LOVE God and all others unconditionally
SEEK answers to our questions
SERVE God by serving others
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My office got tinseled this week. In worship on Sunday, I shared a reading from my Advent devotional talking about how Christmas decorations deserve to be bold and extravagant rather than nice and neat. I don’t necessarily care one way or another, but I appreciated the hilarity of the message:
“This calls for tinsel…Christmas is not a day for restraint; it’s a day for blowing the doors off their hinges. I’m not saying you have to decorate your house. I’m just saying that if you’re going to decorate it, you best make it look like a party.When God decided to decorate for Christmas, God hung an enormous star in the heavens, not a string of demure white lights. No doubt the neighbors were appalled, but it sure did draw a crowd. So today, celebrate the God who didn’t hold back anything. Be unrestrained. Put on some music, loud, and start decorating. Make it look like a party up in here, and praise God’s holy name.”
So, naturally, someone brought tinsel to my office this week and spread the Christmas cheer all over it. Then I, naturally, shared that generosity and put some of that tinsel in some people’s mailboxes. (Yes, some of you who haven’t checked your mail might need to remove your mail carefully.)
It’s been fun!
Until I saw some tinsel on the floor of my house today at lunch. Y’all. I don’t have tinsel at my house. That stuff must have multiplied and come home with me from the office somehow. It’s everywhere. Tinsel is like glitter but bigger. And it’s also making me smile. There is some on the floor in the office and in the kitchen at the church. It’s fiiiiiine.
I think it’s a good image, however, for what it means to spread the gospel as we lead up to Christmas. It is such a good time to share hope and love and peace and joy with the people around you. It will spread. It will go places you never thought it would.
Because the waiting we are doing this season for Christ to be fully present in our world is a message worth sharing and watching where it goes. We are anticipating a day when truth is valued, when justice is the norm, the hungry are fed, the immigrant is welcomed, the lonely finds community, and the systems that oppress become ones that liberate.
And you know what? I think our tinsel-sharing spirits help us see those things realized a little more quickly. Watch. Wait. Share the gospel this season without restraint. It’s a beautiful, unrestrained thing.
See You Sunday,
Pastor Lora
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GPUMC Next #resistance: Letter Writing Campaign
from Scott Groth
As a part of our commitment to inclusion, St Paul’s is participating in a letter writing campaign to encourage Great Plains Bishop Saenz to refrain from receiving complaints or initiating trials for against clergy officiating same-sex weddings or for the sexual orientation of clergy. Our Peace & Justice team is spearheading this effort.
Bishop Saenz wrote, in a letter to the Great Plains conference regarding LGBTQ ordination and same-gender weddings, that he recognizes the viewpoint that “the time of waiting for the end to discrimination against LGBTQ persons of sacred worth is long past due.” Still, Bishop Saenz believes he is bound by his vows and the discipline to “respond to all complaints that are submitted” according to church process.
We are asking that you consider joining in our campaign by addressing a postcard to Bishop Saenz to respectfully disagree with his decision to receive complaints on sexual orientation and same-sex weddings. The process for writing your postcard is simple. We will have postcards available on a table in the vestibule for the next two weeks. Write your message on the postcard, include your name and your affiliation with St Paul’s and return it to the box on the table. We will ensure all postcards are delivered to the Bishop with letters from throughout the Great Plains on January 4.
The Great Plains Resistance Team has a sample letter available. The sample letter is more than you can put on a postcard but provides many good suggestions on how to approach expressing your opinion to the Bishop. If you feel inclined to write a letter instead of a postcard, you are most welcome to do so. However you approach it, the most important thing you can do is to express your heart for ending the harm caused by the current rules and processes.
Additional information about the letter writing campaign can be found on the GPUMC Next website. We would also love to have a group of volunteers involved in delivering our postcards to Topeka on January 4. Please contact Scott Groth at scottsp@grothfamily.net for additional information about writing or delivering the postcards.
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New Office Hours for 2020
As of January 1, the church office will be open Monday - Thursday,
9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Reach out if you have questions! stpaulsumc@stpaulslenexa.org // 913.268.9551
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Each service has its own flavor, and each will have Communion, candlelighting, and special music. We're so excited to celebrate this special time with you.
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Fifth Sunday Forum
Join us December 29 at 9:30 a.m. for our final 5th Sunday Forum of 2019! We’ll gather on the lower level where St. Paul’s Director of Choral Music, Jackson Thomas, will lead us in exploring the roots and stories behind some of our favorite Christmas carols.
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Just like the star pointed the way to Jesus for the wise men, each of us will receive a star with a word on it, for example, “delight” or “together” or “brave,” to point us toward Christ throughout the new year.
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New Sermon Series starts January 12
Are there words people use about Christianity that just make you cringe? This series will focus on reclaiming the language of our faith through God’s love.
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Employment Opportunity: Finance Director
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!
Request the full job description or apply now by sending your resume with two references to seniorpastor@stpaulslenexa.org.
Share with your friends!
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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.
Missions Marketplace
When you order gift cards through the Missions Marketplace program, St. Paul’s receives a percentage of your purchases. Use enrollment code 88FB73C11995. Contact Deedra Dowd for more information.
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.
Staff Offering
Staff Parish Relations (SPR) invites you to thank St. Paul's staff with a love offering this season. Choose the "Staff Gift" category when you contribute online, or write "staff" on the memo line of your check.
End of Year Contributions
In order to be posted during 2019, contributions can be postmarked or dropped off at the church by 1 p.m. December 31. Automated or text giving (1-913-956-0436) or online contributions via our website must be entered by December 26. If you wish to contribute to your 2020 commitment in 2019, clearly indicate that on the memo line. Thank you for your stewardship.
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Thank you for generously supporting the work of Christ’s Kingdom through the ministries of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Your gifts touch lives in the name of the living Christ every day.
-- From your Legacy Fund Program Committee
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Presence Worship: Small group worship Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m. at CommuniTea in Overland Park. Contact Pastor Mike Marcus, mike@stpaulslenexa.org, for more information.
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FAITH FORMATION & FELLOWSHIP
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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.
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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.
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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. Please note, on December 18 the group will meet early at noon to allow time for lunch and a party.
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
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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, December 15, 4 - 6 p.m.
Youth Group Gift Exchange & Christmas Party
Bring a side dish or dessert and a $5 white elephant gift. Friends are welcome!
Confirmation
Confirmation classes for youth 9th grade or older begins Thursday, January 9, 6:30-7:30pm, with a parent/youth/mentor meeting in the Student Center. Sign up on Sunday's bulletin tear-off to register. Contact Allison Marcus with questions.
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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 (4th-6th Grade Group)
1st & 3rd Sundays, 6-7p.m. in the Tween Classroom, lower level
Bring $5 for pizza and your friends!
Third Grade Bibles
We will present Bibles to those in third grade (and older kids who have not received a Bible from St. Paul’s) on Sunday, January 19 at 9:30 and 11:00am. Then for 8 weeks beginning January 26 at 11:00am, we will offer a “Learning to Use My Bible” class for those in that age range. Bring your new Bible! Sign ups will be available soon.
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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.
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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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Homemade Pies for the Holidays
Order a cherry pie or cheesecake by December 18 and support our friends at Veronica's Voice!
Baked from scratch by the women of Magdalene KC (the residential program of Veronica's Voice), funds from the sale go toward providing job skills training and employment opportunities for the women they serve who are recovering from a life of prostitution, addiction and homelessness.
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