St Paul Church

St. Paul Church of Epleyanna has a page on Facebook and we would love for you to search for it, “Like” it and share it with your friends and family! It’s a great way to keep up to date with what’s happening at the church. Awana reminders are posted there along with other activities throughout the week. Also, check out our website (right here!) to see pictures from our Fall Party and also to hear Pastor Scott’s weekly sermons!! Yes, you read it ~ sermons ON-LINE!!

And a little advance tip from your friendly “techie”: We plan to be on Twitter soon, also. Eventually, we’ll be “tweeting” up-to-the-minute announcements there.

Please join us for a reception honoring Robert and Neva Wise’s 65th Anniversary, Sunday, November 20th, immediately after the worship service. (Rumor has it there will be cake…)

We have three new babies that have been welcomed into our church family and it is our wish to recognize them and their families and “shower” them with our love and support. We will be honoring them on Sunday, November 13th with a reception in their honor following our worship service.

There is a table set-up in the Narthex for those of you wishing to contribute to the gift baskets that will be given. Thank you for sharing your love with the newest additions to our St. Paul Church family.

The Annual Stateline Ministerial Thanksgiving Worship service will be held on Sunday, November 20th at 7pm at the Winneshiek Evangelical Free Church located at 3842 E. Winneshiek Road.

Pastor Tom Bourke of the Dakota UMC will deliver the message of thanks and praise to God for all His blessings.

The freewill offering will be given to the FACC (Freeport Area Church Cooperative), and those attending are asked to bring canned goods to be donated to the Faith Community Food Pantry in Davis, which is available to our community the third Saturday of each month.

The Awana staff is looking for a few people that would be willing to get the Fellowship Hall ready for Awana each Wednesday and then set it back up for Sunday. This entails taking tables down and arranging chairs. If you would be willing to help out in the way, please give April a call in the church office and she can give you further details.

It has been a long standing tradition at St. Paul to honor and remember those members of our congregation that have passed on to glory this past church year. Totenfest will be observed during our worship service on Sunday, November 20th. This service of remembrance is always a moving and special time as we celebrate those that have gone before us in the faith: Mirla Miller, Elsie Welling, Wilmer Smith, Carol Schoonhoven, Jerry Henze, Pearl Clark, Lenny Marty, Fred Meinert, Connie Dornink and Josie Schlueter. We will also recognize and pray for those families that are friends of the church, and held services for and/or laid to rest their loved ones here at St. Paul: Betty Maize, Kristin Kloster, Ron Reed. We will also be dedicating any memorials given to the church during this service as well.

Looking for a night out with the ladies? Well, you will have that opportunity on Friday, December 2nd! We are planning an evening of food and fun in Pecatonica. We will gather at Cimino’s for dinner and then go to the Pec Playhouse Theater to see “Christmas Belles.” Tickets for the play are $10 and will be ordered on November 7th. A sign up sheet will be passed around October 31st and November 7th, or you can let Amy McKee or April Zettle know if you’re interested in attending. Dinner will be at 6:30pm with the play beginning at 8pm.

Here’s a bit of info about the play:

Christmas Belles, a church Christmas pageant spins wildly out of control as three squabbling sisters try to reign in the mayhem. Amidst an ailing Santa, a vengeful sheep, and a reluctant Elvis impersonator, a family secret emerges that just might derail the entire production. And on top of everything else, the pageant will be shown live on cable access television for the first time ever. Christmas Belles will bring joy to your world!

The Building and Grounds committee is looking for people that would be willing to help with the snow removal this winter. It would be nice to have eight people to help with this so each set of two would only be responsible for one week each month. Please talk with Lonny Schlueter if you would be willing to help serve your church in this way.

Family Life Ministries Presents: The Art of Marriage

• Friday, February 3rd – 7pm-9:30pm
• Saturday, February 4th – 9am-4pm

at Highland Community College Conference Center

A marriage refresher. The opportunity to refresh your marriage and grow stronger in your love for each other. Cost is $50 per couple and includes the cost of materials and lunch on Saturday. Any questions, ask Pastor Scott or Sue.

As the holiday season is quickly approaching, we are beginning preparations for our part of the Christmas Eve service. In order for us to prepare, we would like to know which Preschool—2nd grade children will be participating in the Christmas Eve service. If you can let Kristi Krahmer or April Zettle know by Thanksgiving, we would appreciate it so we know approximately how many children to plan for.

We know that this is a busy time of year, but we would like, if at all possible, that the children participating in the Christmas Eve service try to attend at least 2 Sunday school classes from November 27th—December 18th. This will allow the children to learn and practice the songs that we will be singing for the program. Thank you for your efforts in helping us have a wonderful Christmas Eve program! We all know the congregation loves seeing the kids say their pieces and sing their songs! Help us keep the tradition going!

Photos from our Fall Party (and Trunk-n-Treating) are now available here on our website and on our Facebook page. Different photos at each site, so be sure to check them both out!

St Paul Church is now on Facebook. Find us. “Like” us. Share us with your friends and family! Just go to www.facebook.com/StPaulChurch.

To share a link to any page or posting on our website, just click on the Share/Save button. To “like” a page or posting, click on the “Like” button. Or … do both!

On Sunday, October 9th during our 10:30am worship service, Rev. Robert Schroeder, Area Representative of the CCCC will join us for an Installation Service for Pastor Scott.  This is a very special time in the life of our church and we encourage you to be a part of this special service.

In true St. Paul fashion, we will share in a potluck meal following the service as we “officially” welcome Pastor Scott and Sue to our church family.  Please bring a dish or two for sharing and your table service.  Drinks will be provided.

There were 15 ladies that attended our ‘Back to School for the Christian’ event.  We started out the evening by ‘getting to know your friends’.  We had a devotion and learned some back to school tips that we need to apply in our Christian life.  We had ‘show and tell’ time where we all shared our school yearbook or photo (and a few laughs).   We ended the evening with a ‘milk and cookies’ snack.  What a great night of fellowship and fun.  If you missed this event, stay tuned for the next!

We would like to encourage you to look for the Box Top for Education labels on items that you purchase.  Each box top is worth 10 cents and will be used to help the schools.  It’s much like collecting Campbell’s soup  labels.  Please place your labels and box tops in the box under the table at the bulletin board and we will make sure they get delivered to the school.  Thank you for helping our students.

Just a reminder that the time for Sunday School and Worship will change for the winter months beginning on October 2nd. Sunday School will meet at 9:30 AM, with Worship following at 10:30 AM.

Cuz He Calls will be leading our worship service.

Justin Schlueter will be leading our Worship Service.

It is a bittersweet day for the congregation of St. Paul Church. While we are excited about our new pastor joining us in July, we are very saddened to say goodbye to Pastor Dick Thompson.

Pastor Dick came to us as a short-term, “interim” pastor, but ended up serving in faithful ministry to us for five years. During that time, he has truly become a part of our family.

We wish you all the best, Pastor Dick, and hope that you’ll keep in touch and come back to visit soon … and often.

5/15/2011    Recognition of Graduates during Morning Worship

5/1/2011   Confirmation Sunday

4/29/11 & 4/30/11   Church Garage Sale   8AM – 4PM

4/17/2011   Confirmands give their Statement of Faith during morning worship.