“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear.”  (Psalm 46:1-2)
 
Dear Fellow Members of St. Paul’s,
 
In keeping with the directives of our government and by guidance of the healthcare community, we (as well as all churches in the area and even other states) have suspended, at least through April 5^th (but possibly longer), all public worship, adult and children’s classes, and other gatherings or events at church and school in order to do our part to “love our neighbor” and help stem the advance of the COVID-19 virus.  Our area WELS pastors will re-evaluate the situation on April 6^th. 
 
However, this doesn’t mean that we will stop worshiping our gracious Lord.  It means that, for a while, we will use alternative methods to do so.  We have devotional and worship resources available on our congregation’s website:  www.stpaulslutherannfdl.com or follow us on FaceBook at facebook.com/stpaulsnfdl/.   We will add more resources in the coming days. You can also get daily devotions from www.wels.net, which are excellent meditations on short portions of God’s Word that can be used personally or with your family.  Also, St. Peter’s, FDL, will replay some its past services on KFIZ radio at 8:00am on Sundays.  WELS affiliate “Time of Grace” is on TV (Green Bay NBC-26 Sun., 6:30am; Milwaukee CBS-58, Sun., 10:30am).  If you would like to use some of the many great Christian resources from our church library, you are welcome to do so.  Please call ahead (922-1080).
 
In order to practice wise stewardship, many of you will receive this letter via email.  Others will receive this through the mail.  If you are getting this by mail and have an email address to share, please email us your information at office@stpaulslutherannfdl.com or call the office and you can give it to us if you’d like.
 
Our church leaders and called workers continue to need your prayers and support.  We thank you for your past practice of bringing your loving offerings so we can carry out Christ’s ministry together.  It is vitally important that we continue to do this in the coming weeks as well even though we can’t meet together.  Our controller will be able to fulfill our financial obligations if we are regular in our gifts, as the Lord asks (1 Cor. 16:2).  We aren’t suggesting that anyone give more, but we are asking that we all give regularly.  This can be done by bringing offerings to the office, sending them by mail (1010 Adams Ave.), asking someone from church to pick them up, or using electronic options.  A form for electronic funds transfers can be found at our website or you can request one from the office and we can send or email it.  You can also give via your smart phone.  Go to your phone’s app store under “Giving Plus” and follow the directions.  
 
We also ask everyone to pray to the Lord on behalf of our fellow citizens and our national, state, and local leaders.  Especially pray for those who have suffered loss or are ill and for our healthcare workers who have great demands placed on them always but especially now.  Your pastors and principal are here to serve you in any safe way possible.  Our information is below.  Our God of power and love said through Paul, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”(Rom 8:28). As we follow him, we will find many blessings even in the face of adversity.  Be assured that through Jesus we are but strangers here and heaven is our home.  Our futures are eternally bright!
 
Yours in Christ’s love,
 
Pastor Tom Behnke    Pastor Michael Kampman      Principal Aaron Hartwig            President Joel White  
920-948-1384              920-238-5777                          920-309-1431                          920-579-2710
 
Church and School Office Phone:  920-922-1080