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Church Bulletin Announcements
December 6, 2024
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In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6
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Homebound
- Doris Appold
- Dorine Auernhammer
- Gwen Bakus
- Jon Ittner
- Mike & Karen Kusch
- Margaret Meyer
- RoseAnne Schmidt
- Tim Wegener
- Shirley Ziegler
- Janet Hoerauf
- Sandy Hafer
- Lea Roma
- Julie Roark
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Special
- Dean Bass
- Larry Kramer
- Judy Coulter
- Lois Matthes
- Jeff Heckman
- Karen Berger
- Tim Weiman family
- Tiffany Switek
- Sue Clark (Howard Grantham's sister)
- Wayne Schmidt
- Dave Sherry
- Shirley Ziegler
- Deborah Berger
- Helen Wagner
- Andrea Dent
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This Week's Members
- Julia Appold
- Paulette Beckers
- Jacalyn Born-Fisher
- Billy, Sarah, Hannah, Miriam, Micah, Bethany, & Lindsey Cmeyla
- Todd Emeott
- Susan Gillespie
- Jonathan Ittner
- Daniel & Kimberly Krueger
- Brian, Sheri, Emmiley, Charles, & Alexander Lusher
- Gavin Nagy
- Erica Reymore
- Greg & Connie Wajer
- Justin Zeilinger
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Sunday, December 8
Worship with Communion 8:00 a.m.
Bible Class & Sunday School 9:30 a.m.
Worship with Communion 10:30 a.m.
VLHS Christmas Concert 3:00 p.m.
Monday, December 9
Board of Business Management 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 10
Choir Practice 6:00 p.m.
Bell Choir Practice 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 11
Newsletter Articles Due
Song Service 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 12
Church Council 6:30 p.m.
Friday, December 13
Parsonage Open House 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 15
Worship with Communion 8:00 a.m.
Bible Class & Sunday School 9:30 a.m.
Worship with Communion 10:30 a.m.
Preschool-Y5/K Christmas Program 2:00 p.m.
Sunday Night Youth Group 5:00 p.m.
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Communion Statement
The Lord's Supper is celebrated here in the confession and glad confidence that our Lord, as He says, gives not only bread and wine, but His very body and blood to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sin. In joyful obedience to the clear teaching of our Lord Jesus those are invited to His table who trust His words, repent of all sin, and set aside any refusal to forgive and love as He forgives and loves us. They show forth His death until He comes. Because Holy Communion is a confession of the faith which is confessed at this altar, any who are not yet instructed, in doubt, or who hold a confession differing from that of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and so are unable to receive the Sacrament are invited to meditate on God's Word in the distribution hymns and pray for the day when divisions will have ceased. If you wish to receive communion in your pew, please inform an usher.
Church Attendance
Thanksgiving Eve - 186
Thanksgiving Day - 91
Last Sunday - 356 (213, 143)
Midweek Service - 168
Altar Flowers
The Altar Flowers this Sunday are given by Tiffany List, in honor of her birthday and in memory of her aunt, Carol Wozniak.
Acolyte Schedule
Click here to see the October-December 2024 Acolyte Schedule.
Livestream
Facebook or YouTube
The Lutheran Hour
Sundays at 8:30 a.m. on WSAM 1400 AM
Donations mail to: Saginaw Valley Lutheran Hour; P.O. Box 133; Frankenmuth, MI 48734
Daily Bible Readings
December 8 - Revelation 5
December 9 - Revelation 6
December 10 - Revelation 7
December 11 - Psalms 143-145
December 12 - Proverbs 29
December 13 - Revelation 8
December 14 - Revelation 9
This Sunday's Hymns
344, 343, 332, 349, 335, 354, 331
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Advent Season
Advent began Sunday, December 1. The special services are listed below.
December 11
Song Service at 6:30 p.m.
December 15
Preschool-Grade Y5/K Children's Christmas Program at 3:00 p.m.
December 18
Grades 1-8 Children's Christmas Program at 9:00 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.
Reception following the evening service
Christmas Season
December 24
3:30 p.m. Celebration & Praise Christmas Eve Service with Communion
6:30 p.m. Traditional Christmas Eve Service with Communion
11:00 p.m. Christmas Vespers
December 25
9:00 a.m. Christmas Worship with Communion
Parsonage Open House
It's the most wonderful time of the year! The Matyas family cordially invites you to their annual Christmas open house on Friday, December 13, from 6-8. Homemade eggnog and treats will be served. The Twelve Days of Christmas will be sung at 7. Hope to see you there!
Song Service
You are cordially invited to the 2024 Song Service on December 11, 6:30 p.m., led by the adult choir and handbell groups. Come join us as we journey through the Christmas story through music. The choir and handbell members look forward to sharing their musical offerings with you! - Directors Eddie Switek and Rachel Abraham
Gift Cards
Don't forget about St. Paul Scrip for your Christmas shopping, participate in our Scrip fundraiser by purchasing gift cards from us! Please contact the school office to see what cards are in stock and to arrange payment (cash or check) and pick up. Deadline for special requests (e.g. large quantities) is Friday, December 13 to ensure orders arrive before Christmas. Click here for an order form.
Holly Jolly
The Holly Jolly Christmas Store is right around the corner (December 12 & 13). The Holly Jolly Christmas Store is a fully donation funded event, for students of St. Paul to shop for Christmas gifts for family. During the Holly Jolly Christmas store, students will shop with their classes to purchase gifts ranging in price from $1-$5 for family members. Gifts will go home with the students wrapped and ready to be delivered at Christmas.
To make this a successful event for St. Paul Students, the PTO needs your help!
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We are accepting donations of large shopping bags (for students to bring gifts home in), gift bags, tissue paper, tape, along with new and gently used items for moms, dads, grandparents, and siblings.
- Donation boxes are located inside the main entrance at the school and in the Ministry Center. There is also a Wish List Tree in the Ministry Center to take tags from. Every donation helps make the event special for our students.
We are also looking for Holly Jolly volunteers to set up and work the event. With increased enrollment, we appreciate as many volunteers as possible! Please sign up here and bring your cheer!
JOY Group
JOY will have their annual Christmas dinner on Thursday, December 19th, at 12 noon at the Ministry Center. Please RSVP to Bonnie List or Virginia Hutter.
Blood Drive
The next blood drive is December 19 in the Ministry Center. If you are interested, contact Darlene or Julia. Or click here to sign up.
Jr. High Youth Group Donations
The Jr. High Youth Group is seeking donations of no-tie blanket kits and 2-yard cuts of fleece fabric. The group plans to use the materials to make blankets for the shut-in members of our congregation. If you wish to make a donation, please place the fabric in the labeled bin outside the youth room by Sunday, January 12. Thank you!
Online Giving Reminder
Did you know that you can give electronically to St. Paul? For more information on electronic giving please contact the Church Office at 989-684-4450 or visit St. Paul Online Giving. If you have been using electronic giving, the Board of Business Management would like to encourage you to update or reevaluate your giving so that it reflects what you desire to give.
End of the Year Giving
St. Paul Lutheran Church and School has been historically blessed by end of the year giving. As our hearts open to the joy we have in gratitude to our Savior, end of the year giving is an excellent way to remember and financially support St. Paul. If you would like your offerings to be counted in your 2024 giving, plan on the following three ways and dates:
- Offering plate by Sunday, December 29
- Delivered to the Church/School Office by Friday, December 20
- Electronically given by Thursday, December 26
2025 Altar Flowers
The Altar Flowers Calendar for 2025 is hanging on the wall in the cry room in the back of church. If you would like to put flowers in church in 2025, you may mark it down on the calendar. You order the flowers and the committee will make sure the information is published in the church bulletin. Any questions call Brenda Weiss at 989 798-2308.
VBS looking for Christmas Trees
The ladies of VBS are on the lookout for used Christmas Trees. If you pull out your tree and decided that it has served you well and it's time for your family to get a new Christmas Tree please consider donating your previously loved Christmas Tree to the VBS program. For any questions call or text Tiffany 989-225-8516 Emily 989-415-4969 or Natalie 989-450-9583
Ladies Aid Bake Sale
The St. Paul Ladies Aid will be having a donut hour and bake sale this year on Saturday, December 7, 2024. Donut hour will be from 8:30-9:30 a.m., with the bake sale from 9:30-11:00 a.m. We plan to have all of our traditional German treats including eisenkuechle, springerle, stollen, butter horns, breads, and sauerkraut. Any congregation members interested in donating baked goods or helping to work the Bake Sale, please contact Diane Behmlander at 989-297-3485, Jennifer Zielinski at 989-450-9805, Shelley Appold at 989-482-6617, Tammy Jaskiewicz at 989-385-0898 or Betty Stieve at 989-321-1442.
Church Membership
The elders are currently in the process of "cleaning up" the membership rolls to better reflect who actually belongs to St. Paul. If you are not in the habit of signing the attendance sheet, please do so! It makes our reports much easier to read.
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Populace Coffee - Grade 7/8 Fundraiser
The 7th and 8th graders at St. Paul are having a Populace Coffee Fundraiser. $5 from each coffee bag sold will go towards the 7th and 8th grade class! Fill out the online order form by clicking here and an invoice will be sent to your email. Coffee bags will be delivered to the school/church the week of 12/13/2024. Contact the office at office@stpaulbaycity.org with any questions or help ordering.
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Stewardship - An Act of Faith
Luke 21:28 – “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” When the world starts to fall apart, when things go badly, when nation rises against nation, Jesus tells us to lift up our heads because redemption is nigh. What a wonderful reminder that we Christians really do have nothing to fear! Jesus has conquered and He will deliver the full victory to us in His second Advent. Therefore we are free to live godly, generous, faithful lives here and now, for we have nothing to be afraid of.
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Valley Vision
Click here to see the December 2024 Valley Vision.
Valley Announcements
- Save the Date for the Music Department’s Christmas Choral Concert on Sunday, December 8 at 3 pm! This year’s concert will be hosted at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 6100 Westside Saginaw Rd, Bay City.
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Old Testament Reading
Malachi 3:1–7b
“Behold, I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years. “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts. “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them.”
Epistle
Philippians 1:2–11
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Holy Gospel
Luke 3:1–20
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.” As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.
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