Church Bulletin Announcements
December 18, 2020
In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6
Homebound
  • Dolores Appold
  • Dorine Auernhammer
  • Gwen Bakus
  • Eleonore Begick
  • Armond Beiser
  • Rick & Bonnie Emeott
  • Erv Hoerauf
  • Jon Ittner
  • Lorna Ittner
  • Bill Kramer
  • Mike & Karen Kusch
  • Irma McKenzie
  • Margaret Meyer
  • Julie Roark
  • Phyllis Rush
  • Rose Anne Schmidt
  • Roy Schwab
  • Al Wegener
  • Tim Wegener
  • Ferdinand Zeilinger
Special
  • Wyatt Crouse (Dan Bourdow’s grandson)
  • Richard Emeott
  • Hedwig Gerold (cancer)
  • Howard Harmon (recovery of knee injury)
  • Fred Morley (DJ Bourdow's uncle)
  • Lisa Schmidt (cancer)
  • Rita Tilley
  • Brandon Zeilinger
This Week's Members
  • Ryan, Danielle, & Delano Bach, & Alina Damic
  • Rollie & Deborah Berger
  • Timothy Gillespie
  • Kathleen Kernstock
  • Delmar Lutz
  • Bayley Pfau
  • Lisa Schmidt
  • Jeremy, Andra, & Isabel Warren
Sunday, December 20
Worship 8 a.m.
Bible Study & Sunday School 9:15 a.m.
Worship with Communion 10:30 a.m.
Individual Communion in Narthex 12-1 p.m.
Special "Mask Only" Service with Communion 1:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 24
Special "Mask Only" Service with Communion 1:30 p.m.
Celebration & Praise with Communion 3:15 p.m.
Traditional Christmas Eve with Communion 6:30 p.m.
Christmas Vespers 11 p.m.

Friday, December 25
Christmas Day Worship with Communion 9 a.m.

Sunday, December 27
Worship with Communion 8 a.m.
Bible Study (No Sunday School) 9:15 a.m.
Worship 10:30 a.m.
Individual Communion in Narthex 12-1 p.m.
Communion Statement
The Lord's Supper is celebrated here in the confession and glad confidence that our Lord, as He says, gives not only bread and wine, but His very body and blood to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sin. In joyful obedience to the clear teaching of our Lord Jesus those are invited to His table who trust His words, repent of all sin, and set aside any refusal to forgive and love as He forgives and loves us. They show forth His death until He comes. Because Holy Communion is a confession of the faith which is confessed at this altar, any who are not yet instructed, in doubt, or who hold a confession differing from that of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and so are unable to receive the Sacrament are invited to meditate on God's Word in the distribution hymns and pray for the day when divisions will have ceased.

Altar Flowers
Given by his family in loving memory of Pastor Paul Theiss upon the 5th anniversary of his passing

Church Records
David Dawson passed away on December 10, 2020, and received a Christian funeral on December 14, 2020.

Livestream
We are now able to stream live to both Facebook and YouTube simultaneously. To use Facebook, simply go to the church's page (www.facebook.com/stpaulfrankenlustbaycity). To use YouTube (which you can broadcast on most newer televisions), find and subscribe to "St. Paul Bay City"

The Lutheran Hour
Sunday Mornings: 8:30 on WSAM 1400 AM
Donations mail to:
Saginaw Valley Lutheran Hour
P.O. Box 133
Frankenmuth, MI 48734

Daily Bible Readings
December 20 – Revelation 13
December 21 – Revelation 14
December 22 – Revelation 15
December 23 – Revelation 16
December 24 – Revelation 17
December 25 – Proverbs 31
December 26 – Revelation 18

Sunday School Christmas Schedule
All children, preschool through 8th grade, are welcome and encouraged to come to Sunday School at St. Paul. A high school Bible study class is available, as well. Classes are held in the St. Paul School building from 9:15-10:15 am on Sundays. Remember to bring your offerings each week. Offerings support the Sunday School program.
Our annual Birthday Party for Jesus event will not take place this year. On December 20, children will participate in a lesson in their classrooms. A small Christmas gift will be given to each child who attends.
There will be no Sunday School or High School Bible Study on December 27. Classes will resume on January 3, 2021.
Here is a review of the Sunday School procedures which have been put in place to keep students and Sunday School volunteers healthy and safe and to respect the current school building use requirements.
  • Please drop students off at the main gym door (door number 1) for attendance and temperature check. 
  • Entrance to the school will be restricted to students and Sunday School volunteers only. 
  • Facial coverings must be worn by Sunday School volunteers and students when in indoor hallways and common areas. 
  • All Sunday School volunteers and students will be wearing masks during class indoors.
  • School cleaning/disinfecting guidelines will be followed. 
  • For pick up at 10:15 am, please line up outside and children will be sent out to parents one by one.

Office Hours
During Christmas break, the church & school office will be open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. If you would like something in the bulletin those weeks, please submit it by noon on Wednesday. Normal hours will resume Monday, January 4, 2021.

Thrivent Action Teams - Last Call for 2020!
Attention Thrivent members: have you used your 2 action team grants this year? Unused grants will expire at the end of the year. Hot Lunch and Aftercare could definitely use assistance with food items. COVID has limited our ability to get together, but there are still opportunities to use these grants. Please contact John Schlicker (johnschlicker@hotmail.com) for assistance or if you need ideas. Also, Thrivent members can use their Thrivent Choice dollars now to support the church and school.

Hot Lunch "Takeout Thursdays"
St. Paul Hot Lunch is excited to introduce "Takeout Thursdays" in 2021. Each Thursday, we will be ordering takeout from a local restaurant and offering these meals at regular hot lunch rates. We are looking for Thrivent Action Team gift cards or other donors willing to help sponsor these meals. Donor support of these meals will allow us to apply excess funds as a fundraiser for the Hot Lunch program. We look forward to partnering with and supporting local restaurants. If you are willing to donate toward this cause or apply for a Thrivent Action Team, please contact Heidi Schultz at school (684-4450).

Updated Phone Directory
The new 2020 church phone directories have arrived! They are available in the narthex for you to pick up.

Thank You for Supporting the Holly Jolly Christmas Store!
The Holly Jolly Christmas Store had another successful year thanks to all of you! For all of the donations, volunteer hours, and parents who sent money and shopping lists to school with their student, a sincere thank you! The store made $1,830. Many, many thanks! It was a wonderful event! - St. Paul PTO

2021 Offering Envelopes
The 2021 offering envelopes are ready, so please look for and pick up your box. If you would like to request a box of envelopes for 2021, please contact the church office. Thank you!

Thank You St. Paul Family
Thank you for all your loving thoughts and love that was given to our mother, Eleanor. All the beautiful get-well, birthday, and sympathy cards and memorials were a blessing. God bless you! - The Schlicker Family

Thank You to My St. Paul Family
I want each of you to know how much I appreciated – and continue to appreciate – your prayers on the occasion of my recent knee replacement surgery. Also your cards, phones calls, and Pastor Matyas keeping an eye on me. Truly, God has blessed us with great friends and church family members. Thank you all for your thoughts and encouragement. My sincere appreciation and gratefulness goes out to you. - Sam Britton

To My St. Paul Friends
I deeply appreciate your support at this difficult time. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. - Jon Spyker

Ladies Aid Bake Sale - Thank you!
A BIG thank you to all who helped and purchased and supported the Ladies Aid Bake Sale in any way this year. We made about $2,700.00.

Thank You from Zion's Food Pantry
Dear friends at St. Paul,
Wow! Your contributions of groceries will make a big difference in our community! Thank you. The secretary reported dual trips with over 10 bags and 5 boxes of food. Very Generous! Thank you so much. Our team is poised and ready to assist families in need!
Thank again,
Zion's Food Pantry Team

Stewardship - A Way of Life
2 Samuel 7:4 “But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan…” Nathan thought David’s idea was great, so he blessed it with the Lord’s name. But, later that night, the Word of the Lord set him straight. The Word of the Lord must be the basis for what we think, say, and do in God’s kingdom – not our own desire or whims.

Free In-Home Flu Shots
Get your flu shot administered in the comfort of your own home for free! Contact the Agency on Aging at 1-800-858-1637 to sign up. Please be prepared to provide your name, number, and address. You must be at least 19 years old to participate.

Please Help!
Our Video Display Team desires to add more members to help build playlists and/or operate screens for our worship services. Training is available. We would like to have enough members so that each member serves for one Sunday per month. Anyone interested should call Don Krueger (895-5737).
Thanks from VLHS
Thank you to all churches and people associated in any way with our Fruit Sale Fundraiser. Our appreciation to all buyers, sellers, distributors and helpers for your cooperation and support. Money raised will help support music, drama, athletics and many other activities at Valley Lutheran High School. Through your support and the student body, we are fortunate and thankful to meet our goal. Total boxes sold for 2020 were 343 = 9200+ pounds. WOW!!

Principal/Teacher Position
Immanuel Lutheran School of Frankentrost in Saginaw, Michigan, is accepting resumes for a full-time principal/teacher position for the 2021-2022 school year. Applicants must be a caring Christian role model and highly qualified with a current State of Michigan School Administrators Certificate or be able to attain one. He or she must possess all skills required to fulfill the duties of the principal/teacher. Resumes can be dropped off or mailed to Immanuel Lutheran School, Attn: Gloria Hecht, 8220 East Holland Rd, Saginaw, MI 48601 or submitted to Gloria Hecht via email at hecht5@netzero.com by January 31, 2021.

Job Opening
Immanuel Lutheran Church of Frankentrost is seeking applicants for the position of church office secretary. This is a part-time position (approximately 30 hours weekly). Please apply by contacting the church office by email churchoffice@frankentrost.org, or calling 989-754-0929 for more information.

Orphan Grain Train Reaches Panama
Orphan Grain Train—Michigan is delighted to announce the ten-ton shipment of humanitarian goods from Michigan has arrived at its Panama destination. In late October volunteers at the Orphan Grain Train Center at Sebewaing loaded a 40-foot shipping container with 1,400 boxes of relief supplies, clothing and quilts, over twenty wheelchairs, four hospital beds, medical equipment and more. This past week the goods arrived with the Gospel message for people living in distressed circumstances. The supplies are currently being distributed by Casa de Refugio (House of Refuge) in Puerto Caimito, La Chorrera, Panama. This was all made possible through caring people who support with donated goods and funding the international humanitarian aim of Orphan Grain Train, your Christian volunteer network sharing personal and material resources domestically and around the world in Christ’s Name. Orphan Grain Train is a Recognized Service Organization of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Old Testament Reading
2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16
1Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” 3And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”
4But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, 5“Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 7In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 8Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. . . .
16And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”

Epistle
Romans 16:25–27
25Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Holy Gospel
Luke 1:26–38
26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

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