the last word the chimes september 2018...picnic volunteers needed! we reach the goal, hrivent will...

20

The Last Word

Honor God in Your Work by Max Lucado

Heaven’s calendar has seven Sundays a week. God sanctifies each day. He conducts holy business at all hours and in all places. He uncommons the common by turning kitchen sinks into shrines, cafés into convents, and nine-to-five workdays into spiritual adventures.

Workdays? Yes, workdays. He ordained your work as something good. Before he gave Adam a wife or a child, even before he gave Adam britches, God gave Adam a job. “Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15 NASB). Innocence, not indolence, characterized the first family.

God views work worthy of its own engraved commandment: “You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest” (Exod. 34:21 NASB). We like the second half of that verse. But emphasis on the day of rest might cause us to miss the command to work: “You shall work six days.” Whether you work at home or in the marketplace, your work matters to God.

And your work matters to society. We need you! Cities need plumbers. Nations need soldiers. Stoplights break. Bones break. We need people to repair the first and set the second. Someone has to raise kids, raise cane, and manage the kids who raise Cain.

Whether you log on or lace up for the day, you imitate God. Jehovah himself worked for the first six days of creation. Jesus said, “My Father never stops working, and so I keep working, too” (John 5:17 NCV). Your career consumes half of your lifetime. Shouldn’t it broadcast God? Don’t those forty to sixty hours a week belong to him as well?

The Bible never promotes workaholism or an addiction to employment as pain medication. But God unilaterally calls all the physically able to till the gardens he gives. God honors work. So honor God in your work. “There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good” (Eccles. 2:24 NASB).

Here is the big idea:

Use your uniqueness (what you do) to make a big deal out of God (why you do it) every day of your life (where you do it).

At the convergence of all three, you’ll find the cure for the common life: your sweet spot. From Cure for the Common Life: Living in Your Sweet Spot (c) (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2005) Max Lucado

Used with permission. www.maxlucado.com Copyright July 30, 2018

THE CHIMES - September 2018

Newsletter for members and friends of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

From the Pastor’s Pen Page 2

Worship Words Page 3 Social Ministry Page 4

Bishop’s Cow Challenge Page 4

Picnic Volunteers Needed Page 5p

Senior Snippets Page 6

We Appreciate You Page 7

Youth News Page 8

Calendar 0

Encourage Page 13

Transition Team Page 15

Sunday School Page 18

Music Matters Page 19

The Last Word Page 20

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

St. Paul’s

DOWN ON THE FARM

Family Picnic

Sunday, September 9 after special 10:00 AM service

(one Sunday service only)

Sign up in the narthex!

Food * Fun * Fellowship

(Want to know what the cows are all about? See page 4!)

http://www.crosswalkmail.com/ddrdpstmdgdftjmnfrkwlfzltsfjhkkjgctlppndtrdsthc_xssrvdhrpbprtdrhvchjbgg.html?a=UpWords+from+Max+Lucado&b=UpWords+from+Max+Lucado+01%2F19%2F05&c=2520642

2

Dear Members and Friends: I’ve seen it. Members have shared with me that

they have seen it – and experienced it. The Holy Spirit is breathing new life into the people and ministries of St. Paul Lutheran Church! Have you felt it yet? I hope so. I saw it in the extraordinary Vacation Bible School week we had in July – 30 children and 40 leaders of all ages. The cast-aways were shipwrecked and then rescued by Jesus. During that week we celebrated Marie Kaelin’s 61 years of ministry with children. What a beautiful witness to all of us she is. I see it in Bev Grazioli, Jason Reed, and others on the Confirmation Planning Team who are preparing a Christ-centered and relational program for our young people and their faith formation. I see it in the dedicated volunteers who will serve as Sunday school (faith formation) teachers, sharing the story of Jesus and his love. I see it in the children who assist in 9:00 am Sunday worship. I see it in the lectors and communion assistants who are eager to learn. I see it in the council members who are engaging in healthy conversation about the ministries and projects here at church. I see it in the Property Team that works diligently to maintain and improve our building and grounds. I see it in folks who come to Bible study. I see it in the Legacy Team who have refurbished and are redecorating the Heritage Room. I see it in members who are serving on the Transition Team. I see it in those who serve at funeral

luncheons. I see it in renewed Ministry Teams (formerly called committees). I see it in Denisemarie, our talented music director, and all the musicians who work with her. I see it in those who do the many and very important “behind-the-scenes” ministries. I see it in each and every one of you who worships and prays for St. Paul and our ministry to share God’s love in Christ. Thank you! God bless you for all you do. There’s lots in the works for this fall and winter. Keep your eyes and ears open for the many opportunities for fun and service and the opportunity to meet other members you may not know. Some of the activities on our schedule: the Church Picnic; Installation of Faith Formation (Sunday school) teachers; a new member class; Offering Commitment Sunday, and more. I’m eager to see you in worship every week as we gather around God’s table to receive the body and blood of Christ – the bread of life and the cup of salvation. Thanks be to God for all the blessings we have received. Your partner in the Gospel, Pastor Elaine

Pastor Elaine’s Contact Info

Cell: 609-410-2828

Office: 609-267-0740 x 21

Email: [email protected]

19

Music Matters

September 2018

by Denisemarie Ramos

August Rush September is here. But as I am writing this, it’s still August. We have hazy days and chilly nights, beach time and PLANNING! Actually almost every week of this summer has contained some kind of meeting to plan for the coming church year. Music Directors Krissy Soltesz, Jackie Smith and I have been planning rehearsals, Sundays and pieces for all the groups. Pastor Elaine, Nancy Mangiante, Susan Carpenter and I have been planning hymns, liturgy and celebrations. Our music groups all start up again in September. Bells, Christus Choir, Children’s Choirs, Chorale and Praise Band are all back and schedules are posted. If you are interested in any of these groups, please talk to a music director if you would like to join. We have had an amazing summer. Same Spirit has continued their ministry all summer long. We have had soloists nearly every week. I want to thank the band and all the people who provided special music for their dedication over the past three months. You are an inspiration and blessing to me.

I’m looking forward to a wonderful year of worship and music with St. Paul’s. We have big plans to celebrate the 501st Reformation, a Thanksgiving event, special music for advent, new liturgy for Christmas, celebrations of saints and festivals, many Fasnacht Follies plans, special music for Lent, Easter and well into next June. So, please pray for worship and music to be a great offering to the Lord this church year. “Music is the art of the prophets and the gift of God.” –Martin Luther

18

Sunday School ~ Learn and Then Do!

3

Worship Words + Blessings The pronouncement of God’s favor upon persons, places, events, and things. To bless is to offer thanksgiving for God’s gifts and to devote all that is blessed to the praise of God and the good of humankind. Biblical references to blessing are numerous, in both the New and Old Testaments. The biblical tradition of blessing persons and things was continued in the early Church: bread and wine for Holy Communion, water for baptism, and oil for the sick. This tradition has been maintained in the Church through the succeeding centuries. In our occasional services, the words blessing and dedication are used synonymously. To bless is not to change the blessed but to acknowledge God as the author of all creation and to devote the blessed to that which serves the will of God.

From Worship Words, R. Van Loon & S. A. Stauffer, Augsburg Fortress 1995

Bible Studies Begin!

Bible studies will be starting back up in September! Mondays, 7:00 pm—Led by Pastor Elaine Starting Monday, September 10 Books of Faith: John Tuesday, 6:30 pm—Led by Karen Shell Starting Tuesday, September 11 1 Peter, 2 Peter and Jude Thursdays, 10:00 am—Led by Sharyn Lyden Starting Thursday, September 20 People of Faith: Ruth, Samuel & Elijah

Get connected!

4

Social Ministry

Operation Fill-A-Backpack

Thank you to everyone who donated school supplies for the Oaks Integrated Care Fill-A-Backpack Program. We collected 14 backpacks and many school supplies—crayons, pencil, pens, notebooks and more!

A special thank you to Carol and Rich Moyer for delivering the supplies to Oaks.

Children’s Shoe Collection

Another thank you for your generosity in donating to the Children’s Shoe Collection. We have collected 25 pairs and still

counting! The shoes will be distributed to Bridge of Peace as well as to local schools.

The Bishop’s Challenge: Changing the World, One Cow at a Time!

Did you know that one dairy cow can

produce as many as three gallons of

milk each day? That nutritious, calcium

-packed milk from a cow helps ensure

that children in a family or community

can grow up healthy and strong. Extra

milk can also be used to make cheese,

yogurt, butter and other dairy products

to eat and sell for a steady source of

income. With food and funds—not to

mention fertilizer for fields—a cow is a

total package for a family which would

otherwise face hunger.

Between now and the 2019 Synod

Assembly, each congregation in the

New Jersey Synod is invited to raise

$500, which is what the ELCA World

Hunger Appeal spends to provide one

cow through their Good Gifts program.

17

16

5

Picnic Volunteers Needed!

We need your help to make this picnic a success. Sign up in the Narthex or let the Church Office know if you can help:

- Available for general help

- Grill

- Set up

- Pitch the tents

- Borrow your corn hole game

- Borrow your 10' x 10' pop-up tent

Thank you!

Feed Northeast 2018

This year, we will be participating in

Thrivent’s Feed Northeast 2018, an

initiative to help those in our community

who have limited or uncertain availability

of food for themselves and their families.

From October 1—October 31, our goal is

to gather at least 500 items to benefit the

Extended Hands Ministry food pantry. If

we reach the goal, Thrivent will give a

$500 donation to Extended Hands.

If you have any

questions, please

contact Joy Lynch

at (609) 261-1389.

Thank you for

helping us fight

hunger in our

community!

September Food Collection

Suggestions for this month: canned meats, peanut butter & jelly, crackers, 100% juice boxes, canned pastas, breakfast cereal. As always, all items welcome!

Paper, plastic and cloth bags are also needed.

Please place the items on the hutch in the narthex. Thank you!

6

SENIOR SNIPPETS By Clyde Zarkos Cross County Connection’s EASY RIDER seasonal publication (free subscription: 856-596-8228) offers comprehensive online resources for southern New Jersey transportation information such as New Jersey Transit, (Driverless.com) How to Share your ride and cost, commuter discounts, real-time traffic data, interactive Transit maps, Safe Route School provided Travel Plan, Community Shuttle Routes, plus other projects in the planning stage. Take the quiz: “How Street Smart are you?” (BeStreetSmartNJ.org). Soldiers Without Guns, Women Defense Workers of WWII presentation - Burlington County Historical Society, Burlington: Sept. 15, 2 PM, free, to register: 609-386-4773 ext.1, [email protected]* Social Butterflies Age More Gracefully - To live longer and stay healthier, get out of the house and mingle. Socially active seniors are more likely to retain mobility as they age. A less socially active 67 year-old could only function at a 72 year-old level.** Have you skimmed or read your latest issue of the AARP Bulletin? Prevent tech fraud - Legitimate computer companies will never contact users via pop-up screens or phone calls, communications must be initiated by you. (1) If you get a pop-up warning, never call the toll-free number provided, (2) Do not click anywhere in the pop-up window, (3) lose the browser from the task bar or task manager, (4) Reboot your computer, turn it off and back on again, (5) if all else fails, take your computer to an authorized dealer.*** TIP OF THE MONTH - Fall Asleep Faster - Shut off all electronics screens well before you go to bed. The bright light tricks your brain into working in a daylight mode. - Nap between 1 pm and 3 pm. For most folks, your circadian rhythm creates a daily, mid-afternoon drowsiness. If you want to nap it’s the perfect time. Set your phone alarm for 20 minutes and wake up refreshed. - Your feet & hands regulate your whole body temperature by blood flowing through them. Put on socks to warm up, Stick your feet out from under the covers to cool down if you don’t want to regulate the room temperature. - Control the Room Noise. White noise from a fan can eliminate those little distracting sounds which can keep you wide awake in an otherwise perfectly quiet room. - Breathing exercises and meditation - Practice a simple meditation routine or breathing exercise to clear your mind and calm your body. Try focusing on each breath. **** *Burlington County Times - **Rush University Medical Center Research, Chicago - ***AARP Bulletin, (free to Members) - ****BCT Life Hacks

15

Transition Team

The transition team

has been selected

and installed. The

following people have

agreed to take leadership roles:

Carrie Izzo—Chairperson

Elaine Jardine—Note Keeper

Bill Lynch—Reporter—5:00 service

Betty Brink—Reporter—9:00 service

Bob Ritter—Reporter—11:00 service

The next meeting will be held on

Sunday, September 23 from 12:15—

1:45 pm.

Diner Dash

On Saturday,

September 22,

following the 5:00 pm service

we will be having dinner at the

Diamond Diner

on Route 38 in Hainesport.

Joan & Joy Lynch will be taking

reservations before the service.

It will be an open menu

with individual checks.

All are welcome!

A Progress Report from the Finance Team… After all of the discussions last year about our troubled financial situation, it is a pleasure to report what a difference a year can make! Due to our smaller staff and numerous efforts by many to control costs, this year we have enjoyed giving in excess of our spending. We have caught up on our bills and all are now current. We have paid off all of our credit card debt, and we and making progress on eliminating the balance on the line of credit. A generous gift from the estate of Miriam Prickett brought our mortgage down to only one remaining payment, which has now been paid. We are mortgage free! Council now has been able to divert their attention from finances to developing our ministries and preparing for our new pastor. While our attendance has been down 17% and giving has been running about 86% of last year, our expenses are running only about 76% of last year. If this trend continues we could finish the year with giving over $425,000 and expenses below $390,000, providing us with a healthy surplus to enter the new year. Thank you for your continued generous support of St. Paul’s. It has made a difference!

14

7

Pastoral Acts for August

Baptisms: None

Funerals: None

Weddings: None

Next Book Club

Thursday, September

7:00 PM

at Carol Ritter’s House

Book: Manhattan Beach

By Jennifer Eagan

If you have questions,

please contact Peg Biringer

(609) 894-8089.

Everyone likes to see plants and flowers in the church. It makes things look fresh and cheery. We have plants all around the church—in the sanctuary, in the office and gracing the windowsills of the hallways.

But like anything else, these plants need care. Not all of us are blessed with a green thumb, so we depend on those who have one.

Enter Joan Thompson! Joan takes care of all the plants around the church—watering them, trimming when necessary, and adding seasonal silk flowers to add a little color to the green.

Joan takes time every Sunday to tend to the plants and make sure everything is taken care of.

Thank you Joan!

We appreciate you!!

8

It’s Coming!!!

The new Heritage/Library Room

(formerly the Hearth Room) is currently under construction. Ultimately it will house permanent and rotating displays of items

and information relating to the history of St. Paul’s. There will be a media area for viewing DVD’s, a library area with the

works of Martin Luther, a place to sit and read and a table to sit and do research.

This is an exciting opportunity for all members to get up close and personal with

our history. Dedication of the new room is planned for October.

Calling all Wood Workers! Would you be willing to build faith chests to be given to our newly baptized brothers and sisters in Christ? I have the plans and the chest would need to be completed before the weekend of January 12th/13th. If you are interested or not a wood worker but know someone who would enjoy this project, please be in touch or notify the Church Office. Thanks!

Sasha Makuka

September Youth News 2018

By Sandy Sambucci

As of this writing, the Catechism Class and

Youth group are “under

construction.” Exciting things are

underway! Once everything is finalized,

more information will be given. One thing

I can tell you is Among the Wolves is

scheduled for November 16-18. Parents of

students in Grades 6-9, mark your

calendars!

September Card

Shower

Sometime during the month of September send a card of care and

encouragement to:

Art Mahnken Powerback Rehab Center

Room 348 212 Marter Avenue

Moorestown, NJ 08057

13

ENCOURAGE -- A Fine Christian Word

It's been more than twenty years since I was invited to join the Evangelism Team at St. Paul's. Carl Brink was the team leader at the time, and he needed someone to write an Evangelism article for the Chimes. When it became known that I had once received an "A" for writing a one-act play in high school, I got the job; and what a life-changing experience it has been. You see, I soon realized that, in order to write a meaningful article, I often had to go to my Bible for help. It wasn't long before a few church members began to compliment me for my writing. I felt encouraged, and even more so when some former members whose names and addresses were still on our mailing list began to telephone or write, saying how much they enjoyed my articles. One lady now living in Fullerton, California, said she was discussing one of my articles with her Bible Study class of forty-five members. I thought: how kind of her to let me know. I continued writing for the Chimes until a few months ago, when I had a bad fall that required several surgeries to my head. Until then, I had even considered sending some of my articles to a publisher. You see, I felt quite certain that, if I could get my articles into the hands of those who had not yet come to know Jesus, this would be in keeping with God's will. It might even be a step toward satisfying God's Great Command to "Go and make disciples of all nations and that he would be with us to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20) It was about this time my son, Andy, thought: Dad, why not go ahead, select some of your better articles and send them to a publisher. More encouragement. "Okay, Andy," I replied, "the job is yours." Laura and I have talked this over with our children and it is our goal to give the church any profits received from the sale of my book - The Chimes Ringing to God's Glory. It will be available online at BarnesandNoble.com, Amazon.com and BalboaPress.com. It is my hope and prayer to get a copy into as many hands as possible - especially to those who do know about Jesus but really don't know Him. This might be a family member, a neighbor, a coworker or almost anyone. As each person finishes reading the book, perhaps they in turn would pass the book on to someone else. My prayer is that the book will be shared and shared and reach the hands of many more. Together we might serve God and grow his kingdom, just as Jesus' disciples did as they followed His command to "go and make disciples." May God's blessings be yours each and every one of you. Sincerely, Dave Pagenkopf

12

Volunteer

Chaplain Aides

Volunteer Chaplain

Aides are needed at

Virtua Memorial

Hospital in Mt. Holly. There are openings

for trained lay visitors every day of the

week. Following a training and orientation

process, an Aide may donate two to four

hours each week to visit patients, offering

them friendship and spiritual comfort.

The 18-hour training course will be offered

in the Conference Center at the Virtua

Memorial Hospital, 175 Madison Avenue,

Mt. Holly on October 12 and October 13,

2018 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm with

continental breakfast at 7:30 am. If you

want to find out if volunteering is for you

before signing up for the course, please

phone or email for an information package

with details of the course and the process

of volunteering in the hospital. Contact

Chaplain Marge McGinley at (609) 914-

6365 or email your name and address to

[email protected].

Ding-Dong!

The door code to enter the

building will be changing at the

end of September. Stay tuned for

details.

Praise Band

Are you an undercover

rock star? The Praise

Band is looking for a

drummer! Do you play?

Do you know someone

who does? The drummer

does not have to be a member of the

congregation.

If you’re interested or know someone who

might be, please contact Krissy Soltesz.

T-Shirts Needed

Melissa Headrick is collecting PLAIN or

PATTERNED t-shirts (any color, no

words) for a project for the Bosnia

Servant Trip for next year.

Any questions, contact

Melissa at (609) 367-

4661.

Thanks!

9

New Member

Class

Do you enjoy the fellowship of St. Paul’s? Would you like

to know more about Christ faith and life?

There will be a new member class beginning in September. The class schedule is Sunday, September 30, October 7 and October 14 at 10:00 am. There will be a new member reception on October 21 at 10:00 am.

If you’re interested in joining the class, please contact the office at (609) 267-0740 or [email protected].

Blessing of the Backpacks September 16—9:00 AM

Would you like to participate in

Blessing of the

Backpacks? When you

arrive for worship,

bring your backpack,

forward and place it in

front of the altar and

we will pray for you at a special time

during the worship service.

Do you have a:

4-year old?

1st Grader?

5th Grader?

11th Grader?

If they have not already received their age-

appropriate Bible/devotional, please sign

up in the narthex for Bible Sunday on

September 23 at the 9:00 service! Contact

the church office at (609) 267-0740 or

email [email protected]. If

your child is older and missed one, let us

know. Sign-up sheet is on the youth

bulletin board.

On Sunday, September 16 at the 9:00 am

service, we will be having a Sunday School

Teachers & Coordinators Installation. The

installation will also include Bible Study

teachers.

Please join us as we pray for our Faith

Formation teachers and send them into a

new year of ministry.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 5:00 PM Worship 8:00 PM NA (MR)

2 9:00 AM Worship 11:00 AM Worship

3 Labor Day Church Office Closed 7:00 PM AA (PH) 8:30 PM NA (MR)

4 7:00 PM AA (C) 7:30 PM Same Spirit/Capstone

5 9:00 AM Aerobics (PH) 9:00 AM Needle/Thread (Q) 6:00 PM Weigh In (SH)

6 6:30 AM Men’s Prayer Bfst 6:30 PM Bell Choir (S) 7:00 PM Boy Scouts (PH) 7:30 PM Christus Choir (MR) 7:30 PM AA (SH)

7 7:00 PM Haven Youth (PH)


9 9:00 AM Worship 10:00 AM Worship 11:30 AM Church Picnic

10 9:00 AM Aerobics (PH) 7:00 PM Bible Study (CR) 7:00 PM AA (PH) 8:30 PM NA (MR)

11 10:00 AM EGA Board (PH) 6:30 PM Bible Study (SH) 7:00 PM Property Team Mtg (CR) 7:00 PM AA (C) 7:30 PM Same Spirit/Capstone

12 9:00 AM Aerobics (PH) 9:00 AM Needle/Thread (Q) 10:30 AM Flu Shot Clinic 6:00 PM Weigh In (SH)

13 6:30 AM Men’s Prayer Bfst 6:30 PM Bell Choir (S) 7:00 PM Boy Scouts (PH) 7:30 PM Christus Choir (MR) 7:30 PM AA (SH)

14 Chimes Articles Due


16 9:00 AM Worship Blessing of the Backpacks SS Teachers Installation 10:00 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship


18 6:30 PM Bible Study (SH) 7:00 PM AA (C) 7:30 PM Praise Band (S) 7:30 PM Congregation Council (CR)


20 6:30 AM Men’s Prayer Bfst 10:00 AM Bible Study (CR) 7:00 PM Boy Scouts (PH) 7:30 PM Christus Choir (MR) 7:30 PM AA (SH)

21


23 9:00 AM Worship/Bible Sunday 10:00 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship 7:00 PM Chorale

30 9:00 AM Worship 10:00 AM Sunday School 10:00 New Member Class 11:00 AM Worship


25 10:00 AM EGA Meeting (PH) 6:30 PM Bible Study (SH) 7:00 PM AA (C) 7:30 PM Same Spirit/Capstone


27 6:30 AM Men’s Prayer Bfst 10:00 AM Bible Study (CR) 6:30 PM Praise Band (S) 7:00 PM Boy Scouts (PH) 7:30 PM Christus Choir (MR) 7:30 PM AA (SH)

28 Chimes Assembly


Church Bldg H - Heritage Room M - Music Room N - Narthex O - Church Office PH - Parish Hall Ed - Education Wing

S - Sanctuary CR - Council Room

Study House (SH) C - Conference Room G - Great Room L - Library Q - Quilt Room B - Basement

2018