From Pastor's Desk
Do you have some places you’d like to return? Have you said to a family member “Could we go back there?” Last summer my family went to the Lake of the Ozarks and we liked it so much we are talking about going back. Maybe you had a similar great day at the park or at the beach. Maybe your family went on a vacation and you’d like to go back to that same special place. Sometimes children enjoy a visit with grandparents or friends and they ask, “When can we go back?”
The Old Testament reading for Ash Wednesday is usually Joel 2:12-19. It begins: 12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
The prophet Joel is saying to God’s people, “Let’s return. Let’s go back.” Prophet Joel was not talking about going back to a special place. He was writing about going back to a special God. The children of Israel had wandered from God. They had wandered off to look for other gods and to worship idols. Those gods could not hear them or help them. In their desperation, they called for God to find them and bring them back. When we get lost and when we wander from God, the Holy Spirit leads us to say, “Let’s go back.” Sin leaves us lost and lonely. We want to go back to the place where we are safe. We want to go back to the God who loves us and forgives us.
When Israel went back they would find a loving God who would welcome them and bless them. Jesus told the story of the prodigal son who wandered from his father. The father saw the son coming back home and he welcomed him back to his family. Just like it’s great to go back to a special place, it’s always great to be welcomed back to God. God welcomes us back to His Church where we learn more about Him and love worshiping and serving Him.
God used a prophet to lead His people back to Him. Who are some of the people who lead us back to God when we wander from Him (our parents, teachers, Christian friends, etc.)? We thank God for the people who lead us back when we are tempted to wander from Him.
Let us Pray: Jesus, bless us as we pray, “Let’s go back!” Lead us back to Your cross where we see You dying for our sins. Lead us back to Your empty tomb where we celebrate that You rose for us. Thank You for welcoming us back again and again. Amen.
Part of this was taken from: 2014-15 Chapel Talks for Lutheran Schools Stand in Mercy: 31
Lenten Meals
Join us for a warm meal with fellowship during Lent at 6:00 pm preceding the worship services. Invite friends, neighbors, and family. The meals begin on February 21st and go through March 20th. Please see the sign-up sheet in the narthex if you'd like to help prepare a meal. We generally serve 15-20 people and 2-3 people sign up per meal. If you have questions, talk to Bridgett Volkert (419-487-2744).
St. Peter – Adopted Seminarian Greetings
To the LWML and Congregation of St. Peter Lutheran Church, grace, mercy, and peace be to you from our Lord Jesus Christ this Christmas season! This is Seth Horn, writing to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope all has been well for you this Christmas season! Christmas is always a wonderful time of the year, doubly so when you don't get to see your family as often as you used to, like in my case. I hope you all have been in good health and God has provided for all your needs and maybe even some of your wants this Christmas season. I came and visited your Advent Potluck some time ago and was very pleased by the warmth of the people there as well as how nice it was to have such wonderful food! It was a pleasure to come and see the church that prays for me and supports me. I cannot express enough how grateful I am to receive such help and aid even though I scarcely deserve it. Those cookies that were given to me didn't make it through the night back in the dorm (yes, both boxes)! I was always told that it is a very special feeling, visiting a church that has adopted you. I can thoroughly say that it was a humbling and wonderful moment, seeing the faces of the people who keep me going. Right now, I'm at home with my family until the New Year. Then I go back for another 7 weeks until the quarter is over. I'm currently in the struggle of learning Hebrew which has been exceedingly difficult, but I know God will carry me through it. You'll most likely hear from me then again around that time. Thank you for your continued support, it means more than I can express! By the time I write again, I'll be able to preach sermons so perhaps I'll inquire with Reverend Stuenkel about maybe giving me a shot in the pulpit. It'll be one of my first non-Pentecostal sermons that I'll have the pleasure of preaching. I pray that the New Year will hold wonderful and warm things for you. May He who holds all things together continue to hold you in the palm of His hands.
Seminarian Seth Horn
Quilt Raffle
Quilt Raffle - Orphan Grain Train is selling raffle tickets for a Heart Sampler Quilt 90x95. Tickets are $1 for one or $5 for six. Drawing will be on Friday, June 7, 2024 (the last day of the 424 Sales). Money collected through the raffle will help to offset transportation costs in taking deliveries to Kentucky. If you don't want to purchase a raffle ticket but would like to make a monetary donation for transportation costs that will be an appreciated blessing also. To purchase a raffle ticket contact any OGT Volunteer, or see Nancy Helmke or Cindy Cline.
Celebrating National Lutheran Schools Week
National Lutheran Schools Week provides more than 1,800 preschools, elementary schools and high schools with the public opportunity to proclaim and celebrate God’s work among us in schools of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. We thank God for the opportunity to provide excellent academic preparation for the children we serve. We are most grateful for the opportunity to share Jesus’ amazing love with children and their families. National Lutheran Schools Week gives us an opportunity to proclaim these great blessings within the communities we serve. Our schools are amazing incubators for faithful witness of God’s love for us through Christ by teachers and students alike.
St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church 150th Anniversary Committee
This month’s brief history of St. Peter’s beginnings follows the years from 1875 to 1887.
*Pastor Detzer’s successor was Pastor Adalbert Kraft (1870-1876) who was installed on September 18, 1870. During his tenure of office, progress was made to the extent that a separate congregation could be formally organized. On September 13, 1875, a constitution was written and signed by the charter members who named the new church for the Apostle St. Peter. Also at this time, subscriptions for the building of a church were gathered from those who were interested in the undertaking. However, this gathering of funds was halted for a time because of the calling away of Pastor Krafft.
After Pastor Krafft had delivered his farewell sermon on the 24th Sunday after Trinity, 1876, Pastor Herman Diemer (1877-1883) was called and installed in April 1877. Now the enthusiasm for the building of a church was revived and by 1880 a nest-egg in the amount of $1,000.00 had been underwritten; half of which had been gathered from members of kindly sister-congregations in Henry and Defiance counties. Soon the building was begun and completed and on Trinity Sunday, 1881, the first Lutheran church in Florida, Ohio, was dedicated to the glory of God. Professor F.W. Stellhorn, of Concordia College, Fort Wayne, and Pastor L. Dulitz, of Napoleon, preached the German festival sermons and Pastor Diemer the English.
During the periods when Pastor Krafft and Diemer provided Florida with church services and official acts, such as baptisms, marriages, etc, these men had their homes in Archbold. Considering the almost impassable country roads of that day and the great distances between the mission stations, it is only natural that these early preachers met with untold hardships on their journeys. But when they would arrive at Florida, they would always find a hearty welcome and good lodging with families such as the Fred Leonhard’s and others.
In 1883 another pastoral vacancy ensued for the Florida congregations when Pastor Diemer accepted a call to Pomeroy, Ohio. At this turn of events the churches in Archbold and Ridgeville Corners decided to call a pastor of their own. So Florida was forced to look elsewhere for spiritual guidance. It did find ready response when Pastor G. M. Zucker of Defiance consented to serve as vacancy pastor. This arrangement lasted for a year and a half, until the Florida congregation extended a call for their own shepherd. The call was received favorably by the St. Louis seminary and on the 12th Sunder after Trinity, 1885, theological candidate Theodore Karl Horst (1885-1888) was installed as the first resident pastor of Florida. From that time forward, it was possible to enjoy divine public worship on every Sunday and to institute religious instruction for the children. Under such single blessings, the congregation grew both spiritually and outwardly for three years when the next interruption occurred. Pastor Horst accepted a call to become the pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Toledo, Ohio.
Historical information is reprinted from “Word and Sacraments 100 Years September 13, 1875 - September 13, 1975” - Centennial Anniversary Booklet
Greetings from Preschool
Dear Christian Friends,
Valentine's Day is just around the corner and love is in the air! It's the perfect time to show appreciation for those who matter most in our lives. Our very own St. Peter Lutheran Preschool students are excited to offer personalized candy Grams to help spread some cheer with our church shut-in members and the Filling Home and show someone how much we care. Each candy Gram comes with a full-size candy bar and a special hand-colored card made with love by your children. All proceeds will benefit the local Lutheran Church K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry, making our act of kindness go even further.
Our preschool students will also be joining our Sunday School for a special music service and Chili Cook- Off on February 25th, at St. Peter Lutheran Church. They will be singing "Praise Him, Praise Him, All Ye Little Children". We can't wait to hear their beautiful voices!
We also wanted to share some exciting news about our class guinea pigs, Miss Piggy & Princess Sparkle! They recently visited the Florida Public Library for Storytime and Craft. Area children read stories to our little ladies and our piggies even took home a library card! We are so proud of our furry friends and their love for reading.
Thank you for your continued support of St. Peter Lutheran Preschool. We are committed to providing a loving, nurturing environment where our children can grow and learn.
Blessings,
Ms. Stephanie & Ms. Emilie
