St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church. Worship on Sunday Mornings at 10:00am Adult Forum 11:15am in the parlor

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1 Worship on Sunday Mornings at 10:00am Adult Forum 11:15am in the parlor St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church 721 Twelfth Avenue, Huntington WV The mission of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church is to CELEBRATE and PROCLAIM to all the saving grace of JESUS CHRIST in word and deed. 1

2 Pastor s Reflections Pastor s Reflections Up on the bulletin board in front of my desk I have a sheet that is entitled: Church Post Program. On the sheet a Lutheran pastor in Texas lists several items that he believes is a way forward for the church given the changes in culture in the world we live. A couple of these items pop out at me. The first is: From members to mission partners I serve at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church NOT I go to St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church. Hopefully it comes as no surprise that I have embraced this phrase here at St. Paul. I like the language used here that expresses our commitment to service. It conveys a message that we are not here for ourselves we are here for others who are not here. In fact this phrase: We exist for those who are not here, is a part of the vision statement for a seven church parish I was privileged to be a part of in Iowa. A parish that still has the same two pastors and just celebrated its fifteenth year of existence. What a wonderful expression of church! We do service well here at St. Paul. Thank you! Is there more? We have added 5 more Christmas baskets this year. We have now 17 backpacks going to families in need from Southside Elementary. One of the exciting things your Finance and Stewardship Committee have been doing is putting together a budget (Mission Finance Plan) that reflects more resources going to Social Ministry. I pray that God s Spirit continue to guide us as we keep our focus on service to: those who are not here. The second item that catches my eye on the list says: Take Risks. WOW! This is hard for all of us. Risking means well it means having to change. It means having to do something different than the way we have always done it. Don t get me wrong I love tradition and liturgy and order as much as the next person. But it seems to me that sometimes our order and structure get in the way of being church in creative ways that serve those in need (see above paragraph) those who are not here. One change we will be making is having the Advent midweek meal and worship in the undercroft. This is a more intimate place and it also means we don t have to heat our huge sanctuary. It seems to me the incarnation (big church word meaning that the eternal and infinite God came down to this earth in finite and first century Jesus of Nazareth) is a risk on God s part. God came as a baby is what we say at Christmas. That baby like all babies was fragile and frail and totally dependent upon its parents for life. That is pretty awesome seems to me. That God our God the God of the universe The God of all creation RISKED when he choose Mary, Joseph to be the earth family for God s Son. This of course is because of God s love for us. Love that shows itself in Jesus. Love that is expressive and serving and showing and risking. May God guide, direct and keep us to be servants who risk being love in the world as we see in Jesus. Your partner in the service and risking Pastor Mackey <>< 2

3 CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE With Candle Lighting and Communion December 24, :00pm Special music will begin at 6:30pm NEW LITURGY: On December 2, the First Sunday of Advent we will switch our liturgy from setting one to setting five. This is a recommendation from our music director and choir. Check out the latest St. Paul news on our new website. New photos and information are being posted weekly. Pastor Mackey will have a weekly advent devotional. If you have something you would like to see on the website please contact Kathy Mackey. 3 Join us on Sunday, December 30 at 10:00am for Lessons and Carols a unique and inspiring service to enrich your Christmas season.

4 ADVENT MIDWEEK WORSHIP Wednesday Evenings beginning November 28 6:00pm Meal 7:00pm Worship Meal and worship will be in the Fellowship Hall Prepare the Royal Highway A Midweek Series for Advent Wednesday evenings at 6:00pm In the Fellowship Hall (undercroft) December 5 G.P.S. December 12 Standing at the Crossroads December 19 Detour Ahead Highways, pathways, gates, and journeys figure prominently in the imagery of Advent. We hear the voice shouting, Prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight the path! We witness the unexpected detours for Elizabeth and Zechariah, Mary and Joseph. We make way in our hearts and lives for our God. Join us each Wednesday evening for a delicious meal, worship and fellowship as we prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus. UPCOMING ADULT FORUM LESSONS Throughout the season of Advent Pastor Mackey will be leading a discussion on material from ELCA World Hunger called: Advent Study. The dates for these sessions will be: December 2, 9 (after Annual Meeting part 1) and the 23 rd. All are invited in the Undercroft after worship on December 16 as the Christian Education Committee will be sponsoring a birthday party for Jesus after the Children s Christmas Program at worship. January s Adult Forum will feature a Bible study put together by our Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton. The focus of the study will be the four emphases Bishop Eaton brought to our church when she was elected Presiding Bishop We are Church, We are Lutheran, We are Church Together, We are Church for the sake of the World. 4

5 A note from Jill... In a blink, November has come and gone. This past month, I have watched our youth give thanks to the Veterans of our church and to the Veterans at the Huntington Veteran center and to the Veterans at the VA Hospital. Our youth made candy bags with little notes of thanks and teamed up with our Girl Scout Troops at St. Paul to make poems and cards of thanks as well. All Veterans hearts were warmed by these efforts. Our youth also have put some extra work into making the food for the backpacks at Southside extra special by packing extra foods for Thanksgiving break and the upcoming Christmas break. I delight in the works of our youth as He gives us hands to do His service. I am so thankful! The youth are practicing every Wednesday and Sunday in preparation for the Christmas musical, On Our Way to Bethlehem. Our musical will be during worship on December 16, 2018 at 10am. I invite all to come and worship and join us for a Birthday celebration for Jesus in the undercroft afterwards as well. Henning is a joy to work with and the children are learning some key notes in how to read music and follow along. I love watching the progression of the musical each year. It amazes me through the eyes of a child, how quickly one can learn and to Fear Not, as the angel said. A lesson maybe we should all remember- to not be afraid and to jump right in to do His marvelous works! I think of all the services that can be accomplished without hesitation or second thought! I am constantly reminded through the eyes of a child, I too am a child of God, no matter what my age -to love as He loves us. With this, I close with a poem and prayer from Psalm 67. I Love You So The warm light of your love shines on my face and fills my heart with joy. Help me always remember to call out to you, to give you thanks to live the way you have told me is best! Then all the people all over the world will see your goodness and feel your loving power and sing with one loud voice, You are my God, and I love you so. God s Blessings to all! Your Loving Sister in Christ, Jill 5

6 Gifts created by the children and youth for Veterans. Looking for a yoga class that doesn t leave you tied up in knots? Join Clarice Kumlien as she leads a class in Chair Yoga, designed for all ages and abilities. Mondays from 11:30am-12:15pm in the parlor. Cost is a $2.00 donation. We are in need of volunteers to make prayer shawls since Kathy is unable to continue in this ministry. Shawls can be knitted or crocheted. If you would like to help in this very important ministry please see Kathy Mackey. 6

7 ON OUR WAY TO BETHLEHEM Presented by the children and youth of St. Paul Sunday, December 16 10:00am Join us afterward for a Birthday Party for Jesus in the fellowship hall. Below is the practice schedule for the children s Christmas program. Please have your child here on time for the practices. If you have any questions please see Jill May or Shannon Simpkins. 11/18/18-11:15-12:15(after service, during Sunday School) 11/21/18- no practice- Happy Thanksgiving break 11/25/18-11:15-12:15(after service, during Sunday School) 11/28/18-5:30-6:00 (before Advent Dinner) 12/2/18-11:15-12:15(after service, during Sunday School) 12/5/18-5:40-6:00( before Advent Dinner) 12/9/18-11:15-12:15( after service, during Sunday School) 12/12/18-5:30-6:00( before Advent Dinner) 12/15/18-12:00-2:00(final dress rehearsal) 12/16/18- Performance of On Our Way To Bethlehem during 10am worship service- arrive at 9:30am & meet in library to get dressed! 7

8 Jill May is planning to take the youth to this event on December 14. She is inviting everyone in the congregation to go along. We will meet here at the church at 5:30pm to carpool to the event. Please let Jill know if you would like to be part of this wonderful opportunity 8

9 St. Paul Christmas Card Mailbox is open for business! Our mailbox, built by Bob Winterhoff, is back in the narthex and waiting for your cards. If you would like to give a Christmas Card to someone in the congregation please place your card(s) in the box. Be sure and check each week to see if there are cards waiting for you to pick up!! HELP US DECORATE THE CHURCH Saturday, December 15 10:00am Please join us as we prepare our beautiful sanctuary for Christmas. There is a job for everyone! Lunch will be provided. Children are asked to come at 12:00pm to practice for their program right after lunch. We will have several vacancies on the church council next year. If you are interested in serving or would like more information please see Pastor Mackey or one of the current council members. Please prayerfully consider serving St. Paul in this important ministry. Current council members are: Steve Golder Andrew Wellman Barbara Garnett Norma Gensler Richard Eid Chris Eid Jacqui Veres Carolyn Fornash Rick Veres James May Cam Hale Kay Jennings John Scott 9

10 Brown Bag Bible Study Thursdays at noon. We will continue our study of I Kings. Feel free to bring your lunch! Please join us! DECEMBER BIBLE READING PLAN John 11 John 12 John 13 John 14 John 15 John 16 John 17 John 18 John 19 John 20 John 21 Acts 1 Acts 2 Acts 3 Acts 4 Acts 5 Acts 6 Acts 7 Acts 8 Acts 9 Acts 10 10

11 December 2018 WORSHIP HELPERS Assisting Minister Reader Communion Deacon 12/2 Bernadette Wellman Doug Korstanje 12/9 David Stuart James May Cheryl Conzett 12/16 Keith Wellman Annette DuVall 12/23 Ruthann Arneson Piper May Mary Lou Fricke 12/24 Luke Fornash Linda Schneider Steve Golder 12/30 Steve Golder David Stuart Bill Korstanje Acolyte Crucifer Altar Guild 12/3 Madelyn Fizer 12/9 Cameron May Emma Simpkins Zoe May Tim and Cheryl Conzett 12/16 Katie Dowis Garrin Simpson 12/23 Owen Murray Zoie Fornash 12/24 Madelyn Fizer Ethan Arneson 12/30 Alex Mackey Olivia Bell Bread Providers Tim and Cheryl Conzett Ushers 12/2 Arnesons 12/9 Pembertons 12/16 Murrays 12/23 12/24 12/30 Sanctuary Lamp Chapel Lamp Flowers Linda Hay 12/2 Linda Hay 12/9 Debbie Perkins 12/16 Cindy Jones 12/23 Rick and Chris Eid 12/30 Carl and Creigh Pemberton FINANCIAL MINISTRY Offering through November 2018: Year to Date Income: 15, , Expenses: 18, , Net Gain/(loss) (2,923.78) (12,620.23) WORSHIP ATTENDANCE FOR NOVEMEBER 11/ / / /

12 December 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 10:00am Worship 11:15am Children s program practice 10:00am Worship Annual Meeting 11:15am Children s program practice :30am Yoga 9:00am Quilts 5:30pm Children s program practice 6:00pm Advent Midweek meal and worship 7:30pm Choir Noon Bible Study 10:30am Book Group 5:30pm Southside Neighborhood Party :30am Yoga 9:00am Quilts 5:30pm Children s program practice 6:00pm Advent Midweek meal and worship 7:30pm Choir NO Noon Bible Study 10:00am Church Decorating 12:00pm Children program practice 10:00am Children s Program Birthday Party for Jesus :30am Yoga 9:00am Quilts 6:00pm Advent Midweek meal and worship 7:30pm Choir Noon Bible Study 10:00am Worship :30am Yoga Office Closed Office Closed 6:30pm Special Music 7:00pm Candlelight Worship 10:00am Worship :30am Yoga 12

13 TIME TO ORDER DAILY TEXTS Pastor Mackey introduced the Daily Texts to the St. Paul community when he first came to be our pastor. The Daily Texts are part of a long tradition from the Moravian Church which is based in North Carolina. Mount Carmel Ministries in Alexandria, MN publishes a Lutheran version of the Daily Texts. Each year we give an opportunity for the members of St Paul to order these yearly devotionals that have an Old Testament lesson, a New Testament lesson and a prayer for each day of the year. There will be a sign-up sheet at the back of the sanctuary if you wish to order a copy of the Daily Texts. The cost for each devotional is $6.00. ELCA GOOD GIFTS Are you starting to think about Christmas shopping yet? Having trouble coming up with just the right gift for that person who has everything? Consider purchasing alternative Christmas gifts this year. ELCA Good Gifts program helps you give the perfect Christmas gift. At our Midweek Advent services we will have a tree set up with gift tags on it. By choosing a tag from the tree and donating the specified amount to ELCA Good Gifts you are helping those in need throughout the world. Gifts can be made in honor or in memory of loved ones. It s simple: take a tag, write your name on the back, money to the church office (or offering plate) and pick up a special greeting card that you can then give to someone as a gift along with the tag. The church office will send the money in to ELCA gifts for you. Please make sure you indicate on your check that the money is for ELCA Good Gifts. Thank you to the quilting ladies who created the beautiful quilts that decorated the sanctuary for the Blessing of the Quilts Four ladies spent untold hours creating 50 quilts that will be put in the Christmas baskets as well as given out as needed. 13

14 Shepherding God, you are the source of life and health. Surround those who struggle with illness or other difficulties of life and bring them to wholeness and healing: LaDonna, Marissa, Pastor Jennifer, Eric, Joel, Missie, Sadie, Frank, Husma, Erika, Jon, Ann, Jamie, Alan, Judy, Brenda, Myles, Dana, Eric, Hannah, Pastor Jeff Wick, Fred, Janice. Please note that beginning in January we will be removing all names from the prayer list unless the office is contacted to leave a specific name on the list. Names will then be left on the prayer list for three months and then removed unless you notify the office to leave a name on. This simply helps to keep the prayer list accurate. Sometimes names are added and not removed when the prayer request has been answered. HAPPY BIRTHDAY 2 Meredith Brumfield 3 Brice Dowis 8 Susie Wagner 9 Barbara Garnett 21 Chris Eid 27 Brier Wagner; Aryah Freels 30 Ingeborg White 31 Jonathan Anderson-Cain HAPPY ANNIVERSARY 27 Neil and Ruthann Arneson 30 Carl and Creigh Pemberton 31 James and Jill May We welcome David Pack into our St. Paul family. David joined St. Paul on November 18. If you are in the hospital, or are at home with an extended illness, please let Pastor Mackey or the church office know. Pastor Mackey is always available to bring Holy Communion to you especially if an illness has kept you at home on Sunday mornings. Meals can be provided to those who want them. Please call the church office at to make an appointment. 14

15 Want to help decorate the church for Christmas? Red Poinsettias in 6 inch pots can be purchased for $10.00 each. Dedications can be in honor of, or in memory of loved ones. Orders must be in the church office by December 16 along with payment. Order forms will also be in the bulletins. In honor of: In Memory of: By: Number of Poinsettias CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATES CRIDLIN FOOD/CLOTHING PANTRY 2016 Warmed and Fed Campaign Now through December 31 she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger... HONOR SOMEONE YOU LOVE and PROVIDE A New Coat - Nutritional Food - Other Basic Needs For Someone Who Can Least Afford It! Enclosed please find a check for: $ Coats/Basic Needs ($20/Coat) $ Nutritional Food ($5/person/day) Name: Please check here if you would like a Gift Acknowledgement Card/s Please indicate the number of cards requested THANK YOU! 15

16 Christmas baskets It's time to start planning for the Christmas Basket program for families in need in our area. We will be adopting 20 families in our area. There will be three sign up sheets in the Narthex for either or all of the following tasks. 1. Buying perishable items for a family 2. Packing items for delivery 3. Delivering items to the families Box of instant mashed potatoes Canned vegetables Canned chili or soup Box of spaghetti noodles and canned sauce Canned fruit Box of cereal A shopping list of perishables will be given to those who will be shopping for a family. Money is available for you to be reimbursed for these items. Please turn in your receipts to the church office. Delivery will be on December 23. Please see David Stuart or John Scott for any questions. 16

17 The annual Meeting is scheduled for December 9 right after worship. Please plan to stay and celebrate the ministry here at St. Paul The Book Club will meet on December 6 at 10:30am. We will be discussing The Women of the Castle by Jessica Shattuck. Please join us in the parlor! Council Highlights Set the next meeting for December 2 to vote on a proposed Mission Finance plan (Budget) for the first part of the Annual Meeting on December 9 Heard reports from all the committees Received updates about the parking lot from Pastor Heard stories of grace sightings from Pastor and various leaders on Council Heard follow up on Old Business items door replacement status, hole repair status, educational building roof status 17

18 St. Paul Lutheran Church Thursday, December 6 5:30pm Please bring a side dish or desert. Main course and drinks will be provided. Door Prizes Holiday Musical Entertainment by The Stoney Point String Band. Marshall University School of Music presents Christmas Carols with the Choral Union Sunday, December 2, :00pm First United Methodist Church th Ave. Huntington Event is free and open to the public 18

19 PRAYER VENTURES DECEMBER World AIDS Day Today we remember and pray for people who have died from AIDS-related illnesses and people who are living with HIV; we give thanks for the progress made in prevention, treatment and care, and ask for an awareness of what still needs to be done; and we ask God to help our church continue in its work with partners and organizations around the world to eradicate AIDS and support people who live with HIV. 2 First Sunday of Advent Give thanks and praise for God s promises fulfilled in the gift of Jesus Christ, a gift for all humanity that changed everything and continues to stir faith, newness of spirit, peace, compassion and justice in the world. 3 Pray for the recovery and well-being of those affected by recent hurricanes, flooding, wildfires and other natural disasters, especially for families, people living in poverty, older adults and communities with scarce resources. 4 Ask for help in knowing and following God s ways and paths paths that are mercy, love and faithfulness. 5 Give thanks for the generous support of ELCA members and congregations in response to The Campaign for the ELCA and its priorities: congregations, leadership, hunger and poverty, and the global church. Pray our commitments and generosity continue for supporting and investing in the future of this church, deepening our relationships, and expanding existing and new ministries that serve our neighbors and communities here and around the world. 6 Give thanks for Lutheran Services in America, an alliance of the ELCA and over 300 health and human services organizations serving the complex, diverse needs of more than 6 million people each year in the United States and the Caribbean. 7 Lighting and reflecting on the glow of candles in Advent wreaths is an enduring tradition for many people around the world that marks our remembrance of Jesus birth and the gift of eternal life. Give thanks to God for sending the true light and hope of Christ into the world and into our lives. 8 Thank God for the joy, encouragement and strength of faith we receive from one another gathered in our congregations communities of faith that send us into the world equipped to care for our neighbor and to share the good news of Jesus Christ. 9 Praise God for the good news of Jesus Christ, our savior who comes to us in the wilderness and darkness of the world to bring light, truth and salvation for all. 10 Over 68 million people around the world have been displaced from their homes by war, violence, disasters and persecution. Pray for the safety, care and well-being of people who have fled or been forced from their homes and countries, that they have resources to meet their daily needs and find welcoming, supportive communities and congregations to help them find stability and pursue their hopes and dreams. 11 Remember in prayer ELCA missionaries accompanying our companions in Estonia, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland; pray the Holy Spirit will inspire and sustain their faith and work of sharing the gospel, growing the church and serving our neighbor. 12 In this season of buying and sharing gifts, pray God will help us rethink for the sake of the world our traditions, habits and generosity through the influence, opportunities and far-reaching impacts of ELCA World Hunger and ELCA Good Gifts. 13 Pray for neighboring congregations and ministries, pastors, synod staff, ecumenical partners and leaders who work together with us to share the gospel, serve our neighbors and communities and grow the church. 14 Ask God to help us shape and renew our congregations to be life-giving and imaginative places for people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds and circumstances to gather around God s word and the sacraments, practice hospitality, build relationships and care for the needs of our neighbor friend or stranger, member or not Pray for the new Lutheran Men in Mission Disaster Relief Effort, which organizes men to share their skills, experiences and resources to work alongside Lutheran Disaster Response, Lutheran social services, local agencies, communities, individuals and families to repair and rebuild homes damaged by natural disasters.

20 16 Pray the Holy Spirit will strengthen and embolden us to invite others to have faith in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and to be compelling witnesses to God s ways, truth, justice and mercy in the world. 17 Remember during the holidays people who are in prisons, jails, correctional facilities and detention centers; pray we are active in connecting them with caring communities of faith, their families and children, and resources for rebuilding their hope and lives; pray our compassion is stirred by the Spirit that we freely share with those who are imprisoned the good news of forgiveness, hope and new life we have in Jesus Christ the gift of God s love for all people. 18 Ask that the Holy Spirit guide us in being attentive and supportive of pastors, leaders and church staff during Advent and Christmas, that their faith will be strengthened, their needs cared for, and that they will find time to reflect on the light and joy of Jesus Christ in their own lives. 19 Pray for the safety and protection of all who are traveling during the holidays. 20 Remember in prayer first responders, firefighters, doctors and nurses, military, law enforcement and care providers working the holidays for our safety and well-being; pray for people who serve the public in retail stores, restaurants, and the hospitality and travel industries; and pray they all find opportunities for renewal and time with the family, friends and communities that enrich their lives and faith. 21 During the past year, the ELCA and the Episcopal Church have been committed to prayer, fasting and advocacy addressing cuts to public programs that are vital to hungry people who are living in poverty. Remember to continue praying for these concerns, our leaders and people in need. 22 Pray that during our congregational activities, worship, gift sharing and community meals we remember to reach out and involve individuals and families confined to home or care facilities, without family or friends, homeless or forgotten. 23 God s presence and the ways in which the Holy Spirit works in our lives can catch us by surprise and unprepared just as it did pregnant Elizabeth and Mary. Ask God to open our hearts, minds and senses to the amazing, subtle and lifechanging things that God is accomplishing in the world, often through us. 24 Christmas Eve Pray we are childlike in our faith and excitement for the birth of Christ a gift of light that no darkness can overcome, a gift for us that is full of life, grace and truth. 25 Christmas Day Glory to God in the highest! Give thanks and praise to God for the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of God, who lived among us full of grace and truth, that God s love for humankind might be clear, tangible and revealed in ways that speak to our human needs and senses then and now. 26 Pray we exercise daily unbiased generosity with all the gifts, resources and abilities God has entrusted to our care and use. 27 Talk to students who are on break, recognize their presence and affirm the gifts they share with the body of Christ; pray they are renewed during their break and J-term experiences, and assure them they are not forgotten and are remembered in our personal prayers as well as those of the congregation. 28 Just as Mary and Elizabeth gave testimony to what God was doing in their lives for the sake of the world, pray that we, too, are articulate about what we trust God is doing in our lives and the world during the ups, downs and times that puzzle us. 29 Ask that the Holy Spirit guide and inspire our church as it reflects on and makes plans for the present and future, seeking to be ever faithful, centered in the gospel, wise and nimble in doing God s work in the world as it shifts and changes. 30 We gather in congregations to worship God, learn, grow in faith and care for and equip one another for living as followers of Christ in the world. Pray we each contribute to the vitality of our faith community, strive for unity, and help 20 each other move beyond the walls of our buildings and into our communities and world with a fervor to serve our neighbor and share the gospel.

21 ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH th Avenue Huntington, WV CONTACT INFORMATION Reverend Kevin L. Mackey, pastor Henning Vauth, Music Director Wayne Doss, secretary Kathy Mackey, secretary Please visit us at COUNCIL MEMBERS/OFFICERS Pastor Kevin L. Mackey, Council President, ex-officio Steve Golder, Vice President, Stewardship/Finance Ernie Golder, Treasurer Judy Pease, Financial Secretary Annette DuVall, Worship and Music Christina Eid, Evangelism David Stuart, Social Ministry, Christian Education Andrew Wellman, Stewardship/Finance Emma Arneson, Council Secretary, Music and Worship Cam Hale, Fellowship Kay Jennings, Fellowship James May, Property John Scott, Social Ministry Barbara Garnett, Christian Education, Worship and Music Richard Eid, Evangelism The mission of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church is to CELEBRATE and PRO- CLAIM to all the saving grace of JESUS CHRIST in word and deed. 21

22 St. Paul Lutheran Church th Avenue Huntington, WV December 22