St. Peter Lutheran Church

3200 Asbury Road Dubuque, IA 52001

563.583.0860 www.st-peter-lutheran.org

The Bellringer January 2020

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth ... O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:1,3

One of the primary metaphors we use to describe the church is the Body of Christ in the world. Each mem-ber makes up part of the church; each of us has special gifts or talents, which add to the body, whose head is Christ. And if the ear shall say, because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

How does this look when we gather each week? We are all still individuals, each with our own story and stress, heartache and joy. How does I become we?

Psalm 34, which is quoted at the top of this letter, begins with a statement of individual thanksgiving. It was written by King David during a time of great distress. David composed this Psalm after being chased out of Israel by King Saul into the service of the neighboring king, in the Philistine city of Gath. Eventually, Da-vid falls out of favor with that king as well—and only escapes by pretending to be insane!

So, when David writes this Psalm, he’s in a very lonely place. He has nowhere else to go: he’s an exile from his own county and people.

But, through all of this stress, turmoil, and intrigue, David takes the time to write down a song. While David is honest about the hardships of life, even for those who follow the Lord, he also knows that God’s promis-es are true. Above the noise of life, David can see the horizon—that the goodness of God is more powerful and eternal than the evil of humans.

The opening verses of this Psalm set the thesis for David’s song. It is the hook, the refrain. As the whole world seems to be falling apart around him, David cries out that he will bless the LORD at all times. He will offer up thanksgiving to God, even though he could very well offer anger and frustration. He adds that he will do this not just with his actions, but with his mouth. He will sing praises aloud for the world to hear.

But David doesn’t just want this to be the action of one pious man. He knows that his praise is something that should be done with others. He invites those who hear his song to join with him in praising God.

I think this is a brilliant idea—and not just because I lead worship each week. There may be days when we struggle to find the strength to offer thanks to God. We may not feel that connection, or the words won’t come. We may feel alone, isolated, exiled from the world.

Just as we are all members of one Body, when we join together in worship, we function as one Body. When one joins in worship, we all join in worship. We are connected through worship and the sacraments, built up for the work of ministry in the world.

As we enter 2020, my prayer is that our theme this year will be this verse: Let us exalt God’s name togeth-er.

Soli Deo Gloria Pastor Matthew Agee

Gathering & Sending the Body of Christ

Annual Meeting & Brunch

We will have a meal to serve before our Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 26th 2020

Plan to bring a dish to pass and we will call it a “Pot Luck”.

At our Board of Lay Ministry Meeting on Monday, December 16th, Pastor Matt agreed to bring the Brats & Hot Dogs, therefore no need to bring the meat.

And I am asking for volunteers to help set up, serve, and clean-up.

Thanks

Jim Petersen, Board of Lay Ministr

Annual Meeting notification for January 26, 2020

This year’s annual meeting of St Peter Lutheran Church of Dubuque will be held in Fellowship Hall follow-

ing second Service on Sunday January 26, 2020. The annual Report, including the agenda for this meeting,

will be published and available at church starting on January 11.

The Nominating committee has come up with the following ballot for consideration at the meeting. If any

members of the congregation have names they wish to submit for nomination for the below listed positions,

those names must be submitted to the nominating committee for consideration no later than January 16.

For Election – Even numbered years

Executive Director (1st year of first full 2 year term) Doug Horstmann

Assistant Executive Director (#2 position)

(1st year of first 2 year term) Amy Unmacht

Treasurer (Scott has already served 2 full terms but

PPC will need to appoint him for one more year) To be appointed by PPC

Evangelical Outreach Director (1st year, 1st term) Cindy Widmar

Youth and Family Director (1st year, second term) Rick Maiers

Worship Director (1st year, 1st term) To be appointed by PPC

Stewardship Director (1st year of first full term) Mark Whitaker

As a reminder, this meeting is for voting members which is defined as those confirmed members who have

communed and made a contribution of record at St Peter during 2018 or 2019.

We will be discussing and voting on bringing a second full time Pastor to our church to provide support for

the youth program, visitations, pastoral support, and expand member offerings.

Hope to see all of you there to participate in the future of our congregation.

Doug Horstmann, Executive Director

Loving & Caring for Others

The “Noisy” Offering

We continue our “noisy” offering for the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital through the months of De-cember and January. We have $183.66 in coins so far. Thank you! The money will be used to purchase items from the hospital’s Wish List.

A large paper Christmas tree with post-it notes ornaments of items from the hospital’s wish-list is at the end of the hall by Miriam’s office. Please take a post-it, purchase the item and drop it off at church in the baskets under the tree. Watch for a snowman with snowflake Post-its for January. In February we will deliver the donated items to the Children’s Hospital.

Mission Support

In January, Our church will be having a “USED or Very cheap” towel drive for the Dubuque Rescue Mis-sion. Their residents need towels for their showers, also there are others whom are allowed to use showers and leave, and sometime the towels leave with them, so Please do not purchase expensive towels for this cause!. So bring towels on the Sat/Sun, Jan 18+19th and help us, help them clean up. If you have any ques-tions please contact Dan Zauche

Educating and Equipping Disciples A big “thank you!” to the Sunday School kids for all their hard work and enthusiasm in learn-ing the songs and parts for the Christmas Program, “How Could It Be A Silent Night?” Thanks, also, to the parents for getting their kids to Sunday School, practices and helping them prepare at home; to the teachers for handling disruptions to their teaching schedule and for keeping up with changes made in script and character assignments; to Sara Wernimont for turning the script into a Power Point so the kids could read and sing from the screen; to Kris-tine for helping get songs in “practice ready” format; to “the big kids” (Middle and High School) willing to help the younger ones to make this program as good as the ones they re-member being in.

How can it be a “silent night” when we have the amazing news of Our Savior’s birth to share!

St. Peter Youth Upcoming Activities

February 1st, 10-12 pm - Superbowl Pizza Making

Join us in a fun way to raise money while making pizza’s!

Contact Lisa or Rick Maiers or a Youth board member for more information on how you can

get involved in this fun event!

More fun activities are being planned. Watch for updates here or in the Bellringer!

Your Youth Board Members: Cindy Recker, Jean Beck, Karla O’Connor, Lisa Maiers, Lyle Beck and Rick Maiers (Youth Board Director)

Looking Ahead:

Sunday, January 5 – Classes resume

Supporting & Encouraging the Saints

Quilt Pieces There are always quilt pieces available (to your left as you come in the top door to the church) for you to take home and put together

Financial Peace University

Your Stewardship Board is offering a new program to St Peter members and the public at large.

Have you been stressing over your financial situation? Are money matters starting to strain your family relationships?

Would you like some non-judgmental help with getting you back on the track? Then maybe this course is for you.

Have you heard of Dave Ramsey, a well-known radio personality and author? This is his program and you might like it.

We are offering this 8-week course at church from 6:30 to 8:30 every Thursday night from January 16 thru March 12th.

Child care and snacks will be provided free of charge. Cost is just $99.00 for each family unit. Coordinators/leaders on

site will be some of your church members. For more information please go online to fpu.com/1101498 which will take

you directly to our course offering. Hope to see you there.

Vision for the Future

At St Peter Lutheran, your Parish Planning Council has been discussing the staffing needs at our congregation. At the

top of the list has been the need for a person dedicated to the relationship building necessary for our Youth Ministry. A

second need we have identified is for more outreach and visitation support as well as support for Pastor Matt in handling

3 services per week.

For these reasons we are recommending to the congregation that we hire another full time Pastor to begin in summer

2020 to assist Pastor Matt who will continue to be our Senior or Lead Pastor. Between the two of them, and in consulta-

tion with Parish Council, they will divide the duties of preaching, leading worship and visitation as well as the responsi-

bilities of teaching and working with Middle and High School Youth. We think this is a good solution for the needs of

the whole congregation.

We are proposing that we fund this new position with a capital campaign for $260,000 over a 3 year period from Febru-

ary 1, 2020 to February 1, 2023. Our estimates show that a first call pastor out of Seminary, at recommended first year

base pay, housing allowance, and family insurance would cost approximately $84,000 per year. With inflation the total

needed over 3 years would be approximately $260,000. We will be able to eliminate the current budget item for a youth

director to provide some financial cushion. Funds raised in the campaign will be held in a separate account solely for the

purpose of paying for the second pastor position. Incidental costs for employment such as travel, books etc will be cov-

ered in our normal operating budget. After 3 years it is anticipated that there will be a need for another campaign to fund

the position but at a lower level. We do not anticipate needing to ask the congregation for any additional funding for

buildings and grounds or any other purposes in the next few years.

During the month of January there will be listening post meetings at church to discuss this recommendation and answer

any questions that might come up. We are proposing that at the Annual Congregational meeting on Sunday January 26,

2020 we vote to approve the creation of this new position and also to approve the campaign to fund the position.

The Council has also decided, in consultation with Pastor Matt, that we will invite an intern from Wartburg Seminary in

the fall of 2020 which will be funded by our St Peter Foundation Fund as in the past. This will be consistent with our

congregation’s desire to be a teaching congregation.

If you have any questions about these recommendations please feel free to speak with any members from the Parish

Planning Council. The PPC members are; Paul Scherner, Scott Schoenhard, Alice Boland, Dan Zauche, Gary Rieniets,

Jim Peterson, Sara Wernimont, Rick Maiers, Mark Whitaker, Wayne Buchholtz, Doug Horstmann and Pastor Matt.

Doug Horstmann, Executive Director

January 2020 Worship Servants

January 18 & 19

Ushers:

4:30 Alan & Lois Lumley

8:15 John Welter, David Yeager

Sally & Darren Sirianni

10:30 Patty Strathman

Greeters:

4:30 Diane & Lester LaPage

8:15 Wayne & Vicky Hess

10:30 Deann Petitgout, Edy Puls

Communion Assistants:

4:30 Donnelle Fuerste

8:15 Traci Ryan, Neill Yeager

Mark & Michelle Whitaker

10:30 Paul Scherner

Lectors:

4:30 Nancy Ferry

8:15 Christopher DeMotta

10:30 Aneta Mistek

Assisting Minister:

Altar Servants: Ann Gile, Michelle

Bahr

January 25 & 26

Ushers:

4:30 Ric & Lisa Maiers

8:15 Rod & Donna Clemen

Doug & Karen Horstmann

10:30 Ellen Gukeisen, Paul Herrig

Greeters:

4:30 Phil & JoAnn Oftedahl

8:15 Richard & Sandy Hyman

10:3 Amy & Dan Unmacht

Communion Assistants:

4:30 Jolene Rettenberger

8:15 Mary & Michael Klein

Gerlard & Arlene Laaker

10:30 Don Bierman

Lectors:

4:30 Ryan Oftedahl

8:15 Angie Puls

10:30 Avery Kane

Assisting Minister:

Altar Servants: Ann Gile, Michelle

Bahr

January 4 & 5

Ushers:

4:30 Erica Shireman, Patty Strathman

8:15 Donna Beadle, Nathan Dolter

Rod & Donna Clemen

10:30 Ellen Gukeinsen, Doug Recker

Greeters:

4:30 Mary Lursen, Daryl Tetterton

8:15 Steve & Carol Sefzig

10:30 Betty Artus, Bill Thill

Communion Assistants:

4:30 Lisa Maiers

8:15 Mary & Michael Klein

Becky Heil, Linda Sorensen

10:30 Jim Petersen

Lectors:

4:30 Peg Johannsen

8:15 Karla O’Connor

10:30 Marty Corfman

Assisting Minister: Pam Buchholtz

Altar Servants:Darleen Sarvis

Sheila Sharkey-Stuart

January 11 & 12

Ushers:

4:30 Jolene Rettenberger &

Nick Rettenberger

8:15 Roger Bentley, Karen Dolter

Darleen Sarvis, Lori Schmitt

10:30 Blair Kapp, Amy Unmacht

Greeters:

4:30 Mary Roling, Lois Shetler

8:15 Bob & Ramonna Miller

10:30 Connie Finger, Jan Pins

Communion Assistants:

4:30 Ann Fritschel

8:15 Dick & Elaine Core

Angie Puls, Kelly Roen

10:30 Dan Unmacht

Lectors:

4:30 Nancy Leonard

8:15 Jan Peter

10:30 Avery Kane

Assisting Minister: Doug Horstmann

Altar Servants: Darleen Sarvis,

Shelia Sharkey-Stuart

February 1 & 2

Ushers:

4:30 Ann Fritschel, Erica Shireman

8:15 Donna Beadle, Wayne Buchholtz

Scouts, Cub Scouts, John Welter

10:30 Doug Recker

Greeters:

4:30 Nick Rettenberger, Mary Roling

8:15 Roger Brimeyer, Kenyon Gjerde

10:30 Edy Puls, Patty Strathman

Communion Assistants:

4:30 Peg Johannsen

8:15 Dick & Elaine Core

Pam Buchholtz, Linda Sorensen

10:30 Connie Finger

Lectors:

4:30 Tori Anderson

8:15 Kelly Roen

10:30 Sydney Schoenhard

Assisting Minister:

Altar Servants: Elaine Core,

Linda Sorensen

January Birthdays

2 Sandra Plumley 3 Rich Corfman 4 Sarah Flynn Amy Kettmann 5 Mia Davis Ric Maiers Ally Zauche 6 Emily Bush 9 Andrew Peter Elisa Vander Broek 10 Owen Michel 13 Larry Conrad Elise Kluck Emma Oftedahl Ronald Scherffert 14 Ellory Madsen Christy Martin Darleen Sarvis Mark Von Hollen 16 Beverly Enderson 17 Joyce Horstmann 19 Molly Brackett Olivia Richey 20 Tracy Ann Koeller Rick Mueller 21 Sam Spurling 22 Lou Ann Meyer Doug Recker Chris Yeager 23 Stephanie Berlage Kenneth Haugen CJ Jentz Trisha Weitz 24 Ann Mauritzson Chase Puls Doris Tomter 25 Josh Berlage Damon Williams 26 Vanessa Delgado 27 Madeline Bellomy Grayson Healey Blaine Nicks 28 Mary Berg Lauren DeMotta Martha Kemp Marcia Kramer Larry McChristy John O’Connor Cody Thill 29 Carrie Brondyke Amy Ehmcke Tyler Hess 30 Shelly Maas Andrea Ricklefs 31 Donna Beadle Emily Cochuyt Zoey Kettmann

“ Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I re-member you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your shar-ing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.” - Philippians 1:2-6

We Remember

(We remember those affiliated with our congregation who have died in the past ten years.)

January 12, 2011 Ellen L. Puotinen January 18, 2011 Richard Haas January 28, 2011 Mary Louise Brown January 05, 2012 Roderick L. Roth January 16, 2012 Steven H. Plumley January 27, 2014 Jerry Allen Kennedy January 06, 2016 Aaron Louis Kupferschmidt January 13, 2017 Carol Gantenbein January 14, 2017 Rosemary Zauche January 17, 2017 Joan Schmitt January 24, 2017 John Hess January 16, 2018 Virginia F. McNemer

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 TV 8:00 am

2 TV 4:00 pm

3 TV 8:00pm

4

Holy Comm 4:30pm (Traditional)

TV 5:00 pm

5 Holy Comm 8:15am (Contemporary)

9:20 SS/Conf/AF

Holy Comm 10:30am

TV 8:30am & 7:15pm

6 TV 10:00 am

Staff Mtg 10:45

Hymn Selection 1:30pm

TOPS 6:00

Evangelical Outreach 6:00pm

Boy Scouts 7:00

Property Bd Mtg 7:00pm

7 TV 6:00 pm

Spruce Up Group 8:30am

8 TV 8:00 am

Choir 7:00pm

9 TV 4:00 pm

Quilting Day 9 to 3 Prayer Shawl 6:30pm

10 TV 8:00 pm

11 Holy Comm 4:30 pm (Traditional) TV 5:00 pm

12 Holy Comm 8:15 am (Contemporary)

9:20 SS/Conf/AF Holy Comm/10:30 am

TV 8:30am & 7:15pm

13 TV 10:00am

Staff 10:45

WT Music Selection 1:30pm

Stewardship Bd Mtg 5:45pm

TOPS 6:00

Boy Scouts 7:00 PPC Mtg 7:00

14 TV 6:00 pm

15 TV 8:00 am Choir 7:00pm

16 TV 4:00 pm

17 Senior Fellowship Luncheon 11:30am TV 8:00 pm Bellringer Deadline

18 Men’s Bible Study 8:00am

Holy Comm. 4:30pm (Traditional)

TV 5:00 pm

118 19 Holy Comm 8:15am (Contemporary) 9:20 SS/Conf/AF

Holy Comm 10:30am (Con

TV 8:30am & 7:15pm

20 TV 10:00 am Staff 10:45am

Worship Bd Mtg 6:00pm Lay Ministry Mtg 6:30pm Tops 6:00

Boys Scouts 7:00

21 TV 6:00 pm Spruce Up Group 8:30am Youth Bd Mtg 6:00pm

22 TV 8:00 am Choir 7:00pm

23 TV 4:00 pm Women’s Bible Study 1:30pm

24 TV 8:00 pm

25 Men’s Breakfast 8::00am Holy Comm 4:30pm (Traditional) TV 5:00pm

26 Annual Meeting

Holy Communion 8:15 am (Contemporary)

9:20 SS/Conf/AF

Holy Comm 10:30am

TV 8:15am & 7:30pm

27 TV 10:00 am

Staff 10:45am

Education Bd Mtg 6:30pm

28 TV 6:00 pm

29 TV 8:00 am Choir 7:00pm

30 TV 4:00 pm

31 TV 8:00 pm

January 2020

Nonprofit

Organization

US Postage

PAID

Dubuque, IA

Permit No. 813

Office Phone: (563) 583-0860 E-mail Address: stpeterdbq@q.com Web Page: www.st-peter-lutheran.org Office Hours: 9:00-5:00 M-Th; 9:00-1:00 F Home Phones Pastor: Matthew Agee office 563-583-0860 Youth & Family Visitation/Outreach Minister: J im Daack 563-556-0028 Education Coordinator: Miriam Bjornstad 563-663-6558 Custodian: Angie Puls 563-542-2711 Organist & Pianist: Kr istine Fishler 563-599-3937

Fall/Winter Worship Service Times

Saturday 4:30 p.m.

Sunday worship 8:15 & 10:30a.m.

Holy Communion is celebrated at all services.

3200 Asbury Rd.

Dubuque, IA 52001-8408

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

St. Peter Lutheran Church

Our Mission:

Saved by God’s mercy

and called by the Holy Spirit,

We share the Good News

of Christ by reaching out

in Love.