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05/08/26

“In your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for t a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect..” 1 Peter 3:15-16

Friends and members of St. Paul’s,

In each of the Sunday/Monday readings we see God at work bringing Christ to the world. In Acts 17 Paul goes to a “religiously diverse” area of Athens (Mars Hill) and brings them the truth of the creating God who desires a relationship with his people through Christ. In 1 Peter, we are exhorted to always be prepared to give a reason for the hope we have in Christ, but to do it with gentleness and respect. In John 14 God gives us the Holy Spirit (another helper), to both be with us forever and assist us in sharing the hope of Christ. My fellow believers, God has used many people to bring the hope of Jesus into our lives, pray that he will work through us to do the same for others.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Krenz

Worship Theme: “Christianity in the Age of Spirituality” Acts 17:16-31. The other readings are 1 peter 3:13-22, and John 14:15-21.

Welcome!! Kylie Jane Linderer will receive the gift of baptism at the 6:30 pm Monday Service. Kylie is the daughter of Chelsea (Hagen) & Patrick Linderer, and she has two brothers—Will and Jackson. Please keep Kylie and her family in your prayers.

Gateway Grizzlies Fellowship Event- Wednesday, May 27th at 6:45 pm. The gates Open 5:45. Sign up in the narthex! Ticket includes a meal. Due to a generous donation, each of the tickets ordered are free of charge. However, we are asking that each person attending bring at least $10 that will go toward Eve’s Restoration Home. Sign Up Deadline: Tuesday, May 19th.

DCE Call Committee Update-We have received several names from the District Office. Once we go through the information on these individuals, we will set up zoom interviews. The next call committee meeting will take place Wednesday May 20th at 6:35pm. The Call Committee members are Scott Peery, Becky Stevens, Mitch Essert, Carleigh Ottwell, Patrick Grandt, and Pastor Krenz.

Summer Worship Schedule- Begins Sunday May 31st with one Sunday service at 9am. 10:15 am Bible Study/Sunday School. We will continue to have the Monday 6:30 pm worship services throughout the summer.

Sunday Morning Adult Bible Class

Today we will finish w/our Year-long study of Luke. In addition, we will start a new series titled “Christian Churches—How Are We Similar? How Are We Different?” In this class, we will explore our shared beliefs and key distinctions in comparison with the following traditions: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Baptists, other Lutherans, Presbyterians, Assemblies of God (Pentecostal), Church of Christ, Methodism, and Anglican/Episcopalian churches.

Children’s Sunday School: 9:15—10:15 am Students will study “Preaching and Perils” this week. After an extended stay in Greece, Paul sets off on another journey, finally arriving in Troas. There, as he preaches late into the night, a young man named Eutychus falls asleep on a window ledge and tumbles three floors to his death. Paul rushes to his side and restores Eutychus to life. Later, in his second letter to the Church at Corinth, Paul recounts in detail the numerous hardships he endured in his ministry.

Thank you Fielder Workers: Thank you to our two first year Concordia Seminary Field Workers, Austrin Kudray and Josh Gillespie for serving here at St. Paul’s since last September. They will be back next September along with Andrew Borseth, who will be a 4th year Seminary Student.

Life with God Classes: A new 10–12 week adult information/membership class begins Sunday, May 17 at 4:00 p.m. The class covers the key beliefs of the Lutheran faith. Meeting times can be adjusted to accommodate summer schedules. For more information, contact Pastor Krenz at 618-363-012 or the church office.

Next Food Pantry Distribution: May 13th 4 to 5:30 pm

Pantry Needs: Granola Bars, Peaches

5/6 Served: 17 Families = 40 Adults + 8 Children

we need egg cartons please (dozen not the 18 count)

May Sermon titles

May 10th & 11th- “Christianity in An Age of Spirituality” Acts 17:16-31

May 17th & 18th- “Being One” John 17:1-11

May 24th “The Gifts of Pentecost” Acts 2:1-21

May 31st & June 1st “Unpacking the Great Commission” Matthew 28;16-20

Join us on a Tropical Trek! VBS 2026 June 8th – 12th The following items are requested to help decorate for VBS: Palm tree decor (inflatable, hangable, or attachable to a wall)Leaf banners/décor Tropical animal decorations or stuffed animals Tropical flower decor - banners, fake florals, flower leis Rattan/grass skirts A large piece or small roll of kraft/butcher paper (ideally 4 ft by 16 ft). If you are interested in donating or lending any of these items for VBS AND/OR putting together decorations before we decorate on June 6th and 7th, or you have interest in helping to place/hang decorations on those dates, please text Carleigh at 618-719-9307. If lending, please just make sure to label your items in some way. If donating, many items can be found on Amazon or at the Dollar Tree. We typically decorate the Narthex, the children’s room, the hallways leading to the sites, and the fellowship hall. We do have some things at church, but will need a few more things for this year’s program.