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 we will gather to worship for Reign of Christ Sunday. It is the crowning Sunday of the church year, where we hold that Christ is king in our hearts and over our lives, before turning again to his birth, his Advent.
Did you know that November 30th is St. Andrew’s (Feast) Day and that the Sunday closest to it is often celebrated as St. Andrew’s Sunday? St. Andrew is the patron saint of Scottland. This matters because descendants from Scottland founded St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and this historic tie remains strong. As part of celebrating St Andrew’s Day, the Fredericton St. Andrews Society will be joining us for worship. This society was set up to help new immigrants from Scotland settle in Fredericton. Its work was supported by church members and in turn, helped many to adjust to life in Canada. As part of the society’s celebration of Scottish heritage they will be coming, I am told, with Bagpipes.
This Sunday we are going to see the human tension between the world divisions and cultures we create, and our allegiance to our sovereign God. The reality is that very few of us only have one thing we care about. We are complex people made up of a variety of interests and values. And God has made such diversity and variety of populations and people. While it is good to find clan and folks who speak to your lived experiences and preferences, as this helps us to feel at home. We all need to heed the caution against letting comfort be our driving motive, for we are called to let Christ rule our hearts and minds.
With Christ at the helm, we are being pulled into the Holy Spirit, and God’s wild love. We are called to order our lives according to his priority list not our own. We are asked to be shaped more and more like him, to shine with more of his light, and to have our actions make others sense that they have had an experience of Christ’s presence. This is no small task we are being asked and often following Jesus means walking into discomfort, which no human likes. The bracelets that were popular when I was a kid that said WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) hold an acronym that is still a good resource to help us as grown-ups determine if the desires of our heart are our preferences or God’s way.
As we head towards this Sunday, let us evaluate, in what ways we are letting Christ rule and where we are asserting our own will. May we keep our eyes and hearts open to discern how to let Christ be our Saviour and our Sovereign. Let us pray,
God
thank you for the way in which we feel at home,
for the family and friends
community groups and social programs
that give us a safe place to be who you made us to be.
Guard our hearts, Lord
so that we do not tie our identity to any one program or group,
but instead, stand fully in the identity we have been given by you.
When we have wandered,
let us turn to you again to be our guiding star and
golden rule.
Take our lives O God
and shape them to reflect you above all else.
this we pray in Christ’s name. Amen.
PS. Pink is ahead by $10.00 so all votes for the advent colours fundraiser can still swing it to purple. Vote this weekend, or vote from home see the ad below for details. This Sunday is the Last Sunday for Voting.
Featured In This November 21st Edition of St. Paul’s eNews
Worship This Sunday November 24th
Christmas Angel Tree
Colours Of Advent Fundraiser
Saint Andrew’s Mission Tree Update
FundScrip ~ Countdown for Christmas!
The Great ADVENTure
32nd Advent Carol Festival
Connecting With Rev. Michelle
Rev. Michelle’s Office Drop-In Hours
St. Paul’s & Saint Andrew’s Christmas Bazaar
Christmas Bazaar At Marysville United
Listen, Love and Pray: Grief and Loss Support
Pantry Program
Brown Bag Lunch Program
Fredericton Ladies Choir Annual Christmas Concert
Bulletin & Announcement Submissions
Vivaldi’s Gloria and Christmas Choral Treats
Breakfast & Christmas Market At Gibson
Advent Study
Breakfast 2 Go
Mark Your Calendars
Church Activities
Worship This Sunday November 24th
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
Christmas Angel Tree 
Thank you to Santa’s helpers for your generous support of this community outreach program. Your gifts of toys, games, clothing and gift cards will bring much joy and happiness to 40 children whose families are being looked after by the Greener Village/Fredericton Food Bank this Christmas. If you missed getting an angel from the St. Paul’s tree, there are angels available on St. Andrew’s Mission Tree. They support individuals (and their children) who have been affected by abuse and are being cared for by Liberty Lane. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!
Colours Of Advent Fundraiser
Purple or pink? You choose! As a visual symbol of the season, Rev. Michelle will be dying the bottom of her hair either purple or pink, depending on what colour gets the most donations. Purple is the colour of penitence & penance, symbolizing how to prepare ourselves for God’s presence. Pink is the colour of Joy, reminding you to rejoice in the Lord. Make donations in the jars at the back of the sanctuary or through the office – noting your colour choice, via cash or etransfer to stpaulsoffice224@gmail.com (auto deposited). Donations will be credited to your annual contributions. Deadline is Nov 27th.
Saint Andrew’s Mission Tree Update
Once again, the Mission Committee is supporting a family from Liberty Lane this Christmas. Liberty Lane Inc. is a charitable organization located in Fredericton that offers Second Stage Housing to female identified individuals (and their children) who have left family violence, and Domestic Violence Outreach services to people of all gender identities. We are sponsoring two families this year and the angels include toys, clothing and gift cards. Items for the mom may be gift wrapped but we will provide wrapping supplies so the mom can wrap the children’s gifts. The angels will be available to choose from on Sunday, Nov 24th. I am asking anyone who takes an angel to write their contact information on the sheet at the back of the church. This will ensure that all angels are received before the delivery deadline. All gifts need to be returned to the church by Dec 8th, and you can contact Heather Rutherford at rutherford_h@live.com or 454-9817 if you need your gift picked up outside of church hours. Thank you in advance from the Mission and Outreach Committee for your continuous generosity.
FundScrip ~ Countdown for Christmas!
The deadline for our next gift card order… and the last before Christmas… is Sunday, December 1st. FundScrip offers gift cards from over 200 retailers and many of them have increased the value of their donations to St. Paul’s for December orders. The cards are especially convenient at this time of year for last-minute shopping and welcome gifts for family and friends! If you usually purchase grocery store or gas cards, you may want to order extra cards as there will not be an order in January. Order forms are available in the church office or click here December 1st FundScrip Order Form.pdf . Thank you for your ongoing support of this program and Merry Christmas!
The Great ADVENTure
The Great ADVENTure, a tradition at Saint Andrews, is on Friday evening, Nov 29th beginning at 5:30 pm in the church hall. The evening begins with Pizza, followed by activities for all. Adults will decorate the Sanctuary for our Advent and Christmas season. Children will concentrate on decorating that Hall, and decorating Rose Carolyn’s famous Christmas cookies.
The evening will end with a time to sing a few favorite Christmas carols. Please join us for food, fellowship, and working together to get the task accomplished. Please call the church offices by noon Wednesday, Nov.27th if you are joining us, so we will have lots of PIZZA for everyone. (Phone 506-455-8220 or 506-458-1183). Please also contact Mary Charters (chartersm@rogers.com or 506-459-1539) if you have ideas for any activities, especially for the children, and are willing to help with them so the parents may be involved with the other adults in the Sanctuary.
32nd Advent Carol Festival
Brunswick Street Baptist Church presents the 32nd Advent Carol Festival on Wednesday December 4th at 7:30pm. 161 York St, Fredericton. Featuring local church and community choirs with congregational singing. Freewill offering kindly welcome for CBC Feed a Family Campaign to support local food banks. Sponsored by the Fredericton Organists’ Association.
Connecting With Rev. Michelle
You can reach Rev. Michelle on the main office lines, call her office directly at 506-455-0639, text or call her cell at 506-259-7602 or via email at michellenarmstrong@hotmail.com.
Rev. Michelle’s Office Drop-In Hours
Rev. Michelle has office hours available for drop-in on Sundays between 1-2:30pm and Monday from 1-2:30pm. Appointments are preferred to ensure the time you need to connect.
St. Paul’s & Saint Andrew’s Christmas Bazaar 
Our churches will be holding a Christmas Bazaar on Saturday December 7th from 10am-1pm.Come and check out the crafts, baking, puzzles and books. Donations of baking can be dropped off at the church on Friday December 6th between 9am and noon.
Christmas Bazaar At Marysville United
The Marysville United Church UCW are having a Christmas Bazaar and Turkey-a-la-King take-out. Friday, November 29th. The bazaar will be open and supper pick-up ready, between 4 and 6 p.m.
Listen, Love and Pray: Grief and Loss Support
Growing in faith, grace, gratitude, hope, and love – holding space for being together with loss. People feeling grief and loss of all types will gather to reflect and support each other’s experiences. Anyone from the community is welcome to attend. Hosted by Deacons Isabel Cutler and Debbie Edmondson. Second Monday of each month, 7-9p.m. Christ Church Cathedral, Memorial Hall Lounge, 168 Church Street, Fredericton.
Pantry Program
The Pantry items needed this week are white & brown sugar, waxed paper, cake mix, orange & apple juice, canned milk, jam, ritz crackers, Lysol wipes, and laundry & dish soap. 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.
Fredericton Ladies Choir Annual Christmas Concert
The Fredericton Ladies Choir presents their Annual Christmas Concert at St. Dunstan’s Roman Catholic Church on December 10th at 7pm, with special guest, Don Bozze Jazz. Doors open at 6:15pm. Tickets are $20, available at Westminster Bookmark, at the door or from choir members, Patty Trail & Debbie Seymour.
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.
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 and Debbie West.
Breakfast & Christmas Market At Gibson
Gibson Memorial United Church, 183 Gibson St. will be hosting a “Breakfast & Christmas Market”, Saturday, Nov. 30th, 8-11am Breakfast will be served 8-10:30am – $12/person. Market tables will feature cards by Lori Donovan & Noreen Wetmore, baking, pickles, knitting and gently used books & puzzles. Everyone Welcome!
Advent Study
Numbers didn’t warrant a group Advent study on the book “Ponder These Things” by the Rt. Rev. and Rt. Hon. Prof. Rowan Williams but those who expressed interest are invited to purchase the paperback or eBook version and follow the study sessions hosted by Dr. Emily Bisset online at https://presbyterian.ca/canadian-ministries/presbyterians-read/ and online discussion in the Presbyterians Read Facebook group.
Breakfast 2 Go
New Hours: 8:30-10am. If you are interested in baking muffins for this Friday morning program, please contact Bev Bramble at bbramble1@gmail.com to be added to the muffin baking list.
Mark Your Calendars
The Lintuhtine Choir’s presents its’ annual “The Christmas Story” on December 1st at 3pm at St. Andrew’s. Proceeds to Fredericton Food Bank.
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
November 24th ~ Service at 10:30 ~ Fellowship hour hosted by Roger Miller, Debbie West
& Kelly Simpson
December 1st ~ Advent 1 ~ Service at 10:30 ~ Fellowship hosted by Mary Leonard
December 1st ~ FundScrip Orders Due
December 7th ~ St. Paul’s & Saint Andrew’s Christmas Bazaar ~ 10am-1pm
December 8th ~ Advent 2 ~ Services at 10:30 ~ Fellowship hosted by Mission & Outreach
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
St. Paul’s United Church
192 Years of Glorifying God through Worship, Proclaiming the Gospel of Christ, and Serving Others in Christ’s name
Contact Information
Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian & St. Paul’s United
512 Charlotte Street, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 1M2
St. Paul’s: Tel: 506.458.1183 | E-mail: stpaulsoffice224@gmail.com | Website: www.stpaulsunited.ca
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8am-3pm and Friday 8am-1pm
Saint Andrew’s: Tel: 506.455.8220 | Email: sapcfred@gmail.com | Website: https://sapc.ca/
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 2pm-6pm
Minster: Rev. Michelle Armstrong | Organist: Dr. Sharon Pond
Church Administrators: Meghan Roebuck & Joanna Price
Custodian: Doug Newman