Christmas Program and Services

Sunday School Christmas Program
December 16th at 11:00 a.m.

Christmas Candlelight Services

December 24th at 7:00 p.m. & 11:00 p.m.

 

 

Thanksgiving dinner is Sunday, Nov. 11

St. Paul will have a Thanksgiving dinner Sunday, Nov. 11, at noon in Fellowship Hall. All are invited!

The church will provide the turkey, stuffing and potatoes, and members are asked to bring a dish to pass. Donations are being collected to offset the cost of the main dishes. Sign-up sheets for the potluck are at both entrances.

There will be just one service that weekend at 11 a.m. Sunday. Please join us in giving thanks for our many blessings and celebrating with food and fellowship!

Make an appointment for the church photo directory

St. Paul is doing a new church photo directory!

You do not have to pay to have your photo taken, and you will receive a complimentary 8x10 portrait and directory just for participating. You will be able to view your images immediately after photography and purchase additional portraits to share with family and friends, if you wish. You will receive a $10 off coupon toward your portrait purchase if you provide your e-mail address when you sign up.

Sign-up starts Oct. 27-28 and continues for the next three weekends in the gathering area, but online scheduling starts now--just click on the button below and select the date and time that works best for you.

Lifetouch will take photos from 2:30-8:50 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, to Friday, Dec. 7, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, in Fellowship Hall. Please plan to spend about an hour at church to not only have your picture taken, but also view, select and purchase your portraits.

Please do not miss out on this opportunity to build community at St. Paul!

Organist to give recital Sunday, Oct. 28

Church organist Ross Jallo will give an organ recital at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28. Hear selections from Bach, Buxtehude and more on the recently restored organ, then stay for a reception in Fellowship Hall.

Trunk-or-treat planned for Sunday, Oct. 28

St. Paul will have trunk-or-treat, a family-friendly Halloween event, at noon Sunday, Oct. 28, in the parking lot, followed by lunch in Fellowship Hall.

Adults are encouraged to decorate the trunks of their cars, wear a costume and hand out candy. Children are urged to dress in costume and trick-or-treat at church.

Adults interested in participating should sign up on the sheet posted on the bulletin board in the gathering area.

"Unbinding Your Heart" starts Sunday

St. Paul is one of many churches in our area and across the country taking part in a two-year project called "Unbinding the Gospel."

Dozens of members already have signed up to be a part of several small groups that will spend six weeks studying "Unbinding Your Heart" and sharing and growing in their faith.

Groups meet throughout the week, starting Sunday. Group meeting days and times are as follows:

SUNDAYS:

--9:30-10:45 a.m. Pastor Janet

--9:30-10:45 a.m. Chris Steder and Brenda Nailor

MONDAYS:

--10-11:15 a.m. Marge Asplund and Virginia Burnell

--5-6 p.m. John and Barb Strom

--7-8:15 p.m. Joyce Craney and Cassandra Rodgers

TUESDAYS:

--10:30-11:45 a.m. Leo Patterson and Jeff Fisher

THURSDAYS:

--12-1:15 p.m. Glenna Switzer and Georgiana Bollman (Bring a sack lunch.)

Those interested in participating still have time to sign up, either on the sheets on the table in the gathering area or by calling Kayla in the church office at (815) 288-2757.

Blood drive Sept. 13 at St. Paul

Every 2 seconds, someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion. Please consider donating.

St. Paul is hosting a drive from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or go to www.redcrossblood.org to make an appointment.

Rally Day celebration set for Sept. 9

St. Paul Lutheran Church will have a Rally Day celebration Sunday, Sept. 9.

Rally Day is an annual celebration to kick off the new year of worship and Sunday School.

The celebration will begin with a worship service at 9 a.m. The children of St. Paul, as well as those from the community, and their families are invited to join us for worship; the children will be asked to sing one of the songs they learned at Vacation Bible School. Families will be encouraged to register for Sunday School.

The celebration continues with food and activities, including a puppet show, face painting and other games.

All are invited. For more information, call the church office at 815-288-2757 or e-mail stpaullc@grics.net.

Church picnic with outdoor service July 1

The St. Paul church picnic is this Sunday, July 1!

Join us for an outdoor worship service under the shade trees at 10 a.m., then stay for a potluck lunch (The church is providing hamburgers, brats and hot dogs.) and games and activities for children and adults. Bring a lawn chair, a dish to pass and your own table service--and consider bringing a friend!

Ladies breakfast planned for July 12

The St. Paul WELCA morning circle will meet for breakfast at the White Pines Inn at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 12. Any ladies of St Paul who would like to attend should make their reservations by contacting Lois Krieger at (815) 284-5042 or the church office at (815) 288-2757 by July 9. Anyone who needs a ride should let Lois or the church secretary know; arrangements will be made. Ladies do not need to be a member of a circle to attend; all ladies of St. Paul and guests are welcome.

Vacation Bible School is June 25-29

St. Paul Lutheran Church is hosting Vacation Bible School from 8:30-11:30 a.m. June 25-29. The theme is "Splash in God's Word" and immerses kids in scripture through faith-filled games, science activities, crafts, music and more!

All kids (age 3 by January 2012) through fifth grade are welcome. Registration is free, although donations will be accepted throughout the week.

Registration forms are available at the church and must be returned to the church by June 18.

For more information, call (815) 288-2757 or e-mail stpaullc@grics.net.

Hope to see you there!

Join us for Holy Week

St. Paul will have services and special events to mark Holy Week. The schedule is as follows:

• Maundy Thursday: Meal in the upper room service (reservations required) at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 5.
• Good Friday: Community services at noon and 12:45 p.m. Friday, April 6. Tenebrae service at 7 p.m.
• Easter Vigil: Easter Vigil service at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 7.
• Easter Sunday: Easter Sunday services at 8:15 and 11 a.m. Sunday, April 8. Easter egg hunt and Easter breakfast at 9:30 a.m.

Please join us for this very special time.

Midweek Lenten services begin Feb. 29

St. Paul Lutheran Church will have midweek Taizé prayer services at 7 p.m. Wednesdays during Lent, Feb. 29-March 28.


Taizé is a simple service of prayer, meditation and songs. Taizé service originated in Taizé, Saône-et-Loire, Burgundy, France. The Taizé Community is an ecumenical monastic order started by Brother Roger Schutz devoted to peace and justice through prayer and meditation. Through the community’s ecumenical outlook, they are encouraged to live the spirit of kindness, simplicity and reconciliation.


St. Paul also will have soup and sandwich suppers for a free-will offering at 6 p.m. Wednesdays during Lent. Please join us for this time of fellowship and prayer during Lent! 

Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m.

St. Paul Lutheran Church is having an Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22. Please join us as we begin our Lenten journey!

Pastor-parents get-together is Sunday

Parents of all youth through eighth grade are invited for coffee and doughnuts during the Sunday School hour Sunday in Fellowship Hall. Come for conversation with the pastor and get to know each other! Please join us!

Pastor-parents get-together is Feb. 12

Parents of all youth through eighth grade are invited for coffee and doughnuts during the Sunday School hour Sunday, Feb. 12, in Fellowship Hall. Come for conversation with the pastor and get to know each other! Please join us!

Annual congregational meeting is Sunday, Jan. 29

The annual congregational meeting will be held between services Sunday, Jan. 29. Save the date!


Please turn in your reports to Kayla in the church office as soon as possible!

Volunteers needed for Lenten services

St. Paul needs more people to serve as greeters/ushers and worship assistants during Lent.

Midweek Lenten services are on the following Wednesdays: Feb. 22, Feb. 29, March 7, March 14, March 21, March 28. Maundy Thursday is April 5. Good Friday is April 6. The Easter Vigil is April 7.

We have only a small group of people signed up to serve at regular Sunday services, and we would like to gather more people to help out during Lent.

Please call Kayla in the church office to sign up. Thank you!

Barnabas Ministry workshop is Saturday, Jan. 14

St. Paul Lutheran Church is hosting a Barnabas Ministry workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14.

The workshop is open to anyone in the congregation, especially those who feel called to a ministry of caring for the elderly, shut-in and hospitalized. Barnabas Ministry is a simple, effective program to train volunteers to give care.

Call the church office at (815) 288-2757 to sign up.