Return to Worship : from my perspective
St. Paul Lutheran Church
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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…

    Breaking News, or Headline News, is updated by the hour and minute. The programs are designed to get our attention and to sell advertising. (Big surprise!) On the other hand, the Good News of Jesus Christ was proclaimed and is proclaimed today for an entirely different purpose.

    Mark begins his gospel with “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mk 1:1, ESV) It sounds like Mark is reporting, “Breaking news! Pay attention! Something important has happened!” 


    Matthew begins his gospel, “The book of genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David.” (Mt. 1:1) It sounds like Matthew is introducing a history lesson whereby we might learn something. Don’t get me wrong – I love history because I believe with George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” 


    John begins his gospel, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.” (Jn. 1:1) This is something totally different. John invites us to lay aside our daily concerns and ponder life’s Big Questions concerning God and “The Word of God.” 


    Each year, we might take a measure of our life on Tax Day, an anniversary, or any number of other milestones. Regardless of the circumstances, we go through a process of reflection, evaluation, and decision-making. We might reflect on the Big Questions of Life, like “Who are we? And “How do I fit in with family and society?” or “What positive difference am I making?” 

    I will grant that the most common daily question is, “Am I happy.” But I believe the Bible teaches us that happiness results from how we think of ourselves and our relationship with others. Therefore, John invites us to ponder anew our relationship with the One God of the Holy Scriptures, as opposed to mental or emotional gods of pleasure, wealth or self-importance. 
In the church year, Lent is the season that encourages us to ponder our relationship with the one and only eternal God and one another or who we desire to become. 

    Join us as we explore Jesus’ great encounters with religious rulers, a disrespected woman from a disrespected people and His disciples. In John, Jesus, the Word of God, invites people to question who we are in God’s eyes and who He desires us to become to live a fulfilling life. (e.g. John 10:10)
As John informs us, Jesus, the true Word of God, comes into the world to save us from ourselves and the destructive temptations brought on by the evil lies of the great Satan. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17, ESV) 

Please join us in our encounter with the Living Word of God, your pastor, Dennis.

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Return to Worship

by Pastor Dennis on 05/06/20

A Return to Worship plan has been approved for the weekend of May 9 & 10th.

 Overall, by God’s grace, we are fortunate to have no active cases in Oliver and Mercer county, but that should not lull us into a false sense of security. The wolf is out there and we must take precautions for the protection of others.

First precaution: If anyone is coughing or running a fever for any reason, please stay home and worship on YouTube or the website.

 In May there will be two services a week.

  • Those who are at a higher risk if they catch the disease are invited to come and worship on Saturday at 11:30.
  • Saturday’s service will be recorded and posted on YouTube
  • The Sunday service at 10:30 will be for those in the lower risk category.

 We are asking you to bring a mask and wear it to decrease the possibility of infecting others when entering and leaving the church, whenever you are in a close conversation with someone else outside of those you live with and during singing.

 Physical distance will be practiced and overseen by the ushers. Every other pew will have the cushion removed. Ushers will seat worshipers to limit exposure. Families may sit with each other. Others will be asked to practice physical distancing.

 Hymnals, bibles, pencils and paper will be removed from the pews.

 Communion: Familial groups can come to the rail if they are comfortable doing so. Individual prepackaged elements will be distributed by the ushers to those who wish to remain in the pews.

 Announcements, scripture readings and/or weekly study will be available.

 A final caution is given. If folks want to visit they should do so outside and to respect physical distancing.

 If things work well, we might offer coffee and cookies for outside fellowship.

 Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers and work as we walk through this.

Pr. Dennis

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