NICHOLAS IS COMING TO ST. PAUL’S: The St. Nicholas tree is up and covered with tags identifying children in need served by local agencies. Please take one or more of the tags from the tree and plan to join us for St. Nicholas Sunday on December 9th. If your family, would like to get gifts for all the children in a single family, there are family groups (with 2, 3, 4, or 5 children) in envelopes on the small tree next to the St. Nicholas tree. The tags are self-sticking and state whether to wrap the gift or not. Gifts will be delivered to the service agencies on the afternoon of Dec. 9th, so any gifts brought to the church after noon on December 9th WILL NOT reach the children for Christmas this year. If you have any questions, contact Colette Hibberd at 919-803-9828 or MM Cupitt at 387-7993.
Youth Babysitting Fundraiser, December 7th 6:00-9:00 p.m.: The youth will babysit kids ages 2 years through 5th grade in the Parish Hall. This is a fundraiser for Youth Missions and Pilgrimages, so donations are accepted. Sign up here: http://bit.ly/2PqOPTK.
ENNEAGRAM RETREAT: This retreat will be held on Saturday, December 1, from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., in the Parish Hall. This day-long retreat led by the Rev. Adrienne Koch will offer participants an opportunity to learn about and explore their own type through panel discussions, individual reflection, and small group conversation. Sign up at: https://tinyurl.com/y7wkyr7t. Or you may contact Lanny Wase at Lannywase@mac.com.
Welcoming in Christ 60th Anniversary Campaign: We are excited about the response to the Capital Campaign, and we ready to meet with the architects to discuss ideas about our next steps! Thank you to everyone that has been able to pledge. Pledges are still needed and welcomed – our journey continues! You can pledge online through the St. Paul’s website or complete a Capital Campaign Pledge Form (available in the Narthex) and place it in the Offertory Plate.
Capital Campaign Pledging Update
Goal: $3,250,0000
Pledges to date: 155
Amount Pledged to date: $1,744,613
Photo Directory Update: Due to low turnout for the directory (only 140 of St. Paul’s more than 500 families), we are offering additional photo sessions on Nov. 26th and 27th and Dec 3rd and 4th. Schedule your appointment at https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/yclxe0ge/. If these dates don’t work for you, please put your name on the waitlist. We can add dates if we have a full day scheduled. Please let me know if you have any questions at Jillco0405@gmail.com.
COFFEE HOUR MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS: The St. Nicholas Ministry is hosting coffee hour in the Parish Hall following the 9:00 a.m. service today. If you haven’t already done so, please stop by the narthex and make your selection from the tags on the special tree. Then come to the Parish Hall for refreshments and a chance to thank the St. Nicholas Ministry team for coordinating this wonderful opportunity to make Christmas a little brighter for children in need.
Next week Children’s Ministries will be hosting a Cookie and Craft Hour in the Parish Hall. Stop by to enjoy freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and make an ornament for your Christmas tree.
MUSIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
On December 2, 2018, 7:30 pm at St. Paul’s, the Cary Community Choir presents their 48th annual performance of Handel’s Messiah. David Mellnik, director, leads the chorus and orchestra. There is no admission cost, but donations are encouraged. See their website https://carycommunitychoir.org for more information.
On December 16, 2018 at 4:00 pm The St. Paul’s Choir and the Bells of St. Paul’s offers the annual Advent Lessons and Carols service. This years’ music includes works by Felix Mendelssohn, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and John Rutter amongst others. The ensembles are led by Rusty McKinney, Minister of Music and accompanied by Joanna Li, Organist. Carols and hymns are alternated with scripture readings that take us from Advent themes to the doorstep of Christmas. Please attend and invite your friends and neighbors.
“A Babe is Born” A CD of the St. Paul’s Choir performing music from Advent and Christmas is available again this year, but at a new low price. At only $5 per CD, this professionally recorded collection of great music makes an excellent Christmas gift for everyone you know. Come see us in the Choir Room after the 9:00 am and 11:15 am services on Sundays to purchase.
ADULT FORMATION
Sunday Mornings: Join us today at 10:15 a.m. in the chapel for the Rev. J. Carr Holland’s conversation on Paul and the Roman Empire, a part of our fall series, Going Deeper—Ancient Teachings for a Vibrant Faith. We will explore Paul’s witness regarding the Christian community’s relationship to the Roman Empire. What does it mean for us today as we try to engage in conversation about the church’s relationship to the nation-state?
Wednesday Evenings: There will be no Adult Formation on November 21, Thanksgiving Eve. The series, Reclaiming Jesus: A Confession of Faith in a Time of Crisis will resume at 7:00 p.m. on November 28 in the Youth Wing. Drop in for any sessions you’re able to attend, as we listen to and reflect on Jesus’ teachings as part of renewing our discipleship and witness.
Christmas Poinsettia envelopes will be available in the pews until Sunday, Dec. 2. Giving a poinsettia that will decorate the church for the Christmas services is a beautiful way to remember and / or give thanks for the special people in our lives. The Altar Guild requests a donation of $20.00 per plant. Checks may be made payable to St. Paul’s, with Altar Guild in the memo line. Please fill out the envelope with your name and the name of the person(s) for whom the poinsettia is being given and whether the poinsettia is being given in memory of, or in thanksgiving for that person. Requests / donations may be placed in the collection plates or dropped off at the church office. Christmas poinsettias may be taken home following the Christmas Day service.
MONTHLY DEVOTIONALS: “Welcoming in Christ” is the discipleship-stewardship emphasis linking St. Paul’s 60th Anniversary and the Anniversary Capital Campaign. To supplement this, each month a special devotional reflection will be offered. The theme for November continues “Expanding the Mission and Influence of the Church.” You can find these devotionals on our St. Paul’s website (www.stpaulscary.org). If you’d like to share your thoughts on a theme, you may email them to reflections@stpaulscary.org.
Greening of the Church: The Greening of the Church will be held on Sunday, December 23 right after the 11:15 service. Please join the Altar Guild in decorating the Altar and windows, hang the roping, putting out the crèche. We have a large space to decorate so the more the merrier! We also need fresh greenery to fill the various areas around the church – boxwood, cedar, Magnolia leaves, holly, etc. Please bring some when you come to Green the Church, or you may drop off greens on the walkway (not on the tarp) to the right of the church doors during the day of the 23rd. You can also bring them when you come to help decorate! In general, the greening takes a couple hours, and Altar Guild members will be in place to offer guidance and instructions. This is a fun event, so we hope you will come and join us!
Altar Flower Memorials: The Altar Flower Chart for 2019 will be placed in the narthex in early December. If you would like to give flowers that will decorate the altar for a Sunday service, please sign up for the Sunday of your choice. Flowers are usually given in memory of or/and in thanksgiving for loved ones, or to commemorate special occasions in our lives. The Altar Guild requests a donation of $45.00. Checks may be made payable to St. Paul’s with Altar Guild flowers noted on the memo line. Please sign up on the flower chart at least 3 weeks in advance for your name to appear in the appropriate Sunday bulletin. Stop by the sacristy after the 11:15 a.m. service if you would like to take the flowers you donated home with you.
CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES
- The Children’s Little Brown Stewardship Basket is working toward our 2019 Note in the Pocket Sort Day, scheduled for June 9, 2019. We have collected $855.20 toward our $3000 goal!
- Children’s Chapel will be held today at the 9:00 a.m. worship service and is open to all children ages 3 through 2nd Please follow the Children’s Cross Processional after the Collect.
- Sunday School (Children’s Formation) continues today at 10:10 a.m. in the Education Building.
- Christmas Pageant Participation forms are due today!!! Please find Christine Ingram and turn in your form by 10:00 a.m. to be in the drawing for a speaking role.
- Join Children’s Ministries in the Parish Hall next Sunday, November 25, for our Cookie and Craft Coffee Hour. Come eat freshly baked cookies and make an ornament for your Christmas tree.
YOUTH
- Youth Christian Formation: The lesson today is entitled “Competition: Preparing for the Future.” Middle School meets in the Youth Wing (go straight there, snacks are provided) and High School meets in Room 10.
- EYC Tonight 5:00-7:00 p.m.: Forgiveness: Come find out about the 2nd part of Forgiveness – Acceptance. The high school youth will lead a short devotional and activity. Dinner and Scatterball to follow!
Pledging for the 2019 Operating Budget: We need your 2019 stewardship pledge! Your stewardship pledge covers our annual operating budget for 2019, the funds that keep our ministries going and the love flowing! We are asking everyone to bump up those pledges 5-7% if possible, to help cover the growing cost of doing what we do. You can pledge online through the St. Paul’s website or complete a pledge form (available in the Narthex) and place it in the Offertory Plate. Thank you!
Pledging Update
193 pledges, including 16 new pledges
Total Pledged: $627,026