The Epistle
December, 2013
Brothers and Sisters in Jesus,
It was one of those Christmas seasons that nothing seemed to go right. We all know what that is like. The very special gift we want to give is backordered till who knows when; the lights keep going out on the tree, we can not find enough time to write cards, let alone bake any cookies. Our frustration level is out of sight.
Go back in time with me to a Christmas season in 1818 to a German town called Oberndorf. Father Joseph Mohr was busy getting ready for all the services for Christmas when the organ died. How was he ever going to have any Christmas music? As he sat in prayer before the Holy God, the words of a song came to him. They transported him to a time so long ago; the time when our Savior was born in Bethlehem – a time of peace, hope and good will. Joseph went to his friend Franz Gruber and asked him to compose the music for a guitar because it would be months before the organ would be repaired.
The whole town gathered that evening for the Christmas Eve Service. During the service, Franz began to strum his guitar and Joseph began to sing “StilleNacht, heiligeNacht”. The congregation was transfixed by the music and the peace the words gave them. So it began – Silent Night has become one of the best loved Christmas carols.
I am sure it happens so many times as we get ready for Christmas, we will face trials and tribulations. But know this my friends, when we focus on the reason we are celebrating Christmas, hopefully our frustrations will lessen. Too many times it is all about us, me, and what I am getting, how can I impress with my gift this season. Notice the words that are underlined? They are personal pronouns. Christmas is about Jesus and the gift He gave us. Go back to that time in your mind and sit at the manger adorning and worshipping the Babe. Christmas will be a challenge as it always is, but be a peace and know and feel the love of the season. Take time for prayer and good Advent reading. Come celebrate with us during the season.
Yours, In Jesus,
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Hymn of the Month
Silent Night
Silent night! Holy night
All is calm all is bright
Round your virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah
Christ the Saviour is born!
Christ the Saviour is born!
Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.
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Share Your Holiday Table
The one thing many people look forward to most during the holiday is the big holiday meal. With your generosity, we can ensure some families will have bountiful meals this season. Your donations can consist of any fixings you enjoy for your own family Christmas meal. We also would appreciate donations of hams and Giant or Target gift cards (which will be used to purchase items needed to complete these holiday baskets). Please send in your donations to the church or to the 5th grade Sunday School room before Sunday, December 15. We can even pick up your donations, if necessary, just contact Diane Newhard at 610-442-6610 or Denise Reiner at 610-703-2296for more information.
October Highlights
* Special Guest, Robert Zakos addressed Council with the idea to set up an online offering option. It could be set up as part of the webpage through PayPal which the younger generation could relate to more. Council will bring this idea to Finance for their approval.
* Child Care Center is pursuing The Stars program.
*Committees need to submit their budget requests by next Council meeting.
* A motion was made and carried to lower the charitable giving from 10% to 5% from all major fundraising events that profit over $1,000.
*St. Paul’s Constitution/BiLaws were updated according to ELCAChurchwide Assembly’s revisions dated 8/2013.
*Currently there are still two (2) open positions on Council. Please contact Council President, Doug Newhard if you are interested in serving.
Treasury Report
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver - 2 Corinthians 9:7
Jan. – Oct. YTD Financial Update
Weekly Envelopes
Budgeted: $ 99,723.79
Received: $ 84,382.00
Actual Inc. YTD: $490,878.81
Actual Exp. YTD: $525,048.68
Loan - Roof Repair: $14,000.00 ( Nov.2012)
Balance due: $ 0 (Oct 2013)
Loan $49,000.00 (Oct 2013)
Balance due: $43,886.66
Child Care Center
December is always the most joyous time of the year. All of the children are anxiously waiting for Christmas Day and all the excitement that surrounds them.
During this magical month, all of the children will be enjoying many fun and exciting Christmas activities. We will be having our annual tree trimming party, on Wednesday, December 4th, as the children decorate our trees with their own Christmas decorations and they will be busy making Christmas crafts to hang in their classrooms. We are celebrating St. Nicholas Day by wearing PJs, eating chocolate chip cookies and drinking chocolate milk while listening to “The Night Before Christmas!” We will be listening to stories on the true meaning of Christmas and stories about Santa Claus and the joy he brings to the children. Each morning at 8:00 we will start the day by opening up the Advent Calendar and then reading a verse from the Bible, as a group. We will be learning new songs and finger plays along with some of our old time favorites. They will be practicing for our Christmas program, which will be held on Friday, December 13th at 10:30. Linda Holliday will entertain us with her magic show on Thursday, December 19th.
The staff and children of St. Paul’s Child Care Center wish you and your family a very Peaceful and Blessed Christmas Holiday.
Merry Christmas,
Margaret Bossons
Child Care Fundraiser
Child Care Center is holding a fundraiser at the Blue Monkey on Thursday, December 19 from 5-10pm. This fundraiser is being held to raise money for new secure doors for the Child Care Center. You must present the coupon in this Epistle notice for the Child Care Center to receive 20% of your dinner ticket. Thank you in advance for helping us to become a more secure facility.
87th Annual Candlelight Concert
Down through the years, St Paul’s has gathered one afternoon in December to hold their annual Candlelight Concert. It has become a tradition for many families at St. Paul’s but also many people throughout the community. I have heard comments like “This concert always gives me the Christmas Spirit and makes the Season come to life”.
This year our organist, Mike Fister has been hard at work to create a beautiful service. We are blessed this year to have the Pennsylvania Guitar Quintet to provide prelude music. Of course our piper friend, James Rudf and friends will provide music before, during and after the service. We will also be blessed again with the musical talents of Elizabeth Knecht with her singing and dancing and also Sara Baer, playing the oboe. Salem UCC Choir will also join us.
Our concert will be on December 8 beginning at 3:30. The concert begins at 4. After the concert everyone is invited to come downstairs for a time of fellowship.
If this has not been part of your Christmas preparations, make it part of your life this Advent season.
St. Paul’s HolidayMovie Night
Fellowship Hall Admission is free.
Kids can bring their blanket and wear their jammies.
Refreshments are available for purchase
NOTE: Please bring a donation of any can good for the Catasauqua Area Food Bank
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Two BIG Thank You'sfrom theStewardship Committee. We want to thank all 70+ of you who filled out our Time and Talent forms. We appreciate you cooperation and willingness to bless our church with your many gifts and talents. The information you provided has been included in a Volunteer Directory that will be available for our entire congregation's use in the New Year. We also want to thank everyone who donated items to the St. Paul's Coat Drive, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Catasauqua High School - a great group of students who are sponsored by our own TrojanoBastidas. With your help, we collected well over 25 large garbage bags stuffed with coats and outerwear. In fact, we had so many coats, we split them up and donated to a total of four charities: Sixth Street Shelter, Via of Lehigh Valley, Purple Heart Foundation, and the St. Luke's Neighborhood Center Clothes Closet. We also gave some bags to help the victims of the fire at Helfrich Springs apartments in Whitehall. So thank you all so much for keeping those less fortunate warm this winter and by helping these charities to raise funds for the homeless, the disabled, our veterans, and those in need.
God Bless all of you.
The St. Paul's Stewardship Committee.
We Made It! We Hit A Mile! Thanks to the generosity of so many of our members, we have collected over a Mile of Pennies (and maybe a few other coins too) for St. Paul’s. That’s over $844.80 we raised by simply gathering our spare change, loading it up in baggies, and taking it to church with us on Sundays. So let’s keep saving those coins and see if we can make another mile by Thanksgiving 2014. We’re pros now - we can do it! And last, but definitely not least, the Congregation Council and Pastor Gary want to thank you all again for your commitment to our church and to say congratulations on crossing the finish line Together. May God bless you and may He continue to bless St. Paul’s during this beautiful Season of our Lord's birth
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Fundraising Committee
Christmas Basket Raffle
Take a chance on winning a ‘filled to the brim’ holiday basket with all the necessities for a Christmas meal to remember The cost is $3.00 for five (5) tickets or $5.00 for ten (10) tickets. The raffle tickets will be available for purchase in the breezeway after our Sunday worship services or by calling the church office any weekday from 9am-3pm. The winning ticket will be pulled on Sunday, December 22nd and the winner will be called to make arrangements for delivery of their prizes. Good luck, and, as always, thank you from the Fundraising Committee.
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Social Ministryof St. Paul’s Church will again be part of the Northern Lehigh District for the Ingathering on December 5 at Hope Lutheran Church in Cherryville. Each congregation will bring usual items to fill 200 gift bags for Kids Peace children. Each church also gives $20 to a selected special cause on this year it is the Caring Place, for Allentown School District Children. Starting November 30 until December 22, we will have the White Tag Christmas Tree in the alcove. Congregation members my select these wish list items that will be delivered to the Allentown Rescue Mission, Gracedale, Sayre Child Center, Hamburg Center, Kids Peace and Topton Home. Thank you in advance for your participation and the spirit of giving.
Upcoming Events
The Catasauqua Area Lions Club 25th Silver Anniversary Holiday Meal is being service at St. Paulson Saturday, December 7 at 12 noon. This meal is offered free of charge to the seniors or members of any organization in all churches within the Catasauqua or North Catasauqua Boroughs. We are bringing this meal to you in the Spirit of the Holiday Season and sincerely hope that you will be able to join us once again. Please sign-up (sheet is in Narthex) before November 29th. Transportation will be provided only where there is no available ride.
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Deck the Halls Time at St. Paul’s
Friday December 6. Time to decorate both trees in chancel, put up wreaths, attach greens to pew candles, put lighted garland on doors, and poinsettia garland on electric candles. Contact Bob Bastian for more details.
87th Annual Candlelight Concert
December 8 beginning at 3:30. The concert begins at 4. After the concert everyone is invited to come downstairs for a time of fellowship.
December 19 from 5-10pm: Child Care Center fundraiser at the Blue Monkey. Bring coupon
Christmas Program
Our annual Sunday School Christmas Program this year will be on December 22ndduring the 10:30 service. It is a worship service in which the children provide one of the best sermons you hear and see at our church. The entire Sunday school will be presenting this very special program for our congregation. Come, see, and feel the story of the birth of Jesus through the eyes of children.
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This Dedication is
In Memory of: ______
OR
In Honor of: ______
This Dedicated is from: ______
______5-7 blooms ______6-10 blooms
$8.00 (all red) $11.00 (red & white)
Total Plants ordered: ______
Total Amount Enclosed: ______
Envelope Number:______
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aspecial prayer for God’s loving guidance, blessings and happiness the following children of God were recently baptized
Zoey Jennifer Kalman
daughter of Matthew Kalman & Amanda Peters
Ethan Lloyd Pawlowski
son of Nicholas Pawlowski & Alicia Kesack
We remember the families of Maxine Long, grandmother of Tara Ouellette and Martha Grubb, mother of Tammy Bastidaswho went home to be with our Lord in November. We pray that the families will find comfort and peace during their days of sorrow.
Good News: Do you have any good news in your family, any News! Exciting happenings? What do I mean - births, engagements, a new job, a great accomplishment for one of your family members. Tell us so we can celebrate with you. Good News is not for offering Thank you, rather it is an opportunity for you to let us know about the joyful things in your lives.
Share the Good News
*The birth of Zoey Kalman, the daughter of Amanda Peters and Mathew Kalman on October 11. Amanda is the daughter of Judy & Rodney Peters.
*The birth of Veronica Althoff, the daughter of Tamara Afflerback and Ryan Althoff on October 17. Tamara is the daughter of Barbara Flandoffer.
*The marriage of Stephen Corello to Megan Grodesky on October 27 in Hyde Park, NY.
*The groundbreaking of the new Walbert Funeral Home on November 2 at 10am. Russell Walbert is son of Pastor and Linda.
*The Arthritis Foundation of Chicago is excited to announce Tim Walbert as our 2014 Freedom of Movement recipient. He will be awarded this at the 2014 gala. Tim is the son of Pastor and Linda.
*The birth of Caden John Douty, the son of Amanda & Kyle Douty on November 5. Amanda is the daughter of James & Donna Williams
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12/1Ryan Shook
12/2Connor Brandt
12/2Robert Miller Sr
12/3Brynn Layton
12/4Jack Gebhardt
12/6Roberta Lewis
12/7Sarah Frankenfield
12/7Carole Miller
12/8Joseph Falko
12/8Jason Lambert
12/8Diane Newhard
12/10Alexis Rogers
12/11Kyle Kulp
12/13Holly Gerhard
12/14Erin Dumbach
12/14Christopher Winkler Sr.
12/15Holly Cope
12/15Albert Leibensperger
12/15Cynthia Wassum
12/16Talbot Houck Jr.
12/16Alexa Wright
12/17Daniel Corello
12/18Scott Sutter
12/19Stephanie Crogan
12/20Tamara Afflerbach
12/20Naomi Schroeder
12/20Larry Wassum
12/22Dawn Eible
12/22Scott Golomb
12/22Marie Lower
12/22Albert Renn Jr.
12/22John Werley
12/23Kelly Nichols
12/23Jeffrey Snyder
12/26Bryce Luckenbill
12/28Christine Sutter
12/29Kathleen Hartranft
12/30Sara Houck
12/30Scott Stewart
12/31Isabella Urban
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December 2013Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Saturday
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8:00 Spoken Comm
9:00 Sunday School
10:30 Holy Comm / 2
7:00 Troup 94
7:00pm Worship / 3
6:30 Girl Scouts
7:00pm Property / 4
6:30 Choir
6:30 Daisy / 5
7:00 Cub Pack / 6
Decorating the church
6:30 Fundraising / 7
Noon: Lyons Club Holiday Meal
8
8:00 Spoken Comm
9:00 Sunday School
10:30 Holy Comm
3:30 Candlelight
Concert / 9
EPISTLE DEADLINE
7:00 Troup 94 / 10
6:30 Girl Scouts / 11
6:30 Choir
6:30 Daisy / 12
7:00 Finance / 13
9am Epistle
Volunteers
9am CCC Xmas
program
5pmLVCHS
Christmas
Concert / 14
6:00pmMovie Night
15
8:00 Spoken Comm
9:00 Sunday School
10:30 Holy Comm / 16
7:00 Troup 94
7:00pm Council
7pmCYSA / 17
6:30 Girl Scouts
7:00pm Child Care / 18
11:30am CCC
Xmas meal
6:30 Choir
6:30 Daisy / 19
10am CCC
Magic Show
5-10pm CCC
Fundraiser @
Blue Monkey
7:00 Cub Pack / 20 / 21
Cub Pack Christmas Party
22
8:00 Spoken Comm
9:00 Sunday School
10:30 Worship/Sunday School Program / 23 / 24
Christmas Eve
7pm Holy Comm
10 Holy Comm.
Church Office Closed / 25
Christmas Day
Church Office Closed / 26 / 27 / 28
29
8:00 Spoken Comm
10:30 Holy Comm
Praise Team Rehersal / 30 / 31 / 1
Church Office Closed
Serving at St. Paul's in December, 2013
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DEDICATIONS FOR DECEMBER
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FLOWERS($40) BULLETINS ($15)
12/1Stauffer Wassum
12/8Spengler/Wehr Spengler/Wehr
12/15Huggan/DannerHuggan/Danner
12/22WittGolomb
12/29HugganHuggan
DEDICATIONS OPEN FOR JANUARY, 2014
FLOWERS($40) BULLETINS ($15)
1/5openopen
1/12openopen
1/19openopen
1/26openopen
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If you would like to be a sponsor for any of these opens dates, request forms are in the Narthex or contact the church office. Payment must be submitted with request. Please note: Whenever we do not have dedications for flowers, there will be no Altar Flowers for that Sunday.
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DecemberWorship Services
Dec.11st Sundayof Advent
8:00 a.m. – Spoken Holy Communion
9:00 a.m. – SS Breakfast
10:30 a.m. – Holy Communion
Dec. 8 2nd Sunday of Advent
8:00 a.m. – Spoken Holy Communion
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Holy Communion
3:30p.m. - Candlelight Concert
Dec.153rd Sunday of Advent