1
Messenger November 2019
Pastor Bill
Dear Friends,
As you know, we love our sheltie, Rudy. He doesn’t know
he’s a dog and we don’t tell him! He has his way of letting us
know when he wants something. He’s a bit of a whiner and
beggar and I guess we have enabled him just a little . We
do not have a doggie door to the backyard but a slight tear in
the bottom corner of the screen door in our back sunroom has been dubbed “the Rudy gate.” So,
when he wants in, he just pushes with his nose and crawls in. Unfortunately, someone (who shall go
unnamed) walked through the closed screen door on the way to put burgers on the grill in the dark a
couple of weeks ago, so the “Rudy gate” is much bigger now. Note: Once the winter hits, I’ll replace
the screen. Anyway, the other night I was sitting on the back patio with Rudy and he whined because
he wanted inside. I hesitated because I was enjoying the cooler weather and the moonlight but he
was inpatient and decided to make his own way. I had almost completely shut the screen door and he
was trying to wedge through the edge of the screen door and the porch frame even though the screen
in the door was flapping free and he could have gone right through to get inside. Why am I telling
you this and what lesson is to be learned? We are all good people who live by faith as best we know
how and are able. We make our petitions known to our God in our own unique ways even though
God knows our needs. Sometimes, when we find ourselves challenged, we can be impatient and
independent and try to make a way through our difficulties on our own. Many times, after we have
tried doing something ourselves, we discover that God has already made a way forward for us. I
know these are trying days for us individually, communally, nationally, and internationally. Our faith
family is being tested and, as we venture forward into a future that God has called us, we are
understandably both anxious and excited. I believe that though we might try to control or determine
the way, we cannot. God is in control and God will make a way. In the end, everything will work out
and as we journey God will keep us and never stop loving us. As we pause to give thanks this month,
I can think of no better reason to do so. God will make a way and God is always faithful!
THANKSGIVING
COMMUNITY DINNER
On Tuesday, November 26th
at 6:00 pm. we
will have a
special
Community
Thanksgiving
Dinner in the
Dining Room.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
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On Sunday, November 3rd in both services, we shall host our Annual
Memorial Observance and remember our members who have gone to be with the Lord in the last 12 months.
Please remember to bring a picture of a loved one (member or not) to lay
upon the altar if you so choose as we recount their lives and legacies through
liturgy and the tolling of the church bells. This Service is one of the most
meaningful and appreciated of the year. I hope you will be a part of it!
Stepping Out in Faith Everyone in our church family should have received a mailing from the church regarding this year’s stewardship campaign, “Stepping Out in Faith”. The mailing contains several items:
• A letter with details about the stewardship campaign
• A prayer guide for the weeks leading up to our Stewardship Sunday on November 10th (now included with this November Messenger)
• A step chart, showing the giving levels for our congregation in 2018
• A percentage giving chart, to help you identify where you currently stand and where you might want to “step up”
• A commitment card to be returned on Stewardship Sunday If you did not receive the mailing and would like one, please contact the church office. The Bible is full of stories about people whose lives were changed by giving, generosity, charity, and sacrifice. We hope you will take these next few weeks to prayerfully consider how generosity can change your life, and through your generosity, the lives of others. Looking forward to seeing you on November 10th!
WE NEED HELP FOR THE SAUSAGE SUPPER!
Wednesday during the supper with cleaning dishes/pans/silverware—anytime you can give between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. would help.
Wednesday after the supper for cleanup and put away—7 p.m. until we have things put away.
Sign-up sheets are at the Hospitality Desk. Please see Rick Hobbs or Erlene Dreier with questions.
The 90th Annual
Sausage Supper Wednesday, November 13, 2019, 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM
Adults $12.00 Children $5.00
Tickets available at the church office: Monday thru Thursday,
9 a.m. - 12 noon, 12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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YOUTH (6th-12th grades)
Thanks to everyone who affirmed and supported
our youth on Youth Sunday. I am proud of our
kids and their courage to stand up in front of the
church and share their passions. It certainly is
not an easy thing to do. May God give us all the
courage to be upstanders for our neighbors and
community.
3 DIFFERENT MINISTRIES…1 MISSION: …TO LIFT
UP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
1. We have 3 youth
representing St.
Paul’s on the
Conference Level in
the Young
Ambassadors
Program. You may
remember when the
German students
worshiped with us
in July. Amariah
Greenwell, Shaunae
Hayes, and Julian
Armstrong are
raising money to
help them with their travel to Germany this
next summer. Upcoming fundraisers:
Buckeye sales in November and gift
wrapping at Barnes and Noble in December
TBD. Keep your eyes open to support these
young people.
2. It is time to raise
money for our youth
to go to Summer
Camp. Once again,
we will hang 144
numbered
envelopes in the
Parish Hall. Just
pick a number, fill
it with the same
amount of money as
the number on the
envelope, and
return it to Kim Armstrong. This
fundraiser helps our children and youth go to
a place that fills them each with the Holy
Spirit. Merom Summer Camp is extremely
special to our young people. It is one of the
reasons they keep coming back to church. It is
an experience that gets them excited to come
to their home church and share the love and
acceptance they receive from their peers and
leaders in the Indiana-Kentucky Conference.
We all appreciate our congregation’s support
in this important experience.
3. This year’s Youth
Summer Mission
Trip is to Back Bay
Mission in Biloxi,
MS will take place
July 12-18. The
next fundraiser for
the youth will be
selling concessions
at the Train Show
on November 9th.
They will also be
selling Yankee
Candles at
Christmas time!
November Youth Events
November 1-3 – IKC Fall Assembly Youth
Retreat at Merom
November 10, 12-2 pm – Jr. High Youth Group
Bible Study
November 17, 12-2 pm – Sr. High Youth Group
November 24, 12-2 pm – Jr. High Youth Group
Bible Study
continued on page 4
YOUTH MINISTRY
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CHILDREN (K-5TH GRADE)
Sunday, November 17 at 10am:
Children will begin learning
songs for the Children’s
Christmas Program. They will practice during
the Sunday School hour every Sunday until the
program on December 15th.
NEIGHBORHOOD THANKSGIVING
DINNER:
Please join us on Tuesday, November 26 at 5:30
pm for our Neighborhood Thanksgiving Dinner!
Come meet our neighbors!
Shut-in & home-bound
Christmas Bag Delivery
We are assembling Christmas gift bags for distribution to our shut-ins and home-bound and we need your help delivering them. Please contact the office or fill in the tear-off sign-up in the bulletin with the name/s of those you are offering to visit (from the list below) by December 6th. The bags will be available beginning on Monday, December 9th and should be delivered by the 18th. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Mary, Kim Armstrong, or the office. Ed Albin
Keith Benedict
Evelyn Bernard
Jeanne Brame
Diane Burkhart
Eloise Castleman
Katzie Crowley
Doug Daniel
Bill Grisham
Helen Hammer
Jackie Hammer
Joanne Jackson
Marylee Murphy
Susan Raber
Marie Rayoum
Jeanett Rueger
Marilyn Smith
Nima Trautvetter
December 2019 -
Advent & Christmas dates to remember:
December 3 9 and 11 AM
December 8 10 AM (Music Sunday)
December 15 9 AM and 11 AM (Children’s
Program at 11 AM)
December 19 7 PM Blue Christmas (at St.
Paul’s together with St. Peter’s
-Highland & Bethany
Christian)
December 22 9 AM and 11 AM
December 24 4 PM and 10 PM
December 29 9 AM and 11 AM
Deck the
Halls
Tis the season is upon us! We will be having our annual
Deck the Halls of St. Paul’s on Sunday, November 24,
from 4 to 6:30 pm. We will start our evening with a vesper
style service in the sanctuary. After the service everyone
will decorate different areas of the church, from the
Chrismon tree, to the placement of the Nativity and the
Manger. Closing out our evening we’ll gather in the dining
room to enjoy a bowl of soup. We hope to see you this
year to start out the season of hope, peace, joy and love.
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Several of you have been asking for a NEW CHURCH DIRECTORY…
In an effort to publish a directory as up-to-date as possible, only those who complete
and submit the following form to the church office (or send an email with the requested
information) will be included. This will also help in updating our database. All
information is due in the office by Thanksgiving.
NL
Ladies’ Aid
Ladies’ Aid will meet on
Thursday, November 7,
2019 at 1:00 PM in the
Dining Room. Betty
Barning will have
devotions.
“A joyful heart is good
medicine. Proverbs 17: 22
Mondays, November 11, 18, 25
5:30-8 PM
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Thank You
The family of Alfred Ludwig Wassner, Sr. acknowledges with grateful appreciation your kind
expression of sympathy...Thank you so much for the lovely dish garden. The plant is beautiful! It
was so thoughtful to remember us in our time of sorrow. Your concern and prayers are very much
appreciated as we continue our grieving process in the loss of a dear husband, father & grandfather.
~ Sincerely, Sara Wassner
Thank you so much for your generous contribution to Patchwork! We appreciate your support and
will use it to continue to be here for our neighbors, welcoming them and helping them connect to the
services they need.
~ Sincerely, Amy Rich, co-director
Thanks to Bob Koch for his duel accomplishments of removing the dead tree in front of the church,
and replacing the tires on the trailer - both were safety concerns!
Our thanks to everyone for the cards, gift cards, and words of appreciation for Pastor Recognition
during the month of October...and through-out the year. ~ Rev. Mary & Pastor Bill
Congratulations
Welcome to the world Maya Marie Wells, daughter of Dawn & Alex Wells, granddaughter of Darlene
Dycus. Maya was born in Denver, CO on Friday, October 11, 2019.
Shut-ins & home-bound
Copies of our list of shut-ins, whether they are in a nursing facility or at
home, are now updated monthly and printed copies are available at
the Hospitality Center. A copy is also posted on bulletin boards but
please do not remove this copy!
Please remember these folks with a card, note or visit and let them
know their St. Paul’s family has not forgotten them.
Thank you for caring. - Dee McDonald, Head Elder
The family and friends
of Ryne Phillips (13),
nephew of Alex (&
Kerri) Blanford
The family and friends
of Indiana State
Trouper Peter
Stephan (27)
The family and friends
of Cynthia Kasten,
widow of former
minister at St. Paul’s
The family and friends
of Margaret Moore
The victims of the TX
tornados and the CA
wildfires
OUR CHURCH FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN NEED OF PRAYER
Ed Albin*
Adnan Al-Nashmi
Harlan Batteiger
Orion Bays
Evelyn Bernard*
Jeanne Brame*
Diane Brashear
Cammie Barning
Breitenmoser
Diane Burkhart
Louis Buschkill
Pam Buschkill
David Carl
Eloise Castleman*
Margaret Clem
Katzie Crowley
Doug Daniel
Karen Daniel
John Davis
Erlene Dreier
Alyssa Futrell
Brandon Geppner
Mary Peterson
Susan Raber*
Marie Rayoum*
Liz Roberts
Jeanett Rueger*
Danielle Russler
Jerry Schreiber
Bob Sheets
Shirley Sheets
David Smart
Marilyn Smith*
Peggy Stephens
Nima Trautvetter*
Lisa Wassner
Sara Wassner
Kathy Waters
Donna Will
Lowell Woosley
Laurie Wright
*Shut In/Home-Bound
Bruce Gillette
Ron Green
Tabatha Earle
Greenwell
Bill Grisham*
Clarence “Butch” Hahn
Gary Hahn
Helen Hammer*
Jackie Hammer
David Helfert
Gayle Hochstetler
Joanne Jackson*
Joan Kappler
Karla Kappler
Emma Kirtman
Harvey Klenck
Bob Kraemer
Corena Maurer*
Bernice McReynolds
Eileen Moore
Marylee Murphy*
Karen Norman
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2020 Confirmation
POINSETTIA MEMORIALS & HONORARIUMS We will be decorating our sanctuary for the holiday season with
beautiful red poinsettias. Members and friends of the congregation
make contributions to our Memorial Flower Fund “In Memory of
someone” or “In Honor of someone.” The name/names of loved
ones will be included in the listing which will be part of our
December 22nd bulletin.
We ask for a minimum contribution of the cost of the plant which is
$10. The plants will be in place December 15th through December
24th. Plants may be removed following the 10 pm worship service
on Christmas Eve.
Order forms are available at the Hospitality Center and in the
December Messenger.
In September a letter was sent to students and their parents/guardians who are of age to
participate in confirmation classes and/or have expressed an interest in being confirmed
at St. Paul’s. The letter included the following:
To begin with an important informational meeting regarding Confirmation is
scheduled for Sunday, November 17, 2019, following the first worship service
at approximately 10:10 a.m. in the Chapel. Parents/guardians and potential
students are invited to attend while we discuss our program and answer
questions. Please know that this meeting is MANDATORY for both parents/
guardians and students to attend.
Also included was a listing of all dates, times, and events that the student (and,
sometimes a parent/guardian) must attend.
We look forward to this process of ‘growing’ our children.
Pastor Bill Wassner
Pastor Mary Hurley
60 people joined
us for fun, prizes
and snacks last
Sunday
afternoon!
Christmas Bingo
is December 8th
at 3:00 p.m.. Hope you'll join us!
MINISTRIES
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2019 Council Highlights October 17, 2019 Church Council met on October 17th, with 15 members and Pastors Bill and Mary present. Listed
below are highlights of the meeting.
• Bill Barrett, Rick Hobbs, and Dee McDonald have been working on a revision to the church
Constitution and By-Laws. Bill presented the draft documents to the Council. Council will
review the documents again at the November meeting, with the goal of presenting the revisions
to the congregation for approval at the annual congregational meeting in January.
• Dirck Stahl and Daryl Helfert (Head Trustee) have essentially completed the work needed for the
sale of the garage lot. A few documents are needed to finish the transaction.
• The Phase 2 contract with architect Gary Thomas has been signed, and he is working on
finalizing the remaining documents to bid the project. An additional contract document, in
standard American Institute of Architects format, outlining in more detail the responsibilities of
the architect and the client (St. Paul’s), is under review.
• The Deacons have selected Michael Erwin of Church Campaign Services as the consultant for our
capital campaign drive, and the contract is under review, to be effective November 1st.
Preparatory work is expected to begin as soon as the contract is signed, with solicitation for the
capital campaign targeted for the beginning of 2020. The Center for Congregations awarded St.
Paul’s a $12,000 matching grant to help offset the cost of the consultant.
• The Deacons reported that the church budget through September is running a deficit of about
$40,000 (income versus expense). A second transfer from Future Needs, as approved at the 2019
congregational meeting, will be reflected in the October financials, and a third transfer is likely
to be needed before the end of the year.
• The Elders reported that they are working with the pastors on improving records of visitation
and developing more systematic contacts. The pastors are also planning for Confirmation, which
is scheduled to start in January, with the service of confirmation on Pentecost.
• The Trustees reported that they have sold the old brown van, which has been replaced with the
white van. Daryl Helfert also reported that several individuals met with representatives of the
Evansville Historical Preservation organization to tour the existing building. The Preservation
representatives encouraged retaining aspects of the current facility in the new building (such as
the stained glass and woodwork), but did not find a basis for designating our facility as historical.
- Linda Hobbs, President
13 Jeanett Rueger*
15 Karoll Kolb
17 Sharon Hosick
19 Hazel Gathercole, David
Pillow
21 Makynlee Moore, Carla
Wittenbraker, Marla
Wittenbraker
2 Evelyn Bernard*, Karla
Smith
3 Bill Thuerbach
4 Wendell Burkhart
5 Don Lindenberg
11 Mason Humphrey
12 Diane Folz, Brittany
Nelson
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our members who are having a birthday in November
24 Alan Becker
25 Tonette Smith
26 Ron Herrenbruck
27 Tony Bogan, Carl Minton
*denotes our shut-ins
Evelyn Bernard will celebrate her
100th birthday on November 2nd.
Please take a few moments to shower her with love (a card or note) sent to her at:
2528 Serenity Place, Evansville, IN 47720
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Su
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10
CHURCH STAFF
Rev. Dr. Bill Wassner, Senior Pastor
Rev. Mary Hurley, Associate Pastor
Kim Armstrong, Director of Youth
Katie Maurer, Director of Music Ministries
Rick Hobbs & Lisa Wassner, Organists
Lisa Huck, Assistant Treasurer
Stacey Henderson, Nursery Supervision
Levi Odom, Multimedia Technician
Luke Datzman, Custodian
Beth Gregg, Office Manager
Traditional Worship - 9:00 A.M.
Sunday School - 10:10 A.M.
Discovery Worship - 11:00 A.M.
Office Hours: Monday thru Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Phone: 812.425.1522 + Fax: 812.425.2145 + Website: www.stpaulsuccevansville.org
The newsletter deadline is the 20th of each month.
2019 GROWING & GIVING
SEPTEMBER WEEKLY AVERAGE WORSHIP
ATTENDANCE 139
GIVING $ 25,443.55
THOSE AMONG US WHO GIVE
The following are giving totals reported in SEPTEMBER.
for special funds and non-budgeted accounts.
Future Needs: Envelopes - $ 40 Future Needs: Memorials - $ 270
Food Pantry - $ 83 Building Use - $ 1,182.50
Renovation - $ 10 Youth Ministry - $ 450
Habitat for Humanity - $ 100 OCWM - $ 200
CROP Walk - $ 100 Young Ambassadors - $ 60
Breakfast Club - $ 256
Thanks to each and every one of you for your generosity.
FOOD PANTRY SUNDAY
The West Side Food Pantry, located at Simpson UMC, is
supported by our monthly food donations as well as by
volunteers who work there on a regular
basis. Don’t forget, the first Sunday of
every month is FOOD PANTRY SUNDAY.
Bring your donations and put them in the
baskets at the entrances. Food is needed
ALL year long.
Please! Please!! Please!!
When you or a family member are hospitalized, remember to
inform the St. Paul’s office or pastors as soon a possible after you
(they) are admitted. Due to current Federal privacy laws,
hospitals are NOT permitted to inform us of your admission so it is
up to you or a family member to do so. A hospital chaplain may
ask you during a visit if you want your local church or pastor
notified but this may be several days after you are admitted
and, by the time the church office or pastors are notified, you
may already be discharged. Sadly, too often the pastors or
office do not learn of an admission until it is too late to visit. Also,
remember to let us know if someone is admitted to another
facility such as a nursing home, rehabilitation hospital or hospice
center. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. - Dee McDonald, Head Elder
Our St. Paul’s contingent as well as 60+
walkers braved the weather and (between our Scarf Tour donations of $165.00
and Bucket collections last Sunday
for the Walk itself of $405.92)
as a church we received a total of $570.92!