December 2011 - January 2012 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ God’s purpose for us at St. Paul’s _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mary Had a Little Lamb! Rehearsals for the annual Children’s Christmas Program, began on November 27th, and will continue during the Sunday School hour on December 4th and 11th. The Children will present their program at 10:15 AM on December 18th, the Sunday before Christmas. This is a service you won’t want to miss! Wassail and cookies will be served after the service.
Worship on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day We gather on Christmas Eve at 10:00 pm this year at our traditional Service of Carols and Candlelight. Both the Vocal Choir and the Bell Choir will be present to lead our worship in the singing of the Christmas music you love; and we’ll remember our Lord’s birth with candlelight and Silent Night.
Tree Decorating Everyone is invited to stay after worship on Sunday, December 11th, as we place the Chrismons on our Christmas Tree. It’s fun for the whole family, so please plan to stay.
Ring the Bell at IGA for the Salvation Army Tree of Lights Members of St. Paul’s once again have the opportunity to ring the bell at IGA. Our scheduled day this year is Saturday, December 10th, from 9 am until 5 pm. Thirty minute time slots are available. The Salvation Army kettle collection provides funding that is used locally to help people in need. Please check the list on the bulletin board at church and sign up to help.
Please Remember in Prayer Our Family & Friends Ben Klein, Rodney Mullins, Bill Jenkins, Rebecca Rahe, Patty McHenry, Betty White, Jean Duncil, Caroline Clinard, Harrel Clinard, Betty Traylor, Pat Powers, Jane Coderko, Tony Coderko, Marie Slepicka, Idabel Evans, Donna Seybert, Debbie Patton, Kelly Maints, Olivia Whitley, Cathy Lewis, Tricia Gum, Millie Whitley, Harold Lyerla, Heath Robertson, Katy Gestland, John Cox, Vanita Had’-ad, Ted Behrens, Ann Seamon, Jane Justison, Nancy Lewis, Michael Marcacci, Kenny Oswalt, Darren DeGrout, Brittany, Nancy Savage, JoAnne Hardimon, & Vickie Sherman
More 3rd Grade Students Receive Bibles In last month’s newsletter, we inadvertently omitted two third grade students who also received Bibles this year. Congratulations to August Plunkett and Nickolas Hopley; and thank you both for understanding our mistake.
No Sunday School on Christmas or New Year’s Day There will be no Sunday School or Adult Discussion Classes on Christmas Day or on New Year’s Day. Regular classes for everyone resume on Sunday, January 8th.
Eco Tips Eco-tips offers ideas for being better stewards of God's creation. You can learn more from two interfaith environmental groups online at http://interfaithpowerandlight.org/ and www.greenfaith.org. • Transportation: The U.S. is responsible for 45% of the world’s global warming pollution from vehicles (Environmental Defense). Purchasing a fuel-efficient car is one of the most effective environmental choices you can make. When it comes time to purchase a vehicle, aim for one that is rated at 36 miles-per-gallon or higher.
Applying Bible Principles “Strategic planning” is a two-word term that can best be described as a “buzz word.” It’s in vogue. It’s trendy for businesses (and churches) to talk about and engage in strategic planning. Beyond Our Walls In November . . . In December . . .
Hymns That We Sang in November requested by you We appreciate your input into the songs we sing on Sunday morning; and we do our best to sing the songs you request. In November we sang . . . For All The Saints
Dear Friends, We’re on schedule. No, it’s more then that. This year, we’re well ahead of schedule. Believe it or not, by the time you read these words, Marcia and I will have completed our shopping for Christmas. We will even have almost everything wrapped. Our tree will be up. If the weather cooperates, our home will be decorated. The only task that will remain will be the writing and mailing of our annual Christmas letter.
Coming in January: Making Sense of the Cross So what’s with the cross? These questions and more will be discussed on Monday evenings, from 7:00 – 8:30, beginning January 9th. That’s when we’ll begin a new six-week series, “Making Sense of the Cross.”
Thanks to all who helped at the Community Thanksgiving Dinner The Community Thanksgiving Dinner was well received and attended this year. It was a good day with lots of good help. A total of 629 dinners were served, and a big thank you goes out to each and every church who participated in making this annual dinner such a success.
Prayers and Sympathy Our prayers and sympathy to Judy Tucker and family on the death of her father, Harold Hiller on October 28th. Ladles of Love Ladles of Love will be serving on December 8th & 22nd. Starting in January they will be serving every Thursday. Serving time is 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. A big THANK YOU to all who have generously given food, products, and cash donations to make a weekly meal possible. Since we will be serving every week beginning in 2012, we will need more volunteers. Please sign up on the bulletin board if you are willing to help.
Wednesday Bible Study The Wednesday 4:30 p.m. Bible Study will meet December 7th & 14th. There will be no bible study on December 20th & 27th. It will resume its weekly schedule in January. The new study beginning December 7th will be “Myth or Faith? A Fresh Look at Christian Doctrine”.
Meals On Wheels Thank you to everyone who volunteers to deliver Meals on Wheels. We have some devoted helpers but could use a few more. Please consider helping with this worthy cause. It takes around an hour or less to complete the route. Our week for Meals on Wheels is January 16th – 20th. Please watch the bulletin board for the sign up sheet.
Hope Circle and Angel Tree Hope Circle is once again buying gifts for the local Angel Tree. We have received two families, one with 3 children and one with 1 child who are in great need of a Merry Christmas. We also have 3 other children in different families we are buying for. We are asking for donations to help with this cause. If you were not able to make a donation in our Beyond Our Walls jug in November you may give your donation to Paula or mark it for Angel Tree and place it in the offering plate. Your support is greatly appreciated. And…a BIG thank you to those who have generously donated so far.
Ushers & Communion Assistants Sign Up A sign up sheet for those wishing to help as ushers and/or communion assistants for the year 2012 is on the bulletin board in the hall. Please consider being an usher and/or communion assistant even if you have never done it before. The more people who sign up, the fewer times you will have to usher or assist during the year. For those who do sign up there will be a list of the dates you will be an usher or assistant during the year. Everyone will receive a list in the mail and will be responsible for remembering when your dates are. It is also published in the newsletter each month. So, sign up to help this year. We also need volunteers for lectors, nursery, and altar guild. Those lists are on the bulletin board too.
Benefit Soup Supper St. Paul’s will be holding a benefit soup supper for Ben Klein who is fighting leukemia. It will be held on Friday, December 2nd from 4 – 7 p.m. in the St. Paul’s Fellowship Hall. We are in need of volunteers to bring homemade cookies and to help. Please call the church office for more information and to volunteer. Thank you. . In order to help the youth group raise money for their 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering trip we are having an envelope fundraiser.
Announcements Anyone wishing to place a poinsettia in the sanctuary for the Christmas Eve services may let Paula know. The cost is $9.00 payable to St. Paul’s. Offering envelopes for 2012 will be available for pick up in the back of the sanctuary beginning December 11th. The initial offering envelope suggests a $2.00 donation to help defray the cost of purchasing the box of envelopes. The true cost of the box is $3.80. Give the perfect gift for Christmas…a St. Paul’s cookbook. Our “Feeding Our Flock” cookbook is still available at the bargain price of $4.00 each. They make great gifts. Just let Paula know how many you want. We are still in need of lots & lots of cotton balls to turn our children into sheep for the Christmas program. Please bring them to the church office or if you don’t want to shop for them you may donate cash and we will purchase them for you. Thanks a bunch Don’t forget your donations of supplies for Sewing for Missions. More information can be found on the bulletin board in the hallway. The Calvary Baptist Church in Hillsboro will be presenting their 25th Living Nativity Scene December 19-23 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. each evening. There will be new scenery, some new costumes, and REAL camels, donkeys & goats- and the kids can feed them. They would also like to include people from other churches in town. If you would like to help contact Serena Hennings at 851-5747 with the times you are available. The annual Christmas Homecoming Concert will be held at The church office will be closed for sure on Monday, December 26th. It may also be closed another day that week. If you need anything you are advised to call the church office to see if anyone is there before you come up. You may call Paula at home if it is urgent. The office will also be closed on Monday, January 2nd.
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