St. Paul's United Church of Christ March 2017 Newsletter

St. Paul's United Church of Christ March 2017 Newsletter Church Office Hours Monday-Friday: 9:00am-4:00pm Pastor Mike Roth: Tuesday-Friday Pastor Erica Roth: Tuesday-Thursday Doug Gilliland: Monday-Thursday Erica Faust: Tuesday-Thursday St. Paul s United Church of Christ 5508 Telegraph Road St. Louis, Mo 63129 314-892-3332 Karol.collins@sp4u.org Website: sp4u.org

I recently read an article in Influence magazine written by Scott Hagan, co-founder of Real Life Churches based in Sacramento, California. The article, I believe, speaks truth into the moment we find ourselves in at St. Paul s. On the one hand we have represented here what he calls the honor generation. These are people and leaders that have worshiped at St. Paul s for a long time and who desperately want to preserve what has been; to honor our past. These people tend to place a high value on honoring something proven rather than something new. Then we have what he calls the energy generation. These are people and leaders who are struggling to promote a church feeling that is more relevant to a new generation. They place a high value on putting energy into something innovative. There can be more than half a century separating these two groups in age. If not looked at through the eyes of faith, a church can quickly become spiteful and toxic as the older crowd sees the younger as rogue and the younger sees the older as rigid. Sadly, this rogue verses rigid standoff is occurring in churches all over America. I want you to hear that this need not be the case. I want you to hear that there is a reciprocal beauty that happens when a proven life meets a promising life; when a younger group values the story an older generation has to tell while, at the same time, the older generation sees value in the discovery a younger generation can provide. Honor and energy need not be enemy combatants. God meant for them to coexist and actually be in harmony with one another. And there is scriptural evidence for this. In the second chapter of Acts, on The Day of Pentecost, there is a reflection of the inseparable relationship between honor and energy. In this scripture bystanders are trying to intimidate Peter because they see the new followers of faith in Jerusalem speaking different languages and acting as if they are drunk. It is in that moment that Peter stands up with the other eleven and raises his voice to address the crowd. He says, Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: In the last days, God Says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit on those days, and they will prophesy. In this passage we see this wonderful relationship between honor and energy. Peter is quick to share what the prophet Joel had spoken long ago and, at the same time, links it to the sights and sounds of what was happening right then and there for those who were witnessing it. It was a continuation of Joel s Spirit filled message given centuries earlier. The only thing which ultimately separated Joel and Peter was time. Change never feels nice and tidy. We grieve what we feel we have lost before we celebrate what God has helped us gain. When honor and energy compete for the same space, a church can become sidetracked and ineffective. But if we allow the Holy Spirit to show us the true pattern of biblical honor and energy, the above questions will no longer stress nor distract us as the local church. A question to consider: Do you find yourself asking, How will this affect me? or, How will this affect God s Kingdom? Yours In Christ, Rev. Michael R. Roth Lenten Soup Suppers and Mission Partnership Speakers... Throughout Lent we will be having Lenten Soup Suppers on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 6:30 p.m. We want to encourage everyone to bring your families and friends out for a relaxing evening of NO COOKING! At 6 p.m. you will be invited to move to another room to hear a guest speaker share about one of the ministries or mission sites we partner with throughout the year. You can feel free to listen in or you can continue enjoying time around table with friends and family. Each evening a church group will be hosts and will provide soup, bread/crackers and desserts. (There will always be some PB&J as well!) Our guest speakers will be from Eden Seminary on March 7th, Emmaus Homes on March 14th, MoVal Camp on March 21st, Every Child s Hope (ECH) on March 28th and Lydia s House on April 4th. Come and experience God around table this Lent!

The Sr. High Youth Food Pantry is once again up and running on the 4th Wednesday of every month from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Contact Mark Carter at 314.585.8526 for more information. Church camp schedules and registration forms are available on the bulletin board across from the main church office. Church Camp has been known to change lives and lead young people to proclaim a life of faith! It is WORTH checking out. There are camps for kids of all ages and even family camps or opportunities to attend with your grandchildren! Scholarships are available through St. Paul s (contact Pastor Erica or Miss Erica) or through Camp MoVal itself. Kidz Choir We will be singing and ringing in the March 26 10:30 service. Rehearsals are Sunday mornings 10-10:30 a.m. in the lower level Theatre room. SAVE THE DATE VBS 2017 Rome: Paul and the Underground Church June 12-16 *Staff Registration is now open! Volunteer form is here or you can pick one up on the bulletin board outside Erica Faust s offcie. (We need your help! Be a part of the FUN!) *Child registration will begin April 1. Sock Hop Friday, March 31st 7:00-10:00pm St. Paul s UCC Social Hall Music for the 1950 s through today! Admission-pack of new men s or women s sock All socks will be donated to local homeless missions Please invite family and friends! Sunday School News Our learning for the past month has focused on the Miracles of Jesus. This Sunday is the 1 st Sunday of the month so kids will worship with their families. In March, our lessons will focus on the Parables of Jesus. Our Sunday School class schedule: 9:00 Nursery & Multi-age Class 10: 30---Nursery, Pre-K/K Class & School-age Class Kingdom Bucks Program Kids earn a buck every time they attend Sunday School. Bucks can be redeemed for prizes and gifts 3 times per year (Palm Sunday, Rally Day and Advent Fest). We are hoping to offer CPR Classes at St. Paul s on an ongoing basis. We are looking for a certified instructor that might be interested in partnering with us. Know of anyone? Please contact Pastor Erica with info! SALT (4th-5th grade youth)news: Sunday, March 12th: We will have a mystery event at the church all afternoon. Lunch will be served and fun shall be had by all. Stay after church, bring a change of clothes and prepare to get comfortable and crazy! Ends at 3:00 pm. April 21st-23rd: Weekend mission trip! We will be traveling to Linton, IN (Saron UCC) We will leave Friday around 5 p.m. and return Sunday around 6 p.m. The entire trip should only cost $50.00. More details soon!

DOG (Disciples of God) News: Sunday, March 19th: MOVIE NIGHT!!! We have a movie theater at St. Paul s! It is downstairs and accessible by elevator. We will gather at 6 p.m. to watch a movie and eat some popcorn! Should be done around 8:30 or 9 p.m. Family welcome. St. Paul's Handbells Our handbells are learning some new tunes and we could use a couple of substitute ringers that are able to fill-in when a regular ringer is absent for rehearsal or performance. Children & Family Ministry Serve Opportunities A growing and thriving ministry needs lots of volunteers. Volunteering brings us together and gives us a place to connect with the church family. Please consider sharing your time and talents with the children and families of St. Paul s. Teach Sunday School once per month (Pre-K or School-age, 9:00 or 10:30, lessons, materials & support provided) Help in our nursery once per month (9:00 or 10:30) Sanctuary Choir Good Friday, April 14, The Sanctuary Choir with Strings, Harp and Flute will perform "Seven Last Words" by Michael Trotta. Our guest soloists are Soprano, Rebecca Drury and Baritone David Fournie. The emphasis is on the seven final phrases that Christ said while hanging on the cross. Invite friends and family! Are you interested in joining St. Paul s or at least learning more about us? We will be holding New Member Classes following the Lenten Soup Suppers on March 14, 21 and 28th from 6:30-7:30 p.m. All three classes will be different and focus on different aspects of being a member of St. Paul s. We invited you to contact Pastor Mike or Pastor Erica with questions or if interested. Worship Team New congregational tunes for blended worship include "Be Enthroned" by Bethel Church, Redding, CA; "Great Are You Lord" by All Sons and Daughters. Provide a meal for the middle school youth group on Sunday evening (contact Pastor Erica) Chaperone a youth group event (assisting a staff member) Share/Teach a skill with a youth group Prayerfully consider being a mentor to a confirmand during the 2017-2018 school year. VBS 2017 staff member (youth going into 6th grade adults of all ages) Can t be here the whole week of VBS? We need volunteers to work just a few days during the week. Can t be here at all during the VBS week? How about volunteer to do some work at home---putting craft kits together, making decorations, etc.? Middle School Youth Group Sundays: 5:30 meal, 6 p.m. Youth Lesson, 7 p.m. Free time (Ends around 7:30 p.m.) Table Talk will be on Thursday, March 2nd at 6:15 p.m. This is a time for women of all ages to get together, share a snack (or two) and fellowship at table! Relaxed, fun, God-filled time! We meet in the Adult Lounge East. ALL women are welcome! See you there! (Our April meeting will be on the 6th mark it now!) March 5th: Underground Church! Wear Black. March 12th: Come and see! March 19th: No Youth Group Spring Break March 26th: Come and See! April 2nd: Come and See!

VBS 2017 Volunteer Sign-Up Form Thank you for volunteering for VBS 2017. We are looking forward to a wonderful week of sharing God s love with others. Some things you need to know: VBS 2017 is June 12-16, 2017----9:00 a.m.-noon. Volunteers are expected to be able to attend all days of VBS. Each day will begin with a staff meeting at 8:15 a.m. All staff members will be expected to attend daily staff meetings. Serving at VBS is most importantly about serving---serving God and serving others. A lot will be expected of you as a VBS volunteer. All youth volunteers will be required to attend a VBS training meeting on Monday, June 5, at 6:30 in the Heritage Room. If you are not able to attend this meeting, you must make arrangements to meet with me at another time to be properly trained. All adult volunteers (18 years & older) are required to have a Missouri Highway Patrol background check per our St. Paul s Safe Child Policy. The form is attached and should be turned in with this form to Erica Faust or the Church Office. Depending on the area that you are assigned, additional training/informational meetings might also be required. Volunteers will be accepted and assigned on a first come/first served basis. I will do my best to assign you to one of your top 3 choices. Please turn this form in ASAP and please mark all dates on your calendar so that we don t run into scheduling conflicts. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please complete all of the following and return to Erica Faust ASAP. Questions? Please contact Erica Faust at ericafaust@sbcglobal.net Name: Phone #: Cell Phone #: E-mail Address (self and parent): T-shirt Size (circle one) Adult S Adult M Adult L Adult XL Adult 2XL Volunteer Choices **Please number your choices 1-5, 1 being want you would like to do best and so on.** YOUTH VOLUNTEER POSITIONS Crew Leader (must be at least going into 8 th grade) Games Helper Marketplace Helper (Crafts/Projects) Drama Helper ADULT VOLUNTEER POSITIONS Games Co-Leader Marketplace Co-Leader Drama Co-Leader Movie Co-Leader Snack Co-Leader Snack Helper Preschool Helper Preschool Games Helper Pre-School Games Co-Leader Pre-School Drama Co-Leader Registration Table/Floater Additional Volunteer Opportunity for Non-Crew Leaders Would you like to be part of the singing/dancing team that will help teach/lead the songs at the beginning and end of VBS each day? We are looking for middle schoolers & high schoolers who are willing to rehearse a few times per month between now and the beginning of VBS. You will be able to be a part of this group in addition to serving in a regular VBS position. Yes, I would like to be on the worship leading team.

TreeHouse March 2017 Chef Evan! Dinosaurs need baths too! Valentine s Day Fun! Play til you drop! Healthy foods for healthy teeth. Making her own box for valentines!

We celebrated Dental Health Week! Dr. and Dr. in training! We love to dress up! Lovin during Chapel time! So many girls, so little time!

We love our BABIES! We had a wonderful time at our Valentine s Day Ball in the Heritage Room!