Pastor Irmer’s Message

September is familiar for its comings and goings. The kids are going off to school. Cooler weather is coming. The freedom of summer vacation is gone. Football season has come.

This year, of course, I’m going. By the time you read this I will probably be at the Transit Center at Manas (pronounced mah-NAHS) in Kyrgyzstan (KIR-ge-stan). I will be coming into a permanent party base that has about 1,000 people. The Transit Center is responsible for moving people and materiel smoothly in a variety of directions. Thousands of people and thousands of tons of materiel move through this place.

We are all familiar with the war effort in which our country is engaged, and we all pray for a quick and peaceful resolution to all the problems and horrors of war.

There are interesting parallels between this war and God’s war; there are also interesting differences. This war is to protect our way of life, our liberties and our safety in our own country and throughout the world.

As Americans we have privileges many other people around the world don’t have: our own homes; our own cars; discretionary money that we can spend on whatever we like; an abundance of good, healthy food (or junk food); good education and good jobs with reasonable hours and decent compensation.

As Americans we have privileges that are unheard of, even in other modern countries: We are free to come and go as we please; we can travel where and when we like; we can move to a new home if we choose, even if that home is in a different city or state. We don’t have to get permission from the government to do any of these things. In many countries, even in Europe, this is simply not so.

As Americans, until recent years our country had been safe for decades. Enemies from around the world had not attacked us on our home soil. We still can walk the streets without fear of attacks from foreign armies. We can build homes and build lives because we are safe. We can choose to live in a large city or in a small rural community and be safe from invasion, or attack.

These are many of the things for which the men and women of our armed forces are living apart from their families, fighting and dying on the other

side of the world. It seems to be a very long process and it is a very heavy burden for our country to bear.

God’s war is to give us a new way of life; to protect our liberties and to give us safety.

God’s war, of course is with Satan, and the war is over: Jesus Christ has won the victory, defeating Satan, by dying on the cross and arising from the grave.

Because of Jesus Christ, God gives us new life. No longer are we slaves to sin. No longer do we live in uncertainty or fear. We are free to serve God and to receive His precious gifts. Our baptism brings us out of death and into new life in Jesus Christ.

As God’s children we are privileged to come and go as we please. We are free to use our homes and our possessions and income and lives in ways that are unselfish and serve others. We are free to own what we can responsibly afford; we are free to use our gifts to help others; we are free to live in whatever vocation God has given us. We are free to receive the wholesome and nutritious bread of life in Holy Communion.

As God’s children we are also safe. Satan is defeated. Jesus’ death on the cross destroyed Satan and sin and hell. We are safe here in time and for all eternity. St. Paul writes in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

So, I’m going now, but I’ll be coming back soon. People are coming and going through the Transit Center at Manas. We all come and go in our daily lives. Jesus came, and went through death and hell for us; because He came back from the dead and went to His Father, He will come again.

God’s Peace be with you,

Pr. Irmer

Pastor Wagner’s Message

In these next months when Pastor Irmer is on deployment I want to be sure that things run as smoothly as possible. Your help and patience will be of great value. If you notice anything or anyone that seems to be being ignored, please bring it to my attention.

First, I want you to be able to get a hold of me if you need to. During the daytime the best possibility is to call me at church (228-1540). The phone number at the parsonage is 223-4925. Please feel free to call me there if you need something. Leave a message if you don’t get an answer. If it is an emergency and you can’t otherwise reach me you can call me on my cell phone (520-1818). Friday is my day off and I intend to keep it that way, but I may have to adjust that some as need arises and am quite flexible in doing so.

The things that I intend to focus on during this time will be: Church services, preparation of sermons, catechesis, Bible studies, hospital and shut-in visits as well as all the other meetings and miscellaneous items that I do.

Speaking of hospital visits, I would just like to take a moment to remind you that if you are hospitalized you need to make sure that I know about it. If I don’t come and visit you or at least call you while you are in the hospital it is most likely because I don’t know that you are there. Just because you tell the hospital which church you belong to does not mean that they are going to call the church. Please help me and make sure that I know about your hospitalization.

I am sure that there are many things that I haven’t thought of that I will need to do during Pastor Irmer’s absence. There may be some very important things that I haven’t thought of or haven’t mentioned here. There will be other things that are minor, yet added together, they could be very time consuming.

Having said all of this, I do not perceive any problems arising that can’t be handled in one way or another. My main concern in all of this is that God’s Word continues to be preached and His Sacraments continue to be administered so that you people of God at St. Paul Lutheran Church continue to be fed and nourished by the preaching of the Word, the forgiveness of sins, and the body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who was crucified for our sins and risen from the dead.

During this time, and of course, always, keep my family and me in your prayers as well as Pastor Irmer and his family and, of course, St. Paul Lutheran Church and all of your fellow members.

The peace of the Lord be with you!

Pastor Wagner

School News

After making preparations for the new school year all summer, September finds us several weeks into the 2009-2010 school year. The first day of school was Tuesday, August 18. The school year began with a chapel service led by Pastor Irmer. We have a beginning enrollment of 153 students.

We are looking forward to an exciting and rewarding school year knowing that God will guide and bless us as we share the message of Jesus Christ through our school. Our school staff for the 2009-2010 year is as follows:

We praise and thank God for each of these dedicated workers.

We have one Beatrice High School senior working as a Cadet Aide each morning in our school. Our Cadet Aide this year is Michelle Rudder.

A special Christian Education Sunday is being planned for Sunday, September 6, in the 10:30 a.m. worship service. Students in Kindergarten to Grade 5 will sing during the service.

Student pictures will be taken on Friday, September 18. Parents watch for more information being sent home with the students.

The first PTL meeting of the school year will be held on Tuesday, September 13, at 7:00 p.m.

The St. Paul Lutheran School Open House will be held on Tuesday, September 29, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to come and join us for our Open House.

We are continuing the collection of SunMart Cash Register Receipts, General Mills Box Tops for Education, Tyson Project A+ labels, Campbell’s Labels for Education and “Our Family” label (including the UPC portion). All these may be turned in at the school office. This Summer we purchased two computers and a printer from the SunMart and the General Mills Box Tops Programs. Thanks to all who help with these projects.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is continuing their matching funds program for Lutheran Schools called Giving Plus. Each year all Thrivent members age 16 or older are able to match their gifts to St. Paul Lutheran School. The gift will be matched at 50 cents on every dollar given on gifts up to $600. A new matching gift form must be completed each year to receive matched funds. For more information and matched gift forms, contact the school or church offices.

There have been several improvement projects at the school this summer. A big thank you to all who have helped and continue helping with these projects. Ivan Stohs painted the lines on the cement play area. Casper Construction donated ground up rubber and timbers for part of our play area. They were installed by Rod Aden, Dale Hagemeier and Dave Oltmans. Bible passage scripts are being put up throughout the school by Mrs. Hagemeier and Mrs. Eisele. There were purchased from the $1,000 gift from Walmart at the time Mrs. Duensing was chosen as Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Eisele began the Creation Murals she is painting and installing in the area where we have our weekly chapel services. These are a memorial for Roy Vanschoiack.

The Trustees have started a huge project of converting the lights in all of the school, except the newest addition, to more energy efficient ballasts and bulbs. They were able to get an energy grant to cover much of the project. As part of this project new energy efficient lights were installed in the gym. A big thank you to Monte Lofing and all the rest of those helping with this project.

As you can see, many volunteer hours have gone into these projects. Thank you to those who have used their time and talents to make our school better.                                                                    Mr. Duensing, Principal

Notes to the Congregation

LWML Topic Leaders will be meeting on Tuesday, September 1, at 6:15 p.m. Topic will be “The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail” from the Summer Quarterly.

Dorcas Members—There will be a kitchen cleaning day on Wednesday, September 2, starting at 10 a.m. Bring buckets and rags.

Sunday School classes will resume on September 6.

Eunice Circle will resume their monthly meetings on Friday, September 11. Our circle meets on the second Friday of the month at 1:30 p.m. in the church basement. New members or guests are welcome!

LLL Zone Rally will be held here on Sunday, September 20, at 3:30 p.m.

LLL Meetings are moving to the 3^rd Thursday of the month at 9 a.m. starting in October.

Circuit Delegate Election Meeting on Sunday, October 4, at 2 p.m. at First Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Beatrice.

Gage County United Way Pancake Feed will be held on Sunday, September 1, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the American Legion in Beatrice. There will be a free will donation.

27^th Annual ‘all you can eat’ Supper at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hanover, Kansas, on Sunday, September 27, from 4 - 8 p.m. Prices: adults-$7, children 12 & under- $4, preschool is free. Tickets are purchased at the door.

Thank You

The family of William Dean Faulder would like to thank Pastor Irmer and Pastor Wagner for their many caring visits to Dean while he was in both hospitals. We so appreciate their caring and help in preparing and having Dean’s funeral service. Thanks to Lester Miller for his beautiful organ music. Thanks to the Dorcas ladies for serving the lunch. So many of St. Paul congregation attended Dean’s funeral, sent cards, flowers, gave memorials and brought food to the house and visited us giving Christian support at the time of our loss. All is deeply appreciated. In Christ’s Love, Myrna, David & William I. Faulder and Carolyn Bixenmann

Thank you to the Dorcas for the wonderful meal served after Erna Nelson’s funeral and for Pastor Irmer for the service. I also want to thank everyone for all the cards and memorial gifts.       Erna Nelson’s Children

The Stewardship Committee wants to thank everyone who attended and contributed to the Barbeque and Ice Cream Social on August 9th. We feel it was a great success as we served over 200 people. Total money made after expenses was $1,400.70 plus the Thrivent match of $300 makes a grand total of $1,700.70. Proceeds will go toward church repairs. Again, thank you to all who brought desserts and helped in any way. If anyone would still like to contribute to the church repair fund, you can do so by using one of your "Designated Gift" envelopes and putting it in the offering plate.                                                                      Stewardship Committee

Membership Changes

Bulletins Received