August 29, 2014
Prayers of the People

Click here for the Prayers of the People  

 

 

 Please pray for the family and friends of Mark Noble who entered life eternal at the age of 67 on Friday, August 29, 2014 in Santa Barbara, CA. Mark is the son of Russell and Peg Noble.

 

 

 

     

Happenings

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

9/6     
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM     
Rummage Sale Set Up     
Poppen Hall

9/7     
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM     
Rummage Sale Set Up     
Poppen Hall
    
9:30 AM to 11:00 AM     
Worship w/Communion     
Sanctuary
    
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM     
Bridge     
Poppen Hall

9/8     
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM     
Rummage Sale Set Up     
Poppen Hall
    
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM     
Confirmation Parent Mtg     
Bethany Room

6:00 PM to 9:00 PM     
Rummage Sale Set Up     
Poppen Hall

9/9     
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM     
Rummage Sale Set Up     
Poppen Hall
    
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM     
Adult Bible Study     
Fireside Room
    
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM     
Pieces Be With You     
Sandrock Hall

6:00 PM to 9:00 PM     
Rummage Sale Set Up     
Poppen Hall

9/10     
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM     
Rummage Sale Set Up     
Poppen Hall

6:00 PM to 9:00 PM     
Rummage Sale Set Up     
Poppen Hall

9/11     
7:00 AM to 8:00 AM     
Men's Breakfast     
Bethany Room
    
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM     
Rummage Sale Set Up     
Poppen Hall
    
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM     
Rummage Sale Set Up     
Poppen Hall

6:30 PM to 7:45 PM     
Chancel Bells     
Sanctuary
    
8:00 PM to 10:00 PM     
Chancel Choir     
Sr. Choir Room

9/12     
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM     
Rummage Sale     
Sandrock Hall
    
9/13     
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM     
Rummage Sale     
Sandrock Hall

9/14     
9:30 AM to 11:00 PM     
Worship w/communion     
Sanctuary
    
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM     
Bridge     
Poppen Hall

9/15     
5:30 PM to 6:15 PM     
Angelic Choir     
Jr. Choir Room
    
6:15 PM to 8:00 PM     
Sing and Ring     
Jr. Choir Room

9/16     
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM     
Adult Bible Study     
Fireside Room
    
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM     
Pieces Be With You     
Sandrock Hall

/17     
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM     
Council Meeting     
Bethany Room

9/18     
Epistle Deadline     


6:30 PM to 7:45 PM     
Chancel Bells     
Sanctuary
    
8:00 PM to 10:00 PM     
Chancel Choir     
Sr. Choir Room

9/19     
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM     
Bridge Tournament     
Poppen Hall
    
9/21
9:30 AM to 11:00 AM     
Worship w/Communion     
Sanctuary
    
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Bridge     
Poppen Hall

9/22     
5:30 PM to 6:15 PM     
Angelic Choir     
Jr. Choir Room
    
6:15 PM to 8:00 PM     
Sing and Ring     
Jr. Choir Room
    
7:00 PM to 8:15 PM     
Catechism     
Bethany Room

9/23     
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM     
Adult Bible Study     
Fireside Room
    
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM     
Pieces Be With You     
Sandrock Hall

9/24     
Listening For God     
Fireside Room

9/25     
6:30 PM to 7:45 PM     
Chancel Bells     
Sanctuary
    
8:00 PM to 10:00 PM     
Chancel Choir     
Sr. Choir Room

9/26     
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM     
Bridge     
Poppen Hall

9/28     
9:30 AM to 11:00 AM     
Worship w/Communion     
Sanctuary
    
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM     
Bridge     
Poppen Hall

9/29     
5:30 PM to 6:15 PM     
Angelic Choir     
Jr. Choir Room
    
6:15 PM to 8:00 PM     
Sing and Ring     
Jr. Choir Room

9/30     
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM     
Adult Bible Study     
Fireside Room
    
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM     
Pieces Be With You     
Sandrock Hall
    
7:30 PM to 10:30 PM     
Social Action Committee
Fireside Room

10/2     
7:00 AM to 8:00 AM     
Men's Breakfast     
Bethany Room
    
6:30 PM to 7:45 PM     
Chancel Bells     
Sanctuary
    
8:00 PM to 10:00 PM     
Chancel Choir     
Sr. Choir Room

10/3     
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM     
Bridge     
Poppen Hall

10/5     
9:30 AM to 11:00 AM     
Worship w/Communion     
Sanctuary
    
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM     
Bridge     
Poppen Hall

Quick Links

Find us on FacebookJoin Our Mailing List
 
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.
 
Notice of Congregational Meeting
Sunday September 7, 2014, at 10:35 am, following our Worship Service

Purpose:  Consider issuing a Call to a new Pastor for St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church.

After careful and prayerful consideration, the Call Committee has made a recommendation of a person to serve as our Pastor.

Church Council approved the recommendation on August 20 and is pleased to forward the recommendation to the Congregation.

A separate letter has gone out to every family in the congregation outlining more information in regards to the vote and the candidate.

Come celebrate Rally Day and kickoff a new church year and a new era at St. Paul!
It's Here!!!  Rummage Sale 2014
Donations will be accepted until Monday, September 8th at 9 pm.

Here's the schedule for the run of the Rummage sale.  People of ALL ages are welcome and needed to help out.

Saturday, Sept 6
  9 to 11 am - set up tables and unload the stage.
  11 to 3 pm - distribute and unpack boxes in Sandrock Hall
Please bring your own lunch.  Questions - Call Steve Gillespie at 313.885.2537

Sunday, Sept 7
  After congregational meeting to 3 pm - set up Jewelry room and general sorting and setting up.
Please bring your own lunch.  Questions - Call Steve Gillespie at 313.885.2537 or Gretchen Archinal at 313.530.0427

Sept 8-Sept 11  Work Hours  
  9:00 am - 3:00 pm
  6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Everyone eats lunch together from 11:30-12:30. Lunch will be provided. Church locked during this time. If you need to work between 3 and 6, call Liz Jenzen at 313.882.3986. Church will be locked.

Sale Hours
Friday, Sept 12  9 am to 4 pm
Saturday, Sept. 13 9 am to 3pm

Clean Up
Saturday, Sept 13 3 pm to 6 pm
Sunday, Sept 14 - after church to everything is boxed and bagged.
Monday, Sept 15 - 10 am to help load the LSSM truck
Tuesday, Sept 16 - 10 am to help load the Salvation Army truck

Sandrock Hall needs to be ready for AA on Monday morning and Poppin Hall needs to be ready for a bridge tournament on Friday.  The Sunday school rooms are needed on Sunday morning.  Any time you can pitch in and help is greatly needed and appreciated.

Any questions : contact Liz Jenzen at ejenzen @Ameritech.net.

RALLY DAY- THIS SUNDAY
 
Blessing of the Backpacks

September 7 marks the start of a new season of worship and education.  Children are encouraged to bring their school backpacks on Rally Day for a blessing during worship which begins at 9:30. Following worship, everyone is invited to the Harms Fireside Room for a welcome to Living the Word Sunday School

"God's work. Our hands."

Sunday is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.  Wear yellow to church on this day - See this link to hear from our bishop and learn more at: http://www.elca.org/#sthash.tCxbFIuw.dpuf

On our scheduled Rally Day, the ELCA calls attention to all that we do as a church to serve and love our neighbors.  We celebrate the St. Paul Rummage Sale, and lift up the workers that commit their time and energy to this effort.  The proceeds of this sale benefit many ministries and support outreach.  We pray that the Pieces Be With You quilt ministry has a rich retreat as we lift up this ministry and all the ways they show Christ's  love to others through their handiwork. 

The Christian Education and Social Action Committees will focus on the ELCA World Hunger campaign and provide opportunities to respond to the over 800 million people that are hungry in the world locally and abroad.  We begin this effort by offering the opportunity to work in the DTE Energy Farm/ Washington Twp Garden to harvest fresh vegetables for the Gleaners Food Pantry partners from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, September 7th.  For more information see below.   If you are not able to work in the garden, there will be pre-printed postcards available to sign and send to your member of Congress to fight childhood hunger and elicit support for improving nutrition for children and low-income mothers.
 
Come Harvest the Garden! - September 7th from 1 - 4 p.m.

The DTE Energy Farm is dedicated to providing fresh, local fruits and vegetables to our community's hungry people. Too often, these families and individuals do not have access to the healthy produce that is vital to basic nutrition. Through the combined efforts of Gleaners Community Food Bank, DTE Energy, and our dedicated volunteers, the DTE Energy Farm works to fill that gap. The farm is divided into four gardens throughout southeast Michigan. 
 
Our group will volunteer at the Washington Township farm and will leave the church as a group at noon on September 7th.  Wear comfortable work clothing and work gloves (we will have some gloves available also). This family service opportunity will run until 4 p.m.  Please notify Shelley Reisen (treisen@comcast.net) or Mary Mobley (murraymt@comcast.net) if you plan to attend.

12700 Thirty Mile Rd.
Washington Twp, MI 48095

Rally Day is a churchwide celebration for all members as we lift up all that God calls us to do as the body of Christ - through worship, stewardship and service - His work through Our hands!.
Christian Ed
Children's Rally Day during the Congregational meeting:  Children are invited to join some of the Sunday school leaders in the Harms Fireside Lounge at the close of worship for a snack and Rally Day activities.  Middle school youth are invited to assist but may stay and observe the meeting.  Confirmed youth are requested to join the congregational meeting and vote.

Needed!  Loving Leaders for Sunday School
As teachers move on to college and new areas of service, leadership needs appear.  This year, Sunday school leaders are needed at all levels from pre-K through high school.  Leaders serve as a team of 3 or more so there is flexibility and shared responsibility.   Teaching the children and youth is a great way to grow one's own faith and serve our Lord Jesus Christ.  Please pray that all our teaching teams will be in place for our Stepping into Sunday School Milestone Blessing and Christian Education Leader Installation on September 21.   Contact Mary Mobley to learn more about this ministry.  

This year's Catechism study is open to all Middle school-aged youth Grade 6 and above.  It begins Monday, September 8, with a meeting of students and parents (or grandparents or other adult sponsor) from 7 - 8:15 pm in the Harms Fireside Room.   A letter to students and parents with details has been sent to all youth on our roster and is also available from the church office. 
Adult Bible Study
Tuesday Morning Bible study:  The Tuesday study on the upcoming Sunday's scripture reading will resume after a summer break . Each week stands on its own so feel free to join the group at 9:30 am, as you are able.
St. Paul Music Notes
As we head into the fall, the music program at St. Paul is getting ready to help lead worship on Sunday mornings.  We are very blessed with our musicians and lift them up as they sing, ring and play instruments to the glory of God.  Our groups are generational, and lots of fun!

If you have any questions about the choirs, please contact Eric Miller (313-729-2320). Here are the rehearsal times for the choirs (and ALL are welcome!!!).

Chancel Choir
For the first two rehearsals, we will meet in the choir loft in the church (because of the Rummage Sale) at 8pm. After the Rummage Sale, rehearsals will be held in the choir room downstairs. We sing a wide variety of music, and help to lead the congregation in worship. Music reading is not necessary, but a desire to lift your voice in song is! This choir is for those in high school through adult.

Chancel Bells
Our first rehearsal will be on September 11, at 6:30 pm.  We rehearse in the church. Music reading is not necessary, but very helpful.  We ring anywhere from 3 to 5 octaves of bells, depending on how many ringers we have. This is a unique way to participate in worship at St. Paul. The bell choir usually rings for worship about once per month. This choir is also for high school students and adults.

Sing and Ring Choir and Angelic Choir
Our first rehearsals will be on September 15.  Maggie Rees-Baker is the Director, Also could you please include info that the Youth Choirs will begin rehearsals on Monday, September 15th.  Youth ages 4- 2nd grade are in the Angelic Choir (5:30-6pm) and youth in 3rd-8th grades are in Sing and Ring Choir (6:15-6:50) All youth are warmly invited to come to choir as their schedule permits!

Brass and Percussion Ensemble
This group usually plays for festival services at St. Paul and other worship opportunities as they arise.  We will be playing for Rally Day on September 7. If you have a talent in this area, please contact either Eric Miller or Bob Mobley.

All of our music groups are made up of wonderful volunteers. Please come and be a part of this incredible ministry as we lift voices and instruments to God's glory!.
2014 Budget Update
HELP!
We need your help. Our envelope giving as of the end of July is $35,000 below what we budgeted for that same time period. Hopefully some of that deficit can be blamed on summer vacations, but not all. Here is where we stand.

For those of you that pledged, we are $9,000 behind in our giving. Please review your pledge and consider bringing your giving up to date if necessary.

For those of you that did not pledge, we are $26,000 behind our projected giving. The amount calculated for non-pledge giving is based on the previous year's level of giving for each member in that category. It is the only way we can predict what funds may be available for the coming year. Please review where you stand in your giving commitment to St. Paul using the previous year as a comparison.

Our financial statement shows a $9,400 surplus as of the end of July. This is due to the $32,000 received from the endowment fund as a lump sum. If that funding was given to us in monthly installments, we would be showing a $3,900 deficit for the year. 

Those are some of the facts but let's go beyond those facts. Last fall, we talked about abundant giving and the blessings that can be realized through abundant giving. The idea that our giving should show our gratitude for what God has provided for us. The idea that our giving should be based on our trust in God's continuing benevolence. We know as a certainty that those facts have not changed. With this in mind, I ask you to review your pledge or previous year's commitment, prayerfully consider your current level of giving and respond to our appeal for help.

Richard Grenzke
Stewardship Chairman
Deep Cleaning Committee Update

It is time to start thinking about when and how we are going to accomplish the deep cleaning commitments that were made last spring. I will be contacting those of you that signed up to set a timetable for each area. Some areas to be cleaned are best done after the rummage sale in September as that worthwhile activity leads to a significant amount of post event cleanup. However, most areas can be cleaned at any time. Here is how it will work.

 

You and I and the church custodian will set a date for your area. I will generate a Deep Cleaning Form as a guide for what should be done and the materials needed. You will receive that form and a Deep Cleaning Instructions form that outlines the procedure to be followed. Among other things, the procedure gives me feedback so I can "tweak" the Deep Cleaning Form for use the next time your area is cleaned. Please follow the instructions so I can get your feedback and file your returned Deep Cleaning Form.  

 

We have already had some areas of the church deep cleaned and I would like to thank those that have done so. There are 23 areas that haven't been signed up for out of a total of 54. Not too bad for our first attempt at this project. If you would like to join in and sign up for an area, please contact me.

Thank you.

Rick Grenzke

Stewardship Chairman  

LSSM Connection 
Supervised Independent Living Programs
This month we lift up in prayer all of the children who have aged out of fo ter care, especially those who are in  Lutheran Social Services of Michigan Supervised Independent Living Programs.  We pray that these children are able to find the support they need to pursue their goals after high school and beyond.  We pray for the adults and families who have opened their homes to them and show God's love to them through their care and support.
Ministers of
Worship and Service
Ministers of Worship & Service
September 7

Acolyte Volunteer needed
Altar Guild Carol Meza, Pat Sierant
Assisting Minister Betty Morris
Coffee Hour Mary Mobley
Communion Assistants
Cross Bearer Volunteer needed
Greeter
Lector Sue Thompson

Ministers of Worship & Service
September 14

Acolyte Volunteer needed
Altar Guild Carol Meza, Pat Sierant
Assisting Minister Bob Mobley    
Coffee Hour  Laura Rooney
Communion Assistants K. & C. Wisemann E. & C. Treusch
Cross Bearer Volunteer needed    
Lector Dana Miller