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…
This week Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say I am?” We hear the same responses from last week: “John the Baptist”, “Elijah”, “a prophet of old”. He then asks another question, “Who do you say that I am?” to which Peter answers, “The Messiah.”
Who do you say Jesus is? This is an important question, and the answer can profoundly affect your actions and engagement. Take Herod, who said Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead, which yielded paranoia about his part in John’s death. Think also about those who said he was a prophet, remember how often prophets were disregarded and their messages neglected? Or Peter, who names Jesus as the Messiah and while he struggles to understand and follow, always comes back to him.
So, who do you say Jesus is? The reality is, as you journey through life your answer may shift. As we wrestle with the theological assertion that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine, it is easy to focus on one aspect at a time and to prioritize one aspect over another. The reality is that trying to hold both these statements as true, is to actively participate in the mystery that is the incarnation of God.
The United Church has tried to answer the question of who Jesus is, first in the Basis of Union, and in our subsequent faith statements. These include the 1940’s statement of faith, A New Creed, and The Song of Faith. This week, instead of a prayer, I want to leave you with the challenge to articulate who is Jesus to you? And how do you relate to him?
To give you a jumping-off point, here is what our most recent Faith Statement has to say. What do you agree with, what challenges you, what do you love?
We sing of Jesus,
a Jew,
born to a woman in poverty
in a time of social upheaval
and political oppression.
He knew human joy and sorrow.
So filled with the Holy Spirit was he
that in him people experienced the presence of God among them.
We sing praise to God incarnate.
Jesus announced the coming of God’s reign—
a commonwealth not of domination
but of peace, justice, and reconciliation.
He healed the sick and fed the hungry.
He forgave sins and freed those held captive
by all manner of demonic powers.
He crossed barriers of race, class, culture, and gender.
He preached and practiced unconditional love—
love of God, love of neighbour,
love of friend, love of enemy—
and he commanded his followers to love one another
as he had loved them.
Because his witness to love was threatening,
those exercising power sought to silence Jesus.
He suffered abandonment and betrayal,
state-sanctioned torture and execution.
He was crucified.
But death was not the last word.
God raised Jesus from death,
turning sorrow into joy,
despair into hope.
We sing of Jesus raised from the dead.
We sing hallelujah.
By becoming flesh in Jesus,
God makes all things new.
In Jesus’ life, teaching, and self-offering,
God empowers us to live in love.
In Jesus’ crucifixion,
God bears the sin, grief, and suffering of the world.
In Jesus’ resurrection,
God overcomes death.
Nothing separates us from the love of God.
The Risen Christ lives today,
present to us and the source of our hope.
and to all he did and taught,
to his life, death, and resurrection,
and to his continuing presence with us through the Spirit,
we celebrate him as
the Word made flesh,
the one in whom God and humanity are perfectly joined,
the transformation of our lives,
the Christ.
We sing of a church
seeking to continue the story of Jesus
by embodying Christ’s presence in the world.
Featured In This February 8th Edition of St. Paul’s eNews
Worship This Sunday February 11th
Annual Reports Due!
2023 Tax Receipts Available for Pick Up
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Fellowship Hour Servers Needed!
Scammer Alert
Brown Bag Lunch Program
Pantry Program
Booking Meeting Space at St. Paul’s
Warm Mittens & Winter Boots Needed!
Purdys Easter Chocolate Fundraiser
God’s Story, Our Story
Bible Study on Sunday Reading
Evening Small Group Faith Exploration
Lenten Book Study
Upcoming Dates To Remember
Krut Candlelight Tour ~ Fundraising For Ukraine
World Day Of Prayer Services
Employment Opportunity
Worship This Sunday February 11th
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 Reports Due!
Sending a gentle reminder that all Committee, Board and Trustee reports are due. Thank you to those who have already made their submission. Please email reports to stpaulsoffice224@gmail.com
2023 Tax Receipts Available for Pick Up
2023 Tax Receipts are in the mail. If you do not receive yours, please let the office know.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper at St. Paul’s Frasier Memorial Hall on February 13th at 5:30pm. Menu: pancakes, sausage, baked beans, tea, coffee, and dessert. If you are interested in volunteering at this event, please reach out to Cathy Davis for more information.
Fellowship Hour Servers Needed!
Thank you to everyone who has provided for our fellowship time. Currently we are seeking folks to sign up for February 18th and March 3rd. You can help our faith community by picking one day to serve in the coming months. Check the bulletin board across from the hall for available dates.
Scammer Alert
Scammers never take a break, they just hit Wilmot, so we thought it was time for a reminder. Your staff at St. Paul’s will never request that you send them gift cards or money. All donations to the church are to go through the church office. Before responding to any requests, remember to double-check the email address or call the individual. This is a good practice not only for organizations like the church but also for personal contacts. Please let the office know if you receive an email from someone suspicious.
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.
Pantry Program
The Pantry program needs the following items this week: laundry & dish detergent, Mr. Clean, tomato sauce, kernel corn, rice, cereal, cookies, puddings, cake mix, white sugar, flour, macaroni, vinegar, ketchup, tea, and large juice. 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.
Warm Mittens & Winter Boots Needed!
We are in desperate need of warm mittens and winter boots for folks without. If you have any gently used items to donate, please drop them off at the office. Many thanks!
Easter catalogue
Purdys Easter Chocolate Fundraiser
Want to know the most DELICIOUS way to support us? Order Purdys Easter chocolates from our fundraiser!
Our Easter Chocolate Fundraiser begins… NOW! Go get your Easter treats: https://fundraising.purdys.com/1719958-115485
This year, our goal is to raise $2000 so we need your help – but don’t worry, all the work you’re doing is choosing which chocolates to order.
Stock up on beautiful Easter gift boxes, fun chocolate bunnies, Sweet Georgia Browns and more. All profits will go directly to St. Paul’s Outreach Programs. So, satisfy those cravings, get all your Easter basket-shopping done while supporting a great cause.
Ordering is as easy as eating chocolate. Just click this link https://fundraising.purdys.com/1719958-115485, fill out your info you’ll need an email address, click “Join Campaign”, enter campaign number – 67403, and order to your heart’s content!
The deadline to order is March 5th, 2024. Once orders close, we’ll notify everyone when and where you can collect your treats. Pick up at St. Paul’s will start around March 24th.
Please share with anyone you know who might be interested. It would help us so much. Thank you!
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.
Bible Study on Sunday Reading
Tuesdays from 10:45am-11:45am we explore the biblical passage for Sunday, seeking to create connections with our lives. Come explore deeper the passage we will be reading. As one participant noted, “it makes Sunday service richer”. Join us in the boardroom. Can’t make it in person, you can join the discussion via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81736183320 Meeting ID: 817 3618 3320 Passcode: 750844
Evening Small Group Faith Exploration
Thursdays from 6-7pm in the Parlor we explore the questions you have, scripture and faith practices to deepen our connection with God and each other. We hope you will join us.
Lenten Book Study
When Church Stops Working: by Andrew Root and Blair Bertrand. If you are interested in joining the discussion, please sign up on the bulletin board across from Frasier Memorial Hall. Available in print, e-book, and audio formats, order your copy today. If finances are a constraint or if you need help finding a copy of the book, please reach out to Rev. Michelle
Upcoming Dates To Remember
ASAP ~ Annual Report Submissions Due
February 11th ~ Fellowship Hour hosted by Lois Walker & Erin Webb
February 13th ~ Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper at 5:30pm
February 14th ~ Downtown United ~ Ash Wednesday Service at Wilmot at 4pm
February 18th ~ Fellowship Hour hosted by Debbie West
February 25th ~ Fellowship Hour hosted by Beth & Shawn Meister
March 3rd ~ Fellowship Hour Hosts Needed!
March 10th ~ Daylight Savings Time Begins
March 10th ~ Fellowship Hour hosted by Lois & Bill Paterson & Carole Peacock
March 17th ~ Fellowship Hour hosted by Mel & Barb McGuigan & Debbie Allison
March 24th ~ Palm Sunday ~ Fellowship Hour Hosts Needed!
March 28th ~ Downtown United ~ Maundy Thursday Service at Wilmot
March 29th ~ Downtown United ~ Good Friday Service at St. Paul’s
March 31st ~ Easter Sunday Service with Communion ~ Fellowship Hosts Needed
Krut Candlelight Tour ~ Fundraising For Ukraine
Please join Maryna Krut, famous Ukrainian singer, songwriter, and bandura player who is known for her breathtaking performances for her first Canadian Tour. St. Paul’s United Church on February 15th from 7-9pm. Tickets available through EventBrite: click here. Free for kids under 12.
World Day Of Prayer Services
The World Day of Prayer Services, prepared by the Women of Palestine will be held at two locations in the Fredericton region:
Northside: St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, 1 William Street off the Royal Road on Friday, March 1st, 2024 at 2:00pm. Refreshments to follow. Storm date will be Saturday, March 2,2024 at 2:00pm. Wheelchair Accessible.
Southside: Brunswick Street Baptist Church, 161 York Street on Friday, March 1st,2024 at 7:00pm. Storm date will be March 3,2024 at 2:00pm. Refreshments to follow. Wheelchair Accessible.
You can also watch it on Computer, go to wicc.org click on World Day of Prayer 2024 Videos.
Employment Opportunity
Wilmot United Church in downtown Fredericton is accepting applications for a 10-14 hr/wk Church Office Administrator beginning April 1,2024 (flexibility re: start date & hours). This position is key to creating a welcoming environment as well as the smooth, efficient, and effective functioning of the church. Its focus will be on reception, communication (i.e. social media, website management, newsletter) and general office responsibilities. Skills required include good interpersonal communication; advanced computer proficiency & knowledge of Microsoft Office products; graphics & database software; ability to work independently in an environment subject to frequent interruptions. Please direct inquiries or covering Letter & resume to Chair of Ministry & Personnel Committee, Judy Coates, wilmotuc@nb.sympatico.ca cc judycoates@rogers.com
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