Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.”
-Matthew 25:7-9
Kindred in Christ,
We hope the time change hasn’t thrown too many of you for a loop, and that these darker-earlier nights do not have you feeling low. But if you are feeling like the light of faith is flickering and in need of some fuel, we have lots of ways that you can recharge and renew over the coming weeks and months! From volunteering time, to sharing your gifts, to just gathering for worship in the sanctuary or in front of your screen at home, we can build community even as the days get shorter and this pandemic wears on. Check below for ways that you can take part in supporting this community of faith and one another!
Worship in the week: We gather this Sunday to remember. This will be our Remembrance Sunday Service, and we welcome back Rev. Brian one more time this year, as Rev. Richard takes his last week of Continuing Education.
Worship and Music in the weeks ahead: Rev. Richard returns to the pulpit on November 15th and will be leading worship until the end of the year (sometimes with support from people just like you!). We are blessed to have had volunteers record music until the end of Advent (December 20th), but we are still looking for volunteers for December 27th and into the new year. If you want to offer the gift of your voice, call or email Rev. Richard at (506)262-2150 or rev.bowley@outlook.com
Worship In-Person or by Zoom: We continue to live into a hybrid worship where we have seats available for those who would like to worship in-person, but will continue to offer streamed worship through Zoom. However you join us, we are glad to have you!.
- The Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85811548808
- The password for this meeting room is: 200188
- For those who would prefer to call in the number is: 1 647 558 0588 then use the Meeting ID: 858 1154 8808, and then enter the passcode 200188 when prompted
Sunday School On Hold: We received a recommendation from the Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Region to refrain from having in-person Sunday School until later October/early November. Although disappointing, we look forward to the time we can host our young people again! Until then, stay tuned for Christian Education home learning options for your family!
Family Music for Christmas Eve: We might not have Sunday school, but we are planning something special and we want you to be a part of it. For Christmas eve we are hoping to have a compilation of families and congregation members singing their favourite Christmas hymns/songs. All you have to do to participate is take a video of you or your family singing your favourite song, and get it to Rev. Richard. On Christmas Eve we will put them together and throughout worship to remind us that we are all celebrating together, even though we are going through a difficult time.
Angel Tree Incoming!: Every year we have had an angel tree with wishes from children for the coming Christmas season. We should be getting those angels by the start of next week, which means the Angel Tree will (hopefully) be up in the Narthex on November 15th. Keep your eyes peeled as we create opportunities to serve the wider community!
Message From Our Fundscrip Team
Did you place an order for gift cards from our FundScrip program this week? Thank you if you did. You are already a contributor to our fundraising campaign. If not, let me tell you a bit about FundScrip, Canada’s most successful Gift Card Fundraiser. The process is simple. You purchase gift cards through the church office to cover all your shopping needs – groceries, gas, hardware, restaurants, etc. (Gift cards also make wonderful gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, tokens of appreciation.) Cards in different denominations are available from over 200 retailers you already deal with – Sobey’s, Canadian Tire, Tim Hortons, Dollarama, Swiss Chalet, Irving – the list goes on.
Check it out. Click here for an order form: http://www.stpaulsunited.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/stpauls-order.pdf or pick one up in the Narthex on Sunday. Your gift card purchase automatically includes a donation to St. Paul’s calculated as a percentage of the card’s value. There is no cost to you for this donation. You receive the full face value of every card you purchase. Take your completed order form to Eric in the church office and pre-pay by cash or cheque. We will be placing our first order from FundScrip next week for all the cards ordered by Monday, November 9. The cards will arrive the following week; we will call you when they come in so you can pick them up. If you are not able to come to the church, one of our volunteers will be happy to deliver your cards to you. Don’t worry if you miss the deadline: this will be an on-going fundraiser at St. Paul’s so you can order and reorder cards anytime. We plan to place orders every month and will let you know the exact date in the weekly Enews. Need more information? Contact Carole Peacock at cpeacock@bellaliant.net or 452-1016 Shopping is fundraising!
Wreaths
Grandmothers Helping Grandmothers are selling wreaths again. Nancy Macgarvie is selling them off her porch only. (Due to COVID )
Double sided balsam fir: decorated $15 , UNDECORATED $12.
Deadline: November 13
Pickup Sunday November 29 – 83 Grey St.
Call 455-3026
Rental Opportunity
Downtown Office Space for rent – $500.00 per month (first month’s rent is free!!!)
- 224 York Street – 270 square feet
- Heat, lights,
- Elevator
- Security alarm system
- Washrooms
- Parking for one vehicle
- Walking distance to restaurants, banks, government offices.
Telephone 458-1183
In the verses that open this letter, we hear a snippet from the parable of the bridesmaids, and on the surface it looks like some are being pretty harsh to others. But if we liken the oil in the lamps to the depth of faith in each of us, it makes more sense when it cannot be simply given away. One person may be able to share their story of faith in the same way that one might be able to share their light, but we must intentionally nurture and cultivate our faith, and explore the questions that stir within us. We can build our faith together, to be sure, but relying on another’s faith to get us through hard times won’t last forever, and could be damaging to both.
So as we make our way into these shorter days and longer nights, let us build our faith together, let us explore the Word, and feel the embrace of God together. And let us pray together.
Though the night is long, O God, you are with us.
You are the flame that burns within us.
Encourage us to let that light shine on the path before us as we seek to follow in your way.
We ask this and all things in the name of Christ, our companion on the way. AMEN
Yours in Christ
Rev. Richard Bowley