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Image: Front entrance of St. Paul's Mission House
December 2021 Newsletter
I remember many things about last year's Christmas Eve service but one particular memory was before the service even started. I remember the sound of my heels on the wood floor of my dining room. It was the first time I had worn heels in nine months and the click-clacking sound was alarming. As you know, extraneous noise is a Zoom killer and I remember feeling so frustrated and helpless. I just wanted to dress up for Christmas. I just wanted SOMETHING to feel normal and familiar about this most sacred night but as I opened the meeting to let you all in, the click-clacking from my nervous fidgets became too much and I abandoned my heels, crisscrossed my legs, and focused on your beautiful faces filling my screen. What was most sacred for me last Christmas Eve was not the familiar, but the intention of the present moment.
Last year's Christmas Eve service was (God-willing) a once in a life-time moment. But you know what else feels once in a lifetime? This year's Advent and Christmas Eve. Let us not take for granted the gift of worshiping together face-to-face. Come to St. Paul's this season and be known and welcomed. Come to pray your gratitude. Come to sing your praise. Come to welcome the baby Jesus into the world and into your life. Come to receive and to share the light of Christ by candlelight. Come in gym shoes or heels. Come home this Christmas. The doors are open. Alleluia!
Peace, Pastor Liz
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December Worship Highlights
Please note that masks are required for all worship services at St. Paul's
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Blue Christmas Service
Tues, Dec 21st | 7 PM
For those who have experienced loss, the holidays can be a particularly painful time, stirring up grief in many ways. Blue Christmas services are often observed on December 21st, the Winter Solstice, which is the longest night of the year. The service is a time of prayer, reflection, and remembrance amidst the holiday hustle and bustle. Please share this service with friends and family. Loss has been experienced in so many ways during the pandemic. Let's be together and find some peace and hope.
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Christmas Eve Service
Fri, Dec 23rd | 5PM
A service of carols, communion, and candlelight. Come on this most sacred night and together let's make a house for Holy.
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Pajama Worship | Sunday, Dec 26th
With this year's Christmas Eve festivities on a Friday and Christmas Day festivities on a Saturday, Sunday morning might feel like the perfect time to stay in your pajamas. We agree...wear them to church! We'll sing carols and continue the celebration of the season's greatest gift, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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December Service & Fellowship Opportunities
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Food & Diaper Distribution
Tues, Dec 7th | 3:30 - 5:00 PM
Missions & CE Ministries
One last chance to volunteer with St. Paul's and the Northern Illinois Mobile Food Pantry! St. Paul's also partners with Elgin Partnership for Early Learning to distribute baby diapers to families. Located at Old Sherman Hospital Parking Lot (901 Center St, Elgin). Please sign-up on the hall table.
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Diaper Distribution at ECC
Wed, Dec 15th | 3:30 PM
Missions & CE Ministries
St. Paul's is joining several local organizations to serve our community's most vulnerable families at the "Uniting for the Holidays" food distribution event at Elgin Community College. St. Paul's will distribute diapers to families in need. Sign-up on the hall table.
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Butter Braids On Sale Now
ACTS Group (Active Christians to Serve)
Butter Braids and cookie dough are on sale through this Sunday Dec 5th. Pick-up Sunday, Dec 12th before and after worship. They make a great addition to your Christmas holiday menu and also a great gift! Order forms are available to take to family, friends, and co-workers. ACTS fundraisers support the ministries of St. Paul's. Please see Karen Westerman or Karen Smith if you have any questions.
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Mitten Tree for U46 Students & Families
We are collecting new (and newly knitted) gloves, scarves and hats (child and adult sizes) for the U46 Project Access Closet. Bring new items to church and hang the on the hall tree through Dec 26th. Project Access provides basic necessities to students experiencing homelessness. Learn more about Project Access. |
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Thank you for your 2022 Pledge
We want to thank you for pledging to our church for 2022. Your support makes possible all the great work our congregation does in Elgin and beyond. You can still mail in your pledge card! Your generosity will make a real difference.
Our congregation welcomes people who’ve felt estranged from God and the rest of Christianity and strives to create meaningful worship and study experiences. We support each other through joys and times of loss and grief. And we serve meals, collect basic seasonal necessities, and provide baby diapers to the most vulnerable people and families in our city.
The work within and beyond our church can happen because of the generous financial and volunteer support of our community. Because of you, our church shares God’s love.
With Gratitude, The Stewardship Ministry
Judy Reimer, Anne Heinrich & Jim Werner
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Special "J" Dollars Announcement
Paula DeFarno and Mike and Ginny Mursewick gave $3075.00 to the "J" Dollars fund as a memorial for their mom and dad, Verona and Bill Mursewick. Their generosity not only paid off our current project balance IN FULL but also provided seed money for our next project.
What is the next project, you ask? You get to decide! We are inviting the congregation to once again vision and dream big for the ministry of St. Paul's and share your ideas about our next "J" Dollars project. Past projects included the front stone sign and an accessible bathroom remodel and front ramp at the Ministry House. "J" Dollar projects are funded by your donations of dollar bills. Look for a J at the front of the bill's serial number and consider donating it to the J container in the church hall (J for Jesus). Of course, any bill (or check) is appreciated! In January we will collect project ideas and take a congregational vote.
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Repairs & Improvements
Properties Ministry
Seven dead trees were removed from the property by Easy Tree Inc. and a new light and electrical switch were installed at the Ministry House to light the front walk.
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Financially Speaking
The total receipts for the month of October was $14,795.00 which includes $400.00 for OCWM, $100.00 in Memorials, $200.00 received to sponsor the Calling and Caring Grief Group, $22.00 for PADS, $16.00 from Coffee Hour, and $19.00 to CE from the sale of our garden pumpkins.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions on your statements.
Karen Westerman,
Financial Secretary
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A Note of Thanks
Dear Friends at St. Paul’s,
A heartfelt thank you for the most generous scholarship. When I opened the letter from our scholarship committee, I could not believe it and of course had tears in my eyes. I did not expect it. Wayne and I are so grateful...there are no words! I am waiting with anticipation to begin this God-given journey with The School for Ministry through the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ and will look forward to sharing with all of you from time to time. The first introduction meeting is in December and classes begin January 7, 2022. This is a three-year program. Once again, thank you.
Blessings with love and deep appreciation,
Linda Schambach
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December At-A-Glance
Wednesdays in Advent 7:20-8:20 p.m. Bible Study after Zoom Prayer
Tuesday, Dec 7 3:30 p.m. Volunteer for Food & Diaper Distribution
Wednesday, Dec 15 3:30 p.m. Volunteer for Diaper Distribution at ECC
Thursday, Dec 16 7:00 p.m. Church Council Meeting
Tuesday, Dec 21 7:00 p.m. Blue Christmas Service
Friday, Dec 23 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Sunday, Dec 26 9:30 a.m. Pajama Worship
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December Anniversaries
Jay and JoAnn Shircliff 12/01
Dave and Pat Thompson 12/19
December Birthdays
Marvin Straub 12/02
Arlyce Snipes 12/06
Vernon Knaak 12/07
Dave Starr 12/10
Aly Heinrich 12/11
Karen Snyder 12/11
Daniel Wayeshe 12/14
Michael Westerman 12/15
Alfred Hintt, Jr. 12/16
Ann Broihier 12/18
Beulah Swanson 12/19
Doris Weber 12/19
Dave Thompson 12/21
Charlie Heinrich 12/26
Sue Petty 12/31
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2021 Council Members & Emails
Officers
Ministry Chairpersons
Karen Smith. Christian Education
Vernon Knaak, Vernon Knaack
Karen Snyder, MIssions
Janet Werner, Fellowship and Hospitality
Dave Berna, Properties
Judy Reimer, Stewardship
Polly Russell, Evangelism
Ginny Mursewick, Calling and Caring
Staff
Rev. Liz Patz, Pastor
Linda Becker, Secretary
Gay Bouwmeester, Pianist
Jon Kobel, Choir Director
Dale Volkening, Custodian
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