St. Paul's

United Church of Christ

July 2016

Newsletter

Church Office Hours

Monday-Friday: 9:00am-4:00pm

Pastor Mike Roth: Tuesday-Friday

Pastor Erica Roth: Tuesday-Thursday

Pastor Gail Robins: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday

Erica Faust: Tuesday-Thursday

St. Paul’s United Church of Christ

5508 Telegraph Road

St. Louis, Mo 63129

314-892-3332

officemanager@stpauloakville.org

Website: stpauloakville.org

The Firsts, the Lasts and the In-Betweens

It’s no great feat to recognize when we are experiencing or undertaking something for the first time. It’s new, it’s

often adrenaline-filled, it’s unfamiliar territory, there’s nothing in our past with which to evaluate it or to reference

it. But it’s quite a different thing when we experience something for the last time…mostly because we don’t even

know, can’t even know, that it’s the last time. And it’s not until there are “no more times” that it hits us. Even

then, it takes most of us a while to realize it and process it for all that it means to our lives.

I am conscientiously and ceremoniously experiencing many “last times” these days as I take leave of a people and a

place whom I have grown to love beyond words and beyond measure. It’s easy to recognize and mark the last wor-

ship service, the last SAM meeting, the last Bible study, the last choir rehearsal. But I know there have been so

many other “lasts” which I never recognized as they were unfolding. Cynics and softies alike can admit that there

are only so many of these; and when they are gone, we are apt to yearn for just one more of them “for one last

time”.

All of this brings me back full circle to one of my favorite passages of scripture—Ecclesiastes 3.1-8, the passage

which reminds us that whether we would like to face some of the seasons of life or not, they will all occur within

the span of each of our lives. But the takeaway for me is that a new season is always approaching and we can be,

must be, expectant of the newness this time will bring. One of my favorite Mark Hayes anthems contains this wis-

dom: “If we knew the future, we could not take it in.” If we knew the future, I dare say that all of us would hurry

past or completely avoid the people, places and things which were “difficult” but which nevertheless grew us into

stronger and better people. We would, instead, want to bask in the easy, pleasant and affirming situations…and we

would become complacent and lazy and spoiled. So we weather the seasons, the seasons of firsts and of lasts, the

seasons of hellos and goodbyes, the seasons of pain and pleasure.

I cannot resist the nagging temptation to close with one last quotation from my all-time favorite, Frederick Buech-

ner. He says in his brief essay on “Goodbye”: “It was a long while ago that the words God be with you disappeared

into the word goodbye, but every now and again some trace of them still glimmers through.” May this be one of

those times which glimmers through to you as I say “God be with you.” Thank you so very much for all of the firsts,

for all of the lasts, but mostly for all of the wonderful in-betweens which have challenged and changed me and

which I pray have done the same for you.

Gail

Save The Dates

July 10 Brunch for Jonathan & Gail

July 24 Jonathan Owen Concert

August 20 St. Paul’s Family Night 7:00pm

September 11 Rally Day & church Picnic

Sept. 24-25 Family Camp Mo-Val

Nov. 11-13 Women’s Spiritual Retreat

Ladies Day Out

July 20@ 11:30

Pasta House in Arnold

Call Anne Leachman 636-548-8390

Sunday School News

Our June lessons have

focused on Mission & Stew-ardship. We have learned that even children can do things to share God’s love with others. We have creat-ed window suncatchers and pretend potted flowers for pastors to share with shut-ins and people in the hospital. We also helped make a meal for the homeless people in the city.

July lessons will focus

on prophets of the Old Testament July 3 is the First Sunday of the month. Kids

will remain in worship with their families. We are excited that kids are able to experience worship and communion with their families. Coming in August!! The Lord’s Prayer Chal-lenge---We will be learning about the Lord’s Pray-er in our August lessons. Kids will be encouraged to memorize the Lord’s Prayer and will be reward-ed with 10 Kingdom Bucks to spend at Rally Day. Feel free to start memorizing now! Kingdom Bucks Program Kids earn a buck eve-

ry time they attend Sunday

School. Bucks can be redeemed

for prizes and gifts 3 times per

year (Palm Sunday, Rally Day

and Advent Fest)

VBS 2016

Final Numbers:

151 kids participated

$1,293.72 raised to build latrines at a school in Haiti. The funds have already been sent to Haiti and the latrines will be ready for the new school year!!

A BIG thank you to all who served on our VBS Staff: Treehouse Staff Jan Bridges Shelley Waller Lynn Reinheimer Sarah Faust Glenn Kujath Emily Barth Karol Collins Joe Ware Pastor Mike Roth Mollee Schuler Carol Kurmann Jacob Kujath Andrew Faust Ollie Right Sam Kuntze Max Right Ginny Van Horn Amber Willers Greta Brown Emma Smith Emma Orr Dallas Carter Samantha Kiethline Tanner Smith Carolyn Buback Jaime Meier Hannah Schuler Sarah Simmons Hannah Clobes Savannah Sebold Kennedy Thuet Abby Grimi Ethan Barth Pastor Erica Roth Adam Robbins Katie Parai Emily Willers Alex Waller Cindy Van Horn Connor Becherer Dawn Kohles Gail Robins Jennifer Kreisz Kyle Tymkew Betty Karau Ben Dreppard Marvella Lester Becky Roesch Nancy Daniels Jenn Price Lola Roesch Zoe Wilson The week simply isn’t possible without your willing-

ness to serve. I truly appreciate the countless hours the staff poured into making our VBS week

such a success.

13 Sr. High and 2 adults will be on a mission trip

to Louisville, KY and Southern Indiana from Sun-

day, July 3-Saturday July 9th. Please keep us and

those we encounter in your prayers!

Family Camp

Sept. 24-25

Camp Mo-Val,

Union, MO

Middle School Youth Group will begin meeting again on

Sunday, September 18th at 5:30 p.m. We are hoping to

have a lock-out on Saturday, October 8th into Sunday,

October 9th. Sorry that the July date

didn’t work out! Details soon but hold

the evening and night open!

Confirmation News The BOCE, along with Pastor Erica and Erica

Faust, have made the decision not to offer a Confirmation Class for the 2016-2017 school year so that a larger group of kids (2 years-worth) will make up the Confirmation Class during the 2017-2018 school year.

While we will not have a Confirmation Class this coming year, we still need middle schoolers to serve as acolytes during worship services. If you have a middle schooler (6th-8th grade) who would be willing to acolyte, please con-tact Erica Faust at ericafaust@sbcglobal.net. A schedule will be created and your middle schooler will most likely be asked to acolyte once every couple of months.

One of the ways we’d like to enhance our Confirma-

tion program going forward is to assign a church

member as a mentor to each Confirmand. Mentors

would be asked to commit to mentoring a Confirm-

and for the entire Confirmation year (approx.. 9

months). If this is something you might be inter-

ested in, please talk with Pastor Erica or Erica Faust

for more information.

DOG (Disciples of God) News:

Friday, July 15th: Swimming and picnic at

Camp MoVal

We are planning to meet at Heartland Indus-

tries at 2:30 (when most of you get off work) and head

to Camp MoVal in Union, MO. We will be taking the

bus and a few cars! Everyone needs a note from their

parent or guardian saying that it is ok to go with the

“St. Paul’s Bus” to camp and we will be off! Those of

you that work somewhere else—we will make ar-

rangements to meet up so you can ride with us. We

will have a picnic dinner, take a tour of camp and

SWIM! There is a ramp into the pool so make sure you

bring your waterproof wheel-

chairs! More info soon but hold

this evening open! We should

be home around 9 p.m.

Jonathan Owen Songs & Stories

Sunday, July 24th @ 2:30pm With guest musicians:

Stephanie Allee, Dennis Oliver and Patty Owen Will take an offering for future mission trips of the

St. Paul’s youth group

Family Outdoor Movie Night

Saturday, August 20th 7:00-9:00 p.m. A movie under the stars on the back lawn. *Popcorn, candy and drinks will be provided. *Mark your calendars now. More info. will

be in the Aug. newsletter.

Calendar Link:

http://73936384.view-events.com/calendar/

calendar.aspx?ci=G1H2O9G1N8L6O9L6I3

Sunday, August 14th: Hosting Emmaus Chimers!

The Emmaus Chimers are going to be worshiping with

us and performing for us during worship. Please join

us at our 9:30 a.m. worship or come

after worship around 10:45 a.m. We

will have a Bible Study together, play

some games and then have lunch. We

should be done around 1 p.m.

SALT (4th-5th grade youth) NEWS:

Salt will kick off the year with a Lock-in on

Saturday, September 17th. We will meet

at the church at 5:30 p.m. and stay

through worship on Sunday morning. We will eat din-

ner together and provide breakfast.

More info soon!

"I want to thank everyone for the many prayers and cards

concerning my accident. I am getting better every week

and hope to be back to church soon. It's great to be

a part of the church family at St Paul's. Dave Couch

New Chair Lift

Contract has been signed for a new chair lift near the

Offices.

Zip Rzeppa to speak at St. Paul’s

Zip Rzeppa will be speaking during morning worship on

Sunday, July 24th. Zip has touched the lives of millions

as a TV sportscaster, author, emcee, and public speaker.

As an in-demand speaker and emcee, Zip has helped to

raise millions of dollars for more than two dozen charita-

ble organizations.

Zip is the founder and executive director of Mater Me-

dia, a not-for-profit publishing and media entity. His

popular novel for teens, “My Rock and Salvation,” was

published in 2014, and his acclaimed

autobiography, “For A Greater Pur-

pose,” was released in September of

2015. Both books will be available

on the 24th for a donation. Zip will

also make himself available to sign

them as well.

Building & Property at Work!

56 tons of pea gravel were

dumped and spread for the

play surface of the new play-

ground for Treehouse last

week. Thank you for all of

your hard work!

TreeHouse SummerCamp

Campfire hands!

Enjoying the sprinkler!

Our newest residents!

Fishing indoors!

Ready for anything!

Summer Camp at TreeHouse is a time for fun! It is so good to get back in touch with school agers from last year and

to watch them interact with the TreeHouse preschoolers. They have grown into such kind and compassionate little

people! Field trips are a big part of our summer (both on site and off.) But summer is about mission, too. Ms.

Jane’s school age group has decided to gather supplies to be donated to Stray Rescue of St. Louis. The children have

colored posters and placed them all over the building advertising the cause! All on their own. These are the mo-

ments that make us so proud to be here! I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoy being in them!

In the preschool office, we are busy preparing for the 2016-2017 school year. Thus far, we have 29 little ones en-

rolled in our infant and toddler building, 26 children enrolled in our 2-3 year old age group, and 64 enrolled in our

mixed ages preschool and extended day class for a total of 119 children. In our school age before and after school

care program, we have 15 children enrolled. (And the phone is still ringing! And the tours keep coming!)

As with any business, we, as a staff, are always looking for ways to improve what we have to offer the children in our

care. This is their home away from home! “Providing a stress free, welcoming and predictable environment” is the

basis of the teaching pyramid, second only to “positive relationships with children, family and colleagues.” To that

end, two major concerns have presented themselves to us: lack of a lunchroom and the distance that our little ones

have to walk to use the bathrooms. While these concerns may seem incidental, they have increasingly added to the

difficulty and stress level of staff and the children. We have a few ideas in mind but I am asking for your support and

prayers as we brainstorm ways to meet these concerns.

As a mission of St. Paul’s we are proud of our Early Learning Center and will never stop looking for ways to improve

the quality of care that we offer to our TreeHouse children.

The Petting Zoo!

Art Museum!

Our new playground! Pea Gravel!

Making s’mores on

the hot pavement!

Slip and Slide!

Drying off before

lunch!

Happy

Birthday

America!