Our Church. Leadership Gatherings

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1 Our Church St. Paul s Lutheran Church 25 West Springettsbury Ave., York, PA / st.paulsyork@comcast.net February 2017 Sunday Holy Eucharist 8:00 & 10:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Prayer Services Wednesday, February 15 Noon & 7:00 p.m. In conjunction with the Capital Campaign prayer services are scheduled at noon and 7:00 p.m. on February 15. Our theme Building in Faith for Future Generations has at its core the faith that is ours in Christ Jesus. One important aspect of our life together in Christ is prayer. Prayer has been central as we work toward the renewal of our congregation and our facilities. Meetings begin and conclude with prayer. Prayer for; strength, guidance, direction, mission, and ministry have all been included throughout this long process. Now we are inviting the entire congregation to participate in Prayer Services. The services are scheduled so that the greatest number of our members and friends can attend. Please make every effort to support the work and mission of our congregation through your participation in our Wednesday Prayer Services on February 15. Leadership Gatherings Leadership gatherings are being held as a way to build momentum for our St. Paul s Capital Campaign. If you would like to attend one of the scheduled gatherings simply notify the church office and we will add your name to the list so that the host families will know how many guests to expect. A member of the Steering Team and Pastor Reep will be present at each gathering to respond to questions that you may have regarding the Capital Campaign or the renovation project as it currently is shaped. Our hosts, dates and times are as follows: Sunday, January 29, 7:00 p.m. Joel Reiter Saturday, February 4, 2:00 p.m. Larry and Kristine Gross Sunday, February 5, 3:00 p.m. John and Martina Uffelman Sunday, February 5, 7:00 p.m. Larry and Janet Moore Monday, February 6, 7:00 p.m. Peter and Rhada Hartmann Sunday, February 12, 3:00 p.m. Lynn Trout

2 The Transfiguration of Our Lord Commitment Sunday Handbell Choir Children s Artwork Coffee Hours February 26 This year the Feast of the Transfiguration not only brings the season of Epiphany to a close, but it brings us together in many ways. First we come together for the celebration of the Lord s Supper and to hear again the story of Jesus on the mountain top with Peter, James, and John. His disciples follow him up the mountain and experience something unique and different, something that transcended their ideas about who Jesus is. We will present our Capital Campaign Commitments as an act of worship as we bring them forward placing them at the foot of the Altar. We will hear the joyous yet ethereal sounds of the Handbell Choir and we will see the handiwork of the children who created Creatures from the Bible in the Wednesday Art and Prayer sessions. Following each liturgy there will be a special coffee hour which will provide time for us to stay and linger, at least for a short while. And then as in the gospel story for the day we will not stay and bask in the beauty but will head out into the world to share the news of God s love and prepare for the season of Lent. Please plan now to be present in worship and share in the fullness of a day planned and prepared by many of your sisters and brothers. It is through their work that a celebration such as this is full and rich and strengthens faith. Young Adult Dinner Friday, February 10 All of our young adults are invited to dinner on Friday, February 10 at 5:30 p.m. appetizers and dinner at 6:00 p.m. in the chapel/parlor space at St, Paul s Lutheran Church. The Witness Committee is preparing an evening meal just for the young adults of our parish. Their hope is that the evening will bring together singles and couples. Infants and children are welcome too! We plan to have adequate childcare, food and activities specifically for the children in the upstairs youth room. We will have a kid friendly menu consisting of chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, applesauce, veggies and fruit, with dinner at 5:30 p.m. for the kids. Kelly will be engaging the children in Valentine crafts and activities. This schedule should permit adults to converse without the interruptions that often occur when children are present. This evening of fellowship will provide an opportunity for our young adults to get better acquainted, children to have fun together, and our parish community strengthened. If you would like to attend simply call the church office ( ) with your name, number attending, and if applicable the ages of children attending, so that we can provide ample food and care. Inclement Weather Notice In the event that weather conditions or other emergencies force the postponement or cancellation of events, an announcement will be broadcast on WGAL and on their website as St. Paul s Preschool. We will also post the information on the Home Page of our Web site

3 A Layman s Guide to the Lutheran Reformation 9:15 a.m. Fellowship Hall Breakfast will be served marks the 500 th Anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation. We have planned several special events to draw attention to this monumental milestone and the work that has taken place between Lutherans and Roman Catholics. On Sunday morning February 19 at 9:15 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall Steve Seyfried will present an historical presentation of the reformation through a combination of research and delightful storytelling. This is sure to be a delightful way to learn of our Lutheran past and to share some laughter as we learn more about our identity as Lutheran s! Please join us for this breakfast presentation. This is a wonderful opportunity to invite a friend to join you for breakfast and Steve Seyfried s presentation. February19 - A Laymen s Guide to the Reformation, Steve Seyfried 9:00 a.m. Breakfast & Presentation in the Fellowship Hall Other Events in Celebration of the 500 th Anniversary: April 9 York College Choir, Requiem Palm Sunday Afternoon 3:00 p.m. St. Paul s Church nave June 25 Guest Presenter TBA Presentation of the Augsburg Confession, 1530 Philipp Melanchthon, renewer of the Church, 1560 July 28 Bach Cantata commemorating: Johann Sebastian Bach, Musician, 1750 Heinrich Schuetz, Musician, 1672 George Frederick Handel, Musician, 1759 The congregations of Luther Memorial, St. Peter, Union & St. Paul s October 29 Reformation Sunday Mass, 10:30 a.m. Setting by Richard Farlee for choir, handbells and organ November 10 Luther s Birthday Banquet 6:00 p.m. Fellowship Hall St. Paul s Dinner Group The Dinner Groups will be gathering March through May. They are a great way to socialize and get better acquainted with our church friends, new and old. What is the St. Paul s Dinner Group? It is groups of about 6 people (singles and couples) who get together for dinner and fellowship. The host of the dinner provides the main meal and their guests provide the appetizer, salad, or dessert. The host may also invite others (new members, current members, prospective members, and neighbors). Those who would like to participate but are unable to host are also welcome and asked to please make a notation on the sign up sheet. They have been great fun and we hope you will join us! Look for the poster in the Springettsbury hallway and sign up today!

4 March - New Members Class The Sundays in Lent Pastor Reep will be offering instruction for anyone interested in uniting with our family of faith during five Sundays in Lent; March 5, 12, 19, 26, and April 2. Each Sunday morning from 9:15 to 10:10 a.m. interested persons should meet in the library, room #12 Springettsbury Hallway. This is a great opportunity to learn about St. Paul s ministry, the Lutheran tradition, and learn your way around the building! If you are interested in attending, please call the church office or us at st.paulsyork@comcast.net to register. Participants will be received into membership on Sunday April 2. Adult Godly Praise! Just a reminder that our Sunday morning Godly Praise group is open to parents with infants as well as our pre-k through first grade students. Patting, clapping, dancing, bouncing, and singing are all great ways to stimulate early brain development. We meet at 9:15 in the main level pre-school rooms. Please join us! Children s Sunday School Come join the fun! Infants (with a parent) through grade 2 will gather each week at 9:15 a.m. in room #17 with Mrs. Reep for Godly Play (music and movement). They will then split up into age groups. Grades K,1 &2 will move upstairs to their classroom #24. Children in grades 3-6 will gather on the first floor near the elevator each week at 9:15 a.m.. Their teachers will take them (usually) to the gym for games led by Miss Kelly. They will then move to the 2 nd floor for class time in room #25. See you there! Wednesday Crafts & Prayers 6:30 7:15 p.m. The Biblical witness is teaming with stories of creatures great and small; some are ordinary while others are unusual, some are real and others mythical. We hope to discover one or two that are often overlooked! Join Miss Kelly and Pastor Reep for this seven week class. The class is designed for students age 4 and older. Our Bible story animal creations are scheduled: February 1 Pharaoh s Frogs February 8 Peter s Rooster February 15 Daniel s Lion February 22 Wrapping up loose ends

5 York Conference Confirmation Ministry February 12, Winter Sessions Begins The next session for Confirmation in our joint program is Sunday February 12. The program runs for 8 consecutive Sundays and concludes the week prior to Palm Sunday. The first and second year students will be studying The Lord s Prayer and Holy Communion. The third year students will be completing the Apostles Creed and Church History. Sessions begin promptly at 6:00 p.m. and conclude at 8:00 p.m. Families having students confirmed will want to mark their calendars for the Confirmation Banquet and Student led Evening Prayer on May 20 with confirmation on May 21 at the 10:30 a.m. liturgy. Information pertaining to the banquet will be mailed to confirmation Students next month. February 12 April 2 Women of the Reformation 8 Sunday Evenings, 6:30 7:30 p.m. Pastor Laura Haupt As the next section of the York Conference Catechetics Program gets started there is a component for adults. Pastor Laura Haupt (St. Paul s former seminary intern) will present modern scholarship on the women of the reformation period. Some of the women you may have heard of others have remained in the shadows for too long. Pastor Haupt will engage us in this time together as we learn more of our Lutheran ancestry and of the women who played important parts in the reformation of the 16 th century. Be sure to come and bring a friend too! The class will be held in the chapel. Preschool Open House Saturday, February 4 On Saturday February 4 th from 9:30-11:30 a.m. members of our Preschool staff will be available to answer questions that you may have regarding St. Paul s Preschool and enrolling children for the fall program. We offer classes for two year olds, three year olds, and four year olds. Children must be the appropriate age by August 31 st. Opportunities range from two days per week for 2 year olds, to four days per week for 4 year olds. Additionally a student can have an extended day by signing up for PM Pals. Members of St. Paul s receive a discount as do families who have two or more children enrolled. This year we will be sharing information regarding our renovations as they pertain to the preschool ministry. Families who attend the open house will have an opportunity to look at the architectural plans and see how beautifully appointed the new classrooms will be, how there will be a greater sense of community on one level, observe the many safety features that are built into the proposed plans, and see how the preschool fits into the overall improvements to our facilities. The Open House provides another way for us to reach out to our neighborhood so please share this information with others to whom it may be interest. St. Paul's book club will next meet the third Wednesday in February, February 15, at noon in the church library. The book we will be discussing is Rose Under Fire, by Elizabeth Wein. This is the "One Book One Community" selection voted on by York County voters and library personnel for I believe we will enjoy judging whether the voters and the libraries made a good selection or not. Each library has a handful of the books, so it will be easy for us to obtain a copy to read. All are welcome to bring a sandwich and join the discussion.

6 Feb. 12 Feb. 15 Feb. 19 Feb. 26 Evening Class Women of the Reformation 6:30-7:30 p.m. Pastor Laura Haupt presenting Chapel/Parlor Prayer services 12:00 noon & 7:00 p.m. A Layman s Guide to the Reformation Steve Seyfried Commitment Sunday Food Pantry January 2017 Items needed: Canned fruit, soup, canned tuna, ride/noodle side dishes. Plastic Bags are still needed. Money donations are always gratefully accepted. Please place cash or check in a pew envelope marked Pantry Flower Chart The 2017 flower chart is posted on the Springettsbury hallway bulletin board. The cost of the flowers is $30 per vase. You are welcome to sign up to provide one or both vases. After you have signed up, simply make a check payable to St. Paul's Lutheran Church and mark it altar flowers. This is a great way to honor someone, celebrate a milestone in life, or remember a loved one. The flowers may be taken home with you at the conclusion of the 10:30 a.m. liturgy or you may have them given to someone who is sick, at home, or hospitalized. If you wish, you can contact the office to reserve a date, and provide us with all of the correct information for inclusion in the Sunday bulletin. In advance, we thank you for your kind generosity and for making the chancel ever more attractive with fresh flowers each Sunday. Thrivent Choice Dollars If you are a Thrivent member (years ago known as The Lutheran Brotherhood) through your participation in their insurance and/or annuity offerings you earn Choice Dollars which you can direct to thousands of organizations such as congregations, schools, seminaries, camps, etc. Through this charitable outreach program the members get to choose who will receive the approximate fifty million dollars generated each year for approved causes/ organizations. Yes, the number is correct - $50,000, And yes, St. Paul s Lutheran Church can be a recipient if you so designate or any other approved organization in the Thrivent network. The important thing is that you take the time to send Your Choice Dollars to a worthy cause. This can be accomplished by doing it on-line at If you don t have a user I.D. and password you will be asked to create one. If you are registered simply click on the tab Choice Dollars and pick the cause of your choice and send the dollars to it. You can also accomplish the same effort by telephone Should you have any questions about Thrivent, our local representative is John Spadafora, March Newsletter Deadline is February 13th

7 HAPPY NEW YEAR GREETING TO ST. PAUL S LUTHERAN CHURCH This greeting is from Alex Meshack Njinga, son of Meshack Njinga. He selected me to deliver his greeting to you, the people of St Paul s Church. He is using grandpa and grandma as a Tanzanian sign of respect. Hello grandpa, how have you been? I hope that you have seen 2017 happily together with grandma. I thank God that he has enabled me to see this year because it is not by our own will that we are here, but God s mercies. Dad came back late November last year so we were with him during holiday season and our family was complete. When the year was ending I remembered what St. Paul Lutheran Church has done to me and I thought that it will be a good thing to write new greetings to them and the only person who could deliver my greetings is you. That s why I have written this . Your grandson, Alex Meshack Njinga Meshack Njinga is the father of the family who is treasurer of the Konde Diocese. He was with us for 18 months some years ago to study at York College. He suggested that we start the scholarship program for children of pastors and church workers. His two sons, Alex and Noel, attended secondary school on our scholarship money, graduated and studied accounting in university and are both working for the Konde Diocese. They were on the Lutheran camp staff and visited our church while they were here Ansajiye is the daughter who visited our church family while she was in the US representing The Konde Diocese. She will be graduating from secondary school this year and is planning on entering medical school to become a doctor the end of this year. Our Mpuguso Committee is talking about various ways to raise money to support her medical school expenses. Thank you everyone for supporting me with your donations and participation in the Epiphany Cabaret to help fund my trip when the Mansfield University Concert Choir tours Europe in the spring. I am forever grateful for the congregation of St. Paul s and hope to be able share more of my talents with you in future services here. A special thank you to Emily and Amelia for sharing their voices with me. And I would like to especially thank Victor for his guidance and accompaniment for the event. I am truly blessed to have such wonderful support. Shannon Pizzirusso January 2017 Council Highlights The Congregation Council gathered for their regular meeting on Monday January 9 th at 7:00 p.m. in the Library. The meeting was begun with prayer by Tim Yakim. Devotions for the 500 th Anniversary of the Reformation center on the Small Catechism. This month the focus was on the Ten Commandments. All newly elected council members were welcomed to the Congregation Council. Treasurer Culp reported that we concluded the year with a strong financial finish in envelope giving. Complete Year End Reports will be shared at the Retreat on January 28. With an increase in envelope giving over anticipated receipts it was approved that 10% of the additional envelope giving be sent to the York Conference Tutoring program. (This is in keeping with our practice of a tithe being given from all regular envelope giving.) Sign up sheets for opening and closing prayer as well as serving as liaisons to committees were circulated. Members shared work that their committees had completed since last month s meeting. The meeting concluded with The Lord s Prayer at 8:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Pastor Reep

8 ST. PAUL S LUTHERAN CHURCH Non-Profit Organization 25 W. SPRINGETTSBURY AVE. Return Service Requested York, PA YORK, PA U.S. Postage Paid (717) (717) (Fax) Permit No st.paulsyork@comcast.net Web Page: Church Office: 25 W. Springettsbury Ave., York, PA st.paulsyork@comcast.net Web Page: Stanley Reep Pastor Ext. 101 Kelly Moore-Spencer Youth Director Ext. 102 Victor Fields Organist, Choir Director Ext. 107 Emily Reep Director of Children, Ext. 107 Youth & Handbell Choirs Dale Zeiger Bookkeeper Ext. 105 Patee Pizzirusso Secretary 0 or 100 Ted Weikert Sexton Deborah Becker Director of Pre-School Winter Worship Schedule Sunday Holy Eucharist 8:00 & 10:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:15 a.m.