December 16/17, 2017 Third Sunday of Advent

December 16/17, 2017 Third Sunday of Advent 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Christians express their thanks to God in many ways: in prayer, in giving to Those involved in the Ministry of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. the Lord, in acts of service to others, in faithful living in their daily callings. Everything we New, interested in a particular function or getting involved? THIS WEEK AT ST. PAUL’S do to honor God in our lives is a means of returning thanks for the Lord’s many gifts to us. Have a question? Here’s who to talk to at St. Paul’s: 7 Third Sunday of Advent 1 Pastor: Rev. Mitchel Schuessler, 553-3133 8:00 a.m. Worship with Holy

A MEASURE OF OUR LOVE Attendance: Attendance: Vesper 2 (Dec. 13) [email protected] Communion

= 93; Saturday 6 p.m. = 50; Sunday 8 a.m. = 60; Sunday 10:30 a.m. = 96; nd 9:15 a.m. SS Birthday Party for

Resident Field Education Students: Kendall Davis (2 year)

th st Jesus Total for the weekend = 206; Sunday School (2’s) = 4; (PK. to 5 grade) = 18;

Kyle Ronchetto (1 year)

10:30 a.m. Worship

Jr. High Bible Class = 2; High School = 1; Adult Bible Class = 32; Moms

Church Secretary: Kathy Brumm, 667-6681 [email protected] 2:00 p.m. PK Christmas Prog. Morning Mingle = 5; Thursday Bible Class = 5. School Secretary: Linda Craig, 667-6314 [email protected] N 6:00 p.m. K-8 Christmas Prog. U S Early Childhood Center (Day Care): Michelle Warner, 667-2173 8 6:30 p.m. BB Home vs Contributions: Envelopes $4,211; Plate $604.50; Birthday $110; Advent $739; 1 [email protected] Staunton

Budget Booster $20; Connect $243; Portals of Prayer $25; ECC Tuition $2,915; N

Church Council Chairman: – Jacob Doyle, 618-334-3871 O Poinsettia’s $102; Tads $; Total General Fund Deposit = $8,969.50; Other Board of Elders: John Nehrt, Head Elder, 618-334-5200 M Designated Giving: Missions $45; Chapel $32.60; Memorial- Scott Jones $200; 9 9:45 a.m. Mom’s Morning Board of Stewardship & Finance: Jason Kesterson, 618- 407-0304 1 Total Designated Fund Deposit $277.60. Mingle Financial Secretary: Rebekah Norris, 267-7892 6:30 p.m. Church Council Mtg. Bookkeeper: Cheryl Chrusciel, [email protected] GF/Connect Financial Update AS OF December 10, 2017 Board of Evangelism: Lauren McLaughlin, 977-2744 16/17 17/18 Board of Christian Education: Carla Stille, [email protected] YTD YTD % 171/18 YTD Projected Board of Christian Day School: Todd Kenison, 980-5656 or Income Update Actuals Actuals Change Budget Difference S

[email protected] E

Board of Trustees: Todd Moore, 618-779-3444 T

Envelope and $174,45 $184,9 T Plate Offerings 7 23 6.0% $184,924 ($4) Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML): Kathy Nehrt $ [email protected] th th Building Fund $24,388 27,331 12.1% $9,715 $ 7,535 Youth Group: [7 -12 grade] Rachael Beckemeyer, 618-367-2463 [email protected] Head Usher: Seth Schaefer, 345-6487 [email protected] 0 8:30 a.m. Chapel *FY 17/18 Increase of 6% on Envelopes/Plate and 0% Increase on Connect. 2 Altar Guild: Jeanette Gindler, 667-6852 and Debbie Wittenberg, 667-7357 9:45 a.m. Ladies Bible Study ST. PAUL’S 150TH HISTORY BOOK: Every St. Paul’s family should pick up Choirs: Family Choir – Ted Fedder, 667-6250 4:30 p.m. Confirmation Class D their 150th Anniversary book printed special at this time. They are available in the Glorious Day/Praise Team – Tom Rampold 667-8771 E 5:30 p.m. Advent Dinner narthex. Please sign the sheet so we know that your family has received their book. Men’s Ministry: Pastor Schuessler, [email protected] W 7:00 p.m. Advent Worship Holy Smokers: Dave Meyer, 667-1347 7:45 p.m. Choir Practice

1 2:00 p.m. Bible Study THE 2017 FAMILY CHOIR CHRISTMAS CANTATA will be performed this Confirmation Class: Pastor Schuessler, 618-553-3133 2 6:30 p.m. BB Home vs Trinity December 23/24. In the Saturday evening (23) 6:00 p.m. service and the Sunday Helping Hands [funeral dinners, social ministry needs]: Grace Cottingham S Edwardsville morning (24) 10:30 a.m. service. Holy Communion will be celebrated in the 667-6552, Shirley Rood, 667-9256. R 7:00 p.m. Choir Practice U

Sunday morning (24) 8:00 a.m. service only. St. Paul’s PTL: Tiffany James, 541-8775 H T Prayer Chain: Adeline Amen, 667-2549 and Debbie Wittenberg, 667-7357 2 Offices Closed December 25 2 JANUARY TROY LUTHERAN will be published this week. If you have through January 7, 2018 I anything you need to put in the newsletter, please have it to the church office by ST. PAUL’S CHURCH AND SCHOOL offices will be closed beginning R Tuesday, Dec. 19th. Thank you. Monday, December 25th and will remain closed through the Christmas/New F 3 7:00 a.m. Men’s Breakfast Year’s break. The offices will reopen on Monday, January. 8. If you are in 2 6:00 p.m. Worship with need of pastoral assistance, you may call Pastor Schuessler at 618-553-3133.

T Christmas Cantata/No

You may also call the church office and leave a message for him. A

S Communion SUN 24 6:00 Worship HC p.m. with Christmas Cantata/ 10:30 Worship a.m. with 9:15 No School a.m. Sunday Communion 8:00 Worship Holy a.m. with Worship 11:00 p.m. Candlelight Christmas Christmas Eve No HC No Saturday, December 16 – 6:00 p.m.: BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES Acolyte: Gibson Hunt; Elder: Sam Saturday, Dec.30/ 31 Regular Worship Services Dec. 16: Dale Fultz 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. with Communion Italiano; Ushers: Brion Boeshans, 17: Anita Bell, Tiffany James, Randy Jones, Aubree Lambeth, Kevin Campe, Sam Italiano and Mark Leitschuh, Wendy Sievers, Carol Wilderman Randy Jones; Greeters: Jim & Monday, January 1, 2018 NO NEW YEAR’S DAY WORSHIP 18: Ethan Gratton, Karen Schneider Shirley Rood; Pia nist: Tim Wittenberg ; Altar Guild: Darrell & 19: Don Ackerman Jr., Bob & Kim Bindrim, Ron Criley, OnDeck This Week at Saint Paul’s Debbie Wittenberg. Adam Lilienkamp, Susan Taylor, Noel Winte 20: Kathy Brokering, Eli Criley, Tracy Lange, Kyle Rood, Shirley Rood Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church, School and ECC Troy, Illinois C Sunday , December 17 – 8:00 a.m.: 21: Carla Koberna, Carol Taake hurch Phone: 618-667-6681 School Phone: 618-667-6314 Acolyte: Abby Kesterson; Elders: ; 22: Aubrey Missey, Dana Sedlacek www.saintpaulstroy.org [email protected] Ushers: Jim Kesterson, Mark Leitschuh, Mike Salanitro and Brett December 16/17, 2017 Sollberger; Greeter: Edna Meier; PRAYERS FOR: Briony Aden, Andrew Berger (Japan), LaVerne Pianist: Tim Wittenberg; Altar Boeshans, Aaron Bohnenstiehl, Kathy Brink, Theresa Campe, Larry Carthy, Guild: Darrell & Debbie Wittenberg. WE WELCOME ALL WHO WORSHIP AT ST. PAUL’S. We pray that God Bill Clark, Bob Cook, Patrick Davidson, Jim Diemer, Steve Doyle, Pat Durr, will bless your worship with us. Please register your attendance on the pad at the end Sunday, December 17 - 10:30 a.m. Jennie Egan, Darrell Evans, Dawn Ezell, Vicky Fischer, Ashley Fitzler, Ted of the pew after the offering. As a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Acolyte: Steve Leitschuh; Ushers: Flath, Sarah Frey, John Giesler, Darilyn Johnson, Shawn Kitowski, (LC-MS), St. Paul’s practices close communion. We believe that receiving the Keith Jackson, Jason Kesterson, Mark Patience Kitowski, Bill Kohl, Lisa Linders, Valerie Meyer, Del Milkert, Judy Lord’s Supper together shows a common confession of faith in all areas of doctrine Schlemer and Tony Sipes; Greeter: Morgan, Jerry Nolte, Lois Otto, Krystal Peterson, Lawrence Ponce, Alicia Jeanette Gindler; Pianist; Tim (not just in Communion). Raynor, Linda Roschnafsky, John Salanitro, Carla Samson, Brenda Wittenberg; Bulletin Collator: If you are a member of a LC-MS congregation in good standing, you are Schuessler, Shirley Seib, Neal Schmitz, Kim Shores, Lyle Suedmeyer, Doug Whitey & Jo White. invited to receive communion. If you are not a member of a LC-MS congregation, Switzer, Stella Vivod, Bill Wittmaier, Dorothy Workman and Christy please talk with the pastor or an elder prior to the service. The elders are the Wednesday, December 20– 7:00 p.m. Youngblood. Acolyte: Anna Reese; Ushers: Jacob gentlemen that are wearing the “ELDER” badges. Doyle, Sam Italiano, Ryan Kaffer and PRAY FOR ALL those that are serving in the military: Nate Alvis, Aimee We offer both the common cup and individual up to those who commune. Seth Schaefer; Organist: Jo White. Alvstad, David Berger (Afghanistan), Carolyn Brynildsen, Jared Brynildsen, The center individual cups are white grape juice for those who are not able to have Austin Counts (Bahrain), Natalie Emmons, Tonya Hupp, Jacob Kohl, Nathan wine. Children are welcome to come forward with their family to receive a blessing. Saturday, December 23 – 6:00 p.m.: Kohl, Cole Long, Chris Payne, Kelly Sawielski, Jason Schlechte, Daniel We celebrate the Lord’s Supper in every Saturday service, in the Sunday 8:00 a.m. on Acolyte: Cayla Wilderman; Elder: Sam st rd th nd th Italiano; Ushers: Brion Boeshans, Sam Schorfheide and Ian Sikes. the 1 , 3 , and 5 Sunday, and in the Sunday 10:30 a.m. on the 2 and 4 Sunday. Italiano, Seth Schaefer and Kyle Sipes; New or visiting today? Please be sure to sign our Guest Register in the narthex. Greeters: Len & Judy Suess; We are always glad to pray for the needs of your family, friends, co-workers You’ll find plenty of useful information in this OnDeck (published weekly). You may Orga nist: Claudia Loethen; Altar and others in our worship services. Normally, we will include a request for also go to www.saintpaulstroy.org and find the monthly newsletter and other Guild: No Communion/Cantata. four weeks. If you would like prayers to continue beyond four weeks, please information about the church, school and daycare. ______Sunday , December 24 – 8:00 a.m.: renew your request. You may call or email the church office. Acolyte: Brylee Proffitt; Ushers: Jacob ADVENT WEDNESDAY SERVICE this week, Dec. 20th at 7:00 p.m. Doyle, Kyle Norris, Jim Kesterson and The Saturday & Sunday worship schedule is the same unless noted Mark Leitschuh; Greeter: Edna Meier; “Unwrapping Christmas” is our 2017 Advent theme. This week we have “A Joyful Organist: Claudia Loethen; Altar below: Gift.” This is the night that we see the “hope of a gift” fulfilled. Come and join us. Guild: Ted Fedder. Saturday/Sunday, Dec. 23/24 Christmas Cantata, Saturday, 6:00 p.m. & Sunday, 10:30 a.m. (No ADVENT DINNERS: We will be having our Wednesday evening Advent dinners. Sunday, December 24 - 10:30 a.m. Communion) Acolyte: Jack Kenison; Elders: ; The dinners are served from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the church fellowship hall (basement). th Ushers: Ryan Kaffer, Rachel Lange, Sunday 8:00 a.m. regular worship, Communion (no Cantata) This Wednesday, December 20 there will be a potluck. Each family coming is asked Colin McLaughlin and Mark Schlemer; Sunday, Dec. 24 Christmas Eve to bring a dish to pass. The Board of Christian Ed and Sunday Staff are hosting this Organist: Claudia Loethen; Bulletin 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve with Communion dinner. Come and enjoy a hearty meal on a cold Wednesday evening. Collator: Carol Wilderman; Altar 11:00 p.m. Candlelight service Guild: NO Communion/Cantata. Sunday, Dec. 25 Christmas Day 9:00 a.m. with Communion CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS: The Christmas programs will be on Sunday, December 17th. The Preschool 3-4 year old Christmas program is 2:00 p.m.

The Kindergarten – 8th grade Christmas program is 6:00 p.m.