St. Paul Lutheran Church
Phone 701-794-3166
Welcome!
I welcome your comments regarding our shared ministry at St. Paul.
If you would rather comment privately please, email me at Prshepherd@westriv.com
"Two are better than one," says Ecclesiastes,
"because if one falls down, his friend can help him up."
I deeply desire to bring Christian comfort and the power of prayer to those who are challenged with sickness or circumstances in life. However, in this time of restricted visitation call me and I will attempt to contact them.
Please, assume that if you don’t tell us, we do not know.
Call me at 301-4956 if surgery or hospital stay is imminent or if a visit could be helpful.
Pastor Dennis
From my perspective…
After His Ascension to the right hand of God, Jesus did not lie back, take a vacation, and let His followers figure things out for themselves. “God was not done yet!”
The Apostles saw Christ resurrected and alive, but they would soon ask, “Why did the Son of God have to die a terrible death? What was the point?”
Then, God sent the promised Holy Spirit. Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, would proclaim, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God,...” (Acts 2:22–23, ESV) (Bolding mine)
The Apostles, by and large, were fishermen, not rabbis. Therefore, God called Saul of Tarsus, who would become known as Paul, who had two very valuable characteristics.
1.
He was top of his class at the great Rabbi Hillel school in Jerusalem, and
He was top of his class at the great Rabbi Hillel school in Jerusalem, and 2.He grew up in the gentile city of Greco-Roman culture and philosophy.
He grew up in the gentile city of Greco-Roman culture and philosophy. After Jesus called Saul in Acts 9, he spent time in the wilderness, where, except for a visit to Peter, Saul had no contact with the Apostles. We can assume His knowledge of Jesus’ redemptive acts came through the Holy Spirit of Jesus. (Galatians 1:11-2:1) Over the years, Paul wrote letters to congregations to remind them of the gospel he had taught them.
Paul, like the prophets of old, wrote inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, and therefore, what they teach is of particular interest to us, who live in a world of confusing and deceptive voices.
In July and August, we will delve into the profound topics addressed in Paul’s 13 letters in the New Testament. Paul, more than any other Apostle, explains why Jesus died a horrible death to free us from the guilt of sin. But “For you were called to freedom, brethren. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13, ESV)
I know summer is busy, but I hope to see you in church, your pastor, Dennis.
Camp of the Cross News
•St. Paul Lutheran will pay one half of the tuition for children attending a camp session this summer.
St. Paul Lutheran will pay one half of the tuition for children attending a camp session this summer.