Dear Partners in Ministry, - St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church

Website www.stpaulgp.org
E-mail info@stpaulgp.org
November 15, 2012
St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church 375 Lothrop Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236
From the Desk of Pastor Collier
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without
knowing it.” (Hebrews 13 2 )
In Genesis 18 1 - 15 , Abraham was sitting by the oaks of Mamre one afternoon when he saw three men standing.
Abraham went to meet them and invited them into his tent. This passage from Genesis describes how Abraham played
host to these three strangers who, it turned out, were angels of God. After the men ate and drank with Abraham, they
blessed Abraham and Sarah and promised the couple—who by now were advanced in age—that Sarah would conceive
and bear a son. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews at least, had this incident in mind when he challenged the
young church to a life of love. When Christians gather for worship and fellowship, he wants us to spot the stranger in our
midst and make sure that they are entertained. In addition, this author wants us to bring in those who are outside so
that they too, may enjoy the fellowship as well.
Abraham has shown us how showing fellowship can be mutually beneficial. In its report of January 2012, the St.
Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church Transition Steering Committee noted that though this congregation may identify a
multiplicity of areas of outreach to the community, only one—the Rummage Sale—is actually run by the congregation.
The task force went on, “It is our belief that an ongoing outreach activity run by St. Paul would keep the service to
community aspects of our ministry visible to all, including our youth and local community.” (Page 15)
This brings to mind a recent ministry of this congregation, viz., the Community Outreach Dinner which started
on October 24. The current council chair of the St. Paul Lutheran Church Outreach is Jackie Kalogerakos. Jackie explained
to me that this dinner is a joint venture with Beaumont Hospital of Grosse Pointe, and that CARE (Community
Assessment Referral & Education) is responsible for most of the promotion. According to Jackie, what got CARE
interested is that this organization usually promulgates the importance of the family sitting down together for dinner.
Anne Nearhood, Michigan Community Organizer/Specialist Project Coordinator, was quoted in a recent article of the
Grosse Pointe News as saying, “A family is continually pulled in many directions during meal time.” In that article, Anne
Nearhood noted that the lack of families sitting down to eat together is a detriment to the family.
Talking with Jackie Kalogerakos, she explained to me that the Community Outreach Dinners are scheduled for
every last Wednesday of the month here in Sandrock Hall. Beaumont Hospital of Grosse Pointe has voted $2,000 for
2013 to fund the dinners. Jackie’s vision in running this dinner is that members of this congregation make it a point of
duty to invite non members to come in. The dinners begin at 5:30 pm and, after the meal, will be time for fun and
games. The games will be provided by Beaumont of Grosse Pointe. In line with vision of the Transition Steering
Committee, Jackie notes that it is hoped that through hosting these dinners, the congregation may develop an identity
beyond the annual Rummage Sale. Additionally, Jackie hopes that through inviting friends and neighbors to the dinners,
the congregation may see people grow more as evangelists who can invite others to the confines of the church. It is
hoped that all will invite others, and be here, as Abraham did, to welcome them and make them comfortable. The next
community dinner is scheduled for Wednesday, November 28, from 5:30 to 7 pm.
I remain your Servant in Christ

Care Packages for Foster Care
Students
We have a wonderful opportunity for
outreach to Wayne State University students in
(and aging out of) Foster Care. At the holiday
season times, many students receive care packages
from home that lift spirits and give
encouragement. However, many of the Foster
Care students receive little communication during
the year and no care packages. The faith
communities of our Faith Coalition for Foster Care
are being asked to respond to this important need.
Suggested “Care Package” contents: a note of
encouragement, a laundry basket, towel,
washcloths (2), soap (4 bars), toothpaste,
toothbrush, shaving cream, razors, comb, hair
products (culturally sensitive), deodorant, pocket
tissues (4 packs), feminine hygiene products, toilet
paper, non-perishable snacks, school supplies, full
size laundry detergent, Wayne State University
memorabilia, gift cards for food. For more
information, contact Dr. Angelique Day. “Care
Packages” need to be turned in by Nov. 27 th . You
may bring them to the church for distribution.
The next Faith Community Coalition for Foster Care
meeting will be held at Grosse Pointe Memorial
Church on Thursday, November 29, at 6:30 pm. All
are welcome.
Christmas Program Preparations
Each year St Paul is blessed to enjoy a
musical recreation of the nativity story by our
children and youth under the direction of Susan
Kvale and her team of leaders. This year’s program
“The A, B, Cs of Christmas” will be Sunday,
December 16, at 10:30 am. All children and youth
are invited to participate in this gift to our
congregation! All children, middle school and high
school youth are welcomed and encouraged to
participate. Preparation is during Living the Word
each Sunday in the education hour; regular
participation each Sunday is important. In
addition, there will be a dress rehearsal Saturday
morning, December 15, from 9:30 - 11:30 am.
Gleaners Community Food Bank
Working at our local community food bank
is a great way to make a difference! Mark your
calendar for our next date Saturday, December 1,
at the Detroit location at 2131 Beaufait, in the
morning from 9 am to noon. Holiday work dates
are very important, many volunteers are needed.
Please plan to come and invite your friends.
Faith and Ale 2.0
Faith and Ale “two point oh” will continue
to offer an opportunity to discuss a variety of
topics relating to faith, life, and Lutheran theology
but, in this new version, we’ll meet locally in one of
our homes, and enjoy some comfort food along
with Dragonmead Ale and other beverages. On
Sunday, December 2, at 6 pm, Mary Mobley will
share about Thrivent Builds Worldwide, the
personal experience she and Allison recently had in
El Salvador, and open a discussion about forming a
team from St Paul. We will meet at Todd and
Jennifer Callewaert’s home. This is a great
opportunity to invite your friends to a St Paul
gathering. There will be a free will offering with
proceeds going to the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund.
Future dates are February 3, March 17 and April
14. Please contact Todd Callewaert or Bob Mobley
if you would like to host or lead a discussion.
Lay Care Opportunities
Consider giving your time and talent
Funeral Lunches
Funeral Lunches support grieving families.
Because we have lost valuable team members, we
need new volunteers in order to continue this
caring ministry. Both women and men are needed
to serve catered food selected by the family from
suggested menus. Volunteers set up the room,
serve and do clean-up when families request a
catered lunch or refreshments. Funerals are
usually on weekday mornings, but occasionally
families choose a Saturday. No food preparation is
involved.

Funeral Lunch Coordinators are
retiring
Many THANKS to Sandy Brown and Mary K.
Szelc for years of dedicated and caring
coordination of funeral hospitality to grieving
families. Sandy Brown has been a key person in
making this outreach so successful.
Needed . . . Two New Funeral
Luncheon Coordinators
Call or email Marie Zeller if you will be a
Coordinator of this important Lay Care ministry, or
if you will be a worker on a Funeral Luncheon
team.
New Lay Care Program
Many of our elders live alone and can’t get
to church regularly. We are starting a “Care Call”
phone ministry that will reach out and support
their need for friendship. Women, men, and
youth, willing to make friendly phone calls to an
assigned member(s), can make a difference in
someone’s day. This new lay care program would
be in addition to our communion visits to shut-ins.
If interested in being a “Care Caller”, contact Marie
Zeller (mmzeller@comcast.net or 885-5052). We
want this Care Call program in operation by
January 1.
You can choose the person or persons to
call or we can assign you someone. We may
rotate names so each shut-in or elder member gets
the joy of having several “Care Call” friends during
the year. Sharing yourself and hearing their stories
will not take a large block of your time. You do it
in the comfort of your home and on your own
schedule. Consider volunteering for this new
project.
Church Council Positions
On December 9, the Congregation of St.
Paul will vote to fill Council positions for
Stewardship, Evangelism, Youth and Family,
Administration, and Secretary.
Although it is a serious commitment,
serving on Congregation Council is a rewarding
experience and a great way to serve our Church.
Please give this thoughtful consideration.
If you are interested in running for one of
these positions and would like additional
information, please contact Jack Diesing via email
at jack.diesing@ally.com or by phone at (313) 882-
5988.
A Visit to Historic Trinity
Naomi Circle is sponsoring a visit to
Historic Trinity on December 18, 2012. All church
members are invited to attend. The trip will
include a tour of the church all decorated for
Christmas. There will be a catered lunch including
coffee, tea, desert, and gratuity of $12 [cash would
be appreciated]. Contact Dorothy Carty at
313.881.7113 or Beverly Henry at 586.777.6365 if
interested. We will carpool from church at 10 am.
The 2010 Flower Chart has been
posted.
The Altar flowers are $25.00 and the
Chancel flowers are $35.00. The Altar flowers must
be taken before the Chancel flowers can be
reserved. When ordering flowers, please pay one
week in advance and indicate on your check the
Sunday’s date your flowers will be placed in the
sanctuary. Mark your envelope to Sandy’s
attention in the Church Office. You can mail it,
drop it in the offering plate on Sunday, or leave it in
Sandy’s mailbox in the foyer.
Community Dinner
St. Paul will host its second Community
Dinner on Wednesday evening, November 28, from
5:30 – 7 pm. After the supper, games will be
available for your fun entertainment. We are
hosting these community suppers in partnership
with Beaumont Hospital Grosse Pointe. Contact
Jackie Kalogerakos if you can help or want more
information.

Holiday Memorial Service
A.H. Peters Funeral Home will be hosting a
Holiday Memorial Service on Saturday, December
8, at 2 pm. We have sent invitations to all of our
families from the past year, ear, but we would be
delighted to have folks from outside our facility
attend if they would like. I think they would find
value in it. We will have a grief counselor do a
presentation for us as well as entertainment and
refreshments. We would ask that the he people who
are interested RSVP to 313-884-5500 5500 or
k.steinetz@ahpeters.com.
Dates to Add to your Calendar
• December 2 – Decorate the Fireside Room
starting at 11:15 am.
• December 9 – The Annual Cookie Walk will
take place between services. Prices are $5
for a small box and $8 for a large box.
Bakers are needed, so pull out those old
family recipes and get backing! The
proceeds will be split between ELCA
Disaster Relief (Super Storm m Sandy) and the
Pastor’s Discretionary Fund.
Deck the Halls!!
Join us on Saturday,
December 1, as we decorate
the church for Advent and
Christmas.
The event begins at
3:30 pm as we trim the trees
in the sanctuary and the gathering space. If time
allows, we will have a simple craft item to make
and take home. Bring a dish to share for a pot pot-luck
meal together around 5 pm. (Main course and
beverage provided.)
Sign up on the list in the gathering space to
help us plan. Child care can be made avail available for
children under 3. Contact Michelle Ketepa if you
require a baby sitter for this time.
Coordinator Needed
Each month, the middle school students
enjoy a pizza night together before Catechism
class. A coordinator for these events is needed for fo
the remainder of this school year. Duties include:
• Checking the sign up list and
communicating with volunteers each
month.
• Making sure that the youth room is cleaned
up after each pizza night.
• Recruiting a coordinator for the 2013-2014 2013
school year.
Luther League on Facebook
Mobley.
A Facebook Group has
been started for Luther League.
We are trying to connect with as
many people as possible. If you
are not on the list yet and would
like to be, please contact Allison
New High School Ministry Structure! Struc
With a transition from staff leadership to
volunteer leadership
underway, parents and
other volunteers are
needed to make youth
programming a reality here
at St. Paul.
For this school year, monthly activities are
being planned. Each family has been asked to plan
an event for a particular month. At this point, most
months are spoken for, but that doesn’t mean
additional events can’t be added. (We still need a
family to adopt the month of May and possibly for
a summer event in 2013.) If you would like to
plan/host an event, contact Becka Jenzen for
information on the current calendar.
Each family is responsible for their event
and should:
• Check the church calendar and select your
date 6 (or more) weeks ahead.

• Make use of the church newsletter,
bulletins, lletins, and email list as appropriate to
communicate the details to other families.
• Ensure that sufficient supervision is
provided for the event.
Ladies Bathroom Committee
We’re looking for a few good people.
Please join us on our Ladies Bathroom Committee.
If interested, please contact Caroline Scholfield at
313.884.0417.
Celebration of Ray Carpentier’s 10
Anniversary with St. Paul
th
On Sunday, December 2, we will honor and
thank Ray Carpentier for this milestone of ten years
of service. A reception will be held in the Fireside
Lounge following the first service.
Grant Them Eternal Rest, Lord
† Nora Kramer
† Mary Lou Pascoline
† John Rooney, brother of Bill Rooney
† James Boster , father of Laura Rooney
May their souls and all the souls of the
faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in
peace. Amen.
Baptism Announcements
nnouncements
The following ollowing children were
baptized by Reverend Frederick J. Harms:
On Sunday, November 18,
Emily Claire Gellasch, daughter of
Michael & Lauren Gellasch.
Grandparents are John & Sue Gellasch.
On Sunday, November 25, Jakson Gren
Harms, son of Erik & Nicole Harms, will be
baptized. Grandparents are Pastor Fred &
Margaret.
Len, Shawn, Dominic, Leo & Scarlette Cugliari
Cynthia, Ariel & Emmerson Gosselin
Sandra, Alex & Nate Stoup
We welcome these new members into our
church family!
Memorial and Honorary Gifts
Music Enrichment Fund
In memory of Jack Lynch by Doris Lynch
Pastors Discretionary Fund
In memory of Jeremy Jankiewicz by Arlene Nagel &
Pam Jankiewicz
Donation by Richard Moore & Heidi Gunderson
Attendance and Weekly
Envelope Offering
October 7
127
$8,333
October 14
126
$7,115
October 21 [Jazz services]
183
$5,742
October 28 [Reformation Sunday] 235
$12,910
Attendance [year-to-date date average] 155
Attendance [last year-to-date date average] 162
Year-to-date total
$344,301
Year-to-date budget
$361,280
Last year-to-date total
$330,727
Thank You!
We are thankful for all of the commitment
cards that have come in. If you haven’t done so,
please drop your card in the mail or the wood box
in the narthex.

December
Birthdays
1 Abigail Leehr
2 Pastor Fred Harms, Christine Hanson, Mary
Fenstermacher
3 Katherine Uppleger, Jared Demkowicz
4 Orpha Lohmann, Marilyn Wilke
5 Carol Peters
6 No birthdays
7 No birthdays
8 Anthony Kaled, Brian Lockhart, Marc Smale,
LaMar Tannheimer
9 Jamie Jankiewicz
10 Fred Kreger, James Meza
11 John Miotto
12 Peter Gillespie, Martie Thomalla, Sean
Grabowski
13 Fleurette Schultz, Carolyn Karkie
14 Kent Wiseman, Charles Wenrich
15 Alexander Tigges
16 Peter Cara
17 Jewell Dagueneau
18 Leigh Farquhar
19 James Brege, Patricia Potter, David Miller, Chris
Koehler, Rowan Forton
20 Ellen Ortleib, Robert Green
21 Kerry Edick, Patti Schwessinger
22 Michael Edick, Milton Osgood, Heinrich
Schaeffer
23 No birthdays
24 Fred Orth
25 Carol Rogers
26 Linda Banovetz, Grant Corrion
27 David Upmeyer, Heather Kerr, Olla Reisen,
Bianca Sabaja
28 Clara Feucht
29 Kenneth Steketee, Shelley Reisen, Sharon
Robert
30 No birthdays
31 No birthdays
From Sandy’s Desk!
Please take your bulletin home with you each Sunday!
You can refer back to the events and the calendar for the
coming week. There are enough bulletins made each week
so everyone can take their copy home. Please send any
bulletin announcements or changes in schedules directly to
me at: sandy.wallace@stpaulgp.org
Please send any newsletter articles to me at:
sandy.wallace@stpaulgp.org The next Epistle deadline is
Thursday, December 13, at 3 pm. I will be preparing and
editing the newsletter on Friday, December 14, for the
following week’s mailing.
Thank you!
Please call me in the Church Office to update your
contact information changes. I need new addresses, phone
numbers, and email addresses in order to keep the Church
Directory current. Thank you!
Lord, grant me faith to
"Excel in the Grace of
Giving."
God's Blessings through Giving
Every command God gives us is for our good, for the
building up of the church, and for the honor and glory
of his name. God's command to give, to share with
others the resources with which he has blessed us,
follows the pattern of command linked to blessing.
Throughout Scripture, when a command to give is
stated, along with that command is a reference to the
rewards that the giver will enjoy. These blessings come
in many forms. Some verses that promise blessing:
• "Honor the Lord with your first fruits of all your
crops; then your barns will be filled to
overflowing . . ." (Proverbs 3:9).
• "A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes
others will himself be refreshed" (Proverbs
11:25).
• "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that
there may be food in my house. Test me in
this," says the Lord almighty, "and see if I will
not throw open the floodgates of heaven and
pour out so much blessing that you will not
have room enough for it" (Malachi 3:10).
• "Give and it will be given to you. A good
measure, pressed down, shaken together and
running over, will be poured into your lap. For
with the measure you use, it will be measured
to you" (Luke 6:38).
As God's people, we don't give to receive, but God has
ordained that through our giving we are blessed.

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Check our
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more
information
or call
313.417.9666
19556 Harper
GP Woods, MI

Church Staff
Frederick J. Harms, Senior Pastor, Ext. 12
Morsal O. Collier, Associate Pastor, Ext. 13
Sandy Wallace, Office Administrator, Wedding Coordinator, Ext. 10
Michelle Ketepa, Minister of Faith Formation, Ext. 17
Linda Bauer, Organist, Handbell Director, Ext. 19
Eric Miller, Director of Music, Chancel Choir Director
Margaret Rees-Baker, Children’s Music Director
Gretchen Archinal, Minister of Administration, Ext 11
Ray Carpentier, Sexton, Ext. 18
David Ketepa, Sexton, Ext. 18
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 am to 3 pm Worship Schedule: September through June
Telephone: 313.881.6670 and 313.881.5014 9 & 11:15 am
Fax: 313.881.6189 Holy Communion at alternating services
Email: info@stpaulgp.org
Website: www.stpaulgp.org
St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church
375 Lothrop
Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236