NOTE: There will be no announcements for Dec. 29, 2019 or Jan 5, 2020
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS AND COFFEE HOUR:
There will be no coffee hour today or December 29. Best wishes to all who support and participate in the many ministries of our parish.
ADULT FORMATION
Sunday Mornings: Our Advent formation series, Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, concludes today. Please join the Rev. George Adamik, at 10:15 a.m. in the chapel as he leads a discussion of “Emmanuel: God with Us.”
The Greening of the Church will be held TODAY right after the 11:15 a.m. service. While the Altar Guild is responsible for preparing the church for our Christmas services, we always welcome members of the congregation to come and help us decorate the altar, window and railings. Children can help us put out the crèche. In general, the greening takes a couple of 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!
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.). If you have questions, please contact Alison Arnold at alisonearnold@gmail.com or 919-605-0761.
STEWARDSHIP: VISION 2020 for the operating budget is well underway! As we work, walk, seek, welcome, and care together for a better world, we begin that journey in our little corner at St. Paul’s. If you have already pledged for next year, we thank you. If you have not, we encourage you to make the effort and make a pledge today. Wherever you are in your stewardship journey, start right there and step forward, in faith. Your commitment in the form of a pledge allows us to plan and grow all the amazing programs and ministries we’re so fortunate to offer at St. Paul’s. Extra pledge forms are available in the narthex. You may also go to stpaulscary.org to pledge with the push of a button.
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES – Dec. 24th
4:00 p.m. – Child-friendly celebration of the Eucharist with a special homily for all the children.
7:00 p.m. – A celebration of the Eucharist with wonderful Christmas hymns.
10:30 p.m. – A celebration of the Eucharist that concludes near midnight making this our “Midnight Mass”
Christmas Day– Dec. 25th
10:00 a.m. – Contemplative celebration of the Eucharist.
The First Sunday after Christmas – Dec 29th
7:30 a.m. – Eucharist Rite I
10:00 a.m. – Christmas Lessons and Carols with Eucharist
CHILDREN’S Ministries: The Christmas Pageant was a great success. Thank you everyone for the amazing support!
The Children’s Little Brown Stewardship Basket is collecting money for Rise Against Hunger. We have collected $888 toward our $3400 goal.
Sunday School and Children’s Chapel will resume January 5th.
Save the Date! The annual Teddy Bear Tea will be held February 8, 2020.
Kids’ Club provides childcare for infants through three-year-olds during worship and Sunday school.