FROM THE DESK OF . . .
Sunday & Monday, January 4 & 5, 2026
From the desk of Pastor Ernie Green,
Blessings in the New Year:
Every year at this time, Cindy’s mother, Margaret Lindsey would address everyone with this greeting. “Merry Christmas, and blessings in the New Year.” And that was a sincere request on her part. She really did pray for others to be blessed. This is a great lesson for all of us, that we spend some extra time praying and lifting others around us, especially as we enter a new year, full of God’s promises, full of potential. That would also be my prayer for you, that you begin and continue this new year with every blessing of our Heavenly Father, that we follow Him even closer in 2026 than we did in 2025.
Christmas wrap-up:
I’m not referring to gift wrapping, or gift returning, I’m sadly looking ahead to the season after Christmas. We only have one more week to enjoy the beautiful decorations in church and around the building as we’ll be taking everything down on Saturday, January 10. And just as a reminder, we can use your help to do this at 9:00 AM. It was a great Christmas time, but it seemed to pass by much too quickly. One thing that I’ll miss is the wonderful Christmas Eve attendance, particularly at our 2:00 and 5:00 PM services. Our total attendance on Christmas Eve was almost one hundred folks more than last year’s services. Wouldn’t it be great to see our weekly attendance rise in 2026? That can happen, invite your family members to come to worship. Invite friends and neighbors to do the same.
Answers here, still:
I haven’t seen any questions yet, but if you have one or more questions about the Christian faith or Lutheran Doctrine, then feel free to ask. This page is where your answers may be found. Just send me a question in an email, text message, or even still in an anonymous message left in the wooden “For Office” box in the Gathering Place. The questions are kept anonymous. No will know that you were the one who asked. I’m looking forward to answering those questions, so please send them in and I’ll get to work on them
Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year to everyone. Christmas Peace and Joy overflows to all God’s Children.
Pastor Ernie Green
All are welcome at St. Paul Lutheran – Please allow God’s love to work in and through you to brighten the lives of members and visitors alike.
+ PRAYER CONCERNS for our St. Paul Family +
HEALING: Bill Baessler, Paul Baessler, April Carlin, Lorraine Carroll, Karen Cowell, Zachary Dawson, Bev Deer, Elijah Desouza, Carmen Dexheimer, Miguel Diaz, Vicki Doucette, Dean Durow, Mildred Enney, Ryan Essenburg, Maureen Finch and her sister Colleen, Amy and David Fleischman, Bob Fritz, Aiden Gallineau, Cindy Green, Pastor Green, Anne Gross, Marlyn Gross, Margie Hadsell, Bonnie Haskell, Steve Hauer, Amanda Hughey, Loraine Jensen, Steve Keller, Paula Kopf, Pastor Dennis Krueger, MaryBeth Lee, Sue & Jeff Licht, Connie Maerten, Jackie Malinowski, Eunice & Jim Manth, Donna McKeown, Jason McNair, Mel Miller, Mike Mueller, Kathy Nagel, Maryanne Novack, McKenna O’Neil, Jim Peron, Gloria & Bill Pittler, Doris Rae, Meredith Roberts, Joy Rohring, Wayne Reichert, Jane Ruppert, Joe Sarzyniak, Leni Schofield, Paul Stolzenfels, Chris Thomas, Audrey Truax, Deb Tyler, Kathy Warriner, Jean Watters, Frank Wendt, Gail Wolf, Shirley Wurl, Barbara Yates and her son, Ron.
AT HOME: Joyce Dolpp HEALTHCARE FACILITIES: Mary Jo Bishop
MILITARY: Matthew Daugherty, Eric Davis, Aaron Fix, Zachary Kijowski, Joe Kloc, Jack Lambros, Joshua Lindsley, Christopher Manth, Kyle Rae and Travis Shaffer.
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LUTHERAN WOMEN IN MISSION (LWML) NEWS:
LUTHERAN WOMEN IN MISSION (LWML) YOUNG REP: Looking for a young woman, preferably between the ages of 22-35, that could attend the Lutheran Women in Mission (LWML) 2026 Eastern District Convention, June 12-14,2026 at the Double Tree Resort in Lancaster, PA, as a Young Woman Representative(YWR). Transportation, registration, meals and hotel expenses will be paid by the district. If interested contact Marge Stoelting at mesandmds@yahoo.com.
- See the bulletin board in the Gathering Place for the most current Mite and Mission Grant Reports or go to the national web site organd the district web site east-distrlwml.org. Your continued prayers and support is greatly appreciated.
- For questions on any Lutheran Women in Mission news, you may contact either Bea Hapeman (716 -327-2400) or Marge Stoelting (716-693-7555).
***Mite boxes, Eastern District Newsletter, The LINK etc. can all be found on The Information Center in The Gathering Place.
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Confirmation Class Assignments – Thursday, January 8, 2026
First Year Class – Read “The Apostles’ Creed; The First Article,” Questions 96 -113, pages 108 – 119 from Luther’s Small Catechism.
Read Chapter 14 from The Story, “A Kingdom Torn in Two.” Attend church and complete a Worship Report Form.
Mentor Question: Why does God provide all that He does for us?
Second Year Class – Read “The Apostles’ Creed; The First Article,” Questions 96 -113, pages 108 – 119 from Luther’s Small Catechism. Complete Lesson 13 “I Believe” from Exploring Luther’s Small Catechism. Attend church and complete a Worship Report Form.
Mentor Question: Why does God provide all that He does for us?