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St. Paul Epistle, December 2014

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Please take a few moments to see what's been happening at St. Paul.
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E p is t l e of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Nevada, MO THE St. Paul Lutheran 15156 E. Pony Hill Rd. Nevada, MO 64772 417-667-7209 (O) Stpaulnevadamo @gmail.com Worship 11:00 a.m. Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Office Hours Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday 9:00noon December 2014 Vol. 14, No. 12 "Take time to be aware that in the very midst of our busy preparations for the celebration of Christ’s birth in ancient Bethlehem, Christ is reborn in the Bethlehems of our homes and daily lives. Take time, slow down, be still, be awake to the Divine Mystery that looks so common and so ordinary yet is wondrously present. Edward Hays, A Pilgrim’s Almanac Advent Services Soup Supper at 6:00 p.m. Worship at 7:00 p.m. Everyone welcome Wednesdays: Dec. 3, 10, & 17 Children’s Christmas Program Sunday, December 14 6:00 p.m. Followed by chilli supper Christmas Eve Candlelight Service December 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Transcript

E p is t l e of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Nevada, MO

TH

E

St. Paul Lutheran

15156 E. Pony Hill Rd. Nevada, MO 64772

417-667-7209 (O)

Stpaulnevadamo @gmail.com

Worship 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School 9:45 a.m.

Office Hours Tuesday, Wednesday, &

Thursday 9:00—noon

December 2014

Vol. 14, No. 12

"Take time to be aware that in the very midst of our busy preparations for the celebration of Christ’s birth in ancient Bethlehem, Christ is reborn in the Bethlehems of our homes and daily lives. Take time, slow down, be still, be awake to the Divine Mystery that looks so common and so ordinary yet is wondrously present.

Edward Hays, A Pilgrim’s Almanac

Advent Services Soup Supper at 6:00 p.m.

Worship at 7:00 p.m.

Everyone welcome

Wednesdays: Dec. 3, 10, & 17

Children’s Christmas Program Sunday, December 14

6:00 p.m. Followed by chilli supper

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

December 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Thanks are in order: Caroline Phillips, Susie Knuteson, Sarah Lathrop, and Anna Seewoester for decorating the sanctuary for Christmas. Fred Seewoester for sweeping away the leaves by the front door before the Thanksgiving service. Chelsea Deines is the “Queen of Cheesecakes”. Her delicious cheesecakes have been a successful fund-raiser for the St. Paul youth. So far she has made 40 cheesecakes which have been sold to our members and many in the community and has about 15 to go. Sarah Lathrop once again coordinated the purchas-ing of the poinsettias for the sanctuary. Kathy Poe continues to do so many “behind the scenes” things to keep St. Paul working. She changes the paraments on the altar and each month schedules the volunteers (not an easy job). Thanks to all our St Paul members who donated or bid on items for our SPY Silent Auction that was held November 16th. With your help SPY raised $594 to fund our trip to the 2015 National Youth Gathering.We appreciate everyone’s generosity and a special thanks to those who donated items! Russell and Tamara Hogan Connie Anderson Larry and Sam Delaney Interior Motives Susie Knuteson Julie Sitz Mary Reinert Gobblers Roost Barbara Weakley Pr. Chris Grace Harold Kristine Fulton Jeannie Craig Caroline Phillips Anna Seewoester Wanda Abele Sharon Kamla Anonymous Donations

Hats off: Carol and Jerry Janes who help plan and cook the community Thanksgiving dinner at the high school.

Proud of our St. Paul kids for pitching in and raking leaves at the homes of Susie Knuteson, Wanda Abele, Ruth Sitz, and Ernest and Julia Sitz. We’re all proud of you!

15 adult and 3 children coats along with 7 stocking hats were delivered Friday December 5 to the We Care Center. Gently used and clean coats of any size can be dropped off in the big green box in the Narthex

The next book selected for the women’s Book Club is “7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess” by Jan Hatmaker. American life can be excessive, to say the least. That’s what Jen Hatmaker had to admit after taking in hurricane victims who commented on the ex-travagance of her family’s upper middle class home. 7 is the true story of how Jen took seven months, identified seven areas of excess, and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overin-dulgence. Food. Clothes. Spending. Media. Possessions. Waste. Stress. They would spend thirty days on each topic, boiling it down to the number seven. Only eat seven foods, wear seven articles of clothing, and spend money in seven places. Eliminate use of seven media types, give away seven things each day for one month, adopt seven green habits, and observe “seven sa-cred pauses.” So, what’s the payoff from living a deeply reduced life? It’s the discovery of a greatly increased God—a call toward Christ-like simplicity and generosity that transcends social experiment to become a radically better existence. Please let the church office know if you would like to receive a copy of this title. The book club will meet on Thursday, January 8. Watch for details.

A couple years ago at a retreat, a seminary professor pulled out book of the top 100 most necessary things in our world. It was a fat book filled with information about different things. We went around in a circle and tried to guess the number one necessary thing in the world. It came to my turn and I happened to guess one of the top three (I can’t remember which number) ANTS. The professor read a little about ants, about their strength, about their leadership and cooperation and we talk as a group what it means for the church to be ants. One thing that we discussed was that all the ants carried their weight in the colony, well actual multiple times their weight, but they did their share. And so it goes with the church, we do our share. The opportunities for ministry are beyond your imagination. Sometime that is the best kind of ministry, dream-ing up, seeing a need and stepping up, and taking the ministry by the horns and running with it! Some of the best authentic ministry is done when people imagine something anew and it grows and people share in it. There are countless ways in which we gather as a colony of God’s children right here in this place and we do our share. I was reminded this week that doing our share may be fixing the light on the organ, taking card-board to the recycling, folding bulletins, and when someone could do nothing else, pray. There is one opportunity that I want to lift up to you this month. Mary Reinert has for a long time gathered in-formation, compiled it with photos, and sent it out to the members and non-members who want to know what happens at St. Paul! I give thanks for her dedication and patience. I give thanks that she has done this minis-try here when churches across the country are going away from newsletters because the worker ants in the colony don’t read them. And if I were to guess, we are not that much different, perhaps only a hand full of people will even make it to this point in this article. So, people of God, there is some stepping up that needs to be done, we are looking for someone to put to-gether the newsletter each month. To take over what Mary has been doing for many years. I lift this up to you as an opportunity for ministry, to highlight this congregation and its mission to the world. I pray for you as you consider this newsletter ministry. You are not along, remember the ants? If you feel that this is something that you are interested in doing, please let me know! This church is the ministry of the people! Thanks be to God for leading and calling us! And for ants! Thanks for your consideration!

Peace, Pastor Chris

So far this year, at least eight Action Grants have been awarded to members of St. Paul. “Operation Thanks-giving” was one that helped many members of the community.

Thanks to Patsy McCul-lough for organizing the Thrivent Action team “Operation Thanksgiving” and to Fred and Anna Seewoester, Wayne and Mary Reinert, Dave McCullough and Susie Knuteson for helping. Everyone at the conven-ience stores were sur-prised and thankful.

Harvest for the Holidays begins its sixth season collecting food items for Com-munity Outreach. Continuing during December and January, you can place a food of-fering in the red wagon located at the rear of the sanctuary. Your gifts will be taken forward during the offertory. Some food items were taken to Community Outreach for Thanksgiving and the rest will be taken for Christmas for distribution to Vernon County residents. Any non-perishable food item you would serve your family is appreciated: canned meats, fruits and vegetables, cereals, hamburger helper, pastas, sauces, etc. On your next trip to the store pick up an item or two to bring to church. A cash donation is also appreciated. The money will be used to purchase fresh meat, vegetables, fruit and dairy products. Just make your check payable to Commu-nity Outreach. And as always, labels from Best Choice products are appreciated as all

are redeemed for more food items. Thanks be to God for sharing your gifts with others. It truly does make an impact in our community.

A Nevada High School student is coordinating a Chrsitmas project to supply items for emergency kits for those that are homeless. Max Daniel is partnering with the Nevada Housing Authority in collecting the follow-ing items. There is a box in the lobby at church to help collect. All donations of the following are welcome: bath towel, wash cloth, bar soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, toilet paper, packaged hand wipes, pen/pad of paper, blanket, blue tarp, small cans of food items (with removable lids such as soups, etc.), packaged food items that have a long expiration date (peanut butter crackers, granola bars, etc.), bottled water. No perishable items, please.

Vision Statement To be like Christ in all things.

Mission Statement We are a growing community of faith

called, committed, and sent to Make Christ Known at all times

through words and actions throughout the world.

St. Paul Lutheran Church 15156 E. Ponyhill Rd. Nevada, MO 64772

December Birthdays Kyptin Hall December 3 Kathy Abele December 4 Ali DeLaney December 4 Mollie Deines December 4 Wayne Reinert December 11 Andy Robards December 13 Bradley Ogle December 14 Cassie Tweten Eador December 18 Jennifer Westphal December 18 Ada Yokley December 19 Thomas Creech December 21 Emily Borzillo December 22 Larry DeLaney December 22 Tyler Phillips December 23 Martin Mannel December 25 Mary Reinert December 28 Taylor Norcross Kimbrough December 29 Lauren Phillips December 29 December Anniversaries Don & Deanna Ness December 3, 1983 Kenny & Bethany Jennings December 8, 2012 Fred & Anna Seewoester December 20, 1969 Larry & Nancy Kerbs December 28


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