December 2016

St. Paul’s Lutheran

The Epis†le Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

There’s a Christmas card out there that says, “Tis the Reason for the Season”

with a picture of a carton of eggnog. It was the first time I had seen this one.

I passed on buying it. While its religious message was at zero, it led my thoughts to the ways

we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Savior of the world and true “reason for the season.”

Colorful lights, blingy decorations, Christmas trees, exchanging presents,

and festive get-togethers with honey-baked ham, tamales, and eggnog are just some

of the traditions we have surrounding Christmas. They are all ways we show on the outside,

the special joy we feel on the inside.

The greatest way Christians honor the coming of our Savior is through worship.

In our gathering together by faith in worship, we bring ourselves before the Savior

in humbleness. We are led by God’s Word to recognize our need to know and follow

Jesus who came into this world in a miraculous way – sent by God from heaven to earth,

born of the Virgin Mary, and named by an angel, yet placed in an ordinary manger,

wrapped in swaddling clothes. This is the One who brings us

forgiveness and abundant life. Blessed be our Savior,

and may his grace rest upon St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

who proclaims his name above all names – Jesus.

Oh come let us adore him!

A blessed Advent and Christmas to you all,

Pastor Nancy

The Epistle December 2016

Birthdays

1 – Mary Schlobohm

2 – Angie Ash

3 – Millie Baxter

3 – Anna Maria Chauviere

4 – Betty Ganske

6 – Stefan Abmayr

8 - Krista Hargrove

8 - Bailey Stevens

8 – Billy Stevens

9 – Rip Clanton

12 – Robert Steffler

12 – Kurstyn Clarke

14 – Carly Hylton

16 – Justin Reavis

17 – Marguerite Brueck

20 – Gene Zeiss

22 - Elaine Eschberger

22 – Emily McCoy

23 - Caroline Lucke

24 - Jace Seymour

25 – Jesus Christ

26 – Amy Andrews

27 – Albert Elizondo

29 – Hannah Prague

Baptismal Anniversaries 1- Willy Salewski

7 – Kevin Johnston

9 – Kaitlin Migl

10 – Kyle Stevens

10 – Bailey Stevens

10 – Billy Stevens

11 – Kelly Ray Dikeman

12 – Nancy Simpson

26 – Bill Mayberry

27 – Debbie Gillespie

30 – Adrianne Stevens

31 – Betty Ganske

Wedding Anniversaries 17 – Ed & Debbie Bakemeier

18 - Lawrence & Lana Lauderdale

20 – Albert & Karen Elizondo

26 - Rob & Kyla Johnston

29 – Phil & Mildred Crawford

Serving Our Country Alan Campisi, Aaron Carlin, Justin Giese,

Paul Gomez, Mitchell Handley,

Mike Hobbs, Amy Hoff and family,

Brandon Locha, Stephen McWilliams,

Aaron Molina, Chris Paradowski,

Kaylyn Perry, Chris Salo and family,

Kyle Spence, Garrett Threadgill, Austin

Wilkinson, Sean and Hannah Zarsky

In Our Prayers

Charlotte & Leon Busby-support

Cindy Eschberger- shut-in

Boo Boo Fojt- healing

Betty Ganske- health concerns

Barbara Garrett- health concerns

Virginia Hackfeld- health concerns

O.J. Lamb- health concerns

Laurence Lauderdale- health concerns

Emily McCoy- healing

Elvie McCullough- health concerns

Lorraine Patterson- health concerns

Colleen & Ken Peting- sympathy

Walter & Doris Rein- health concerns

Gail Salewski- health concerns

Bob Steffler- healing

June Tieman- health concerns

Ben & Elaina Vircant- sympathy

Sherry White- healing

Church Offices Closed

December 23rd - January 1st

Thank you

To Sgt. Maggie Hinojosa, Baytown

PD, for helping us during our Food

Pantry as turkeys were given to

those in need

For all those who stayed and

decorated the church for Advent

To Steve Burns for striping the

parking lot

To Angie Ash for polishing the

Advent wreath we use on Wednes-

day nights

To all our Food Pantry volunteers,

Sunday morning worship leaders,

Tellers, Sound System Technicians,

Committee Members, Choir Mem-

bers, Instrumentalists, Prayer Shawl

Ministry, Eucharist Ministers, Card

Writers, photographers and any

volunteers not mentioned. You are

appreciated!

To Hoya Ash, Sandra & James

McGee, Don Eschberger, Chuck

Ohm, Steve Burns and any others

who work keeping our church

grounds so beautiful.

Brooks Bruner and Allie Stephens

receive their first Bibles

MARK YOUR CALENDAR St. Paul’s is hosting the Church Women United Annual Meeting and Sacrificial Luncheon - Thurs, January 5th at 10:00 a.m.

The Epistle December 2016

INREACH/OUTREACH NEWS

Committee Meeting, Monday, Dec. 12th at 1pm

Breakfast with Hot Rod Santa

and ride the Christmas Train! Saturday, December 10th

9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Santa will arrive at St. Paul’s parking lot in his

hot rod, no sleigh or reindeer here!

Kids will have the opportunity to eat pancakes

and talk with Santa and ride the Christmas

train. All are welcome. Free of charge.

Blood Drive In honor of Jaime Guillen Sunday, December 11th 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

DONOR COACH in church

parking lot

To schedule and appointment visit. www.giveblood.org. Sponsor code: 1538

FOOD PANTRY SCHEDULE FOR DECEMBER Open 9a.m. - 11 a.m.

Thursday Dec. 1, 8, 15, and Tuesday Dec. 20

Closed Dec. 22 and 29

Open Thursday January 5

Tidings of Comfort and Joy A Midweek Advent Worship Series

Weekly Themes Week 2: The Angel Speaks to Joseph’s Confusion

Week 3: The Angel Speaks to Mary’s Doubt

Week 4: The Angel Speaks to the Shepherds’ Curiosity

Wednesday Nights at 7:00 p.m.

December 7th, 14th, and 21st Worship services will be held in the Fellowship Hall.

TRANSPORTATION

There will be two sign-up sheets: One for those who

are willing to provide transportation and the other

for people who need a ride to and from the service.

Signup sheets are in the Fellowship Hall.

Christmas Worship Services:

Christmas Eve (Sat., December 24)

6:30 p.m. Worship and Christmas Nativity

Presentation

Christmas Day (Sun., December 25)

10:30 a.m. Lessons and Carols

25 red poinsettias are available for

purchase in honor or memory of loved ones. They are $16 each. You may put your payment in the offering plate with the word “poinsettia” and your offering envelope number written in the memo. Make check to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. There is a sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall. You may take your poinsettias home after the Christmas Eve worship service.

WORSHIP & MUSIC NEWS

Committee Meeting Sunday, Dec. 18th at 12pm

The Epistle December 2016

SUNDAY SCHOOL

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM All children are invited and encouraged to

participate in the Christmas program on

Saturday December 24 during our

Christmas Eve worship at 6:30pm.

Please see Becky Linsenbardt for

more information.

BIBLE STUDY GROUPS

SUNDAY SCHOOL for all ages 9:00 a.m.

Elizabeth Circle All women welcome

Tues., Dec. 14th at 9:30 a.m. Meet in

Fellowship Hall for Christmas coffee.

MEN’S FELLOWSHIP Second Saturday of every

month at 7 a.m. Guys, come enjoy breakfast, Bible study

& fellowship. Talk with Ian Gillespie for more info.

Small group at Chick-Fil-A will not meet in

December. They will resume their 2nd Wednesday

get togethers on January 11th, 6:30 p.m. at the Mont

Belvieu Chick-Fil-A. This group is geared toward

young adults (high school and college).

Play group will be starting back up again in

December! "Play group" is elementary children and

their parents enjoying fellowship and friends at the

Mont Beliveu park. In the past we met on a Sunday

after church, had a picnic lunch, and visited while the

kids played. Any suggestions of date, time, or location

preferences should be directed to Donna Reavis

936-336-0370 so she can

plan a fun time for everyone!

Education NEWS

Youth & Family NEWS

Committee Meeting Sunday, Dec. 11th at 12pm

Tuesday, December 13th @ 11:30AM Longhorn Steakhouse 6201 East Sam Houston Pkwy. North Sign-up sheets for both events are in the Fellowship Hall

Living Lutheran Magazine In an effort to reduce costs, the Inreach/Outreach Committee has cancelled the subscription to Living Lutheran magazine. You can subscribe online at www.livinglutheran.org or call 800-638-3522

Depression & Bipolar Support Group

Thursday evenings at St. Paul’s, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Open to the public, all are welcome.

LEARN SPANISH CLASS -On Holiday Break

Class will resume Sunday, January 8th at 2:00 p.m.

BUNCO! The last Wednesday of each month 6:30-8:30pm.

Come out for an evening of ladies’ fellowship.

You’ll enjoy bunco, faith, and fun. The ladies of

St. Paul’s will play and pray together!

INREACH/OUTREACH NEWS continued

Women of the ELCA

Christmas Potluck Luncheon

& White Elephant Exchange Sat., December 3rd at 11:30 a.m.

Please bring a dish to share

and invite a friend. ($10 limit on gift)

The Epistle December 2016

Houston Lutheran Chorale Concert Saturday, December 3 at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 4 at 4:00 p.m.

Trinity Lutheran Church 800 Houston Ave., Houston, TX Come listen, sing, and enjoy the familiar songs of the season.

Texas Lutheran University 2016 Christmas Vespers TLU’s Auditorium Dec. 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, Austin Dec. 11 at 4 p.m. visit tlu.edu/vespers for tickets and further information

Tangled Blue Concert

Aimee and Joel Pakan are coming to Kinsmen Luther-

an Church, 12100 Champion Forest Dr, Houston, TX

77066. They have been favorites at Lutheran gather-

ings large and small, and we hope you won't miss

them. January 14th

5:30 pm - Informal worship in the sanctuary

6:15 pm - Pre-concert appetizers in the narthex

7:00 pm - Concert in

the sanctuary

Concert admission is free and open to all.

Create a nativity set from paper. Print out either

the colored version or a line drawing that kids can color themselves. Then assemble the figures with a bit of glue. Go to our synod website and check it out.

http://gulfcoastsynod.org/gulf-coast-resources/nativity-set/

November Memorials & Honorariums

In Memory of: Priscilla Busby Given By: Hoya & Angie Ash Designation: Capital Expenditures In Honor of: Food Pantry Turkey Fund Given By: Women’s Club of Baytown Designation: Food Pantry In Honor of: Food Pantry Turkey Fund Given By: XAGZ Sorority Designation: Food Pantry In Memory of: Larry Linsenbardt Given By: Sandra Sensebe Designation: Choir Fund

The Epistle December 2016

Treasurer’s Report From this statement you can see that the Balance Sheet for August, shows a negative $8,527.76 was received to meet the expenses YTD. In order to pay the bills, we have had to "borrow" from the designated accounts. We do not have the September closing balance yet, and we will publish that information when it is available.

Golden Group’s monthly luncheon at Hurricane Tita’s to celebrate Myrtle’s 90th birthday

Sue, Michelle and Stefan Fredricks Dennis and Susie Salo Bettina, a client of our Food Pantry, blessed

sing for Sunday worship dropped in for visit us with a thanksgiving table based on Psalm 104

The Epistle December 2016

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Council November 14, 2016, Meeting Minutes Present: Pastor Nancy Simpson, Tena Burgess, Kim Holle, Susan Clanton, Renee Napier, Debbie Gillespie, Ian Gillespie, Lorrie Andrews, Tori Rein and Dalton Rein. Absent: Becky Linsenbardt

Guest present: Jada Hylton, Rev.Chris Markert, Assistant to the Bishop-Mission Catalyst

Donna Reavis led the opening devotion, Renewal of Spirit.

Rev. Chris Markert met with Council to discuss strategic planning. He presented several renewal options that Council will discuss at the December meeting.

Jada Hylton shared her concerns and asked questions regarding Council’s decision to no longer provide insurance benefits for herself and the director of music ministry, beginning in 2017.

Approval of Minutes The minutes from the October meeting were accepted as published in the November Epistle.

Pastor’s Report Pastor informed Council that she will be in San Antonio Wednesday through Friday of the holiday week. The Church office will be closed during this time. Pastor discussed with Council the training and mentoring of the youth in the church to serve as assistant ministers, ushers and greeters.

Treasurer’ Report Income exceeded expenditures for October. This is partly due to the closing of the Boys Scout accounts, which added approximately $4000 to the general fund balance and the sale of the scout trailer. Kim stated that the last quarter of property insurance has been paid. Overall the cost of the insurance exceeded the amount budgeted for 2016.

Council discussed and continues to work on reducing expenditures in the proposed 2017 budget. Council will continue to review/revise the proposed budget at the December meeting.

Old Business Witte memorial- Council agreed to no longer pursuing the family in regard to the donation. No one has respond-

ed to her many attempts to contact them. In turn, Council will not pursue the Carillon/Bell Tower memorial project. Ian Gillespie will contact the Verdin Company to let them know.

The 2016 Constitution Review Committee (Renee Napier, Kim Holle and Pastor Nancy Simpson) will begin the review process of the 2016 Model Constitution with our currently adopted constitution and Bylaws and revise as needed.

New Business Red Book review -There are no milestones for December. Committee Updates – None German Dinner follow-up

Council discussed that attendance and donations were better that the previous year. Letter to inactive members

Pastor provided Council with a copy of the letter sent in May 2012. Council has requested additional information and will review the membership list at the December meeting

Annual meeting – date, report deadline The annual meeting will be held January 22, 2017 right after church Council/Committee reports are due to Jada by December 12, 2016

Nominating Committee Council discussed and brought forth names for the nominating committee. Debbie Gillespie will contact

the prospects. Other– None

Respectfully submitted, Renee Napier

PROPERTY NEWS

Committee Meeting Sunday, Dec. 4th at 12pm

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church- ELCA 712 Schilling Avenue Baytown, TX 77520 Tel (281)422-9333 Fax (281)422-3648 Web Site: www.stpaulsbaytown.org Office Hours: 9:30AM-3:30PM, M-TH SUNDAY SCHEDULE: Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Worship Service 10:30 a.m. Nursery available STAFF: Rev. Nancy Simpson, Pastor Rick Falconi, Director of Music Ministries Jada Hylton, Director of Office Ministries

Happy 90th birthday Myrtle Viereck

Myrtle is pictured with her family Lori, son Brian, Emily and Erin Viereck