Men of St. Paul Pastor, Merlyn Lawrence [email protected] Director of Children’s & Youth...

St. Paul United Church of Christ, 200 N. Main Street, Waterloo, IL 62298 www.stpaulonline.org, (618) 939-7123 / Fax: (618) 939-7144

September 2017

IIIINSIDENSIDENSIDENSIDE THISTHISTHISTHIS IIIISSUESSUESSUESSUE Church Picnic 2

The Joys of Ministry 3-5

Upcoming Events 5-6

Jr. High Youth News 6

So Long, Summer! 7-8

Help DuBois 8

The High School Buzz 9

Notes from the Music Staff 10

Mission News 11

Child’s World 12

Consistory / Statistics 13

Thank You’s 14

St. Paul Pictorial Directory 15

CCCCONTACTONTACTONTACTONTACT UUUUSSSS Senior Pastor, James Watson [email protected]

Associate Pastor, Merlyn Lawrence [email protected]

Director of Children’s & Youth Ministries, Jill Mayer, [email protected]

Administration Coordinator, Linda Mueller [email protected]

Office Coordinator, Angie Mertz [email protected]

Facilities &Tech Coordinator, Steve Crook [email protected]

Custodians, Dean Hirsch, Lori Weltig, Mark Blevins (Sundays)

Director of Music, Gary Humphrey [email protected]

Music Staff, Sandy Hamby, Linda Mueller, Betty Rockford, Bob Rockford, Joe Kurtz

Child’s World Preschool Staff, Director/Teacher, Sarah Karban; Teacher, Theresa May-Harwell; Teacher’s Aides, Jennifer Nolte, Jamie Brown [email protected]

Youth Directors, Michael Jones and Sasha Watkins, High School Youth Leaders, [email protected] / [email protected]; Jay Tyson, Jr. High Youth Leader [email protected]

Nursery Supervisor, Nicole Koch, Jennifer Lich

Presidents of Boards, Consistory: George Obernagel, Cemetery: Tom Nobbe

Cemetery Secretary, Joan Wiegreffe [email protected], 618-939-2931

Men of St. Paul The St. Paul Men’s Group meets for breakfast on the first Saturday of every month at 8:00 a.m. at Annbriar Golf Course.

Anointing of the SickAnointing of the SickAnointing of the SickAnointing of the Sick Join Pastor Merlyn in the narthex the first Sunday of every month

at 10:15 a.m. between services.

ST. PAUL MESSENGER

St. PaulSt. PaulSt. PaulSt. Paul’’’’s Annual Church Picnics Annual Church Picnics Annual Church Picnics Annual Church Picnic Plans for the picnic are coming together. The date set is September 10. Worship will begin at 10:00 a.m. Following the picnic we will kick off the Heifer Project as a sustained mission, enjoy live music and generally have loads of fun. We will need help in picking up tables at the fairgrounds (Be at church by 7:00 a.m.) and setting up the main tents, the stage for the band, picnic tables and tables for various booths in the parking lot. If you would like to help with setup, please let Judy Wild or Steve Crook know. For the meal the church will be providing hot dogs, hamburgers and BBQ beef brisket. We encourage you to bring sides and desserts to share as in years past. We are asking you to use the First Street entrance to the administrative entryway to drop off food so that the setup in the main parking lot will not be affected. To volunteer to help with food management, please contact Judy Wild and/or Sasha Watson. Parking this year will be a little different. We will offer handicap parking in the main parking lot, and we will create a U-turn loop there. We are not allowing vehicles to travel the length of the parking lot and exit by the Parish Hall. The setup in the parking lot will not allow it for this year. Ushers and parking lot greeters will be on site to help direct you to where you need to go. We encourage folks to use our First Street parking lot or street parking around the church. If you use the Market Street parking lot, please be careful crossing the street. Last year we had wine tasting in order to change

up our communion wine as a way to break up the initial run for the food line. This year the combined junior and senior high youth groups are going to be putting on a chicken wings tasting/contest, which we hope draw some interest and provide an appetizer to help bleed off people getting in line for food. We will be placing that booth near the administrative entryway.

The mission activity for the picnic will revolve around hosting a Living Gift Market on behalf of the Heifer Project. Various groups in the church are sponsoring a total of five different booths, each addressing a different class or size of animal. Each booth will offer an activity appropriate to the animals they are representing. At each booth you can make pledges for animals or for shares of larger animals.

Now here’s the fun part. We are renting a mechanical bull, and with each pledge made, you will receive a token for a bull ride. You can use it yourself or give it to someone else. The bull will be staffed and controlled by the rental company. Adequate air mattresses will be placed around the bull to mitigate falls. While all this is going on, there will be live music provided by many of our talented

members. There will also be a number of activities for children. We will be periodically announcing what is going on where. Most of all we want the day to be relaxed and fun-filled for all. At the end of the day we will need help for cleanup. Again, if you wish to be part of that team, please be in touch with Steve or Judy.

ST. PAUL MESSENGER

I want to thank you all so much for your prayers and for the many calls and cards I received after the sudden passing of my youngest brother, Alan, in Cape Town, South Africa. As you can imagine, it is very hard to be so far away from family at such a sad time. It just so happened that my husband Oliver had just arrived with Elmhurst College students in Cape Town a few hours before his passing and so was able to be with my family at the funeral, and that was most comforting. Please know that I am deeply appreciative of your gestures of support and kindness. Thank you! This month I want to highlight some ministries that do not often get our attention, namely our prayer ministries at St. Paul and our monthly Saturday evening services offered October 2017 through May 2018. Ministry of Prayer Besides the host of caring ministries at St. Paul, there are many ways that we offer each other prayerful support. There are opportunities for prayer during our Sunday worship services. We pray as a congregation out loud the prayer that Jesus taught us. Prayer concerns are lifted up in the pastoral prayers. Another way is through a prayer list that is shared with the prayer

chain, which is a small n u m b e r o f parishioners who intentionally pray for those in need. If you would like these prayer warriors to pray for your specific need, kindly contact

Dorothy Crutchfield at 939-6920. Prayer concerns are also circulated via email per special request of the person or family member. This ministry allows us to care for and lift up the needs of persons within our community as well as families and friends. Additionally, prayer requests are listed in the weekly church service bulletin so others may join in offering prayers. To keep our lists current and manageable, please note that names are removed from the prayer list after 4 weeks. Call the church office if you would like the period extended to another 4 weeks. Note also that, because we respect each person’s privacy, we need the permission of the person or family member to publish names. If you or a loved one needs the support that prayer can give, please call our church office or email your request to Angie at [email protected]. Also, you may wish to take part in our anointing healing service held in the narthex every first Sunday of the month throughout the year. If you would like to participate in

St. Paul’s prayer ministry, please contact the church office at 939-7123. Also know that our church doors are always open should you wish a place for some quiet time for prayer. Saturday Evening Services For many years now, St. Paul has offered a monthly Saturday evening communion worship service on the first Saturday of the month at 5:30 p.m. from October through May. The service offers an alternative for those who are not able to attend our Sunday morning worship services. The format has been a quiet, contemplative, traditional service, and participants really value the service. A small team assists me with this service. Of course we welcome new ideas on how to enhance this service. If you play a musical instrument, sing or would like to share a testimony, we would love to have you share your gift. Please contact me if you have questions or would like to volunteer and be part of this ministry in any way. Martha’s Kitchen/Mary’s Heart (MKMH) It is no secret that Jesus loved to eat. He ate with tax collectors and sinners, the scribes and the Pharisees and his disciples and fed crowds of 5,000 and 4,000 with five loaves and two fishes. MKMH began as a ministry of our church four years ago, providing a free meal every Monday evening, come rain or shine. It is a

The Joys of Ministry Pastor Merlyn Lawrence

ST. PAUL MESSENGER

ministry that is now embraced by other churches, community organizations and businesses in Waterloo as we rotate to provide the meals and serve as hosts of MKMH in our Fellowship Hall. Thank you to all the volunteers and organizations who so lovingly give of their time and efforts to make MKMH such a success. All are welcome at MKMH. Around the table, people gather not only to be physically nourished but to be spiritually fed as we fellowship with one another and share joys and concerns and stories of our lives. Blessings are given, food is shared, stories are told and friends are made. We are looking to expand participation of community organizations hosting MKMH. If your organization or church has not hosted or provided a meal for a while, please check out the openings on our website. If you are a new organization interested in hosting, please check out our website or call the church office for more information. We would welcome volunteers who might offer some l ight musical entertainment before and during the meal. Please contact Pastor Merlyn or any of our MKMH leaders for information or to share ideas. A Warm Welcome to New Members On Sunday, August 20 we

welcomed two new members, Sue Davis and Sandy Westbrook, accompanied by their sponsors from the Welcome Table Committee. Sue Davis and her husband Jim live in Fults. Sue says that she and her family found themselves looking for a 7:00 p.m. service on Christmas Eve last year and so attended our church for the first time on Christmas Eve. Since then she has felt drawn to St. Paul and has been attending church regularly since Easter. Sue says she loves coming to St. Paul because she feels welcome and because of the friendliness of our congregation. Sue works in a law office. She loves making cards (and has already shared them with our card ministry), painting and quilting. Sandy Westbrook is no stranger to St. Paul. She has come to our church off and on over the years. She was first introduced to our church through our Child’s World preschool program when she brought her grandchildren there. She is also active in the Evening Homemakers group who has hosted meals at MKMH. Sandy loves attending our church because she always feels good after she has been to our worship services. She worked for the federal government most of her life. She is retired. She loves to read, travel, help people and research. If you or anyone you know is

interested in learning more about our church or in becoming a member, do contact me at church or emai l me at [email protected]. Faith Formation Classes For many adults it has been awhile since they participated in a Bible study class. Perhaps the last time they participated in any formal Bible study was in Sunday school or in confirmation class. I am also aware that although our church is one of the 2,500 churches in the USA who belong to the United Church of Christ, many are not aware of the structure and functioning of the UCC. To this end I am excited to announce that we’ll be offering two faith formation classes in October for anyone desiring basic Bible knowledge or a brief overview of the UCC. All will be welcome at these classes whether you’re completely new to the faith or just want a little refresher. The Bible Basics course will be offered on Monday, October 9 at 7:00 p.m., and the UCC Basics will be offered on Monday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m. Jill Mayer is collaborating with me in designing this project, in part to provide parents/grandparents with the knowledge they need to confidently assume the role of faith educator in their own homes. Sign-up sheets are on the pamphlet rack by the Welcome Center.

The Joys of Ministry (continued)

ST. PAUL MESSENGER

Brewed Faith

Young Adult Group (ages 21–40) September 8th is the next Brewed Faith at 4204 Main Street Brewing (4204 W. Main St., Belleville, IL), a 30-minute drive from Waterloo. We will meet at the brew-ery at 5:30. Let us know if you are coming so we can reserve a large enough table. Please let Sasha or Jill know if you need child care. Sitters should be available at the church starting at 5:00 until 9:00 p.m.

Other Upcoming Events Fall Bible Study: Twenty-eight people are already signed up for our Wednesday morning Bible study this fall. We will be studying the book Moses: In the Footsteps of the Reluctant Prophet by Adam Hamilton. The class will meet on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m., September 20 and 27, October 4, 11, 18 and 25. Everyone is welcome to attend. Sign-up sheets are on the pamphlet rack by the Welcome Center. Adult Social Group will meet at Aunt Maggie’s restaurant in Columbia at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 14. Sign-up sheets are on the pamphlet rack by Welcome

Center. Grief Support Group: The next meeting is scheduled for September 21 at 10:00 a.m. to be followed with lunch off site. This support group addresses any kind of loss, be it the loss of divorce, the loss of life as you used to know it, the loss of home and independence, etc. Do join us if you are experiencing a loss of any kind. Animal Blessing: There will be a pet blessing on Saturday, September 30. Time to be announced later. Pastoral Care Needs If you have needs or concerns of any kind, health care concerns or

questions of faith, please feel free to contact me, so that we can see how to address your needs. As a pastor, I do my best to respond as I become aware of the need. We also have wonderful trained Stephen Ministers who provide a confidential listening ear. An Open Door Please know that there are many ways that you can be supported in your faith journeys. If you need a listening ear or want to brainstorm an issue or concern, know that my door is always open to you should you wish to talk and visit. Peace and Blessings, Pastor Merlyn

The Joys of Ministry (continued)

Adult Social GroupAdult Social GroupAdult Social GroupAdult Social Group The Adult Social Group will meet on Thursday, September 14 at 6:00 p.m. at Aunt Maggie’s on Main Street in Columbia. All are welcome to come for an evening of food and fellowship.

Red Cross Blood Drive—September 19

Give the gift of life on Tuesday, September 19 from 1:00–7:00 p.m. at St. Paul UCC. To schedule an appointment, please call Jean Wheat at 939-6647 or 618-531-6147. Please bring a photo ID and remember to eat lunch before coming to the drive.

ST. PAUL MESSENGER

St. Paul Book Bunch The Book Bunch will meet at 7:00 p.m. on September 26 in the East Room. The book for discussion is Inside the O’Briens: A Novel by Lisa Genova.

All God’s Critters Got a Place in the Choir . . . And your child can have a place in St. Paul’s Children’s Choir this school year! The choir has begun practicing, but new children

are invited to come check out this fun extracurricular. The choir meets under the direction of Joey Kurtz on the Tuesdays that school is in session from 4:30 until 5:15. All children in 1st through 5th grade are invited to join.

St. Paul Photo Directory We’re doing a new church photo directory, and we’ll need you to make it complete! Photography sessions will be in the Fellowship Hall and are scheduled for October 17–21 and October 24–28. Each participating family will receive a free directory and complimentary 8" x 10" photograph, and pictures will be delivered before Christmas.

Bring a item for the food pantry and receive a $5 coupon off portraits. Seniors, military and first responders are eligible for 20% off the purchase of portraits. Sign-up Sundays, September 10 (at the church picnic), 17 and 24 and October 1, 8 and 15 or online at https://booknow-lifetouch.appointment-plus.com/y6g344l4/.

Jr. High Youth NewsJr. High Youth NewsJr. High Youth NewsJr. High Youth News Jay Tyson, Youth Leader

Jr. High Youth Group has started again! On Wednesdays during the school year we meet from 6:30–8:30 in the Parish Hall. A typical session will include a devotional or lesson. It could be Biblical in nature, or it could be something they deal with at school like bullying, respecting authority, helping others, etc. It will normally deal with the way God wants us to treat each other, and I try to put it in a way that they can relate to their own lives. We'll usually do some sort of team-building exercises, have snack time and then some free time hanging out in the gym or

just talking. We have a great group of kids that attend every week, and I'm looking forward to another great year this year!

Upcoming Events: • September 1: Bulldog Football Tailgate 5:30–

9:00 • September 2: Six Flags/Praise on the

Mountain 9:30 a.m.–10:15 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact Jay Tyson at [email protected] or call at 939-6849. I'm looking forward to another great year and seeing you all on Wednesdays at 6:30!

ST. PAUL MESSENGER

So Long, Summer! Jill Mayer

Hello September and the beginning of fall. While I am a little sad to say goodbye to the days of summer, I am thrilled to welcome in beautiful autumn days and the beginning of school year programming at St. Paul. We’ve got loads of fun (and usually educational) activities lined up for all ages.

On September 1 we’ll be tailgating at WHS before the

Waterloo vs. Columbia football game. Make plans to join us for some great food and fellowship beginning around 5:30. We’ll also be ta i l ga t ing be fore the September 22 game. Make plans to join us at one or both events. Following Labor Day we’ve packed a whole lot into one, very busy, fun week. On September 6 SPLASH will be returning for its fourth season. We’re really excited to welcome many returning students and quite a few new faces this year. Due to the growth of the program, we’ll be experimenting with several new aspects this year, including incorporating science into the curriculum on an even more regular basis and providing the participants with semi-structured building/creating/engineering time. There are still a few spots remaining in the program. Registration can be completed online (link present in the Midweek and on the website [Ministries–Children]).

Following the first day of SPLASH, the first Messy Church of the school year will occur. Recall that we’ll be meeting for monthly Messy Churches on the first Wednesday of each month in addition to special seasonal Messy Church series during Advent and Lent. During our first meeting in September, we’ll be messily exploring Noah’s Ark in honor of the Heifer Project. Make plans to attend this great event that is open (and designed) for ALL ages, not just kids! Before the activities commence, we’ll enjoy a delicious meal of chicken on a raft (chicken

and waffles) beginning at 5:30. Following the meal, everyone will have the opportunity to work play their way t hrough d i f f e r en t

ac t i v i t ies tha t encourage engagement with the story of Noah through different sensory modalities and styles of learning. The evening will end with a short, interactive celebration around 7:15. Messy Church will meet again this fall on Wednesdays, October 4 and November 1. On Thursday, September 7 at 7:00 p.m. the adult education course, Present Over Perfect, will begin meeting for the first of 5 sessions—September 7, 14 and 21 and October 5 and 12. During each hour-long session, we’ll be exploring how we can begin to

live a simpler, more soulful life. If you need a little more peace in your life, there’s still time to join the class! Just let me know ASAP if you’re interested in joining so I can prepare materials for you and make sure you

have a copy of the text. We’ll be coming together as a congregation on Sunday, September 10 at the annual church picnic. Following the unified, outdoor service at 10:00, we’ll enjoy lots of fun activities—some favorites from past years and some brand new. Make sure to make plans to stop by the youths’ chicken wing cook-off tent, where you’ll have the chance to judge up to 8 different member’s sauces. The unusual cake walk will be morphing into a Cow Pie Trail this year in honor of the Heifer Project kick-off. The Cow Pie Trail will welcome donations of both unusual and traditional baked goods. Sign up to donate on the picnic display in the administrative entryway or contact me. There will also be a p l e t h o r a o f f am i l y f u n opportunities, including a Kan Jam tournament, oversized yard games, bounce house and interactive displays at the Living Gift Market. The middle of September marks the return of confirmation to St. Paul. Our 8th graders will be returning to the program for their second year, which will be quite busy. During 2017–2018,

ST. PAUL MESSENGER

So Long, Summer! (continued)

they will be working on their group and individual service projects and spending the majority of “class time” out and about in the community, where they wi l l g e t to experience other faiths and service opportunities. The new class of 7th graders will begin their journey together at Camp Wartburg on Saturday, September 23 as they, along with confirmation mentors and teachers, work together through the low ropes and high ropes courses. We’ll be having another family

movie night on the front lawn (weather allowing) on Saturday, September 23. All are welcome to join us as we watch the Jungle Book and enjoy themed snacks and activities prior

to the beginning of the movie. We’ll begin the movie at sunset, but feel free to join us beginning at 6:30 for food and fun. Finally, I’m very excited to announce that we’ll be offering two faith formation classes in October for any individuals desiring basic Bible knowledge or a brief overview of the UCC church. All are welcome at these

c l a s se s , whe the r you ’ r e completely new to the faith or just want a little refresher. The Bible Basics course will be offered on Monday, October 9 at 7:00 p.m. and the UCC Basics will be offered on Monday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m. Although Pastor Merlyn will be leading the classes, I’m really excited to collaborate with her on the project, as we are designing it, in part, to provide parents/grandparents with the knowledge they need so they can confidently begin to assume the role of faith educator in their own homes.

Help DuBois . . . and Have Fun Doing It! DuBois’ annual fundraiser is its Fall Festival October 1 (always the first Sunday of October) from 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. It’s a day of unique crafts, lively music, good food and fun activities for the whole family, all to benefit this most wonderful Illinois South Conference camp and retreat

center. Especially if the weather is nice, plan to take family and friends along for an afternoon of activity—walking the grounds among crafters, riding horses, checking out the Upscale Resale Shop and quilt raffle and sampling a variety of delicious meals and snacks, or of relaxation—cruising the lake on a pontoon, sitting and listening to free music, joining friends in Oak Lodge Café and slowly perusing Silent Auction items. There is something for everyone in a beautiful corner of God’s creation! A special aspect of the quilt raffle this year is that one of the quilts was made by local resident Linda Brandt Schmidt and her 97-year-old mother Lucille Brandt and quilted by St. Paul UCC, Columbia. If you haven’t yet gotten your tickets—$1 apiece of 6/$5—watch for future sales in the administrative entryway later in September and at Fall Festival. The drawing will take place at 4:00 p.m. October 1 at DuBois. The first name drawn will have her choice of the 3 quilts, second name drawn his choice of the two remaining quilts, etc. You do not need to be present to win. Another highlight of Fall Festival is the Upscale Resale Shop—a good quality rummage sale held in Oak Lodge. Thank you to all who have already donated household and personal items. If you have items that would normally cost $10 or more—items such as purses, jewelry, classic toys, household furnishings, holiday fare, anything you think someone else would buy—please contact Audrey Hicks at 939-8673 or [email protected] to arrange a pick-up.

FREE ADMISSION! FREE PARKING! COME AND ENJOY!

ST. PAUL MESSENGER

The High School Buzz The High School Buzz The High School Buzz The High School Buzz Mike Jones and Sasha Watson

It is really good to be back at youth group! We had a bigger than expected crowd for the first Wednesday, and it was also the first year that we began the very first day of school. We honestly didn’t know how many to expect. We had to buy more pizza, which was a good problem to have. SPLASH and other children’s programming are clearly making an impact. The biggest challenge remains keeping teens and young adults engaged with church as they age. We encourage parents to continue to make church a priority in their children’s lives. It is a life-long journey, and there is so much richness in God that can only be fully appreciated in adolescence and beyond. We also invite everyone and anyone who is interested in serving Christ through our young people to get in contact with our youth leaders. But we may just find you first. A chicken wing sauce competition will be held at the Church Picnic following the 10:00 a.m. service on Sunday, September 10. Let Mike know if you are interested in entering quickly as it is limited to 8 entries! Those that purchase wings also serve as the judges and will vote with tickets! Also, if you have a good name for our rooster, we want to hear it! Stop by at the picnic and tell us your idea. On Monday, September 25 youth ministries will be hosting MKMH. We will be providing spiral glazed ham, mashed potatoes and salad. Youth and their families are invited to prep and serve supper. Don’t forget to bring a side dish or dessert.

On Wednesday, September 27 there will be no youth group as the youth staff will be away for professional development in Kansas City.

Do you like trivia, delicious food and dressing up? So do we. Join us for a Trivia Night Fundraiser on the evening of Saturday, October 14. We hope this will be a really great fundraiser for youth ministries. The theme will be Monster Mash. Jill and Andy Mayer will host team trivia. Sasha will have shareable food available for purchase, and you are also invited to bring your own food and beverages. More details to come! Attention youth and parents of 8th–12th grade students! Mark your calendars for June 5–11, 2018 for the Great Lakes Regional Conference at Elmhurst College (in the Chicago, Illinois area). This will be a great chance to connect with other teens in faith, fellowship and service. And lastly, we anticipate the return of Messy Church the first Wednesday of every month beginning at 5:30 p.m. We will finish these nights with some youth group time. Since Messy Church is for all ages, youth staff will be hard at work making this experience even more engaging for teenagers. Whew, there is A LOT going on at St. Paul for our youth! Again, we invite you to be a part of it!

RentRentRentRent----AAAA----Youth to Return to St. PaulYouth to Return to St. PaulYouth to Return to St. PaulYouth to Return to St. Paul The rent-a-youth program will be returning to St. Paul this fall (once school is in ses-sion) to help the youth raise funds for various opportunities, including attendance at the Regional Youth Event next summer. If you have any odd jobs (raking leaves, mowing grass, cleaning gutters, gardening, etc.) or need a child or dog sitter, please contact Jill or Sasha to see if a youth worker can be arranged.

ST. PAUL MESSENGER

Notes from the Music Staff Gary Humphrey, Music Director Teach me, O Lord! I say that every morning. One thing I learn as I get older is that I am always learning. Whether I’m sitting in my office planning for the fall and Christmas, sitting in a reading session at the Alleluia conference or sitting on my deck at home, I’m always learning. As I write this, I just experienced the sanctity of the Total Eclipse! I learned that no matter what is going on in this world, God still has control, and if there was ever a doubt, that phenomenon should remove it! Sometimes we just need to take a step back and let God show us the way. That’s what happened with me. Now I feel like I can jump into fall programming with both feet, refreshed and ready to go. So . . . let’s go! September means time to go to work. All the music groups, SPLASH, the Fine Arts Concert Series, you name it, begin now. One of the things I love most about St. Paul is that while churches all around us are pulling in and just trying to make ends meet, we are constantly striving to find ways to grow! So many churches have nothing for children, but thanks to Jill, we just keep finding more and more ways to get them involved. The same needs to be true of the music program. We, the members of the choirs, harps and orchestra need to be doing more and more to get the congregation involved. That’s what I am always working on. One way we do that is to make the music we offer meaningful and moving. Hopefully we are continuing to do that on a weekly basis.

That’s where you come in. Many of you are satisfied being in the congregation and come to church for whatever reasons you do. That’s absolutely fine. We encourage you to continue doing that. But for others, you are hiding a talent, an ability to do God’s work through music. It’s

time for you to step up and become part of the music ministry! Sing in one of the choirs! Join the orchestra! Play in one of the worship bands! There is a place for you with us. You don’t necessarily have to make a weekly commitment. You won’t know unless you step out of your comfort zone and give it a try. I hear often from people in the congregation that “So and so sits behind me, and he/she can really sing!” If that’s you, think about joining us. I realize everyone has a busy schedule. Trust me, we all do. But speak to members of the choir or one of the worship bands. Ask them what they get out of it. I’ll bet they will tell you it’s worth it to them to give some of their time and talent because of how they feel when they do. Music is a wonderful thing. It’s hard to be mad or in a foul mood and sing! Think about it. If you sing around the house, do you do that when you’re mad? Nope. When you whistle, is it because you’re sad? Nope. So, think about it. Take a chance. Just give us a try. I’ll bet your outlook on life changes at least a little. We’re saving you a seat!

ST. PAUL MESSENGER

Heifer Project to Kick Off at Church Picnic Be a part of the all-church mission, Heifer International, now through January 2018. Follow updates in the Sunday bulletins, Midweek e-mail and Monthly Messenger as the focus changes but the intent—to help God’s children around the world—remains the same.

September’s goal is ambitious but doable: for $5,000 St. Paul can purchase an Ark—2 alpacas, 2 beehives, 2 flocks of chicks, 2 cows, 2 donkeys, 2 trios of ducks, 2 flocks of geese, 2 goats, 2 trios of guinea pigs, 2 llamas, 2 oxen, 2 pigs, 2 sheep, 2 trios of rabbits and 2 water buffalo.* Visit the five Heifer booths at the Church Picnic Sunday, September 10 to learn more, get inspired and have fun with mission. As a personal aside from the Mission Committee president, I have heard comments from people that they do not usually attend the church picnic. If you have ever considered it, however, this might just be the year. Along with the usual—great food, fellowship, music, fun activities—will be the Heifer Project promotion. In trying to fill The Ark, the Worship Committee will promote large animals (cows, oxen, water buffalo, llamas), Fine Arts–medium animals (sheep, pigs, donkeys, goats), Building & Grounds–poultry (chickens, ducks, geese), Christian Education–rabbits and guinea pigs and Mission–bees. Half of the fun will be in seeing how these creative individuals chose to promote their animal group. Come, check out the Heifer booths and have fun while helping your brothers and sisters everywhere. *Contributions to the Gift Ark program are symbolic and represent a contribution to the entire mission of Heifer International. When animal groups are fully funded, additional donations will be used where needed most. Designate Your Mission Giving The Mission Committee thanks everyone for your support of its various monthly missions and now the 4-month, all-church Heifer Project. However, in consideration of the St. Paul volunteers who count and record donations on Monday mornings, there is a way to be more precise in making your mission wishes known. Please do not be vague on the blank line of your weekly envelope. There are only so many funds to which contributions can be made, so it is very important that you not write things like food for the poor or aid to the homeless. St. Paul supports the House of Neighborly Service food pantry, so you can simply write HNS for that cause. If you are supporting the ongoing monthly mission, please write Monthly Mission. Help us accomplish your intentions by being specific, and as always THANK YOU for your continued support. September’s food pantry theme is “Cool, crisp, windy fall air.” So this time, we will need for our hair! Items include shampoo, conditioner, brushes, combs, ponytails, hair gel.

ST. PAUL MESSENGER

Child’s World News Sarah Karban, Director/Teacher

Child’s World Staff would like to give a big THANK YOU to our wonderful St. Paul congregation for your generous donations of school supplies and monetary donations toward our Improvement Fund during our July mission. We raised $3,099.25 toward our new playground equipment. In order to make room for the new equipment we are selling two of our older pieces. Contact me if you are interested in either of the playground structures pictured below.

As our commitment to our children continues, improvements and advancements will always be needed, and your help and support are and will always be welcomed and appreciated. August has been a busy month getting our classrooms cleaned, reorganized and ready for the upcoming school year. Preparations for our upcoming orientation night are under way as I write this article. Orientation is Tuesday, September 5 at 6:00 p.m. for all children and families currently enrolled in sessions for this school year. First days of classes are Sessions 1 & 2 on Wednesday, September 6 and Session 4 on Thursday, September 7. All sessions begin class at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 11:30 a.m. Early drop-off is available for children enrolled for this school year, and it starts at 7:30 a.m. and goes until 8:15 a.m. This is something new we are implementing this school year as we slowly begin to transition to all day. Now that September is finally here and upon us, our school year is off to a great start! All the children are eager to come and learn and make new friends. During the month we will be learning about the numbers 0, 1 and 2, the color blue and the square shape. Our nursery rhyme for the month of September is “Humpty Dumpty.” Letters we will be studying are Sessions 1 & 2—Ll, Ff and Ee and Session 4—A, B and C. Themes we will be learning about during September are all about me, school, farm, fall and fire safety. Happy fall!

ST. PAUL MESSENGER

Balance July 1, 2017 (32,644.04)$

Income 48,288.41

Transfer 25,000.00

Total Balance and Income 40,644.37$

Expenses (42,094.73)

Balance July 31, 2017 (1,450.36)$

General Fund Giving (Member Contributions) 43,379.42$

Monthly Budget 33,333.33$

Over/Under Budget 10,046.09$

OCWM 1,846.92

Waterloo Help Network 100.00

July Mission (Child's World Improvement Fund) 3,099.25

The Treasurer's Report

July 2017Church

Sunday

School Nursery TOTAL

July 2 179 45 5 229

July 9 225 38 3 266

July 16 209 34 4 247

July 23 175 40 1 216

July 30 198 34 2 234

Total 986 191 15 1192

Average 197 38 3 238

Att

en

dan

ce

Oak Hill Oak Hill (cont.) Magnolia Terrace Legacy Place Garden Place

Connie Atchley Rich Gleiber Beverly Hirstein Shirley Hesterberg Ardell Grosse

Gloria Aycock Larry Kocher Arleen Mehrtens Harold Hirstein Vernell Rippelmeyer

Marjorie Bottiaux Marian Maag Merle Mehrtens Howard Ludwig Imogene Yarbrough

Bob Buettner Ruth Matzenbacher Norma Pepmeier Roger Nottmeier

Helen Cheney Ardell Mueller Leota Roider Imogene Schmeltz Red Bud Nursing Home

Dorothy Dodge Lettie Noelke Ruth Stumpf Janice Clark

Gloria Eidmann Paul Stiening Lucy Van Scoyk Reflections

Don Gleiber Bertha Washausen Helen Werling Violet Kueker

Our Members in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Centers

Memorials

Building & Accessibility Fund General Fund Dorothy Jaenke Dorothy Jaenke

Baptisms

Oliver Brian Crowell, June 18, 2017

Consistory Report George Obernagel, President

I hope everyone is enjoying the very pleasant summer weather. Fall is fast approaching. Things to report this month are: • Approved the Donation Policy • Approved the purchase of a new Crestron

control panel for sanctuary lighting • Received a report from the Bylaws Committee

that they will be making revisions to the Bylaws and bringing them to the Consistory

• Received Louise Gremmels’ resignation from the Consistory. Thank you, Louise, for all of your time and guidance on the Consistory.

Enjoy the last few weeks of summer. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, and thanks to all who serve on committees and volunteer at St. Paul.

ST. PAUL MESSENGER

Thank You’s

We thank all the ministry volunteers who usher, greet, serve communion, read scriptures, lead music, drive the van and so much more.

Thank you, Georgia Borcharding, Marlene Buettner, Viola Frank, Ardel Hartmann, Eileen Hoffman, Delores Reifschneider and Audrey Rodenberg, for preparing our August Messenger for mailing.

Thank you to the following men who helped trim bushes on church property: Vernon Brandt, Kary Eckrich, Roger Hoffmann, Vaugh Mavers, Ron Polka, Don Schilling and Roger Wild.

Thanks to Ruth Ann Mueller, Thelma Burgonio-Watson, Virginia Bersche, Sam Perkins and Ken Perkins for help with food prep and cleanup for Rally Day.

Thank you, Roger Hoffmann, for doing plumbing repairs in the church.

Thank you, Richard Juenger, for help with repairs to the sound system.

Thank you, Roger Hoffmann, Richard Juenger and Griffin Taake, for setting and taking downscaffolding to replace lightbulbs in the gym.

Thank you, Don Schilling, for making table card holders for Camp DuBois.

St. Paul Going Above and Beyond Jay & Jennifer Tyson

We have been truly blessed over the last few weeks. Not only has God trusted us with the responsibility of taking care of the most beautiful baby you could ever imagine, but our church family has stepped up in a big, big way. Pastor Merlyn called us right after we received the baby and asked if it would be OK if she collected some items for the baby. I felt kind of silly at first because we’re not really what I would consider a family in need. At the same time, as a member of St. Paul, I understand the feeling you get when you do things for others. Even though it wasn’t necessary, I thought it would be nice to get some help, so we told Pastor Merlyn we would love to take her up on her offer.

Well, as we should have expected our church family went above and beyond any expectations. We were flooded with diapers, wipes, burp cloths, baby clothes, etc. We’ve had people stop by and drop off clothes. We’ve had presents left in the church office. We even had a meal dropped off at our

home—a cheesy ravioli dish that I am going to try to copy when I get a chance. In fear of leaving people out we’re not going to mention names in this article (though I’ve been trying to thank individual people in person). We just want to take the time to thank everyone for the way they have reached out to us during this transition period for us. You all have been wonderful, and I could not imagine being blessed by a better church family.

ST. PAUL MESSENGER

St. Paul United Church of Christ 200 N. Main Street Waterloo, IL 62298

Office Phone: (618) 939-7123 Office Fax: (618) 939-7144 Office Hours: 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Monday thru Thursday Child’s World Preschool: 939-7125 Prayer Requests: [email protected] Website: www.stpaulonline.org

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage

PAID

Waterloo, Illinois

Permit No. 10

Change Service Requested

Worship Services 9:00 a.m. Traditional

10:30 a.m. Contemporary (Nursery & Preschool Available)

Sunday School 9:00 & 10:30 a.m.

(3-year-olds through 8th grade)

Adult Bible Study 10:15 a.m.

All submissions for the next Messenger are due to the church office by 9/20/17. We reserve the right to edit submis-sions for publication.

Next Deadline: 9/20/17

Next Issue: 9/28/17

Men of St. Paul Pastor, Merlyn Lawrence [email protected] Director of Children’s & Youth...

Documents

Transcript of Men of St. Paul Pastor, Merlyn Lawrence [email protected] Director of Children’s & Youth...