Pastor Hans Dahl has accepted a call to serve as the senior pastor at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Minnesota. His last Sunday at GA is today.

 Pastoral Transition: The Council of the church is partnering with
our Synod (the Saint Paul Area Synod) of our national denomination (the ELCA) to prayerfully consider how and when to call a new associate pastor. On February 13, members of the church council and Pastor Bonnie attended a workshop at the Synod offices, Calling the Called. This quarterly gathering of congregations who are planning to call a pastor provides direction and support for this process. During the month of March, we anticipate that an interim pastor – one who is trained for serving congregations in transition – will be called by the Synod to serve at Gustavus Adolphus.
This is a preliminary step to provide space for deeper prayer and conversation about the leadership needs of our community of faith for the future. Your prayers for our leaders and our congregation is needed and appreciated.

Sunday, February 26 Adult Faith Formation, 10:10am. “Healing in the Bible” . Dr. Fred Gaiser, Old Testament professor at Luther Seminary will be with us for two Sundays, February 26 and March 4 to talk about the ways the Bible speaks of healing.  We all pray for healing when loved ones are sick, but what does the Bible say about  God and healing?

 We are looking for new members for the altar guild.  Members typically  serve for one month a year and are responsible for such things as changing the altar paraments in the sanctuary and chapel, dusting the altar area weekly and checking that the acolyte robes are clean. You can do it by yourself or sign up with a friend. If you are interested in this ministry, please call Nancy Johnson at 651.483.1490.

 Camp Onomia Confirmation Winter Retreat, Friday-Sunday, February 24-26. For grades 6-9. Parent consent forms and sign-up sheet will be available at the Welcome Desk. We may be in need of parents to participate as adult leaders! Contact Sherrie Nordquist for details.

Girl Scout Cookie Time! GA Girl Scouts will be selling cookies on February 26, 8:30am-12:00pm in the Gathering Area.

 Feed My Starving Children, February 25, 7:00-9:00pm. Help package meals for those who hunger around the world. We’ll meet at the Eagan site. Sign up at the Welcome Desk.

 Mentors Needed—Adult members of GA work one to one with students (grades 6, 7, and to strengthen their faith and their relationships within the community of faith. Contact Sherrie Nordquist or a pastor to become involved.

 Communion Instruction for Children and Parents, Saturday, March 31, 9:30am-12:00pm—For children who have been baptized and their parents/guardians who would like to grow in their understanding of Holy Communion. Advance registration is required. Sign up forms are available at the Welcome Desk and at the Tree House.

Tutoring Makes a Difference. Invest in your community by helping a child learn to read! An estimated 6,000 students in St. Paul could benefit from reading tutoring. Let’s close the achievement gap in St. Paul schools. Tutor a child in K-4 one-on-one for one hour a week (Monday-Thursday 8:00-5:00pm) with resources, training, and support provided by the East Side Learning Center. If you can read, write, and speak English, love working with children, and can commit to one hour per week for a semester, then you can tutor. [Start date January 9] Contact Rachel Boarden, Coordinator of Volunteers, for an application and more information: rachel.boarden@spps.com, or www.eastsidelearningcenter.org, or call 651.793.7331

Adopt a room at the Tree House! Re-design or fix up one of the rooms at the Tree House. Paint, add curtains, paint a wall mural, decorate bulletins boards. Materials provided as needed. Contact Debbie Johnson or Sherrie Nordquist for details.

Merrick Community Center: Merrick is in need of food donations. Donations may be left at the table to the left of the south entrance.  

 Altar Flowers today are given by the family in memory of Gunnar Swanson on what would have been his 90th birthday.

 Become a fan of the “GA Church Saint Paul” on Facebook! Also, on Twitter “GAChurchStPaul” -  Youth & involved parents/adults are also invited to join the GA Church Youth page.

Please schedule evening meetings after 6:00pm if your meeting doesn’t include a staff member. Custodians are here at 6:00pm to open the building.

This Month’s Special Offering Envelopes:  Iringa Diocese

Do you give your offering electronically? Via online or “Simply Giving,” please use a blue donation card from the back of the church. Place the card in the offering plate/basket as a sign of your gift. Thanks you for your faithful giving to God’s church!

Ash Wednesday: February 22, Worship times: 10:30am and 6:50pm

Lenten Schedule:

Wednesdays, February 29-March 28.
Join a Lenten Book Group!
Please sign up in the Gathering Area.

1:00pm Book Discussion Group

“The Good & Beautiful God”

5:00pm Lenten Soup Supper

6:00pm Learning for all

Book Discussion Groups:

• “The Good & Beautiful God”
  for anyone
• “Making a Home for Faith”
  for parents
• “Dangerous Wonder: The Adventures of a Childlike Faith”
  for students & mentors

 TODAY –

• Sending liturgy, laying on of hands in worship and
  gift presentation (both services)
• Potluck treats after 9:00am service
• Catered main dish lunch after 11:15am service
  (with potluck treats)
• Slide show of Hans’ 6 years of ministry at GA

Memory Book letter: On an 8.5×11 sheet of paper (color/pattern of your choice) write a note of thanks, or a fond memory, with or without a photo of your family, you with Pastor Hans, your child’s drawing, a St. Paul postcard, etc. These memory letters will be placed in a page protector and assembled in a 3-ring book for the Dahl’s to take with them to Alexandria. Bring them to church and leave them in the church office. [Our thought is that this is more “portable” than a basket of cards]

Monetary gift: Anyone wishing to give the Dahl’s a monetary gift above and beyond the congregation gift that will be given, please make the check out to “GA Church” designated to “Pastor Dahl” in the memo line.

 Congregation Gift: The Church Council will present a congregational gift to the Dahl’s at worship today.

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