This Week at St. Paul's!

This Week at

St. Paul's Lutheran Church-Lionville

May 12, 2024

"Grow in Faith, Serve with Love, Invite into Fellowship"

Seventh Sunday of Easter

8:00 am - Traditional Service

9:15 am - Faith Formation (all ages)

10:30 am - Contemporary Service

Everyone is welcome!

Attend in person or worship online

Our Prayer List

We pray for John, Cassie, Julie, Dave, Lucy, Janet, Amy C., Ruth, Sid, Joanna, Bill H., Bill T., Sandy L., Amy D., Joy, Pat, Marlene, Nancy, Garnet, Chip, Sandy F., Alice, and Jean. We lift up Daniel, Zach, Alistar, Chris, and Adam in the military. We pray that your comforting Spirit be present with the Albright family as they grieve the death of Anne’s mother, Dolores.

Outdoor Service and Picnic

On Sunday, June 2, 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. To sign up to contribute to the meal and RSVP, click here or 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.

Want a Break from Making Dinner?

Please come support the St. Paul's/St. Matthew’s Youth Group and order dinner at Freddy’s Steakburgers at 221 Eagleview Boulevard in Exton on Wednesday, May 22 between 5:00 and 9:00pm. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the St. Matthew's/St. Paul's Youth Ministry. Just let them know you are here for the St. Matthew’s Fundraiser. We look forward to seeing you and thank you for your support.

Baptism of

Bodie Benjamin Young

We will celebrate the joy and love of Holy Baptism for Bodie Benjamin Young, son of Benjamin and Amanda, at the 10:30 am service on Sunday, May 12.

A Note From Pastor Stuart on Our New Bishop

On May 3 and 4 Christie and Will Heath, David Heydt and I attended our synod assembly. Each year the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) congregations of our Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod gather to conduct the business of the larger church. This year was especially exciting as we elected a new bishop since Bishop Pat Davenport had announced her coming retirement. The process is really interesting because no one knew who would be chosen for this new role. It starts as an open process where any ELCA pastor can be nominated. The list is trimmed to seven, then three and finally one of two. I really recommend that you watch this 35 minute section of the assembly where the final seven candidates share in five minutes their vision of the church. (Those who were at St. Paul’s in the early 90’s will recognize former Pastor Julie DeWerth.) You’ll be inspired and get ideas about what the church could and should be doing. In the end, the assembly elected Pastor Bryan Penman who is a parish pastor and also part-time on the synod staff as co-Director of Evangelical Mission. (A perfect combination of the roles needed, in my opinion.) To learn more about our new bishop, this article will give you a great introduction. Please be praying for our new bishop (and retiring bishop) during this time of transition!

Door Hangers for the Outdoor Service and Picnic

As we celebrate an Outdoor Worship Service and Picnic on Sunday, June 2, it seemed the perfect time to invite our neighbors in the local Village Walk Apartments and houses! Our Invite and Welcome team had 250 door hangers made up for this purpose. If a nice walk to welcome others would interest you, please meet at church on Wednesday, May 15 at 6:30 pm when we'll go share them with the community. You are also very welcome to use the door hangers to invite your friends, family and neighbors! If you do know they are coming, please note this at StPaulsLionville.org/events for food planning!

Missing Umbrella

If you grabbed a black umbrella after last week's service, please check the closure strap for a name on it . One of our members is missing an umbrella and a different one is in the lost and found, so likely a case of mistaken identity! Feel free to check out lost and found and see if your umbrella is there or to drop one if you mistakenly took the wrong one. Thank you!

Attention All Adults Who Work with Youth,

or Want to Do So

Under our congregation's Youth Protection Policy, everyone 18 and older who is involved in a direct, supervisory relationship with our youth and children must have completed background checks and YPP training within the past five years. Craig Miller is offering several opportunities for you to be trained in our congregation's Youth Protection Policy (again, training which is required by the policy), as well as on-site help in navigating the online request portals for the necessary clearances. Here are the dates:

Youth Protection Policy Training:

Sunday, May 19, 12:15-1:15pm at St. Paul's
Tuesday, May 21, 7:00 to 8:00pm ONLINE (via Zoom)
Sunday, June 2, 10:45 to 11:45am at St. Matthew's

Background Checks and Clearances Application Assistance:

Sunday, May 12, 10:45 to 11:45am at St. Matthew's
Sunday, May 19, 11:45am to 12:15pm at St. Paul's

If you need help obtaining clearances and/or need to complete YPP training, please go to this link to sign up so that Craig can plan accordingly.

Personal Care Kits for Lutheran World Relief

Throughout the year we’ve been collecting items to assemble Personal Care Kits for Lutheran World Relief. Each kit contains a towel, bar of soap, a toothbrush, a comb and nail clippers and are distributed at refugee camps for self-care and critical germ fighting. We will be assembling these kits on Saturday morning, June 1, at 10 AM. If you’d like to lend a hand, please join us.

June Newsletter

Please submit your articles for the June newsletter by Friday, May 24, to Marisa at Marisa@StPaulsLionville.org. You read that correctly!

If you have a high school senior graduating, please email their name, a photo, high school name, and future plans for a spotlight in the newsletter

Attention All Adults Who Work with Youth,

or Want to Do So

Youth Protection Policy Training:

Sunday, May 19, 12:15-1:15pm at St. Paul's
Tuesday, May 21, 7:00 to 8:00pm ONLINE (via Zoom)
Sunday, June 2, 10:45 to 11:45am at St. Matthew's

Background Checks and Clearances Application Assistance:

Sunday, May 12, 10:45 to 11:45am at St. Matthew's
Sunday, May 19, 11:45am to 12:15pm at St. Paul's

If you need help obtaining clearances and/or need to complete YPP training, please go to this link to sign up so that Craig can plan accordingly.

Peanut Butter &

Jelly Drive

Peanut butter and jelly is needed by the Chester County Food Bank. During the school year, low-income students receive free or reduced lunches at school. However, over the summer, they lose this option. The Chester County Food Bank steps in to fill this gap by providing students with the ingredients to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Please consider donating a plastic container of peanut butter or jelly. Bins will be in the narthex through Sunday, June 2.

Twin Valley Coffee Fundraiser

LAST CHANCE TO ORDER TWIN VALLEY COFFEE AND SUPPORT OUR YOUTH! Sunday, May 12 (Mother's Day) is the final day to place an order with Twin Valley Coffee to raise funds for our upcoming summer youth trips. Orders can be placed online at this unique store website, and Twin Valley Coffee will roast and ship each order directly to you (or to a gift recipient) as soon as it is placed. St. Paul’s receives a $2.50 profit for every 12 oz. bag of coffee, $10 profit for every 5 lb. bag, and $3.50 profit for every “5 Small Cold Brews” card sold through our unique online ordering site. We will also receive $5 for each apparel item, $2 for every collectible pin and $3 for each drinkware item sold.

Community Yard Sale

Any books, games, toys, jewelry, tools, and household items you'd like to donate to this year's community yard sale can now be dropped off at the home of Tilly and Dick Hujsak. Please call ahead at 610-363-6898 to make sure they’re home. The yard sale is on Saturday, May 18, from 8:00-12:00 pm! All proceeds from the sale will go to The Chester County Food Bank.

Annual Free Shred Event

Your local Thrivent Community and The Pickering Group are hosting a free shred event on Saturday, May 18, from 9:00-11:00 am in the Thrivent Exton Office Parking Lot, 300 N. Pottstown Pike, Exton, PA. Bring your papers in bags or boxes. Staples, paper clips, and credit cards are acceptable. Please bring a donation for the West Chester Food Cupboard. DRIVE THRU Only, please stay in your vehicle.

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 THIRD AND FINAL APPALACHIA SERVICE PROJECT PREP SESSION will be Sunday, June 2 from 4:00 to 5:30pm at St. Matthew's. We will learn more about our work crew teammates and spend some time practicing basic construction skills with hand tools and power tools. Please plan to attend if at all possible! Our ASP group leaves for Clay County, West Virginia on Sunday morning, June 23rd. If you haven't turned in your final registration payment, please do so by this coming Sunday, May 12th!

OUR LAST ELCA YOUTH GATHERING MEETING will be on Sunday, June 9 from 4:00 to 5:30pm at St. Matthew's. Come and learn more about what we will see and do while we're in New Orleans in July for the Gathering!

Flat Sheets Needed

The quilters are in need of flat sheets for the back of the quilts. If you have flat sheets you are not using, please place them in the bin in the hallway marked Quilts.

Blood Drives

St. Paul's is holding a Blood Drive on Thursday, May 30, from 2:00-7:00 pm. To sign up, click here and enter "splutheran" as the sponsor code.

St. Elizabeth Parish, Chester Springs, is holding a Blood Drive on Saturday, May 18. You can register online.

Vacation Bible School

It's that time of year again! We are so excited for Camp Firelight VBS!

Dates and Time: Monday-Friday, July 22-26, from 9:00-12:00 pm

Ages: Children who turned 4 before January 1, 2024, through those who completed fifth grade in the 2023-2024 school year

Cost: $40 per camper, $30 for siblings (financial assistance is available; please speak with Pastor Stuart)

Camper registration forms can be found in the narthex or downloaded at StPaulsLionville.org/vbs. Follow the instructions on the form for how to submit it and provide payment. Registration form(s) and payment are due July 7, 2024 (exceptions will be made if your child’s class is not full).

Coffee Fellowship

Most slots for coffee fellowship through June 30 are available! Team up with friends, family, or your church group to provide snacks and prepare coffee on Sunday mornings and sign up in the narthex or online at StPaulsLionville.org/events.

Airport Transportation Needed for

Our ELCA Youth Gathering Team

We are looking for three or four drivers who would be willing to take our group to Philadelphia airport on Tuesday morning, July 16 and/or pick us up upon our return Sunday morning, July 21. We will need to get to the airport at 4:15am on Tuesday, and our returning flight arrives at 12:30am on Sunday. If you are able to help, please sign up here: Youth Gathering Airport Transportation.

Living Love Lunches

Living Love Lunches is a program that provides packed lunches to the homeless in Chester. St. Paul's will be contributing 50 packed lunches a month to the ministry. Please join us Tuesday, May 21 at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall to pack bagged lunches. All supplies will be provided. We need help making sandwiches and assembling the lunches. To indicate interest, please click here or go to https://www.stpaulslionville.org/events.

Also, to support this ministry we welcome the following donations: Snack size chips/crackers, cookies or granola bars, bottled water or soda, sandwich bags (Ziploc type preferred doesn’t have to be name brand), napkins, gallon size bags, and reusable grocery bags (don’t have to be new).

Preschool News

Please join us for our preschool graduation and end-of-school celebration on Thursday, May 23, at 5:00 pm. We will present our graduation program followed by a picnic for our families, staff, board, and generous community. Signups are required so there are enough treats for everyone! You can register online.

Prayer Team

If you would like to be part of the prayer team who is contacted when immediate prayer is needed, please contact the church office or pastorstuart@stpaulslionville.org. Also, if you have an immediate need for prayer, please don't hesitate to contact the church office or Pastor Stuart!