St. Paul’s Lutheran Church,
417 Howertown Rd,
Catasauqua, PA 18032
610-264-3221 Fax: 610-264-5732
Email:stpaulschurch@rcn.com
Web:www.stpaulscatasauqua.com
Child Care: 610-264-0190
Sunday Worship
8:00 am Holy Communion
9:00 am Sunday School
10:30 am Worship
1st & 3rd Sunday Holy Communion
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Church Office Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm
Sunday School
September-May 9:00am
Child Care Center
Monday-Friday 7:30am-5:30pm
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Church Staff:
Pastor: Rev. Gary Walbert,
Pastor Emeritus:
Rev. Dr. Hartland H. Gifford
Dir. Music: Michael Fister
Office Admin: Charleen Burik
Treasurer: Paul Peters
Financial Sec: Debbie Stewart
Dir. Child Care: Margaret Bossons
Sexton: Norbert Huber
Congregation Council
Rena Ackerman
Robert Bastian
Tom Danner
Tammie Englert - Secretary
Kerry Lewis – Vice President
Kay Muehlberger
Doug Newhard- President
Laurie Perna
Albert Renn
Helene Sterner
(2) Open
The Epistle
December, 2013
Brothers and Sisters in Jesus,
It was one of those Christmas seasons that nothing seemed to go right. We all know what that is like. The very special gift we want to give is backordered till who knows when; the lights keep going out on the tree, we can not find enough time to write cards, let alone bake any cookies. Our frustration level is out of sight.
Go back in time with me to a Christmas season in 1818 to a German town called Oberndorf. Father Joseph Mohr was busy getting ready for all the services for Christmas when the organ died. How was he ever going to have any Christmas music? As he sat in prayer before the Holy God, the words of a song came to him. They transported him to a time so long ago; the time when our Savior was born in Bethlehem – a time of peace, hope and good will. Joseph went to his friend Franz Gruber and asked him to compose the music for a guitar because it would be months before the organ would be repaired.
The whole town gathered that evening for the Christmas Eve Service. During the service, Franz began to strum his guitar and Joseph began to sing “Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht”. The congregation was transfixed by the music and the peace the words gave them. So it began – Silent Night has become one of the best loved Christmas carols.
I am sure it happens so many times as we get ready for Christmas, we will face trials and tribulations. But know this my friends, when we focus on the reason we are celebrating Christmas, hopefully our frustrations will lessen. Too many times it is all about us, me, and what I am getting, how can I impress with my gift this season. Notice the words that are underlined? They are personal pronouns. Christmas is about Jesus and the gift He gave us. Go back to that time in your mind and sit at the manger adorning and worshipping the Babe. Christmas will be a challenge as it always is, but be a peace and know and feel the love of the season. Take time for prayer and good Advent reading. Come celebrate with us during the season.
Yours, In Jesus,
Hymn of the Month
Silent Night
Silent night! Holy night
All is calm all is bright
Round your virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah
Christ the Saviour is born!
Christ the Saviour is born!
Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.
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Share Your Holiday Table
The one thing many people look forward to most during the holiday is the big holiday meal. With your generosity, we can ensure some families will have bountiful meals this season. Your donations can consist of any fixings you enjoy for your own family Christmas meal. We also would appreciate donations of hams and Giant or Target gift cards (which will be used to purchase items needed to complete these holiday baskets). Please send in your donations to the church or to the 5th grade Sunday School room before Sunday, December 15. We can even pick up your donations, if necessary, just contact Diane Newhard at 610-442-6610 or Denise Reiner at 610-703-2296 for more information.
October Highlights
* Special Guest, Robert Zakos addressed Council with the idea to set up an online offering option. It could be set up as part of the webpage through PayPal which the younger generation could relate to more. Council will bring this idea to Finance for their approval.
* Child Care Center is pursuing The Stars program.
*Committees need to submit their budget requests by next Council meeting.
* A motion was made and carried to lower the charitable giving from 10% to 5% from all major fundraising events that profit over $1,000.
*St. Paul’s Constitution/BiLaws were updated according to ELCA Churchwide Assembly’s revisions dated 8/2013.
*Currently there are still two (2) open positions on Council. Please contact Council President, Doug Newhard if you are interested in serving.
Treasury Report
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver - 2 Corinthians 9:7
Jan. – Oct. YTD Financial Update
Weekly Envelopes
Budgeted: $ 99,723.79
Received: $ 84,382.00
Actual Inc. YTD: $490,878.81
Actual Exp. YTD: $525,048.68
Loan - Roof Repair: $14,000.00 ( Nov.2012)
Balance due: $ 0 (Oct 2013)
Loan $49,000.00 (Oct 2013)
Balance due: $43,886.66
Child Care Center
December is always the most joyous time of the year. All of the children are anxiously waiting for Christmas Day and all the excitement that surrounds them.
During this magical month, all of the children will be enjoying many fun and exciting Christmas activities. We will be having our annual tree trimming party, on Wednesday, December 4th, as the children decorate our trees with their own Christmas decorations and they will be busy making Christmas crafts to hang in their classrooms. We are celebrating St. Nicholas Day by wearing PJs, eating chocolate chip cookies and drinking chocolate milk while listening to “The Night Before Christmas!” We will be listening to stories on the true meaning of Christmas and stories about Santa Claus and the joy he brings to the children. Each morning at 8:00 we will start the day by opening up the Advent Calendar and then reading a verse from the Bible, as a group. We will be learning new songs and finger plays along with some of our old time favorites. They will be practicing for our Christmas program, which will be held on Friday, December 13th at 10:30. Linda Holliday will entertain us with her magic show on Thursday, December 19th.
The staff and children of St. Paul’s Child Care Center wish you and your family a very Peaceful and Blessed Christmas Holiday.
Merry Christmas,
Margaret Bossons
Child Care Fundraiser
Child Care Center is holding a fundraiser at the Blue Monkey on Thursday, December 19 from 5-10pm. This fundraiser is being held to raise money for new secure doors for the Child Care Center. You must present the coupon in this Epistle notice for the Child Care Center to receive 20% of your dinner ticket. Thank you in advance for helping us to become a more secure facility.
St. Paul’s Child Care Center
Fundraiser for new secure doors
December 19, 2013 5:00pm–10:00pm
Present this coupon and Child Care Center will receive 20% of your dinner ticket
87th Annual Candlelight Concert
Down through the years, St Paul’s has gathered one afternoon in December to hold their annual Candlelight Concert. It has become a tradition for many families at St. Paul’s but also many people throughout the community. I have heard comments like “This concert always gives me the Christmas Spirit and makes the Season come to life”.
This year our organist, Mike Fister has been hard at work to create a beautiful service. We are blessed this year to have the Pennsylvania Guitar Quintet to provide prelude music. Of course our piper friend, James Rudf and friends will provide music before, during and after the service. We will also be blessed again with the musical talents of Elizabeth Knecht with her singing and dancing and also Sara Baer, playing the oboe. Salem UCC Choir will also join us.
Our concert will be on December 8 beginning at 3:30. The concert begins at 4. After the concert everyone is invited to come downstairs for a time of fellowship.
If this has not been part of your Christmas preparations, make it part of your life this Advent season.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
St. Paul’s Holiday Movie Night
Fellowship Hall Admission is free.
Kids can bring their blanket and wear their jammies.
Refreshments are available for purchase
NOTE: Please bring a donation of any can good for the Catasauqua Area Food Bank
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Two BIG Thank You's from the Stewardship Committee. We want to thank all 70+ of you who filled out our Time and Talent forms. We appreciate you cooperation and willingness to bless our church with your many gifts and talents. The information you provided has been included in a Volunteer Directory that will be available for our entire congregation's use in the New Year. We also want to thank everyone who donated items to the St. Paul's Coat Drive, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Catasauqua High School - a great group of students who are sponsored by our own Trojano Bastidas. With your help, we collected well over 25 large garbage bags stuffed with coats and outerwear. In fact, we had so many coats, we split them up and donated to a total of four charities: Sixth Street Shelter, Via of Lehigh Valley, Purple Heart Foundation, and the St. Luke's Neighborhood Center Clothes Closet. We also gave some bags to help the victims of the fire at Helfrich Springs apartments in Whitehall. So thank you all so much for keeping those less fortunate warm this winter and by helping these charities to raise funds for the homeless, the disabled, our veterans, and those in need.
God Bless all of you.
The St. Paul's Stewardship Committee.
We Made It! We Hit A Mile! Thanks to the generosity of so many of our members, we have collected over a Mile of Pennies (and maybe a few other coins too) for St. Paul’s. That’s over $844.80 we raised by simply gathering our spare change, loading it up in baggies, and taking it to church with us on Sundays. So let’s keep saving those coins and see if we can make another mile by Thanksgiving 2014. We’re pros now - we can do it! And last, but definitely not least, the Congregation Council and Pastor Gary want to thank you all again for your commitment to our church and to say congratulations on crossing the finish line Together. May God bless you and may He continue to bless St. Paul’s during this beautiful Season of our Lord's birth
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Fundraising Committee
Christmas Basket Raffle
Take a chance on winning a ‘filled to the brim’ holiday basket with all the necessities for a Christmas meal to remember The cost is $3.00 for five (5) tickets or $5.00 for ten (10) tickets. The raffle tickets will be available for purchase in the breezeway after our Sunday worship services or by calling the church office any weekday from 9am-3pm. The winning ticket will be pulled on Sunday, December 22nd and the winner will be called to make arrangements for delivery of their prizes. Good luck, and, as always, thank you from the Fundraising Committee.
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Social Ministry of St. Paul’s Church will again be part of the Northern Lehigh District for the Ingathering on December 5 at Hope Lutheran Church in Cherryville. Each congregation will bring usual items to fill 200 gift bags for Kids Peace children. Each church also gives $20 to a selected special cause on this year it is the Caring Place, for Allentown School District Children. Starting November 30 until December 22, we will have the White Tag Christmas Tree in the alcove. Congregation members my select these wish list items that will be delivered to the Allentown Rescue Mission, Gracedale, Sayre Child Center, Hamburg Center, Kids Peace and Topton Home. Thank you in advance for your participation and the spirit of giving.
Cradle Roll.
"Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).
The Splash Cradle Roll is a ministry for families of little ones from birth to three years of age. This program was designed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is published by Augsburg Fortress Press. It offers valuable resources for families with infants and toddlers and plays a special part during the celebration of Holy Baptism.
At St. Paul’s, when a young child is baptized, he/she will be automatically enrolled in the Cradle Roll. At this time parents will receive a welcome letter into the program along with a Splash! Parent Page and a Sleepy Time Tunes CD. Each month the family will receive age appropriate mailings, called Parent Pages. Upon the child’s third birthday, Cradle Roll “graduates” will be invited to join our Three Year Old Sunday School class.
Our mission is to help new families fulfill their baptismal promise and support them as they begin their journey of faith together.
For more information regarding this program, please contact church office
November’s Inductees:
Zoey Jennifer Kalman
Ethan Lloyd Pawlowski
Upcoming Events
The Catasauqua Area Lions Club 25th Silver Anniversary Holiday Meal is being service at St. Pauls on Saturday, December 7 at 12 noon. This meal is offered free of charge to the seniors or members of any organization in all churches within the Catasauqua or North Catasauqua Boroughs. We are bringing this meal to you in the Spirit of the Holiday Season and sincerely hope that you will be able to join us once again. Please sign-up (sheet is in Narthex) before November 29th. Transportation will be provided only where there is no available ride.
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Deck the Halls Time at St. Paul’s
Friday December 6. Time to decorate both trees in chancel, put up wreaths, attach greens to pew candles, put lighted garland on doors, and poinsettia garland on electric candles. Contact Bob Bastian for more details.
87th Annual Candlelight Concert
December 8 beginning at 3:30. The concert begins at 4. After the concert everyone is invited to come downstairs for a time of fellowship.
December 19 from 5-10pm: Child Care Center fundraiser at the Blue Monkey. Bring coupon
Christmas Program
Our annual Sunday School Christmas Program this year will be on December 22nd during the 10:30 service. It is a worship service in which the children provide one of the best sermons you hear and see at our church. The entire Sunday school will be presenting this very special program for our congregation. Come, see, and feel the story of the birth of Jesus through the eyes of children.
Needed
An Altar Guild Volunteers is needed for the 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month to help with cleaning up of communion after our 10:30am service. If you have an interest in helping, please contact Jackie Younger for more information:
Greeting people as they enter the facility is more than a handshake and a smile - it is an opportunity to express God’s love through Christ and help set the tone of the upcoming worship service. Please check the sign-up charts and see what Sunday you can help express Gods love.
Volunteers are needed!
It does not take long; it is checking one page against another – it is not difficult, so please help us to complete our audit on time. Call either the church at 610-264-3221 or Bette MacHose at 610-264-0871
St Paul‘s Committees &
Volunteer Directory
Acolytes: Pastor Gary Walbert
Altar Guild: Jackie Younger
Child Care: Rena Ackerman
Christian Ed:open
Communion Assist: Pastor Gary Walbert
Epistle: Charleen Burik
Finance: Betty MacHose
Fundraising: Bob Bastian
Greeters: Kay Muehlberger
Lectors: Judy Donchez
Memorials: Betty MacHose
Prayer Chain: Bette MacHose
Property: Bob Bastian
Scouts: Al Renn/Mark Weaver
Social Ministry/Evangelism: June Hahn
Stewardship: Tammie Englert
Worship: Kerry Lewis
Youth: open
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Hospital Visits
If you or someone you know is admitted into the hospital, it is very important to notify the church as soon as possible. You can do this by either calling the church office directly or informing the hospital upon admittance that you are a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and they will list you under our Pastoral Code 312. If you are admitted into a Rehabilitation facility, please inform the church office as well. Without either of these notifications, Pastor will not know to visit you and you will not be added on to our prayer chain
Ways to help St. Paul’s & Our Community
Drop in at Redner’s in Whitehall or Northampton and get a free Save-a-Tape card. Present it at the register when you pay for your purchases, then bring your receipts to the church. Every $5,000 in Redner’s receipts earns St. Paul’s Church $50!
Volunteer Coordinator: Julie Stauffer
Inkjet Cartridges: Help St. Paul's itself by bringing in your used printer & fax machine cartridges! We trade them in & receive store credit-$2.00 for every qualifying print cartridge. Not only will it contribute to fundraising at St. Paul's, but it keeps these things out of landfills & helps protect the environment! Everyone wins!
Volunteer Coordinator: Susan Vrablic
Soda Tabs: For the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. The PRMH provides housing to the families of patients in the local children's hospitals, and the soda tabs are a huge boost to the charity's finances. Bring your tabs to worship on Sundays, or to the church office any day of the week, and help with this important program!
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GoodSearch.com St. Paul’s can earn a donation every time you search the Internet and shop online! Search the web with Yahoo-powered GoodSearch.com and they’ll donate a penny to our church each time you search! Shop at more than 600 GoodShop.com merchants including Amazon, Best Buy, Toys R Us, and others, and a percentage of each purchase will go to our church! For searching go to:
http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=898534
Miller Keystone Blood Center
We want to thank everyone who recently helped donate blood. Remember, we have an annual donation goal of 33 pints, so please mention that you are giving for St. Paul’s whenever you donate blood!
Catasauqua Food Bank Needs:
Wholesome children’s snacks: Granola bars, raisins, nuts, trail mixes, graham or animal crackers, pudding or Jell-O, fruit snacks, crackers (unsalted), cheese crackers, fruit bars
Christmas Flower
Dedications
If you would like to honor or remember a loved one at Christmas, please fill out and return this form with payment (checks are made payable to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church) and place either in the offering plate or send to the church office no later than SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8th
The names of your loved ones will be recognized in our Christmas Eve service bulletins.
This Dedication is In Memory of: ________________________________________
OR
In Honor of: __________________________________________
This Dedicated is from: __________________________________________
________5-7 blooms _______6-10 blooms
$8.00 (all red) $11.00 (red & white)
Total Plants ordered: __________________
Total Amount Enclosed: _______________
Envelope Number:__________
Membership files
If you move, changed phone or cell numbers, email addresses, or add members to your household, it is very important that you let the church office know so we can update all our information!
Please take a moment to fill out the Member Information Sheet below and return to church office or place in offering plate on Sundays
Name______________________________________
Address_____________________________________
___________________________________________
Home #___________________________________
Cell #: ____________________________________
Email_____________________________________
Marital Status: ___ Single ___Married
___ Divorced ___Widow/er
Spouse’s Name_____________________________
Date of Birth_______________________________
Date of Marriage____________________________
Children (Living with parents)
Name______________________________________
Date of Birth_________________________
Name______________________________________
Date of Birth_________________________
Name______________________________________
Date of Birth_________________________
Deadline: Monday: December 9
Epistle Volunteers: December 13
9:00am
If you would like to put an article or announcement in our newletter, please contact Charleen. Request: If you are able, please E-mail your articles to Charleen, Office Admin at stpaulschurch@rcn.com
E-Mail me the Epistle!
Help us cut down the cost of postage by getting your Epistle newsletter by e-mail Just send your request via an email to church office at stpaulschurch@rcn.com
For all you Smartphone users: We can easily email your Epistle directly to your smartphone (PDF format) so you can enjoy it anytime, anywhere. Just email us at stpaulschurch@rcn.com or call church office and let us know where you want us to send it.
Don’t forget you can also get our EPISTLE newsletter and up-to-date church information on our website too www.stpaulscatasauqua.com ……and…….
check out St. Paul’s Facebook page too!
a special prayer for God’s loving guidance, blessings and happiness the following children of God were recently baptized
Zoey Jennifer Kalman
daughter of Matthew Kalman & Amanda Peters
Ethan Lloyd Pawlowski
son of Nicholas Pawlowski & Alicia Kesack
We remember the families of Maxine Long, grandmother of Tara Ouellette and Martha Grubb, mother of Tammy Bastidas who went home to be with our Lord in November. We pray that the families will find comfort and peace during their days of sorrow.
Good News: Do you have any good news in your family, any News! Exciting happenings? What do I mean - births, engagements, a new job, a great accomplishment for one of your family members. Tell us so we can celebrate with you. Good News is not for offering Thank you, rather it is an opportunity for you to let us know about the joyful things in your lives.
Share the Good News
*The birth of Zoey Kalman, the daughter of Amanda Peters and Mathew Kalman on October 11. Amanda is the daughter of Judy & Rodney Peters.
*The birth of Veronica Althoff, the daughter of Tamara Afflerback and Ryan Althoff on October 17. Tamara is the daughter of Barbara Flandoffer.
*The marriage of Stephen Corello to Megan Grodesky on October 27 in Hyde Park, NY.
*The groundbreaking of the new Walbert Funeral Home on November 2 at 10am. Russell Walbert is son of Pastor and Linda.
*The Arthritis Foundation of Chicago is excited to announce Tim Walbert as our 2014 Freedom of Movement recipient. He will be awarded this at the 2014 gala. Tim is the son of Pastor and Linda.
*The birth of Caden John Douty, the son of Amanda & Kyle Douty on November 5. Amanda is the daughter of James & Donna Williams
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel
Isaiah 7:14
December Celebrations
Jesus said, “I am the Light of the World”.
May the birthday candles that represent the years of your life be a reflection to others of your love for Christ.
12/1 Ryan Shook
12/2 Connor Brandt
12/2 Robert Miller Sr
12/3 Brynn Layton
12/4 Jack Gebhardt
12/6 Roberta Lewis
12/7 Sarah Frankenfield
12/7 Carole Miller
12/8 Joseph Falko
12/8 Jason Lambert
12/8 Diane Newhard
12/10 Alexis Rogers
12/11 Kyle Kulp
12/13 Holly Gerhard
12/14 Erin Dumbach
12/14 Christopher Winkler Sr.
12/15 Holly Cope
12/15 Albert Leibensperger
12/15 Cynthia Wassum
12/16 Talbot Houck Jr.
12/16 Alexa Wright
12/17 Daniel Corello
12/18 Scott Sutter
12/19 Stephanie Crogan
12/20 Tamara Afflerbach
12/20 Naomi Schroeder
12/20 Larry Wassum
12/22 Dawn Eible
12/22 Scott Golomb
12/22 Marie Lower
12/22 Albert Renn Jr.
12/22 John Werley
12/23 Kelly Nichols
12/23 Jeffrey Snyder
12/26 Bryce Luckenbill
12/28 Christine Sutter
12/29 Kathleen Hartranft
12/30 Sara Houck
12/30 Scott Stewart
12/31 Isabella Urban
Special Birthdays
A few of our seniors will be celebrating birthdays this month. Please take the time to remember them with a card or note
12/4 Frances Grzenczyk 89
1050 7th Street, Catasauqua, PA 18032
12/8 Flora Fritzges 89
530 Howertown Rd, Catasauqua, PA
12/9 Lucille Hoffman 87
1071 Ridge Ave, Allentown, PA 18102
12/13 Geraldine Szewczak 80
3836 Brunner Ct, Whitehall, PA 18052
12/23 Joanne Spengler 80
515 Penn Street, Catasauqua, PA 18032
Wedding Anniversaries
12/3 Richard & Patricia Gerber 14
12/5 Shelly & David Meier 4
12/7 Paul & Elsie Strausser 72
12/12 William & Gloria Shipe 54
12/13 Guy & Nancy Fried 33
12/19 Thomas & Victoria Danner 8
12/20 Keith & Janet Falko 27
12/20 Edwin & Amy Hillegass Jr. 5
12/26 Barbara & Frank Flandorffer 4
12/29 Dale & Margaret Baker 59
12/31 Flemming & Franciel Schomburg 19
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December 2013
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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1
8:00 Spoken Comm
9:00 Sunday School
10:30 Holy Comm
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2
7:00 Troup 94
7:00pm Worship
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3
6:30 Girl Scouts
7:00pm Property
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4
6:30 Choir
6:30 Daisy
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5
7:00 Cub Pack
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6
Decorating the church
6:30 Fundraising
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7
Noon: Lyons Club Holiday Meal
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8
8:00 Spoken Comm
9:00 Sunday School
10:30 Holy Comm
3:30 Candlelight
Concert
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9
EPISTLE DEADLINE
7:00 Troup 94
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10
6:30 Girl Scouts
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11
6:30 Choir
6:30 Daisy
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12
7:00 Finance
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13
9am Epistle
Volunteers
9am CCC Xmas
program
5pm LVCHS
Christmas
Concert
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14
6:00pm Movie Night
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15
8:00 Spoken Comm
9:00 Sunday School
10:30 Holy Comm
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16
7:00 Troup 94
7:00pm Council
7pm CYSA
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17
6:30 Girl Scouts
7:00pm Child Care
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18
11:30am CCC
Xmas meal
6:30 Choir
6:30 Daisy
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19
10am CCC
Magic Show
5-10pm CCC
Fundraiser @
Blue Monkey
7:00 Cub Pack
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20
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21
Cub Pack Christmas Party
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22
8:00 Spoken Comm
9:00 Sunday School
10:30 Worship/Sunday School Program
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23
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24
Christmas Eve
7pm Holy Comm
10 Holy Comm.
Church Office Closed
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25
Christmas Day
Church Office Closed
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26
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27
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28
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29
8:00 Spoken Comm
10:30 Holy Comm
Praise Team Rehersal
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30
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31
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1
Church Office Closed
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The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God
Luke 1:35
Serving at St. Paul's in December, 2013
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DEDICATIONS FOR DECEMBER
FLOWERS ($40) BULLETINS ($15)
12/1 Stauffer Wassum
12/8 Spengler/Wehr Spengler/Wehr
12/15 Huggan/Danner Huggan/Danner
12/22 Witt Golomb
12/29 Huggan Huggan
DEDICATIONS OPEN FOR JANUARY, 2014
FLOWERS ($40) BULLETINS ($15)
1/5 open open
1/12 open open
1/19 open open
1/26 open open
If you would like to be a sponsor for any of these opens dates, request forms are in the Narthex or contact the church office. Payment must be submitted with request. Please note: Whenever we do not have dedications for flowers, there will be no Altar Flowers for that Sunday.
December Worship Services
Dec. 11st Sunday of Advent
8:00 a.m. – Spoken Holy Communion
9:00 a.m. – SS Breakfast
10:30 a.m. – Holy Communion
Dec. 8 2nd Sunday of Advent
8:00 a.m. – Spoken Holy Communion
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Holy Communion
3:30p.m. - Candlelight Concert
Dec. 15 3rd Sunday of Advent
8:00 a.m. – Spoken Holy Communion
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Holy Communion
Dec: 22 4th Sunday of Advent
8:00 a.m. – Spoken Holy Communion
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School Program
10:30 a.m. – Worship
Dec. 24 Christmas Eve
7:00 p.m. – Holy Communion
10:00p.m. – Holy Communion
Dec. 29 1st Sunday of Christmas
8:00 a.m. – Spoken Holy Communion
10:30 a.m. – Holy Communion
Season of Advent
Turn On
Tune In
Wake Up!
In the 1960's people were urged to turn on, tune in, and drop out—to leave the material world behind in favor of an alternate reality. Jesus also urges us to tune into an alternative to the material world, one he called the coming of the Son of Man. In Jesus' person, the dominion of God comes into the world, and the risen Christ continues to give us abundant signs of its presence. Jesus commands his followers not to drop out of the world, but to be on the lookout for him in it.
Christians await the second coming of Christ, the parousia, when we believe we will experience God's reign in its fullness. In the meantime, we live, in the words of some theologians, "already, but not yet." We look for glimpses of the dominion in the here and now. The season of Advent is designed to help turn us on to the excitement and anticipation of God's reign in our lives and tune in to the infinite opportunities we have to participate in it. In other words, they want to wake us up!
St. Paul exhorts us in Romans 13:11–14 to lead lives of faithful obedience until the final day. He also challenges us to participate in God's dominion in the here and now, calling us to wake from sleep, to "put on Christ." Eyes wide open and wrapped in Christ, we are called to a new day. In Isaiah 2:1–5 Isaiah describes his own vision: gathered by God, learning and teaching God's ways, walking in God's paths, beating swords into ploughshares and spears to pruning hooks.
Wide-awake, active, and ready for encounters with Jesus, we may find God's dominion when and where we least expect it.
The EpistleDecember 2013
A monthly publication of
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
417 Howertown Road
Catasauqua, PA 18032
610-264-3221
Church Office Hours Sunday School Child Care Center
Monday-Friday September-June Monday-Friday
9:00am-3:00pm 9:00am 7:30am-5:30pm
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May Joy be your gift at Christmas
and may Faith, Hope and Love
be your treasures in the New Year
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St. Paul’s Church Council
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