Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In an old comedy skit, a man is given eye drops at a doctor’s office. The doctor tells the man to keep his head looking up for fifteen minutes, while the eye drops take effect. The man goes outside onto the street, still looking up. Soon, a crowd gathers around him. Everyone in the crowd starts looking up also. They think the man from the doctor’s office looking up must be looking up at something.
This month, God’s people look up. On Thursday, May 30 at 7:30 PM, we will gather in St. Paul’s sanctuary for an Ascension Day Communion Service. Our brothers and sisters from Circuit One and the New Jersey District have also been invited to this service.
At our Ascension Day Service, we will celebrate the fact that Jesus, God’s Son and our Savior, accomplished everything necessary for mankind’s salvation during His time on earth. Jesus lived a perfect life in our place. Jesus suffered and died for us on the cross. Jesus rose again to assure us of God’s free gift of eternal life. Jesus promises to return. He will judge the world. He will bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him. With God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, Jesus will make a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
All who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus have good reason to look up with hope in this month of May. Please join us as we celebrate this important moment in the life of Jesus, God’s Son, and the life of Christ’s church. A reception will follow downstairs in the church library
In Jesus’ name,
Pastor Holsten
NOTES FROM PASTOR
The Classic Ballet School invites us to come to their Spring Recital on Sunday, May 19 at 4:30 PM. This recital will take place in the Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest Auditorium. The performance is free.
Wanted: helpers to decorate and ride on St. Paul’s award-winning Memorial Day float. We will meet at St. Paul’s parking lot at 8:30 AM on Monday, May 27 to assemble this year’s float. We will assemble with the other marchers, cars and floats at 9:30 AM at St. Mary’s parking lot. The Closter Memorial Day Parade begins at 10 AM. Helpers are also needed on Sunday, May 26 after 10 AM worship to assemble the Memorial Day gift bags we toss from the float to the people lining the parade route.
Spectrum for living is looking for volunteers. For information, call Kathy Bentzen, Spectrum for Living’s Director of Administrative and Volunteer Services at 201 358-8000 ext. 3026. Kathy’s e-mail is kbentzen@spectrumforliving.org. You can also visit www.spectrumforliving.org/volunteer.
Barbara Tobiassen invites members and friends of St. Paul’s to come meet the Minister of Fisheries from Ghana, Michael Arther-Dadzie, Mr. Arther-Dadzie is a personal friend of Barbara’s who helped her build the Living Springs Christian School in Ghana. A reception for Michael will take place on Monday, May 6 from 4 to 6:30 PM at the BCB Bank of River Edge, 876 Kinderkamack Rd. in River Edge. RSVP to Aurora Abdul by May 2 at 201 518-9960.
The members and friends of St. Paul’s share their sympathy and the sure hope of the resurrection with the family of Gloria Zupfer. Gloria passed away on April 22, 2019 in Pompton Plains, NJ. Gloria was 84 years old. Gloria is survived by her husband Jerrald, 4 children and spouses, ten grandchildren and spouses, and two great-grandchildren. Gloria served as a deaconess, music and confirmation teacher, organist and choir director at Zion Lutheran Church in Westwood, New Jersey.
Gloria’s family will receive guests at Zion Lutheran Church, 155 Second Ave. in Westwood, NJ on Saturday, May 11 from 9:30 to 11 AM. A Celebration of Gloria’s Life and Faith will take place at 11 AM at Zion that same morning. A reception will follow in the undercroft.
Gifts in Gloria’s memory may be given to Zion Lutheran Church or to LC-MS Deaconess Ministry, Mission Advancement, PO Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166 (please mark – national ministry in note section).
The members and friends of St. Paul’s congregation share their sympathy and the sure hope of the resurrection with the family of Marion Oliveri. Marion, Lisa Vreeland’s grandmother, passed away on April 8, 2019. Marion was 99 years old. A funeral service for Marion was held on Tuesday, April 23 at 10 AM at St. Anthony’s in Northvale. Marion’s body was laid to rest in the Garden of Memories in Washington Township.
The members and friends of St. Paul’s congregation share their sympathy and the sure hope of the resurrection with the family and friends of Kevin Thompson. Kevin was a lifelong resident of Closter. He managed the Closter Burger King for many years. Kevin is survived by his sister, Robin, his nephew, Travis, and his great-niece, Kayla. Pastor Holsten led a funeral service for Kevin on Friday, April 26 at the Moritz Funeral Home in Closter.
St. Paul’s mission of the month for May is the Armed Forces Ministry of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.
CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING
ELDERS
- Met on April 2nd, 2019
- Reviewed Pastor’s report
- Set schedule for upcoming month
- Have sent out Easter cards with schedule and invitation.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
- Sunday School is going well. Pastor does the opening, and Christine teaches well with a “hands on” activity style.
- Looking forward to Tenebrae service.
- Bible study on Thursday is ongoing.
MISSIONS & EVANGELISM
- Postcards have been sent out to 24 new residents.
- Bruce Sutherland was here on March 31st for a luncheon.
- Did soup and sandwich on April 3rd.
- May 9th is the next meeting
- Discussing a possible Dancers’ Tea.
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
- Winding up with soup and sandwich.
- Ladies Aid is doing soup and sandwich this week.
PROPERTY
- Repaired vacuum and lounge chairs.
- Dennis Bujas took down large evergreens.
- Washed side of building
- Carillon is working.
- Computers in office are having a problem.
STEWARDSHIP
- Went to nursing home in March to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day: did songs, puppet show and Brooke also went along.
- Barbara Tobiassen went to Washington DC to support Thrivent’s, tax exempt status.
- Going to Rockleigh home April 30th to celebrate Easter and received a Thrivent grant towards that.
- May will be a Hawaiian theme.
- Ladies Aid Spring Rally is April 28th.
OLD BUSINESS
- Constitution – with proposed changes will be in Lamplighter.
- Council members whose terms were expiring in June have been extended.
NEW BUSINESS
- Congregational meeting will be May 19th after Church.
CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES
- A quick summary of changes are as follows;
- Change “he” to “they” several places.
- Combine Christian fellowship and Social action committees.
- Total council members changed from 12 to 11
- Quorum changed from 7 to 6.
- Change “shall” to “may” in several places.
- President and Vice President term changed from 1 to 2 years.
- Change Quarterly to Annual Financial statements. Quarterly if requested.
- Remove “annually” for audit procedures
- Change “her” to “it’s”.
- Change “himself” to “themselves” in several places.
- Change from 5 to 4 elders, old change never corrected.
- Allow women to be elders with appropriate changes in wording.
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING AND ELECTION
St. Paul’s semi-annual congregational meeting and election will take place on Sunday, May 19 at 11:15 AM in Koepchen Fellowship Hall. The following people have been nominated for office at St. Paul’s:
President: Charlie Munsch
Vice President: Roy Merz
Secretary: Joan Curto
Financial Secretary Richard Huss
Treasurer Gerri Gibney
Elder Richard Huss
Copies of St. Paul’s constitution, including proposed changes, are available in the Narthex. We will vote on the proposed revisions to the constitution at the May 19 congregational meeting.
SECRETARY’S CORNER
LADIES AID
There will be no May Ladies Aid meeting. We look forward to our Quilters/Ladies Aid Luncheon in Koepchen Fellowship Hall on Monday, June 10 at Noon.
Thank you to everyone who helped with the April 28 Spring LWML Rally at St. Paul’s. Koepchen Fellowship Hall looked beautiful. The refreshments were delicious. The skit was fun, too. If you missed the meeting, but would like a “Prayer Rock,” please speak to Janice Pierro or Donna Munsch.
QUILTING
The quilters outdid themselves! A record number of 33 quilts have been shipped to Lutheran World Relief.
Interested in being part of our team? Join us on Mondays at 1 pm in Fellowship hall. Always looking for donations of material. Sheets make wonderful backings for our quilts.
JUNE BIRTHDAYS:
| 5 | Kim Luikert, Samantha Ross, Richard Graesser, Adam Graesser |
| 6 | Marin DiBlasio |
| 7 | Brian Schama |
| 8 | Joe Kemprowski Jr., Douglas Keil |
| 10 | June Kuhn |
| 11 | Jaclyn Loweree, Douglas Catalanello |
| 12 | John Graesser |
| 13 | William Sposa |
| 17 | Anne Gilhool |
| 21 | Lisa Vreeland |
| 22 | Irma Schmuck, Donna Steindl |
| 23 | Carley Weber |
| 24 | Loan Wiederholz |
| 28 | Oscar Gilhool |
| 29 | Finn Wiederholz |
| 30 | Barbara Paller, Knox Wiederholz |
Morning movie at St. Paul’s
Join us for a morning movie at St. Paul’s on Thursday, May 16 at 10 AM. The movie is I Can Only Imagine, which shares the untold story of the song with the same name. The movie features actors J. Michael Finley, Madeline Carroll, Trace Adkins, Priscilla C. Shirer and Dennis Quaid. Join us also for a Bible study, The Many Wonders of Heaven Thursday May 23 and 30, also at 10 AM. Both the movie and the Bible study will take place in Room 14.
See you there! –Donna Munsch
Heavenly Father, thank you for all of Your creation including the gift of each new day. This Mother’s Day, we thank you for all mothers. We ask for strength, wisdom, hope and joy for mothers serving here on earth. Help us to honor, encourage and help them. We give You thanks also for all mothers who are now home with You in heaven. Thank You for the gift they have been in our lives. Help us to treasure their memory. Remind us of Your promise of resurrection and a blessed family reunion in heaven with all who have gone before us in the faith. Strengthen all families in love and service to one another. We pray in Jesus’ name, by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.