St. Pauls Lutheran Church of Hainesport

            Amy Troxell begins a one year internship with us on Wednesday, September 1st.  Amy has completed two years of campus work at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, where she will return after the internship is complete.

            Amy’s home congregation is Messiah Lutheran Church in Harrisburg, PA, where her parents and brother are also members. Amy attended school in the Central Dauphin School District, where her elementary computer teacher was Sandra Jost. After high school, Amy attended Susquehanna University and she graduated with a joint major in psychology and religion. Amy is engaged to be married in her senior year.

            Amy’s office will be located next to Pastor Jost’s and her phone extension will be 22. Amy will be assuming leadership in worship and education, as well as going on many of the visits that a pastor is expected to make.  She will also be woven into the reJOYce School/JOYfull House chapel schedule.

            The hardest part about coming to a large congregation is going to be the learning of 800 names, so please be sure to introduce yourself to Amy when you meet her (and probably a few more times after that!) She will with us in worship starting on the weekend of September 4th and 5th.

A Sending to Ministry
September 11/12
All Services  

    
            With the arrival of September comes the Bags Full of Blessings (formerly Blessings & Backpacks)--a time when we recognize the start of the new school year and offer a prayer for people as they go out into the world!  This was originally done for students going back to school.  But then, adults said, "Can't I bring my briefcase too?" Other adults asked "May I bring my insulated lunch bag/tote bag/attaché case as well?"
 
            On September 11th and 12th , if you bring your bag to worship we will offer a word of blessing for your daily work in the world!  When you arrive to worship, bring your bag forward and place it in front of the altar and we will pray for you at a special time during the worship service.  This is our congregation's way of letting you know that even when you are outside our walls, we are praying for you and with you.  We figure that if you start your school year in prayer and recognition of God's blessings it helps determine the course of the whole year.  It's like waking up in the morning and saying, "I am baptized!"  Washing your hands, brushing your teeth, or taking a bath helps to remind you of the waters of God's grace that wash over you each day!

          Are you looking way to spend time together as a family in faith development?  As we all know, parents and caregivers are the most important examples for children in modeling the Faithful Servant.  If your children see you active and happy in worship and other church functions, they will follow your lead and become faithful servants.
          St. Paul’s is VERY excited to offer a new opportunity in Faith Formation for families.  It is called TIME TOGETHER TUESDAYS (T³).  We will begin on SEPTEMBER 14 at 6:00 p.m. with dinner*.  This is a time that you are used to, but with the addition of a meal for your family to come together once a week—similar to our Advent and Lent Wednesdays of the recent past.
          Immediately following dinner, at 6:20 will be Story time (Pastor Jost) in the Parish Hall where a preview of the upcoming Sunday Lesson will be offered. At 6:30, children will be broken into small groups for singing and musical fun, just like what you have been accustomed to; Cherubs, Chapel and Chi Rho choirs.  During this brief 30 minute period, parents will be invited to choose from some activities. As of right now we have the following offerings:  assisting in preparing the learning activity for the evening,  being a part of one of the teams where you will be preparing for upcoming Tuesdays, OR joining other parents and caregivers in conversation of faith formation for families - giving time to any helpful conversation (Karla May).  From 7:00 to 7:15, families are invited to join in a learning activity that is based on the story of the week.  It will be a craft project, a service project, or a movement activity.
If you feel that your family cannot make the 6:00 dinner time, you can join in at any time during the evening’s activities.
          The dinner menu will rotate each Tuesday of the month. They will be set up something like the following: Mac & Cheese and Hotdogs, Subs with raw vegetables, Pizza with a salad or veggie, Spaghetti or lasagna, Chicken Nuggets & tater tots.
          All 6th - 12th grade youth are invited to assist Karla with the Taking Faith Home if they are not involved with the choirs.
          So the time is 6:00 until 7:15 for the Cherub and Chapel choirs and the Chi Rho choir will release at 7:30 pm.

          Come join us and invite a friend of any age - this is an intergenerational evening at St. Paul’s. We will have a sign up sheet for the first couple of weeks so we can plan dinner with minimal waste and cost.

         Any questions—see Karla May, Jackie Smith, Beth Haltmeier, Marge Swartz, Carrie Izzo, Krista Reed, or Lisa Burke.

Children's Choirs will be part of the Tuesday Family Nights beginning September 14th. There is something for all ages!

The Cherub Choir will be for children age 3 through first grade directed by Miss Marge. 

The Chapel Choir will be for second through sixth grade under the direction of Miss Beth and Miss Jackie.

The Chi Rho Choir is for 7th through 12th grade under the direction of Mrs. Jost.

The Cherubs will sing on the third Sunday of the month at the 11:00 am worship service. The Chapel Choir will sing the second Sunday at 11:00 am, and the Chi Rho Choir will sing the first Sunday at 11:00 am.  There will be other special times when we sing.

See the above article for details.

The Biloxi 6 will be returning soon! Welcome home: Kenzie Alexander, Caitlyn Roth, Kaitlyn Kazmierczak, Amanda Eagle, Deb Cotier, Karla May!