Items for News Pages

My range of contact is limited, I try to keep in touch with what is going on but I know I miss many happenings and events. Please feel free to E-Mail me at newseditor@stpaul-dearborn.org or leave items for me in the COMPUTER COMMITTEE slot at the church. Just put Ann on the envelope.

FAITH ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

Confirmation Secret Prayer Partners -- A group of adults in our congregation have been secret prayer partners for our 7th and 8th grade confirmation students. Each student has a particular adult that has been praying for them on a regular basis and communicating anonymously with the student through cards and notes. These adults are responding to the congregation's baptismal promise to pray for these young people.

Wednesday Morning Women's Bible Study -- This Bible Study for women meets at 11:00 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the church.

Tuesday Morning Prayer Hour -- This group of St. Paul members meets every Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. to pray for the concerns of this congregation. We pray for those who have had requests put in the prayer box, ourselves, our church and whatever our needs might be. These concerns are then lifted up to God in prayer. You may request prayer from this group or you may join them as a pray-er at any time. There is no training session for prayer--it comes from the heart and God will give you the words because He knows our needs. If you do not wish to speak your prayers, you may join in whatever way you are comfortable.

Abundant Life Arabic Lutheran Church (located in Prince of Peace Lutheran Church building on Ford Road in Dearborn) serves traditional Middle Eastern dinners on the last Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. for $8.00 per person. The food is great and the monies raised support the women's programs at Abundant Life. Reservations are not necessary; however, if you know in advance you will be there you can call the St. Paul church office for the contact phone number.

---Notices--

GLOBAL MISSIONS WEEKEND - Global missions weekend will be celebrated on October 17-18, 2009. St. Paul members who participated in a mission trip to Costa Rica in July will be speaking and showing pictures of the work that has been done in the Escuelita de Esperanza, which is the focus of our mission effort this year.

FAIR TRADE - This year, consider purchasing gifts for the holidays or birthdays that benefit artisans and craftspeople from low income areas across the globe. This fall, once again, we will have the Lutheran World Relief Handcraft available at the Fair Trade table throughout the month of October. Items will be ordered when we place our consignment order and should arrive by mid to late November. The Fair Trade Fair will be the weekend of November 21-22, 2009.

Operation Shoebox - For the past several years, St. Paul has participated in Operation Christmas Child, a program through Samaritan's Purse, where shoeboxes, filled with toiletries and small age-appropriate items, are handed out to children in over 100 countries in an effort to share the Gospel. In the month of September we collected your empty shoeboxes. Now for the month of October, we would like to have items brought in to fill these boxes. Suggestions from Samaritan's Purse include small toys (cars, balls, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, slinkies, etc.), school supplies, hygiene items (no lotions or liquids, please), socks, mittens, hair accessories/jewelry and hard candy. Additionally Samaritan's Purse encourages families/individuals to write a note to a child that can be packed inside a box; and if you include your name and address, you may even get a response! So join us in the month of October, donating small items which can make a huge difference in the life of a child!

Confirmation Classes have begun for all 7th and 8th grade students. The classes will meet every Sunday morning 10:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m. An information meeting was held September 20 to outline the curriculum, expectations and requirements for the confirmation program. If you have a child in grades 7 or 8 that did not receive notification of this meeting, please contact the church office at 313-561-0168 for information and enrollment procedures.

LOCAL WAYS TO SERVE AND SHARE

Blood Drive - Please reserve the date of Sunday, November 1st to be available to donate blood at the Red Cross Blood Drive at St. Paul. Remember there is an 8-week (56 day) wait period in between donations. Look for the sign-up table across from the church office as November 1st approaches.

N.O.A.H. Project - NOAH stands for Nteworking, Organizing, Advocating for Health. Central United Methodist Church in Detroit is in need of our help again. They feed the homeless all year long and would like us to again be part of this wonderful mission by supplying about 300 ssandwiches. We need volunteers to make the sandwiches on Wednesday evening, November 4 at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. We will also need a few people to go to Central United Methodist Church on Thursday, NOvember 4 at 8:30 a.m. to deliver the sandwiches and help serve them. If you would like to help with a monetary donation, this would help to defray the cost. There is always a need for underwear, socks and hugiene items also. There will be a box across from the church office for these items. If you have any questions, please contact Joann Iserve, project coordinator, through the church office.

St. Paul Nursery - If you have a little one who needs watching during the Sunday morning service, please take a look at the sign-up sheet on the door of the nursery. We would like to start a rotational schedule using volunteers and the parents of the nursery children. This is a great way to get to know the parents and children that will be in your child's Sunday School classes. If you are willing to volunteer (you don't need to have a nursery-eligible child!) please sign up. Contact Kate Ulrey through the church office with any questions or ideas.

Did you know that the SERVANT BOARD, located in the lobby of the Educational Building, has sign-up sheets where you can volunteer to donate flowers, bulletins or communion elements in honor or in memory of loved ones....or perhaps you'd like to volunteer to be a lector/reader, lay assistant, communion assistant, acolyte, youth servant or monthly altar care leader. Look at the list and see what strikes your fancy!

NEEDED: Eyes and Ears and Volunteers! - Maintaining St. Paul Church is a huge job. A list of chores that could be done by volunteers on their own time is being established by the Property Committee. Look for Chore Cards available around the church on which you can record chores that you notice need doing. The Committee can then establish a working list of chores for volunteers, determine what the committee can do and determine what needs to be hired out. So, please be our eyes, ears and volunteers. Your input is appreciated, because a little action from everyone can go a long way.

Are you looking to give some time to church but don't necessarily want to be part of a committee? How about being part of the staff? We could use some help in the office on a regular basis (folding and stuffing bulletins, preparing mailings, etc.). If you can help, please contact Cheryl in the office at 313-561-0168.

St. Paul supports the Helping Hands Food Pantry at Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church, Dearborn. Non-perishable food items are collected on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month. Did you know that nationally at least 13.5 million households in the U.S. are "food insecure"; 4.4 million experience hunger at some point in each year. Food insecure households include an estimated 38 million people, of which almost 14 million are children. Please be generous with your offerings. There are many in our midst who are unemployed, under employed or facing an uncertain future with the upheaval in the auto industry. The requests for assistance are up and the need in our area is great. Place your contributions in the red box across from the church office. Monetary donations are also accepted at the church office and will be sent to Lutheran World Relief for the World Hunger Program.

St. Paul operates a Crisis Fund to provide help for people in our area who have fallen on difficult times. We are inundated with calls and are in need of an infusion of cash to keep this fund operational. If you can help us with a donation designated for that fund, it would be appreciated. Through our help we are able to give a deeper understanding of what a Church Family is all about.

The Community Ministry Committee continues to collect bottles and cans to support global missions projects. They love to take care of your returns but remind you that they can only accept bottles and cans with MI (Michigan) Refunds. Water bottles, foreign bottles and cans without the stamp end up in the trash!

If you would like to lend a hand to someone who truly needs and appreciates your help, consider becoming a driver for the Meals on Wheels Program. Please contact Marianne at 313-943-2009 for more information. Mileage reimbursement is available through Wayne County.

EMPTIES4CASH -- Robert Hayes, one of St. Paul's youth, continues to coordinate this worthwhile recycling program of used computer ink cartridges. Bring in your used cartridges in a sealed Ziploc-type bag and Robert will do the rest. St. Paul gets $4.00 per cartridge so this is a great way for our youth to make some money and it keeps all of those cartridges out of our landfills where they won't decompose for 100 years! Reduce pollution and raise funds one cartridge at a time!

Help is needed to "care and feed" both of St. Paul's libraries. There is the adult library on the first floor as well as the new children's library on the second floor. If you can spare an hour or two a month please contact Shelley Knott through the church office.

Community Ministry continues St. Paul's relationship with Surrender House, a facility in Dearborn Heights for women recovering from addiction. Several are seeking part-time or full-time employment. If you have any connections that may help them gain employment, please contact Carol Welsh through the church office. They can also use any grocery food coupons to enhance their food budget. If you have coupons that you would be willing to donate, pleawse drop them in the Community Ministry mailbox outside the church office.

Did you know....that Heartline of Michigan always needs donations of folding umbrellas, deodorant and toothpaste as well as household items to help their program participants embark on a new phase in their lives? ....that St. Leo's Soup Kitchen in Detroit always needs large cans of food and used bath towels? ....that the Wayne County Center for Families always needs donations of snacks (cookies, crackers, pretzels, etc.) and laundry and dish detergents (any size package, any brand), flatware (especially spoons) and anything that can be used as a soup bowl (bowls or large mugs). Place these donations in the red barrel outside of the church office and the items will be appropriately distributed.  

GLOBAL Ways to Serve and Share

Give "gifts that make a difference" by logging on to www.agreatergift.org for even more gift possibilities or patronize Ten Thousand Villages fair trade boutique at 303 South Main Street, Ann Arbor Michigan (phone: 734-332-1270) or log onto their website at www.tenthousandvillages.com Ten Thousand Village stores are affiliated with the Mennonite Central Committee and are a part of their quiet worldwide outreach and relief services. They seek out artisan groups in underdeveloped countries (currently 30), provide fair prices for the handicrafts produced, and help them develop new and better products with local materials that are environmentally safe and even recycled materials. The artisans receive a percentage of the price up front and the rest on delivery and there are no middle men. 75% of the artisans are women. The money they earn usually goes to feed and clothe their children so they can attend school. Several of the artisan co-ops themselves provide funds to create or support local schools.

ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History -- Become a ONE Lutheran! The ELCA and Bread for the World support the ONE Campaign. You can join by 1. Signing the declaration; 2. Telling a friend; 3. Wearing a wristband. For more information check out the website for this ELCA initiative at www.elca.org/advocacy  

Instead of Mourning a Genocide, What if YOU could STOP One? -- Darfur, a region in western Sudan (Africa) the size of Texas, is home to what the United Nations has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Since February 2003, an estimated 400,000 men, women and children have died while another 2.5 million innocent civilians have been forced to flee their homes. Many, particularly the women and children, has escaped death only to fall victim to repeated rape and beatings at the hands of the government-backed Janjaweed militias. Today, survivors face starvation and disease in overcrowded refugee camps and shattered villages. Take Action Now! Until we end the violence in Darfur, we must all live with the knowledge that we are allowing another genocide on our watch. Whatever you choose to do, you will be making a difference in ending the violence in Darfur and reducing the suffering of your neighbors, even though they may live thousands of miles away. The Million Voices for Darfur campaign (www.savedarfur.org) helps individuals contact President Bush and demand that he do more to protect the civilians of Darfur. For information on how the ELCA is taking action in this situation, check out www.elca.org/disaster. If we all play a small part, together we will make a very BIG difference.

Social Opportunities

Scrapbooking - The Fellowship Committee is continuing with scrapbooking nights. Join us on the 3rd Friday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Beverages and snacks are provided. Bring a friend and get busy on those photos while you share fellowship. Don't scrapbook?....well, come anyway for the conversation! Contact Sherren Lind through the church office if you would like more information.

Family Game Night - The Fellowship Committee is hosting famaily game night, Saturday, November 7th at 5:30 p.m. Bring your favorite game and some friends. Pizza and beverages will be provided. Sign up on the Snow Street board by Sunday November 1st so we can plan accordingly.

;The St. Paul Quilters, a pleasant group of women, meet at 9 a.m. each Thursday for about 6 hours of fun, food and stitchery. They are responsible for the wonderful stitched quilts given to each child when they are baptized at St. Paul. If your passion is quilting or sewing and you are available on Thursday mornings at 9:00 a.m., this group is for you! They meet weekly most every Thursday throughout the year. This is a group for fellowship and mutual support while producing a precious piece of art. The ladies would love to see a few more helping hands and welcome any new members to their group. If you would like to be a part of this lively group, please bring your thimble any Thursday and join them.

Cua2rts Programs -- Check out some of these fun activities offered through Concordia University in Ann Arbor. Call 734-995-4612 for more information or check the web at www.cuaa.edu/cuarts. Did you know that T.O.P.S has had a chapter at St. Paul Church for 50 years? They are looking for a few new members who are interesting in losing a few (or many!) pounds. They meet on Monday nights at 7:00 p.m. on the second floor. For additional information on T.O.P.S. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) please contact Kathy LeFranc through the church office.

High School and Youth Activities

 

All 9th through 12th graders are invited to participate in St. Paul Youth activities. We meet on Sundays during the school year at 9:45 a.m. in the youth room and other events as scheduled.

Lansing Gathering - This is a wonderful after-Christmas experience for 9-12th graders. From December 27 -30 there are speakers, musicians, workshops and small groups at the Radisson Hotel in Lansing. It is a great opportunity to grow in your faith as you spend time with your youth group and other youth groups from the Southwest and Northeast Michigan synods. Approximately 600 youth attend the four-day event. The cost is $130. Your friends are welcome! Please sign up on the bulletin board by October 16th. If you have any questions, please direct them to Kate Ulrey through the church office.

Winter Camp at Michi-Lu-Ca - Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. Haydon and Mrs. Welsh will be leading this fun-filled weekend in February, open to 7-12th graders. Join them from the 12th to the 14th of February for winter activities, games and food! Again, your friends are encouraged to join you. Sign up on the bulletin board and mark it on your calendars!

Humble Servants - Have a project you need help with? Need a tutor for your elementary or middle schooler? Or, how about a babysitter? We're here for you! Please contact Kate Ulrey through the church officed for the name of a willing, humble servant.

Volunteer Hours - If you need volunteer hours for school or confirmation, St. Paul can help! Mrs. Ulrey is in the church on Tuesday and Thursday from 3-5 p.m. (or later if necessary) and would be happy to sign a form saying that you worked really hard for her. If those times don't work for you, please contact her and she will come up with other projects. She is there for you!

OTHER INFORMATION YOU MAY FIND INTERESTING...

 

La Escuelita de Esperanza formerly known as La Aula Amarilla and familiar to St. Paul members as Elizabeth's mission, continues in the community of Nicaraguan immigrants called Proyecto Cristal in San Jose', Costa Rica. Don't forget to check out the program's web site at laesculitadeesperanza.googlepages.com. Monetary donations to continue this program are still very much needed and can be directed through the church office at St. Paul, earmarked for the Costa Rica Program.

I'm sure my problems are not as important....as so many others in the congregation. I don't want to take a Stephen Minister away from someone that REALLY needs one more than I do. I'll just wait. Don't wait until things get out of control. A Stephen Minister is waiting to help you. You are important to us. Please contact the church office @ 313-561-0168 for the help of a Stephen Minister. Would you like to receive St. Paul's weekly e-newsletter? Stay on top of news, events and updates from St. Paul...email thisweekatst.paul@yahoo.com if you would like to be added to our growing e-newsletter.

Watching the Commemorative Garden Grow! Bricks and plaques have been ordered and will be installed when they arrive, hopefully by mid-October. All applications for scattering services, bricks and plaques are available in the church office throughout the year.

Orders for Equal Exchange (fairly traded) coffee, tea and cocoa continue to be taken by the Community Ministry Committee. You can see all of the items available at the "consumer store" site at www.equalexchange.com. Any questions can be directed to Carol Welsh through the church office at 313-561-0168.

Did you know that the florist could recycle the containers from pulpit and lectern flowers? Bring your containers to the church and they will be returned to Weber Gifts for reuse. Please save your aluminum can tabs. The Sunday School is collecting the tabs on beverage and other cans to take to the Ronald McDonald House in Detroit. They recycle the aluminum and use the proceeds to help with the cost of the house. We are trying to see how many pounds we can collect. There is a clear, plastic jar near the Sunday School office on the second floor in which to deposit them. Thanks for your help!

Does your college student or son or daughter serving in the military service have a new address? The Membership & Outreach Committee would like to know what it is. They make contact with St. Paul's out-of-area youth from time to time. Please put address changes in the Membership & Outreach mailbox across from the church office.

Simply Giving -- Forms for the Simply Giving Program are available through the church office. These forms allow you to contribute to St. Paul through automatic withdrawal from your bank account on a regular weekly, biweekly or monthly basis. Besides being convenient for you, it gives St. Paul Church a consistent income each month. Consider joining this worthwhile program.

Watch Mosaic on the Web! - Mosaic Television, as part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has a variety of video programs that you can view from your computer at www.elca.org/mosaic. Here is a list of what is currently available:

• Holy Communion
• Mission Support: Where Your Money Goes
• Understanding the Roman Catholic Church
• ELCA Identity 2006 Synod Assembly Video
• Introducing Jesus of Nazareth
• Introducing the Old Testament
• Prayer
• Churchwide Assembly Video Scrapbook
• Beyond Tsunami: Lutherans Respond
• Introducing the New Testament
• Women in the Early Church
• Town Hall Meeting with Mark Hanson 2005 Synod Assembly
• Faithful Travel with Rick Steves
• Life of Apostle Paul with Rick Steves
• Opening the Door to Luther with Rick Steves
• Understanding Islam
• Glory to God Alone: The Life of J.S. Bach
• Good Grandparenteing
• The ELCA in Chile:A New Resource for Kids
• The Disappearing 20-Somethings

CALENDAR-February 7-February 14, 2010

THURSDAY–Quilters, 9:00 a.m.