Happy Epiphany, dear friends! It is the season to celebrate the Good News of Christ made available to everyone all around the world!
Last Sunday (1/04), the Second Sunday after Christmas, we kicked 2026 off with a celebration of the God who promises, “I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow., (Jer. 31:13b) as we looked at the many ways God brought us out of a tumultuous beginning to the year 2025 into a celebrational ending. The eyes of our hearts having been enlightened by this timely reminder, we look forward to the many ways in which God will bless us during 2026!
This Sunday (1/11), we will begin in the Parish Hall where we’ll have a brief observance of Epiphany wherein Deacon Linda will share why this feast day is so important. Then, we will move into the Nave where we’ll celebrate the feast day of the Baptism of our Lord. Join us at 10:00 am for Holy Eucharist followed by coffee hour.
UnClobbered
Beginning next Wednesday, January 14, St. Paul’s will be collaborating with Grace UMC to provide a 6-week class entitled UnClobbered. This class covers the “clobber verses” frequently used to condemn people of the LGBTQIA2+ community, and will discuss the historical and cultural context of each of these verses, including some of the ways in which certain words and phrases have been mis-translated and misinterpreted.
The class will take place each week from 6:30-8:00 pm in room 207 of the Stratton Taylor Library on the RSU campus or if you would like to attend virtually please email admin@stpaulsclaremore.org to receive a link.
Tuesdays at RSU
Next Tuesday, January 13, is the return of our beloved Tuesdays at RSU! What started out as a 6-week book club turned into something that everyone involved wanted to continue indefinitely. This week, we’ll resume our discussion as we pick up with chapter 34 of God Didn’t Make Us to Hate Us. If you haven’t had a chance to join us on Tuesday evenings, be sure to check us out! Join in person at 7:00 pm in room 207 of the RSU Stratton Taylor Library or if you would like to attend virtually please email admin@stpaulsclaremore.org to receive a link.
Coffee Hour Volunteers Needed
We need your help providing food for coffee hour.
This is one of the best ministries we offer our parishioners and our guests! Not only will we feed them spiritually on Sunday mornings, but we will also feed them physically!
We used to have a regular rotation of volunteers who provided the food for our post-Eucharist meals; but now we need new folks to step into that role. As such, we have posted a sign-up sheet next to the church calendar on the bulletin board in the hallway between the narthex and the parish hall. If you would be willing to provide a coffee hour meal once a month, please sign up. (If once a month is too often for you, perhaps you could make arrangements with another parishioner to split a spot with you so each of you would only be responsible for providing food once every other month.) I promise that any way that you can help with this ministry will, in turn, be a blessing to you too!
Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle
We’re starting a new tradition at St. Paul’s Claremore!
To the best of our recollection, the feast day of our patron saint has never been observed by our congregation, and we want to change that! As such, on Sunday, January 25, we will go all out – “high church” – including incense! We have a guest thurifer who will be “slinging smoke” for us during the service; then, afterwards, we’ll roast hot dogs and marshmallows (for s’mores) over the fire pit.
As this is the last Sunday of the month, coffee hour will be a pot luck; but we’re hoping to stick with a carnival-like food theme. (In future years, we hope to build this traditional celebration into a mini, one-day carnival for the entire community. It will include an inflatable bounce house and other fun things for families and children.) Hot dogs, buns, marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate will be provided. Everyone else is invited to bring your favorite carnival or fair snack (i.e. caramel popcorn, funnel cakes, candied apples, etc.) to go with the theme.
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, Shelby, Tony, Liam, and John
- For the success of the 6-week Unclobbered class
- For 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 executive orders and mandates being imposed nationally and internationally
- For Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine
- For the repose of Phylis Goodner/ 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, January 11 – Holy Eucharist @ 10 am; First Sunday after Epiphany; observance of Epiphany & the journey of the three kings; The Baptism of Our Lord
- Sunday, January 18 – Holy Eucharist @ 10 am; Second Sunday after Epiphany; Bishop’s Committee Meeting
- Sunday, January 25 – Holy Eucharist @ 10 am; Third Sunday after Epiphany; Celebration of the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle
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