FEBRUARY 2012

“STRONG WOMEN” CLASSES BEGIN FEBRUARY 7

     Yes, there’s still time for women over 40 to sign up for the Mercer County Cooperative Extension’s “Strong Women” exercise class here at St. Paul’s on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, beginning Feb. 7.  You’ll get 12 weeks of fun and expert instruction.  But space is limited – phone 724-662-3141 to learn more or register.

BOWL-A-THON TO BENEFIT PRINCE OF PEACE CENTER

     We need you to register and/or donate by Sunday, Feb. 12, for the Prince of Peace Center’s annual bowl-a-thon on March 4th at Thornton Hall Bowling Lanes.  All participants (who must turn in at least $30 worth of donations on Feb. 12th) receive three games of bowling, shoe rental, t-shirt, lunch, and entry into bowler-exclusive prize drawings.  Don’t miss out on the fun!  Get your form from Dave Hall.

CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATES PRESIDENT TO VISIT

     This year, our Lenten missions calendar and boxes (which we’ll hand out at our Mardi Gras celebration on Feb. 19) will invite you to support the ministry of the Christian Associates of the Shenango Valley.  And we’ll have the president of Christian Associates, the Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Moore, as our special guest speaker at the Mardi Gras brunch!

     Why did we pick Christian Associates for our missions project this year?  Because they embody an important part of who we are here at St. Paul’s.  Christian Associates is about churches of many denominations and traditions working together, for the common good (Galatians 6:10), so that the world may see our unity and believe in Jesus Christ (John 17:21).  That vision is enshrined on the stained glass window above the altar, and it’s incorporated into our church’s mission statement.

     Be sure to join us on Mardi Gras Sunday and learn about the many ministries you’ll be supporting by your daily gifts this Lenten season.

GOD AND COUNTRY SCOUT AWARDS

     Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Brownies, interested in earning the God and Country award are invited to sign up for classes now forming. Each of the programs includes 6-8 sessions with Pastor Williamson and a parent or adult mentor selected by the Scout.  Interested Scouts should speak with our pastor no later than February 26th if they want to earn the award this spring. 

     There are four different awards Scouts can earn: “God and Me” is for grades 1-3 (Brownies, Tiger Cubs, and Cub Scouts).  Junior Girl Scouts and Webelos (grades 4-5) can earn the “God and Family” award.  “God and Church” is for Scouts in grades 6-8 (Boy Scouts and Cadettes).  The fourth award, “God and Life,” is for high school-age Scouts (including Boy Scouts, Explorers, Venturers, and Senior Girl Scouts).   To learn more, speak with Pastor Williamson.

CHRISTIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL FEBRUARY 26

     You’re invited to the annual music festival, sponsored by Christian Associates, on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 3:30 p.m. at Grace Community Chapel on Lamor Road.  Choirs, groups, and “praise teams” will thrill your soul as they share the many styles of sacred music that can be heard on Sunday mornings in churches throughout the Shenango Valley.  Admission is free (a free-will offering will be received) and light refreshments will be served afterwards.

FEBRUARY’S ITEMS for the Community Food Warehouse are cake mix and frosting.  Please place your donations on the table in front of the pulpit.

2012 SPRING RUMMAGE SALE ALERT

     Friday, May 4, and Saturday, May 5, are the dates to be marked on your calendar for our church’s rummage sale.  We are looking forward to another successful sale and know you are looking forward to clearing out unwanted (but clean and usable) items for someone else to use. Ask your relatives, friends, and neighbors to save their unwanted assortment of clean and usable items, and tell them of your willingness to take them off their hands for our sale.  Please bring items you may wish to donate to the Church after Easter (April 8) and prior to Thursday, May 3, which is the “set-up” date for the sale. 

     No items to donate?  No problem!  Your monetary donation will be gratefully accepted. All proceeds will be used to reduce our church’s financial deficit.

     Thank you for your willingness to participate in this project.

WHAT’S OUR STORY?

     Even as you read this, Larry Clarke’s son, Bill, is hard at work, writing a definitive 150th anniversary history of St. Paul’s Church.  His goal is to have it written, proofread, revised, printed, and ready for you to purchase on Sunday, May 20, when we’ll celebrate our sesquicentennial with a special luncheon.

     But where does St. Paul’s fit into the larger history of the church of Jesus Christ?  How did we grow from a handful of men and women following Jesus into a worldwide religion with thousands of denominations, hundreds of thousands of churches, and millions of people? 

     Join the Thursday Prayer Group at noon in the Cogley Library, beginning February 23, for six weeks of study, discussion, and breathtaking videos as we learn our story.  Feel free to bring a bag lunch or a snack, and be sure to invite a friend!

WORSHIP LEADERS FOR FEBRUARY

Acolytes: February 12 – Adam Krieder, February 19 – Renae Magargee, February 26 – Allison Krieder.

Altar Guild: Bill and Karen Mitcheltree.

Greeters:  (Nametags are in the Narthex) February 12 – Karen & Bill Mitcheltree, February 19 – Linda & Jonathan Willey, February 26 – Karen & Bill Mitcheltree.

Lay Readers: February 12 – Ralph Fisher, February 19 – Shirley Gibson, February 26 – Robin Black.

Ushers:  (Nametags are in the Narthex) February 12 – Monica & Frank Krieder and Karen & Bill Mitcheltree; February 19 – Nate Willey, Mark Rainier, and Linda & Jonathan Willey; February 26 – Linda & Jonathan Willey and Karen & Bill Mitcheltree.