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…

Have you ever noticed how many of our faith stories take place when people are living with uncertainty? Seriously, most of our biblical stories involve engaging an unknown future. Noah wondered how long he would be on a boat, and Abraham left his home to enter a foreign land. From the moment of his birth, Moses’ life was at risk, and the life and death stories of people fleeing and facing famine are common. This week we will be reading from the book of Ruth, where three women face the reality and hard choices of what to do when their husbands and providers die. Uncertainty didn’t stop with the First Testament. Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt with their young child, the disciples left their family and livelihood to follow an itinerant preacher and Paul was jailed, and the early church was persecuted. Maybe the most tense moment of insecurity in the bible are those two days, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, when death’s shadow was cast across the followers of Jesus.

Ever since Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden, life has been uncertain, yet too often we pretend that life is stable. We get comfortable and content with the way things currently are and then work to keep things from changing. Yet change is baked into the world, and seen every year in the changing seasons, resistance to this reality is futile. As we embrace change and uncertainty, we are also tasked with facing the accompanying feelings of stress and fear.

This is where our faith holds us secure, even as the ground shifts from under us, our love and trust in the Lord provides a stable place to stand. “Fear not” is the most repeated command in the bible, it has been said that there are 365. If that number is accurate there is one for each day of the year.   In times of uncertainty, fear is our greatest enemy, as it locks our way of thinking and often keeps us from moving.

For all the uncertainty in the bible, there is an equal dose of resting in God’s promises and trusting that God is at work making a way. Our biblical story shows us God’s provision over and over again, often not in the way people expect. When we lean into these same promises of God’s presence and care, fear breaks leading us to hope and energy to move on into the unknown.

Last Sunday I talked about how the Israelites, after escaping Egypt, wandered in the desert for 40 years, not because the desert was so big but because they were not ready for the promised land.  The desert was an uncomfortable and uncertain place, but it was also the place where they met God’s provision and care. The desert was the place where the Israelites were formed for the next phase of their lives. This too is a lesson for us when we are uncomfortable and face uncertainty.

Our natural tendency is to jump to solutions, to get ourselves back to our normal state of comfort as soon as possible. Yet, when the discomfort we face is not life-threatening or abusive, we are often best served by staying present in the moment, watching for what it has to teach us, and listening for how God is calling us to move forward. The gift of uncertainty is that there are endless ways to move forward. Uncertainty is one of the places our God-like creativity can flourish, and the wisdom God has given to us can help us discern what is the most faithful path.

In this climate of rapid change, in this world of increased uncertainty, in all the ways that we find ourselves wondering what next, may we banish our fear through trust in God’s provision and care.  Let us pray.

God of creation

The Alpha and Omega,

Whose spirit blows like the wind, stirring us and the world.

Ground us in your being so that

we may stand secure as the world around us changes.

Let our knowledge of your heart guide us as we make our way through the world.

Take away the fear and anxiety we feel when we don’t know what to do.

When the world is overwhelming, help us to breathe deeply of your calming spirit,

So that we know we are not alone.

Loving God, this we pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Featured In This October 12th Edition of St. Paul’s eNews

Worship This Sunday October 15th

Important Special Congregational Meeting October 15th

Call For Newsletter Articles

Fall Community Meal At St. Paul’s

Evening Small Group Faith Exploration Starts

Purdys Christmas Chocolate Fundraiser!

Coffee and Conversation

Bible Study on Sunday Reading

Brown Bag Lunch Program

Pantry Program

Upcoming Dates To Remember

Take-Out Salmon Supper

Covenanting Service

Fraud/Scamming Session

Rummage Sale At Wilmot United

Chili Take-Out Dinner

Worship This Sunday October 15th         

Please join Rev. Michelle for service at 10:30am on October 15th  

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

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

Meeting ID: 818 3451 9740  Passcode: 657067

Important Special Congregational Meeting This Sunday!

An Important Special Congregational Meeting will be held on October 15th following service. We highly encourage all congregants young and old to attend. This will be a time of sharing information that is needed to inform important decisions before our congregation. Mark your calendars today! The link to the agenda is can be found on our website stpaulsunited.ca under the resources tab > Publications & Reports tab > or https://www.stpaulsunited.ca/annual-reports/

Call For Newsletter Articles

Do you have something you want to share with the congregation? Do you have a story or inspirational moment to share about the ministry here at St. Paul’s? Do you have a poem or prayer or trivia that fits with Advent & and Christmas? If your committee or group is planning any activities between now and the new year, get your dates set today so they can go in the newsletter! Your pieces can be sent to Meghan at the office by Friday October 13th.

Fall Community Meal At St. Paul’s

Please join us at St. Paul’s on October 18th at 5:30pm for Fall Community Meal in the hall. Local Red Seal Chefs, Shawn & Beth Meister, have kindly volunteered to host this event to raise funds for St. Paul’s. On the menu is mustard & brown sugar glazed ham, brown butter mashed potato, seasonal vegetables, roll, tea & coffee, and Apple crumble with ice cream for dessert. Tickets are $30 each, via cash or etransfer to stpaulsoffice224@gmail.com and available for pick up at the office Monday-Friday 8am-3pm or on Sunday. We are also looking for volunteers to assist with set-up, serving and clean-up. Please sign up on the Volunteer Sign-Up sheet on the bulletin board outside the office or by contacting Meghan in the office.

Evening Small Group Faith Exploration Starts

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. If this is of interest to you, please contact Rev. Michelle michellenarmstrong@hotmail.com or 506-259-7602.

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!

Ordering Options

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

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!

Happy chocolating!

Coffee and Conversation

Do you enjoy coffee and conversation after church? Do you bake? Can you pour a cup of coffee?  Are you willing to learn how to use the dishwasher? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you are who we need. This post-service ministry is a great way to support and serve the community without being part of a committee. You have the flexibility to serve for one Sunday or more if it fits with your schedule. If you can help support the committees in this important community time, please sign up in Fraiser Memorial Hall or by calling Meghan in the office.

Bible Study on Sunday Reading

Mondays 11:00-12:00pm. We are venturing into a new format for our exploration. Dig into the scriptures, join with others as we seek to deepen our relationship with God. No prior experience needed.

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: white sugar, baked beans, large orange & apple juice, cookies, ketchup, pudding cups, soda crackers, diced tomatoes, vinegar, coffee, orange & apple juice boxes, granola bars, strawberry jam, salt, applesauce cups, Cheez Whiz, dish and laundry detergent, and all-purpose cleaner. Thank you for your continued support of this increasingly busy outreach program!

Upcoming Dates To Remember

October 15th ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by Worship ~ Congregational Meeting to follow

October 18th ~ Fall Community Dinner at St. Paul’s at 5:30pm

October 22nd ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by the Trustees

October 29th ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by the Board

November 5th ~ Anniversary Sunday ~ Congregational Meeting to follow

November 12th ~ Remembrance Day Sunday

November 13th ~ Office Closed for Remembrance Day Stat Holiday

November 19th ~ Memorial Hymn Sing

Take-Out Salmon Supper

New Maryland United Church Men’s Club is hosting a Take-Out Salmon Supper on Sunday, October 15th at the New Maryland Centre (754 New Maryland Hwy.). Tickets are $20 ea. (pick-up times: 4 pm, 4:30 pm, 5 pm, or 5:30 pm). To book tickets contact Keith Ball at 455-1948 or the church 459-3313 and leave a message.

Covenanting Service

All are welcome to attend the covenanting service for our new minister, Rev. Richard Bowley, at Nashwaaksis United, on Sunday, October 15th – 2:00pm. Reception to follow.

Fraud/Scamming Session

The Nashwaaksis United Pastoral Care Committee will be hosting this session, to be held in the auditorium of Nashwaaksis United, on Tuesday, October 17th at 7:00pm. Guest speaker will be Constable Mike Bamford of the Fredericton City Police. A question and answer period will follow and light refreshments will be served. All are welcome!

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 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