The

Link

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church February 2017

From the Pastor:

This year the season of Our worship on the First Sunday after the continues through the entire month of Epiphany (January 8th) was an February. This is different than past opportunity to re-affirm our baptisms. years. does not begin until March 1st Through baptism flows our call to be (). We celebrate eight God’s disciples in the world. Our Sundays of Epiphany. This happens worship during the concluding part of the because of how the date for is Epiphany season will focus on growing in determined. (Something to do with the God’s love and sharing God’s light with full moon and the Spring Equinox. In my others. This is the ongoing ministry and estimation, it gets a bit complicated and I mission of God’s people and God’s can live quite well without knowing the church. ‘formula’. Life is complicated enough.) Anyway…we have a full Epiphany. I hope you enjoy and find meaning for your daily ministry and life in this (longer- Epiphany is a time when we are invited to than-usual) Epiphany season and the look and see who Jesus is – to search out worship we share. Jesus’ meaning for our lives reflective of the three magi who searched for the child In Christ, of Bethlehem. Jesus brings God’s light into the world and reveals God’s love for Pastor Paul all people. As God’s baptized people, we are called to share this light with others Pastor Paul E. Shoop and live with God’s love at the center of our lives.

Mission Statement In February’s Link” St. Paul’s is a welcoming Page 1 From the Pastor Christian family.

Page 2 February at a glance We are created by God, saved by Church Statistics Jesus Christ, God’s Son, and inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Page 3 New Members’ Class Through joyous worship and Confirmation Project From the Church Office Mission Commitment, St. Paul’s furthers the word of God’s Saving Page 4 From the Church Office Grace. (continued)

Page 5 Council Meeting Notes Special “Thank You’s” ATTENDANCE

“WE COUNT BECAUSE YOU COUNT” Page 6 A Journey Through Lent Early Late Total Nursery Page 7 Ash Wednesday Dec. 4th 88 65 153 3 W.E.L.C.A. th 11 84 56 140 2 18th 84 56 140 4 Page 8 Mission of the ELCA th th 24 301 102 403 - 150 Anniversary 25th 27 - 27 -

Page 9 LYO Jan. 1st 77 - 77 - th RAIHN 8 64 41 105 5 th 15 78 48 126 10

Page 10 Unhanging of the Greens Average Sunday attendance through ESWA December 2016 – 127 Lake Chautauqua Retreat Average Sunday attendance through December 2015 – 118 Page 11 Children’s Agenda Average Sunday attendance through Interfaith Weekend Update December 2014 - 125 “Thank you!” Notes

Page 12 February’s Lay Calendar February Church Calendar PASTORAL ACTS

Baptisms: January 22nd Ashley Mae Dechau

NEW MEMBERS’ CLASS PLANNED

Pastor Shoop is planning a Pastor’s Class for New Members during the month of February. Classes will be Sunday, February 5 and 12, during the Sunday School hour (9:45-10:30 AM). This class is for persons who desire to become members of St. Paul’s and/or learn more about the teachings of the Christian Church and its Lutheran expression.

Pastor gives an overview of the witness of the Please remember that if you are the Bible to God's love in Jesus and the faith of God's people. The teachings and history of the last to leave the church building you make Lutheran Church are reviewed. The mission sure that you pull the doors firmly closed and ministry of St. Paul’s is also discussed. behind you. In the winter both the porch After the Class, those desiring are received door to the offices and the red doors from into membership. the parking lot into the foyer can easily

If you would like to attend the Pastor’s Class stick ajar. for New Members, please speak with Pastor Shoop or contact the Church Office for further Those of you who make use of the information. weekly offering envelopes will have noticed that we are continuing to give CONFIRMATION PROJECT space for you to donate to both the Students Sharing Their Faith “Operations Budget” and the “Capital The youth of the Second-Year Confirmation Appeal”. To make the Sunday collection Class are beginning work on a counting easy for our counters, please “Confirmation Project.” This is a new part indicate exactly on the front of the of our Confirmation Ministry. envelope or on the memo line of your

The Confirmation Project is an opportunity check how your donation is to be used. If for each of the Confirmation youth to express no specification is given the money will be his/her faith and how he/she is growing in put towards the Operations Budget. faith. The youth can use a variety of ways to The “Operations Budget” is the express themselves in their Confirmation same as regular giving. This is the money Projects (words, pictures, sounds, etc.). It is that is used for our annual budget also an occasion for the youth to share an expenditure. important (for him/her) aspect of what he/she has learned during the two-year Confirmation program. Reminders for February

An adult mentor from the congregation will If you have not collected a copy of work with each youth as a guide and support person as the project develops. If you are the 2016 Annual Report, please do so. It’s approached by one of our youth to serve as a a very full and complete synopsis of the mentor, please prayerfully consider this as Church for the year that many people put one way to support these fellow Christians in a lot of time and effort into it. Thanks to their journey of faith. Clara Firth, Juergen Lein, Mara Berndt &

Alisa Piccirilli collating & stapling this year! Please welcome our

Articles for the March edition of the new Church Staff “Link” must be received by 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 16th. It will be Members! mailed on Tuesday 28th of February beginning at 9:30 a.m. Please sign up to help assemble the newsletter for mailing in the volunteer work area. Alisa Piccirilli is our new Bookkeeper as of August 2016 Statements of Financial Giving for 2016 are available for collection from the Michelle Josephson is our new Foyer on Sundays and in the Church Office during the week (Monday through Church Administrative Assistant Friday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm). If you have a as of August 2016 question on yours please call Alisa Piccirilli in the Church Office at 586-0580. Sebastian Brundage is our new Church Sexton as of December Sign up to provide Soup & Bread at one of our Lent Lunches. The sign-up 2016 sheet is in the Foyer. This year’s programs will be presented by the Worship & Music Kendra Farrier is our new Committee! Nursery Attendant as of January

Several dates are available for 2017 sponsoring altar flowers and Sunday bulletins throughout 2017. Sign up in the Foyer on the notice boards in the hallway Be sure to stop and say “Hello!” to the nursery. Altar flowers are $15 per vase (lilac form needed) and bulletins are if you see them throughout the $10 per Sunday (green form needed). week!

Church Office Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am – 1:00 PM. (I apologize for the incorrect information in our last newsletter.)

As always, please feel free to call the office with any questions or concerns.

With warmest gratitude, Michelle Josephson Church Admin. Assistant

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church St Paul’s Council Meeting

During its January meeting, Church Council was presented a detailed update by Susan Comer of her successful pilot program for young adults to connect and network with others. Classes center on opportunities to develop and practice social and pragmatic life skills in a fun and functional setting with an eye toward At our Annual Meeting on Sunday, independent living. Council approved this January 22nd, special thanks were worthwhile program through the end of given to: 2017. Deacon Interest in Call Committee membership Laura Patchen has been satisfactory, but we are still Pageant Coordinator seeking a few more dedicated people for Holley Haynes this important volunteer post. We hope to have representation from a varied Event Coordinator demographic. Members will be voted Mara Berndt into position by the congregation at the Annual Meeting on January 22nd. Sunday School Superintendent Sue Wyatt The financial summary through the end of December shows a healthy status with no Volunteer Coordinator concerns. Council and the Finance Eileen Whitaker Committee are coordinating efforts to ensure the budget for 2016 is carefully Web Masters Ron Uhlig & Ann Luebke balanced.

As well as Council's next meeting will take place Retiring Members of Property & on February 13th at 6:45. Maintenance George Harris Harlan Granger Gary Schwartzbauer Clyde Stephens

Thank you all for your extra efforts throughout last year are previous years here at St. Paul’s!

Each Sunday during Lent we will We are collecting the items listed share soup and bread after our 11 a.m. above until Sunday March 13th. Collection service. Please join us. This year, each boxes will be in the Dorcas Room beginning Sunday will feature a different presentation Sunday February 14th. from our Worship & Music Committee, and gives us a great opportunity to get to know We will loose change during each other better. Please sign up in the Lent and will have coin boxes available to Foyer to provide soup and bread for one of assist you. All proceeds will go to Saint’s these four Sundays in Lent. Place to assist refugees newly arrived in our

We are once again supporting area. Collection boxes and information on Monroe Community Hospital with left over Saint’s Place will be available from the Foyer st craft items for their arts & crafts programs. from Ash Wednesday (March 1 , 2017) Items needed are onwards. You can bring your coins in weekly - jewelry boxes, or in a lump sum on Easter Sunday. Look for - small boxes, the collection pot coming soon to the Foyer. - Valentine candy boxes, - ribbons, trims of all kinds, Saint's Place is a volunteer organization, - beads (any kind), based on Christian values, that provides - buttons, household goods, clothing, and education to - shells, legal refugees of all races and creeds who - fabric (does not have to be large settle in the Rochester, NY area to escape sizes), violence, discrimination and poverty. - netting, - miscellaneous craft items, Please see the table in Foyer and take - items that can be used with glue a Lent free gift. We will have books and for decorations, devotionals for all ages. - cards, - envelopes, Use a flower envelope from the pew - yarn, backs to sponsor an Easter lily. They will be - silk flowers, available starting Ash Wednesday. A freewill - seasonal decorations, donation is asked for. The last date to - pine cones, donate is , April 9th. - dry flowers, - pieces of jewelry, and - pieces or parts from craft projects finished or those never tackled.

Ash Wednesday Women of St. Paul’s March 1st ELCA

Upcoming Events of 2017 Service of Holy Communion at 7:00 p.m.  WELCA Ingathering will begin in Please join us. February.

Sign up to help at this Service in the  The Ingathering box will be placed Foyer in the Dorcas room. This year’s Ingathering will be: FAMILY SOCKS & UNDERWEAR ASH WEDNESDAY In September, our 2017 collection March 1st – 7:00 PM will be donated to Willow (battered women). Ash Wednesday Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes is March 1st at 7:00  Genesee Finger Lakes Conference PM. Women of the ELCA Spring Communion Brunch: Ash Wednesday begins the 40 days of - Program and Communion Lent, a season leading us to Service will be given by Pastor and Easter. During this season, Keith Campbell Christians reflect on Christ’s death for us, - Potluck Luncheon will follow faith and trust in God, and acts of love the Communion Service and kindness for others. The Ash - No perishable food items will be Wednesday Service encourages us to collected for Our Redeemer contemplate our faith and life in light of Jesus’ giving himself for our salvation. Food Cupboard Ashes are a sign, reminding us of our - Date & Location TBA mortality, our frailty and our own undoing.  Women of the ELCA Triennial Convention Plan to attend the Ash Wednesday Date: July 11 – 15, 2017 Service. Minneapolis, MN

Mission of the E.L.C.A. REMEMBER TO Seafarer’s International House SAVE THE WEEKEND: “Harbor of Hospitality”

Knitters needed. Seafarers International House is a “Harbor of Hospitality”. It St. Paul’s Lutheran 150th serves seafarers and immigrants with Anniversary Weekend pastoral care, hospitality, social assistance, advocacy and prayer in the U.S. Ports: July 29-30th, 2017 Baltimore, Philadephia, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island. 9:30 am - Holy Communion and Chaplains from these ports visited over Celebration of St. Paul’s 150th 22,400 seafarers last year. Often the Anniversary chaplains greet the seafarers with a useful kit, a satchel containing clothes, candy, 11:45 am - Celebration canned meats and knitted hats to keep Brunch/Lunch them warm on the open seas. (Location: Woodcliff Lodge - Women of the ELCA are knitting hats for details/pricing to follow) Seafarers and sending them to the All are invited! Seafarer’s International House to be distributed ALL YEAR LONG! Anyone interested in working on this special day please join us for our monthly meetings at St Paul’s.

Questions or interested? Please contact: Mara Berndt [email protected]

St. Paul’s sent 7 wool hats in November! Or That is wonderful! Thank you so much. Trish Blake-Jones The next collection of knitted hats will be [email protected] sent in April 2017. A box is available for your donation in the Dorcas Room. So… KNIT UP A STORM!! Thank you, Shari MacFarlane

RAIHN

A REMINDER

OUR NEXT ROTATION FOR RAIHN IS March 5th – 12th , 2017. IF YOU CAN COOK, SERVE FOOD AND CLEAN UP, OFFER COMPANIONSHIP TO OUR GUESTS AND THEIR CHILDREN OR SLEEP OVERNIGHT, WE CAN REALLY USE YOUR HELP. IT IS A VERY REWARDING EXPERIENCE. PLEASE The LYO is busy as always! Coming SIGN UP ON THE SHEETS IN THE up in the next couple of months are FOYER. some very important events. OUR DAYS TO HELP ARE:

Please make a note of these FRIDAY, MARCH 10th upcoming dates: 5-7 PM DINNER AND CLEAN UP, th Sunday February 5 “Souper” Bowl Sunday Chili Cook-Off 7-9 PM VISITING WITH GUESTS AND

Sunday February 26th 9PM—8AM SUPERVISING OVERNIGHT Build a Hole to Benefit LOOP THEN 8-10 AM BREAKFAST. Ministries SATURDAY, MARCH 11th Friday, March 3rd – Sunday, March 5th 10AM-2PM AT THE DAY CENTER

Winter Weekend with GFL-LYO at WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP Sunshine Rotary Camp YOU CAN GIVE!

Friday March 24th OUR NEXT VOLUNTEER TRAINING Italian Cafe prep for LYO members SESSION IS WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 8, and volunteers 2017 AT ST LOUIS , 64 S. MAIN STREET, Saturday March 25th PITTSFORD, N.Y. 14534. Italian Café & 150th Anniversary Silent Auction ANY QUESTIONS CONTACT: JEN CANNING @[email protected] OR

Thank you for supporting your St. ROBERTA FITZSIMMONS AT: Paul’s LYO and we hope to see you at [email protected] our upcoming events!

History Made at St Paul’s Church! E.S.W.A.

Record time for Un-Hanging of the Eastern Service Workers Association Greens, Done in an hour and 45 minutes on To help support the Wednesday! Winter Survival Campaign Eastern Service Workers Association are holding a Your not reading this wrong, it’correct! Super Bowl Sunday From all the boxes being pulled from the Tamale Benefit!

storage area and brought down to the main The suggested donation is $20 for a dozen foyer, banners hanging in the Sanctuary taken tamales, chicken or pork. Also available is down, live tree in Sanctuary taken Tex-Mex soup at a donation of $6 per quart. down, Hanging Cherubs, window boxes, Volunteers are also needed to make and Garlands around (5) banisters, deliver the food. (7) Activity Scenes, (2) artificial trees, (25) Please order or volunteer at 654-9640. , (7) Flower arrangements, and a ESWA’s annual Winter Survival Campaign Patridge in a Pear Tree! includes distributions of emergency and supplemental food, warm winter clothing and Thank you to: blankets, utility bill advocacy, and the Leisa North, Jamie Foster, Dick Poduska, “Operation Winter Watch” to reach elderly and shut in members. Whitey Link, Bill Wallace, Mike Bill, Sandy Bill, Sandra Link, Ellen Bluhm, Jean Comstock and of course our Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center New Sexton: Sebastian Brundage 5013 Rt. 430 Bemus Point, NY 14712 This day couldn’t of happened without you 716-386-4125 all! [email protected] www.lclcenter.org Looking forward to next year – Mara Berndt

4th-8th Grade Winter Retreat March 3-5, 2017

A taste of summer in the middle of winter. Bible studies, sledding, campfires, games, singing, great food and great friends. Don’t miss out on this great time.

$95/person (Includes a $25 non-refundable deposit) Includes programming, great meals, delicious snacks, and lodging in the Retreat Center and Redeemer Lodge. Registration deadline is February 27, 2017.

CHILDREN’S AGENDA * * * * * * * * INTERFAITH WEEKEND UPDATE “Dear Pastor Shoop, A total of 2,654 advocacy letters were signed in 75 faith communities during the On behalf of the Board of A Meal & More, Children's Interfaith Weekend in October. Inc., I write to thank St. Paul’s The letters requested more County Evangelical Lutheran Church for the funding for child care assistance for low generous December 11, 201 contribution income working families. In response, of $100.000, in support of our mission to County Executive Dinolfo included an relieve hunger in Rochester. increase of $100,000 for child care subsidies in her proposed budget. The ….Thank you for supporting our mission. County Legislature added another It is very much appreciated. $52,000, for a total increase of $152,000 over last year. Though the amount is Sincerely, lower than what we requested, this L. Janet Morse accomplishment is a testament to the Board Member” sustained and passionate advocacy of

people of faith. Congratulations and thank you for speaking up for children! * * * * * * * *

“I am writing to thank you for participatin in ESWA’s 2016 Holiday Campaign. We deeply appreciate your support.

Your help enabled scores of Monroe County’s lowest income workers and families to come together on a self-help basis and organize holiday benefits that aided hundreds with food, holiday gifts, warm winter clothing, and more…

… Thank you again for all that you did “Dear St. Paul’s Lutheran Youth and all that we will do together in the Organization (LYO) members, future. Best wishes for a happy and

healthy 2017! Thank you very much for your kind donation of treats for our With gratitude, Children’s Safe and Sane Halloween Roxanne Battenfield Party. Our members appreciate your For ESWA” generosity. It helped make our party a fun and enjoyable event for our member’s children and grandchildren. (Please see the board outside of the Thank you again for your continued help! Church Office for original copies of Sincerely, Thank you notes and cards received for Deja Joe St. Paul’s. Thank you!) For ESWA”