St. Paul's United Church of Christ

Dear St. Paul’s Friends & Family,

We are on the cusp of our annual Community VBS!  So far, we have over 60 kids registered and more than 40 volunteers ready to greet them next week!  Volunteers and staff have spent approximately 70 hours transforming the Sanctuary into Snowball Mountain, craft kits are almost all assembled, snacks purchased, and lessons planned.  Most of the props, decorations, and craft materials have been generously donated by church members and friends of our church and our partner congregations.  Making VBS happen in truly a community project!  It simply would not happen without folks working together.

Our gospel lesson from Matthew chapters 9 & 10 provides for us some important reminders about the importance of community and teamwork.  Jesus went throughout the towns, cities, and countryside of Galilee preaching, teaching, and healing.  He was overwhelmed by the needs of those he met.  In his words, “the crowds were harassed and helpless…like sheep without a shepherd.”  His response was not to send some heavenly wonders to sort it all out, but to commission his disciples to go on his behalf to help their neighbors.  Instead of Jesus himself, they would be the ones teaching, healing, comforting, and even bringing life out of death.  Of course, the Holy Spirit would be upon them, but they were the ones being called to be part of Christ’s saving work.

Throughout history, Jesus has called followers to continue his life-giving work.  We too are called as members of his body, the church, to bring hope, compassion, love, and healing through our words and actions.  Whether we are helping to house a homeless person, praying for someone with health challenges, advocating for those who stand on the margins of society, or planning Community VBS, we join a long line of disciples who have answered Christ’s calling to tend his sheep.  May the Holy Spirit bless us with wisdom and strength as we live and work together.

Blessings on your journey!

Pastor Matt

Please join us for our annual Community VBS, June 15-19 from 9am-Noon! The partner churches, Somerset Church of the Brethren, the Laurel Mountain Lutherans, St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church, and the host church, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ are thrilled to offer this opportunity to the families of our community!

Classes are available for kids age 3 through completed Grade 6! A free lunch will also be available in Shellenberger Park for those who would like to stick around after VBS. Please visit this link if you’d like to register a child for Community VBS! https://somersetcommunityvbs.mycokesburyvbs.com/register-child

 St. Paul’s Continuing Care Community is May’s Mission Offering. 

St. Paul’s, historically related to the United Church of Christ, has been serving the needs of residents of western Pennsylvania and the surrounding states for 150 years.  Our congregation has a history of supporting the work and mission of St. Paul’s Continuing Care Community.  Through our continued support of St. Paul’s mission, we are realizing Jesus Christ’s call to love God and neighbor. 

St. Paul’s vital ministries would not be possible without your support. Whether we are providing regular religious services, spiritual and emotional care to meet the needs of community members, food and housing assistance, musical opportunities for children, youth, and adults, or offering our building and congregation as a community resource, none of these ministries exist without the support of members and friends of St. Paul’s.

Please consider supporting our community work by giving in person or online.

Online monetary gifts may be given through tithe.ly.  You can make a gift by accessing our website (see the “Give” button on the homepage or the button below), www.stpaulsuccsomerset.org.  You may also download the free tithe.ly app to your smartphone or tablet and customize it to meet your needs.  Although the service is free to the church, credit card and transaction fees are assessed to each gift, so when making an online contribution through tithe.ly, please consider using the bank funds transfer feature, which has the lowest fee of one percent per transaction.  For your convenience, you may also select the reoccurring gift option if you would like to make regular gifts to the church.  If you have any questions or need assistance using this service, please do not hesitate to contact Cindy, our financial secretary.  And as always, we still accept and appreciate your mail-in contributions!

We value your support as we partner to do Christ’s life-giving work! 

Blessings,

Pastor Matt