The Epistle. St. Paul s Lutheran Church December 2017

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1 The Epistle St. Paul s Lutheran Church December 2017 Gathered to Go...to study God's Word, Worship together; and to walk with Christ by loving, serving and nurturing all God's people where ever they are and whatever their circumstances.

2 BELL RINGING Thank you to everyone who signed up to ring the bells at Tops on December 1 st. POINSETTIAS Please purchase your own poinsettia(s) to help beautify the sanctuary for Christmas. Bring it (them) to the church by Friday December 22. If you want a message placed in the Christmas Eve bulletin, that message must be into the office by Monday Dec. 18 th. CHRISTMAS EVE MORNING WORSHIP 10:00AM CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP 8:00PM CHRISTMAS DAY WORSHIP 10:00AM NEW YEAR S EVE DAY WORSHIP 10:00AM

3 From Pastor Lexa Dear Sisters and Brothers, It is difficult to believe that three years after we met for the first time, it is now time to say good-bye and wish each other farewell and Godspeed. Thank you for your warm welcome of my family and me. Thank you for all your prayers and kind words over the last few weeks. And thank you even more for all the work we did together over these past years. I pray that God may bless and keep you and your new pastor in God s love and grace. Over the last several weeks all our Sunday readings revolved around God s involvement in the life of God s creation and God s people. And we especially heard about one promise over and over again: God will provide. I know that God has, does, and will continue to provide for all of you. When I shared with some of you that I was going on Family Leave to care for needs that have arisen in my family, someone said that In the bleak midwinter is all that comes to her mind right now. After reading the lyrics to the hymn, I have to say, I agree. But not because it is all bleak and hopeless but because that despite it being midwinter God has promised us hope and new life when we least expect but most need it. This is my prayer for all of us: that we may find hope, love, and new life, especially when things get dark and difficult around us. Advent and Christmas are right around the corner. The prophets have promised us that: the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned. (Matthew 4:16). May God s love, life, and light be with you always. Peace, Pastor Lexa

4 DURING ADVENT We will put together piggy banks on Nov. 26 to be taken home for a monetary collection during Advent. The money will go to ELCA Good Gifts - pigs, chickens, cow, goats, fish farm, honeybees, simple water well and many more. If you did not get to make one on the 26 th, they will be available in the narthex. Please return the banks by the end of December. Christmas Bags for Our Honored Elders We will have 8 people to honor this Christmas. Please find their gift bags in the Narthex soon and fill them as you wish. Mary Boye is a Lutheran who communes with Cindy Covert at Clinton Crest and Katie Lent is a Lutheran at the PY Manor who communes with Becky Vaughan. The other six Doris Fitzpatrick, Amy Rozelle, Carl Spencer, Phyllis Petersen, Roger Wadsworth and Eva Jensen are members of or related to members of St. Paul s. Don t worry about putting in a gift that they might not be able to enjoy (like sugar cookies for diabetics). What they can t use, they are free to share with whomever they like and then they get to be givers. Delivery of the Honored Elders gift bags will be December 17 th if possible, or during that week before Christmas. If you are able to help with these deliveries, please call Becky Vaughan at Merry Christmas!

5 Your Help is Needed Christmas Eve Service 8:00 PM Christmas Day Service 10:00 AM Many folks are needed at these two services. If you are planning to attend and are willing to help in any way, please let Elaine Gleason know, ASAP so we can get things lined-up and organized. Christmas Eve we need readers and help with Communion, ushers and help with Altar Guild. I will be the Assistant Minister that evening, but I will be away Christmas morning so would appreciate knowing who will be available. Christmas Morning is a service of Lessons and Carols, with communion. Many readers will be needed as well as two Communion Assistants and ushers. I will set up after the Christmas Eve service for the morning which I hope helps. Thank you in advance for letting me know how you can help with these special services. Elaine Gleason, Worship Deacon To everyone who provided food for the Thanksgiving boxes.

6 From Our Church Council President Brothers and Sisters, In the coming days, not only will we be entering a time of hopeful anticipation as we await the celebration of Christ s birth, but we will be facing a period of transition once again here at St. Paul s. It is my hope that as we move into this time of change and discernment, we can join our individual lights together to make St. Paul s blaze brightly with love and compassion as we move into the future. The only constant thing in life is change. Big, small, expected and unexpected; they are all around us, every day and sometimes we face more than we think we can handle. As time goes by and I encounter more changes in my own life and the lives of those around me, I ve discovered that the only thing I can count on during a major change is to be aware of how I am reacting to it. I may have very little control over what s going on around me, but I am in absolute control of myself: my emotions, my actions and my words. By choosing to think first and act (or speak) after careful consideration, I can discern how my reactions affect those around me. The point is, there are changes on the horizon for St. Paul s. How are you feeling about this change, honestly? How are the words and deeds shared in this place reflecting the light of Christ among us? Change can be daunting at times and I personally feel this is one of those times. However, I am not going to let my light be dimmed and I know that we will persevere through this together. It has been a pleasure to have Pastor Lexa and her family among us for the last three years. Her joyful spirit and love for her vocation have always been clearly evident. As we move into a time of transition, I hope we can do so with a compassionate spirit and with the intent to let our lights shine brightly even in the face of things unknown. In His Peace, Whitney

7 From Our Worship Deacon Dear Members of St. Paul's, I am finding this difficult to write knowing that we are entering the Christmas Season and saying good-bye to Pastor Lexa and family. As Worship and Music Deacon and member of the Worship and Music Committee, I have thoroughly enjoyed planning worship services with Pastor Lexa and will miss her input and guidance. But, as we have heard before, the show must go on and the worship and music committee will continue to plan carefully our services for each Sunday and as I have been hearing a great deal in the last two weeks: GOD WILL PROVIDE. As a reminder, it has been standard practice to have one service on the following Sundays: the Sunday after Christmas and Easter; the Sunday of the Congregational Meeting in September; and Reformation Sunday. There is also one service on Pentecost if there is Confirmation. These are Council approved one service Sundays and they will continue as we enter a new year. It is just in the last 6 months that we have tried the Community Sundays on the Fourth Sunday of the month. The Worship and Music Committee is planning to continue with this practice for the next three months and then re-evaluate. At this time, we have had some positive feedback as well as some suggestions for improving the Community Sundays. Please know we listen and are always open to conversation with members. Looking now at the Christmas season we are entering, we will see the paraments change to blue; the Advent wreath hung and lit each Sunday; and the crèche up and pieces added to tell the Christmas story. There will be no communion hymns during Advent, offering a time of quiet and meditation during communion. Carole will play some soft music for us and who knows, we may hum along as we meditate.

8 We will continue with the new Narrative Lectionary, but we are returning to having one reader read the morning lesson. The lessons for Advent lend themselves to one voice more than the ones we have had since September. Our reader will return to the pulpit to read this lesson and it will continue to be printed in the bulletin as well. The tree will be up and lit on December 3 for Advent 1 and then as we did last year, we will have a decorating service on Advent 2, December 10, adding our own ornaments during the worship service. The hymns, the lessons, the tree, the crèche, the Advent wreath, the paraments, and the decorating will all lead to our Christmas Eve candlelight service at 8:00PM on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning, which is a Monday, we will have one service of lessons and carols as we have in the past at 10:00 AM. As of this writing, we do not know who will be leading worship, but we know each other and it will continue to be a time of coming together as we have each Sunday, worshiping together, and celebrating the many blessings we have been given as individuals and as a congregation. God does provide...maybe not as fast as we want or the way we want, but GOD DOES PROVIDE and we are the blessed recipients. Please, if you have any questions about worship, please ask any member of the Worship and Music Committee and we will do our best to answer them or find the answer. Blessings as we enter this most Holy Christmas Season together, In His Name, Elaine Gleason, Worship and Music Deacon

9 News from the Pews Worship and Music Committee Sunday November 26...Community Sunday One Service 10:00 AM with Farewell and God Speed for Pastor Lexa, Matthias and Lukas. Coffee Hour following the service. Sunday December 3... First Advent...Two services; Lighting of the Advent Wreath and Placing of Crèche Figures Tuesday December 5...6:30 PM Vespers Sunday December 10...Second Advent... Two services; Tree Decorating at both...bring your favorite ornament to hang on the tree Sunday December 17...Third Advent...Two Services Sunday December 24...Fourth Advent...One Service at 10:00 AM Sunday December 24...Christmas Eve Candle Light Service at 8:00 PM Monday December 25...Christmas Day Service at 10:00 AM Service of Lessons and Carols Sunday December 31...First Sunday after Christmas...One service at 10:00 AM with Meal Church and Congregational Brunch. We will meet together in the Fellowship Hall where a meal Church will take place. We have had these before where, like in days past, Communion was part of the meal shared by the people as part of their worship time together. We are asking that those attending, bring a dish to pass for our time of meal sharing. It doesn't have to be something heavy as we will be eating rather early. A sign-up sheet will be posted. Come worship the Lord, for we are his people

10 Treasurer s Report Jan 1 Oct 31, 2017 Operating Account Total Income $156,351 Selected Items: General Donations 109,218 Facility Rental 1,845 Building Fund 25,000 Local Hunger 2,557 World Hunger 4,059 Special donations 2,304 Memorials 2,781 Youth monies 50 HOPE 2,951 Total Outlays $159,226 Selected Items: Employee Compensation 74,117 Property (insurance, utilities, etc) 13,147 Mission Commitment (Upstate NY) 15,556 Mortgage payments 25,000 Outreach Programs 12,469 Office expenses 5,613 Church programs 6,001 Supply Pastors 874 Net $ (2875) Building Fund Mortgage with Lyons National Bank Total Income ,008 Contributions 25,000 Interest 8

11 Total Outlays ,000 Loan Interest 3,711 Principal Payments 21,289 Loan Balance (at Oct 30, 2017) = $61,967 Savings Acnt Bal at Lyons NB = $ 6,728 Birthdays 1 Terri Coleman 2 Blake Archer, Patrick Rivera 6 Gail Christiansen, Kris Owen 7 Doug Braman 9- Serenity Rodgers 12 Brian Christensen 13 Susan Henderson 14 Carole Cummings 16 Carl Schadt 21- Sue Johnson 25 Sherrie Jenkins 29 Phil Darrow 30 Kirsten Fitzpatrick 7 Guy & Kathy Christiansen (4) 9 Kevin & Susan Smith (11) 15 Kyle & Janelle Backal (5) Memorials For Donna Snyder Beverly Wells Carrie Zimmerman For Lillian Owen and Ted Archer Anita Maroscher

12 ST. PAUL S LUTHERAN CHURCH 135 Hamilton Street (315) stpaulspyny@gmail.com ST. PAUL S LUTHERAN CHURCH STAFF: Rev. Lexa Liepe Pastor Charlene Nielsen - Admin. Assist Jason Riley Choir Director Carole Cummings Organist Cathy Booth - Sexton CHURCH COUNCIL: Whitney Booth President Elaine Gleason Vice President Sallie Jensen Secretary Les Wood Treasurer Youth Rep. Cathy Booth Worship/music Pam Dubbs - Parish Life Charlene Nielsen Christian Ed Linda Shaw Finance Carl Ekdahl Property Dorothy Oswald - Social Ministry Terry Jensen- Fin. Sec