St. Paul's United Church of Christ
2300 East Main Street
Sacramento, PA 17968
Phone #: 570-682-9828
Email: stpauls-sacramento@tds.net
Current Newsletter (click here)
Staff:
· Rev. Raymond W. Holland III, Pastor
· OPEN POSITION -
Choir Director/Organist
· Amy Ney, Assistant Organist
· Carolyn Fenstermacher, Assistant Organist
· Darlene Stiely, Secretary
· Sandy Deibert, Custodian
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Worship Times: (effective April 2011-March 2012)
Worship - 8:45am
Sunday School for children (during worship)
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Our Mission: The avowed purpose of this Church shall be to worship, to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to celebrate the Sacraments, to realize Christian fellowship and unity within this Church and the Church Universal, to render loving service toward mankind, and to strive for righteousness, justice, and peace by all available means.
Join us for worship, fellowship, study, and service,
as together we seek to serve God by serving others.
Upcoming St. Paul's & Wider Church
Activities*:
Inclement Weather Procedure
In the event of snow or other inclement weather on a Saturday evening or Sunday morning, Pastor Ray will consult with the Consistory President, and decide whether to cancel church that day. The church answering machine will be updated by 8am on Sunday morning. So any time after 8am, you can call the church (570-682-9828) to find out if we are open or not. If you hear the standard recording, that means there will be worship that day. BUT IF YOU HEAR A SPECIAL GREETING OR NO GREETING AT ALL, THAT MEANS THAT CHURCH HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR THE DAY. But please - use your own judgment - even if the church is open, if you feel the roads are too dangerous to travel, stay home. We'll miss you, but at least we'll know that you are safe.
Worship - Sundays, 8:45am
Sunday School for Children - during worship
Choir Rehearsal - Sundays after worship during colder months
· February 11 - youths/families volunteer at Elijah's Bowl soup kitchen in Sunbury, then go ice skating in Sunbury (carpool from Hebe at 8:15am)
· February 14, 9am - Prayer Chain
· February 14, 7pm - Consistory meeting
· February 25, 4pm - youths/families carpooling from church to Eagle Rock for snowtubing
· February 19 - OGHS begins
Upcoming Events
Fundraiser Challenge for February!
Our Donut Day fundraiser has been canceled this year. Instead, an anonymous donor has challenged our congregation to raise $1000 during the month of February. If we succeed, the donor will MATCH our $1000 with another $1000, for a total of $2000. But this challenge must be IN ADDITION TO our regular weekly giving. In other words, we can't apply our regular weekly offerings toward this $1000. So, to keep this special challenge SEPARATE from our regular offerings, we are asking you to use your Improvement Fund envelopes for this challenge.
This special challenge will help toward replacing the funds we would have earned through Donut Day. So, if you have always helped with Donut Day, think about the hours you would usually donate for that project: 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, more? Now ask yourself, how much are YOU worth per hour? Hopefully that will inspire you to give GENEROUSLY toward this special challenge. FOLKS, WE CAN DO THIS!
St. Paul's Celebrates 175 Years!
Our church was founded in 1837, which makes us 175 years young this year! Stay tuned as our Parish Life Committee plans special ways for us to celebrate this milestone anniversary in ways that will be both fun and meaningful. And praise God for the continuing life of our congregation!
Lent 2012
This year, our two churches will gather at David's, Hebe, for Ash Wednesday worship and communion on Wednesday, February 22, 7pm; we will gather at St. Paul's, Sacramento, for Maundy Thursday worship and communion on Thursday, April 5, 7pm.
Tri-Valley Churches will again sponsor Wednesday Lenten services for our community. This year, the focus will be Lessons from the Book of Acts. Join the community for worship, and deepen your faith!
· February 29, 7pm - Frieden's Lutheran, Hegins
· March 7, 7pm - St. Paul's UCC, Sacramento
· March 14, 7pm - St. Peter's UM, Fearnot
· March 21, 7pm - St. Andrew's UM, Valley View
· March 28, 7pm - St. John's UM, Hegins
· April 6, noon - Crosswalk - starts at St. John's UM, Hegins
· April 6, 7pm - Community Good Friday Evening Service - St. Andrew's UM, Valley View
· April 8, 6:30am - Community Easter Son-Rise Service, St. Mark's UM, Spring Glen - followed by community breakfast at St. Paul's
Combined Christian Unity Service/Concert - April 22, 4pm
In the spirit of fellowship between our two churches, we will once again join for a special worship service to express our Christian Unity. On Sunday, April 22, at 4pm, our two churches will have a special combined worship service, held at St. Paul's in Sacramento. The service is especially designed to provide an opportunity for both churches to share our in-house musical and dramatic talents. Young or old, vocal or instrumental, solo or combo, skit or puppets - please be in touch ASAP with Pastor Ray or Amy Ney to begin preparing YOUR music and/or drama for this special service. Following the program, we will all share a potluck supper downstairs in St. Paul's fellowship hall - so bring something to share!
Upcoming Youth Activities
Note: Depending on fund balances and expenses, we may need to do a fundraiser or two to help cover activity costs. Watch your newsletter and bulletin announcements for more information.
· February 11 - Volunteer, along with youths from Hebe, to make and serve meals at Elijah's Bowl (soup kitchen located inside First Reformed UCC, Sunbury, 9am-12:30pm, must be 6th-grade or older), followed by ice skating at Sunbury Ice Rink (1-3:30pm) Adults welcome as well. (Carpool from Hebe at 8:15am, back by 4:30pm)
· February 25, 4pm - Snow-tubing at Eagle Rock, Hazleton - carpool from St. Paul's, stop for supper along the way, back by 10pm. Cost: $12 (free for St. Paul's youths only), plus money for supper. Please contact Sue Clark Reblock (570-294-6567) or sign up at church by February 10. Invite a friend, dress warmly, and get ready for snow!
· Late March / Early April - Sight & Sound's Easter show. Details to be announced.
· Saturday, June 9, 9am - End-of-school bash at Ozzie's Family Fun Center. Details to be announced.
Hartman Center 2012 Schedules Available at St. Paul's
Our Conference camp and retreat center, Hartman Center, located in Milroy, PA, has just sent out the new 2012 schedule and registration form. This year, the camp has worked hard to REDUCE prices due to the economy. There is also a new Christian Community Week (July 1-7) when entire families can come and enjoy activities together (or just come for half of the week (July 1-4 or 4-7). On-line registration for all camp programs is available at www.hartmancenter.com. Brochures are available in the side room at church (or ask Pastor Ray). And don't forget that scholarship assistance is available from our Youth Fund for campers. Check it out, and register early!
St. Paul's Cares....
One Great Hour of Sharing 2012
Deciding to share is tough sometimes, especially when we feel we barely have enough to get by ourselves. But compared to people whose lives have been ravaged by disaster, or who live on less than $1 a day, we have a great abundance.
On February 19, we will begin our 2012 OGHS (One Great Hour of Sharing) program, where we will be invited to help people in need around the world and in communities impacted by disasters in the United States through the OGHS offering. Our program will culminate with a dedication of offerings on March 18.
As the church, we are called to help one another, even through the sharing of our own resources. Giving changes so many things, for the receiver and the giver. Can you imagine the joy on a mother's face, who because of your gift, can send her children to school or provide them with a meal before bed? OGHS supports many initiatives that help women start their own businesses or learn a wage-earning skill. Programs that through you gift, you become a partner.
By sharing our resources, combined with offerings from thousands of other congregations in eight denominations across the United States, we:
· Build homes, schools, medical clinics, and clean water and sewage facilities in villages devastated by earthquakes, floods, and poverty
· Bring safety, shelter, and food to refugees after often violent circumstances have made their hometowns uninhabitable
· Nurture stronger futures and self-sufficiency through health care, education, job training, and tools for livelihoods.
We are blessed that God is able to provide when and where help is needed through us (2 Corinthians 9:8-15). When you make your gift, please give generously. One Great Hour of Sharing: sharing resources, changing lives, bringing joy!
Donate Old Cell Phones/Help a Medical Clinic
HopePhones.org collects old cell phones (working or not), and through a recycling partner, trades them in for new, working cell phones to distribute to medical clinics in third-world countries. Every cell phone given to community health workers connects distant patients to a medical clinic. The next time you upgrade your phone, just follow your cellphone provider's instructions for clearing your old phone's memory, and drop the phone in the box. For more information, contact Deb Stehr (570-682-8126). The first shipment will be sent out on August 28. If you have old cell phones to donate, please bring them to church, or call Deb to have them picked up.
Red Prayer Bowl at St. Paul's
Remember that you can always place your written prayer requests in our red prayer bowl, located in the side room. Our Prayer Chain meets monthly to review and pray over all requests. And if YOU feel called to join this prayer ministry - perhaps you have the spiritual gift of intercessory prayer - then please let Ruth Koppenhaver or Pastor Ray know, and we will be sure to include you at the monthly prayer gatherings. Note: when the group meets and prays over requests, they are added to our newsletter's prayer list, and are removed from the prayer bowl.
Donations for Elizabethville Clothing Closet
Don't forget that we have an ongoing request from the Elizabethville Clothing Closet for gently-worn/almost new clothing for babies and children. Please leave your donations in the collection box in the back of church.
Email your suggestions to stpauls-sacramento@tds.net
*All events are open to the public,
and are free of charge
unless otherwise indicated.
You are welcome at St. Paul's!
Driving Directions to St. Paul's UCC
St. Paul's is located at the intersection of Route 25 and Fearnot Road,
in the village of Sacramento, Pennsylvania. Sacramento is 2 miles east of Spring Glen, 7 miles east of Gratz, and 3 miles west of Valley View.
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