A new statue of Jesus

On June 14th as part of our 125th anniversary celebration we will dedicate this new statue of Jesus.

This is an original piece designed and constructed for our entryway by artist Philip Perschbacher.
http://www.perschbacherartist.com/

Sherlock Holmes and our congregation. By Pastor Ronnie Koch

In London, in 1890 The Sign of the Four was published in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine. This and other novels and short stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle developed the character Sherlock Holmes. This intriguing fictional detective has engaged and captivated audiences in every generation since. In that same summer, over here on the other side of the Atlantic, German settlers in Fredericksburg, Iowa set to work to build a Lutheran church. 125 years ago these founding fathers of our congregation gathered offerings and pledges for the resources to build the first house of worship for St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Unaltered Augsburg Confession. Although it was torn down in the late 1930s, much of the lumber was salvaged and used to build the second church, which still stands today, remodeled as our fellowship hall.

photo from http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/

Recent retellings of the Sherlock Holmes crime stories have been modernized and updated, but the essence of the character – his genius, his wit and his eccentricity – have remained intact. Similarly, 125 years later, we have modernized our church a bit with some minor details like indoor plumbing and Wi-Fi. We sing our hymns in English now and we have communion more regularly. But the essence and the character of what we do is the same, because Jesus Christ, who is at the center of what we do, is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). It's a blessing for us to follow the pattern that those old Germans set for us. Their legacy to us is much more than lumber and nails. They, like us, desired for themselves and their children to hear God's Word and believe in His Son Jesus Christ, “auf daß alle, die an ihn glauben, nicht verloren werden, sondern das ewige Leben haben”. (that whoever believes in Him will not perish but shall have everlasting life. John 3:16b). In answer to their prayers, God is allowing us to celebrate this anniversary year on June 14^th with services at 9:00 am and 2:00 pm.

The Eiffel Tower and our congregation. By Pastor Ronnie Koch

Pastor Ronnie Koch and Sandy
in Paris on a layover on the way to
Africa to visit the Lutheran
Church of Benin, 2002

In Paris, in 1889 the Eiffel Tower was completed and opened for its first visitors. At the same time, over here on the other side of the Atlantic, German settlers in Fredericksburg, Iowa were at work doing what needed to be done to have a church – a Lutheran church – in their tiny but growing village. The town's lumber man, Henry Hilmer sent word to the nearest Lutheran pastor, Theodore Haendschke of Spring Fountain, about 11 miles south of Fredericksburg. Mr. Hilmer invited Pastor Haendschke to come and conduct services in Fredericksburg. Haendschke agreed and soon there were regular gatherings of German speaking Lutherans, hearing God's Word and receiving His gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation in the sacraments.

By 1890, in Paris, the Eiffel Tower was proving to be a lasting monument to the ingenuity of the industrial revolution. By 1890, in Fredericksburg, eight men adopted and signed the constitution of a new congregation: The St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church – Unaltered Augsburg Confession. This Spring, 125 years later, we the present members of St. Paul's congregation thank God for all the blessings He has given to and through this congregation. We will celebrate this anniversary year on June 14^th with Pastor Philip Hale as our guest preacher in the morning service at 9:00 am and a special festive service of praise to God at 2:00 pm. We echo the thoughts of Pastor Harold Wunderlich, who in 1940, at the church's 50^th anniversary, cited these words “of the third verse of the 126^th Psalm: “The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.””

Paris, 2002: Some members from St. Paul's congregation
have a "conference"  before setting out to tour the city.

Happy Baptism Birthday this week

• Betty V. – 2/15
• Ashley D., and Elfrieda N. 2/17
• Florence R. 2/18

Happy Baptism Birthday this week to

Lisa S.—Feb. 12

Please remember our shut-ins in your prayers!

And they enjoy your occasional visits, too!

Luella G, Harvey H., Erma J., Glen K., Alma L., Lester M., Mabel S., Alice W., and Bob W.,

VOTER’S MEETING

coming soon!  Sunday, January 31 at 10 am in the church.  Please plan to attend!  There will be a soup dinner hosted by the youth following the meeting!  Plenty of yummy soup for all!

Oberommergau information

We had a great crowd for our first informational meeting for a 2010 congregational trip to Oberommergau for the Passion Play.  The majority seemed interested in continuing to pursue plans with Nawas International Travel.  If anyone is interested in the trip but was unable to attend today's meeting, please be sure to speak to Pastor in the next few weeks!

Presentation on Pastor's Russia Trip

Pastor will give a slide show presentation about his trip to Russia this summer on Wednesday evening at 7:30 in the fellowship hall.  This event is open to all members of the community, so please invite some friends and come and hear about what is happening in the Lutheran church in Lithuania, Latvia and Russia (Moscow and Siberia).

Congrats to Sam K!!

Sam is the winner of our first ever St. Paul's Ping Pong Tournament!  Lots of fun was had by all participants!  Thanks for playing, and good job, Sam!

Congratulations Jena!

Jena S. was chosen as the Bremer County Fair Queen!  Way to go, Jena.  We are thankful to God for blessing you in this way!

Funnel Cake Madness

The funnel cake stand at Dairy Days was a HUGE success again this year!  A tremendous thanks goes to all who spent time helping by mixing, pouring, flipping, sugaring and serving the cakes!  Here are a few pictures!

For those of you unfamiliar with the process, here's what we do all day!

First you have to pour the mix (mixed to just the right consistency, which Pastor has become a PRO at!) into the pitcher with the funnel on it.  You pour batter from the pitcher into the round form in a pretty pattern.

Let it sit in the form for a few seconds to firm up just a bit, and then carefully remove the form.

Let the cake fry in the 350* oil for about 45 seconds or so.

Carefully flip the funnel cake over, and cook for another 30-45 seconds.

Cover generously with powdered sugar! mmmmmmm

We had lots of great volunteers helping, and I didn't get pictures of everyone, but here are a few that I did get.

This is about the shortest the line was from 5:00 until 11!  We made a LOT of funnel cakes!!

Wednesday night VBS

It isn't EVERY day that kids get to sing Happy Birthday to the Pastor!  We even had birthday cake, complete with candles!  What a FUN way to start the evening!

Tonight's craft was bead bracelets! 

And tonight, it was nice enough to have recess time OUTSIDE!  YAY!

Vacation Bible School FUN!

Boy are we having fun at St. Paul's this week!  It's Vacation Bible School week, and we are going on a "Friendship Trek".  Here are some photos of how our week is going.

We have some great helpers!  Cheryl and Jenna are ironing on the transfers to the t-shirts.  Thanks for helping, ladies!

Each group wears a different color of bandana for the week.  The first night, everyone got to decorate one, and they will wear it the rest of the week.

They also got to color magnets that will be a picture frame AND a buddy list for phone numbers!  Cool!

Candace helps each group learn a Bible verse each night.

   

The kitchen help has been quite...helpful...when they aren't squishing mashed potatoes all over the counter.  David!  Next time, use a bigger container!

Thanks for ironing, Grandma Marge!

 

Of course, recess time is always lots of fun...even when it isn't nice enough to play outside! 

Ping Pong Tournament Fun

We have a ping pong tournament going on at church.  Did you know that?  It is going great.  Win 2 out of 3 matches and advance to the next round.  I think perhaps the spectators are having as much fun as the players!

  And while not officially IN the tournament, our former Vicar, Pastor Hale got in on some ping pong fun while visiting last weekend!

Potluck on Sunday!

Our former Vicar, Pastor Phil Hale and his wife Aubri will be visiting this Sunday.  We'll enjoy some fellowship time with them at a Potluck after church.  Make plans to attend and visit!

Pray for Brian G and family

Brian was in a motorcycle accident on Friday early evening.  He was taken to the West Union Hospital, and then transferred to the Iowa City Hospitals.  Some head trauma and a crack in one of his lower vertebrae.  I had a phone call late this afternoon, saying that he was on his way home!  Praising God for that good news.  Please pray for his continued recovery!

Congratulations to Derek and Kate

Derek and Kate Haugen wee married yesterday in Des Moines.  Derek is the son of Rick and Denise.  Please keep them in your prayers as they begin their life together!

New Hymnal Work Night

We had a work night this past Wednesday evening.  We worked to sort out the old hymnals, put fray check on the new ones, and get them onto the pews.  We also had some of our more agile helpers put up the green banners.  Thanks to Ramona, Bernice, Richard, Marge, David, Cameron, Rachel, Ethan, Pastor and Sandy.

 

 

New Hymnal Dedication

After just 4 months of raising funds for replacing our Lutheran Worship with the Lutheran Service Book, our new hymnals were dedicated this past Sunday!