St. Peter’s Ev. Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Reedsburg, Wisconsin

www.stpetersreedsburg.org

Proclaiming JESUS Savior and Lord for LIFE

VOLUME 243 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 NO. 2

Paul M. Crolius, Pastor Roger Tessendorf, Principal

Cindy Nellessen, Administrative Assistant

FROM THE PASTOR

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)

Dear friends in Christ,

The seasons change quickly but we are still now and always called by God to keep our

eyes on Jesus. We need to be like a runner who concentrates on the finish line. Our eyes need to be fixed on Him, because He is the object of our faith. Faith begins and is finished in Him. Jesus is the one who has already run the race and earned forgiveness of sins and eternal life by grace through faith in Him alone.

How soon our eyes are taken from the manger to the cross. Our Lord did not come to remain a baby, but instead to live to run the race that led Him to the cross to pay for our sins. He then rose our victorious Lord who conquered sin, death, and the devil. We remember though there may be hardships along the way. If we fix our eyes on Jesus, He promises He will give us the strength to finish the race. He alone is the one who enables us to finish the race strong in His love and care. May our eyes ever be focused in all seasons as individuals and as a church body on Jesus. We continue always to proclaim Him as Lord of lords.

Here are some encouraging words I pass on to you that I recently ran across. Remember these words as we run together each day with Jesus as our focus. Ever wonder about the abbreviation

A.S.A.P.? Generally we think of it in terms of even more hurry and stress in our lives. Maybe if we think of this abbreviation in a different manner, we will begin to find a new way to deal with those rough days along the way.

There's work to do; deadlines to meet; You’ve got no time to spare, But as you hurry and scurry ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

In the midst of family chaos, "quality time" is rare.

Do your best; let God do the rest

ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

It may seem like your worries

Are more than you can bear.

Slow down and take a breather

ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.

God knows how stressful life is;

He wants to ease our cares,

And He'll respond to all your needs

ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

During the upcoming season of Lent, as always, we will have ample opportunity to come and receive God’s strength and His power to keep our eyes and lives focused on Him. Come and join us in Bible class with the many opportunities that we have at St Peter's on Sunday and throughout the week. Run every day to God in prayer and in your personal devotional life. Join us in worship not only on the weekend but also in the special Lenten services

that we have. Prepare for His second coming by fixing continually your eyes on Jesus. He not only is the reason for the season at Christmas, but He is also the reason for the season in Lent and all the seasons of the year. God's blessings now and always!

In Christ, Pastor Paul Crolius

FUNERALS

Richard Gant died on Tuesday, January 9, 2018, and was given Christian burial on Saturday, January 13, 2018.

BAPTISMS

Elijah Ott, son of Matthew and Jessica Ott, was born November 22, 2017, and was baptized on January 14, 2018.

Choose one or all that you will enjoy and fit your schedule.

“The Journey of Paul” led by David Dietz. This group will meet from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on the 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, at Dietz Kitchen Gallery on Main Street.

“Christian Family Related” led by Shane Anderson. This will be a family Bible study, children are welcome. We will meet at 5:30 p.m. on the 1st & 3rd Monday, at the Anderson home, 1152 15th Street, Reedsburg.

“A Work in Progress” led by Carl Baumgart. A lawful “what we should do and how we should act,” coupled with a focus on Jesus’ love and forgiveness for our human shortcomings.

Tuesday 1:30 pm Bible Study “Great Women of the Bible” in Concordia Hall led by Pastor Crolius and Pastor Anderson.

Come One!! Come All!!

Sunday, February 18

Noon – 3:oo pm

St. Peter’s LAMP/YOUTH Team presents

CARNIVAL DAY!! There will be games, a photobooth, a bounce house, face painting, food & drinks, and prizes! Tickets will be used to participate in games and can be purchased at the carnival for $0.50 each. The LAMP/YOUTH Team are asking for prize donations from the congregation. Items needed are stuffed animals, toys, puzzles, games, and fun themed stickers/notepads. These items can be gently used or new and can be placed in the donation box at the entrance of the church. ATTENTION YOUTH: We are in need of your help to assist with games. If you are able to help, please contact me and I can assign you to a booth. Thank you so much for your help with this event. Any questions, please contact Jennifer Anderson at 608-477-1159 or at jenniferanderson@saintpetersls.com

I hope everyone had a happy Holiday and I wish

you all a healthy, Happy New Year 2018! I want to

thank all the Sunday School parents, Sunday

School teachers, Michelle Crolius, and Pastor

Crolius for their time and support while we were

preparing for our Christmas story From “Heaven

Above” to present on Christmas Eve Sunday! I am

so proud of the children! They did a wonderful job!

I couldn’t have done it without all this support!

Everyone stay warm! Wisconsin winter has

arrived!!

Our Sunday School lessons will be as such:

February 4 - The Boy Jesus in the Temple

February 11 - John Prepares the Way

February 18 - The Baptism of Jesus

February 25 - The Temptation of Jesus

Sunday school classes meet every Sunday from

9:15am-10:15am in the classrooms at the St. Peter's

Lutheran School. We learn about Jesus, do fun

crafts/activities, and play games! We love to see

new faces and meet new families!

If you have any questions or concerns, or would

like to teach or sub for Sunday school, please feel

free to contact me at:

cruland1963@charter.net

or cindyruland@saintpetersls.com

Phone: 608-393-0565.

In Christ,

Cindy Ruland

St. Peter's Lutheran Church

Sunday School Superintendent

EXCITING EVENTS COMING!!

SAVE THE DATES!!

MARCH 4, 2018

7:00 AM – NOON

The event is sponsored by the

St. Peter’s School Board of Education with

funds going to the

St. Peter’s School Sponsorship Fund

The Usborne Book Fair will also be open

throughout the morning.

St. Peter’s St. Peter’s St. Peter’s St. Peter’s

FourthFourthFourthFourth Annual Annual Annual Annual

Spring Fling Spring Fling Spring Fling Spring Fling

GalaGalaGalaGala

Saturday, April Saturday, April Saturday, April Saturday, April 14141414, 201, 201, 201, 2018888

at tat tat tat the he he he Reedsburg Country ClubReedsburg Country ClubReedsburg Country ClubReedsburg Country Club

Proceeds will benefit Proceeds will benefit Proceeds will benefit Proceeds will benefit

St. Peter’s Lutheran ‘SchoolSt. Peter’s Lutheran ‘SchoolSt. Peter’s Lutheran ‘SchoolSt. Peter’s Lutheran ‘School....

YOUTH NEWS

Sr Youth

February 7, 6:30-8:30pm February 21, 6:00-8:00pm *NOTICE TIME CHANGE*

Jr Youth

February 14, 6:00 - 8:00pm February 28, 5:00pm Youth Lenten Supper Youth Group will start in the gym after clean up and will go till 8:00pm

We love our youth at St. Peter's!! Lots of fun things are coming up in February and we are excited!! SR YOUTH: Starting February 21st, you will meet from 6:00pm - 8:00pm. We will have open gym/games from 6:00pm - 7:00pm and then we will attend the Lenten service at 7pm.

JR YOUTH AMERICAN GLADIATORS February 16th

The Jr Youth at Sacred Heart have invited the Jr Youth of St. Peter's to join them in their American Gladiators event on the evening of February 16th. This event will take place at Sacred Heart from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm. If you have seen the American Gladiators show, we will be competing in a lot of the events that they do. We had an absolute blast at this event last year and we are super excited to be invited again! There is no cost for this event and forms can be picked up and handed in at the school office by February 9th.

SR YOUTH HOONTING/GARGOYLES February 25th

Sr Youth have the opportunity to get together for Hoonting/Gargoyles with other youth in our community! This will take place at St. John Lutheran Church from 7pm-9pm. Hoonting is an indoor paintball/capture the flag game using pvc pipe and nerf darts and Gargoyles is a freeze tag game. So much fun!!

YOUTH LENTEN SUPPER February 28th

Youth will be hosting the Lenten Supper in Concordia Hall from 5pm to 6:30pm. All youth families are asked to contribute/participate in this church activity. We will be serving a Taco Bar. We will need tacos/tortillas, meat, cheese, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, olives, salsa, sour cream, and anything else your family likes on your taco. I will have a sign up sheet at Youth Group to sign up to help serve on that evening and a list of possible food items that you would be willing to provide for this event.

LOOKING AHEAD: March 4th I am looking at a possible date of Sunday, March 4th (1PM to 4PM) to go tubing at Christmas Mountain with the Jr and Sr Youth. I will definitely keep you posted on this upcoming event!

If there are any questions about any of these events, please contact me at 608-477-1159 or at jenniferanderson@saintpetersls.com

In Christ, Jennifer Anderson, Youth Director

Saturday, February 10th St. Peter’s School Gym 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Sponsored by Safe Harbor Homeless Shelter Princess and their Prince are $25

Additional princess is $5 Lite fare and beverages provided

Tickets are available at Reedsburg Chamber of Commerce WCCU Credit Union

SSSST. PETERT. PETERT. PETERT. PETER’S LUTHERANS LUTHERANS LUTHERANS LUTHERAN

SCHOOL NEWSSCHOOL NEWSSCHOOL NEWSSCHOOL NEWS

This year the Easter season falls on some special

days. Ash Wednesday and Easter only fall on

these days three or four times each century. The

last time this happened was in 1956. Do you know

what I am referring to? Ash Wednesday is on

Valentine Day, February 14 and Easter is on April

Fool’s Day, April 1st.

Ash Wednesday marks the start of the season of

Lent. The whole plan of salvation is about God’s

love for us. I think of Hebrews 12:2a. “ looking to

Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who

for the JOY that was set before him endured the

cross”. Jesus went to the cross for you and me

with Joy. That is hard for me to comprehend.

What a special Valentine!

Then consider April Fool’s Day. It is a day when

people play pranks on each other. Jesus sure

played a prank on Satan when he rose from the

dead Easter morning! That was the best prank ever

pulled. Just a couple of thoughts as we enter the

Lenten season.

The following are some pictures of what kinds of

things we do at St. Peter’s Lutheran School

Mrs. Hillman and the kindergarten class baked Monkey Bread for the United Way Auction!!

Kindergarten learning about germs

Sixth grade class giving gifts to the Humane Society rather than to each other.

Student Council presents a check to Rocky & Rusty’s Redemption Pet Rescue.

The Annual Jump Rope Contest for 1 - 8th grade students was held with the fastest jumper from each class (those highlighted names)

qualifiying to compete in the state contest in Bloomer, WI, the Jump Rope Capital of the World, on January 27.

Our speedy jumpers competing were:

1st Grade: Lucas Breneman, Kaelynn Haase, Karlee Smith 2nd Grade: Lindsey Lichte, Mason Molitor, Lainee Skinner 3rd Grade: Aubrey Mathews, Grant Weber, Emma Williams 4th Grade: Kendra Daniels, Noah Herritz, LeeLu Nicolaus 5th Grade: Jack Fenwick, Ashlyn Mathews, Sophie Williams 6th Grade: Emma Herritz, Chloe Klitzke, Shelby Bell 7th Grade: Madeline Corbin, Nate Gasser, Anna Glick 8th Grade: Cassidy Klitzke, Ella Halvensleben, Sam Raupp

CHANGES COMING TO OUR RADIO

BROADCAST

Continuing through the month of February,

worship services can be heard on

WRDB 1400 at 8:00 a.m. and also on

WCNP 89.5 FM at noon.

VOTERS ASSEMBLY January 25, 2018

Membership changes

October 2017 – January 2018

Received by Baptism

Charlie Jo Reimer Kennedy Marston

Landon Brown Logan Brown

Elijah Ott

Transferred to the Church Triumphant

Angelene Roecker John Bernien

Richard Gant

APPROVED BY VOTERS ASSEMBLY

Release at their own request

Belinda Gehri to St. Paul’s, Wonewoc

Catherine Mickelson to Mount Calvary,

Milwaukee

Deanna Mickelson to Mount Calvary, Milwaukee

Dawn Cottingham (Arianna Procter) to Midvale

Community Church, Madison

Craig Meyer Jr to Trinity Baptist, Reedsburg

Dorothea Peper

Ash Wednesday, February 14

5:00 p.m. Lenten Supper –

LWML

Wednesday, February 21

5:00 p.m. Lenten Supper –

Wednesday, February 28

5:00 p.m. Lenten Supper – Sr & Jr Youth

Wednesday, March 7

5:00 pm Lenten Supper – Ladies Aid

Wednesday, March 14

5:00 pm Lenten Supper – 7 & 8th Grade

Ark Encounter & Creation Museum Trip

Wednesday, March 21

5:00 pm Lenten Supper -

Maundy Thursday H.C.

March 29 - 2:00 & 7:00 pm

Good Friday, March 30 1:30 & 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 15 – No Services

Easter Sunday – April 1

6:00 a.m. Sunrise Service -8:00 & 10:30 a.m.

7:00 – 10:30 a.m. Easter Breakfast served by

St. Peter’s Youth

If you have a group that would like to

sponsor a Lenten Supper, please contact the

church office at 524-4512, ext. 1. We still

have some dates available.

Come and join us in worship for Midweek

Lent. Our theme this year is “Who Wants

Jesus to Die?” In these services we will hear

of God’s great love for us and God’s perfect

and planned work to bring His fallen

creation peace, hope and salvation. We will

answer this questions from the perspective

of the Heavnly Father, Satan, Barrabas, the

High Priest, Pilate and Judas. We will also

have a pulpit exchange fo pastors this year.

May God bless us during the holy season as

we prepare our hearts to remember our

Lord’s great love, sacrifice and victory for us

and our salvation.

The following students participated in the Upper Grade (5-8th) Spelling Bee on Thursday, January 4th, at 9:00 a.m. Classroom winners are highlighted, with the tital of Upper Grade Spelling Bee Champion going to 8th grader, Josiah Sabatier!! Congratulations to all. Josiah Sabatier and Jeffrey Zuelke will be going on the sompete in the CESA 5 Spelling Bee in Portage on Febraury 6.

5th Grade 6th Grade Ashlyn Mathews Hunter Abbott Sophie Williams Kaleb Pertzborn Brianna VanCoulter Jeffrey Zuelke 7th Grade 8th Grade Anna Glick Summer Thompson Jacob Diamond Josiah Sabatier Reese Swanson Josh Thomas

“I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:8-9). Without commands or even arm-twisting, St. Paul encourages, even challenges, the Church in Corinth to demonstrate the sincerity of their faith by their generosity in

giving. He does this because giving generously is a gift of the Spirit given to us through the Gospel. St. Paul wrote: “But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7). In other words, just as we grow in faith and speech and knowledge of eternal things by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, so also do we grow in giving from the same Spirit through the same Word. The problem is that the grace of generosity often grows cold in us. It’s not so much that we stop giving, but we don’t put it first. We treat it like all the other bills that must be paid. It becomes a chore, just one more thing to check off a list of things to do. That empties it of its spiritual power and robs us of the joy that Christ and the Scriptures assign to it. On top of that, since this generosity is linked to faith and knowledge of divine things, a lack of excelling in giving is a sure sign that our faith and knowledge of God are under attack as well. Thus St. Paul points to the foundation of generosity: the generosity of Christ Himself. Even though He was rich, He became poor so that we who are poor might become rich. Thus, the incarnation, suffering, and death of our Lord on the cross is the reason, source, and driving force for our generosity in giving to the church. And since Christ who was rich became poor so that we might be rich in His grace—of which generous giving is part—so we also who are rich in His grace can excel in pressing His grace into service toward the gracious work of the church. Pay attention to what you give to the church so that you may excel at it. And if you find that your heart has grown cold or indifferent toward it, immerse yourself in God’s Word. Read it at home. Attend Bible Class. Hear and listen to it preached in the Divine Service. Be reminded of what Christ has done for you in His incarnation, suffering, and death. For this will strengthen your faith and knowledge. And where that excels, so will the grace of giving excel also.

GOD’S BLESSING TO YOU!! WEBER, RYAN 2/1

PARCE, SHYANNE 2/2

ANDREOLI, CHRISTINE 2/3

DIETZ, DANIEL 2/3

GENZ, DAWN 2/3

KRUSE, JOANNE 2/3

REIMER, MIKHAIL 2/3

SCHMITT, SAMUEL 2/3

DEITELHOFF, DALLAS 2/4

STRUTZ, AUDREY 2/4

TAYLOR, ADAM 2/4

WESTPHAL, KAREN 2/4

PERTZBORN, MARTY 2/5

TESKE, GARY 2/5

ZIMMERMAN, JEREMY 2/5

SCHAFER, DREW 2/6

SCHMIDT, JENNIFER 2/6

THOMAS, GRACE 2/6

HANKE, ERIN 2/7

MILLER, NOAH 2/7

NELLESSEN, JAXSON 2/7

BELL, KATIE 2/8

GRIEVES, ERICK 2/8

WHITEHURST, JOAN 2/8

FINKEL, PAIGE 2/9

OTKIN, TYLER 2/9

FRANK, TYSON 2/10

MOLITOR, ERIKA 2/10

RUFENACHT, GERALD 2/10

SHANAHAN, ANNETTE 2/11

CRAKER, KEITH 2/12

SCHROEDER, ALAN 2/12

ZIMMERMAN, SHARON 2/12

DUREN-HENKE, ELIZABETH 2/13

MILLER, LINDSEY 2/13

SCHMIDT, TAYLOR 2/13

SCHULENBURG, PAMELA 2/13

ANDERSON, JENNIFER 2/14

BIRDSILL, BRITTANY 2/14

MILLER, GLENN 2/14

COLE, BRIANNA 2/15

GADE, DORIS 2/15

KENYON, ASPYNN 2/15

WOOD, CLARENCE 2/15

COLLINS, KATHY 2/16

GADE, DIANE 2/16

MARTIN, KYLE 2/16

PERTZBORN, MARISA 2/16

ANDERSON, SHAYNA 2/17

ZAUTKE, ZACHARY 2/17

BRANDT, RUDOLPH 2/18

DOWNING, LAUREN 2/18

KLEEBER, JACOB 2/18

PELTON, EMMITT 2/18

SCHULTZ, WENDY 2/18

SMITH, JORDAN 2/18

GENZ, CAITLYNN 2/19

HALVENSLEBEN, SUE 2/19

OTKIN, DONALD 2/19

RADTKE, ANDREW 2/19

HOOF, MARK 2/20

MALLONEN, EDWARD 2/20

RAUPP, SAMUEL 2/20

JACOBSON, DAWN 2/21

NELSON, THOMAS 2/21

ROLOFF, BRYAN 2/21

TIBBITTS, VICKIE 2/21

FILUS, GRANT 2/22

KLINGBEIL, JACOB 2/22

NACHREINER, KATHRYN 2/22

REINFELDT, DIANE 2/22

BERLIN, STEVEN 2/23

BESSERT, RONALD 2/23

CROUSE, WILLIAM 2/23

HARRISON, WHITLEY 2/23

TOEDER, KAREN 2/23

ARCHAMBO, JILL 2/24

BRANDT, AUTUMN 2/24

BRANDT, MARCIA 2/24

DEHN, MATTHEW 2/24

HALL, JESSICA 2/24

KLITZKE, CASSIDY 2/24

REUTER, RYAN 2/24

WOLLIN, NATHANIEL 2/25

BERBERICH, CINDY 2/26

NOLDEN, HEATHER 2/26

SCHULENBURG, TERRY 2/26

SCHULTZ, RAFIER 2/26

THOMPSON, LOIS 2/26

KLITZKE, DANIEL 2/27

KRUSE, KENNETH 2/27

LARRABEE, ANDREW 2/27

SIEMANDEL, CALVIN 2/27

DIETZ, THEODORE 2/28

JASPER, JORY 2/28

VOGEL, DALE 2/28

IMHOFF, ABBY 2/29