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This Week at
St. Paul's Lutheran Church-Lionville
December 22, 2024
"Grow in Faith, Serve with Love, Invite into Fellowship"
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Fourth Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 22
8:00 am Traditional Service
9:15 am Faith Formation (for all ages)
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 Samantha D., Betsy, Patty, Deb, Adam, Helene M., Tom, Garrett, Jen, William, Alex, Charles, Jane, Samantha, Michael, Steven, Rick, Dave M., Lucy, Janet K., Amy C., Ruth, Sid, Sandy L., Pat, Marlene, Nancy, Garnet, Chip, Sandy F., Jean, and Mark. We pray that your comforting Spirit be present with the Robison family as they grieve the death of Alice. We pray for comfort for the Colberg family on the death of Al’s father. We lift up Daniel, Zach, Alistar, and Chris in the military. We pray for peace in Ukraine and the Middle East.
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Christmas Service Schedule
We will offer three services on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24:
- 4:00 pm - Children's Service
- 7:30 pm - Contemporary Service
- 10:00 pm - Traditional Service
Please note that there will only be one combined service at 9:30 am on Sunday, December 29.
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Sunday School Christmas Pageant
On Sunday, December 22 at the 10:30 am service, our children will share a wonderful presentation to get us ready for the coming joy of Christmas. We are sure their portrayal of the story of Christmas will delight everyone! Even if you normally attend the early service, you might want to come back and enjoy the children sharing their faith and talents with the congregation!
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Christmas Eve Postcards
Throughout Advent we will have Christmas Eve postcards available for you to share with friends, family, neighbors, co-workers and acquaintances. It's amazing how a simple invite to church through a postcard can change someone's life. Feel free to grab a few and bless someone through our Christmas Eve services!
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Longest Night Community Service
Please join with Christians of our community as we gather and worship together on Sunday, December 22, 2024 at 5 pm at Marsh Creek Community Church, 101 Crump Rd, Exton, PA, 19341 (Online at www.marshcreekchurch.org) Sometimes the Christmas season can be difficult and this service honors the lamentations we sometimes feel, but the light of Christ still persists. The service is offered by the Exton/Lionville Ministerium and will feature music, preaching and opportunities to reflect on the challenges and the support that this unique time of the year offers. We hope you can gather with your neighbors!
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No Sunday School December 29
Please note that there will be no Sunday School on Sunday, December 29. We will resume our normal weekly schedule on Sunday, January 5 at 9:15 am. The Sunday School students will start in the New Testament in 2025, which makes it a perfect time to start or resume Sunday School! You can learn more at StPaulsLionville.org/sundayschool.
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Director of Youth Ministries
Craig Miller will be on leave from January 6 through February 3, 2025. As a society we are becoming very aware that taking care of one’s personal health is vital and we pray this time of rest and recharging is a blessing to Craig. During this time Pastor Stuart (and Pastor Christian) and our excellent team of adults will be leading our youth ministry. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Pastor Stuart.
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MLK Day of Service
On Monday, January 20 from 9:30 am - 12:00 pm, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church will celebrate Dr. King’s legacy of service by offering the following volunteer opportunities.
● Food collection at the Chester Springs ACME
● Living Love Lunches Personal Hygiene Care Packages (assemble and write
notes of encouragement)
● Church and Parsonage clean up (vacuuming, dusting, polishing, plus much
more!) & Removing and Storing Christmas Decorations
We will gather in the church Narthex at 9:30am for light refreshments, a group picture, and a send-off prayer. Sign up here to participate. For more information contact Gwen Werner.
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Toys for Tots Totals!
Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Toys for Tots drive. We collected 156 toys and 2 large boxes (uncounted) of beanie babies. Most of the toys came from the yard sale profits and collection plate donations.
It was a great collection! Check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for a picture of the gifts!
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Director of Music
Documents related to our search for a new Director of Music are now available. If you or someone you know is interested, they can be found at StPaulsLionville.org/careers! Please keep this process in prayer as our discerning team receives information, starts to interview, and seeks God's direction.
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Volunteers Needed for 2026 Church Council Nominating Committee
In order to speed up the annual meeting in February, we are looking for folks to volunteer ahead of time to serve on the 2026 Church Council Nominating Committee.
The committee identifies good candidates to serve on Church Council and then asks if they are willing to serve.
It is a short term commitment in November and December 2025.
If you are interested or would like more info on what is involved, please reach out to Kyle Wiest.
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St. Paul's Thrift Store Accepting Donations!
St. Paul's will be hosting a pop-up thrift store the 1st week of February and we need your donations! A pop-up thrift is like an indoor garage sale. From now through January, your donated items can be placed in the designated room in the parsonage from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm on Sundays! Instead of bringing your items to Goodwill, consider donating to the sale. Household goods, toys, holiday decorations, small furniture, gently used clothing, etc. is all needed. Proceeds from the sale will be used to make repairs to the parsonage as well as be donated within the community. Please contact Jennifer Pindle with questions.
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Parking Lot Improvement Committee
Do you have a knack for marketing, fundraising or just have a passion to see improvements at St. Paul’s come to fruition? If so, we’d love for you to be a part of this much-needed project!
We’re planning to raise approximately $100,000 during 2025 - through a variety of means - to completely repave our entire property.
We’d like to kickoff this project within weeks, so if you’re interested, please see Pastor Stuart or sign up online so we can schedule a meeting soon. Thanks!
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Staff Christmas Gift
Dear Members of St. Paul's,
As we approach the Advent and Christmas season, we are reminded of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As in years past, Mutual Ministry will be collecting donations from the congregation for staff Christmas gifts. We invite you to prayerfully consider expressing your gratitude to our staff for their dedication and service over the past year.
We are truly blessed to have a great group of talented staff members who have been instrumental in strengthening our relationship with the Lord. Let us show our appreciation for their hard work and commitment by contributing generously to this gift.
Ann Byer, Mutual Ministry Chair, will collect your gifts and distribute them to our staff before the New Year. Please send your gift (as a check made payable to Ann Byer) to Ann at 112 Crump Road, Exton, PA 19341. We request that you send your gift via check, not cash. Please consider dropping the check at the Post Office to prevent fraud which is happening more and more with mailed checks. If you prefer to use Venmo, you can send your gift to @Ann-Byer.
Thank you for your support and generosity,
St. Paul's Mutual Ministry Committee
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New Church Directories
New church directories are now available in the narthex. Please feel free to take one per family.
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Church Office Holiday Hours
Please note that the church office will be closed on Wednesday, December 25 and Thursday, December 26 in observance of the Christmas holiday. In addition, the staff may not be working in the church office as regularly during the holiday period, so if you plan to stop by, please call first (610-363-6264) to ensure someone will be there to greet you. Thanks so much and Merry Christmas!
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Living Love Lunch Thank You
To the people of God at St. Paul's Lutheran Church,
Thank you for the tremendous support you have provided to our Living Love Lunch Ministry over the past year. The 50 lunches you provide monthly are greatly appreciated by our neighbors in Chester. In addition to the lunches, you have generously provided financial support, many sleeping bags/blankets, soda and water, countless pairs of socks, jackets, sweatshirts, tshirts and other clothing items. Most recently, we shared a large box of handmade scarves and hats which were so appreciated on a cold December day. Everyone marveled at the talent needed to create a warm, much needed hat or scarf!
God calls us to share from our abundance, and you have certainly done that this year! Please share our thanks, on behalf of our neighbors, with your congregation.
We are looking forward to continuing our partnership in this ministry in the coming year.
Wishing you all a blessed Christmas!
Peace,
Diane Casey
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
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Gently Used Winter Coats Needed
Honey Brook Food Pantry is in need of gently used winter coats for kids through adults. Please bring to church and put in the designated boxes. Great way to clean out your closets and help someone in need.
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Coffee Fellowship Help
Only one coffee fellowship date in the next few months has a volunteer signed up. Please consider getting together with family, friends, or your church group to make coffee and provide small snacks after services. You can sign up in the narthex or online. Thank you!
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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.
HEY, 6TH THROUGH 8TH GRADERS - DON'T MISS OUR THREE KINGS PARTY on Sunday, January 5 from 3:00 to 4:30 pm at St. Matthew's! Come celebrate this cultural event to mark the arrival of the three kings, or wise men, in Jesus' birth story. We will have special foods, activities, and games for the occasion. Sign up here to join us: January 5th Middle School MANIA! Three Kings Party.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS - ARE YOU WONDERING WHAT MAY BE IN STORE FOR YOU IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO GO TO COLLEGE? We are going to have a special session with current St. Paul's and St. Matthew's college students on Sunday, January 5 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at St. Paul's, to give you the opportunity to hear about their experiences and ask any questions you may have. This will be geared toward current 11th and 12th graders, but younger high school students are welcome to come, too, especially if you are already thinking about college. Dinner will be provided. To reserve a spot, please sign up here: Jan. 5th College Q&A.
OUR NEXT HIGH SCHOOL 'OASIS' GET-TOGETHER will be Sunday, January 19 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at St. Paul's. Come relax and unwind from the stress of school, activities, jobs, and anything else. No heavy topics or deep Bible studies; just an opportunity to "be." No advanced sign-up necessary; just show up! Open to all 9th through 12th graders, including friends.
A GOOD WORKS YOUTH WORK DAY IS SCHEDULED for Saturday, January 25 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 by January 15 to participate: Jan. 25th Good Works Workday.
THE ANNUAL TUSCARORA LUTHERAN YOUTH RETREAT will be Friday evening, April 4 through Sunday, April 6 at the Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center along the Delaware River. Sixth through twelfth grade youth from Lutheran congregations across southeastern Pennsylvania will gather to have fun, make new friendships and renew old ones, and engage in activities around this year's theme of Prayer. The cost is $175 per registrant if registered before February 15; scholarships are available. Registration is open now; sign up here if you are interested in participating: Tuscarora Lutheran Youth Retreat.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW FOR NEXT SUMMER'S APPALACHIA SERVICE PROJECT WORK WEEK! Our annual work week with ASP will be Saturday, July 12 through Saturday, July 19, 2025. All current 7th through 12th graders are welcome to join us for a meaningful week of memorable fun and eye-opening experiences as we travel once more to Central Appalachia to help make people's homes safer, warmer, and drier. To register, go to the online ASP Registration Portal and use group code 15902 to find our trip. If you haven't participated in ASP before, you will need to create an account first; be sure to create the account in the participant's name, not the parent's! If you have questions about ASP, contact Craig Miller at craigyouthmin@gmail.com, or 484-320-0785.
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