# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1930_S83 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) THE LUTHERAN PIONEER. 83 where necessary, and also as Christian friends to the newly baptized. May the Lord graciously continue to add to His Church and to strengthen it in every way, so that the gates of hell may not prevail against it! O. W. L. St. Philip’s, Cleveland. God’s spring blessings are also causing the seed of God’s Word scattered in Cleveland to sprout and grow. The members show how they appreciate the pure Gospel as taught in the Lutheran Church by their regular attendance and by inviting their friends. Others have expressed their desire of attending the next instruction class, very often in spite of violent opposition on the part of their rela- tives. Several Lutheran families were found, and they intend to join our ranks in the near future. ' The missionary is very safe in announcing that the work at St. Philip’s is being’ urged forward by the prayers of Cleveland Lutherans. He gratefully ac- knowledges that $247 was received through memorial wreaths gince the first of the year. Much clothing was also received during the winter months. You can well imagine how .this caused the many poor families to rejoice. The Lenten services brought a steady increase in attendance. On Palm. Sunday five adults were received into church-membership: Mr. A. Grier, Mr. W. Wells, Mrs. Pardo, and the Misses C. Clark and V. Lewis. It was a pleasure to hear these make a bold confession of their faith by loudly answering the questions which the pastor addressed to them in the public examination. A new class is to be started in the near future. The children are to attend the instruction class for two years. Pastor Katt’s congregation again helped to deco- rate our chapel most beautifully on Easter Day. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Jefferies were ad- mitted by Holy Baptism in the morning service. The children of the Saturday-school again rendered a fine service in the evening. The Living Christ was the title of the program. A special sermon is always preached at such occasions, since many visitors attend. A fine offering, $31.21, was taken for the - express purpose of bringing the Gospel of the living Savior to the people in Africa. St. Philip’s Mission has combined its Sunday- school and service until the time when more parents * will attend the services. “It is our purpose thus to teach the children gladly to hear the preaching of the Word while they are still young. ~ oonday services. The following events are now being looked for- ward to: weekly sermons on the Augsburg Confes- sion, a children’s program for the annual mission- festival, and a fine representation to the General Con- ference, which is to meet in Springfield, Ill., July 31 to August 4. May God grant that St. Philip’s will not have much material that goes to waste, namely, that we may realize that our person, our time, and our possessions belong to the Lord. We pray for an even better investment and for continued blessings. Ernst G. MUELLER. Another Lenten Noonday Start. This year several colored Lutheran congregations of New Orleans made a second attempt at Lenten Three or four years ago a joint service was held at a down-town theater on the five .days of Holy Week. In the opinion of some of the congregations ;the attendance did not justify the “expense. © <" ad This year: two up-town congregations, Bethlehem and Mount Zion, held a one- day Lenten service at the Lincoln Theater, in the up-town section, on Wednesday of Holy Week, at 1.30 P. u. The plans were carried out with practically no expenditure of money. -The use of the theater was extended gratis. The speaker of the white Lutheran Lenten noonday services’ was likewise generously loaned to us free of charge for the one address. The advertising consisted of 500 mimeographed letters sent to the homes through the children of both schools, an announcement slide put on by the theater, a painted poster on the theater door, and announcement banners carried by the schoolchildren both on the day of rehearsal and on the day of the service. Invitation announcements were sent to all congregations, colored and white, in the city in the form of a letter. Admission was free, and there was no collection. The attendance at the service totaled 575, 375 of whom were schoolchildren, 85 adult colored Lutherans, 100 colored strangers, and 15 white visi- tors. All expressed great joy over the service. At 1 p. M. the schoolchildren staged a block for- gmation in Shakespeare Park just opposite the theater and sang: “We Come in the Might of the Lord of Hosts.” Thereupon a photograph was snapped of the children in formation, and all repaired to the theater for the service. The theater could have accommodated about 400 more people _and therefore did not lgok very well filled with ‘ap- proximately six hundred.