Happy 2024! May God bless all of you with joy and good health this year!
Fr. Bill’s Retirement Celebration
Of course, our top story for this week is the forthcoming celebration for Fr. Bill and Carole. You are invited to join us and The Rev. Canon Betsy Randall this Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. We will celebrate with Fr. Bill and Carole as they move on to the next phase of their life in ministry; and what a blessing it has been to have had them as a part of our lives here at St. Paul’s! Please plan to stay for the reception which will follow the service.
If you are unable to attend, gifts, cards, and well-wishes may be sent to Fr. Bill & Carole c/o St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1310 N. Sioux Ave., Claremore, OK 74017, or emailed to WVMartin@aol.com
Good Book Club & Christian Formation
Sunday morning formation class will resume this Sunday, January 7, at 8:30 a.m. Throughout the season of Epiphany, we will be following the Episcopal Church’s Good Book Club curriculum – reading the entire book of Genesis, and following reflections provided in the book A Journey through Genesis. Books and reading lists will be provided.
This coming Sunday (1/07), we will discuss chapter one of Genesis and learn a little background about when and how it was written. Food for thought: Genesis 1:27 states that we are created B’Tezelem Elohim (in God’s image). How can the responsibility of knowing this help inform our choices? When can you see God’s image in others’ faces? When is it more difficult for you to see the image of God in other people?
All are welcome to join us as we discuss how this ancient work of literature is still relevant today.
Faithful Innovation & God Chat
How do we discover God’s mission in the world beyond our congregations? Into what is God calling us? Where might we meet Lydia along the way? Faithful Innovation is a program designed to help congregations discover new ways in which they might begin to move out into their communities. As part of this initiative, St. Paul’s has a lay-led team which will be providing opportunities for the entire congregation to participate in a little “God chat.”
What’s God chat, you may ask. It’s simply talking about where and how we can see God working in our personal lives, in our congregation, and in our community. For example, recall the story of when you knew this church was yours. Or, when have you felt God really alive in your church (perhaps in the last month)? Think of ways that you might share your answers to these questions with your fellow parishioners, family, or friends.
And it’s as simple as that! Simple, yes; but the ripple effects of these conversations can be quite impactful! Be on the lookout for opportunities that your Faithful Innovation team will be providing for you to engage in this exciting and ongoing conversation!
Stewardship Campaign
Our stewardship campaign continues. If you would like to contribute to our 2024 budget, you may place your stewardship forms in the offering plate on Sundays, give them directly to Barbara, or mail them
Barbara Bajon, Treasurer c/o St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 1310 N. Sioux Ave. Claremore, OK 74017
To request that a stewardship form be emailed to you please reply to this message and type “Stewardship Form” in the message window.
Let Us Pray
- Pray for our Bishop’s Committee and congregation as we transition to new leadership, explore our dreams, and discern and chat about what God is doing and where God is leading us in 2024
- Pray for Tom Keenze as he prepares for knee replacement surgery
- Pray for the victims of the war in Ukraine
- Pray for Israel
- Remember the victims of the war in Gaza
- For the needs of the members, family, and friends of our congregation, specifically Bill & Carole Martin/ Miranda & Brayden/ Nancy S/ Velma/ Jim/ Judy/ Ani/ Aaron Blum/ Robert/ Jim Walker/ Lloyd/ Patricia/ Marie/ Russell/ Virginia/ Barbara/ Grace/ Lauren/ Cindy/ Anne & her family/ Sarah/ Matthew & Rushda/ Christoph & Jenn/ Teddy & family/ Linda, Ken, & their family/ Amy, Bill, & their family/ Stephen/ John/ Tom Patterson/ Jan/ Tom/ Bob & family/ Jean/ Al/ Carol W/ Mark/ Caroline & Rudy/ Bicky & Spencer/ Brian/ Pat/ Mark H/ Mike/ Chris/ Brady/ Patrick/ Zachary
If you have prayer requests to add to the Newsletter, email them to Clergy@stpaulsclaremore.org or reply to this email.
Save the Dates
- Saturday, January 6 – Epiphany; Faithful Innovation team meeting @ 10 a.m.
- Sunday, January 7 – Fr. Bill’s retirement celebration at 9:30 a.m.; Christian Formation resumes at 8:30 a.m.; 1st Sunday after Epiphany
- Friday & Saturday, January 12 & 13 – Bi-vocational Priest Retreat at St. Crispin’s
- Wednesday, January 17 @ 11 a.m. – Northeast Clericus meeting @ St. Paul’s Claremore
- Saturday, January 20, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Bishop’s Committee Retreat in the Parish Hall
- Saturday, January 27 @ 10am – Faithful Innovation regional meeting (location TBA)
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