The Messenger
a publication of
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
Phone: (814) 237-2163
Email: stpauls@stpaulsc.org
AUGUST, 2008
Next Messenger Deadline - NOON - August 20, 2008
The Messenger can be read
in the pdf format by downloading a copy of Acrobat Reader 5. Click
here.
Then click on this link: August, 2008
Our Vision:
St. Paul's United Methodist Church is called to be a welcoming and inclusive community in Christ, empowering persons to serve as Christ's hands, feet, and heart.
Our Mission:
Call--Nurture--Send
Welcome to St. Paul’s Children’s Programs!
St. Paul’s Christian Preschool is a year-round Preschool and Child Care center. We enroll children aged 6 weeks to 5 years on a full-time and a limited part-time basis. We are open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday. We currently house two Infant rooms, three Toddler rooms, and two Preschool classrooms, with our current enrollment at 80 students. Our staff includes 15 full-time employees and six part-time employees.
Our Preschool program is licensed by the PA Department of Education and our Child Care is licensed by the PA Department of Public Welfare. We are currently participating in the Keystone Stars program, which is a state-funded quality incentive program created to encourage child care facilities to improve their standards to a higher level than that required by the Department of Public Welfare. This program gives financial assistance to our Center to enable us to provide quality care for the children as well as to assist our staff in their professional development endeavors. For more information about the Keystone Stars program, go to www.pakeys.org.
We are currently using the Christian curricula “WEE Learn” in our Infant classrooms, “Toddlers and Twos” in our Toddler classrooms, and “Wonder-filled Weekdays” in our Preschool classrooms. The children also have Chapel once a week where they learn about and experience Christian life. Our goal is to provide the children with Christian values and education while caring for the whole child in a developmentally appropriate manner.
If you would like to share your special gifts and talents with our children, please contact the Preschool Director, Joan Stroemel (jstroemel@stpaulsc.org; 814-237-1245).
Upcoming Events
MEAL COORDINATION/HOSPITALITY: Do you enjoy working with others? Do you enjoy meal preparation? Do you enjoy greeting people and serving others? If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, plan to attend the Meal Coordination/Hospitality meeting on Tuesday, August 12th, at 6:00 pm in the Social Room. No special talents are needed, just the enjoyment of food and the love of people. A group is currently being formed to coordinate meals and hospitality for functions that are held at St. Paul’s. Please contact Linda Heverly with questions and to RSVP (237-2163; lheverly@stpaulsc.org).
WORSHIP ROUNDTABLE: Tuesday, August 12th, at 7:00 pm in the Social Room. All persons who play a part in worship, whether it be reading during a worship service, decoration of the altar, arranging or serving as a greeter, usher, host or communion server, or have an interest in worship are invited to attend. If you are interested in participating in the Worship Roundtable, but cannot make it to this meeting, please contact Linda at 237-2163 or lheverly@stpaulsc.org.
THE CHURCH BUILDING WILL BE CLOSED until Noon on August 13th as staff participates in a team building event.
HEALTH MINISTRY ROUNDTABLE: All persons interested in the Health Ministry of St. Paul’s are invited to participate. Plan to gather on August 13th at 7:00 pm in the Asbury Room.
SAFE SANCTUARY TRAINING: Safe Sanctuary Training will be provided on Saturday, August 16th, from 9:00 to 11:00 am in the church Social Room. This initial training (need only take once) is required for all staff persons and all volunteers working with children/youth. Please register by August 11th for the training by contacting Virginia Flick (vflick@stpaulsc.org; 237-2163). If childcare is desired, please inform Virginia — the deadline to obtain childcare is August 2nd. For all other questions or concerns regarding the Safe Sanctuary program, please contact Dave Flick at flickdd@comcast.net or 861-3223.
THE CHURCH BUILDINGS WILL BE CLOSED on Tuesday, August 19th, as staff observe an In-Service Day. Please note that emergency calls will be returned as soon as possible, and all other calls will be returned the next business day.
CHURCH COUNCIL: August 20th at 7:00 pm in the Asbury Room. All Committee Chairs and Members-at-Large are encouraged to attend. Important subjects are discussed and voted on at these bi-monthly meetings. Your voice is an important part to planning at St. Paul’s.
GRAND RE-OPENING OF ABBA JAVA COFFEEHOUSE: Please join us at Noon on August 24th for the Grand Re-opening of Abba Java. Everyone is welcome! (See page 14 for details).
THE CHURCH BUILDINGS WILL BE CLOSED on September 1st in observance of Labor Day.
BIBLE STUDY: Pastor Ed Zeiders will be leading a Bible Study on the “Key Words, Texts and Ideas in the Biblical Story,” beginning on September 8th and ending September 29th in the Social Room. Plan to come for dinner at 5:30 pm with Bible Study following. Please RSVP by September 2nd to the Church Office (237-2163).
STRATEGIC PLANNING DINNER AND REVIEW: SEPTEMBER 9, 2008 AT MT. NITTANY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
1500 E. BRANCH RD., STATE COLLEGE, PA. Plan to attend the Strategic Planning Dinner and Review on September 9 at Mt. Nittany UMC. We’ll gather in the Family Life Center at 6:00 pm for dinner, and then break into small groups to discuss the draft of the Strategic Plan. The draft will be a compilation of the work from the Worship, Mission, Education, Health Ministry, Membership and Youth Roundtables, as well as the Strategic Planning Team and Administrative Agencies. Our catered meal will offer roast beef, chicken, tossed salad, green beans, scalloped potatoes, rolls and butter, beverages and dessert. Please RSVP to the church office (stpauls@stpaulsc.org or 237-2163) no later than August 25th. There is no fee to attend this event. However, if you would like to help offset the cost of the meal, which is $11 per person, please make your check payable to St. Paul’s UMC, earmarked Strategic Plan Dinner. Thank you in advance to everyone for all the hard work that went into planning our life through 2012.
MEMBERSHIP CLASS: Church membership is a way for us to show our full commitment to Jesus Christ. To know more about joining St. Paul’s as your family of faith, the next Membership Class will be held on Sundays September 21, 28, and October 5 from 4:30 to 6:00 pm in the Asbury Room, 3rd floor of the church building. Members will be received Sunday, October 12th in the 10:45 worship service. Although last minute decisions are welcome, please try to contact Virginia Flick at 237-2163 or vflick@stpaulsc.org by September 14th to register so that we are prepared with enough materials. If childcare will be needed, please contact Virginia Flick at 237-2163 or vflick@stpaulsc.org by September 7th.
Help Needed
OPEN MUSIC POSITIONS AT ST. PAUL’S UMC:
Openings in the Music Ministry Team include:
Associate Organist
Angelus Choir Accompanist
Cherub Choir Director
Cherub Choir Accompanist
Beginning September, 2008. For details, please contact Russell Bloom, Director of Music Ministry, at rlb16@psu.edu or 814-883-2558. Job descriptions are available on the church website at www.stpaulsc.org.
GOD CALLS YOU TO SERVE! Central Pennsylvania Conference, The United Methodist Church, Committee on Nominations, and the Council on Ministries are looking for persons who will bring fresh insights, skills and passion to the conference boards and agencies. Sound interesting? Pick up an information sheet on the magazine racks outside the Sanctuary entrances.
Eager to care for our little ones in a childcare setting? Need a source of “mad money”?
We are S.E.E.K.ING you out!
St. Paul’s UMC welcomes the opportunity to provide reserved childcare to meet the needs of our growing church family.
So that we may provide nurturing sitters for children whose parents are engaged in various exciting programs and events, we are expanding our pool of caregivers (time commitments vary).
For those of you who have embraced our Safe Sanctuary Policy and been through its training or have plans to be trained in the near future, please give prayerful consideration to our request. Without sitters, we cannot provide this valuable service. We look forward to your enthusiastic response to be a S.E.E.K. Sitter.
For details, contact Eileen Lang at 237-2163 ext. 122.
Children's Ministry News
(Contact Tori Von Leer at 237-2163 x 148 or tvonleer@stpaulsc.org for more information)
On Sunday mornings, St. Paul’s Christian Preschool and Children’s Ministry programs come together. Not only do we share space, but several children attending Sunday School or Sunday Nursery also attend the Preschool! It’s always fun to hear the kids talk about “their school room” with the other children in their Sunday School group.
Children’s Ministry programs start with our tiniest members, the babies and toddlers. In the Sunday Nursery, children hear Christian songs and are encouraged to love one another, share and play together. We are blessed to have two Christian women as our regular paid Nursery staff.
Formal Christian Education for children begins when a child is two years old and continues through 5th grade. Preschool Sunday School is the time when they are introduced to Bible stories, prayer and songs in an organized setting during a gathering of all the preschool aged children and in separate classrooms.
Elementary classes also have a gathering time for singing, praying and fellowship. During class time, children have the opportunity to explore the world of God a bit deeper as they travel on their journey.
During the 2007-08 year, the Children’s Ministry team began to incorporate some of the basics into the elementary curriculum materials. First graders had a focus time on the Lord’s Prayer, 2nd graders learned about and participated in Holy Communion and 3rd graders learned the parts of their Bible and how to use the Holy Book. For this year, the team is working on adding a “basic” component to 4th and 5th grade.
Children’s Ministry is more than Sunday School. Wee Church is a growing and important part of children’s programs. It is NOT another Sunday School! Children aged 3-5 years are able to participate in a service of worship that is age appropriate during the 10:45 worship hour. On Thursday evenings, St. Paul’s rocks with Faith With Friends. This program has theme related games and crafts, stories, music and a wonderful fellowship meal. Many of you volunteered at Vacation Bible School. What a great week we had sharing God’s word with over 140 children!
A huge team of volunteers participate in children’s programs. This group of adults is committed to the vow they take each time a child is baptized at St. Paul’s. If you are unsure if you can be a part of our programs, the answer is YES you can! Contact me (tvonleer@stpaulsc.org, 237-2163 x 148) and we can talk about how you can become part of the joy and excitement.
Romans 12:4-5 tells us “For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members of one another.” Family Ministry at St. Paul’s is for ALL of the St. Paul’s family, children, youth, parents, singles, young adults, older adults, empty nesters. To enable us to serve you, please pick up a Family Ministry Survey from one of the Welcome Tables and fill it out. It will only take a few minutes. Your responses are very important to us as we begin planning events to serve the needs of the St. Paul’s family. Hearing God encourage you to be a leader in Family Ministry? Call Tori for more information.
It’s only the beginning of August and the Wal-Marts are already having their back-to-school supply sales! With the first day of school right around the corner, those first day jitters probably aren’t far behind. Here’s a prayer your child can use not only on the first day of school, but every day.
“Help me, Lord, at school today.
Help me, Lord, to follow your way.
Be with me, Lord, so I won’t fear.
Be with me, Lord, in school this year.
Amen.”
Copyright C 1999 Children’s Ministry Magazine, P.O. Box 481, Loveland, CO 80539-0481. Used by permission.
On Sunday morning, have you ever read the announcements in the bulletin and felt God on your shoulder encouraging you to say “YES” to helping lead the children on their faith journey? But you think, “I don’t know enough about the Bible” or “I don’t know my Bible stories well enough.” Not to worry. You don’t have to be a scholar of the Bible to be a leader in Sunday School or other children’s programs. You only need a passion for Jesus and children! If you talk to a Sunday School class leader or helper, you would hear how the children are passionate about Jesus. You would hear about the look of amazement on the face of a child who finally “gets” the message of a particular lesson.
In Sunday School, class leaders team teach. That means that you don’t have to commit to leading every week, but you have the option of being part of the class each week. You work out a schedule that meets your needs. Curriculum and materials are provided so you don’t have to come up with a lesson each week. Classes have helpers to help us comply with our Safe Sanctuaries policy. While several class leaders will be returning this year, we have a need for co-leaders in our classes from age 4 years through 5th grade.
If Sunday School isn’t where you’re feeling called, Wee Church may be for you. Wee Church is for children ages 3 years through 1st grade and meets each week during the 10:45 worship hour. The group gathers following the Children’s Message. Wee Church is not another Sunday School! It is a time for children to gather to worship God while their parents are also in worship. The commitment to lead or help in Wee Church is only ONE time each month.
Do you have the gift of organization or are you a crafter? God may be calling you to help with special events such as our informal Passover Seder, Children’s Day, the Advent or Easter Workshop or the Palm Processional.
There are many other events and programs that need leaders and shepherds. All you need is a passionate love for Jesus and children. If that whisper is getting louder, contact Tori to say “YES!”
SPLASH IS BACK
SOCK HOP
Friday, October 3
6:30 pm
Social Room & Gym
This multi-generational rock-around-the-clock Preschool fundraiser beckons all non-dancers and dancers alike!
Save the date!
Suggested donation at the door:
$2.00 for individuals
$5.00 for families
For more information, contact Eileen Lang at 237-2163 ext. 122
United Methodist Women
NEEDED: Are you a crafty person who also likes to organize events? If so, the UMW is looking for you. We need some co-leaders to be the coordinators of our annual Holiday Market and Auction that will be held in November. There are always lots of people willing to help with tasks. We just need someone to be the overall coordinators. If you have the calling for this important event that benefits local mission projects, please call Dawn Boyer at 692-9886 by August 15th for more information.
MONTHLY CIRCLE MEETINGS:
Circle 3 — Nancy Guild and Nancy Taylor, leaders — meets the third Wednesday at 9:15 am.
Sunshine Circle — Betty Knouse — meets the 3rd Wednesday at 11:30 am at Hoss’s.
Ruth Circle — Joan Wilson, coordinator — meets at the church on the 2nd Wednesday at Noon. Lunch at the Bread Basket before the program.
Stepping Stones — Amy Wilson and Heidi Knutelsky, leaders — meets the 2nd Wednesday at 7:00 pm.
Deborah Circle — Diane Gustine and Glenda Manbeck, leaders — meets the 4th Wednesday at 7:00 pm.
For more specific information on a circle, please call the circle leaders. Many of the circles do not meet in the summer.
Mark your calendars for the following events:
The UMW Executive Board Meeting will meet next on August 19th at 6:30 pm to plan programs and the budget for next year. Please let Dawn Boyer know if you will not be able to make it to this very important meeting.
UMW District meeting: October 4th at Grace UMC, Philipsburg.
UMW Conference Annual Meeting: October 11th at Faith UMC, Bellefonte.
Library Notes & News
Continue to come to the Library to select books to read during the summer. We have a wide selection of books for all ages. There are many books, DVDs and videos available for younger children. There are books, DVDs and videos available for older children too. Come and look around! Check out a book for you and check out a book for your child.
Coming soon! Many of the speakers who will present at the Leadership Summit have new books which have been purchased and are being processed now. They will be on display very soon. Watch for these new items!
The Lay Leadership (Nominations) Team will be meeting in mid-August. Please let the Team know where your passion/interests lie and what leadership position/group you want to be involved with. Email: stpauls@stpaulsc.org or call the Church Office at 237-2163.
My dear friends:
Please accept my most sincere thank you for the kindness you showed me during my tenure as your associate organist. Though short, my time with you was rich and rewarding and has provided me with many memories to cherish throughout the rest of my life.
I am especially grateful for the many friendships begun, for the profound and uplifting worship experienced, and for the lessons learned through spoken and musical offerings. I continue to be amazed and encouraged by the many and varied ministries of St. Paul’s and offer my prayers of support to you as you continue to be a vital and loving presence in and around State College.
My thanks, too, for the lovely certificate of appreciation, for the beautiful flower arrangement, the book of Wesley hymns (rest assured that I will speak with Pastor Diane about the importance of Wesley’s hymnody in Faith’s worship experience!), and for the kind words expressed to and prayers offered for me during all three of my closing worship experiences with you.
I have been truly blessed by my time with each and every one of you. Peace to all.
Sincerely,
Keith Diehl
Christian Education News
(Contact Donna Snyder at 237-2163 x 125 or dsnyder@stpaulsc.org for more information)
From the desk of Donna Snyder: An “invitation” to participate in Christian Education here at St. Paul’s UMC and beyond.
WHAT IS YOUR CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PLAN FOR THE FALL? AN INVITATION:
Dear St. Paul’s family, friends, and newcomers,
It is a blessing to have an opportunity to share some thoughts with you regarding Spiritual Formation and Christian Maturation here at St. Paul’s. Thank you in advance, for taking the time to read this column. I remain grateful.
“The Word”
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded of you.” Matthew 28:19-20
“The teaching of the wise is a foundation of life, turning a man from the snares of death.” Proverbs 13:14.
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6.
“Come follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God — what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NRSV.
In addition to our Biblical roots and education mandates, we have a strong heritage in the legacy of John Wesley.
A man of piety, Wesley traveled over 250,000 miles in his lifetime as he spread the gospel. The influence of his persuasive preaching and organizational abilities led to the creation of Methodist bands, classes, and societies in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and the American colonies. The United Methodist Church is one of the denominations which is part of the legacy of John Wesley. (Adapted from: http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/wesley).
How striking it is to think of Jesus walking the earth teaching us how to be Disciples, with the Apostles laying the foundation from Jesus, to John Wesley’s journey and eventually to us, as Disciples of Christ! One can only ponder these mandates from their roots, as we all discern our path while we are here on earth.
In the overall “big picture,” we are all invited to be Disciples of Christ. This Discipleship foundation is laid in Christian Education, beginning with our understanding of the Holy Scriptures, as we process God’s Word. From the very beginning of our young lives, having basic foundational knowledge of God and growing in stature over the years, rooted in these Biblical foundations, we “become” and “evolve.” It is a process and it is personal. Everyone’s journey is as unique as everyone’s story. But it is also corporate, especially in a church environment, when we live in true community with one another, sharing one another’s joys and sorrows, loving one another.
How does one “live out” the Gospel? In Christian Community, in Small Groups, in celebrations, in sorrows shared, in studying the Word, being used by God, Mission trips...and on and on. In other words, “Yes” to all of those and more, beginning with knowledge of God’s Word and how we are to “Love one Another.” Christian Education is a foundational piece to this journey. Our Biblical roots and our Wesleyan roots are proof-positive of how God is using people to do His Will. You are one of those people, to be used by God!
It is in this context that I invite you and encourage you to embrace the Christian Education opportunities here at St. Paul’s, to offer your services and lend your expertise, and to share your giftedness and passion for God, as we all share the Gospel “good News” and bring others to Christ! I am praying for you to join in all that we are offering here and to make a commitment to a new year of discipline in Christian Education. I am also praying for you to share all that God has already shown you, so that others might learn, grow and prosper in their journey. Your faith-sharing opportunities are numerous. All you have to do is call the office and we can sort it all out, finding a place for you to grow, and to also be used by Him. Is God calling you? Are you ready to say “yes”? Is this the year? Is this your time? Let’s make 2008/2009 your year for Spiritual Growth. The “joy in the journey” is just waiting for you!
Thank you, Donna Snyder
CALLING ALL LEADERS who have a heart for Christian Education! As fall is fast-approaching, it is definitely time to call the Christian Education office and offer your services to lead/teach/facilitate a class. Or maybe you’d like to assist in some way? Whatever your inclination, we can use your special gifts and talents in the area of Christian Education. Please don’t delay in placing the call to Donna...plans are being finalized now, as we map out the calendar and schedule the rooms. Most importantly, time is of the essence as we work with the overall Strategic Plan to create a top-notch Christian Education Program for people of all ages. We welcome and cordially invite you to be a part of this exciting enterprise!
SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR YOUTH! Are you currently working with our youth on Sunday mornings, in their Christian Education classes? Would you like to be involved in teaching and/or leading in some way? Do you have ideas to share regarding Sunday School for our youth? Please contact the Christian Education office as soon as possible, as plans are underway for fall 2008! We are setting up the program as well as the roster for the fall. Your input is most welcome and very much encouraged, as we create the optimum setting for Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Growth for our youth. Also: If you are a young person in this age category and you desire to take on a leadership role during the Sunday School hour, please let us know that as well. Your involvement in leadership is key to the success of the program! (Ages: 6th grade through 12th grade, with 6th grade being separate as they “transition.”)
THANK YOU TO THE EDUCATION ROUNDTABLE: Thank you sincerely for your continued work and expertise on behalf of Christian Education here at St. Paul’s and beyond our walls! Your work has been, and continues to be, exceptional and we are blessed to have each one of you! Our next meetings will be August 21 and September 23rd, both from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in the Social Room. We will complete our work for the final Strategic Plan document at that time, as we prepare for the November 16th Church Conference. (Don’t forget the dinner on September 9th at Mt. Nittany, where we go over the first draft together!). Special thanks also, to David Panko for stepping up in a leadership role to head the new Christian Education Council, being created simultaneously with the plan. Thanks also to Marion Dougan and Aldene Gabany for their leadership roles in Curriculum Development and Training. We’re turning a wonderful corner in Christian Education, under the tutelage of Pastor Ed and his expertise in the field. What a blessing! Thank you one and all.
WORSHIP IN THE ARTS: We are moving forward nicely as we map out plans for the coming year and the future of St. Paul’s, with regard to creative partnerships and the use of people’s gifts and talents. Are you one of those people? Do you have a desire to create? Is music, art, dance, design, textile arts, drama, etc. your thing? What about creative woodworking? Or technology and the arts? How about choreography? You get the idea. We need YOU! If you missed our first meeting, there is still time to become involved. Just call Donna and express your desire to learn more. We’ll find a way to help you find your niche and offer your “gifts” to God. Remember, the above-mentioned list is not complete without your input. What is your creative offering for the Lord?
DID YOU KNOW? Our very own Senior Pastor, Pastor Ed, will be the keynote speaker on August 16th at Green Hills for the God’s Calling Event for Adults! This is an event for those over the age of 25 who are questioning their call to ordained ministry. Thank you Pastor Ed! Some of our people will be attending!
THE 6TH ANNUAL MINISTRY FAIR IS ALMOST HERE!
Save-the-date:
Sunday, September 7, 2008
8:00 am to Noon
Let’s make this a banner year, with ALL ministries fully represented! What do you have to do? Call Donna and reserve your ministries spot on the floor of the gym, or in “new” locations around the church. The more the merrier! We’ll find a place for you. (Note: we only have a few places where a TV can be plugged in, so if you need electrical, it is on a first come, first served basis). Deadline to reserve your spot: Wednesday, August 27 at the close of business. This is so that floor plans can be drawn up and details can be finalized. Remember: With all of our ENERGY being released there’s no telling what God will do here! Be part of the fun and celebration of St. Paul’s life! The balloon release at the beginning of the 10:45 service is only “symbolic” of how we can release our gifts “in His service.” Being there to invite others into your ministry area, and your passion, is really what the fair is all about! Don’t miss this golden opportunity to educate others and share the vision about what God is doing in your life! (Setup: During business hours on Friday, September 5 and Saturday, September 6, from 9 am to 3 pm in the gym and following the pancake breakfast in the Social Room. Directions will be provided. You provide your own supplies, table coverings, signage, and materials. Sign-up sheets and clipboards will be on your tables. If you have a banner, please let Donna know when you call to reserve your place).
God & Country Program at St. Paul’s
United Methodist Church
This year, St. Paul’s is offering all four classes in the God & Country program. Any child or youth of appropriate age may participate regardless of church affiliation or organization membership. Completion of the classes results in an award recognized by the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., and the Boy Scouts of America (Cub Scouts, Webelos Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturers).
God & Me (1st through 3rd grade)
The God & Me program lessons are designed to help children become best friends with Jesus and tell their story of “God and Me” together. Children will make a game in each lesson and keep their games in a GAMEBOX (God And Me Exploring BOX). About four or five class sessions.
God & Family (4th and 5th grade)
The God & Family curriculum is designed to help youth understand the importance of family and God’s role in a healthy family. The God & Family Program provides an opportunity for young people and their families to explore their faith together. Children will read about different families in the Bible, which can teach them about God’s plan for strengthening families. To remember these lessons, children will compare families and “pizza.” The six steps for making pizza will give students a concrete, “hands-on” model on which to build their understanding of God’s love for their families. They will make a pizza as they study how families can grow together in God’s love, and they will choose “family projects” to be done with their family at home. About six class sessions.
God & Church (6th through 8th grade)
The God & Church class will lead young people on a faith journey with three parts: meeting Jesus, worshipping God, and witnessing and ministering for Christ. Participants will create either a video or a photo album to share what they have learned on their faith journeys. Young people will study the church’s structures and objectives and participate in service projects that will give them a better understanding of the mission of the church. About 7 or 8 class sessions.
God & Life (9th through 12th grade)
The God & Life curriculum is the final program in the God & Country series. Students in the God & Life program will seek to understand their call to a life of discipleship. The God & Life curriculum will focus on the life of the Apostle Paul as recorded in Acts 9:1-31. This is a brief account that describes how Paul encountered Christ and was changed forever. Five chronological “events” out of this story will be highlighted and used as the focus for the five different sections in this program. Each section will illustrate a key element in learning how to live one’s life for Christ.
Information Meeting for parents and student participants: October 7th at 6:00 pm.
Registration Deadline: October 7th, 2008.
All Classes Begin: Sunday, October 12th, 3:15 to 4:45 pm, in the St. Paul’s Christian Education Center. Classes will continue to meet about every two weeks with the goal of completing each class by the end of January (Boy Scout Sunday will be February 1, 2009).
Detailed schedules will be available soon.
To register or for more information about the God & Country program at St. Paul’s, contact Kevin Harwell (237-8737; krh7@psu.edu). More information about each of these courses is available from the website of Programs for Religious Activities for Youth (P.R.A.Y.), found at http://www.praypub.org.
State College Food Bank Needs:
Need homes for those extra zucchini in your garden? Donate them to the Food Bank. Tomatoes, zucchini, and other garden goodies are much appreciated.
Needs List:
Canned soups
Laundry soap, bath/hand soap
Tomato products (sauce, paste, diced tomatoes, etc.)
Canned green beans
Canned beans (kidney, baked beans, etc.)
Boxed cereals including oatmeal
Pasta (spaghetti, macaroni, etc.)
Grocery store Gift Cards - any denomination is appreciated **
** Gift Cards are used to maintain food inventory and supplement what isn’t received in food donations
The following items are always needed as they cannot be purchased through the state food purchasing program. The Food Bank relies solely on donations for these items:
Granulated sugar and/or sugar supplements (no confectioner's sugar)
Mayonnaise & Salad Dressing such as Miracle Whip
Coffee and Tea (both regular and decaf)
Flour
Cooking Oil
In addition, donations of personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, and baby items are always appreciated.
FAMILIAR PICTURES: Taking Snapshots to Celebrate and Strengthen Relationships
This is not a course in artistic photography. It is a workshop, a meeting of minds and hearts. Cameras become useful only after we have built good relationships with the people we hope to photograph.
The Basics:
People enjoy having their picture taken when they know they are important.
No one is unimportant.
God’s love and loving God really help us to get all of this into focus.
Meeting Schedule:
All meetings will be held during the 9:15 am Sunday School hour. The room will be announced. Sunday, September 7th through Sunday, October 19th.
Coordinator and Guide:
Roger Ford
Texts:
Basic Texts
— Henri Nouwen, Life of the Beloved. Amazon price: $10.17.
— Your Bible
Supplemental Text (Everyone will need to choose one of the following two titles at the first meeting)
— Nick Kelsh, How to Photograph Your Life: Capturing Everyday Moments with Your Camera and Your Heart. Amazon price: $16.47.
— André Gallant, Photographing People: At Home and Around the World. Amazon price: $17.16.
Books will be ordered at the first meeting, and the order will be placed as one to gain free shipping. Please bring a check to the meeting.
The class will involve three weeks of taking pictures. If you use film, please be prepared to take one roll of pictures during the second, third, and fourth weeks of class. Also you will need to have the pictures processed for use during the next week’s meeting.
Questions about the workshop? Please contact Roger Ford at 237-9609 or email mypl8@comcast.net.
If you like taking or looking at snapshots, please give this workshop prayerful consideration.
Through the Years...
Summer has been a pleasant time for informal gatherings of family and friends. Past bulletins have reported a variety of formats and locations of St. Paul’s Annual Summer Picnic.
In 1959 the Picnic was held in late June at Greenwood Furnace with games at 4:00 pm and a potluck supper at 6:30 pm. Buses were available for those needing transportation. A follow-up article noted it was “a delightful occasion. Favored with good weather, tables laden with delicious food, with games, swimming and fellowship holding the interest of well over 300 people, the hours of afternoon and evening passed too swiftly. The feeling seemed to be unanimous that this must be an annual event.”
Greenwood Furnace continued to be a popular location for the Picnic, except in 1961 when rain forced the Picnic to be held indoors in our Gym, where 203 persons attended. What a marvelous, unique, well used facility the Gym has been through the years!
Hecla Park was the location in 1963 and for several years after. Sunset Park, Spring Creek Park and other locations in the area have been the site to participate in the Church Picnic and the Brotherhood Corn Boil.
Summer can be a relaxing, restorative time for individuals and for families. Tori Von Leer’s article in the July Messenger suggested a variety of delightful ways to fill the summer with fun and wonder, easily adapted to all age groups. Explore and enjoy the wonder of God’s world around us!
Blessings to all,
Your Historian, Doreen Bailey
MISSIONS UPDATE
With half of the 2008 year behind us, the Mission Ministry Team would like to give you, the congregation, an update on our activities to date this calendar year. We have been meeting regularly with Pastor Ed at the Missions Roundtable to chart our course for the foreseeable future. In addition, at a recent meeting we awarded the following grants totaling $6,000 to: $1,000 to the Tree of Life Ministry, Mission, South Dakota toward purchase of a new and larger facility for their programs with the Lakota Indians. This is the ministry where we send the winter clothing each fall; $1,000 to the Day Star Ministry for drug and alcohol rehabilitation, Harrisburg, Pa. to ease a budget crisis; $1,000 to Ted and Sarah Voigt for their upcoming mission work in Paraguay. Ted is a former member and the son of Lisa and Don Voigt; $1,500 to GYTTE (Give Ye Them To Eat) in rural Mexico for an emergency funds appeal. Mary Kennett has been very active in this important work. $750 to the Central Pennsylvania Conference UMC for the Sierra Leone Water Project in Africa; and $750 to the Central Pennsylvania Conference UMC for the Salt & Light Ministries for young people in Central Pennsylvania. Mission trips thus far number five: a week long medical and a week long education trip to Nicaragua in January; a spring break trip to the Gulf Coast by the Wesley Foundation students; a student mission trip, again to Nicaragua, to work on the sports camp and to offer a Vacation Bible School experience to the children; and the Youth Mission trip to Mountain Top Tennessee with a record number of youth and adults. Flood buckets will be a prime project in the coming months. Please consider joining us in our Ministry of Missions. Many hands and hearts make lighter work. The core team will be writing a missions report before the next Roundtable on Tuesday, August 19 at 7:00 pm in room 205 of Wesley.
GIFTS & OFFERINGS through 6-30-08
Ministry Needs $85,211.11
Received $96,045.15
Over (Under) $10,834.04
June Year to Date
Ministry Needs $576,916.14
Received $576,101.17
Over (Under) ($814.97)
FAITH FORWARD BUILDING CAMPAIGN UPDATE
TOTAL PLEDGED $2,718,625
TOTAL NEEDED $3,100,000
RECEIVED IN JUNE ‘08
FROM PLEDGES $63,207.00
FROM NON PLEDGES $1,160.00
FROM MEMORIALS $0
FROM PENNIES $22.22
OTHER $0
INTEREST EARNED $112.59
TOTAL $64,501.81
CUMULATIVE THRU MAY ‘08
FROM PLEDGES $2,099,517.82
FROM NON PLEDGES $101,083.26
FROM MEMORIALS $7,505.00
FROM PENNIES $3,158.71
OTHER $17,285.73
INTEREST EARNED $54,128.73
TOTAL $2,282,678.79
Caught In the Act of Doing Good
A huge thank you goes to Carol Ann Wasson for cleaning out the kitchenette in the Asbury Room. She did an amazing job cleaning and organizing it for all those who share it.
Throughout May, June and July, Ken Musser and Eileen Lang provided Children’s Ministry and the Preschool with the brawn to move much of the “stuff” we both have! They went above and beyond in helping get us moved back to the Education Center. Without their help early in the move, “stuff” would still be in Wesley. Thanks Ken and Eileen!
During May and June, the CORPS Group built and installed closets in the Education Center. A HUGE thanks to Bill Moyer for the many meetings to get the shelving “just right” and to CORPS for the wonderful storage they created. The walk-in closets are amazing!
Thanks to Linda Heverly, Sarah Carodiskey, and Virginia Flick for all the help during the return move to the Education Center. They moved boxes and other “stuff” during the hottest week in June for Children’s Ministry and St. Paul’s Christian Preschool!
Is there someone’s good deed(s) you would like to bring to our attention? Email scarodiskey@stpaulsc.org
and we’ll Include them in the next issue.
The Messenger is now a monthly newsletter.
Material submitted should include information for the following month.
Please plan ahead!
Tentative deadlines are as follows:
August 20 * September 17 * October 22 * November 17
St. Paul 's United Methodist Church & Wesley Foundation of State College, PA is located on the corner of College Avenue and McAllister Street in downtown State College, Pennsylvania.
We'd love to have you join us for Sunday morning worship in St. Paul 's Sanctuary at any of our four services: 8:00, 9:15 and 10:45.
To contact the church office please call (814) 237-2163 or email stpauls@stpaulsc.org. Our mailing address is: St. Paul 's United Methodist Church, 109 McAllister Street, State College, PA 16801-4782.
We look forward to meeting you on Sunday morning!
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rain fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
~ An Irish Blessing