E p is t l e

of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Nevada, MO

T
H
E


St. Paul Lutheran
15156 E. Pony Hill Rd.
Nevada, MO 64772


417-667-7209 (O)

Stpaulnevadamo
@gmail.com

Worship 11:00 a.m.
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.


Office Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, &
Thursday 9:00noon
November
2014

Vol. 14, No. 11
Congratulations to our
three confirmands:

Abby Norcross
Anna Fulton
Mikayla Mohrmann

Each wrote and presented an
outstanding statement of faith
on Sunday, October 25.
Everyone at St. Paul is proud
of you.
Everyone is Invited

St. Paul Annual
Thanksgiving Dinner
Sunday, November 16,
2014
6:00 p.m.

Finale of the St Paul Youth
Silent Auction
Purchase a cheesecake to help
fund St. Paul kids trip to the Na-
tional Youth Gathering:
Plain
Cranberry
Turtle
Pumpkin

9 delicious cheesecake made by
Chelsea Dines for $35.

Delivered frozen when you want
it.
Contact St. Paul office:
667-7209
Thanks to:
Annie Daugherty for taking confirmation
pictures
Kathy Abele for the cake on Confirma-
tion Sunday
Wanda Abele, Darlene Tweten, Mary
Reinert, and Caroline Phillips for mak-
ing pies for United Way Oktoberfest.
Chad Spangler for providing the hay
ride at Fall Fest
Robin McHugh, Connie McHugh, Con-
nie Anderson, Grace Harold, Carol and
Jerry Janes, Ted Williams and Pastor
Chris for preparing the delicious meat
for Fall Fest.
Patsy McCullough for cleaning the oven
in the kitchen.
Russell Hogan for repairs
Dave McCullough and Fred Seewoester
for recycling
Last week I attended the Central States Bishops convocation in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. At this confer-
ence I caught up with first call colleagues, old seminary friends, and got to know pastors throughout this
synod. We spent time in worship, in Bible study, as well as workshops all centering around conflict. We dis-
cussed many different forms of conflict, especially in a church. There are conflicts that surround almost every
decision that is made within these sacred and holy walls, and walls of churches across the country. The color
of the carpet, the style of worship, the placement of the baptismal font, the time of worship, or one could say
change period. It is said that even the discussion of these things can bring about some anxiety, some uneasi-
ness deep in the pits of our stomachs.
Bishop Roger Gustafson spoke to those gathered about conflict as well, Biblical conflict, particularly the con-
flict that happened in the wake of Jesus ministry. Between feeding thousands, preaching a word of Gods
love to the outcasts, teaching that the foreigners of the day would enter heaven before the religious snobs,
Jesus caused a lot of conflict. People were angry, Jewish leaders took note as they began to make a case
against him. Bishop Roger pointed out that this conflict was different from what we face in our churches, it
was conflict that gave life. It was conflict that imagined a new place, a new world to live in.
We see this a lot as we read our way through the Gospels. Theres a way in which our world works and a way
that Jesus introduces to us. A way that is opposite to the ways in which we live. So we ask the question. Is
the conflict that happens in our churches life giving? Is that conflict living in the new world Jesus ushers into
our world?
When Katie Couric had just began as a CBS anchorwoman, she was given advice by Condoleezza Rice.
There is nothing wrong with holding an opinion and holding it passionately. But at those times when your ab-
solutely sure that you are right, go find someone who disagrees. Often times we do the opposite, we sur-
round ourselves with like minds and stir the pot of conflict in our lives, in our community, and in our church.
What would our lives look like if we were stirring the pot in our community by graciously helping others? What
would our community look like if we talk about Gods love for all people rather than gossip? What if the con-
flict in our church had nothing to do with carpet color or worship times?
Do you think it would look anything like kingdom of God? Do you think it would look like what God does for
us? Forgiving us when we act human, making all things new, and giving us life! God gives us peace in all of
the conflicts of life. God gives us grace each day of our lives as we live in harmony and conflict.
Peach, Pastor Chris

St. Paul Lutheran Church
15156 E. Pony Hill Rd.
Nevada, MO 64772
November Birthdays

Darlene Tweten November 1
Ava Wolf November 2
Danette Sanders November 5
Ronnie Johnson November 7
Linda Klotz November 8
Susie Knuteson November 8
Tina Sitz November 10
Jody Norcross November 13
Mike Klotz November 13
Ted Williams November 17
John Pentecost November 18
Mia Fulton November 18
Sam DeLaney November 20
Bridget Norcross November 23
Jerry Janes November 28

November Congregational Life Committee:

Dave & Patsy McCullough 667-3805
Wayne & Mary Reinert 667-5303
Nicole Mohrmann 667-0801
Dyke & Becky Kiel 667-9557
Camp Tomah Shinga executive director Ben Fulton will
join us in worship on November 23
rd
. Come hear whats
going on at camp and hear about the mission and ministry
in that place. Stay after worship for a potluck lunch to talk
with Ben and learn more about next summer!