Newsletter
November 23,2025
St Paul Lutheran LCMS Julesburg, CO
970.474.2592 stpauljules@gmail.com
The Pathlight
Your Word Is A Lamp To My Feet and a
Light To My Path.
Ps 119:105
Zion Lutheran LCMS Big Springs, NE
308.289.5148
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LIFT YOUR HEAD
“[Jesus said,] ‘And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.’" Luke 21:25-28
When you see or hear of things like….. evil governments abusing Christians, or Christians being persecuted for the praise of someone’s deity. When you acknowledge your own sins and failures and wish you could do better and feel hopelessness to do so. When you once again begin to fall into doubt and fear and want to control other people or fall into another temptation………STAND, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD and return to the promise of your Baptism!
Baptism is not a sinner showing their allegiance to God by performing an action. Baptism is God’s action to save a sinner. This is your Lord using His action, through this means to apply Jesus’ work of the forgiveness of sins, to rescue from death and the devil, and to give eternal life to all who have faith in the words and promises of God.
Do not fall for the enemy’s attempt or any means he would use to try and bring you to despair. Lift up your head! You belong to God through your Baptism which is the life-giving water, rich in grace, and washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5) I AM BAPTIZED!
Today, the world is closer to its final judgment than it was yesterday. We see the signs of it all around. Do not despair! Salvation belongs to our God! Rejoice while you serve God by continuing to serve your neighbor. Work for peace and unity, speak kind and uplifting words, acknowledge God’s gift of life, praise His institutions of family and home, the marriage of man and woman, all of which are so often rejected in this fallen world. STAND, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD!
Yes, we see our sin, our failures, and we fear sometimes what the world will bring next. Do not despair! Hear the Gospel of the Lord and rejoice in the new life He gives you in your Baptism! Stand and lift up our head in faith. [Jesus said,] “Now when these things begin to take place, stand and raise up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Pastor Christensen
For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1 Cor. 13:12
Lutheran Service Book
Order of Worship
HYMN #610 “Lord Jesus, Think on Me”
LITURGY Divine Service Setting Four pg. 203
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
INTROIT (see bulletin insert)
KYRIE pg. 204
SALUTATION and COLLECT pg. 205
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Malachi 3:13-18
EPISTLE: Colossians 1:13-20
HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 23: 27-43
APOSTLES’ CREED pg. 207
HYMN #515 “Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers”
SERMON
OFFERING
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
LORD’S PRAYER pg.209
BENEDICAMUS pg. 212
HYMN #917 “Saviors, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise”
SILENT PRAYER
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Servants today
St. Paul
Organist- Jeanie Boehm
Ushers/Greeters-Murl Abts/Jay Lindsay
Zion
Organist- Jeanie Boehm
Ushers/Greeters-Dayton/Jodi, Altar Guild-Shelle & Jodi
St. Paul
Nov. 24-9:00AM-Bible Study
4:00PM-Organist Meeting
Nov. 26-5:00PM-No Catechism
7:00PM Thanksgiving Eve Service at St. Paul
Nov. 27-HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! No Church Service
Servants for Worship Service-Brian Boehm/Jeanie Boehm
Nov. 30-8:00AM-Bible Study
9:00AM-Worship Service
Servants for Worship Service-Dennis Aulston/ Dwight Ebke/Jeanie Boehm
Zion
Nov. 26-7:00PM Thanksgiving Eve Service at St. Paul
Nov. 27-HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! No Church Service
Nov. 30-10:00AM-Sunday School
11:00AM-Worship Service/Voters Meeting
Servants for Worship Service- Dayton & Jodi/Shelle & Jodi/Jeanie Boehm
Zion will be having a quarterly Voters Meeting today after church. Lunch will be served.
Zion will be decorating the church for Christmas on Sunday Nov 30th.
We will have lunch after church followed by decorating. Everyone is welcome to join us.
Happy Birthday……November 26-Brad Ehmke, Doretta Griffeth, Marlee Sanabria
November 30-Pastor Christensen, Julie Kotch, Joni Taylor
Voters Meeting will be November 23, at 2:00 PM-All members of the congregation are warmly invited to attend our Voters Meeting on November 23, at St. Paul. This important gathering is a time for us to come together as a faith family to discuss upcoming plans and make decisions that shape the life of our church. A key item on the agenda will be discerning what to do with the parsonage-whether to sell, rent, or leave it vacant. During the meeting, members will have the opportunity to ask questions, and the committee will respond as we are able. Your voice and presence matter. Please join us as we prayerfully steward the mission and future of our congregation.
AT THE VOTERS' MEETING OF NOVEMBER 23rd at 2PM - A CONGREGATIONAL VOTE WILL DETERMINE THE FINAL RESOLUTION OF THE PARSONAGE.
It will be your opportunity to vote for : RENT the parsonage - SELL the parsonage - Leave it
VACANT
Meetings / Emails -
The Parsonage Resolution Committee has had approximately 60 meetings / calls / and/or email conversations since February 2025. Our purpose was to perform due diligence and fact-gathering regarding the future status of the parsonage. A prime goal was to always give consideration to NOT putting St Paul in jeopardy and keep all communication facts - not opinions.
2 Attorneys -
Keeping in mind our desire to provide legal-based facts … we contacted and spoke to five (5) real-estate attorneys. The fifth attorney felt we should be speaking to a CPA with expertise in the nuances of 501(C)(3).
3 CPAs -
An individual CPA and a group of CPAs was contacted. After much discussion, Austin Bump was selected as our contact.
4 Fair Market Value -
The monthly rent amount must be set at Fair Market Value. We contacted two Julesburg-based entities familiar with this process. $975 to $1,100 per month was deemed to be the Fair Market Value for the parsonage.
5 Insurance -
We spoke with our current insurance company representative multiple times. Final "Brotherhood Mutual Insurance DOES insure vacant properties" with no set limit of time. She recommended Basic & Vandalism coverage. It will be more expensive than the current policy with the status of 'occupied'. Part of that change would require a weekly check on the dwelling to ensure there are no water leaks or other long-term consequence situations.
6 Appraisal -
The dwelling was appraised to ensure current property value.
7 Condition of the Parsonage -
Both the Parsonage Resolution Committee and the Trustees did an 'eyes-on' evaluation of the home. It's in good condition.
8 IF NEEDED - Rental Agreement -
A local attorney was contacted and is willing to draft a Rental Agreement if it is necessary.
The above information will be included to the Pathlight mailings. It will also be available in the narthex November 9th forward.
Your questions and the answers will be provided to the congregation.
If you have any questions, or need additional clarification on the above - please contact one of the Parsonage
Committee Members: Gene Bauerle - Judy Abts - Linda Pitzer - Lori Ehmke - Murl Abts - Sharon
Robison
PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND THE VOTERS' MEETING OF NOVEMBER 23rd at 2PM - A
CONGREGATIONAL VOTE WILL DETERMINE THE FINAL RESOLUTION OF THE
PARSONAGE ..... SELL - RENT - LEAVE VACANT
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Name That Hymn: Thanksgiving Edition
Do you know your hymns of gratitude and harvest? Test your memory and hymn knowledge with these clues. Each one points to a well-loved hymn of thanksgiving. Can you name them all?
1. Written during plague and war, this hymn begins “Now thank we all…” and is often sung at harvest festivals.
2. “Come, ye thankful people…” invites us to gather the harvest safely in.
3. A German poem turned hymn: “We plow the fields and scatter the good seed on the land.”
4. Four lines of praise: “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.”
5. A hymn cataloging creation’s gifts: “For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child…”
6. From St. Francis’s spirit of praise: “All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and with us sing.”
7. A hymn rejoicing in God’s creative power: “I sing the mighty power of
God, that made the mountains rise.”
8. A hymn of trust and gratitude: “Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father.”
9. A modern hymn of harvest and justice: “For the fruit of all creation, thanks be to God.”
10. Sung to a Welsh folk tune: “Let all things now living, a song of thanksgiving to God the Creator triumphantly raise.”
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“The Basket That Was Empty”
Years ago, a small rural congregation prepared for their annual Thanksgiving service. Each family was asked to bring a basket of food to share with neighbors in need. One widow, living on very little, arrived carrying an empty basket. When asked why, she said quietly, “I have nothing to give this year. But I wanted to bring the basket anyway, because I know God will fill it again.”
Her empty basket became the most powerful gift of the evening. Others filled it with food, but more importantly, her faith reminded the congregation that thanksgiving is not only about what we already have—it is about trusting the One who provides.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” — Philippians 4:6
Thanksgiving is often measured by abundance: full tables, overflowing baskets, crowded gatherings. Yet Scripture calls us to a deeper gratitude—one that is not dependent on what we hold, but on who holds us. The widow’s empty basket was a living testimony of Philippians 4:6. She brought her need with thanksgiving, trusting that God’s provision would come.
In our own lives, we may carry baskets that feel empty—losses, unanswered prayers, or seasons of waiting. But thanksgiving is not canceled by emptiness. It is transformed by faith. When we bring our baskets to God, even empty ones, He fills them with peace, hope, and community.
What “empty basket” are you carrying this season? How might offering it to God with thanksgiving open space for His provision?
Closing Prayer:
Gracious God, You are the giver of every good gift. Teach us to bring our baskets— whether full or empty—with thanksgiving. Fill us with trust in Your provision and let our gratitude overflow into the lives of others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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St. Paul Lutheran Church 7th & Maple
PO Box 72
Julesburg, CO 80737