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This Week at
St. Paul's Lutheran Church-Lionville
September 27, 2026
"Grow in Faith, Serve with Love, Invite into Fellowship"
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Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
8:00 am - Traditional Service
10:30 am - Contemporary Service
9:15 am Faith Formation (all ages)
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 Drew, JD, Dave, Nancy, Janet, Marian, Jeffrey, Paula, Wendy, Cheryl, Bennett, Scott, Anne B., Mary Ann, Craig, Nancy Jane, Barbara, Barry, Pastor John, Danny, Rick, Barbara, Lois, Dave, Marla, Fred, Luke, Carson, Ben, Belinda, William, Janet, Anne, Samantha, Steven, Rick, Amy C., Pat, Marlene, Chip, and Jean. 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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Choose Kindness Worship Series Continues!
Our Choose Kindness worship series is officially underway and we invite everyone to be part of it! Each week, our Sunday services will focus on the them of kindness and how we can all be part of bringing more grace, compassion, and love into the world.
While at church, please add your own "ripple" to the bulletin board in the narthex by sharing a time you have received an act of kindness or spread kindness yourself. Also feel free to pick up a Choose Kindness bracelet, some kindness cards with chocolate kisses and hearts on to share with others, or resources to help make kindness part of your everyday routine.
Choose Kindness. One choice. One act. One ripple at a time.
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Disagreeing Better Workshop and Lunch
As part of the Choose Kindness worship series, we are also offering a free lunch and workshop on Sunday, October 18 at 11:45 am. The workshop is sponsored by Braver Angels, whose mission is to inspire and equip Americans to practice courageous citizenship across political differences through skill-building, convening, and collaborative action. The workshop is called “Disagreeing Better” and participants will learn about the values and concerns of those who differ from them politically, and it teaches essential skills for communicating across differences and finding common ground. These are skills all of can use to improve our relationships in politics and everyday life! Please sign up here so we can prepare enough food and materials.
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Alpha Program - Not Too Late to Join!
It's not too late to join our Alpha program, a relaxed, welcoming opportunity to explore the basics of the Christian faith through dinner, engaging videos, and honest conversation. No question is off-limits, and no previous church or Bible experience is needed. Join Pastor Stuart at his home on Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm. Dinner is free - and yes, his homemade pizza is on the menu! Come on your own, invite a friend, or attend with someone who may be taking their first steps in faith. Email PastorStuart@StPaulsLionville.org if you’re interested or want to learn more.
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Rise Against Hunger Meal Packing Event
St. Matthew's and St. Paul’s are hosting a Rise Against Hunger meal packaging event on Sunday, October 25. Last year we hosted a fantastic event - over 385 individuals volunteered over 3 shifts to package 62,500 meals, and our goal for this year is to have 400 individuals work together to pack 70,000 meals. We’ve packaged over 200,000 meals over the past 4 years and want to keep the momentum going!
Volunteers can sign up for a 2-hour shift. By raising funds and working a shift, we will help fight hunger around the world. It's a great family event! If you would like to make a donation towards this event or assist in packaging this impressive number of meals, please sign up here.
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Sunday School and Confirmation Registration
It's not too late to register (or re-register) your child for Sunday School or Confirmation.
For Sunday School, please go to StPaulsLionville.org/sundayschool to learn more or register. You can register online here or there are also paper copies available in the narthex. If you have any questions, please contact PastorStuart@StPaulsLionville.org or 610-804-1740 or our Sunday School Coordinator, Ginny Graham at vgg333@aol.com or (610) 329-7437.
For Confirmation, learn more and register at StPaulsLionville.org/confirmation. If you have any concerns and questions, please feel free to contact PastorStuart@StPaulsLionville.org or Joan Strawbridge at jstrawbridge52@yahoo.com.
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Leaf Clean Up Dates
The Property Team has scheduled the following dates and times for large leaf clean up around the church property:
- Sunday, October 11, 1:00 pm
- Saturday, November 7, 9:00 am
- Sunday, November 22, 12:00 pm
If you can't make these days but are free other weekends or evenings to do some leaves on your own, the help will be greatly appreciated.
Please bring a leaf blower or mulching mower if you are able to.
The church has 2 lawn tractors to bag and mulch leaves
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Fellowship Hall and Kitchen Survey
As God leads us into the next major project at St. Paul’s, a team is beginning to gather ideas and information about renovating the fellowship hall and kitchen. Please share your thoughts by clicking this link and completing an online survey. If you prefer to complete the survey on paper, copies will be available in the narthex. You can leave your completed paper copies in the box in the narthex.
After the team gathers your input, we’ll host an event this fall to continue the conversation and further discern where God is leading us in this next project. Our goal is to create an attractive, versatile, and welcoming space for both guests and members. Please share your ideas and suggestions to help us accomplish this goal! The deadline for the survey is Sunday, October 18!
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Social Ministry Opportunities
As we head into fall, the Social Ministry team has several opportunities to help make the lives of local families a little brighter and warmer. Please help out where you can!
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Toys for Tots: Give a Little Joy This Christmas: It’s never too early to start spreading some Christmas joy! A Toys for Tots collection bin is now available in the church lobby for anyone who would like to get a jump start on donating. While toys are welcome for children of all ages, there is an especially great need for gifts for teens (games, sports equipment, art supplies, makeup, etc). More information coming soon!
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Warm Hearts, Warm Coats: As the weather gets colder, we’re collecting coats to help families served by the Honey Brook Food Pantry stay warm this winter. A collection box is now available in the church lobby. New or gently used coats are needed for children, teens, and adults, so please consider donating a coat that is clean and in good condition.
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Thanksgiving Food Drive: Helping 350 Families: Once again this year, St. Paul’s will be the sole provider of Thanksgiving food for the families served by the Honey Brook Food Pantry (350 boxes!) and need your help. Because of the large quantity of food needed, we are able to stretch your donation further by purchasing items in bulk rather than collecting individual food items. With the rising cost of groceries, we need approximately $6,000 to provide all 350 Thanksgiving boxes. If you would like to support the Thanksgiving Food Drive, checks can be made payable to St. Paul’s with “Food Drive” written in the memo line. And mark your calendar! Our Thanksgiving Food Box Packing Event will be Saturday, November 7. More details will be coming soon about this fun opportunity to come together, pack boxes, and help make Thanksgiving special for our neighbors!
Thanks for supporting our local community and neighbors!
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Monday Morning Bible Study
The Monday morning Bible study will resume on Monday, September 28 at 10:00 am in room 110 (the lounge). They are continuing their study of world religions. All are welcome to join!
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Free Firewood
If anyone would like firewood, please help yourself to the pine logs behind the fire pit.
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Youth Ministry News
THE FALL 2026 YOUTH EVENTS SCHEDULE IS UP and available for viewing on the church website, or by scanning the QR code to the right. All events are updated in real time, so this is where to find the most current information.
OUR HIGH SCHOOL OASIS GROUP resumes on Sunday, October 4 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in St. Paul’s Youth Room. Take a break and unwind from the stresses of school, sports, activities, and other things with a group that welcomes you just for who you are. No deep topics or in-depth Bible studies; just a chance to decompress. Advance sign-up is not required; just show up!
"CHOOSE YOUR EVENT" on Sunday afternoon, October 11. Youth get to vote on whether we go bowling, mini golfing, indoor rock climbing, or laser tagging! Voting is open now until October 4; go to this link to vote!
RISE AGAINST HUNGER meal packing event on Sunday, October 25. We will have our usual youth slot from 1:00 to 3:00 pm (with pizza beforehand in the lounge), but if you can't make that you are welcome to do the 11:00 am or 3:00 pm shifts instead. Bring your family! Sign up here to participate: Oct. 25th Rise Against Hunger.
MIDDLE SCHOOL RETREAT TO BEAR CREEK CAMP with some other congregations Saturday afternoon, Nov. 7 through Sunday afternoon, Nov. 8. More information on flyer available in the narthex. If you want to attend, you MUST sign up here by Oct. 18th.
HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH PEER MINISTRY RETREAT - If you are in 9th through 12th grade and interested in being trained as a Peer Ministry Leader, reserve the weekend of November 13-15 on your calendar to attend a special retreat in Bethany Beach, DE. More information coming soon!
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Missing Easels
We are trying to locate a few of the wooden tripod style easels that are normally at the church. If anyone is able to help, please contact the church office. Thank you!
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Coffee Fellowship Help
All October and November coffee fellowship slots are open! Please help keep the coffee and fellowship flowing by making coffee and providing some tasty treats to share. Sign ups are available online or in the narthex. Thank you!
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Musical Notes from Lindsay
SEPTEMBER 27: Choose Kindness: The Commandment Applied
Love Your Neighbor
8am Service:
Gathering Hymn: Oh, For A Thousand Tongues to Sing
Through our gathering prayer we praise God and ask for guidance us as we honor Him throughout all the world. In our Gospel reading today, we will hear Jesus' message to us that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us recognize the neighbors in our lives, that their "broken hearts [may] rejoice" through the actions we take as followers of Christ.
Hymn of the Day: Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service
When we love God as Jesus teaches us (with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind), we become better able to serve Him by offering "love in living deeds" to one another. We pray for knowledge of where we can be of service, ever watchful of God's "making known the needs and burdens [His] compassion bids us bear."
Sending Hymn: The Spirit Sends Us Forth to Serve
Let us depart St. Paul's as missionaries of our local communities, committed through God's favor to "be the hands of Christ, to scatter joy like seed...to cherish life [and] do the loving deed."
10:30 am Service:
Gathering Song: Come Now is the Time to Worship
It has been awhile since we have sung this together as a congregation, and I look forward to centering ourselves for worship with this familiar selection.
Song of the Day: Bind Us Together
As followers of Christ, and in our mission to love God and to love one another, let us be bound together "with cords that cannot be broken."
Sending Song: Be the Hands, the Heart of God
We re-learned this selection in July when we celebrated the return of our Appalachian Service Project volunteers, and it is appropriate for our reading today as we joyfully enter our community to "save a little bit and pass it on!"
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