Blessings and peace to you all as we move towards the end of Advent.
Last Sunday (12/14), the third Sunday of Advent, we saw how even John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, had to learn the lesson of expecting the unexpected. He had to ask if Jesus was the Messiah about whom he (John) had been preaching. Jesus’ answer was to have his disciples tell John about all they had witnessed in Jesus’ presence: the sick being healed, the marginalized being cared for, the deaf and blind gaining hearing and sight. Our challenge today is to seek out those who are in need and to share this same kind of love and compassion with them – to give them hope.
This week (12/21), the fourth Sunday of Advent, we’ll see, once again, how God works in unexpected ways as we look at the stories of Joseph – Jesus’ Earthly father – and of the Apostle Paul. Join us at 10:00 am for Holy Eucharist followed by coffee hour.
3rd-Sunday Discretionary Offering
Did you know that St. Paul’s has a special checking account specifically designated to help those in need? It’s called the Ministerial (or Discretionary) Account, and it’s one of the ways you contribute to our ministry in this community.
Since we’ve had several opportunities to help folks out over the last few months, the funds in this account are running a bit low. However, St. Paul’s has a tradition that every third Sunday of the month, any offerings placed in the plate which are not otherwise designated will go into this ministerial account. So, if you plan to put a check in the offering plate on these Sundays, be sure to write in the memo line how you want those funds to be used (i.e. stewardship pledge, poinsettia fund, Bishop’s appeal, etc.). Otherwise, any cash and any undesignated checks collected on third Sundays will go towards rebuilding this important account.
Angel Tree Gift-Wrapping Party & Hanging of the Greens
“For it is in giving that we receive…”
This Sunday, December 21, after coffee hour, we’re throwing a gift-wrapping party! We’ll be packaging the gifts collected for the last of our Angel Tree families as well as putting together some goodie bags full of candy and other yummy snacks. What fun it has been to gather gifts for these families, and what a festive way to get everything ready to be delivered.
We’ll also celebrate the annual hanging of the greens in preparation for our Christmas Eve service and the ensuing Christmas season.
We have hot chocolate, hot cider, friendship tea, and cookies to bolster us as we wrap and decorate to our hearts content! This will be merry work indeed, so don’t miss out on all the fun!
Note: There will be no Bishop’s Committee meeting this month, so our next meeting will be January 18.
Christmas Eve Service
Our annual Christmas Eve service is just around the corner. This year, our very own Deacon Emeritus, Linda Barton Paul, is offering a free 30-minute harp concert beginning at 4:15 pm on Wednesday, December 24. After the concert, we will celebrate Holy Eucharist beginning at 5:00 pm. So, load up all your friends and relatives and join us as we, once again, welcome the Christ child!
Tuesdays at RSU
We are taking a brief winter break from our Tuesday sessions on the RSU campus; but fear not, we will resume January 13! What started out as a 6-week book club turned into something that everyone involved wanted to continue indefinitely. If you haven’t had a chance to join us on a Tuesday evenings, be sure to check us out when we come back next month!
Soft Space
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me.”
Help us spread the news about the new soft space at St. Paul’s!!! Let your friends with children know that instead of asking them to leave their kiddos with a stranger during our worship services, they can bring them right into the nave where they can be held and rocked; they can 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?
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 the new Soft Space in the Nave
- For all students, faculty, and staff, especially Christina and Shelby
- For a safe winter break and the continued success of Tuesdays at RSU
- 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 the Woodard family/ Bob/ Krislyn/ Makayla/ Christopher/ Heidi/ Ron/ Gina/ James/ Lane/ Wayne Hanway/ 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
- Sunday, December 21 – Holy Eucharist @ 10 am; Fourth Sunday of Advent; 3rd Sunday discretionary offering; Gift Wrapping Party & Hanging of the Greens; Bishop’s Committee meeting cancelled
- Wednesday, December 24 – Free harp concert from 4:15-4:45 pm, followed by Christmas Eve Eucharist at 5 pm
- Sunday, December 28 – Morning Prayer with Ron & Deacon Emeritus Linda @ 10 am
- Sunday, January 4 – Holy Eucharist @ 10 am; Second Sunday after Christmas
- Sunday, January 11 – Holy Eucharist @ 10 am; First Sunday after Epiphany; The Baptism of Our Lord