The Choir of St Paul’s Church presents “A Choral Eucharist” this Sunday, June 6, 10 a.m.

In this year of confirmation, Susan Palo Cherwien’s reflections on CREDO: I Believe will be the framework for the music of
Praetorius, Kopylow, Chilcott, Ippolitof-Ivanov & Manz.

St. Paul’s hosts the 25th annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve service on Wednesday evening, Nov. 25 with the Santa Monica Synagogue community.

Rabbi Jeffrey Marx and Pastor Jim have been meeting to plan this quarter-century celebration which will have as its theme “Gratitude for Grace.”

More than just a retrospective of 25 years of relationship between the two congregations, the service will accentuate living in humble awareness of God’s gracious gifts in our lives: health, family & friends, livelihood, the creation, and community.

For the past quarter of a century, the people of St Paul’s and Sha’arei Am have shared this evening together.  For a number of years, the synagogue’s home was here at St. Paul’s.

Service time is 7:30 p.m. and refreshments will follow in the Parish Hall.  Dessert sign-up in narthex.

Now that our youth have returned from the ELCA National Youth Gathering in New Orleans, and have had some time to reflect on their experiences in service and worship, it’s time for them to share the experience and their gratitude for the congregation’s support.

The four young men who, along with 30,000 other Lutheran youth and their 7,000 adult chaperones, attended the Youth Gathering last July are now eager to tell their story with the congregation which so generously supported their fundraising efforts last spring and early summer.

On All Saints Sunday, Nov. 1, and in celebration of “when the saints go marchin’ in”, the four young men from St Paul’s (with a little help from their parents) will serve up a sloppy joe lunch (with salad, chips, cake, and beverage) immediately following worship.  An audio-visual presentation is planned, along with each youth sharing a portion of the 5-day experience in New Orleans.

A freewill offering will be taken to help toward meeting the remaining expenses not covered by previous fundraisers (approx. $1,500).

Rest eternal grant them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them.

+ Beverly Weddle + Stacey Manuel Twist + Elmer Hansen +

Sunday, November 1 is the Festival of All Saints.  We give thanks for the life and witness of all our beloved dead, who are now at rest in God’s eternal embrace and in resurrection hope.

You are invited to submit the name(s) of your departed loved one(s) for the printed listing of those from among us who have died.

All Saints Sunday is also a time for a parish community to remember those in particular from its fellowship who have died in the past year.

As we gather on that Sunday, we hear the promises of scripture which describe a time when tears shall be no more, and a place where there will be no more sadness and pain, only light and joy in the presence of God.

We will sing, pray, name the names of our departed loved ones, toll the chimes, light candles, and keep silence as we commune with the saints.

Pastor Alexia Salvatierra, Executive Director for California Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), is our guest preacher on Reformation Sunday, Oct. 25, at St. Paul’s. Pr. Salvatierra formerly was Executive Director for CLUE-LA.

A gifted preacher of God’s Word, she will proclaim the Gospel among us and update us on ways the Gospel is being lived out toward a more just and fair wage in our state and local community. The Rev. Salvatierra is an ordained ELCA pastor.

On the eve of Reformation Sunday (Saturday, Oct. 24), the New City Parish (NCP)holds its 8th Annual Fall Event with a dinner and silent auction at Mt. Olive Church, 1343 Ocean Park Blvd, in Santa Monica. NCP invites us to celebrate the reformation with an ongoing commitment to “glocal” mission in our neighborhoods and around the world. Keynote speaker is The Rev. Twila Shock, Director of ELCA Global Mission Network. $50 donation is requested.  RSVP (310) 673-2584.

Finally, on Reformation Sunday afternoon at 4:00, a Westside ELCA Reformation celebration takes place at Mt. Olive Church in Santa Monica with a Bach cantata sing-a-long followed by (what else but) a potluck dinner! Semper Reformanda (and don’t forget your jell-o mold)!!

The new year of Christian education at St. Paul’s began with a festive “Rally Sunday” on Sept. 20, replete with a “bounce house” (resembling an “A Mighty Fortress” castle!) and a procession through the church with handmade percussive instruments! Sunday School for children of all ages is offered at 10 a.m. each Sunday, with the children arriving in the sanctuary in time to receive the Lord’s Supper with the community.

Dale Banke, retired pastor, continues to convene the adult class which meets at 9 a.m. in the library. For 3 consecutive weeks beginning Oct. 18, Pastor Roger Rogahn, ELCA missionary to El Salvador and Egypt, will present adult forums on ELCA global mission.

10/18: Global Mission & the changing scene in the 21st century

10/25: Mission service in El Salvador

11/1: Mission service in Cairo, Egypt

The Choir of St. Paul’s Church comes to the close of its 2008-09 season on Sunday, June 21 with a Choral Eucharist.  Singing favorite anthems from the past seasons of the church year interspersed with readings of scripture and the poetry of Susan Palo Cherwien, the choir will then be on summer hiatus until September.

We thank our director of music Barbara Hoffman and this ensemble of singers for their commitment to the weekly leadership of our communal song at St. Paul’s.

The 22nd annual Assembly of the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America takes place June 5-7 on the campus of California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.  Gathering under the theme, “I Was in Prison and You Visited Me,” the assembly will be addressed by distinguished Lutheran historian Martin Marty from the University of Chicago, and will be led in scripture study by Dr. David Tiede, president emeritus and professor of New Testament, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN.

Thank you to voting members in attendance from St. Paul’s:  Gene Larson, Mary Tabata, Barbara Hoffman, and Pastor Jim.

For the first time in well-over a decade, St. Paul’s is sending five youth to the triennial ELCA Youth Gathering! Jesus, Justice, and Jazz is the theme of the event happening in New Orleans, Louisiana July 22-26, and our five St Paul’s confirmands are getting ready to join 37,000 other Lutheran youth for this faith-formative experience.  The event includes mass gatherings in the Super Dome in the evenings, after servant experiences throughout the city during the daytime when the youth will be involved in servant experiences in the greater New Orleans community.

Some of the youth have already begun their own personal fundraising, but the first of their group fundraisers will be this Sunday after worship as they host a “Deluxe Lemonade Stand and Gourmet Coffee Hour.” Dessert chef Alexandra Payne, mother of Kevin, will be providing goodies, along with fresh lemonade and a special gourmet blend of coffee.

Confirmation youth are: Jack Cano, Lars Eckstrom, James Keene, Steven Lanzarotta, and Kevin Payne. Adult chaperones are Pastor Jim and Jon Uhler.

The cost per attendee, including travel, hotel, and registration is approximately $900. Thank you for your generous response to our youth as they kick-off their fundraising efforts.

Pastor Jim will be in attendance as a congregational observer from St. Paul’s at the 11th biennial Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in Minneapolis, MN, August 17-23.  Among the business of the assembly will be to adopt a churchwide statement on human sexuality, and to adopt ministry recommendations which include revising the policy to permit persons who are in committed same gender relationships to serve on the ministry rosters of the ELCA.