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News from Director of Family Ministries – February 29, 2024

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

For the entire month of February, the youth group has been discussing relationships. All different aspects and types of relationships.

We have covered Personal, Impersonal, Family, Technological as well as Romantic.

In all of these we have asked the question, “Does this particular relationship bring me closer to Christ?”

All of our relationships should center around Christ Jesus. He is who we should go not only by ourselves, but with others who also follow Him.

Blessings,
Melissa Jensen

melissa jensen

A Message from Pastor Evan – February 29, 2024

Rev Evan Dodge

Dear St. Paul’s family:

This Sunday will be the midway point of the Lenten season.
Periodically when we’re on a journey, like moving through lunch with Jesus on the way to the cross, it’s good to stop and take stock of where we are.

Now that we are nearing the halfway point of lent, where are things with you spiritually? Are you finding a return to simplicity and solitude, finding satisfaction in Jesus Christ? Are you attending to prayer and reading? Are you finding that the things of God become more and more a part of your conscience?

More than ever we need dedicated believers who are willing to go all the way with Jesus.

May that describe you this Lent.
Blessings,
Pastor Evan

St. Paul’s Podcast – A Conversation with Melissa Jensen

podcast
A new episode of The St. Paul’s Podcast is available!

Melissa Jensen, Director of Youth & Family Ministries, talks about her long history and involvement with SPUMC and her hopes and dreams for the youth and family ministries.

Check out the link or find The St. Paul’s Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Be sure to subscribe!

The direct Libsyn link to the podcast:
https://sites.libsyn.com/481068/a-conversation-with-melissa-jensen

News from Director of Family Ministries – February 22, 2024

mel and mike

Being as the edition of News From the Pews is the same date as my wedding anniversary I decided to share a bit about my own family.

Mike and Melissa Jensen…
We are a family of 2. But we were united as 1 on February 22, 2014. That was 10 years ago!

What a difference a decade makes!

We have been through ups and downs as a family. We have received great blessings, and been through some very big struggles.
But through it all, we have had each other.

I do believe that the strength of our marriage comes from the Lord’s instruction. So I have added that below. This was the Scripture on the back of our wedding bulletin.

The instructions within this scripture to both me and my husband has led and strengthened our marriage.

What the Lord has brought together let no man put asunder.

Blessings,
Melissa Jensen

Ephesians 5:22-33

“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body.

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband”

A Message from Pastor Evan – February 22, 2024

Rev Evan Dodge

Dear St. Paul’s family:

I continue to give thanks to God for his presence and power here in our congregation. The Lord is moving in our church and I am grateful to be a part of that! Perhaps you have been attending for a short while or a long time and want to deepen your relationship with St. Paul’s church through membership. Joining a local church is a public expression of your commitment to serving God and others through the mission and ministry of a church. If this is you, I’m so grateful!

Please reach out to the church office (office@stpaulsbrick.org or 732-458-2080) or to Pastor Evan (pastorevan@stpaulsbrick.org). We will have a new member orientation in the spring, and we want to reserve room for you!

Come be a part of what God is doing here!

Blessings,
Pastor Evan

News from Director of Family Ministries – February 15, 2024

Ash Wednesday 2024

“For dust you are and to dust you will return.” Genesis 3:19

This past Wednesday was a great start to lent! Our Lenten Lunches began and I was able to provide the soup for the first week. Our Lenten lunch team put out some very yummy appetizers and our time of devotion was very special.
I also had the great privilege of helping to serve at the evening Ash Wednesday service. This was very special as we continued the tradition of pairing our service with another congregation.
St. Paul’s has had a long standing relationship with the Church of Epiphany. We have joined in the Lenten season for many year, alternating who is the host church.
It is like our extended Christian family.
This year, I was blessed to read scripture from their pulpit and helped to distribute ashes to the congregation. It was wonderful to see our two congregations sitting together and beginning a new season of Lent.

I thank Pastor Evan and Father Mike for allowing me to be part of the service.
Let us all have a blessed and fruitful Lenten Season as we remember the earthly journey of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

And please join us for Lenten Lunches if you are available!

Blessings,
Melissa Jensen

A Message from Pastor Evan – February 15, 2024

Rev Evan Dodge

Dear St. Paul’s family:

Last night was truly a powerful experience. We joined with Church of the Epiphany Catholic Church for a joint Ash Wednesday service, and what a meaningful way to begin this season of the church year. I know I speak for many of you who were in attendance when I observe that there is something so powerful about two different Christian denominations coming together in unity in an age of such division and tribalism. I am excited for future opportunities for our churches to partner in worship and ministry.

Ashes are a tangible mark and reminder of the sinful human condition and our need for repentance and grace. In the Old Testament, those engaging in repentance would often cover themselves in ashes, contrasting their frailty with God’s holiness. As we journey through Lent, remember those ashes that marked you yesterday. May we never lose sight of our constant need for God’s grace.

Pastor Evan

Visiting Missionaries at Mid-Week Worship February 21st, 7:00pm

St. Paul’s has a wonderful tradition of supporting missionaries all around the world. 

The Rev. Mutwale wa Mushidi and Kabaka Alphonsine, longtime Global Ministries missionaries in Tanzania, will visit and fellowship with us on February 21st at our Mid-Week Worship. They will give testimony about their current missions.

The two share information and insights about their challenging work in starting churches, building an annual conference ministry center, training women and widows in building skills and financial capacity to care for their families, and teaching and nurturing children and orphans.

We would love for as many of St. Paul’s members who are able to attend.
We will have a basket available for donation, if you feel led to help out Tanzanian missionaries. 

We hope you can join us on the 21st! 

A Message from Pastor Evan – February 8, 2024

Rev Evan Dodge

Dear St. Paul’s family:

This coming Wednesday, February 14th, we begin the season of Lent by observing Ash Wednesday. 
(click here for a link on the history and practice of this day)

We will gather at Church of the Epiphany at 7:30 as we begin this important time in the life of the church. Ash Wednesday reminds us of our fragility, our sin, and our need for a Savior. Throughout Lent, many believers pay close attention to their own spiritual lives, attending to spiritual practices like prayer, Bible reading, fasting, devotional materials, and more.

I encourage you to adopt something or focus more intently on a practice you already observe. Lent is a time to get back to spiritual basics, to tend the soil of our souls so spiritual fruit might grow.

May this be a powerful Lenten season for all of us.

Blessings,
Pastor Evan

A Message from Pastor Evan – February 1, 2024

Rev Ronell Howard, District Superintendent
Rev. Ronell Howard

Dear St. Paul’s family,

Please join us THIS SUNDAY – February 4, We are excited to have our district superintendent, the Rev. Ronell Howard, with us in worship and will preside at communion with me.  I want to encourage everyone to attend and to welcome the district superintendent to our church.

Onward in God’s service!
Pastor Evan