I have shown you in every way by laboring like this, that you must support the weak.  And remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
The people of St. Paul's church delight in the many opportunities available to them in which they can help make this world a better place for all. These are some of the programs currently in place which allow us to help others. 

Grief Ministry: The Grief Ministry is a program of our Social Ministry committee. We know how difficult things can be when a close member of the family has passed away, and the Grief Ministry seeks to reduce a bereaved person's burden a little bit by providing a hot meal for the family. There are currently fifteen teams of four members each, and these rotate the responsibility of providing the meal. When Pastor learns of a death in the congregation, he or his wife Linda will contact the leader of the next team on the rotation. The leader then calls the other members of the team. If you would like to be a part of the Grief Ministry outreach, call the church office at 610-264-3221 and ask for more information.

Prayer Shawls: We all want to feel cared for and thought of by our neighbors, and the Prayer Shawl Ministryis a way to provide that service. Linda Walbert organized this program, which allows people who can knit or crochet (or would like to learn!) to put their skill to work helping others. As the shawls are made, the maker says a prayer for the person who will receive it. When they receive their new shawl, they also receive written prayers for health and well-being, and this gift of love gives them a feeling of warmth both inside and out. Anyone who wishes to make shawls for those in need is welcome to join the program. You can call Linda at 610-264-5996 and ask her what you need to know. (For more information on the origins of this ministry, visit the website linked above.)

Souper Bowl of Caring is a program which was started some years back by Brad Smith, a seminary intern at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC. From his simple grassroots effort, a natiowide movement grew among the congregations of many different churches of various faiths, and St. Paul's is among them. Each year, on Super Bowl Sunday, members of our youth group stand at the church exits holding large soup kettles, into which our parishioners contribute money. All of the money raised by all of the churches across America goes to soup kitchens, food banks, and other charities to aid the hungry. On Super Bowl Sunday 2003, St. Paul's and the other participating churches combined their efforts to raise more than $3 million. As well as raising money for those who need it, the founders of the Souper Bowl of Caring hope to show the young people of our nation just how much they can accomplish with a little effort and faith in God. To learn more about this particular outreach, visit the website linked above -- and remember to bring your dollar to church on the next Super Bowl Sunday!

Prayer Chain: At St. Paul's, we know the power of prayer. Members of our Prayer Chain Ministry are telephoned weekly with a list of people who especially need prayers. "Praying to bring healing and comfort to others is perhaps one of the most precious and valuable acts of service that we, as Christians, can perform." The Prayer Chain is always happy to include new members willing to donate a few minutes of praying time, so if you'd like to help, please call the church office.

AA Meetings: St. Paul's hosts the Catasauqua group meetings for AA of the Lehigh Valley. These are held every Monday and Friday at 10:00 a.m., on the second floor of the church. Use the rear entrance of the church for easiest access to the stairs. The meetings are open to anyone; please contact AALV for more information.

Soda Tabs: The youth of our church collect pull tabs from soda cans  for the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. This is one of our most enthusiastic outreach programs! The PRMH provides housing to the families of patients in the local children's hospitals, and the soda tabs are a huge boost to the charity's finances. Bring your tabs to worship on Sundays, or to the church office any day of the week, and help with this important program!

Campbell's Soup Labels for Education: Our church also collects the Labels for Education and Box Tops for Education. These are donated wherever we hear of a need, though most frequently to the Lehigh Valley Lutheran Schoolin nearby Whitehall.

Inkjet Cartridges: Help St. Paul's itself by bringing in your used printer and fax machine cartridges! We trade them in at our local Staples and receive store credit -- $3.00 for every qualifying print cartridge. Not only will it contribute to fundraising at St. Paul's, but it keeps these things out of landfills and helps protect the environment! Everyone wins!

Cell Phones: We also collect used cell phones, which both protects the environment and helps the Good Deed Foundation assist people living in poverty. Bring your phones to the church office or Sunday worship and we'll add them to our collection box. Click on this handy widget to learn more about the program or to start a phone recycling drive of your own:

 Miller Keystone Blood Center

We want to thank the following St. Paul members for donating:

James Devault, Kathryn Miller, Michael Miller, Robert Shipe, Suzanne Smale, and Mark Weaver. 

Remember, we have an annual donation goal of 33 pints, so please mention that you are giving for St. Paul’s whenever you donate blood!

 Catasauqua Food Bank the following donations:

• Canned Tuna, Meat, Pork & Beans and Vegetables
• Boxed Macaroni & Cheese, Hamburger Helper, Ramen Noodles

Drop off your donations for the Food Pantry in the shopping basket in the Church Narthex