Worship. Serve. Grow.

Bulletin Announcements for Sunday, Dec 2, 2018

NICHOLAS IS COMING NEXT SUNDAY: The St. Nicholas tree still has some 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 by Dec. 5.

Requests for Reimbursements:  To help St. Paul’s close it’s 2018 accounting, please turn in all requests for reimbursements by December 17, 2018.  Please be sure to include all receipts and appropriate approval signatures.  Thank you for your help.

Heifer International – Alternate Gift Giving Opportunity: Heifer International invites us to give Christmas gifts to our friends and loved ones in the form of donations.  These gifts send working animals to families in need around the world, to help alleviate hunger and poverty.  You can place donations in the Heifer Ark during Sunday morning services or send a check to the church office (checks made out to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with Heifer International on the memo line).  Please take a Heifer greeting card (available in the narthex) for each donation of $10 that you make, to send to family members or friends you wish to honor with your charitable gift.  Your donations help St. Paul’s reach our annual goal of $5000 that purchases a GIFT ARK of animals (two cows, sheep, camels, llamas, etc.).  Thank you.

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 timely theme for December is “Advent: Anticipating and Reflecting the Light of Christ – Welcoming St. Paul’s future.” 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

Invitation to Icon Exhibit:  Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Fayetteville is exhibiting a collection of Russian icons and icon-inspired pieces, Icons in Transformation, by Russian-born artist Ludmilla Pawlowska.  You are welcome to join other St. Paul’s parishioners who plan to visit the exhibit on Wednesday, December 5.  We will carpool from St. Paul’s, leaving the parking lot at 10:20 a.m. and returning by 3:30 p.m.  For details, see the St. Paul’s website article, or contact Joyce or Howard Loughlin at 919-234-1356 for questions.

COFFEE HOUR MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS:  The Men’s Group is hosting coffee hour in the Parish Hall following the 9:00 a.m. service today.  This group fosters fellowship while providing various service projects and activities for the parish, including Lobster Fest, Men’s Beach Week, and food for the Parish Picnic and Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper.

Next week Dorcas Ministries will be hosting coffee hour.  This local organization provides affordable clothing, food, training, and tools for self-sufficiency to those in need.  Come by to enjoy coffee and refreshments and perhaps learn how to volunteer in the Dorcas Thrift Shop.

ADULT FORMATION

Sunday Mornings: Our Advent formation series, Holy Longing in Turbulent Times, begins today, December 2, at 10:15 in the chapel.  We’ll discuss readings often overlooked in the lectionary – the psalms and songs of Scripture.  These texts were written over hundreds of years, in times of prosperity, destruction, and exile.  They express Israel’s longing for justice, hope, and redemption in a troubled, unpredictable world.  Join us today as the Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista explores Psalms.

Wednesday Evenings: We welcome you to Adult Formation at 7 p.m. on November 28 in the Youth Wing, as we complete the series, Reclaiming Jesus: A Confession of Faith in a Time of Crisis. Drop by if you can as we listen to and reflect on Jesus’ teachings as part of renewing our discipleship and witness.

ADVENT WEDNESDAY EUCHARIST AND BIBLE STUDY:  St. Paul’s clergy will lead Advent Eucharist services at noon and 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, December 5, 12, and 19, in the chapel. These services, which include study of the upcoming Sunday’s lectionary, are a rich preparation for Christmas.

Christmas Poinsettia envelopes are in the pews. TODAY is the last Sunday to give a poinsettia that will decorate the church for the Christmas services as 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 today.  Christmas poinsettias may be taken home following the Christmas Day service.

Greening of the Church:  The Greening of the Church will be held on Sunday, December 23, right after the 11:15 a.m. 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.  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.  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.

MUSIC:  Today, December 2, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. 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 p.m. the St. Paul’s Choir and the Bells of St. Paul’s offers the annual Advent Lessons and Carols service.  This year’s 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 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services on Sundays to purchase.

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 $936.18 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.
  • Calling all Christmas Pageant enthusiasts! We still have openings for non-speaking angels, shepherds, animals and soldiers.  Please contact Christine Ingram to join the fun!
  • Pre-EYC meets next Sunday, Dec. 9, from 11:15 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in the Youth Wing. We will be assisting the St. Nicholas Ministry and having our Christmas Party!

YOUTH

  • Youth Christian Formation: The lesson today is entitled “Competition: Competition for Right.” Middle School meets in the Youth Wing (go straight there, snacks are provided) and High School meets in Room 10.
  • EYC Tonight 5-7 p.m.: Come find out about the 3rd part of forgiveness; the high school youth will lead a short devotional and activity. Then we’re playing Advent Bingo and playing games.  Dinner to follow.
  • Murder Mystery Interest Meeting Today 4-5 p.m.: ALL high schoolers interested in learning more about the Murder Mystery play (on 3/9/19) come find out more about it, help with script selection, and get dibs on parts. It’s a fun event and the cast has a blast!  Come hear all about it.  We’ll meet in the youth wing.

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!