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THE EPISTLE
Volume 59 Issue 11 December 2016
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Fri. Dec. 2 & 30 – Street Ministry
Sat. Dec. 10 – ELW Christmas Party 11:00 am
Sun. Dec. 11 - Quilt Sale
Wed. Dec 14 – Council Meeting 7:00 pm
Wed. Dec. 21 – Longest Night Service 7:30 pm
Thurs. Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve Services 5:00 pm & 7:00 pm
Fri. Dec. 25 - Christmas Day Service 10:00 am
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St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
12145 Laity Street
Maple Ridge, BC V2X 5A7
Tel: 467-4343
Email:
Pastor’s column
“Therefore, brothers and sisters,holy partners in a heavenly calling, consider that Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses also ‘was faithful in allGod’shouse.’” (Hebrews 3: 1-6)
Holy partners!? Holy partners, Batman! The apostle Paul writes the Letter to the Hebrews and he points out to them that they are holy partners, set apart in a heavenly calling to be the eyes, the arms, the feet, of Jesus. The Jewish Christians in the city of Rome are encountering new Christians, Gentile Christians as they meet to be the church. They are not working alone; they are partners with these new Christians and the people in their community and neighbourhood. To be a partner in any manner is to be a part of that heavenly calling.
Partnerships are very important still and in some regard, this coming December and the Season of Advent is all about partnerships. During this time, we are partnering with: - the Punjabi Masihi Church, in worship, on Nov. 27th, Advent 1
- the Christmas Hamper Society as we host the Toy Drive on Dec. 3rd
- Golden Ears United Church, Pitt Meadows United, Whonnock United and Haney Presbyterian for a Christmas Carol sing-a-long, Dec. 4th.
- the same churches for The Longest Night worship service on Dec. 21.
- The Salvation Army Caring Place and Surrey Urban Mission Society as we put up our Jesse tree and collect socks, toques, mitts, gloves and scarves.
- Beckman House as we gather to give them gifts and sing Christmas carols on Dec. 20th.
Partnerships are very important; we can’t do all of this
valuable work alone. We need partners to be the hands and feet of Jesus. When we did our visioning 3 years ago, we set out our mission, vision, purpose and goals: Mission: “To live and share the love of Christ.”
Purpose:“ God is calling our congregation to connect with and involve the people in our faith community and in our neighborhood in service to each other.
Vision:“Our vision is to be a sustainable faith community open to all and based on the values of justification by grace through faith; service to others; and joy in fellowship.”
One of our Goals:…..to continually seek out partnerships with other churches and community service providers that will help enable us all to better fulfill our mission.
Partnerships are very important and these Advent activities will not be the only times we will partner with our neighbours in the religious or secular sphere. As we go about this holy calling, we need to continually ask ourselves is there are others that we can invite to join us.
Peace and blessings during the Advent and
Christmas seasons! Pastor Roland
QUIlLTERS
Meet Tuesday mornings, 9 am at the Church. Come for quiltingand Fellowship! Helping hands always welcome!
Council Corner
Joyous Advent and Merry Christmas!
The November Council meeting was one of good cheer despite the election hangover / dreadfrom our southern neighbours that disturbed out sleep the night before.And that was because we have such a feeling of good news here at St. Paul's. Yes, the Good News of our Gospel but also the good news of how there seems to be new energy and engagement inGod's work at St. Paul’s.
Nancy's Financial Secretary report showed an increase in offerings this year and especially October.Pastor Roland asked us why we thought that our offerings have increased this year. And there were some that said that having a thriving youth group has brought in hopeful joy and feelings of belonging. Having recent successes withclean-up day, Fall Fair, and Octoberfest also has created a lot of activity in the congregation. With further reflection I also recognize that our long standing ministries are doing well and our Guiding Team seems to be gaining momentum. It also seems that more of us are in touch as we seem to be communicating on Facebook, emails from Pastorand other social media during the week to stay in touch and engaged.
We have confidence about meeting our budget this year,we are blessed. And we have met our goal for our Raising the Roof fund,thank you Dick for chairing that ad hoc committee!But we want to keep our momentum going and want to create some surplus so we can stop getting charged late fees on our utilities.
Council also asked Pastor Roland to abide by the benevolence policy which is easy for him now because there's no money left in the fund. Council agreed to ponder what to do about the fund and possibly bring to the AGM on February 19th.
Vaya Con Dios!
John, Vice Chair
St. Paul's Lutheran Church Council
Advent Carol Service
On Sunday, December 4th, 2:00 pm -3:30 p.m. We will be gathering with other churches from around Maple Ridge to participate in an Advent Carol Service. We will meet at Golden Ears United Church (22165 Dewdney Trunk Rd, Maple Ridge) and one of the features of the worship service will be the opportunity to be part of a joint choir. Choir members from all the churches can participate in singing the anthem, Dancing Into the Promise.
Gifts for Beckman House
Outreach Committee invites you to consider buying a small gift for a resident of Beckman House – a home for people with mental health issues. The “wish list” for Beckman House residents will be posted in the Narthex. We are suggesting that the total gift value be $15 -$20 in order to keep all the gifts equitable. The cost can be shared by more than one family. Store gift receipts for clothing would be appreciated if possible. Gifts should be labeled: from Santa. Please bring gifts to St. Paul’s no later than December 19. We invite you to come along and share caroling and fellowship as we deliver them on Tuesday, December 20 @ 7:00 p.m. (meet at the church by 6:50 pm if you wish to car-pool).
St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Women
7 Women attended November' 12/16 meeting. Regrets from Linda and Sarolta who attended the Ministry Area Meeting with Pastor Roland.
Current correspondence will be posted on the ELW bulletin board.
Christmas Decorating - December 3/16; 9:30-11:30am.
All are welcome to come and help Deck the Halls.
If you can't help decorate on December 3 you are invited to come and decorate an interior door to bring the Christmas Season in to St. Paul's. When you have time you can come in and decorate a door. Doors that can be decorated are the Sunday School room, Sunday School Office, Choir room door, doors between the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall, double doors of the Fellowship Hall and the hallway. We invite Families, Church Groups and Individuals to decorate a door. If there's a door you or your cohorts would like to decorate let Laura know. There will be a sign-up sheet put out.
ELW Christmas Party: December 10 11:00am-2:00pm
Faith Group will be hosting the Christmas Program. Everyone is invited to bring a party place to share. There will be a Christmas Box out for donations for Friends of the Food Bank. If you would like to donate money it can be put in with the offering. We'll collect for the Food
Bank all month.
Sarolta will be arranging for us the picking of Prayer Pals for 2017. Bring your Blessing and Gifts for your 2016 Prayer Pal. If you aren't going to be at the Christmas Party, you can bring your Prayer Pal's gift and leave it in the Church office. Please do not leave the gifts by the mailboxes.
Spring Event: Save the Date February 25, 2017; 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. Theme ' International Mission Relief'.
A Blessed Christmas Season to You and Your Family.
May all those who have bread, hunger for justice.
May all those who hunger, have bread.
Respectfully submitted by
Laura
A big “thank you” to the congregation for your overwhelming support of Street Ministry, Glenwood Elementary Hot Lunch Program, Beckman House and the Jesse Tree. It is through your generosity and willingness to serve that we are able to share Christ’s love with our neighbours and beyond.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING REPORTS
Group reports for Youth, ELW, Quilters, Altar Guild, Choir, Administration, Personnel, Parish Life, Sunday School, Worship, Stewardship, Adhoc Roof Committees are due into the church office by Sunday,January 15, 2017.
If possible, please send reports to the church office by email as an attachment.
St Paul’s Sunday School
December/January 2016
Sunday School Schedule & CHRISTMAS PAGEANT SCHEDULE:
Saturday, Dec 3rd –Rehearsal 10am – 12pm *Bring bag lunch!
Dec 4 – Elementary Classes/Youth in-class rehearsal
Dec 11 – Elementary Classes/Youth in-class rehearsal* Full Rehearsal cancelled after church asthe youth are going up to Mt Seymour for a Youth Retreat!
Saturday, Dec 17th –Rehearsal 10am – 12pm *Bring bag lunch!
Please note: *I may coordinate separate practices with the main characters if need be .
Dec 18th – Christmas Pageant! during Sunday service, December 18th! It is called A Stable Story. It is a unique perspective on the Nativity Story as told by the animals…What kind of believer are you?
Dec 24 – Christmas Eve Service
Dec 25 – Christmas Day Service (No Sunday School/Christmas Break)
Jan 8 – Return To Sunday School
**Coming up in late Jan/early Feb 2017 – Youth Puppet Play: “Conversations With God.” STAY TUNED!
Shawna
QUILT SALE
Sunday, December 11th!!
JESSE TREE
The “dead tree” in the Narthex, better known as the Jesse Tree, will be up during Advent to receive your gifts of warm clothing to be shared among the homeless and poor during the Christmas season. We invite gifts of toques, mitts, socks, and scarves to be shared with people at Street Ministry and Surrey Urban Mission (SUMS).
THE LONGEST NIGHT SERVICE
DECEMBER 21st - 7:30 pm
You are invited to join us for a time of quiet worship and
meditation as we gather to acknowledge the sorrow of our losses that surround us at this time of year. We seek to find
peace and healing as we allow God’s healing love to surround us
with comfort and hope. If you know someone that is having difficulty with Christmas this year, invite them along
Scrapbooking/Stitchery
We continue to meet every Tuesday, enjoyeach other’s company, and get some of our projects done. We will be taking some time off during the Christmas holidays.
Canadian Lutheran
World Relief’s
Gifts from the Heart
Find unique Christmas gifts that make a difference for people in need
Looking for a gift for the person who has everything? Look no further than CLWR's Gifts from the Heart catalogue for a selection of gifts that are needed by people in refugee camps and impoverished communities. Donate one today in honour of friends and family this Christmas. Gift cards for your recipients are available upon request!
Gifts can also be browsed and purchased online at Gift orders are accepted by mail, phone or online.
If you aren’t sure those on your gift list would be receptive to an alternative gift, have you thought about receiving such a gift yourself? Share the catalogue with your family and friends, or suggest it to co-workers as an alternative to the office gift exchange. Mosquito nets are only $10, ,fish nets $15 – or any amount can be given “where needed most”.
Glenwood Hot Lunch Program is finished for the year as the students will be dismissed for Christmas break before our scheduled December date. Our next meal service at Glenwood will be in January.
Advent - Christmas Schedule
Sunday, Dec 4 & 11: Sunday School & Worship – 10:00 am
Sunday, Dec 18: Christmas Pageant & Worship – 10:00 am
Longest Night Service: Wednesday, Dec. 21- 7:30 pm
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services: 5:00 pm & 7:00 pm
Christmas Day Service - 10:00 am
Sunday, Jan 1: Worship - 10:00 am
Church office will be closed:
Monday, December 26
Tuesday, December 27
Monday, January 2
Wishing all people of St. Paul's congregation a Very Merry Christmas!
Financial Update from your Treasurer
For the month of October we had an excellent month with a surplus of $6,665. Because of this we have a small operating surplus for the year of $3,252. We greatly appreciate all of your support.
Given our prior year's deficit and not having any cash reserves (money in the bank) we are still behind with a number of our payables and have had to pay some late payment fees. We still owe the Synod $2,000 for the year. We are making progress however we are basically utilizing the funds we receive this month to cover last month's bills. We would like to be in a position to pay our bills when they are due and get our commitment to the Synod paid in full by the end of the year.
Historically our givings in the fall and over the Christmas season have been very strong, accounting for a significant portion of our annual budget. If we are able to continue this tradition we will have sufficient funds to pay all of our commitments by the end of the year.
We have made significant progress and for that I am very grateful. Thank you for your ongoing support.
David, Treasurer