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St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church 721 Twelfth Avenue, Huntington WV 25701

The mission of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church is to CELEBRATE and PROCLAIM to all the saving grace of JESUS CHRIST in word and deed.

Worship on Sunday Mornings at 10:00am

Adult Forum 11:15am in the parlor Sunday School 11:15am

COME AND WORSHIP! ALL ARE WELCOME!

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Pastor’s Reflections

We are in the middle of the throes of Lent. By the time you receive this newsletter we will have celebrated several Sunday’s and midweek services during Lent. I have to admit that I have a love/ hate relationship with Lent. Let’s start with the “hate” first. It’s not really hate. It is more like weariness and despair and anxiousness. The last couple of years this has seemed to be the case. Not sure if it is because of my age. Maybe it has to do with more stuff to do – worship services and such. As I pray through this anxiousness, despair and weariness it seems to me that it has more to do with the things I want to accomplish on my Lenten journey.

Every year I make up a list. This list has stuff that I want to “take up” or be better at doing. My list tries to focus on a deeper understanding of prayer and how in particular God is active in my life and in the lives of those around me. Last year I made a list that I looked at frequently during Lent. This year I made a list that I frequent-ly have looked at during Lent. Interesting thing is that my both my lists seem to have gone by the wayside. I lik-en it to making resolutions at the beginning of the year and in two weeks they all have fallen away.

I know I am too hard on myself and need to relax through these days of Lent. Maybe that is the learning this year – don’t make a list cause you will only have more frustration. Maybe God is teaching me to give myself more grace. Maybe God is gifting me with courage, strength and peace as I meet each day in Lent.

So you may wonder: What do I love about Lent? I love more opportunities for people to hear God’s Word. I love that this year Kathy and I and Alex are reading stories of Jesus in Alex’s Spark Bible and putting stickers on what will be a butterfly at the end of Lent. I love that God has entrusted me with such a great place to serve and work. I love that Easter is coming! I love that once more we get to sing Alleluia at worship.

I pray your Lent has been helpful, enlightening and filled with grace. I pray your Easter will help you celebrate God’s love even more.

Your servant in the journey, Pastor Mackey <><

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A note from Jill...

Palm Sunday April 14, 2019

2:30pm

“Calvary’s Love—

Christ’s Sacrifice and Triumph”

Performed by the St. Paul Choir Under the direction of

Dr. Henning Vauth

Light refreshments will be served in the parlor after

the performance

HOLY WEEK

April 14 Palm Sunday

10:00am Worship

April 18 Maundy Thursday

11:15am Worship in Chapel 7:00pm Worship in Sanctuary

April 19

Good Friday 12:00pm Community Worship Service (place to be determined)

7:00pm Worship in Sanctuary

April 20 Easter Vigil

7:00pm Worship in Sanctuary

April 21 Easter Sunday

8:00am Breakfast in undercroft Resurrection Easter Egg Hunt

10:00am Worship in Sanctuary

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Thanks to Norma Gensler and Sharon Tucker for organizing our wonderful

Mardi Gras celebration. Congratulations to Analee Maeland and Neil Arneson on being crowned

King and Queen.

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Lent is a time to remember, to fast, to pray, to give, to self analyze, and to remember you were called. We kicked off the beginning of March by creating masks and noise makers for the Mardis Gras Celebration. The youth enjoyed de-signing and creating and discussing the history of Mardis Gras. The youth packed backpacks for Southside before the Ash Wednesday service. Other families will be taking turns packing backpacks through Lent- Easter. This is a wonder-ful way to involve others in this community service. The youth have been preparing to lead the Lenten worship service on Wednesday, March 27th at 7pm. The topic is on “community”. We have had many discussions in what it means to be baptized and be a brother and a sister in Christ in the family of God. We have encompassed the world around us gives many impressions but very rarely do we see true effort in peace and unity. The youth question, “ Aren’t we supposed to love as He loves us”? All sisters and brothers do not show love for others or Jesus. This can be discouraging for all of us . I encourage the youth to love and to share His love and Good News no matter what.

From- Heartlight Devotional Father, I pray that our church family, all of our sisters and brothers in Christ make eve-ry effort to share His love and Good News to all we meet. Give us a moment to be still, to listen and recognize peace Lord. Thank you for brothers and sisters who are as close, and sometimes closer, than blood relatives. Please work on our hearts to value the unity the Holy Spirit has established and to work hard to keep that unity so we may display the character and compassion of Jesus to all those around us. I ask for this grace in Jesus’ Holy name. Amen. God’s Blessings of Peace and Grace through this Lenten Journey! Your Loving Sister in Christ, Jill May

A Note from Jill...

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ORDER FORM FOR EASTER FLOWERS TO DECORATE OUR CHANCEL

________ White Lilies @ $9.00 each ________ White Hyacinths @ $9.00 each In Honor of: ______________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ In Memory of: ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Name: ____________________________________________________________________________

If you would like to order flowers for Easter please fill out the form below and mail to: St. Paul Lutheran Church 721 12th Avenue Huntington, WV 25701 Please write “Easter Flowers” on the memo line of your check. Orders must be in the church office by April 7.

COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

Establishing a Personnel Committee to oversee staff job descriptions and ministry Property would like to have a fix it, paint it party. Rick Veres will put notice in newsletter/ bulletin Evangelism would like to have a marketing person to help get word out about ministries here at St.

Paul Worship and Music is sponsoring a cantata “Calvary’s Love” on Palm Sunday, April 14 at 2:30 p.m. Music ministry dedication will be held in the fall. Finance and Stewardship will be meeting to decide on how best to replenish the Building Fund Pastor will be on vacation March 26 to 31. Both midweek services on March 27 have speakers/

leaders and a supply lay preacher has been scheduled for March 31

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The Book club will be discussing the book, “Eleanor Oliphant is Com-pletely Fine” by Gail Honeyman for their next meeting. Please join us on April 25 at 10:30am in the church parlor. All are welcome!

SYNOD ASSEMBLY The West Virginia Western Maryland Synod of the ELCA will be meeting in Assembly on May 31 and June 1 in Wheeling, WV. If you are interested in serving as a delegate from St. Paul please let Pastor know as soon as possible so registration can be sent in a timely manner.

EASTER CANDY

The Education Committee will be sponsoring their annual Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday after breakfast. If you can donate a bag or two of candy for filling the eggs

it would be appreciated. A container will be in the narthex for you to place your donations.

SPRING PAINT AND REPAIR PARTY!! We are in need of several volunteers to help with painting and repair projects this spring.

Some of the projects are: • Paint Pastor Mackey’s office • Replace ballasts in the Choir Room light fixtures • Paint raw lumber bases under A/C units in Parlor • Repair plaster and paint damaged wall under stained glass window behind altar in the

Sanctuary • Replace pew on West Side of sanctuary due to torn/worn fabric. (replacement in

Undercroft) • Cleaning out of the big janitor’s closet • Other tasks to be added as needed. If you are able to help with any of these projects please see Rick Veres.

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LENT MIDWEEK

This year our Lenten midweek worship services will

delve deeper into the characteristics of being a disciple (follower) of Jesus. The book “A Long

Obedience in the Same Direction—discipleship in an instant society” along with the Ascent Psalms

will be the primary resources. Each week an Ascent Psalm—a psalm of movement in God or Psalms for the journey and a theme around each Psalm will be

our focus.

March 27—Psalm 133 “Community” April 3—Psalm 132 “Obedience”

April 10—Psalm 129 “Perseverance” April 17 (Maundy Thursday)—Psalm 134 “Blessing”

Menus for Wednesday Lenten Dinners

March 27 Potato Soup, crockpot corn bread, slaw and dessert

April 3

Shepherd’s Pie Hot rolls, salad, dessert

April 10

Taco Pie/Cheese Enchiladas Chips and salsa, dessert

We will be having Mid-Week worship on March 27 while Pastor is away. Linda Schneider will be leading the morning service in the chapel and the youth will lead the evening worship in the undercroft.

Resurrection Easter

Egg Hunt

Easter Sunday after breakfast

Easter Sunday

8:00am Egg casseroles, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage gravy

and biscuits, hash browns, fresh fruit, sweet rolls

Join Us!!

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April 2019

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 6

11:30am Yoga

1:00pm

Woman’s Club

9:00am Quilters 11:15am Mid-Week

worship in Chapel

6:00pm Meal

7:00pm Mid-Week

worship in Under-

croft

7:30pm Choir

Noon Bible Study

7:00pm Southside

Neighborhood Meet-

ing

Undercroft

Reserved all

day

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

10:00am Worship

11:15am Sunday

School

11:30am Yoga

12:00pm Staff

Meeting

9:00am Quilters 11:15am Mid-Week

worship in Chapel

6:00pm Meal

7:00pm Mid-Week

worship in Under-

croft

7:30pm Choir

NO Noon Bible Study

Conference meeting

in Beckley

6:00pm Scouts

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PALM SUNDAY

10:00am Worship

11:15am Sunday

School

2:30pm Easter

Cantata

11:30am Yoga 9:00am Quilters NO Noon Bible Study

11:15am Maundy

Thursday worship in

chapel

7:00pm Maundy

Thursday worship in

Sanctuary

7:00pm Good

Friday Worship

7:00pm

Easter Vigil

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

EASTER

8:00am Breakfast

Egg Hunt

10:00am Worship

Camp Registrations

due

11:30am Yoga

Office Closed

9:00am Quilters 10:30am Book Club 10:30am Commu-nity Pastor’s Pray-er Group Noon Bible Study 6:00pm Scouts

28 29 30 10:00am Worship

11:15am Sunday

School

11:30am Yoga

1:00pm Woman’s

Club

9:00am Quilters

Pastor on night call at St. Mary’s

Pastor at continuing education event

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The current participants of the Noon Bible Study decided to begin studying a book in the New Testament. Pastor Mackey will be leading the group through the book of Galatians. Bring your lunch and join the group at noon every Thursday (except the third Thursday) in the library for study.

Philippians 2 Philippians 3 Philippians 4 Colossians 1 Colossians 2 Colossians 3

Colossians 4 I Thess. 1 I Thess. 2 1 Thess. 3 I Thess. 4 I Thess. 5

2 Thess. 1 2 Thess. 2 2 Thess. 3 I Timothy 1 I Timothy 2 I Timothy 3

I Timothy 4 I Timothy 5 I Timothy 6 2 Timothy 1 2 Timothy 2 2 Timothy 3

2 Timothy 4 Titus 1

Bible Reading Plan April 2019

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Assisting Minister Reader Communion Deacon 4/7 Ruthann Arneson Bernadette Wellman 4/14 Palm Sunday Rick Eid Keith Wellman David Stuart 4/18 Maundy Thurs. Steve Golder Beth Brown 4/19 Good Friday James May Annette DuVall 4/20 Easter Vigil Linda Schneider Doug Korstanje 4/21 Easter David Stuart Rick Eid Andrew Wellman 4/29 Andrew Wellman Mary Lou Fricke Bernadette Wellman Acolyte Crucifer Altar Guild 4/7 Alex Mackey Piper May Cindy Jones, Linda Schneider 4/14 Palm Sunday Cameron May Olivia Bell 4/18 Maundy Thursday Owen Murray 4/19 Good Friday Alex Mackey 4/20 Easter Vigil Ethan Arneson 4/21 Easter Kaylen Simpson Zoe Fornash 4/28 Adriana Bakley Ethan Arneson Bread Providers Ushers Rick and Jacqui Veres and Steve Golder (all month) Sanctuary Lamp Chapel Lamp Flowers Rick and Chris Eid 4/21 Beth Brown 4/28 Analee Maeland Sound System

WORSHIP ATTENDANCE FOR MARCH

March 3 79 Ash Wed. Morning 8 Evening 55 March 10 76 March 13 Morning 6 Evening 40 March 17 74 March 20 Morning 5 Evening 35 March 24 83 March 31

If you would like to sponsor the flowers or lamps: Altar Flowers are $30 for one Sunday. Sanctuary Lamp is $12 for one month. Chapel Lamp is $12 for one month.

April 2019 WORSHIP HELPERS

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Shepherding God, you are the source of life and health. Surround those who struggle with illness or other difficulties of life and bring them to wholeness and healing: LaDonna, Marissa, Eric, Joel, Husna, Jonathan, Wilma, Eric, Frank, Ladonna.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 3 Nola Scott 7 Gary Rea 8 Jackson McComas; Analee Maeland 9 Ingrid White Sturgill 12 Steve Murray 13 Doug Korstanje; Judi Korstanje 14 Judith Dumke; Tom Kisling; Bob Tucker 15 Kelly Cunningham 16 Arlene Hoeft 17 Shannon Simpkins 21 Beth Brown 23 Kenny Kirby; David Stuart 26 Mona Romans 30 Brock Rucker

If you are in the hospital, or are at home with an extended illness, please let Pastor Mackey or the church office know. Pastor Mackey is always available to bring Holy Communion to you especially if an illness has kept you at home on Sunday morn-ings. Meals can be provided to those who want them. Please call the church office

at 304-525-9630 to make an appointment.

HAPPY

ANNIVERSARY

25 Larry and Jo Kendall

If you would like to put someone on the prayer list please contact the church office at 304-525-9630.

Our condolences to Brad, Jeanna and Olivia Bell on the death of Brad’s father. Donald Bell passed away on March 13. Pastor Mackey conducted the funeral.

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APRIL

48+ boxes of cereal Men’s boxers size L

Sharing God’s love with others...

We are in need of lunch and dinner items for the school back-packs. If you can donate for this worthy cause it would be appreciated. Suggested items are individual ravioli, individual mac and cheese, and shelf stable yogurt.

Looking for a yoga class that doesn’t leave you tied up in

knots? Join Clarice Kumlien as she leads a class in “Chair Yoga”, designed for all ages and abilities. Mondays from 11:30am-12:15pm in the parlor.

Cost is a $2.00 donation.

Prayer shawls are available in the narthex if you would like to give one to someone in need of prayer and comfort. Cards are also available to give with the shawls.

Each month Cridlin Food Pantry gives us a list of items they would like St. Paul members to provide. This month’s items are listed above. We are asked to donate at least 48 boxes of cereal for April. Let’s see if we can surpass that goal. There are bins in the narthex and in the downstairs hallway for your donations.

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CAMP LUTHER

JUNE 16-22 “Transformed Community”

BACKPACK FUNDING

Here are some ways you can help with our Backpack program:

Bring in food items (see elsewhere in the newsletter for suggestions)

Make a monetary donation—be sure and write “backpacks” on the memo line of your check.

If you are a Thrivent Member you can apply for a $250 Thrivent Action Team Project. There is paperwork to fill out online. See Pastor Mackey if you need help or have questions. He can walk you through the process.

Volunteer to pack the backpacks. We have people ready to show you how.

Marshall University ceramics students are working diligently this semester to prepare for this year's event. Bowls will be $15 and a modest soup lunch will be served! All proceeds will go to the Facing Hunger Foodbank! Come pick out a few bowls, let the Marshall art students know what you think of their creations, eat some lunch, and simultaneously help overcome food

insecurity and hunger in over 16 counties in WV, OH and KY.

Several of our St. Paul members volunteer at this important event. Stop by and say “hello”.

EMPTY BOWLS

Friday, April 12 9:30am-1:30pm

First Presbyterian Church

1015 5th Ave . Huntington, WV 25701

Registration forms are available in the Church office. The cost is $215. Registrations must be post-marked no later than May 1 to get this rate. Registrations postmarked after May 1 will cost $230. For-tunately, here at St. Paul, we are able to offer scholarships to all students who attend Camp Luther. St. Paul will pay half of the tuition. Your half of the registration fee must be paid when you turn in your registration form. If you would like your child to attend camp but need help with the fee, please see Pastor Mackey. Forms can be picked up in the church office. Money and registration fees are due back in the church office by April 21, Easter Sunday.

SOUTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD April 4, 2019

7:00pm St. Paul Lutheran Church undercroft

Jay Taylor, Director of Ronald McDonald House will be the speaker

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PRAYER VENTURES APRIL 2019

1 Remember in prayer the eight young people working alongside our companions in Argentina and Uruguay as part of the ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission program. Remember also Krystle Moraska and Ignacio Madrussan, YAGM country coordinators; Caitlyn Melillo, Horizon intern; and Alberto (Gustavo) Driau, ELCA regional representative for South America. 2 Give thanks for the coming of spring, with its stirring of new life, its blossoms and flowers, and its lengthening days filled with light. Pray for those who are suffering, feeling hopeless or experiencing depression, that their spirits will be lifted and refreshed by the changing season, the care and encouragement of others and the newness we have in Christ. 3 God is our source of strength and forgiveness all day long, every day. Be glad, rejoice and shout for joy! 4 Pray for the churchwide officers, synod bishops and other elected members of the ELCA Church Council as they gather for discussion, discernment and decision-making, that they might guide, support and provide leadership for the church-wide organization and our church. 5 Pray that, as the body of Christ, we are able to perceive Christ in one another, affirm each other as new creations in Christ, and venture together into our communities and the world as bearers of the gospel and as witnesses to what God is doing in the world for our sake. 6 Give thanks for those who help care for our infants and children — grandparents and relatives, nursery attendants, day care workers, preschool teachers and babysitters. 7 Pray that we resist judging the offerings and contributions of our brothers and sisters in Christ and that, instead, the Holy Spirit moves us to encourage and affirm one another in being generous in sharing what we have — time, money, resources, wisdom, skills and spiritual gifts — with our neighbor. 8 Spring and summer bring severe weather and flooding to some regions of our nation. Pray that congregations, neigh-bors and communities will work together to create disaster-response plans and will gather resources to share in the event of a disaster. Pray for the safety and well-being of those who face the impact of storms, and give thanks for the work of Lutheran Disaster Response, faith-based agencies and other organizations as they bring care, hope and healing to our neighbors in need. 9 Pray that we are energized to continue to work toward the goals and priorities identified in ELCA Future Directions 2025, helping our church to journey faithfully and effectively together in the years ahead to do what God is calling us to do. 10 Pray for congregations, Lutheran Services in America organizations, ecumenical partners and community agencies that support men and women in prison and those reentering society, encouraging their faith and hope and caring for their families. Pray for the development of resource networks, services and places of grace and acceptance for those seeking to rebuild their lives after prison — spiritually, socially, emotionally and economically. 11 Thank God for our special relationship with the United Church of Christ, a full communion partner with the ELCA since 1997. Pray for the church, its members and its leaders, and pray that together we find strength and new resources for the work of sharing the gospel and serving our neighbor. 12 Remember in prayer the service and witness of the 10 young people serving alongside our companions in Hungary and Serbia as part of the ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission program, and the Rev. Rachel Eskesen and Zachary Cour-ter, YAGM country coordinators for Central Europe. 13 Pray that the fulfillment of God’s promises and great love for us will permeate our thoughts and replace our sorrow and tears with joy. 14 Palm Sunday Pray that, in the telling and retelling of the story of Jesus’ passion, we capture a sense of God’s bound-less, sacrificial love for us that renews and deepens our faith. 15 Give praise and glory to God for the humility and sacrifice of Christ Jesus on the cross, that we might know and expe-rience true love and life, now and eternally. 16 Reflect prayerfully on what the cross means to you, what we proclaim when we make the sign of the cross on our-selves or others, and how God turns an instrument of torture and death into a symbol of God’s power and love and our new life in Christ Jesus. 17 Give thanks for our many opportunities to read, hear, study and reflect on the word of God — during worship, in Bi-ble-study groups, at ELCA gatherings and events, in many languages, and using our dog-eared, marked-up Bibles at home.

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18 Ask God to inspire and equip us, through the work of the Spirit, to be servants in the world who exemplify and follow the teaching, actions, humility and sacrifice of Jesus, who commanded his disciples and us, “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” 19 Good Friday Pray that our faith be uplifted and strengthened in the knowledge that God shows us mercy and grace, and that we understand the depths of our weakness and the darkness of humanity through the suffering and death of Jesus, son of God. 20 Pray for the relief of all in the world who suffer, that they might experience healing, hope and God’s presence in their life and circumstances. 21 Easter Day There’s good news for everyone — Christ is risen! Alleluia! Through the life, suffering, death and resur-rection of Jesus, God has broken every human restraint of sin, hopelessness and death; we are set free to live life anew with joy, gratitude and love. Give thanks and praise to God! 22 Pray that faith in Jesus Christ, the risen son of God, will give us the courage and enthusiasm to share the good news with the world, trusting that all who believe will be transformed by God’s gift of love and forgiveness. 23 God has given us this and every day to live with purpose, freedom and boldness in the world as redeemed chil-dren of God. Search for new, prayerful words and expressions to celebrate and be glad today! 24 Give thanks for choirs, musicians, rock bands, organists, cantors and handbell choirs that share their creative gifts in praise and glory to God and invite us to express our faith and joy through diverse styles of music. 25 Pray for the work and advocacy of our church, partner organizations and communities that address the root caus-es of violence and respond to the people and communities it affects. Pray that we remain committed to our convic-tions expressed in the ELCA social message on “Community Violence” no matter where our pursuit of justice and peace might lead us, or how long it might take to bring about meaningful change. 26 Remember in prayer the leaders, voting members and others gathered for the assemblies of the Alaska and Northern Texas‒Northern Louisiana synods, that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and encourage them in doing God’s work in the world, proclaiming the gospel and growing the church. 27 Pray for the service and witness of the Revs. Kirsten Fryer and Michael Parker, ELCA missionaries accompanying our companions in Egypt, as they work with the seminary community, refugee advocacy and support, and an interna-tional congregation in Cairo. 28 We can all relate to the apostle Thomas, who questioned Jesus and asked for proof that God was alive and well in the world. Pray that the Holy Spirit will fill us with faith in God’s loving presence and activity in the world, even when we are doubtful, curious, weak or confused. 29 When we do God’s work in the world, we share in the resources, assistance and commitment of many partners, including the Lutheran World Federation, the World Council of Churches and the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Thank God for our partners and companions. 30 Consider how our lives manifest God’s love and mercy each day; ask God’s forgiveness for times when we have fallen silent about our faith or failed to let our witness shine brightly in the world.

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CONTACT INFORMATION Reverend Kevin L. Mackey, pastor

pastor@stpaulhuntington.org

Henning Vauth, Music Director music@stpaulhuntington.org

Jill May, Youth Director

youth@stpaulhuntington.org

Kathy Mackey, secretary secretary@stpaulhuntington.org

Please visit us at www.stpaulhuntington.org

ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH 721 12th Avenue

Huntington, WV 25701 304-525-9630

The mission of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church is to CELEBRATE and PRO-CLAIM to all the saving grace of JESUS CHRIST in word and deed.

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St. Paul Lutheran Church 721-12th Avenue Huntington, WV 25701

APRIL 2019