St. Paul's Trumpet

Scripture: John 12-18

In this week’s Scripture, Jesus reminds us of the importance of loving and caring for others. Here, Mary takes time and uses valuable resources to show her love for Christ. We read this Scripture and wonder: “How can I show my love to God?”

Christ reminds us that we show our love for God by loving others. This week’s Lenten discipline, service, provides an opportunity for us to practice this holy work.

One way we respond to God’s love for us is by loving others. We do not do good acts or works in order to receive God’s grace, favor, and/or love. But instead, out of gratitude for God’s gift, our hearts yearn to give to others. When we experience this gift completely, God’s grace and love pours out of our hearts and leads us to share Christ’s light with others.

This week’s Lenten discipline invites you and your family to discover how you:

• Share Christ's light with others.
• Experience the light through others.

Begin each day this week (either at breakfast or on the morning ride to work/school), inviting your family to participate in the discipline of service:

Blessings,

Pastor Chad

These devotionals are provided by the United Methodist Church Discipleship Ministries office. You are welcome to read them with your family or friends. Some of the content is designed for children. I hope that you find these readings to be an opportunity to reflect during the season of Lent.

To submit a prayer request, complete the Prayer Request Form below. You will have the option to share your request with the congregation via this location in the Trumpet or to keep the request private - meaning it will be shared with our pastoral care team. The form is available in the Trumpet and on our website.

If you have any questions or difficulty using the form, please contact the Church Office at 402-339-3308 or admin@stpaulspapillion.org

Prayer Requests:

Prayers for the recipients of blankets and other services through Church World Service. May their ministry to those affected by natural disasters meet people where they are needed most.

Prayers for the Perkins family, who lost both Bob and Genie this week. Prayers for family and friends in this time of grief.

Submit a Prayer Request

Please pray for the following members of our church during the month of April

Prayer Calendar-April

Your prayers are important to us and we have a team of people dedicated to praying for you. This team responds to urgent prayer requests, and prays each day following our monthly calendar. If are currently a member of the prayer team, or would like to start receiving those email prayer requests, please click the link below to be added to this ministry team.

So far in 2025, our missions team and congregation have been very active serving in our community, supporting organizations doing great work, and collecting funds and items.

Highlighting some of the missions so far!

• 347 Food items for the All People's Food Pantry: A Culturally Inclusive Food Pantry
• 100 items taken to One World Baby Boutique, including outfits, diapers, blankets, books, & more!
• 533 items for Undie Sunday given to Papillion LaVista Schools Foundation
• $760 Raised for Church World Service to support individuals affected by natural disasters
• 100 boxes of food items donated to Pearl Food Pantry and Neighbor Good Food Pantry
• 130 cartoons of Shelf Stable Milk purchased from the Bethany Circle Hot Cocoa Fundraiser

• Youth and Club 456 volunteered at the All People's Pantry Distribution Event
• Diaper Wrapping Party - Congregation-wide - you wrapped over 15,000 diapers!

The list could go on. Your hearts for mission and generosity are overflowing for this community! Way to go!

Brighten up Easter Worship with a pot of beautiful flowers! Place your Easter Flower orders by Sunday, April 6th online or using the form outside the Main Office. Flowers will be at the church for Easter Sunday on April 20th and you are invited to take them home to brighten your porch or garden. Plants not taken by April 27th will be donated.

The joint Funeral service for Bob and Genie Perkins will be held on Monday, April 7th at 11am at St. Paul's. Burial at The National Cemetery and Luncheon in the Fellowship Hall will follow the service. All are welcome.

We will be recognizing all graduating seniors on Sunday, May 4th during service. If you are or have a graduating student, please fill out this short form by April 21st.

Please support our local food pantries by bringing an item each week & putting it on the table in the West Hallway.

**The Pantry is especially in need of restocking this month! Please consider picking up extra items to help them provide food for their families. For more information, check the display in the West Hallway.

This week's wish list: Pasta and stuffing sides, Ravioli, noodles

In April, we are collecting Easter Care Kits with hygiene products for residents at The Open Door Mission. The Missions committee will be distributing pink and blue bags on Sunday with a shopping list for items in the bags. The cost to fill each bag is approximately $25. Please return the filled bags by April 16 to the table in the West Hallway so they can be delivered before Easter!

Thank you for your generosity and support for the residents this Easter Season!

The Easter Care Kits include the following:

• Travel-size body wash
• Deodorant
• Disposable razors
• Shaving cream
• Full-size shampoo and conditioner
• Special treat of a chocolate bunny or chocolate cross.

Recycled Mat Weavers will be taking Wednesday mornings off for the month of April. Rest your fingers, and we will see you back on Wednesday. May 7th!

If you have plastic bags to donate, just look for the bin in the West Hallway.

All Readers Welcome! The St. Paul's Book Club meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 1:00 p.m. in the library. If a single book sparks your interest or you can only make it once in a while, we would still enjoy your insights and love to have you join us!

Upcoming books:

• April 9 - The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
• May 14 - The Fury by Alex Michaelides
• June 11 - None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

VBS Participant Registration is OPEN online for kids Age 3-5th Grade! It's going to be a really fun week with Navigator Barb and Scout the Dog -- we'll play games, eat snacks, tell stories, make crafts, sing great songs, and do some awesome science experiments!

Click the links below to register your kid or volunteer to help! Let the Road Trip Adventure Begin!

Youth Worship: Sundays at 9:15am

Youth Group: Sundays at 6:30pm

Not everyone can go to church in person, even though they want to. If you are someone who can't attend or would rather worship online, you have many options. You can watch our live stream of the 9:15AM service on our website, YouTube, or Facebook!

Your financial gifts help sustain the mission and ministry of our congregation as we "reflect the love of God to our community and the world!" There are several different ways that you can give to St. Paul's, the details are below, and we are happy to answer any questions you may have along the way.

1. Online Giving – This is a safe and convenient way to support St. Paul's with either a one-time or recurring gift. Click here to set up your account, and if you need assistance, contact our St. Paul's Treasurer, Cindy Balentine.

2. Cash or Check –On Sundays during worship, you can place your cash or check in the offering plates or offering box. There are offering envelopes in each pew and in the back of the Chapel so that you can designate your gift. Checks should be made out to "St. Paul's United Methodist Church" and designations can also be noted on the memo line. You can also mail your gifts to St. Paul's at 324 S. Jackson Street, Papillion, NE 68046.

3. Automated Bank Withdrawals –This form of giving allows your bank to withdraw money directly from your designated account and transfer it to St. Paul's UMC. There are no fees involved and it's as simple as filling out a form -- contact the Church Office or St. Paul's Treasurer, Cindy Balentine to get started!

4. IRA Distribution or Savings giving –This is another wonderful way to help sustain the ministry of St. Paul's UMC. It requires you to work with your bank or broker to determine the details, but you can also contact our St. Paul's Treasurer, Cindy Balentine, to get an outline of this process.

Every gift helps make a difference -- thank you for your generous support of St. Paul's United Methodist Church!

The church office is open Monday - Thursday, 8:30am - 3:00pm.

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Email: adminasst@stpaulspapillion.org
Website: stpaulspapio.org
Location: 324 South Jackson Street, Papillion, NE, USA
Phone: (402) 339-3308
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stpaulspapillion.org/