Recent and Upcoming Events
Precautions Due to the Coronavirus
We are taking a number of precautions here at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in response to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus), while simultaneously still seeking to provide meaningful, appropriate, and important spiritual support, especially in such times when there is fear, anxiety, and illness. We thank you for your understanding, patience, support, and prayer as we seek to discern how best to be in ministry in this moment of time.
Please look at the below upcoming events for changes in activities.
You can find a summary of our precautions and COVID-19 updates on our News page by clicking on this Coronavirus Precautions link.
Please continue to check here and on our Cancellation Page for information about cancellations.
COVID Church Relief - Special Offering
February 2021
During the week of Tuesday, February 16, 2021, the Financial Secretary, Terry Pastor, will be mailing members their January 2021 Giving Statements. Please review those statements to make sure that information is correct. If you have any questions or corrections, please contact Terry.
In that envelope you will find a special "COVID Church Relief" letter, card, and envelope. Please return that card in February, along with a your COVID Church Relief offering. You can also make that offering online by clicking on this Online Giving link. Thank you for your generous support during this time of need.
If you have any questions about the COVID Church Relief special offering, please contact any member of the Stewardship Committee including Kirk Aulenbach, Head Deacon; Steve Miller, Deacon; Terry Pastor, Financial Secretary; Jon Henning, Treasurer; or Robin Henning, Assistant Treasurer; or contact the church office.
Weekly Bible Study
Tuesdays at 9:00am
Virtual ONLY via Zoom
Every Tuesday morning Zion UCC of Womelsdorf offers a Zoom Bible Study based on the scripture passages for the coming Sunday. You may use any version of the Bible. The study goes from 9:00 to 9:45am most of the time (occassionally it may go a little longer). They would be happy to have you join them!
They use the same Zoom numbers every week.
Zoom Login: Zoom Link or call 1-646-558-8656 (New York)
Meeting ID: 876 633 8718; Passcode: 756672
Maundy Thursday
Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 6:30pm
This Year: Live Stream, Phone Stream, & Zoom Only
This year's Maundy Thursday worship service will be a combined service with Zion UCC in Womelsdorf. This year's Maundy Thursday service will be virtual only, and will be brought to you from five different locations, in what we hope will be a meaningful at-home worship service for you on this holy night.
On Maundy Thursday Jesus gathered with the disciples for the Feast of Passover. They shared in a meal. He took bread, blessed it and broke it, and instituted the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion). He then took his disciples to a garden to pray, where he was betrayed and crucified.
You are invited to participate in this worship service through Live Stream, toll free Phone Stream (1-888-649-5770), or Zoom. The Maundy Thursday worship bulletin is available at this bulletin link. Within that bulletin is a prayer for you to use for your evening meal. You are invited to purchase bread and wine/juice ahead of time, as the Pastor will lead us in a commune service, as we all commune from our homes.
You can find the count down and video on our YouTube Channel by clicking on this St. Paul's UCC YouTube Channel - Maundy Thursday Worship Service link. For those who have the technology, out of the three possible virtual options, we recommend the YouTube Live Stream, as the one that will most likely offer you the best experience.
Zion UCC is hosting the Zoom call of the worship service using a "shared screen." If participating by Zoom, please use the log in numbers found below (as opposed to St. Paul's UCC usual Sunday worship numbers).
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/104401368
Zoom Phone Number: 1-646-558-8656 (NY); or 1-301-715-8592 (DC)
Zoom Meeting ID: 889 4662 4289
Zoom Passcode: 579687
(Please note, with having Tenebrae included in our Maundy Thursday worship service, St. Paul's UCC and Zion UCC will not be having a separate Good Friday worship service).
For more information about this worship service, please contact any member of the Worship & Education Committee (Elsa Wertz, Chairperson; or Terry Pastor, Vice Chair).
Easter Sunday
Sunday, April 4, 2021 at 10:30am
Virtual ONLY: Live Stream, Phone Stream, Facebook Live & Zoom
We will have one Easter worship service this year at 10:30am (rather than two), so that we can join together as one church, at one time, as one Body of Christ, even when separated by social distancing, and celebrate in the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour who through the sacrifice of himself, saves all of us from sin and death. We will have a children's sermon, regular sermon, downloadable children's bulletins, lighting of the Paschal Candle, and Holy Communion through a door drop off. Included in the communion delivery will be a tea light candle for you to use during the Paschal Candle lighting.
For more information about our Easter worship services, please contact any member of the Worship & Education Committee (Elsa Wertz, Chairperson; or Terry Pastor, Vice Chair).
Youth Group Advisors Meetings
Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 6:00pm
Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 5:30pm
The Adult Youth Group Advisors meet on the second Thursday of the month at 5:30pm (half an hour before the youth group meeting). Our adult advisors are approved through our SafeConduct process, and seek to provide a well supervised, safe, fun, and meaningful youth group experience.
For more information about our Youth Group, click on this Youth Fellowship Group link.
COVID Memorial
The Reading Hospital & Medical Center Chaplaincy Department
Thursday, April 8, 2021 from 7:00-8:00pm
Rescheduled from Wednesday, March 31, 2021
A COVID Memorial event hosted by The Reading Hospital's chaplaincy department has been rescheduled for Thursday, April 8 from 7:00 to 8:00pm.
During the event, The Reading Hospital will pay tribute to Berks County residents who have died from COVID-19 with a temporary memorial on the front lawn of the hospital on 6th Avenue and Spruce Street. Bill Jennings, President and CEO of Reading Hospital, and the Rev. Tom Adil, UCC Pastor, LPC, Director, Department of Spiritual Care, will host the ceremony. Mark Woodland, MD, Chair, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Reading Hospital, will share a reflective poem he authored.
Luminaries will be placed surrounding the fountain and along the front lawn honoring the lives lost to COVID.
The public is welcome to walk through or drive by the vigil. Masks are required and social distancing will be observed. Due to social distancing requirements a limited number of reservations are available, and registration is required for the event. To register for the event please call 484-628-HELP.
To fund a memorial luminary in honor of a loved one or to make a donation to support the ongoing fight against COVID, visit Reading Hospital Foundation’s website.
This event was originally planned for March 31, and will now take place rain or shine on Thursday, April 8 from 7:00 to 8:00pm.
Berks County churches are asked to ring their steeple or carillon bells at 7:30pm in support of this memorial service.
Earth Day Cleanup
Youth Group Activity
Saturday, April 10 at 1:00pm
Join us to help clean up our town! The Youth Group will be picking up litter in Robesonia on Saturday, April 10 starting at 1:00pm to do our part for Earth Day, and to follow God's commandment to be good stewards of God's creation. Everyone is invited to meet the Youth Group in the church parking lot with your bright clothing, bottle of water, gloves, trash bags, etc. to pick up trash throughout town.
For more information about this Earth Day Cleanup event, please contact Beth Miller or the church office.
Click on this Youth Fellowship Group link to go to our youth group page for more information about our youth group, upcoming youth group activities, additional youth group links, and more.
Holy Humor Sunday
2nd Sunday of Easter
Sunday, April 11, 2021 at 10:30am
Virtual ONLY: Live Stream, Phone Stream, Facebook Live & Zoom
This year's theme will be "There's No Business Like God's Business." This service will be virtual only (no in-person worship) and will include our virtual choir. We hope to include some extra humor during the worship service, as well as jokes and comics in the worship bulletin.
What is Holy Humor Sunday?
Holy Humor Sunday is an opportunity to let our hair down - way down - with a very upbeat and fun service, following the somber season of Lent. It is a day of humor and light-hearted fun.
Holy Humor Sunday shares its roots with that of April Fool’s Day. When Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, he defeated death, and in doing so the Great Deceiver (i.e. the Devil) was deceived - bested by the best trick ever. From deceiving the Great Deceiver on Easter, April Fool’s Day came to be celebrated on April 1st, and Holy Humor Sunday came to be most commonly celebrated on the Sunday following Easter Sunday.
This ancient Easter custom was begun by the Greeks in the early centuries of Christianity. For centuries Holy Humor Sunday has been celebrated by Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant countries going by a variety of names, including "Bright Sunday" (the Sunday after Easter) and “days of joy and laughter” with parties and picnics the week after Easter to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. Churchgoers and pastors played practical jokes on each other, drenched each other with water, told jokes, sang, and danced.
The custom was written about by early church theologians, including Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, and John Chrysostom. These theologians called it “Risus paschalis - the Easter laugh,” referring to God playing a practical joke on the devil by raising Jesus from the dead.
The custom began to fade by the mid 1900s in many churches. In 1988 the Fellowship of Merry Christians, which bi-monthly publishes The Joyful Noiseletter, began to encourage churches to resurrect “Bright Sunday” celebrations and to call it “Holy Humor Sunday.” The first theme they encouraged was: “Jesus is the LIFE of the party.” The Fellowship of Merry Christians encourages churches in general to uplift the joy and humor found in scripture and in our Christian faith. You can learn more on their website at: https://www.joyfulnoiseletter.com/hhsunday.asp
St. Paul’s UCC has been celebrating Holy Humor Sunday annually since 2014. Previous themes and pictures from those worship services can be found on the “Photos” page of our website.
The Worship Committee begins considering themes each January for the next Holy Humor Sunday, and we welcome individuals to share ideas. For the past few years our youth group or confirmation class came up with and developed the theme
For more information, contact any member of the Worship Committee (Elsa Wertz, Chairperson; or Terry Pastor, Vice Chair) or contact the church office at 610-621-5770 or office@sprucc.org.
Previous Holy Humor Themes
You can view pictures from some of our previous years by clicking on the following links:
2020 Holy Humor Sunday - Cancelled due to COVID-19
2019 Holy Humor Sunday - Theme: "Drawn to Christ"
2018 Holy Humor Sunday - Theme: "Medieval"
2017 Holy Humor Sunday - Theme: "Game On!"
2016 Holy Humor Sunday - Theme: "Come Fishing"
2015 Holy Humor Sunday - Theme: “From Zeroes to Heroes”
2014 Holy Humor Sunday - Theme: "A Childlike vs A Childish Faith"
Robesonia Blood Drive
Saturday, June 12, 2021
The Robesonia Community Blood Drive takes place once a quarter, and rotates among the four Robesonia churches. Our blood drive is done through the Miller-Keystone Blood Center.
Blood Drive Schedule
Please check this site for updates to the blood drive schedule. The following is the listing of the month and location for the upcoming schedule:
Tuesday, January 5, 2021 from 2:00-7:00pm
at St. Paul’s UCC, Robesonia
Wednesday, April 14, 2021 from 12:00-7:00pm
at St. Francis deSales Catholic Church, Robesonia
Saturday, June 12, 2021 from 8:00am-1:00pm
at St. Paul's UCC, Robesonia
Tuesday, September 21, 2021 from 2:00-7:00pm
at St. Daniel's Lutheran Church, Robesonia
Thursday, December 2, 2021 from 2:00-7:00pm
at Trinity Lutheran Church, Robesonia
Third Sunday of Easter
Sunday, April 18, 2021 at 10:30am
Virtual ONLY: Live Stream, Phone Stream, Facebook Live, & Zoom
This worship service will be virtual only; we plan to return to hybrid worship next week. Click on this Joyful, Disbelieving, and Still Wondering - April 18 Live Stream link for the direct link to our YouTube live stream April 18 worship service.
For more information about our Easter season worship services, please contact any member of the Worship & Education Committee (Elsa Wertz, Chairperson; or Terry Pastor, Vice Chair).
Post-Quarantine Church
Sundays: April 18 & 25, May 2, 9, & 23, 2021 at 6:30pm
The leadership of St. Paul's UCC has been reading Thom Rainer's book The Post-Quarantie Church: Six Urgent Challenges and Opportunities That Will Determine the Future of Your Congregation. We are planning a combined five week series book study by Zoom with Zion UCC in Womelsdorf on Sunday evenings from 6:30-7:30pm on April 18 & 25, May 2 & 9; and from 6:30-8:00pm on our final day May 23 (note there is no class on May 16). Members from both churches are invited to participate.
If you would like to participate in the book discussion, please contact the church office at office@sprucc.org or 610-621-5770. For additional information, please contact Pastor Ben Motz.
Please use the following Zoom log in information:
Meeting ID: 874 5212 4156
Reservoir Hike
Youth Group Activity
Saturday, April 24 at 1:00pm
On Saturday, April 24, the Youth Group, friends, and family members, will be meeting at 1:00pm at the Robesonia Reservoir to walk the trails there. Mike Pastor will be our guide. The weather at that time should be warmer, making for a pleasant day to take a hike.
Bring a mask (for wearing in the parking lot and at times when we cannot be at least six feet distant from one another), suntan lotion, insect repellent, water, snacks for yourself, good hiking shoes, a small pack (to carry your water, snacks, etc), and dress in layers, as we take to the trails. Please note this does require physical ability. As for all in-person activities, only come if you are feeling well, do not have a fever, and have not had a recent COVID exposure risk. ALL are invited. Please join us!
Click on this Youth Fellowship Group link to go to our youth group page for more information about our youth group, upcoming youth group activities, additional youth group links, and more.
Good Shepherd Sunday
4th Sunday of Easter
Sunday, April 25, 2021 at 10:30am
Hybrid: Indoor In-Person & Live Stream, Phone Stream, Facebook Live, & Zoom
On the last Sunday in April we were planning to have an outdoor worship service in our parking lot at 10:30am. However, due to rain in the forcast, the April 25 worship service will now be an indoor hybrid worship service. You can watch the service live at home by clicking on this Good Shepherd Sunday - Live Stream link.
If you choose to come in-person....
Only come if you are feeling well, do not have a fever, have not had an exposure risk in the past 10 days, and are able to follow our Indoor Worship COVID Safety Plan (shorter highlights: Summary of Indoor Worship COVID Safety Plan). Masks and social distancing guidelines must be followed whether you have received a vaccine or not. Ushers will space you by household in socially distant pews. All the pews are at least 6 feet from others, 15 feet from the pastor and lector, and 30 feet from the cantor. If we run out of seating in the sanctuary, ushers will seat you in the Miller Fellowship Hall, where you can watch the worship service on the projection screen. The ushers need time to set up and clean before your arrival, as such the doors will not be unlocked until 10:00am.
When indoors, there will be NO singing or responsive/unison readings by the congregation and masks will be needed to be worn throughout the worship service.
For more information about our Easter season worship services, please contact any member of the Worship & Education Committee (Elsa Wertz, Chairperson; or Terry Pastor, Vice Chair).
Covenant Association Spring Meeting
Sunday, April 25, 2021
The Covenant Association Spring Meeting will be by Zoom on Sunday, April 25. The time is still to be announced. Members of St. Paul's UCC, are also members of the Covenant Association of the United Church of Christ, which includes the UCC churches located in Berks County.
Click on this Covenant Association Spring Meeting link to register, access meeting documents, and Zoom link information.
For more information, please contact our delegates: Jon Henning and Geri Gammel.
Soup 'n' Such & St. Paul's Clothing Closet
Take Out ONLY until further notice.
Last Thursday of the Month
Thursday, May 27, 2021 from 4:00-6:00pm
Thursday, June 24, 2021 from 4:00-6:00pm
Description
Once a month St. Paul's UCC offers "Soup 'n' Such" and "St. Paul's Clothing Closet".
Soup 'n' Such is a free meal for all served from 4:00-6:00pm on the last Thursday of the month.
Volunteers are welcome to come and help prepare and set up at 2:00pm, and of course are also welcome to share in the meal.
All are welcome to share in this meal -- we do NOT have any income, residency, or religious affiliation requirements.
St. Paul's Clothing Closet offers a free bag of gently used children's clothing for each child in
a family. We also accept donations of gently used, clean clothing, in good condition. Clothing
may be placed under the roof at the Pearl Street entrance to the church building (there will be a
sign indicating where to place the bags of clothing), or donations may be made during normal
office hours or Sunday mornings.
Changes Due to COVID-19
Since April 30, 2020 - Soup 'n' Such has been Take Out ONLY
Click on this COVID-19 Take Out Safety Procedures link for more information.
Currently - the Clothing Closet is By Appointment ONLY.
To schedule an appointment, please contact the church office at 610-621-5770 or office@sprucc.org. Please leave your name and phone number. Your contact information will be given to Robin, the Clothing Closet coordinator. She will contact you and set up a time convenient for both of you. Please do NOT bring your children to that appointment. A mask must be worn at all times. Click here will additional details.
Schedule for 2021
Click on this Soup 'n' Such Schedule link for the full 2021 schedule.
Instructions for Take Out during the COVID-19 Restrictions
Click on this COVID-19 Take Out Safety Procedures link for instructions about the safety process for picking up the take out meals.
As health guidelines continually change during this pandemic, please check our website for any potential updates in the process. It is important that we do this in a way that is as safe as possible for the recipients and volunteers.
Volunteers
Donations
More Information
You can click on this Soup & Such link for more information and for this year's schedule, or contact the chairperson of the Mission Committee, Steve Miller.
You can click on this St. Paul's Clothing Closet for more information, or contact coordinator Robin Henning. We are continually looking for donations of gently used children's clothing.
Youth Fellowship Group Bi-Monthly Meetings
Thursdays, May 13 & 27, 2021 from 6:00-7:00pm - Outside In-Person
Thursdays, June 10 & 24, 2021 from 6:00-7:00pm - Outside In-Person
Beginning April 29, as weather permits, we will be holding our youth group meetings in the church's parking lot, while practicing social distancing at our normal 6:00-7:00pm time. Please bring along a lawn chair and face covering. We will be in a large circle, keeping family units at a social distance. In the event of inclement weather we will spread out by family unit in the fellowship hall, while wearing face coverings. Face coverings need to cover both your mouth and nose. If you enter the building and/or are less than eight feet apart from a person outside your home, please wear a face covering. Also, if you enter the building, please wash your hands, and use your hip or elbow on the crash bar (not your bare hand) to exit the building, so that you are not touching any surfaces after you have washed your hands. If you and/or your parent(s)/guardian(s) have any safety concerns, please contact the church office or any of our youth group adult advisors.
Our regular youth group meetings are on the second and last Thursdays of the month from 6:00-7:00pm, and are intended for grades 5-12 (and/or up to age 21).
During our monthly meetings we have time for fellowship, prayer, learning, fun, and the youth planning for their own upcoming activities, all with appropriate adult supervision (who are approved through our SafeConduct process).
Click on this Youth Fellowship Group link to go to our youth group page for more information about our youth group, upcoming youth group activities, additional youth group links, and more.
Remembering the Rev. George Miller
Saturday, May 1, 2021 - Visitation Begins 12:00noon
Celebration of Life Service - 2:00pm
Hybrid: In-Person & Virtual: Live Stream, Phone Stream, & Facebook Live
We are planning for Saturday, May 1, 2021 as the Celebration of Life Service for the Rev. George Miller, our Pastor Emeritus. This service will be held at 2:00pm with visitation starting at 12:00noon until time of service.
For everyone's safety and comfort, we will be following our COVID-19 safety precautions, which includes limited seating (65 in the sanctuary, 50 in Miller Fellowship Hall, and 25 in the social hall); with mask wearing and social distancing; and no singing and no responsive/unison readings. For everyone's safety, please only come if you are feeling well and do not have a fever, and please wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Since space will be limited, people who are not staying for the service but want to visit with the family are being asked to come between 12:00 and 1:00pm, and those who want to attend the service are being asked to come between 1:00 and 2:00pm. We want everyone to be able to visit. The Miller Fellowship Hall and the Social Hall will be used for overflow, with the service being live streamed to both of those rooms. You will also be able to watch the live stream from the safety and comfort of your home.
We are continually monitoring the changes in the pandemic and the changes in recommended medical guidance. As the date approaches, please look here for potential changes in this service. If there are any changes to the above schedule, they will be posted here, as well.
To help usher, please contact Elsa Wertz or Terry Pastor (Chair and Vice Chair of the Worship & Education Committee).
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Sunday, May 2, 2021 at 10:30am
Hybrid: Live Stream, Phone Stream, Facebook Live, Zoom, & Indoor In-person
During this worship service, Pastor Ben will be consecrating the communion elements for the May communion delivery. We will be celebrating in Holy Communion on the following Sunday, May 9 during our hybrid worship service.
Beginning in May we will be resuming hybrid indoor worship. You are able to participate from the safety and comfort of your own home virtually through Live Stream, Phone Stream, Facebook Live, & Zoom, and you will be able to participate in the sanctuary in person wearing masks, social distancing, and following our Indoor Worship COVID Safety Plan (a summary of which can be found at this Summary of COVID Safety Plan link).
If you choose to come in person, only come if you are feeling well, do not have a fever, are willing and able to wear a mask covering your mouth and nose, and have not had an exposure risk in the past 10 days. Masks and social distancing guidelines must be followed whether you have received a vaccine or not.
Tentatively, we are planning for the May worship services to be "hybrid," where you can participate in-person or virtually online. At the April Consistory meeting we plan to firm up plans for indoor and outdoor worship options, as well as determining rain plans for outdoor worship.
For more information about our Easter season worship services, please contact any member of the Worship & Education Committee (Elsa Wertz, Chairperson; or Terry Pastor, Vice Chair).
Communion Packing & Delivery
For the Sunday, May 9, 2021 Live Stream Mother's Day Worship Service
Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 10:00am
Pastor Ben will be leading us in the blessing of the communion elements during the 10:30am live stream worship service on Sunday, May 2. We will have volunteers doing a no-touch delivery of the blessed elements and palm crosses beginning on Wednesday, May 5 through Thursday, May 6.
We will then be celebrating Holy Communion on Sunday, May 9, which is Mother's Day and The Festival of the Christian Home. If you come to the in-person worship service, and received a communion delivery, please bring your communion cup and bulletin along with you.
To confirm the number of pre-filled communion cups you would like delivered to your home, please contact the church office at 610-621-5770 or office@sprucc.org.
Yes, we can deliver additional communion cups for friends and neighbors who live in the area. However, we do have a limited supply, so please make your request as soon as possible.
For more details about this communion delivery, please click on this Communion Delivery During the COVID-19 Pandemic link.
We Need Volunteers
Please prayerfully consider if God is calling upon you to help with packing and/or with these no-contact deliveries. To help please contact the church office at 610-621-5770 or office@sprucc.org.
For more information please contact any member of the Worship & Education Committee (Elsa Wertz, Chairperson; and Terry Pastor, Vice Chair).
Mother's Day - Festival of the Christian Home
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Sunday, May 9, 2021 at 10:30am
Hybrid: Live Stream, Phone Stream, Facebook Live, Zoom, & Indoor In-person
Worship this Sunday will be "hybrid," where you can participate virtually online or in-person while wearing masks, social distancing, and following our Indoor Worship COVID Safety Plan (a summary of which can be found at this Summary of COVID Safety Plan link).
If you choose to come in person, only come if you are feeling well, do not have a fever, are willing and able to wear a mask covering your mouth and nose, and have not had an exposure risk in the past 10 days. Masks and social distancing guidelines must be followed whether you have received a vaccine or not.
We will be celebrating Holy Communion on this Sunday. If you had a bulletin and communion cup delivered to you, please bring that along with you to the worship service. Not to worry, we will have additional bulletins and communion cups on hand for those who do not bring those with them.
For more information about our Easter season worship services, please contact any member of the Worship & Education Committee (Elsa Wertz, Chairperson; or Terry Pastor, Vice Chair).
Blue Marsh Service Project
Saturday, May 15, 2021 from 10:00am-1:00pm
As stewards of God's creation, St. Paul's UCC in Robesonia and Zion UCC in Womelsdorf will be working together to install a walking path at the sensory garden area at Blue Marsh on Saturday, May 15 at 10:00am. If we have enough people participating, we will also be helping to mulch around the snack bar area.
We plan for to work for about two to three hours. We will be meeting at the visitor center and will then be escorted to the Day Use area.
So we know to look for you and to help us to better plan, if you are planning on participating, members and friends of St. Paul's UCC should contact Geri Gammel, chair of the Mission Committee or the church office at office@sprucc.org or 610-621-5770; and members and friends of Zion UCC should contact Akira Palmer or Zion UCC's church office, preferably by Wednesday, May 12, 2021.
Things to bring and/or wear: a mask, water bottle, closed-toed/closed-heeled shoes, suntan lotion, bug spray, and work gloves.
Ascension Sunday
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Sunday, May 16, 2021 at 10:30am
Hybrid: Live Stream, Phone Stream, Facebook Live, Zoom, & Indoor In-person
Worship this Sunday will be "hybrid," where you can participate virtually online or in-person while wearing masks, social distancing, and following our Indoor Worship COVID Safety Plan (a summary of which can be found at this Summary of COVID Safety Plan link).
If you choose to come in person, only come if you are feeling well, do not have a fever, are willing and able to wear a mask covering your mouth and nose, and have not had an exposure risk in the past 10 days. Masks and social distancing guidelines must be followed whether you have received a vaccine or not.
For more information about our Easter season worship services, please contact any member of the Worship & Education Committee (Elsa Wertz, Chairperson; or Terry Pastor, Vice Chair).
Confirmation Sunday
Pentecost Sunday
Sunday, May 23, 2021 at 10:30am
Hybrid: Live Stream, Phone Stream, Facebook Live, Zoom, & In-person by Reservation Only
We hope that you will join us virtually for worship on Sunday, May 23 at 10:30am when we celebrate in the Rite of Confirmation, and welcome the newest and youngest members of our congregation! Due to limited seating, and our desire to give preferential seating to the family and friends of our confirmation class, in-person attendance will be by reservation only. To make a reservation, please contact the church office at 610-621-5770 or office@sprucc.org.
For more information about our Pentecost season worship services, please contact any member of the Worship & Education Committee (Elsa Wertz, Chairperson; or Terry Pastor, Vice Chair).
Memorial Remembrance for the Men and Women
of the United States Armed Forces
Thursday, May 27 at 6:30pm
A brief memorial remembrance ceremony will be held at Robesonia's Henry P. Robeson Memorial Park (at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Robeson Street in Robesonia). This ceremony will honor the very special men and women of our community who gave their lives for our great nation while serving in our armed forces to protect us and the freedoms we greatly value. Everyone is encouraged to attend this ceremony to show respect and gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice these heroes made. Children also are welcome and especially invited.
Guest speaker will be Steve Mannino of the Berks County Department of Veterans Services.
Coordinated by the Patriotic Order of Sons of America, Washington Camp 113; Robesonia Borough Council; and Mayor Randy Gartner.
Trinity Sunday
First Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, May 30, 2021 at 9:30am
Summer Schedule Begins
Hybrid Outdoor In-Person & Virtual: Live Stream, Phone Stream, & Facebook Live
This Sunday begins our summer schedule, where worship will be at 9:30am for the rest of the summer. As usual, there will be NO Sunday school, and we will NOT have Junior Worship this summer. We will resume our regular Sunday schedule the Sunday after Labor Day.
Worship Services throughout the summer are planned to be hybrid, with one monthly outdoor Sunday morning worship service.
We are planning a hymn sing in the parking lot for our Sunday, May 30 morning worship service at 9:30am. We will not have Zoom this Sunday, but we will be airing this across our other three virtual platforms. Please only come in person if you are feeling well, do not have a fever, and have not had a possible COVID exposure; we will be following our outdoor COVID-19 Safety Guidelines; please wear a mask and practice social distancing.
For more information about our summer and Pentecost season worship services, please contact any member of the Worship & Education Committee (Elsa Wertz, Chairperson; or Terry Pastor, Vice Chair).
Deepening our Connections, Deepening the Journey
Pennsylvania Southeast Conference of the UCC - Annual Spring Meeting
Friday, June 4 - Saturday, June 5, 2021
2021 Virtual Annual Spring Meeting Registration is Now Open
The Pennsylvania Southeast Conference (PSEC) of the UCC is the conference to which St. Paul's UCC is a member. St. Paul's UCC members are also members of the UCC, the PSEC, and the Covenant Association.
“Deepening our Connections, Deepening the Journey” is the theme, and the hope, of PSEC’s Annual Spring meeting that begins Friday, June 4 with nationally celebrated social justice leader and guest presenter Sister Simone Campbell, a Catholic nun who, with a few sisters in faith, chartered a bus to change the world.
Our connecting continues with Saturday’s conferring sessions, workshops and worship services to honor anniversary clergy and congregations, to lament the losses endured through the pandemic and to welcome the hope of better days ahead. We gather online in a new virtual meeting space (“Whova”) for our (hopefully) last completely virtual Conference gathering. Click here to access the Call to Annual Meeting. Click here to access the annual meeting page on the PSEC website which includes the link to registration.
For more information, please contact our delegates: Jon Henning and Geri Gammel.
2nd Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, June 6, 2021 at 9:30am
Hybrid: Live Stream, Phone Stream, Facebook Live, Zoom, & Indoor In-person
Pastor Ben will be consecrating our communion elements during this worship service, which will be delivered the following week, for the Sunday, June 13 virtual and in-person worship service.
Worship this Sunday will be "hybrid," where you can participate virtually online or in-person while wearing masks, social distancing, and following our Indoor Worship COVID Safety Plan (a summary of which can be found at this Summary of COVID Safety Plan link).
For more information about our summer worship services during the season of Pentecost, please contact any member of the Worship & Education Committee (Elsa Wertz, Chairperson; or Terry Pastor, Vice Chair).
Communion Packing & Delivery
For the Sunday, June 13, 2021 Live Stream Worship Service
Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 10:00am
Pastor Ben will be leading us in the blessing of the communion elements during the 9:30am live stream worship service on Sunday, June 6. We will have volunteers doing a no-touch delivery of the blessed elements and palm crosses beginning on Wednesday, June 9 through Thursday, June 10.
We will then be celebrating Holy Communion on Sunday, June 13, which is the Sunday before Father's Day. If you come to the in-person worship service, and received a communion delivery, please bring your communion cup and bulletin along with you.
To confirm the number of pre-filled communion cups you would like delivered to your home, please contact the church office at 610-621-5770 or office@sprucc.org.
Yes, we can deliver additional communion cups for friends and neighbors who live in the area. However, we do have a limited supply, so please make your request as soon as possible.
For more details about this communion delivery, please click on this Communion Delivery During the COVID-19 Pandemic link.
We Need Volunteers
Please prayerfully consider if God is calling upon you to help with packing and/or with these no-contact deliveries. To help please contact the church office at 610-621-5770 or office@sprucc.org.
For more information please contact any member of the Worship & Education Committee (Elsa Wertz, Chairperson; and Terry Pastor, Vice Chair).
3rd Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, June 13, 2021 at 9:30am
Hybrid: Live Stream, Phone Stream, Facebook Live, Zoom, & Indoor In-person
Worship this Sunday will be "hybrid," where you can participate virtually online or in-person while wearing masks, social distancing, and following our Indoor Worship COVID Safety Plan (a summary of which can be found at this Summary of COVID Safety Plan link).
If you choose to come in person, only come if you are feeling well, do not have a fever, are willing and able to wear a mask covering your mouth and nose, and have not had an exposure risk in the past 10 days. Masks and social distancing guidelines must be followed whether you have received a vaccine or not.
We will be celebrating Holy Communion on this Sunday. If you had a bulletin and communion cup delivered to you, please bring that along with you to the worship service. Not to worry, we will have additional bulletins and communion cups on hand for those who do not bring those with them.
For more information about our summer worship services during the season of Pentecost, please contact any member of the Worship & Education Committee (Elsa Wertz, Chairperson; or Terry Pastor, Vice Chair).
Eagle Scout Award Presentation
Fall 2021 - Tentatively
Steven Motz, a member of St. Paul's UCC, completed his Eagle Scout rank in December 2019, but due to the coronavirus has not yet had the opportunity to have a ceremony to be awarded the rank.
His Eagle Scout project was setting up the Live Stream technology, software, and hardware upon which we so greatly rely during this pandemic.
This was previously rescheduled from May 2020, to the summer of 2020, and then to May 2021, as we were hoping that large public gatherings in church sanctuaries would again be permitted by this May; however, as we will still not yet be able to have large gatherings, we are postponing this award ceremony again to the fall of 2021.
Special Edition 2021 General Synod
Sunday, July 11, 2021 - Sunday, July 18, 2020
General Synod of the United Church of Christ (UCC) is the national decision-making body for the denomination. It meets every two years and consists of over 600 delegates from various
congregations and conferences. The General Synod is responsible for giving general direction to the evangelistic, missionary, and justice programs of the UCC.
The dates for the United Church of Christ’s first virtual General Synod have been set. The 33rd biennial gathering will take place online July 11-18, 2021 (from 5:00-9:30pm EDT). The Sunday to Sunday schedule is the first in a series of changes planned for this event, themed “Rooted in Love”. Pre-Synod events will occur July 7-10.
To learn more please click on this UCC link.
Worship at Knoebels Amusement Park
Sunday, August 8, 2021 at 10:30am
We will be gathering for worship at Knoebels Amusement Park in Elysburg, PA at Pavilion Tent #4 on the second Sunday of August at 10:30am.
Friends, family, visitors are all very welcome to participate. There is NO park admission fee. There is NO parking fee. You need only to pay for ride tickets (for whatever rides you may wish) and any food you may wish to purchase there.
We are especially looking forward to this year, as we needed to cancel our 2020 event due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Schedule at the Park
10:00am - begin to gather at Pavilion Tent #4
10:30am - worship at the pavilion
11:00am - rides and water park open
11:15am - lunch at Pavilion Tent #4
8:00pm - water park closes
9:00pm - park closes
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Worship in the Sanctuary of St. Paul's on August 8
For those who are unable to journey with us to Knoebels, we are planning to have a worship service in our sanctuary at 9:30am.
Previous Year's Photos
To view photos from previous year's click on the following links:
Knoebels 2016 - Facebook Photos
Knoebels 2015 - Website Photos
Knoebels 2015 - Facebook Photos
Knoebels 2014 - Website Photos
Knoebels 2014 - Facebook Photos
Annual Car Show
Saturday, August 14, 2021 from 10:00am to 3:00pm
St. Paul's Annual Car Show will take place rain or shine on Saturday, August 14 from 10:00am to 3:00pm. The show will take place behind the church in the grass lot. There will be four classes of cars to be judged: Antique, Classic, Modified and Special Interest. Five trophy awards will be presented. If you would like to pre-register, please do so by August 7, 2021. You may also register on the same day as the show. Either way, the cost is $10.00 per car. The first 150 cars to register will receive a free gift. Food will be available for purchase during the event.
To obtain the registration form, please click on this registration link. You may then download and print the form. Please follow the instructions found on the form. If you would like a form sent to you, please call the church at 610-621-5770.
~ ~ ~ Upcoming Events in 2022 ~ ~ ~
WORSHIP TIMES
(Regular Schedule: Sept 1 - May 31)
Sunday School at 9:00AM
Sunday Adult Studies at 9:00AM
Sunday Worship at 10:30AM
(Summer Schedule: June 1 - Aug 31)
Summer Sunday Worship 9:30AM
What is the UCC?
Find out about the United Church of Christ and the history of this wonderful organization on our What is UCC page.
About St. Paul's UCC
Come to the About Us section to meet the staff, and find out what we're all about!
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