St Paul Church

The church office will be closed New Year’s Day.

On Sunday, December 28th, Justin Schlueter will be with us during our 10:30am worship to present a morning message entitled “From Filth to Beauty.” Justin will also be sharing with us during our 9:30am Sunday school hour about his call to ministry, the seminary to which he has been accepted and his request for a scholarship from the St. Paul Theological Fund. Please join us on December 28th at 9:30am for an informal gathering to hear Justin’s presentation. Decisions regarding his request will be made at the annual meeting.

With the start of the New Year, the church office would like to update our church records. So, we are asking EACH HOUSEHOLD to fill out the form in the newsletter [also available online in PDF format] and return it to the church office either via mail, email or bring it with you when you come to worship. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call or email the church office. The email is still stpaulucc[at]stateline-isp.com (replace “[at]” with “@”) — we are in the works of getting this changed, but have had some “snags” along the way. We would like all updates to the church office by January 11th. Thank you for your help in the update.

January 18, 2009 – Annual Meeting potluck with meeting following at approximately 12:30 pm.

January 6, 2009 – Annual Reports mailed. If you would like us to keep yours here for pick up, please let April know!

January 5, 2009 at 6pm – Council meeting to assemble Annual Reports.

January 19, 2009 at 7pm – Council meeting with newly-elected members.

January 4, 2009 – All reports due to the church office.

December 31, 2008 – Church books close. All recorded contributions should be made by this date.

The Church Council has set the following dates regarding the Annual Report and Meeting:

• December 31, 2008—Church books close—all recorded contributions should be made by this date.
• January  4,  2009—All reports due to the church office (If you can have them to the office earlier, that would be greatly appreciated!)
• January 5, 2009— 6pm Council meets to assemble Annual Reports
• January  6,  2009—Annual Reports mailed.   If you would like us to keep yours here for pick up, please let April know!
• January  18,  2009— Annual Meeting Potluck with meeting following at approximately 12:30pm.   Please bring a dish or two to share and your table service.   Drinks will be provided.

Youth Fellowship will meet on January 4th at 6:30pm to take the tree down. We will also enjoy a time of games, fun, and fellowship. We will meet on January 25th at 6:30pm. Please bring your schedules for 2009 as we will be planning upcoming events including a ski-trip, water park trip and a possible lock in. We look forward to seeing you there!

Freeport Industrial Roofing has completed the re-roofing of the fellowship hall and Sunday school wings and has come in $2,900.00 under their bid.  The final cost of the  roofing  project is $81,100.00.  Of  that, $24,457.54 will come from the Capital Campaign, $13,500.00 from our PrimeVest Account, and $1,642.46 from Garage Sale proceeds,  leaving a balance of $41,500.00 borrowed from the Endowment Fund. The Council would like to let you know that you can contribute to the cost of the new roof by earmarking your gifts to either the Roof Project or Capital Campaign.  Thank  you  to  those that have already contributed to this project and for those that will now that the project is complete.  May God guide you as you give.

We will be working on a new telephone/address directory during the month of January,  so if you have had any changes to what is listed in the 2008 directory, please contact the church office at 815-865-5314 as soon as possible. This includes telephone and email changes.   Thank you!

The Board of Christian Education is seeking Leaders/Teachers/Helpers for our Sunday school program. We are in need of additional leaders/helpers for the preschool class, the Rotation Sunday school program for Kindergarten through 5th grade, as well as the Jr. High class. Information and sign-up sheets for the Rotation Sunday school program are posted on the bulletin board that is on the wall near the Sunday school rooms. If you are interested in helping with this program or any other class or want additional information, please contact Karen Kleckner or April at the church office. All parents are encouraged to help and will likely find the lessons easy to follow and understand.

The members of the Freeport Mennonite Church will hold their annual meat canning project January 15th & 16th at 4380 E. Brick School Road and are encouraging community churches to get involved with this mission project.

If you would like to volunteer your time and talents, please feel free to contact Larry Pfile at 815-449-2516 or if you’d just like to see what it’s all about, contact Pastor David Schrader at 815-449-2251 or speak with Mike Zettle.

Word has been received that Dorothy Reiman, daughter of former St. Paul Pastor, Rev. William Reiman passed away in Naples, Florida in May.   Her memorial service was held in Florida in November.

Robert Reiman,  Rev. Reiman’s son,   celebrated  his 90th birthday  in June.   He resides in Michigan.

Rev. William Reiman was a pastor at St. Paul in the 1920s.

Women’s  Fellowship  will  not  meet  in  January.   Bible  studies  in  the  Gospel  of  Luke will  resume  in  February  2009.

December is always a busy month for the choirs. Now comes January and the schedule should be more normal. I do want to thank all who were active in our choir and bell programs at St. Paul for the Christmas season. It really presents some challenges at times due to weather and people’s busy lives, but it all worked out. We were able to keep our reputation for providing live music for the season and for the glory of God!

January’s schedule starts out with the Senior Choir practicing December 30th at 7pm. That is a Tuesday, but figured people would not want to do it on New Year’s Eve. We are due to sing January 4th.

If all goes according to schedule, the Women’s Choir would be singing January 11th and the Men on the 18th. The Men’s Chorus should practice January 14th at 7:30pm if possible. The women should check with Lois to see what their schedule for rehearsal will be.

Cub Scouts meetings:

• Monday, January 5, 2009 at 6pm
• Monday, January 12, 2009 at 6pm
• Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 6pm (Pack Meeting)
• Monday, January 26, 2009 at 6pm

Cub Scout Pinewood Derby:

• set-up on January 22, 2009
• check-in and trial runs on January 23, 2009, from 6pm to 8pm
• derby on January 24th – Congregation invited to come cheer on the Scouts!

Home Extension in Fellowship Hall, January 9th at 1pm

Awana meeting in January:

• 7th at 6pm – Crazy hat/sunglasses night
• 14th at 6pm – Pajama/slippers night
• 21st at 6pm – Cowboy/cowgirl night – boots, bandanas, stick ponies
• 28th at 6pm

Installation of new Council members – during Worship service on January 25, 2009 at 10:30am.

Confirmation:

• January 4, 2009 at 5:30pm.
• January 11, 2009 at 5:30pm.
• January 25, 2009 at 5:30pm.

Christmas Eve pageant at 7:30 PM on December 24th. Music prior, beginning at about 7:10.