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:
The disadvantage of not having time to check upcoming local events it that you miss out on so many wonderful things. This week for me it was the healing walk across the river. I only learned that it had happened while watching the news last night. Elder Imelda Perley spoke about how the walking on the bridge was important, so that it can be witnessed.
To have our eyes opened – to bear witness – is a vital part of Truth and Reconciliation. Truth needs to be seen and understood before it can be acted upon, reconciled. Over the last year, the truth known amongst first nations communities was witnessed as the number of unmarked graves found at residential schools across the country increased. Attempts to bring the stories of our indigenous people’s experiences, with Indian Residential Schools, to public light happened during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) work between 2008-2015. During this time, people who attended residential schools were invited to share their experiences and have them recorded as part of the official record. I happened to be able to attend the Halifax commissions dates. I was there as a student at the Atlantic School of Theology and institution that trains ministers from the denominations that historically ran many of the residential schools. Crossing the threshold into the Convention Center, I felt that historic weight on my chest where the button identifying me as being from the United Church of Canada was pinned. As I looked around at the people who had gathered, I had my first experience of feeling like a minority in this country and I wondered if I even belonged there. As the day went on, as survivors spoke, I became deeply aware of just how important that my bearing witness was both for those who spoke and for our church.
Reconciliation is being at peace with each other again. When reconciliation is needed there is a broken relationship. Residential schools were designed to create broken relationships to one’s cultural practices, language, community and even to one’s own family. The system as a whole also created broken relationships between European settler communities and indigenous communities. When we talk about reconciliation, we are really talking about healing the dynamics that let this woundedness occur and finding a new way to be together.
Tomorrow is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day for us to bear witness to both the ways that our relationship with the indigenous peoples of our country have been broken and to the ways we are living into right relations. I encourage you to wear Orange tomorrow, to remember the children and learn about the TRC calls to action here and maybe even bear witness in person at the Truth and Reconciliation Day Sacred Fire at the Old Burial Grounds 51 Woodstock Road @2pm.
As we move towards Sunday and Communion let us pray;
God whose name is love,
Thank you for your presence with us
That helps us to face the truth even when we don’t want to see it.
Give us strength to work at being in right relationships with our brothers and sisters.
Give us courage to open ourselves to each other,
That we may find a new way that holds together our differences and honours our diversity.
This we pray in the name of the one who came to reconcile us to God
Jesus, the Christ. Amen
Featured In This September 29th Edition of St. Paul’s eNews
Worship This Sunday October 2nd
Orange Shirt Day/National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Covid Procedure Update
FundScrip Orders Due This Sunday!
Ministry & Personnel Committee Notice
World Wide Communion Sunday
Baptism, Confirmation and Membership
Pantry Program
Brown Bag Lunch Program
Downtown United Youth Group
Bible Study
Sunday School Calling Children And Adults!
Toonies For St. Paul’s!
Upcoming Dates To Remember
Floor Curling at Forest Hill United Church (FHUC)
Death Expo
Rummage Sale at Wilmot United
Chili Take-out Supper!
Worship This Sunday October 2nd
Please join us in person to worship at St. Paul’s Sunday at 10:30am. Covid protocols still in place are: masking, hand sanitizing, sitting in marked pews, and social distancing.
As always, if you are not ready to join us in person we hope to see you on Zoom – link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86854718551 Passcode: 165090
You can also join by phone only, if you don’t have a long distance plan charges will apply. All you need to do is call 1 647 558 0588 and follow the prompts to enter Meeting ID: 868 5471 8551 and Passcode: 165090
Orange Shirt Day/National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
On September 30th, you are encouraged to wear an orange shirt and to participate in activities to promote awareness of the residential school experience and the impact it had on the indigenous communities over the century. It is also about bearing witness and honouring the healing journey of survivors and their families and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation. The Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action included recognizing a statutory holiday for this purpose. In solidarity with our first nations people, the national and regional offices of the United Church of Canada, St. Paul’s will be closed on September 30th.
Covid Procedure Update
The board discussed our COVID protocols, weighing the information from public health, current COVID levels, and feedback received from congregation. As a congregation, we have a shared responsibility to each other. To date we have used the most protective option when dealing with sanctuary and church building. As we start to move to COVID being an endemic disease, the board felt it was time to take a small step towards loosening restrictions. As of this coming Sunday, people are asked to wear masks while moving around the sanctuary/church building, when singing and when social distancing cannot be maintained. Masks may be removed when sitting in your pew and while eating and drinking in the hall. Church meetings where distancing cannot be maintained or where there is poor ventilation, masks will still be required. Should the community COVID situation change drastically, the new policy for masks is not being followed, or public health recommendations change, this decision will be re-evaluated. Please note that public health it is still recommending wearing a mask in public indoors and when social distancing cannot be maintained, to reduce your chances of getting COVID.
FundScrip Orders Due This Sunday!
Welcome back to our loyal shoppers who support this fundraising program by purchasing gift cards every month. Deadline for our first fall order is this Sunday, October 2nd. Order forms are available at the church office, in the Narthex or here . Please use a current order form as participating retailers and card values sometimes change. Remember: Shopping is fundraising for St. Paul’s!
Ministry & Personnel Committee Notice
The Ministry and Personnel (M&P) Committee acts under the guidance of The Manual of The United Church of Canada. The committee functions around three roles which are the consultative and supportive role, the healthy relationships role and the supervisory role. We provide resources and support for the staff and the community of faith with respect to any issues affecting staff of our church, including ministry personnel and lay employees. The committee works to build positive and trusting relationships between staff and members and adherents of the community of faith.
If members of the community of faith have praise or concerns about staff, both ministry personnel and lay employees, these can be shared in signed correspondence with the committee. The issues will be considered confidentially by the M&P Committee, who will recommend action.
St. Paul’s United Church is blessed with a staff that is committed to their work and we are thankful for this work in our community of faith.
Presently serving on the committee: Lois Walker, Blaine Irving and Ann Krause
World Wide Communion Sunday
October 2nd is World Wide Communion Sunday. If you or someone you know is unable to get to worship and would like home communion, please contact Rev. Michelle @ 506-259-7602
Baptism, Confirmation and Membership
There are many ways to become part of the church, but for all the journey starts with baptism. If you have been baptized as a child, you would confirm your membership when you are able to understand what church membership means. If you are baptized as an adult, your confirmation happens the same day. If you have already been confirmed, you become a member of a different local congregation by transfer or affirmation of faith. Rev Michelle will be hosting baptism, confirmation, and membership classes this October for anyone looking to officially become part of St. Paul’s United.
Pantry Program
The pantry needs the following items: white sugar, Cheez Whiz, pudding, sardines, flour, juice and canned tomatoes. Thank you for your continued support!
Brown Bag Lunch Program
The Brown Bag Lunch program is running desperately low on supplies. Items in need are: juice boxes, granola bars, pudding and proteins with flip top lids. Thank you for your generosity!
Downtown United Youth Group
Downtown United Youth Group welcomes all Children in grades 4 and up are invited to Youth group which will meet 6:30-8:00 PM each Sunday starting September 18th. We are meeting at Wilmot for the Fall. Hope to see you there! For more information, contact Erin at Hayes.erin11@gmail.com.
Bible Study
Diving into scripture is one of the spiritual practices of our faith. The small group setting of bible study helps us to go deeper and explore areas of the text that would not be addressed on Sunday morning. Join Rev. Michelle on Wednesdays at 11:15am for bible study. We meet in the board room. Generally, sessions run 45min-1hour. This coming week’s scripture is: Exodus 19:3-7, 20:1-17. You can also join online. Log in using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88619319967. Passcode is 259190.
Sunday School Calling Children And Adults!
School aged children are invited to attend Sunday school running for the 2022/23 year. Please contact Erin Hayes (Hayes.erin11@gmail.com) for any questions about Sunday school. If you are an adult and have talents you wish to share, please see Erin Hayes to sign up to be a guest speaker this year. Are you an artist? Do you like to cook? Are you a good storyteller? Experience with drama or singing? Passionate about woodwork? The possibilities are endless of sills you could share. The model we are using this year means that your commitment could be as little as one day and that there would still be a regular teacher in the room while you are sharing your gifts and skills!
Toonies For St. Paul’s!
Hello everyone! Hope you enjoyed the summer. When you were thinking about St. Paul’s United Church while sitting on the beach or camping, did you happen to throw a TOONIE into your little vial? Well, now is the time to return those vials, hopefully before the end of September. Please write your name and the dollar amount on your vial. Drop it in the Offering Box on Sunday. This was an Anniversary project and all proceeds are tax deductible. Thank you for your participation. Enjoy the Fall season and hope to see you back to Worship at St. Paul’s. Donna Chauvin 458-5885
Upcoming Dates To Remember
October 2nd – Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by Property
October 9th – Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by Trustees
October 16th – Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by M&P
October 23rd – Soup and Buns ~ Hosted by the Choir. Congregational Workshop to follow – Finding Focus
October 30th – Fellowship Hour ~ Hosted by Outreach
November 6th – 190th Anniversary Celebration
Floor Curling at Forest Hill United Church (FHUC)
Join us from 10 am to noon on Wednesdays at FHUC for floor curling. Instead of ice, broom and flat stones, we use the floor and stones on 3 wheels. They can be thrown the regular way, or by using a stick which goes over the handle. You can be upright or seated to play.
Curling provides gentle exercise in a friendly surrounding. Try it out for two weeks free of charge. The annual cost is 10.00 plus 2.00 each time you come. For more information, please contact Mary or Margie at foresth.office@bellaliant.com or leave your contact information at 455-0988. Covid protocols require hand washing or sanitizing when entering the hall and masking when moving about in the building. FHUC is an accessible location. FHUC is at 45 Kimble Court, around the corner from St. Margaret’s Anglican Church and beside the ball diamonds at Bliss Carmen Middle School.
Death Expo
The second annual Death Expo is being held in Fredericton on Thursday, October 20th at the New Maryland Centre from 10 am to 4 pm. Everyone is welcome! Admission is free thanks to a grant from the Horizon Health Network. Over 25 exhibitors will share information and resources for end-of-life care.
This year we have partnered with When You Die, Halifax, to bring a private screening of the film In The Realm of Death & Dreaming to Fredericton. Wednesday, October 19, 6:30 pm at the New Maryland Centre. Johanna Lunn, film Director, will be present for a Q&A following the movie. The seating is limited and the fee is $10. Please register at Eventbrite (https://bit.ly/3dvo2SO). Follow us on Facebook at D.I.E. Death Information and Education for updates. For more information contact Anne Marie Hartford at hartfordam@gmail.com or Karen Lake at Hello@KarenLake.ca
Rummage Sale at Wilmot United
Our yearly rummage sale is approaching. The rummage sale will take place at Wilmot United Church (473 King Street) on: Friday, October 21st from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday, October 22nd from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Chili Take-out Supper!
Delicious Mild Beef Chili Take-Out Supper, Friday, October 21, pick up from 4:00-5:30pm, Nashwaaksis United Church, 46 Main Street. Enjoy mild beef chili, homemade roll, Caesar salad and apple crumble tart for $15. Reserve your take-out meals by Monday, October 17 with Rindy or Tom Austin, 450-7151.
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 | Organist: Dr. Sharon Pond
Church Administrator: Meghan Roebuck | Custodian: Rusty Blakely