This past summer we went to Six Flags Great America for a family trip. While I was waiting in the long lines for one of the rides there was a t-shirt that I kept seeing over and over as we snaked our way along. It read: Kindness is free — so sprinkle that stuff everywhere. What a great message for us.

To many people, the world can seem like a mean place. When someone is struggling with addiction, poverty, or abuse they often feel isolated as if no one cares what happens to them. In our current time as we prepare for the upcoming election, the polarizing differences are becoming more noticeable as we get further and further apart. When our own denomination split in two, I watched people who had been very close turn on each other ending their friendships.

Into this time, it seems like the answer, as hard as it may be sometimes, is to sprinkle

some kindness into the world around us. However, the truth of life is that it is easy to be kind to the kind. But how can we be kind when someone says something that just gets our blood boiling? How can we be kind when someone does something that is so hurtful? How can we be kind when we see someone ignoring the needs of other people?

Our only help is to remember the kindness of God who always chooses us no matter how

much we screw up. We need to remember that “the kindness of God appeared” in the form of a little baby who came, despite our many faults and failures, to save us and show us a different way to be through his life transforming love of the resurrection. In Christ, with Christ, through Christ we have the best example, guide and source of strength to reach out in kindness and compassion to our world.

And so here are some ways to extend the kindness and compassion of our faith.

• Be kind to yourself: Understand and forgive your mistakes and flaws, just as you would treat a loved one.
• Be kind to others: Give compliments, hold doors open, write thank you notes, or lets someone go ahead of you.
• Smile: Smiling is a universal sign of goodwill, happiness, and friendship. 
• Be patient: Be patient when you want to yell or get angry. 
• Listen: Listen carefully to what someone is passionate about, even if you disagree. 
• Forgive: Practice forgiveness. 
• Be mindful: Don't beat yourself up if your mind wanders or you have judgmental thoughts.
• Incorporate kindness activities: Try kindness jars, kindness journals, random acts of kindness or thank you notes.

And so let us live out the words of scripture to “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted,

forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."



In God’s Love

Pastor Tim

GENERAL FUND GIVING AND EXPENDITURES

REPORT FROM SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

Please see the report below from our Finance Director Ardis Burke.

Help with worship services is needed! If you're willing to be a liturgist, usher and/or AV tech, please contact the office by calling 715-344-3557, emailing stpauls@stevenspointumc.org or by stopping in.

Our biggest need is the for 8:30am service!

If you have already signed up to volunteer, there's no need to contact the office unless you'd like to switch times.

The schedule is already completed through December 1st. Start dates would proceed after that.

Thank you for your willingness to serve!

Volunteers are needed to help with phones and greeting visitors on Kristen's upcoming vacation days.

Day volunteers are needed is December 30.

Hours needed are 9-12 and 1-4. If you are willing to help, please reach out to the office.

Thank you!

ALL CHURCH YARD FALL CLEAN-UP 

Saturday, Oct. 19. 9 am till Noon

The fall all church yard fall clean-up is happening soon. Bring: pruners, rakes, shovels and lots of energy! Contact Bonnie so she knows how many folks are coming. Also needed are trucks and trailers to haul away.



Questions? Contact Bonnie Lund at 715-345-0247 or bonnielund@charter.net

NORTHEAST DISTRICT LAITY LEARNING DAY

Saturday, October 19

1:00pm - 3:30pm

St. Paul's United Methodist Church

Would you like to know more about what it means to be Laity, a Lay Leader, a Lay

Servant/Speaker, or a Certified Lay Minister? The North East District is holding a Learning Day on Saturday, October 19th at St. Paul's UMC, Stevens Point from 1:00-3:30 pm.

Come and enjoy fellowship with your district representatives, along with other laity. Learn how you can grow in your role or spread your wings as God guides your journey. We will be celebrating how you can use your gifts in these various roles and how you can grow in your faith through them.

To register, please click on the link below:

Select the event from the calendar, select the black Register box, fill out the form and submit.  

Wisconsin UMC Calendar

Looking forward to meeting all of you.



Peace and Blessings,

Teri Peterson

North East District Lay Leader

Wisconsin Annual Conference

SAVE THE DATE

Wisconsin Annual Conference

Harmony Choir

"Blessing Service"

Wednesday, October 30

6:30-8:00pm - Reception to follow

Join us for a night of sacred music with the Wisconsin Annual Conference Harmony Choir as they present a blessing worship of praising and rejoicing. Everyone is invited to this evening of inspiring music.

The fall rummage sale is right around the corner!

You can start bringing your “good” used items to the stage in Fletcher Hall. Clothing, shoes, housewares, decor, linens, etc. are accepted. However, we will NOT accept TVs, computers, any electronics, bed rails, furniture, etc., as we have to pay to dispose of these items.

If you have questions about an item, please contact Bonnie Lund. Sale is Oct. 29-30.

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

November 3

We will be holding a special Remembrance Sunday service on November 3 during both worship services. This is a day to remember and honor those individuals who have touched our lives, our hearts and our faith. So, we will take time on this day to remember them through the lighting of candles, symbolizing how the light of this person’s life still burns bright in our world

through our faith and our memories.

You will be invited to light a candle before worship at our 8:30 am and 10:30 am worship

services for anyone who has died. During the worship services, we will light a candle for

members or friends of our church who have passed away within the last 12 months.



The hope of the worship committee is for this service to be a healing and holy time as we

remember how these individuals have touched us on our journey in life.

HOLIDAY FEST ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW

NOVEMBER 9 9AM-3PM

Save the date for our 2024 Holiday Fest! The event takes place November 9 from 9am - 3pm, with the Holiday Fest Cafe from 11-1:30pm. Enjoy shopping from 55 creative artists, baked goods and door prizes. Come get your Christmas shopping done while benefiting community holiday baskets!

THANK YOU FROM ARTREACH

ArtReach, St. Paul's arts-outreach ministry connected with thousands in our community this summer. We were blessed to serve at Point Pride, our local Juneteenth celebration, and Art in The Park; building community by sharing and affirming God's love and St. Paul's open hearts, open minds, and open doors. Over 80 feet of Art In The Park murals are currently on display in St. Paul's gathering area and fellowship hall.

ArtReach ministry is grateful for your support; for your prayers, for your service in setting up our booths and displays, and for all your care in welcoming, affirming and assisting our guests! If you would like to know more about ArtReach, or would like to serve at upcoming events, please contact Laura Courtright at 715-340-4523 or lauracourtright@gmail.com

MESSAGE FROM OUR

MUSIC DIRECTOR

I hope you enjoyed to hearing Touch of Brass handbell choir as much as I did, this past Sunday. This coming Sunday will feature our contemporary worship group N’Joy at the 10:30 service. In addition, our children’s choir will begin rehearsals again November 3 9:45-10:15am. We are always looking to add more members to the ensembles and all are welcome! Please send me a message at music@stevenspointumc.org to find your place in the music ministry at St. Paul’s. 

GOOD NEWS SINGERS

Our children’s choir for ages 2 through 12 and older is returning soon! The choir sings, play bells, learn to play ukuleles, recorders and other instruments. Rehearsals will occur on Sunday mornings from 9:45-10:15 am, starting November 3 through Christmas Eve. For more information please call/text Audra at 262-388-0366 or email her at audraobrien931@gmail.com.

FLY HIGH

Beginning November 1, Fly High will begin a new study entitled "The Christmas Letters, Celebrating Advent with Those Who Told the Story First" by Magrey deVega. 

In The Christmas Letters, Magrey deVega invites you to hear about the miracle of Christ’s birth from those who first told the story. The letters in the New Testament, known as the Epistles, contain the first attempts by the church to understand and celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation. They point us to the origins of what we believe about Jesus, fully human and fully divine. By spending time with these holy, ancient words this Advent, you’ll come to know the meaning of Christ’s coming like never before.

Read the New Testament letters, Romans, 1 John, Philippians, and Colossians as your first Christmas letters of the season and find within them an invitation from God to deepen your understanding of the Incarnation and embrace a fuller commitment to Jesus Christ.

We will meet at noon in the Thomas Coke Room for this four-week study. We welcome anyone who would like to join us. The cost of the book is $13.50. If you have any questions, contact Yvonne Chojnacki at 715/340-9333.

WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY

Our women's bible study has returned! Join us Tuesdays at 7:00pm as we learn about and discuss the life of David. The next meeting will be October 22.

The meeting will be a hybrid model, with both in-person and Zoom options. See you there!

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85348918132?pwd=ajhpSTdCa2RHUm9KdHh2WU9rakxtdz09

SENIOR TIME BY SENIORS

Please consider joining this group. They meet on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 11:00 am. Bag lunch at noon. Discussions are wide ranged.  If you have a particular request, we’ll do our best to work it into a session. The next meeting will be on November 5.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact:

Barb Munson 715-340-2368 barbm72446@gmail.com

LIFT: LIVING IN FAITH TOGETHER

November 6 & 20 at 5:30pm

Join us for a light supper and fellowship! We will hear scripture, participate in activities, engage in conversation, eat—and, of course, have fun!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact:

Tonya at discipleship@stevenspointumc.org

POTLUCK SUNDAYS

Potluck Sunday will change this year to the 1st Sunday of the month starting in October and going through May.

The first Potluck will be Sunday, November 3 after the 10:30 service. Please bring your favorite dish to pass.

All are Welcome! Sign up sheet in the narthex to help in the kitchen.  

MONTHLY PRAYER BREAKFAST

Next date: Thursday, November 7 @ 7:00 am

Everyone is invited to gather at 7:00 am on November 7 for a simple breakfast, time of prayer, and a short devotion. We will conclude our time together with open Communion. Our time together will last about 45 minutes to an hour at the most, so it is the perfect way to start your day and the month with prayer. 

FRANCISCANS DOWNTOWN MISSION IN ACTION

Did you know there is a place for homeless and those in need to have a free lunch and conversation? The FRANCISCAN Center is located across the street from the library on Main Street. It is open Monday-Friday, noon till 3 p.m. The Franciscans sponsor this facility with the amazing help of volunteers who donate their time to listen, to converse, to feed and sometimes offer a couch to rest upon.

Being curious, Tom and I walked in one day and talked to Richard, a volunteer, asked questions and I said, what can we do? He said they were looking for someone to do a meal on Thursdays. Well, no problem. I can do that on the third Thursday of every month. I was invited to a meeting to plan for the tenth anniversary of this center, met other volunteers, and soon I was also sharing cooking responsibilities with a gal named Amy on the fourth Thursday of the month as well as my meal on the third. It has worked out well.

I am blessed to have the resources to do this mission and fill a need that they had. We feed between 30-40 guests each day. They are so grateful. Some come to eat and go, many others stay and want to converse. They know they are in a safe environment.

I have a list of folks who are willing to donate a product for the main meal or donate baked goods. If you would like to contribute at some point, please contact me. I don’t ask very often.

During something for yourself gives satisfaction, but doing something for others gives meaning. Being in Mission, wherever, however, is such a good thing.



Blessings, Bonnie Lund

SENDING DISASTER RELIEF AFTER HURRICANE

HELENE AND MILTON

Midwest Mission works closely with UMCOR in efforts to send hope and relief after two hurricanes tore through many states in the southeast. Please consider learning more about their ministry and donating to help those in need.

Learn more here: https://www.midwestmission.org/at-midwestmission

A SPECIAL REQUEST

HELP PROVIDE FURNISHINGS AND EQUIPMENT FOR AN OBSTETRICS CLINIC IN AWOROWA, GHANA

For the past two years, our “Mission in Action” Team has been building an obstetrics clinic in Aworowa, Ghana, to provide prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care to the women in the area. Our building has been completed, but we currently lack furnishings or equipment.

Fortunately, The World Outreach Fund and MedShare (both non-profits located in Atlanta, Ga.) have agreed to partner with us to send a large container shipment of supplies and equipment. Our team needs to raise $18,000, and The World Outreach Fund will donate $13,000 to cover the cost of shipping. MedShare will donate the equipment and supplies.

It is estimated that the value of the shipment will exceed $250,000. Our Team’s goal is to send this shipment by the end of February 2025. To accomplish this goal, we ask you to consider the following:

A. Consider a 2024 end-of-the-year donation of $250. Or

B. Consider a January 2025 donation of $250

C. Consider sending any amount you can afford.

D. Our goal is to find 72 individuals, churches, or organizations willing to donate $250 by the end of January 2025. However, any amount is appreciated.

Donations should be sent to St. Paul’s UMC, 600 Wilshire Blvd, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, 54481. Checks should be made payable to St. Paul’s UMC. Put Ghana Clinic in the message line. Individuals may also donate online. Go to stevenspointumc.org and select “give” in the upper right-hand corner. Scroll down until you find Ghana Mission.

Please help us meet our goal.

Thank you!

Barb and John Munson

Mission team – Fundraising Committee

If you have questions, send a note to barbjohn@charter.net., or call us at 715-340-2368 or 715-340-4855.

PRAYER CHAIN

We have a very active prayer chain using an E-mail system. If you would like to join and pray for those in need, please let Judy Hill know and she will add you on. Prayers for the chain are confidential and only go to the chain, unless otherwise indicated. Also, if you have a prayer request for the chain, please call Judy at 715-341-2323 or the church office at 715-344-3557 and she will activate the chain.

LOOSE COINS

The Loose Coin Offering for September goes towards Refugee Assistance Fund. The money collected will help our missions reach as many people as possible. Be sure to label your envelope so your coins/currency will be deposited into the correct account. Thank you for supporting this important ministry.

VISITATION

OFFERING COMMUNION TO ALL



One of the responsibilities, among many, that I take very seriously as a pastor is visitation. I consider it a sacred time to visit someone in the hospital, nursing home, or in their own home. It is time where I can get to know someone better and really talk about spiritual issues one on one.

For some people who can’t physically make it to church or watch the stream of our service it means that they go without the Sacrament of Communion, which is our way of visibly showing our connection to God and each other as the body of Christ.

If you would like to receive communion, please let me know and I will arrange a time for a visit where we can share communion together. I want you all to know that I am here for you. If you are struggling, need to talk, or have any need whatsoever for a pastoral visit please call/text me on my cell phone (262-388-4635), at the office (715-344-3557), e-mail me (tobrien@stevenspointumc.org) or write me a note (600 Wilshire Blvd).

I will continue to make visitation my top priority and continue to respond to every request as quickly as possible. It is an honor to be here as your pastor and I’m committed to being here for you as a pastoral presence representing the Good News of Jesus Christ that gives us hope and heals us all.



Pastor Tim

ITEMS NEEDED FOR

REFUGEE FAMILIES

Several new refugee families are joining our community and could use your help providing important needed items.

Current needed items:

Paper towels

Toilet paper

Dish soap

Laundry soap

Dryer sheets

Shampoo & conditioner

Please continue to pray for all the refugee families in our area who are working hard to adjust and make a new life in our community.  If you have any questions, please contact Mary Schultz on the refugee support team at 715-345-1438 or schultzmf1@gmail.com. Donated items can be brought to the refugee room at the church.

ONE BIG TENT

“Connecting the church to the community through the love of God”

One Big Tent, our joint ministry of area congregations reaching out to our neighbors in need,

continues to grow as we are helping more people out of our offices (1039b B Ellis St.) in downtown Stevens Point. Here are some of their stories.

• Samantha contacted us because after moving to this area her car was no longer working and she was at risk of losing her job and home. We connected her with a local agency, Operation Bootstrap, which paid a portion of what she needed. Along with what she could contribute she was able to get her car fixed so she could keep her job and stay in her home.
• Alex and Emily are a homeless couple who have been sleeping in their car. They have been struggling with addiction, keeping a job, and have an eviction on their record. We worked with them to find a place at the Salvation Army shelter, enroll in the Rent Ready program which works with people with a record of evictions to find housing, and helped them with gas cards and bus tickets to meet their immediate needs.
• Lauren contacted us when she found out she was being evicted. Her husband is ill and cannot work. They fell behind in their rent. She was not able to be helped by Operation Bootstrap or CAP Services. We worked with her on budgeting and making a plan. We talked with her landlord to hear the specifics of what she owed. After Lauren identified what she could pay, we made up the difference paying her landlord to stop the eviction.

These are just a few of our stories to show how we are building relationships and working with people to connect them with our local agencies and resources that exist to support people when they are struggling. However, when no one can help then we are the safety net to keep people from crisis situations like homelessness.

1) Please pray for our vision, our new community steering committee and those in need as we work with them as well as our companions and clergy who give their time to help find solutions.

2) Consider if you would like to be a companion talking with and working with people to

help them. We offer training and only ask people to volunteer for a 3-4 hour shift once a

week. Also, we pair you with a clergy person who is there to support you. For example, I

(Pastor Tim) volunteer every Wednesday with a member from Beloved Community and

Good Shepherd from 8:00 a.m. to Noon. If you are interested, please talk with Pastor Tim.

3) Come be a part of One Big Tent’s ministry, Laundry Love. We need volunteers to be at

the Southpoint Laundromat on Wednesdays from 10-Noon and Thursdays from 5-7 pm to

give out laundry sheets and quarters to help people clean and dry their clothes. Please talk with Pastor Tim if you want to be involved with this ministry.

4) Consider being a member of our One Big Tent Board as a representative of our

congregation helping to guide our organization. This board meets on the fourth Thursday

of every month at 5:00 p.m. here at our church.

5) When it is appropriate, we do provide financial support to help with rent assistance, car repair, buying medicines, etc. We work with people to identify what they can contribute and we make up the difference with what they owe. We could use your financial support to help us meet these needs. If you would like to make a financial contribution, please make the check out to our church and put, “One Big Tent” in the memo line.

Thank you for your prayerful and generous support of this important ministry to make God’s love real to all our neighbors.



Pastor Tim