News - St Paul Lutheran Church in Greenville MI

Peter, the disciple of Jesus Christ, has been on my mind lately. Peter was the topic of the Bible stories that we shared with the children at our VBS program last week. Through the New Testament stories about Peter, we taught the children that they are “Accepted by Jesus”, “Protected by Jesus”, and “Living for Jesus”. However, the Peter stories, and the lessons they teach, are for more than children. Each one of us can learn from these stories.
          Accepted by Jesus. Jesus calls Peter as he is. Peter is a fisherman. His job was long, hard, smelly, and a long ways from glamorous. I doubt that Peter had much education or status in his community. Simon Peter was simply--well--Simon Peter. Yet Jesus calls him and embraces him as part of his little community. As Simon Peter lives in relationship to Jesus he begins a long road of transformation. The same is true for each of us. Jesus calls us and embraces us as we are. He welcomes us into the kingdom of his Father. However, as we live in a relationship to Jesus, we also are moving down a road of transformation. As a colleague once said, “just because Jesus accepts us as we are, doesn’t mean that he intends to leave us as we are.” As Jesus freely accepts us, so we are called to freely accept others, and to acknowledge that each of us have a long ways to go on the road of living more truly in praise of God.
          Protected by Jesus. Simon Peter is brash and faithful, inclined to act first and think later. So when he sees Jesus walking on water, he tries it too. Only after stepping out of the boat, does Peter realize where he is—how precarious and dangerous it could be, how threatened he felt—and he begins to sink. Jesus reaches out and picks him up out of the waves that threaten to sink him—protecting him from harm. Sometimes in our lives we find ourselves out on the wild waves of life, trying to ‘walk on water’. When we made those decisions that led to those wild moments, they seemed like a good idea, but now we are afraid and anxious and starting to sink. As surely as Jesus reached out to Peter, so he reaches out to us—lifting us up with a strong arm and loving hand.
          Living for Jesus. Simon Peter discovers forgiveness and power in a resurrected Lord. Empowered by the Spirit he becomes a rock for the newly formed church. He doesn’t just know Jesus, he lives a life that is all about Jesus. He shares Jesus with others. So when he is met by a lame man, he reaches down and lifts him up, bringing healing and new life in the name of Jesus. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to reach out with the strong arm and loving hand of Jesus and lift up those around us who are crippled with pain in life.

Remember: you and those around you are accepted and protected by Jesus! Now, go and live for Jesus, sharing forgiveness, healing and new life with those you meet.

                                                                   Pastor Betsy

Council Corner

Dear Friends in Christ:

Your council met in June and July.

The following may be some points of interest to you. If you would like to see a complete copy of the Minutes of the Meeting, you may look in the notebook located in the office.

R NFF - Lynn has drawings of the church sign which will be cement and rock with copper letters and will be lit from the outside. The township must issue a permit. The bell tower will also be designed. Connie Teddy and Elaine Gehrke have instructions from the Health Department and are planning to oversee the certified kitchen.

R The Lenten offerings were disbursed to Good Shepherd in Holland and the Easter offering disbursed to Lutheran Social Services of Michigan.

R Mark Dombkowski stated that he will be at Settlement on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am-noon and at St. Paul in the afternoon. He will be at St. Paul. Monday and Friday 9:30am-4pm.

R There are council seats open for two trustees and one elder.

The next Council meeting will be August 16th, 7:00 p.m.

It certainly was a day to celebrate at the property! Things are really progressing at a great pace and we all got the chance to not only tour the property with the committee members, but we also were able to write our own messages on the walls before the dry wall is completed and best of all, we enjoyed the blessings bestowed on each of the portions of the building.
We enjoyed an inspiring service under the pavilion prior to the walk into the building. Afterwards we all enjoyed the gifts of food we brought to share with our Church family.
July 18,2010 was a wonderful day to celebrate at the property! Things are really progressing at a great pace and we all got the chance to not only tour the property with the committee members, but we also were able to write our own messages on the walls before the dry wall is completed and best of all, we enjoyed the blessings bestowed on each of the portions of the building.

We enjoyed an inspiring service under the pavilion prior to the walk into the building. Afterwards we all enjoyed the gifts of food we brought to share with our Church family.

It was great to be together on our own property and to get updated on the project. If you haven't been by lately, take a ride through the parking lot and be amazed. Stay tuned for an announcement on the next opportunity to worship and tour at the property.

Thanks to everyone for participating in feeding the workers on Fridays. They are really enjoying the meal and appreciate all our efforts. If you want the opportunity to participate in these meals, please call Jan Horst at 616 754-7203.