Hello, and Happy Thanksgiving! Whatever you’re doing today, wherever you’re going, whoever you’ll be with, I pray that you have a safe and enjoyable holiday!
Last Sunday (11/23), we celebrated Christ the King Sunday, closed out our annual stewardship campaign, and looked forward to Thanksgiving with an early TG dinner.
This week (11/30), we’ll observe the first Sunday of Advent and begin a discussion about expecting the unexpected. Join us at 10:00am for Holy Eucharist, followed by coffee hour.
Friendsgiving Feast & Festivities
If you don’t already have plans today, we would love for you to join us at St. Paul’s for a Friendsgiving feast from 1-5 pm in the parish hall. There will be plenty of good food, fun games, and scintillating conversation; so, drop by if you have a chance. This event is open to the entire community, so help us spread the word to those who don’t have other plans – No one eats alone this Thanksgiving!
Break the Silence Sunday
This Sunday, November 30, is the 5th Sunday of the month. As you have likely noticed, St. Paul’s tries to do something a little different each time we have a 5th Sunday. This month, 5th Sunday falls on the same day that the Episcopal Church observes Break the Silence – a day wherein we name and address the reality of gender-based violence within our communities and support survivors through prayer, advocacy, and concrete action. Our Eucharistic service that morning will center around a special liturgy that celebrates Healing, Hope, and Liberation, and invites all of us into the work of healing and renewal.
If you are – or know of someone who is – a survivor of abuse, we will acknowledge the names of those individuals during our Prayers of the People. A sign-up sheet is located on the table at the back of the Nave where you can list the names of individuals to be included in that special prayer or you can submit name online utilizing this link: Prayer Requests – St Paul’s Claremore
Advent Lessons & Hymns
At 3 pm this Sunday afternoon (3/30), St. Paul’s will be hosting a regional service of Lessons & Hymns to kick off the season of Advent. Load up the family, invite your friends and join us for a seasonal sing-along followed by hot chocolate, hot cider, and cookies!
Angel Tree
A couple of our parishioners have collected Angel Tree wish lists – one for a 9-year-old and one for a first-time mother and baby – and have offered to let us all participate in providing those gifts! On the tree, you will find individual white ornaments upon which are listed a gift item as well an indication of who will be receiving that gift. As the baby is due on December 6, we request that all gift items listed on white cards be placed under the tree no later than Sunday, November 30.
But wait…there’s more! We have discovered a couple of other families who need help providing gifts for their kiddos this year; so we’ve added them to the tree. Look for the green ornaments; if it’s green, it’s not due until December 14.
You may select as many gift cards as you like; just remember, when you return the gift, be sure to attach the card to the outside so we know who the gift is for.
Christmas Potluck & Dirty Santa
We’re teaming up with RSU Pride and Claremore Pride for a festive Christmas Potluck on December 3rd from 5:00-8:30 pm. Join us for delicious food, a fun round of Dirty Santa, and crafts. Please bring a dish to share; and if you’d like to participate in Dirty Santa, bring a wrapped gift valued at $15 or less.
Our Youth Support Group will be combined with this event for the evening, so the Dec. 2 Youth Pride meeting is cancelled. Regular Youth Support meetings will resume in January on the first Tuesday of each month.
Everyone in the community is welcome—the more the merrier! If possible, please RSVP on Claremore Pride’s Facebook event page using this link: www.facebook.com/share/17wey5V3N5/?mibextid=wwXIfr
We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Your Space – Community Growth Christmas Gift Workshop
Tuesday, December 16, from 6-8:30 pm, Your Space-Community Growth (the folks who brought us summer yoga classes) will be hosting a Community Gift workshop in the parish hall. They will offer a yoga session and crafts for the entire family to make and take to keep or to give as gifts. Also, Santa will be available for pictures!
The event is open to the entire community, but registration is required. Please visit this link to register: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/your-space-community-growth-christmas-gift-workshop
Soft Space
As you enter the Nave, you may notice that something looks a little different. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me.” So, we are in the process of creating a Soft Space in the area which used to house seating for the choir. Those pews have been removed, and you will see more and more soft and comfortable places for families with children to sit during our services.
“But St. Paul’s doesn’t have any families with children,” you might say. True….for now. We are hoping that creating a space specifically for them might encourage parents with children to join us. They won’t be asked to leave the kiddos with a stranger during our worship services; instead, they can come right in…be held and rocked, play, color, and read books while services are in progress. It might be a little noisy; but what better reminder is there of the joy of life than the cacophony of sound created by children?
Tuesdays at RSU
Next Tuesday, December 2, at 7:00 pm, we will offer snacks and a space to relax and visit in room 207 of the library on the RSU campus. The students are headed into finals week, so we wanted to give them some time and space to take a break from their studies.
Food Pantry Needs
So many in our community suffer from food insecurity, and we work with a couple of great organizations who are helping to fight this problem.
One: Pastor Tim from Grace United Methodist Church recently contacted us to let us know that, as of November 1, their food pantry is open every day. He asked us to donate funds to help with those extra expenses. If you wish to participate in this financial gift, please designate your offering to “Grace Food Pantry”.
Two: St. Paul’s is now the host location for the Pride Community Shelf (find it located near our entrance through the double red doors of the church next to the small community library). Suggested items for donation to this shelf include the following:
Proteins: Canned meat or fish, Canned or dried beans, Peanut butter, Lentils and other dried peas.
Grains: Rice, Pasta, Cereal and oatmeal, Microwaveable mac and cheese cups and ramen noodles
Fruits and vegetables: Canned vegetables like corn, green beans, and mixed vegetables, Canned Fruits, Dried fruits, single-serving Fruit and applesauce cups
Cooking and meal essentials: Pasta and tomato sauce, Canned soup or stew, Powdered, evaporated, or boxed shelf-stable milk , vegetable or olive oil .
Spices: Basic seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning can significantly improve a meal’s flavor.
Snacks and beverages: Nuts, Crackers, Drink mixes (Packets of hot chocolate, coffee, and fruit juice)
Hygiene and household supplies: Baby food and diapers, Feminine hygiene products, Personal hygiene products (soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, and toothbrushes), Laundry detergent and dish soap, Toilet paper.
Classroom Needs
We are still collecting good quality No. 2 pencils, Post-it note pads, and Kleenex for Christina’s classroom; so, the next time you’re doing a little shopping, pick up one or two of these items, then bring them to church to donate.
Be on the lookout for new requests as we move into the colder seasons and as the school year progresses!
Let Us Pray
- For the success of today’s Friendsgiving festivities
- For the safety of all Thanksgiving travelers
- For the success of the upcoming Advent Lessons & Hymns service
- For the success of the new Soft Space in the Nave
- For all students, faculty, and staff, especially Christina and Shelby
- That the book discussion on church hurt will prove successful and beneficial to all involved
- That our parishioners will exemplify God’s love and peace during this time when so much religious, social, and political unrest plagues our community, nation, and world
- For all individuals living in fear due to new executive orders and mandates being imposed
- For Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine
- For Makayla/ Christopher/ Gina/ James/ Lane/ Wayne Hanway/ Temple Abel/ Shelby/ Kaitlyn/ Tammy Morales/ Cynthia Woods/ Danny/ Vicki A./ Karen/ Jeff/ Catherine/ Vicki/ Brady/ Zachary/ Donna/ Don/ Kevin/ Roger/ Pastor Coulter and Mt. Zion Baptist Church / Pastor Elizabeth and First Christian Church / Pastor Tim and Grace UMC / Pastor Tom and Verdigris UMC
If you have prayer requests to add to the Newsletter, email them to Clergy@stpaulsclaremore.org
Save the Dates
- Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving Day) from 1-5 pm – Rogers County Pride/St. Paul’s Friendsgiving Feast & Festivities
- Sunday, November 30 – Holy Eucharist @ 10:00 am; Break the Silence Sunday; 1st Sunday of Advent (beginning of Year A); Regional Advent Lessons & Hymns service @ 3:00 pm
- Tuesday, December 2 – Snack & chill with book club students @ 7 pm on the RSU campus
- Wednesday, December 3 – Christmas Pot Luck & Dirty Santa with RSU Pride, Claremore Pride, and Pride Youth from 5-8:30 pm in the parish hall
- Tuesday, December 16 – Christmas Gift Workshop hosted by Your Space Community Growth in the parish hall from 6:30-8:30 pm
- Wednesday, December 24 – Free harp concert from 4:15-4:45 pm, followed by Christmas Eve Eucharist at 5 pm
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