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This Week at St. Paul's
St. Paul's United Methodist Church  •  7740 Lackman, Lenexa KS  66217  •  913-268-9551
LOVE God and all others unconditionally
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IN THIS ISSUE
MESSAGE FROM PASTOR LORA

November 22, 2019

I have a lot of house plants. I think I moved 12 to Lenexa with me, and I left a good number behind in Winfield in new homes. My landlord didn’t allow pets, so the next best thing were plants for me apparently. Some of them were gifts. Some were starts from other people’s plants. Some were leftover funeral plants (the funeral homes found out I liked plants and would offer ones people didn’t want to me). Moral of the story: I have a lot of plants. 

One of my favorites is my fiddle-leaf fig tree. I didn’t know what it was when I got it. It was with a couple of peace lilies in an arrangement at my grandfather’s funeral a few years ago, and at that time just had a couple of leaves and was barely a foot tall. I started watering it and it didn’t really grow for a year. (Now I know that it usually grows in the spring). But I kept watering it and that next year it grew leaf after leaf. It’s done that for a few years now and is taller than me. (It was truly an adventure moving that thing here!) 

This time of year, however, it usually doesn’t grow. It sort of just hangs out hibernating until summer again. Except I was watering it this morning and saw that there is a budding new leaf in the works! Maybe this happens every year and I’m oblivious (totally possible). Maybe I have my heat on too warm and it thinks we are in the tropics (also possible). 

But there is a new leaf! And it’s growing and springing forth and totally surprising me.

I’m going to hold on to that image today, and see where else I might be surprised by some new growth. What do I think was a done deal that, perhaps, actually has some new possibilities springing forth? What new life is happening in your home? What growth are you anticipating as we move into this season of gatherings and festivities?

My prayer for you is that you experience some surprising new leaves this season too.

See You Sunday,

Pastor Lora
NEWS AND EVENTS

Thank You Blood Donors!


Thank you to the 23 donors who came out for our November 17 blood drive. The Community Blood Center received 21 units from our drive. Thank you for being part of this life-saving ministry! Our next Blood Drive will be February 23, 2020 as part of Servant Sunday. Mark your calendars!

Employment Opportunity: Finance Director


We wish our former Business Manager, Kathy Corrigan, well as we make a transition in this role. The Business Manager position is now called Finance Director and Cheryl Scott is serving as our interim until we hire a new person.

We would love your help in finding our next Finance Director! If you have people with great accounting skills that you think would be a great fit to help us live out our mission here at St. Paul’s, please pass on the job posting to them!

The Finance Director position has primary responsibility for overseeing all accounting and budgeting activities for St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Lenexa, Kansas. In general terms, this involves the timely execution of the following:
  1. Executing and overseeing the execution of all financial transactions for St. Paul’s UMC and Preschool
  2. Preparing or overseeing the creation of all financial records
  3. After each month end, performing monthly closing activities and preparing all statements of financial position (balance sheets) and results of operations (income statements) on a monthly and year-to-date basis
  4. Developing, implementing, and overseeing the  annual budgeting process
  5. Responding to questions and requests from church staff, committee members, and lay people
  6. Ensuring the system of internal controls is in place to ensure security and accuracy of financial records
Request the full job description or apply now by sending your resume with two references to seniorpastor@stpaulslenexa.org.

Share with your friends! 

Ways to Support St. Paul’s this Season


AmazonSmile
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to St. Paul's. It's easy to get started; just go to smile.amazon.com and select St. Paul's as your recipient.

Christmas Eve Offering
This year’s Christmas Eve offering will be designated for our next Servant Sunday, February 23, 2020 here at St. Paul’s. The offering will help fund projects we'll do that day and, for some organizations, offer a financial contribution. You may give online any time by choosing the Christmas Offering category.

Targeted Giving
We've compiled a list of items you can choose from if you'd like your contribution to fulfill a specific need at church. If you see something you'd like to help fund, you can do so by entering the item next to the Targeted Giving category online or writing it on the memo line of your check.
Love grows here

Food Pantry Garden Bounty


Our St. Paul's Food Pantry Garden volunteers were able to plant, tend, harvest, and donate approximately 385 pounds of tomatoes, sweet potatoes, peppers, garlic, cucumbers, herbs, apples, pears, and bush cherries to those in need in our community this season. 

Gardeners also started inviting us to bring kitchen scraps for the compost bin and will be tending it all year long. If you'd like to donate your fruit and veggie peels to a good cause, just enter the garden through the gate on your left and find the bins to the right of the shed. 

Would you like to get involved in this fun and fulfilling ministry for next year? Contact Kurt Hookstra.

St. Paul's Bunko Group Supports Ministry Collections

from Judy Christiansen and Julie Curry 

The Bunko Group started something different last year. Yes, we still gather for a fun evening, rolling dice and keeping score.

But the money we pay to play is a donation, no one wins prizes. For Christmas of 2018, we divided the donated money between Cross-Lines and the Johnson County Christmas Bureau. These two agencies were collecting for Christmas, and the cash we shared was able to help each.

Halfway through this year we were aware of the increased need for Disaster Relief because of flooding, so we donated the money from our first five months to Disaster Relief.

Our second half of 2019 was donated to Wyandotte High School for their goal to provide coats to students. This is the prize we all share in, when all children of God are able to stay warm.

Thank you to all the players who come regularly or occasionally.
 
Come join us in 2020! We meet the second Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m. in the Student Center. Follow the sound of laughter and smell of awesome treats!!

SPARK (St. Paul’s Active Retiree Kommunity)

from Cheryl Scott

Exciting news! We are forming a new small group at St. Paul’s. This group will be made up of those folks that have retired (or are close to retiring), and desire to be a part of a group that will have occasional gatherings (some at church, some at other locations). The group may meet somewhere to enjoy food/beverage, may choose to do some sort of outdoor activity, may choose to participate in some sort of charitable event, may choose to attend a ticketed event, or may meet at St. Paul’s and work through some light maintenance/building upkeep tasks identified by trustees and/or church staff.

If you want to be a part of this group, contact Cheryl Scott to ensure you receive emails when an event or get-together is being planned. If you want to help plan our event(s), please let me know that as well.

I anticipate this group will be very fluid; attend the events you want to attend, we won’t gather at a certain time each month, our schedule will be set by what is planned/scheduled. I hope this will be a fun way to network with your fellow retirees at St. Paul's.
Center yourself in the season with an evening of soup, sandwiches, and crafts for all ages. We'll sing carols and children will perform a Christmas song! Make an advent wreath to take home and enjoy throughout the month. Sign up to make an advent wreath, bring food, or lead an activity. Everyone is welcome!
Learn more and sign up
Donation drives
WORSHIP THIS WEEK
Worship this Week


Sunday  November 24, 2019

8:15   •   9:30   •   11:00AM
 
Facebook Live Streaming
Songs of the Season
Let's explore the songs of Advent together! 

Dec. 1: Music Sunday
  • 8:15 & 11:00:  The Christmas Cantata by Daniel Pinkham, featuring Chancel Choir with piano and brass quartet
  • 9:30:  Celebrate seasonal music with the Praise Band
Dec. 8: Elizabeth’s Song  Luke 1:39-45
Dec. 15: Mary’s Song  Luke 1:46-56
Dec. 22: Zechariah’s Song  Luke 1:57-80
Presence Worship: Small group worship Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. Contact Pastor Mike Marcus, mike@stpaulslenexa.org, for more information.
FAITH FORMATION & FELLOWSHIP

A nursery for infants and toddlers, staffed by certified caregivers, is available downstairs all morning on Sundays. Parents, please bring your cell phones to nursery check-in; we will text you if your child needs you.

Adult Faith Formation


Sundays @ 9:30, lower level classrooms
Advent Series: “The Gift of Understanding.” Share your favorite Bible passage, prayer, or hymn. We will use the works of John and Charles Wesley to better understand what they might have felt about our favorites. Send your Biblical favorites to Tracy Dawson to add your favorites.
Advent Studies
Thursdays @ 6:30 p.m.
Faithful: Christmas Through the Eyes of Joseph, exploring the birth of Jesus from Joseph’s perspective.
Wednesdays @ 1:00 p.m.
While We Wait: Living the Questions of Advent, considering the stories of women like Rahab, Tamar, Naomi, Ruth, Elizabeth and Mary, and how they are part of the nativity story.

You’re welcome to come to any session of any class, any time it works for you. Find more info and sign up on this week's bulletin tear-off, or just show up! Contact: Pastor Sandra
Faith Formation classes and groups Faith Formation classes and groups
Contact Sandra Cox, Pastor of Faith Formation Contact Sandra Cox, Pastor of Faith Formation

Youth: Middle School/High School


Sundays @ 11a.m., Student Center, Lower Level
G.I.F.T. Growing in Faith Together: Engaging our Faith with Current Events

Sunday, November 24, 12:15 - 1:30 p.m.
Youth Council Meeting

Sunday, November 24, 4 - 6 p.m.
Youth Group: No-sew Blankets for Foster Care Kids & Game Night
Bring your own fleece (need two 1.5 yards of fabric) and scissors. 
St. Paul's Youth Facebook Group St. Paul's Youth Facebook Group
Youth page on St. Paul's website Youth page on St. Paul's website
Contact Allison Marcus, Director of Student Ministries Contact Allison Marcus, Director of Student Ministries
Kids' Connection logo


Children PreK - Grade 6


Dive into Bible stories and explore faith with fun and age-appropriate activities!
 
Sundays @ 9:30 a.m.
PreK-K, 1st-3rd grade, and 4th-6th grade kids meet in small groups, then come together for a portion of the hour to participate in a large group session called Kids’ Church. Activities include Bible lessons, games, crafts, songs, and more! Visit the website to learn more.

KIDS456
KIDS456 (4th-6th Grade Group) 

1st & 3rd Sundays, 6-7p.m. in the Tween Classroom, lower level
Bring $5 for pizza and your friends!
 
Sign up now to volunteer in Kids' Connection!
Kids' Connection Facebook Group Kids' Connection Facebook Group
Contact Jamie Turk, Director of Family & Children's Ministries Contact Jamie Turk, Director of Family & Children's Ministries
Children's Ministries on St. Paul's Website Children's Ministries on St. Paul's Website
CALENDAR

God is with us every day of the week! From small group studies and service opportunities to band practice and yoga, there is always something going on. Check out the calendar.
ST. PAUL'S AROUND TOWN
Are you or a loved one participating in a community activity you'd like your St. Paul's family to know about? Tell us about it! 
Note: Submissions are subject to review and approval prior to publication. 
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