Sunday School / Bible Study Kickoff: Sept. 10!

The first weekend after Labor Day we return to our full school year schedule here at St. Paul! After worship each Sunday we offer Sunday School for all ages and Bible Study for all adults. Both of these are perfect opportunities to make Sunday the perfect time to worship our Lord and to grow deeper in his life giving Word. 

To kickoff our normal schedule, we will have a special kickoff session where both the kids and the adults will together look at what the Bible says about how important it is to never stop learning and studying God's Word to us! After our kickoff study and games, we will have a potluck meal provided for all who stay to eat with us! 

Plan to join us, Sept. 10, for worship at 9, kickoff study and games at 10, and potluck meal at 11! You are invited to grow in the grace of your Savior with us!

A Return to Grace: New Luther Movie Showings Sept. 6, 7

This entertaining new film follows the great adventure story of Luther’s life, packed with political intrigue, kidnappings, secret hideouts, and life-or-death showdowns. At the same time, it's a story about the most important questions of life. "Who am I?" "What is my purpose?" "How do I get right with God?"

It’s a must-see for any lifelong Lutheran, and a chance to share the message of our Lutheran heritage with others. You have two opportunities coming up to view this new movie, one in New London and one in Shawano. On Wednesday, September 6 at 7pm, the movie will be showing at the New London HS Auditorium. Ticket cost is $5. On Thursday, September 7 at 6:30pm, the movie will be showing at the Shawano theater for $10 (For this screening, tickets must be purchased in advance at www.tugg.com/titles/a-return-to-grace or by speaking to Pastor Buelow).  These screenings are the perfect outreach opportunity—a chance to invite friends and neighbors to an entertaining event in our area.

This is the first time in more than 60 years that Lutherans have made a feature-length film about Martin Luther and the Reformation. Filmed in historic locations across Europe, this movie brings Luther’s story to life with exquisite attention to detail. It’s a way to strengthen our faith by revisiting the birth of the Protestant Reformation, and a chance to share that experience with others. 

Check out the trailer below:

50th Anniversary Service - June 18, 4:00pm

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19

Please join us in celebrating 50 years of God's grace at St. Paul in Clintonville! We are having a special anniversary service on June 18 at 4pm followed by a fellowship meal. All are welcome to join us for the service and for the meal afterwards. Help us give thanks to God for the hope that has anchored us for 50 years and will continue to be our foundation and motivation in the years to come! Our preacher for the service will be Pastor Bob Sawall, missionary, former shepherd, and great friend of the congregation.

Here is also an article prepared by Nick Boughton for print:

St Paul Lutheran (WELS) Celebrates 50 Years Serving the Clintonville Community

The year was 1967, Green Bay defeated Kansas City in the very first Super Bowl, gas cost 33 cents per gallon, and the Beatles were at the top of the pop music charts. Also happening in 1967 (though slightly less known) a small group of Christians put up the collateral to build a church named St Paul Lutheran on North Park St. in Clintonville, Wisconsin. Back then the congregation was part of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod and was under the leadership of Pastor William W. Werling. As we all know, a lot can change in 50 years. St. Paul has seen several changes in leadership, a change in Synod, and has endured tragedy. Not to unlike our country and the world. Through it all two things remain unchanged: God’s love for us and our need for Him. By God’s grace, St. Paul’s simple message of salvation through Faith alone by Grace alone through Christ alone has remained steadfast. Curious about St. Paul? Come join us Sunday June 18th as we celebrate fifty years serving the Clintonville community, everyone is invited! Our regular worship service is at 9am and then a special celebration will begin at 4pm with a festival service followed by a catered meal.  We would also like to extend a special invite to you, our neighbors and friends.  Exciting things are happening at St Paul Lutheran, we look forward to meeting you and to the next 50 years in Christ alone.

Midweek Lent Suppers and Service

Let's face it, we have extremely busy lives and we so often forget the things that really matter. When we do, we also forget the ONE who can help us deal with all the pressure and stress of each day and who also can point us confidently to our sure future in heaven.

That is the reason Lent is such an awesome opportunity to refocus our lives around Jesus and what he has done for us. Without him, everything else in our life falls apart. Lent is a special time, not for us to prove our commitment to God, but for us to meditate on the awesome price Jesus came to pay for our redemption.

To help us do that, we have midweek suppers to fill our bellies (one less meal to prepare at home!) with wonderful food. After supper, we have midweek Services to fill your soul with Word of God and God's beautiful promises fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Through him, we are forgiven, restored to God's family, and renewed daily for our everyday life.

Join us Wednesdays throughout Lent (Mar 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Apr 5) for Supper at 5:30pm and Worship at 6:30pm!

During Holy Week, join us on Maundy Thursday for worship at 6:30pm and Good Friday at 6:30pm as well! 

God will bless you through the time you spend with him in his Word!

Lent Hymn Sing - This Sunday, March 12 @ 6:30pm!

All are invited to join us for a journey from death to life, from the cross to the empty tomb!

Join us at St. Paul in Clintonville next Sunday, March 12, at 6:30pm for our Lent Hymn Sing. Afterwards, there will be complimentary homemade pie and ice cream! 

Our address: 31 N. Park St. Clintonville, WI 54929. Phone number for any questions: 7154603148

 

Anchored in Hope for 50 Years

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19

This year marks the 50th year of this congregation. We still have a couple of people here who were a part of that beginning! As a reminder for them, and as a history lesson to all of us, let us look back for a moment. 50 years ago, this congregation began with 19 members. They began meeting in the legion hall downtown on June 18, 1967. Those members wanted a place to call God’s house where they could worship God together. In order to make that happen, they put their houses as collateral so they could take out a mortgage and purchase the property and build the sanctuary that we are sitting in today. 2 years later, the cornerstone was placed into the foundation and for the last 48 years this building has served as the gathering place for our St. Paul congregation where the gospel may be freely proclaimed and the means of grace administered!

As the year goes on, we will have a chance to remember other moments of our past. By doing so, we can give thanks for the faith and efforts of those whose shoulders we stand on today. We are also spurred on to continue the work those 19 set out to do those 50 years ago, to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ on the basis of the Holy Scriptures to this community and to the world. That work is never done!

Let us ponder together how we can continue this congregation’s objective, as stated in our constitution:

The primary objective of this congregation shall be to proclaim the law and the gospel in our congregation, community, and the world (2 Timothy 4:2), so that through the means of grace the Holy Spirit might:
A.  lead sinners to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ for life and salvation (Luke 24:46-48).
B.   strengthen believers in faith and sanctification (Romans 10:17).
C.  equip believers as disciples, stewards, witnesses, and servants to share the gospel and live their faith (Ephesians 4:11,12; Matthew 5:16).

How can we build on the foundation already laid for us and continue to preach the gospel here, take care of the gifts we have been entrusted with, use our gifts to grow and expand our ministry, and reach more and more in our community and in our world with the priceless treasure God has given us?

I pray we all use this year of celebration to yes, remember and give thanks for God’s grace in the past, but also to look forward and ponder how we may take up God’s call of service, and commit to God’s work through this congregation into the future.

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:23-25

- Pastor Titus Buelow

New Book Club starts next Thursday, Jan. 19th!

The Life and Faith of Martin Luther

"There was really nothing that seemed unusual in what Martin Luther had done. The church door was often used as a bulletin board for notices. Little did Luther realize that his actions on October 31, 1517 would mark the beginning of a great reformation of the church and of the return of the pure word of God to the people of the world."

Join us next week as we begin taking a deeper look into the world during the 1500s and why it was so needed for someone to stand up for the Word of God! In the process, we will discover just how alike our world is today and how it needs us to stand up for the Word of God, just like Luther.

It begins next Thursday, January 19th, at 6:30pm. Hope to see you there!

Find more information on our Christian Book Club page, by clicking below.

A Season of Shining

On this day, the church celebrates the festival of Epiphany! Maybe some of you are saying to yourselves, "That's cool! What is apifanee?" The word epiphany comes from the greek which means, "the manifesting", "the appearing," or "the shining." What was appearing? The Savior! What was manifesting? The God-Man! What was shining? The light of the world! The festival of Epiphany celebrates those first representatives of all nations who came to see Jesus, the wise men from afar. They followed the star that appeared in the sky and led them to the feet of the newborn king, Jesus. 

But the festival of Epiphany is just the beginning. For the next eight weeks, we will be in the season of Epiphany. During these weeks, we will see Jesus revealing his true identity, manifesting his power, and shining to more and more people as their Savior.

This season teaches a wonderful and beautiful truth: Jesus came to be the world's Savior. He came to die for the sins of all nations. This appearing, manifesting, and shining is still happening today. Whenever someone learns who Jesus is, that he came to die for them, the Spirit has again revealed Jesus. God has called us like the shepherds, like the wise men, like his disciples, to continue this season of shining to those around us. Shine the light of Christ to all who are in darkness!
 

"Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn."
Isaiah 60:1-3

New Bible Study: The Word Endures

In 1530 the Reformation of the Christian church was in full swing. Martin Luther’s popularity had pushed his writings to the top of the best-seller list. What if you had a chance to hear him speak? What if you could sit at the feet of this scholar of Scripture who taught crowds of not just princes but also peasants? Well, you can. In our current Bible study, Lessons from Luther Yesterday and Today, you will engage with this master teacher in the study of topics such as prayer, marriage, the Lord’s Supper, and teaching children—topics still at the heart of your Christian faith today.

Join us at the feet of Luther on Sundays at 10:15am (Shortly after worship)!

Are You Ready For Christmas?

It seems that Christmas comes faster and faster every year! Have you been able to get everything done that you were hoping to fit in this year before the big day? Is your shopping done? Are all the gifts wrapped under the tree? Have you finished all of your projects that you promised yourself you would have done before the end of the year? Chances are.... no, there is still so much that you have to do! I pray God gives you strength to get done everything on your list!

However, I pray all the more that all of these "other" things don't make you too busy to remember the reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place! For all the time we take to get presents, finish projects, and send updates and messages to family and friends, have you planned enough time to join the angels, the shepherds, and the wise men to gather around God's gift to you? 

Christmas is not all about our gifts and our efforts... sometimes it gets hard to remember that. Christmas IS all about God's wonderful gift to us, "wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Christmas is about peace with God that comes to us through the babe born in Bethlehem. Christmas is about God's faithfulness to always fulfill his promises. Christmas is about how much time and sacrifice God gave for us to be his washed, redeemed, and holy children for all eternity. Christmas is about Christ. Let us not forget the gift God has given us.

Take time this Christmas to think about what Christ means for you. Take time to celebrate the birthday of your Savior. Take time to give thanks for his love that dwelt among us and now dwells in you.

Join us on Christmas Eve at 6:30pm to hear our children share what happened on that first Christmas.

Join us also on Christmas Day at 9:00am as we ponder the amazing person of Christ, fully God and fully man, our perfect Savior. 

May God bless you and yours this Christmas season,

Pastor Titus Buelow