday, September 6 First Day of 2016-2017 Little Learners/Preschool Programs

Thursday, September 8 W-F Monday/Thursday 4K First Day

Friday, September 9 W-F Tuesday/Friday 4K First Day

Sunday, September 18 10:30 AM Preschool/Little Learners Sing at St. Paul’s Oktoberfest

Welcome to St. Paul Preschool/Child Care. We believe that each child is a special creation, loved and cared for by God and deserving of our respect. We recognize the importance of positive experiences early in a child’s life that will encourage optimum development of God-given potential. Please stop in to visit at anytime. If you have any questions or concerns, stop in and see your child’s teacher or Ms Sandy or call Ms Sandy at 920-407-1191.

St. Paul will be holding its 10th annual Oktoberfest Celebration on Sunday, September 18. Ms Nancy and Ms Nan’s classes are invited to sing with St. Paul Sunday School students at 10:30am. You will receive more information from Ms Nancy and Ms Nan.

FAMILY NIGHT FOR CHILD CARE & CHURCH FAMILIES BRING FAMILIES & FRIENDS

PIZZA FOR ALL CONCERT BY JENNIE WILLIAMSON

Christian Recording Artist and Speaker for School, Youth, Women’s and Family Ministry Events To learn more about Jennie Williamson go to JennieWilliamson.com.

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