Worship. Serve. Grow.

Bulletin Announcements for Sunday, Dec 8, 2019

TODAY IS ST. NICHOLAS SUNDAY:  Thank you to all of St. Paul’s generous parishioners who took tags, brought gifts, and made donations to make Christmas brighter for 400 children served by local agencies!  What a wonderful way to share the good news of Jesus’ coming! 

MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS AND COFFEE HOUR: There will be a casual coffee hour in the parish hall following the 9:00 a.m. service today.  Stop by to enjoy coffee, simple refreshments and conversation.

In honor of the Christmas pageant, next week the Fellowship Events Team will be hosting a special coffee hour in the parish hall.  Please join them for coffee and goodies and to thank all our talented children and our many, many parent volunteers.

ADULT FORMATION

Sunday Mornings: Our Advent formation series, Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, begins today at 10:15 a.m. in the chapel.  Please join the Rev. Javier Almendárez‑Bautista, as he leads a discussion of “The Gospel of Matthew: An Introduction.” 

Wednesday Evenings:St. Paul’s clergy are leading Advent Eucharist services on Wednesdays at noon and 7:00 p.m. in the chapel.  This week the Rev. George Adamik will lead the services.

Newcomer Ministry: The St. Paul’s Newcomer Ministry will host a Newcomer Gathering today, Sunday, December 8, 12:30-2:00 p.m., in the Curry Center.  We’ll have brunch and time to get to know each other.  If you have visited St. Paul’s recently and would like to chat with the clergy, some ministry leaders, or other new folks like yourself, please come!  It will be casual and friendly.  Food will be provided. 

The Curry Center is located just off the far end of the parking lot, near the conveniently positioned garbage bin.  Yes, that is the landmark to look for.  Please RSVP to us at annewlaney@gmail.com by Dec. 1 and let us know if you can or cannot attend. 

Christmas Poinsettia envelopes are available in the pews through this Sunday, December 8.  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 $25.00 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. 

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.

Advent Lessons and Carols, Next Sunday, December 15, at 4:00 p.m. – Presented by the St. Paul’s Choir and featuring the Voices of St. Paul’s and the Bells of St. Paul’s, this service’s origins date to 1880 at Truro Cathedral to feature their choir.  A version of that service has been made famous worldwide by the Choir of King’s College Cambridge and continues to this day.  This service takes about an hour and 15 minutes and has nine readings with hymns and carols to enlarge upon and reflect on each of those readings.  If you enjoy the St. Paul’s Choir on Sundays, you do not want to miss this our largest outpouring of music of the year.  It is also a great opportunity to invite the greater Triangle community into St. Paul’s.  There is a reception afterward graciously provided by the Fellowship Events Team. 

MLK Jr Day 2020 Rise Against Hunger Community Event information session today.

Please join us at 12:30 p.m. in the conference room to learn about a special Community Collaboration Event with Rise Against Hunger for the upcoming MLK Jr Day (January 20, 2020).  St. Paul’s will participate by sending teams of 8-10 people to work alongside other Raleigh-area organizations.  Questions?  Contact Brooke Mautz or Ramsey McIntire:  riseagainsthunger@stpaulscary.org.

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. 

CHILDREN’S Ministries: Sunday school begins at 10:10 a.m. in the education building.  This will be the final Sunday School for 2019.  Classes resume January 5th.

Kids’ Club provides childcare for infants through three-year-old during worship and Sunday school.

There is Children’s Chapel today for children ages 3 years – 2nd grade at the 9:00 a.m. service.

The Children’s Little Brown Stewardship Basket is collecting money for Rise Against Hunger.  We have collected $781 toward our $3400 goal!

The Christmas Pageant will take place next Sunday, December 15th, during the 9:00 a.m. service.

YOUTH:  Parents’ Night Out Babysitting Fundraiser is on December 13, from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m.  Drop off is in the parish hall.  Go get your shopping done.  Or just enjoy three hours of peace and quiet!  The Youth of St. Paul’s are delighted to babysit your kiddies (ages infant through 5th grade) while you shop, wrap, dine, or nap.  Drop off your kids at St. Paul’s with a sack dinner, and we will entertain them for three whole hours.  More info and the sign-up are on the website.