St. Paul's United 
Church of Christ
 A Community of Caring
900 Summit Avenue
St. Paul -  Minnesota
    651-224-5809

Picture of Saint Paul's Church

An 
Open
and 
Affirming
Congregation
 

CHRISTIAN ED VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
 Please consider leading the children’s learning session for Journey of Faith Night.  The commitment is about once per month on Wednesday evenings.  A simple  lesson plan will be provided in advance. 

Each week, we’ll need two adult volunteers to lead the learning session from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m.  Patricia McKee will design a lesson plan and have it to each of the volunteers by Monday morning prior to that Wednesday’s lesson.  The goal is that no volunteer will need to lead a children’s education time more than once per month.  Once you’ve been scheduled, you’ll need to find your own replacement in case of absence.  Please contact Patricia McKee with any questions at 612-770-4881 or patriciamckee@netzero.net    

Deliver Meals on Wheels

Do you have an hour a month to help your neighbors?  Team up with Edgcumbe's drivers and make some new connections!  Southwest Area Meals on Wheels needs drivers.  The folks at Edgcumbe Presbyterian would like to invite you to join us driving the 4th Tuesday of every month.  Contact Sid at 651-699-4481 if you are able to volunteer to deliver meals to the most appreciative and needy in our midst.
Discover Ushering
We have a new usher program called "Discover Ushering".  It's a new program for people form the last year of confirmation an beyond to experience the Satisfaction of ushering. of more information talk to Gary M.

"Partners in Ministry" - Opportunities

THE PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
Update
We are continuing our Prayer Shawl ministry and we have need for more adult shawls.  If you would like to participate, there are a number of ways to do so.   If you would like to make a shawl, easy-to-follow instructions (knit, crochet, or no-sew hand-tied fleece) are in the brochure rack in the narthex (lobby). 
Throughout the past year, many (men, women,  children, infants, and those with injuries, illnesses, challenges, pregnancy, grieving, etc.) have received a prayer shawl from the church. 
One receiver said: “Wrapping the shawl around myself was like getting a much needed hug when there was no one there to do so”.
The prayer shawls can be hand or machine knit, crocheted, sewn, or polar-fleece hand-tied.  Prayers are said for the recipient while they are being made.
To keep this wonderful healing ministry going, we are calling on volunteers and donations. 
The suggested donation is $15-20 for materials, but any amount helps.  White envelopes labeled “Prayer Shawl Ministry” and/or instructions (knitting, crocheting, or polar-fleece hand-tying) can be found on the brochure rack in the narthex (lobby) or mailed to you by calling the office at 651-224-5809.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry is new at St. Paul’s UCC but it is an ancient tradition, dating back centuries.  The  shawls/ quilts are a way to wrap, enfold, comfort, give solace, warmth and a hug all at once to a person in need.
They can be made in different ways but are all symbolic of God’s all inclusive, unconditional love for each one of us.

The shawl/quilts are a considerable gift of time, love and care shown by their maker(s).  Throughout the preparation from purchasing the raw materials and with each stitch or tie, a prayer is said for the person who will eventually receive the shawl. They can be hand-knit (the most common form), machine knit, crocheted or polar-fleece hand-tied for those of us who are not able to knit or crochet.
 

Each shawl is truly a project of compassion and love. A supply of  10 shawls needs to be on hand to get the project started.  When the Pastors know of persons who are in need of support because they are facing a time of challenge in their life, they will deliver a bag to the individual.   In the bag with the shawl/quilt will be a card of support telling the story of the history of the shawls/quilts and a copy of the prayer said as they were made.  The Holy Spirit leads each one of us if we just listen.
 
Here’s how the Holy Spirit brought this wonderful ministry to St. Paul’s UCC:
 While shopping in a fabric store during the Christmas holidays, Anita McCarthy met a friend she hadn’t seen in a long while. She was holding several skeins of beautiful, homespun yarn. The friend said she “was purchasing the yarn for the ladies at her church who were knitting Prayer Shawls. Then Pastors would share the Prayer Shawls with those in need.” Anita expressed an interest in learning more about this “Prayer Shawl” Ministry thinking it might be something we would welcome at St. Paul’s UCC.
After her friend shared all the patterns and information, Anita then shared the idea and information with Pastor Matt and the Working Women’s Group.  All agreed that it was a great ministry worth pursuing here at St. Paul’s.  Several beautiful hand-knitted shawls have already been donated to get the supply started.

Here’s how the Holy Spirit moved some of us with different skills to find some new ways to add to the hand-knitted style of shawl/quilt:
When it was mentioned, one of our church members made and donated a beautiful loom-knitted style. Many other people and groups have shown interest in making one or more shawls/quilts. They range from expert knitters, crocheters and weavers to young people who have made the popular hand-tied polar-fleece quilts for friends.

Here’s how the Holy Spirit urges anyone to get involved in this exciting new Holy Spirit led ministry at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ:
1.  ANYONE CAN MAKE A DONATION: An envelope entitled Prayer Shawl Ministry will be in the white information case in the narthex. “If you replace the yarn or fabric, we will knit and knot with prayer and care” is the slogan of those who work on this ministry. Approximately $15-20 is the suggested donation for the purchase of the materials to make a prayer shawl/quilt. Please be sure to use the envelopes designated and/or note on your check that your donation is specifically for the ST. PAUL’S  PRAYER SHAWL/QUILT MINISTRY.   
2.  HAND-KNITTED STYLE DIRECTIONS: The directions to make the hand-knitted shawls are available in the white information case in the narthex. The pattern can be followed exactly or for those highly-skilled knitters or crocheters you can vary it according to your creativity.
3. POLAR-FLEECE DIRECTIONS: The directions to make the polar-fleece hand-tied shawls will soon be available. These can be made at an event-“Many hands make light work”.  For example, a group can chat while their hands tie a polar-fleece quilt and their hearts say prayers of comfort and support of the one who will receive it.  In an hour a group will have made a quilt of love.

There are lots of ways to join in the New Ministry at St. Paul’s.  To learn more about this exciting way to share God’s love with those in need, please see Anita McCarty.

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Special Opportunities for Service
bullet One, Two...and Counting
 As our ministry and needs become more visible we would like to solicit for a second counter on Mondaymornings. Every Monday, Bev S count the monies that have been
contributed to the church in the previous week.  
bullet The Food Barrel enables us through the New Beginnings Center to reach out and touch someone with kindness. You may bring these non-perishable food donations not only during thisholiday season but all year long.
bullet Greeters - Again, we need Greeters for the new year ahead.  Greeters are the people - who welcome you when you enter the church for the 10:30 service.  Greeters are important especially to welcome guests when they arrive.  The Greeting period is either 2 weeks or a month at a time.  Please call the church office 651-224-5809 or email church office at spoffice@comcast.net
bullet Library Committee
 Assistance is needed to catalogue and maintain the Library in the Fireside Room, if interested, call or email church office at spoffice@comcast.net
bullet Outreach Committee
 Members needed to actively assist with current outreach programs, if interested, call or email
church office spoffice@comcast.net
bullet Sign up Opportunities
 Please sign up on the board sheets (located in Fireside Room) to do the following:
  • Sponsor Altar Flowers ($40 payable to SPUCC)
  • Sponsor Coffee Hour (bring your own food)
  • Sponsor Service Bulletin ($10 payable to SPUCC)
  • Volunteer being Lay Reader
 

UNITED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY HOSTS PILGRIMAGE TO RUSSIA
"Seeking the Face of Christ in Russia: An Experiential Pilgrimage”  January 12-23, 2009
This pilgrimage is designed to build deeper bridges of cultural and spiritual understanding between American Christianity and the Orthodox faith in Holy Russia, introducing participants to the theology, spirituality,and philosophy of the Orthodox Church in Russia.
In community, we will experience the arts and practices of Russian religious tradition. We will be enriched by entering into spiritual practices of another witness to Christ, personalized itineraries to monasteries, artist studios, iconography schools, seminaries, orphanages, and cultural centers, to name a few.

For more information, see our Web site at www.unitedseminary.edu or call 651.255.6137.

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May God's Blessing Be Upon You