1

Messenger November 2019

Pastor Bill

Dear Friends,

As you know, we love our sheltie, Rudy. He doesn’t know

he’s a dog and we don’t tell him! He has his way of letting us

know when he wants something. He’s a bit of a whiner and

beggar and I guess we have enabled him just a little . We

do not have a doggie door to the backyard but a slight tear in

the bottom corner of the screen door in our back sunroom has been dubbed “the Rudy gate.” So,

when he wants in, he just pushes with his nose and crawls in. Unfortunately, someone (who shall go

unnamed) walked through the closed screen door on the way to put burgers on the grill in the dark a

couple of weeks ago, so the “Rudy gate” is much bigger now. Note: Once the winter hits, I’ll replace

the screen. Anyway, the other night I was sitting on the back patio with Rudy and he whined because

he wanted inside. I hesitated because I was enjoying the cooler weather and the moonlight but he

was inpatient and decided to make his own way. I had almost completely shut the screen door and he

was trying to wedge through the edge of the screen door and the porch frame even though the screen

in the door was flapping free and he could have gone right through to get inside. Why am I telling

you this and what lesson is to be learned? We are all good people who live by faith as best we know

how and are able. We make our petitions known to our God in our own unique ways even though

God knows our needs. Sometimes, when we find ourselves challenged, we can be impatient and

independent and try to make a way through our difficulties on our own. Many times, after we have

tried doing something ourselves, we discover that God has already made a way forward for us. I

know these are trying days for us individually, communally, nationally, and internationally. Our faith

family is being tested and, as we venture forward into a future that God has called us, we are

understandably both anxious and excited. I believe that though we might try to control or determine

the way, we cannot. God is in control and God will make a way. In the end, everything will work out

and as we journey God will keep us and never stop loving us. As we pause to give thanks this month,

I can think of no better reason to do so. God will make a way and God is always faithful!

THANKSGIVING

COMMUNITY DINNER

On Tuesday, November 26th

at 6:00 pm. we

will have a

special

Community

Thanksgiving

Dinner in the

Dining Room.

ALL ARE WELCOME!

2

On Sunday, November 3rd in both services, we shall host our Annual

Memorial Observance and remember our members who have gone to be with the Lord in the last 12 months.

Please remember to bring a picture of a loved one (member or not) to lay

upon the altar if you so choose as we recount their lives and legacies through

liturgy and the tolling of the church bells. This Service is one of the most

meaningful and appreciated of the year. I hope you will be a part of it!

Stepping Out in Faith Everyone in our church family should have received a mailing from the church regarding this year’s stewardship campaign, “Stepping Out in Faith”. The mailing contains several items:

• A letter with details about the stewardship campaign

• A prayer guide for the weeks leading up to our Stewardship Sunday on November 10th (now included with this November Messenger)

• A step chart, showing the giving levels for our congregation in 2018

• A percentage giving chart, to help you identify where you currently stand and where you might want to “step up”

• A commitment card to be returned on Stewardship Sunday If you did not receive the mailing and would like one, please contact the church office. The Bible is full of stories about people whose lives were changed by giving, generosity, charity, and sacrifice. We hope you will take these next few weeks to prayerfully consider how generosity can change your life, and through your generosity, the lives of others. Looking forward to seeing you on November 10th!

WE NEED HELP FOR THE SAUSAGE SUPPER!

Wednesday during the supper with cleaning dishes/pans/silverware—anytime you can give between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. would help.

Wednesday after the supper for cleanup and put away—7 p.m. until we have things put away.

Sign-up sheets are at the Hospitality Desk. Please see Rick Hobbs or Erlene Dreier with questions.

The 90th Annual

Sausage Supper Wednesday, November 13, 2019, 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM

Adults $12.00 Children $5.00

Tickets available at the church office: Monday thru Thursday,

9 a.m. - 12 noon, 12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

3

YOUTH (6th-12th grades)

Thanks to everyone who affirmed and supported

our youth on Youth Sunday. I am proud of our

kids and their courage to stand up in front of the

church and share their passions. It certainly is

not an easy thing to do. May God give us all the

courage to be upstanders for our neighbors and

community.

3 DIFFERENT MINISTRIES…1 MISSION: …TO LIFT

UP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

1. We have 3 youth

representing St.

Paul’s on the

Conference Level in

the Young

Ambassadors

Program. You may

remember when the

German students

worshiped with us

in July. Amariah

Greenwell, Shaunae

Hayes, and Julian

Armstrong are

raising money to

help them with their travel to Germany this

next summer. Upcoming fundraisers:

Buckeye sales in November and gift

wrapping at Barnes and Noble in December

TBD. Keep your eyes open to support these

young people.

2. It is time to raise

money for our youth

to go to Summer

Camp. Once again,

we will hang 144

numbered

envelopes in the

Parish Hall. Just

pick a number, fill

it with the same

amount of money as

the number on the

envelope, and

return it to Kim Armstrong. This

fundraiser helps our children and youth go to

a place that fills them each with the Holy

Spirit. Merom Summer Camp is extremely

special to our young people. It is one of the

reasons they keep coming back to church. It is

an experience that gets them excited to come

to their home church and share the love and

acceptance they receive from their peers and

leaders in the Indiana-Kentucky Conference.

We all appreciate our congregation’s support

in this important experience.

3. This year’s Youth

Summer Mission

Trip is to Back Bay

Mission in Biloxi,

MS will take place

July 12-18. The

next fundraiser for

the youth will be

selling concessions

at the Train Show

on November 9th.

They will also be

selling Yankee

Candles at

Christmas time!

November Youth Events

November 1-3 – IKC Fall Assembly Youth

Retreat at Merom

November 10, 12-2 pm – Jr. High Youth Group

Bible Study

November 17, 12-2 pm – Sr. High Youth Group

November 24, 12-2 pm – Jr. High Youth Group

Bible Study

continued on page 4

YOUTH MINISTRY

4

CHILDREN (K-5TH GRADE)

Sunday, November 17 at 10am:

Children will begin learning

songs for the Children’s

Christmas Program. They will practice during

the Sunday School hour every Sunday until the

program on December 15th.

NEIGHBORHOOD THANKSGIVING

DINNER:

Please join us on Tuesday, November 26 at 5:30

pm for our Neighborhood Thanksgiving Dinner!

Come meet our neighbors!

Shut-in & home-bound

Christmas Bag Delivery

We are assembling Christmas gift bags for distribution to our shut-ins and home-bound and we need your help delivering them. Please contact the office or fill in the tear-off sign-up in the bulletin with the name/s of those you are offering to visit (from the list below) by December 6th. The bags will be available beginning on Monday, December 9th and should be delivered by the 18th. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Mary, Kim Armstrong, or the office. Ed Albin

Keith Benedict

Evelyn Bernard

Jeanne Brame

Diane Burkhart

Eloise Castleman

Katzie Crowley

Doug Daniel

Bill Grisham

Helen Hammer

Jackie Hammer

Joanne Jackson

Marylee Murphy

Susan Raber

Marie Rayoum

Jeanett Rueger

Marilyn Smith

Nima Trautvetter

December 2019 -

Advent & Christmas dates to remember:

December 3 9 and 11 AM

December 8 10 AM (Music Sunday)

December 15 9 AM and 11 AM (Children’s

Program at 11 AM)

December 19 7 PM Blue Christmas (at St.

Paul’s together with St. Peter’s

-Highland & Bethany

Christian)

December 22 9 AM and 11 AM

December 24 4 PM and 10 PM

December 29 9 AM and 11 AM

Deck the

Halls

Tis the season is upon us! We will be having our annual

Deck the Halls of St. Paul’s on Sunday, November 24,

from 4 to 6:30 pm. We will start our evening with a vesper

style service in the sanctuary. After the service everyone

will decorate different areas of the church, from the

Chrismon tree, to the placement of the Nativity and the

Manger. Closing out our evening we’ll gather in the dining

room to enjoy a bowl of soup. We hope to see you this

year to start out the season of hope, peace, joy and love.

5

Several of you have been asking for a NEW CHURCH DIRECTORY…

In an effort to publish a directory as up-to-date as possible, only those who complete

and submit the following form to the church office (or send an email with the requested

information) will be included. This will also help in updating our database. All

information is due in the office by Thanksgiving.

NL

Ladies’ Aid

Ladies’ Aid will meet on

Thursday, November 7,

2019 at 1:00 PM in the

Dining Room. Betty

Barning will have

devotions.

“A joyful heart is good

medicine. Proverbs 17: 22

Mondays, November 11, 18, 25

5:30-8 PM

6

Thank You

The family of Alfred Ludwig Wassner, Sr. acknowledges with grateful appreciation your kind

expression of sympathy...Thank you so much for the lovely dish garden. The plant is beautiful! It

was so thoughtful to remember us in our time of sorrow. Your concern and prayers are very much

appreciated as we continue our grieving process in the loss of a dear husband, father & grandfather.

~ Sincerely, Sara Wassner

Thank you so much for your generous contribution to Patchwork! We appreciate your support and

will use it to continue to be here for our neighbors, welcoming them and helping them connect to the

services they need.

~ Sincerely, Amy Rich, co-director

Thanks to Bob Koch for his duel accomplishments of removing the dead tree in front of the church,

and replacing the tires on the trailer - both were safety concerns!

Our thanks to everyone for the cards, gift cards, and words of appreciation for Pastor Recognition

during the month of October...and through-out the year. ~ Rev. Mary & Pastor Bill

Congratulations

Welcome to the world Maya Marie Wells, daughter of Dawn & Alex Wells, granddaughter of Darlene

Dycus. Maya was born in Denver, CO on Friday, October 11, 2019.

Shut-ins & home-bound

Copies of our list of shut-ins, whether they are in a nursing facility or at

home, are now updated monthly and printed copies are available at

the Hospitality Center. A copy is also posted on bulletin boards but

please do not remove this copy!

Please remember these folks with a card, note or visit and let them

know their St. Paul’s family has not forgotten them.

Thank you for caring. - Dee McDonald, Head Elder

The family and friends

of Ryne Phillips (13),

nephew of Alex (&

Kerri) Blanford

The family and friends

of Indiana State

Trouper Peter

Stephan (27)

The family and friends

of Cynthia Kasten,

widow of former

minister at St. Paul’s

The family and friends

of Margaret Moore

The victims of the TX

tornados and the CA

wildfires

OUR CHURCH FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN NEED OF PRAYER

Ed Albin*

Adnan Al-Nashmi

Harlan Batteiger

Orion Bays

Evelyn Bernard*

Jeanne Brame*

Diane Brashear

Cammie Barning

Breitenmoser

Diane Burkhart

Louis Buschkill

Pam Buschkill

David Carl

Eloise Castleman*

Margaret Clem

Katzie Crowley

Doug Daniel

Karen Daniel

John Davis

Erlene Dreier

Alyssa Futrell

Brandon Geppner

Mary Peterson

Susan Raber*

Marie Rayoum*

Liz Roberts

Jeanett Rueger*

Danielle Russler

Jerry Schreiber

Bob Sheets

Shirley Sheets

David Smart

Marilyn Smith*

Peggy Stephens

Nima Trautvetter*

Lisa Wassner

Sara Wassner

Kathy Waters

Donna Will

Lowell Woosley

Laurie Wright

*Shut In/Home-Bound

Bruce Gillette

Ron Green

Tabatha Earle

Greenwell

Bill Grisham*

Clarence “Butch” Hahn

Gary Hahn

Helen Hammer*

Jackie Hammer

David Helfert

Gayle Hochstetler

Joanne Jackson*

Joan Kappler

Karla Kappler

Emma Kirtman

Harvey Klenck

Bob Kraemer

Corena Maurer*

Bernice McReynolds

Eileen Moore

Marylee Murphy*

Karen Norman

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2020 Confirmation

POINSETTIA MEMORIALS & HONORARIUMS We will be decorating our sanctuary for the holiday season with

beautiful red poinsettias. Members and friends of the congregation

make contributions to our Memorial Flower Fund “In Memory of

someone” or “In Honor of someone.” The name/names of loved

ones will be included in the listing which will be part of our

December 22nd bulletin.

We ask for a minimum contribution of the cost of the plant which is

$10. The plants will be in place December 15th through December

24th. Plants may be removed following the 10 pm worship service

on Christmas Eve.

Order forms are available at the Hospitality Center and in the

December Messenger.

In September a letter was sent to students and their parents/guardians who are of age to

participate in confirmation classes and/or have expressed an interest in being confirmed

at St. Paul’s. The letter included the following:

To begin with an important informational meeting regarding Confirmation is

scheduled for Sunday, November 17, 2019, following the first worship service

at approximately 10:10 a.m. in the Chapel. Parents/guardians and potential

students are invited to attend while we discuss our program and answer

questions. Please know that this meeting is MANDATORY for both parents/

guardians and students to attend.

Also included was a listing of all dates, times, and events that the student (and,

sometimes a parent/guardian) must attend.

We look forward to this process of ‘growing’ our children.

Pastor Bill Wassner

Pastor Mary Hurley

60 people joined

us for fun, prizes

and snacks last

Sunday

afternoon!

Christmas Bingo

is December 8th

at 3:00 p.m.. Hope you'll join us!

MINISTRIES

8

2019 Council Highlights October 17, 2019 Church Council met on October 17th, with 15 members and Pastors Bill and Mary present. Listed

below are highlights of the meeting.

• Bill Barrett, Rick Hobbs, and Dee McDonald have been working on a revision to the church

Constitution and By-Laws. Bill presented the draft documents to the Council. Council will

review the documents again at the November meeting, with the goal of presenting the revisions

to the congregation for approval at the annual congregational meeting in January.

• Dirck Stahl and Daryl Helfert (Head Trustee) have essentially completed the work needed for the

sale of the garage lot. A few documents are needed to finish the transaction.

• The Phase 2 contract with architect Gary Thomas has been signed, and he is working on

finalizing the remaining documents to bid the project. An additional contract document, in

standard American Institute of Architects format, outlining in more detail the responsibilities of

the architect and the client (St. Paul’s), is under review.

• The Deacons have selected Michael Erwin of Church Campaign Services as the consultant for our

capital campaign drive, and the contract is under review, to be effective November 1st.

Preparatory work is expected to begin as soon as the contract is signed, with solicitation for the

capital campaign targeted for the beginning of 2020. The Center for Congregations awarded St.

Paul’s a $12,000 matching grant to help offset the cost of the consultant.

• The Deacons reported that the church budget through September is running a deficit of about

$40,000 (income versus expense). A second transfer from Future Needs, as approved at the 2019

congregational meeting, will be reflected in the October financials, and a third transfer is likely

to be needed before the end of the year.

• The Elders reported that they are working with the pastors on improving records of visitation

and developing more systematic contacts. The pastors are also planning for Confirmation, which

is scheduled to start in January, with the service of confirmation on Pentecost.

• The Trustees reported that they have sold the old brown van, which has been replaced with the

white van. Daryl Helfert also reported that several individuals met with representatives of the

Evansville Historical Preservation organization to tour the existing building. The Preservation

representatives encouraged retaining aspects of the current facility in the new building (such as

the stained glass and woodwork), but did not find a basis for designating our facility as historical.

- Linda Hobbs, President

13 Jeanett Rueger*

15 Karoll Kolb

17 Sharon Hosick

19 Hazel Gathercole, David

Pillow

21 Makynlee Moore, Carla

Wittenbraker, Marla

Wittenbraker

2 Evelyn Bernard*, Karla

Smith

3 Bill Thuerbach

4 Wendell Burkhart

5 Don Lindenberg

11 Mason Humphrey

12 Diane Folz, Brittany

Nelson

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our members who are having a birthday in November

24 Alan Becker

25 Tonette Smith

26 Ron Herrenbruck

27 Tony Bogan, Carl Minton

*denotes our shut-ins

Evelyn Bernard will celebrate her

100th birthday on November 2nd.

Please take a few moments to shower her with love (a card or note) sent to her at:

2528 Serenity Place, Evansville, IN 47720

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10

CHURCH STAFF

Rev. Dr. Bill Wassner, Senior Pastor

wwassner@stpaulsuccevansville.org

Rev. Mary Hurley, Associate Pastor

mhurley@stpaulsuccevansville.org

Kim Armstrong, Director of Youth

karmstrong@stpaulsuccevansville.org

Katie Maurer, Director of Music Ministries

maurer.katie@gmail.com

Rick Hobbs & Lisa Wassner, Organists

Lisa Huck, Assistant Treasurer

treasurer@stpaulsuccevansville.org

Stacey Henderson, Nursery Supervision

shenderson01@yahoo.com

Levi Odom, Multimedia Technician

llaodom@gmail.com

Luke Datzman, Custodian

custodian@stpaulsuccevansville.org

Beth Gregg, Office Manager

office@stpaulsuccevansville.org

Traditional Worship - 9:00 A.M.

Sunday School - 10:10 A.M.

Discovery Worship - 11:00 A.M.

Office Hours: Monday thru Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Phone: 812.425.1522 + Fax: 812.425.2145 + Website: www.stpaulsuccevansville.org

The newsletter deadline is the 20th of each month.

2019 GROWING & GIVING

SEPTEMBER WEEKLY AVERAGE WORSHIP

ATTENDANCE 139

GIVING $ 25,443.55

THOSE AMONG US WHO GIVE

The following are giving totals reported in SEPTEMBER.

for special funds and non-budgeted accounts.

Future Needs: Envelopes - $ 40 Future Needs: Memorials - $ 270

Food Pantry - $ 83 Building Use - $ 1,182.50

Renovation - $ 10 Youth Ministry - $ 450

Habitat for Humanity - $ 100 OCWM - $ 200

CROP Walk - $ 100 Young Ambassadors - $ 60

Breakfast Club - $ 256

Thanks to each and every one of you for your generosity.

FOOD PANTRY SUNDAY

The West Side Food Pantry, located at Simpson UMC, is

supported by our monthly food donations as well as by

volunteers who work there on a regular

basis. Don’t forget, the first Sunday of

every month is FOOD PANTRY SUNDAY.

Bring your donations and put them in the

baskets at the entrances. Food is needed

ALL year long.

Please! Please!! Please!!

When you or a family member are hospitalized, remember to

inform the St. Paul’s office or pastors as soon a possible after you

(they) are admitted. Due to current Federal privacy laws,

hospitals are NOT permitted to inform us of your admission so it is

up to you or a family member to do so. A hospital chaplain may

ask you during a visit if you want your local church or pastor

notified but this may be several days after you are admitted

and, by the time the church office or pastors are notified, you

may already be discharged. Sadly, too often the pastors or

office do not learn of an admission until it is too late to visit. Also,

remember to let us know if someone is admitted to another

facility such as a nursing home, rehabilitation hospital or hospice

center. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. - Dee McDonald, Head Elder

Our St. Paul’s contingent as well as 60+

walkers braved the weather and (between our Scarf Tour donations of $165.00

and Bucket collections last Sunday

for the Walk itself of $405.92)

as a church we received a total of $570.92!