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…
Christ is Alive. On Easter, God took what was death and brought new life, changing our understanding of the world and our place in it. We are now in the season of Easter, the 50 days until Pentecost. It was a time when the disciples were coming to terms with God’s proclaimed reality and experiencing Jesus popping up in unexpected ways. Eastertide is a time when we are invited to go on this same journey, as we seek to make sense of the mystery and power of Easter.
Easter is the foundational story of our faith, the highest of high holy days. It’s cycle of life, death, and resurrection is the base pattern for a Christian life. It is also the pattern baked into the natural world, clearly seen in our seasons, the way plants like the raspberry grow and bear fruit, and even in the face of death, that which is dead often becomes food for new growth.
Somewhere along the way the church left this divine pattern and focused instead on the capitalist model of life, where everything keeps getting better and we keep getting more. Yet, this is the false narrative that has driven us to act in ways that have brought destruction to the natural world, and unnecessary struggle when unlimited growth doesn’t materialize, or when we refuse to admit that something is dying.
There is a mental shift and spiritual renewal that naturally comes when we look at our lives through the lens of our Easter story. Following Jesus’ example we are called to embrace life, offering ourselves to this world in love. Following Christ means seeing the world and our lives as gift and blessing from God, and seeking to honour God in all we say and do. It also means when death comes, we grieve what we have lost, but we ourselves do not succumb to death, because we keep our eyes open for what God is doing next. And when that resurrection occurs, we embrace life in its new form, and start the pattern again.
This is the life of faith, and the promise to which we hold. It is ultimately the message of hope that we carry with us and witness to. It is the gift we have to offer the world. We are in the hard season where death threatens to overwhelm us. It is here in this moment where Jesus’ words to “keep awake and watch” are spoken directly to us.
This weekend is our annual meeting. There will be important motions at this meeting regarding where leaders in the congregation see signs of resurrection. I encourage you to come to the meeting. The documents for this meeting can be found on our webpage here: https://www.stpaulsunited.ca/annual-reports/ or picked up from the church office tomorrow between 8:30am-12:30pm. I strongly encourage you to participate in this meeting in person or through zoom. As we head into this weekend and our annual meeting, I want to leave you a sign of resurrection that caught my eye this morning along with a prayer.
God of the morning sun,
God of the living son,
We give thanks to you,
For the promise that you are a God of transformation and resurrection.
For your glory and through your Holy Spirit,
Work in our lives this day.
This we pray. Amen.
Featured In This April 4th Edition of St. Paul’s eNews
Worship This Sunday April 7th
Annual Meeting This Sunday!
FundScrip Orders Due Sunday!
Brown Bag Lunch Program
Pantry Program
Booking Meeting Space at St. Paul’s
God’s Story, Our Story
Upcoming Dates To Remember
Organ Recital at Christ Church Parish Church
Ham Takeout at Nashwaaksis United
Spring Rumage Sale at Wilmot
Worship This Sunday April 7th
Please join Rev. Michelle for service this Sunday at 10:30am
Can’t make it in person, join via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81834519740 Password: 657067
Annual Meeting This Sunday!
Our Annual General Meeting is this Sunday, April 7th, and will begin at 11:40 am in the hall. All congregation members are strongly encouraged to attend either in person or on Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83340674605 Meeting ID: 833 4067 4605 Passcode: 891916. Along with receiving the 2023 Annual Report and Financial Statements, empowering motions to further progress on the projects to sell the building and relocate the congregation will be made. Documentation for the AGM and project background documentation (Congregational Meeting Minutes from October 15th 2023, November 19th 2023 and March 17th 2024) can be found on the church website under the Publication & Reports heading https://www.stpaulsunited.ca/annual-reports/
FundScrip Orders Due Sunday!
The deadline for our next gift card order is this Sunday, April 7th. Time to think about Spring things… new barbeque, outside furniture, bikes for the kids. You can purchase all of these with FundScrip gift cards. Mother’s Day will be here before long… why not give Mum a gift card to her favourite store or take her out for dinner at one of the dining spots on our gift card list. Order forms are available in the church office, in the Narthex or click here April 7th, 2024 FundScrip Order Form. New supporters always welcome! Remember: Shopping is fundraising for St. Paul’s.
Brown Bag Lunch Program 
This week, the program needs pudding cups, and proteins with flip top lids. Thank you for your continued support and generosity of this program.
Pantry Program
The Pantry program needs the following items this week: paper towel, Mr. Clean, Comet, soap, dish & laundry detergent, chili, sardines, canned spaghetti, jam, large orange juice, ketchup, Miracle Whip, salt, jello, granola bars, cookies, crackers, Ritz, rice, Hamburger Helper, pasta, syrup, flour, brown & white, and icing sugar. Thank you for your continued support of this increasingly busy outreach program!
Booking Meeting Space at St. Paul’s
As the use of our space at St. Paul’s gets busier, please remember to book your meetings space through the office. Drop by in person, call 458-1183 or email Meghan at stpaulsoffice224@gmail.com.
God’s Story, Our Story
Pick up this reflection guide in the narthex to use as a home devotional or with your friends. This devotional follows the pattern of pray, reflect and do, offering suggestions on how to put the biblical theme into action.
Upcoming Dates To Remember
Tuesdays from 10:45am-11:45am ~ Bible Study on Sunday Reading
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81736183320 Passcode: 750844
Thursdays from 6-7pm ~ Evening Small Group Faith Exploration
April 7th ~ Service at 10:30 ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by Lois Walker & Nancy MacGarvie
April 7th ~ Annual General Meeting following service
April 14th ~ Service at 10:30 ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by the Sunday School
April 21st ~ Service at 10:30 ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by Beth & Shawn Meister
April 28th ~ Service at 10:30 ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosts Needed!
Organ Recital at Christ Church Parish Church
Sunday April 14th at 2pm Christ Church Parish Church (245 Westmorland Street.) The Fredericton Organists’ Association is presenting an organ recital entitled: From Darkness into Light: Organ Music for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. All are welcome to attend this recital of seasonal music performed by Fredericton area organists. Admission by freewill offering with proceeds going to the Fredericton Food Bank.
Ham Takeout at Nashwaaksis United
Nashwaaksis United Church, 46 Main Street, will be hosting a Ham Takeout on Friday, April 19th, from 4:00-5:30pm. The menu includes delicious ham, potato, and macaroni salads, roll and lemon tart for dessert. The cost is $15.00. Cut off for reservations is Tuesday, April 16th @ 2pm. Please call the church office at 506-458-9452 or email admin@nashwaaksisunited.ca please use front door for pickups
Spring Rumage Sale at Wilmot
Mark your calendars for the UCW Spring Rummage Sale. Sorting will take place on Thursday, April 25th, with the sale happening on Friday and Saturday, April 26th & 27th. Donations of spring/summer clothing, housewares, toys, etc. can be left on the gym stage during office hours. To volunteer, contact Linda Gough or call the church office at 506-458-1066 and we can pass along your name.
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: Jaedyn Williams