Dig Into God’s Word—Bible Study · Pastor Dave, Gary Rutter, Ruth Schultz, Carol Strock, Sunday School Production: Trista C Jones E-mail [email protected] The Lamplighter

Dig into God’s Word with one of our Bible Study options. You can study at church, online or at Shepherd’s Farm.

Our new Sunday morning Bible Study is THE LECTIONARY. Every Sunday, right after church, Pastor Dave will lead a study in his office on the week’s four Scripture readings from the Revised Common Lectionary. Pastor Dave frequently uses one or more of these Scriptures for his sermons and when he does the class will discuss how they fit in.

For those of you with busy lives, can you squeeze in a half hour at lunch time? On TUESDAYS at NOON, Pastor Dave will lead MUSIC and FAITH using songs to

discover more about our relationship with God. This will be exclusively ONLINE using ZOOM conferencing.

Our Brown Bag Bible Study continues each Wednesday at 12:30 and its theme is the same as the Wednesday 7pm study, GETTING CLOSE TO GOD. Each week the class will examine various Scripture lessons while contemplating how

Dig Into God’s Word—Bible Study

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! We were thrilled to have 13 new members join us in November. Shown are Jill & John Galka with Greyson & Charlotte, Jeanette Branson, Sue Speakman, Dave & Barbara Jones, Hope Hooley, Pastor Dave, and Katie & Dan Pan-etta with Joshua and Jacob. Not shown: George Hurst, Danielle Starkey, Marie Wuelfing, Otto Wuelfing.

they can get in a closer relationship with God and Christ. The Wednesday evening study is also streamed on ZOOM for those who can’t make it to church but want to participate from home.

Our Thursday Bible Study is held at Shepherd’s Farm on Grove Road at 11am in their lunch room. This study is THE MUSIC of FAITH. Pastor Dave incorporates hymns, praise music and Scripture for this study. The class does not meet on the first Thursday of the month.

We each can make this a better world,

Pastor Dave Delaney

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C[ll 1-800-RED-CROSS

Please visit www.redcross.org for additional information Yourdonationwillsavelives! Photo ID is required at the time of donation. Drink plenty of water prior to your appointment.

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church West Deptford, NJ

January-February 2019

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

3– Edward Ruple 3– Michelle Souder 3– Melissa Strock 3– Diane Weems 8– Bridgette Archut 9– Nicole Daws 10– Joanne Keegan 10– Don & Carol Strock 11– Ginny Gibson 11– Ronnie Mancuso 13– Courtney Knudsen 16– Vince Lee 17– Shane Moore 17– Kim Sturgis 19– Emily Bailey 19– John Spellman Jr. 21– Rosalyn Platt 22– Shannon McLaughlin 22– Kenneth Norris III 23– Evelyn Dallas 23– Joe Hoffman 23– Betty Newmann 24– Bert Turner 24– Matt White 25– PyperLin Gittinger 26– Jennifer Spinella 27– Wendy Gittinger 27– Lynne Hoffman 28– Mark Heffernan

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

4– David Bailey 4– Norm Branyan 4– Michelle Wright 7 – Jessica Loveland 10– Carly Dyal 10– Jacob Spellman 10– Kurt Toppin 12– Kenny Domeraski 12– Madison Whipp 13– Joyce Nuneviller 14– Daniel Domeraski 15– Tara Kyser 16– Laurie Schwebel 17– Brandon Rutter 17– Diane & Joe Wonsetler 18– Elise Narcisi 19– Meghan Beidle 20– Matt Dechen 21– Carl Whipp 24– Ashley Cuthbert 25– Dottie Davenport 25– Patty Fish 25– Jackson Merckx 26– Nadia Domeraski 27– Sean Thomas 28– Harriet Lawson 28– Louise McCue 30– Kathleen Spellman 31– Logan Dugan 31– Judy Hulmes-Cochran 31– Brett Matlack

Prayers: Prayers for those missing loved ones that passed this holiday season (Dana); Prayers for Don’s stepfather (Jen); Prayers for all children to have a blessed, safe Christmas and New Year (Kim); Continued prayers as our family goes through a difficult time (Dana); Family & friends of Bob B. who went to be with the Lord Monday night, esp. wife, Patty (PD); Bill C. went home to be with Jesus. Prayers for his wife & children at this difficult time (Sandy)

Health Concerns: Prayers for Rose, being treated at Fox Chase/Don T at Inspira (Mary Ann); Pray for grandson having operation on Fri (Sally); For Gina, recovery from giving birth & heart surgery (Pat); Granddaughter, Alexis R, having surgery (Jackie); Patty having blood transfusion/Linda had a stroke (Anita); Joan B serious health re-alities & post surgical recovery (PD); Continued prayers for Mary w/ 2nd opinion on Weds., Jan 4th apt and ear infection (Ski)

Praise: Praises for a healthy baby boy, Benjamin Harry - thank you for all your prayers (Kathie)

Every week: All those in need, unspoken requests, all servicemen/women, our nation and leaders

Ongoing Prayer Concerns: Joyce N., M. Family: Christina, Asante, Julian & Arianna; Felicia A., Vanessa M., Garry & Peg P., Diane W., Samm S. Hope T., Gerry M., Barbara B., Chris S., Janet B., Betty C., Terry D., Harriet H., Annisia M., Rachel & Regina, Helen R., Corey T.

Serving in the Military: Daniel D., Rachel R., Gabby T., Ed S., Joseph B., Taylor P., James Thomas A. Jr., Kailey R. Jaime Dan S., Brandon H. Chris Y.

Shut-Ins & Nursing Home Residents Jean K., Jackie Z., Bertie C., Harriet H., Ron & Eve C.

2 Jan/Feb 2019 Lamplighter

Staff Editor: Trista C Jones

Assistant Editor: Denise Hosier

Regular Contributors: Pastor Dave, Gary Rutter, Ruth Schultz, Carol

Strock, Sunday School

Production: Trista C Jones

The Lamplighter is published bimonthly, in Jan., March, May, July, Sept. & Nov. Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication. For more info

contact Trista C Jones or email [email protected].

THELAMPLIGHTER Bimonthly Newsletter of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church PO Box 125, West Deptford, NJ 08086 Pastor: Rev. Dave Delaney Phone (856) 845-6638 E-mail [email protected] Sunday Morning Worship ............... 9:30 a.m. Sunday School ................................... 10:45 a.m.

I would argue that a church family can also make a difference through their spirit of loving invitation. On Christmas Eve one of our members brought “the neighborhood” and they filled more than one pew for worship. In 2019, we need to do better in that aspect of welcome and faith. St. Paul’s needs to become known as the church that invites neighbors, friends, family members, and strangers to God’s House on Sunday. Get them in the “stream” so that the Holy Spirit can rush over their lives. By May 1, I am confident that we can have 130 people or more in worship every single Sunday morning. Just imagine what we will be able to do for Jesus Christ when our numbers are at that level! Everyone is encouraged to join one of our Bible studies. Two of the studies you can do from home using the online ZOOM program. Missions and serving God are part of every Christian’s DNA. Family Promise continues to need

Lamplighter January/February 2019 3

Happy New Year! My family’s 2019 will already be different than any other year of our lives as the realization that a new child, the next generation, is scheduled to arrive in June hits home. There are still six months to go but I can’t even begin to imagine the changes a baby will bring to our family and to Ryan’s. Change, friends, is always a given in life and this change is one we are so blessed to be waiting for! As humans we are clearly linked to our calendars even though time brings changes at unexpected intervals—usually when we least expect them. Resolutions for the New Year never lock in what will occur, and we can never predict the curves along life’s highways that change our destinies and plans. However we each can be prepared as people of faith to live our days by following the lead of Jesus. The only guarantee any of us have is the one Jesus provided to us through the cross and Easter morning’s empty tomb! There is another guarantee that I have now witnessed for 2½ years. It is the guarantee that any person entering St. Paul’s United Method-ist Church on a Sunday for worship will be made to feel as welcome as if they have been attending this special church for years. In 2018, 13 individuals chose to join St. Paul’s and we already have a significant number ready to become members in the Spring. It’s all because of this loving and welcoming church family!

“missionaries” to serve as welcoming hosts; our Red Bird team has already doubled in number (more to come on that August trip) but can use more team members of any age; and we continue to find ways to help those in Camden and our immediate neighborhoods. 2018 has become part of our history. I am thankful to have shared the year with you and witnessed all those kids in VBS, a mission team to Red Bird, and great worship moments. 2019 is in front of us and when this coming year ends we will all pause to review the changes that occurred, the expectations that were met, and the surprises that blessed each of our lives wherever we may have journeyed to. My prayer for each member of the extended St. Paul’s family is that all of you continue to show-case your love of God in your loving and inviting relationship with others. I pray that we each discover how God wants to use our gifts and talents in the coming days, even if it means we change what we have been doing in the past. Let God’s love and peace bless your life and those you love! May 2019 prove to be your greatest year yet with God, with Christ, and led by the Holy Spirit!

Blessings!

Pastor Dave

4 January/February 2019 Lamplighter

YOUR GIVING

To make it easier to give, you can now donate to St. Paul’s with a

credit card or by PayPal. Just click on the “Donate” button on the top right side of our webpage,

http://stpaulsalive.org

Thank you all for your generosity in 2018!

Outreach

Here’s hoping everyone had a blessed Christmas. May you each have a prosperous New Year and make 2019 a wonderful one. Many thanks to each and every one of you who participated in the Angel Wreath Mission project. There were certainly many happy and smiling children on Christmas morning because of your generosity.

Upcoming Mission Projects & Offerings

• January Our first Sunday offering

(Jan 6) will benefit Human Relations Sunday

On the third Sunday (Jan 20) offering benefits the

Blanket Sunday Mission

• February

Our first Sunday offering (Feb 3) is for the St. Paul’s UMC Food Pantry

Our third Sunday (Feb 17) will benefit Family Promise

All of these projects and dates are pending, and adjustments can be made if new needs arise.

As always, thank you for all you do to help Reach Out to our projects.

Ruth Schultz

Jo in the Choi r !

Practice

Thurs. evenings

7:00 p.m.

If you like to sing, join us!

Choir Director Tiffany Daly would love to have some new choir members. Come experi-

ence her leadership!

SIGHT AND SOUND TRIP: More than 50 of our members and friends boarded a bus to Lancaster to see “Jesus” at Sight and

Sound. What an amazing production! We were all blessed by the show and by the day with our church family.

Lamplighter January/February 2019 5

Family Promise

Pot Luck Supper & Candy Bar Game

Night

Friday, March 1st 6:15 p.m.

We will welcome our Family Promise guests to join us for the evening.

Bring the whole family and a dish to share.

Following dinner, starting about 7pm:

CANDY BAR BINGO Fun for the whole family!

And Jesus said… “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” –Matthew 8:20 Yes, that’s right! Jesus was homeless. He relied on the generosity of friends and strangers to have a place to lay his head. At St. Paul’s we open our doors to homeless families through the Family Promise program. Four weeks a year our volunteers pick up homeless families and bring them to the church building at the end of the work day. We serve them dinner, spend some time with them, and then they sleep over in our Sunday School rooms. Early the next morning one of our volunteers drives them back to their Day Center, located in Glassboro.

This outreach ministry will touch your heart when you talk with some of the guest families and hear their stories. However, it’s a very volunteer-intensive mission. Each time we host, there are more than 50 volunteer slots to fill. Seven days of morning and evening drivers, dinners, evening fellowship hosts, and male and female overnight hosts. Plus setup and breakdown of our air beds and bedding.

If you’re looking to make a difference, be a Family Promise volunteer for St. Paul’s. For more information on upcoming dates and volunteer opportunities, email [email protected].

Gary Rutter

Family Promise returns from Feb. 24 - March 2! Help is needed in all areas!!

* Drivers, am & pm * Meals * Overnighters *Evening Fellowship

Please sign up to help with this important ministry!

6 January/February 2019 Lamplighter

Appreciation Station

Many thanks to all who participated in and supported our annual Christmas Carol Sing held on Dec. 7th.

It was a great time of singing, celebration, and ice cream social afterwards. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful talent in our church with vocal, piano, guitar, flute, and dance performances. Also, thanks to Bev Betz and Norm Branyan who ran the computer for us. Happy New Year and God's blessings to our St. Paul's Family.

Thank you to Leigh and Barbara Klinger who donated the beautiful white Christmas tree and wreath that decorate our sanctuary and overflow section. Thank you also to the Guiding Lights class for the donation of the new Christmas tree in the overflow section.

Patty Fish

Finance Committee LITURGISTS NEEDED We would like to give more people an opportunity to participate in the worship

service on Sundays. Choose any week to read the

scripture during worship.

Please contact Carla Branyan at (856) 251 1978.

Share your Voice in Sunday Service

Six Special Sundays

The United Methodist Church designates a number of Sundays throughout the year as opportunities for recognizing and supporting particular ministries. These are referred to as Special Sundays and most in-clude an offering used to fund the work of these programs.

Churchwide Special Sundays with offerings enable United Method-ists like us to offer refuge in times of disaster, promote peace and justice, provide scholarships and student loans, reach out to the community, teach skills to encourage self-sufficiency, and share the love of Jesus Christ with God's people everywhere.

St. Paul’s designates our communion offerings on the first Sunday of certain months for the Six Special Sundays.

Human Relations Day (January) strengthens United Methodist outreach to communities in the United States and Puerto Rico, encouraging social justice and work with at-risk youth.

UMCOR Sunday (March) previ-ously known as One Great Hour of Sharing. This Sunday enables the United Methodist Commit-tee on Relief to reach out through worldwide ministries of food, shelter, health, and peace.

Native American Ministries Sun-day (June) nurtures mission with Native Americans and provides scholarships for United Method-ist Native American seminarians.

Peace with Justice Sunday (July) enables The United Methodist Church to have a voice in advocating for peace and justice through a broad spectrum of global programs.

World Communion Sunday (October) provides scholarships for U.S. racial- and ethnic-minority students and interna-tional students, on both under-graduate and graduate levels.

United Methodist Student Day (December) furnishes scholar-ships and loans for students attending United Methodist-related and other accredited colleges and universities.

Your generosity in these offer-ings provides help for people in this country and all over the world. Thank you!

Worship Service of Ashes & Reflect ion

Wed . , March 6

Location & Time TBD

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SUNDAY SCHOOL BAZAAR in November was a huge success thanks to all of you who helped or donated or purchased items. We raised enough to fund our Sunday School and VBS for the next year.

8 January/February 2019 Lamplighter

SUNDAY SCHOOL PAGEANT AND PARTY allowed our children to

show us the Christmas story in their own special way.

Thanks to leaders Elaine Luoma and Mary Ann Jones

for organizing this event!