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This Week at
St. Paul's Lutheran Church-Lionville
May 17, 2026
"Grow in Faith, Serve with Love, Invite into Fellowship"
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Seventh Sunday of Easter
Sunday, May 17
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 Craig, Nancy Jane, Barbara, Barry, Pastor John Carlson, Carolyn, Danny, Delores, Harold, Rick, Barbara, Anna, Scott, Lauren, Bob, Lois, Dave, Marla, Fred, Luke, Carson, Brenda, Ben, Belinda, Fran, Keith, Mary, Diana, William, Melissa, Jerry, Janet, Eamon, Arthur, Kim, Sue, Gene, Anne, Samantha S., Samantha, Steven, Rick, Janet K., Amy C., Pat, Marlene, Garnet, Chip, and Jean. We pray that your comforting Spirit be present with the family and friends of Kevin Kane as they mourn his death. 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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Outdoor Service and Picnic
On Sunday, June 7, we will celebrate a wonderful outdoor service (weather permitting) at 9:30 am followed by a great afternoon of food and fellowship. The church will provide
hotdogs, hamburgers, and veggie burgers. You can sign up online to contribute to the meal and RSVP, go to StPaulsLionville.org/events. If your family likes to play outdoor games, bring your favorite one along. This is always such a delightful event that it would be a great opportunity to invite a friend, neighbor or family member to worship that day! Please note that for those who regularly watch our livestream, due to the complications of offering the livestream outdoors, only the pre-recorded sermon will be offered that morning.
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Cradles to Crayons Collection
It's spring cleanout time! Please donate your kids' outgrown items! We are collecting new and/or gently used kids clothing, coats, and shoes (through size adult small) for Cradles to Crayons. They are also always in need of *new* socks and underwear. Please do not donate anything with school names. Donation boxes will be in the narthex through Memorial Day weekend.
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Youth Car Wash Fundraiser
OUR YOUTH CAR WASH FUNDRAISER has been rescheduled to Saturday morning, May 30 from 8:00 am to noon (weather permitting). Drop your car off when you come to peruse the thrift store wares, and our team will return it to you with a sparkling clean exterior when you come out afterward! No charge, but donations are gratefully accepted.
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VBS Registration is Now Open!
Get ready for the brightest week of the year! Our Illumination Station Vacation Bible School will run from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon from Monday, July 27 through Friday, July 31. Registration is open to all students from age 4 (by 1/1/26) through 5th grade (completed 2025-2026). Adults and children who have completed 5th grade or higher are encouraged to volunteer to help out. More information and registration for campers and volunteers can be found online. Paper forms are available in the narthex.
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Young Families End of Year Picnic
OUR SECOND ANNUAL YOUNG FAMILIES END-OF-YEAR PICNIC will be held on Sunday, May 31 from 12:30 pm until 3:00(ish) at Warwick County Park, Pavilion #3. Burgers, hot dogs, and drinks will be provided, with participating families asked to bring a side dish, snack, or dessert to share with the group. All families with kids in preschool through 5th grade are invited; older and younger siblings are welcome to come, too! Sign up here to let us know you are coming: May 31st Young Families Picnic. Questions? Contact Craig Miller at craigyouthmin@gmail.com, or 484-320-0785.
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Peanut Butter & Jelly Collection
All this month we are collecting peanut butter and jelly for the Chester County Food Bank as they prepare to give out their summer student food boxes. PB&J is a big part of the giveaway so that school-age children can easily prepare a lunch for themselves during the summer months when school lunches are not available. Please add PB&J (plastic jars only) to your grocery list to bring to the church though Sunday, June 14, National Children’s Day.
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Organist/Accompanist or Assistant Music Director Position
Our team is ready to start receiving application materials for this staff position. You'll notice we are advertising in two different ways. We will ultimately select the person and role that best align with the lead applicant's specific skills and heart to ensure the best fit for our music ministry. If you are interested or know someone who might be a good candidate, please check out StPaulsLionville.org/careers to learn more.
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St. Paul's Summer Reading Program
Memorial Day is fast approaching and you know what that means….Summer is just around the corner. At St Paul’s we will be transitioning to a single worship service and the Lectionary Discussion Group that meets in the lounge between the services will officially be on hiatus. Unofficially, we are going to continue our studies by reading Gene Edward Veith Jr’s book “The Spirituality of the Cross” through a self-paced self-study.
Gene Veith is neither a pastor nor a theologian. He was seeking a spiritual home. He wrote "The Spirituality of the Cross" in order to present a "realistic" Christian spirituality centered on Christ's sacrifice, as opposed to mysticisms, moralism, or self-help spirituality. It is an apologetic designed to share Lutheran theology - - specifically the “Theology of the Cross” - - with a broad audience, demonstrating how Lutheranism is a structured, comfortable faith that embraces ordinary life and finds God in the Gospel rather than human effort.
If this sounds interesting, and you want to join in the fun [and learning], let us know by Sunday, May 24, and we’ll order you a book! Use the St Paul’s Summer Read Sign-Up Sheet located in the Narthex. Just provide your name and email address so we can order the appropriate number of books, and we’ll let you know when they arrive.
If you have any questions, please contact Frank Pechin, 484-883-8568 or fpechin3rd@gmail.com.
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"Envelope" Fundraiser for ASP
IF YOU HAVE TAKEN A FUNDRAISER ENVELOPE OFF OF THE YOUTH BULLETIN BOARD, please return it with the indicated amount and card inside filled out by Sunday, May 31. Completed envelopes can be placed in the church offering or turned in to the church office.
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Thrift Sale
Our next thrift sale will be on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31 from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm in the Parsonage. We have received many donations, so invite a friend and come explore our offerings. Proceeds benefit the Chester County Food Bank and help fund repairs to the Parsonage.
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Help Lead Worship Behind the Scenes!
St. Paul’s is looking for volunteers to join our Worship Tech Team to help us "worship in spirit and truth." By joining this team, you’ll provide needed support for the worship team, allowing our audio technicians to focus their expertise on mastering the sound while you handle the visuals. You’ll play a vital role by timing slide transitions to stay just ahead of the congregation, ensuring everyone can sing and speak along confidently.
- The Perks: Enjoy Dave’s great company and reserved balcony seating with the best view in the house while you serve!
- The Role: Advance slides in OBS and assist with technical needs during worship.
- The Commitment: Serve once every 4–6 weeks. An annual commitment is preferred for continuity.
- Requirements: Attention to detail, basic tech skills, and a heart for our mission.
- Training: Full support provided by our Director of Music and Worship Technician.
Want to learn more? Click here for full ministry description. Ready to sign up? Just contact Maureen in the church office to get started!
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Rare Birds Amish Lunch
On Tuesday, June 9 at noon, the Rare Birds (ages 50+) will be having lunch at the home of Naomi Stoltzfus (1853 Agape Court, East Earl, PA). We are limited to 20 attendees. The cost is $30.00 per person. Payment can be made to Karen Lammey on the day of the event by cash, check, or Venmo (Karen-Lammey). To join for lunch, please RSVP to Karen Lammey by Wednesday, June 3.
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Change to One Sunday Service
On Sunday, May 24, we will transition to our summer schedule of one combined service at 9:30 am. We will return to two services on Sunday, September 13.
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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, however in May, we will meet the FOURTH Sunday, after the late service at my home for a brunch. See address below. Our next meeting will be on Sunday, May 24, and we will discuss: "The Correspondent," by Virginia Evans. Please bring along a few ideas for our summer reads. 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!
Gwen Werner
309 Wm Salesbury Drive
Downingtown, PA 19335
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Rejoicing Spirits Coordinator Needed
Our Rejoicing Spirits ministry is in need of a Program Coordinator for our once-a-month worship service. The position involves worship service planning, volunteer coordination, correspondence with group homes and agencies, and other administrative duties. Please consider joining St. Paul’s amazing ministry for the intellectually and developmentally disabled. More information about the position can be found by clicking here.
Please contact Pastor Stuart or Chris Robinson if interested.
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High School and College Grads
Share your high school or college graduate’s name, picture, and future plans for a spotlight feature in the June newsletter! Please send photo and details to Maureen@StPaulsLionville.org.
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St. Paul's Blood Drive
St. Paul’s will host an American Red Cross blood drive on Thursday, May 21 from 2:00 - 7:00 pm. To schedule a donation appointment, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or go to www.RedCrossBlood.org and enter splutheran.
If you are an eligible type O, A-, or B- donor, consider making a Power Red donation. Red blood cells are the most commonly transfused blood donation.
To streamline your donation experience, go to RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete pre-donation tasks.
If you donate blood from May 18-31, you are eligible to receive an exclusive Red Cross beach towel.
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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 OASIS GROUP meets one more time before summer on Sunday, May 17 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at St. Matthew's, either at the fire pit (weather permitting) or in the downstairs lounge. We will continue our Bible Dive series and also take some time to send off our graduating seniors. All ninth through twelfth graders are welcome to attend, including friends. No advance signup necessary; just show up!
YOUTH AND PARENT HELP IS NEEDED WITH OUR (POSTPONED) CAR WASH FUNDRAISERS! We are holding car washes on Saturday morning, May 30 at St. Paul's, and on Sunday morning, May 31 at St. Matthew's. All sixth through twelfth graders are encouraged to participate in one or both events to raise money for the youth ministry. Parents are needed to help move cars around. Sign up here to participate: Youth Car Wash Fundraiser Help.
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SCAN QR CODE TO SIGN UP FOR YOUTH EVENTS
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ELCA Softball Team
Did you know there is an ELCA Softball team that plays in the area church league? The team lost their last game but has a 1-1 record. They play at Elam United Methodist Church in Concordville. Upcoming games are scheduled at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, May 19; Wednesday, May 27; and Monday, June 1. For more information, contact the coach, Jameison Troutman.
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Monday Morning Bible Study
The Monday morning Bible study group is continuing their focus on World Religions. They meet on Monday mornings at 10:00 am in room 110 and run through Monday, May 18, 2026. Come when you can! For more information, contact Mary McCormick at Jandmmccormick@yahoo.com.
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Musical Notes From Lindsay
Sunday, May 17
Handbell Prelude: The Bells are back again, and will play a selection titled "Eye Has Not Seen" as the prelude for each service. This hymn (written by Marty Haugen) is arranged for handbells by Jeffrey Honore and begins with an "ethereal" and "free" opening that weaves together three different musical ideas, followed by a more structured format, where we follow a melody that travels between different registers of the bells. I encourage reflection on Haugen's original text as the bells ring this beautiful and interesting selection:
Refrain: Eye has not seen, ear has not heard what God has ready for those who love him; Spirit of love, come, give us the mind of Jesus, teach us the wisdom of God.
Verse 1: When pain and sorrow weigh us down, be near to us, O Lord, forgive the weakness of our faith, and bear us up within your peaceful word.
Verse 2: Our lives are but a single breath, we flower and we fade, yet all our days are in your hands, so we return in love what love has made.
Verse 3: To those who see with eyes of faith, the Lord is ever near, reflected in the faces of all the poor and lowly of the world.
Verse 4: We sing a mystery from the past in halls where saints have trod, yet ever new the music rings to Jesus, Living Song of God.
Today's Scriptural Inspiration: Today's selections reflect the message from our Gospel reading (John 17: 1-26) which outlines Jesus' prayer for us.
8am Service:
Gathering Hymn (vs. 1 & 2) AND Sending Hymn (vs. 3, 4 & 5): ELW 482 I Come With Joy
We will be dividing this hymn in two today, as the opening verses describe our arrival to this sacred space of prayer and reflection (I come with joy...I come with Christians...to find the new community of love in Christ's communion bread), and the closing verses describe what we have gained from our shared time together (the love that made us makes us one and strangers now are friends...we'll go with joy to give the world a love that makes us one).
Hymn of the Day: ELW 359 Where Charity and Love Prevail
The main themes of the Gospel reading include our mission as disciples, the unity of Christians, God's eternal love as demonstrated through the sacrifice made on the cross, and the promise of eternal life. Several excerpts of our hymn of the day celebrate these themes, which are central to our lives as followers of Christ:
Vs 1: God is ever found...brought together by Christ's love, by love we thus are bound.
Vs 3: in our midst dwells Christ...as members of each body joined in him we are made one.
Vs 5: that we may love each other well in Christian gentleness
10:30am Service
Gathering Song: Seek the Lord
From what I have been told, this is a favorite song of the congregation, and I look forward to collectively praising God as a community in Christ as we sing it together!
Song of the Day: Jesus, Messiah
You may remember that the praise team introduced this hymn at last week's service as the prelude. We will begin the Song of the Day by reviewing the refrain with the congregation before singing through the song completely. If you would like to "brush up" on this selection before then, please take a look at my prior post!
Sending Song: Let It Rise
Let the glory of the Lord rise among us! May our voices carry our mission to "Grow in Faith, Serve With Love, and Invite Into Fellowship"! We sang this selection for Bring a Friend Sunday on February 15th--we will sing the entire song twice, so that everyone gets the opportunity to hear it before we join our voices. You can also check out this lyric video.
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