Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian & St. Paul’s United
From the desk of Rev. Michelle…
One of the highlights for my kids is lighting the advent candles on our wreath at home. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to tell Ella that we have to wait until Sunday to light the next candle, the joy candle. This time of year, we seem to have two traditions. First is the daily lighting of our home Advent candles, the light increasing as we move towards Christmas Eve. The other is retrieving the packages off our doorstep from my family out west, at this time of year this too seems like a daily event.
My house is probably a lot like others, a mix of secular and sacred Christmas trimmings. I am struck today by my fireplace where my advent candles are lined up with a small nativity scene in front of the Christ Candle, below which our family stockings are hung. This dichotomy of Jesus in the manger and Christmas stockings hanging on the mantle beckon our attention towards two very different ways of finding joy. The reality is that these two joys function in very different ways and are not equal.
As adults, we all know that as my children discover the gifts that Santa Claus leaves and then unwrap the packages under the tree, the excitement and happiness they feel is just temporary. The high of the new toy and game, will fade and likely be replaced with the next desired object. This fleeting experience of joy pales in comparison to the joy that I seek to foster in their lives through our faith.
This Sunday as we light the joy candle, it is not a temporary joy we are inviting into our lives. Through Christ we are seeking the joy that lasts even in challenges, the joy that holds us firm, a joy that is part of us because we are united with Christ. The hymn Oh, How Joyfully sums up this joy in three short verses.
Oh, how joyfully, oh, how hopefully,
waits the world on Christmas Eve!
Love comes healing, God revealing.
Friends, be joyful and believe!
Oh, how joyfully, oh, how peacefully,
sleeps the world on Christmas Night!
Sins are covered, grace discovered.
In our darkness shines the light!
Oh, how joyfully, oh, how thankfully,
wakes the world on Christmas Morn!
God has spoken, death is broken.
Hallelujah! Christ is born!
This week I invite you to take time to sit with this hymn. To put away, even for 5 minutes, the to do lists and demands that draw you away from the joy that Christ offers and give thanks to God for a joy that once it has come, is always there for us.
I also want to acknowledge that there are things that make it hard to experience the joy of this season. When we are stressed by medical challenges, the loss of a loved one, and financial burdens, just to name a few, the expectation of joy and happiness can feel like a lot. If you are in need of a reminder of the true joy of the season, a joy that is not in your face and glittery, then I invite you to attend the longest night (blue Christmas) service. This service is a quieter and more reflective service, seeking to give space for the challenges that this season can bring while speaking to the hope and love we find in Jesus Christ. This service has been a service traditionally shared by St. Paul’s and Wilmot, with leadership provided by both congregations. This year, the service will be hosted at Wilmot on December 21st at 7 pm. I hope that if you need lifting this season you will join me at this worship service.
As we head into this weekend where we light the pink joy candle, let us pray…
O God, you call us to come to the manger
expectant of what we will find.
Help us this Advent season to cultivate wonder and awe
at the amazing gift we receive again as we celebrate Christ’s birth.
Let the joy and wonder of that first Christmas echo through the generations
touching us and opening us to experience the profoundness of your presence then
and how you still come to be with us, even now. Amen
Featured In This December 12th eNews Edition
Advent 3 ~ Worship This Sunday December 15th
Notice Of St. Paul’s Holiday Office Closure
Lintuhtine Singers Holiday Cheer Rescheduled
Mission Gifts
St. Paul’s 2025 Envelopes Ready For Pick Up!
Connecting With Rev. Michelle
St. Paul’s Pantry Program
Brown Bag Lunch Program
Vivaldi’s Gloria and Christmas Choral Treats
Bulletin & Announcement Submissions
Church Activities
Advent 3 ~ Worship This Sunday December 15th
Please join Rev. Michelle for service this Sunday at 10:30am.
Please join Rev. Michelle 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
Notice Of St. Paul’s Holiday Office Closure
St. Paul’s Office will be closed for the holidays from Friday December 20th at noon until Sunday January 5th. End of year contributions can be dropped in the church mail slot at the main entrance, left in an envelope at the office, sent via etransfer to stpaulsoffice224@gmail.com or placed in the offering plate during services. Wishing everyone a Very Merry holiday!
Lintuhtine Singers Holiday Cheer Rescheduled
LINTUHTINE SINGERS present HOLIDAY CHEER, with special guests Sidney Murgatroyd (strings) Sophia & Katie (vocals). Director, Helen Morag McKinnon, Accompanists, Lynn Mills and Conrad Levesque. December 14th at 2pm Oromocto United Church. Cash donation at door to cover choir expenses. The original concert was postponed due to inclement weather.
Mission Gifts
Want to give a gift that changes lives? What do you get the person who has everything? Both the Presbyterians and United Church have mission gift catalogues. Check out Gifts of Change here and Gifts with Vision here and make a difference this season.
St. Paul’s 2025 Envelopes Ready For Pick Up!
St. Paul’s 2025 Offering Envelopes are ready! Some envelope numbers have been reassigned for the new year. If your name is in blue, please take note of your new number! Envelopes will be placed at the back of the sanctuary on Sundays until the new year, after which time you can pick them up in the office.
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 available Sundays between 1-2:30pm and Mondays from 1-2:30pm. Appointments are preferred to ensure the time you need to connect.
St. Paul’s Pantry Program
The Pantry items needed this week are salt, ketchup, coffee, cookies, relish, mayo, jam, pasta sauce, canned fruit, large juice, white sugar, flour, juice boxes, fruit cups, rice, macaroni, spaghetti, Stove Top, oatmeal individuals, laundry and dish soap, Mr. Clean, Comet, hand soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper, paper towel, Kleenex, and plastic wrap. Thank you for your continued support of this increasingly busy outreach program!
Brown Bag Lunch Program
This week, the program needs proteins with flip top lids.
Thank you for your continued support and generosity of this program.
Vivaldi’s Gloria and Christmas Choral Treats
The Fredericton Choral Society presents Vivaldi’s Gloria and Christmas choral treats on Saturday December 14th at 7:30pm at Christ Church parish Church – 245 Westmorland Street. Admission: $25 general & $10 student. Tickets available at the door and from choir members.
Bulletin & Announcement Submissions
Those wanting to add an announcement to the bulletin and/or eNews, please send an email to Meghan at stpaulsoffice224@gmail.com by Wednesday at noon. Announcements will run for a 2-week period.
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
Upcoming Dates to Remember
December 15th ~ Advent 3 ~ Service at 10:30 ~ Fellowship hosted by Shawn & Beth Meister & Kim Keech
December 22nd ~ Advent 4 ~ Service at 10:30 ~ Alanna Palmer & Cathy Davis
December 21st ~ Longest Night Service at Wilmot United at 7pm
December 24th ~ Family Christmas Eve Service at 3pm
December 24th ~ Traditional Candlelight Christmas Eve Service & Communion at 7pm
December 29th ~ Service at 10:30
January 5th ~ Service at 10:30
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 Hours: Monday-Friday 2pm-6pm
St. Paul’s: Tel: 506.458.1183 | E-mail: stpaulsoffice224@gmail.com | Website: www.stpaulsunited.ca
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8am-3pm
Minster: Rev. Michelle Armstrong | Organist: Dr. Sharon Pond
Church Administrators: Meghan Roebuck & Joanna Price
Custodian: Doug Newman | Clerk of Session: Janet Higgins
Ministers Emeriti: Rev. Doug Blaikie & Rev. Dr. Basil Lowery