February 2024

St. Paul’s Evangelical-Lutheran Church
109 S. Elm, Kewanee, Illinois 61443
Newsletter
Volume 36                                  February 2024                                           No. 2
 
OUR ORGANIST IS BACK!
​
Most of you will recall that we had lost our organist Ryan Van Wassenhove several years ago when he went off to college and we couldn’t find a replacement. He had played for us for several years, even since his childhood—a fact  that was not lost on Channel 6 News in  the Quad Cities who had produced a special on him—and we were certainly blessed during those years.
 
Following his departure, we managed to have organ accompaniment on Sundays by my playing of simple preludes and the opening hymn on our majestic Casavant organ (though I’m not really an organist, and never use foot pedals or make extensive use of the different stops on the organ). Following the opening hymn I have been processing in silence, and after that we have  been accompanied by the playing of recordings I had made of parts of the service from our little electric keyboard.
 
It was acceptable, of course, and pretty much the best we could do, but how fine it was when occasionally one of my organist sons would visit on a Sunday and play the beautiful Casavant for us and make it sound as it is meant to sound. Even as recently as last Sunday, January 21st, we had Andy Eckardt filling in, and how nice it was, and a reminder of what we could have if we had an organist again.
 
The wonderful news is that we do! And it is none other than Ryan Van Wassenhove himself, who has moved back to the area! Otis Anderson happened to run into him at OSF in Peoria, which is where he now works; he now lives in Peoria, but still has family here in Kewanee. And one thing led to another, and now we have learned that he is happy to return and play for us again on Sundays, beginning this Sunday, January 28th!
 
The importance of good church music cannot be overemphasized. Martin Luther considered music second only to the Word of God in importance. He saw music theologically, as a fitting tool to accompany the Gospel. He claimed that music was a gift from God, capable of fighting evil and promoting good.
 
Our Casavant pipe organ is also a gem, as any organist can attest. Installed in the 1960s under the capable direction of Paul Bunjes of Concordia College in River Forest, it has served us well for some 60 years. Now, thanks be to God, we can look forward to its regular use again.
 
Be sure to welcome Ryan back, and let him know how much his being here means to us!
 
+ Pastor Eckardt

Shrove Tuesday February 13th
A good opportunity to make confession privately in preparation for Lent. Pastor is available Tuesday afternoon until 5 pm and, as always, by appointment.
 
Ash Wednesday February 14th
On Ash Wednesday, February 22nd, we will congregate at 7:00 pm to mark the beginning of Lent. The rite of imposition of ashes precedes the Mass.
 
Lent
The season of Lent emphasizes penitence, in preparation for Easter.  Its span is forty days, like the forty days in which Jesus fasted in the wilderness, in fulfillment of the fast of Moses and Elijah on Mount Horeb.
 
But the penitential season is not meant to be sad; it is joyful.  For true joy of heart, born of the suffering and resurrection of Christ, transcends all parts of Christian life. Even the deepest of sorrows we have joy, as we confess with David that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.  Thus the forty days of Lent is followed by a contrastingly festive forty-day season from Easter until Ascension Day.
 
During the Lenten fast, two things are to be noted. First, the Apostles themselves left the specific manner of observance to Christian liberty, saying, Let each be convinced in his own mind.  Second, leaving aside the question of what things one should fast from (whether sweets, or meats, or milk products, etc.), what is clear is that the custom of fasting itself is quite biblical.  If Moses, Elijah, and Jesus himself fasted, certainly it must be a good practice.  Indeed, on Ash Wednesday we hear Jesus saying, “When ye fast, be not as the hypocrites,” etc.  Luther’s Small Catechism also declares, “Fasting and other bodily preparation is indeed a fine outward training.”  Therefore we conclude two things: first, that fasting is a good thing, and second, that it is a matter left to Christian liberty.
Liturgically the Church fasts during Lent (as Israel fasted forty years in the wilderness). The color is penitential violet.  Alleluias are not sung, and there is less music; flowers are absent, and weddings are not to be scheduled.
 
Then, the last two weeks of Lent are designated as “passiontide,” when statutes, images, and crosses in the churches are veiled, and no Glorias are sung at all, except in the Gloria in Excelsis on Maundy Thursday.
 
But again, in the midst of this penitential mood there is joy, and the fourth Sunday in Lent, Laetare Sunday, calls attention to it. Laetare means ‘rejoice’, and so in the midst of the penitential season we even emphasize our perpetual joy by the observance of this Sunday.
 
Ladies’ Luncheon February 7th
The monthly ladies’ luncheon is scheduled regularly for the first Wednesday in the month. There is always a good turnout. For the month of February, the luncheon is set for Wednesday, February 7th, at noon. Each month a different restaurant is chosen by one of the ladies. This time the Barnhouse Restaurant has been chosen. All St. Paul’s’ Ladies are welcome!
 
February Birthdays
2/2       Mindie Fisher2/4       Joshua Kraklow2/5       Tom Wells2/23     Carol McReynolds 
February Anniversaries None
 
First Tuesday
The first Tuesday events (vespers, elders) will be held, God willing, on Tuesday, February 6th.
 
Vespers at 6:45; Elders at 7:15. All members are always encouraged to join us for First Tuesday Vespers, as you are able.
 
The Altar Guild may be scheduling a meeting soon. Watch the bulletin.
 
Ushers
Jim Hornback, Steve Kraklow, Tom Wells 
Highlights from the Annual Voters’ Assembly
The annual voters’ assembly was held on January 21st. The congregation passed a resolution, without dissent, to indicate our willingness to explore the possibility of joining as a dual parish with St. Paul’s in Brimfield. A dual parish is not two parishes merged into one. Rather, it is two parishes that share a single pastor. If Brimfield is willing, we would then consider calling a single pastor to serve both parishes, as we look ahead to future after Pastor Eckardt’s retirement on June 9th.
 
The congregation also elected officers, scheduled to be installed on Sunday, January 28th. Here is a list of our officers for 2024.
 
List of Officers and Elections at January 2024 voters’ assembly
 
Chairman
Tom Wells
Completed 2 1 yr terms
ELECTED

Vice-chairman
Bill Thompson
Completed 2 1 yr terms
ELECTED

Recording secretary
Charlene Sovanski
Completed 10 1-yr terms
ELECTED

SS chairman
Sheri Kraklow
Completed 10 1-year terms
ELECTED

Trustees
John Sovanski
Completed 2 of 3 yrs
No election needed

Otis Anderson
Completed 2 of 3 yrs
No election needed

Derrick Baker
Completed 2 of 3 yrs
No election needed

Treasurer
Diana Shreck
Completed 1 yr
ELECTED

Missions Chairman
Judy Thompson
Completed 2 of 2 yrs
ELECTED

Stewardship Chrmn
Jan Schoen
Completed 2 of 2 yrs
ELECTED

Finance Chairman
Barb Kraklow
Completed 1 yr
ELECTED

Finance Committee
Michelle Armstrong
Completed 1 yr
ELECTED

Finance Committee
Judy Thompson
Completed 1 yr
ELECTED

Sarah Kraklow
New candidate
ELECTED

Elders
Steve Kraklow
Completed 1 of 3 yrs
No election needed

Tom Wells
Completed 1 of 3 yrs
No election needed

Steve Harris
Completed 1 of 3 yrs
No election needed

Larry Campbell
Completed 1 of 3 yrs
No election needed

Jeff Wagenknecht
Completed 1 of 3 yrs
No election needed

Voters affirmed in 2023 that one person may hold two offices.
There are no term limitations on any offices. Reaffirmed in 2012.
 
In Our Prayers
Our current list of prayer intentions at mass includes the names on the lists here following.  Anyone wishing to update the list by addition or subtraction, please inform the pastor.            in our parish:
Sharon Hartz, Bea Harris, Don and Sue Murphy, John Sovanski, Sandra VerPlaetse, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Jewneel Walker, Emmy Wear, Pat Lagerhausen, Jim Watson, Bill Thompson, Otis Anderson, and Father Eckardt
            and beyond our parish:
Anna, Katie, and Jodi Rutowicz, Julie Ross, Elizabeth Godke, Oneida Hendrickson, Janice Hart, Tim Newman, Kathy Boeger, Allison Leezer, Shannon Watson, Karen Parker, Deloris Bitting, Jane Mueller, John VerPlaetse, Becca Adler, Glenda Miller, Wayne Becker, Sue Berg [wife of Pastor Peter Berg], Ray Moreland, Loren Hartz, Deric Keefauver [Kris Harden’s grandson], Pastor Justin Kane
             in the military:
 John Eckardt, Richard Heiden, Traven Wetzel, Eric Verplaetse, Jake Mahaffey, James and Ann Lee Armstrong, Marcus Prentice
              in trouble:
any unborn children in danger of abortion; Debra Reeves’s children Rae Beth and Drew Wayne; those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Venezuela, Iran, Pakistan, India, China, North Korea, and elsewhere.
 
From www.persecution.net
China: Christians Facing the Worst Persecution in 40 Years (Date: November 2023)
“The persecution of God’s people has entered into the worst time we’ve seen in 40 years.” These are the words of Dr. Bob Fu, who serves as the founder and president of ChinaAid. Dr. Fu provides insight into the methods being used by the Chinese Communist Party to oppress and harass the country’s Christians – including forcing children to renounce their faith in Jesus, installing facial recognition cameras in churches (and arresting pastors who refuse them), as well as rewriting and distorting the Bible. In addition, Dr. Fu addresses why the church continues to grow despite the many challenges facing followers of Jesus in this Communist nation.

Choir Rehearsals
Choir rehearsals will be starting again this month, beginning on Wednesday, February 28th at 5:30 p.m. Let’s get started preparing for Holy Week; see you there! 

Robin Sighting Contest: Over Early Again
Every year we hold the robin sighting contest about this time, asking who can find the first robin of spring. But once again, as last year, we had an early bird (pun intended). Last year, you might recall, we had a sighting in Peoria in January. This year, we received a report from Diana Shreck or a sighting in Elmwood on January 4th, setting a new record. “Couldn’t believe my eyes,” she said. This is the eleventh year of the contest, and now for two years in a row we had sightings in January. The winner of this year’s contest gets an all-expenses paid Caribbean Cruise for two . . .  or not.
 
Our list of winners:
2024 Diana Shreck
2023 Michele Keehner
2022 Steve Kraklow
2021 Andy Eckardt
2020 Michele Keehner
2019 Steve Kraklow
2018 Steve Kraklow
2017 Barbra Kraklow
2016 Judy Thompson
2015 Carol Eckardt
2014 Michele Keehner
 
A sign of spring, the robin may also help us think of the approach of Easter!

From the desk of Cantor Peter Eckardt of St. John Lutheran Church in Mattoon, Ill., February 2023
February Hymn of the Month
Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice [TLH #387]
A valiant knight is sent out to slay the dragon laying waste to the homes of his people. A gallant prince battles the tyrant who has taken his bride. A brave young lad proves himself against the evil giant none yet has challenged. So goes the classic fairy tale, legend, epic: the hero fights and defeats the foe for the sake of his beloved. So goes every good and noble story, for they are echoes—whether wittingly or not—of the one, great, true story of man’s redemption—the story that all of Scripture, and our hymn this month, tell: God sends His Son to fight and defeat the foe that torments and enslaves us His beloved people.

The first stanza of Luther's “Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice” sets the stage for the epic to be told in the ensuing nine stanzas. God's victory, and out reason for exultation, is proclaimed already from the outset. After stanzas two and three define how hopelessly we were beset by sin, death, and the “pangs of hell” before Christ came, stanza four then announces God's plan for our salvation and what it would cost Him.

And so God sends His Son, our prince and hero, to “bring to man salvation” (st. 5). “Slay bitter death for him,” the Father charges His Son, “that he may live with Thee forever.” Indeed, “the Son obeyed His Father’s will” (st. 6), took on a servant’s form, and came to our rescue.

The drama of our salvation story unfolds further in the remaining four stanzas (6-10), all told in quotations as the words of our hero to us. We, the beloved, are not idle observers far away from the battlefield but are there in the thick of it all with Christ. “Hold fast to Me, He tells us, as any noble protector would tell his loved ones in the face of danger, “I am thy Rock and Castle . . .  the foe shall not divide us” (st. 7).

Perhaps no other hymn so poignantly encapsulates the story. the drama—and the reality—of our salvation from sin, death, and the devil. Any time spent singing, learning, teaching, and memorizing this marvelous hymn, is time well spent, and your labors will not be in vain.

This is Luther's first congregational hymn, written in 1523, appearing in Etlich Cristlich lider, Wittenberg, 1524, entitled, “A Christian hymn of of Martin Luther, setting forth the unspeakable grace of God and the true faith,” and set to the same tune that we know it by today, Nun freut euch.

St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church
   109 S. Elm Street
   Kewanee, IL 61443