St. Paul News Nov. 24, 2019

Welcome Visitors: We are glad you’re here and we pray you experience God’s

presence in worship today. Please take a Visitor Bag to help you learn more about the ministry at St. Paul. We also

invite you to sign our Visitor Book. Blessings to you, and we hope you join us again!

Highlights

First Communion Today: our 2nd graders are receiving their First Communion! Congratulations and God's blessings to Ryder Troxell, Julianna Pacelli and Lilly Clair!

Home Communion: This morning St. Paul begins a new ministry to provide Holy Communion to our home-bound members. Today we will install the Lay Eucharistic Ministers and bless the new home communion kits.

Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Today we will pray for: Jenny Bitzer, Jane Brye, D. Michael Byler, Phyllis Frankhouser, Wayne Gongaware, Jim Millhouse, Kathy Ross, Al Rothermel, Vicar Emmy Schreiber, Gayle Stauffer, Joanne Strunck and Nancy Weiss as they extend the worship to home-bound members. Please keep them in your prayers as you continue to pray for the mission and ministry of St. Paul. Flowers at the Pulpit/Lectern are given in celebration of the First Communion Kids today! The Altar Flowers are offered to the Glory of God by Beth Hoffer in memory of her mother, Carol Mullen.

ROOTED AND GROWING St. Paul Lutheran Church

Lititz, PA

The Communion Bread is offered to the Glory of God by the 1st Communion Kids in honor of their 1st communion.

Advent Worship: During the four Sundays in Advent, we will light our Advent wreath with a Bible reading. At the 8:15 am services we need one family or group of friends to read and light the candles. The readings and signup sheet are in a notebook in the narthex. Instructions are included.

Nursery: children ages infant - preK are welcome to play in the Nursery room during worship. St. Paul relies on adult, church-member volunteers to care for the children. More adults are needed! Please sign-up at https://ttsu.me/stpaulworship after submitting your clearances to Deacon Emily. Many thanks for caring for kids! Volunteer nursery coordinator: Jenn Maryniak. A Safe Place: St. Paul has completed a Safe Child Policy for our church; it was approved by Council at their November meeting. The policy brings the church into compliance with laws requiring Volunteer Clearances for adults who help kids, and Mandated Reporting training for them too. Thank you to all of those who are becoming "approved adults" at St. Paul. If you would like to learn more, or to submit your clearances - contact Deacon Emily Myallis.

Finances We thank everyone who made a pledge to St. Paul. Both the total number (126) and amount ($419,000) are up significantly from last year. In fact, the pledged amount is nearly $60,000 greater than last year! We are grateful to have received estate monies that gave St. Paul $5,000 for Lutheran camp scholarships Council has approved the budget. It will be included in the upcoming quarterly newsletter. There will be a discussion session on Dec 8 and a congregational meeting on Dec 15 to approve the budget.

Dec. 22 at 10:00am --- all are invited to the Sunday

school children’s annual Christmas Program in the

Social Hall! Music, costumes and the story of Jesus!

Sundays at 6:30pm in the Social Hall

Dec 1 - advent wreath-making

Dec 8 - deck the halls church decorating

Dec 15 - gingerbread nativity building

Dec 22 - caroling with cocoa

INTERGENERATIONAL; for all ages & abilities!

Children @ Church

November's Faith Step-Stone: 2nd graders are playing the annual Communion Jeopardy game with their families today, led by Mr. Jim Hoffer during the Sunday school hour. Have fun :)

Advent Devotionals for Kids: Today in Sunday school, all children will receive an interactive Advent Devotional for their home use. These will also be available from Deacon Emily on Dec. 1. They're star-themed this year!

St. Paul's Kids Christmas Program: it's right around the corner! During December, all children in Sunday School (ages 3 - 6th grade) will be preparing a special Christmas

Program to be shared on Sunday, Dec. 22nd during the Sunday School time-slot. Mark your calendars and plan to be at Sunday School in December to practice.

Youth Youth Advent Devotionals are here! "Behold the Savior" is specifically written for guiding teens spiritually through this exciting season. See Johnna to get yours today! Upcoming Events: There is NO youth group meeting this Wednesday due to the holiday break. Our next meeting will be on Wednesday Dec. 11th from 6:30-8 in the youth room. *We encourage youth and their families to enjoy the Sunday evening Advent events together!*

Music Spirit Singers (female voices, Grade 7 through adult) Calling all women! Spirit Singers are returning to the loft in December! Our song, “Advent Candlelight Carol” is easily learned in two rehearsals. Music, pencils, and “rehearse at home” audio links are provided.

Rehearsals are from 12:00 until 12:30 p.m. in the sanctuary choir loft:

Sunday, December 1

Sunday, December 8

Sing for 10:45 a.m. worship:

Sunday, December 15 Want to know more? Contact Pam Drenner at pdrenner@stpaullititz.net.

Fellowship & Service

Greens, greens and more greens! Dec. 1 is our annual Advent Wreath Making event in the Social Hall, and we need your donations of freshly-trimmed greens. Please bring them on Dec. 1 directly to the Social Hall. Many thanks --- hope you'll join the fun that evening too!

The St. Paul Women of the ELCA would like to thank the congregation for their generosity in donating $1,307 during Thankoffering Sunday.

Senior Christmas Dinner will be held on Sat., Dec. 7 at 12:00 in Social Hall. The St. Paul Women of the ELCA will be preparing a home cooked meal followed by light entertainment. If you are 65+ you are invited. Sign-up sheet in the narthex. Volunteers Needed - St. Paul WELCA is looking for volunteers to help cook, serve and clean up at the

Seniors Christmas dinner on Saturday, December 7. It is an excellent opportunity for adults and older children to help at a fun and fulfilling event. Contact Kathy Ross 717-468-7582. The Lititz Warwick Community Chest has requested the following items for the month of November: white rice and canned fruit-peaches, pears, fruit cocktail, mandarin oranges, applesauce. Please place the items in the wooden chest in the narthex.

The Christian Service Box donations for the months of November and December will be given to Power Packs Project. Power Packs Project partners with 13 of the 17 school districts in Lancaster County. The non-profit makes available a recipe for a low-cost meal and the ingredients to make it in addition to staples like peanut butter and cereal. St. Paul volunteers pick up the food in Lancaster each Thursday and deliver the food packs to Kissel Hill, John Bonfield and John Beck Schools where they are then distributed to the participating families. This project is one of many at St. Paul which addresses hunger in our area. Questions about the program can be directed to Jenny Bitzer, St. Paul coordinator or Linda Bell, Mission and Outreach Chairperson.

Homemade Sauerkraut Fundraiser to Support Warwick Area Food Bank: Homemade sauerkraut from the Landis Valley Farm Museum’s October Harvest Days has been donated to the St. Paul Congregational Life Committee as a fundraiser to support the Warwick Area Food Bank. 70 one-quart bags will be available for purchase at $5.00 per bag. Sign up at the kiosk in the narthex; first come, first served. Sauerkraut will be available for pick-up in the Social Hall kitchen on Sunday, December 1, after each worship service. WELCA Book Club will meet on Thursday, December 5 to talk discuss Still Alice by Lisa Genova. Everyone is welcome! Men’s Bible Study & Breakfast will be held at St. Paul on Sat., Dec. 7 at 8AM. All men are invited to attend. Contact Jim Millhouse at 717-626-6296 or e44a@ptd.net if you are willing to provide food or facilitate the Bible study. Blanket Makers: The next blanket making session will be on Dec 4 from 9:00- Noon in the social hall. St. Paul Women’s Bible Study: Sponsored by St. Paul’s Women of the ELCA, December’s study, “Fear Not,” is a reminder that God’s message to the shepherds is also for us. All women are invited to this study, during the Sunday church school hour on December 1. It will be held in Room 111, from 9:30am-10:30am.

Thanksgiving

Community Thanksgiving Meal: will be held on Thanksgiving Day from 11:00 am – 1:30 pm at Hosanna! A Fellowship of Christians, 29 Green Acre Rd, Lititz. The event is FREE TO ALL. For those who cannot leave their homes, Hosanna will deliver a meal to your home. For meal delivery or transportation needs, please contact Ann at (717)625-0907.

Hosanna is also collecting fresh cooked turkeys on Thanksgiving Day between 7:00-9:00 AM. Please see the flyer in the narthex for preparation instructions. Thanksgiving Worship: The Warwick Ministerium Annual Thanksgiving Service will be held today at 7:00 pm at Jerusalem Lutheran Church, 36 Church Street Rothsville, PA.

**** Endowment Fund Grants: Nearly 20 years ago, St. Paul formed an endowment. Since then this fund has given out over $300,000 to various ministries. Last year the fund provided 24 grants for a total of $31,872. (The amount available varies annually depending on the balance of the fund). Grants are applied for in November; decisions are made by the Endowment Committee in December; the distribution happens in January. The Endowment Fund Committee is currently accepting applications for grant requests. Any congregation member may apply for a grant for a ministry. Requests may include community outreach, church programs, capital improvements, and the church at large. Applications are available outside the church office and in the Narthex and are due to the office today.

Worship Volunteers We would love for you to join us in service. For more information

about volunteering, contact the church office (717)-626-4709, office@stpaullititz.net.

Visit our online sign up at https://ttsu.me/stpaulworship

Nov. 24 8:15 10:45

Acolyte Pat Lamb Audrey Myallis AG Set Up Nancy Weiss -

AG Set/Clean Up Michelle Mumma - AG Clean Up Kathy Trayer & Linda

Vance Assist. Minister Doug Minnich Emily Schreiber

Comm. Asst. Need 3 Kathy Ross, J. Millhouse Need 1

Greeters Lector Doug Minnich Jen Ziegler Lights/Sound Robert Wiegand George Nickel

Nursery Marty Althouse Jody Charles Ushers

Mike Herr Team 1 Jeff Eby Team 6

Dec. 1 8:15 10:45

Acolyte Needed Trey Tomlinson AG Set Up Barb Weaver AG Set/Clean Up Mary Ann Seitz - AG Clean Up - Stephanie Cramer Assist. Minister Tami Ruckel Michael Byler Comm. Asst. Need 3 Kathy Ross, J.

Millhouse Need 1 Greeters

Lector Tami Ruckel Michael Byler Nursery Jen Maryniak Jody Charles Lights/Sound Steve Fink Family John Bell Ushers Pat Lamb Team 11 Kathy Smith Team 10

Attendance: Nov. 17: 100 (8:15), 214 (10:45)

Two Week Calendar at a Glance

Nov. 24-30 Dec. 1-7

SUN 8:15 Worship 9:30 Sunday School 10:45 Worship 4:00 Stephen Ministry Training 5:00 Thanksgiving at Wittel Farm

SUN 8:15 Worship 9:30 Sunday School 9:30 Women’s Bible Study 10:45 Worship 6:30 Advent Wreath Making

MON 1:00 Archives 4:30 Children’s Chimes 6:00 Yoga 7:00 Jubilate Bells 7:00 Property Committee

MON 4:30 Children’s Chimes 6:00 Yoga 7:00 Jubilate Bells

TUES 10:00 Staff Mtg. 6:00 CELC Guidance Mtg.

TUES 10:00 Staff Mtg. 7:00 Knitting Group

WED 10:00 Ministerium

WED 9:00 Blanket Makers 10:00 Ministerium 7:00 Adult Choir 7:00 Devotion Rehearsal

THURS Closed for Thanksgiving

THURS 9:15 CELC Chapel 9:30 Bible Study 10:30 Bible Study 6:30 Oula 7:00 Bible Study 7:00 Book Club

FRI - CLOSED SAT

SAT 7:00 Men’s Bible Study 12:00 Senior’s Christmas Dinner

Poinsettia Order Form

To order a 3-4 bloom, 6 ½" poinsettia plant for Christmas, please complete the form below and return with your payment; place it in the offering plate, mail it to the church, or drop it off at the office. Make checks payable to “St. Paul Lutheran Church.” Deadline for orders is Monday, December 2. Cost: $5.00 each.

Given by: Phone:

In Memory of:

In Honor of:

To the Glory of God: _____

Number of Poinsettias Ordered:

Total Paid For Poinsettias:___________________

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Donation for Greens

Given by: Phone:

In Memory of:

In Honor of:

To the Glory of God: _____

Donation amount for Greens: _________

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Donations for Itete Hospital In Tanzania

Given by: Phone:

In Memory of:

In Honor of:

To the Glory of God: _____

Donation amount: ____________

St. Paul Ministers

Rev. Robert J. Myallis, Sr.Pastor rev.rob@stpaullititz.net

Deacon Emily Myallis, Children’s Minister

deaconemily@stpaullititz.net

Rev. Martha B. Sheaffer, Congregational Care Pastor pr.sheaffer@stpaullititz.net

Connect With Us! St. Paul Lutheran Church

200 West Orange St. Lititz, PA 17543 Office: 717-626-4709

Website: www.stpaullititz.net

Online Giving:

https://www.stpaullititz.net/giving.html

Mission Statement

Rooted in God’s grace, we grow loving relationships with Jesus and one another to serve the world.