St.Paul Lutheran Church & School
400 S.13th Street Fort Dodge, IA 50501
Phone 515-955-7285
stpaulfd@stpaulfd.org
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THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL
Monthly newsletter of St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, Fort Dodge, Iowa
Our Mission Statement: Disciples of Christ Making Disciples for Christ
Volume XXXXV JANUARY 2024 Volume XXXXIIII
Love Makes Us Do It
A young girl was dying. Her only hope lay in a complete blood transfusion, but she had a very rare blood type. Only her brother, even younger than she, had the same type blood. His parents and doctors explained the situation to him, giving him time to ask questions. He agreed and, without delay, he was laid on a bed, the needle was pushed into his tiny vein, and slowly his blood seeped from his small body into the bag hanging from his bed. He lay quietly as the nurse stood next to him, ready to attend to any need he might have. “How do you feel?” she asked. “Ok,” he answered, “but, Nurse, when do I die?”
What love this little boy had for his sister. What must he have thought when his own parents seemingly agreed, even asked him to sacrifice his life to save his sister’s?
The boys’ love for his sister can help us see how much Jesus loves us. Jesus suffered abuse, torture, persecution, and death for all of us. “Greater love has no one than this, that He lay down His life for His friends” (John 15:13). He demonstrated His tremendous love not because of our worthiness, but because He is a God of tremendous love. Jesus’ love for His heavenly Father and for us changed the world. Through His death and resurrection from that death, we through faith have received the forgiveness of our sins and life eternal. God’s love to us in Christ is that power that enables us to love Him. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
The love of Jesus empowers us. Because of Jesus’ love, like the little boy, we can be a people responding out of love. Certainly, we give to needs such as our church budget, Christian causes, and people, but our primary reason for living as a Christian is out of love and commitment to Jesus. When there are opportunities to show love and encouragement, Jesus opens our eyes and hearts so we can respond to those needs. We express our gratitude and thanksgiving for our Lord and the love that He shows us every day. I find it interesting that Ash Wednesday is on Valentine’s Day. We especially see God’s love expressed in Jesus during the Lenten season. God’s love for us changed us from people who are lost to people who are in a deep relationship with our God.
We live in difficult and changing times. How wonderful it is that, as Christians, we know that there is the certainty that Jesus always reaches out to us and loves us. May our lives continually and genuinely reflect His love for us..
Pastor Kendall Meyer
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Fort Dodge IA, (LCMS)
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. (2nd Corinthians 5:17
We believe that those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are the Church, the Body of Christ in the world.
School children Can Play
NAMI Family Support Groups
(National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Family Support Meetings
Third Tuesday of each month, 2024
Fort Dodge Public Library
424 Central Ave.
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
FREE and all are welcome
April 15th is the next meeting
Sunday
9:15 a.m. – Adult Bible Class today – Fellowship Hall.
9:15 a.m. – Sunday School - Multipurpose Room.
4:00pm - High School Youth - Youth Room Lower Level.
Tuesday:
6:30am – Men’s Bible Study with Ken Hays will meet – Conference Room #2.
1:00pm - Women’s Bible Study--Board Room.
6:30pm – Kingsmen will meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month at Shiny Top.
Wednesday:—
6:00pm Women’s Bible study—Board Room
Thursday:
7:00 a.m. – Men’s Bible Class – at Zakeers.
Praise Band: Practice on Tuesday’s at 6:00pm in the Music Room & play on the 2nd Sunday.
Teen Praise: Practices on the 1st, 3rd, &4th Sun.at 9:00am in the sanctuary. They play on the 1st & 4th Sunday at 10:30am service.
Any one who would like to join
contact Lynn Meyer.
Bell Choir: Practice on Thursdays, at 5:15pm in the church balcony.
As we begin perhaps the most important days of the church year, remember that Holy Week can be a confusing time for young children. Take them with you to all the special services this week but don’t assume they know what you know. They may wonder, “What does Maundy mean?” “Why does everyone at church seem so sad and quiet?” Read John 18-19 aloud with them. As you reflect on feelings of fear and sadness at Jesus’ brutal treatment, crucifixion, and death, share His message of hope and promise from John 14:1-3. Remind them (and yourself!) that while Good Friday is dark and scary, it’s not the end - only the beginning of the story. Remind them we’re Easter people and Resurrection Sunday is coming!
Lutheran Family Service,
409 Kenyon Rd. Suite C,
Fort Dodge, 515-573-3138 –
Click here for the link
We Stand on Truth-Every life is created by God with a divine purpose, and every human being is endowed with precious dignity and worth.
Our Mission- Whole care for the Whole You/At Obria Medical Clinics we provide reproductive healthcare in a way that empowers our community to make well-informed, life-affirming decisions. Our Services-Pregnancy Testing, Ultrasound & Pregnancy confirmation, Pregnancy Options Counseling, STI Testing & Treatment,
Abortion Pill Reversal, Pap Smears,
Well-Woman Care, and Post-Abortion Services through referral to Restored by Grace. Our Fort Dodge Mobile Medical Unit Hours-2nd & 4th Tuesdays 9-5 with pre-scheduled appointments, 10-5 with no pre-scheduled appointments, & Fridays 9-1
Obria you are invited to a special evening, Legacy for Life, Tuesday April 23rd, at 6:00pm-8:30pm. Doors open at 6:00pm, silent auction from 6pm-7:30pm, dinner at 6:30pm program 7:30pm-8:30pm. This will be at Cornerstone Church, 56829 US Highway 30, Ames, Iowa. Please RSVP before April 15th by visiting https://bit.ly/legacy_of_life.
St.Paul Lutheran Church & School
400 S.13th Street Fort Dodge, IA 50501
Phone 515-955-7285
stpaulfd@stpaulfd.org
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