The Apostle from St. Paul
The Monthly Newsletter for January 2015
www.stpaullakeland.com
901-387-0007
Worship Services: 9:00 and 11:00
Coffee Fellowship in Fellowship Hall 9:45
Promiseland (with hourly components) in session 9-12
Sunday School: 10:00
A Message from the Pastor
You are the light of the world… Let your light shine before men, so they may see your good works
and give glory to you Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
A little girl was visiting a beautiful cathedral with her aunt. It was late afternoon and the
sun’s rays were streaming through the beautiful stained glass windows that featured the figures of
several saints. The little girl pointed to one of the figures standing out in the strong light and
asked, “Who is that?” “That’s St. Peter,” the aunt replied. Then pointing to another, the little girl
asked who that one was. “That’s St. Paul” was the reply. And on it went for a while; the little girl
pointing to stained glass figures and the aunt naming the saint that was portrayed. Then with a
sigh of sudden insight, the little girl said, “Well now I know what a saint is. A saint is somebody
that the light shines through!”
How accurate the little girl was in defining a saint; and how challenging that definition is
for people like you and me. We tend to think of “saints” as being extraordinary people and we
like to think of ourselves as just ordinary. But the saints have always been just ordinary people
who allowed the light of God’s love to shine through their lives. They were no different in gifts
and graces than most of us; which means we are all capable of being saints – if we are willing to
let the light of God’s love shine through our lives.
As we begin a new year with resolutions and aspirations; my prayer for myself and for the
church family at St. Paul is that we would all resolve in specific ways to letting the light of Christ
shine more brightly in and through our lives, so that those who encounter us will give glory and
praise to our Father in heaven.
Peace and grace,
Michael Morris
Emmaus Walks
The Walk to Emmaus is a 72 hour weekend experience designed to
strengthen ones understanding of Christianity and empower participants to have
deeper relationships with Christ and become more effective in their discipleship.
The next Walks to Emmaus in the Memphis area will happen on the weekends of
February 5-8 (for men) and February 19 -22 for women. Sharon Higgins and Cindy
Morris of St. Paul UMC will be helping lead the Women’s Walk. If you would be
interested in going on a Walk to Emmaus, you can find information about it on line
by going to memphisemmaus.org or contacting Pastor Mike. Applications can be
found and made on line. We have plenty of people here at St. Paul who would be
happy to be sponsors – just contact Pastor Mike.
Ruth Circle
The Ruth Circle will meet Friday, January 2 at 9:30 am at the church. Virginia
Hopper will lead the first lesson in our study "How Is It With Your Soul?" Carol
Florow will provide refreshments, and Mary Harris will provide our devotion. All
ladies are welcome to attend.
Moms’ Bible Study
Happy New Year, moms! The Moms' Bible Study will resume on Wednesday, January 7 from
9:30-11 in the Fellowship Classroom. Childcare is available for $5 per family. Start 2015 off right
by spending time with God in the company of other women. Contact Amy Emerson for more
information at 901-647-5582.
Prime Timers (St. Paul’s 55 and older group)
The Prime Timers will meet on Friday, January 9th at 11:30 am in the Fellowship
Hall at St. Paul. We will be playing Bingo. Lunch will be lasagna, salad and dessert
for $5.00. Our mission focus is to provide food for the Food Bank, so bring any nonperishable item. Call Sandy Mauney for information and reservations at 465-1364.
Ladies Craft Night
January 9 will be another ladies' craft night from 6-11pm in the Fellowship Hall.
Bring whatever project you would like to work on and a snack to share if you like.
Contact Amy Emerson with questions at 901-647-5582.
For Visitors & New Members
A Luncheon for Visitors and New Members will be held Sunday, Jan. 11 at 12:15pm provided
by the Welcoming Team to learn more about St. Paul and talk with Rev. Morris.
Please join us and make your reservation thru the Church Office. The Nursery will be available.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Susanna Circle
The Susanna Circle will meet Monday evening, January 12 at 6:30 pm at the
church. Sandy Mauney will lead the first lesson in our study "How Is It With Your
Soul?" Frances Lawson will provide refreshments. All ladies are welcome to attend.
Ministry Team Leaders Kick Off/Training
Ministry Team Leaders will meet Wed, Jan. 14th 5:30pm –
7:30pm. Supper will be provided. Please mark your calendars and
watch for more information.
UMW Executive Board
The UMW Executive Board will meet Sunday, January 18 at 12 noon at the church.
All 2015 board members are encouraged to attend this first meeting of the new year.
Please bring a food item to share for lunch. If you are not able to attend, please send
your report to Sandy Mauney.
Promiseland News
Happy New Year! Wow it’s 2015!! Can you believe it?! The Christmas season was
filled with children laughing and having fun learning about Jesus’ birth. The
Christmas play was wonderful!! The kids also went to Wesley Senior ministries to
sing Christmas Carols and playing BINGO; spreading Christmas cheer spending
time with the residents. I would like to say Thank You to all the volunteers
that help in Promiseland though out the year. I couldn’t do it without you!!
This month in Promiseland the kids will be learning that Jesus shows them God’s
love. They will be learning this through stories about Jairus’s Daughter, The
Woman at the Well, The Ten Lepers and Mary and Martha. Their Bible Verse
for the month of January will be “This is how the love of God is revealed to us.
God has sent his only Son into the world so that we can live through him.” (1
John 4:9)
KWAM
KWAM kids will meet Sunday, January 25th from 4:00-5:30 in the Fellowship Hall.
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January News
Volunteers Needed
You do not have to be a parent to volunteer to help with Youth Ministry. We need volunteers to
help during Youth Fellowship, Wednesday Bible Studies, Dinner/Game Night- dinner hosts. There
are sign-up sheets outside the church office or you can even find a link to a “signup-genius” on
the youth page on our church website. It is a great way to get to know our young people better
and help them discover the many ways we can live out our faith in our daily lives.
Coming Soon
The youth will be working on a new church logo that will be made into window clings (like for
your car windows). We will need your help in picking the best design. Their designs will be
displayed in the narthex and everyone can vote on their favorite design with coins or bills. The
design collecting the most $ will win. Be looking for our designs towards the end of January.
Youth Gathering
Sunday February 8th the St Paul Youth Group will host a Youth Gathering. We invite United
Methodist Youth groups from our Metro Area to join us for some games, fellowship and a meal.
These Gatherings are really catching on and we are having a great attendance. At our last
Gathering, we collected supplies for Bartlett Animal Shelter and donated around $154 to MidSouth Food Bank.
Youth Study
Our Youth Bible Study will start back January 21st along with the Wednesday Night Dinners. Junior High will
meet in the Youth Lounge and Senior High will meet in Room 2 (next to the Fellowship Hall)
Confirmation Class – Coming Soon
It is that time a year again where we gear up for a Confirmation Class. Karen Udovich will be leading but she will
again need help from adults throughout the congregation to be mentor and prayer partners. Please consider
volunteering to help our young people take ownership of their faith. For more information about the class (for
your child) or to volunteer to help, you can contact either Karen Udovich or Shannon Pryor soon.
For questions about any of the above Youth Ministry items please feel free to contact Shannon Pryor @
spryor@stpaul-lakeland.org or 463-6885.
Regular Weekly Schedule
Sundays:
9:00 am
9:00 am
9:00 am
9:45 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 pm
4:00 pm
Contemporary Worship ~ Sanctuary
Promiseland-sp ~ Fellowship Hall
Disciple III ~ Rm. 6
Coffee Fellowship ~ Fellowship Hall
Youth and Adult Sunday School
Promiseland-sp ~ Fellowship Hall
Traditional Worship ~ Sanctuary
Promiseland-sp ~ Fellowship Hall
Prayer Opportunity ~ Sanctuary Conf. Rm.
Youth Fellowship ~ Youth Lounge
Weekdays
9:00 am
Walking Group ~ Wolfchase Mall
Mondays
9:00 am
7:00 pm
Preschool ~ Education Building
Boy Scouts ~ Education Building
Tuesday
9:00 am
7:00 pm
Preschool ~ Education Building
Cub Scouts ~ Education Building
Wednesday
9:30 am
9:30 am
5:30 pm
6:30 pm
7:30 pm
Mom’s Bible Study ~ Fellowship Class
Disciple IV ~ Rm. 2
Wednesday Night Dinner ~ Will resume on Jan. 21
Wednesday Night Studies ~ Will resume on Jan. 21
Choir Practice
Thursday
9:00 am
7:00 pm
Preschool ~ Education Building
Contemporary Band Practice
Upcoming Meetings and Special Events
Thursday, January 1
CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED
Friday, January 2
9:30 am
Ruth Circle ~ FH
Sunday, January 4
1:00 pm
Basketball Practice
Thursday, January 8
6:30 pm
Girls Scouts ~ FH/Rm. 8
Friday, January 9
11:30 pm
6:00 pm
Primetimers ~ FH
Ladies Craft Night ~ FH
Sunday, January 11
12:00 pm
1:00 pm
Visitors Luncheon ~ Fellowship Hall
Basketball Practice
Monday, January 12
6:30 pm
Susanna Circle ~ Rm. 2
Wednesday, January 14
5:30 pm
Leadership Training ~ FH
Saturday, January 17
9:00 am - noon
Cub Scout PWD Workshop ~ FH
Sunday, January 18
1:00 pm
3:00 pm
Basketball Practice ~ Gym
Youth SPY Meeting ~ YL
Thursday, January 22
6:30 pm
Girl Scouts ~ FH/Rm. 8
Friday, January 23
6:30 pm
Girl Scouts Sleep-over ~ FC/FH
Sunday, January 25
1:00 pm
4:00 pm
Basketball Practice ~ Gym
KWAM (Kids With a Mission) ~ FH
Friday, January 30
5:00 pm
Set-up for Pine Wood Derby ~ Gym
Saturday, January 31
8:00 am
Pine Wood Derby ~ Gym
Church Staff
Church Office ~ 901-387-0007
After Hours Phone Number:
Michael Morris, 901-386-2578
Aldrich, Daina - Director of Preschool
daldrich@stpaul-lakeland.org
Dougan, Will - Director of Worship & Music
wdougan@stpaul-lakeland.org
Geno, Regina – Pianist
ticatah104@aol.com
Goldsmith, Gary – Youth Music Director
garygoldsmith@bellsouth.net
Hamilton, Vickie - Office Administrator
vhamilton@stpaul-lakeland.org
Holmes, Susan- Finance Administrator
sholmes@stpaul-lakeland.org
James, Lanee’ – Church Sexton
Laneejames1@yahoo.com
Kirk, Jill - Director of Children’s Ministries
jillk72@bellsouth.net
Morris, Mike – Pastor
mmorris@stpaul-lakeland.org
Pryor, Shannon-Youth Pastor
spryor@stpaul-lakeland.org
Ytzen, Nancy – Director of Nursery Ministries
nytzen@bellsouth.net