Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian & St. Paul’s United
From the desk of Rev. Michelle…
With the holidays over and the New Year having settled in, we find ourselves again in the season of cold, short days. We start to wonder when winter will be over, while knowing full well that it has barely begun. This is a time of year that can be a struggle for people, especially those who are sensitive to environmental conditions, and those who experience SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). These are the realities of this time of the year.
Yet there is another side to this season. Winter is also a time of settling down, nature’s way of inviting restoration and renewal. In these months when the ground is frozen, plants are dormant, and animal species are hibernating, it can feel like nothing is happening. However, when we stop and reflect, we can see how this time is not wasteful but foundational for the activity that comes with spring.
When the winter months get frustrating and start to get you down, I encourage you to remember that just like the plants, we too need times of rest so that we can have the stamina for our own seasons of rapid production and growth. Winter offers us a natural reminder to slow down, reflect, prepare, and plan, so that when the time comes, we are ready to explode with activity, just like the trees with leaves in the spring.
This coming week I will be away participating in a continuing education program in Ontario, with 33 other ministers from across the United Church of Canada. The program is called (re)generate and has been designed to foster ministry leadership that is prepared to move the church forward into vibrant life for the next 100 years. I hope that you will hold me and this group in prayer, inviting the spirit to send us renewal and inspiration in our learning time. During my absence, Rev. Dr. Basil Lowrey will be preaching on Sunday and Ellen Beairsto will be on call for pastoral emergencies. I am looking forward to seeing you again on Sunday, January 26th.
Today as we embrace the moment in time where we are, I want to share with you part of Joyce Rupp’s poem The Withered Spirit as our prayer for today.
It takes immense trust and hope to see new life waiting beneath the frozen, barren land.
It takes deep courage to remain in the cave of loneliness and painful solitude.
It takes powerful faith to believe in the gestation of a positive future when all is unknown.
It takes compassionate patience to remain by the side of an aching seed in the silent soil.
It takes stout-hearted resilience to endure the soul’s contractions of seemingly endless birthing.
It takes vulnerable openness to stay present to deadness and not run from staleness.
We wait for new life, but we do not wait alone.
We wait with the mother bear as the little cub within takes shape and form.
We wait the dormant juices of the maple tree to gather up sweetness in their empty limbs.
We wait with the pruned rose bushes sighing for the warming sun to sing them into budding.
we wait with frozen creeks and rivers yearning to be melted into laughing waters.
We wait with all humans whose weary lives turn slowly toward re-awakened joy.
We wait with the cosmos which is ever-dying and being re-born, giving away and receiving anew.
And while we wait, we struggle to accept winter as a necessary companion, an inner season calling us to be more than we are now, a confident guide taking us on a perilous journey that is part of ever dying and every birthing.
It is in the winter of our lives that the enduring Voice within coaxes us along, nudges us into belief, urges us to stay in the dark for as long as it takes for rebirthing to occur.
This season may the Holy One meet you in your waiting and start producing the winter buds from which the leave of new life will grow. Amen
Featured In This January 16th eNews Edition
Worship This Sunday January 19th
Emergency Pastoral Care
Presbyterian Connect
2025 Envelopes Ready For Pick Up!
Thursday Evening Bible Study
Upcoming Dates To Remember
Chili Take-Out Supper
Week Of Prayer For Christian Unity
Kilted Skate
World Day of Prayer Services
Ongoing Church Activities
Connecting With Rev. Michelle
Bulletin & eNews Submissions
Worship This Sunday January 19th
Please join Rev. Dr. Basil Lowrey for service this Sunday at 10:30am.
To view the bulletin in advance click here!
Can’t make it in person, join via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83673756287 Passcode: 2023
View anytime on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@st.paulsunitedchurch984/videos
Emergency Pastoral Care
Rev. Michelle will be attending the (Re)Generate leadership program the week of January 18th-25th. Emergency pastoral care can be obtained from Ellen Beairsto by calling 506-206-1943. This number is a landline so please leave a message if you do not get an answer. Rose-Carolynn will also be available to support ongoing needs.
St. Paul’s Pantry Program
The Pantry items needed this week are laundry & dish soap, Mr. Clean, hand soap, toothpaste & toothbrushes, ketchup, coffee, jam, vinegar, relish, pasta & pasta sauce, tin foil, waxed paper, canned corn, large apple & orange juice, white sugar, flour, cake mix, peas, white rice, and macaroni. Thank you for your ongoing support!
Presbyterian Connect
Winter of 2024 Presbyterian Connect is now available in the church and Hall entries. See page 20 for a for a familiar face. (or two)
2025 Envelopes Ready For Pick Up!
2025 Offering Envelopes are available at the back of the sanctuary.
Please feel free to drop off a neighbour’s box set!
Thursday Evening Bible Study
Thursday evening bible study will start on Feb 6th from 6-7pm. This will be a Lectio Divina style engagement with the scripture reading for the coming Sunday.
Upcoming Dates To Remember
January 19th ~ Service at 10:30am ~ Fellowship Hosts Needed!
January 26th ~ Service at 10:30am ~ Fellowship Hosts Needed!
Nashwaaksis United Church, 46 Main Street, is offering a delicious Chili Take-out on Friday, January 17th. Pick up will be at the church, from 4-5:30pm. The menu includes mild chili, roll, caesar salad, and apple crumble tart for dessert. To reserve your meal, please contact Judy at 506-458-9452 or admin@nashwaaksisunited.ca by 2pm, Wednesday, January 15th.
Week Of Prayer For Christian Unity
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is the Week of January 18 to 25,2025. The Theme is “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26). There is a Service being held in the Fredericton Area at St. Dunstan Roman Catholic Church, 120 Regent Street on Thursday, January 23rd,2025 at 1:15 PM with Coffee/Tea and sweets after the service. All are invited to attend Women and Men. Please use the entrance off King Street by the Tim Horton. Thank you. Deborah Heustis, Publicity for the Women’s Inter-Church of Fredericton.
Kilted Skate
The Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew is kicking off their 200th Anniversary this year, with a Kilted Skate at Officer’s Square, from 1-3 p.m., on January 25th. Everyone is welcome. https://facebook.com/events/s/2025-second-annual-freddy-kilt/3953936764854295/
World Day of Prayer Services
An invitation is extended to all Women and Men to attend the World Day of Prayer Services in the Fredericton area. The World Day of Prayer for 2025 was prepared by the Women of the Cook Island. The theme is “I Made You Wonderful” (Psalm 139: 1-18.)
Northside: The World Day of Prayer will be held at St. Mary’s and All Saints Anglican Church, 780 McEvoy Street, Fredericton on Friday, March 7th, 2025 at 2 PM. Storm Date: Sunday, March 9 at 3 PM.
Southside: The World Day of Prayer will be held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian and St. Paul’s United Church, 512 Charlotte Street, Fredericton on Sunday, March 9th, 2025 at 2 PM. Storm Date: March 16 at 2 PM. Thank you. Deborah Heustis, Publicity for the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Fredericton
Ongoing Church Activities
Monday – Friday ~ Community Outreach ~ Brown Bag Lunch Program in St. Paul’s Office
Tuesdays ~ Tuesday Morning Ladies Group at 9:30am ~ All are welcome!
Tuesdays & Thursdays ~ Quilting from 1-4pm ~ All are welcome!
Wednesdays ~ Community Outreach ~ Pantry Program from 9-11am
Thursdays ~ Choir Practice from 7-8pm ~ All are welcome!
Fridays ~ Community Outreach ~ Breakfast 2 Go from 8:30-10am
Connecting With Rev. Michelle
Rev. Michelle can be reached on the main office phone lines, her office directly at 506-455-0639, by text or call to her cell at 506-259-7602 or via email at michellenarmstrong@hotmail.com. Drop-in office hours are Sundays and Mondays from 1-2:30pm. Appointments are preferred to ensure the time you need to connect.
Bulletin & eNews Submissions
Please send announcements to Meghan at stpaulsoffice224@gmail.com by noon Wednesday.
Contact Information
Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian & St. Paul’s United
512 Charlotte Street, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 1M2
Saint Andrew’s: Tel: 506.455.8220 | Email: sapcfred@gmail.com | Website: https://sapc.ca/
Office Administrator: Joanna Price | Office Hours: Monday-Friday 2pm-6pm
St. Paul’s: Tel: 506.458.1183 | E-mail: stpaulsoffice224@gmail.com | Website: www.stpaulsunited.ca
Office Administrator/Bookkeeper: Meghan Roebuck | Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8am-3pm
Minster: Rev. Michelle Armstrong | Organist: Dr. Sharon Pond
Custodian: Doug Newman | Ministers Emeriti: Rev. Doug Blaikie & Rev. Dr. Basil Lowery