ST. PAUL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 330/239-1340 Outward Bound! Gathering Awakening Serving 2004 St. Paul Vision Statement www.stpaulsharoncenter.com stpaulsharoncenter@gmail.com The Epistle December 2016 Check out the interactive calendar on the website for updates to the schedules. Click this link to go directly to the calendar. http://www.mychurchevents.com/calendar/ calendar.aspx?ci=l6k5g1k5g1f0o9n8h2
Sunday, Dec. 18 th Beginning at noon Decorating at St. Paul begins at noon, Caroling at Liberty II at 1:00 and then back to the church for a potluck and to finish decorating. Come join the fun! Liberty II 1054 Freedom Dr, Wadsworth
Advent devotionals are located on the long table in the narthex. Please take one home with you and take time each day to connect with Jesus and surround yourself with peace during the Advent season. Join us for a time of preparation, anticipation and peace. Wednesday evenings at 7:10 pm during Advent.
January and February, the Chili & Stew Dinners for the Sharing Center Clients resumes Starting Friday, January 6th, the stew and chili dinners for the sharing clients are starting up again and we need your help. Please bring hot crock pots to church by 5:45 pm. Help will also be needed to serve and then to help clean up. The sign up sheets will go up mid December and your help is needed. This is a ministry that you can help with once or every week. While Sharing Center clients are able to shop only once per month, they are invited to come have supper every Friday. Be sure to watch for the sign up and come help those who need a hot meal during this cold winter season. We are also in need of empty, clean containers with lids (Yogurt or Cool Whip) to put the leftovers in. Please leave them in the kitchen in a bag marked Friday night dinners. January coordinator February coordinator Cathy Doering Marsha Wineland
Dec. 4 th Both services led by St. Paul Youth! Sunday, Jan. 1 st 10:00 am
Oasis Outreach Opportunity, Inc. provides an OASIS for both the urban youth AND for the adults who come to help. Participants are invited to become part of a transformational leadership community that is led by the youth themselves! As we learn to communicate and solve problems together, generational, racial, geographical, economical and cultural tensions are alleviated through creative play and worship together. Everyone has an opportunity for his or her life to be changed! Many of you have asked about Oasis this fall. There have been some changes and Pastor Lisa will be here on Sunday, December 11 filling in for Pastor Elizabeth. They are in process of creaeng t- shirts for the teenagers and young adults. What they really need is money to help defray the costs of these shirts which will cost $16 each. If you can help cover the cost of one or more shirts, that would be great. There are envelopes marked Oasis in the pews. Please put your money in it, turn it in with the offering and we will give all money collected to Pastor Lisa when she is here in December. So Eme is short, we only have one week. Thanks for your support!! You may also order a shirt of your own! Submi&ed by Cathy Doering
Many would like to continue on with the Wednesday night dinners. We have some dinners covered but in order to continue, we need more people involved. If you have not yet attended a Wednesday night dinner, I encourage you to do so. It gives everyone a break from preparing dinner one night a week and the fellowship in sharing a meal is wonderful. Please see Kimberly Braver if you would like to become part of this ministry.
Upcoming Special Worship Services: December 4 th Youth Sunday Repent December 11 th Pastor Lisa Arledge December 18 th Pastor Elizabeth Drama: Mary, the Mother of Jesus December 24 th December 25 th January 1 st Christmas Eve The Light Has Come 5:30 pm Children s Service 10:00 pm Candlelight Service Christmas Day A Child is Born 10:00 am New Year s Day College Student Sunday 10:00 am
December News Let s hit the streets and spread some Jesus love! Saturday, Dec. 10 th 1:00 pm. Meet at St. Paul. High Schoolers asked for it, so here it is! High School only lock-in. Wednesday, Dec. 28 th. Beginning at 7:00 pm. Sat. Dec. 17 th 3:30 pm Weathervane Playhouse Tickets are $18 plus $3 service fee. Need commitments and money by Dec. 7 th.
We could always use more helpers on Friday nights. Contact the church office at: 330-239-1340 if you would like to help our local brothers and sisters in need. Needs this month: Toilet Paper Soups (other than Tomato) Ramen noodles Macaroni noodles All tomato products needed: Tomato paste Tomato sauce Canned tomatoes Canned fruit Canned meals Canned tuna and chicken Cereal Pork and beans Hearty soups Personal care items
We believe in the power of prayer. If you or someone you know would like to be included in the prayer chain, please call or email the office. We pray especially for the Welty family, Dewey s mom, Lib, Naomi, Missy, Nick, Laurie s mom, Lois, Dawn, Brian, Rachel s friend Collin, The Boyerts friend Kristen, Jessica, Nora, Larry, Rich, Mark and Hunter and for Jim. 1 MaN Hulme 5 Bruce Hulme 9 Luke SEdham 10 Nate Florian 10 Ryan Florian 12 Kimberly Braver 13 Beth Hulme 15 Karly Becker 20 Jim Jarolim 24 Marie Funfgeld 24 Carol Sours 27 Carolyn Landis December Baptism Birthdays
Annual Congregational Meeting is scheduled for January 20 th in the Sanctuary. More details to follow. Nominating Committee will be seeking St. Paul members to fill openings on Council. Requirements: available to attend monthly council meetings on the second Monday of each month @ 7:15 pm. Passion for the future of St. Paul and it s ministries. 3 year term commitment. Plans are in the works for a training retreat in February 2017. Here is the current update on our Blessed to be a Blessing Stewardship effort for 2017: 59 member families have commi@ed $198,290 to the general budget for St. Paul; New commitments of $3,000 have been given to the building fund. We are in the midst of preparing the church s budget. It is not too late to turn in your commitment card. Thank you! Next Council meeting: December 12th Additional financial contributions for 2016 need to be received in the church office by Friday, December 30th at noon. Offerings received on Sunday, (New Year s Day), January 1st will be credited to 2017. Thank you! Cathy Doering
ADULT FELLOWSHIP CHRISTMAS PARTY & GIFT EXCHANGE Saturday, December 10 th 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Bring a covered dish to share for the potluck and a $5 gift suitable for a lady or gentleman. Sign up on the window of the office!
Worship participants Christmas Eve services 5:30 pm & 10:00 pm Christmas Day service 10:00 am Please see the sign up sheets on the office window. Thank you!
Order your Christmas Poinsettias TODAY! Envelopes available in the narthex Our Operation Christmas Child was a success! We created 57 boxes to be sent out to children all over the world who may have never received a gift before. Thank you all for sharing Christ s love with children who so desperately need it. And thank you to Marilyn Meers for organizing this outreach endeavor.