St.

Paul United Methodist

Church
February 2017
From Pastor Nathan
Over the past two years we have had some hard times at St. Paul UMC, theres no denying that fact. The phrase I have heard over and over from many people is that they are sorry that
Amy and I came during such a hard time and to such a difficult appointment. And its true this has
been an appointment that has had challenges that most others will not have to such a degree, but
that is what allowed for us to hit the ground running when we arrived here. Amy any I set our
focus at St. Paul towards the three steps necessary for our church to come back to life, three
steps that we always knew would probably take longer than the church could afford to keep us
around for. First, we needed to slow the rate that members were leaving. Second, we needed to
heal the bonds that had been broken; the relationships that had been damaged during the previous
months and years.
These first two steps needed to be done simultaneously, and we knew that it would take
time for them to truly take effect. These steps needed to be done first so that we could all be
reminded about why we come to church. They needed to be done so that we could begin the
process of being a family again. They needed to be done so that we could show the world that we
have what it takes to be the face of God in the world. Great strides have been made towards helping these steps to begin, and it is going to take many more years of work by our entire church
family before they are finished, but now is the time to begin working on step three: evangelism.
Evangelism is that ability for us all to talk about our faith with someone who may not yet
have come to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Thats all it is. This is a step that would have
been very difficult two years ago. Its difficult to talk about our faith when our faith family is in turmoil. Its difficult to invite someone to church when that church feels like its in shambles. Its difficult to share your story of faith, hope, and love that has been given to each of us, when we are
struggling to see that faith, hope, and love actively working within our midst. Therefore, the first
two steps needed to be well grounded in our church before we could begin reaching out to new
members.
But now is the time my friends. Steps one and two will continue to need to be worked
on, but now is the time to begin working on step three. Now is the time to invite your family
members to church who sit at home on Sunday wondering what this world is about. Now is the
time to invite your neighbor who is struggling. Now is the time to invite the gas station attendant
who feels life has gotten monotonous. Now is the time to invite your friend who has been scorned
by the church in the past. Now is the time to invite your coworker who is looking for a place to
belong. Now is the time to share your faith in Jesus Christ, a faith that has seen you through the
good times and the bad, a faith that has carried you throughout your life and is now longing to
carry others.
Your challenge during the month of February is to talk about your faith with at least two
people who havent heard it before. It can be a passing conversation with someone at the grocery
store or it can be over lunch. Find a time to tell someone about your favorite scripture and what it
means to you. Tell someone about your faith story and how you came to be a Christian. Tell
someone about the darkest time in your life and how your faith has helped you through that time.
Tell someone about how you know of a God who created each and everyone one of us, and how
God wants for every person to know of Gods love as much as God knows and loves them; rich
or poor, black, white, Hispanic or Asian, God wants to have a personal relationship with each person in our midst. Its our responsibility to introduce them.
Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on
earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And
surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20

St. Paul United

Methodist Church
618-372-3255
Office Hours
Tues, Thur, Fri 9:00-1:00

Thank You cards

Dear St. Paul Family
Thank you for the gift
that I received during
the Holiday. It was
greatly appreciated.
May you all have Joy,
Hope, Peace & Love
this year.
Happy New Year
Love, Cheryl

Thank you so much for

my Christmas love gift.
I appreciate you thinking of me during the
holidays.
God Bless You
Karen Klaffer

Dear St. Paul UMC,

Thank you for your
support of Mackenna
this past year. The
flowers that arrived
shortly after her birth
were beautiful and your
care for her until her
baptism was much
appreciated.
The Shoemaker Family

Baptism
Congratulations to
the Shoemaker
family on the baptism
of Mackenna on
January 8, 2017.

St. Paul United Methodist Church

Page 2

Fellowship, Fellowship, Fellowship

When: Sunday, February 12, 2017

Official Church Roll 2017

Ad Council Chairperson-Bob Watson

Following 10:00 am worship

Where: Upper Wesley

Lay Leader-Dorothy Schroeder

Cost: Free
Enjoy fellowship during our cookie exchange, light
luncheon and surprise.
Cookie ExchangeBring around 2 dozen homemade
or bakery cookies or store bought cookies,
or come with no cookies and have fun and
enjoy. To Go Cookie bags will be furnished.
Light LuncheonTurkey sandwiches, ham sandwiches,
chips, veggies and fruit fondue-drinks-punch,
coffee and water
Surprise??

Finance CommitteeJulia Watson-(Chair), Jill Shoemaker,

Tom Graham, Sylvia Skinner, Dorothy
Schroeder, Karen Porter, Jennifer Watson
Gushleff, Pat Laubscher
Board of TrusteesMatthew Shoemaker (Chair), Chuck
Porter, Lawrence Albert, Rob Butler, Sylvia
Skinner, Tom Graham (finance consultant)

Questions ??
See Barbara Miller or Phyllis Graham

Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee

(SPRC)Karen Porter (Chair), Dorothy
Schroeder, Barb Miller, Jill Shoemaker, Jenna
Garner, Ron Parres, Mindy Butler

Finances
Nominations CommitteeDorothy Schroeder, Karen Porter,
Abigail Stephens, Bev Kasten, Kathy Reinhardt

Weekly Offering:
Jan 1, 2017-$1841.
Jan 8, 2017-$957
Jan 15, 2017-$1020.
Jan 22, 2017-$730.
1/1/2016Budget

Designated

Beginning-$14,041.43

$14,387.63

Revenue 108,094.23

$15,213.58

Expenses-111,728.77

$11,489.91

12/31/16Ending-10,406.86

$18,011.30

Avg weekly income for 2016-$2,078.73

Avg weekly expense-$2,148.61