Good News of St. Paul
JULY /AUGUST 2008
Proclaiming Jesus Christ to the Castle Rock & Toutle Communities
Grace Amid Change
As summer begins, many of us are looking forward to vacation - additional time
for family and friends, enjoying the incredible beauty of this place we call
home, and a little slower pace of life. For us here at St. Paul, all these
things are
true, but there is an additional component added to this beginning of summer. We
have said farewell to our beloved pastor.
When we are faced with the loss of someone who has been such a significant part
of our lives, we grieve. Grief manifests itself in a number of emotional forms –
we may be angry, we may need to talk, we are sad, we may want to cut ourselves
off from that which reminds us of our loss, or we can get depressed. All of
these are perfectly normal human reactions and we need to allow ourselves to
feel the range of feelings that are surfacing. Life as we have known it at St.
Paul has changed. And most of us don't like change a whole lot.
As I begin my ministry among you, I recognize that there will be many emotions
still swirling around. Grief is part of any change, regardless of how big or
small. And taking time for grief is necessary, if we are to move forward into
the new relationships God has for us. I want to invite you to take the time you
need to grieve. I am here to walk with you through this time.
May we allow God's grace to enfold us as we begin to feel what life is like
without Bob Ross as pastor. Each of you will experience this differently and you
may want to move ahead at different paces.
Please be patient with each other. Just as our relationships are different, so
are our ways of dealing with changes in our lives. Be gentle with each other and
be gentle with yourself. There is no right or wrong about what you are feeling,
but not everyone is feeling the same things at the same times.
As Christians, we are always being called into the future. We grieve, but we
also know that God, who has been faithful in the past, will continue to be with
us as we move forward. We may not be able to see what lies ahead, but God is
there. We may be experiencing a myriad of emotions now, and God is here. And I
will be here too, to listen, to pray, and to be with you in all your pastoral
needs. May we take time in these summer months to grieve, to be restored, to be
refreshed and renewed in our whole being, as we move into the future with hope
in God's grace and faithfulness.
In Jesus,
Pastor Linda
A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR NEW INTERIM PASTOR

Pastor Linda Nou
(pronounced No) comes to us from Olympia, WA. She began her pastoral ministry in
Centralia many years ago and recently moved back into this area from Issaquah.
Pastor Linda served three congregations as a regularly called pastor before
becoming an interim specialist. She has served as interim pastor at Bethlehem
Lutheran in Tacoma, Trinity Lutheran in Enumclaw, Galilean Chapel in Ocean
Shores, Peace Lutheran in West Seattle, Edmonds Lutheran, and most recently
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Olympia. She brings a rich background
and variety of experiences to us.
Pastor Linda was born and raised in the Los Angeles area. She is a graduate of
Lutheran Bible Institute, Biola College and Pacific
Lutheran Theological Seminary. Prior to going to seminary, she spent seven years
as a missionary to Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, as well as
serving several parishes on the West Coast as Director of Christian Education
and Youth Ministry.
In addition to work in the church, Pastor Linda has taught English as a Second
Language (ESL) and worked with refugees in job assistance. She is also a trained
spiritual director.
Among Linda's interests are music, sports (she is an avid Mariner fan, plays
golf and kayaks), traveling and a good cup of coffee. She'd love to get out on
the golf course with any of you this summer or grab a latte. Please take time to
stop by the office to get acquainted. Linda will be in the office for extended
hours on Tuesdays through Thursdays.
Many thanks to so many people...
• To K.C. Babcock and her kitchen
crew, Corlan Small and Lynne Donahe, for preparing such a delicious dinner for
over
175 guests to enjoy the evening of Pastor Ross and Polly's retirement May 31.
Also, Jacob and Luke Rahn, Mikel and Mali
Skreen, Erica Nordmark, the St. Mary's Church Women, and numerous high school
kids who helped serve the meal and clean up
afterward.
• Gene and Lorraine Koppert for taking tickets at the door that evening.
• Erika Agren, Glen and Gayle Agren for decorating and setting the tables.
• Sue Pulse for arranging all of the beautiful bouquets and centerpieces.
• Pastors Jeff Frohner, Sue Wanwig, Holger and Friederike Holtz and Olaf Gieseke
for
the individual parts they played in the program and Sunday services.
• The Castle Rock Men's Ensemble, directed by Clarance Knutson, who serenaded
the
audience with a variety of wonderful music.
• To Roxanne for all the hours dedicated to sorting pictures for the slide
presentation.
• To Clarance Knutson and Monte Hartshorn and all of the men in the kitchen who
made
brunch on Sunday morning for everyone to enjoy.
• Finally, to anyone else who played a part in the planning, behind the scenes
work, or had
anything to do with the festivities, we thank you! Apologies to any names
unmentioned.
It takes many people coming together and working together to make an
occasion like
this as memorable as it was.
More Thank you's . . .
• To Earl Small for taking away the paper recyclables that accumulate each
month.
• To Lynne Donahe for the many hours she dedicates to sorting the donated
clothes that come in during the year for the Kids Clothes Closet.
• To Earl and Corlan Small for planting the new shrubs in front of the church
and
for keeping the weeds down on the church grounds.
• To Monte Hartshorn and Marian Kerr for serving as St. Paul delegates when
they attended the synod convention May 30 and 31 in Olympia.
A Message from the
Hunger Task Force regarding Flood Relief
Which of us hasn't complained about the high cost of gas? Yet today, tens of
thousands in a
6-state area have lost their homes due to flooding in the Midwest. Such
devastation!
What would you do if your home (and your town) were covered with 6 feet of
dirty, toxic
and sewage-filled water? We can't help those in the Midwest by filling sandbags
but we can
help the people with a gift of money to the ELCA Lutheran Disaster Response.
100% of
your gift goes to relief. Write your check to St. Paul Lutheran, marking the
enclosed envelope
"flood". Please make your gift by July 13 for our early response; we will
continue to support
this long-term recovery with gifts received at a later date. Thrivent has agreed
to match some
funds - we'll know more in the near future.
BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS!
Where did all the books go from the pastor's study? Pastor Ross has donated many
of them for our use and enjoyment.
Keeping the Sabbath Wholly, by Marva Dawn, explores Sabbath rest as a
much-neglected spiritual discipline that is life-
changing. Despite multiple disabilities, Marva Dawn is a busy teacher, popular
conference speaker, and prolific writer.
She attributes her astonishing capacity for work to Sabbath-keeping as a
priority in life.
Miz Lil and the Chronicles of Grace, by Walter Wangerin, is a collection of
vignettes from childhood and early parish
years which shaped the life of this author and Lutheran Vespers radio
personality. We all have encounters with remarkable
yet ordinary-looking people who pass in and out of our lives; Wangerin is a
master at seeing and learning from them.
These favorites and others are available for check-out at the book display,
currently at the coat-rack niche.
MEXICO MISSION IN TECATE
A team of 22 youth and adults will be returning July 5 after spending a week
beginning construction on two homes.
They are: Carol Adams, David Alexy, Kayl Pfohl-Moore, Matthew Clement, Caleb
Edwards, Shirley Cooper, Anita Gallow,
Katrina Hinesley, Harlan Kittelson, Nichole Locke, Bienvenida Pfeifer, Nathan
Ross, Robert Ross, Joel Royce, Jacob
Rutledge, Nicole Rutledge, Annie Schinnell, Brenna Smith, Mikhael Tran, Kendra
Webb, Taylor Weist and Britni West.
Birthdays
JULY
3 Lorraine Koppert
5 Bryan Kotera
6 Emily Ashby
7 Cristy (Cooper) Auckland
Ken Rahn
8 Danielle Small
9 Darlene Jackson
10 Betty Rose
Kylie Vandehey
11 Lisa J. Davis
Brian Whitten
13 Kris McDaniel
Shelley Willem
15 Michelle Oswalt
16 Katherine Hummel
17 Connie Welty
18 Bobby Droz
Dale Erdelbrock
19 Marsha Gallow
20 Larry Hensley
21 Joel Anderson
27 Corrinne Kuehner
28 Tye Mickelson
Margaret Vockrodt
Sharon Blankenship
30 Chuck Foster
Leah Pederson
AUGUST
1 Clarance Knutson
Olaf Gieseke
Michael Bontoft
2 John Kotera
David Welty
3 Elma Golden
Jeff Mickelson
Kathy Strain
5 Becky Lee
Conner Ness
Beth Coleman
7 Mary Gould
8 Don Eklund
9 Morgan Spreadborough
Preston Foster
Tom Cunningham
12 Carol Oswalt
Jacob Rahn
13 Dan Hecker
14 Marty Pederson
Brandy McClay
15 Addie Ashby
16 Kathy Cooper
17 Gary Wilbur
Samuel and Elle Gallow
18 Jeanette Foster
21 Heidi Adams
Jim LeMonds
Alonzo Ogden
23 Bill Hoch
29 Karen Morgan
31 Cory Johnson
Anniversaries
July
1 Bob & Polly Ross
3 Walter & Dorothy Berndt - 55 years
Neal & Shirley Johnson
14 Erika Agren & Cory Remmers
17 Glen & Gayle Agren
Dan & Judy Hecker
19 Paul & Jackie Schwinn
23 Dave & Denise Foster
August
3 Casey & Sarah Davis Bryan
6 Ken & Sandee Ness
Dave & Jacki Whittaker
11 Kevin & Debbie Lyon
13 Brian & Mindy Kleine
19 Lloyd & Heather Snow Jr.
Ryan & Katrina Hinesley
25 Janice & Granville Oswalt - 52 years
26 Gene & Lorraine Koppert - 62 years
Robert & Becky Danhauser
29 Chuck & Carol Foster - 55 years
31 Cyril & Mary Kittelson
Have you been enjoying the coffee prepared the first Sunday each month during
fellowship hour after services?
Lutheran World Relief (LWR) has partnered with Equal Exchange and supports the
small farmer by adhering to
Fair Trade standards. The coffee sold ensures the farmers a fairer price because
Equal Exchange trades directly with the co-ops -
whose members are the farmers.
Our next coffee Sunday will July 6. Along with an assortment of coffees, mugs,
tea, nuts and dried berries will be available for
purchase. We can do our part to help!
Summer Happenings at St.
Paul
The Summer Kids Meals is in full swing and has been serving lunch to an average
of 65 kids per day. This program will continue each week through Wednesday,
August 20.
Confirmation Camp is August 3-8. We have 8 kids signed up to go to Cheshire,
Ore. There is still time to register your teenager!
The Annual Kids Clothes Closet distribution will be Friday, August 22 from 9
a.m. - Noon. Each child will get to choose two outfits of used clothing plus
receive a new package of socks, underwear, a shoe gift card.
We will need help to organize the event. It takes many people to set up the
night before, Thursday, August 21. Contact Anita Gallow at 274-6576 if you are
able to help. A sign-up sheet will be available soon.
Clarance Knutson receives the Lloyd
Mitchell Award
Castle Rock School District annually presents the Lloyd Mitchell Award to the
staff person who exemplifies the qualities he continually displayed to both
young people and our community. Clarance Knutson has spent 28 years teaching in
the Castle Rock School District; and in that time has inspired kids in the
classroom and has exhibited years of volunteer efforts within the community as
well. Congratulations, Clarance!
A Note from the Parish Nurse
Time to Get Out the Sunscreen!
Summer is here and we need to protected
from the sun!
Ways to reduce the risk of skin cancer
include: wear a shirt to cover up, wear a large brimmed hat and
sunglasses! But...before going out in the sun (at least one hour), put on a
thick application of sunscreen
of SPF 15 or higher. The reason to apply early is so it has a chance to
bind with your skin. If you
don't. it is very easy for the sunscreen to wash off.
Try to stay out of the sun from 11 a.m. to 3
p.m. Enjoy the shade.
A sunburn can lead to aging, wrinkles, and
cancer. Report any changes in moles or unusual skin growths
to your PCP (primary care provider)
To your health! K. C Babcock, RN
Walden
Island Tea
The annual English Tea hosted by K. C. Babcock will be Saturday, August 9.
Something different - this year only one
seating will be available at 1 p.m. A $20 donation will be charged and
reservations are required. Each attendee will have their
picture taken to keep as a token of the afternoon.
. . . And Beef and Brew
If you prefer a more casual afternoon event, consider the BBQ at Gene and
Lorraine Koppert's home on the island. Time for the
BBQ is 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Boats will leave the mainland frequently to get you
there.
Reservations are not required - and you can come as you are!
Both events will be held rain or shine!
All donations will go directly to assist Community House on Broadway and the
Kids Clothes Closet with their needs.