NEWS
WEEKLY UPDATE
December 3rd, 2023
Special Congregational Meeting
There will be a special congregational meeting at 11:30am on Sunday, December 3rd to vote on our call committee members. We will start promptly after the 10:30am service ends.
Midweek Advent Services
Midweek Advent services will start this Wednesday, December 6th at 6pm.
Socks & Underwear Collection
Look for the box outside of the sanctuary during advent. The clients of the clothing closet appreciate receiving both socks and underwear so much. Please consider this while you are our shopping, we will collect all sizes from toddler up to adult.
Thank you to Stacey Lewandowski
Join us Sunday between services for cake and conversation as we thank Stacey for her years of dedication to St. Paul’s
Caring for Kids
Hanover Food Shelf Caring For Kids Toy Drive is officially underway. Please consider dropping a new unwrapped toy in the box outside the office door. We will also take gift cards and cash donations.
Midweek Advent Worship
Wednesday Evenings 6pm
December 6th
December 13th
December 20th
Christmas Services
Christmas Eve
1pm
2:30pm
4pm
5:30pm Candle light Service
10pm Candle light Service
Christmas Day
10am Traditional Worship
Last Weeks Worship Attendance:
8:00am: 64
9:15am: 117
10:30am: 45
Online: 79
Thanksgiving Eve: 74
Total: 379
Last Week’s Offering:
Offering: $10,171
Haiti: $3,575
Online Giving: $2,391
Building: $155
Total: $16,292
PASTOR'S MESSAGE
November 2023
Sometimes my focus gets out of whack and especially at this time of year.
This morning, I sat down in my comfortable recliner in my living room, picked up my Bible to read and put a nice comfy blanket over my legs and my feet, that already had warm cozy socks covering them. I felt even cozier when my furnace kicked in and I had a few sips of my coffee.
I read a little bit in my Bible and prayed about some things…my family, our congregation…and my mind started to wander, and I thought about:
What my message should be about this Sunday and the points I want to make…And God said, these are my people and I am talking to them through my Word, and the words I give you…be still and listen.
And I thought about how fast time is going and I wonder how I will get everything done that I want to accomplish. And God said, stop striving, everything you are and everything you have is from me…be still and grateful as you share.
And what about the holidays and what about the time with family and making it special…And God said, take a deep breath and just enjoy the experience, I gave you your family and they will feel special because my love comes through you…be still and let it flow.
I am so thankful that God loves me, and each one of us, enough to convict us, when our focus becomes self-centered and skewed. My focus was ME, ME, ME and God in his loving, merciful way reminded me that it is not about me. My focus must be on God and all else, will fall into place. Today God invited me to, Be still and know that He is God. (Adapted from Psalm 46:10).
I am inviting you to join me as we change our focus from ourselves, and all the tasks at hand, and ask God to help us learn, what it means to be still and understand that he alone is God. I wonder what it will look like over the next month or two, over the holidays, when we each ask God: Lord, what do you want to say to me? Lord, what do you want me to say to others? Lord, how do you want me to act? Lord, how do you want me to show your love to others? I can’t wait to see what God does in us and through us, as our focus shifts to him.
Be still and know that he is God,
Pastor Tori