St. Matthews Messenger 1 August 2017

St. Matthews Lutheran Church St Matthews Messenger 416 E. Dover Road Princeton, IL 61356-9551 (815)879-6491 Change Service Requested

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Princeton, IL Permit No. 449

AUGUST 2017

www.StMatthewsPrinceton.org Office email: StMatthewsPrinceton@gmail.com

Pr Scott Schmidt: Pastor.StMatthewsPrinceton@gmail.com Join us on Facebook

YOUTH & FAMILY BACK TO SCHOOL BBQ is Wednesday, August 30 at 5:30 pm at the Stovers house. 443 E Dover Road. See page 8 for more details.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

“The Heat Is On” will be at Hampshire Colony Church this year on Monday, August 7 from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm with registration at 7:45 am. VBS will be a one day event and the theme is “The Heat Is On”. We will have information about registration and other needs as it becomes available to us. Here is a link to “The Heat Is On” Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/s/692969294242932/

BLOOD PRESSURE

CHECK

Jeannine May will be helping

with blood pressure checks.

Watch for dates.

St. Matthews Messenger 2 August 2017

LOMC is a 640-acre, year-round retreat and camping center in the heart of the Rock River Valley of Northwestern Illinois. It is a ministry of the ELCA congregations in Illinois and eastern Missouri. LOMC works cooperatively with congregations to provide staff and resources

for camping programs in Illinois and the St. Louis area. Youth and adults find LOMC an

attractive setting for retreats and conferences.

The purpose of Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center (LOMC) is to be the Church in outdoor settings, nurturing Christian faith and providing experiences connecting the Word of God with the World of God.

There are many camps available for this summer. Check out the brochure by Pastor’s office. Find out more about LOMC go to lomc.org or see the Summer Brochure outside of Pastor’s

office.

Youth & Family

Peoria Chiefs Game

July 15, 2017

CONGREGATION GIVING FINANCIAL REPORT through June 2017

YTD Budget: $117,402 YTD Giving: $110,083; YTD Expenses:$111,622 YTD Expenses under Budget $(5,780);YTD Giving under Expenses by $(1,539)

CONGREGATION COUNCIL

Tuesday, July 11, 2017 Evangelism: no report Worship & Music: Committee did not meet in June. Stewardship: Working on the 201 8 Stewardship Program. We will follow the same format as we have for the last 3 years. Finance: no report Memorial: Committee has been formed. Ann Sapp, Diane Bruce, Betty Peterson and Pam Horras met with Pastor Scott Schmidt and Brad Snethen to see what has been done with Memorials the last several years.

Minutes are pending approval at next Congregation Council meeting.

Education/Youth & Family: Karen Miller met with Brandon Stover, Pastor Scott Schmidt and Sandy Rose. Brandon is working on Committee members. Kick-off meeting is July 30 to go over materials. Property: We are on the schedule for removing the dead tree just need dry weather to have access. Fellowship: Sunday morning coffee is going well.

Executive Committee Meetings: August 1 @ 6 pm Council Meeting: August 8 @ 6 pm

St. Matthews Messenger 3 August 2017

CONSIDERING GOING TO A CHRISTIAN CAMP THIS SUMMER? St. Matthews would like to be a partner with you. We are blessed with campership money to encourage youth to attend a place like Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Center (LOMC), Lutherdale or a similar camp. Contact the office for information.

We would like to thank everyone for all their prayers and support during Dad’s stay at the Veterans Home, his many hospitalizations, and his passing. We appreciate all the cards, memorials, and kind words.

A big thank you to the Funeral Luncheon Committee for all of their hard work and the wonderful meal they prepared.

Thank you to Pastor Scott for always being there for us and Dad. You have been a

blessing in our lives.

Sincerely, The Family of Virgil “Buzz” Gross

SUMMER COFFEE FELLOWSHIP continues to meet in the Fellowship Hall. We are looking for hosts to make coffee, but we are using Sullivan’s to furnish a standing order of treats so you don’t have to bring anything. We are also looking for people to sponsor the treats for $30. The sign up sheet will have a spot for host and another spot for sponsor.

artin Luther is often quoted as having said, that as Christians we live by “Scripture Alone, Faith Alone, and Grace Alone.” This month I

will speak to Scripture Alone. The next two months I will address the other two as we approach October 31,which is the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation.

In the ancient church, most new Christians were adults. They went through a process of initiation into the faith which involved study of Scripture, instruction in various forms of prayer, and explanation of the symbols and actions of the liturgy. The process culminated at an Easter Vigil Service where the new Christians were Baptized, anointed with holy oil, and given their first communion.

As these adults began having families established as Christian, the practice of Baptizing infants became even more prevalent in the fifth and sixth centuries. Baptized at birth, medieval Christians were taught visually using statues, paintings, and altar pieces. These various symbols in the Church taught them the language of faith and stories of Scripture. In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the revolution of the printing press and the growing number of people who could read provided access to the printed Word as a tool in religious education.

Disheartened by the state of parish education while visiting congregations in Saxony in 1527, Martin Luther prepared his Small and Large Catechism for instruction in homes, schools, and congregations. Luther promoted that

Christians are to be life-long learners. Study informed discipleship. Luther envisioned his Small Catechism as the foundation of learning for life by pointing to Scripture.

Study tells us how to live (The Ten Commandments), what God does for us (The Apostles’ Creed), and finally how to pray (The Lord’s Prayer.) The Small Catechism is a good summary of Scripture and can easily be learned, memorized and inscribed on the heart.

Plus, Biblical preaching familiarizes people with Scripture. Yet, unlike Luther’s first parishioners, we own Bibles and can read them on our own. In addition to its place in private prayers and devotions, Scripture offers us stories of ordinary people whom Luther so loved to describe in his Biblical commentaries: Joseph and Mary, Isaiah, and others. Entering into the world of Scripture initiates us into a story-shaped world and offers us a way to understand our own stories. Study of Scripture marks the life of Christian discipleship.

In Jesus’ name,

Pastor Scott Schmidt

A Note f rom Pastor Scot t Schmidt

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105

Sola Scriptura - "by Scripture alone" Sola Fide - “by Faith alone”

Sola Gratia - “by Grace Alone”

St. Matthews Messenger 4 August 2017

August has arrived and we have about two more months for our LWR

ingathering. We will have quilt Sunday on September 24th and that will signal the end of our drive. As you know there are school bags hanging at the coat rack and now is the time to fill them with school supplies. We appreciate when you fill each bag (make sure to put what is ask in each one so no child is treated differently) but if you see a good sale on any of the school items buy in bulk and just put them in the LWR tub and we will finish the kits.

We are in need of more personal care kits and again if you just want to purchase items for the kits we will put them together. We especially need toothbrushes (soft-adult), sturdy combs (no picks) and soap. We also need infant/children tee shirts to finish 50 Baby Care Kits. The soap tub is filling - keep up the good work!

We thank you for any contributions you can make. St. Matthews works hard on mission projects and we know every single thing we do makes someone's life easier and more blessed.

Project Respond Drive

Summer Mission Trips

This year ACF was blessed to send 2 mission teams to Romania.

One team put on a VBS for kids from our school and the second

team performed a “Creative Art Camp” for the kids. 125 kids will do

different art projects each day. Here is what ACF team leader

Jessica had to say;

“Today we decorated pots to donate to area schools, hospitals & city hall.

We are creating & giving back in one of the poorest communities in

Romania.

Today was beautifully exhausting & full of joy seeing the kids & loving on

them fiercely! I was so proud of our team too- how they eagerly jumped in to the unknown, how they

abandoned any hesitation & built relationships with the littles, & how graciously they handled changes in

scheduling.”

It’s an honor to watch God at work in the lives of this community & to be given the privilege of knowing their

stories! Tim Oloffson- Executive Director

ST MATTHEWS SAINTLY SPAGHETTI SUPPER

Mark your calendar for Saturday, Sept 23, 2017

4-7 pm serving times

New this year our St. Matthews quilters will be making a quilt for us to raffle off the day of the supper. Also, we will have a silent auction. Anyone wishing to donate something for the auction (i.e. gift certificates, gift baskets, handmade items, etc.) FYI all items for the silent auction will be donated by members. We are not soliciting businesses. Please contact the committee: Pam Clementz, Terry Rapp, Kathy Waca or Barb Miller.

Reaching, Teaching, Transforming

St. Matthews Messenger 5 August 2017

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St. Matthews Messenger 6 August 2017

AUGUST 2017 WORSHIP LEADERS “…from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love” Ephesians 4:16.

AUG 6 AUG 13 AUG 20 AUG 27

ACOLYTE Tara Ford

Audrey Nelson

Jake May Allison Morton

ALTAR GUILD Steve & Marilyn Lange

- - -

CANTOR Worship Team Alice Ehmen Fairgrounds

Service

COFFEE HOST OPEN OPEN OPEN NO COFFEE

COFFEE SPONSOR Steve Gross

Dave & Pam Castner OPEN NO COFFEE

COMMUNION ASSISTANTS Nate Edlefson Dick Volker Pam Clementz

NO COMMUNION

FLOWERS Pam Clementz Charlie &

Kathy Waca Bea Coates Peggy Vladika

GREETERS Mary Hartz & Margaret Rauh

Alice & Harlan Ehmen

Laura Allen & Family

Fran Orloff & Nancy Hennings

READERS Pam Nelson Alice Ehmen Sue Garvin Jill Snethen

SOUND SYSTEM

Brad Snethen Jeff Martin Tommy Rose Charlie Waca

USHERS

Jim Eble Ken May

Jim & Jeannine May

Steve Nelson Peter Lange

Steve & Marilyn Lange

Kay Fulkerson Jeff Martin Gary Morton

Nate Edlefson

Brian Huffstodt Brad Snethen

MOWING See Schedule on Bulletin

Board

Brian Huffstodt Aug 6-12

Charlie Waca Aug 13-19

Kenny May Aug 20-26

Brad & Brady Snethen

Aug 27-Sept 2

TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY

Is taking a break for the summer. Classes will resume Tuesday, September 5.

EQUAL EXCHANGE COFFEE & CHOCOLATE

Is available in the Sharer Room. Prices are

marked on package.

St. Matthews Messenger 7 August 2017

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE REQUESTED PRAYER:

From St. Matthews: Jim Dye, Alberta Clayton, Georgia Fay, Irene Hildebrand, Inga Albee, Matt Compton, Steve Lange, Peter Lange, Shirley Schmidt, Norma Lorenzen, Diane Eble, Judy Dyke, Doris King, Josie Edlefson, Shirley Carter , Shane Hultine, Abigail Dye, Beth Puebla.

Friends and Family* Dana Freese (daughter of Jack ie Woolley), Mary Christianson (mother of Tom Christianson), Beth Woolley (cousin of Jack ie W oolley & Lynda Fenwick), Riese Baker (great granddaughter of Fenwick’s), Debra Dahl (daughter of Shirley May), Sally King (Shirley Schmidt’s cousin), Danny Lins (son of Mavis Lins), Sue Thompson (friend Pam Clementz), John McCarthy (friend of Shawn & Pam Haslam), Sharlotte Smith (friend of Pam Clementz), Patty Meronek (friend of Fran Orloff).

THOSE IN MOURNING:

Family & friends of Shirley Coates upon her passing.

Family & friends of Virgil Gross upon

his passing.

SPECIAL JOYS:

The newly married like Jason & Megan Ford.

The newly Baptized like Kennedy Marie Widmer daughter of Jeremy & Kala Widmer.

CHURCHWIDE CONCERNS:

Those involved in military conflict throughout the world, especially Scott Hlvain (nephew of Peggy V ladika)

PRAYER CHAIN: If you would like to share a prayer request for our Prayer Chain, request cards and a drop box are outside Pastor’s office or email a request to StMattsPrayers1@gmail.com

OUR TABLE St Matthews next turn to serve is Monday August 21. Watch for sign up sheet details. Thank you to all who help. God bless you all.

ST MATTHEWS PRAYER PENNY JAR

Pennies placed in the jar from July through October 2017

will go to Princeton Ministerial Association

DON’T FORGET OUR SHUT-INS AND HOMEBOUND

LIBERTY VILLAGE AT HOME

Irene Hildebrand Inga Albee @ Stacy Headley’s home

Alberta Clayton Arlene Richards @ In-Home Care

Norma Lorenzen

Jean Yates COUNTRY COMFORT

Judy Dyke Diane Eble

Fran Ahrens Eddie Gross

GREENFIELD

Pat Hultine

Marian Wolf COLONIAL HALL

Betty Goers

SPRING VALLEY NURSING HOME

Georgia Fay

August 6 Tommy Rose

August 13 OPEN

August 20 Kiley Korey

August 27 Fairgrounds Service

SUMMER SPECIAL MUSIC

St. Matthews Messenger 8 August 2017

Youth and Family Ministry Corner The summer months are often quiet months for the youth and family ministry department. That does not mean that we are not doing anything, but sometimes we need to recharge our batteries and make plans for the future. The summer is the time when we lay out the year ahead and plan activities, studies, and events. With that said, if there is any input as to the activities and studies, young people, now is your time to speak up.

Another way we recharge and fill up is through our yearly mission trip. At the time of this printing, we will be just finishing up our trip to Bullock Creek, MI. Every year it is wonderful to see how the young people and adults from St. Matthews both grow in their faith, encountering God, and give of themselves in service toward others. The week is both spiritually filling and physically exhausting. We want to say thank you again to anyone who has helped us make it to camp. Please remember Kathryn, Sandy, Miles, Tara, Samantha, Emily and myself in your prayers.

Princeton Church League Softball

1 - St. Matthews 2 - Bureau Township 3 - Methodist

4 - Bunker Hill 5 - St. Louis/Covenant 6 - People’s Church 7 - Princeton Bible

1 - St. Matthews

DATE GAME RESULTS

MAY 13 ST MATTS 17 BUNKER HILL 12

MAY 27 ST MATTS 17 BUREAU TOWNSHIP 9

JUNE 3 ST MATTS 4 METHODIST 1

JUNE 10 ST MATTS 10 ST LOUIS 6

JUNE 17 ST MATTS 12 PRINCETON BIBLE 2

JUNE 24 ST MATTS 14 PEOPLE’S CHURCH 4

JULY 8 ST MATTS 15 ST. LOUIS/COVENANT 1__

JULY 18 ST MATTS 12 BUREAU TOWNSHIP 6

JULY 22 ST MATTS 11 METHODIST 4

GAMES TO BE PLAYED

DATES 5:30 PM

SATURDAY 7:00 PM

SATURDAY 8:30 PM

SATURDAY

JULY 29 3 - 4 6 - 5 2 - 1

We hope that our week in service well help change not only the lives of those we are serving, but will help us grow closer to God. We will be scheduling a Workcamp recap and meal sometime in the near future, so look for more information to follow.

As school is quickly approaching for some of us, we savor these last few days of summer. Really, however, I look forward to "getting the band back together" and fellowshipping and devoting together once again.

We hope to see you at our August 30 cookout! Bring a dish to share and stories to tell.

Youthfully,

~Brandon Stover

SHOES FOR WATER program through Thrivent is no longer locally available to us. Please send your used shoes to either The Closet or Friends of Strays.

Thank you

PENNY PRAYER JAR for the months of April-June we collected $193.13 for the Bureau County Food Pantry. With this donation the Food Pantry is able to purchase $1,900 worth of food from the food bank. They appreciate this very much. Thank you Stewardship Committee

Building and Facilities Study Committee

On July 30 at Worship, our Building and Facilities Study Committee was installed. This appointed committee includes representatives from these standing committees: Property, Stewardship, Finance, Memorial, and Foundation plus some members at-large. This standing committee involvement was the desire of our Visioning Team who worked on our Long Range-Strategic Plan. Below is a list of those appointed by Council to our Building and Facilities Study Committee:

Gary Bruce (At-Large); Dave Castner (Property & Foundation); Diane Christianson (At-Large); Nate Edlefson (Stewardship); Jeff Martin (Property & Finance); Brad Snethen (Property and Foundation); Kathy Waca (At-Large); Paul Schwindlein (Non-Member Advisory); Ex officio Members per our Constitution: Pr. Scott Schmidt (Memorial, Stewardship, Finance); Sandra Rose (Congregation President).

This committee’s initial meeting is Wednesday, August 23, at 7:15 pm.