The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1912, Page 38

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38

The Lutheran Pioneer.

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indicated diligent work on the part of leader and
singers. The various voices blended nicely, so that
we had a delightful treat. The juvenile choir also
beautified the service by a fine two-part song, and
last, but not least, the school gave one of their best
numbers of the earlier service. Our Pastor Bakke
gave us an Easter sermon full of comfort. In his
own forceful manner, inspired by the splendid
theme of the day and the large audience before
him, he showed us the import of the resurrection:
the Father satisfied with the sacrifice, the children

of God reconciled through Christ, and Jesus Him- -

self proved the eternal Son of God.
Sixty-seven communed this glorious Easter even-
ing, the number breaking all previous records.
Strengthened in faith, comforted in heart, the
members gladly loosened. their purse-strings, and
the largest offering ever taken up proved how happy
our people were in their resurrected Lord. To Him
be all praise and glory. God bless you one and all!
UNCLE Bos.

Items from St. Paul’s, New Orleans.

The holy Lenten season, with its beautiful, im-
pressive, and edifying services, is again a thing of
the past. In St. Paul’s the pastor, teachers, and
laymen have again settled down to their usual rou-
tine work in the ‘Lord’s vineyard.

But again, there is something unusual about
the work, spirits, and energy of said pastor, teach-
ers, and laymen. ‘The close observer will note that
they are going about their duties with renewed joy,
vigor, and hope. What can be the reason for their
exceptional happiness and high spirits? Has some
generous Christian friend remembered St. Paul’s
with a thousand-dollar donation? No, dear reader,
something better than that has happened. Listen!

God has hearkened unto the prayers of this
pastor, these teachers, and the laymen, having
blessed their labor in His kingdom most abundantly
during the past few months, and, in His mercy,
giving them good reasons to believe and hope that
even more and. greater blessings from above are to
follow in the near future.

Throughout the blessed Lenten season the serv-
ices in St. Paul’s, as a rule, were well attended.
Not only did a goodly portion of our own members
appear often, but quite a few strangers were to be
seen in the audience time and again. Collections
and envelope contributions were also exceptionally

good of late. For instance, contributions and col-
lections for January, February, and March were
just double the amount received through these
sources for the same period in 1911. During the
month of February alone we received no less than
$23.97 through our monthly envelopes.

But the happy climax was reached on Palm
Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. At
each service on said days, including three on Easter
Sunday, our pretty little church was well filled,
and banner contributions marked every service. A
grand total of $40.00 is the splendid amount col-
lected from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.

On Palm Sunday, sixteen children, who had
been publicly examined in the Christian doctrine
the preceding Sunday, were confirmed. One of this
number, a Jad of sixteen years, was first received into
the church by the sacrament of Holy Baptism. he
majority of this class of catechumens is of non-
Lutheran parentage — splendid fruits of our mis-
sion school.

After the Good Friday night’s service, Prof.
Mezger, representing the Hon. Mission Board of
St. Louis, conducted the regular visitation of. the
pastor and congregation, having earlier in the week
visited our school.

Although as a Christian congregation we are
some distance from the state of perfection, we hope
that Prof. Mezger was favorably impressed and
shares our feelings as to progress being made in
general church activity. It goes without saying
that the congregation was much benefited by Prof.
Mezger’s well-chosen words of instruction, admo-
nition, and encouragement.

The services on Easter Sunday, as well as the
Good Friday service, were made especially impress-
ive by. festival sermons, the celebration of the
Lord’s Supper, fitting selections by the choir, led
by Miss. Sophie Raymond, and the schoolchildren’s
chorus. In connection with the usual service on'
Easter Sunday night, our schoolchildren rendered
a short, but most beautiful and appropriate, Easter
program consisting chiefly of songs and recitations.
Our own members and many strangers always more
than enjoy these children’s services.

Now, dear reader, do you still wonder why we
of St. Paul’s are rejoicing and thanking God? Most
gladly and willingly did we therefore raise our
monthly contribution to the mission treasury from’
thirty-five to forty dollars.

Surely, dear reader, you are even now rejoicing
with us and are sending up to heaven a silent