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St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 215 N. Warren St. Orwigsburg, PA 17961 570-366-2316 Fax 570-366-7357

Blessing of the Animals

Our Blessing of the Animals service was a great

success. Pastor Diefenderfer blessed about 20

different pets (some wanted to preach and some

came in dresses) on Oct 1st and 2nd. With the usual

St Paul’s kindness, two tables full of towels, sheets

and other items were collected for the Hillside

SPCA on St Paul’s Blessing Wagon. A third whole

table of pet food was split between the Orwigsburg

Food Pantry and the SPCA. Some people were

gracious enough to make monetary donations. If

you didn’t bring items for the Blessings Wagon,

you can get them to Nate Dixon and he will take

them to Hillside. It was nice to have a young person

step forward to help. Young people, you are a part

of St Paul’s and we need your help. Step up and get

involved! If you have ideas, bring them to council

or committee meetings.

Gail Rarick

November 5 and 6

As we approach All Saints’

Sunday we will remember

members who have died over the past year. We

invite you to bring photographs of any loved one

whom you have lost, and place them on the

windowsills for worship that weekend.

“The golden evening brightens in the west; soon, soon to

faithful servants cometh rest; Sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.

Alleluia! Alleluia!”

PRAYER WALL

Not only will we pray for the Saints in heaven, but

also the Saints on earth. Join us for worship on

November 5 and 6 as we pray for all of the concerns

that were placed on our prayer wall on Heritage

Day and over the past two months.

Rev. Lee A. Diefenderfer, Pastor 610-858-4136

1295 Red Dale Road

Orwigsburg, Pa 17961

Justin McClure, Organist/Choir Director 570-573-4076

Office Support Staff 570-366-2316 justin@stpauls-orwigsburg.org

Karen Travor, Treasurer 570-366-8757 stpaulstreasurer@comcast.net

Cody Wertman, Sexton 570-366-1520

Samantha Clarke, Financial Secretary 215-617-2024

WORSHIP

Saturday - 5:30 PM

Sunday – 8 & 10:30 AM

St. Paul’s News November 2016

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“Now Thank We All Our God.”

What is your “TQ”?

Thanksgiving Quotient

Do you give financially out of thanksgiving for

what God has given you?

Do you attend worship to thank God through

your presence?

Will you work to attend the Thanksgiving Eve

Service at Salem on

November 23 at 7:00 PM?

Community Thanksgiving Eve Service Wednesday, November 23

7:00PM

Salem United Methodist

Combined Choirs

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Second Annual Congregational Meeting

-Election of Church Council Members

-Adoption of the Budget

-Adoption of an investment program for restricted

and unrestricted endowment funds.

December 4, 2016

11:15 AM

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SPAGHETTI DINNER FUNDRAISER

In support of Leslie Dahl’s Battle against

Multiple Sclerosis.

Sunday, November 13

3:00 – 7:00 PM

Here at St. Paul’s

Adults: $10

Children 10 & under: $6

Dinner includes: Spaghetti, Salad, Dinner Roll, and

Beverage.

Chinese Auction, Bake Sale,

Lottery Tree, and 50/50 Drawing.

WOMEN OF THE ELCA

All women of St. Paul’s are invited to attend the

Tuesday, November 15th meeting at 1:00 PM.

The guest speaker will be Justin McClure

“Musical Musings”

Bring an instrument: drums, tambourines,

kazoos…

Can we make a joyful noise?

Catholic school stories, the first piano recital,

and broken bones. Hear how these all fit

together!

St. Paul’s WELCA group is seeking a woman

from St. Paul’s to represent us at the Tenth

Triennial Gathering of WELCA in Minneapolis,

MN. The gathering will be held July 13-17

2017. Our group will provide approximately

$1500.00 to cover cost of travel, hotel, and

registration fees. We request the individual to

share the events of the gathering with St Paul’s

Congregation upon her return, and possibly

put some newly obtained ideas into action.

Information can be found in a brochure at the

gathering room.

Anyone interested in attending this event,

along with approximately 5,000 other Lutheran

women, should contact one of our coordinators:

Gloria Dierwechter, Joyce O’Rourke, or

Danielle Richards.

Join us at our

5th Annual Cookie Exchange Sunday, December 4

2:00 – 4:00 PM

Reidler Hall

Sign-up sheet in the gathering room.

Deadline to sign up: 11/27/16.

Questions? See Gwen Wehr, Danielle Richards, or

Robin Zimmerman.

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THE LIBRARY CORNER “A book is a gift you can open again

and again.”

Down, down, yellow and brown, The leaves are falling over

ORWIGSBURG Town!

Happy Fall, St. Paul's Friends!

Wow! Lots of fall happenings around the

church as the holidays are approaching. No matter

what activity or service is going on, there is always

a feeling of welcome, warmth, and love shared by

all who come through St. Paul's doors. What a

blessing to be the "official" church mice here! Don't

forget the All Saints’ Service, the Women of the

ELCA program, "Musical Musings with Justin,"

and our Sunday School for the young and young at

heart, just to name a few "November doings." There

is also a community Thanksgiving Eve Service at

Salem Methodist.

Remember, also, to choose some autumn

reading selections from our library. Books for the

children will be featured on the shelves downstairs

for the upcoming holidays.

So, enjoy each lovely autumn day, and be

thankful for all the blessings that God has given us.

(We mice are so grateful for a nice and snug hole in

the bell tower attic and crumbs from all the goodies

that are left for us! We are so thankful that the

cookies will be exchanged soon, too! Yum!) Have a

Happy, Blessed Thanksgiving!

Your loyal church mice,

Melvin, Herman, and Lucy

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Men of St. Paul’s

Chili and Soup Sale

November 12, 2016

9:00AM – 3:00PM

On the Square

Recognition and Thanks for Memorial Gifts

In memory of Josephine Rohrer:

Barbara Lafko, Rita Schlenner, Barbara Sterner,

Fern Moyer, Shirley Dull, Fern Houser, Carolyn

and Alan Brown, Amity Township Crime Watch,

The Rohrer family

In memory of George Eisenhuth:

Donna Hashin, Gary Rada

In memory of Jean Letcher:

Wayne and Kathi Charles

Katherine Reese

In memory of Julia Meisner:

Anonymous

If we have inadvertently omitted your memorial gift

please touch base with the Pastor (regarding the

Rohrer memorials – there was a list submitted for

the September newsletter in addition to the ones

above).

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A Candlelight Christmas Concert

Featuring St. Paul’s Chancel and Bell Choirs

Join us as we journey from earthly darkness to the

radiant light of the Christ Child. The evening will

lead us from the darkness of creation when God

said, “Let there be light!” to the brilliant mystery of

the Incarnation found in the gospel of John, “The

light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not

overcome it.”

Sunday, December 11

6:00PM

Do you like to sing, but can't make a yearlong

commitment? - We invite you to sing with us for

the Christmas season. Rehearsals are being held

Wednesday evenings from 7:30 - 8:00PM (during

the regularly scheduled chancel choir rehearsal).

Bring a friend, have some fun,

and get in the holiday spirit!

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The Sunday school classes participated in

“Make a Difference Day” by making Sleepy

Time Snack bags for the children who visit the

Orwigsburg Food Pantry. We asked the

congregation for snack donations in the hope

that we could make 50 bags. Once again, St.

Paul’s went above and beyond and donated

so many snacks that we were able to make

120 bags! Amazing! We decided to spread the

love around and split the bags up between

Orwigsburg and the Pottsville Food Pantry.

Thank you so much for your wonderful

generosity!

St. Paul’s is in the process of creating a new

website, and we have also created new email

addresses to make it easier for people to

contact us. Our new email is

christianed@stpauls-orwigsburg.org

Several emails have already been sent out

from this address to the Sunday school kids.

Please send an email if you would like to be

added to our Sunday school list.

ANGEL TREE

We will be participating in the food pantry’s

Christmas program and will have our Angel

Tree up around Thanksgiving. Last year we

provided several packages and a stocking full

of goodies to 15 local youngsters. Please

consider helping a child during the Christmas

season and take a tag from the tree.

Confirmation Classes

November 6

5:30 – 7:00 PM Jesus Christ, Savior

November 20

5:30 – 7:00 PM Jesus Christ, Redeemer

First Communion Classes

November 2

5:30 – 6:30 PM

November 16

5:30 – 6:30 PM

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Sundays at 9:15 AM in the Gathering Room.

Elementary/ Early Middle School Class

Pastor is looking for guest teacher

volunteers (the lesson plan will be

provided), so please see him if you’re

interested in teaching a lesson.

Late Middle/ High School Class

This class meets in the gathering room

at 9:15 AM.

(Behind the worship area)

After gathering activities/ music they move

to their classroom. The topics will follow the

“Faith Lens” program with newly produced

lessons every week about real life events

and how they relate to the Scripture that

you’ll hear in church.

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HOLLY TRAIL St Paul's will be open to the Public for the

Annual Holly Trail in Orwigsburg on Saturday December 3 from Noon until 4:00 PM

"Come and See" our newly decorated sanctuary.

Join us for "Holden Evening Prayer" 4:00 - 4:30 PM.

Going to the Tree Lighting? Start your evening

at St. Paul’s.

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Adult Sunday School

“Honoring Our Neighbor’s Faith”

A study of Christian Denominations and

Non-Christian Traditions.

9:15 AM in the Parlor.

October 30: Jehovah’s Witness

November 6: Roman Catholicism

November 13: “Traveling with St. Paul’s” - Barb

Lafko & Gail Rarick share observations of religious

practices from their recent trips to Bhutan & Greece,

respectively.

November 20: Pilgrim Fathers’ and Mothers’ beliefs

and practices

November 27: Church of the Nazarene

What you’ve been missing….

What a rewarding time I’ve been having in the

adult Sunday school program! Each week we are

talking about a different religion, and what an eye-

opening experience it’s been. Danielle Richards is

our current moderator. We voted on what religions

to discuss and have had great conversations about

our different heritages. I am amazed by the

persecution Christians encountered in Europe and

have learned why they came to America to practice

their religious freedom. We truly do have a great

nation. We are getting a lot of our information from

the book “Honoring Our Neighbor’s Faith.” Barb

Lafko and I will be traveling to different countries

in the near future and will bring back some info

about religion in those areas. So, if you want to

learn more about other religions and the history

behind their arrival in America, come Sunday

mornings to the Parlor for great conversation and

some of Danielle’s tasty baking. Everyone out of

high school is invited. Hope to see you. Gail Rarick

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ELCA Youth Gathering News

Grocery Cards

We have begun to sell our popular grocery cards

and Sheetz cards again. You can pick one up

between services or contact Deb Bolinsky or

Lori Elser. Each card sold will earn money for

the team!!

“A Few of My Favorite Things”

BINGO

Sunday, November 6

Blue Mt. Elementary East

Cafeteria

Doors open at noon

Games begin at 1:00 PM

Tickets: $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

Includes 6 bingo cards and twenty games of

Bingo.

Food and Beverages/ Raffles and Door Prizes

Prizes include: Coach, Kate Spade, Vera

Bradley, North Face, Alex and Ani, Pandora, and

more!

Benefits St. Paul’s Youth Gathering Team:

Houston 2018

Contact

Lori Elser: 570-943-2844

Deb Bolinsky: 570-789-3540

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Church Council Notes

1. Plans are under way for St. Paul’s involvement

in the Holly Trail.

2. We are initiating an outside audit of our 2015

books.

3. Church Council will be holding an extra

meeting to review investment proposals for our

restricted funds and unrestricted funds.

4. Conversation was held regarding the

continuation into 2017 of a social media

manager as we reviewed the manager’s reports.

5. Our Women of the Evangelical Lutheran

Church in America is considering sending a

delegate to their nationwide assembly.

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NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

3. Amy Lafko, Cody Berger, Ron Umphrey

4. Anna Shiffert

5. Mikayla Torola, Josh Grove, Hadley Bolinsky,

Julie Kaiser

6. Mike Zimmerman, Aidan Medica

7. Jeffry Ritschel II, Gary Koch

9. Julia Meisner

10. Ken Miller, Sr., Martin Stine, Kay Weidensaul

11. Daniel Riotto, Alexander Lotis

12. Tracey Kemp, Katie Stramara

13. Faye Baranowsky, Janet Geist

15. Melanie Seigfried

17. John Riegel III, Paul Lysek, Victoria Wagner

18. Heidi Glenn

20. Nicole Campbell, James Emerich, Diane Miller

21. Mika Torola

23. John Riegel, Jr., Alex Sklar

25. Margaret Bair

27. Sandra Zendrosky, David Aregood

28. Kevin Long

29. Jeremy Miller, Bryan Ludwig, Susan Wimbrow,

Laura Wimbrow

NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

6. Wayne & Carol Lutsey

7. Dom & Janet Just, Michael & Cherie Zimmerman

11. Bill & Nancy Tihansky

14. Mike & Glenda Bright

15. Ed & Amanda Sincavage

20. Bill & Vickie Folk

22. Allen & Carol Mickalonis

23. Frank & Diane Madeira

NOVEMBER FLOWER SPONSORS

November 6

In memory of Wrone and Rose Peifley by their

granddaughter, Tina Butler

In honor of our granddaughter, Charleigh Grace

Shadler, by Darin and Crystal Brensinger

November 13

In honor of Rev. Lee Diefenderfer by the Clarke

family

In memory of Mr. & Mrs. Leighton Wehr by Tom

and Gwen Wehr

November 20

In honor of my husband on his birthday by Joanne

Emerich

In memory of Mr. & Mrs. George Sabold by

daughter, Gloria Dierwechter

November 27

In honor of Dr. Kevin Long’s birthday by Christine

Long.

NOVEMBER BULLETIN SPONSORS

November 6

In honor of Carol & Wayne Lutsey’s 40th wedding

anniversary.

November 13

OPEN

November 20

In memory of my father, George Somers, by Rosalie

Wingle.

November 27

OPEN

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2017 BULLETIN AND FLOWER CHARTS

The 2017 bulletin and flower sponsorship charts will be appearing soon. Check the bulletin board in the

gathering room to sign up. Please remember to place your check or money in an envelope (we have some

available for you to use) with your name, date of sponsorship, type of sponsorship, and how you would like the

sponsorship to read. Please place all sponsorships in the plate that is provided.

Altar Flowers - $25

Chancel Flowers - $23

Bulletins - $15

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POINSETTIA ORDERS

The Worship and Music Committee reports that poinsettias for Christmas Eve will again be

ordered from Blue Mountain Farms, New Ringgold.

The cost of an 8+ bloom plant with a silver pot cover is $8.

You may purchase these flowers and dedicate them “in honor of” or “in memory of” a special

person in your life. If you choose not to dedicate the flowers, you will be listed as a sponsor.

The deadline to order is December 11. Please use the form below and return it with payment

to the plate in the gathering room.

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YOUR NAME____________________________________________

I would like to order _____white poinsettia(s)

______red poinsettia(s)

at $8.00 each. I wish to dedicate my flowers(s) in honor/memory of:

(Circle one)

H/M_________________________________________________________________________________

H/M_________________________________________________________________________________

H/M_________________________________________________________________________________

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NOVEMBER 2016 SERVICE SCHEDULE Communion Assistant- November 5 at 5:30 PM – Janice Snyder If you are unable to serve as communion assistant, please leave a message for the Pastor (610-858-4136). Thank you.

8:00 AM November 6 November 13 November 20 November 27

LECTOR Connie Teter Ruth Ann Withers Lori Elser Courtney Dukmen

COMMUNION ASST.

Gail Rarick Kay Weidensaul

Ron Rozansky Ruth Ann Withers

USHERS Connie Teter & Margaret Bair

Ruth Ann Withers & Barb Lafko

Connie Teter & Dale Dewald

Cheryl & Mallorie Dukmen

ALTAR GUILD

Barb Sterner & Sue Schenck

Faith & Kendra Wertman

Faith & Kendra Wertman

Chris Long & Tina Butler

GREETER Gail Rarick Gail Rarick Gail Rarick Gail Rarick

COUNTERS

Sarah Kramer, Tom & Gwen

Wehr

Rosalie Wingle, Marlene Eidam, &

Mary Ellen Hering

Joyce O’Rourke, Gloria

Dierwechter, & Dana Jenkins

Connie Teter, Jean Premich, & Barb

Sterner

10:30 AM November 6 November 13 November 20 November 27

LECTOR Dave Krewson Wendy Schuld Wayne Lutsey Jim Spotts

COMMUNION ASST.

Chris Long Tom Wehr Sue Schenck Dale Keener

Acolyte Abigayle Krewson

Emily Heydt Nora Goessel TJ Wagner

USHERS Kathie Frantz

& Janet Keener Cindy Sklar & Barb Sterner

Deb & Danika Bolinsky

Cameron Keener and Barb Sterner

GREETER Janet Keener & Brian Miller

Wayne Lutsey & Cindy Sklar

Wayne Lutsey & Greg Sklar

Wayne Lutsey & Becky Wehr

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SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT

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First Communion

5:30 PM

Chancel Choir

7:30 PM

3

Bell Choir

7:00 PM

Connecting &

Reconnecting

7:30 PM

4 5 All Saints’ Sunday

Worship 5:30 PM

6 All Saints’ Sunday Worship

8 & 10:30 AM

Sunday School

9:15 AM

Confirmation Class

5:30 PM

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Holly Trail Crew

6:00 PM

Special Council

Meeting

6:30 PM

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Staff Support

7:00 PM

9

Evangelism

6:30 PM

Chancel Choir

7:00 PM

10

Bell Choir

7:00 PM

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12

Worship 5:30 PM

Chili & Soup Sale

9 AM – 3 PM

13

Worship

8 & 10:30 AM

Sunday School

9:15 AM Spaghetti Dinner

3 – 7 PM

First Communion Class

5:30 PM

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Holly Trail Crew

6:00 PM

Council

7:00 PM

15

WELCA

1:00 PM

Christian Ed.

6:30 PM

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First Communion

5:30 PM

Chancel Choir

7:00 PM

17

Bell Choir

7:00 PM

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19

Christ the King

Worship 5:30 PM

20

Christ the King

Worship

8 & 10:30 AM

Sunday School

9:15 AM Askernia Piano Recital

2-4 PM

Confirmation Class

5:30 PM

21

Holly Trail Crew

6:00 PM

Worship Team

7:00 PM

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23

Thanksgiving Eve

at Salem

7:00 PM

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Thanksgiving Day

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26

Worship 5:30 PM

27 First Sunday of Advent

Worship

8 & 10:30 AM

Sunday School

9:15 AM First Communion Class

5:30 PM

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Holly Trail Crew

6:00 PM

Mutual Ministry

6:00 PM

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Property

7:00 PM

30

Chancel Choir

7:00 PM

November 2016

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NOVEMBER 2016

ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH

PO BOX 156

ORWIGSBURG, PA 17961

Upcoming Events

November 3 - “Connecting and Reconnecting” at 7:30 PM

November 6 – “A Few of My Favorite Things” Bingo at Noon

November 12 - Chili and Soup Sale from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

November 13 - Spaghetti Dinner from 3:00 – 7:00 PM

November 23 – Thanksgiving Eve at Salem at 7:00 PM

December 4 – Cookie Exchange from 2:00 – 4:00 PM

December 11 – Candlelight Christmas Concert at 6:00 PM

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage Paid

Pottsville, PA

17901

PERMIT NO. 52

Pottsville, Pa

17901

PERMIT NO. 52