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December 2016
St. Paul’s Lutheran
The Epis†le Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
There’s a Christmas card out there that says, “Tis the Reason for the Season”
with a picture of a carton of eggnog. It was the first time I had seen this one.
I passed on buying it. While its religious message was at zero, it led my thoughts to the ways
we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Savior of the world and true “reason for the season.”
Colorful lights, blingy decorations, Christmas trees, exchanging presents,
and festive get-togethers with honey-baked ham, tamales, and eggnog are just some
of the traditions we have surrounding Christmas. They are all ways we show on the outside,
the special joy we feel on the inside.
The greatest way Christians honor the coming of our Savior is through worship.
In our gathering together by faith in worship, we bring ourselves before the Savior
in humbleness. We are led by God’s Word to recognize our need to know and follow
Jesus who came into this world in a miraculous way – sent by God from heaven to earth,
born of the Virgin Mary, and named by an angel, yet placed in an ordinary manger,
wrapped in swaddling clothes. This is the One who brings us
forgiveness and abundant life. Blessed be our Savior,
and may his grace rest upon St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
who proclaims his name above all names – Jesus.
Oh come let us adore him!
A blessed Advent and Christmas to you all,
Pastor Nancy
The Epistle December 2016
Birthdays
1 – Mary Schlobohm
2 – Angie Ash
3 – Millie Baxter
3 – Anna Maria Chauviere
4 – Betty Ganske
6 – Stefan Abmayr
8 - Krista Hargrove
8 - Bailey Stevens
8 – Billy Stevens
9 – Rip Clanton
12 – Robert Steffler
12 – Kurstyn Clarke
14 – Carly Hylton
16 – Justin Reavis
17 – Marguerite Brueck
20 – Gene Zeiss
22 - Elaine Eschberger
22 – Emily McCoy
23 - Caroline Lucke
24 - Jace Seymour
25 – Jesus Christ
26 – Amy Andrews
27 – Albert Elizondo
29 – Hannah Prague
Baptismal Anniversaries 1- Willy Salewski
7 – Kevin Johnston
9 – Kaitlin Migl
10 – Kyle Stevens
10 – Bailey Stevens
10 – Billy Stevens
11 – Kelly Ray Dikeman
12 – Nancy Simpson
26 – Bill Mayberry
27 – Debbie Gillespie
30 – Adrianne Stevens
31 – Betty Ganske
Wedding Anniversaries 17 – Ed & Debbie Bakemeier
18 - Lawrence & Lana Lauderdale
20 – Albert & Karen Elizondo
26 - Rob & Kyla Johnston
29 – Phil & Mildred Crawford
Serving Our Country Alan Campisi, Aaron Carlin, Justin Giese,
Paul Gomez, Mitchell Handley,
Mike Hobbs, Amy Hoff and family,
Brandon Locha, Stephen McWilliams,
Aaron Molina, Chris Paradowski,
Kaylyn Perry, Chris Salo and family,
Kyle Spence, Garrett Threadgill, Austin
Wilkinson, Sean and Hannah Zarsky
In Our Prayers
Charlotte & Leon Busby-support
Cindy Eschberger- shut-in
Boo Boo Fojt- healing
Betty Ganske- health concerns
Barbara Garrett- health concerns
Virginia Hackfeld- health concerns
O.J. Lamb- health concerns
Laurence Lauderdale- health concerns
Emily McCoy- healing
Elvie McCullough- health concerns
Lorraine Patterson- health concerns
Colleen & Ken Peting- sympathy
Walter & Doris Rein- health concerns
Gail Salewski- health concerns
Bob Steffler- healing
June Tieman- health concerns
Ben & Elaina Vircant- sympathy
Sherry White- healing
Church Offices Closed
December 23rd - January 1st
Thank you
To Sgt. Maggie Hinojosa, Baytown
PD, for helping us during our Food
Pantry as turkeys were given to
those in need
For all those who stayed and
decorated the church for Advent
To Steve Burns for striping the
parking lot
To Angie Ash for polishing the
Advent wreath we use on Wednes-
day nights
To all our Food Pantry volunteers,
Sunday morning worship leaders,
Tellers, Sound System Technicians,
Committee Members, Choir Mem-
bers, Instrumentalists, Prayer Shawl
Ministry, Eucharist Ministers, Card
Writers, photographers and any
volunteers not mentioned. You are
appreciated!
To Hoya Ash, Sandra & James
McGee, Don Eschberger, Chuck
Ohm, Steve Burns and any others
who work keeping our church
grounds so beautiful.
Brooks Bruner and Allie Stephens
receive their first Bibles
MARK YOUR CALENDAR St. Paul’s is hosting the Church Women United Annual Meeting and Sacrificial Luncheon - Thurs, January 5th at 10:00 a.m.
The Epistle December 2016
INREACH/OUTREACH NEWS
Committee Meeting, Monday, Dec. 12th at 1pm
Breakfast with Hot Rod Santa
and ride the Christmas Train! Saturday, December 10th
9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Santa will arrive at St. Paul’s parking lot in his
hot rod, no sleigh or reindeer here!
Kids will have the opportunity to eat pancakes
and talk with Santa and ride the Christmas
train. All are welcome. Free of charge.
Blood Drive In honor of Jaime Guillen Sunday, December 11th 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
DONOR COACH in church
parking lot
To schedule and appointment visit. www.giveblood.org. Sponsor code: 1538
FOOD PANTRY SCHEDULE FOR DECEMBER Open 9a.m. - 11 a.m.
Thursday Dec. 1, 8, 15, and Tuesday Dec. 20
Closed Dec. 22 and 29
Open Thursday January 5
Tidings of Comfort and Joy A Midweek Advent Worship Series
Weekly Themes Week 2: The Angel Speaks to Joseph’s Confusion
Week 3: The Angel Speaks to Mary’s Doubt
Week 4: The Angel Speaks to the Shepherds’ Curiosity
Wednesday Nights at 7:00 p.m.
December 7th, 14th, and 21st Worship services will be held in the Fellowship Hall.
TRANSPORTATION
There will be two sign-up sheets: One for those who
are willing to provide transportation and the other
for people who need a ride to and from the service.
Signup sheets are in the Fellowship Hall.
Christmas Worship Services:
Christmas Eve (Sat., December 24)
6:30 p.m. Worship and Christmas Nativity
Presentation
Christmas Day (Sun., December 25)
10:30 a.m. Lessons and Carols
25 red poinsettias are available for
purchase in honor or memory of loved ones. They are $16 each. You may put your payment in the offering plate with the word “poinsettia” and your offering envelope number written in the memo. Make check to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. There is a sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall. You may take your poinsettias home after the Christmas Eve worship service.
WORSHIP & MUSIC NEWS
Committee Meeting Sunday, Dec. 18th at 12pm
The Epistle December 2016
SUNDAY SCHOOL
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM All children are invited and encouraged to
participate in the Christmas program on
Saturday December 24 during our
Christmas Eve worship at 6:30pm.
Please see Becky Linsenbardt for
more information.
BIBLE STUDY GROUPS
SUNDAY SCHOOL for all ages 9:00 a.m.
Elizabeth Circle All women welcome
Tues., Dec. 14th at 9:30 a.m. Meet in
Fellowship Hall for Christmas coffee.
MEN’S FELLOWSHIP Second Saturday of every
month at 7 a.m. Guys, come enjoy breakfast, Bible study
& fellowship. Talk with Ian Gillespie for more info.
Small group at Chick-Fil-A will not meet in
December. They will resume their 2nd Wednesday
get togethers on January 11th, 6:30 p.m. at the Mont
Belvieu Chick-Fil-A. This group is geared toward
young adults (high school and college).
Play group will be starting back up again in
December! "Play group" is elementary children and
their parents enjoying fellowship and friends at the
Mont Beliveu park. In the past we met on a Sunday
after church, had a picnic lunch, and visited while the
kids played. Any suggestions of date, time, or location
preferences should be directed to Donna Reavis
936-336-0370 so she can
plan a fun time for everyone!
Education NEWS
Youth & Family NEWS
Committee Meeting Sunday, Dec. 11th at 12pm
Tuesday, December 13th @ 11:30AM Longhorn Steakhouse 6201 East Sam Houston Pkwy. North Sign-up sheets for both events are in the Fellowship Hall
Living Lutheran Magazine In an effort to reduce costs, the Inreach/Outreach Committee has cancelled the subscription to Living Lutheran magazine. You can subscribe online at www.livinglutheran.org or call 800-638-3522
Depression & Bipolar Support Group
Thursday evenings at St. Paul’s, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Open to the public, all are welcome.
LEARN SPANISH CLASS -On Holiday Break
Class will resume Sunday, January 8th at 2:00 p.m.
BUNCO! The last Wednesday of each month 6:30-8:30pm.
Come out for an evening of ladies’ fellowship.
You’ll enjoy bunco, faith, and fun. The ladies of
St. Paul’s will play and pray together!
INREACH/OUTREACH NEWS continued
Women of the ELCA
Christmas Potluck Luncheon
& White Elephant Exchange Sat., December 3rd at 11:30 a.m.
Please bring a dish to share
and invite a friend. ($10 limit on gift)
The Epistle December 2016
Houston Lutheran Chorale Concert Saturday, December 3 at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 4 at 4:00 p.m.
Trinity Lutheran Church 800 Houston Ave., Houston, TX Come listen, sing, and enjoy the familiar songs of the season.
Texas Lutheran University 2016 Christmas Vespers TLU’s Auditorium Dec. 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, Austin Dec. 11 at 4 p.m. visit tlu.edu/vespers for tickets and further information
Tangled Blue Concert
Aimee and Joel Pakan are coming to Kinsmen Luther-
an Church, 12100 Champion Forest Dr, Houston, TX
77066. They have been favorites at Lutheran gather-
ings large and small, and we hope you won't miss
them. January 14th
5:30 pm - Informal worship in the sanctuary
6:15 pm - Pre-concert appetizers in the narthex
7:00 pm - Concert in
the sanctuary
Concert admission is free and open to all.
Create a nativity set from paper. Print out either
the colored version or a line drawing that kids can color themselves. Then assemble the figures with a bit of glue. Go to our synod website and check it out.
http://gulfcoastsynod.org/gulf-coast-resources/nativity-set/
November Memorials & Honorariums
In Memory of: Priscilla Busby Given By: Hoya & Angie Ash Designation: Capital Expenditures In Honor of: Food Pantry Turkey Fund Given By: Women’s Club of Baytown Designation: Food Pantry In Honor of: Food Pantry Turkey Fund Given By: XAGZ Sorority Designation: Food Pantry In Memory of: Larry Linsenbardt Given By: Sandra Sensebe Designation: Choir Fund
The Epistle December 2016
Treasurer’s Report From this statement you can see that the Balance Sheet for August, shows a negative $8,527.76 was received to meet the expenses YTD. In order to pay the bills, we have had to "borrow" from the designated accounts. We do not have the September closing balance yet, and we will publish that information when it is available.
Golden Group’s monthly luncheon at Hurricane Tita’s to celebrate Myrtle’s 90th birthday
Sue, Michelle and Stefan Fredricks Dennis and Susie Salo Bettina, a client of our Food Pantry, blessed
sing for Sunday worship dropped in for visit us with a thanksgiving table based on Psalm 104
The Epistle December 2016
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Council November 14, 2016, Meeting Minutes Present: Pastor Nancy Simpson, Tena Burgess, Kim Holle, Susan Clanton, Renee Napier, Debbie Gillespie, Ian Gillespie, Lorrie Andrews, Tori Rein and Dalton Rein. Absent: Becky Linsenbardt
Guest present: Jada Hylton, Rev.Chris Markert, Assistant to the Bishop-Mission Catalyst
Donna Reavis led the opening devotion, Renewal of Spirit.
Rev. Chris Markert met with Council to discuss strategic planning. He presented several renewal options that Council will discuss at the December meeting.
Jada Hylton shared her concerns and asked questions regarding Council’s decision to no longer provide insurance benefits for herself and the director of music ministry, beginning in 2017.
Approval of Minutes The minutes from the October meeting were accepted as published in the November Epistle.
Pastor’s Report Pastor informed Council that she will be in San Antonio Wednesday through Friday of the holiday week. The Church office will be closed during this time. Pastor discussed with Council the training and mentoring of the youth in the church to serve as assistant ministers, ushers and greeters.
Treasurer’ Report Income exceeded expenditures for October. This is partly due to the closing of the Boys Scout accounts, which added approximately $4000 to the general fund balance and the sale of the scout trailer. Kim stated that the last quarter of property insurance has been paid. Overall the cost of the insurance exceeded the amount budgeted for 2016.
Council discussed and continues to work on reducing expenditures in the proposed 2017 budget. Council will continue to review/revise the proposed budget at the December meeting.
Old Business Witte memorial- Council agreed to no longer pursuing the family in regard to the donation. No one has respond-
ed to her many attempts to contact them. In turn, Council will not pursue the Carillon/Bell Tower memorial project. Ian Gillespie will contact the Verdin Company to let them know.
The 2016 Constitution Review Committee (Renee Napier, Kim Holle and Pastor Nancy Simpson) will begin the review process of the 2016 Model Constitution with our currently adopted constitution and Bylaws and revise as needed.
New Business Red Book review -There are no milestones for December. Committee Updates – None German Dinner follow-up
Council discussed that attendance and donations were better that the previous year. Letter to inactive members
Pastor provided Council with a copy of the letter sent in May 2012. Council has requested additional information and will review the membership list at the December meeting
Annual meeting – date, report deadline The annual meeting will be held January 22, 2017 right after church Council/Committee reports are due to Jada by December 12, 2016
Nominating Committee Council discussed and brought forth names for the nominating committee. Debbie Gillespie will contact
the prospects. Other– None
Respectfully submitted, Renee Napier
PROPERTY NEWS
Committee Meeting Sunday, Dec. 4th at 12pm
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church- ELCA 712 Schilling Avenue Baytown, TX 77520 Tel (281)422-9333 Fax (281)422-3648 Web Site: www.stpaulsbaytown.org Office Hours: 9:30AM-3:30PM, M-TH SUNDAY SCHEDULE: Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Worship Service 10:30 a.m. Nursery available STAFF: Rev. Nancy Simpson, Pastor Rick Falconi, Director of Music Ministries Jada Hylton, Director of Office Ministries
Happy 90th birthday Myrtle Viereck
Myrtle is pictured with her family Lori, son Brian, Emily and Erin Viereck