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This Week at
St. Paul's Lutheran Church-Lionville
September 21, 2025
"Grow in Faith, Serve with Love, Invite into Fellowship"
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Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, September 21
8:00 am Traditional Service
10:30 am Contemporary 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 Mary, Diana, Corky, William, Nancy Jane, Nancy K., Melissa, Rachel S., Jerry, Joyce, Diana, Janet, Donna, Lois, Loretta, Eamon, Arthur, Mike, Kim, Sue, Samantha M., Gene, Elaina, Adam, Anne, Samantha S., Karen, Helene M., Samantha, Steven, Rick, Lucy, Janet K., Amy C., Ruth, Sid, Sandy L., Pat, Marlene, Garnet, Chip, and Jean. We lift up in grief the friends and family of Ed Edwards, who passed away. We pray that your comforting Spirit be present with Kelsey, Mike, and Owen as they mourn the loss of their expected infant, Lucy. We lift up Bianka, Liam, Daniel, Zach, and Alistair in the military. We pray for peace in Ukraine and the Middle East. We pray for those we now name aloud or lift up quietly in our hearts.
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Grow in Faith: Prayer Discussion Group Starts This Sunday
Our six-week worship series on prayer continues this week, when we will be focusing on the Lord's Prayer. This Sunday, September 21, we will also begin our adult class focused on prayer. The group will meet with Pastor Stuart at 9:15 am in room 207 and discuss the texts and messages from the previous week. You can learn more at StPaulsLionville.org/prayer with an introduction video!
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Adult Book Study Starts This Week
Our adult book study focused on the book "Interrupting Silence: God's Command to Speak Out" by Walter Bruggemann will begin this Sunday, September 21. The book and the related discussion will focus on exploring how God inspires his people to act for justice and what it means for us today. The book study will be held on Sundays at 9:15 am in the Parlor and last about 9 weeks. Please bring a copy of the book with you (available on Amazon) and be prepared to discuss the Introduction at the first meeting. For more information, please contact John LaFemina.
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Handmade Afghan Raffle
The knitting group (we also crochet) is raffling off a handmade crochet blanket the group made together. The proceeds from the raffle will help supplement our “yarn stash” and allow us to create more blankets to send to the Appalachian Service Project.
This “Stained Glass Granny Square” blanket measures 60” x 60” and is made with Caron Simply Soft 100% acrylic washable yarn.
Raffle tickets will be available for purchase in between services on September 28, October 5, 12, and 19. On October 26 the winner will be drawn. Tickets are $2.00 for one ticket and $5.00 for 3 tickets. Cash only please.
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Rise Against Hunger Meal Packaging Event
St. Matthew's and St. Paul’s are hosting a Rise Against Hunger meal packaging event on Sunday, October 19. According to our liaisons at Rise Against Hunger, our packaging event is the second largest community event in our region. Last year, over 360 volunteers came together to package more than 60,000 meals that we purchased. We have purchased and packaged more than 150,000 meals over the past 3 years!
Volunteers will be able to sign up for a 2-hour shift. By raising funds and working a shift, we will buy and pack around 20,000 meals to fight hunger around the world. It's a great family event! If you would like to make a donation towards this event or assist in packaging this impressive number of meals, please sign up here.
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Monday Morning Bible Study
The Monday Morning Bible Study group meets Monday mornings at 10:00 am in the lounge (Room 110). This week will finish up our study of the Book of Acts. Beginning Monday, September 29, we'll be focusing on Women in the Bible. It’s a come-as-you-can group, so there is no commitment to attend every week—join us when you can to grow in faith! For more information, please contact Kathy Andrejko at ktardh81@gmail.com or 484-888-6746. Everyone is welcome!
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Early Praise Choir
On Sunday, September 21, a group of early birds will meet at 7:30 am to prepare to sing at the 8:00 am Traditional Worship Service that day. This ensemble does not require an ongoing commitment or advance preparation. All are welcome to join!
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Sunday School Registration
Our Sunday school classes are held at 9:15 am on Sundays and are open to children who are potty trained through fifth grade. If you have not already registered your child for Sunday School, we would ask everyone to do so the teachers can be well prepared and so we know about any special needs or allergies. You can register online here or there are also paper copies available in the narthex. If you have any questions, feel free to contact PastorStuart@StPaulsLionville.org or 610-804-1740 or our Sunday School Coordinator, Ginny Graham at vgg333@aol.com or or (610) 329-7437.
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Living Love Lunches
Our next Living Love Lunches lunch packing event will be on Tuesday, September 23 at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Each month, St. Paul's Living Love Lunches program packs 50 lunches to help feed the homeless people of Chester. Please join us!
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Baptism of Lily Ann Biber
We will celebrate the joy and love of Holy Baptism for Lily Ann Biber, daughter of Ben and Nikki, at the 8:00 am service on Sunday, September 21.
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Money Matters & Stewardship for Teens
On Thursday, September 25, Messiah Lutheran Church (46 W. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown) will host a session on Money Matters and Stewardship for Teens, sponsored by Thrivent Financial. The evening will kick off with pizza at 6:30 pm, followed by a one-hour presentation starting at 7:00 pm.
The special session will help teens (and parents!) learn to make wise financial decisions about:
- Banking & credit
- Credit scores
- College debt
- Time & resource management
The session is open to all teens and their parents - invite a friend! For more info, contact Bob McGonigle at (610) 986-2638 or bobmcgoningle167@gmail.com.
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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 next to the Hospitality Room. We do not meet in the summer, but we did select the summer reads below. Our next meeting will be on Sunday, September 21.
Our summer selection is: "The God of the Woods," by Liz Moore; "Legends and Lattes," by Travis Baldree; "Family Tree," by Barbara Delinsky; "The Crocodile on the Sandbank," by Elizabeth Peters. 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 or call the church office for more information.
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Knitters Meetings and Needs
Everyone is welcome to join the Knitters on Mondays at 1:00 pm in the lounge (Room 110). We knit and crochet, and beginners are welcome! If you are not available on Mondays, but you are interested in helping out from home, we can guide you to the patterns we use.
We are also looking for donations of yarn to make hats, scarves, baby sweaters, and blankets to donate to Lutheran World Relief, to the mission trip next summer, and for homeless people in Chester to be given out with the monthly Living Love Lunches.
Please place your yarn in the plastic bins marked, “Hats” under the table in the hallway.
For more information, email Kathy Andrejko or call at 484-888-6746.
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"The Anxious Generation" Book Group
The next meeting of our "The Anxious Generation" book group for parents with young children will be on Sunday, October 12 from 5:00 - 6:00 pm at St. Matthew's. Our current plan is to meet once a month on the second Sunday from 5:00 to 6:00 pm, alternating between St. Paul's and St. Matthew's churches. Childcare will be provided, and copies of the book will be available for purchase at a reduced cost or can be bought at Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, or other major book sellers.
If you have any questions, you can contact Craig Miller at craigyouthmin@gmail.com, or 484-320-0785.
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Confirmation Registration
Our Confirmation class meets on Sundays at 9:15 am in the Youth Room. If you have not already registered (or reregistered) your child, please do so using this form. If you have any concerns and questions, please feel free to contact PastorStuart@StPaulsLionville.org or Joan Strawbridge at jstrawbridge52@yahoo.com. You can learn more about the program at StPaulsLionville.org/confirmation.
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Save the Date: Gala Benefit for Refugees
The Chester County Conference of Lutheran Congregations will be hosting a benefit for refugees on Sunday, November 9 from 4:00 - 8:00 pm at Penn Oaks Golf Club. The evening will include a live DJ, silent auction, and dinner, with proceeds going to support Palestinian and Ukrainian refugees. Cost is $100 per adult, $25 per child. For more information, contact Adventlutheranwc@gmail.com or (610) 436-0807.
Donations of items for the silent auction are also welcome. Please contact Pastor Chris Franz if you have items to donate.
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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.
HIGH SCHOOL OASIS RESUMES THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in the St. Paul's Youth Room. Come welcome our rising 9th graders to this opportunity to relax, chill out, and decompress from the stresses of school, activities, and other pressures of life. No heavy discussions or deep Bible studies; just a chance to breathe. Advance sign-up isn't required, either; just show up! As with most of our youth events, friends are welcome, too.
OUR NEXT GOOD WORKS YOUTH WORK DAY is scheduled for Saturday, September 27 from 8:15 am to 3:45 pm (meet at the Good Works warehouse in Coatesville). Come spend the day helping fix up homes for families who don't have the means to do it themselves. Anyone in eighth through twelfth grade is welcome to join us, including friends. Sign up here or scan the QR code below by this coming Monday, September 15 to participate: Sept. 27th Good Works Workday.
THE 6TH THROUGH 12TH GRADE YOUTH ARE GOING CANOEING on the Brandywine on Sunday, September 28! Meet at St. Paul's at noon to carpool to Northbrook Canoe Company, where we will spend a leisurely afternoon drifting down the river! Family cost is $25 for one youth, or $40 for two or more youth from the same household. Sign up here or scan the QR code below to reserve your paddle: Sept. 28th Youth Canoe Trip.
THE FALL 2025 YOUTH CALENDAR IS NOW AVAILABLE on the Youth page of the church website. Events, dates, times, locations, and signup links may be found on the calendar; check it out to see what's happening for our Middle School (6th through 8th grade) and High School (9th through 12th grade) youth! Unless otherwise indicated, friends are always welcome to participate!
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SCAN QR CODE TO SIGN UP FOR YOUTH EVENTS
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Financial Planning and Pickleball
The Pickering Group of Thrivent will host a half-hour workshop on individual retirement accounts (IRA), followed by 90 minutes of pickleball instruction or open play. The event will be on Wednesday, September 24 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm at Bounce Pickleball Club in Malvern. Space is limited to 30 guests. Click here to register.
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Flat Sheets Needed
The Crafters are in need of flat sheets to use for the backs of their quilts. Please leave any donations in the box in the downstairs hallway of the church.
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Cradles to Crayons Collection
As you are doing the annual "my kid doesn't fit these summer clothes anymore" clean out, the Social Ministry Team is collecting gently used kids' clothing for Cradles to Crayons. Cradles to Crayons is in need of gently used clothing and shoes for babies through teens. Donated items cannot have school names (such as Lionville Elementary, East High School, etc). They are always in need of NEW packages of underwear and socks for kids and teens.
In conjunction with kids' clothes, we are also collecting new and/or gently used coats for all ages to donate to Honey Brook Food Pantry for fall distribution.
Donation boxes for both collections will be placed in the airlocks. Our donation period will run until Saturday, November 1.
Thank you for your support of these local charities!
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July Pave the Way Parking Lot Update
To learn more about this project and be part of God leading us forward, check out StPaulsLionville.org/parkinglot.
Project Finances as of 07/22/25:
Pledges: $99,265
Funds Received: $85,635
The drawing to the left shows our parking lot with a little over 100 spots.
- Each red car represents $1,000 in pledges.
- Each green car represents $1,000 in received funds.
- As the parking lot fills up with cars, we get closer to our goal of $100,000.
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