This Dedication is

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The Epistle

February, 2014

Brothers and Sisters in Jesus,

This year since Easter is late; the season of Epiphany lasts

8 weeks. Epiphany means manifestation. It is during this season we look at the different ways Jesus appears to us in the Gospel. We see Him as a baby when the Magi visit them; we see His baptism; we see Him teaching, calling

His disciples and finally His Transfiguration.

As we read the Gospels during this month (I hope you do take time to daily read the Bible), we need to ask how is

Jesus manifesting/appearing in our daily lives. Our

Christian journey means to daily have Jesus in our lives in all we say, in all we do and in all our thoughts. He knows full well we can not accomplish this without Him. We need Him in our lives; we need Him in every part of our life. Too often we believe we can do it on our own - we can not.

Let us daily look at all our blessings we have received for that is how we see Him appearing in our life. It’s so easy to see those blessing as we look for the positive all around us.

Let us continue our walk in His glorious light.

St. Paul’s Lutheran

Church ,

417 Howertown Rd,

Catasauqua, PA 18032

610-264-3221 Fax: 610-264-5732

Email:stpaulschurch@rcn.com

Web:www.stpaulscatasauqua.com

Child Care: 610-264-0190

Sunday Worship

8:00 am Holy Communion

9:00 am Sunday School

10:30 am Worship

1 st & 3 rd Sunday Holy Communion

_______________________

Church Office Hours

Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm

Sunday School

September-May 9:00am

Child Care Center

Monday-Friday 7:30am-5:30pm

_______________________

Church Staff :

Pastor: Rev. Gary Walbert,

Pastor Emeritus:

Rev. Dr. Hartland H. Gifford

Dir. Music: Michael Fister

Office Admin: Charleen Burik

Treasurer: Paul Peters

Financial Sec: Debbie Stewart

Dir. Child Care: Margaret Bossons

Sexton: Norbert Huber

Congregation Council

Robert Bastian

Tom Danner

Tammie Englert - Secretary

Kerry Lewis – Vice President

Kay Muehlberger

Doug Newhard- President

Laurie Perna

Albert Renn

Robin Ruch

Helene Sterner

(2) Open

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December Highlights

* A motion was made and carried to elect Robin Ruch as new Council

Member to fill out the remainder of the term ending 2014.

* Property signed a contract with Witt’s Tree

Service for snow removal.

* A motion was made and carried to have profit from the next Pasta Dinner Fundraiser go towards the purchase of one safety door.

* Nominating Committee is looking for 2 volunteers for Synod Assembly to be held at

Split Rock Lodge on May 30-31, 2014

Treasury Report

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for

God loves a cheerful giver - 2 Corinthians 9:7

Jan. – Dec. YTD Financial Update

Weekly Envelopes

Budgeted: $121,900

Received: $105,057

Actual Inc. YTD: $582,666

Actual Exp. YTD: $629,882

-47,216

Loan $49,000

(Oct 2013)

Balance: $39,770

During both services on January

12, you were notified that generally this time of year we normally experience a shortfall in our budget. This is primarily due to our Child Care Center being closed for Christmas week. Unfortunately, this year is no different, as our Treasurer informed Council and the Finance

Committee that it was necessary to borrow additional money from our Endowment

Savings to pay bills during the month of

January. This was primarily to pay payroll.

Annual Financial Meeting

Our annual congregational financial meeting will be on February 16 following the morning worship service.

There will be only one service that morning beginning at 9:00 a.m. We will be approving the financial report for the year 2013, and approving the budget for the year 2014. A quorum of 50 members is required to hold this annual meeting. Your presence and input is greatly needed. Copies of Proposed Budget can be picked up in Narthex

Sunday, April 27th following the morning worship service.

There will be only one service that morning beginning at 9:00 a.m.

NOTE: All

Committee Reports are due no later than

March 30th.

The Nominating Committee

will soon be preparing a slate of nominees for Council to present at the Annual Meeting on April 27 th .

If you would like to serve on Council, please speak to Lew Heller, Committee Chair

Heating Pipe Burst!

On Monday, January 6 at about 6:15pm, a pipe froze and broke in the radiator in the stairwell near the Sacristy. We had the fire company here along with H.T. Lyons. We are in the process of getting estimates to cover the extensive damage to that area and also the Scout Room. More details will follow.

Thanks Shelly!

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Our Christian Education Director, Shelly

Laudenslager decided to step away from that position. She will continue to teach 1st &

2nd grade. During the time she was director,

St. Paul’s had wonderful breakfasts, did many great projects and had wonderful

Vacation Bible Schools. Thank you Shelly for all you did!

Praise Team Schedule

Rehearsal Sing

1/26 2/2: I See the Lord

5/4 5/ 11: Open Our Eyes, Lord

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Social Ministry Committee

had many charitable activities in the month of December. In the beginning of the month, we participated in the Ingathering with the Northern Lehigh Mission District where we helped fill 200 gift bags for Kids

Peace residents.

We then organized and delivered the White

Tag supplies from the Wish Lists which had been on our Christmas tree in the alcove.

Many thanks to all those who brought the items for us to distribute to: The Allentown

Rescue Mission, Gracedale, Sayre Child

Center and Topton Lutheran Home . These organizations really appreciated everything and send their many thanks to all of you.

Before Christmas, we delivered our holiday cheer to the 24 shut-ins. Most are in various nursing or group homes and cannot attend our church.

Many thanks to the kindness and Christmas spirit that the Committee put forth this

December and special thanks to St. Paul’s members who made this all possible with the

White Tag contributions –

June Hahn, Chairperson

~~~

Fundraising Committee Update

The fundraising committee announces the following fundraisers for February and

March. There is a Valentine Basket filled with food for two and a bottle of wine. This basket can be seen in the breezeway following Sunday morning worship services.

Raffle tickets for this basket are five tickets for $3 or ten tickets for $5. The winner of this basket will be picked following the 10:30 am service on Sunday, February 9th.

March 1st our Annual St. Paul's Pasta

Dinner will take place in the Fellowship Hall from 5 to 7:30 pm. Tickets are available in advance each Sunday in the breezeway or the church office Monday through Friday between 9 am & 3 pm or at the door.

Beverages and desert included with meal and a complimentary glass of wine offered to all guests over age 21 (Must provide proof of age). Take-out is available. Funds supplemented by Thrivent Financial. The proceeds will benefit the new aluminum safety doors.

Tickets: Adults -$9. Children aged 6 - 12 =

$5. Ages 5 and under are free.

Plans are being formulated for a Pork & sauerkraut supper and also a flower sale.

Keep lookout in the bulletin for details of this event.

An Easter Basket raffle is planned for

April with the winner picked on Sunday

April 6th following the 10:30 am service.

~~~

Child Care Center

The month of love, friendship and hearts has arrived. This month our infants and toddlers will be busy with various Valentine songs, crafts, and finger plays. Preschool, PreK, & Kindergarten are continuing the alphabet and will be busy with

Valentine projects. With Valentines they will also be introduced to the workings of the heart. They will see filmstrips, make several crafts, and listen to their hearts through a stethoscope.

We will start singing our songs for our

Spring Program, which is scheduled for May

9 th . Time flies so better to start early.

St. Paul’s Child Care Staff would like to wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Margaret Bossons

~~~

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Souper Bowl of Caring is youth across the nation working to fight hunger and poverty in their communities around the time of the Super

Bowl football game. Last year on Super

Bowl Sunday, St. Paul's and the other participating churches nationwide combined their efforts to raise more than $7 million.

100% of the donations were given directly to the local hunger-relief charity of their choice.

Last year; all of the money raised at St.

Paul’s went to the Catasauqua Food Bank.

Please help us this year again on Sunday,

February 2, 2014 as we continue the fight against hunger in our own community.

~~~

Thanks Bette!

For many years Bette MacHose has been in charge of our Finance Committee. She has overseen our finances through the ups and downs through the years. Bette recently has decided to resign as chairperson of this committee.

One of her strong points was an eye for detail. She was never afraid to ask questions and pursue answers. Her organization abilities were surely a blessing for all of us.

Thank you Bette for all you did. You will be greatly missed.

Cradle Roll .

"Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).

The Splash Cradle Roll is a ministry for families of little ones from birth to three years of age. This program was designed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in

America and is published by Augsburg

Fortress Press. It offers valuable resources for families with infants and toddlers and plays a special part during the celebration of Holy Baptism.

At St. Paul’s, when a young child is baptized, he/she will be automatically enrolled in the Cradle Roll. At this time parents will receive a welcome letter into the program along with a Splash ! Parent

Page and a Sleepy Time Tunes CD. Each month the family will receive age appropriate mailings, called Parent Pages.

Upon the child’s third birthday, Cradle Roll

“graduates” will be invited to join our

Three Year Old Sunday School class.

Our mission is to help new families fulfill their baptismal promise and support them as they begin their journey of faith together.

For more information regarding this program, please contact church office. complete in us." (1 John 4:12)

"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made

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Upcoming Events

2/2:

2/9:

2/16:

Souper Bowl Sunday

Boy Scout Sunday:

Congregational Meeting following 9:00am service.

2/19: New Member class

7:00pm - Library

2/23: 10:30am Service

Installation

Philadelphia Flower

Show: The Catasauqua

Garden Club invites you to join us on a bus trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show on

Tuesday, March 4, 2014. We will leave at

8:00am from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church parking lot. Please park to the rear of the parking lot. Departure from the Flower Show will be 4:00pm.

Cost of the trip will be $60.00 – which includes bus trip, driver tip and show ticket.

Lunch will be on your own. Payment is due

February 19 . No refunds unless trip is canceled due to weather. If you are unable to go you must find your own replacement, unless there is a waiting list.

Send your checks, made payable to

Catasauqua Garden Club, c/o Mary Farner,

603 Faith Drive, Catasauqua, PA

18032.Your seat will be confirmed upon receipt of your check. Call Joanne. Spengler at 610-264-4097 for reservations or questions

First Communion Classes

Receiving the Sacred Meal is an important part of our journey in faith.

Every year we have First

Communion classes so our young people can learn what it means to partake in this meal. All children in second grade or older who have not had instruction are asked to be at the classes.

This year our classes will be on April 1 and April 8 at 7pm in the Chapel. At least one parent is required to be at each session.

Our final class will be on April 13 Palm

Sunday, at 9am in the Chapel. Students will receive their First Communion on April 13 at the 10:30am service. Please call the office to register your child.

~~~

This year Lent is late. Ash

Wednesday is on March 5. We will again have service that evening. We are planning some different events during the month. We will try our Wednesday Bible Studies and our

Journey to the Cross service on April 6.

This year on Holy Thursday, we will be doing a Living Last Supper with

Communion. Look in upcoming Epistles for details.

~~~

In case of inclement weather , it might become necessary to cancel a church service. Worship service will normally not be cancel, although it is possible in case of a State of Emergency. If this happens, information will be posted on

Ch69 WFMZ –TV church listings and on WFMZ Website: www.wfmz.com

. We will be listed as

ST PAULS LUTHERAN – CATASAUQUA ,

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Deadline: February 14

Epistle Volunteers: February 21

9:00am

St Paul‘s Committees &

Volunteer Directory

Acolytes: Pastor Gary Walbert

Altar Guild: Jackie Younger

Child Care: Tammie Englert

Christian Ed: Amanda Dungan

Communion Assist: Pastor Gary Walbert

Epistle: Charleen Burik

Finance: Len Witt

Fundraising: Bob Bastian

Greeters: Kay Muehlberger

Lectors: Judy Donchez

Memorials: Betty MacHose

Prayer Chain: Bette MacHose

Property: Bob Bastian

Scouts: Al Renn/Mark Weaver

Social Ministry/Evangelism: June Hahn

Stewardship: Tammie Englert

Worship: Kerry Lewis

Deadline: February 14

Epistle Volunteers:February 21

9:00am

If you would like to put an article or announcement in our newletter, please contact

Charleen. Request: If you are able, please Email your articles to Charleen, Office Admin at stpaulschurch@rcn.com

E-Mail me the Epistle!

Help us cut down the cost of postage by

getting your Epistle newsletter by e-mail Just send your request via an email to church office at stpaulschurch@rcn.com

For all you Smartphone users : We can easily email your Epistle directly to your smartphone (PDF format) so you can enjoy it anytime, anywhere. Just email us at stpaulschurch@rcn.com or call church office and let us know where you want us to send it.

Don’t forget you can also get our EPISTLE newsletter and up-to-date church information on our website too www.stpaulscatasauqua.com

…… and…….

check out St. Paul’s Facebook page too!

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Hospital Visits

If you or someone you know is admitted into the hospital, it is very important to notify the church as soon as possible.

You can do this by either calling the church office directly or informing the hospital upon admittance that you are a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and they will list you under our Pastoral Code

312 . If you are admitted into a

Rehabilitation facility, please inform the church office as well. Without either of these notifications, Pastor will not know to visit you and you will not be added on to our prayer chain

Order Your Flowers Now

If you would like to honor or remember a loved one and help decorate the church for

Easter, order you Easter flowers by filling out this form and submit with your payment.

This year we are offering the following flowers

Daffodils Hyacinths Lilies Tulips

This Dedication is

In Memory of:

_________________________________________________________________

OR

In Honor of :

_________________________________________________________________

This Dedicated is from:

_________________________________________________________________

Flowers

Daffodils (10” pot)

Qty Total

____ x

$12.00 ______

Hyacinths (8” pot)

Lilies

(6” pot)

Tulips (10” pot )

____ x

$10.50 ______

____ x

$ 9.00 ______

____ x

$12.00 ______

Total Amount Enclosed: $________

Please make checks payable to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church .

If you have any questions, please contact the church office.

The last day to order flowers is April 6.

You may take your flowers home with you after the 10:30 am service on Easter

Sunday.

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Sharing the

Do you have any good news in your family? Any news, exciting happenings? What do I mean - births, engagements, a new job, a great accomplishment for one of your family members.

Tell us so we can celebrate with you. Good News is not for offering thank you’s, rather it is an opportunity for you to let us know about the joyful things in your lives.

There will be a membership class on

Wednesday, February 19 th at 7:00 p.m. in the church library. If you are interested,

* Jeanette & Paul Dennis on the birth of their daughter, Kayla Elizabeth Dennis, born on January 2, 2014 please contact Pastor Gary or the church office (610-264-3221), or fill out the information sheet and hand it to Pastor Gary.

On February 23 rd , during the 10:30 a.m. service, St. Paul’s will receive new members into the church family.

* Emily Price and Joshua Madus recently were engaged.

* Detective Jason B. Apgar of the Emmaus

Police Department has been named Police

Officer of the Year by the Lehigh County

Chiefs of Police Association and the Lehigh

County District Attorney’s Office.

* Child Care Center is pleased to announce two teachers gave birth to girls last month:

Laura Casciotti gave birth to Maria Ann

Casciotti , on January 16 and Amy Gair gave

Name: ______________________________

Address: ____________________________

____________________________________

Phone #: ____________________________

Church membership: ___________________ birth to Myra Anne Gair on January 17.

* Sara Burik , daughter of Charleen Burik

Children: ____________________________ was recently inducted in to the Phi Beta

Delta Honor Society for International

Scholars

~~~

Share Your Holiday Table

Once again, with the generosity of family members and friends of St. Paul’s, we hope to ensure some families will have bountiful meals this blessed Easter season, as you so generously have done in the past for the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. Look for more information to follow in our church bulletins or you may contact Diane Newhard at 610-442-6610 or Denise

Reimer at 610-403-2296 for more information.

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Ways to help St. Paul’s & Our Community

Catasauqua Food Bank Needs:

Large cans of powdered Baby Formula

Canned Fish/Meat (e.g. tuna, ham, turkey)

Healthy Cereal (Hot or Cold)

Meals in a Tin

(e.g. Pork n’ Beans or Stew)

Canned Vegetables

Canned Fruit

Wholegrain Pasta/Rice

Pasta Sauces

Canned and Dry Soups

Mac & Cheese

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Venga Affamato!

(That means

“Come hungry!”)

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

417 Howertown Road

Catasauqua, PA 18032

610-264-3221

Italian Pasta Dinner

Saturday March 1, 2014

5:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Adults – $9.00

Children aged 6-12 – $5.00

Ages 5 and under free

Beverages & dessert included with meal

Complimentary glass of wine offered to all guests over age 21 (Must provide proof of age)

Tickets can be purchase after church services or by contacting the church office (610-264-3221) or

Linda Walbert (610-264-5996).

Take-outs available

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February Celebrations

Jesus said, “I am the Light of the World”.

May the birthday candles that represent the years of your life be a reflection to others of your love for Christ.

2/1 Barry Steckel

2/1 Andrew Strohl

2/2 Edward Dumbach

2/4 Travis Sterner

2/4 Jamie Willever

2/6 Kenneth Carl

2/6 Taryn Meckes

2/7 James Williams Jr.

2/8 Lee Anne Eck

2/8 Edward Forstoffer III

2/8 Alexa Thomas

2/10 Debbie Daddona

2/10 Jordan Matchette

2/12 Nicole Eck

2/13 Stefanie Wassum

2/14 Michael Price

2/14 Suzanne Smale

2/16 Allen Deily

2/16 Evan DeLong

2/18 Brock Hartranft

2/19 Jeffrey Bauer

2/19 Kerry Lewis

2/19 Jack Mengel

2/19 Emily Price

2/19 Catherine Thomas

2/20 Stephen Corello

2/20 Angelina Dries

2/20 Mark Weaver

2/22 Ahren Dennis

2/22 Lauren Dixon

2/23 Nancy Easterday

2/24 Dylan Streitman

2/25 Sue Hodge

2/25 Andrew Kalynych

2/25 Brian Lower

2/26 Adam Bastidas

2/26 Elizabeth Cardona

2/26 Lynn Liberto

2/27 Emily Golden

2/28 Lynn Corcoran-Stamm

2/28 Nathan Falko

Special Birthdays

A few of our seniors will be celebrating birthdays this month. Please take the time to remember them with a card or note

2/2 Robert Teets 86

449 Bridge Street, Catasauqua, PA 18032

2/13 Doris Diefenderfer 86

Cedarbrook Fountain Hill Nursing Home

724 Delaware Ave,Bethlehem, PA 18015

2/15 Esther Illigash 90

844 Catherine Drive, Coplay, PA 18037

2/17 Nancy Benner 81

1056 Third Street, Catasauqua, PA 18032

2/25 William Rinker 83

3417 Teel Rd, Danielsville, PA 18038

2/28 Arthur Deily 82

430 Race Street , Catasauqua, PA 18032

Wedding Anniversaries

2/3 Oliver & Dolores Long

2/5 Mica & Robert Smith

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2/5 Dale Wehr & Ann Spengler 6

2/9 Michael & Anne Younger 18

2/14 Eric & Traci Reitz 11

2/16 Earl & Joanne Mooney 62

2/26 Dennis & Linda Lambert 49

2/27 Latta & Audrey Heil 32

12 b r a t e l e

C e

February, 2014

W e d n e s d a y T u e s d a y T h u r s d a y S u n d a y M o n d a y F r i d a y S a t u r d a y

2

8:00 Comm

9:00 Sun.Sch

10:30 Comm

9

8:00 Comm

9:00 Sun.Sch

10:30 Worship/

Boy Scout Sunday

16

9:00 Comm

9:00 Sun Sch

3

7:00 Worship

Meeting

7:00 Boy Scouts

10

7:00pm

Stewardship

Meeting

7:00 Boy Scouts

17

7:00 Boy Scouts

7:00 CYSA

Congregational

Finance Meeting

(following service)

4

6:30 Girl Scouts

7:00 Property

Meeting

11

6:30 Girl Scouts

5

6:30 Choir

6:30 Daisy

12

6:30 Choir

6:30 Daisy

6

7:00 Cub Pack

7

6:30 Fundraising Meet.

13

7:00 Finance

Meeting

7:00 Cub Pack EPISTLE

DEADLINE

18

6:30 Girl Scouts

Father/Daughter

Tea

7:00 Child Care

Meeting

19

6:30 Choir

6:30 Daisy

7:00 New Member

Class - Library

20

7:00 Cub Pack

21

9:00 EPISTLE

VOLUNTEERS

22

23

8:00 Comm

9:00 Sun.Sch

10:30 Worship/

New Member

Install

24

7:00 Boy Scouts

7:00 Council

25

6:30 Girl Scouts

26

6:30 Choir

27

7:00 Cub Pack

28

Don’t forget you can view our calendar on-line by visiting our website

www.stpaulscatasauqua.com and click on Calendar link

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1

15

Cub Pack 94

Blue & Gold

Banquet

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails

1 Corinthians 13:4–8a

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Serving at St. Paul's in FEBRUARY, 2014

DATE LECTOR COMM. ASSTS. ACOLYTES GREETERS ALTAR GUILD

2/2

2/9

2/16

2/23

8:00 AM

-

10:30 AM

Jessica Kirkpatrick

8:00 AM

-

10:30 AM

Scouts

8:00 AM

Donna Sheckler

8:00 AM

-

8:00 AM

Al Renn

Pat Gerber

10:30 AM

Judy Buss

Jessica Kirkpatrick

8:00 AM

Len Witt

Bob Bastian

10:30 AM

-

9:00 AM

Mark Weaver

Doug Newhard

8:00 AM

Paul Kesack

Al Renn

10:30 AM

8:00 AM

Hannah Matchett

Bree Sheldon

10:30 AM

Madison MacHose

Gabe DelRe

8:00 AM

Alyssa Cantrel

Alison Mengel

10:30 AM

Scouts

9:00 AM

Andrew Kalynych

Eddie Forstoffer

8:00 AM

Adam Reinhart

Hope Eisenhard

10:30 AM

8:00 AM

10:30 AM

Brian &

Wendy Panasik

8:00 AM

10:30 AM

Laytons

10:30 AM

8:00 AM

8:00 AM

P. Gerber

D. Stewart

10:30 AM

B. Rabinolds

D. William

8:00 AM

-

10:30 AM

-

9:00 AM

J. Younger

8:00 AM

-

10:30 AM 10:30 AM 10:30 AM

David Eck Brittan Shander

Calla Shander -

Honor a loved one, give thanks for an anniversary or accomplishment, or commemorate a loved one’s birthday or death by sponsoring flowers for our altar or by sponsoring our church bulletins. If you would like to celebrate in this way, please fill out a Altar Flower and/or Bulletin Dedication form along with payment of $40/$15 & submit to church office. Dedication forms are in the Narthex

DEDICATIONS FOR FEBRUARY, 2014 DEDICATIONS FOR MARCH, 2014

FLOWERS

($40)

BULLETINS

($15)

FLOWERS

($40)

BULLETINS

($15)

2/2 Chromiak Wassum

2/9 Scouts

2/16 Long

2/23 open

Scouts

Wassum

Hahn

3/2 open

3/9 open

3/16 Younger

3/23 open

3/30 open open open

Younger open open

If you would like to be a sponsor for any of these opens dates, request forms are in the Narthex or contact the church office .

Payment must be submitted with request .

Please note: Whenever we do not have dedications for flowers, there will be no Altar Flowers for that Sunday.

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February’s

Worship Services

February 2

4 th Sunday After The Epiphany

8:00 a.m. – Spoken Holy Communion

9:00 a.m. - Sunday School

10:30 a.m. – Holy Communion

February 9

5 th Sunday After The Epiphany

8:00 a.m. – Spoken Holy Communion

9:00 a.m. – Sunday School

10:30 a.m. – Worship - Boy Scout Sunday

February 16

6 th Sunday After The Epiphany

9:00 a.m. – Holy Communion

9:00 a.m. Sunday School

Congregational Finance Meeting

February 23

7 th Sunday After The Epiphany

8:00 a.m. – Spoken Holy Communion

9:00 a.m. – Sunday School

10:30 a.m. – Worship/

New Members Installed

It's Time to Lighten Up!

This is a strange time of year.

The days are short, the nights are long, and even though we dream of more daylight, we walk around hoping against hope that there won't be enough sunshine produced for a rodent (okay, a groundhog!) to see its own shadow. A quick scan of today's news can be equally as bleak. It is time for a little more light in an otherwise dark and dreary time.

Enter Epiphany. The missional emphasis of this season shines like a beacon of light and hope in the dead of winter, bringing good news in the middle of this world's not-so-good news. God provides the mission in Isaiah (58:1–9) —feed the hungry, care for the homeless, clothe the naked. Upon accomplishing this mission God tells the people, "Your light shall break forth like the dawn." Paul continues his Spirit-led mission, encouraging the church in Corinth,

"No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him." Jesus teaches his disciples, "You are the light of the world. . . .

Let your light shine before others" (Matt. 5:14,

16). Through these words in Jesus' sermon, he gives followers of every day and age a mission to share the light which scatters the darkness.

Whether you are looking in the news or out the window, things may seem pretty dark and dreary at this time of year, but do not miss the light of Epiphany! We are indeed created in

God's image; therefore the spark of the divine is alive in all of us. The light shines through us as we live out God's mission for our lives each day. As Epiphany continues, we should all be prepared to let our light shine and share the good news.

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February, 2014

A monthly publication of

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

417 Howertown Road

Catasauqua, PA 18032

610-264-3221

Church Office Hours

Monday-Friday

9:00am-3:00pm

Sunday School

September-June

9:00am

Child Care Center

Monday-Friday

7:30am-5:30pm

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

(Romans 8:28)

God’s Blessings from your Church Council

HAS ANY OF YOUR INFORMATION CHANGED RECENTLY?

If you move, changed phone or cell numbers, email addresses, or add members to your household, it is very important that you let the church office know so we can update all our information! It’s costly to have mail returned to the church due to incorrect or insufficient addresses. Even if the mail is forwarded, the church will be billed for the forwarding process. If you need to update any of your information, please stop by church office or call 610-264-3221

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