FROM THE DESK OF . . .
Sunday & Monday, February 15 & 16, 2026
From the desk of Pastor Ernie Green:
Question:
At the wedding feast at Cana, Mary asked her Son, Jesus to help the bride’s parents with the embarrassment of running out of wine. Jesus told His mother that it was not yet His time, yet, He still provided the wine?
Scripture isn’t very clear as to why Jesus performed this miracle, even after He said that it wasn’t His time yet. There are many theories regarding this and one of those theories is that Jesus wasn’t necessarily speaking about His time to begin performing miracles, instead, He was referring to His time for the greatest miracle, rising again after His Crucifixion where He shed His blood for us. The wine is symbolic of His final sacrifice for all mankind. That was His most important time.
Another thought is that Jesus was obeying the Commandment of “Honoring your father and your mother” when He did as Mary asked. Another thought is that Jesus didn’t want to see shame and embarrassment brought to this family. Regardless of why Jesus performed His first of many miracles at Cana, John’s Gospel tells us this, On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
Your faith has set you free in Christ Jesus.
Pastor Ernie Green
All are welcome at St. Paul Lutheran – Please allow God’s love to work in and through you to brighten the lives of members and visitors alike.
+ PRAYER CONCERNS for our St. Paul Family +
HEALING: Bill Baessler, Paul Baessler, April Carlin, Lorraine Carroll, Karen Cowell, Zachary Dawson, Bev Deer, Elijah Desouza, Carmen Dexheimer, Miguel Diaz, Vicki Doucette, Dean Durow, Mildred Enney, Ryan Essenburg, Maureen Finch and her sister Colleen, Amy and David Fleischman, Bob Fritz, Aiden Gallineau, Cindy Green, Pastor Green, Anne Gross, Marlyn Gross, Margie Hadsell, Bonnie Haskell, Steve Heuer, Amanda Hughey, Loraine Jensen, Steve Keller, Paula Kopf, Pastor Dennis Krueger, MaryBeth Lee, Sue & Jeff Licht, Connie Maerten, Jackie Malinowski, Eunice & Jim Manth, Jason McNair, Mel Miller, Ron Moll, Mike Mueller, Kathy Nagel, Maryanne Novack, McKenna O’Neil, Jim Peron, Gloria & Bill Pittler, Doris Rae, Meredith Roberts, Joy Rohring, Wayne Reichert, Jane Ruppert, Joe Sarzyniak, Leni Schofield, Paul Stolzenfels, Chris Thomas, Audrey Truax, Deb Tyler, Kathy Warriner, Jean Watters, Frank Wendt, Gail Wolf, Shirley Wurl, Barbara Yates and her son, Ron.
AT HOME: Joyce Dolpp HEALTHCARE FACILITIES: Mary Jo Bishop
MILITARY: Matthew Daugherty, Eric Davis, Aaron Fix, Zachary Kijowski, Joe Kloc, Jack Lambros, Joshua Lindsley, Christopher Manth, Kyle Rae and Travis Shaffer.
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LUTHERAN WOMEN IN MISSION (LWML) NEWS:
LUTHERAN WOMEN IN MISSION (LWML) YOUNG REP: Looking for a young woman, preferably between the ages of 22-35, that could attend the Lutheran Women in Mission (LWML) 2026 Eastern District Convention, June 12-14,2026 at the Double Tree Resort in Lancaster, PA, as a Young Woman Representative(YWR). Transportation, registration, meals and hotel expenses will be paid by the district. If interested contact Marge Stoelting at mesandmds@yahoo.com.
UPDATE: We are also looking for two people to be voting delegates at the convention. There will be a vote on the proposed mission grants, officers and proposed bylaw changes. Registration deadline is April 1, 2026. Further information can be found in the current news letter, the LINK, found on the Information Center in The Gathering Place. You may also contact Marge Stoelting at 716-449-1688.
- See the bulletin board in the Gathering Place for the most current Mite and Mission Grant Reports or go to the national web site organd the district web site east-distrlwml.org. Your continued prayers and support is greatly appreciated.
- For questions on any Lutheran Women in Mission news, you may contact either Bea Hapeman (716 -327-2400) or Marge Stoelting (716-693-7555).
***Mite boxes, Eastern District Newsletter, The LINK etc. can all be found on The Information Center in The Gathering Place.
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Confirmation Class Assignments – Thursday, February 26, 2026
First Year Class – Read “The Apostles’ Creed; The Second Article, “Christ’s Work of Redemption, or Atonement” Questions 133 -140, pages 133 – 137 from Luther’s Small Catechism. Read Chapter 16 from The Story, “The Beginning of the End (of the Kingdom of Israel).” Attend church and complete a Worship Report Form. No Mentor Question
Second Year Class – Read “The Apostles’ Creed; The Second Article, “Christ’s Work of Redemption, or Atonement” Questions 133 -140, pages 133 – 137 from Luther’s Small Catechism. Complete Lesson 19“Christ’s Work of Redemption, or Atonement” from Exploring Luther’s Small Catechism. Attend church and complete a Worship Report Form. No Mentor Question