St. Paul Epistle Lutheran Church

February 2014 Web EditionEpiphany Season

Rev. Jonathan Crawford2025 Jackson StreetDubuque, IA 52001

Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-12:30pm

Pastor Jonathan Crawford(563) 556-7637

Wendy Sullen, Secretary(563) 556-7636

Email crawfordj@csl.edu Email stpsecretary@msn.comDusty Colby, Organist/Choir Director

Weekly Services:Saturday Worship: 5:30 p.m.Sunday Worship: 9:00 a.m.

Sunday School & Adult Bible Study: 10:30 am

DATES TO REMEMBER IN FEBRUARYFeb 1 National Lutheran Schools WeekFeb 2 , 9, 16 & 23 - Inactive Members Class @ 10:30amFeb 1, 8, 15 & 22 - Bell Choir Rehearsal @ 4:00pmFeb 2 Scouts Sunday Service @ 9:00 am (No Holy Communion)Feb 2 & 16 Scouts Venture Crew @ 7:00pmFeb 4 Cover Girls @ 9:00amFeb 5, 12 ,19 & 26 - Confirmation Class from 6:30-8:00pmFeb 7, 14, 21 & 28 - Pastor Teaching at DLS @ 9:00amFeb 10 Mission Circle @ 7:00 pmFeb 10 Church Properties @ 7:00 pmFeb 12 DLS Early Dismissal @ 1:15pmFeb 13 & 27 Brown Bag Bible Study @ 12 noon.Feb 13 Board of Lay Ministry @ 5:30pmFeb 17 DLS No School - Professional Development Day

Feb 22 Youth Group’s Valentine’s Dinner @ 12 noon at St. PaulFeb 24 Golden Age Club @ 1:00pmFeb 25 Ruth Circle @10:00am

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What’s With All the Chanting?

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! –Psalm 95:1

I’ve heard both some positive and some negative feedback on the increased use of chanting in the services at St. Paul, so I wanted to take this opportunity to explain what it’s all about. I am told that chanting in the service is not a new element at St. Paul, just one that’s been absent for a while.

At the mention of chanting, an image that oft comes to mind is that of the bizarre monks from Monty Python and the Holy Grail who mindlessly repeat a verse in Latin while slamming their heads with wooden blocks. The message that comes across is, “God save us from this pointless monotony!” In reality, though, chant is meant to make the service anything but monotonous!

First, I’d like to apologize for perhaps re-introducing chanting too quickly and without enough instruction. I can assure you this will not be the last time I apologize. Your pastor makes plenty of mistakes and is learning new things about St. Paul every day!

Some Q&A Q: How old is chant? A: We all know that chanting is old. But just how old? Although the term

‘chant’ is not used often in the Old Testament, much of the song used in worship was probably something like what we know as chant. We don’t know what the music sounded like since musical notation was not invented until the 8th or 9th century. Many of the psalms appear to have musical or liturgical notations written into them (e.g., the word ‘selah’ in Ps 46). The chanting of Scripture was carried into the early church and has been a part of Christian worship from the beginning. So chant, in one form or another, has been around since at least 1000 B.C.

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Q: What’s the point of chanting? A: There are several explanations. (1) Singing is meant to give words a

more noble and solemn form. It adds beauty and intensity that moves beyond the spoken word. It enlarges and elevates the adoration of God. (2) Chant can have an almost otherworldly sound to it. It signals to the worshippers that these are not just any words. These are God’s words. And this is not just any place. When we enter a church, we enter the presence of the Holy One. Chant is one way we express that what happens in church is distinct from our daily life in the world. (3) From a practical standpoint, chanted words carried farther in large worship spaces before the advent of microphones.

Q: Do we have to? A: No. There is no divinely prescribed style of music that must be used in

Christian worship. The question we should ask is not “do we have to?” but “does this aid our confession of Christ?” In fact, there are circumstances in which speaking is preferable to chanting. Luther Reed comments in The Lutheran Liturgy: “Whenever it is possible to chant the Psalms beautifully and impressively this should be done. Good reading, however, is to be preferred to poor chanting, and by reason of its corporate and responsive character it, too, may be very impressive.”

Q: Isn’t it Catholic? A: Not exclusively. When Martin Luther wrote his Latin Mass and his

German Mass, chanting of prayers and readings was assumed. He even gave detailed instructions on how to chant the readings as well as the Words of Institution (Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when he was betrayed…). Chant did fall out of practice in early American Lutheranism because of anti-Catholic sentiment but it made a comeback in 20 th century Lutheranism. We should also note that Luther retained many other elements of medieval worship, which we inherit from the Roman Catholic tradition. As long as a particular tradition upholds sound doctrine and is helpful, Lutherans have no reason to “throw the baby out with the bath water.”

Q: Chanting is hard! How do you do it? A: The Psalms in the Lutheran Service Book are punctuated for chanting.

Normally, Dusty will play through the two parts of the chant tone beforehand. The first note is held until the solid line in the text ( | ). Chanting can be difficult without the leadership of a choir but don’t be discouraged. Just keep trying. With some practice, it is a very easy form of singing to learn.

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As I said at the voters’ meeting, I have an open-ear policy. If you think I am introducing new things too quickly, if there is something different you’d like to see or hear, or if there is something you miss from the past, please do not hesitate to talk to me. Your feedback, both the positive and the constructive, is very helpful for me! It is an absolute joy and privilege to sing, pray, and praise our great God with you at St. Paul.

See you in Church,

PASTOR’S SCHEDULE FOR FEBRUARYFeb 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 - Pastor Teaching at DLS @ 9:00 amFeb 4 - Pastor’s Mtg., Platteville, IA from 8-1pmFeb 11 - Pastor’s Mtg., Monticello, IA from 8-1pm

Please join us for Scouts Sunday on February 2nd @ 9:00 am. All Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and Venture Crew Scouts are to be in attendance and in uniform on Scouts Sunday.

BIBLE DONATIONS - St. Paul was delighted to be able to donate our used NIV & KJV bibles. 159 NIV & KJV bibles were donated to Trinity Lutheran Church in Jackson, MI and 15 NIV bibles were donated to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Delaware, IA.

LIFETOUCH PHOTOGRAPHY - St. Paul is pleased to announce that we are updating our pictorial directory in 2014. Pictures will be taken on March 11 & 12, between 2pm-8:30pm. Someone will be contacting you by phone and mail, inviting you to sign-up for a time slot, either at the church or online.

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In Christ,Pastor Jon

CARING FOR OUR INACTIVE MEMBERS CLASS - will meet every Sunday in February @ 10:30 am. As you may be aware, St. Paul is beginning an effort to connect with our brothers and sisters in the faith who have become inactive. Everyone is welcome to join us.

Join us each Wednesday morning at 6:30 am at Jorja’s Restaurant, 3130 Jackson, as we study God’s word through the readings for the week.

THE NEEDY FUND is in need of funds. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Needy Fund (Assistance to those who need monetary help). If you would like to help, please make your check out to St. Paul and mark “Needy Fund” on the memo line.

GOLDEN AGE EUCHRE CLUB Our next game is February 24 @ 1:00 pm. Come out and be prepared to have a good time with great people. All are welcome to join us.

THE ALTAR GUILD is no longer accepting “Literature Collection” items and “postage stamps”. There is no where to send or take them to at this time. If you have any questions, please see Arlene Elliott.

The ALTAR GUILD is always looking for more workers, if you will be able to assist, please contact Arlene Elliott @ 563-583-3149.

BELL CHIMES rehearsal will meet Sat., Feb 1, 8, 15 & 22 @ 4:00 pm.

The 2014 ALTAR FLOWER SIGN-UP. Please use the Flower notebook next to the flower box to fill-in your date, the occasion, such as "in memory of" or what you would like the bulletin to read and, if you would like to take the arrangement

after the Sunday service or leave it to be taken to shut-ins. We are asking that the $20 be paid at the time you sign up. Any questions, please call the church office or Charlotte Tigges at 563-552-2351.

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GOOD NEWS! Our Future Needs Committee for St. Paul decided that we needed to get our name out more in the public domain. St. Paul is now on Facebook and is up and running. Check us out at: St. Paul Lutheran Church Dubuque. The site will be updated regularly and have links to

our website. If you have any questions, please contact Dennis Fry at 563-451-5105.

 BOARDS OF ST. PAUL CHURCH

Dear Friends in Christ,

We’ve moved through the Christmas season and are now on our way to Easter in the church season.  With the brutally cold weather we’ve had this winter I can say I’ve never looked forward to Easter more than I am this year.  The Christmas/Easter season is a special time of celebrations in the church year.  In a few short months we celebrate the birth of Christ, remember his death on the cross and celebrate his victory over the grave.  It’s a time of year that everyone seems more connected with the church. 

With that extra connection it’s also a great time to reach out to our members and invite them back into church.  I know that can be an intimidating task at times, but it’s an important role as a congregation.  We are starting a bible study series on Sunday morning that will help provide instruction to members to take some of that intimidation away.  I’d encourage everyone to attend this series.Speaking of excitement, it was great to be able to welcome several new members to our congregation a few weeks ago.  Welcoming new members to the church is an exciting event and one we haven’t been able to do enough over the past few years.  That made it even more exciting to be able to welcome six new members in January.  If you haven’t had a chance to meet Rachel Becarvik, Kevin, Janice, and Gina Kuske, Robert Olsen and Nancy Prine, please take the opportunity to get to know them and welcome them to St. Paul.

I’m also excited to say that we were able to pass a budget in January that increased our spending on outreach and youth but still provided a budget that was in the black for the first time in many years.  Thank you for everyone’s hard work over the years to control costs as well as continuing to give generously to the church.  We’ll still have many challenges with several potential building maintenance projects coming, but we are in a better shape financially that we have been for several years.

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In Christ,

Josh GraeveBoard of Lay Ministry

RUTH CIRCLE meets the 4th Tuesday of each month. Our next meeting is February 25th @ 10:00 am. Due to shipping cost, cards will be .50¢ each and $5.50 a box. We want to remind all our Church members of the greeting cards we have for sale. The proceeds from the card sales go to cleaning the Pastor’s white robes and purchasing the altar linen. We have the following boxes of cards available: Graduation, Confirmation, Birthday, Anniversary, Thinking of You, Get Well, Sympathy, Wedding, and All Occasion cards.

Please continue to save & bring the following items to church: Drawer 1 - Swiss Valley milk caps, education labels from

Campbell soup & box tops. Drawer 2 - Used greeting cards & pop can tops. Drawer 3 - Used ink cartridges, cell phones & eye glasses.

These items will be recycled for funds for the 2015 Convention in Des Moines. Janet Smith

The Youth Group’s Annual Valentine’s Dinner will be held at St. Paul on February 22nd @ 12 noon. Come out and enjoy a delicious meal prepared by our youths to help celebrate this special time of year with the one you love.

For reservations, contact Dan Pflieger @ 563-599-2425.

The Youth Group is selling 25 lb boxes of Georgia peaches. The cost is $28/box and will be delivered by truck on Sat., July 19th. The orders must be paid in

advance by July 13th, to know the number of boxes to order. Order forms are available in the Fellowship Hall or you can contact Dan Pflieger @ 563-599-2425. We are very excited about this fundraiser, so please ask neighbors and relatives if they are interested. We need all the advertising we can get! Our goal is to sell 500 boxes in our first annual Peach fundraiser. See flyer insert for more information.

READ THE BIBLE IN A YEAR - Will meet every Sat. from 10-11:00am. in the fellowship hall at St. Paul Church. Please see Rachel Becarvik for more information.

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Sunday Morning Bible Study @ 10:30 am. We are studying the book of Revelation.

FOOD PANTRY - For the month of February the Food Pantry will be collecting: peanut butter, jelly, can meats, romen noodles & shampoo. Lynn Wehrspann

The Newsletter info is now due on the 2nd Friday of each month. March info is due Feb 14th.

DUBUQUE LUTHERAN SCHOOL

FEBRUARY EVENTSFeb 12 - Early dismissal @ 1:15 pmFeb 17 - No School - Staff Development DayFeb 20 - School Board Mtg. @ 6:30 pmFeb 27 - Open House “Blast from the Past”-Ancient Civilizations from 6:30-7:30 pm

ANNUAL CUBS TRIP is Friday, June 20th as they play the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3:05pm game time. Cost is $55.00. Payment is due at sign-up. Make checks payable to: St. Paul and give to either Charlotte Tigges, Dennis or Kristie Fry.

We will leave the church parking lot on game day at 8:00am sharp and stop at the Belvidere Oasis each direction. For more information contact Charlotte Tigges @ 563-552-2351 or Dennis Fry @ 563-451-5105. A sign-up sheet is posted on the church bulletin board in the fellowship hall.

CHURCH MEMBERSPlease let the church office know if you have a:- Change of address- New phone number- New email address, or If your name is not on the birthday or anniversary list.

You may contact the church office at 563-556-7636, btwn 8:30am -12:30pm or email: stpsecretary@msn.com (preferred method). Thank you for your cooperation.

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THRIVENT MEMBERS OF ST. PAUL we would like for you to help us build a resource library of this book: “A Time to Mourn, A Time to Dance. Each member may request two books each year, free of charge. We would like to use it in our grief ministry. Please call 800-847-4836 to order yours.

Once you have received the book, please bring it to the church office. Thank you.

HOME-BOUND MEMBERS If you know of someone who is home-bound and would like Pastor Crawford to visit them, please call the Church Office @ 556-7636.

Luther Manor is still looking for volunteers from St. Paul to help deliver meals. If you would like to volunteer your services, please contact the church secretary at 563-556-7636 or Kris at 563-588-1145.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to help someone else in need.

is now accepting registrations for Summer Camp on June 18th. If you register before

March 1st, you can save up to $35.00 per camper. Go to www.campiodiseca.org for more information or to register.

2014 EPIPHANY SEASONIn order to help prepare yourself for our worship services, we are listing below the Scripture readings & Lectionary Summaries for the month of February.

Feb 1 & 2 - The Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Our Lord

1 Sam. 1:21–28, Heb. 2:14–18, Luke 2:22–32 (33–40)

God Gives the Gift of a Child to Destroy Death

The Lord opened the barren womb of Hannah and gave her the gift of the son for whom she prayed, and in grateful response she presented and gave the child, Samuel, to the Lord’s service. “As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD” (1 Sam. 2:28). So, too, did Mary and Joseph present the Child promised from the fall, born of a virgin’s womb. The true offering wasn’t the turtledoves or young pigeons. It was the Child they carried. This Child has come to “destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Heb. 2:14b–15). Set free by His advent in our flesh and the promise of what He would do “in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Heb. 2:17b), Simeon and Anna rejoiced, and we with them, for we know that

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we, too, can face death unafraid and “depart in peace” (Luke 2:29) when our time comes.

Feb 8 & 9 - 5th Sunday after the EpiphanyIs. 58:3–9a, 1 Cor. 2:1–12 (13–16), Matt. 5:13–20

The Righteousness of Christ

Jesus warns that “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20), but He also calls His imperfect people “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matt. 5:13, 14). That’s because the Lord Jesus came not to abolish the Law or the Prophets “but to fulfill them” (Matt. 5:17) in perfect faith and love. Since He does and teaches all of God’s commandments, He is “called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:19). God manifests His “demonstration of the Spirit and of power” in “Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2–4) and through the preaching of the Gospel gives His “secret and hidden wisdom” (1 Cor. 2:7). Christ gives this perfect righteousness to His people, and it leads them to true fasting, which is “to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free” (Is. 58:6) and “to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house” (Is. 58:7).

Feb 15 & 16 - 6th Sunday after the EpiphanyDeut. 30:15–20, 1 Cor. 3:1–9, Matt. 5:21–37

Christ Sets Life before Us so that We Can Walk in His Ways

The God who reveals Himself in His incarnate Son promises life and blessing to all who obey His commandments “by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules” (Deut. 30:16). However, we are “people of the flesh” and “infants in Christ” (1 Cor. 3:1) among whom “there is jealousy and strife” (1 Cor. 3:3). Jesus must instruct us against the human ways of anger, adultery, divorce and false witness (Matt. 5:21–37), because all who live in these ways “shall surely perish” (Deut. 30:18). On the cross He died to forgive our sins and free us from the ways of curse and death. Since Jesus Christ is our “life and length of days” (Deut. 30:20), we can be reconciled to our brother, live in chastity and marital faithfulness, and speak with honesty. He who serves from His cross also offers His gift of reconciliation at His altar, and we can be at peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ who are “God’s field, God’s building” (1 Cor. 3:9).

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Feb 22 & 23 - 7th Sunday after the EpiphanyLev. 19:1–2, 9–18, 1 Cor. 3:10–23, Matt. 5:38–48

God Manifests His Perfect Holiness in Christ through Compassion and Forgiveness

God reveals His perfect holiness in compassion as “he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:45). By His grace in Jesus Christ, we are holy just as He is holy (Lev. 19:2) and we are “God’s temple” in whom “God’s Spirit dwells” (1 Cor. 3:16). This gift of holiness begins with fearing, loving and trusting God above all things, and it leads us to love our neighbor as ourselves (Lev. 19:18). No longer should we practice “injustice in court.” No longer should we “be partial to the poor or defer to the great.” No longer should we “go around as a slanderer” among God’s people. No longer should we “take vengeance or bear a grudge” (Lev. 19:15–18). Though we were His enemies, our Lord Jesus Christ has loved us and forgiven us. Nourished and sustained by His holy body and blood under the bread and wine of His holy Supper, we “shall be holy” (Lev. 19:2) even as the Lord our God is holy.

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WORSHIP SCHEDULE FOR FEBRUARY 2014Sat., Feb 1 @ 5:30 pm Sun., Feb 2 @ 9:30 am

Head Usher: Dennis Fry Jerry AndersonUshers: Bill & Sandi Heller Nick Patrum

Greeters: Harlan & Georgia Knuth Dan & Carol RuschAltar Guild: Mary Ann McGeough Jan Anderson

Organist: Dusty Colby Dusty ColbyAcolyte: Lydia Wehrspann

Sat., Feb 8 @ 5:30 pm Sun., Feb 9 @ 9:30 amHead Usher: Dr. Heyo Tjarks Dave Schap

Ushers: Joan Herrig &Vacancy

Logan Zasada &Austin Litka

Greeters: Cam Tjarks &Nancy Clark

Delores Lindsay

Altar Guild: Arlene Elliott Janet SmithOrganist: Dusty Colby Dusty ColbyAcolyte: Lydia Wehrspann Jacob Hiris

Sat., Feb 15 @ 5:30 pm Sun., Feb 16 @ 9:30 amHead Usher: Eric Schulz Vacancy

Ushers: Kelsie Davis &Jacob Unsen

Nancy Henry &Merlin Bartels

Greeters: Ron & Vicky Schap Rob & Michelle DoergesAltar Guild: Vicky Schap Becky Clark

Organist: Dusty Colby Dusty ColbyAcolyte: Lauren Miller Tasha Pergande

Sat., Feb 22 @ 5:30 pm Sun., Feb 23 @ 9:30 amHead Usher: Dennis Fry Josh Graeve

Ushers: John Weber &Ed AllenBrianna Fry

Jim Patrum &Merlin Bartels

Greeters: Ed & Kelli Allen Delores LindsayAltar Guild: Marlene Weber Becky Graeve

Organist: Dusty Colby Dusty ColbyAcolyte: Emily Fry Hayley Churchill

NOTE: If you cannot make your scheduled date, please call the Head Usher in charge of that service and inform the Church Secretary of the change.

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PRAYER LIST FOR FEBRUARY 2014

1. For ourselves: peace from above and for our salvation.2. That God would grant strength and protection to support us in all dangers and

carry us through all temptations. Prayer for the 4 th Sunday after Epiphany. 3. For peace in the world, especially where violence is present.4. For the well-being of the whole Christian church on earth.5. Rev. Matthew Harrison our synodical president and Rev. Dr. Brian Saunders

our district president.6. Thanksgiving for the youth of our church.7. That the Holy Spirit would grant wisdom to our pastor. 8. Safety for all who travel by land, air, or sea.9. That the Lord would keep his true family, the Church, continually in the true

faith that, relying on the hope of his heavenly grace, we may ever be defended by his mighty power. Prayer for the 5 th Sunday after Epiphany.

10. President Barack Obama, Governor Terry Branstad, Mayor Roy Buol and all public servants.

11. Those who work to bring peace, justice, health, and protection in our community.

12. For the music ministry of our congregation.13. For teachers and students of Dubuque Lutheran School.14. Peace for families of military far away. 15. Blessings on our missionaries, especially those who are persecuted.16. That the Lord would graciously hear the prayers of his people, that we who

justly suffer the consequence of our sin may be mercifully delivered by his goodness, to the glory of his name. Prayer for the 6 th Sunday after Epiphany.

17. For our sister congregation, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, and her pastors Kristian Kincaid and Jesse Cearlock.

18. For the people of the Washington neighborhood and the work of the Washington Neighborhood Development Corporation.

19. Thanksgiving and strength for those who respond in times of disaster.20. For the lonely, that God would surround them with loving people.21. For those who seek shelter from the cold.22. Christian schools, colleges, and seminaries.23. That God would mercifully defend us against all adversity. Prayer for the 7 th

Sunday after Epiphany.24. Deliverance from affliction, wrath, danger and need.25. Release from temptation, particularly those that are persistent for us.26. For those who are sick, especially those listed in the bulletin.27. Thanksgiving for the faithful witness of those who have gone before us and

are now with Christ.28. That God would grant us truly repentant hearts as we prepare to enter the

season of Lent.

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Please tear-off and return bottom portion of this sheet to Dan Pflieger by July 13th. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Make Checks Payable to: St. Paul Youth Group Name: ________________________________________________________________Phone #: ______________________________________________________________# Boxes of Peaches: ____________________________________________________

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