Newsletter

MARCH WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Weekly Saturday Worship at 5:30 p.m.

Sunday Worship at 8:30 & 11 a.m.

Third Sunday in Lent – March 7, 2010

The warnings are plentiful and blunt on the third Sunday in Lent. Lent is a season of repentance. Cut it out or get cut down!

Fourth Sunday in Lent – March 14, 2010

The psalm sets the tone this day: “Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away!”

Fifth Sunday in Lent – March 21, 2010

The Lord our God makes all things new. In the first reading God promises it. In the gospel Mary anticipates it, anointing Jesus’ feet with costly perfume in preparation for the day of his burial. In the second reading we recall the transformation of Saul, the persecutor, into Paul, the apostle.

Sunday of the Passion – March 28, 2010

The voice of the suffering savior, Jesus, can be heard in the prophet Isaiah’s words and the pleading of the psalm. We are invited into the agony of our Lord in the extended reading of the story of Jesus’ passion.

ST. PAUL’S PRAYER LIST

The People of St. Paul’s, the Ministers

Pray for Shut-In Members:

Bruni Bayer, Millie Kozemchak, Jane Swelgin, David & Mary Hopkins

Pray for those suffering illness:

Kristy Bellezza, Jean Boltz, Blanche Bonnice, Helen Carey, Pam Cyphers, Sally Davenport, Tawnya Eckert, Corey Ehret, Dorla Jean Evans, Sarah Flannery, Margie Hislop, Kay Hometchko, Dave Janoski, Bob & Marge Johnson, George Pyle, Stacey Stepniak, Mark Walters, Duncan Whitehead, David & Bertha Williams; Paula Williams. Family & Friends: Johanna Berdis, Jacqueline & Joseph Bilardi, Bob Bowen, Arlene Carco, Bunkey Carr, Harold Carter, Harold Cartwright, Anthony Casper, Betty Charney, David Creeble, Donna Cottle, Anna Davis, Carol Davis, Eleanor Dendler, Mary Elaine Donovan, Ruth Drevland, Albert Eberts, Jim Eckert, John Eneboe, Tom Evans, Tim Evans, Frank Gesky, Brian Gill, Donald Gilmore, David Haas, Emma Horensky, Carol Hubner, Hollis Hudack, Katie Ide, Ann Levandoski, Martha Linsky, Doris Lipinski, Helen Logan, Elner Mann, Rick McCarty, Merry McKeon, Sharon Miers, Stewart Miller, Luana Moross, Chloe Mulcahy, Calvin Phillips, Claire Rahm, Charles Rahm, Becky Reese, Jane Reggie, Rose Rinehimer, Heather Ross, Howard Sangston, Billie Savickis, Matt Shaver, Kiley Sino, Isaiah Smedley, Jack Smith, Robin Smith, Robert Sorber, Howard Sprau, Pete Staats, Michael Stewart, Katie Sufrinko & Cayden, Mary Sullivan, Michael Thorn, Barbara Triantafillou, Peggy Turner, Gina Valenti, Kathy Vitale, John Wedekind, Ray West, Denise Westervelt, Jenna Weycheck, Luke White, Fran Williams, Jack & Arlene Wilt, Bill Wiseman, Betsy Wood, Rose Wynn, Tom Young; Girard Zavislak, Polly (last name not given).

Pray for military personnel: John Stochla, Brian Rigez, Paul Rigez, Elizabeth Davenport, Robert F. Nicely, Brian Bayer, Jared Rutt, Paul Hiller, Andrew Hiller, David Dymond, Sean Rosencrance, William B. Phillips, Rocky Woodling, Kevin Woodling, Jerry Price, Jesse Dale, Phillip Miller, Matt Lipo, Joe Walsh, Robert Stevens, Adam Wendoloski, Philip Crawford, Arie VanKuyk, Joshua Knobel, Joseph Maskalis, David Spangenberg, Lt. Commander 04 Shaun McAndrew, Cpl. Christopher Avery, Donald Rorick, Jr., Major Cindy Ruckno, Major Kevin Andersen, Darin Ide, Captain Frank J. Michael, Jr., Daniel Worthington, CDR Chris Petrock, Michael Tanner, Kirk Frey, Nick Harris, Gary Seman, Phillip Walters, David Anthony, Stanley Brudnicki, Charles Brudnicki.

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The next GOOD NEWS will be the April issue and the deadline will be Sunday, March 21st. Please remember that items for the Saturday and Sunday bulletins are due in the church office by Noon on Thursdays.

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COUNCIL NOTES

Meeting of February 2, 2010

· Secretary’s report was approved as presented.

· Treasurer’s report for January:

WEEKLY WHITE OFFERING ENVELOPES
	2010	2009
January	$ 14,596.00	$ 11,929.00
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Total	$ 14,596.00	$ 11,929.00

Budget Update: St. Paul's finances as of

January 2010

	Jan. 2010 Year to Date*	Jan. 2009 Year to Date*
Total Income*	$ 25,790.48	$ 24,269.07
Transfer/Savings	$	$
Total Expenses	$ 19,939.31	$ 19,076.40

*General Fund; does not include Special Appeals or Designated Funds

Mortgage Retirement Phase III Campaign:

Total Pledged:

10/1/04 to 9/30/07: $242,071.55

Total Received to Date: $156,047.09

Balance To Be Received: $ 86,024.46

Mortgage Retirement Phase III Campaign:

Total Pledged:

10/1/2007 to 9/30/2010: $182,232.45

Total Received to Date: $152,815.37

Balance To Be Received: $ 29,417.08

Loan Obligation Balance: $547,629.63

Monthly Mortgage Payment: $ 7,474.68

Landscaping: A Tree Work and Landscaping proposal was presented; council is reviewing the proposed work and will discuss further at March Council meeting after further information is obtained. Joel will also be obtaining information and an estimate on cleaning out the drainage swales.

Finance: Carol is in process of reformatting income & expense report. The 2009 financial books for Dorcas, Brotherhood, Mortgage Retirement Campaign and the General Fund have all been audited and no discrepancies were found.

Property: Reviewed some of the requests that were made at the Annual Congregational Meeting, including a drop curb. After much discussion about whether this should be done it was decided to obtain an estimate and table discussion until a later date; it was also suggested that it could possibly be done when the columbarium is built. Bruce is looking into a fix for the fence across the street at the end of the church driveway.

Evangelism: Focus is on ways to build strength in welcoming new people. Still in process of obtaining information on the banners/flags that could be placed on the outside light posts along the driveway.

Social Ministry: Assembled 25 more hypothermia kits.

Worship & Music: We are grateful to Lois Hardisky for doing minor repairs to the Advent banners. We will recognize Boy Scout Sunday February 7^th and Girl Scout Sunday March 7^th.

St. Luke Reformation Church, Noxen will be invited to participate in our Easter Vigil service – 7 p.m. April 3^rd. Mid-week Lenten suppers will be held this year beginning Wednesday, Feb. 24^th and the committee will serve the first supper; the menu will be chili, salad, bread, and dessert. We will recognize St. Paul’s 85^th Anniversary on Sunday, May 23, 2010 with notice in bulletin and prayer petition.

Christian Education: Planning an evening Vacation Bible School August 8 – 12.

Old Business: Congregational Meeting - discussed a variety of topics, including additional lights (i.e. landscaping lights) may be needed to light up the front sidewalk – Gary will check into options. Intern: discussed having an intern again if under the right conditions – Pastor will gather information. Summerfest: No one has stepped forward to chair Summerfest; also learned that

Dr. Lori (appraiser) is not available July or August.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“This is my life; this is the way my life is now. How would God want me to use this time?” That insightful observation and question to pose to ourselves at any given moment was one of the revelations I had during the annual Bishop’s Conference this past month, “Spirituality in a Lutheran Key”. One of our presenters used this refrain as a way to turn those moments of frustration, anger, or impatience that crop up in our daily lives into a productive time of communion with God and service to others. It strikes me that asking that question is a good way to get at the habits, practices, and failures in our own lives for which we should repent.

I invite you to use the time of Lent to challenge yourself with this question. The hard part will be to remember to ask yourself the question, especially when the frustration is highest or the habit is so natural. But if you can remind yourself – maybe with a little card attached to your key ring or in your purse or pocket – a thoughtful response to the question can make a big difference to mitigate the frustration or change the habit.

May the Spirit of God guide you this season and always.

Your fellow walker in the way,

Pastor

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SOUPER BOWL OF CARING

Update: $193.50 was collected on Sunday February 7^th along with a grocery basket full of food. Thank you for your support.

AM. CANCER SOCIETY DAFFODIL SALE

If you ordered daffodils to benefit the American Cancer Society the pick up date is Thursday March 18^th. They usually arrive around 11 a.m. at

St. Paul’s. Please be sure your daffodils are paid for before the 18^th; cost is $10.00 a bunch; checks should be made payable to St. Paul’s, marked “Daffodils” and dropped in the offering plate.

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WORLD DAY OF PRAYER

This year’s service will take place at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Lake Silkworth on Friday, March 5, 2010 beginning at 1 p.m. The theme for the day is “Let Everything That Has Breath Praise God” written by the Women of Cameroon. A fellowship tea will follow the service. Everyone is welcome to attend.

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DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS AWARD

Congratulations to our own Frank and Dottie Henry who will be honored at the Distinguished Citizens Award Dinner for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council of Boy Scouts of America on March 4^th. The Henry’s deep concern and generous spirit for others are well known and we are glad they will be recognized for their work on behalf of the more than 6,800 youth and adult volunteers in six Northeastern Pennsylvania counties served by the NEPA Council. Professional footfall great and Hall-of-Famer, Willie Davis, will be the guest speaker for the dinner. Thank you Frank and Dottie for your support of Boy Scouts and for your continuing good work and support of our church and community.

LENTEN GATHERINGS

Soup and Scripture ecumenical meetings will be held every Monday during Lent: the format will be 6 pm Opening prayer & soup, 6:45 pm reflection on Scripture from upcoming Sunday by host pastor, 8 pm closing prayer. The schedule is as follows: March 1 – Pastor Charles Grube @ St. Paul’s Lutheran; March 8 – Rev. Joseph Pisaneschi @ Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church; March 15 – Pastor Butler @ Lehman-Idetown UMC; March 22 – Rev. James Pall @ Huntsville UMC.

WEEKLY LENTEN SERIES at St. Paul’s continues on Wednesdays during Lent; our schedule will be 6 pm supper; 6:45 Reading and Studying the Bible – Bible Study, 7:40 Night Prayer (Compline) in the Sanctuary.

Mar. 3 Exodus 3:1-15, A Devotional Reading

Mar. 10 Jeremiah 1:4-19,

A Historical Reading

Mar. 17 John 8:31-36, A Literary Reading

Mar. 25 Romans 7:15-25a, A Lutheran Theological Reading

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A HOLISTIC CHURCH

When a pastor asked the congregation to express what the church meant to them, one couple wrote:

Our church may best be described as holistic, which means “the whole is much more than its parts.” Our church has many “parts”: a lovely campus, rooms for education, a great fellowship hall and a lovely sanctuary. There, the cross reminds us of God’s love, the altar reminds us of holy communion and the baptismal font reminds us of our faith.

In the sanctuary, we sing meaningful hymns, listen to our wonderful choir, hear God’s incomparable word, offer sincere prayers, give an offering and receive guidance for our bodies, minds and souls. Finally, there is the part we call service. We leave church each week to use our talents, time and resources in Christian service to a needy world. We care because God cares.

All in all, the “whole” of our church is much more than the sum of its parts. Ours is a holistic church striving to be holier.

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SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE NEWS

Camp Noah is a Vacation Bible School-like event designed to help children who have been victims of natural disasters heal from their experience. Communities disrupted by floods, tornados, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters have been served by Camp Noah over the years. Our own Marty Everhart has been an active participant in Camp Noah and has gone to a wide variety of regions in our country to work with these children and their communities for many years. Because of his dedicated service to Camp Noah, he will be one of five people honored at the annual dinner of Lutheran Congregational Services on March 9. We are proud of Marty and congratulate him on the recognition of his service.

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RE-ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

Eucharistic Ministers are lay members of the congregation who take the sacrament of Holy Communion to members who are homebound and cannot come to worship. A planning and re-organizational meeting will be held Saturday, March 13 from 11:00 am to noon. This meeting is for both currently active Eucharistic Ministers and for those who are interested in becoming a Eucharistic Minister. Please contact Pastor Grube if you have questions.

DAVID & KATE IN SOUTH AMERICA

Our missionaries in Argentina and ELCA Regional Representatives in South America, Kate Lawler and David Wunsch have returned to Argentina after their visit to St. Paul’s and other supporting congregations this past month. They shared their call to missionary service and their experience in South America drawing parallels to the story of the disciples walk to Emmaus following Jesus crucifixion and resurrection (see Luke 24:13-35). David and Kate also shared with those gathered during the Sunday School hour how the work of missionaries has changed over the years, and how companionship is now the best way to describe that work and relationship. Our relationship with San Timoteo, La Plata, is one concrete expression of that new companionship relationship, and we hope that the future will bring us to a more intentional relationship with them. A note from David and Kate on their return has been posted on the bulletin board in the narthex and on our Facebook fan page. We are grateful for Kate and David’s visit to us and wish them every blessing in abundance in their work in Argentina and South America.

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DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME begins on Sunday March 14^th – spring arrives on March 20^th!

REMINDERS…The March Dorcas meeting will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 9^th. St. Paul’s Brotherhood will hold their quarterly meeting on Tuesday, March 23^rd at 7 p.m.

LOOKING FORWARD

Please mark your calendars…Roast Beef Dinners:

April 10^,2010

May 15, 2010

September 25, 2010

November 6, 2010

Dorcas’ Rummage/Bake Sales:

April 30 – May 1, 2010

October 8 & 9, 2010

Quilt Show

June 12, 2010 - A Fund Raiser to support St. Paul's Ministries is planned for the hours

1 to 4 p.m. It will be a Quilt Show/Tea. We are looking for quilts to put on display. The quilts can be old or new, hand quilted or machine quilted. We would also like to display anything else that is quilted such as: table runners, baby quilts, place mats, clothing (vests or purses). We would even consider quilts tops that someone never got around to quilting. If you would like to loan us any of the above, contact Betty Glass at 696-0106.

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HOLY WEEK BEGINS

This month ends as we move from the final days of the Lent season into Holy Week and the Great Three Days – the Triduum – Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Saturday, the Vigil of Easter. This is marking nothing less than the story of our salvation in the suffering, passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. We mark the events with special liturgies with rites and rituals we perform only once a year: washing feet and individual absolution, glorification of the cross and hearing the complete story of the passion, and striking the new light and a recitation of the salvation history of the people of God with baptism. The services begin at 7:00 pm each evening, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We will celebrate the Easter Vigil on Saturday with our sister congregation, St. Luke Reformation, Noxen. Plan now to be part of each of the three acts of that continuous liturgy.

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