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…
Did you know, if you were trying to gather the 25 youngest clergy in Region 15 (Nova Scotia) that you would have to include everyone under the age of 50? I know this because last week that group gathered along with the under 50 clergy from our Region (Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters). The Moderator of the United Church, Carmen Lansdowne, led a powerful listening session around the lived realities of younger clergy and a discussion that grew out of reflecting on the church’s Call for “Deep Spirituality, Bold Discipleship, and Daring Justice.” The energy in the room was Spirit-filled, much like the energy during the “Conversations that Matter” hosted by Creedence for the Downtown United Project. I truly believe that we need to pay attention to these moments when God’s animating Spirit is present. These moments at times can feel like they are few and far between, so to have two of them so close together encourages me in this Easter Season, that our God is working to bring about yet another resurrection.
While the two events were radically different in their cohort, focus, and process there are some similarities that if lived into may help us to continue to tap into the Spirit’s movements. In no particular order, here are the similarities I identified: people were future-focused, dreaming of possibilities and were not focused on problems, people spoke openly and honestly, people were deeply listening to each other without interrupting and letting others finish, and a diversity of opinion and experience were shared and honored. In both cases, there were real challenges in the present but solving those challenges were not the primary focus. The focus was thinking about and dreaming about what it would look like once the problems were over. Like the Israelites envisioning the Promised Land while walking in the desert enabled them to keep walking, the vision created the energy for us to continue to make changes and explore possibilities.
One of the questions that we must ask ourselves going forward is, what will we choose to look at? Will our focus be on the challenges and the things that are going wrong or will we turn our focus on that which stirs us with that Spirit-touched energy? I will leave you this day to pray with the quote from Robin Sharma,
What you focus on grows, what you think about expands, and what you dwell upon determines your destiny.
God of Resurrection and Life,
you call us to look beyond the grave,
to see and touch and taste the resurrection by faith before it becomes a reality.
Help us attune to your Holy Spirit in the world,
Draw our attention from the forces that yield death,
and lead us again to new life.
This we pray in the name of the risen one, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Featured In This April 20th Edition of St. Paul’s eNews
Worship This Sunday April 23rd
For the Love of Creation
FundScrip
Downtown United ~ Mark Your Calendars
Brown Bag Lunch Program
Pantry Program
Bible Study
Youth @ Region! (Formerly I@C and YF!)
Upcoming Dates To Remember
Take-Out Ham Supper
Worship This Sunday April 23rd
Please join Rev. Michelle for worship at 10:30 am on April 23rd, 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
For the Love of Creation
Happy Earth Day, Week, Month! A New Creed clearly names care for Creation as a tenet of The United Church of Canada’s belief and discipleship. To help us live out that Call, the Foundation is putting a focus on care for Creation and climate justice – the ethical aspects of human-driven climate change.
Watch our social media feeds (and your inbox) to register for an upcoming virtual panel we’re hosting. We’ll be speaking with past grant recipients about their work in caring for Creation.
Click on the video below to learn more about our commitment to Climate Justice: Happy Earth Day
We also stand with The United Church of Canada as they join with numerous denominations and faith-based organizations under one banner, Together for the Love of Creation.
Communities of faith, networks, and regions are invited to initiate and participate in climate justice events during the week of April 16‒23 to pray, learn, and act for the love of creation.
Find out more and get involved: https://united-church.ca/news/together-love-creation-earth-week-2023
FundScrip
Deadline for our next order is Sunday, May 7th. Gift cards will arrive for distribution on Sunday May 14th (Mother’s Day…hint, hint) Order forms are available in the church office, the narthex or click here: May 7th FundScrip Order Form. New supporters always welcome! Remember: Shopping is fundraising for St. Paul’s.
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 granola bars, fruit cups and pudding cups. Thank you for your continued support and generosity of this program.
Pantry Program
The Pantry program needs the following items: coffee, pancake mix, syrup, baked beans, ketchup, pudding cups, canned corn niblets, instant oatmeal, cookies, vinegar, flakes of ham, canned green beans and peas, apple juice, and laundry detergent. Thank you for your continued support!
Bible Study
Wednesday morning lectionary study. This week we will be focusing on Acts 13:1-3, 14:8-18. Join us in the board room at 11:15am or online via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88619319967 and Passcode: 259190
Youth @ Region! (Formerly I@C and YF!)
Registration for Youth @ Region is now live! To register follow this link ( https://ucceast.ca/77646-fsldw-weekly-announcements-april-19-2023 ). This program is for all youth, grades 6-12 in your community of faith and beyond. Have questions? Email Catherine Stuart, Regional Minister for Children, Youth and Young Adults, cstuart@united-church.ca.
Upcoming Dates To Remember
April 23rd ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by Property
April 30th ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by Trustees
May 7th ~ Downtown United Service ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by M&P followed by a presentation from Creedence Consultants
May 14th ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by Worship
May 21st ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by the Choir
May 28th ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by Outreach
Ham & Scalloped Potato Dinner
Gibson Memorial United Church, 183 Gibson St., will be hosting a Ham and Scalloped Potato Dinner on April 26th, 4 – 6 p.m. Menu: Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, homemade beans & brown bread, vegetables, coleslaw & Pie. Tickets are $15/adult and please call 457-1951 to reserve your tickets.
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 24th 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