Announcements for Sunday, December 17, 2017
Advent IIIB
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, Collect for Advent III)
Readings for Sunday – December 17
December 17 – 10:00 - Who’s Who
Verger – Holly Hall; Greeter – Christine Davidson; Host – Holly Hall;
Readers – Carl Hanson and David Davison; Psalm and Prayers – Nancy
Snyder; Chalice – Jane Carroll and Joyce Mechling; Announcements –
Cindy Dale; Counters – Judy Barwood and Harry Kendrick; Altar Guild –
Greg and Bev Taylor; Coffee Hour – TBA; Acolytes – Jonathan and
Kathryn Brennan
Scott’s Schedule
December 18 – Office Hours, 9-12
December 19 – Office Hours, 9-12
December 20 – Taizé, 5:30 PM
December 22 – Sabbath Day
December 23 – Sabbath Day
Upcoming Events
Please send event and prayer updates to announcements.spc@gmail.com
December 17 – Advent III
December 18 – Knit and Purl Fellowship
December 20 – Advent Taizé
December 21 – Advent Study and Discussion series
December 24 – Advent IV
December 24 – Christmas Eve
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 31 – Christmas 1
January 27 – St. Paul’s Annual Meeting and potluck
Calendar Events
December 17 – Advent III – remember to bring in animals to add to our Advent “Wreath”. A word about our Advent “wreath”… The wreath this year is not a traditional wreath of evergreens and purple and pink candles Instead, we are using a “Celtic” style display with four candles and items from nature. Each week we bring things in from home as we progress through the creation story. We began with rocks and stone, seashells and bones. Week two we introduced plant materials. This week is animals and next is people. I invite you to add your items to the display when you arrive for worship. Scott
December 19 – Valley Terrace Worship – 2 PM - Join Holly and me as we go to Valley Terrace for Holy Communion and fellowship with some of their residents. The month we will sing Christmas Carols as part of our worship time together. Thanks, Scott
December 19 – Vestry meeting – 6:30 PM in the Parish House – everyone is welcome to attend our meetings. Nomination forms are available in the narthex if you’d like to submit your name or the name of someone else (please verify that they are willing) to serve on vestry. Please make your nominations as soon as possible. Thank you, Scott.
December 20 – Advent Taizé – 5:30 PM in the sanctuary. Taizé is an ecumenical form of prayer modeled after the Taizé community (an ecumenical Christian monastic community of brothers) founded in the 1940's by Br. Roger in Taizé, France. The purpose of the prayer is to foster reconciliation and peace among all people.
December 20 – Advent Study and Discussion Group – 6:30 PM in the parish house. This four-week group studies the scriptures for the upcoming Sunday and discusses it’s meaning for us today. For more information please contact Pete Lapré.
December 24 – Advent IV Services – There will be both 8 and 10 AM worship on the morning of Sunday, December 24.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TIMES HAVE BEEN UPDATED
Sunday, December 24 - Christmas Eve Service Schedule
5:30 PM – Scripture, Children’s Story and Setting of the Crèche, Holy Communion and Carols
9:00 PM – Scripture, Holy Communion and Carols
Monday, December 25 – Christmas Day
10:00 AM – Scripture, Holy Communion and Carols
December 26 – 31 – Scott and Beth will be in Boston with Allison, Dale and Zoey following Zoey’s surgery. Our oldest daughter gave birth to her first baby, Zoey, on December 2 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Zoey’s surgery is currently scheduled for December 22 at Boston Children’s Hospital. We request your prayers during this time of waiting, surgery and recovery. Thank you, Scott and Beth.
January 8 – Bible Study – from 7-8:30 in the parish house. We will be focusing on the readings for January 14 - 1 Samuel 3:1-10(11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 and John 1:43-51. This is a standalone session – no prior experience or involvement is necessary. All are welcome! For more information, please talk to Scott.
January 9 - Caring Ministries - our next meeting will be January 9th, 7pm, at the Parish House.
January 27 – Annual Meeting of the parish with potluck dinner
General Announcements
Pledge Updates - After recording last Sunday's offerings I prepared a Jan 1 - Dec 3 pledge report for your individual review. They are sealed in window envelopes so that your name and address show.
I will place them alphabetically in a napkin holder on the Narthex wall shelf next Saturday evening (Dec 9). Please find your envelope and take it home. Look it over and if you have a question or comment leave a message at (802) 359-3078 or davech.davison@gmail.com as you prefer. We'll then have four weeks to complete any unpaid pledged offerings for 2017. Individual offering reports will then be prepared, printed, and set on the Narthex wall shelf on January 6, 2018, for your records. Please get your next year's pledge to me as soon as is possible so the Vestry can complete its next year's budgeting and I can prepare new pledge records for 2018. Thanks all and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Aging with Dignity Course – Facilitator Training - There was interest at St. Paul's from some, to be trained as a facilitator for conducting the UVIP course entitled "Useful Tools for Aging with Dignity"
There will be another training session in January. So if anyone is interested, please contact Dick Davis (603-640-6009) or email ra214davis@gmail.com
Vestry Nomination – It’s that time of year again when we need nominations for vestry members. Jon Chaffee, Cindy Dale and Bev Barton are retiring this year. Bev has agreed to serve another three-year term. That leaves us with two three-year terms to fill as well as a two-year term left vacant with Stuart Johnson’s move to Indianapolis last summer. If you would like to nominate someone to serve on vestry or are interested in serving on vestry yourself, please complete the nomination form in your service leaflet or on the parish hall piano. Please confirm your nomination with the person you are nominating to make sure they are willing to serve.
Micah Celebration- Thank you to everyone who contributed toward the Micah ad or purchased a ticket. Micah is an opportunity to celebrate Micah Heroes from sixteen faith groups who are members of United Valley Interfaith Project. It is also a fund raiser for UVIP. St. Paul's Church raised a total of $610 in ticket and ad sales. Monies were submitted December 10th at a UVIP Executive Council meeting.
Gift Boxes for Deployed Service Members - I have a Blue Star Mothers’ group that is preparing boxes for deployed service members. If anyone knows/has a deployed service member who they would like to receive a “gift box”, please send their Rank Name and mailing address to Judi Shank at nanajudi03751@gmail.com. Thank you, Judi Shank.
The Haven’s Top 5 Most Needed Items: oatmeal, holiday baking supplies, tuna fish, peanut butter, soap, toothpaste & brushes, and personal care items for women. All items collected at the church are brought to the Haven Food Shelf.
Bible Study - meets on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month at 7 PM in the Parish house. Each gathering is totally independent of previous gatherings. No experience necessary. Come and explore the readings for the following Sunday. All are Welcome.
Knit and Purl Fellowship -meets 1st and 3rd Monday of the month in Parish House, 6:30 pm. All are welcome and all handcrafts are welcome. If you have questions, please contact Holly Hall or Susan Pillsbury.
Contemplative Prayer and Meditation- Contemplative Prayer and Meditation will be replaced with a Taizé worship service on Wednesdays throughout the Advent Season. Contemplative Prayer and Meditation will start again first Wednesday of January. All are welcome- neighbors, friends, relatives, and people we have not met yet. From January on, Contemplative Prayer and Meditation is held 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, 5:30-6:30.
Weston Priory- all are welcome to Weston Priory Services. Please check their web page for service schedules. Holly Hall will be attending services Saturday, December 16th and 23rd, weather permit. Anyone is welcome to join her.
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St. Paul’s Vestry: Pam Hanson, Senior Warden; Greg Taylor, Junior Warden; Bev Barton; Jon Chaffee; Cindy Dale; Holly Hall; Rich Kremer; John Monfette.
Ongoing Reminders
- Discretionary Fund Reminder – First Sunday of every month. Please be as generous as possible.
- Laying on of Hands – On the first Sunday of every month those wishing to receive laying on our hands are invited to gather at the Baptismal Font (just as you entered the church) immediately after you have received communion.
- Executive Leadership Group Meeting – every Wednesday 3:30-5:00pm -- Anyone is welcome to attend.
- Vestry meets – 3rd Tuesday of the month in the Parish House at 6:30pm. All are welcome to attend.
- Valley Terrace Church Service – Please join us! – Generally the fourth Tuesday of every month at 2 PM.
- Knit and Purl Fellowship – Meets 1st and 3rd Monday of the month in the Parish House, 6:30 PM. Contact Holly for info.
- Bible Study – meets the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month in the Parish House at 7 PM. We will focus each meeting on the lectionary for the upcoming week. This is a come as you can discussion group, you can do not have to come every meeting. All are welcome!
- St. Paul’s Concerned about Racial Justice group meets the 2nd Sunday of each month, after church (and a little of coffee hour!), for discussion and planning. All are welcome to join us!
- Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) sponsors two regularly scheduled events open to the public: Mondays, 5:30 – 6:00 pm, on the corner of the green across from Hanover Inn, Vigil for Racial Justice.