Merry Christmas, one and all!
I do hope that your holiday season is filled with laughter, love, and the wonder and joy of Christ, God’s gift to us all!
Christmas Eve with Mt. Zion
What a marvelous blessing it was to share an evening of celebration with all of you! Our choir did an outstanding job of opening the service with a combination of special music and congregational sing-alongs. I, for one, am very grateful for the friendship we share with our beloved brothers and sisters in Christ at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Their youth enhanced the service with their beautiful music and Pastor Coulter brought us a profound message based on our epistle reading from the book of Titus. It was truly a delightful experience!
5th Sunday Service
You won’t want to miss our service this coming Sunday (12/29). As you have probably noticed, each time we have a month with five Sundays, we are trying to do something special on that 5th Sunday, and this month will be no exception. We will be hearing testimonials (yes, you read that correctly…testimonials in the Episcopal church!) from Tjode Favier and Ron Parker. Both of these parishioners have been through some inspiring experiences this year, and they have agreed to share a bit of their stories with us. This should be a fantastic way to observe the final Sunday of 2024! Join us!
Special Offering for Medical Debt Relief
This Sunday, December 29, will be the last day that we collect funds for this seasonal offering to help relieve local Rogers County residents of undue medical debt. As an added incentive, the Bishop’s Committee has agreed to match up to $1,000 of the funds given for this special offering.
Medical debt has become a crippling burden to many in our country, and we have the opportunity to offer some relief to our neighbors. If you wish to contribute to this special project, simply designate your offerings as “medical debt relief” and/or place them directly into the little hospital offering house.
To read more about this debt relief program, visit Undue Medical Debt — Donor-powered medical debt relief, liberating everyday people.
Bishop’s Visit and Confirmation
January 5 will be an exciting day at St. Paul’s. Not only is it the second Sunday after Christmas and the first Sunday of the new year, it is also the day that Diocesan Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Poulson Reed, will be visiting St. Paul’s. While he is with us, he will serve as both preacher and celebrant for the eucharistic service. In addition, our own Joyce Landrum will be confirmed during this special service. Afterwards, we will enjoy a scrumptious pot luck luncheon during which time the bishop will share in a Q&A discussion with all of us. Following lunch, Bishop Poulson will meet with the Bishop’s Committee. What a fabulous way to kick off the year 2025! We hope you will join us!
Mobile Food Pantry to Return to St. Paul’s
Wednesday, January 8, the mobile food pantry from Grace United Methodist Church will, once again, be in the St. Paul’s parking lot from 5-8 pm. Parishioners are invited to help set up beginning at 4:00, and to help fill, carry, and load grocery bags for local residents. Come for 30 minutes, and hour, or the whole evening – whatever time you have available is greatly appreciated. This is a fun way to spread Christ’s love and minister to our local community! We hope to see you there.
Let Us Pray
- That during this Christmas season Christ’s gift will be shared by all
- For the safety of those traveling during the holiday season
- That our parishioners will exemplify God’s peace during this time when so much religious, social, and political unrest plagues our community, nation, and world
- For all students and school personnel
- For Ukraine and Russia
- For Israel and Palestine
- For Ani/ Chris/ Mike/ Brian/ Mark H/ Ron H/ Rose/ Brady/ Zachary/ Donna/ Vernon/ Corey/ Janie/ Rick/ Lillian/ Carol Sue/ Erin/ Mike/ Don/ Pauline/ Doris/ Stephen/ Jim/ Tjode/ Rusti/ Joyce L/ Justin/ Robert/ Lenny/ Rose Ridge/ Bertha Boyles/ Alberta Hardy/ Gabriel/ and for the repose of Megan Henshaw and Traci Owens
If you have prayer requests to add to the Newsletter, email them to Clergy@stpaulsclaremore.org
Save the Dates
- Sunday, December 29 – Holy Eucharist @ 10:00 am; 1st Sunday after Christmas; no Christian formation this day
- Sunday, January 5 – Holy Eucharist @ 10:00 am; Confirmations with Bishop Poulson; no Christian formation this day
- Wednesday, January 8 – Grace UMC Mobile Food Pantry at St. Paul’s from 5-8 pm
- Sunday, January 12 – Holy Eucharist @ 10:00 am; 1st Sunday after the Epiphany
- Sunday, January 19 – Holy Eucharist @ 10:00 am; 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany; Bishop’s Committee meeting
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