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
“Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint.”
--- Proverbs 29:18
Starting on April 12th & 13th, nine congregational members gathered to form the Vision Frame Initiative team. This initiative was approved by our Parish Administrative Council (PAC) to begin the process of determining what St. Paul Lutheran Church & School aspires to be. We have just celebrated 160 years as a congregation & school, so the question is, “What does St. Paul want to look like ministry wise when we celebrate 170 years?” The Vision Frame process will help to provide direction to everyone in the organization as they focus their efforts on achieving the vision.
You will be hearing me talk a lot about the Vision Frame over the next several months. So, I wanted to write this article to explain the concept and lay out what the goals we will achieve. First of all, I want to emphasize that what the Vision Frame Initiative team does will be reported to the congregation in townhall meetings. Receiving feedback and thoughts will be most important as the team goes through the process. Please keep an eye out for upcoming congregational meetings so that each of us will be able to participate.
The Vision Frame is a collection of statements that will reflect the Kingdom Concept of St. Paul Lutheran Church & School. The Vision Frame will help to express our DNA. The goal of this process is that every leader, ministry, and program in the church & school should begin from a clear understanding of the Vision Frame. The Vision Frame includes an articulation of the church and school’s unique mission, values, strategy, mission measure, and vision proper.
MISSION: A clear and concise statement that defines what the church is ultimately supposed to be doing. Mission answers the question, “What are we doing?” The mission serves as the compass and guiding North Star of the church & school. It is the heartbeat. The mission is like a golden thread that weaves through every activity of the church & school.
VALUES: The shared convictions that guide the actions and reveal the strengths of the church & school. Values answer the question, “Why are we doing it?” Values are pillars that represent the conscience of the church & school.
STRATEGY: The process that demonstrates how the church will accomplish its mission on the broadest level. Strategy answers the question, “How are we doing it?” The strategy is like a container that holds all church & school activities into one meaningful whole.
MEASURES: The characteristics of an individual’s life that reflect the achievement of the mission. Measures answers the question, “When are we successful?” Measure is the church & school’s portrait of a disciple and definition of spiritual maturity. It provides the standard by which the mission can be measured with respect to an individual’s development through the ministry of the church & school.
VISION PROPER: The living language that anticipates and illustrates God’s better future for the church & school. Vision Proper answers the question, “Where is God taking us?” The vision is a God–inspired dream. It is like a developing Polaroid picture of the church’s preferable future. It develops first in the minds-eye of the leadership and then in the people. Vision is made possible by imagination fueled by faith, hope and love. It is our unique fingerprint here at St. Paul Lutheran Church & School in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
Please keep this process in your daily prayers. I look forward to seeing how God will work through us as we seek to follow His lead in the years ahead.
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
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:— New
Women’s Bible Study @ 6:00pm beginning April 3. BIBLE SHORTS-
Is a video driven Bible study of 5 short books of the Bible. There is no work to be done outside of class.
Come with a friend and enjoy snacks, girl time, and grow in faith! Contact Lynn Meyer (515.633.7458) with questions.
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.
High School & College Youth: Youth group will Not be meeting weekly until Fall. *We will be getting together Monthly for Activities, Retreats, & Devotions. Youth parents watch your emails for those Dates. If anyone has any questions, Please Contact Pastor Kendall Meyer or Lynn Meyer with questions or to get information.
Where do You Go to Learn how to make Ice Cream Sundae’s??
SUNDAY SCHOOL!!
Our kids have been learning
about serving others the past few weeks.
Jesus washing the disciples feet – Serving God first helps us serve others!
To put those lessons into action, our Sunday School kids will be serving Ice Cream Sundae’s on May 5th , between the Services in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone is Welcome!!
Sunday School Pre-K through 5th grade meets on each Sunday morning
at 9:15am to 10am in the Multipurpose Room, located on the School side. Children are invited
to come and join us for a bible story, craft, and music.
Community Connection Wellness Bash, Location Athletics for Education & Success, 712 3rd St. NW Fort Dodge. This will be May 11th from 11am-2pm. Iowa Total Care Green To Go Program: Free Produce for Community members, Health & Wellness Resources, Community Partners, Food Trucks & Family Fun. More info call Webster Public Health at 515-573-4107
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. From 2:00 pm-3:30 pm
FREE and all are welcome
Bus Trip: Another Bus Trip is planned for the Creation Museum/ Ark Encounter for June 10th through the 14th. Also one planned for Dec. 2nd-6th. Flier is located on the bulletin board in the Communication Center.
Building Fund Envelopes
On the tables at the back of the sanctuary you will find envelopes designated for the Building Fund. These envelopes are for your use to assist with maintenance of the church and/or school facilities. Originally, this fund was designated to pay down the debt on the church but since that debt has been retired monies in the Building Fund have been directed toward maintenance. Please consider making a special or regular donation to this fund by using these envelopes. You can designate your donation to either the church or the school if you wish. Or, you may make your gift to the general maintenance needs of the church and school. Thank you for your consideration and your participation. If you have questions on this fund, feel free to contact the Board of Church Properties.
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. Location-409 Kenyon Road (Parking Lot Lutheran Family Service Office)
Our Appointment Numbers-Fort Dodge 515-236-3343 / Ames 515-620-5892/ Answered 24 hours a day. Email- omcinfoia@obria.org
To Support Obria/Fort Dodge:1606 Golden Aspen Drive, Suite 105, Ames, IA 50010/put Fort Dodge in memo line
Ken & Markie Hays 515-576-3473, Obria liaisons for St. Paul Lutheran
St.Paul Lutheran Church & School
400 S.13th Street Fort Dodge, IA 50501
Phone 515-955-7285
stpaulfd@stpaulfd.org
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