The Paulinian focus BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER ST. PAUL S UMC JULY- AUGUST St. Paul s UMC Welcoming all people to Jesus with kindness and understanding Building toward the future: A New Mission Statement St. Paul s United Methodist Church: Welcoming all people to Jesus With kindness and understanding. After seriously considering that we had not examined our church s Mission Statement since 2010, the Church Council spent several months thinking and praying about developing a new one. The result is the Mission Statement above. It is our desire to practice the United Methodist slogan: Open Hearts, open minds, open doors as an everyday reality here at St. Paul s. In conjunction with this new Mission Statement, we are also developing a logo (still in development, but a preliminary version can be viewed elsewhere in this edition of the Paulinian) that can make who St. Paul s wants to be and how we hope to be viewed by the public both easily conveyed and remembered. Calendar July 2 Communion *** August 1-3 Bethel UMC VBS August 6 Communion August 8-10 Bethel UMC VBS August 25 September/ October Paulinian Deadline Tentative Rally Day Date September 10 ***
Food Pantry News We ve continue to serve many families in recent months. Our growth can be attributed to the grace of our Lord as well as the dedication and service of our beloved Jean Stricklin. Faithful supporters can donate food as well as cash. We do try to supply meat to many, including Chicken, Beef, Sausages, Ham Slices and Hot Dogs. A special Thank You to those who continue to donate their time to organize/put food away, go shopping and make set-ups for our families in need. If you would like to volunteer to help in the food pantry, Contact Jean Stricklin through the church office. (718) 227-2485 Many hands make light work - John Haywood Matthew 25:40 Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. Music Ministry Opportunities Whether through participation in traditional choirs or our new Praise Band, we encourage those with musical ability and interest to consider joining the Music Ministry here at St. Paul s.. Traditional Music Alternative/Contemporary Reinventing St. Paul s Updates Contac Organist/Choir Director, Nancy Paugh (718) 984-3965 if you want to participate in the music offerings of Traditional Worship. Contact Pastor Joe if you want to participate in providing the music that permeates our new Alternative/Contemporary Worship. - Replacement of roof already contracted - Seeking bids for Stained Glass windows - Architect for handicap accessibility ramp in process Although the choir is off until after Labor Day, we invite you to consider soloing, singing with the choirs or playing an instrument to enhance service music and hymns as great ways to deepen the worship experience for both others and oneself. Sunday School Sunday School does not meet during the Summer. If you like to sing or play guitar, bass, drums (or another instrument) and are willing to devote a couple of hours weekly to practice, we welcome you to consider becoming part of the Praise Team. If you are interested in volunteering to teach or help in our Sunday School when it resumes after Labor Day, contact Karen Levay, our Sunday School Superintendent at 718.356.9716. Likewise, if you have children that you would like to receive Christian Education through participation in our Sunday School, please contact Karen for details.
. From Pastor Joe Grace and peace to you all from the God who creates us in love, redeems us in love, and sustains us on our daily journey in love. Each July, we begin a new conference year. As with all beginnings, it is an opportunity to take stock of where we are and think and plan where it is we want to go in the coming year. In this edition of The Paulinian you will get some sense of both the lay of the land and new directions that remain ahead of us. For me personally, having just participated in the New York Annual Conference and finishing up my vacation for 2016-2017, I find myself with new energy and renewed determination. Our Lay Delegate to the NYAC, Tom Doty, has shared a report that captures much of the atmosphere and it s challenge and inspiration. Bishop Bickerton has reminded the entire annual conference of the Wesleyan model of engaging the community on its own turf and on its own terms in order to make a real and lasting difference in the name of Christ. It s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work, he declared. The church s purpose is to serve the community and make disciples of Christ. It is not the purpose of the community to serve the church. For too long, in too many places, the church has confused its very purpose. No wonder then, that so many churches are declining and dying. But it is not too late to correct our course and make our purpose clear and consistently aspire to fulfill that purpose. Our new Mission Statement and our church logo are a good start. But now begins the real work. So, let s roll up our sleeves and get to it! Grace and peace, Welcome! St. Paul s UMC hopes to be a growing congregation with room for you. St. Paul s United Methodist seeks to be a Community that is Helpful Unified Relevant and Caring where all can feel at Home Pastor Joe
Driving Toward Renewal Extravagant Generosity Radical Hospitality Passionate & Inspiring Worship Faith Forming Relationships Risk Taking Missions & Service Engaged Disciples in Outreach Effective & Inspiring Leadership Strong Children s & Youth Ministries Church Council Notes. As your Elected Lay Delegate to the New York Annual Conference I attended the 2017 Annual Conference for 3 days in early June along with our pastor. This is an important part of St. Paul s UMC being within the connectional United Methodist system both to participate in the decision making of the general body, as well as to keep us in step as to the directional pathway of the church. Pathways and Possibilities: A Journey of Disciple Making was the theme. If interested, a copy of my 6/18/17 report to the congregation can be requested from the church office. Our new Bishop, Thomas J. Bickerton presided and stressed that we all need to exert increased energies in creating new Disciples of Christ within our communities and in the growing our churches if we are to survive. That s serious business and it s not the job of the pastor alone but that of the whole congregation as we are his/her partners and arms & legs to reach within the community we serve to meet the needs of those around us. It s a tall task but we must find a way. Staying within our own little comfort zones is not the answer for growth. Unfortunately, things are slow around St. Paul s right now in terms of changing how we do things. As the summer is now upon us, we once again fall back to minimal activities, few if any scheduled meetings, and a general lazy days of summer mind set takes over. But that s not how active & growing churches behave. Time will tell if we can truly energize St. Paul s and find that pathway to real possibilities. It s my prayer that we can. We each need to ask ourselves: are we part of the solution or are we part of the problem? Yes, summer is vacation time so some weeks people are away for well earned vacation fun. But for those other weeks, including Sunday mornings, are we around and making time for God and worship? We offer two different Sunday services to choose among depending on your preference of worship style. We hope to see you regularly at one of them. Otherwise, why do we continue to exist? Yours in Christ, Tom Doty Chairman, St. Paul s UMC Church Council
ANNOUNCEMENT Our Sympathy to the The Family of Adrian Bo Anderson & The Family of Tom Mills. Dear St. Paul s, hope you know how much your thoughtfulness is appreciated. Thank you from the Family of Peter Morales. Our Love Peter, Holly Lola and Liz. St. Paul s, your kind expression of sympathy was deeply appreciated, and is gratefully acknowledged by the Family of Anna S. Limbert. Bill & Sue Limbert Thank you to Carol Sorensen for your help updating the St. Paul s Memorial Book. Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Michael Ciacciarelli for very their generous donation to the Food Pantry in memory of Aramis Ramirez son of Ray & RoseMarie Ramirez. Congratulations to Dominic & Crystal Trivolis who were married October 17 th, 2016. Congratulations! It s our pleasure to announce Kristen Scotti received the 2017 St. Paul s UMC Scholarship Award. She was awarded her Scholarship award on June 11, 2017. I would like to thank the Committee, Pastor Joe and the church congregation for allowing me to be blessed with the financial scholarship, it helps in so many ways. I will continue to work hard towards my Bachelor s degree in the upcoming year and I look forward to an exciting career path. Thank you again and God Bless. Kristen Scotti Congratulations to Nick and Erica DiMeglio on the Baptism of their son Luke George on 6/25. We enjoyed having the Camilleri/DiMeglio families here at St. Paul s. Wishing Rev. Carmen Margarita Ortiz from Woodrow United Methodist Church a Happy Blessed Retirement. Choir notes: Our choirs will resume singing in the church on Sunday, September10th. Rehearsals will start on Thursday September 7 th (6:30pm) and on Sunday September 10 th at (9:15am). Returnees and new members always welcome! Contact Nancy Paugh at 718-984-3965 or benap@infoonline.net Thanks to the choirs for your special music on 6/25 and to Damaris Camilleri for her beautiful solo and for singing with our choirs on 6/25. Damaris has promised to return to sing for us @ St. Paul s on Sunday 7/16 at the 10am service. Summer singers and instrumentalists able and willing to serve the Lord and enrich our worship services are always welcome. For the 10am service contact Nancy Paugh (info above). For the 11:30am service contact Pastor Joe 718-227-2485 or saintpaulsumc@verizon.net. Thank you to all who contributed health kits to NYAC and to Pastor Joe for delivering the 30 St. Paul s kits to Conference. There were nearly 8,000 total health kits collected this year at the NY Annual Conference at Hofstra in June. Thank you, Wegmans, for your generous donation to the South Shore Food Pantry For any address changes please contact the church office @ 718-227-2485 or email saintpaulsumc@verizon.net UMW has agreed to a Birthing Kit Mission Project We need 48 receiving blankets to complete these kits (2/kit). The blanket sizes may range from 28X28 inches to 32 x 32 inches No thermal or fleece blankets please
Community Happening s Tottenville Community Yard Sale July 22,2017 10am 4pm Location: your residence Rain Date: July 29 th /30 th Registration Fee: $4 per residence To register or for questions, email: Tottenvilleyardsale@gmail.com Vacation Bible School Ages 4-Intermediate School 9:30am 12:30pm 2-3 Day Weeks Tues., Wed. & Thurs Bethel UMC 7033 Amboy Road For more info Call 718-984-1277 Registration $15 per child 3 or more children $10 per child you can also register online www.bethelumcsi.com/vbsregistration.html Project Hospitality Mobile Free Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Free Bags of Groceries, SNAP Screening, Public Benefits Assistance, Legal and Immigration Help, and More! 44 Dongan Hills Ave, 10a.m. 11a.m. (Dongan Hills Head Start) 475 Seaview Ave, 11:30a.m. 12:15p.m. (S.I. University Hospital North) 390 Seguine Ave, 12: 45p.m 1:30p.m. (S.I. University Hospital South) 7033 Amboy Road, 2p.m.-3p.m. (Bethel United Methodist Church) Yetman Avenue,10a.m. 11:30a.m. (Between Summit & Academy Avenue) Cedar Grove 12p.m.-1:30p.m. (Between Roma Ave & New Dorp Lane) Midland Avenue, 1:45p.m. 2:30p.m. ( Between Olympia Blvd. & Midland Avenue) 41 Reid Avenue, 2:45p.m. 3:45p.m. ( near P.S.46) Operation Christmas Child uses gift filled shoeboxes To demonstrate God s love in a tangible way to help needy children around the world. Once again, St. Paul s is happy to participate in Samaritan Purse s Operation Christmas Child. We invite you to put together a shoe box gift for a boy or girl and deliver it to the church on Sunday, November 12th @ 11am worship service. We have volunteers who will deliver the shoe-box gifts to the distribution center on Monday, November 13th In September instructions for participation will be available and on display at the church and in the narthex. Use a standard size empty shoe box. If you want to wrap it, you may, but wrapping is NOT required. If you do wrap your box please be sure to wrap the lid separately. Decide whether your gift box is for a boy or a girl and determine the age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. In October labels will be available in the narthex. Fill the box with gifts! Suggested gifts: School supplies such as: pencils, pencil sharpeners, pens, paper and pads, crayons and markers. Toys such as: small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, yo-yos, jump ropes. Hygiene items such as: comb, washcloth, mild soap in a bag, toothbrush Other items such as: t-shirts, socks, ball caps, hair clips, sunglasses, toy jewelry. Don t forget to include donation of $9 per shoe box to cover costs of shipping. Please do not include toothpaste or any candy. St. Paul s UMC donated 104 boxes in 2016.
St. Paul s United Methodist Church 7558 Amboy Road Tottenville Staten Island, NY 10307 Church Phone: 718-227-2485 Parsonage Phone: 718-984-1542 Fax: 718-689-2004 E-mail: saintpaulsumc@verizon.net Website: www.stpaulsumcsi.org Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED The Paulinian July - August 2017 The Weekly Schedule 10am Traditional Worship 10:15am Sunday School 11-11:30am Fellowship/coffee time 11:30am Alternative/Contemporary Worship Food Pantry open 9am - 1pm Thursday and Friday Pastor off and Office Closed on Mondays Office open most weeks on Tuesday - Friday 9am - 2pm