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 Sunday is Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week. Did you know that this coming week historically has seen a rise in antisemitic violence? As early as 538, the Council of Orléans ordered Jews to stay in their houses from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday for their own protection. The Council was worried about the actions of people after they had been roused by sermons with anti-Jewish flair, however, rogue individuals were not the only concern. You see, the symbolic stoning of Jewish homes during Eastertide had become a common ritual in many places in Europe. I bring this up to highlight that Christians have interpreted and told the story of Jesus passion in ways that fueled anti-Jewish theology and antisemitic attitudes and actions. It is important for us all to remember that how we interpret scripture matters. Real harm to real people can, and does, occur when poor theology is left to reign. This statement is as true back in 538 as it is today.
As we move through this year’s Holy Week, there are some things that can help us reframe and check our understanding of scripture. The first is that those who wrote, collected, and edited the Gospels were not intentionally writing the Bible. They were telling the story of Jesus for their community and time. The second is that about 40 years separates the death of Jesus from the writing of the first Gospel (about 70 years for the gospel of John). At the time there were vicious arguments amongst the Jewish community, including Jewish followers of Jesus, about what Judaism should become now that the temple was destroyed, and the priesthood, Jewish political powers and military were left in ruins by Rome.
Knowledge of this history can help us to understand the reasons why biblical writers frame the story of Jesus the way they do. Becoming familiar with the history and world in which our sacred texts were formed helps us to be better receivers of the wisdom that they hold. It also allows us to make changes to how we see and interpret our scriptures for today.
To help you go deeper, this coming week we will be positing the videos from “Presenting the Passion… Without blaming “the Jews” series onto our Facebook page. In this series, members of the Christian Scholars Group on Christian-Jewish Relations and two Jewish advisors explore four parts of the Passion narrative. They bring decades of research and biblical understanding to bear on helping us see and understand this central story to our faith, while at the same time, renouncing anti-Jewish biases and illuminating the gospel message. I hope that you will take the time to Journey with us. If you do not have access to Facebook, you can also find the videos https://www.iccj.org/resources/passion-video-series.html
Along this line, on Sunday we will be singing a familiar hymn, I Danced in the Morning (Lord of the Dance). I, however, wanted to flag ahead of time that vs 2-3 will be changed to be more historically accurate and sensitive, to avoid theologies that express anti-Jewish and supersessionism sentiments. So, this Sunday we will sing:
I danced for my people and cured all who came,
I healed the blind and the leper and the lame,
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John,
They joined the dance and the dance went on. R
I danced for God’s kingdom which is over all,
But the Roman rulers said I broke their law,
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me high,
And left me there on the cross to die. R
Starting this Sunday, we climb abord the rollercoaster ride of Holy Week. I truly hope that you will join us, not just for the triumphant sounds of this Sunday, but also for the twists and turns of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday before we find ourselves back at the height of joy on Easter Sunday. As we head into this sacred time let us pray.
God of passionate and vulnerable love,
You give us your very life,
Coming to us displaying of what it means to have and live an abundant life.
Sharing your love and inviting others to do the same,
this is the model you gave us.
Yet the cross continues to rebuke us,
for in it we see all the ways that we have turned from your model and your grace.
Let your story, becomes our story as we cry out “Save Us, Hosanna”
And you lead us yet again from death to life.
Amen.
Featured In This March 21st Edition of St. Paul’s eNews
Worship This Sunday March 24th
Noon Hour Viola Concert Tomorrow!
Karen Redbourne
Thank You!
Chocolate Orders Are Ready For Pick Up
Maundy Thursday Service At Wilmot
Good Friday Service At St. Paul’s
Easter Morning Sunrise Service
Fellowship Hour Servers Needed!
FundScrip
Brown Bag Lunch Program
Pantry Program
Booking Meeting Space at St. Paul’s
God’s Story, Our Story
Upcoming Dates To Remember
Stew Takeout at Nashwaaksis United
Death Cafe
Worship This Sunday March 24th
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
Noon Hour Viola Concert Tomorrow!
Natalia DeLacroix will present Homage à Bach on viola on March 22nd from 12-1pm at St. Paul’s Freewill offering, entry is free.
Karen Redbourne
The Funeral Service for Karen will take place at St. Paul’s United Church on Friday, March 22nd, at 3pm. Click here to read her obituary: Karen Redbourne. To leave a message of condolence, please visit www.mcadamsfh.com.
Thank You!
A special thank-you to all who responded to the “The Future of St Paul’s is in Our Hands” questionnaire. The insights gained will help the Ecumenical Shared Ministry (ESM) Team plan for OUR future. We encourage you to continue speaking with members of the ESM Committee with any further ideas, questions, or concerns you have. Thanks again. ~ Debbie Allison, Tammy Coughlan, Alanna Palmer, Bill Paterson, Carole Peacock and Rev. Michelle.
Chocolate Orders Are Ready For Pick Up
Thank you to everyone who purchased Purdys Easter chocolates in support of St. Paul’s Outreach Programs. You raised 261.05! Orders are assembled and in the office for pick up between 8am-3pm Monday-Thursday and 8am-1pm Friday or after service on Sunday.
Maundy Thursday Service At Wilmot
Maundy Thursday Service will take place on March 28th at 6pm at Wilmot in their lower parlor. Please note this year there will be no meal, just a service.
Good Friday Service At St. Paul’s
St. Paul’s will host Downtown United Good Friday Service at 10 am on March 29th.
Easter Morning Sunrise Service
Downtown United Easter Sunrise Service will take place at 7am on March 31st at the pedway by the library. Breakfast will follow at St. Paul’s.
Fellowship Hour Servers Needed!
Thank you to everyone who has provided for our fellowship time. Currently we are seeking folks to sign up for March 31st and all of April. 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.
FundScrip
Deadline for our next gift card order is 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 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: Mr. Clean Comet, laundry & dish detergent, hand soap, salt, cereal, pancake mix, syrup, ketchup, Miracle Whip, pasta sauce, orange juice, hardy soups, cookies, canned milk, rice, flour, Shake n’ Bake, and chocolate puddings. 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
March 22nd ~ Homage A Bach ~ Natalia DeLacroix ~ Noon Hour Concert at St. Paul’s from 12-1pm
March 24th ~ Palm Sunday ~ Fellowship Hour hosted by Beth & Shawn Meister
March 28th ~ Downtown United ~ Maundy Thursday Service at Wilmot at 6pm
March 29th ~ Downtown United ~ Good Friday Service at St. Paul’s at 10am
March 31st ~ Downtown United ~ Easter Morning Sunrise Service at 7am with Breakfast to follow at St. Paul’s
March 31st ~ Easter Sunday Service with Communion ~ Fellowship Hosts Needed
April 1st ~ Easter Monday STAT Holiday ~ Office Closed
April 7th ~ Annual General Meeting following service
Stew Takeout at Nashwaaksis United
Nashwaaksis United Church, 46 Main Street, will be hosting a Stew Takeout on Friday, March 22nd from 4– 5:30pm. The menu includes delicious homemade Beef Stew, Rolls and Carrot Cake for dessert. The cost is $15. Cut off for reservations is Monday, March 18th. Please call the church office 506-458-9452 or email admin@nashwaaksisunited.ca please use the front door for pickups
Death Cafe
“Death Café on Wednesday, March 27th, from 1:30 – 3:00 pm at the Brookside Wellness Centre in the Brookside Mall. No charge to attend and adults are welcome! For more information email deathinformationandeducation@gmail.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