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“THE GOOD NEWS” March 2010 Mailing Address Location: RR (Route 118) Phone: 570-675-3859 Email: stpaul@epix.net Rev. Charles H. Grube, Pastor Carol Fett, Administrative Assistant Connie Wilt, Director of Music 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. 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. + +
+ + +
COUNCIL NOTES Meeting of February 2, 2010 ·
Secretary’s report was approved as presented. ·
Treasurer’s report for January:
Budget Update: January 2010
*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 7th and Girl Scout Sunday
March 7th. St. Luke Reformation Church, Noxen will be invited to participate in our Easter Vigil
service – 7 p.m. April 3rd.
Mid-week Lenten suppers will be held this year beginning Wednesday, Feb.
24th and the committee will serve the first supper; the menu will be
chili, salad, bread, and dessert. We
will recognize Christian Education: Planning an evening 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 – Dr. Lori (appraiser) is not
available July or August.
“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 + + +
+ + SOUPER BOWL OF CARING Update:
$193.50 was collected on Sunday February 7th along with a
grocery basket full of food. Thank you
for your support.
If you ordered daffodils to benefit the
American Cancer Society the pick up date is Thursday March 18th. They usually arrive around 11 a.m. at + + +
+ + WORLD DAY OF PRAYER This year’s service will take place at Our
Lady of Mount Carmel Church in + + +
+ + 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 4th. 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 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 Mar. 10 Jeremiah
1:4-19, A Historical Mar. 17 John
8:31-36, A Literary Mar. 25 Romans
7:15-25a, A Lutheran Theological + + +
+ + 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 + +
+ + + 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 Our missionaries in + +
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REMINDERS…The
March Dorcas meeting will be held at 1 p.m. on
Tuesday, March 9th. 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 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. + +
+ + + 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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