Hanging of the Greens - November 24 Please join us for the Hanging of the Greens on November 24th starting at 4:00 pm. There will be soup to follow. Look for sign up information in the Gathering Space after 9:00 Worship, or contact the church office at office@stpaulsumc.org.

Poinsettias Order due by November 27 Honor the memory of loved ones for $10. Please call the church office at 363-2058 or by placing your check and order form in the collection plate on Sunday. Poinsettias will not be delivered and may be taken after the 11:00 pm Tuesday service Dec. 24, 2019. Please return form and payment to church office. Deadline for orders is Nov. 27th. 

St. Paul’s ELC Programs Can “CHANGE” The World There will be drop buckets, to collect spare change, in the FOCUS, ELC, Children’s Ministry, & Nursery  classrooms during the month of November. Funds raised will be going to support Family Promise. Contact Julie Hanlin (jhanlin@stpaulsumc.org) or 319-363-6349 with questions.

Christmas Luncheon - December 5 St. Paul’s UMW invites you to the 2019 Christmas Honors Luncheon and Unit Meeting on Thursday, December 5, at 12:00 pm in the Wesley Center. We will be thanking our church staff, give our reading program awards, install 2020 officers, and receive special mission recognition. There will also be Holiday Fair craft items for sale for those who love to shop.  A donation of $4 for this Christmas luncheon is suggested. Please sign up at circle meetings or in the church office by December 1. Come and enjoy this special time of celebration with us.  
 

Winter Wonderland - December 7 Join us for a family night celebrating the Christmas holiday! We will have cookie decorating, ornament making, STEM activities, games and more! Bring your family and friends on Saturday, December 7th, from 3:00-5:00 pm. We can’t wait to see you there!

Youth White Elephant - December 11 7th-12th grade youth will be celebrating Christmas on December 11th during TGIW from 6:00-8:00 pm. Students are asked to bring a gift for a white elephant gift exchange; we ask that gifts do not exceed $10.

Free Community Christmas Eve Day Dinner St. Paul's Christmas Eve Day Dinner is for EVERYONE – those who are struggling, those who are thankful, those who are lonely, and those in need of good food and conversation. St. Paul's will host a FREE Christmas Eve Day Dinner with all the fixings in the Wesley Center on December 24, 12:00-2:00 pm. Meals are also delivered to shut-ins. After guests are finished with their meal, dessert and games and more fellowship will be offered in the new Gathering Space. Guests are welcome to join us for worship service at 2:00 pm in the Sanctuary. No donations will be asked. Call United Way 739-4211 (211) to make reservation or if homebound to have a meal delivered.

“Joy to the World,” a beloved Christmas classic, turns 300 years old this year. Composer Isaac Watt’s interpretation of Psalm 98 invites us to sing a “new song”–and it is a powerful cosmic performance of all creation being renewed and freed. Rather than “joy” being yet another word for “happiness,” we will discover that the depths of joy can be found especially in the midst of suffering, the work of justice, and the presence of compassion–all part of the coming of Jesus to this world and a message the world still so desperately needs. All are welcome. Please join our church family as we celebrate the birth of Christ!

December 24, 2019

The Lord is Come: Incarnate Joy
"Joy to the World, the Lord is come!" On this Christmas Eve we celebrate the world-altering narrative of the inbreaking, indwelling, incarnation of the Holy among us. Do you remember the feeling you may have had in moments, events or revelations that changed your life, your outlook, your trajectory forever? The depth of that feeling is what "deep joy" is about. Not simply happiness, that can be fleeting, but the idea that no matter what, there is something living withing you that can sustain you for the long haul. God is birthing this within us again and again. 

2:00 pm Family Worship | Sanctuary
A family-oriented service including an opportunity for children
to participate in the story of Jesus' birth.

7:30 pm | Traditional Worship | Sanctuary
A traditional service including the choir and candlelight.

11:00 pm Worship | Sanctuary
End your evening with a quiet, candlelit service of Communion.

Music Volunteer There is a volunteer opportunity for an adult to lead music on Wednesday evenings for young people in Grades K-2, staring at 6:00 pm. This is a wonderful time to involve these students in music and worship. Mentoring and support is available. Contact Mark Baumann (mmbaumann@msn.com) for more information.

MInistry Opportunity for someone to do music for children in grades K-2nd on Wednesdays from 6:00-7:00 pm. There is support and help for this. Contact Mark Baumann or Julie Hanlin for more information. 

“myStPauls” MEMBER LOGIN: myStPauls is St. Paul’s United Methodist Church’s secure online member portal. Members are able to: view church directories, view their class rosters, email class members, update their personal information and photos in the church database, view church calendars, and view their giving records. The online member portal is not available to the general public. Church members must register for a login to access myStPauls. Contact the church office if you have any questions.