| Join us for Christmas Eve Services, Friday December 24 Christmas Eve candlelight service will be held at 5:00 and 7:30 p.m. Join us in person, or watch our livestream Friday evening on our YouTube channel. All are welcome! Worship Helpers at 5:00. Greeters/Ushers: Rainy Gibbens and LaRee and Mariah Allen; Reader: Dick Anderson; Sound, Screen & Streaming: Lexi Davis; Videographer: Brooke Davis; Musician: Georgine Bellamy; Singer: Sue Hansen with Allie Stolte on flute; Communion Bread: Ruthanne Korte; Communion Servers: Karl and Ruthanne Korte. Worship Helpers at 7:30. Greeters/Ushers: Chuck and Bonnie Fenimore; Reader: Pat Nelson; Sound, Screen & Streaming: Wayne Martens; Videographer: needed; Musician: Clarice Blanchard; Singer:; Clarice Blanchard; Communion Bread: Ruthanne Korte; Communion Servers: Debi Martens and needed. Sunday, December 26 – Celebrating the Birth Child Come worship with us at 9:30. Join us in person, or watch our livestream Sunday morning on our YouTube channel, or view the service on the YouTube channel on Monday. Pastor Ioan will be delivering the message based upon Luke 2:41-52, (15-20). For your devotions from God Pause: A missing child has to be one of the scariest things a parent can ever go through. I remember that when I was a teenager, we once accidentally left my 5-year-old brother at Sam’s Club. When we got to the next store, my parents noticed that only four of their five kids got out of the car. I remember the panic on my father’s face as he frantically rushed us all back into the car so we could return to Sam’s Club. Mary and Joseph spent three days looking for Jesus before they found him in the temple. Other things can go missing in our lives as well. Many people spend their whole lives looking for peace. Some turn in all directions seeking out that peace from relationships, substances, food and even material possessions. We know, however, that true peace is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ, and we know where to find him — in the gift of his Word. Worship Helpers. Greeters/Ushers: Savannah and Amber Charlet; Reader: Jim Nelson; Sound, Screen, & Streaming: Wayne Martens; Videographer: Debi Martens; Musician: Clarice Blanchard; Singer: Lori Paup; Counters: Wayne Martens and Lisa Vossekuil; Communion Bread: Ruthanne Korte; Communion Servers: John and Kim Patience. Sunday Bible Study: Bible Study meets at 10:45 a.m. following morning worship in the front most classroom near the church office. During the class, we invite questions, comments, and connections, as we expand upon the readings from the worship service. Flowers on the Alter in honor of Darrel & Nancy Schimmel, who were married December 26th. COVID Reminder: Masks are encouraged for all services and ministries at St. Paul. Please come, worship, and be fed! If you want to wear a mask to keep some distance between yourself and others at any service or ministry, for any reason, please do so with St. Paul’s full blessing. |
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LifeServe Blood Drive. Cookies and bars are needed for the Blood Drive, Tuesday, December 28. St. Paul hosts the community LifeServe Blood Drive every fourth Tuesday of the month. We are known for our home-baked goods and appreciate your donations of cookies and bars. Please bring them to the church by noon Tuesday, December 28.
| New Membership Class Jan. 30 & Feb. 6: St. Paul will be offering a membership class consisting of two 45 minute sessions, led by Pastor Ioan. The first session will be on Sunday, January 30, directly after church, and the second will be the next Sunday, February 6, also directly following worship. Contact Pastor Ioan with your questions and to express your interest. A commitment of membership is for those who wish to make a public promise of helping move God’s ministry forward at St. Paul through the giving of time, talent, or treasure. Our two-session membership class will include: -Opportunities for growing closer to God & fellow St. Paul friends and families -The character and values of St. Paul and our vision for continued ministry -Lutheranism & our ELCA Denomination. ALL, members or not, are welcome at St. Paul and all that it offers. We are blessed by your presence, just as we hope you are blessed by your time with us. Adult Faith Formation Sunday Evening New Series Begins January 16. Have you started thinking about New Year’s Resolutions for 2022? If you’re interested in growing spiritually through Bible and book study and fellowship with your church family, consider attending the next series of Adult Faith Formation sessions. Snacks begin at 5:30 followed by an hour of study and conversation. This is a great way to get to know your church family better. The Gifts of Imperfection, a book by Brene Brown, will be the topic of a five-week study beginning January 16 and ending February 13. Christmas break is the perfect time to begin a book, especially one that encourages us to wholehearted living. We have a limited number of books available for purchase ($11). See Brenda Hollingworth or Ann Bartelt or stop in the office to pick one up. Wednesday God Squad & Confirmation: God Squad & Confirmation Classes are on pause and will resume January 26. God Squad (4 yrs. to 6 grade) begins at 5:40p.m. with a meal. Confirmation (7 & 8 grades) starts at 6 p.m. Children and youth are welcome to join at any time throughout the year. Please sign-up for God Squad through our website home page. Women’s Bible Study: Women’s Bible Study will begin in January at Cobblestone Inn & Suites. We will meet at 9:00 am on the first and third Tuesday mornings. We will be studying Psalm 23 The Shepard with me by Jennifer Rothschild published by Lefeway. You can order the study book online or the Christian book store Choices in Wes Des Moines can order for you. For more information, please contact Sheila Sheila Stewart at stewartlive@aol.com |
Pastor Ioan will be out of the office December 26-January 12. For pastoral emergencies through January 12, call the office or Pastors Kevin & Sue Blader (First Christian Church of Winterset) at 515-468-1941. Thank you to Rev. Sally Wilke and Rev. Tony Nester who will be leading worship while Pastor Ioan is away.
Upcoming Worship Helpers Sunday, January 2, 9:30 am. Greeters/Ushers: Chuck and Bonnie Fenimore; Reader: Ann Bartelt; Sound, Screen, & Streaming: Jacque Mohs; Videographer: Abby & Eric Hoefing; Musician: Needed; Singer: Needed; Counters: Kim Patience and Lisa Vossekuil; Communion Bread: Jacque Mohs; Communion Servers: Marilyn Mount and needed.
Choir: Please join St. Paul Choir rehearsals Wednesdays evenings at 7:10 pm. We sing about twice a month. We are excited to see current members and enthusiastically welcome any new members as we sing praises to the Lord!
Worship Service Helpers/Volunteers Needed! If you are able and willing, we need your help in returning our 9:30 service to “normalcy.” It’s important that all of the positions be filled. Worship team members Debi Martens and Pat Nelson are available for any “training” you may want.
3 Easy ways to sign up:
- Use SignUpGenius! It’s easy to access at this link and will even send you a reminder of your commitment.
- Volunteer Kiosk: We have clipboards on the kiosks in the entryway for you to sign.
- Call the Church office at 515-462-4270.
Ongoing Transportation Ministry: St. Paul’s transportation ministry helps families who have are in need of transportation to appointments. Our current recipients are Ronnie and Shirley Addy who need transportation to Ronnie’s kidney dialysis three days a week in south Des Moines at Fresenius Kidney Care, 6651 SW 9th Street. His appointments begin at 10:30 a.m. and end at approximately 2:30 p.m. He needs to be picked up no later than 9:40 at North Ward, 415 N. 2nd Street, Winterset, at the south door of the east building. Ronnie is unable to get into a high vehicle. Please contact Shirley with any questions 515-468-0121. Ronnie’s cell is 515-468-1982. Please use SignUpGenius to indicate when you are willing to drive Ronnie. Note you may sign up to take him, return him, or do both. Please include your cell phone number in the comments. This is a long-term ministry, so check back often as SignUpGenius is updated.
Church office phone: 515-462-4270
Church office email: Office@stpaullutheranchurch.net
Pastor Ioan Ittu email: Pastorioan@stpaullutheranchurch.net
Pastoral Emergencies: 515-419-5224