Mission Statement
To know and serve Christ by reaching out in love to all.
If you are visiting the area or looking for a church home please consider joining us.
Contact Information
- Phone: 440-243-1144
- Fax: 440-243-8184
- E-mail: officestaff@stpaulberea.org
- Address: 276 East Bagley Rd., Berea, Ohio 44017
Click here for our Calendar
Special Event
TETÉLESTAI® IS COMING!!
During the weekend of February 17th, St. Paul’s will be hosting the 35th year of Cleveland Performing Arts Ministry’s production of Tetélestai®, which is a “contemporary musical portrayal of ‘The Trial, Execution and Resurrection of Jesus the Messiah’.” Believers and non-believers alike have been moved by the words of the Gospel brought to life by this dynamic presentation. See the link below.
About Our Church
- Children's News
- Directions
- Highlights
- Listen To Us
- Mission
- Music
- Outreach
- Pastors & Staff
- Pastor's Letter
- Scripture Readings
- Vacation Bible School
- Youth Activities
January Children’s Ministry News
SUNDAY SCHOOL-
We want you! If you have never been to our St. Paul Sunday School, we hope that you will start the New Year off by joining us. If you are in Preschool up to High School, please come on January 8th at 9:45am. Join us in 2012 and meet some new friends, great teachers, and learn lots of new things. Any questions, please call Susan at 243-1144. Hope to see you!
ARISTOCRAT NEWS-
At our last visit in December, we celebrated the Christmas season with our friends at the Aristocrat. We left stuffed elves that could be attached to their wheelchairs and the fleece blankets that we made at our Advent Workshop. The kids loved the fleece blankets! Jamella, one of the girls that joins us each visit, said that it gets cold because she sleeps by the window. The blankets were really appreciated. We also sent one to Jordy in Conneaut and she sent a note of how much she loved getting it. Many thanks to everyone who worked so hard making them. We will be returning to the Aristocrat on January 15th to play games and spend some time together. If you have never joined us, you might want to mark your calendar. We meet in their dining room from 2:00-3:00pm. It is a great way to spend some fun time with some wonderful kids and some great St. Paul people, too.
“STARRY NIGHT, NOISY NIGHT”-
Many thanks to all of our kids, teens, and adults that gave so much of themselves to help make our Christmas Musical worship service on December 11th possible. A special thank you goes to Linda Forster and John & Jenny Schneider for stepping up to provide the leadership to direct our children. So many others provided leadership roles behind the scenes and we hope you know how much we appreciate all of the time that you gave to help make our Musical possible. It takes so many people joining together with their time and talents and we thank you all. It was great fun.
WHAT’S HAPPENING-
If you have not already noticed, there is a big bulletin board across from Pastor Tom’s office in the main hallway. On it are pictures from many of the events going on at St. Paul during the month. We hope you will take a minute and see what is going on. There are lots of fun things happening. Hope you will take a look!
THANK YOU-
Thanks to everyone who gave so generously by decorating the big tree in our hallway with mittens, gloves, hats, and scarves. These items will help to keep many of the children at the Berea Children’s Home warm this Winter. Thanks so much!
Susan Moore, Christian Education Director
January Children’s Ministry Calendar
January 1st New Year’s Day
(No Sunday School or Aristocrat)
January 8th 8:30 & 11:00 Children’s Church
9:45-10:45 Sunday School
9:45-10:15 Children’s Ministry Commission Meeting (Sunday School Office)
January 15th 9:15-10:15 Adult Recorders
9:45-10:45 Sunday School
2:00-3:00 Visit our friends at the
Aristocrat
January 22nd 8:30 & 11:00 Children’s Church
9:45-10:45 Sunday School
January 29th Fifth Sunday
10:00 Worship/11:15 Fellowship
Directions
Saint Paul church is located on the south-east corner of East Bagley Road and Eastland Road in Berea, Ohio.Our address is: 276 East Bagley Road, Berea, Ohio 44017
From the north take I-71 South to the Bagley Road exit, turn west (right) on Bagley Road, drive 1 mile, the church will be on the left.
From the south take I-71 North to the Bagley Road exit, turn west (left) on Bagley Road, drive 1 mile, the church will be on the left.
From the east or west take I-480 to I-71 South, to the Bagley Road exit, turn west (right) on Bagley Road, drive 1 mile, the church will be on the left.
Parking lot off Eastland Road
Map
Our monthly news letter Highlights
Sermons
Pastor Tom Henderson
Pastor Tom Henderson
Music
Woodwind Trio Dec. 24, 2011 1 PM
Lisa Cormack, Linda Forster, Tom Mordant
Recorder Ensemble Dec. 24, 2011 1PM
Sue Chmelik, Linda Forster, Susan Moore, Edith Yerger
Shine Through Me Praise Choir Jan. 8, 2012 8AM
The River Is Here New Song Worship Team 1/8/12
Fum Fum Fum Faithful Ringers Jan. 22, 2012
Extra
Youth Musical Recorded December 11, 2011
Gloria Dio Excerpt Recorded December 18, 2011
It is a new School year and St. Paul Youth Ministries is off to a fast start, with many new and exciting things happening this year. One of the most exciting things is the mission trip to South Africa, which was initiated by the youth, and is open to young at heart people of all ages. This is going to be a great time for us to have our world views expanded, to experience new cultures and to help people in need.
2012 St. Paul South Africa Mission Trip Info:
When: Early June 2012…2 weeks, including travel days…will be autumn in South Africa…temps in 40s to 70s
Where: Greytown, Kwa-Zulu, South Africa…a rural community approximately 2 hours NW of Durban
What: Work with youth and teachers at Upper Umvoti Combined School (+ 300 pupils in grades K-12)…organize and conduct a VBS-like program; complete service projects at the schools (e.g., painting, minor repairs)… assist two women caring for orphans…2 excursion days to a game park, canopy tour, or Indian Ocean
Why: To encourage a mission-minded heart; to experience and appreciate other cultures; to strengthen a greater understanding of God’s grace and mercy
The mission to South Africa is a unique opportunity for
St. Paul, because Melani, Youth Pastor Jay’s wife, is a native South African. Melani’s family has been involved in ministry, as have Jay and Melani, in South Africa. In addition, the Lutheran church in South Africa is the companion synod of our Northeastern Ohio Synod.
We ask for your prayers and support for this inspiring mission outreach.
God Bless,
Jay Wilson St Paul Youth Director
Our Music
Saint Paul church offers a wide variety of liturgical music and has choirs and music groups for all ages. You can choose to attend services with traditional or contemporary music most Sundays. Check out the new "Listen To Us" tab
Contemporary Services In January
January 8, 2012 @ 8:30 AM
January 15,2012 @ 11:00 AM
Traditional Services In January
January 1 and 29, 2012 @ 10:00 AM
January 15, 2012 @ 8:30 AM
January 8 and 22, 2012 @ 1 1:00 AM
Outreach Programs
-
Community Meal: In cooperation with other Berea churches offers meals on the last Wednesday of each month to community members. 6:00 PM.
-
Just Like Home: Provides support to Baldwin Wallace college students who sign up to be a part of the group.
-
Meals On Wheels: Provides hot meals to members of the general area for a nominal fee.
-
Pre-School: The Early Education Center provides a quality Christian education for children 3 - 5 years old and offers support and guidance for parents.
Our Pastor
Pastor - Rev. Tom Henderson x102
E-mail: thenderson@stpaulberea.org
Staff
Youth Director
Jason Wilson x108
E-mail: youth@stpaulberea.org
Director of Music Ministry
Lois Hines x103
Director of Children’s Ministry
Susan Moore x107
Assistant Organist Richard Densmore
Worship Leader Barbara Tibbitts
Children/Cherub Choirs Linda Forster
Office Sandy Henning & Rae Batig x100 E-mail: officestaff@stpaulberea.org
Bookkeeper Lynnette Ozanich x104
Nursery Care Provider Melani Wilson
Dear Friends,
A new year often brings time for reflection and an awareness of the passage of time. I have been thinking about both. I have been thinking about how much our ministry setting has changed since I came here for the first time in 1985. There were 14,000 people working at the Ford plant; now there are less than 1000. It is the same with GM, the steel mills, and many other industries. There were six public elementary schools in Berea alone; now there is one. Berea was a stable, solid, middle class community. Now with its aging housing stock, more and more housing turning into rental property, declining home values, foreclosures, vacant home and businesses, Berea has taken on the characteristics of an inner-ring suburb. Much the same applies to Brook Park and Middleburg Heights. Growth has taken place to our west and south; but that is slowing as well. What does that mean for how we do ministry? Do we just keep doing what we’ve been doing or are there changes which need to be addressed. I suspect the latter.
Second, when I came to St. Paul I was 30 and had a 3 year old, 14 month old and one four years still to come. I was, in the words of one of our members, ‘our young Pastor Henderson’. I am now 57 and my children are 30, 27 and 22. With Pastor John retiring, I really am the old pastor. Do the young families today have different expectations of church and what it offers to them and their children than I did 27 years ago? Again, I suspect they do. What does that mean for what ministries we offer? Does it affect how we worship? What does it mean for me as a pastor? Am I able to minister to these young families?
For now, these are questions in search of answers. Right now, St. Paul remains a solid, stable congregation with a good financial base. I see many surrounding congregations in deep decline, some are terminal. I love this place and people and I want it to continue to thrive long after I’m gone. Now is the time to address these questions and prayerfully make any necessary changes and adaptations. That is my resolution for the New Year, but we will need to do it together.
God bless,
Pastor Henderson
Scripture Readings For December
January 1, 2012
Isa 61:10-62:3, Gal 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40
January 8, 2012
Gen 1:1-5, Acts 19:1-7, Mark 1:4-11
January 15, 2012
1 Sam 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Cor 6:12-20, John 1:43-51
January 22, 2012
Jonah 3:1-5, 10, 1 Cor 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20
January 29, 2012
Deut 18:15-20, 1 Cor 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28
Vacation Bible School
VBS THANKS-
As you have probably heard, our 2011 “PandaMania” was a week enjoyed by all. It was truly a joyful, blessed week. We had the privilege of hosting 201 young people and 70 adults participated in some capacity. We sang songs, danced, listened to Bible stories, watched skits, did crafts, enjoyed snacks, played games, spent time in Chadder’s bamboo hut, had an outreach project, met new friends, and had lots of fun. We were so pleased to have children join us from 31 different churches.
We shared the week with a Youth Encounter group called Captive Free. Mary, Karen, Michael, Matt, and Ben helped to fill our church with great songs, dances and puppet shows. These young people came from Texas, Wisconsin, Georgia, Minnesota, and Arizona. They spend one year traveling across the country helping to spread God’s word through their music. They truly helped to make our week one with lots of great memories.
We ended our week with a hot dog picnic lunch on a frisbee and enjoyed a closing program in the Sanctuary with all of our VBS families and friends. Captive Free led us in some favorite songs from the week and we saw a slideshow of the events of our VBS week. I hope that you will take a minute to see all of the pictures from our week together. They are displayed on the large bulletin board across from Pastor Tom’s office. You will get a first hand look at our children, teens and adults in action.
Our families participated in an outreach project throughout the week. Our families generously donated food items which were donated to our local Food Bank. They also brought in school supplies to be given out at our community meal.
I also want to thank the children, youth, and adults that helped to build our float, joined us at our kick-off cook-out, and walked in the Berea Grindstone Parade.
We had more folks than ever and it sure made for a fun parade. Thanks so much!
A project such as this could never be accomplished without the joining together of so many people, of so many ages, with so many different gifts. I want to thank our congregation for their continued financial support with our Vacation Bible School program. I thank you for giving so generously of your time, talents, and loving care to the children that were given to us for our VBS week. Thank you for reaching out and sharing God’s word and love to so many children from St. Paul and our local communities. I hope that you know how much I appreciate all that you have given to our VBS program. It could not have been done without all of you! God bless you.
Susan Moore
Youth Activities
Parents' Night Out IS BACK
**Begin to make plans for Friday, January 20th.**
This is an opportunity for all parents of young children to
plan a date night or just some much needed time to focus
on something adult for a couple of hours while the we take
care of your 3-10 yr old children.
Parents' Night Out will run from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. There
will be a suggested donation of $10 per child and $5 for
siblings. We will serve simple snacks and will endeavor to
have as much fun as possible. So, start planning now and
take this opportunity to make this a regular event in your
home! Call or email your reservation.
Youth Pastor Jay, his wife , Melani and the Youth will be heading up this program. You can
contact Jay at youth@stpaulberea.org or 440-243-1144 for more information.