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…

Last week in service, as part of the sermon time, we watched the video “Who Moved My Cheese?”, which is based on a book of the same title by Dr. Spencer Johnson. If you were not able to join us, I encourage you to view the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOUeHPS8A8g

As we think about this video and the challenges our church faces, one of the questions vital for us is what is the “cheese” we are looking for when we engage with the church? Like Hem and Haw, from the video, our answers might be different from each other, but I would hope that they would at least be tied together and maybe even linked to God’s mission for the church.

For a long time, your ministers have been asking the congregation to define our mission, explicitly say what we as the congregation of St Paul’s wants to focus on and identify what you will put your time and energy behind. For a long time, the focus has been on survival, but that “mission” is tiring and not very inspiring. As God’s people, we are called to a higher vision.

The church ultimately has a mission given to us by Jesus. Do you remember how one day a teacher of the law came up to Jesus and asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” In his answer, Jesus said, “The most important one is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Right here is the church’s primary mission. Then Jesus raises the bar saying, “The second is this “Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

This mission is big, and that is why we are invited as a community of faith to focus on the part of God’s mission that we care about most because we cannot do everything. One of the things that struck me in my readings this summer was that every single thriving church I read about was living out these commandments. There was a focus on individual and collective spiritual health, there was intentional care and engagement with the wider community. This leaves me with the question, what are the stumbling blocks that distract and stop us from Loving God as Jesus commanded and serving our neighbour as an expression of that love? Maybe, just maybe, those roadblocks are old cheese that has gone bad, and it is time to put them aside and move out in a new direction.

Let’s pray,

God, you call us to love you with all our heart and soul, strength and mind.

Help us to joyfully take on this task.

Empowering us through worship to dance and praise and work

So that our love is made known, right here, right now.

Let this be so, Amen.

Featured In This October 19th Edition of St. Paul’s eNews

Worship This Sunday October 22nd

Purdys Christmas Chocolate Fundraiser!

Change In Office Hours

Mincemeat

FundScrip

Feedback From Congregational Meeting And Discussion Table

Congregational Meeting November 5th

Faith Formation & Bible Study Cancelled This Week & Next!

Brown Bag Lunch Program

Pantry Program

Warm Clothing Needed!

Upcoming Dates To Remember

Community Announcements

Rummage Sale At Wilmot United

Chili Take-Out Dinner

        Worship This Sunday October 22nd          

Please join us for service at 10:30am on October 22nd   

 Can’t join us in person, join us via Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81834519740

Meeting ID: 818 3451 9740  Passcode: 657067

Purdys Christmas Chocolate Fundraiser!

Want to know the most DELICIOUS way to support us? Order Purdys chocolates from our fundraiser! Go get your Christmas treats! St. Paul’s Purdys Christmas Chocolate Fundraiser begins…. NOW!

Our fundraising campaign link is https://fundraising.purdys.com/1719957-107824

This year, we’re hoping to raise $2000 for St. Paul’s, and we need YOUR help! Don’t worry, all the work you are doing is choosing which chocolates to order.

From now until November 6th you can order Purdys treats from our fundraiser by joining our campaign and browsing the tastiest selection of Christmas chocolates online. Shop gifts for family, friends, neighbours AND yourself in one convenient place. Stock up on beautiful Christmas gift boxes, fun chocolate bunnies, Sweet Georgia Browns and more. So, satisfy those cravings, get all your Christmas gift-shopping done while supporting a great cause.

After all orders are submitted, we’ll sort, distribute, and let you know when you can collect your goodies. Chocolate orders should be ready for pick up during the last week of November!

Chocolate Ordering Options

Ordering Online:

  1. Our campaign number: 67403
  2. Go to our fundraising website: https://fundraising.purdys.com/1719957-107824
  3. Click “Join Campaign”
  4. Shop, shop, shop away!

Thank you EVERYONE for your support. Even if you can’t buy chocolates from us, it would mean the world if you could share this fundraiser link to everyone you know!

Orders Place Offline through the Office:

If you would like to place an Order Offline, bring your completed order form and cash or cheque payable to St. Paul’s United Church to the Meghan in the Church Office. Please contact Meghan with any questions at 506-458-1183 or stpaulsoffice224@gmail.com

Happy chocolating!!

Change In Office Hours

The new office hours will be Monday to Thursday from 8am to 3pm. On Friday we will now be closing at 1pm. Thank you for your understanding

Mincemeat

The UCW will be selling mincemeat starting in the next few weeks. Each 450 ml jar will be $15.00 Please add your name to the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board to place your order! Any questions can be placed with Donna Chauvin at 506-458-1898.

FundScrip

Time to start your Christmas shopping? Do it with FundScrip gift cards! Use the cards to purchase gifts or give the cards as gifts to family and friends. Gift cards make great stocking stuffers, too! We will have two orders before the holiday season. . . Sunday, November 5th and Sunday, December 3rd.  Two new retailers have recently joined the FundScrip program. . . Pizza Pizza is offering a 10 per cent donation on card purchases and Apple will donate 3 per cent. Order forms are available in the office and the Narthex or by clicking here November 5th FundScrip Order Form. Remember: Shopping is fundraising for St. Paul’s!

Feedback From Congregational Meeting And Discussion Table

Last week a lot of information was presented about challenges. Did you go home and talk with someone about them and what you think we should do? Do you want to talk and share your thoughts and ideas? On Sunday there will be a dedicated discussion table. You are encouraged to talk with each other, share your thoughts and feed your insights into the process of exploring options by writing on the flip-chart paper provided at the table. Any notes will be forwarded to the Board and Trustees.

Congregational Meeting November 5th

Last week there was an important congregational meeting where the challenges facing St. Paul’s were presented. We will host an update on the discussions the Board and Trustees are having on how to engage the challenges. November 5th after we celebrate our anniversary, come to the hall for cake and information. If you were not at the meeting last week the presentation can be found on our website under the Resources tab > Reports & Publications > Oct 15th 2023 Congregational Meeting Presentation.pdf

Faith Formation &

Bible Study Cancelled This Week & Next!

Bible Study on Sunday Reading – New Date

Starting November 7th ~ Tuesdays from 10:45am-11:45am in the Board room. This is an opportunity to engage with our scripture and listen to God speaking.  New to reading the bible? NO problem, no prior experience is needed. 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

Thursday evenings from 6-7pm in the Parlor. This group is for those seeking to grow in their relationship with God through scripture, prayer, and action. We are using an adult model of learning, drawing on the knowledge we each hold and reflecting on where faith story touched your life. We hope you will join us.

Brown Bag Lunch Program

This week, the program needs proteins with flip top lids and granola bars. Thank you for your continued support and generosity of this program.

Pantry Program

The Pantry program needs the following items this week: Kraft Dinner, cookies, soda crackers, oatmeal, cereal, Lange orange & apple juice, white & brown sugar, icing sugar, flour, cake mix, butterscotch & chocolate pudding cups, pancake mix, paper towel, comet, toothbrushes, laundry & dish detergent, and waxed paper. Thank you for your continued support of this increasingly busy outreach program!

Warm Clothing Needed!

We have had requests for warm clothing for those unable to purchase items. If you have winter boots, coats, hats, mitts, scarves, sweaters, or long pants to donate, please drop them off in the office. The items can be for both males and females and all sizes, up to XXL for men’s items. Thank you for helping keep folks warm!

Upcoming Dates To Remember

October 22nd ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by the Trustees

October 29th ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by the Board

October 29th ~ Mincemeat for Sale!

November 5th ~ Anniversary Sunday ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by the UCW

~ Congregational Meeting to follow

November 6th ~ Purdys Christmas Chocolate Orders Due!

November 12th ~ Remembrance Sunday Service at 10:30 ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by M&P

November 13th ~ Office Closed for Remembrance Day Stat Holiday

November 18th ~ Christmas Bazaar from 9am-12pm

November 19th ~ Memorial Hymn Sing Service at 10:30

November 26th ~ Downtown United Service at St. Paul’s at 10:30am

December 1st ~ Carols by Glowstick at 6pm

December 6th ~ Advent Carole Fest at 7:30pm

December 10th ~ Songs of Jubilee Organ Concert at 2pm

Community Announcements

Rummage Sale At Wilmot United

Wilmot United Church’s fall rummage sale will take place on Friday October 27th from 11:00am to 5:00pm and Saturday October 28th from 9:00am to 12:00pm at 473 King Street.

Chili Take-Out Dinner

Friday November 3rd, 4:00-5:30pm at Nashwaaksis United. Menu – Mild Chili, Caesar Salad, Roll and Apple Crisp. The cost is $15.00 per person. To reserve your meal, please call the church office at 506-458-9452 or email admin@nashwaaksisunited.ca

St. Paul’s United Church

190 Years of Glorifying God through Worship, Proclaiming the Gospe

l 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