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…
First Coming by Madeline L’Engle
He did not wait till the world was ready,
till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
and prisoners cried out for release.
He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime,
turned water into wine.
He did not wait till hearts were pure.
In joy he came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
he came, and his Light would not go out.
He came to a world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.
We cannot wait till the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!
Christmas is right on our doorsteps, and this year more than others I have been reflecting on how Jesus was born, not in the perfectly prepared and ready world, but in the real messy moment. Take this to heart if you find yourself still cleaning up or waiting for power after Monday’s storm. Take this to heart if you are now behind on your holiday to-do list and if your last-minute preparations that add the finishing touches are left undone, it’s ok. Jesus doesn’t care if you have a perfectly set table or bow on each package. He cares about you!
The powerful message of this season is that God loves us so much that he would come to humanity, to be with us and show us the way to abundant life. God loves us so much that he stayed with us even when life got hard, and death knocked at his door. Nothing has ever stopped him from pouring out his love, which gives us peace, hope, and joy.
This Christmas, as we celebrate Christ’s birth and are filled with the wonder and awe of this holy night, let us rejoice. Rejoice in the salvation that this child will bring. Rejoice to be part of the long tradition of followers who have come to see what happened way back then. Rejoice that God still breaks into our world and lives today.
Let us also rejoice that we have each other to journey the road of faith with. There is so much to rejoice about in our community of faith. This year we were blessed to have a return of in-person church suppers, Carols by Glowstick, and the Advent Carol Festival. There was an expansion in the number of visitors who connected with people for whom joining us in person is no longer possible. We started an evening faith group that allows younger members to participate in faith formation. Our choir has grown, our seasonal decorators have kept our spaces looking beautiful, and the different voices for scripture continue to help us engage with God’s word.
We can rejoice in our ability to serve our community through the Brown Bag Program, the Pantry, low-income housing, pastoral care, being able to provide warm clothing and backpacks for kids, and support of students through Campus Ministry and summer student jobs. Not to mention all the people who come to our staff for support, encouragement, and a word of kindness in what can be a harsh world. We can rejoice that in Christ’s name, we are making a difference in the world.
This Christmas I also rejoice in you. The people who make us St. Paul’s reside deep in my heart, your commitment to being a community, the hard work, and the big discussions you have been willing to undertake. You are a blessing to me. Thank you for everything you offer in service to Christ through our congregation and beyond.
I hope to see you this weekend as we celebrate the birth of our Lord. If you are traveling, blessings on your trip and safe return. If you are unable to be with us, know you are in my prayers. I wish you all a Merry Christmas!
Finally, as we head into the New Year, let us continue to rejoice and draw near to Christ who came to show us in his life the way. May God continue to make himself known, leading and guiding us in the year to come.
In these last days before Christmas, let us pray,
Holy God, as we take these final steps toward Christmas Day,
Open us to the wonder of this night,
How you came into the world through the most unlikely and unexpected means.
How those on the outside of society were gathered to the manger to form the innermost circle,
How a shining star drew the attention of those far away, stirring curiosity and devotion.
As we too come and gaze at the newborn baby in Bethlehem,
Give us eyes to see him at work in our world today.
Open us to the call of angels around us,
And give us strength and courage to step out in Christ’s light. Amen.
Featured In This December 21st Edition of St. Paul’s eNews
Worship This Sunday December 24th
Longest Night Service Tonight!
Annual Report Season Is Coming!
Don’t Miss the Tax Donation Deadline!
Church Office Closed
Emergency Response & Pastoral Care
Followship Hour December 31st
Church Envelopes Are Here!
Wheelchair Wanted
Fellowship Hour Servers Needed!
Mincemeat
Warm Clothing Donations Needed!
Pantry Program
Upcoming Dates To Remember
Moderator Carmen Lansdowne’s Advent Message to the Church
Gifts with Vision
Campus Ministry at UNB
God’s Story, Our Story
Bible Study on Sunday Reading
Evening Small Group Faith Exploration
Worship This Sunday December 24th
Please join us for Christmas Eve Services at St. Paul’s
10:30 am ~ Advent 4 Service
3pm ~ Family Christmas Service
7pm ~ Traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with communion
Can’t join us in person, join us via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81834519740
Meeting ID: 818 3451 9740 Passcode: 657067
**Reminder that there is No Christmas Day service at St. Paul’s**
Longest Night Service Tonight!
On the Longest and darkest night of the year, we gather to worship at 7pm. This service is a quiet and reflective service, designed for those who may be struggling with grief, loneliness, or just not connecting with the joy so prevalent this time of year. In the darkness of the night, we hold each other and find hope that Christ is coming, a light in the darkness. You are invited to join us 7pm on December 21st, here at St. Paul’s for this years’ service.
Annual Report Season Is Coming!
If you are a chair of a committee or group, it is time to start thinking about your annual report. This is the official record of what has happened in the life of our congregation during 2023. We are asking for all reports to be submitted to Meghan by January 17th, and if you could keep your report to a 2 page maximum, it would be greatly appreciated. Now is a great time to begin reflecting on what you did in 2023.
Don’t Miss the Tax Donation Deadline!
Donations deadline for the 2023 tax year is December 31st. While our office will not be open from December 22 through January 1st, you can still get your donations in by visiting the office before December 21st or by using the secure locked drop box which will be checked while the office is closed. You can also bring them to any of the December 24th services or the December 31st service.
Church Office Closed
The church office will be closed December 21st and reopen on January 2nd.
Emergency Response & Pastoral Care
Rev. Michelle is still on-call while the church office is closed and can be reached on her cell at 506-259-7602 for emergencies and pastoral care. As always, if you require emergency pastoral care at any time of the day or night, just reach out as she is only a quick call away.
Followship Hour December 31st
Come one, come all to Fraser Hall after 10:30 service on Sunday, December 31st to share your New Years Greetings to friends both old & new. We will have some special treats and fill the hall with cheer as we welcome in the New Year.
Church Envelopes Are Here!
Church envelopes are available in the Narthex over the holidays and then at the office in the New Year. Please pop in to pick yours up!
Wheelchair Wanted
St. Paul’s is in search of a gently used wheelchair to help our congregants to attend services. If you or someone you know has one to donate, please reach out to Meghan in the office.
Fellowship Hour Servers Needed!
Fellowship Hour is a way to serve your community and enter the spiritual practice of hospitality. For each Sunday in the new year, we are looking for teams of 3 or more to host fellowship hour. You will bring treats and whole milk, set up before church and make tea & coffee, serve, and clean up. Sign up as individuals, with your friends or as a committee. A sheet is posted on the bulletin board. Don’t worry if you don’t have experience, help is always nearby!
Mincemeat
The UCW has 2 jars of mincemeat available for sale. Each 450 ml jar is $15. Please stop by the office or contact Cathy Davis if you would like one.
Warm Clothing Donations Needed!
Our clothing cupboard is running low on winter boots and warm jackets. Also needed are warm socks and mittens. If you have any gently used items to donate, please drop by the office. Many thanks for helping keep things warm!
Brown Bag Lunch Program
This week, the program needs proteins with flip top lids, juice boxes, and pudding cups. Thank you for your continued support and generosity of this program.
Pantry Program
The Pantry program needs the following items this week: jam, cookies, juice – large and small, cake mix, sugar, flour, ketchup, coffee, rice, pasta, mayo, molasses, salt, crackers, tuna, canned fruit, mustard, pancake mix & syrup, pudding cups, dish & laundry detergent, paper towel, and Kleenex. Thank you for your continued support of this increasingly busy outreach program!
Upcoming Dates To Remember
December 22nd – January 1st ~ Office CLOSED for Holidays
December 24th ~ Advent 4 Service at 10:30
December 24th ~ Family Christmas Service at 3pm
December 24th ~ Traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Service followed by Communion at 7pm
December 31st ~ Christmas 2 Service at 10:30 ~ Fellowship Hour host by the Worship Committee
Moderator Carmen Lansdowne’s Advent Message to the Church
The Moderator’s message to the church for this Advent Season can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9_Cj7z6JjM
Gifts with Vision
Are you looking for a gift that has an impact and makes a difference in the world? Check out the Gifts With Vision Catalogue https://giftswithvision.ca/ The United Church of Canada developed Gifts with Vision in response to requests to be able to give gifts to relatives, friends, and loved ones that directly support projects developed by the church’s Mission and Service partners. There is still time to give a gift that has a real impact, including close to home, by sponsoring a kid to attend our own Camp Ta-Wa-Si.
Campus Ministry at UNB
St. Paul’s has a long history of supporting Campus Ministry. This week, as students write exams, the campus ministry, in partnership with congregations across the city, has been hosting PAUSE tables. These tables provide an opportunity for students to stop and chat, grab a bite to eat, and know that people are thinking and praying about them in this stressful time. If you would like to support this ministry, just drop off a donation in the offering plate, church office or by e-transfer with a note saying it is for Campus Ministry.
God’s Story, Our Story
Pick up this reflection guide in the narthex to use as a home devotional or with your friends.
Bible Study on Sunday Reading
Is on Christmas Break but will return on January 9th from 10:45am-11:45am in the Board room. Can’t make it in person, Join by Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81736183320 Meeting ID: 817 3618 3320 Passcode: 750844
Evening Small Group Faith Exploration
Is on Christmas break but will return on January 11th from 6-7pm in the Parlor. We hope you will join us.
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: Rusty Blakely