Magnificent Missions (M&M’s)
Recently being elected as the elder representing the mission committee is an important job. I have come to the conclusion that a committee of one is not going to go too far! WE NEED MISSION COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS! Our path is wide open! We can pound nails for Habitat, sell free trade coffee, serve meals locally, travel to other countries in need…the possibilities are unlimited! Help me build a mission committee team at St. Paul! The following are thoughts taken from the 2008 Mission Maker Magazine, on developing mission effectiveness:
- Commit to lead a holy life.
- Develop loveliness! There is attractiveness in godliness!
- Develop spiritual maturity which comes through trials and daily life.
- Develop a heart of sacrifice and endurance.
- Exercise self-discipline, in work habits, responsibility, promptness, and reliability.
- Remain humble.
- Bear the fruit of the spirit!
Contact me if you’re interested!
Together we can build a great mission team!
Susan VanEssen
Home: 270-6822
svan4590@mchsi.com
PJT Website Launched!
Shop and Learn Online! Partners for Just Trade has worked hard to bring you a website that makes shopping easy and fun, and that helps you learn about Fair Trade and the artisans who make our unique products. They work with over 20 artisan groups from Peru and have a wide variety of products that allows everyone to find something that fits their taste, style, and budget. Visit www.partnersforjusttrade.org today! Partners for Just Trade is a building a global partnership .Cake Pan Fundraiser - During November, the Mission Committee will once again sell personalized cake pans. A portion of the sales will benefit Habitat for Humanity...These make a great gift and we will make sure they are shipped in time for Christmas...if you would like to order, please contact Robyn Mills at the church office: 276-2818.
Refugee Cooperative Services - Molly Ammons, Refugee Cooperative Services Coordinator, Lutheran Social Services, spoke to our congregation on October 14...we took up an offering for her and raised $243. Here is her thank you letter:
On behalf of the families and staff of Refugee Cooperative Services at Lutheran Services in Iowa, thank you for your attention, generosity, and kindness this Sunday past. It was a pleasure for me to come share the Sunday message and to speak with your compassionate congregation about Des Moines refugees. Your donations will be used to help new arrivals purchase bus passes to further aid their self-sufficiency. I was so impressed by the kindness and care inside St. Paul's sanctuary. God Bless, Molly Ammons
Please remember the people that are affected by the flooding and severe weather. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is currently working with several Presbyteries. You may find further information at 800-872-3283 or online at www.pcusa.org/pda/donate.htm
Monthly Calendar:
1st Sunday -Fair Trade Coffee/Tea/Chocolate Sales
2nd Saturday Service Project -Service opportunity for all ages
2nd Sunday -Clothing Collection for assault victims -Pick up Salvation Army recipe & pan
3rd Sunday -DMARC Food Pantry Collection -Bring your Salvation Army Casserole
5th Sunday -Personal Hygiene item collection for CROSS Ministries
Permanent change in schedule/storage .... after the summer experiment with changing the casserole due dates, we realized that schedule fits better for many winter holidays as well. Unless otherwise announced, we will continue distributing pans on the 2nd Sunday of the month (though they are always available on the mission display in Fellowship Hall) and collecting them on the 3rd Sunday.
You are invited to take a pan, follow the simple recipe, bake/freeze a casserole and return it on the 3rd Sunday of the month. Instead of putting them in the kitchen freezer as we've been doing, please put them in our new refrigerator in the large, walk-in closet off Fellowship Hall. These casseroles are given to the Salvation Army and distributed to homeless folks in Des Moines.
Questions? Contact Cathy or Sarah E. at dcseng@mchsi.com or 331-7709.
The first Sunday of each month coffee is ordered from Equal Exchange Coffee via it's Presbyterian Coffee project. We sell whole bean and ground coffee at our cost. Also available are tea, chocolate bars, and baking chocolate. Try some of this delicious coffee during our Fellowship hour after church each Sunday.
The second Sunday of each month, we collect new underwear and sweats for Sexual Assault Victims. Items are taken to the Young Women's Resource Center in Des Moines. Just put your donations in the clothing basket labeled Sexual Assault Victim donations.
Help us to collect school supplies! CROSS Ministries Back-to-School Give-Away 2007 -- For the month of July, St. Paul will be collecting school supplies for Cross Ministries to be presented to Roberta Victor on July 29th…Please place supplies on the cart in the Narthex! Thanks!!
PW Mission Opportunities
For 120 years, the Christian Home Association of Council Bluffs has been caring for children. Programs include emergency shelter care for children, residential treatment, runaway and homeless youth services/crisis hotline, family centered counseling, grades 1-12 educational program for behavioral disordered students, structured summer day program, drug and alcohol educational classes, and Spiritual Life Program. St. Paul PW is collecting school items: pencils, ball-point pens, tape, crayons, books, paper, rulers, and glue. There will be a box in the kitchen for donations. If each of us bought just one item every time we grocery shopped, we would soon have quite a large contribution made. How easy this would be!
Also, please continue to save your cancelled stamps, and remember that Calvin Manor continues the need for Bingo prizes.
St. Paul Garden News
A Leaf From the Gardener’s Journal......
Editor’s note: The food grown in St. Paul’s garden is contributed to the local food pantry—providing fresh, high-quality produce for individuals and families who don’t have enough to eat. —The Garden Committee
Habitat for Humanity seeks weekday volunteers
Habitat for Humanity is looking for weekday assistance as they build 13 homes in the Greater Des Moines community . If you have a weekday you would wish to volunteer, contact the Habitat Office directly at 471-8686, or e-mail info@gdmhabitat.org.
Meanwhile, check pictures of the project we helped complete at www.dmhabitat.org.
Be a welcoming face!
M&E would like to remind everyone at St. Paul to please take a moment before and after church to introduce yourselves to anyone visiting our church. It is so very important for all of us to reach out to prospective members. They need to know we appreciate them visiting.
Note from Epistle editor: When interviewing new members as they join our church, I also include a question on why they chose St. Paul as their new church home. The #1 response is that it’s because, when they were visiting our congregation, St. Paul members (even if it was just one!) took time to introduce themselves, invite them to Fellowship time (and/or other activities) and generally make them feel welcome. In the same conversation, they usually mention visiting other congregations where not even one person said hello—and so they didn’t visit those places a second time. In sum, these little things matter a LOT!
