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This Week at
St. Paul's Lutheran Church-Lionville
October 18, 2026
"Grow in Faith, Serve with Love, Invite into Fellowship"
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Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost
8:00 am - Traditional Service
10:30 am - Contemporary Service
9:15 am Faith Formation (all ages)
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 Sandy, Anthony, Mark, Holly, Gary, Delores, Lorraine, Drew, JD, Dave, Nancy, Janet, Marian, Jeffrey, Paula, Wendy, Cheryl, Bennett, Scott, Anne B., Mary Ann, Craig, Nancy Jane, Barbara, Barry, Pastor John, Danny, Rick, Barbara, Lois, Dave, Marla, Fred, Luke, Carson, Ben, Belinda, William, Janet, Anne, Samantha, Steven, Rick, Amy C., Pat, Marlene, Chip, and Jean. We lift up Drew, 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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Disagreeing Better Workshop and Lunch
As part of the Choose Kindness worship series, we are also offering a free lunch and "Disagreeing Better" workshop on Sunday, October 18 at 11:45 am. The workshop is sponsored by Braver Angels, whose mission is to inspire and equip Americans to practice courageous citizenship across political differences through skill-building, convening, and collaborative action. Participants will learn about the values and concerns of those who differ from them politically, and it teaches essential skills for communicating across differences and finding common ground. Please sign up here so we can prepare enough food and materials.
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New Members Classes
If you’ve been attending St. Paul’s, we would love to welcome you as a new member this fall! We’ll hold weekly classes starting Sunday, November 1 from 5-6 pm for four weeks as an opportunity to grow in faith, learn more about St. Paul’s and build friendships with others who are also joining. Child care will be provided. If you would like to attend or have any questions, please feel free to email Pastor Stuart or call 610-804-1740.
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ELCA Youth Gathering
The St. Paul's-St. Matthew's Youth Group will once again be participating in the ELCA Youth Gathering next summer. The gathering is a massive national event held only once every three years that brings together thousands of Lutheran youth from across the United States. For five days, current 8th through 12th graders will gather to explore their faith, serve others, and build life-changing friendships. This year's gathering will take place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from June 28 to July 2, 2027 with the theme "Imagine More." Interested youth should contact Craig, and congregation members can support the trip through our butter braid fundraiser and praying for our group.
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Rise Against Hunger Meal Packing Event
St. Matthew's and St. Paul’s are hosting a Rise Against Hunger meal packaging event on Sunday, October 25. Last year we hosted a fantastic event - over 385 individuals volunteered over 3 shifts to package 62,500 meals, and our goal for this year is to have 400 individuals work together to pack 70,000 meals. We’ve packaged over 200,000 meals over the past 4 years and want to keep the momentum going!
Volunteers can sign up for a 2-hour shift. It's a great family event! If you would like to make a donation towards this event or assist in packaging the meals, please sign up here.
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Blessing of the Animals
The Blessing of the Animals Service will be Saturday, October 17. Members of the congregation and the community are invited to bring their pets to this outdoor event on the church grounds from 10:00 – 11:00 am.
Plus, we hope to have several animal rescue organizations on site with information about volunteering opportunities, as well as how you can help their adoptable shelter animals. They might even bring some of their four-legged friends. Additionally, you can be a blessing to these animal rescue organizations by donating much needed supplies.
Tell your friends and neighbors. This event will be a great opportunity for everyone to learn
more about some local animal rescue organizations - and St. Paul’s!
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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. However, in October we will meet on the 4th Sunday, October 25 due to a scheduling conflict, and we will discuss the following books:
“Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World” by Joanna Weaver - - chapters 3 & 4 and “The Measure” by Nikki Erlick. 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 for more information. Happy Reading!
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Leaf Clean Up Dates
The Property Team has scheduled the following dates and times for large leaf clean up around the church property:
- Saturday, November 7, 9:00 am
- Sunday, November 22, 12:00 pm
If you can't make these days but are free other weekends or evenings to do some leaves on your own, the help will be greatly appreciated. Please bring a leaf blower or mulching mower if you are able to. The church has 2 lawn tractors to bag and mulch leaves.
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Thanksgiving Food Drive: Helping 350 Families
Once again this year, St. Paul’s will be the sole provider of Thanksgiving food for the 350 families served by the Honey Brook Food Pantry. Because of the large quantity of food needed, we are able to stretch your donation further by purchasing items in bulk rather than collecting individual food items. With the rising cost of groceries, we need approximately $6,000 to provide all 350 Thanksgiving boxes.
If you would like to support the Thanksgiving Food Drive, checks can be made payable to St. Paul’s with “Food Drive” written in the memo line. And mark your calendar! Our Thanksgiving Food Box Packing Event will be Saturday, November 7. Sign up online to donate or help pack food bags.
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Warm Hearts, Warm Coats
As the weather gets colder, we’re collecting clean, new or gently used coats for children, teens, and adults served by the Honey Brook Food Pantry. A collection box is now available in the church lobby.
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Toys for Tots
Give a Little Joy This Christmas: It’s never too early to start spreading some Christmas joy! A Toys for Tots collection bin is now available in the church lobby for anyone who would like to get a jump start on donating a new, unwrapped toy for a child in need. While toys are welcome for children of all ages, there is an especially great need for gifts for teens. Consider picking up a game, sports equipment, art supplies, makeup, or other gift a teen would enjoy. More information about our Toys for Tots collection and other ways to participate will be shared toward the end of October. In the meantime, if you see a great toy while you're out shopping, pick it up and drop it in the bin!
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Fellowship Hall and Kitchen Survey
A team is beginning to gather ideas and information about renovating the fellowship hall and kitchen. Please share your thoughts by clicking this link and completing an online survey. If you prefer to complete the survey on paper, copies will be available in the narthex. You can leave your completed paper copies in the box in the narthex. Our goal is to create an attractive, versatile, and welcoming space for both guests and members. The deadline for the survey is Sunday, October 18!
The discernment team will also be hosting an in-person gathering on Sunday, November 8 at 11:45 am in the Fellowship to share a summary of all the feedback that was received.
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Butter Braids are Back
The youth are holding a Freckled Moose Butter Braids fundraiser through November 5, with proceeds benefitting our Youth Gathering and Appalachia Service Project trips this coming summer. Butter Braids are frozen pastries that can be stored and brought out to serve on special occasions, or whenever the mood hits you! These were a very popular fundraiser for St. Paul's Preschool, so we're happy to offer them once again. Order online or using the forms in the narthex.
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Red Cross Blood Drive
There will be a Red Cross Blood Drive in the
Fellowship Hall on Thursday, November 5
from 1:00 - 6:00 pm. You must register to
donate, and can do so by going to
RedCrossBlood.org and enter splutheran.
Streamline your donation experience and
save up to 15 minutes by visiting
RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete
your pre-donation reading and health history
questions on the day of your appointment.
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Youth Ministry News
ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT ATTENDING THE ELCA YOUTH GATHERING NEXT SUMMER? All current 8th through 12th graders are invited to take part in a once-every-three-year experience that brings together 16,000+ high school youth from Lutheran churches across the United States, to spend five days together around the theme of "Imagine More." In 2027, the Gathering will be held from June 28 through July 2 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Interested? Registration opens in mid-October and we need to have our group together by mid-November, so let our Youth Director, Craig Miller, know as soon as possible to be included on our roster. Questions? Contact Craig at craigyouthmin@gmail.com, or 484-320-0785.
OUR NEXT HIGH SCHOOL OASIS GATHERING will be this Sunday, October 18 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in the downstairs lounge at St. Matthew's. This time, OASIS will be a "Deep Dive" with conversation around a deeper topic or Bible passage. This month's focus is 'Sacraments.' (There will still be sharing of highs and lows, and of course food.) All ninth through twelfth graders are invited to join us. Advance sign up is not necessary; just show up!
OUR NEXT GOOD WORKS YOUTH WORK DAY will be Saturday, October 24 from 8:15 am to 3:45 pm. Spend a Saturday helping make repairs to homes for people in need in our area. All 10th through 12th graders (note change in age range) are welcome to join us; if you're thinking about participating in Appalachia Service Project next summer, this is a great way to get some idea of what that ministry is all about! Sign up here by Wednesday, Oct. 14 to participate: Oct. 24th Good Works Youth Work Day.
RISE AGAINST HUNGER IS COMING ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, and once again we're going to have a special "youth shift" from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at St. Matthew's. Bring your family and friends! As a special treat, pizza will be provided at noon in St. Matthew's downstairs lounge for youth and their families. Even if you can't make the 1:00 shift, you can still help out at either the 11:00 am or 3:00 pm times. Sign up here to participate in a really fun event that helps feed the world: Oct. 25th Rise Against Hunger.
THE "WHAT REALLY MATTERS" RETREAT FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH takes place Saturday afternoon, November 7 through Sunday afternoon, November 8. All sixth through eighth graders are encouraged to participate in this retreat involving Lutheran congregations from across Southeast Pennsylvania Synod, to spend 24 hours making new friends, experiencing fun activities and games, and thinking more about what is most important in life. The cost is $80 per youth participant. Sign up deadline is Sunday, October 18. Sign up here to join us: Nov. Middle School Retreat.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW FOR NEXT SUMMER'S APPALACHIA SERVICE PROJECT WORK WEEK! We will again be sending work crews to Central Appalachia to make homes safer, warmer, and drier for families in need of some help. Our trip will be Saturday, July 17 through Saturday, July 24, 2027. Youth who are currently in 7th through 12th grades are eligible to participate. The cost per person is $400 with scholarships available for those who need financial assistance; fundraising events throughout the year will also provide opportunities for families to reduce their out-of-pocket costs. To sign up, go to the ASP Online Registration Portal and enter “17700” as the group number to select our trip; if you have not participated in ASP before, you will need to create a new account in the participant’s name. You will also need to pay a $150 non-refundable deposit by December 1. Questions about ASP? Contact Craig Miller at craigyouthmin@gmail.com, or 484-320-0785. This is an experience not to be missed!
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Musical Notes from Lindsay
OCTOBER 18: Choose Kindness: Love Your Enemy
8am Service:
Gathering Hymn: Gather Us In
This selection was also selected as the gathering hymn for the contemporary service last month on September 20. The tune's 6/8 meter and melodic contour give it a striking folk-tune, making it a versatile selection in our music library.
Hymn of the Day: Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive
Our hymn text effectively emphasizes the message of love your enemies by pointing out the irony in holding resentment toward others in our hearts. "How can your pardon reach and bless the unforgiving heart?" We call upon the Lord to cleanse our hearts, that we may instead spread peace to those who have wronged us.
I was intrigued by the hymn tune, which is called DETROIT (sometimes BRADSHAW) from The Sacred Harp. Having only been loosely familiar with The Sacred Harp, I did a bit of research and learned that this "shape-note hymn collection" was published in 1844 to make hymns more easily teachable to congregations. Instead of representing the pitches with only the traditional circular note heads we are familiar with, the shapes of note heads expanded to rectangles, triangles, and diamonds. Learn more about this unique approach to singing!
Sending Hymn: Go, My Children, With My Blessing
A comforting assurance of God's continual presence in our lives, our sending hymn reminds us of what we carry with us from our Sunday worship: knowledge of God's love, and the power of the Holy Spirit to sustain us.
10:30 am Service:
Prelude: Reckless Love
This is a new selection for our congregation that the praise team performed last week and the week before. Feel free to join us as we sing together this morning! This will also be our prelude and song of the day on 11/1. Check out the lyric video!
Gathering Song: We Have Come Into His House
We first introduced this opening song in March this year. The simple melody and text remind us of the reasons why we are gathered together to worship. May our gathering song open us to more fully receive the message of our service: Love Your Enemy
Song of the Day: Good Soil
Heeding the call of this (at times) challenging commandment becomes easier when our hearts are open and loving. Our song calls on the Lord to show us the way when we are lost, and to ease the hardness of our hearts when they are like stone.
Sending Song: Send Us Out
"Send us out to teach what God has done!"
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