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…
When I was just a baby, my parents and I were out on the water in our boat when a storm suddenly arose. My mother clung to me in fear, as my father fought against the waves and wind. The boat was tossed around and headed towards some rocks. Unable to gain full control the boat struck a large rock and the hull cracked. Water started to seep in, puddling at my parents’ feet. Thankfully they were able to get off the rocks and onto the sandy shore. Once the storm had ended they pulled the boat from the water and put her into dry dock for inspection.
Roger Janes, the stewardship resource for our region, once told me that people do not like to give to a sinking ship. While this holds true, I see one problem with this saying. If the ship is overall sound and it is sinking because it needs a small patch job, if you don’t give a to that sinking ship, all will be lost. Yet when things start to get shaky and water starts seeping into our boats, our brains put us in crisis mode. When facing a crisis we are wired to respond emotionally and make quick decisions that are biased toward ensuring our safety.
Good decisions require discernment. Discernment involves asking questions and developing a clear picture of what is happening and what you want to achieve. In the church, it also involves asking what God wants.
For many at St. Paul’s right now, we are in a storm of meaning-making and it is uncomfortable. There is grief about the sale and move from this building. There are questions of identity, what does it mean to be a St Paul’s member worshiping with another congregation in a different home? I have even heard people expressing personal guilt over things they didn’t do that may have contributed to the current situation. Some question what difference this move is going to make for the future, and worry that it will not change the course of the church.
I don’t have God’s perspective; I cannot see all time and space. So, I don’t know for sure how things will turn out. What I do know is that the brightest and best minds in our congregation, after undertaking a full discernment process, made the hard decision that our current building was beyond our resources and we had to be let go.
I also know that there is solid ground on which to build this shared ministry. There are people excited, committed, and ready to work together so that we can be a stronger witness to God’s love. The fact that people in this congregation care deeply for each other will help us weather these transitions. We also know that change only comes when people risk the unknown and step forth in faith, and the members of St. Paul’s are faithful.
It is also a fact, that the story we are pursuing, a story of people finding their way into connection and new life is in line with God’s work throughout history. This shared ministry with St Andrew’s has God’s fingerprints all over it! That I would take to the bank.
Speaking of the bank, in summer, finances at the church are always tight, and this summer is no exception. I hope that this is just the normal giving trend playing out as it does every year and that financial support to St Paul’s will pick up again in September.
However, if for some reason you have thought about giving to our ministry but haven’t yet or you have reduced your financial support to St Paul’s but have the means to support the work we are doing, please consider donating to the church, not because she is sinking but to ensure she can make the safe passage into the future that God is calling us to.
To finish the story I started at the beginning, once on dry land the professionals made their evaluation. Pronouncing that the cracked hull could be repaired, my father and mother debated if it was worth spending the money and in the end, they chose to invest in future enjoyment on the lake. For the next 21 years that boat hit the lake every summer, introducing countless children to waterskiing, tubing, and the love of the water. Sometimes you need to invest a little capital to help the ship so that you can reap the rewards.
As you discern your capacity to donate to the church consider the fun you have had with the members of this congregation, the ways that you have positively impacted people’s lives through the ministry we offer, and how you have been sustained by this community of faith. Remember that these good things can and will continue as long as our congregation members continue to invest in the Ministry of St. Paul’s.
This Sunday marks the final joint service of the summer season. Worship will be hosted by Wilmot at 10:30am. While I will be away with my family for our final camping trip of the summer, I hope that you will join your siblings in Christ to worship. If this coming week you are in need of emergency pastoral care Rev. Richard will be covering for me, his contact info is below. As we move into this last week of August let us pray…
God the summer has gone so fast,
We blinked and it is almost over,
Help us to slow down and take in this moment
Not pushing forward to the next things
Or looking back with nostalgia
But living in the present.
Let us feel the warm summer sun,
Smell the abundant flowers and fruits of creation
And give thanks for your presence.
Amen.
Featured In This August 22nd Edition of St. Paul’s eNews
Worship This Sunday August 25th
Office Closed For Holidays
Rev. Michelle’s Vacation & Pastoral Care
FundScrip
Back To School Backpacks ~ Thank You!
Brown Bag Lunch Program
Pantry Program
Trustee Update On Our Move
Fall Youth @ Region Camp Event
September Worship
Moderator’s Book Club Returns
St. Theresa’s Twilight Retreat
Candlelight Concert Series At St. Paul’s
60th Anniversary Of The Women’s Inter-Church Of Fredericton
Ecumenical Shared Ministry Agreement
Save The Date Sharon’s Fall Organ Concert
Worship This Sunday August 25th
Please join Wilmot for service this Sunday at 10:30am.
https://www.youtube.com/c/WilmotUnitedChurch?app=desktop
Office Closed For Holidays
St. Paul’s office will be closed from August 23rd through September 2nd. On September 3rd, the office will return to the regular hours of Monday-Thursday from 8am-3pm, and Friday from 8am-1pm. Emails will be monitored and responded to when possible.
Rev. Michelle’s Vacation & Pastoral Care
Rev. Michelle will be on vacation from August 25th-September 2st (excluding worship on September 1). For pastoral care emergencies, please call Rev. Richard Bowley at 506-262-2150.
FundScrip
Are you ready for the approaching change of season? FundScrip gift cards can help you with all your shopping… school supplies, additions to your fall wardrobe, rakes and leaf bags to tidy up your lawn. We’ll have two orders before our move to St. Andrew’s. Deadlines are Sunday, September 8th and Sunday, October 6th. As usual, order forms are available in the office and the Narthex or print your own by clicking here. Cards will be available on the Sunday after the deadline dates. We’ll figure out more dates once we settle in at St. Andrew’s. It’s not too early to start your Christmas gift card list! Thank you for your continued support!
Back To School Backpacks ~ Thank You!
We would like to extend sincere gratitude to everyone who supported the Back to Backpacks fundraiser. The 6 students are very pleased and thankful for the backpacks and supplies and are ready to head back to school. Many Thanks!
Brown Bag Lunch Program
This week, the program needs proteins with flip top lids, and granola bars. Thank you for your continued support and generosity of this program.
Pantry Program
The Pantry program needs the following items this week: macaroni, spaghetti, Kraft Dinner, tuna, canned meats, flour, white & icing sugars, peas, green beans, large juices, tomato pasta sauce, vinegar, mayo, jam, ketchup, cereal, granola bars, tea, cookies, Ritz, salt, soda, plastic wrap, tin foil, Comet, laundry & dish soap, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. Thank you for your continued support of this increasingly busy outreach program!
Trustee Update On Our Move
Last week, about 20 volunteer congregants gathered to discuss the inventory of church property and volunteer to lead or assist in disposing of items via auction, sale, or donation. As a group, we identified items that we will take with us to our new home. These items include Pantry donations box, historic plaques, Rolls of Honour, wooden cross used at Easter, Yamaha grand piano, staging for choir performances, hymn books, music and stands, Communion table, 1804 Bible and stand, brass cross, baptismal font and silver pitcher, murals by Robert Benn and the oak cabinets in the Parlour. It’s not too late to volunteer! There are many tasks – large and small – that need to be done. Let Meghan in the office know how you can help or speak to one of the Trustees. Many hands make light work! The teamwork and collaboration of everyone working together will ensure as smooth a transition as we can hope for. THANK YOU!! ~ Trustees
Fall Youth @ Region Camp Event
From Friday, September 27th-Sunday, September 29th, there will be a youth event at Camp Wegesegum (360 Wegesegum Lane, Coal Creek, NB (just outside Chipman). This event is for youth from grade 6-12, and registration for the event is $75. There will be opportunities for worship, fun, and learning as together we explore themes of Truth & Reconciliation and the impacts, we all have in creating and deepening relationships in our communities. Financial Support is available. Contact rev.bowley@outlook.com for more information. To register your youth for this camp weekend, please fill in the linked registration form. If you prefer a paper copy, please reach out to rev.bowley@outlook.com. Instructions on how to pay will be sent to you following registration
Registration Form: https://forms.gle/GycQ3bCPwJo6oJ989 The registration deadline is August 31st, 2024.
September Worship
September 1st Worship starts up again in our building at 224 York Street. Our official fall kick-off Sunday will be September 8th. Plan to join us as we unveil this year’s theme and hand out wallet cards, magnets, and bag tags to help keep this theme in the foreground of this coming program year.
Moderator’s Book Club Returns
Over the last year our moderator has hosted a virtual book study exploring a wide range of books and topics. September the book club will be gathering again to explore and discuss the book Maximus Canada by Doug Saunders on September 26th. For more information and to sign up check out https://united-church.ca/community-and-faith/organization-and-governance/moderator/right-rev-dr-carmen-lansdowne-44th-moderator/flourishing-project/mods-book-squad
St. Theresa’s Twilight Retreat
St. Theresa’s Catholic Women’s League, Fredericton, is hosting a Twilight Retreat on September 9th from 4:30-8:00 PM. Register by 4:15PM. It will be in the Church Hall at St. Theresa’s Church, 1 William Street. It will involve a Potluck supper. We start the retreat at 4:30 PM for 45 minutes then break for supper then another 45 minutes after supper. We will be finished by 8:00 PM. Our Facilitator will be Jim Anderson, Director of Missionary Discipleship Formation for the Diocese of Saint John. All are welcome, Men and Women as it is opened to everyone. Thank you. Deborah Heustis / Odette Craine, St. Theresa’s CWL
Candlelight Concert Series At St. Paul’s
Fever is presenting a Candlelight Concert Series in the sanctuary at St. Paul’s. Two Concerts on September 27th feature 1) Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, 2) A Tribute to Taylor Swift, and two on November 9th featuring 1) A Tribute to Coldplay, and 2) A Tribute to Abba. Tickets are ONLY available online. For more information and to purchase tickets CLICK HERE.
60th Anniversary Of The Women’s Inter-Church Of Fredericton
The Women’s Inter-Church of Fredericton will be celebrating their 60th Anniversary on September 28th at Wilmot United Church, 473 King Street, Fredericton at 2:00 PM. The Theme is “Shining the Light”. The entrance off Carlton Street has a lift device and fewer stairs and easier to get into the sanctuary. We will have the honour of Catherine MacKeil, Executive Director of the Women’s Inter-Church of Canada and Shirley DeMerchant, Past President of the Women’s Inter-Church of Canada present at our celebration. Following the Service there is a reception downstairs. All are welcome. Deborah Heustis, Publicity for the Women’s Inter-Church of Fredericton.
Ecumenical Shared Ministry Agreement
The draft agreement which will lay out the basic structure for how the shared ministry will be lived out is being reviewed by St. Paul’s Council and St. Andrew’s Session tonight. Pending approval by these governing bodies the congregation will receive copies of the draft agreement in early September and a congregational meeting will be planned for September 15th to address questions and vote on this critical piece of our transition. This document will aid the congregations in understanding how our congregations will work together.
Save the Date: Sharon’s Fall Organ concert
Don’t miss Sharon’s Fall Concert which will take place October 4th at 7pm. It will be a night of celebrating the full colours of the organ. Mark your calendar today!
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 | Organist: Dr. Sharon Pond
Church Administrator: Meghan Roebuck | Custodian: Jaedyn Williams