Bulletin for 01152023

Senior Pastor e Reverend Robin Hinton

Technical Administrative Assistant: Tiffany Grier

Carlene Mahan Lead Stan Edwards

Order of Worship .................................................................................................... 4-5 Litany to Honor The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ...................................... 6

Scripture ...................................................................................................................... 7 Guest Preacher The Reverend Dr. DeForest Soaries, Jr. ........................................... 8 News & Announcements ............................................................................................ 9

MLK Day of Service Annual Food Drive – January 16th ....................................... 10 MLK Day of Service Annual Literacy Book Drive – January 16th ........................ 11

MLK Day of Service Movie “Emancipation” & Panel Discussion– January 16th .. 12 MLK Day of Service Food Drive Community Drive Partnership – January 16th .. 13 Chester County Commissioners Proclaim MLK Day – St. Paul’s ......................... 14 St. Paul’s 136th Church Anniversary – Save the Date! January 23rd ...................... 15 Breast Cancer and Prostate Cancer Zoom – January 28th ....................................... 16 Bible Study ............................................................................................................... 17 Youth Church – 2nd & 3rd Sundays ........................................................................... 17 Delta Sigma Theta 2023 Scholarships -Valley Forge Alumnae Chapter ................ 18 Marriage Ministry Valentine’s Day Dinner- February 18th .................................... 19

Church School Corner ............................................................................................. 20 Ministry Volunteers – AV, Safety & Security, Ushers, Youth Ministry, Nursery ............. 21 COVID Protocols for Worship ................................................................................. 22

Prayer Line Monday – Friday .................................................................................. 23 Pastor Croft’s Monday Prayer Call .......................................................................... 24 Giving ...................................................................................................................... 25 Scholarship Fund ..................................................................................................... 25

Health & Wellness Ministry Seeking Youth and Young Adults for Educational Videos ........26 Members in Nursing Homes, Hospitals and Convalescing at Home ....................... 27 Health & Wellness General COVID Guidelines ...................................................... 28

YouTube ................................................................................................................... 29

FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance ................................................................... 30 Social Security. ......................................................................................................... 31 Reach Out to St. Paul’s ............................................................................................. 32

“We don’t need another political uprising. We don’t need another conqueror on the scene. What we need is a special word, that will bond within our hearts and give us direction from above. We need a Word from the Lord. A Word from the Lord. Just one Word from the Lord, will remove all the doubts and cause the sun to shine and give peace of mind. Speak Lord, Speak Lord.”

Litany to Honor

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968

Leader: In the grand order of the universe, our Lord God wisely chose men and women to serve in each era. Such a servant was The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose birth we commemorate. We are thankful for the life of this 20th century prophet of freedom, who joined the prophets of history in the cry for justice.

Congregation: In the name of freedom, let my people go.

Leader: Dr. King went on a journey for justice. It was a journey proclaiming the words of the ancient prophet, Amos: “Let justice roll down like waters; and righteousness like a mighty stream.” It was a journey calling forth the modern Christian ministry to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, and to set at liberty those who are oppressed.

Congregation: In the name of justice and suffering people, let my people go.

Leader: The journey went to Montgomery to affirm human dignity and courage, to Birmingham to defeat the sickness separating human life, to Selma to ensure the equality of people in human affairs, and to hundreds of communities to remove painful shackles of oppression and light joyous torches of liberty.

Congregation: In the name of this journey toward freedom, let my people go.

Leader: Even when death was confronted, as the journey reached Memphis, he could say in final triumph, that in life he found something worth dying for, something worth life itself – the Promised Land, a land of freedom with justice.

Congregation: In the name of the Lord, God Almighty, let my people go.

All: Thank you, Lord, for Martin Luther King, Jr., who inspired us with his dream, who marched for justice, demanded freedom with great courage in the face of grave danger, and who has now taken his seat in the stands of glory. Thank you God for having sent us one who now causes us to say: In the name of our God, the God of peace and justice, and in honor of The Reverend Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr., let my people go.

NRSV

"The Lord says to my lord, 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.'”

Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr. is the President of Corporate Community Connections, Inc., former Senior Pastor of First Baptist Churchof Lincoln Gardensin Somerset, New Jersey, former New Jersey Secretary of State, and the author of the books "Say Yes to No Debt: 12 Steps to Financial Freedom", "MeditationsforFinancialFreedom- Volumes 1&2"and "Say YesWhen LifeSaysNo."

Dr. Soaries is the creator of dfree® -a financial freedom movement in use by thousands of churches and organizations across the country. dfree® has been featured by CNN in a 90-minute Black in America documentary entitled, "Almighty Debt." Hisworkhasalsobeenfeaturedin several publications, including the New York Times, the Wall StreetJournal, and BlackEnterprise.

Dr. Soaries is currently a member of the Board of Directors at OcwenFinancial Corp. (NYSE: OCN), Independence Realty Trust (NYSE: IRT) andFederal Home Loan Bank of New York. HeservesastheCompensationChaironallthreeboards.

View the movie “Emancipation” followed by a panel discussion “The Cost of Freedom.”

This movie is the true story of a man named Peter. This movie is rated R. High School students accompanied by an adult, young adults, and adults are invited to view the movie and join the conversation that follows.

West Chester County Proclaims Martin

Luther King, Jr. Day

January 16, 2023.

The Chester County Commissioners proclaimed January 16, 2023 as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in Chester County. The proclamation urges all citizens to participate in community projects connected to the teachings of Dr. King, and to unite behind efforts that foster racial, cultural and community harmony. The Commissioners choose a Chester County organization to present the proclamation to that recognizes and honors the legacy of Dr. King through their actions of community service. St. Paul’s Baptist Church was asked again to receive the proclamation. This took place January 11th at 10:00 AM.

Commissioner Michelle Kichilne, Rev. Dr. Richelle Gunter (St. Paul's Baptist Church), Reverend Dr. Wayne E. Croft Sr. (Pastor, St. Paul's Baptist Church), Commissioner Marion Moskovitz, Commissioner Josh Maxwell

136th Church Anniversary January 22, 2023

Many people in the United States have some protection, or immunity, against COVID-19 due to vaccination, previous infection, or both. This immunity, combined with the availability of tests and treatments, has greatly reduced the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 for many people.

The CDC has stated “We’re in a stronger place today as a nation, with more tools—like vaccination, boosters, and treatments—to protect ourselves, and our communities, from severe illness from COVID-19. We also have a better understanding of how to protect people from being exposed to the virus.”

Because we have better tools to protect ourselves against COVID19, the CDC has lifted most COVID19 restrictions. However, we are recommending that we gradually reduce mitigation strategies against COVID 19 for our congregation.

Our first step is that we will no longer require social distancing for our Sunday services. We will still require masking at all times while in the sanctuary. We will continue to encourage anyone who is feeling ill to please stay at home. We are requesting people who are immunocompromised or have other chronic illnesses to wear N95 protective masks. We encourage everyone to get vaccinated and boosted.

We will continue to closely monitor COVID 19 data locally and nationally over the next few weeks. We will revisit COVID19 mitigation strategies for St. Paul’s Baptist in October. We thank you for your cooperation.

St. Paul's Baptist Church Relaunch Committee

HEALTHAND WELLNESS COVID GUIDELINES

Based on new scientific data, the CDC has revised its isolation and quarantine guidelines regarding COVID-19 infections and exposures.

Important terms used in these guidelines.

· Isolation- refers to the behavior after a confirmed COVID infection via testing

· Quarantine- refers to the time following exposure to the COVID virus

Length of Isolation Length of Quarantine How long to wear Mask when around others

If test POSITIVE AND REMAIN ASYMPTOMATIC

If test POSITIVE AND SYMPTOMATIC

If and individual is EXPOSED to COVID, ASYMPTOMATIC, and is unvaccinated or completed primary series, but has not received booster

If an individual is exposed to COVID and is fully vaccinated and boosted

5 days N/A 5 days after completionof isolation

5 days as long the individual does not have a fever/ other symptoms are resolving

N/A 5 days after completion of isolation

N/A 5 days *If symptoms develop the individual should immediately quarantine until testing can confirm that symptoms are not present.

N/A does not need to quarantine if symptoms develop the individual should immediately quarantine until testing can confirm that symptoms are not presentVD

For a total of 15 days after exposure

When to Test

5 days after exposure

15 days 5 days after exposure

COVID Funeral Assistance

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters. We are dedicated to helping ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus.

Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.

We are working with stakeholder groups to get their input on ways we can best provide this assistance, and to enlist their help with outreach to families and communities. FEMA will begin to implement COVID-19 funeral assistance in April.

Additional guidance is being finalized and will be released to potential applicants and community partners as soon as possible. In the meantime, people who have COVID-19 funeral expenses are encouraged to keep and gather documentation.

FEMAwillbeginacceptingapplicationsforFuneralAssistanceon Monday,April 12, 2021throughthededicatedcallcenter.

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible for funeral assistance, you must meet these conditions: The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.

The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020.

There is no requirement for the deceased person to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.

How to Apply

COVID-19FuneralAssistanceLineNumber Applicationsbeginon April12,2021 844-684-6333|TTY:800-462-7585

HoursofOperation: Monday -Friday

8a.m.to8p.m.CentralTime

If you had COVID-19 funeral expenses, we encourage you to keep and gather documentation. Types of information should include:

An official death certificate that attributes the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.

Funeral expenses documents (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that includes the applicant’s name, the deceased person’s name, the amount of funeral expenses, and the dates the funeral expenses happened.

Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. We are not able to duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, government agencies, or other sources.

How Funds are Received

Ifyouareeligibleforfuneralassistanceyouwillreceiveacheckbymail,orfundsbydirectdeposit, dependingonwhichoptionyouchoosewhenyouapplyforassistance.

ONE H1 HAGERTY BOULEVARD WEST CHESTER, PA 19382 19382

PHONE: 610-692-2446 FAX: 610-692-7582

EEMAIL: CHURCHOFFICE@STPAULSBAPTIST.ORG WWW.STPAULSBAPTIST.ORG