The February Epistle
Transfiguration: Amazing Then and Now
(taken from Sundays and Seasons)
Imagine what would happen if someone from the days of Jesus were suddenly transported to our present. How would someone accustomed to walking everywhere respond to driving in a car at top speed, let alone flying in a jet? How would someone who spends their life depending on—at best—oil lamps for light respond to electric lights? It is fun to muse at how people might respond, as we reflect on how sophisticated we are.
Now imagine if the scene were reversed. How would someone accustomed to understanding much in the world around them respond to an event as otherworldly as the transfiguration? We understand volcanoes and the northern lights. We can explain lightning and thunder. We know about germs and disease transmission. So what would we do when confronted with something so amazing, awesome, and unexplainable?
The transfiguration is one of those ancient events that still puzzle us. What really happened to Jesus that day? Since we cannot go back to that time, we are left to speculate. We take stabs in the dark and make educated guesses, but at the end of the day we are left with a holy mystery to ponder.
Whatever happened that day, there is a timeless spiritual reality behind the physical details Mark gives us. God sometimes uses extreme and amazing methods to transform us when we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit. God's spirit transfigured Jesus then. That same Spirit is still transforming people today. We don't have to explain first-century miracles to trust that God's transforming Spirit is timeless and at work within each of us today. We do not have to understand everything to see the beauty of God at work in the world, continually transfiguring us into the people we were created to be.
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The proposed 2016 budget (enclosed in this newsletter)was carefully reviewed & discussed. On a motion, it was unanimously approved by Council to send to the Congregation on February 21 for approval.
Our annual congregational financial meeting will be on February 21. We will be approving the financial report for the year 2015, and approving the budget for the year 2016. Please make every effort to attend. Your presence and input is greatly needed. Meeting will be held following 9:00amworship service
Important: At last year’s congregational meeting in April you approved a motion
to change the constitutionally mandated quorum from 50 members to have 10% of the voting members or 50 voting members, whichever is the lesser
So it’s very important to make sure your voting status is active. According to our constitution C8.02c:
Voting members are confirmed members. Such confirmed members, during the current or preceding calendar year, shall have communed in this congregation and shall have made a contribution of record to this congregation.Members of this congregation who have satisfied these basic standards shall have the privilege of voice and vote at every regular and special meeting of the congregation.
Sunday, April 24 following the morning worship service.There will be only one service that morning beginning at 9:00 a.m.
NOTE: All Committee Reports are due no later than March 15th.
Child Care Center News
The month of love and friendship has arrived! All month long we will talk about the love we have for our families and our love of friendships for each other. We will celebrate Groundhog’s Day on the 2nd and make special crafts of Punxsutawney Phil. On Tuesday, February 9th, we will have Donut Day which means donuts for snack. Our Valentine’s Day parties will be held this month and the children will get to exchange valentines with one another.
St. Paul’s Child Care Staff would like to wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day!
Cynthia Hickey & Amanda Fritz
Child Care Director &
Assistant Child Care Director
Hospital Visits: If you or someone you know is admitted into the hospital or rehabilitation facility, it is very important to notify the church as soon as possible. You can do this by either calling the church office directly or inform the hospital upon admittance that you are a member of St. Paul’s and they will list you under our Pastoral Code 312
PLEASE NOTE: During our transition of calling a new pastor & waiting for an interim pastor, Pastor George Spieker has graciously agreed to do funerals, weddings, and crises for St. Paul’s members.
In case of inclement weather, it might become necessary to cancel a church service. Worship service will normally not be cancel, although it is possible in case of a State of Emergency. If this happens,
information will be posted on Ch69WFMZ –TV church listings and on WFMZ Website:
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We will be listed as ST PAULS LUTHERAN-CATASAUQUA
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Please keep in your prayers this month:
Steve Chromiak,Devin Stanley,
Phyllis & John Bechtold,
Rena Ackerman,Ann Harding, Lee Ann Miller,
Richard Collins, Norbert Huber &David Rickey
You may contact the church office for addresses for cards and well wishes
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Catasauqua Food Bank Needs:
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Drop in at Redner’s in Whitehall or Northampton and get a free Save-a-Tape card. Present it at the register when you pay for your purchases, then bring your receipts to the church. Every $5,000 in Redner’s receipts earns St. Paul’s Church $50!
Volunteer Coordinator: Julie Stauffer
Soda Tabs: For the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. The PRMH provides housing to the families of patients in the local children's hospitals, and the soda tabs are a huge boost to the charity's finances. Bring your tabs to worship on Sundays, or to the church office any day of the week, and help with this important program!
Inkjet Cartridges: Help St. Paul's itself by bringing in your used printer & fax machine cartridges! We trade them in & receive store credit-$2.00 for every qualifying print cartridge. Not only will it contribute to fundraising at St. Paul's, but it keeps these things out of landfills & helps protect the environment! Everyone wins!
Volunteer Coordinator: Rebecca Spieker
Miller Keystone Blood Center
We are in need of all blood types. Remember to say you’re giving for St. Paul’s (0471) whenever you donate blood!
Dry Pantry Protein Items:
Dry Beans (Black Beans, Kidney Beans, Lentils, Pinto Beans)
Nuts & Seeds (Almonds, Walnuts, Pumpkin Seeds, etc.)
Peanut Butter (natural and/or low sodium
preferred)
Canned Meat (Tuna, chicken, salmon)
Protein Shakes (low carb - under 15 grams of carbs)
Note: Cans with pop-up lids for easy opening will be greatly appreciated. Drop off your donations for the Food Pantry in the shopping basket in the Church Narthex
GoodSearch.com Search the web with Yahoo-powered GoodSearch.com and they’ll donate a penny to our church each time you search! Shop at more than 600 GoodShop.com merchants including Amazon, Best Buy, Toys R Us, and others, and a percentage of each purchase will go to our church! For searching go to:
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Donations Welcomed
We have many opportunities for you to serve God by donating any of the following items to either our church or Child Care Center from our Wish list. All Items can be dropped off to the church office.
This month we are in need of the following items:
Postage stamps First Aid Kits for Church (2 large)
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Worship Committee is looking for volunteers to help with communion distribution. No experience is needed, training will be provided.
Contact: Laurie Perna at484-597-9001
Lectors are need for our Sunday 10:30 services and special holiday services Contact: Judy Donchez at 610-746-9283
Altar Guild Assistants needed. The flexible schedule allows you to sign up for either service. Participants are paired to accommodate for unforeseen circumstances. No experience is necessary and training will take place at your convenience Contact: Janet Falko at 610-266-9748. .
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2/1Barry Steckel
2/2Edward Dumbach
2/2Robert Teets
2/6Kenneth Carl
2/8Lee Anne Eck
2/8Edward Forstoffer III
2/9Tara Crogan
2/10Debbie Daddona
2/10Jordan Matchette
2/12Nicole Eck
2/13Stefanie Wassum
2/14Michael Price
2/15Esther Illigash
2/16Allen Deily
2/17Nancy Benner
2/19Jeffrey Bauer
2/19Kerry Lewis
2/19Emily Madas
2/23Nancy Easterday
2/25Sue Hodge
2/25Brian Lower
2/26Adam Bastidas
2/26 Lynn Liberto
2/28 Jessica Considine
2/28 Lynn Corcoran-Stamm
2/28 Arthur Deily
2/28 Nathan Falko
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Special Birthdays
A few of our seniors will be celebrating birthdays this month.
Please take the time to remember them with a card or note.
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2/1Barry Steckel 76
1948 Schadt Avenue
Whitehall, PA 18052
2/2Robert Teets 88
449 Bridge Street
Catasauqua, PA 18032
2/15Esther Illigash 92
844 Catherine Drive
Coplay, PA 18037
2/16Allen Deily 78
430 Race Street
Catasauqua, PA 18032
2/17Nancy Benner 83
1056 Third Street
Catasauqua, PA 18032
2/28Arthur Deily 84
430 Race Street
Catasauqua, PA 18032
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Serving at St. Paul's in February, 2016
* information not available
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9amAudit Comm.
7pmWorship
7pmScouts / 2
6:30 Girl Scouts
7pmProperty / 3
6:30pmCadettes
7pm Fundraising / 4
7pm Cub Pack / 5 / 6
7
8:00 Spoken Comm
9:00 Sunday School
10:30 Holy Comm
/ 8
7pmScouts / 9
6:30 Girl Scouts / 10
7:30pm Holy Comm / 11
7pm Cub Pack
7pmFinance / 12
Epistle Deadline / 13
4-6:30pm
Pasta Dinner Fundraiser
14
8:00 Spoken Comm
9:00 Sunday School
10:30 Communion
/ 15
7pmScouts
7pmCYSA / 16
6:30 Girl Scouts
7pmChild Care / 17
6:30pmCadettes / 18
7pm Cub Pack / 19
9am Epistle Volunteers / 20
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9:00 Communion
/ 22
7pmScouts
7pm Council / 23
6:30 Girl Scouts / 24
6:30pmCadettes / 25
7 pm Cub Pack / 26 / 27
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8:00 Spoken Comm
9:00 Sunday School
10:30 Communion / 29
7pm Scouts
Don’t forget you can view our calendar on-line by visiting our website
and click on Calendar link
The FebruaryEpistle
A monthly publication of
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
417 Howertown Road
Catasauqua, PA 18032
610-264-3221
Church Office Hours Sunday School
Monday-Friday - 9:00am-3:00pm September-Pentecost - 9:00am
Child Care Center
Worship Services - February, 2016
7th
8:00 a.m. – Spoken Holy Communion 9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Holy Communion
10th7:30p.m. –Holy Communion
14th1st Sunday in Lent
8:00 a.m. – Spoken Holy Communion 9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Holy Communion
21st2nd Sunday in Lent
9:00 a.m. –Holy Communion
28th 3rd Sunday in Lent
8:00 a.m. – Spoken Holy Communion 9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Holy Communion
Monday-Friday - 7:30am-5:30pm
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