Don’t Forget!
Advent at St. Paul’s
Announcements for Advent
Tuesday Night Bible Study will not be meeting in Advent. Our weekly study will resume in Epiphany on January 7th.
StoryCircles will be held on December 4 & 11 from 6:00-6:45. During this time, all are welcome to come. Participants will be working through the “Telling your story” worksheets.
Evening Prayer will be offered at 7pm on Wednesday evenings (Dec 4, 11, & 18). Join this event.
St. Paul’s Annual Meeting will be held following worship on Sunday, December 8th. Join this event.
The final meeting of the 2013 Church Council will be on December 18, from 5:30-6:45. Dinner will be provided.
Christmas Caroling is scheduled for Sunday, December 22nd.
Christmas Eve Candlelight service will be held at 11pm on Tuesday, December 24. Join this event.
Keep up-to-date. Sign up to receive emails and “like” us on Facebook.
Sunday, Sunday, Sundae!
Sunday School. We’ll gather together in the sanctuary at 9:15 a.m. to kick off the fall Sunday School program!
Sunday worship. We’ll meet back in the sanctuary at 10:30 a.m. to celebrate the Word with bread & wine!
Sundae Social. Bring your favorite topping (enough to share)!owing service, and plan to stick around after service for sundaes and conversation about St. Paul’s being a part of a new shared ministry!
And share this with others on Facebook!
Lent 2013
Renew your commitment to faithful living this Lent.
This year, St. Paul’s will be offering a number of ways for people to recommit themselves to faithful practices. In addition to the events listed below, St. Paul’s will begin it’s first ever “Listening Campaign.” This will be an important part of meeting our 2013 goals. More details will follow in the next couple of weeks, but if you are interested in being an active part, don’t wait, contact Pastor Joshua (email: pastor@stpauls39.org).
A great way to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the events is to like, follow & share St. Paul’s Facebook Fanpage.
It begins on Shrove Tuesday (Feb 12, 6:30p-8p) when we gather together to eat a lot of pancakes and burn the palmsfrom the previous year in order to make ashes. This will also be the first opportunity to sign up for the Easter Vigil Storytelling.
The ashes are then used the following day on Ash Wednesday (Feb 13, 7p), when we are marked with the cross as a sign of our repentance and returning to God. During the service, we are invited into the disciplines of Lent. Devotions will be made available upon request.
Throughout the season, we will also be gearing up and getting ready for the Art of the Passion, an exhibit of 15 artists’ interpretations of the Stations of the Cross. St. Paul’s members are invited to participated through helping construct the gallery walk, record readings for the devotionals, and welcome visitors.
On Wednesday evenings in Lent, we will explore our first Mission Priority: Faithful in Worship. These gatherings will include a light meal, some learning about why we worship like we do, why worship matters (Wed, Feb 20-Mar 20, 6p-7:30), and a family craft. Those preparing for baptism & first communion are especially encouraged to attend. This is also a great event for those interested in becoming a member of St. Paul’s or wanting to renew their faith commitment.
Then Holy Week begins with the celebration of Passion Sunday! The church is sure to be bustling with activity as we open our doors to visitors of the Art of the Passion, celebrate the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, place our worries on the cross at Good Friday, and remember the mighty deeds of God throughout history with smores and laughter at the Easter Storytelling Vigil.
Creating Art in Advent
Advent is a time of watching & waiting – of preparation and devotion. But more often than not, the days leading up to the Christmas holiday are quickly filled with tasks, errands, and obligations. Expectations – both those placed on us by others and those we place on ourselves – replace moments of anticipation. Written devotionals, while helpful for some, only fill our minds with more words and worries. What we desire – what we need – is a call to quietude and permission to enter Advent with imagination, creativity, and wonder.
What if creating art could be a way to enter Advent? This weekly challenge is a way to allow yourself the space to create, share & inspire. Each week in Advent, you are invited to create space for yourself to enter Advent by creating art. Here’s how:
1. Log into Facebook and look up the theme for each week in Advent on the Art of the Passion fanpage. The current post is a bit late, but future posts will be up on the preceding Saturday.
2. Watch for a word or phrase, image or experience that speaks to you about a weekly theme on Advent. If you go attend a church, you may have heard or seen something. Maybe you use a devotional or peruse the appointed Scripture. Maybe it comes from somewhere else. Don’t be overwhelmed – choose something you already do, and watch for the Advent theme.
2. Starting from that focus point (or general idea)- sketch, draw, paint, sew, photograph, weave, or otherwise visually explore the theme. Limit yourself to no more than one hour. Of course, we won’t know you if you spend more than an hour, but don’t let it be a stressful experience – it’s OK to allow it to be incomplete if the time runs out.
3. Log back into Facebook and share your creative exploration on the Art of the Passion fanpage. Don’t worry about it being incomplete or imperfect – the whole season of Advent is a kind of “work in progress.”
Our hope is that by participating, you will find a space for your own creativity to be drawn into preparation and devotion; and that we all will be encouraged in our own watching & waiting.
Advent at St. Paul’s
Sundays in December
The season of Advent marks the beginning of the church year and comprises the four weeks before Christmas. Advent highlights the themes of hope & preparation, nurtures within us repentance & watchfulness, and the contrast of darkness/light, the fullness of Christ and anticipation of his second coming.
These themes are marked in the liturgy by the lighting of the Advent candles and voice of the prophets in the lectionary.
Crunched between Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas morning, Advent tends to be a busy time for many people. Worship provides a space of escape and a call to remember the things that are easily cast aside. As Advent approaches, make plans to participate as fully as you are able – and celebrate the moment of anticipation with the community of faith.
Looking for a way to express a bit of creativity this Advent? Check out the Art of the Passion‘s Creating Art devotional.
Events in Advent
Thursday, November 29: Everyone is invited to pitch in as we make preparations for Advent. We’ll gather from 5p-6p for a Faith Steps program in which young and old will start placing the decorations around the church. Special activities will be provided for younger children. At about 6:15p, anyone who would like to be an assisting minister in worship is invited to join a walk-through the Advent liturgy. The evening will conclude by 7pm.
Sunday, December 2: On the First Sunday in Advent, the sunday school classes will create chrismons to hang on the Christmas tree. Their creations will be incorporated into the service during the Childrens’ sermon.
Sunday, December 9: After service on the Second Sunday in Advent, our congregation will host the 2012-2013 Congregational Meeting, including some discussion about the current grant objectives and a look into next year.
Sunday, December 16: Bring a poinsettia! Everyone is invited to bring a poinsettia to worship.
Sunday, December 23: Building the Nativity together. Do you have an extra nativity at home? Perhaps a gift or something that rarely comes out of the box? Choose a card located outside of the sanctuary and bring a figurine from one of your nativities to contribute to the Nativity that will be displayed through January 8th.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service will be held on Monday, December 24th at 11:15pm. Come early and enjoy some Christmas goodies and hot chocolate!
Christmas Service of Caroling will be held on the Sunday, December 30th. Let us know what your favorite Christmas hymn/song is by sending us an email at office@stpauls39.org.
