l{ovember/December
St. John/St. Paul Lutheran Church
20L3
Messenger
Rev. Richard R. Gordon, Pastor Ann Strehalsky, Office Secretary
FROM THE PASTOR
In Christ, The orange and ye1low of fall in the midst of cooler air and h-igh skies reminds me that we are approachi ng Thanl<sgi vi ng , Advent and Ch ri stmas . We also can recognize the change of season in the graphics of the advertising inserts in our Sunday Dear Friends
Newspapers. Yes, turl<eys, pi-lgrims, Santa's, reindeer, elves and Christmas trees are already conspi cuous vi sual s of the -impendi ng seasons . Is time rea11y moving ahead faster or is this just the fact that we are being "sold" on the holidays earlier and earlier? Have you heard, "B1ack Friday" is now encroaching the formerly sacred turf of Thanksgiving Thursday? Obviously the good deals MUST come earlier and earlier and maybe even
before the pumpkin after al I
pie.
In/e
are a consumer culture
!
As the seasons changen the market-ing increases and the Ho1-iday Sales entice; may we remember not only who we are but also WHO'S we are. Psalm l-18: 2829 says it well, "You are my Cod, and I will g-ive you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lordn for he is good; his love endures forever." In all times, places and situations a Christian is one who responds to God's "endu ri ng I ove" wi th THANI(SGIVING. God' s I ove i s for everyone and we are simply to respond with prai se and than ksg-i vi ng .
in
We humans sdy, "Thank You, God" many ways. Some these ways are better than
of
others. In
an-
cient times, even biblical times; people would sacrifice an animal in gratitude to God (or the gods) for blessings bestowed or favors received.
Mission Staternent St. John/St. Paul Lutheran Church is a community of Christians bound together in joy and thanksgiving by God's saving grace in Jesus Christ. Our mission is to grolv in faith, Iove, and obedience to God as we are empowered through the Wold and Sacraments by the HoIy Spirit. To carry out this mission, we:
.
Nurture one another in
the
Faith,
.
Evangelize all people,
.
Worship God, and
.
Serve those in need.
Inside this issue:
Pastor Report
1.-2
G.P.S. Worshio
3
Thanksgiving-AdventChristmas
4
Breakfast Buffet
5
Church News
6
Poinsettia Order From
7
Birthdays
8
An niversa ries
8
Calendars
9-10
Schedules
1.1
Page2
of us nay fi nd that very fami I iar in that we tend to sacnifice a turkey on the fourth Thursday of November in a ritualized National day of gratitude. 0f course, this year, wâ&#x201A;Ź will need to limit the scope of our National Thanl<sgiv-ing so we can get to Macy's on time. Giv-ing thanl<s is not something that we should save for a sing-le day in late fall right before Advent as a precursor to Christmas. Civing thanks is also more than our bowing of the head and voicing a polite expression of grace before a meal. fdeally, our entire lives should be an OFFERINC of THANKSGIVING. St. Paul even tells uso "fN EVERYTHINC, GIVE THANI(S" (I Thessal oni ans 5 : 18) Yes , but easi er Some
said than
done.
to apply some effort, focus and willingness in our realization that Cod is the ultimate source of all th-i ngs. To say it differently,., we need to sincere'ly realize that we are utterly dependent upon God for da-i-ly food and drink, homesn fam-i1y, friends, nationn peacen church, life and faith (and the Mall). Truth is, Here we need
without our loving
God we
not only have nothiflg,.. we are nothing
and hope nothi ng. Our culture encourages us every day and every way to get out there and buy all that we can to give to and share with all those we 1ove, work beside and put up with. Sometimes all the marketing and sales divert us from our THANKSGIVINC T0 GOD. Thanksgiving at some point becomes our STEWARDSHIP or management of our wealth and possessions for and with God. Remember, it is THANKS-GIVING,.. giv-ing generously in the spirit of real gratitude to God for all that he is and does for each of us. God's Church also needs your THANKS-GIVING. The mission of Jesus Christ among us and through us needs our THANKS-GIVING. The motiva-
tion of the Holy Spirit in our lives So, GIVE FOREVER
THANI(S
needs our THANKS-GIVINC.
T0 THE LORD FOR HE IS G00D,.. AND HIS LOVE ENDURES
!
Happy Thanksg'ivi ng and Merry Chri stmas,
Pr. Ri cl<
God'
s Posi tioni ng Servi ce (GPS\
St. lohnlSt. Paul's new GPS service (11 AM Sundays) has gotten off to a g reat start. We are hav'i ng 1 i vel y di scussi ons on topi cs chosen by the parti ci pants (If you coul d ask God one questi on, what woul d i t be?) . The mus'i c, provi ded by The Aci d Cats (Tommy Lehman and fri ends) , i s outstand'ing and truly inspi rational . tn/e are keep-ing this service to 45 minutes and feedback has been positive. BUT, wâ&#x201A;Ź need YOU and ALL 0F US to tel I peop'l e about thi s worshi pThe Church grows and the gospel is seeker opportunity. -ly by word of mouth. As Christians we all spread primar-i share the responsi bi 1 -i ty to i nvi te and encou rage othe rs to join us in worship, service, learning and faith formation. GPS i s a uni que and presentl y evol vi ng expe ri ence of Ch ri sti an worshi p and fel I owsh-i p . PLEASE he1 p Sl SP reach out to those who need to recei ve the Gospel and a sense of God' s gu'idance in their lives. Nov.
3
"How can
to
come
Nov. 10 "What
17 Nov , 24 Dec. 1 Nov.
8 Dec. 15 Dec.
Dec.
22
current Christians -i nspire non-believers
to
church?"
is your fee-l 'i ng about all the Religions?"
"How does prayer work?" "tn/hat do you see fo
"What one change make? "
r the f utu re of the USA? "
in the world do you desi re to
I be hop'i ng f or?" "Do you perform mi racles? If so, how do you
"What shoul d
choose tn/ho recei ves them? "
"How di
d you feel seei ng J esus suffe r?"
Page 4
THAN KSGTVTNG - ADVENT- CHRISTMAS
SISP's lnlorshi p and Musi c Commi ttee has rnet several ti mes to discuss the creation of the new CPS worship service and our seasonal worship service opportunities. It was discussed extensi ve'l y that ou r ol de r cong regati on does not I i l<e to come out i n the eveni ngs after dark. tnle appreci ate that and want to make decisions encouraging safety and well be'i ng
.
th thi s i n mi nd we are NOT schedu-l i ng a Than l<sg'iv-i ng Eve Di nner nor lnlorshi p. ln/hen OPEN-M ceased offe ring the Thanksg-ivi ng Eve Communi ty di nner a coupl e of years ago the attendance and i nvol vement I essened g reatl y. It has become i ncreas'i ngl y di ffj cul t to p1 an and prepare a Thanksgivi ng Eve dinner and SISP attendance at worship on that evening has been sparse. Al so, \nlednesday Eveni ng has been the meeti ng ti me of 0ASIS and thei r acti vi ti es whi ch set the styl e and character of these eveni ngs. l^li
Special Advent Worship and Study opportunities aJso have received decreasing congregational support. With this in mi nd we are p1 ann-i ng some speci a1 Advent Emphasi s i n ou r Sunday morning Traditional tn/orship services on December !, 8, 1-5 and 22 THrS Advent Season. rn thi s way we are hopi ng to have a 1 arge r pe rcentage of ou r cong regati on i nvol ved j n Advent worship and preparation.
I
in th
CHRISTMAS EVE (December 24) wi I be celebrated our usual way wi a musi cal concert 7 PM and FAMILY CHRISTMAS =00 EVE WORSHIP 7:30 PM. Thi s wi I aga-i n be wi beauti ful
th
poi nsetti
at
at
as and candl e 1 i ght
I
will
The Annual SJSP Conqregational Christmas Dinner
be
held on SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22. This is a pot luck format and we will be blessed again by a performance by The Hospitali
ty
S'i nge
rs .
Mo
re detai I s wi I I be fo rth
com-i ng
.
You are
cordially invited to eat at our weekly
Breakfast Buffets
at
10:30AM each Sundav!
Breakfast weekl y B real<fast Buffets are comp'l etel y f unded by the Buffet donations of generous volunteers and through the Endowment Fund ! Many thanks to Carol Whi dden for overseeing the Breakfast Buffets that we serve to our congregation each and every Sunday! Her helping with the Foodbank has enabled us to stretch our dollars to meet the needs of our congregation and our community. Thanks to all of you who prepare, serve and clean up for our breakfast buffets! Please let us l<now that you can help to volunteer for a Sunday 9V tigning the sheet in the l<itchen. We look forward to you joining us for breakfast on Sundays! Date 11t3r2013 11t10t2013 11n7 t2013 11t24t2013 12t1t2013 12t8t2013 12t15t2013 12t22t2013
BTBLE BRUNCH Pastor Ri cl< wi I
Baked
Goods
Warm Dish
Drinks
Pam & Don Coy Carol & Gary Whidden Susan & Geoffrey Whidden Jenny & Karl Demuth OPEN OPEN Susan & Geoffrey Whidden OPEN
I be offeri ng a new study on the Ol d Testament prophets beginning with the LZ Minor Prophets. This will be a discussion of the development of prophecy and the prophetic office in ancient Israel and the relation of the prophets to the history of God's people. Everyone is invited and feel free to bring a friend. we will share the study and some pastry (and usual 1y some laughter as the group is a fun bunch)'. so, get ready to hear, . . "THUS SAYETH THE LORD ! ',
Page 6
Womenor*,
ELCA+
", . , gifts from individuals in gratitude for blessings,"
Thankoffering Sunday for WELCA here at St. lohn/St. Paul wi I I be November 24th, Envel opes and boxes are avai I able in the Narthex.
The Reti rees Chri stmas Luncheon wi I I be hel d on Fri day, December 6th i n the gym/ Fel I owshi p Hal I at 12:00pm, the
cost is $10.00 per person. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. 100 seats are avai I abl e. Pl ease cal I Audi e Dascol i (330) 773-6497 as soon as possi bl e for reservati ons.
of the Greens" (decorating) for the chu rch wi I I be Satu rday, Decembe r 7th at 9:30am. All who can help are encouraged to
The "Hanginq
parti ci pate.
*
WELCA cembe
Chri stnras
Party:
wi I
I
be lnlednesday, Dâ&#x201A;Ź-
r 1-1-th at 6 : 30pm at the home of Beve rl y Crai g (311-9 Dri ftwood Rd, Norton, 0H 44203) Al I !r/el come ! Pl ease b r-i ng a cove red di sh and ornament for the exchange. Please RSVP to ,N^fal'IQ an Beve rl y Crai g at (3 30) 82 -A29L. /-h otr
.
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LrnTLstYnA-s.
5
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Open-M Chri stnras Food Baskets Thi s year we wi I I be col I ecti ng can corn for the 0pen -M Ch ri stmas food bas l<ets . The goal i s 200 of these . Fo r anyone who woul d I i l<e to
contribute but not shop, Gary and Patti
or Beth Haas will be happy to take OPI ol trI{ M your donations and do the shopping for you! Deadline to have these to the Church i s December 1st. As always, thank you for he1 pi ng ,,*"""o
Nagy
those who seel< assi stance th rough Open-M du ri ng thi season.
s
Page 7
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a poinsettia to help decorate the sanctuary and alter this Ghristmas. K ffi Order !2e" Fill out this form and place it in the offering plate, bring it to the church of- 5^'fice, or mail it to the church office. Checks should be made out to St. tffi John/St. :ffi Paul Lutheran Ghurch and mark the memo line. 6Y.l*
-$1;-
ffi
"poinsettian'on
All orders must be placed by ffionday, Deeennher t6th by
ffi xg
noon"
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WORSHIP SCHEDULE
9:30 AM.....Traditional Worship 10:00 AM.....Bible Study 10:30 AM....Gontinental Breakfast 11:OO AM....G.P.S. Worship
MINGLER SCHEDULE
11t03t13
11t10t13
12t15t13
12t24t13
Catie Lehman
11t10t13
11t17t13
12t01t13
READER SGHEDULE
11t17t13
Audie Dascoli
11t24t13
Art Kaufman
11t28t13
Mike Herchenroeder
12t01t13
David Six
12108113
Heather Parr
12t15t13 12t22t13
Tom Lehman Charmaine Streharsky
12t24t13
Linda Reyes
Jeanne Gardner
Art Kaufman
12t29t13
SAGRAMENTAL SERVER SCHEDULE
11t03t13 11/17 /13
12t01/13
Judy Harrison
12t15t13
HAUGEN SCHEDULE DATE 11t03t13 12t01t13
Hauqen Amanda Keeler Dave Lehman
Jenny Demuth Geoffrey Whidden
Geoffrey Whidden
Judy Harrison
Judy Harrison