Newsletter - StPaulsClaremore

19 December 2024

Hello, Dear St. Paul’s Family and Friends,

As Advent draws to a close, I pray that you have found it a positive time of renewal and preparation for the coming of Christ.

Last week we observed the third Sunday of Advent, a day often associated with joy. This Sunday (12/22), the fourth Sunday of Advent, is associated with peace. Each week of Advent, we light a candle in the Advent wreath which symbolizes the drawing near of Christ. If you have not yet had opportunity to do so, I encourage you to be intentional about making time during this busy season to pause and reflect with genuine anticipation upon the impact Christ has on your own hope, faith, joy, and peace.

Christmas Eve Service

Next Tuesday, December 24, we will observe our annual Christmas Eve celebration at 5:00 pm. It promises to be an exciting service. As is our tradition, we will begin the evening with a beautiful musical offering from our St. Paul’s choir. In addition, our friends from Mt. Zion Baptist Church will be joining us and their youth will be providing special music. Rev. Nancy and Pastor Coulter will both share brief homilies; and, of course, we will all join in singing some of our favorite Christmas hymns. This is a service for the entire Claremore community, so we hope you will plan to attend and invite someone else along!

Special Offering for Medical Debt Relief

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, 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. What a fabulous way to kick off the year 2025! We hope you will join us!

Let Us Pray

That this season of Advent will inspire us with renewed anticipation for the gift of Christ
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/ Traci/ 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 22 – Holy Eucharist @ 10:00 am; 4^th Sunday of Advent; Christian Formation @ 9:00 am
Tuesday, December 24 – Christmas Eve service @ 5:00 pm
Sunday, December 29 – Holy Eucharist @ 10:00 am; 1^st 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

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