Dear Friends in Christ:
You are welcome here, every Sunday at 8:30 am and 11 am!
St. Paul’s is a lively gathering of God’s people around the Gospel-centered promise of grace, a “Reconciling in Christ” congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in NW Washington, DC.
St. Paul’s is a gospel centered gathering of God’s people, focused on living thankfully in light of God’s gracious love, gathered in prayer for the world, and actively working for justice and peace locally and globally. Join us for worship this Sunday and often!
John R. Spangler, Interim Pastor
Simply Giving: Click Below
Contact Information
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202-966-5489 |
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Address
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4900 Connecticut Ave. N.W.
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Engagement and Ministry Reach
God is in the city; St. Paul's is too. In the last year, something in the neighborhood of 1290 events have been held at St. Paul's. This figure includes hundreds of worship events, Christian education programs, fellowship events, school related sessions, prime time senior programs, classes, meetings, 12-step groups, shelter overnights, food pantry sessions, concerts and rehearsals, and more.
This is a lot of events, and a clear engagement in the neighborhood and the life of the city. This is a signal of care for the city, for young people, for seniors, for hospitality, for support for those in need. It is one of the things I love about St. Paul's and its extension of love for the world in the world. This kind of track record is a lot of ministry to support.
St. Paul's is a gift to the world. We are responsible for ministry in our part of it. The Metro Synod coordinates and sponsors ministries in the region that we could not do on our own, and the ELCA and Lutheran World Federation see to it that ministry is done on our behalf across the country and around the world.
It starts local and never ends. A Gospel centered ministry can do no other. We have a pattern of giving 10 percent of the regular income of the congregation to wider ministries. That tithe, roughly $69,000 dollars, is a goal, a challenge, and a way of participating in ministry far away from us.
In turn, people around our region, people across the country, and people around the world depending upon us to do faithful ministry here in NW DC, too. We work on behalf of people we don't know to make sure ministry happens in our part of the world. We have opportunities to ingather Thanksgiving resources for students and people in need in the next week and a half. Some of them are from far away too. And for us, the joy of engagement is the joy we have in the Gospel. You help us reach out, welcome people in, lift people up in prayer, hold fast to what we love.
Thank you for supporting our ministry, local, regional and global. Thank you for thinking intentionally about continuing your support and increasing it too. For the abundant need is met by the abundant blessings we receive from God. God is in the city. St. Paul's is there too. And we are called here to make a difference for the sake of Jesus Christ's love.
John R. Spangler, Interim Pastor
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Special Meeting scheduled for December 8th
There will be a special meeting of the congregation following the 11am worship service on Sunday, December 8, 2019, for the purpose of voting on a call to a candidate for the role of St. Paul's pastor. There will be an opportunity to meet the candidate before the worship service, and the candidate will be preaching for the 11am service that day. Biographical information about the candidate will be provided in early December in advance of the meeting.
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Join the YOUTH CHOIR !
The St. Paul's youth choir has begun its 2019-2020 season!
New this year, we will meet to rehearse in the downstairs choir room, opposite the kitchen (conveniently close to Epiphany Chapel for the chapel gathering before Sunday School classes).
We'll practice as usual for 30 minutes-from 9:15-9:45am-to work on vocal warmups and technique, learn new music and incorporate Orff instruments to accompaniments.
We have planned our anthem schedule through the spring: our first anthem for a church service will be October 20th.
The Youth Choir is open to young people ages 7-high school.
If you wish to join the youth choir or would like more information, please contact director Marcia Perez .
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November 17th
Shawl Ministry
Please join us this Sunday for our November shawl ministry. We typically meet in the dining area next to the kitchen from 10 to 10:45 am. We are also interested in hearing if you would like to meet other dates/ times that better suit your schedule
Novices and all skill levels are welcome ! While members have been providing their own supplies, please reach out if you would like to contribute but would like to partner on supplies. The focus has been knitting and crochet, and this fiber arts ministry is open to other suggestions.
Over the years the shawl ministry has provided handcrafted comfort to those in need in our community including members of the congregation and their families, women's shelter residents, individuals in hospice, patients at Children's hospital and others. New ideas are welcome! There are also volunteer opportunities to deliver our offerings and contribute in other ways.
Any questions or suggestions please don't hesitate to reach out: Amy Moorhus Baumgardner.
PS - December meeting of the shawl ministry will take place on December 8th.
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Halloween Candy Collection ends this Sunday, November 17th!
St. Paul's will be collecting any extra or unwanted Halloween candy again this year. We will make up small gift packages for the folks at Friendship Place to give to their clientele in the cold weather months. We will begin collecting this Sunday in the box labeled "Halloween Candy" in the portico. If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Wackler.
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLERS LOOKING FOR SERVICE HOURS: Please contact Lisa Wackler at lwackler@stpaulslutherandc.com if you would like to package candy for Community Service or SSL hours.
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Giving Thanks! 
In last week's Children Sermon, Lisa asked the kids to write down the people and/or things for which they are thankful, and we want YOU to do the same! Take a leaf from the basket in the Portico, write down your personal note of Thanksgiving, and we'll add it to our board. Let's see how many leaves we have under our tree by Thanksgiving!
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Parents of College Students!
Please make sure that the church office has your son's or daughter's college address so we can reach out to them periodically.
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Wackler.
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Website Work for St. Paul's
We are planning for some web redesign and expansion. Please let us know what you would find useful on the congregation's website. What's missing? What do you use? If there is old and bad info, please continue to point us to that as well. But do talk to us! It makes our work better.
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Announcement from the Bell Choir
This December marks 250 years since Ludwig Von Beethoven was born. Do you want to be part of the bell choir offering on December 8th? We'll be playing to offer glory to God and in thanksgiving for this great music master.
Rehearsals start soon. Thursdays, 7 November through 5 December (minus Thanksgiving) from 6:15-7:15 pm in the Nave. No audition. No experience needed. Come and we'll teach you the rest. Commitment is for the performance for 8 December's 11 am service.
A great family experience!
Let Bell Choir director Karen Leigh Campbell know.
God bless you!
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New Benches for Portico Garden
We would like to thank both Lynn Adkins and Bruce Pihlstrom for their wonderful generosity in the purchase of the two new black steel memorial benches that were installed recently in the Portico garden. Not only do they look perfect in their setting, but the benches are also comfortable and functional. In fact, we are pleased to note that many visitors to St. Paul's have already been able to enjoy using the two benches.
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Introducing the
St. Paul’s Call Committee:
Sue Hollar—Chair
Peter Guerber
Donna Hershey
Jeff Koch
Bruce Morrison
Liz Rihani
Jason Stonerook
Caitlin Thistle
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Donors Needed for Altar Flowers
Please contact Joy Belew to reserve a date. Thank you.
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TELLERS NEEDED!
We are looking for people interested in volunteering for this very important church function. It consists of a two member team that works on Sundays after church or Monday for about 1 or 2 hours collecting, counting and recording the offering. The teams are assigned a month at a time, usually 3 or 4 months a year (depending on how many teams we have). Sundays can be switched with other teams. Training and written instructions are provided. Please contact Paula Stewart 410-956-7117 or the church office to volunteer.
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Thank you for supporting Gifts of Hope during our 2018 Advent campaign in which we raised $119,038.00 from online giving and from congregation members across the Synod, including $3,760.00 from members of St. Paul's. These funds have been distributed to our 19 beneficiary organizations to support their work in our community. Thanks to the volunteers who present this alternative gift-giving option to your congregation.
Your support helps the elderly, adults, and children served by our ten social-service organizations, four ministries, three international synods, and two church camps. These agencies work with people in and recently released from prison, those who want to improve their lives, those who need help with transportation, housing, school supplies, job-readiness, clothing, food, medications, wellness, and relief from homelessness. Your support helps those who are discerning God's call and answering that call. Your support helps kids go to camp and enjoy activities with other children. Your support helps people outside our borders: creating businesses, at children's orphanages, providing pastoral support, and aiding church building repair.
Our gifts are available year-round-not just during the Christmas season-via our website: giftsofhopedc.org. We are a faith community helping each other and making our community stronger. Thank you for providing hope for today and hope for tomorrow.
Carolyn Sowinski, Director
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Regular Worship Times at St. Paul's
8:30 am--Early Service with Holy Communion
9:45 am--Sunday School
11:00 am--Service with Holy Communion
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And don't forget! The church nursery is available in room 111 every Sunday during the 11 am worship service. Let us give you a break when you need it!
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Save the Date and Spread the Word!
Cantata Sunday just ten days away!
Our presentation of Bach's cantata #137, "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty" and his Orchestral Suite #3 on November 24 is approaching fast. Please join us, and please invite friends, neighbors and co-workers for a festive Christ the King Sunday with the choir and a 12-piece orchestra!
J.S. Bach is considered by many to be the greatest Christian composer, if not the greatest composer ever. Many composers have testified to Bach's greatness over the years, and we wanted to share some of those quotes below.
"Not brook but ocean should be his name."
- Ludwig van Beethoven
("Bach" is the German word for "brook".)
"Study Bach. There you will find everything."
- Johannes Brahms
"...the greatest Christian music in the world...if life had taken hope and faith from me, this single chorus would restore all."
- Felix Mendelssohn
"Music owes as much to Bach as religion to its founder."
- Robert Schumann
"If one were asked to name one musician who came closest to composing without human flaw, I suppose general consensus would choose Johann Sebastian Bach."
- Aaron Copland
"Bach is the supreme genius of music... This man, who knows everything and feels everything, cannot write one note, however unimportant it may appear, which is anything but transcendent. He has reached the heart of every noble thought, and has done it in the most perfect way."
- Pablo Casals
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November 24th: Christ the King Sunday
One Service at 11 am with Special Cantata; Blessing of the Prayer Shawls; Blessing of Thanksgiving Baskets.
Advent Workshop during Sunday school hour.
November 27th: Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service at 7 pm.
December 1st: 1st Sunday of Advent (regular worship schedule)
December 4th: Dinner and Discussion: Saint Nicholas
December 7th: Hanging of the Greens at 10 am
December 11th: Dinner and Discussion: Saint Lucia
December 15th: Christmas Craft Workshop
December 22nd: Advent Lessons and Carols followed by the annual Christmas pageant.
December 24th: Christmas Eve - Services at 4 pm & 8 pm.
More details to come soon!....
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URGENT NEED! Please sign up to help!
Thanksgiving Dinner for AU Students
November 24, 2019
For the past several years, St. Paul's has been providing a Thanksgiving dinner for approximately 30 students at American University on the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving. We need food contributions of all kinds to make this a lovely meal for the students! Monetary gifts towards the purchase of food can be accepted as well.
The dinner is at 8 pm at the Kay Spiritual Life Center on AU's campus. Kay is the round building with the flame on top directly off of the Mass. Avenue entrance to the campus. Food can be dropped off anytime between 6:30 pm and 8 pm.
If you would like to assist or if you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact Joy Belew in the church office (202-966-5489) or Lisa Wackler (202-966-5489, ext. 125).
To sign up to contribute parts of the meal, please click on the link to Signup Genius below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B084AABA92AA2F49-thanksgiving1
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Helping Our DC Neighbors in Need This Thanksgiving
On Christ the King Sunday (November 24th) we will once again bless baskets and boxes of food that will be distributed to our neighbors in need this Thanksgiving. St. Paul's has been a long-time supporter of this ministry through Friendship Place, and we are eager to help again this year!
Please note that the list of items requested has changed some. Friendship Place is suggesting that baskets and boxes include these items:
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A grocery store gift card which can be used to purchase a turkey
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Canned green beans
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Fixings for Green Bean Casserole dish: (Canned Cream of Mushroom Soup, French Fried Onions)
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Canned corn
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Canned peas
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Canned yams/sweet potatoes
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Boxed macaroni and cheese
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Bag of rice
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Packaged/boxed stuff mix (like Stovetop brand)
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Canned turkey gravy
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Cranberry sauce
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Cake mix and/or Brownie mix and can of frosting
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Boxes of Jell-o gelatin or pudding mix
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Box of tea bags
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Bag of sugar
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Paper plates
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Paper napkins
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Plastic utensils
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Roll of paper towels
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Any other items that will add that special touch: a pretty dishtowel, Thanksgiving card, candy or mints!
Create a basket or box on your own, or ask another person or family to go in with you!
Please plan to bring all items to St. Paul's on Sunday, November 24th for the blessing, and Friendship Place will pick up and distribute the baskets and boxes before Thanksgiving.
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Wackler
Thank you again for helping spread the Good News and blessings of this season-Happy Thanksgiving!
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Click HERE for more information about the Prime Time Senior Center.
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StLuthRefA (SLRA) Youth Group
SLRA Youth Group is this Sunday! Can you make it?
This month's Fruit of the Spirit Focus is KINDNESS. To engage with this topic, we'll be working with the Steinbruck Center and National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) to hear from speakers from NCH (some folks who were formerly unhoused) and do street outreach with NCH guides. We'll gather at Luther Place for lunch, fellowship, and ministry together. As it is November in DC and we anticipate being outside for *some* of the afternoon, we ask that you dress accordingly.
SLRA November Details:
Who: StLuthRefA Youth Group (7th-12th Graders)
What: Youth Group with a Fruit of the Spirit Focus of KINDNESS
When: Sunday, Nov 17 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. (Please note: this may run a bit longer should our street outreach or assembling of care kits take long. We will try out best to be wrapped up at LP by 4 p.m.)
Where: Luther Place
Why: In Baptism, the Fruit of the Spirit is given to us. They STIR in us to live a Christian life. The Fruit of the Spirit also SPUR us to action. We use them, share them, rely on them -- there are no rules against them!
Attending: RSVP HERE: https://doodle.com/poll/uxfy2iym66pukkbk
For more info, contact Lisa Wackler.
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Advent Workshop, Sunday, November 
24th
Christmas will be here soon, so don't forget to take time to enjoy the special season of anticipation that is Advent. Advent is the special time leading up to Christmas as we ponder what God promised to us: That we would be sent Jesus, to live among us and be our Savior.
The Advent Workshop will be at the church on Sunday, November 24th, during the Sunday School hour. Please join us as we make a kid-friendly Advent craft, make cards for our college students, and have the opportunity to pick up the supplies to make our "Countdown to Christmas Chains." There will also be a chance for families to make an Advent wreath for their home! (No need to RSVP, but if you'd like to make a wreath, please let Lisa Wackler know, so we have enough supplies on hand.)
Our College Advent Care Packages are always a big hit with our parishioners who are away at college. Parents of college students should notify the church office of their child's school address if they haven't already done so, because we don't want them to miss out! And if anyone wants to contribute boxes of pre-packaged snacks, candy/gum/mints, powdered drink mixes, or other small seasonal items for the packages, (or if you'd like to contribute money for the purchase of these items), please let Lisa Wackler know.
Advent Begins Sunday, December 1st!
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Mark Your Calendars--
Special Advent Gatherings on December 4th and 11th
Please join us during the first two Wednesdays in Advent for a multi-generational dinner and discussion on St. Nicholas (December 4th) and St. Lucia (December 11th).
We will start with a theme-appropriate dinner at 6:30 pm, and then move to the Chancel for music, activities, and discussion about these popular saints. Who were they? Who celebrates them, and why? If you want to know the answers to these and other questions, you'll have to join us!
More information to follow in the coming weeks, but be sure to mark your calendars, because you won't want to miss this time of fellowship!
For questions, please contact Lisa Wackler .
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Thank you for coming to our annual Blessing of the Animals service last weekend!
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Hurricane Dorian Relief Efforts
If you would like to assist with relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Dorian, please go to Lutheran Disaster Relief (www.elca.org/ldr) or the Florida Bahamas Synod (www.fbsynod.com) to make online contributions. Donations can also be sent to the Florida Bahamas synod office (3838 W. Cypress St, Tampa, FL 33607). More information is available on flyers located in the portico and narthex.
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