BARBECUE LUNCH: The Fellowship Team is putting on a festive Barbecue Lunch on Saturday January 16th from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tickets are for sale in the parish hall at Coffee Hour between services and outside the narthex after the late service. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for kids under 10.
ADULT EDUCATION FORUM SUNDAY, JANUARY 10:
“HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, EPISCOPAL BUILD AND THE THEOLOGY OF THE HAMMER”. During Lent, St. Paul’s is participating in a build with other Wake County Episcopal congregations. A family has been selected for this project and will work side-by-side with volunteers to make their dream of home ownership come true.
Please plan to attend this forum to hear Rick Beech, Vice President for Program Ministries, Habitat for Humanity of Wake County, give an overview of the Habitat movement including newer efforts such as Christian Community Development and Advocacy as well as the Episcopal Build. The topic for Sunday, January 17 is “REFUGE FOR REFUGEES.” Come to hear our guest speaker, a Syrian refugee, who will talk about his journey from oppression and jail to U.S. citizenship.
CONVERSATION AND COMMUNITY, an adult education small group discussion opportunity, meets Sunday mornings in the Conference Room between the 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. services. Selections from Brian McLaren’s book, We Make the Road by Walking, are used to facilitate spiritually focused conversation and to foster friendships. There is no need to sign up, no homework, and nothing to bring but yourself! This group is for anyone looking for something more casual than adult education forums in the Chapel, but more structured than Coffee Hour.
ADULT BIBLE STUDY RESUMES WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 20. “Knowing God”, a course in the Kerygma series, Great Themes of the Bible, will be led by the Rev. Carr Holland. We will explore questions such as “Can we trust God to be loving, fair and just?” and “How can we know the unknowable God?” This seven-session course meets weekly (except Feb. 10, Ash Wednesday), ending on March 9. Meetings are Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the youth wing. Each participant has the cost of $20 for a resource book, payable on receipt of the book. Class size is limited to 25 participants so sign up soon by email to Beth Barnes (eanbarnes@gmail.com.) or at the Adult Education display in the narthex.
PRAYER LIST RENEWAL: We ask that those who have requested friends and loved ones be included on the prayer list, email the office at Melanie.Fairbrother@stpaulscary.org or call the office at 919-467-1477 extension 10, to renew the request. Please contact Melanie Fairbrother by Tuesday, January 13, 2016 to renew your request. Call or email anytime to remove a name. Please do not assume that we know the name should be renewed.
COFFEE HOUR MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS: The Newcomer Ministry is hosting Coffee Hour in the parish hall today following the 9:00 a.m. service. Come join them for food and refreshments and to find out more about this ministry of welcome. There are opportunities for greeters, bread bakers and deliverers, and telephone callers.
Also during Coffee Hour this week, Newcomer co-chair Frank Laney will be presented with a 2015 NC Bar Association Citizen Lawyer Award. This award recognizes role models who inspire other lawyers to invest their time and talents in service-oriented activities. In addition to his work at St. Paul’s, Frank has volunteered as a scoutmaster, PTA leader, judge for Odyssey of the Mind, high school band booster, and organizer for the Cary Music and Arts Festival.
Next week the Julian Gathering will be hosting Coffee Hour. This small group meets in the Cry Room on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month for contemplative prayer and discussion of the writings of Julian of Norwich. Stop by the parish hall to learn more about this unique opportunity for prayer and study.
STEWARDSHIP UPDATE: So far, we have raised $820118 from 291 pledges. Please join your fellow parishioners, and prayerfully consider an increase of your pledge this year. 2016 Budgeting has already begun and your pledge is important to help us plan for the future of St. Paul’s!
The WINTER MINI MINISTRY FAIR will take place on January 24 during Coffee Hour. There are over sixty ministries and groups at St. Paul’s. Each of the three mini fairs showcases only about a third of these many opportunities, and each mini fair is different! Come see what’s happening, sign up for something new, or just enjoy coffee, food, and fellowship. Here are some of the ministries who will be on hand: Altar Guild, Care and Share, Fellowship, Habitat for Humanity, Memorial Garden, Refuge for Refugee Team, Urban Ministries, Ushers, Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network, and more.
The Little Red wagon collected almost 12.000 pounds of food in 2015, which is almost 6 TONS.
As you know, food is used up and needs to be replaced, and with the holidays over the needs continue. The Urban Ministries food pantry needs soup, tuna fish, peanut butter, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, canned and dry beans, and pasta, dry rice, and whatever you find on sale at the grocery store.
We are grateful for your support, and count on your continued efforts to keep the food pantry able to meet the needs of the hungry families of Wake County. We’re always glad to have your extra paper and plastic grocery bags, too.
APPALACHIA SERVICE PROJECT (ASP) MISSION TRIP 2016: This year we will be going to Tennessee for our ASP Mission Trip from July 10th – July 16th. St. Paul’s will join other youth in rural Central Appalachia to help Appalachia Service Project (ASP) repair homes for low-income families.
ASP is about more than the home repair – ASP is about building and strengthening relationships with one another and with God. We share our skills, and we share our faith, and together we make a difference. I am personally inviting you to consider joining us in this awesome ministry. Please contact Kevin Swann to volunteer of get more information at 919-607-5913 or swann.kev@gmail.com.
ASP is open to all high school students and rising 9th graders. We have 25 openings for youth. We need and must have 12 adults to volunteer as chaperone leaders.
Children’s Ministries
- Sunday School, Children’s Chapel. Clergy-Led Chapel and Pre-EYC all resume today! Children’s Chapel will be held at the 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. services today. These sessions are for children ages 3 through 2nd grade. Please follow the cross processional to the youth wing.
- Clergy-Led Chapel will be held at the 9:00 a.m. service today. Please follow Father Carr out the door by the courtyard. This Chapel is for children ages 3rd grade-5th grade.
- Our Children’s Stewardship Basket is collecting for Stop Hunger Now. Please contribute as the children continue their collection toward our $2900 goal that will sponsor a children’s Stop Hunger Now Day on May 15, 2016. Money for this event will be collected June 1, 2015 through May 15, 2016. To date we have collected $1381.78.
- We need parent assistance in teaching Children’s Chapel! Please sign up to share a simple story lesson with the children and a brief craft time. Sign up here or at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0544aaa92ca02-2016.
- Pre-EYC will gather today at 11:15 a.m. on the playground for a day of clean up! All 4th and 5th graders are welcome to join us!
- Next weekend is a long weekend (with a holiday on Monday), but we will still have Sunday School and Children’s Chapel.
YOUTH
- Sunday School: The lesson today is entitled “What Do I Believe? God the Creator.” Middle School meets in the youth wing (go straight there, snacks are provided) and High School meets in Room 10. The Education Hour is from 10:10-11:00 a.m.
- EYC Tonight 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.: Our theme for January is Justice so come fellowship with friends after our long break and do activities centered on our theme. We’ll also go over the spring calendar of events, so come find out what we have planned.
- Murder Mystery Rehearsal Tonight 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.: All high schoolers please come to get parts and scripts. We will be rehearsing every Sunday in January from 4:00 – 5:00.
- Bishop’s Ball Jan. 29-31. This is such a fun Diocesan event. Register online at http://www.dionc.org/digital_faith/events/3165329. For more information, contact Leah (Leah.Dail@stpaulscary.org).