THE CHIMES, December 3, 2006

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Of all the gifts for which we thank God, above all is the gift of Himself to us, His erring but redeemed children! “Whom have I in Heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25).

Our purpose is to reach out to families and individuals of all backgrounds and bring them into healing and transforming relationships with the Lord Jesus and with others in His Church through the sharing of God’s Word and Sacraments.

THE CHIMES

December 3, 2006

Listen to Sermon Here

St. Paul Lutheran Church and School

a multiethnic family of faith

1025 Lake Street * Melrose Park, IL 60160

Church Ph. No. 708-343-1000 *

School Ph. No. 708-343-5000

Fax No. 708-343-8635 www.stpaulmp.org

Rev. Thomas R. Johnson, Senior Pastor

Mr. Douglas Grebasch, Principal

CALENDAR

EVENTS THIS WEEK AT ST. PAUL, December 3 - 10, 2006
TODAY:	9:00 AM	Worship Service (HC)
		Servicio de Adoración (SC)
		Coffee Hour
	10:30 AM	Sunday School / Christian Growth Hour
MONDAY:		Market Day Orders Due
TUESDAY:	7:30 PM	Praise Team
WEDNESDAY:	*6:00 PM*	*Soup Supper*
	*7:00 PM*	*Midweek Advent Service*
	8:00 PM	Deacons / Property
THURSDAY:	3:00 PM	Market Day Pick-up
	7:00 PM	Choir Rehearsal
		Spanish Bible Study
SATURDAY:	5:30 PM	Contemporary Service (HC)
SUNDAY:	9:00 AM	Worship Service (HC)
		Servicio de Adoración (SC)
	10:15 AM	Coffee Hour
	10:30 AM	Sunday School / Christian Growth Hour

Midweek Advent Services: Wed. Dec. 6, Wed. Dec. 13

Theme: “Mission in the Last Days: God’s Plan for a Multiplying Church through the Power of the Holy Spirit”

Wednesday, Dec. 20: Children Christmas Service followed by a reception in the lunchroom.

Notes: A hymn sing will precede our mid-week Advent Services beginning at 7:00 PM.

Soup Suppers to be served before Advent Services on Dec. 6, and 13.

Remember to send your Christmas Greetings to all your St. Paul friends via The Newsletter. Your donation in lieu of postage will help defray other church non-budgeted expenses. The Newsletter Christmas edition will be mailed on December 14.

THE DRAMA MINISTRY Team wishes to thank the performers in dramatic sketches during recent worship services. The Readers’ Theatre presented Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving Morning was performed by Sean B., Al B., Chuck L., Patrick M. and Sharon O. Wednesday, Nov. 29^th during the 7:15 PM Midweek Advent Service Emmaus adapted from a script by Bob Snook was presented by Al B., Carl F. and Lynette W. Both were directed by Lynette Welter.

Advent devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries are available online at: http://adventdevotions.net/. More information about Lutheran Hour Ministries is available at: http://www.lhm.org/.

Please include the following prayer needs in your personal and family devotions this week.

ü We pray for those in care facilities and at home who are physically unable to worship with us. We also ask God to heal and comfort the following members and/or friends of our congregation:

Evelyn V.	Marlene G.	Emily B.	Regina C.	Lydia G.
We also want to continue to remember those in nursing facilities, those who are recovering, and those who are receiving ongoing treatments.

*(If you would like us to pray for someone, please let Maria, our church secretary; know, either by phone or with a request card. Names of congregational members will remain on this list for 4 weeks unless additional requests are received.)

ü We pray for those celebrating birthdays the week of December 2^nd – 8^th

2:	Steven N.
3:	Angela G., William O.
4:	Sonia M., Patyn H.
5:	Mara S.
7:	Amy Z.

ü In thanksgiving for all of those received into membership this morning: Jamilia L., Brooklyn B., Paiton L., King Isaac L., Keairra J., Kennedy G., Karrington G., Ann D., Ken G. ,Keea . Nicole L. Recently received by Transfer: Jessica S., Dan & Jan G., Tom & Johanna J. (Natalie, Daniel, Joseph), Felicia R., Michael V.

For use in printed publications, Right-Click on the filename below to download and choose "Save Target As" or "Save Link As" ALSO wanted are cookies for the annual Sing-Along on Sunday, Dec. 17 and for the Children Christmas Program reception on Wednesday, Dec. 20. Mark your contribution for either event, if you choose.

Caroling at Westlake Hospital, Dec. 3, during the Adult Education Hour after church. Meet in the cafeteria at 10:30 (after coffee hour.)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

WELCOME ALL Toddlers to Sunday School in the Extended ay Care room across from the cafeteria. There will be playtime and a short Bible lesson/activity. Parents are encouraged to attend adult Bible class or stay with their child, according to preference. If there are any questions, please see Johanna Johnson. Visitors are welcome!

PROVISO PANTRY FOOD DRIVE. For the past several years, the Care Corps, with the help of other members, have participated in a food drive for the needy in our area at Cub Food Stores in early December. The food products were contributed to the Proviso Food Pantry, for which we have an ongoing support.

This year, due to the closing of the Cub Stores, it is necessary to change the nature of the drive. On December 2-3, 9-10, the Care Corps will collect food or a monetary contribution for the Pantry. Tables will be set up in the narthex and in the lunchroom for accepting your gifts.

Items which can be used are non-perishable products such as:

Canned Vegetables and Fruits, Tuna, Soup, Cereal,

Packages of Rice, Beans, Potato Products,

Mac & Cheese, Pasta, Tomato Sauces and Paste.

Please support this effort with your on-going care for the needy in our area!

THE DOOR OFFERING for Lutheran World Relief taken on Thanksgiving Day amounted $771.15 which Thrivent Financial will provide $415.00 in additional funds. Your generosity is very much appreciated.

INCLUDED in this issued of Chimes is a packet of The Wheat Ridge Christmas Seals. Please

mail your monetary gift directly to Wheat Ridge Ministries. More packets are available in the narthex. Take some packets home and give some to your family and friends.

Time Again for Cookies:

THE CARE CORPS is again requesting your help with the provision of home-baked cookies which will be included in the December Gift Bags for our Shut-ins. This gift is really appreciated by our members who cannot get to church – or out of the house very often.

Please bring your contribution of cookies to the school lunchroom before December 8. At this time they will be prepared for distribution. We also solicit your volunteering to deliver these bags. The distribution date is set for Sunday, December 10.

Caroling at Westlake Hospital, Dec. 3, during the Adult Education Hour after church. Meet in the cafeteria at 10:30 (after coffee hour.)

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For use in printed publications, Right-Click on the filename below to download and choose "Save Target As" or "Save Link As"

SHARE YOUR CHRISTMAS JOY. Buy a Red Poinsettia for the chancel Christmas decoration to be picked up after the Christmas Day Service (which then can be used as a gift for a needy person). Large plant (6+ blooms) price: $12. Place your order (form below) through the church office or give to an usher in a separate envelope marked “Poinsettia Plant”.

Name:_____________________________________________Telephone: __________________

No. of Plants: ________ Payment included ____Yes ____No Amount: $_______________

ST. PAUL SCHOOL NEWS this week

Click here for school newsletter page

A FRIENDLY GAME OF…marbles turned into a fight…being hit by a board full of nails…over the outcome of the game?...no, over being a Christian or a Muslim. Imagine going to camp at age 13 and learning how to fire a high-powered rifle or throw a grenade at someone you had never met. This was the childhood of Hicham Chehab, this past week’s chapel speaker. As a member of the Islamic Militia, he would wait patiently upon the rooftop of a building in Lebanon, pinpoint a Christian in the scope of his rifle, and take a life. Until one day he ran across the words of Jesus, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…and love your neighbor as yourself.” Those words changed his life…the life of hate and death was replaced with a life of faith and hope. Through Christ there is life and hope…through Christ, the heart is filled with love. This was the message shared with the children in chapel this past week. This week’s chapel speaker will be Pastor Heller from Lutherbrook Ministries.

SIEZE THE MOMENT…Following this past week’s chapel service, Hicham Chelhab presented to the 7^th & 8^th grade students the story of his life in Lebanon, with the constant bloody struggle between Muslims and Christians and the role of POBLO (People of the Book Lutheran Outreach). Did you know that the symbol of the Christian Militia is an inverted cross – a cross turned into a sword? The symbol stands for murder, not salvation. Did you know that any Muslim who turns Christian stands in danger of being killed, or at best being cut off from all contact with his family? In this hate-torn country, POBLO is making progress in dialogue between the Islamic and Christian worlds in the hope that one day the peace of Jesus Christ will come to this region…that the cross will not be in the cross hairs of a scope nor be a sword, but be a the symbol of salvation.

IN THE BAG…This past week, the girls’ basketball team, coached by Kristin Ulrich, traveled to St. John – LaGrange to continue league play. From the opening tip-off, the girls had the game in hand. With both the offensive and defensive boards in control by the Crusaders, the girls were able to secure the rebounds, push the ball up court, and take the high-percentage shot from inside the paint. On defensive, the team effectively collapsed on the passing lanes and forced LaGrange to shoot from the outside. As the score mounted, Coach Ulrich was able to go to the bench and provide playing time for the less experienced team members. ANOTHER VICTORY FOR YOUR LADY CRUSADERS!!!

A REAL NAIL-BITER…The boys’ basketball team, coached by Chuck Haak, also went up against LaGrange. However, this game was no cakewalk. Both teams were evenly matched on the offensive and defensive sides of the court. The outcome of the game came down to the ability to capitalize on opportunities and effectively take advantage of quick openers and mismatches. Once again, your Crusaders were up to the task and walked off the court with the victory. GREAT GOING, CRUSADERS!!!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR…The Lower Grade (Junior Kindergarten – 3^rd grade) children’s service will be held in the church, Wednesday evening, December 20^th, beginning at 7:15. Please accept this warm invitation to journey back in time to that star-filled night a little over 2,000 years ago and walk with the shepherds and the Wise Men to Bethlehem and stand in awe of the greatest Gift ever given to mankind.

HAVE YOU MADE OUT YOUR…Christmas list yet? What do we get for the children, for Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, let alone all the nephews, nieces, aunts or uncles?

THE DOOR OFFERING for Lutheran World Relief taken on Thanksgiving Day amounted $771.15 which Thrivent Financial will provide $415.00 in additional funds. Your generosity is very much appreciated.

INCLUDED in this issued of Chimes is a packet of The Wheat Ridge Christmas Seals. Please mail your monetary gift directly to Wheat Ridge Ministries. More packets are available in the narthex. Take some packets home and give some to your family and friends.

Time Again for Cookies:

DECEMBER NEWSLETTER ITEMS:

As the Newsletter is very cumbersome to duplicate online, a few important items from the most recent issue are included here. We will endeavor to keep them up to date.