The Epistle
The Epistle
December, 2013
St. Pauls Lutheran Church,
417 Howertown Rd,
Catasauqua, PA 18032
610-264-3221 Fax: 610-264-5732
Email:[email protected]
Web:www.stpaulscatasauqua.com
Child Care: 610-264-0190
Sunday Worship
8:00 am Holy Communion
9:00 am Sunday School
10:30 am Worship
1st & 3rd Sunday Holy Communion
_______________________
Church Office Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm
Sunday School
September-May 9:00am
Child Care Center
Monday-Friday 7:30am-5:30pm
_______________________
Church Staff:
Pastor: Rev. Gary Walbert,
Pastor Emeritus:
Rev. Dr. Hartland H. Gifford
Dir. Music: Michael Fister
Office Admin: Charleen Burik
Treasurer: Paul Peters
Financial Sec: Debbie Stewart
Dir. Child Care: Margaret Bossons
Sexton: Norbert Huber
Congregation Council
Rena Ackerman
Robert Bastian
Tom Danner
Tammie Englert - Secretary
Kerry Lewis Vice President
Kay Muehlberger
Doug Newhard- President
Laurie Perna
Albert Renn
Helene Sterner
(2) Open
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 Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht. 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,
4
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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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 610-703-2296 for 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. Pauls Constitution/BiLaws were updated according to ELCA
Churchwide Assemblys 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. Pauls 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.
St. Pauls Child Care Center
Fundraiser for new secure doors
December 19, 2013 5:00pm10:00pm
Present this coupon and Child Care Center will receive 20% of
your dinner ticket
87th Annual Candlelight Concert
Down through the years, St Pauls has gathered one afternoon in
December to hold their annual Candlelight Concert. It has become a
tradition for many families at St. Pauls 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.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the
government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of
Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
St. Pauls Holiday Movie 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
~~~~~~~~~~
Two BIG Thank You's from the Stewardship 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 Trojano
Bastidas. 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. Pauls. Thats 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 lets keep saving those
coins and see if we can make another mile by Thanksgiving 2014.
Were 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. Pauls during this beautiful Season of our
Lord's birth
~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~
Social Ministry of St. Pauls 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
Cradle Roll.
"Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he
will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).
The Splash Cradle Roll is a ministry for families of little ones
from birth to three years of age. This program was designed by the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is published by Augsburg
Fortress Press. It offers valuable resources for families with
infants and toddlers and plays a special part during the
celebration of Holy Baptism.
At St. Pauls, when a young child is baptized, he/she will be
automatically enrolled in the Cradle Roll. At this time parents
will receive a welcome letter into the program along with a Splash!
Parent Page and a Sleepy Time Tunes CD. Each month the family will
receive age appropriate mailings, called Parent Pages. Upon the
childs third birthday, Cradle Roll graduates will be invited to
join our Three Year Old Sunday School class.
Our mission is to help new families fulfill their baptismal
promise and support them as they begin their journey of faith
together.
For more information regarding this program, please contact
church office
Novembers Inductees:
Zoey Jennifer Kalman
Ethan Lloyd Pawlowski
The Catasauqua Area Lions Club 25th Silver Anniversary Holiday
Meal is being service at St. Pauls on 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.
~~~
Deck the Halls Time at St. Pauls
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 22nd during 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.
Needed
An Altar Guild Volunteers is needed for the 1st & 3rd
Sundays of the month to help with cleaning up of communion after
our 10:30am service. If you have an interest in helping, please
contact Jackie Younger for more information:
Greeting people as they enter the facility is more than a
handshake and a smile - it is an opportunity to express Gods love
through Christ and help set the tone of the upcoming worship
service. Please check the sign-up charts and see what Sunday you
can help express Gods love.
Volunteers are needed!
It does not take long; it is checking one page against another
it is not difficult, so please help us to complete our audit on
time. Call either the church at 610-264-3221 or Bette MacHose at
610-264-0871
St Pauls Committees &
Volunteer Directory
Acolytes: Pastor Gary Walbert
Altar Guild: Jackie Younger
Child Care: Rena Ackerman
Christian Ed:open
Communion Assist: Pastor Gary Walbert
Epistle: Charleen Burik
Finance: Betty MacHose
Fundraising: Bob Bastian
Greeters: Kay Muehlberger
Lectors: Judy Donchez
Memorials: Betty MacHose
Prayer Chain: Bette MacHose
Property: Bob Bastian
Scouts: Al Renn/Mark Weaver
Social Ministry/Evangelism: June Hahn
Stewardship: Tammie Englert
Worship: Kerry Lewis
Youth: open
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Hospital Visits
If you or someone you know is admitted into the hospital, it is
very important to notify the church as soon as possible. You can do
this by either calling the church office directly or informing the
hospital upon admittance that you are a member of St. Pauls
Lutheran Church and they will list you under our Pastoral Code 312.
If you are admitted into a Rehabilitation facility, please inform
the church office as well. Without either of these notifications,
Pastor will not know to visit you and you will not be added on to
our prayer chain
Ways to help St. Pauls & Our Community
Drop in at Redners in Whitehall or Northampton and get a free
Save-a-Tape card. Present it at the register when you pay for your
purchases, then bring your receipts to the church. Every $5,000 in
Redners receipts earns St. Pauls Church $50!
Volunteer Coordinator: Julie Stauffer
Inkjet Cartridges: Help St. Paul's itself by bringing in your
used printer & fax machine cartridges! We trade them in &
receive store credit-$2.00 for every qualifying print cartridge.
Not only will it contribute to fundraising at St. Paul's, but it
keeps these things out of landfills & helps protect the
environment! Everyone wins!
Volunteer Coordinator: Susan Vrablic
Soda Tabs: For the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. The PRMH
provides housing to the families of patients in the local
children's hospitals, and the soda tabs are a huge boost to the
charity's finances. Bring your tabs to worship on Sundays, or to
the church office any day of the week, and help with this important
program!
GoodSearch.com St. Pauls can earn a donation every time you
search the Internet and shop online! Search the web with
Yahoo-powered GoodSearch.com and theyll donate a penny to our
church each time you search! Shop at more than 600 GoodShop.com
merchants including Amazon, Best Buy, Toys R Us, and others, and a
percentage of each purchase will go to our church! For searching go
to:
http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=898534
Miller Keystone Blood Center
We want to thank everyone who recently helped donate blood.
Remember, we have an annual donation goal of 33 pints, so please
mention that you are giving for St. Pauls whenever you donate
blood!
Catasauqua Food Bank Needs:
Wholesome childrens snacks: Granola bars, raisins, nuts, trail
mixes, graham or animal crackers, pudding or Jell-O, fruit snacks,
crackers (unsalted), cheese crackers, fruit bars
Christmas Flower
Dedications
If you would like to honor or remember a loved one at Christmas,
please fill out and return this form with payment (checks are made
payable to St. Pauls Lutheran Church) and place either in the
offering plate or send to the church office no later than SUNDAY,
DECEMBER 8th
The names of your loved ones will be recognized in our Christmas
Eve service bulletins.
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:__________
Membership files If you move, changed phone or cell numbers,
email addresses, or add members to your household, it is very
important that you let the church office know so we can update all
our information! Please take a moment to fill out the Member
Information Sheet below and return to church office or place in
offering plate on Sundays
Name______________________________________
Address_____________________________________
___________________________________________
Home #___________________________________
Cell #: ____________________________________
Email_____________________________________
Marital Status: ___ Single ___Married
___ Divorced ___Widow/er
Spouses Name_____________________________
Date of Birth_______________________________
Date of Marriage____________________________
Children (Living with parents)
Name______________________________________
Date of Birth_________________________
Name______________________________________
Date of Birth_________________________
Name______________________________________
Date of Birth_________________________
4
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a special prayer for Gods loving guidance, blessings and
happiness the following children of God were recently baptized
Deadline: Monday: December 9
Epistle Volunteers: December 13
9:00am
If you would like to put an article or announcement in our
newletter, please contact Charleen. Request: If you are able,
please E-mail your articles to Charleen, Office Admin at
[email protected]
E-Mail me the Epistle!
Help us cut down the cost of postage by getting your Epistle
newsletter by e-mail Just send your request via an email to church
office at [email protected]
For all you Smartphone users: We can easily email your Epistle
directly to your smartphone (PDF format) so you can enjoy it
anytime, anywhere. Just email us at [email protected] or call
church office and let us know where you want us to send it.
Dont forget you can also get our EPISTLE newsletter and
up-to-date church information on our website too
www.stpaulscatasauqua.com and.
check out St. Pauls Facebook page too!
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 Bastidas who 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
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will
be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him
Immanuel
Isaiah 7:14
December Celebrations
Jesus said, I am the Light of the World.
May the birthday candles that represent the years of your life
be a reflection to others of your love for Christ.
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
Special Birthdays
A few of our seniors will be celebrating birthdays this month.
Please take the time to remember them with a card or note
12/4Frances Grzenczyk 89
1050 7th Street, Catasauqua, PA 18032
12/8Flora Fritzges89
530 Howertown Rd, Catasauqua, PA
12/9Lucille Hoffman87
1071 Ridge Ave, Allentown, PA 18102
12/13Geraldine Szewczak80
3836 Brunner Ct, Whitehall, PA 18052
12/23Joanne Spengler80
515 Penn Street, Catasauqua, PA 18032
Wedding Anniversaries
12/3Richard & Patricia Gerber14
12/5Shelly & David Meier4
12/7Paul & Elsie Strausser72
12/12William & Gloria Shipe54
12/13Guy & Nancy Fried33
12/19Thomas & Victoria Danner8
12/20Keith & Janet Falko27
12/20Edwin & Amy Hillegass Jr.5
12/26Barbara & Frank Flandorffer4
12/29Dale & Margaret Baker59
12/31Flemming & Franciel Schomburg19
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December 2013
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
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
5pm LVCHS
Christmas
Concert
14
6:00pm Movie Night
15
8:00 Spoken Comm
9:00 Sunday School
10:30 Holy Comm
16
7:00 Troup 94
7:00pm Council
7pm CYSA
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
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the
power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be
born will be called the Son of God
Luke 1:35
___________________________________________________________
DEDICATIONS FOR DECEMBER
FLOWERS($40) BULLETINS ($15)
12/1Stauffer Wassum
12/8Spengler/Wehr Spengler/Wehr
12/15Huggan/Danner Huggan/Danner
12/22WittGolomb
12/29Huggan Huggan
DEDICATIONS OPEN FOR JANUARY, 2014
FLOWERS($40) BULLETINS ($15)
1/5openopen
1/12openopen
1/19openopen
1/26openopen
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.
December Worship Services
Dec. 11st Sunday of 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. 15 3rd Sunday of Advent
8:00 a.m. Spoken Holy Communion
9:00 a.m. Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Holy Communion
Dec: 22 4th Sunday of Advent
8:00 a.m. Spoken Holy Communion
9:00 a.m. Sunday School Program
10:30 a.m. Worship
Dec. 24 Christmas Eve
7:00 p.m. Holy Communion
10:00p.m. Holy Communion
Dec. 29 1st Sunday of Christmas
8:00 a.m. Spoken Holy Communion
10:30 a.m. Holy Communion
Season of Advent
Turn On
Tune In
Wake Up!
In the 1960's people were urged to turn on, tune in, and drop
outto leave the material world behind in favor of an alternate
reality. Jesus also urges us to tune into an alternative to the
material world, one he called the coming of the Son of Man. In
Jesus' person, the dominion of God comes into the world, and the
risen Christ continues to give us abundant signs of its presence.
Jesus commands his followers not to drop out of the world, but to
be on the lookout for him in it.
Christians await the second coming of Christ, the parousia, when
we believe we will experience God's reign in its fullness. In the
meantime, we live, in the words of some theologians, "already, but
not yet." We look for glimpses of the dominion in the here and now.
The season of Advent is designed to help turn us on to the
excitement and anticipation of God's reign in our lives and tune in
to the infinite opportunities we have to participate in it. In
other words, they want to wake us up!
St. Paul exhorts us in Romans 13:1114 to lead lives of faithful
obedience until the final day. He also challenges us to participate
in God's dominion in the here and now, calling us to wake from
sleep, to "put on Christ." Eyes wide open and wrapped in Christ, we
are called to a new day. In Isaiah 2:15 Isaiah describes his own
vision: gathered by God, learning and teaching God's ways, walking
in God's paths, beating swords into ploughshares and spears to
pruning hooks.
Wide-awake, active, and ready for encounters with Jesus, we may
find God's dominion when and where we least expect it.
The EpistleDecember 2013
A monthly publication of
St. Pauls Lutheran Church
417 Howertown Road
Catasauqua, PA 18032
610-264-3221
Church Office Hours Sunday School Child Care Center
Monday-Friday September-June Monday-Friday
9:00am-3:00pm 9:00am 7:30am-5:30pm
.
May Joy be your gift at Christmas
and may Faith, Hope and Love
be your treasures in the New Year
~~~~
St. Pauls Church Council
DATELECTORCOMM. ASSTS.ACOLYTES CRUCIFERS
ALTAR GUILD
1-Dec8:00 AM8:00 AM8:00 AM8:00 AM
-Len Witt/Bob BastianHannah Matchette/Bree SheldonP. Gerber/D.
Stewart
10:30 AM10:30 AM10:30 AM10:30 AM
Bette RabenoldDoug Newhard/Al RennAli Dixon/Linda HouckB.
Rabenold/D. Williams
8-Dec8:00 AM8:00 AM8:00 AM8:00 AM
-Pat Gerber/Paula KesackAlyssa Cantrel/Hope EisenhardJ.
Mooney/L. Reitz
10:30 AM10:30 AM10:30 AM10:30 AM
David EckMark Weaver/Kay MuehlbergerBrittain Shander/Calla
ShanderL. Anglestine / H. Ackerman
8:00 AM8:00 AM8:00 AM8:00 AM
15-Dec-Al Ren/Bob BastianAdam Reinhart/Eddie ForstofferJ.
Falko/K. Heller
10:30 AM10:30 AM10:30 AM10:30 AM
Paula KesackJudy Buss/Jessica KirkpatrickCarol Williams/Madison
MacHoseT. Bastidas/L. Miller
22-Dec8:00 AM8:00 AM8:00 AM8:00 AM
-Len Witt/Al Renn-
10:30 AM10:30 AM10:30 AM10:30 AM
Sunday School-Gavyn MacHose/Zarhary Lower-
24-Dec7:00pm7:00pm7:00pm7:00pm
Bob TeetsDoug Newhard/Rev.G. Spieker/Ali Dixon/Linda Houck/
Brian Pansik/
J. Younger
Mark WeaverAlison Mengel
10:00pm10:00pm10:00pm10:00pm
Sonny HeilLen Witt/Al Renn/Judy BussBree Sheldon/Hannah
Matchette/
J. Younger
Hope Eisenhard
29-Dec8:00 AM8:00 AM8:00 AM8:00 AM
-Bob Bastian/Al Renn-P. Gerber/D. Stewart
10:30 AM10:30 AM10:30 AM10:30 AM
Mark WeaverMark Weaver/Kay Muehlberger-B. Rabenold/D.
Williams
