The St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church and Bethany Minstry Lifting High the Cross on Greenwich Avenue, Warwick, Rhode Island 2018 The Messenger December 2018 1
DECEMBER 2018 ASSISTANTS The Reverend Michael T. Lembke Minister of Music Susan Brunelle DECEMBER 2 Acolyte Justyn Martinez Altar Guild Carolyn Romelczyk Reader Betty Berntson Communion Alan Abramson Assistants Bill Zurawski Lynn Anderson Counter Steve Whitney Fellowship Hour Betty & Russ Berntson Lunch Team Steve & Dale (Team C) Ushers Don Culton Richard Pezza DECEMBER 9 Acolyte Ella Dexter Altar Guild Karen Hill Reader Bill McEleney Communion Alan Abramson Assistants Bill Zurawski Counter Connie Palmer Fellowship Hour Nancy Nelson Joanne Corbett Lunch Team Heather (Team D) Ushers Connie Palmer Peter Waddington DECEMBER 16 Acolyte Aubrey Castore Altar Guild Arlene Papa Reader Marcel D Auteuil Communion Alan Abramson Assistants Bill Zurawski Counter Ron Strunz Fellowship Hour Kim Paiva Lunch Team Lori & Pat (Team A) Ushers Don Culton Rick Pezza DECEMBER 2018 ASSISTANTS The Reverend Michael T. Lembke Minister of Music Susan Brunelle DECEMBER 23 Acolyte Kate Carlson Altar Guild Karen Hill Reader Lois Anderson Communion Alan Abramson Assistants Bill Zurawski Counter Bob Jacob Fellowship Hour Dale & Steve Whitney Lunch Team (Team B) Ushers Rick Pezza Peter Waddington DECEMBER 24 5 PM CHRISTMAS EVE Reader Marcel D Auteuil Ushers Richard Pezza Connie Palmer DECEMBER 24 10 PM CHRISTMAS EVE Reader Nancy Lembke Ushers Richard Drake Peter Waddington DECEMBER 25 9:30 AM CHRISTMAS DAY Reader Usher Nancy Lembke Peter Waddington DECEMBER 30 LESSONS & CAROLS Acolyte Tam Alpaio Altar Guild Linda Murray Readers Dennis Murray, Linda Murray, Marcel D Auteuil, Lois Anderson, Carolyn Romelczyk, Barbara Pezza, Betty Berntson Communion Alan Abramson Assistants Bill Zurawski Counter Sue Mahoney Fellowship Hour Sue & Zoe Mahoney Lunch Team Steve & Dale (Team C) Ushers Richard Pezza Connie Palmer The Messenger December 2018 2
Memorial Committee DECEMBER 2018 Pilgrim Lutheran Church Tuesdays 6:30 PM December 4 Class (Meal) Lesson 7 December 11 Class (Meal) Lesson 8 December 18 6:15 PM Caroling at Matthew XXV December 25 Christmas Day/ Worship Opportunities The Memorial Committee is responsible for managing the Memorial Fund. Memorial funds are dedicated to purchases that will enhance the worship experience (with the exception of memorial scholarships for full-time post-secondary education). Anyone interested in serving on the Memorial Committee should contact Judy Forgue (jforgue@verizon.net). A meeting of the Memorial Committee is planned for January 7th at 7:30 p.m. To all St Paul folks who were so kind and generous in donating side dishes, pies and all the goodies to help with our FREE Lunch on Thanksgiving Day! You are so very much appreciated and the folks who dined with us that day really enjoyed everything! Thanks!!! Mike Marzullo Our 2019 Flower Chart is posted for 2019. Woodlawn Florist will now be handling our Sunday flowers, as our long-standing florist and friend Leslie of The Flower Pot has retired and the shop has closed. The deadline for the January issue of The Messenger will be Thursday, December 20th. Due to this change, we now are asking a suggested donation for Sunday flowers of $35, an increase from $30, beginning January 2019. 3 The Messenger December 2018
It s A SUPER Christmas Your child has chosen a special part in our It s A SUPER Christmas Christmas Play on December 16th during the service. St. Paul Finance Committee Meetings Schedule Monday, December 3 (6:45-8 PM) Wednesday, January 16 (6-7 PM) Please plan to attend practices on Sunday, December 2nd, and December 9th during Sunday School. Wednesday, May 15 (6-7 PM) Dress Rehearsal on Saturday, December 15th at 9:30 a.m. Practice in the Sanctuary with the microphones. *Attendance is Important! CAST: Superman Wonder Woman Spiderman Hulk Batman Iron Man Cat Woman Mary Joseph Shepherds Angels Voice of the Angels Congratulations Tess Zurawski! Tess was accepted into the Rhode Island Junior All State Band. She will be playing French Horn. St Paul Annual Christmas Party at Pastor Mike and Nancy Lembke s home Sunday, December 16th at 2:00 p.m. All are invited! The Messenger December 2018 4
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DECEMBER 2018 Paula Anderson 1st Megan Crete 5th Dear Mike - A quick note to say thank you for that just perfect homily last evening and for sharing in the celebration of the Eucharist I thought our parishioners mixed so easily and well There was a wonderful energy present. May there be many more times you and I and our parishioners share in the work of the Lord. Kristi Castore 6th Deionni Cumplido 6th Christina Abramson 10th Linda Nelson 11th Carol Conrad 13th Roberta Pannone 19th Bradley Young 21st Erik Nelson 28th Bob & Lori Jacob December 29th Pastor Mike met with Mr. Paul Heatherton, principal of Oakland Beach School, affirming St Paul s support for and continued outreach to the students. The Messenger December 2018 7
WINTER CLOTHING COLLECTION Are your coat closets over-crowded with winter coats you no longer wear? Are your dresser drawers bulging with sweaters that you don t wear anymore? Often we buy new winter clothes, but hold on to our old clothes even through they don t fit or we just don t wear them anymore. Yet there is an entire population right here in Rhode Island who do not own a coat, sweater, or gloves at all. Can you help? Throughout December and January we will be collecting gently used winter clothing for Camp Street Community Ministries to distribute to those in need. (Camp Street Community Ministries was started in 1985 and is located in the Mount Hope/ Rochambeau section of Providence. It provides food and clothing to those in need.) The items may be left in the back of the church and will be collected weekly. Thank you for your generosity! Whenever you do this for the least of these, our brothers and sisters, you do it for me. Matthew 25:40 St Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church 401.737.6758 Reverend Michael T. Lembke Pastor Sunday Saturday Pamela Wilsey, Parish Administrator Monday Friday 9a 12p office@stpaulwarwick.org Website: http://www.stpaulwarwick.org/ Facebook: https:www.facebook.com/st-paul-evangelical-lutheran-church-83289496451/ The Messenger December 2018 8
Happy to announce that our WELCA LADIES are again planning an Angel Tree for this upcoming Holiday Season. Our plan is to help 30 children of inmates at the ACI and also help 30 children at the Oakland Beach School. Angel Tree angels will be available beginning on Sunday, November 18. Each Angel will have a tag with the child s wishes and whether or not the gift is to be wrapped. Deadline for angel tree gifts to be received at St Paul is December 9. Thanks as always for your support! We are reminding you that the holidays will soon be here and we need your help. We can express our gratitude for all the gifts we enjoy by reaching out to the hungry in our neighborhood. Will you please be generous and place a monetary gift in the offering plate. These gifts will help provide Holiday baskets for our neighbors in the community. Bring your gift on any Sunday during November and December. Please designate the gift Holiday Baskets. Thank you for your support. Social Ministry Committee We pray for the following people: Cheryl Bailey, Sonja Jacobson, Pauline Carlson, Anna Mahoney, Kirk Fadden, Andre D Auteuil, Araxi Shoushanian, Sister Alice Fontaine, Ed Shunney, Dorothy McLaughlin, Joan Lakey, Bo Gauthier, Sally Mallett, Kevin Nelson, Mark Pezza, Kathy Gremel, Celestina Cabral, Austin Jacabson, Larissa Toth, John Whitcomb, Glenn Carlson, Chris Barszcz, Susie Gilbert, Verna Perrott, Larry Marsch, Kevin Corriveau, Gordon McCrea, Bob Webb, Lee Gilbert, O Brien Family, Maureen, Donna Campbell, Roberta Pannone, Michelle Calderone and Tom Thibodeau We pray for our homebound: Ursula Anderson, Marcelle Chatelain, Arline Cookson, Carolyn Lenihan, Evelyn Lofgren and Janet Young We pray for those who serve in the military: Chad Corrigan, Jimmy Lampman, John O Brien, Matthew Wyatt, John Westervelt, Walter Anderson, John Crowley, Nathaniel MacIntosh, Sean Rounds, Jennifer Fleming, Stephen Thomas, Samuel Bryan, Fransheska Gauthier and Zach Shatek The Messenger December 2018 9
Join us on Tuesday, December 18 th for an evening of Christmas caroling at Matthew XXV. We will meet at St. Paul at 6:15 p.m. and go together to Matthew XXV. All are welcome! Glory to God in the Highest! 5 PM & 10 PM The first of the new year we will be cleaning up our prayer list. Please let us know if anyone can be removed from the list...and anyone who needs to be added. Thank you! St. Paul will join Emanuel Lutheran Church in Crompton Village (West Warwick) for an Epiphany worship service and celebration on Sunday, 6 January, 7:00 PM at Emanuel (20 Leaf Street, West Warwick, EmanuelWW.org). Come to jointly worship and share fellowship with our friends in our neighboring village. Epiphany is the celebration of the revelation of Christ as our Lord through the adoration of the Magi, and Emanuel celebrates this miracle with a meaningful lessons and carols service that begins by gathering around an open fire near the church entrance before processing inside. So, be prepared to spend a few minutes in the cold, as we welcome the warmth of our Lord and Savior. Come celebrate together! The Messenger December 2018 10
St. Paul Cemetery Corporation & St. Paul Housing Corporation Combined Annual Meeting Sunday, January 20, 2018 After Service. St. Paul Annual Meeting Sunday, January 27, 2018 Immediately following Worship. Annual Meeting Reports due to Pam in the Office by Sunday, January 20th. Thank you! Thanks to all who have turned in their pledge cards and a special thanks to those who have pledged for a first time. A benefit of pledging is your intentional commitment to supporting the financial needs of this church and supporting one another in this church family. If you have not yet filled out a pledge card, please consider doing it today and drop it in the offering basket during this Christmas season or anytime in the new year. It is a wonderful privilege to be able to make a commitment to our budget or help with things that need attention. Thank you! The Messenger December 2018 11
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT 9:15 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Worship w/sweet Song 10:30 AM Handbells 11:30 AM FREE Lunch 3 8:00 AM Vision & Mission Breakfast at T s 6:45 8:00 PM Finance Committee Mtg 4 6:30 PM Confirmation Lesson 7 5 11:30 AM FREE Lunch 7:00 PM Choir 6 7 PEARL HARBOR REMEBRANCE 1 9:00 AM Christmas Decorating at Church 2:30 PM Sweet Song Rehearsal 5:00 PM Matthew XXV Worship Service 8 9:25 AM Vision & Mission Group Mtg 2:00 PM Memorial Hall Group Meeting 5:00 PM Matthew XXV Worship Service 9 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT 9:15 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM Handbells 11:30 AM FREE Lunch 10 7:00 PM Council Meeting 11 6:30 PM Confirmation Lesson 8 12 11:30 AM FREE Lunch 7:00 PM Choir 13 9:30 AM Linus Group 10:00 AM Greater RI Conference at St Paul 14 15 2:30 PM Sweet Song Rehearsal 5:00 PM Matthew XXV /Special Worship Service w/ Sweet Song 16 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT 9:15 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM Handbells 11:30 AM FREE Lunch Cookie Swap 2:00 PM Annual Christmas Party at Lembke s Home Party 17 18 6:15 PM Christmas Caroling at Matthew XXV 19 11:30 AM FREE Lunch 7:00 PM Choir 20 10:00 AM to Noon WELCA Women s Bible Study and Fellowship 21 22 5:00 PM Matthew XXV /Special Worship Service w/ Sweet Song 23 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT 9:15 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM Handbells 11:30 AM FREE Lunch 24 CHRISTMAS EVE 5 PM Christmas Eve Service w/sweet Song 10 PM Christmas Eve Service 25 CHRISTMAS DAY 9:30 AM Christmas Day Festival Worship 11:30 AM Christmas Day FREE Lunch 26 11:30 AM FREE Lunch 27 28 29 5:00 PM Matthew XXV Worship Service 30 FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS 9:15 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Worship w/sweet Song 10:30 AM Handbells 11:30 AM FREE Lunch 31 NEW YEAR S EVE The Messenger December 2018 12
CHRISTMAS POINSETTIA GARDEN ST PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH If you would like to make a Christmas Poinsettia Garden dedication, please complete this form and return it to the church office by Sunday, December 16, 2018. In Memory / Honor of Given by Plants will remain on the altar until after the Christmas Day Service. The suggested donation is $15.00 per plant. Please fill out a separate form for each plant and place in the collection plate. Thank you! CHRISTMAS POINSETTIA GARDEN ST PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH If you would like to make a Christmas Poinsettia Garden dedication, please complete this form and return it to the church office by Sunday, December 16, 2018. In Memory / Honor of Given by Plants will remain on the altar until after the Christmas Day Service. The suggested donation is $15.00 per plant. Please fill out a separate form for each plant and place in the collection plate. Thank you!
December 2018 CHRISTMAS EVE CHRISTMAS DAY 5:00 p.m. Service & 10:00 p.m. Candlelight Service 9:30 a.m. Worship Service with Holy Communion Sunday Worship Service with Holy Communion Worship Service Sundays at 9:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary Saturday Healing Services Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. at Matthew XXV No Saturday Service at Matthew XXV on Saturday, December 22 We are Handicapped Accessible!