St. Paul’s United Church
Our Mission: Glorifying God through Worship, Proclaiming the Gospel of Christ and Serving Others in Christ’s name.
From the desk of Rev. Michelle…
Welcome to a New Year. It was only earlier this week that I realized that my attempt to send an eNews last week, with a reminder of the change in worship, failed to send properly. I am sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. Also, in that eNews was an announcement about the passing of Vernon Green on December 24th, and the request to hold Laurine, Brad and the rest of the Green Family in your prayers.
Today is the last day of Christmastide, the Twelfth Day of Christmas. Tomorrow is Epiphany. Epiphany literally means “manifestation”, the themes of light and revelation ground this closing to the holiday season and propels us into the new year.
The beginning of a new year is always a good time to reflect. Where was God made known to me in the last year? What was revealed in the challenges I faced? What is God calling me to in this new year? These are a few of the questions that I seek to answer every year as the base for going forward.
At Epiphany, our attention is drawn to the wise men, a brightly glowing star and their encounter with Christ. The magi travelled far and didn’t lose their course because they stayed focused on that guiding light. At our New Year’s Eve service, people in attendance received an epiphany star word and were invited to use the word they received to guide them in the coming year. That night, prior to reaching into the treasure chest, participants asked God to guide them to their word – their gift from God. Your star word, may not be your first choice, but as you journey with it over the year, it will lead you closer to Christ. If you have one from New Year’s Eve, don’t forget to put it somewhere you can see it and take time to reflect on how it functions in your life, and how it is inviting you to act today. If you were not able to attend that service, I encourage you to pick up yours up this Sunday or contact me to receive your Star Word.
As we move into this new year and new season, I wish to end with the words you were supposed to receive last week:
Our intentions and our focus can make a huge difference in our journey, and have great impacts on all aspects of our lives. I want to take this opportunity to encourage you to adopt a positive frame of reference for this coming year. Assume the best intentions from everyone you meet, until proven wrong. Look for the blessings/silver lining/lessons in challenges you face. Weep when you need to weep, laugh as frequently as you can, and pray for your church, your church staff and for yourself, that we all receive God’s guidance and strength to follow His way! These shifts, as small as they may seem, lay the path for a fruitful new year.
Together let us pray;
God, we give thanks that you hold us in this time of transition,
From the blessings and challenges of the past year,
you deliver us into something brand-new.
We do not know what the future will hold,
But we do know that you will be there, striving for us, helping us, guiding us.
In the excitement of what is to come, still us yet again,
That we may hear your call, which echoes through all time and space,
And seeks to guide us to your heart, our home.
Amen.
Featured In This January 5th Edition of St. Paul’s eNews
Worship This Sunday January 8th
Downtown United Survey
Hospitalizations & Visits
Annual Committee Reports Due!
Zoom Webinar of Interest
Bible Study Is Back!
Sound & Projection Volunteers Needed!
Pantry Program
Brown Bag Lunch Program
Upcoming Dates To Remember
Worship This Sunday January 8th
Please join Rev. Michelle for worship at St. Paul’s at 10:30 am on January 8th, 2023
Covid protocols still in place are: hand sanitizing, sitting in marked pews, and social distancing and masking while moving around the church and while singing.
As always, if you are unable to join us in person we hope to see you on Zoom – link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86854718551 Passcode: 165090
You can also join by phone only, if you don’t have a long distance plan charges will apply. All you need to do is call 1 647 558 0588 and follow the prompts to enter Meeting ID: 868 5471 8551 and Passcode: 165090
** Worship This Sunday Will Be In The Hall Due To Boiler Issues **
Downtown United Survey
Downtown United Survey goes live today! Credence and Co. is our consultant group, and as part of phase 1, helped us create a survey
for all members and adherents of St. Paul’s and Wilmot. The responses will be vital for our work to continue. The survey goes live this Sunday and can be filled out online here https://credenceandco.com/downtown-united-survey/ Online responses are encouraged, however, if you are unable to complete online hard copies are available. To submit these responses there are a few options: a) ask a trusted friend to enter their survey responses online: b) submit your paper survey (name included) to a member of the planning team or Office Admin to enter online; c) read responses to a Credence Assistant in a phone call. The Survey is only open from January 8-January 23rd. Looking for more info on Credence and Co., check out the letter circulated last year: Downtown United Intro Letter
Hospitalizations & Visits
Just a reminder that with the ongoing stress in hospitals, that services previously available to discover if someone was in hospital are no longer available. If you or a loved one is in hospital, please contact Rev. Michelle or the office and provide the room number and floor so that a visit can be arraigned. Without this information, Rev. Michelle will be unable to find you!
Annual Committee Reports Due! 
If you are a committee Chair or are involved in organizing a group in the congregation, your Annual report is Due by January 27th. Don’t delay! Get it in to Meghan in the office today via email to stpaulsoffice224@gmail.com or in paper format!
Where To Start In Becoming Affirming?
Are you interested in knowing more about the process for a congregation to be affirming? Ever thought: Why is St. Paul’s not an affirming congregation, or wished we were? Then this Zoom Webinar is for you! Where to Start in Becoming Affirming, Tuesday, Jan 17th at 2 pm. In this webinar, Kim Curlett, Coordinator of Affirming Ministries in Atlantic Canada and Quebec (English) along with members of the FSLDW Affirm Ministry Committee will share a few steps in getting started. For registration please click here https://ucceast.ca/76043-where-to-start-in-becoming-affirming-zoom-webinar-hosted-by-fsldw-affirm
Bible Study Is Back!
Bible Study will resume This coming Wednesday January 11th. This year we will be reading through the Gospel of Matthew, with a focus for Wednesday on Matthew 4:1-17. Join us in the conference room at 11:15am or online via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88619319967 and Passcode: 259190.
Sound & Projection Volunteers Needed!
Sound and projection are vital parts of our service and right now these tasks are being shouldered by one person. We need to expand the team. Training provided! We are hoping to develop a rotating team. Please contact Meghan to express your interest at 458-1183 or stpaulsoffice224@gmail.com
Pantry Program
The Pantry program needs the following items: smooth peanut butter, tea, coffee whitener, soda crackers, Kraft Dinner, cookies, white sugar, pudding cups and dish detergent. Thank you for your continued support!
Brown Bag Lunch Program
The Brown Bag Lunch program is in need of proteins with flip top lids, pudding cups and juice boxes. Thank you for your ongoing generosity!
Upcoming Dates To Remember
January 8th ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by the Choir
January 15th ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by Outreach
January 22nd ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by the UCW
January 29th ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by the Worship Committee
St. Paul’s United Church
190 Years of Glorifying God through Worship, Proclaiming the Gospel of Christ and Serving Others in Christ’s name
Contact Information
224 York St., Fredericton, NB E3B 3P1
Web: www.stpaulsunited.ca | Tel: 506-458-1183 | Email: stpaulsoffice224@gmail.com
Minister: Rev. Michelle Armstrong | Organists: Dr. Sharon Pond & Alexis Ervin
Church Administrator: Meghan Roebuck | Custodian: Rusty Blakely