February 2012

Pastor's Message:

WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?

Although I couldn’t see with my eyes, the banging and clanging in the other room was evident and undeniable. So I asked, “What are you up to?” The answer returned, “Nothing.”

“That’s some noisy nothing!” I replied. My instincts told me there was SOMETHING going on! And I was correct! Not only did my ears tell me something was up, soon my nose revealed the baking brownies! And I was thankful “something was going on!”

If you hear some banging and clanging around, and your instincts tell you that “we’re up to something,” YOU ARE CORRECT! Rev. Larry Leland, pastor of Faith UMC, Montoursville, will be leading St. Paul’s through a process of improving our understanding and commitment to fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission:

Pastor Larry’s time at St. Paul’s will include meetings with church leaders (Administrative Council members and Staff–Parish Relations Committee members), as well as some open conversation with the broader St. Paul’s Church family.

As we enter this process, we don’t yet know the outcome, yet we claim Jesus’ promise to his first disciples, and to us: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Your prayers and involvement during this consultation are of great importance, because God is “up to something,” and we want to discover what God is up to, so that we may join in God’s kingdom building in our hearts, in Lewisburg, and in the world.

During fall Church Conferences, every Susquehanna Conference United Methodist Church was asked to name the ways we are involved in fulfilling the Great Commission: helping people to connect to Christ, helping people grow as disciples of Jesus, and changing our community for the glory of God. These are God’s priorities for us, and our priorities for 2012. I can’t wait to see what God is up to!

With you on the journey,

Pastor Judi

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

WELCOME JEFFREY!
The Staff-Parish Relations Committee is honored to welcome Jeffrey Smith to the St. Paul’s Church staff as Church Musician. Jeffrey is a recent graduate of Susquehanna University with a major in piano and organ. He had previously graduated with an Associate Degree from County College of Morris, Randolph, New Jersey. Jeff is a graduate of Selinsgrove Area High School and began taking piano lessons locally from April Crowley and Robin Sullivan. Jeff’s studies have included ten years with Madeline Bruser, New York City, author of The Art of Practicing, as well as time at Susquehanna with Kay S. Hooper, author of Sensory Tune-ups. Jeffrey started studying organ with Shirley Smith, and continued studying organ at Susquehanna University with Dr. Marcos Krieger

Prior to joining the staff at St. Paul’s, Jeffrey has served numerous local congregations as pianist and/or organist beginning at the age of thirteen. Most recently he was organist at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Selinsgrove. He has taught music lessons privately and has done accompanying for soloists, instrumentalists, and choirs over the years. As Jeffrey joins St. Paul’s, he plans to continue his music education through studies in graduate school, continuing piano studies with Madeline Bruser, and ongoing organ studies with Dr. Krieger.

THE LENTEN JOURNEY BEGINS
Lent is a journey, a season, of reflection and repentance. A time of preparation and invitation. A time of question and growth. During this upcoming season of Lent, there are several opportunities for each of us to BUILD OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST, WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THE WORLD.

Weekly, throughout Lent, Soup and Scripture is held at Christ’s Lutheran Church on Wednesdays, gathering at 11:45AM. Also, Sunday School classes and Bible Studies continue to meet at St. Paul’s. The Prayer Room, AKA the Noah’s Ark Room, continues to be open and available for those who want to devote some moments in personal or small group prayer. Prayer Meetings are held the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month from 6:30 - 6:50 PM, and an open time of prayer takes place every Sunday from 8:30 AM - 12noon. Also, Wailing Wall will be added to the Prayer Room in February, for prayer concerns to be written on paper, and then pinned to the “Wall of Prayer.” In addition, Lent will provide an opportunity to pray for and with another person in the St. Paul’s Church family through creating Prayer Partners. Finally, during worship, we will take an in depth look at Jesus’ final days on the earth, and the impact his journey makes in our lives today.

SOUP AND SCRIPTURE
Throughout the season of Lent, Soup and Scripture will meet at Christ’s Lutheran Church at the corner of St. Louis and South Third Streets. Every Wednesday, we will gather at 11:45AM for a light lunch, and various pastors from the Lewisburg Ministerium will offer a devotion. Each gathering will be completed by 12:50PM.

This year’s theme is “Fruitful Living from Galatians 5.” Each week one Fruit of the Spirit will be the topic of study, with a few extras remaining for personal study. The topics, speakers, and churches which will prepare the meal include:

ASH WEDNESDAY WORSHIP
Ash Wednesday begins the 40 day journey toward Easter. To begin this journey, worship (with childcare) will be held at St. Paul’s on Wednesday, February 22 at 7:00PM. Since Old Testament days, ashes were used as a sign of remorse and repentance for wrongdoing. During our time of worship, ashes created from burning palms from the previous year, will be available for those who wish to receive the traditional mark of the cross. This ashen cross is a reminder of our sinfulness. In addition, The Sacrament of Holy Communion will be celebrated, as we give thanks for the forgiveness which God has provided in Jesus.

LENT IS THE PERFECT TIME TO JOIN A BIBLE STUDY!
You are welcome to join The Men’s Study, Monday evenings, which is studying the Book of Daniel; The Ladies Study, Monday evenings, Living a Life of Balance; and The Adult Study, Thursday mornings, which is studying the Gospel of Luke.

ST. PAUL’S T-SHIRT CONTEST
Sharpen your pencils and get out your paper! It’s time for a new St. Paul’s T-shirt! All entries should be drawn on a white sheet of paper—approximately 8 1/2 x 11 inches, include the name “St. Paul’s UM Church, Lewisburg, PA” and also describe St. Paul’s in some way, with words and/or artwork. All entries must be submitted to the church office or a St. Paul’s youth by Sunday March 4th.

The winning entry will be used on T-shirts in the coming months AND the winning artist will win a $25 gift card!

• If you do not receive envelopes and would like to, please contact the church office.
• If you regularly receive envelopes and the beginning of a month comes and you haven’t received them yet, please contact the church office.
• If you receive envelopes, yet forget to bring them to worship with your contribution, please use a pew envelope and label it with your name (first and last preferred) and/or your envelope number.

INCLEMENT WEATHER
As winter continues, if you are wondering about any change to St. Paul’s worship/event schedule, please listen to WGRC (91.3 FM) or WKOK (1070 AM). Delays and cancellations will also be posted on the WGRC website, www.WGRC.com . You may also contact Pastor Judi at the parsonage, 524-4674. In every case, please be safe, and make wise decisions for yourself, based on weather conditions.

OUTREACH NEWS

Greetings to you! As the Outreach Team develops ministry in 2012, we continue to discuss ways in which we can reach out to those in need in our neighborhood and world. St. Paul’s will continue our relationship with the Donald Heiter Community Center. Presently, we are providing after school snacks for 51 children, one week each month. Donations for the months of February, March, and April 2012 are welcome to assist this ministry. A list of food items used for snacks at the Heiter Center are provided on a yellow paper in the rear of the sanctuary. Also, a pink plastic basket is available for snack and/or monetary donations.

Empty, rinsed aluminum cans are being collected at the church to raise funds to support PA residents effected by the floods of 2011. Your cans may be placed in the blue containers located outside the church kitchen, on the side of the church building, near the yard. Follow the signs!

Please note, our next Outreach Team Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 14, at 7PM in the church office. If you have a heart for outreach, whether it’s in our community or the world-at-large, we would invite you to join our team and serve God’s people with us in 2012. May God continue to bless you and your family through this new year!

Brad Newlin, Outreach Chair

THE SOUPER BOWL OF CARING: FEBRUARY 5TH
Sunday, February 5, is the BIG DAY, in more ways than one! Yes, it is Super Bowl XLVI, which will be held in the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. AND it is also the day of the Souper Bowl of Caring when our youth will gather canned soup and monetary donations for the less fortunate. They will join young people in churches across the country to collect money and canned soup for those who are hungry and hurting.

In 2011, $9.5 million was collected by Souper Bowl of Caring participants for local charities. This year, all of St. Paul’s contributions will be given to the Eastern Union County Supplemental Food Program located at the First Baptist Church, Lewisburg.

Since the Souper Bowl of Caring began in 1990, more than $71 million (in soup and monetary donations) have been given to help people in need. Please support the youth of St. Paul’s in this effort to “love our neighbors” by bringing in canned soup donations to add to the growing “Wall of Soup” at the altar and by dropping your dollars in the soup pots on January 29 and February 5. Checks may be made to St. Paul’s and labeled “Soup.” Every $1 and every can of soup makes a difference!

Paper copies of the brochure are available on the bulletin board or in the church office. In addition, the full brochure and registration is available online at www.camps@susumc.org.

Camping and retreat opportunities are available for 4-year-old children (along with a parent) through older adults at four different camp sites throughout the conference. Music camps, canoe camps, musical theater camp, and family camps are available, as well as week-long experiences for 3rd-12th graders. Events for younger children are also available for a shorter time period.

If you have any questions or have difficulty choosing the best event for your child, please contact Pastor Judi. The fee structure is two-tiered, based on the date of registration, with the fee increasing slightly at the second level. The deadline for the reduced fee is April 2. A camper’s spot may be reserved with half payment.

St. Paul’s has funds available to assist those attending, so please share your interest with Judi.

Tickets will be purchased in February, so please share your interest with Pastor Judi ASAP! More information is available at www.creationfest.com .

These are the comments heard during the fellowship time which follows the monthly Rejoicing Spirits Worship Celebration on the 2nd Thursday of each month. While this time of worship is hosted at St. Paul’s, it is an effort of the Lewisburg area churches, and volunteers are welcome from St. Paul’s and other churches.

Each month, volunteers are needed to greet worshipers, distribute bulletins and rhythm instruments, contribute snacks and drinks for refreshments, and host the fellowship time. Please share your questions and interest with Jean Harer, Jessica Olenginski, Pastor Judi, or the Church Office.

WELCOME SU MUSIC PREPARATORY PROGRAM!
We are delighted to welcome the Susquehanna University Preparatory Program to St. Paul’s for their Winter/Spring sessions, under the leadership of Mary J. Lippert-Coleman, program director. The Music Prep Program meets weekly through April, on Monday evenings in Albright Hall. Various classes are provided for children, 9 months through 1st grade from 4:30—7:15 PM.

Those interested are welcome to visit a music class on Monday evening in Albright Hall, the lower level of St. Paul’s.

WANT TO MAKE A LASTING DIFFERENCE?

If so, invest in the life of a child or youth!

The Honorable Michael H. Sholley, President Judge of the 17th Judicial District, in collaboration with the Snyder and Union County Children & Youth Services agencies, is hosting a conference for mentors and those who wish to become mentors. This day is especially for coaches, Sunday School teachers, volunteers, babysitters, and all those who work (or want to work) with children and youth in meaningful relationships.

The Mentor Summit will be held on Saturday, March 24, at SUN Area Technical School in New Berlin. This event is free of charge, and includes lunch. More information will follow.

Please share your interest and questions with Pastor Judi.

SPOTLIGHT ON BOLIVIA
On Saturday, March 3, from 1PM-3PM, Mission Central, Mechanicsburg, will host “Spotlight on Bolivia”. The snow date will be March 17. The program will begin with a short presentation about The Bolivia Mission Initiative, which provides children’s programs, medical clinics and church development in Bolivia. There will be opportunities to purchase items from the Bolivia Boutique, a selection of sewn goods and jewelry, made by women in Bolivia. Tours of Mission Central will also be available. This event is free of charge. Registration is not required unless your group is 5 or more persons. Please contact Wanda Jacobs at buddy.beetle@verizon.net or 717-645-7424 for more information.

SUSQUEHANNA CONFERENCE SEMINAR TRIP
Join colleagues and friends for a fun, educational trip to Washington, DC and the UM General Board of Church and Society. Time will be spent at the United Methodist Building in the heart of DC, learning about the UM General Board and other agencies with whom they work. There will be an opportunity to visit hands-on ministries in the nation’s capital and meet with our US Senators and /or members of their staff. Free time to explore the city on your own is also included. Additional details about this trip, which is planned for April 15-18, are on the bulletin board. Registration and contacts information for questions are noted on the posted flyer.

Thank You!

I wish to thank my church family for your prayers and concerns during my recent fall. I thank God the result of my fall was minor. It is a good feeling to know that we have the prayer support at St. Paul’s. God bless!

Peg Murphy

I would like to thank Pastor Judi and the Church family for the visits, phone calls, emails and flowers during my recent hospitalization. They were all very much appreciated.

Jean Johnson

Thank you for the final exam care packages. We really enjoyed the treats and cookies!

Carrie & Clarissa Murphy-Brown

Thank you very much for the goodie box! It was exactly what I needed to get through my week of finals. It was extremely generous and thoughtful.

Anna Foltzer

On behalf of the RiverWoods Grande Illumination Committee, we would like to express our appreciation for the wonderful help you provided in lighting the luminaries for our 13th Grand Illumination event. Your participation helped to make this very successful, and we thank you for your time and effort. Over $17,000 was raised for the Benevolent Care Fund which directly benefits residents. This has been our best year ever in raising funds! God bless.

Loella Bishop, RiverWoods

Thank you for your recent gift of $500 given to our Eastern Union County Supplemental Food Program. Every dollar of your contribution will be used to purchase food for those enrolled.

Our program provides supplemental food for income-eligible individuals and families twice a month. It takes generosity like yours to help us serve those in need in Eastern Union County.

Diane Capatch, Secretary

Worship Participants

Greeters 5:  Bob & Cindy Needham 12:  Richard & Gloriann Stover 19:  Lesley Livingston & Mick McMahon 22:  Terry & Joan Merrifield 26:  Robert & Marion Chappell

Lectors 5:  Natalie Westling 12:  Nancy Asher 19:  Brad Newlin 26:  Ed Asher

Acolytes 5:  Natalie Westling 12:  Bekah Smith 19:  Greg Murphy 26:  Aidan Welch

Usher Captain: Bob Needham

Hospitality Hosts: Dennis & Cathy Hause

Coffee Fellowship Time

If you would like to help provide homemade food for the coffee table or serve during the fellowship time following the 9:15AM Worship Service, please contact Cathy Hause or the Church Office.

Fellowship Hosts 5:  Mary Jane Kenison 12:  Lesley Livingston 19:  Dave Bostian 26:

Altar Flowers and Food Baskets
are placed to the Glory of God

Alter Flowers

Are Placed in the Glory of God 5:  in memory of Paul Driver by John & Patty Driver 12:  in memory of John Driver by John & Patty Driver 19:  26:

Food Baskets

Are Placed in the Glory of God 5:  12:  19:  26:  in the Spirit of St. Paul's

CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We continue to join in prayer with our brothers and sisters across the eleven districts of our Susquehanna Conference. Below you will find the churches available for your prayers for the month of February. Please use this list to celebrate their ministries.

IF YOU, OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW, ARE IN NEED OF PRAYER, please call the church office at 524-5011 to be put on the prayer chain. If you are interested in being part of the Prayer Chain ministry, please call the church office also.

Email Prayer Ministry:
In addition to the Prayer Chain ministry, prayer requests may also be shared with the email Prayer Team at St. Paul’s. Requests are welcome at prayerline2008@live.com.

Reminder: Febuary newsletter information is due by February 20.
Please email newsletter information to spumc@dejazzd.com