Advent Wednesdays -- We know Advent as a time of anticipation and preparation for the emergence of God in the world in the person of Jesus Christ. To help us prepare, we are having beautiful Advent Wednesday evening candlelight services starting at 7:00 pm. Our services will be Marty Haugen's Holden Evening Prayer with a couple musical pieces during communion from Haugen's Creation Mass. The service is preceded by a 6:00 pm supper which you are all welcome to attend. Services are on December 2, 9, and 16.
Advent Celebration: Musicians of St. Paul's -- On Friday, December 11 at 7:00 pm, please come to support the St. Paul's Senior Choir and Bell choir to celebrate this season of Advent with J. S. Bach's Cantata, Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 62, and other advent music! With instrumentalists and vocal soloists from the Durham area, this concert is sure to get you in the spirit of Advent.
Christmas Pageant Rehearsals have been happening for several weeks in anticipation of our annual Christmas Pageant on Sunday, December 13 at 5:00 pm, followed by our traditional lasagna supper. We hope to see you there for this joyful event and wonderful fellowship. We thank Jody Timmins for her leadership in this year's Pageant.
Christmas Eve Worship Schedule (all services celebrate Holy Communion)
- 5:00 pm Family Service
- 7:00 pm Candlelight Service with Handbells participating
- 10:00 pm Candlelight Service with the Senior Choir participating
Sunday, December 27 worship will be a service of Lessons and Carols with Holy Communion.
The Church Office will be closed from December 25 through January 3. Blessings to you and yours!
Advent at St. Paul's
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" -- Come to our Advent suppers and services on December 3, 10, and 17. The suppers are at 6 pm and the worship is at 7 pm. The worship service we will be using is Holden Evening Prayer with Communion. The sermon texts will be drawn from the "O Antiphons". In the sixth century, the O Antiphons were used at evening vespers the 7 days leading up to Christmas (Dec. 17-23). Each verse begins with "O," followed by a title for Christ. These titles are rooted in the Book of Isaiah. Please join us as we live in our day-to-day waiting, in God's promise, "For unto us a child is born ... Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
The first two Advent Suppers (Dec 3 and Dec 10 at 6 pm) will be prepared by the Youth attending the 2015 National Youth Gathering. Proceeds from these meals will go towards the funding they need to attend the Gathering in July. We invite the community to bring a dessert to share at either meal. Menu for these two meals are:
- Wed, Dec 3: tomato soup, homemade chicken soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, and community desserts
- Wed, Dec 10: baked potato bar, salad bar, and community desserts
On Wednesday, Dec 17 we will once again have our festive Christmas celebration dinner. There will be a sign-up for this dinner so we can adequately prepare.
The Young In Spirit activity for December is a trip to Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, VA to view their Chrismons. Their ornaments were first made in 1957 by a church member who was the originator of the Chrismons which are monograms and symbols of our Lord Jesus Christ. Be at St. Paul's on Wed, Dec 10 at 8:45 am to leave at 9:15 am. There is a sign-up sheet on the receptionist desk.
Opportunities to Help Others
The Interfaith Hospitality Network continues to work with the "alumni families" and support them in many ways -- one of which is the IHN Stocking Tree. The tree in the atrium is decorated with stockings which include the names of 30 individuals along with gift suggestions. You are invited to choose a stocking to purchase for that individual. We have been asked to spend about $50-75 for gifts for each person. You may like to join with another individual/family. Complete directions are available at the tree and with the stockings. All gifts must be returned to the tree by Sunday, December 14.
The Women's Connection invites you to participate in a food drive benefitting the Urban Ministries of Durham Food Pantry. The pantry serves 26 different families per day, Monday through Thursday. That is 416 families per month! There are grocery bags with the Pantry's food requests attached. You may fill the bag with their requested items and bring it back to St. Paul's by Sunday, December 14. Or, you may choose to contribute Food Lion gift cards in the amounts of $15 which can be placed in the offering plate. Or, you may write a check to St. Paul's noting "Urban Ministries Food Drive" and place in the offering plate. The money will be used to purchase gift cards. All food items, gift cards, and checks must be turned in by Sunday, December 14.
Christmas Pageant
The children and youth of St. Paul's will present our annual Christmas pageant on Sunday, December 14 at 5:00 pm in Trinity Hall. All children age 2 and up are invited to participate in this annual telling of the birth of Jesus. Rehearsals take place on Saturdays, Dec 6 and 13 from 10:00 am - 11:00 am in Trinity Hall. All youth who play an instrument are asked to contact Margot Wuebbens for music and rehearsal times. The traditional lasagna supper will follow the pageant. Everyone is invited to this wonderful event!
Christmas Eve Worship
We will celebrate Christmas eve with Holy Communion worship at the following times:
- 5:00 pm -- Family worship with the Children's Choir singing
- 7:00 pm - Candlelight service with the Laudate Handbell Choir participating
- 10:00 pm -- Candlelight service with the Senior Choir participating
The church office will be closed from December 25 through January 1.
Advent at St. Paul's -- "The Gifts of Advent"
Join us on Wednesday Evenings for supper at 6:00 pm and worship at 6:45 pm
- December 4 - The Gift of Patience (Psalm 37:1-9; Mark 13:24-37)
- December 11 - The Gift of Speech and Silence (Psalm 19; Luke 1:5-25, 57-66)
- December 18 - The Gift of Hope (Psalm 33:13-22; Luke 1:67-69)
The services will be Holden Evening Prayer with Holy Communion. During the service we will have a conversation on the weekly texts.
Christmas Pageant
On Sunday, December 15 at 5:00 pm we will enjoy the annual telling of the birth of Jesus. Children and youth age 2 and up are invited to participate. Rehearsals will take place on Sundays during the SPARK Hour (9:45-10:45) and on Saturdays, Dec 7 and 14 from 10-11 am in Trinity Hall. Instrumentalists (adults and youth) are also invited to participate. Please contact Margot Wuebbens if you are interested.
The Interfaith Hospitality Network continues to work with "alumni families" and support them in many ways, such as including families to be gifted this Christmas by congregations participating in the rotations. St. Paul's has decided to utilize the generosity of our congregation to gift some of these families. There is a tree in the atrium decorated with stockings imprinted with the names of 27 individuals and requested gift items for them. The stockings can be picked up and returned no later than Sunday, Dec. 15 with the gifts -- back to the tree. Instructions are on the table next to the tree. If you have questions, contact a staff member or Ellen Lavery.
There is a congregational meeting on Sunday, Dec 8 at 12:15 pm in the sanctuary. The agenda includes electing new people to our Church Council and voting on the 2014 Program for Ministry budget. Information hand-outs on the agenda and the 2014 Program for Ministry proposed budget are available in the foyer.
Poinsettias and/or Lutheran World Relief Designations: We are again offering two opportunities to make Christmas designations in honor or in memory of loved ones. Poinsettias will grace the sanctuary on the 4th Sunday of Advent through Christmas Eve services. Lutheran World Relief will receive the funds designated. Cost of each designation is $7 and should be included with the forms which are available in the foyer. All designations will be listed in the Christmas eve bulletins.
Need a great Christmas Gift? Pick up a St. Paul's cookbook! They are $10 and available after services or during the week from a receptionist or staff member.
St. Paul's Christmas Eve Services
Tuesday, December 24 at 5 pm, 7 pm, and 10 pm
All services celebrate Holy Communion
- The 5:00 pm is very appropriate for families but is for the entire congregation
- The 7:00 pm is a candlelight service with the Laudate Handbell Choir participating
- The 10:00 pm service is also a candlelight service with the Senior Choir participating
The church office will be closed December 24 - January 1. The staff wishes you and yours a very Blessed Christmas.
