3/30    
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM    
Healing Service    
Sanctuary
   
10:45 AM to 11:30 AM    
Sunday School    
Upstairs Classrooms
 
12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Play Rehearsal
Poppin Hall
 
3/31    
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM    
Staff Meeting    
Fireside Room

4/1    
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM    
Adult Bible Study    
Fireside Room
   
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM    
PBWY    
Sandrock Hall

4/2    
1:00 PM to 1:45 PM    
Lenten Service    
Chapel
   
7:00 PM to 8:00 PM    
Lenten Service    
Sanctuary

4/3    
7:00 AM to 8:00 AM    
Men's Breakfast    
Bethany Room
   
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM    
Bridge    
Poppen Hall
   
6:30 PM to 7:45 PM    
Bells    
Sanctuary
   
8:00 PM to 9:30 PM    
Chancel Choir    
Sr. Choir Room

4/4    
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM    
Bridge    
Poppen Hall

4/6    
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM    
Rutter Requim    
Sanctuary
   
10:45 AM to 11:30 AM    
Sunday School    
Upstairs Classrooms

12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Play Rehearsal
Poppin Hall
   
3:00 PM to 9:00 PM    
Wayne Co. Family Dinner    
Off Site

4/7    
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM    
Staff Meeting    
Fireside Room
   
5:30 PM to 6:30 PM    
Angelic Choir    
Jr. Choir Room
   
5:30 PM to 7:00 PM    
Pizza Night    
Youth Room
   
6:30 PM to 7:00 PM    
Sing and Ring    
Jr. Choir Room
   
7:00 PM to 8:15 PM    
Confirmation    
Upstairs Classrooms

4/8    
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM    
Adult Bible Study    
Fireside Room
   
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM    
PBWY    
Sandrock Hall

4/9    
1:00 PM to 1:45 PM    
Lenten Service    
Chapel
   
7:00 PM to 8:00 PM    
Lenten Service    
Sanctuary
   
7:30 PM to 9:30 PM    
Listening For God    
Off Site

4/10    
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM    
Bridge    
Poppen Hall
   
6:30 PM to 7:45 PM    
Bells    
Sanctuary
   
8:00 PM to 9:30 PM    
Chancel Choir    
Sr. Choir Room

4/11    
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM    
Bridge    
Poppen Hall

4/13    
9:30 AM to 11:00 PM    
Worship w/communion    
Sanctuary

   
10:45 AM to 11:30 AM    
Sunday School    
Upstairs Classrooms

12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Play Rehearsal
Poppin Hall
   
4/14    
Confirmation
Home Study      
   
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM    
Staff Meeting    
Fireside Room
   
1:00 PM to 1:45 PM    
Worship    
Chapel
   
5:30 PM to 6:30 PM    
Angelic Choir    
Jr. Choir Room
   
6:30 PM to 7:00 PM    
Sing and Ring    
Jr. Choir Room
   
7:00 PM to 8:00 PM    
Worship    
Sanctuary

4/15    
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM    
Adult Bible Study    
Fireside Room
   
1:00 PM to 1:45 PM    
Worship    
Chapel
   
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM    
PBWY    
Sandrock Hall
   
7:00 PM to 8:00 PM    
Worship    
Sanctuary

4/16    
1:00 PM to 1:45 PM    
Lenten Service    
Chapel
   
1:00 PM to 1:45 PM    
Worship    
Chapel
   
7:00 PM to 8:00 PM    
Lenten Service    
Sanctuary
   
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM    
Council Meeting    
Bethany Room
   
7:00 PM to 8:00 PM    
Worship    
Sanctuary

4/17    
Epistle Deadline    
   
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM    
Bridge    
Poppen Hall
   
1:00 PM to 1:45 PM    
Worship    
Chapel
   
7:00 PM to 8:00 PM    
Worship    
Sanctuary

4/18    
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM    
Bridge    
Poppen Hall
   
1:00 PM to 1:45 PM    
Worship    
Chapel
   
7:30 PM to 8:30 PM    
Worship    
Sanctuary

4/20    
9:30 AM to 11:00 AM    
Worship w/Communion    
Sanctuary
   
After Worship
Easter Breakfast
Sandrock Hall

4/21    
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM    
Staff Meeting    
Fireside Room

4/22
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM    
PBWY    
Sandrock Hall

4/23   
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM    
Adult Bible Study    
Fireside Room
   
4/24    
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM    
Bridge    
Poppen Hall

4/25    
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM    
Bridge    
Poppen Hall

4/27    
9:30 AM to 11:00 AM    
Worship w/Communion    
Sanctuary
   
12:30 PM to 2:30 PM    
Play Rehearsal    
Poppen Hall

4/28    
Confirmation Home Study    
   
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM    
Staff Meeting    
Fireside Room
   
5:30 PM to 6:30 PM    
Angelic Choir    
Jr. Choir Room
   
6:30 PM to 7:00 PM    
Sing and Ring    
Jr. Choir Room

4/29    
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM    
Adult Bible Study    
Fireside Room
   
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM    
PBWY    
Sandrock Hall

5/1    
7:00 AM to 8:00 AM    
Men's Breakfast    
Bethany Room
   
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM    
Bridge    
Poppen Hall

5/2    
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM    
Bridge    
Poppen Hall

5/4    
9:30 AM to 11:00 AM    
Worship w/Communion    
Sanctuary

5/5    
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM    
Staff Meeting    
Fireside Room
   
5:30 PM to 7:00 PM    
Pizza Night    
Youth Room
   
5:30 PM to 6:30 PM    
Angelic Choir    
Jr. Choir Room
   
6:30 PM to 7:00 PM    
Sing and Ring    
Jr. Choir Room

5/6    
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM    
PBWY    
Sandrock Hall

5/7    
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM    
Adult Bible Study    
Fireside Room

5/8    
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM    
Bridge    
Poppen Hall

5/9    
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM    
Bridge    
Poppen Hall

5/11    
9:30 AM to 11:00 PM    
Worship w/communion    
Sanctuary

Do you have a church-related event or announcement you'd like to share with the GP community?  E-mail communications@stpaulgp.org and we'll spread the word for you! 

  

Please note: submissions must be received at least 2 weeks in advance to ensure publication.

 

On the 5th Sunday of the month, St. Paul traditionally holds a Service of the Word for Healing. During the Laying on of Hands, you may come forward for the anointing with oil and receive a blessing and prayer as directed, or  you may choose to remain in the pew for personal prayer. These signs, given to us in baptism, tell us again that we are sealed by the  Holy Spirit and marked by the Cross of Christ. This worship service does not offer Holy Communion.

 

  Living the Word Sunday School

The children and Middle School youth will learn that Jesus heals a blind man in John 9 and the man receives spiritual sight to worship Jesus. The High School youth are planning the meal for the LSSM Wayne County Family Center on April 6.

 

Children in second grade and older who wish to prepare to receive The Sacrament of Holy Communion are invited to participate in a workshop on Saturday April 12 from 9 to 10:30 with a parent or adult sponsor.  The milestone blessing will be in worship at 9:30 on Palm Sunday April 13.  Please contact the office for more information.   

Better Together Youth Retreat April 4-6

Youth from across the SE MI Synod will build relationship while exploring diversity and what it means to be an ambassador of peace and justice in the world.  This retreat is sponsored by the Building Racial Reconciliation in Christ's Kingdom initiative with Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church and Cass Community Social Services for grades 8-12.  For more information please contact Mary Weiland or Mary Mobley.

It's time to think about using the summer months to grow faith in our youth.  St Paul is partnering with the ELCA Cooperative Churches to host Vacation Bible School July 14-18 for children in pre-school to grade 5. Youth in grade 6 and older can gain valuable experience, community service hours and grow in faith as leaders.
 
Summer programs at the ELCA Living Water Camps at Michi-Lu-Ca and Stony Lake are open for registration  www.elcalivingwater.com/register  New offerings include an Au Sable River Senior High Adventure and Bridge Builders which combines peer ministry and diversity training (formerly LTS,ALTS and BRRICK camp).  Sam Archinal will be a counselor at Stony Lake this summer.

ELCA Global Missions and the ELCJHL invite youth and young adults ages 16 to 22 to join the Bridges Not Walls Mission to the Holy Lands July 3-17.  Applications are due by April 1.  For more information email amych@stgeorgelutheran.org or ask Allison Mobley who participated in 2013.

The first meeting of the planning team will be April 2 at Salem Memorial Church 1-3 pm.  There are many roles to fill as we plan:  VBS July 14-18 in the afternoons, a kickoff lawn event Sunday afternoon, a community celebration Thursday evening, and an evening for youth.  VBS will be supported by Youth Encounter's Captive Free East Lakes, and we will need host families.  Please consider how you can help this make this wonderful outreach event become a blessing to St Paul, Salem Memorial and the new Detroit church cooperative.  Anyone is welcome at the meeting to just come and listen, share your ideas and think about how you might add your gifts to this ministry event.  Please call Dana Miller or Mary Mobley for more information.

"You were her favorite reason to come to church."

Okay, you just have to read our latest blog post by Michael Theisen, The Last Pew in the Back, where he shares the touching story of how Sarah (7) and Evelyn (80+) journeyed in faith together for five years. It's all about the journey and those who join us along the way. Use these faith activities to connect with those who accompany you on your journey of faith.
Sharing Family Stories (Teen Family) - recall stories of faith in your family.
Celebrate the Journey of Faith (Teen Family) - help teens confirm their faith.
Serious Illness, Simple Prayer (Young Family) - invite the Holy Spirit to pray with you.
Help with Heavy Burdens (Young Family) - vow to lighten another's load.
Like a Child (Young Adult) - ponder what you used to believe.
Make Yourself at Home (Adult/Couple) - God can work through you today.
Appreciate and Admire (Couple) - admire and appreciate your beloved even more.
A Disciple Named Dietrick (Just for Kids) - meet a courageous follower of Jesus. 

The Chancel Choir singing John Rutter's magnificent piece Requiem, which will be presented as a musical offering on Sunday, April 6th during the 9:30am service.  This multi-movement work, sung in both English and Latin, will feature the Chancel Choir and Festival Chorus, as well as vocal soloists Barb Marini and Becka Jenzen, and instrumentalists Elaine Farquhar, Michelle Kauffold, Brianna Corrion, Linda Bauer, Stephen Archinal, Anne Brege Owens and organist Stephanie Yu.  Make plans to be here for this incredible music experience!

it's time to think about spring planting.  Help is needed at church with planting flowers in the planters and occasional watering.  Please let the Church Office know or contact Steve Gillespie at 313.885.2537.

The good news is that we are $6,700.00 in the black so far this year. The bad news is that we have some catching up to do in our envelope giving. The financial statement for February was presented at the March Council meeting and it shows that we are $25,000 behind our budget through February. So how can we be in the black and yet be so short in our year to date budget?  

The answer is that the normal Endowment Fund revenue for the year was received in January as a lump sum and this one time revenue makes us look better off than we are. This year the normal Endowment Fund support is $32,000. When we look at just our envelope giving, it is the primary reason for the budget shortfall. The envelope giving of pledged givers is $13,000 below budget and our non-pledge offerings are down by $9,000.

If you are behind in your giving, please consider ways you might catch up over the next couple of months. Together we can turn this trend around and move forward toward the goals we have set in this transition year.

St Paul's traditional Easter brunch will be offered following worship on Easter Sunday April 20 in Sandrock Hall.  The St Paul Thrivent Builds team is putting on the brunch as a fundraiser for their short term mission trip in El Salvador.  At 11:15 the St Paul Youth and Family Committee will host an Easter egg hunt for the children.  Please sign up for each event in the Narthex in April. 

Now is the perfect time to join the Children's Choirs! Our exciting upcoming events include singing on Palm Sunday, Mother's Day and a very special performance of the Spring Children's Choir Musical...

Allen Pote and Tom Long's musical for young voices tells the story of Esther with its powerful message that the smallest person acting bravely can make an enormous difference, and that God has placed us where we are for a reason. This 45-minute program is filled with humor, pathos and inspiring music.

Sing and Ring Choir (3rd-8th grade):  all Sunday afternoons 12:30-2:30pm beginning Sunday March 16th (No rehearsal on Easter) and Mondays at regular practice time 6:00-6:55pm.

Angelic Choir (preschool - 2nd grade) Regular practice time Mondays at 5:30-6:00pm.

Dress Rehearsal (full cast) Saturday May 3rd 9:30am -Noon

Upcoming Choir dates:
March 30 (Sing and Ring), Wednesday April 2 (Sing and Ring), Wednesday April 9 (Angelic),  April 13 Palm Sunday (both),  Mother's Day (both)

Non-Food Pantry Update:  St. Paul's Non-Food Pantry has been active since November of 2013 with the following donations being made;

November - Freedom House received  a month's supply of cleaning products, paper goods, baby diapers and wipes, personal care items for adults and children.

December - Heartline received personal care items for women as well as panties, toiletries and grooming items for their holiday gift bags.

January - February - 10 cases of baby diapers and wipes were donated to the Family Preservation programs of LSSM along with a twin bed frame and blankets and children's pajamas that were collected during the drive.

March -  Personal care items are being packaged to be delivered to LSSM's Neighborhood House in Saginaw for distribution to teens in their after school programs.

Donations to the Non-Food Pantry are collected on an ongoing basis in the bin in the foyer.  There are now receipts available in the bin to use for tax purposes.  The high school students continue to stock the Non-Food pantry and pull and package donations for various agencies.  We are grateful for your support and ask that you continue to pray for this outreach ministry.

In the month of March we lift up LSSM's Neighborhood House in prayer.  Neighborhood House is a community center in Saginaw that hosts an afterschool program for students that includes activities, homework help and a hot meal.  Families are welcome to come and eat as well and homebound in the area have a hot meal delivered by Neighborhood House volunteers or staff.    This agency is the focus of an upcoming Servant Project or local mission trip in July.  More information is provided below.   We ask that you pray for this Servant Project,  Neighborhood House's staff, clients and families they serve throughout the month. 

Lutheran Social Services of Michigan invites you and 30 other adults to make a difference at Neighborhood House in Saginaw. This ministry offers educational, recreational, religious ministry, and a meal for 80 children and their families per day. Each day will be packed with activity, fellowship, and spiritual journeys.

We will do upgrades to the building (bathroom, weight room, gym floor and others). A group will teach kids and adults during the week. Wednesday night will be a large community program. The estimated cost of the repairs for this project is $30,000. Your help is needed. Can you provide food, share your skills for the remodel, teach VBS , organize the Wednesday program, or assist with administration or  fundraising? The estimated cost per person is less than $200.00 per person. Housing, food, fellowship will be provided.

Do you want to be part of this first ever LSSM work project?

Call Carl Bloom @ (248) 656-6857 or cbloom73@gmail.com  or Pr. Phil Hemke @ (248) 219-9707 or phemk@lssm.org   Support gifts can be made to Sonia Bankston at sbank@lssm.org  Call us for an application form for the event ( 18 and older).

Interim Pastor: Rev. J. Krister Ulmanis

Organist:   Stephanie Yu

Director of Music/Chancel Choir Director Eric Miller

Director of Children's Choirs Margaret Rees-Baker

Acolyte:  Nathan Holochwost

Altar Guild:  Elaine Farquhar Cheryl Wiseman

Assisting Minister: Bonnie Steketee

Communion Assistants: Healing Service
Cross Bearer:Gillian Graham

Coffee Hour: Beth Brackett

Greeter:  Sieloff Family

Lector: Marie Zeller

Interim Pastor: Rev. J. Krister Ulmanis

Organist:   Stephanie Yu

Director of Music/Chancel Choir Director Eric Miller

Director of Children's Choirs Margaret Rees-Baker

Acolyte: Stephanie Korte        

Altar Guild: Dorothy Carty adn Martie Thomalla           

Assisting Minister:  Doug Jenzen

Communion Assistants:M&M Zeller, C Scholfield, J Callewaert
Cross Bearer: Nick Cusmano          

Coffee Hour: Tim Reisen

Greeter: Kerr Family

Lector: Donna Ireton