Hannah prayed and said, ‘My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in my God. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in my victory.
– 1 Samuel 2:1

Kindred in Christ,

I said it last week, but this is something that bears saying again: Happy Thanksgiving! Through much of this week, many wrestled with left-overs, and much of last weekend has more or less dissipated. What we do not want to fade away is an attitude of appreciation, of gratitude, that can be with us and inspire how we act. So as we move past the day of Thanksgiving, keep a thankful spirit, offering thanks for the big things, the little things, and the things we take for granted.

Looking forward with that sense of gratitude, we have much to be thankful for when it comes to the blessings that God has showered and will shower on us. From worship, to fundraising, to group work that makes our community of faith stronger, there are a number of ways to get involved and give of your time in the midst of such a difficult time.

Check out what the coming weeks have in store for the St. Paul’s community.

Worship this week: This week in worship we will be hearing the story of Hannah and the birth of the prophet Samuel. Come and be reminded of the importance of allowing the Spirit to move in and through you as a guide and partner.

Worship over the next few weeks: As we move past the halfway point of October, we have a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks when it comes to worship and guest preachers.

  • October 25th: We welcome back Rev. Brian MacDonald who has been a blessing to fill in when Rev. Richard has been away or ill.
  • November 1st: This is a big one, because it is Anniversary Sunday! On November 1st we as a church celebrate 188 years together in worship and faith exploration. As a special treat, the youth group from the 80’s will also be marking the day with a reunion of sorts. Worship leadership will be in the hands of those former youth group members, and the guest preacher is Rev. Ivan Gregan, a once youth group leader during that time. Come and celebrate who we were, who we are, and who we will be!
  • November 8th: We gather on this day to remember. This will be our Remembrance Sunday Service, and we welcome back Rev. Brian one more time this year.

There is so much to celebrate, take stock of, and give thanks for, and over the next month, we will have ample opportunity to do just that!

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

Continued Vigilance: In light of the recent outbreak here in New Brunswick (though not in our Zone) we want to remind people of the importance of following our policies when we are together in the sanctuary. Make sure you sanitize your hands and have a mask/shield on at all times. Hopefully we will not experience an interruption in worship as we work together to limit the spread of COVID 19

Singers Needed!: Your voice matters! Not just in making decisions in the church, but in making music in the midst of our worship! We have been fortunate to have a few volunteers, but we don’t want to wear them out. So if you want to offer the gift of your voice, contact Rev. Richard at rev.bowley@outlook.com, and we will find a way to get you involved either in person or through recordings.

Community of Faith Profile: With Rev. Richard leaving at the end of this year, it is time to look at our Community of Faith Profile. This is something like the Joint Needs Assessment Reports from a few years ago, but where a JNAC is about finding a minister, writing a Faith Profile gets us to put to paper who we are as followers of Christ. It allows us to articulate how we serve and what we are passionate about. This process will begin soon, but it cannot begin until we have at least 6 people willing to do this important work. The Regional body of Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters will appoint a representative to walk with us through the work, but it is our work. So far we have 5 volunteers: Derrick Grant, Roger Miller, Ann Krause, Blaine Irving, and Erin Hayes. We need at least 1 more person for this project, and ideally a mix of perspectives would be great (age, gender, new member, long-time member). And if you feel like you haven’t been at St. Paul’s long enough to help here, we want you to know that your voice is welcome – and important –  in this process as well.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Rev. Richard at rev.bowley@outlook.com. This work we do together will help to shape St. Paul’s in the years ahead!

Fundscrip Incoming: Over the last few weeks, we have shared some information about an exciting fundraising opportunity called Fundscrip. We are blessed to have been contacted by a few people who want to make sure this project is a success. Watch your eNews over the next few weeks to find out how you can help raise money for the church by doing what you already do, like buy groceries, gas, coffee, and much, much, more!

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!

Clergy Appreciation Month: October is clergy appreciation month! Find some time this month to let the ministers in your life (current and past) know how much they mean to you.

Rev. Richard on Vacation: Next week, Rev. Richard will be on vacation, but unlike other weeks, he will be available for emergencies. You can contact him at (506)262-2150 or by email at rev.bowley@outlook.com should a pastoral emergency arise.

The words that open today’s eNews come from a woman of deep faith in, hope because of, and love for God. Hannah was a woman who was loved by her partner, but also someone who felt on the margins of society. And yet, she had a faith that rivals any prophet, and a love for God matched perhaps only by Mary, mother of Christ. As we prepare to hear her story this coming Sunday, let us reflect on the ways that God has touched our lives, guided our steps, and inspired our action.

And as you do that reflecting, take this simple prayer and offer it every time you catch your reflection:

I am yours, O God.
I am broken, but with you I can find wholeness.
I am lost, but in your arms I am found.
I am yours, O God. Lead me. AMEN

Yours in Christ
Rev. Richard Bowley