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This Week at
St. Paul's Lutheran Church-Lionville
March 8, 2026
"Grow in Faith, Serve with Love, Invite into Fellowship"
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Third Sunday in Lent
Sunday, March 8
(Daylight Saving Time Reminder:
Please move clocks forward one hour
before going to bed Saturday night)
8:00 am Traditional Service
10:30 am Cotemporary Service
Attend in person or worship online
Everyone is welcome!
Second Sunday of Every Month:
4:00 pm - Rejoicing Spirits Service
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Our Prayer List.
We pray for Lauren, Bob, Lois, Dave, Marla, Fred, Matt, Luke, Carson, Brenda, Linda, Ben, Belinda, Fran, Keith, Deb, Mary, Diana, Corky, William, Melissa, Jerry, Diana, Janet, Eamon, Arthur, Kim, Sue, Gene, Anne, Samantha S., Samantha, Steven, Rick, Lucy, Janet K., Amy C., Pat, Marlene, Garnet, Chip, and Jean. We lift up Bianka, Liam, Daniel, Zach, and Alistair in the military. We pray for peace in Sudan, Ukraine, and the Middle East. We pray for those we now name aloud or lift up quietly in our hearts.
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Easter Food Drive
Please consider donating food or monetarily to St. Paul's Easter Food Drive. Food boxes will support families through the Care Center in West Chester, as well as families in need in the Downingtown and West Chester School Districts. Food donations should be dropped off at St. Paul's by Sunday, March 22. Monetary donations can also be dropped off at church. Checks should be made to St. Paul's with a comment about going to the Food Drive. You can view the contents of a complete food box and sign up to donate online or in the Narthex. Thank you for supporting local families.
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A Fresh Format for Easter Morning
This year, we’re excited to introduce a new format for our Easter breakfast. Instead of a full breakfast, we will gather between services for a joyful Easter Coffee Fellowship featuring donuts, bagels, coffee, and more. We understand this adjustment may affect your plans and thank you for your understanding. We’re excited about this new format and the opportunity to enjoy time together as we celebrate.
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Rejoicing Spirits Service
Our next Rejoicing Spirits service will be on Sunday, March 8 at 4:00 pm.This is an informal, inclusive and adapted service open to all in the community, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, regardless of faith background. The service includes joyous music, singing and brief, meaningful, pastor-led sermons.
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An Important Event for Parents with Younger Children
This Sunday, March 8 from 3:00 to 4:30 pm at St. Paul's, there will be a followup discussion to our study of Jonathan Haidt's "The Anxious Generation," which highlights the dangers of social media for children and teens. Erin Arizzi-Shores from West Chester Unplugged will join us to talk about community efforts that are already underway to support parents seeking to push back against our culture's obsession with smartphones and "always-on" connectivity. All parents are invited to join us, whether you have read Haidt's book or not. Childcare will be provided. Please sign up at this link if you are coming, so that we make sure we have an adequate amount of childcare help.
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Penny Wars are Back - with a Twist!
This year, we have a competition not only between Pastor Stuart and Pastor Christian, but also between two youth from our congregations! Zack Heath from St. Paul's is facing off against John Lueders from St. Matthew's. Beginning next Sunday, four jars will be in the Gathering Area with the participants' names on them. At the end of the competition on April 12, whichever pastor AND youth have the highest amounts in their containers will take part in a slightly embarrassing stunt. As an added bonus, if $1,000 is raised between both congregations, our Youth Director, Craig Miller, will be involved as well!
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Candy for Easter Egg Hunts
OUR EASTER EGG HUNTS ARE COMING, AND WE NEED CANDY! Last year we filled 2,000 eggs for our two congregational egg hunts. Please donate bags of individually-wrapped candies by dropping them off in the collection boxes in either airlock at St. Paul's, or in the bin on the office porch at St. Matthew's by Sunday morning, March 15. Thank you!
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Pop Up Thrift Store March 7 and 8
Our next thrift store date will be Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8 from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm in the Parsonage. To date, the Thrift Store has raised over $17,000 for the Chester County Food Bank and additional funds to pay for repairs, including roof replacement, to the parsonage. We couldn't do it without your help! We are currently accepting donations, especially of home decor and kitchen items. Smaller items may be left in the airlock between the two sets of double doors at the front of the church. To arrange for large donations such as furniture, please reach out to the church office. Spread the word and help us get donations and shoppers to keep our success going!
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St. Paul's Easter Family Fun Night
We’re having another great night of free fun, food and games for all ages on Saturday, March 28 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. We have a number of Easter themed activities including a glow-in-the-dark Easter Egg Hunt and pictures with the Easter Bunny. We’ll also have crafts, hot dogs, games, donuts, music and more coming! The event is open to the public, young and old alike!
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St. Matthew's Annual Easter Egg Hunt
St. Matthew's annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held Saturday, April 4 beginning at 10:00 am at St. Matthew's. All kids from toddlers through 5th grade are welcome to come participate in the egg hunt and other Easter-related activities. (This is the week after St. Paul's Family Fun Night, so you can do BOTH!) If you know you are coming, sign up here to help us with planning the event: April 4th St. Matthew's Egg Hunt.
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Good Works Help Needed!
GOOD WORKS NEEDS LOTS OF HELP ON MARCH 28! They have to vacate their West Chester/Exton warehouse and move their supplies and equipment to another nearby storage facility and to their Coatesville site. We need adults and youth who can work either all day (8:30am to 4:00 pm) or half of the day (morning or afternoon). Lunch is provided for anyone who can stay the whole time. If you have a vehicle with lots of cargo capacity and are willing to bring it, that will help too! Sign up at this link by Tuesday, March 17 to be part of our work crew.
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Lenten Worship Series and Services
This Lent we are exploring the Gospel of Luke. The series offers the daily opportunity to read, or listen to the Gospel of Luke while the worship services focus on what we have read. On Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm we are watching the movie The Gospel of Luke, word for word from the Bible with actors on location acting out the text. Best of all, there are weekly Bible study groups where you can discuss what you’ve read while making friends. To learn more or sign up for Bible study or the daily readings from Luke, please visit StPaulsLionville.org/luke. We hope this series will be a blessing to you!
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First Communion Retreat
All students fourth grade and older who are not yet taking communion are invited to the First Communion Retreat being held on Friday, March 13, from 5-8 pm. The evening will include dinner, lessons on Holy Communion, and fun activities. To learn more, please contact PastorStuart@StPaulsLionville.org.
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Easter "Air-Lock" Door Greeters
The Worship & Music Planning Team received a lot of positive feedback on having additional greeters outside of the "air-lock" entrances at our Easter services and would like to continue the tradition. This is an excellent “one-time” opportunity for a husband-and-wife (including children) team planning to attend one of the two services. To aid you in performing this responsibility, a simple written description will be provided. Please contact John Peiffer (610-363-9535 or extonpeiffers@gmail.com) if you have any questions or would like to volunteer for one of the services.
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Rare Birds at Brandywine River Museum
The Rare Birds (ages 50+) will be visiting the Brandywine River Museum on Thursday, March 12 at noon. Cost is $18 (age 65+) or $20 for adults. Lunch will be available at the Millstone Cafe in the museum. For more information, reach out to Karen Lammey.
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Monday Morning Bible Study
The Monday morning Bible study group is pausing their overview on World Religions and focusing on the Gospel of Luke for the Lenten season. They will resume their focus on World Religions after Easter. They meet on Monday mornings at 10:00 am in room 110 and run through Monday, May 18, 2026. Come when you can! For more information, contact Mary McCormick at Jandmmccormick@yahoo.com.
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Rescheduled: Family Trip to Middle Creek Wildlife Managemnet
LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN - Our family trip to Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area has been rescheduled for Saturday, March 14. Meet at St. Matthew's at 7:30am to travel to Middle Creek (about an hour's drive), or meet us there at the Willow Point Trail parking lot (off Kleinfeltersville Road) for some hiking and exploration. Hopefully we'll get to see some of the amazing snow goose migration that takes place through the area. Bring snacks and water; hot dogs and hot chocolate will be provided. Sign up here to join us!
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St. Paul's Reading Phillies Game
St Paul's is going to the Reading Phillies game on Sunday, April 26. The game starts at 3:15 pm. The Philly Phanatic will be there that day. Tickets are $15.00 per person.
Payment by check made payable to Anne Wiest is due no later than Sunday, March 15. Payments can be handed to Kyle or Anne Wiest. Sign up online here.
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Sheets Needed
Sheets are needed for Lutheran World Relief projects. Any size or material. Place your gently used sheets in the bin under the table in the hallway.
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Chat and Chews Book Club
The Chat and Chews Sunday School Book Club meets on the THIRD Sunday of each month, after the late service in the Lounge. Our next meeting will be on Sunday, March 15, and we will discuss 2 books: "Mrs. Everything: A Novel" by Jennifer Weiner, and "Prayer--Does it Make a Difference," Part 5, by Philip Yancey. You do not have to finish the book or even read it to join us in a lively and faithful discussion. Please contact Gwen Werner at ggwerner@verizon.net for more information. Happy Reading!
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Crafters Location Change
Please note that for the next several weeks the Crafters will be meeting in the Fellowship Hall as they make their Easter candies. The candies will be for sale soon and will help support the Crafters' various projects throughout the year.
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Lutheran Softball Team
If you're interested in learning more about or joining a Lutheran Church softball team in the Church Athletic League, please reach out to Pastor Chris Franz at pastorchrisfranz@gmail.com.
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Youth Ministry News
For the most up-to-date event information and signup links,
go online to the Youth Ministry web page at StPaulsLionville.org/youth.
OUR HIGH SCHOOL OASIS GROUP meets again on Sunday, March 8 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at St. Matthew's, in the downstairs lounge. We will continue our Bible Dive series with a focus on the history of the early Christian church, from Acts up through the first three hundred years. Our first two Bible Dive sessions have had some really deep, thoughtful discussion and reflections; come and see what this is all about. All ninth through twelfth graders are welcome to attend, including friends. No advance signup necessary; just show up!
RESCHEDULED: AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE OPPORTUNITY! 6th THROUGH 12th GRADE YOUTH are invited to participate in our trip to Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Saturday, March 14. Meet at St. Matthew's at 7:30 am to carpool to Middle Creek and spend the day hiking, exploring, and hopefully seeing some of the amazing snow goose migration. Bring snacks and water; hot dogs and hot chocolate will be provided. Sign up here to join us: Mar. 14th Trip to Middle Creek WMA.
COME JOIN OUR RE-RESCHEDULED YOUTH EVENT AT TOPGOLF IN KING OF PRUSSIA on Sunday, March 15 from Noon to 3:00 pm! Spend a couple of fun hours showing off your golf swing (or developing one), eating, and having fun with friends! ALL youth in grades six through twelve are invited to participate, including friends. The household cost is $20 for one participant, or $35 for two or more participants from the same household. Sign up here; don't throw away your shot! Mar. 15th Youth TopGolf Event.
CALLING ALL YOUTH - HELP NEEDED WITH OUR EASTER EGG HUNTS! We need 6th through 12th graders who can help hide eggs and run events for both congregations' Easter family events. Helpers are needed on Saturday, March 28 from 3:00 to 7:30 pm at St. Paul's, and on Saturday, April 4 from 8:30 am to 11:00 am at St. Matthew's. Here are the signup links to help: March 28th St. Paul's Easter Event Help, and April 4th St. Matthew's Egg Hunt Help. Sign up for one, or sign up for both - the more help we get, the better the events will be for our younger kids!
WE NEED YOUTH AT GOOD WORKS ON MARCH 28! Help move supplies, tools, and other equipment from their current West Chester/Exton warehouse to other storage. Come for the whole day (8:30am to 4:00 pm) or just half of the day (morning or afternoon); lunch is provided for anyone who can stay the whole time. Sign up here by Tuesday, March 17 to be part of our work crew: March 28th Good Works Youth Work Day.
WAITLIST FOR THIS SUMMER'S APPALACHIA SERVICE PROJECT WORK WEEK - Our trip is currently full, but if you were thinking about going and haven't registered yet, please notify Craig Miller at craigyouthmin@gmail.com. If we get four more interested youth and young adults we will try and add a fourth work crew.
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SCAN QR CODE TO SIGN UP FOR YOUTH EVENTS
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