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“GOOD NEWS” February 2012 NEWSLETTER OF 474 Yalick Road Phone: 570-675-3859 Fax: 570-675-5646 Email: stpaul@epix.net Web Page: stpaulselca.com
Rev. Charles H. Grube, Pastor Home Phone - (570) 696-2688 Office Hours Wednesdays & Thursdays 9:30 a.m. -
Noon or by appointment SUNDAY WORSHIP 8:30 & 11 am 9:45 am Sunday School SATURDAY WORSHIP 5:30 PM ~ ~ ~
~ ~ Our
mission is to share with all people, God's Love and Grace through Word and
Sacrament. Through the Holy Spirit, we
are empowered to witness and serve, treating one another with love, compassion,
forgiveness, and understanding. By
our commitments, actions, deeds, and resources, we share the Good News of Jesus
Christ, reaching out to our community, nation and world. Adopted
May 1993 PRAY
FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL: Brian
Bayer, Katie Dale, Brian Rigez, Paul Rigez, Robert F. Nicely, Paul Hiller,
Andrew Hiller, David Dymond, William B. Phillips, Jerry Price, Jesse Dale,
Phillip Miller, Matt Lipo, Joe Walsh, Robert Stevens, Adam Wendoloski, Joshua
Knobel, Joseph Maskalis, David Spangenberg, Lt. Commander 04 Shaun McAndrew,
Cpl. Christopher Avery, Major Cindy Ruckno, Major Kevin Andersen, Captain Frank
J. Michael, Jr., Daniel Worthington, Michael Tanner, Kirk Frey, Stanley
Brudnicki, Charles Brudnicki, CDR Chris Petrock, Jason Reed, Ethan
Jacobs, Donald Zimmerman, Jr., Major
Andrew Kalie ST. PAUL’S PRAYER LIST The People of St. Paul’s, the Ministers
Please remember to ask permission from the person you
are placing on the prayer list. Pray for
Shut-In Members: Bruni Bayer, David & Mary Hopkins, Rose Gula. Pray
for those suffering illness: Members: Corey Ehret, John Holdredge, Peter Mahalick,
Vic McCarty, John Reishus, Howard Swain, Betty Weaver. Family & Friends: Ruth Austin, Larry Berdis, Harold
Cartwright, Martha Cease, Nanni Colini, Susan Diedrickson, Mike Doherty,
Suzanne Fellowman, Frank Gesky, Donald Gilmore, David Haas, Julia Hardaker, Bob
Hull, Katie Ide, Marvin Keck, Linda Kishbach, Bertie Krimmel, Luanna Moross,
Curt Neuhring, Evelyn Neuhring, Ginny O’Malley, Bill Parrish, John Reese,
Walter Roberts, Linda Root, Betty Rorick, Rodney Samson, Butch Sandt, Howard
Sangston, Irene Santorelli, Gerald Siperko, Howard Sprau, Rev. Peter
Jark-Swain, Damon Szatkowski, Chris Terhune, Maggie Whitehead, Erin Loftus
Wicht, Marian Williard, Katherine Wills,
Jack & Arlene Wilt, Rose Wynn, and Cita (last name not given).
COUNCIL NOTES – January 2012 ·
Secretary’s report was approved as presented. ·
Treasurer’s report was approved as presented.
Budget Update: St. Paul's
finances as of December:
*General Fund; does not
include Special Appeals or Designated Funds Mortgage
Retirement Phase III Campaign: Total
Pledged: 1/1/2011
to 12/31/2013: $146,474.33 Total
Received to Date: $ 76,945.00 Loan
Obligation Balance: $463,635.28 Monthly
Loan Payment: $ 3,530.61 Property: Drawings for the Sunday School
room sinks and counters have been sent out for estimates. Evangelism: Bear Creek Men’s Retreat planned for March. Social Ministry: Assisted Health Ministry with assembling the
hypothermia kits. Twenty-seven kits were
assembled and given to Catholic Social Services for distribution. Old Business: Looking to purchase camera for the Church
with remaining Birthday Gift Fund. New Business: Carol Fett re-elected Treasurer. + + +
+ DORCAS SOCIETY UPDATE The
meeting of twenty-three members was called to order by Chris Bellezza. Devotions were by Bina Holdredge, and the
hostesses for the day were Helen Carey, Marge Fritzinger, Bina Holdredge, and
Susan Siperko. Cynthia Mahalick was accepted as a new member. A note from Pastor Grube was read, thanking
Dorcas for the poinsettia and the gift he received at the Dorcas Society Christmas
Party. The November minutes were unavailable, and will be read at
the next meeting. The December meeting
was the Christmas Party, held at the Irem Country Club. Dorcas Society members will volunteer to help prepare,
serve, and clean up the Valentine Breakfast on February 12th. Each member had received a copy of the new Dorcas Society
By-Laws; in accordance with Article VIII, Betty Schray made a motion that the
new By-Laws be accepted. Val Rothrock
seconded; acceptance of the By-Laws was by unanimous vote. Seeking a new secretary for the Society, volunteers were
sought from the floor. As none were
heard, Krisy Bellezza will assume this duty in April when the meetings are
again held in the evening. Betty Schray made a motion that Dorcas Society serve the Lenten Meal on Wednesday, March 7th,
which was seconded by Annie Bisher. The
menu will be selected at the next meeting. By show of hands, the Irem Country Club was selected as
the location for the 2012 Christmas Party.
Hostesses will be Annie Bisher, Mary Trexler Walters and Chris Bellezza. Hostesses for the February meeting will be Geri Williams,
Anna Winkler and Marge Johnson.
Sisters in Christ, “Repent” will be the word of the season for us this
month. Having heard John the Baptist and
Jesus declare it in their preaching, it will become the key word for us
throughout Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 22. We usually think of “repent” as turning, as
if we were walking on the wrong path, or the right path in the wrong direction,
and turned to get on the right path.
Repentance in the church is turning from whatever distracts us from God
to following Jesus in his way. The early
believers were sometimes called “people of the way” because of this image. Another way to think of
repentance is being opened to a different perspective. Like someone who has traveled to a second- or
third-world country from our own usually sees wealth, poverty, food and
material goods from a different perspective after the trip. Befriending someone from a different culture
or religion and learning more about them often leads
to a change in our perspective form our stereotypes and fears. Learning about plot development, trees, or
atoms usually causes us to see literature, forests, or the air we breathe from
a different perspective. The perspective we are opened
to in Lent is God’s perspective, which is often a stark contrast to the world’s
ways and expectations. That is the
perspective we re-dedicate ourselves to and train ourselves for in Lent, so
that throughout the year, we may be God’s obedient children and Christ’s
faithful followers. God
bless our eyes, ears, minds, and hearts with signs of holy ways. Pastor + +
+ + + PASSAGES
BAPTISMS Brooks Elizabeth Kutchma –
11/26/11 Mylee Rae Lucille Powers –
12/17/11 Mila Ariana DeFinnis –
1/15/12 ADOPTION ANNOUNCEMENT Isaiah Lucas Myers, born
November 24th, 2009 Proud Mom and Dad: Bruce and Cheryl Myers and big sister
Gabrielle +
+ + + + MISSIONARY VISIT We are very honored and
delighted to welcome back to St. Paul’s Kate Lawler and David Wunsch, our
missionaries in Argentina, on Saturday, February 4th. David and Kate will preach for our regular
5:30 pm Holy Communion worship. Then we
will gather for a covered dish supper at about 6:30. Watch for the sign-up sheet in the
Narthex. Finally, from about 7 to 8 pm,
we will hear their presentation on their work in Argentina and South America,
and the ELCA Global Mission’s work around the world. Kate and David are wonderfully gifted leaders
in the church and you won’t want to miss their visit with us. GOD SIGHTINGS We hope you’ve been watching
for God’s activity in your daily life, and shared your God Sighting with
others. If the repentance Jesus
proclaimed (Mark 1:14-15) is all about changing our perspectives (and it is),
then training ourselves to recognize a God Sighting when it happens before us
is one of those perspective-changing repentances that is part of our
faith. Here’s a technique to use to
train yourself:
concentrate on people relating to other people in ways that show a fruit
of the Spirit. Watch
for moments of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness or self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Want a clever way to remember those? Join the Sunday School
children each Sunday morning for the Sunday School opening and learn the song
they all know. THE SEASON OF LENT This month brings the church
season of Lent – the forty days of reflection, prayer, fasting, giving, and
discipline that marks our repentant return to our Lord as obedient and faithful
followers. Our midweek gatherings will
be Wednesday evenings, beginning with a light supper at 6:30 pm, followed by a
study from 7:00 to 7:40, and Evening Prayer to end the evening. Our study this year will be a Spirit-guided
look at God’s activity in the early church in Acts as a means to investigate
God/s calling to us in our own mission and ministry. In addition to our own Wednesday evening
gatherings, we will again participate in the Soup and Scripture gatherings
shared by the churches of the region to our west on Monday evenings. The gatherings begin on February 27th
at 6:00 pm with a soup supper prepared by the host church. Following at 6:45 is an investigation of the
gospel reading for the following Sunday led by the host pastor, ending by 8:00
pm. The schedule is as follows: Feb. 27 Fr.
Richard Fox @ Our Lady of Mount Carmel at Lake Silkworth Mar. 5 Pastor
Bob Ryder @ Lehman-Idetown United Methodist Church Mar. 12 Pastor
Charles Grube @ St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Mar. 19 Pastor
Ken Brown @ Maple Grove United Methodist Church Mar. 26 Rev.
W. James Pall @ Huntsville United Methodist Church
SYNOD YOUTH EXCHANGE Congratulations to Adam
O’Brien and his parents Dr. Frank and Holy O’Brien for being selected to
participate in the Northeastern PA Synod’s exchange with our companion synod in
Slovenia. This summer 2012, youth from
Slovenia will come to our synod to stay with the O’Briens and other families
from our synod selected to host them.
Then in the summer of 2013, Adam will travel to Slovenia with the youth
selected with him from our synod and stay in the homes of those youth who
visited here. Both will be cultural
immersion experiences with some activities planned for the whole group and
other times just living in one another’s homes.
We at St. Paul’s are certainly proud of Adam and all our youth who have
been selected to travel to companion synod churches. Adam’s selection to travel to Slovenia means
that we have had members of St. Paul’s selected to travel to all four of our
synod’s companion synods: Slovenia,
Saxony (Germany), Tanzania, and Argentina.
We look forward to welcoming the Slovenian youth the O’Briens host to
our church community.
Wherever you send me, Lord, I
will accept. My response may be clumsy, or
even inept. But I know you want only the
best for me, too. So with your help, I’ll do
what you want me to do. -- Peggy Ferrell SYNOD NOTE The Northeastern PA Synod, at
its 2012 assembly, will be electing people to several positions of leadership
in the synod and synod-related agencies.
Members of the Synod Council (like our Congregation Council for the
synod), the Philadelphia Seminary Board of Directors, the synod’s Committee on
Discipline and Consultation Committee, and voting members for the ELCA
Churchwide Assembly in August 2013 in Pittsburgh will all be elected. If you (or someone you know) would like to
share your time and gifts in these larger-church ways, please contact the
church office for the nomination form or more details about the terms or
requirements. DID YOU KNOW… …that the senior high youth
and adult leaders who have committed to participate in the ELCA National Youth
Gathering, “Citizens with the Saints”, in New Orleans this coming July have
already begun their monthly “Getting Ready” gatherings. In these gatherings, the group learns about
the National Gathering, New Orleans and its culture, and most importantly, each
other and themselves. We train ourselves
to be a community dedicated and committed to respect and care for each other
and prepare ourselves practically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually to
participate in the Gathering and in the Spirit’s movement among us. Thirteen youth and five adults will be
traveling this summer; watch for the poster they are preparing for you and keep
them all in your prayers as they prepare for this life-changing event. FOOD PANTRY UPDATE At its most recent board
meeting, the directors of the Back Mountain Food Pantry reported that there are
currently 213 families from our Back Mountain community registered with the
food pantry for regular support, and it will operate this coming year with
projected expenses of about $50,000.
Many people of our churches and community support this important
ministry to our community. You are very
generous with support for the Food Pantry with your gifts of food and cash
offerings, and we thank you. SERMONS AND BIBLE STUDY Are there times during the
weekly sermon when you wonder, “Where did that come from?” One answer may be the regular Wednesday
evening Bible Study Pastor Grube leads beginning at 7 pm. It’s the one comment we have heard most from
Bible Study participants: that the study
of the texts for the following Sunday on Wednesday evening makes the worship
experience that weekend so much more meaningful. Give it a try. Each study is self-contained, so you can
attend when you can and miss when you have to.
This number appears many
times in Scripture, often indicating a time of trial or testing, or simply
marking something significant. It rained
40 days and nights during the Great Flood.
Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Jesus fasted for 40 days and was with the
disciples for 40 days between his resurrection and ascension. Taking this symbolic number to heart, the
Christian church has long observed 40 days of Lent (not counting Sundays). + +
+ + + PRETZEL SALE Chocolate covered pretzels to
benefit the ELCA Youth Gathering Trip are now on sale. Place your order in the Narthex or call the
church office (675-3859) by Wednesday, February 1st. Pretzels will be ready for pickup at the
church on Saturday, Feb. 4th, 5:00-6:00 pm; and Sunday, Feb. 5th,
9:30 am-12:00 noon. MARDI GRAS / FASTNACHT Tuesday, February 21st
at 6:00 pm we will have a covered dish dinner followed by a Talent Show. The group that is traveling to the ELCA Youth
Gathering will organize this celebration for the congregation. Please watch the
bulletin and Narthex for more details; if questions, please contact Marjorie
Marquart.
We had a great turnout at the
Salvation Army on December 10th.
Captain Patty was excited to see our group come and organize the
Christmas bags for families in need. She
has already signed us up for the second week in December 2012! A perfect finish to the day was to play games
and watch a movie at Mrs. Marquart’s house.
Thank you, Mrs. Marquart! The Ice Skating outing on
December 30th at the Coal Street rink was lots of fun. “Thank you!”, Mrs.
Stearns, for the discounted admission tickets.
I think we all learned that “Tag, you’re It, Mrs. Michael” is a good way
to end the game. Maybe next time my
speed will pick up. Saturday, February 4th
we will meet at the church from 10 am-3 pm to make the chocolate covered
pretzels. Surprisingly, this is a
fun/social event for our group. We just
need to remember only pretzels – not our hands – in the chocolate! Sunday, February 12 we will
be helping the Dorcas Society serve at the Valentine’s Breakfast. The St. Paul’s Winterfest will be later that
day, from 3-6 pm. We are hoping for snow
– and sleigh riding! There will
definitely be games, hot chocolate, and pizza.
Share this event with your friends! Reminder: Senior Youth “Lock-In” is scheduled for
Friday, March 16th – Saturday, March 17th. Youth Sunday will be Sunday, March 18th. Peace to all, Kathy Michael & Julie
Miller VALENTINE PROJECT We are collecting donations
for families whose children attend Head Start classes in our building. Please see the Sunday School
Bulletin Board. The items needed are listed
on the smaller hearts. Please take a
heart and return the item with the heart attached. Items do not need to be wrapped; several
members do wrap their donations. Please return your donation
to the church office or the Sunday School office by
Sunday, Feb. 12th. We will celebrate this “God
Sighting” project with our annual Valentine Breakfast on Sunday, February 12th
at 9:45 pm. The meal is prepared by the
Dorcas Society. The food is donated by
the Brotherhood. Thank you for continuing to
support our outreach! If you have any questions,
please contact Marjorie Marquart. SOUPER BOWL OF CARING St. Paul’s is registered with
the national Souper Bowl of Caring organization and we will participate in this
annual event on Sunday, February 5. The
soup pots will be manned by members of St. Paul’s Youth Group and all you need
to do is vote for your favorite football team (New England Patriots or New York
Giants) by placing your donation in the corresponding soup pot. Donations will be counted following each
service that weekend and Pastor Grube will announce the team totals. Monies donated will be shared with food banks
along with any canned goods placed in the shopping basket.
Patriots
Giants
Celebrating Daffodil Days is about much more
than sharing beautiful flowers; it’s about dedicated people like you sharing
hope for a world free of cancer. Thanks
to your generous support of the American Cancer Society Daffodil Days program,
the Society is helping people face cancer every day in every community. Dollars raised through Daffodil Days enable
the Society to offer free programs and services that help people fight cancer
with courage and optimism, including: · Transportation
assistance to and from treatment. · Lodging
for those having to travel long distances for treatment. · Online
educational classes for people with cancer and their loved ones. · Free
and confidential assistance in helping locate cancer clinics. · Physical
and emotional assistance to ease the cancer experience. Cost is $10.00 a bunch; checks should be
made payable to
The
Lenten Penny War begins February 22nd! We
hope you have been saving your pennies! St.
Paul’s will be participating in the annual PENNY WARS FOR THE POOR, which
begins on Ash Wednesday. Penny Wars is a
charitable challenge among congregations of all faiths to help families with
children living in poverty throughout Luzerne County. Everyone is encouraged to collect pennies
during the 40 days and 40 nights of Lent.
A penny jar will be in place starting February 22 on the table in the
hallway between the Narthex and Social Hall.
Please help with this worthy cause by saving and bringing in your
pennies throughout the Lenten season. + +
+ + + CHORAL ARTS AUDITIONS Choral Arts of Luzerne County
will be holding rehearsals/auditions for the Spring
2012 season beginning Tuesday, January 24th at Church of Christ
Uniting, Kingston. Rehearsals will be
held each Tuesday evening from 7-9:30 pm.
There are openings for new sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses. New members are encouraged to come to an open
rehearsal on February 7th and audition the following week. Music includes 20th century
masterpieces by Zoltan Kodaly and Benjamin Britten. The concerts will be held in Wilkes-Barre on
April 28th and in Hazelton on April 29th. Visit our website, www.choralartslc.org or our Facebook
page at Choral Arts of Luzerne County, for further information.
+
+ + +
+ OUR CHURCH OFFICE Please feel free to stop in
to the office and introduce yourself to Abby, our new Administrative
Assistant. When you
sign the blue Friendship Pad during a service, this also helps her get to know
you, and to better serve this fellowship. +
+ + +
+ VITAMINS FOR CHILDREN Ethiopian Day Care is in need
of donations of children’s vitamins, either chewable or infant drops, new and
not expired. So far, the Day Care helps
over 60 children each day. A basket has
been placed in the hallway for your donations.
Please contact Lois or Joe Hardisky for further information (675-1006).
+ +
+ + + +
From Campus Ministries, January 9th: Dear Carol, Please extend to the cookie bakers at St. Paul’s
Lutheran Church our grateful thank you for their participation in the annual
Exam Week Cookie Break at the Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus. The cookies were awesome, they were
completely devoured and the whole event was a total success! And…we could not have done it without the
help of special friends like you! Sincerely, Rev. Cheryl Cavalari
12/29/11 Dear Friends at St. Paul’s, Please accept my heartfelt thanks to all who sent
cards – prayers – gifts – visits – etc.
I’m sure they all helped to speed my recovery. You are truly a Christian congregation doing
the Word of the Lord. Thanks again, Ruth Voelker
Dear St. Paul’s Social Ministry: Thank you very much for the cookies. They were DE-LICIOUS. Merry Christmas, Ron Kross Dec. 12, 2011 To the Social Ministry of St. Paul’s: Thank you so much for the delicious cookies. I will enjoy them all through the holiday season. The people at St. Paul’s are wonderful. Thanks again, Herb Bonnice
To the Social Ministry of St. Paul’s: Thank you so much for thinking about Hugh and me with
these wonderful cookies. He is much
better thanks to all the prayers. God
bless you. Nancy and Hugh (Lamberton)
To the Ladies of St. Paul’s Social Ministry: Dear Ladies, Thank you so much for the delicious cookies. I shared them with my table-mates and they
all agreed they were equally delicious. Thanks again, Shirley Templin
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