1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
THE CLARION
Published Monthly by St. Paul’s UMC, 1314 Foulk Road, Wilmington, Delaware 19803
Website: www.stpaulsumcde.org
Office: (302) 478-3135
E-mail: stpaulsumcde@comcast.net
March 2015
Inside this issue:
Christian Education
Youth News
Help Wanted
Rhythms from Rob
Palm Sunday Dinner
Easter Flower Orders
Rest for the Weary
Stop Hunger Now!
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Next Issue Deadline:
March 13
Issue date:
March 26
Plan on joining St. Paul’s and our friends to STOP HUNGER NOW! This is an
event that organizes volunteers to pack meals (rice and other nutrients into sealed bags)
that are sent around the world to meet emergency food needs. All persons will have
something to do whether age 4 or 94. For those who cannot stand for a period of time,
there are jobs that are done from a chair. For those who cannot sit still, there is much
leg work to be accomplished. It is a fun and unifying event that helps those whom
Christ loved and calls us to serve. On this day we will pack a minimum of 10,000 meals
paid for through St. Paul’s mission committee budget.
All volunteers must register online at http://events.stophungernow.org/
StPaulsUMCDE. Should you need help with this, give your name to Rev. Connie Hastings,
302-745-1042. The website includes the opportunity to make additional donations which are
not necessary for this event at our church, but would be appreciated by those in need if
you feel called to give.
Blue Shoes and Happiness
Special points of interest:
 UMW Ladies Luncheon
 Upper Room Disciplines
 God’s Voice
Saturday, March 14 at 9:30 am, Fellowship Hall
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by Alexander McCall Smith
Sunday, March 8, 12:30 p.m., Lounge
On Sunday, March 8, we will discuss the seventh book in the bestselling No. 1
Ladies’ Detective Agency series, with its proprietor Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s
premier lady detective.
Life is good for Mma Ramotswe as she sets out with her usual resolve to untangle
the mysteries that make life interesting. A new and rather too brusque advice columnist
is appearing in the local paper. Then, a cobra is found in the offices of the No. 1 Ladies’
Detective Agency. Recently, the Mokolodi Game Preserve manager feels an infectious
fear spreading among his workers, and a local doctor may be falsifying blood pressure
readings. Mma Ramotswe, is always up to the challenge. This book will not fail to entertain Alexander McCall Smith’s oldest fans and newest converts with its great wit, charm,
and great good will.
As always, all are welcome at our Book Club discussions. If you have any questions,
contact Sherry Clark at 302-377-6647, or at sclarkd1@gmail.com.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Youth News
Looking to Spring
While the weather outside is frightful, the warmth in the
Sunday School halls is delightful. It’s been a busy winter
season. The children and youth have been learning about
Jesus’ teachings and stories, in preparation for the Lenten
season. We have welcomed some new friends to Sunday
School, who have visited for the first time.
Thank you to everyone who supported the Mitten Tree
collection. St. Paul’s Sunday School donated warm hats,
gloves, mittens, scarves and slipper socks to Neighborhood
House, Claymont Elementary School and Claymont Community Center. All were very appreciative of the donations
for children in need.
As a reminder, Sunday School participates in the yearround mission of supporting Ronald McDonald House and
Heifer International. Soda can tabs are collected for Ronald
McDonald House. Pennies are collected for Heifer International. Collection jars are located on the Sunday School desk.
One tab… one penny… may not seem like a lot, but when
everyone helps, great things can happen.
We are looking forward to the warmth of spring and
the lessons of Easter. Our annual Easter Egg Hunt will be
held on the back lawn Sunday, March 29 at noon for ages 2
(walkers) to 4th grade. Bring a bag or basket and join in the
fun.
Looking further ahead, mark your calendars for Vacation Bible School from July 13 to 17. The theme is “Camp
Discovery: Jesus at Work through Us.” Volunteer and leadership opportunities are available for teens and adults. Please
contact Nicole Macturk or Susan Spartz to help. St. Paul’s
will be hosting two weeks of Christian Summer Day camp
this year: July 20 to 24, and July 27 to 31. To volunteer and
provide support for Christian Summer Day camp, please
contact Beverly Dennett.
St. Paul’s Students selected to be on the
Conference Council on Youth Ministries
(CCYM)
This group of students and adult advisors are responsible
for the various youth ministries of the Peninsula-Delaware
Conference. The director of the CCYM contacts the local
churches and asks the youth directors to recommend
students who would be good candidates for CCYM. The
Student is approached and encouraged by the youth director
to apply and after applying the director of CCYM, makes
the final decision of who is selected to be part of CCYM.
For the year of 2015, Katie Macturk, Heather McClure, and
Emma Macturk have been selected to be on CCYM team.
We want to congratulate each one of these students for
their accomplishment and wish them well as they step into
this exciting opportunity. We will keep everyone updated as
Katie, Heather, and Emma begin serving for CCYM in
2015.
Lectors
A Lector is person who reads aloud the scriptural passages used in a Sunday worship service. This is a rewarding
way of participating in the Sunday worship service. The
only skill required is the ability to read. If you are interested, please contact the church office at 302-478-3135.
Meals-on-Wheels
Day In, Day Out
In Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering (Dutton),
Timothy Keller says many people think spiritual growth is
something akin to high diving, when really it’s more like
walking — nondramatic and rhythmic:
“A walk is day in and day out praying; day in and day
out Bible and Psalms reading; day in and day out obeying;
talking to Christian friends, and going to corporate worship,
committing yourself to and fully participating in the life of a
church. It is rhythmic, on and on and on. To walk with God
is a metaphor that symbolizes slow and steady progress.”
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March 2015
Our church helps to feed senior citizens and handicapped adults who cannot handle food preparation on their
own. Participation is easy and rewarding. St. Paul’s delivers
prepared and packaged meals on the third full week of each
month. A pair of volunteers deliver just one day per month,
and always the same day of the week. Delivery takes approximately one and one-half hours. If you would like to help fulfill
this mission, please call Roberta Burns at 302-798-9070.
Ushers
Ushers are an important part of our worship experience. Please consider becoming part of an ushering team.
A few hours a month, twice a year is all that is needed.
Contact Ken Morley, 302-762-4965, if you are interested.
R
hythms from Rob
“You’re Invited!”
Nourish Your Body & Soul
Ash Wednesday, Lent, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday,
Good Friday, Easter: this is a special time for Christians.
St. Paul’s musicians are busy sharing, communicating, and
praising through God’s universal language of music both at
St. Paul’s and in the community.
Of special note is our ecumenical Palm Sunday concert
at Brandywine Valley Baptist Church. On March 29, 3:00 p.m.,
singers and instrumentalists from Faith Presbyterian,
Aldersgate United Methodist, Brandywine Valley Baptist,
and St. Paul’s United Methodist churches will combine to
present a magnificent piece of music: Dan Forrest’s
‘Requiem for the Living’*. Matthew Pressley, the Director of
Music at Concord Presbyterian, will be one of the soloists.
The orchestra, which also boasts amateur and professional
players from the general community, will additionally be
playing Eric Whitacre’s ‘Palladio’ (a rock band version of
which was featured during the recent Super Bowl) and
‘Overture No. 2’, an original work by Emily DeWoolfson, a
student at the University of Delaware. Combined choirs
will sing the beloved ‘Alleluia’ by Randall Thompson. All
the music is less than 75 years old, and we do hope you will
join us for this fabulous event.
We will be taking an offering. Half of the offering will
support future local ecumenical music events, with the other
half to support a local mission. The local mission, Urban
Promise in Wilmington, needs support of a beginning violin
ministry initiated and run by Anna Lee Althouse. Anna, an
Urban Promise intern, used to play violin with us. This half
of our offering will go toward buying instruments for inner
city kids – a great way to support the power and value of
music education in the lives of some of the less fortunate in
our community.
Please join us for this special North Wilmington presentation.
*A requiem is a ‘mass for the dead’; many requiems are
performed during the Lenten season.
All are invited to attend our St. Paul’s Palm Sunday Pot
Luck Dinner.
Sunday, March 29, 5:00 p.m.
Fellowship Hall
Ham and Beverages provided.
Please bring a dish to share. Last names beginning with
the following letters are asked to bring:
A-H: Starch Side Dish
I-R: Salad or Vegetable
S-Z: Dessert
2015 Upper Room Disciplines Available
The 2015 Disciplines, a book of daily devotions from
The Upper Room, is available in the church office. We only
have 5 copies left, so make sure you get yours soon. The
cost for the book is $9.52. If you pay by check, please note
“Upper Room Disciplines” in the memo line.
Easter Flower Orders
Easter is around the corner so we’d like
to start planning for the Easter flower display
for Sunday, April 5, 2014. If you are interested in providing a plant for Easter Sunday,
please fill out the form and provide a check or cash to
accompany the form. You can take your plant that day after
services.
No. of Lilies @ $10.00 (6” pot)
No. of Hyacinths @ $10.00 (6”pot)
total number of plants
Total amount $ _______ Cash/check payment $
Save the Date
UMW Ladies
of All Ages
Luncheon
Sunday, May 3, 12:15 p.m.
Fellowship Hall
In memory of
In honor of
Donated by
If using a check please put “Easter Flowers” in the
memo line. The deadline for orders is Friday, March 27.
March 2015
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March 2015
March 2015
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Rest for the Weary
by Rev. Constance Hastings, MSCC, NCC
Daybreak Counseling Services
The St. Paul’s Family
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary
and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 (NLT)
It is a fact of life that life will have its periods of emotional turmoil and stress. Some can handle it well, some
suffer dearly through it, and some are overwhelmed completely. The difference in outcomes can often depend on
the strategies that persons use to sooth themselves in the
moment, as they anticipate a stressful event, or on a regular
basis so as to prepare themselves to go through whatever
life deals with a stronger emotional and spiritual foundation.
When emotionally overwhelmed, the limbic system
(emotional center) in the brain takes over as rational thinking
is lessened. To reassert the balance between emotion and
rational thought, the ability to calm oneself can make a difference in how one feels and very likely the behavioral outcomes
in the situation. Thus, self-soothing activities aid in producing serotonin, a brain chemical that produces calm feelings.
Three factors that can assist in soothing practices are
familiarity, multi-sensory activities and repetitive motions.
The activity can be one that produces pleasant memories
such as having hot chocolate on a cold day as a child. Also,
using an activity that includes more than one of the five
senses is known have good effects such as walking in the
sunshine and smelling flowers in a garden. Repetitive motions also produce serotonin when a person will sit rocking
in a chair for 15 minutes or so, rake leaves, or knit a scarf.
Thus, when confronted with an upsetting situation deep,
slow breathing, stretching or chewing gum can immediately be
implemented to restore calm. Should the day entail an upcoming stressful event, warm showers or bubble baths, wearing
comfortable clothes, listening to quiet music or sitting by a
waterfall can prepare a person with calmness as he or she readies for the challenge. Even better, self-soothing behaviors
practiced on a regular basis instill calmness and resiliency in the
person such that trials are easier to handle. These benefits occur when caring for a pet, reading good books, losing oneself
in a hobby, or practicing a musical instrument.
Research supports the importance of developing selfsoothing practices from infancy through all of adulthood.
What also is evident is that the human brain has in its creation that which affects emotion and thinking resulting in
positive behavior and relationships. By God’s own design
then, health is possible when practiced as created and
blessed. Thus, spiritual disciplines such as prayer, meditation and devotional Bible reading not only activate the brain
to promote good emotional health but also connect to God
in the very means by which humans were made.
It is, as Jesus said, “Let me teach you, because I am
humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is
light.” Matthew 11:29-30 (NLT)
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March 2015
Thank you to all of my church family for all the
acts of kindness to me while I recovered form my
knee surgery.
Vernalee Frey
To my church family of St. Paul’s,
I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of
kindness and support while I’m temporarily out of
commission! I’m humbled by the cards, phone calls,
and offer of help and food.
The Altar Guild delivery of flowers was a bright
spot on a cold day, and the prayer shawl so beautifully and lovingly made will always be a treasure.
Gratefully,
Libby Hines
Congratulations to Jan and Doug Hill on the
birth of their granddaughter, Adelaine Maeve Holly,
born on Sunday, February 15, 2015. The proud
parents are Suzanne Hill Holly and Tim Holly.
Our condolences to Jeff Layton on the death of
his father, Floyd Layton, who passed away on
February 6.
God’s Voice
But this precious treasure—this light and power that
now shines within us—is held in a perishable container, that
is, in our weak bodies. Everyone can see that the glorious
power within must be from God and is not our own.
II Corinthians 4:7
March
March 2015
2015
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5 pm
7 pm
7 pm
7 pm
16
5 pm Wilm. Handbell
7 pm Ad Council, Heck Room
7 pm Small Group, Den
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5 pm
7 pm
7 pm
7 pm
30
5 pm Wilm. Handbell
7 pm Small Group, Den
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8:30 am Worship
9:30 am Coffee Fellowship
10 am Sunday School
11 am Sunday Worship
12:30 pm Book Group, Lounge
12:30 pm Wesley Choir
5:30 pm Youth Choir
15
8:30 am Worship
9:30 am Coffee Fellowship
10 am Sunday School
11 am Sunday Worship
12:15 pm Lydia Circle, Lounge
12:30 pm Wesley Choir
5:30 pm Youth Choir
22
8:30 am Worship
9:30 am Coffee Fellowship
10 am Sunday School
11 am Sunday Worship
12:30 pm Wesley Choir
5:30 pm Youth Choir
29 Palm Sunday
8:30 am Worship
9:30 am Coffee Fellowship
10 am Sunday School
11 am Sunday Worship
12:30 pm Wesley Choir
5 pm Pot-Luck Dinner, FH
5:30 pm Youth Choir
Wilm. Handbell
SPRC, Lounge
Trustees, Embury Room
Small Group, Den
Wilm. Handbell
Finance, Embury Room
CEC, Library
Small Group, Den
2
5 pm Wilm. Handbell
7 pm Missions, Lounge
7 pm Small Group, Den
Mon
1
8:30 am Worship
9:30 am Coffee Fellowship
10 am Sunday School
11 am Sunday Worship
12:30 pm Wesley Choir
5:30 pm Youth Choir
7:30 pm Sanctuary in use
Sun
31
9:30 am S&S @ J. Ashbaughs
6:30 pm Jubellation
8 pm AA, Coke Room
24
9:30 am S&S @ J. Ashbaugh’s
6:30 pm Jubellation
8 pm AA, Coke Room
17
9:30 am S&S @ J. Ashbaughs
6:30 pm Jubellation
8 pm AA, Coke Room
10
9:30 am S&S @ J. Ashbaugh’s
6:30 pm Jubellation
6:30 pm Green Team, Heck Rm.
8 pm AA, Coke Room
3
9:30 am S&S @ J. Ashbaugh’s
4 pm MS Society, Coke Rm.
6:30 pm Jubellation
8 pm AA, Coke Room
Tue
25
9 am Day Break Counseling
9 am Ugly Quilts, Garrettson
12 pm Grief Group, Lounge
7 pm Al-Anon, Heck Room
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9 am Day Break Counseling
9 am Ugly Quilts, Garrettson
10 am Cong. Care, Simon Peter
11 am EGGs, Lounge
12 pm Grief Group, Lounge
7 pm Al-Anon, Heck Room
11
9 am Day Break Counseling
9 am Ugly Quilts, Garrettson
12 pm Grief Group, Lounge
7 pm Al-Anon, Heck Room
4
9 am Day Break Counseling
9 am Ugly Quilts, Garrettson
10 am Naomi Circle, Lounge
12 pm Grief Group, Lounge
7 pm Al-Anon, Heck Room
Wed
26
8 am TMWC
10 am Bible Study, Embury Rm
6:30 pm Worship Band
6:30 pm Cub Scouts, Heck,
Embury, Garrettson Rms.
7 pm Sisters in Christ, Lounge
7 pm Volleyball for All, F.H.
7:30 pm Adult Choir
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8 am TMWC
9:15 am Eliz. Circle, Lounge
10 am Bible Study, Embury Rm
6:30 pm Cub Scouts, Heck,
Embury, Garrettson Rms.
7 pm Sisters in Christ, Lounge
7 pm Adult Choirs
7 pm Volleyball for All, F.H.
12
8 am TMWC
10 am Bible Study, Embury Rm
6:30 pm Cub Scouts, Heck,
Embury, Garrettson Rms.
7 pm Sisters in Christ, Lounge
7 pm Adult Choirs
7 pm Volleyball for All, F.H.
5
8 am TMWC
10 am Bible Study, Embury Rm
6:30 pm Cub Scouts, Heck,
Embury, Garrettson Rms.
7 pm Sisters in Christ, Lounge
7 pm Adult Choirs
7 pm Volleyball for All, F.H.
Thu
Fri
27
6 pm St. Paul’s Volleyball, FH
7 pm AA, Coke Room
20
6:30 pm Cub Scouts, FH
7 pm AA, Coke Room
13
8 am EDR Cooking, Kitchen
6 pm St. Paul’s Volleyball, FH
7 pm AA, Coke Room
28
21
12 pm Scouts Blue & Gold
Banquet, Fellowship Hall
14
10 am Sanctuary in use
7
8 am St. Paul’s Volleyball
Charity Tournament, FH
Sat
Spring Begins
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8 am St. Paul’s Volleyball, FH
7 pm AA, Coke Room
March 2015
March Birthdays
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3
5
6
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Grayson Betterly
Darlene Kreiger
Doris Saunders
Martha Troup-Mayforth
Jack Twaddell, Jr.
Sonali Das
Reid Hartman
Barrett Rickards
J. Scarborough
William Shields
Daulton Weit
Madeline Zehr
Shirley Erickson
Gail Wootten
Michael Smith
Lucas Johnson
Irene Osmundson
Bonnie Finch
Kristi McClure
Jackson Smith
Craig Eckbold
Patricia Toland
Marilyn Churchill
David McIlvaine
Margaret Rivers
9 Susan Wharton
10 Wayne Falk
11 Jayden Jones
Alexander McClure
Roger Scorziello
12 Patricia Ferraro
14 Virginia Bacon
Jaclyn Weber
15 Beverly Dennett
16 Leonard Brooks
Joshua Gindhart
Chandler Hinkson
Lawrence Kelly
Stan Olson
Corky Wharton
17 Sandra Eppihimer
Patricia Kronen
Ken Patterson
Shirley Reed
18 Douglas Hawkins
Edna Hayes
Jane Hindmarch
Susan Raffauf
Cynthia Wynegar
19 Toni Clark
19 Gary Davis
Jeffrey Smith
Suzanne Tucker
Sandra Tull
Becky Woodward
20 Coral Churchill
Laura Covington
Anderson Molter
Flo Montgomery
Lynn Simpson
Pamela Webster
21 Luis Echevarria
Sarah Gibison
Lisa Hutchison
Lisa Nichols
Josh Reynolds
John Ritter
22 Elaine Linton
Cooper Richle
Frederick Smith
Shannon Swankoski
23 Grace Campbell
Chelsey Hartsock
Carol Powell
24 Louise Cann
24 Susan Reebel
Colette Weber
25 Anthony Ferraro
Brian Goudy
A.J. Lange
Harry Lengel
Nicholas Spartz
26 David Dennett
Jefferson Fort
Thomas Lengel
Nicole Macturk
27 James Borek
28 Dahlia Nichols
29 Samantha Lawruk
Glenn Seefeldt
30 Andrew Hanks
Sierra Seefeldt
Julia Shaw
31 Carol Hanssmann
Mary Langseder
Richard Stout
1314 Foulk Road, Wilmington, DE 19803
(302) 478-3135 Moments of Meditation - 334-3101
E-Mail: stpaulsumcde@comcast.net
Website: www.stpaulsumcde.org
St. Paul's
United Methodist Church
March 2015
Rev. Dr. Tim Duchesne, Pastor
Rev. David Finch, Congregational Care
Rob Kennan, Music Director
Kathleen Kennan, Youth & Family
Barbara Barto, Office Administrator
Glenda Howell, Administrative Assistant
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