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…
Sometimes the internet gives you grains of truth beautifully wrapped. As we begin The Paschal Triduum (the three days before Easter) a time filled with brokenness, loss, and grief this story from “luulapants” came my way as a gift.
“My dad and I once had a disagreement over him using the adage “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”
I said, “That’s just not true. Sometimes what doesn’t kill you leaves you brittle and injured or traumatized.”
He stopped and thought about that for a while. He came back later, and said, “It’s like wood glue.”
He pointed to my bookshelf, which he helped me salvage a while ago. He said, “Do you remember how I explained that, once we used the wood glue on them, the shelves would actually be stronger than they were before they broke?”
I did. He went on, “But before we used the wood glue, those shelves were broken. They couldn’t hold up shit. If you had put books on them, they would have collapsed. And that wood glue had to set awhile. If we put anything on them too early, they would have collapsed just the same as if we’d never fixed them at all. You’ve got to give these things time to set.”
It sounded like a pretty good metaphor to me, but one thing I did pick up on was that whatever broke those shelves, that’s not the thing that made them stronger. That just broke them. It was being fixed that made them stronger. It was the glue.
So, my dad and I agreed, what doesn’t kill you doesn’t actually make you stronger, but healing does. And if you feel like the healing hasn’t made you stronger than you were before, you’re probably not done healing. You’ve got to give these things time to set.”
We all have experienced being hurt, abandoned, bruised, and broken. Our scriptures testify that through Jesus, God too, knows what it means to be broken: emotionally, spiritually, and physically. In Jesus, God also knows what it means to encounter death-dealing forces face-on and what resurrection to new life is like.
The next three days will change Jesus, coming out of it he will be the Risen Christ. Through God’s power, Jesus rises. Through God’s power, death is vanquished. Through God’s power, the hurt and pain, and brokenness are mended. Faith holds that the pattern of healing and restoration, done by God in the past will continue. This belief is at the heart of all our confessions. What God did for Jesus, God will do for us. And in this way, in our walk of faith, God is the glue that will bring us to healing and new life. All we have to do is open ourselves to that healing love, let it work in and through us, and watch it set so in that we may face the future with renewed strength and purpose.
Tonight, we start the Pashal journey in Fraser Memorial Hall with our Maundy Thursday potluck, 5:30 pm, and service, 6:00 pm. We confront the cross on Good Friday at Wilmot, 11 am. We sit with all that has happened on Holy Saturday, as we wait in the stillness for Easter Sunday. I hope that this weekend brings you deeper into your faith and trust in God’s power seen in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. May you be blessed as we journey.
God of passionate and vulnerable love,
you would not let anything in this world stop you from reaching us,
proclaiming your good news
of healing and wholeness,
of needs met and abundance found,
of life that triumphs over death and
love that never ends.
As we witness again your passion story
save us, hold us, and forgive us,
that you may bring us to the other side of the cross,
resurrected with Christ. This we pray. Amen.
Featured In This April 6th Edition of St. Paul’s eNews
Worship This Sunday April 9th
Flowers For Alter on Easter Sunday
Thank you!
Emergency Pastoral Care
Downtown United ~ Mark Your Calendars
Brown Bag Lunch Program
Pantry Program
Bible Study Cancelled
Upcoming Dates To Remember
East Coast Brass Concert
Take-Out Ham Supper
Worship This Sunday April 9th
Please join Rev. Michelle for worship at 10:30 am on April 9th, 2023
Updated COVID Protocols for In-Person Worship Services:
- Masks are highly recommended, but no longer required.
- Congregational singing is permitted.
- You are encouraged to spread out to maintain social distancing. Anyone wanting extra space is invited to sit in the balcony.
- Sanitize or wash hands on entry into the building or the sanctuary.
- Offering plates are located at the door.
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
Flowers For Alter on Easter Sunday
Worship committee invites anyone wishing to place flowers in the sanctuary, in celebration or remembrance, to drop them off at the church office Thursday between 8am and 3pm, at Maundy Thursday service or Sunday morning between 9am and 10am Easter morning. Thank you for your donations.
Thank you!
Many thanks extended to celebrate all whom very generously support the Pantry and Brown Bag Lunch Programs whether by monetary or in-kind donations or volunteer time. Because of you, we have served 110 clients in the Pantry and handed out 164 bag lunches to 51 individuals since the beginning of the year. Thank you for your ongoing support of these very important outreach programs. We could not serve our community without your help!
Emergency Pastoral Care
Rev. Michelle will be away on Continuing Education from April 10th through 16th. For Pastoral care emergencies, please contact Rev. Ellen Beairsto at 506-206-1943.
Downtown United ~ Mark Your Calendars
Creedence & Co. will be hosting joint service and presentation following worship on May 7th at St. Paul’s. Mark your calendar today!
Brown Bag Lunch Program
This week, the program is in need of proteins with flip top lids and granola bars. Thank you for your continued support and generosity of this program.
Pantry Program
The Pantry program needs the following items: flour, cookies, jam, coffee, soda crackers, honey, relish, orange juice, juice boxes, dish detergent and laundry detergent. Thank you for your continued support!
Bible Study Cancelled
Wednesday morning bible study is cancelled on April 12th week while Rev. Michelle is away. Session resumes on April 19th.
Upcoming Dates To Remember
April 6th ~ Downtown United ~ Potluck Dinner at 5:30 & Maundy Thursday Service at St. Paul’s ~ 6pm
April 7th-10th ~ Office Closed
April 7th ~ Downtown United ~ Good Friday Service at Wilmot ~ 11am
April 9th ~ Downtown United ~ Sunrise Service by the Library at 7am followed by breakfast at Wilmot
April 9th ~ Easter Sunday ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by the Board
April 16th ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by Christian Ed
April 23rd ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by Property
April 30th ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by Trustees
East Coast Brass Concert
On Saturday, April 8th at 3 pm Brunswick Street Baptist Church is thrilled to present The East Coast Brass in a concert of music perfect for Easter weekend. You’ll hear music you know and music you’ll want to remember, presented by their versatile musicians who take the “boring” out of “concert”. With a lively commentary to increase enjoyment you’ll have a “blast” as the afternoon unfolds. There is no admission charge but a retiring offering will be taken in gratitude for our musicians – anything above that will go to address ongoing work with Fredericton’s unhoused citizens. Brunswick Street Baptist Church is located on the corner of Brunswick and York Streets in downtown Fredericton. For more information please visit our website at www.thestreetonline.ca
Take-Out Ham Supper
TAKE-OUT BAKED HAM SUPPER – Friday, April 28th, pick-up 4:00-5:30pm at Nashwaaksis United Church, 46 Main Street. The delicious take-out supper includes carved baked ham, potato salad, macaroni salad, baked beans, roll, and raspberry cheesecake dessert for $15. Please call Rindy or Tom Austin, 506-450-7151 by noon on Monday, April 24 to reserve your take-outs.
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