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The

Link

St. Paul‟s Evangelical Lutheran Church May 2016

From the Pastor:

May is a favorite month for a variety of

good reasons. The April showers have

passed, the May flowers are in bloom (think

Lilac Festival), and we celebrate. We

celebrate Mothers, we celebrate those who

have died in military service to our country,

and I celebrate with my family several

birthdays, including my own.

All these are passages of life, memories

made against the challenges of daily joys and

concerns. We live in the anticipation that

each day will be a day to share the best of life

- hope, joy, peace, enthusiasm for living, and

enough prosperity to assure no one goes

hungry. Faith allows us this hope.

In May we can join the pledge to “Stand

Against Racism.” We can support Car City as

Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality

Network (RAIHN) seeks funds to help local

homeless families find a better life. We

anticipate a Flower City Habitat for Humanity

build to provide a new home to a working

family. We can provide food and clothing,

personal health items, and support for

children in the many ways St. Paul‟s

challenges us to be doers of the Word and not

just hearers only. It means putting your

money where your mouth is, and many have

done that and more.

In John‟s Gospel we hear parting words of

Jesus as he shares a Last Supper in the Upper

Room with his closest disciples. John 14:27

reads, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I

give to you. I do not give to you as the world

gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and

do not let them be afraid.” Jesus ascends to

the Father (May 5th

). The Holy Spirit is

coming at Pentecost (May 15th

) to remind you

of all that Jesus has taught, and will be your

Advocate throughout your life.

Too often we take life for granted. We

take each other for granted. We take the Lord

Jesus for granted. We do so until something

in your life breaks- a relationship, a promise,

a dream, a hope, a haven. We need what the

Holy Spirit offers; a peace that assures us that

we do not have to be afraid of the future

because we are never entering this unknown

alone. God promises to be present with us.

God did not spare Jesus from suffering and

death, and Jesus doesn‟t spare us from them.

Yet as we face them, we know in faith that

God is with us.

Come share this Spirit that offers life, even

in the face of death. Come worship the God

who holds you in the palm of his hand.

Come.

Soli Deo Gloria,Pastor Jeff Hedin

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MISSION STATEMENT

St. Paul’s is a welcoming Christian family. We are created by God, saved by Jesus Christ, God’s Son, and inspired by the

Holy Spirit. Through joyous worship and Mission Commitment, St. Paul’s furthers

the word of God’s Saving Grace.

News from the

Church Council

Church Council reports the financial summary

through March 2016 is on target and

healthy. Members of the Finance Committee

were unanimously approved.

The Eastern Service Workers Association's

clothing drive has inspired the donation of 60

bags thus far.

Work on the Vocalion organ is complete and

paid for.

Our Mission Statement is open to your ideas

for reshaping. A forum will be scheduled.

God's Work, Our Hands is coming! Plans for

better organizing food donation are already in

the works.

Dorothy Borglum, Recording Secretary

Happy Mothers’ Day May 8th

ATTENDANCE

“WE COUNT BECAUSE YOU COUNT”

Early Late Total Nursery

Mar. 20th

94 104 198 9

Maundy Thu. 10 39 49 -

Good Fri. - 91 91 -

Easter Vigil - 16 16 -

March 27th

145 148 1293 8

April 3rd

58 39 97 8

10th

75 40 115 10

17th

78 37 115 6

Average Sunday attendance through

March 2016 – 145

Average Sunday attendance through

March 2015 - 117

Average Sunday attendance through

March 2014 – 127

2016 Upstate NY Synod Assembly

The 2016 Upstate NY Synod Assembly is in Rochester from June 5th – 7th. Our delegates are Reid Cunningham, Pastor Hedin and Robin Lancaster. The theme of Synod Assembly this year is racial justice. Synod Assembly is open to all who want to attend, not just rostered leaders and congregational voting members. Child care will be offered. To get the latest information about this year's Synod Assembly, please visit

www.upstatenysynod.org

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News from the Church Office

Thanks very much to all who

donated to our April clothing drive. We will not be collecting clothes again until October. If you have clothes to donate before then please consider taking them to the Salvation Army collection bin behind Barnes & Noble in Pittsford Plaza, or Saints Place, at 46 S. Main Street in Pittsford, next to St. Louis. Saint’s Place will also collect furniture and household items. Their phone number is 385-6860. They use the items to furnish apartments for refugees newly arrived in our area. At the back of their building is a covered porch where donations can be left.

If you have other unwanted items

you wish to donate I recommend you visit www.communitywishbook.com. It lists many local agencies and their needs. You can search by agency or by items. It also includes volunteers needed.

Thanks to those who have brought

in juice cartons for altar flower deliveries. We now have plenty for several months. No more are needed at this time.

Reminders for May

Articles for the June edition of the “Link” must be received by 9:00 a.m. Monday 16th May. It will be mailed on Tuesday 24th May beginning at 9:30 a.m. Please sign up to help mail it in the volunteer work area.

Please give me names of the Graduates in your family this summer so

that a congratulatory list can be printed. If you know their plans for college or work please include this too. I will need the information by Monday 16th May so that a list can be in June’s “Link”.

The Church Directory will be updated this summer. A draft copy will be in the Dorcas Room beginning May 8th. Please check your entry and make any changes with the red pens provided. E-mail addresses are only included with your specific permission. The phone number that is listed for you will be the ones used for Phone Tree updates.

Now the Tax deadline has passed the Statements of Giving for 2015 have been moved into my office. If you need to get your copy let me know.

The Church Office will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday 30th May.

A New Arrival

In February 1995 St. Paul’s purchased a risograph machine. (For those who don’t know this is the bulk printer that I use to produce the bulletins, inserts and Link pages plus anything else that we need over 50 copies of.) It served us very well for many years. In 2010 we were informed that spare parts were no longer available for it but it carried on serving us very well. In 2015 we were informed that supplies were no longer available for it and so finally and sadly it was not able to keep on serving us well. Thanks to the Church Council for approving the use of Memorial Money funds to purchase a new one.

Janet Harris, Church Secretary

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Summer Worship

Beginning on Sunday May 29th and

running through Sunday September 4th.

One service of Holy Communion at 9:30 a.m.

We will also have a devotional service at 8:30 a.m. beginning June 5th.

During the summer when the parking lot gets full quickly our greeters are asked to be ready to advise guests of extra parking

availability on the street or at the Recreation Center. On nice summer days

please feel free to greet outside if you would like.

The summer schedule is a great opportunity to meet members who

normally attend at a different time. Please wear your name tags; it will especially

help our newer members and guests. If you don’t have a name tag, just write your

name on the pad in the Foyer and one will be made.

When we begin our Summer service schedule we will follow the 9:30 a.m. service with an Enhanced Fellowship

hour. St. Paul’s Committees and Groups are asked to each sponsor a Sunday by providing the set up, food, and all clean

up, including the coffee urns. Coffee, tea, lemonade and paper goods are provided

by the church. Please sign up in the Foyer if you would like to sponsor a

Sunday.

Remember -if you are involved with more than one committee there is no need for you to help with both Sundays. Just pick

one.

Pictorial Directory

Don‟t miss your opportunity to be in the St

Paul‟s Evangelical Lutheran Church

Directory. We are celebrating our 150th

year

in 2017 with the Kick-off or the Pictorial

Directory.

• Pictures will be taken at the CLIX!

location on Jefferson Road in

Henrietta, just three miles from the

church, at YOUR CONVENIENCE

throughout the spring and summer

months. Look for details on how to

sign up for booking appointments in

the church foyer and via email over

the next few weeks.

• There is NO OBLIGATION for

congregation members to purchase

any photo packages. All St. Paul‟s

families will receive a complimentary

8x10 photo calendar just for

participating in the directory process,

as well as a CLIX! Membership for

20% off of any products for two

years.

• Those that choose to purchase photos can

arrange for whichever pictures they‟d

like taken, with as many family

members as they wish, at their own

private booking appointment, all at

very competitive, varied price points.

* CLIX! will be donating 10% of proceeds

back to the church for our 150th Anniversary

Celebration.

To learn more about CLIX! You can visit

their website at http://www.clixrochester.com

If you have any questions about the Church

Photo Directory process feel free to contact

Mara Berndt or Jori Cincotta

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Dorcas Rachel Circle “High Tea” Celebration

Date: Thursday, May 12, 2016

Time: 11:00 a.m.

Place: 45 Wenham Lane

(off Fisher‟s Road)

Pittsford, NY

Devotions: Nancy Graser

Hostess: Eileen Whitaker

Bring paper goods for the Pittsford Food

Cupboard. Place your donation in Shari‟s

white car upon arrival at Eileen Whitaker‟s

home.

Upcoming Luncheon Date: Date: Thursday, June 9, 2016

Time: 11:30 a.m.

Place: Phillip‟s European Restaurant

on Crittenden Road

Cost: Order from the menu

RAIHN (Rochester Area Interfaith

Hospitality Network)

Our next rotation is June 12–19 at First Presbyterian Church. We are responsible for food and spending time with our guests from Friday June 17th at 5:00 p.m. until Saturday morning June 18th at 10:00 a.m. For additional information please contact Jen Canning or Roberta Fitzsimmons.

Vacation Bible School

will be held from Monday August 15th to

Friday August 19th. Please see Holley

Haynes with any questions

Stand Against Racism

On Sunday May 1st as a congregation we Stand Against Racism along with many other organizations. The Stand Against Racism is an annual community-wide event dedicated to building awareness about racism. Be part of the Stand at StandAgainstRacism.org. A collection of items needed: Personal Care Items and/or Diapers, Diaper Bags and Infant Formula. Personal Care Items consist of:- new and unopened hand/body lotion, shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, combs, women’s razors, wash cloths (Please, no mouthwashes or medicines like Tylenol, etc.) A collection box is in the Foyer.

Confirmation Camp

Confirmation Camp at Lake Chautauqua

Lutheran Center is Sunday July 10th

to Friday

July 15th

. Registration is online at

www.lclcenter.org. When you have registered

your child please confirm his/her attendance

with Pastor Hedin.

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Volunteer Ministry of the

Month Each month we will take a little LINK space

to highlight a ministry in need of help. This

month‟s ministry is WRANGLER.

What is this ministry?

This ministry was created to ensure that all

scheduled volunteers are present on Sundays

and to „wrangle‟ up extra volunteers, when

needed. A wrangler uses the Sunday bulletin

as a checklist and verbally confirms with each

acolyte, usher, communion assistant, lector,

prayer assistant, and nursery assistant of their

commitments that respective morning. We

need a wrangler for the 8:30 service and a

wrangler for the 11:00 service each Sunday.

How long does it take?

Altogether, wrangling should take between 5-

15 minutes: 5 minutes if everyone is present

OR 15 minutes to find substitutes if

volunteers are not present. Some wranglers

make phone calls the night before and some

wranglers touch base with volunteers on

Sunday mornings at church.

Why do we need more volunteers?

We have very few volunteer wranglers. You

may feel uncomfortable if you don‟t know

many people at church, but this is a great way

to meet more people! And, as always, you

will always be surrounded by members

willing to help you out at St. Paul‟s.

Call or email Eileen Whitaker to

discuss how you can help!

Volunteering News/Updates

We now have a mailbox located in the

stacked trays outside Janet‟s office. Please

feel free to drop us a note anytime. We will

check them regularly.

We now have emails associated with St.

Paul‟s. Please begin using these addresses to

communicate with us about volunteering.

We‟d love to hear from you at:

eileen@stpaulspittsford.org AND

mara@stpaulspittsford.org .

Phone Tree Help Still Needed

We are still in need of 4/6 more individuals to help make calls for our May calls that are coming up.

It’s easy and calls are done on your time. You only make 4-6 calls during the year to let our congregation know of important dates that are coming up. It’s only 4-5 names to call. Please consider trying this month’s phone tree calls for May. Contact Mara Berndt at or e-mail her at Mara@Stpaulspittsford.org.

Birthday & Anniversary Lists

Some have asked for birthday and anniversary lists to be back in the “Link”. I am looking for help to do the updating. This would involve making known changes, adding new members who wish to be included, putting a draft out for checking and producing a monthly list for each Link. If you are interested please let me know. Janet Harris

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Upstate NY Synod World Hunger Appeal

Your Upstate NY Synod World Hunger Team invites you to participate in the 17th annual appeal June 5-7, 2016, at the Synod Assembly in Rochester. The theme of this year's campaign is GOD'S PEACE, YOUR PIECE. We long for world peace, yet daily we hear news of escalating conflict and violence. What can we do? Some say a world without hunger would be a world at peace. True or not, a world without hunger is a goal worth pursuing. ELCA World Hunger provides help and hope for millions of people in the U.S. and worldwide. You are a vital part of that effort. Still, many of our neighbors around the world and in our local communities lack the basic necessities of life - nutritious food, clean water, adequate shelter, access to health care, and opportunities for quality education and employment. In order to accomplish the goal, each congregation is challenged to bring at least $450.

If you would like to contribute please make checks payable to St. Paul’s and put in the collection plate marked for World Hunger by Sunday May 29th.

Gardening Season Is here

Would you like to make a financial

donation to our gardens this summer?

If so, please use a pew envelope and

mark it “St. Paul’s in Bloom”.

St. John’s Home Assistance

St. Paul‟s is assigned to help move elders to

their Sunday afternoon chapel service at St.

John‟s Home on Highland Avenue on Sunday

May 8th

.

About 80 attend when there is help. Only

about 30 can attend when there is no one to

assist.

Volunteers need to arrive at St. John‟s by 1:15

p.m.

Our next scheduled date is Sunday November

6th

.

Women of St. Paul‟s

Seafarer’s International House

“Harbor of Hospitality”

Women of the ELCA has taken on a special

ingathering to help the sailors by knitting

caps. This ingathering is directed to women

who enjoy knitting. We have a collection box

for the Seafarers Knit Caps in the Foyer.

Please locate the knitting pattern from the

foyer display, or call the Church Office to

have one mailed to you.

Annual Church Picnic

At North Lodge, Kings Bend Park,

Jefferson Road, Pittsford on Sunday

September 11th. 8:30 a.m. service at the

church building. 11 am service and

picnic to be held in the park. Look for

list of volunteer needs in the summer.

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Lutheran Youth

Organization

As always, the St. Paul's LYO has been busy.

We dyed Easter eggs for the Easter brunch -

10 1/2 dozen! And as of this writing we are

looking forward to participating in RAIHN's

Car City event. We want to sincerely that the

congregation for your support with this event.

We'll give you an update on how much our

team raised in the next Link. For more

information about Car City and RAIHN, you

can visit their website at www.raihn.org.

Looking forward, the LYO will be hosting

our annual Mother's Day Breakfast in

between the services on May 8. Come enjoy

some strawberry shortcake and fellowship as

we celebrate the mothers in our lives.

Thanks again for supporting your LYO! We

couldn't do all we do without your prayers

and love.

Tiffany Laird

SUCESSFUL CAR CITY

Thanks to those who supported the St. Paul’s LYO in raising funds for RAIHN’s Car City! A fun night was had by all.

You can still make a donation to RAIHN and Car City until June 1st by visiting www.raihn.org and clicking on the Car City shield to be taken to the fundraising web site.

Jen Canning

Thanks to you in March

Members donated to Loop Ministries by

buying Hoops Mania cards for $10,

A carful of craft items was donated to

Sunshine Crafts for use in programs at

Monroe Community Hospital and

elsewhere,

Peanut butter was collected for Loop

Ministries,

$441.50 was donated to the Lent loose

change collection for Saint’s Place.

Children’s Interfaith Weekend Has a LARGE Impact

Thanks in part to the thousands of people in faith communities throughout Monroe County who signed letters supporting paid family leave, New York now has the strongest paid family leave policy in the nation.

Congratulations to everyone who participated! Unfortunately we were not successful in our efforts to urge state leaders to increase funding for child care assistance for low income working families in New York. Funding for this important program will continue at the same level as last year.

Please visit the Children’s Agenda at http://thechildrensagenda.org/ for more info.

Jen Canning

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Pittsford District PTSA Congratulations

On Tuesday, April 26th

Pittsford District

PTSA recognized 14 members of the Pittsford

community with New York State PTSA

Honorary Life Membership Awards at a

special ceremony.

Recipients consistently have demonstrated a

dedication to the youth of Pittsford in three

categories: volunteer efforts and/or

significant contributions above and beyond

normal job expectations over an extended

period of time, outstanding personal qualities

that serve as a role model for youth, and a

continued availability and willingness to

serve, directly or in an administrative

capacity, the needs of youth.

Among the award winners was Trish Blake-

Jones.

Congratulations Trish!

Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center 5013 Rt. 430

Bemus Point, NY 14712 716-386-4125

80th Anniversary Celebration 1936 - 2016

Sunday, June 12, 2016 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Please join us for an enjoyable afternoon of giving thanks for what Christ has done through the years Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center. Please RSVP contact@lclcenter.org or 716-386-4125.

St. Paul‟s Women of the ELCA Upcoming Dates in 2016

Leadership and Planning Meeting

Date: Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Time: 11:30 a.m.

Bring: Bag lunch

Dessert and beverage provided

Place: St. John‟s Lutheran Church, Ridge

Road, Irondequoit, NY

Conference Fall Retreat

Upstate NY Synod Women of the ELCA will

not hold a convention is 2016. Instead,

regional “Retreats” will be hosted by

conferences. Central Crossroads and Genesee

Finger Lakes Conference are partnering for a

Fall Retreat.

Date: October 28-29

Place: Christ the King Retreat House,

500 Brookford Road,

Syracuse, NY 13224

Cost: $75 for the 28th

& 29th

or $30 for the

28th

only. Meals included.

The program will be centered around the

book “Sensible Shoes” by Sandra Garlough

Brown.

Church Women United

May Friendship Day

Friday May 6th 5:30 p.m.

Penfield United Methodist Church

1795 Baird Road, Penfield

Cost $12 Full details on the notice boards or call

342-2790

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Dear St. Paul‟s Evangelical Lutheran Church,

We thank you, O God, that you have fed us at

your banqueting table with bread and wine

beyond compare, the very life of Christ for us.

Send your Spirit with us now, that we may set

the captive free, use your gifts to build one

another up, and in everything reflect your

glory revealed in Jesus Christ, our Savior and

Lord.

Thank you for your recent gifts given to your

synod, received by ELCA World Hunger

November 2015 through January 2016.

We have long appreciated you and your gifts:

the line item in your budget, the creative

activities and events you plan, and the

offering you collect and send to ELCA World

Hunger through your synod office. We are

now able to thank you directly for your

generosity. Thank You!

While the work of ELCA World Hunger goes

on every day all year round, nearly 50 percent

of the gifts that make our transformational

projects and programs possible are given

November through January. Thank you f or

the gifts you send every month and for these

year-end gifts. Thank you for taking a

leadership role in this vital ministry of our

church, for reflecting the glory revealed in

Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Grace and peace,

The Rev. Daniel Rift

Director, ELCAWorld Hunger and Disaster

Appeal

Church Signs

We would worry less about what others

think of us if we realized how seldom

they do.

Swallowing your pride seldom leads to

indigestion.

Thinking well is wise, planning well is

wiser but doing well is wisest.

Don’t count the days – make the days

count.

Leadership is action, not position. Pray to God but row away from the

rocks.

Last minute news

Thanks very much to Ron Uhlig, Ted

Hamm and Harlan Granger for

cleaning out the garage and for making

much needed adjustments to the

lighting in there and in the parking lot.

For those who use the garage you will

be pleased to hear that the power to the

garage is now always on.

For those who have meetings in the

evenings here at St. Paul’s, especially in

the winter, you will be pleased to know

that the parking nights will now go on

automatically at 4 pm or dusk,

whichever is later. They will now go out

automatically at 10 pm.