The St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church and Bethany Minstry Lifting High the Cross on Greenwich Avenue, Warwick, Rhode Island 2017 The Messenger September 2017 1
SEPTEMBER 2017 ASSISTANTS The Reverend Michael T. Lembke Minister of Music Susan Brunelle SEPTEMBER 3 Acolyte Altar Guild Arlene Papa Reader Linda Murray Communion Karen Hill Assistants Rick Pezza Counter Lucy Campbell Fellowship Hour Betty & Russ Berntson Lunch Team (Team B) Ushers Richard Drake Rick Pezza SEPTEMBER 2017 ASSISTANTS The Reverend Michael T. Lembke Minister of Music Susan Brunelle SEPTEMBER 24 Acolyte Altar Guild Altar Guild Reader Lois Anderson Communion Karen Hill Assistants Rick Pezza Counter Betty Berntson Fellowship Hour Dale & Steve Whitney Lunch Team Lori & Pat (Team A) Ushers Dennis Murray Don Culton SEPTEMBER 10 Acolyte Altar Guild Altar Guild Reader Pam McEleney Communion Karen Hill Assistants Rick Pezza Counter Bill McEleney Fellowship Hour Nancy & Harold Nelson Lunch Team Steve & Dale (Team C) Ushers Dennis Murray Rick Pezza SEPTEMBER 17 Acolyte Altar Guild Altar Guild Reader Nancy Lembke Communion Karen Hill Assistants Rick Pezza Counter Barbara/Rick Pezza Fellowship Hour Kim Paiva Lunch Team Heather (Team D) Ushers Rick Pezza Richard Drake SEPTEMBER 2017 Richard & Barbara Pezza 2nd Bill & Pam McEleney 9th Mike & Stacey Charnley, Sr. 23rd Thrivent Choice Program We are pleased to announce that our congregants continue to choose to direct Choice Dollars to St. Paul in July and August. Thank you Janice Taylor! Thank you for thinking of and supporting St. Paul. The Messenger September 2017 2
Sweet Song in Recital Saturday, September 16, 5-5:30 PM Matthew XXV Community Room Sweet Song in Recital Sunday, September 17, 11:15-11:30 AM St. Paul Fellowship Hall During FREE Lunch Confirmation Campers will be attending Camp Calumet Hammonasset Youth Gathering, Friday, September 8 through Sunday, September 10 Campers would like to thank everyone who has helped to support and donate to our trip. You are so appreciated! St Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church 401.737.6758 www.stpaulwarwick.org Reverend Michael T. Lembke Pastor Sunday Saturday Pamela Wilsey, Parish Administrator Monday Friday 9a 12p office@stpaulwarwick.org The deadline for the October issue of The Messenger will be Wednesday, September 20th. 3 The Messenger September 2017
Dear Friends in Christ, GOD S WORK OUR HANDS SUNDAY September 10, 2017 God's Work, Our Hands is almost here. Many thanks for all of the generous donations we already have received for the residents of Emmanuel House. We also have received many commitments for food and workers. Below is an update: 1. On Sunday, September 10 at 9:30 AM we will enjoy an abbreviated worship service which will include a prayer blessing for our work. Please wear your yellow t-shirt. 2. T-shirts have been ordered and hopefully we can hand them out on Sunday, September 3. If they don't arrive in time, we will hand them out on Sunday, September 10. 3. If you are bringing a food item, please bring it to church on September 10. After church we will load the food into cars and bring it with us to Emmanuel House. 4. Immediately after worship, those going to work at Emmanuel House will leave from church. Perhaps we can carpool. Maps and printed parking information will be available On Sunday, September 10. The shelter has asked us to remind people to dress modestly and not to bring very young children. Families with children are encouraged to help downstairs to sort items. 5. Those remaining at church can help to sort the donated items and make up to go bags to give to our guests at our regular Sunday meal at St Paul. The remainder of the items will be taken that day over to Emmanuel house to distribute to our guests there. We are not making bags for Emmanuel House. Items will be given to people as needed. Donations can continue to be brought in to church until that day. We are in need of a volunteer to transport those donations to Emmanuel House after they are sorted. 6. We will be serving food from 12:00 Noon until 2:30 PM. After that we will be cleaning up. We will have work lists so that you will know exactly what is needed when you arrive at the shelter. Some of the tasks are setting out food, grilling, getting the condiments and tables set up, serving food, handing out drinks, and cleaning up. 7. Pam has the sign-up sheets in the office if you would still like to sign up to bring some prepared foods. 8. Please be praying for our time and energy to be a blessing and that God's kindness, love and mercy will be flowing from us as we serve our neighbors. Many Thanks to Carol Conrad, Michelle Gilbert, Lee Gilbert, Cheryl Bailey and Judy Babikian for being part of our committee. Here we go, what a joy to get to share in God's Work with our hands The Messenger September 2017 4
The Messenger September 2017 5
SEPTEMBER 2017 Joseph China 3rd Shaun Lima 3rd Michelle Gilbert 7th Joseph Forgue 7th Dale Whitney 8th Sydney Paiva 9th Caleb Crete 9th Russell Berntson 12th Lori Jacob 19th Jayson Martinez 22nd Brooke Young 25th Ruth Ferrazzano 27th Eric Romelczyk 28th Back to School Encouragement Encouraging all of our students who are returning to school this year... Choir Rehearsals begin Wednesday September 13th at 7:00 p.m. Bell Choir Rehearsals begin Sunday September 17 th after service All are welcome to join. Please see a Choir or Bell Choir member if you are interested in joining or have questions. Bible Study beginning September 18 th By Heart... Conversations with Martin Luther s Small Catechism Reformation Devotions and Bible Study beginning September 18 th at 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel. All are welcome to join in! The Messenger September 2017 6
ATTENTION MARRIED COUPLES: The September 15-17 Weekend in the Poconos is now full; however, you may be added to the wait list by contacting us at the information below. We do have just a few openings left for the October 6-8 Weekend to be held at the beautiful Black Swan Inn in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains overlooking a lake in Lee, Massachusetts. This is Columbus Day Weekend, so plan to come and make your own discovery of a deeper relationship with your spouse; and if you have Monday off, you might want to schedule an extra day together, or use Monday to travel. St. Paul Finance Committee Meetings Schedule Wednesday, September 20 (8-9 PM) Monday, October 30 (8-9 PM) Monday, November 27 (8-9 PM) Two nights lodging, 5 meals for each of you, and all supplies are included with your $100 per couple registration fee, plus toward the end of the weekend you will be given an opportunity to make a confidential contribution of whatever amount you wish toward the continuation of the program. Sign up today by going to the website: www.godlovesmarriage.org, and pay the registration fee with your credit card, or mark the option to mail a check. For questions, or if you would like a brochure with registration form mailed to you, contact Northeast US Directors of Lutheran Marriage Encounter, Fred & Julie Schamber, at 724-325-3166 or fjschamber@comcast.net. The Messenger September 2017 7
CALENDAR OUTSIDE GROUP MEETINGS AT ST. PAUL Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 8:00 AM AA Mtg 8:00 AM AA Mtg 8:00 AM AA Mtg 8:00 AM AA Mtg 10:00 AM AA Mtg Noon AA Mtg 10:00 AM AA Mtg 11:15 AM AA Mtg 5:00 PM AA Mtg 7:00 PM AA Mtg 5:00 PM AA Mtg 7:30 PM AA Mtg 7:00 PM All In A Chord 7:30 PM AA Mtg 7:30 PM Gamblers Anonymous Mtg Friday Saturday Sunday 8:00 AM AA Mtg 9:30 AM Gamblers 5:00 PM AA Mtg 11:00 AM AA Mtg Anonymous Mtg 7:00 PM AA Mtg 5:00 PM AA Mtg 10:00 AM AA Mtg 6:00 PM AA Mtg Dear Members of St. Paul s and Bethany Ministries, Thanks to everyone who participated in collecting all the backpacks, sneakers and school supplies to help the clients here at CCAP. I certainly have enjoyed working with you over the years and am very grateful for your continued support. Our clients are in need and you are always there to provide extremely generous donations. Thank you so much & God Bless, Joanne Gregory (Compreensive Community Action Program) The Messenger September 2017 8
CONFIRMATION CORNER SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 Pilgrim Lutheran Church Start of Confirmation Classes Confirmation classes will begin on Tuesday, September 19th at Pilgrim Lutheran. Full Confirmation 2017-2018 Schedule to follow. Sunday School will start on September 17th at 9:15 A.M. Ages 3 to Grade 6 in the Chapel We pray for the following people: Cheryl Bailey, Malcolm Ekstrand, Claire Padien, Sonja Jacobson, Pauline Carlson, Anna Mahoney, Kirk Fadden, Andre D Auteuil, Araxi Shoushanian, Barbara Lundgren, Sister Alice Fontaine, Ed Shunney, Maria Paiva, Dorothy McLaughlin, Joan Lakey, Denis Brunelle, Bo Gauthier, Joseph China, Margie Brooks, Sally Mallett, Kevin Nelson, Mark Pezza, Ron Rounds, Kathy Gremel and Cheryl Swiderski We pray for our homebound: Ursula Anderson, Shirley Carlson, Marcelle Chatelain, Arline Cookson, Marge Granquist, Esther Gustafson, Betty Isenberg, Carolyn Lenihan, Evelyn Lofgren, Ruth Nelson, Ruth Pelley 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 and Jennifer Fleming The Messenger September 2017 9
Shared from a story posted on Facebook by Love What Matters August 16, 2016 "I work in a decent sized, local, indie bookstore. It s a great job 99% of the time and a lot of our customers are pretty neat people. Any who, middle of the day this little old lady comes up. She s lovably kooky. She effuses how much she loves the store and how she wishes she could spend more time in it but her husband is waiting in the car 'OH! I BETTER BUY HIM SOME CHOCOLATE!' She piles a bunch of art supplies on the counter and then stops and tells me how my bangs are beautiful and remind her of the ocean.('wooooosh' she says, making a wave gesture with her hand.) Ok. I think to myself. Awesomely happy, weird little old ladies are my favorite kind of customer. They re thrilled about everything and they re comfortably bananas. I can have a good time with this one. So we chat and it s nice. Then this kid, who s been up my counter a few times to gather his school textbooks, comes up in line behind her (we re connected to a major university in the city so we have a lot of harried students pass through). She turns around to him and, out of nowhere, demands that he put his textbooks on the counter. He s confused but she explains that she s going to buy his textbooks. He goes sheetrock white. He refuses and adamantly insists that she can t do that. It s like, $400 worth of textbooks. She, this tiny old woman, boldly takes them out of his hands, throws them on the counter and turns to me with an intense stare and tells me to put them on her bill. The kid at this point is practically in tears. He s confused and shocked and grateful. Then she turns to him and says 'you need chocolate.' She starts grabbing handfuls of chocolates and putting them in her pile. He keeps asking her 'why are you doing this?' She responds 'Do you like Harry Potter?' and throws a copy of the new Cursed Child on the pile too. The Messenger September 2017 10
Finally she s done and I ring her up for a crazy amount of money. She pays and asks me to please give the kid a few bags for his stuff. While I m bagging up her merchandise the kid hugs her. We re both telling her how amazing she is and what an awesome thing she s done. She turns to both of us and says probably one of the most profound, unscripted things I ve ever had someone say: 'It s important to be kind. You can t know all the times that you ve hurt people in tiny, significant ways. It s easy to be cruel without meaning to be. There s nothing you can do about that. But you can choose to be kind. Be kind.' The kid thanks her again and leaves. I tell her again how awesome she is. She s staring out the door after him and says to me: 'My son is a homeless meth addict. I don t know what I did. I see that boy and I see the man my son could have been if someone had chosen to be kind to him at just the right time.' I ve bagged up all her stuff and at this point am super awkward and feel like I should say something but I don t know what. Then she turns to me and says: 'I wish I could have bangs like that but my darn hair is just too curly.' And leaves. And that is the story of the best customer I ve ever had. Be kind to somebody today." For our best love stories, subscribe to our free email newsletter: http://bit.ly/29l733q :) #LoveWhatMatters Credit: University Book Store in Mill Creek The Messenger September 2017 11
Linus Group Linus will resume on Thursday, September 14th. Our group of women have been busy sewing quilts for 15 years. At Easter 100 plus quilts adorned the pews of St. Paul and were blessed before they were given to hospitalized children at Hasbro Children s Hospital. All are welcome to join us on the second Thursday of the month at 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Good Fellowship!!! Bring a sandwich we provide dessert! Sewing skills are not required. The quilts need to be pinned and tied. Social Ministry Betty Berntson The Messenger September 2017 12
September 2017 NEVER FORGET Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Pam Vacation 2 5:00 PM Matthew XXV Worship Service 3 PENTECOST XIII 9:30 AM Worship/ Sweet Song Special Worship Music 11:30 AM FREE Lunch 4 LABOR DAY Office Closed 5 6 11:30 AM FREE Lunch 7 8 9 5:00 PM Matthew XXV Worship Service Ray Mitchell Hammonasset Youth Gathering 9/8-10 10 PENTECOST XIV 9:30 AM Worship 11:30 AM FREE Lunch Ray Mitchell God s Work Our Hands Sunday Grandparents Day 11 6:00-7:00 PM Outreach/Social /Free Lunch Program Combined Meeting 7:00 PM Council Meeting 12 13 11:30 AM FREE Lunch 7:00 PM Choir 14 9:30 AM Linus Group 15 16 5:00 PM Matthew XXV Worship Service Sweet Song Recital Community Room 17 RALLY DAY/HOLY CROSS DAY PENTECOST XV 9:15 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM Handbells 11:15AM Sweet Song Recital 11:30 AM FREE Lunch 18 6:30 PM Reformation Devotions & Bible Study (chapel) 7:30-8:30 PM Worship & Music Committee 19 6:30 PM Confirmation 20 11:30 AM FREE Lunch 7:00 PM Choir 8:00 PM Finance Committee Meeting 21 10:00 AM to Noon Ladies Tea & Devotions (WELCA) ROSH HASHANAH 22 FALL BEGINS 23 11:00 AM Acolyte Training followed by Lunch at Iggy s 5:00 PM Matthew XXV Worship Service 24 PENTECOST XVI 9:15 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM Handbells 11:30 AM FREE Lunch 25 6:30 PM Reformation Devotions & Bible Study (chapel) 7:30-8:30 PM Mutual Ministry Team 26 6:30 PM Confirmation 6:30 PM Ladies Tea & Devotions (WELCA) 27 11:30 AM FREE Lunch 7:00 PM Choir 28 29 30 5:00 PM Matthew XXV Worship Service YOM KIPPUR The Messenger September 2017 13
September 2017 Sunday Worship Service with Holy Communion Worship Service Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary Saturday Healing Services Saturday at 5:00 p.m. at Matthew XXV