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…
Happy Thanksgiving weekend. What are you thankful for this year? In my personal life, I am thankful for the opportunity I had this summer to introduce Ella to my extended family, the smooth transition into this fall as we navigated the changes the new school year brought, and that I live close enough to a pool that swimming is a regular part of my week.
This is the time of year when ministers are writing lovely letters connecting the harvest season abundance with our call to give in service of God. Stewardship season, as this time of year is informally called, could not have been better timed. With this built-in backdrop of abundance, the last quarter of the year before us, and the budgeting process for the next year on the horizon, now is the perfect time to take stock of our offerings to God. In an ideal world, we would be collecting offering pledges, to help us to know what our financial picture will look like next year. This might come, but not today.
Today, I want us to tap into the why of our actions of giving. Have you ever asked yourself why you give to the church? For some of us, we give because that is what we have always done, and the bible and Jesus call us to give of our finances and our time. These reasons don’t spark my passion. For me, I give to St. Paul’s and the wider United Church because of the ways that God has touched my life and I believe that through the witness of faithful people, the world can be changed for the better. I give to help the congregation and denomination fund ministries that teach about God’s love and demonstrate that love in the world. I give because I know firsthand the ways in which the church’s witness through prayer and presence can move people from weakness and fear to strength and hope. This is my Why… What is yours?
This weekend, I hope that you offer a prayer of thanksgiving for St. Paul’s and the ways that it has positively touched your life. I encourage you to also think about why you give to God through the church, so that when you make your special Thanksgiving Day offering you can picture the impact you are helping to create.
Thank you for the ways in which you give of your time, talent, and treasure to make this community of faith what it is. Thank you for showing up to wrestle with God and deepen your relationship with the Divine Creator. As we move through this last quarter of the year, let us be intentional in our witness and celebration of what God is doing in our midst.
God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow,
thank you for all the blessings that have brought us to this moment,
thank you for our community of faith that witnesses to your love here and now,
thank you for the future that is unknown to us, but already wrapped in your care.
This Thanksgiving weekend, help us to see the abundance of blessings that you place in our lives.
Sew gratitude in our hearts so deeply that we cannot escape its effects.
Unlike the dishes that will be swept off the tables when the meal is over.
Let the peace and joy that gratitude brings be our grounding forever more.
Amen.
Featured In This October 5th Edition of St. Paul’s eNews
Worship This Sunday October 8th
Important Special Congregational Meeting October 15th
Pet Blessings
FundScrip Orders Due Sunday
Call For Newsletter Articles
Fall Community Meal At St. Paul’s
Evening Small Group Faith Exploration Starts
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
Chili Take-Out Dinner
Worship This Sunday October 8th
Please join Rev. Michelle for Thanksgiving service at 10:30am on October 8th
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 October 15th
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 here.
Pet Blessings
You and your pet are invited to join us on October 7th, on our York Street lawn at 11 a.m., for a brief time of worship celebrating the unique relationship we have with our pets. After which each owner/pet parent is invited to bring their pet forward for an individual blessing. All people and pets are welcome. We ask that you ensure your pet is secured either on a leash or in a carrier or cage. If your pet doesn’t travel well, feel free to bring a picture instead.
FundScrip Orders Due Sunday
FundScrip – The deadline for our next gift card order is Sunday, October 8th (Thanksgiving). You can leave your order and payment at the church office during the week if you plan to be away for the holiday. Order forms are available in the office and the Narthex or by clicking here Oct 8th FundScrip Order Form.pdf. If you are not yet a FundScrip shopper and would like more information about this fundraising program, Carole Peacock will be happy to answer your questions. Remember: Shopping is fundraising for St. Paul’s!
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 October 12th at 6-7pm in the Parlor. We are having our first evening study group meeting. This group is for those seeking to grow in their relationship with God through scripture, prayer, and action. We will be 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.
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: coffee mate, mustard, crackers, jam, rice, cookies, peanut butter, bowl noodles, peas, sugar, chunky soup – beef, flour, Cheez Whiz, rolled oats, canned mixed veggies, canned fruit, laundry detergent, and toothbrushes. Thank you for your continued support!
Upcoming Dates To Remember
October 8th ~ Thanksgiving Sunday ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by the Choir
October 15th ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by Worship ~ Congregational Meeting to follow
October 18th ~ Fall Community Dinner at St. Paul’s
October 22nd ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by the Trustees
October 29th ~ Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by the Board
November 5th ~ Anniversary Sunday
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!
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