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.