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This Week at
St. Paul's Lutheran Church-Lionville
December 15, 2024
"Grow in Faith, Serve with Love, Invite into Fellowship"
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Third Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 15
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 Deb, Adam, Kim, Helene M., Tom, Andrew, Garrett, Jen, William, Travis, Julie, Alex, Herb, Charles, Alicia P., Jane, Samantha, Michael, Steven, Rick, Dick, 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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Poinsettias for Sale
We will be getting red poinsettias in 6” pots that will decorate our altar on Christmas Eve. If you would like to purchase one in honor or memory of someone, please submit this form by Friday, December 20. Cost is $10 and we will put your message in our bulletin on Christmas Eve. Please make checks payable to “St. Paul’s Lutheran” and note on the memo line that it’s for poinsettias. You can take the poinsettias home after all the Christmas Eve services. Email Maureen with questions.
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Breakfast from the Boy Scouts
To show their appreciation for the use of church spaces, the Boy Scouts will be providing breakfast for the congregation between services on Sunday, December 15. Make plans to join them to enjoy breakfast and talk with the scouts.
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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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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.
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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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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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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 designed 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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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 YOUTH CHRISTMAS PARTY will be on Sunday, December 15 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Pastor Stuart's house. Spend an evening with friends having fun, playing games, and of course taking part in our annual gift exchange! (Bring an inexpensive, WRAPPED gag gift for the exchange.) All 9th through 12th graders are invited, including friends. Sign up here: Dec. 15th High School Christmas Party.
MIDDLE SCHOOL 'MANIA!' WILL HAVE A SPECIAL THREE KINGS PARTY on Sunday, January 5 from 3:00 to 4:30 pm at St. Matthew's! Come and experience how other cultures celebrate the arrival of the three kings at the manger. Enjoy the food, games, and other activities associated with this celebration! Sign up here to join us: Jan. 5th 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.
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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Sleeping Bags Needed and Thank You!
Thank you so much to everyone who has dropped off sleeping bags at St. Paul's! They are truly a blessing to the homeless as the weather gets colder and are always in need. If you have a sleeping bag you could donate, please place it in one of the bins in the hallway. Thank you!
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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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Chat and Chews Book Club
The Chat and Chews Sunday School Book Club will now meet on the THIRD Sunday of each month, after the late service in the Lounge next to the Hospitality Room. Our next meeting will be on Sunday, December 15 at 11:45 am.
Our book for December is Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty. Bring along a book recommendation for January. Some suggested something on the lighter side.
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 or call the church office for more information. Happy Reading!
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