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This Week at
St. Paul's Lutheran Church-Lionville
December 8, 2024
"Grow in Faith, Serve with Love, Invite into Fellowship"
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Second Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 8
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 Adam, Kim, Helene M., Tom, Bill, 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., Alice, Jean, and Mark. 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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In Touch Christmas Cards
This year the In Touch Ministry is sponsoring the mailing of the St. Paul's Christmas Greeting Card and we need help signing cards, stuffing and labeling envelopes. Join the fun in-between services on Sunday, December 8, 9:15 am, in the upstairs fellowship hall. All are invited to help out and a light breakfast will be served. Contact Kirsten McCurdy with any questions and sign up to help online.
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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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Final Week for Toys for Tots Drive
Our Toys for Tots drive is quickly coming to an end, and we would love to provide toys for as many children as possible. Social Ministry is collecting new, unwrapped toys for children in Chester County. Toys for Tots collects toys for children of all ages. However, there is a shortage of toys for children under age 2 and above age 8.
Toys can be placed in the collection boxes in the airlocks or in the Narthex.
We are also collecting funds to purchase larger toys. If you would like to contribute in this way, please mark "Toys for Tots" on your check or envelope and place the donation in the offering.
Donations will be collected until noon on Tuesday, December 10.
Thank you!
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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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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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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. 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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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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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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December Rare Birds Lunch
We will continue our tradition of meeting for lunch at Ron’s - 74 E Uwchlan Ave, Exton on Tuesday, December 10 at 11:30 am (time change to beat the crowds). This is always a lovely time of food and fellowship. Please RSVP to Karen Lammey by Sunday, December 8 so we have a rough headcount. Hope you can join us!
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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 ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH TRIP TO ELMWOOD PARK ZOO'S "WILD LIGHTS" WITH THE KIDS FROM GEMMA SERVICES will be Sunday evening, December 8 from 4:15 to 8:00 pm. Meet at St. Matt's at 4:15 pm to travel to Elmwood Park Zoo and meet the Gemma Services students at 5:00 pm. Walk with them through the zoo's light show and animal exhibits, and share some Christmas love with kids who could use some extra happiness in their lives. The cost will be $10 per person - if you wish to chip in additional money to help cover admission for our guests, you are welcome to do that as well. Sign up here to make someone's Christmas a bit brighter: Dec. 8th Gemma Services "Wild Lights" Event.
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL MANIA! CHRISTMAS PARTY will be on Saturday, December 14 from 4:00 to 5:30 pm at Pastor Stuart's house. Come have a fun, festive afternoon with plenty of food, games, and our traditional gift exchange! Be sure to bring an inexpensive ($5 or less), WRAPPED gag gift. All 6th through 8th graders are invited, including friends, for our annual exchange. Sign up here to join the merriment: Dec. 14th Middle School MANIA! Christmas Party.
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.
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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Healing Meals
Tom Slyman recently had surgery and will be recovering for several weeks. If you would like to help the family by providing a meal, please reach out to Cari. Thank you!
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Living Love Lunches
Our next Living Love Lunches lunch packing event is on Tuesday, December 10 at 6:30 pm. Please stop by the fellowship hall and lend a hand. Thank you!
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St. Paul's Pop-Up 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. Starting on Sunday, December 8 and continuing 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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Sleeping Bags Needed
With the cold weather on the way, the homeless could use sleeping bags. If you have a sleeping bag you could donate, please place it in one of the bins in the hallway.
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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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Giving the Gift of Love to a Neighbor
In some families it has become a tradition to not only give material gifts to each other, but also to make donations on behalf of a loved one for needy people in our nation and community. If you would find this a blessing, three opportunities you might consider are:
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