St Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church
Pastor's Perspective
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It is a simple act, really. In the midst of summer picnics, graduation parties, family reunions, there is a great opportunity to benefit one of the important ministries related to our congregation. It all starts with that aluminum pop can so many of us drink out of in the course of the summer.
Many people often will recycle those cans and redeem them for money that may be used for a variety of things. I have known people to tuck such money away for eating out, saving up for a vacation, or toward a child’s education. But did you know that here at St. Paul, those cans benefit our youth and youth from across the Southwestern PA Synod.
For many years Paul Miller has taken thousands of pounds of aluminum cans to be recycled. The money from those cans is forwarded to Camp Lutherlyn. These funds are used by the camp to provide experiences in a Christian environment that will deepen the faith of children throughout their teenage and young adult years. However, there is another element of this ministry that is just as important. That element of ministry is stewardship.
One of the things Mandy Newill from the Stewardship Committee highlighted in her article from last month’s Sentinel is the role each of us has as stewards or caretakers of what is entrusted to us by God. Consider what you do by recycling just aluminum cans.
It takes 80-100 years for an aluminum can to decompose (break down) in a landfill. Aluminum cans are recycled into soda cans, pie plates, license plates, thumbtacks, aluminum foil, and many other items. Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a television for up to three hours.
These recycling facts from www.recyclingfacts.org draw home the ease of preserving for our children and future generations, the beauty of the earth and its rich resources that God has provided. This is but one way of how we live out our responsibility to God as told in Genesis 2:15 “God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till and keep it.”
We no long live in the Garden of Eden, but we do live as part of God’s creation, gifted with responsibility and ability to do simply things that require very little time. The rewards are great for our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and those who follow. It is a reward of a good environment and through the recycling of aluminum cans at the church, benefits the faith development of campers.
Hospitals: With concern for privacy please remember that the hospitals may not notify us if you become a patient. Should you desire a pastoral visit please notify or have a family notify the church. In the event of an emergency and you need to reach Pastor Mark, you may call him at his home number 724-424-8998.
Office Hours:
I have reprinted my office hours for your convenience. They are printed here so that you may know when I’m in the office in the event you wish to drop by or phone to speak with me. I do also make home visits, hospital calls, nursing home visits at other times not noted on the below listed hours. While I make every effort to be in the office during these times, emergencies or meetings do come up from time to time.
Mondays 9 – noon
Tuesdays 9 – 10:30 am
Wednesdays 10 – 3
Thur. 10 – noon
Friday 9 – noon
Saturdays are usually my day off, except for weddings, funerals and emergencies.
God bless,
