TOGETHER INSpiritGOSPEL FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENTLuke 1: 26-38In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

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STAYING CONNECTED DURING COVID-19stpaulslowry.org • St. Paul’s Lutheran Church weekly update • December 16-22

The fourth week of Advent is all about love as we light the last blue candle.

Matthew 22: 36-40

Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest? He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandement. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

”Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?” Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others

as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”

God, we have learned to love from being loved by you. And so today, let us enact that love. Let us live that love. We know that what the world needs now is more love. We need to remember how much you love each one of us and we must share that love with others. Amen.

POPE COUNTY FAMILIES IN NEEDJan Arneson:Dear St. Paul’s Lutheran members,Pope County Families in Need sends many thank yous for the beautiful gift

of 500 pairs of new socks. For many, it was a Christmas gift – others, warm socks to wear to work, and best of all, clean socks to wear to school!You are so generous. Our team also sends thanks for

helping us provide for these families.One little boy (10) came to us on Wednesday in flip-flops and dirty socks. He left with new tennis shoes and clean socks (4 pair).Thank you and God bless.

YOU

MAKEDIFFERENCEDO

AYour kindness and

generosity to others DOES make a difference! Here are thank yous that

shows just how much:

POPE COUNTY FAMILIES IN NEEDJan Arneson:Dear St. Paul’s Sunday School children,A special thank you for your generous gift of $215.58. We used your gift to purchase food and gas cards, and food

for our Pope County Families Pantry.Remember that Jesus sees acts of love in everything you do. Thank you for sharing God’s love – and your love, with others in need.God bless.

One little boy (10) came to us on Wednesday in flip-flops and dirty

socks. He left with new tennis shoes and clean socks (4 pair).

ADVENT CANDLES: Hope, peace, joy, love

Worship services: 9:30 a.m. Sundays • Website: www.stpaulslowry.orgPastor Bryan Taffe • pastortaffe@gmail.com • Cell: 605-880-5821 Services are livestreamed at www.facebook.com/stpaulslowry/ Office: 320.283.5413 • Cell: 320.760.8649 Email: stpauls@stpaulslowry.org • president@stpaulslowry.org • pastor@stpaulslowry.orgOffice hours: Mon, Wed: 9 a.m.-noon; Tues, Thurs: 10 a.m.-noonBulletin deadline: Wednesdays • Newsletter deadline: 22nd of each month

PASTORAL CARE If you or someone you know needs pastoral care, please contact Pastor Bryan Taffe. His email is pastortaffe@gmail.com and his phone number is 605-880-5821.

WORSHIP SERVICES: Sundays, 9:30 a.m.

COMMUNION: First and third Sundays of the month

ELECTRONIC GIVING There are two options for electronic giving:

1. Cash Appa. Free and downloadable on any smartphoneb. Find us under the $cashtag: $splclowry

2. giveMN.Orga. Find our profile at: https://www.givemn.org/

organization/St-Pauls-Church-30

b. *NEW: With giveMN.org you can set up automatic monthly giving!

3. Drop off/mail ina. OR, if you’re not into the electronic giving option you

can drop it off at the church or mail it to St. Paul’s, P.O. Box 95, Lowry, MN 56349.

*Each time you give through the Cash App or giveMN.org, an email is sent to our church treasurer who will keep record of your giving for your tax purposes.

Chuck ThompsonMelissa WaleriusMegan WagnerLaurie BennettRick EkstrandTyler ModlinJim KalinaMelissa FierroJaqueline BaumanDebbie ChanAnne SniderPatrick BursauMarge NelsenPat ThompsonKristy AndersonGriffin Adam

BIRTHDAYS Dec. 16-2216: Carsyn Paulzine Jennifer Gullickson18: Eli Olson19: Hailey Tauber20: Addison Olness21: Julie Bruss Kelly Dechaine Nathan Johnson22: Sheila Larson

ANNIVERSARIES Dec. 16-2218: Jason & Audrey Frey

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

LUTHER CREST TAKE-OUT AND TAKE-AND-BAKE MEALS AVAILABLELuther Crest is offering take-out and take-and-bake meals for those who are interested in ordering.

To order, visit www.luthercrest.org for all the options and to complete an order form.

We Invite all to Grow in Christ and Serve him

ANNUAL MEETING TENTATIVELY MOVED TO JANUARY 24St. Paul’s annual meeting has been moved to the fourth Sun-day in January (January 24) for this upcoming year.

IN-CHURCH QUILTING SUSPENDED UNTIL JANUARYThe mission quilting in the church building will be suspended will suspended until January 2021,

Quilters will continue to work on projects at home.

STILL NEED TOM’S RECEIPTSThe collection of Tom’s receipts continues. It’s not a one-time project and for each $100,000 in receipts that we collect, we will receive $1,000.

KEEP THE RECEIPTS COMING!

SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER

If you know of someone who doesn’t have internet access or an email address, please share this with them so that everyone at St. Paul’s can stay informed. Thanks!

CELEBRATING ADVENT AT HOMEAdvent is the perfect time to embrace practices of generosity.Consider going through your cupboards or purchasing food to be donated to your local food bank. With children, it is especially meaningful if you collect the food together and travel as a family to deliver it. Just as the Magi brought forward their best gifts, we too should make sure we are giving our best gifts.

Abiding Spirit, keep us mindful of your prensence, the greatest gift, new each day. Amen.

LITURGICAL READINGS: December 20First reading: 2 Samuel 7: 1-11, 16Psalm: Psalm 89: 1-4, 19-26Second reading: Romans 16: 25-27Gospel: Luke 1: 26-38

I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.

Psalm 89:1-2