St Paul Lutheran Church, Ridgefield, is located on the original and ancestral homelands of the Mohican, Munsee, Lenape, and Schaghticoke peoples, and we give thanks for their presence here since time immemorial. We also wish to recognize and honor all our Indigenous siblings who have and continue to call this land their home. | | |
First Sunday in LENT
February 22, 2026
eBlast
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Spoken Mass* 8:00 AM
Choral Mass* 10:30
10:30 Worship will be Live Streamed on Facebook Live
*Please note: all worship services, (also known as the Mass), unless otherwise noted, always include the Sacrament of Holy Communion, to which all are welcome.
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Tuesday
Prayer Circle 7 PM
in the Sanctuary
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Missed a worship service?
Check for it on Youtube!
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Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil.
Matthew 4:1
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Prayer of the Day
Lord God, our strength, the struggle between good and evil rages within and around us, and the devil and all the forces that defy you tempt us with empty promises. Keep us steadfast in your word, and when we fall, raise us again and restore us through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
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from the Pastor...
Have you heard of the viral sensation ‘75 hard’? It’s a viral transformative mental toughness program aimed at changing your life and habits in the new year. The program has six rules: eat a strict diet, drink a gallon of water daily, eliminate “cheat” foods and alcohol, and read ten pages of a nonfiction book daily. You must work out twice a day for 45 minutes including one outside activity. You must take progress pictures and start over from day zero if you fail.
Others are embracing 75 soft, which has adjusted rules: eat well and only drink on social occasions. Train for 45 minutes every day for 75 days without a day off and one day of active recovery every week. Drink three liters of water a day. Read ten pages of any book.
Both programs offer transformation with a new and positive sense of self.
I submit that the season of Lent offers that challenge as well.
While neither hard nor soft, the call to follow Jesus, to be in Christ, calls for a reflective Lent, a chance to clearly look at who we are and what we’re doing as we profess and claim Christ as our savior.
How have we been neighbor to each other?
How have we supported the ministry of St. Paul Church and the wider church?
How have we reduced our waste, cut back on our eating of animals, reduced our use of water?
Looking at ourselves, spending time with our interior selves, praying and journaling, helps us into a closer relationship with God in Jesus Christ, and our neighbors.
How will you respond in love this Lenten season?
Pastor Patt+
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???? Questions for Pastor? Stumped by spirituality? Tripped up on theology? Luther laying you low? Email Pastor pattkauffman@gmail.com.
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Stop ICE's attack on our communities: Call your senator now, 1-844 632 2268.
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**Please note: I will NEVER ask members of the congregation, or contacts for money via email. I will NEVER ask anyone to send me gift cards or email me cash because of a personal emergency, or a pastoral concern. **
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What a fun time we had as we celebrated Caribbean Sunday! Mass started with lively music with Andre DeSantis on steel drums and Idris----. We were dancing in the aisles! Worship was followed by an amazing lunch and fellowship - we played BINGO
Thank you, Ms. Janice and your family for providing a great experience and such good food!
| | Our afternoon event, A Conversation on our Blackness, led by Marla Hodge was a chance to listen to music, poetry, singing, and liturgical dance by Terry Lee King. Thank you, Marla, for your leadership! | | A delicious feast of chicken and pancakes (including vegan chicken and pancakes!) was enjoyed by all at our Shrove Tuesday lunch. | | |
Lent starts with Ash Wednesday (February 18).
We start this 40 day season of repentance with remembering our mortality, and renewing our commitment to serving others in Jesus’ name. We start this season with marking our foreheads with a dusty cross; even as we fast (refrain) from outward observances of our piety, turning to a renewed commitment to hear and practice the Word of God: to love justice, welcome the stranger, feed the hungry and clothe the naked, and to walk humbly before God.
Ashes will be available from 7am - noon
5pm Mass with confession, and imposition of ashes.
6pm Soup and Bread supper
| | You are invited to fill one of these piggy banks (available at church on Sunday) with coins to support social ministry’s 40 Days of Giving campaign Money collected will be sent to Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Refugee Service) which provides vital support and services to newly settled families | | |
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Are you interested in learning about the Christian faith? Lutheranism? St Paul Church?
Faith Formation Classes will be available soon, online and in person. Email Pastor Patt; pastorstpaulteaneck@gmail.com
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The Pray Ground is a space at the front of the Sanctuary for children and their parents to play during worship.
Come and see!
| | If you have received your 2026 Offering Envelopes, please contact Sharla at stpaullutheranchurchnj@gmail.com or 201-837-3189 immediately. Let her know what number is on your box. There is a discrepancy between the Envelope Box Master List and the labels on the boxes. Thank you. | | If you have received your 2026 Offering Envelopes, please contact Sharla at stpaullutheranchurchnj@gmail.com or 201-837-3189 immediately. Let her know what number is on your box. There is a discrepancy between the Envelope Box Master List and the labels on the boxes. Thank you. | | |
FLOWER CHART If you would like to contribute flowers in memory or in honor of a loved one, please add your name to the list posted across from the kitchen. Please note the cost of the flowers ($50) is due in advance. Thank you!
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We thank you for supporting St. Paul with your intentional and loving gifts, which you can make either in person at worship, through Tithley, Thrivent ( link on the church website),
or mail your offering to: St. Paul Lutheran Church 941 Slocum Ave Ridgefield, NJ 07657.
Thank you for your generosity and being a part of transforming our world!
We are feeding and clothing our neighbors; in the past few months, we have fed over 1,000 people per month.
We can't do this ministry without your generous support!
St Paul Church's only financial source is YOU!
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Ongoing supplies needed by our ministries!
Purchases can be made through Amazon and delivered to the church.
Can you help?
God bless your generosity!
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We Pray...
for Karen
for Shaka
for Nancy
for Nick
for Alexander
for Erica
for Pierra
for Doris
for the return of respectful and nonviolent discourse in our country
for an end to the war in Ukraine
for an end to the strife in the Middle East
for SNAP and all cuts threatened with the proposed federal government budget
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Prayer requests for the eBlast HERE.
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To contact Pastor, click HERE
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Individual Confession and Forgiveness, Saturdays by Appointment.
pastorstpaulteaneck@gmail.com
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St. Paul Church Parish Calendar!
Click HERE
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Love in Action/
Social Ministry
| | Safe communities act - signed into law, calls on the attorney general to continue to make access to schools, healthcare facilities , food pantries, and libraries and social services safe for all. The placards are displayed at each of our entry doors, in English, Spanish, and Korean. | | | |
Rainbow Family Circle Support Groups have several opportunities for the community. Click below for more information.
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Lifeline (Free Smartphone Program)
Lifeline is a federal program that provides eligible low-income individuals with a free smartphone and free wireless phone service (free data, free monthly minutes and unlimited texting). This Lifeline program is operated by the federal government, and should not be confused with the state’s Lifeline utility assistance program.
If you participate in certain assistance programs like Medicaid, NJ SNAP or SSI, you automatically qualify for the Lifeline program.
Apply online through the following providers: Assurance Wireless or Safelink Wireless.
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Commemoration
Before his death, Polycarp famously told the Roman proconsul, "For eighty-six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?". He refused to curse Christ, even when threatened with wild beasts and fire, remarking that fire only burns for a short time compared to eternal punishment.
Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, died 156
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