February 2021 - St. Peter Lutheran Church
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February 2021 Genesis 12:1-2 “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” (Embolden text mine) Leaving my home state of Minnesota to take my first call as Associate Pastor at St. Peter reminds me of the call of Abra- ham and Sarah. Now, I’m definitely not trying to compare myself to someone with a legacy as great as Abraham and Sarah, but in a small way I can relate to their story. Leaving behind most things we know to travel to the new, exotic land of Iowa (well...about as exotic as Minnesota, I guess). The call of Abraham is a four-part call and promise from God. The four parts being: Go. Land. Nation. Bless. Abraham and Sarah, in faith, left their homes to the new land, and eventually, through their son Isaac, became a great nation - the people of God. My call to St. Peter now makes our call combined. Intertwined. A call to reach out to the city of Dubuque, and even the greater Tri-State area, to spread the word of the Gospel. I wonder, where is God calling us to go? How will God contin- ue to make God’s nation (i.e. people) great through our work as a church? This year I’m excited to explore this call to- gether. I can’t wait to see what blessings God has in store for St. Peter! Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. Mark 9:8 Lent officially begins this year on February 17, Ash Wednesday. Usually, I am all fired up for Lent. We begin in the darkest part of the year, the dreary days of Winter, when it’s cold and wet. We ascend the mountain of the Transfiguration, where for a moment we have a glimpse of the Glory ahead— and a few days later, it’s Ash Wednesday, and we’re suddenly thrust into the desert on a journey through those unpre- dictable days of March. But, we continue, our eyes focused ahead, until we reach the walls of Jerusalem, the terror of the Three Days, and the horror of the Cross. The whole trip feels like a colossal mistake, and we wonder why we ever left that mountain in the first place. But, at that moment of absolute despair, we stumble forward and behold the Empty Tomb on Easter Sunday, and the Glory of the Resurrection. We find that hope is Real. I love it. Lent usually has this amazing urgency, this sense that you are on the home stretch, you’ve only got enough left to finish, there is no second guessing. This year our Lenten journey seems more difficult than I have ever experienced. I for one am more tired than I can re- member, physically, emotionally, spiritually. The last 10+ months have taken their toll on all of us, and the idea of tak- ing on something like Lent seems almost impossible. The road looks rougher, and the weight heavier than ever. But I am looking forward to it, and I hope you are too. No one is on this journey alone. God is with us: Jesus, Emmanu- el, our Lord and God is here, and will not abandon us. And look around you. You’re not alone at all—you’re surrounded by your church, people who are loved like you. See the hands of your neighbors reaching for you, to help you up, to take your burdens, to help steady you, and encourage you to keep walking forward. And after you find your feet, if you see someone else stumble, give them your hand. Even if they are a stranger, lend them your balance, and share their burden. Friends, let’s do this together.
On Sunday, January 31 we celebrated the Lord’s Prayer Milestone for our 1st Graders: Aiden Connolly, Jane Agee,
Mackenzie Bousson, Josh Scheirer, Cole Schoenhard, Ella Tierney, Aria Wernimont and Devon Zauche.
Milestone classes were taught both on zoom and in person. The children received a Prayer Pillow that Jean Knight-
McChristy lovingly stitching together for them. In the pocket of the pillow, the children can put a little prayer booklet
that they & their parents put together. It includes some of the other prayers that we talked about such as the 5 Finger,
Flash, Fast Food, and M&M prayers. There are also blank pages where the children can add their own prayers.
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Our “noisy” offering has been used to help with the of supplies for our Sunday School on Zoom.
Our coins have totaled $165.17 so far. Thank you! We will be ending this project on February 13.
Starting Sunday, February 14 (Transfiguration Sunday), our next “noisy” offering project will be teaming up with the
Mission Support Board. They will be taking donations to make the Personal Care Kits, and the coins will be used to pur-
chase items they need to complete the kits. This “noisy” offering will run through Palm Sunday, March 28.
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The Sunday School kids are beginning to work on videotaping and recording for a Virtual Children’s Easter Message.
It will be shared during worship on Sunday, April 11.
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The next pick-up of Zoom Sunday School Materials is February 14 from 10:15-noon. Which, coincidentally,
is the date of our next outdoor worship service. Kids are also asked to bring back their Alleluia Butterfly that
day, all colored and ready to be put away in our Alleluia Box. NO Zoom Sunday School February 14.
Ready for some Zoom Bingo? The Education Board will be hosting one on Friday, February 5 at
6:30 pm. Signup online at www.timetosignup.com/stpeterdbq, contact Sara Wernimont, or the
office.
Signup before Wednesday, February 3, if you will need to pick up your bingo cards, or if you would
like them delivered. We hope to email most bingo cards, as in the past.
We will be accepting “last minute” sign-ups until 4 pm on Friday, February 5, but only if your cards can be emailed.
PRIZES NEEDED: Who is willing to “ante up” to help the Ed Board purchase some $5 gift card prizes for Bingo?
If you are, please contact Sara Wernimont (cuenowernimont@aol.com) or Miriam Bjornstad (mythywaybj@gmail.com)
or the office. (We know where you can get $5 SCRIP for Big Apple Bagels or Subway...hint, hint) This is a great way to
help out our many local businesses!
We want to thank our many friends at St. Peter for
all their prayers, cards, emails, and other sincere Hello Quilters! We have been given permission to meet
expressions of support and encouragement after in the fellowship hall once again! So I would like to take
our car accident. We thank God that we are alive! this opportunity to ask your opinion on when we should
meet. It doesn’t have to be on our regular day (first
We are happy to say that our recuperation has been Thursday), as long as the room is available. All quilters
largely uneventful, and we are nearing normalcy! We welcome — ironing experience a plus!
look forward to seeing you in the spring - hopefully
vaccinated! Please give me a call and let me know what you think.
- Alice Wagner 563-582-2427
Gary and Julie Norby
COTTON FABRIC NEEDED: We have gone through quite
a bit of our supply and could use some new material.
Larger pieces that can be cut into squares work best.
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Well, we made it through the year end 2020 and are on our way to re-opening Church. Not sure yet when that might
be but I can see it coming this year. Hopefully by the end of March those of us over 65 will have the opportunity to get
vaccinated and we can start to feel safer going out more in public but still wearing masks.
Here at St. Peter we also have a number of things to be excited about!
Pastor Calvin Konop joined us on January 5 and was ordained on January 29 at his home church, Servant of Christ Lu-
theran Church in Champlin, MN. It was a great and moving service that Pr. Matt and I were honored to attend in per-
son. Our first month together with Pr. Calvin and his wife Ashley just reinforces that God has brought us the best per-
son to share the Gospel with all of us and to lead our Youth and Family program.
Pr. Calvin is working hard to expand our youth offerings while we are still in the Zoom mode, but ready to be back face
to face when the time is right. I can’t wait to see how he will help our youth get back into relationships and activities
which they have missed over the past couple years.
We will continue to work hard to encourage our members to return to worship in person and make sure everyone feels
safe being in our sanctuary. Please plan to come back to our faith community when you are ready.
Your Lay Ministry Board is hard at work updating our Church Windows database with all of our member information.
Soon we will be sending out letters to some members to make sure we are showing their current status correctly in our
records.
Once we have updated all this information, we plan to generate a new up-to-date church directory, with photos of our
members. This directory will be available as a members-only, secure, password protected app for your devices. We will
also have hard copies available. Our new directory app will allow our members to submit their own photos or have new
photos taken by a church volunteer. It will be able to be updated quickly in the future. More information coming soon.
I want to again thank all members of the Parish Planning Council and all Board members for their service to St Peter in
2020. I look forward to serving with them and our new Council members in 2021.
- Doug Horstmann, Executive Director for the Parish Planning Council
Are you a Thrivent Financial member? In last month’s Bellringer, “Gordon Wells Memorial” was
inadvertently left off of the list. Our sincere apologies for this
If you have available Choice Dollars® you have until mistake. A correction is as follows for that section:
March 31, 2021, to direct your 2020 Thrivent
Choice dollars to St. Peter Lutheran Church. George Running Memorial Jane Petersen
Paul Scherner Jeffrey & Donna Haun [D]
Don’t miss this opportunity
Karla O'Connor
to recommend that Thrivent Financial Gordon Wells Memorial
LaVonne Spangler [D]
provide outreach funding to St. Peter! Anne Hanselmann
Linda Sorensen
(Thrivent Choice Dollars do NOT automatically Anonymous Anonymous [D]
Marge Schultz
get sent to St Peter) Betty Artus
Mark Kamm [D]
Bob Heil
Go to Thrivent.com/thriventchoice to learn more. Michael & Connie Ledvino [D]
Dan Unmacht
Patricia McBride [D]
Or call 800-847-4836 and say “Thrivent Choice” Darleen Sarvis
Paul Puls
after the prompt. For any other questions give Diane Locklear [D]
Richard & Susan Heathcote [D]
Tim Zauche a call at 608-340-3040 Don Biermann
Stephen &
Dorothy Gibb
Charlene Wells-Kenkel [D]
Douglas Horstmann
Edward McEvoy [D} = one-time donor
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Hi! My name is Jean Knight-McChristy, and I have been a member of St. Peter for over 40 years.
In 2006, Pastor Schlichting asked if I would consider becoming the Wedding Coordinator for St. Peter.
My immediate response was “What is that?” I had no idea that we even had one, let alone knowing
what the job entailed. And, quite possibly, you don’t either. So I have been asked to share with you
what I do as the Wedding Coordinator.
When my husband Larry and I got married at St. Peter in 1999, I had no idea where to get dressed,
when to come upstairs, or when to start down the aisle. And since we were between pastors at that
time, I even had to find someone to perform the ceremony. I didn’t want any bride to have to deal with those kind of
concerns, so I took on the challenge and became St. Peter’s Wedding Coordinator.
So what do I do? When a couple expresses an interest in having their wedding at St. Peter, they are referred to me.
I contact the couple by phone, email, or in person to learn the preferred date of their wedding and also to learn a little
about them. Then, no later than 3 months before the wedding, we arrange to meet in person at the church. As I tell
the couple, the pastor will do the pre-marital counseling and discuss the religious service with them, and I make sure
everything goes as planned. I give the couple a tour of the church, showing them the dressing rooms, restrooms, and
the kitchen. We discuss what is allowed and what is not allowed at our church. They tell me what plans they have
already arranged and I give them suggestions on things they still need to think about. Also I discuss the fees with them.
I encourage them to get in touch with me if they think of anything else that we didn’t cover.
Next, I attend the rehearsal the day before the wedding. At this time, I get to meet the wedding party, the parents,
and anyone else who will be involved in the service. I hear the music and see how the pastor plans on conducting the
service.
The day of the wedding, I am the first one there and the last one to leave. I make sure everyone knows where to go.
I help with flowers and clothing malfunctions. I talk with the photographer and the musicians. I make sure the wedding
party gets something to eat. I check on the temperature in the dressing rooms and in the sanctuary, making adjust-
ments if necessary. I round up people for pre-wedding pictures. When it is time to start the service, I get the wedding
party lined up for the processional and be sure parents are ready to walk down the aisle. I bring the bride upstairs.
I check with the pastor and then cue the organist that we are ready to begin. I cue each couple when it is time to walk
down the aisle; and when her music starts, I cue the bride and her escort. I also see that any late-arriving guests are
seated quickly and quietly in the back.
After the service, as quests and then the wedding party are leaving, I check the pews and the dressing rooms to be
sure that all is cleaned up and nothing is left behind. I have dealt with everything from letting a bride into the building
at 7 am to retrieve her head piece before getting her hair done; to getting a stuck ring off the groom’s finger after a
pre-wedding picture; to working with a film crew that was taping the wedding for a national TV show. Every wedding is
unique and beautiful.
Since 2007, I have worked 44 weddings. The most I have done in one year was nine weddings in 2009, and thanks to
Covid, in 2020 we had only one wedding. So far this year, we have two weddings and one vow renewal scheduled.
If you know of a couple (members or non-members) looking for a church to be married in, have them contact the
church office or me. I would love to work with them!
Honor a loved one, give thanks for something in your We have a lot of leftover 2020 calendar pages (6” x 6”) with
life, or sponsor for your own reason. The calendar is very nice artwork on them.
pretty empty right now – so request your desired If you have a use for these,
date(s) early! please call the office
Click here to download signup sheet (563-583-8060)
or Signup on the calendar outside the office, The date can be trimmed
or contact Christine, 563-583-0860, stpeterdbq@q.com off easily. Sample
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All worship services will continue to be available online, as well as on Mediacom Channels 81 and 117-4 (see page 6)
Here are the links which will take you to our live and most recent services, and more:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stpeterdubuque (Please “Like” our Facebook page while you are there!)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4kMfxyh_knV8Xmk0CaQztA (you can “Subscribe” to this, too)
Websites: st-peter-lutheran.org (the website you are probably familiar with)
stpeterdbq.org (we are in the midst of transferring info to this one, so both are active)
PayPal: http://stpeterdbq.org/give (a secure way for you to donate to St. Peter online)
Mediacom: Channel 81 or 117-4 (see calendar page for the TV schedule)
We will continue to celebrate worship live online 9 am Sundays, on our YouTube channel.
Please join us for in-person worship each Sunday at 9 am. Remember your masks and social distancing guidelines.
If you have questions, please call the office (563-583-0860) or email us at stpeterdbq@q.com
The ongoing ministries of St. Peter are made possible by your financial support. Thank you!!
1. Bring it with you!
2. Send your offering in the mail. The US Postal Service is still bringing us letters daily.
3. Drop off your offerings or envelopes in our secure, white mailbox. It is located near the south entrance of the
church and is checked several times a day.
4. If you would like to set up a direct withdrawal from your bank, please contact the office for an ACH form.
Then, complete it and email it to stpeterdbq@q.com, mail it, or drop off at church in the white mailbox.
5. Donate via PayPal. Here’s how:
Go to www.stpeterdbq.org/give and then select the Donate button. You will be taken to the
St. Peter PayPal page. From there you can use your PayPal account, credit card or debit card
to donate. (You do not need to set up a PayPal account to donate with your credit/debit card.)
Or, from your cell phone you can simply scan the QR Code here
and it will take you directly to the St. Peter PayPal page.
Please continue to call the office before entering the building, (even if you have a key), so our staff
may assist you in the safest way possible. Masks are required, per City of Dubuque mandate, please
feel free to ask staff to put theirs on, too. Thank you, everyone, for your continued cooperation. We appreciate it!
2021 Envelopes —are available by the front doors —
call the office if you are stopping over to get yours. SHOP WITH SCRIP
Contact info Great for all those after-Christmas sales!
If you have new contact info, please let the office know,
so that we may update our information. Did you know - St Peter’s Youth receives from 2-13%
back, depending on the retailer’s contribution?!
2021 Pledge Cards
The Stewardship Committee will be pleasantly surprised Contact Lyle Beck (563-543-9394)
with any pledge cards that just “appear” in the office :) or Christine in the
office (563-583-0860) to place an order.
Automatic Giving
(same day pick-up in most cases.)
ACH forms are available for your Pastor Fund donation,
as well as your regular monthly donation.
5Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
(C) =
As we continue to transition to in-person meetings again, we will Contemporary
continue to have a Zoom option. Please contact your group’s (T) =
leadership for updated meeting info. Traditional
If you need help installing/using Zoom, please contact Pastor Communion is
Matt, or the office, and we will help you with it. offered at all
services
1 2 3 4 5 6
Staff 10:45 am City Council Zoom Sun School Quilting TBD ZOOM BINGO!
Hymn Selection Election—Ward 3-4-5th 5:30 pm (see page 2) 6:30 pm
1:30 pm 1 (here 7a-8p) Confirmation (see page 2)
Zoom-6:30 pm YH-Girl Scouts
Evangelical 5:30 pm
Outreach 6 pm Book Club
Property Bd 7 pm Zoom-6:30 pm No Worship
Bible Study via
YH-TOPS 5 pm Zoom-5:30 pm
YH-B. Scouts 7 pm
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Worship 9 am (T) Staff 10:45 am Bible Study via Zoom Sun School
Coffee Hour WT Music Zoom-5:30 pm 3-4-5th 5:30 pm
Via Zoom 10 am Selection 1:30 pm Confirmation
Sun. School Zoom Stewardship Bd Zoom-6:30 pm
10:30-11:15 am 5:45 pm Book Club 4:30 pm
PPC Mtg 7pm Zoom-6:30 pm Worship
YH-TOPS 5 pm
YH-B. Scouts 7 pm
14 Transfiguration 15 16 17 Ash Wed. 18 19 20
Worship 9 am Staff 10:45 am Bible Study via Lent begins (No In-person (No Senior
PARKING LOT (C) Zoom-5:30 pm Service—noon Prayer Shawl) Fellowship Men’s Bible
Worship Bd 6 pm Study via Zoom
Coffee Hour Luncheon)
Lay Ministry 7 pm Zoom Sun School 8 am
Via Zoom 10 am 3-4-5th 5:30 pm
YH-TOPS 5 pm March
Sunday School YH-B. Scouts 7 pm Service—6:30pm Bellringer
Packet Pickup/ Deadline No Worship
Butterfly drop-off
10:15-noon
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Worship 9 am (T) Staff 10:45 am Bible Study via Zoom Sun School
Coffee Hour Zoom-5:30 pm 3-4-5th 5:30 pm
Education Bd
Via Zoom 10 am 6:30 pm Youth Bd 6 pm Holden Evening
Sun. School Zoom YH-TOPS 5 pm Prayer—6:30pm
10:30-11:15 am YH-B. Scouts 7 pm
No Worship
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Worship 9 am (C) Mediacom TV Schedule:
Channels 81 and 117-4
Coffee Hour Mon 10 am Tue 6 pm Save the Dates:
Via Zoom 10 am
Wed 8 am Thurs 6 pm Feb 14: Outdoor Service
Sun. School Zoom Fri 8 pm Sat 4:30 pm Feb 14: Sun. School Packet Pickup
10:30-11:15 am Feb 17: Ash Wednesday
Sun 8:30 am and 7:30 pm
615 Anne Hanselmann
Angie Puls We remember those affiliated with our
1 Donna Clemen Jean Rieniets congregation who have died in the past ten years.
2 Melissa Brimeyer 16 Victoria Healey February 24, 2011 .............. Mary Helen Neumeister
Benjamin Buse William Tinker February 26, 2011 .............. Dolores “Dee” Bjerke
Charlie Fassbinder 17 Cole Schoenhard February 10, 2013 .............. Kimberly Thill
3 Susan Fury Mindy Wiley February 04, 2014 .............. Dolores “Dee” Maggio
4 Brandon Haas 18 Justine Bies February 29, 2016 .............. Jane Klingle
Lorraine O’Brien 19 Mark Dean
Jim Petersen 20 Bob Papenthien “ I thank my God every time I
5 Sophia Kramer 21 Kala Ave-Laltemant remember you, constantly
Ramonna Miller 22 Erica Lumley praying with joy in every one
6 Erin Schoenhard Jan Peter of my prayers for all of you,
Adam Zell 23 Caitlyn Finger because of your sharing in the
8 Cal Boland Sandy Hyman gospel from the first day until
Lynn Kupferschmidt 24 Scott Peter now.” - Philippians 1:3-5
Alan Lumley Elizabeth Potter
10 Stephen Brackett 26 Raelynn Olsen
11 Paul Herrig Ray Reynolds
Mary Jane Maas Kade Schroeder The church library is accessible during office hours, just
Julie Thill 27 Brenden Harbaugh call first! Our library has more than just books:
12 Elaine Core Daryl Tetterton Magazines:
Tyler Munson 28 Justine Leslein
13 Christopher DeMotta Berdena Miller Many different titles available—from Reader’s Digest,
14 Karen Taylor Courtney Pfab to National Geographic, to Boy’s Life, and more!
Greeting Cards:
Individual cards and full boxes are available. Prices
We celebrate these special milestones. (very reasonable) are marked on the back of each box.
Name Date Greeting Cards (& stamps) make great gifts, too.
Gerald & Arlene Laaker ....................... February 15, 1986 Prayer Shawls:
Cal & Alice Boland ............................... February 16, 1974 Our library shelves have a nice selection of prayer
Doug & Cindy Recker ........................... February 21, 1987 shawls, to give as a gift, or for yourself. So if you know
Jay & Lori Schmitt ................................ February 24, 2001 of someone that could use a little extra comforting,
please contact the office to get one. (563-583-0860)
Prayer List: Do you know someone that could use a few
Our Prayer Shawl group usually meets the 2nd Thurs.
extra prayers? Please let us know, and we will be happy to
of each month, and will hopefully resume soon!
add them to the St. Peter Prayer list.
7Nonprofit
Organization
US Postage
PAID
3200 Asbury Rd Dubuque, IA
Permit No. 813
Dubuque IA 52001-8408
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
www.stpeterdbq.org
Office Phone: 563-583-0860 YouTube Livestream Service
Email Address: stpeterdbq@q.com Sunday 9:00 am
Office Hours: 9:00-4:00 Mon-Thur; 9:00-1:00 Fri stpeterdbq.org/livestream
STAFF
Pastor: Matthew Agee ............................ office: 563-583-0860 In-Person Worship Services
voicemail: 563-845-2688 Traditional Worship
Associate Pastor: Calvin Konop ................. cell: 763-226-5425 1st & 3rd Sundays 9:00 am
Visitation/Outreach Minister: Jim Daack .......... 563-556-0028 Contemporary Worship
Education Coordinator: Miriam Bjornstad ........ 563-663-6558 2nd & 4th Sundays 9:00 am
Musician: Kristine Fishler ................................... 563-599-3937
Outdoor Worship: February 14 9:00 am
Office Manager: Christine Rapp ........................ 563-583-0860 Regular Saturday Worship is temporarily suspended
Custodian: Angie Puls ......................................... 563-542-2711 Holy Communion is celebrated at all services
Saved by God’s mercy, and called by the Holy Spirit,
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