St. Paul's Episcopal Church 301 E. Stuart Street, Fort Collins, CO 80525 Phone: 970-482-2668 Email: [email protected] - Website: www.stpauls-fc.org

A Letter From Your Stewardship Team -- Inspired by the Holy Spirit Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, We are so grateful for the spiritual and the financial support that St. Paul’s members offered up in prayer in 2018. Thank you! This letter is an invitation to reflect on the spiritual nourishment and blessings we have received this year, and to ask for your commitment to increase your support in 2019. The Holy Spirit’s steadfast presence in, around and through all that is St. Paul’s has been astounding! Read full letter

“Behind the Scenes” by Rev. Lyn The first Sunday of Advent is on December 2. Advent signals a season of expectancy and waiting. In a sense, though, we are always living in this season. Throughout the gospels, Jesus tells us to “Keep awake,” so that the endless busy-ness and preoccupations of our lives don't block from our consciousness the eternal presence of God within us and manifest all around us. Whether we are aware of it or not, God is always active in us and in the world – working “behind the scenes,” so to speak. Although we can’t see it yet, the star that guided the three wise men to Jesus, is already in its ascendancy. When it comes, it will remind us that the Light of the world is, and always has been with us. Right now, although we may not yet see it, God is working with St. Paul’s “behind the scenes” – preparing a priest to become the rector, preparing the congregation of St. Paul’s to welcome this person, and to enter into a new chapter together – one filled with light. Because, in the midst of all the uncertainties in our church and in our world, the one constant is that star – the light of Christ. Let us open ourselves up to this light – may it flood our minds and our hearts and ground, shape, comfort and guide us in the days ahead. Let us take advantage of some exciting upcoming worship services to remind us of God’s presence – of God’s light. In the next few weeks, information about these services will be available. They will include Trinity’s beautiful Taize services during Advent, and Evensong , offered by St. Paul’s, which we hope to continue each month. Mark your calendars for the first of these, a beautiful service of music and prayer on Wednesday, November 28 at 5:30 pm in the Sanctuary.

All-Parish Meeting This Sunday, November 11, at 10 am The vestry will inform us as to our current status and next steps. Please come and be part of the discussion!

Don't Forget the Book Sale Today through the weekend at Trinity in the room next to the nursery! There is a plethora of really wonderful writing -- fiction, spirituality (lots from Rev. Lyn's personal library) children's books -- a gold mine of writing. Check it out.

FFH November 11-18 Sincere thanks to all who signed up for this next FFH rotation. Only three slots are left - an evening host is needed on Wednesday, November 14 from 6:00-8:00 pm, and two overnight hosts are needed on Friday, November 16 from 8:00 pm to 7:00 am the next day. Please sign up! To sign up, either fill in the paper sign-up on St. Paul's bulletin board or go HERE : Feel free to contact Marianne Lutton if you have any questions.

Thanksgiving "Dinner Kit" Drive for Homeward Alliance : There are still spots available! Provide nonperishable foods for Thanksgiving dinner kits to be distributed to folks recently housed by Homeward Alliance (formerly Homeless Gear). Turkeys and cranberries will be provided by the Food Bank. Other items needed include aluminum roasting pans, stuffing mix, canned yams, green bean casserole ingredients, etc. Please sign up in advance for the items you are donating -- the lists will be on the counter in the Narthex through today. When delivering your items, look for the big white donation box with silver snowflakes in the Narthex. Place the items you signed up for in the box by Sunday morning, November 18. Financial donations for pumpkin pies and other foods will also be accepted. On Sunday, November 18 volunteers will organize the nonperishable items for delivery to the Murphy Center. Sign up to volunteer on the last page of the food lists. Thank you from the St. Paul’s Social Justice Team. Questions? Contact Judy Matthews 970-223-4080

Turkey Roundup for the Food Bank Sunday, November 11 at each of the services all da y. Sunday, November 11, before each service. Bring a "rock hard" frozen turkey and look for the green Mazda pickup in the circle drive in front of the church. Len Russ of Mary of Magdala will be ready to receive your bird. Turkeys will be distributed to our less fortunate neighbors. Last year, Mary of Magdala and Trinity Lutheran together collected 56 turkeys. Let's join in a gift of thankfulness for everyone!

TLC Fall Cleanup DATE AND TIME CHANGE: Tomorrow, Nov 10, 9 am - 1 pm We've worshiped together, now let's work together in the tender care of the building and grounds that nurture our growth in Christian community. Many hands make light work.

Celebrating Bishop Rob At our annual convention, a powerful tribute was paid to the 15 years of service of our 10th Bishop of Colorado, Robert O'Neill, and to our ministry together during these years. Father Brooks Keith, Rector of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Vail Valley, invited each of us to celebrate by making a contribution in honor of Bishop O'Neill. To contribute, go HERE

A Letter from Bishop-Elect Kym Lucas As your bishop-elect, I want to make you aware of a deeply personal, but yet publicly important announcement regarding my health. Last week I had my final consultation appointment where I received my diagnosis of stage one breast cancer. Read full letter HERE

Kitchen Remodel Because the kitchen remodeling project is now underway (and the kitchen is off limits) - St. Paul’s and Trinity parishioners have the opportunity to get to know each other a little better by sharing the coffee station and the food table on Sunday mornings in the Fellowship Hall. Please go to the coffee makers on the West side of the Fellowship hall for coffee and other beverages. Donuts and other snacks are on the tables in front of the white storage cabinets at the South end of the room. We will be using the compostable cups from Trinity - please place them in the blue trash can with the round hole in the lid-it is near the coffee makers. Also - the St. Paul’s bulletin board, with current announcements and sign up sheets is now located in the northeast corner of the Fellowship Hall.

Fort Collins now has its own Poor People's Campaign Come to the Poor People's Hearing - Fort Collins · Hosted by  Colorado Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Re v ival   Sunday, November 18, 2018 at 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM "No War, No Warming - Transitioning an Economy of War to an Economy of Peace” Sunday, November 18, 2018, 1-3 pm Rev. Shawna Foster, minister at Three Rivers Unitarian in Carbondale, CO, will lead a discussion on the interconnection between militarism, poverty and climate change, and explore ways to promote the Poor People’s Campaign in Northern CO. Rev. Foster is a member of About Face: Veterans Against War, and on the national steering committee of the Poor People’s Campaign.    Free and open to the public. Fort Collins Unitarian Church, 1815 Yorktown Ave, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526

Save the Dates to Celebrate Our Celebrants Join us Sunday, Dec. 2 at 10 am to celebrate the retirement of Jim Visger as the deacon of St. Paul's. A light breakfast will be hosted. Join us Sunday, Dec. 16 at 10 am to celebrate Rev. Lyn Burns and her wonderful service to St. Paul's. A light breakfast will be hosted. Any questions? Contact Beth Etter

From Jacki Petrino I was made aware that Trinity will be looking to help local children at Christmas. The kids want to help, too, so here is the information on how to make a difference in another family's life during this upcoming season of Advent: We are collecting items for needy children ages 0-14 who live in Loveland's Lago Vista Mobile Home Park through Lago Vista Neighbor project . We seek to collect UNWRAPPED gifts for boys and girls by the first Sunday in December. 1. A fun toy in the $15-20 range 2. An educational item (book, puzzle, game, arts and crafts or science item) 3. A book. Cash donations are also welcome and someone else will buy items for you! If you have questions, please contact Margaret Wick at [email protected] , 970-800-36(hm) or 330-224-6305 (cell). As always, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me

Please Help Address Homelessness Join the Murphy Center in proclaiming December 8th as Homelessness Awareness Day in Fort Collins . Please consider 1) purchasing tickets to the Mission to Hope Walk (Morning) or the Murphy Center Community Dinner (Evening), 2) sponsoring a guest of the Murphy Center to attend the Walk or Dinner, 3) buying a table at the Dinner, 4) creating a walking team for the Walk, and 5) donating to support the event. For more information go HERE

TLC Book Group Members of MOM and St. Paul's are invited to join with the TLC book group on Monday, December 3rd, at 9:30 in the Fireside Room for a discussion of Calypso by David Sedaris. This is a non-fiction book in which the author sets his powers of observation towards middle age and mortality. Questions? Call Nadine Hunt at 970-825-3730.

In Search of Wholeness -- An Exploration of our Mystical Origins The adult education program of Mary of Magdala will host 2 Advent soup suppers: Sunday, December 2 and Sunday, December 9 after Mass. Speaker Rick Klein will weave together the lives and teachings of four modern mystics to create a fabric upon which we can trace our unique spiritual paths within the common spiritual journey of all humanity. Our journey will glean insights from the Native American mystic Black Elk; contemplative and feminist mystic Beatrice Bruteau; Jewish mystic Etty Hillesum; and priest and environmental advocate Thomas Berry. Please join us for nourishment of both body and soul. :

Remember These Opportunities: HABITAT FOR HUMANITY The next Build Dates are November 17 and December 8. For more information and to sign up, contact Gray Currier BETSY PURNA'S HIMALAYAN SINGING BOWLS will be in the Sun Room each first Saturday of the month, 3:30 to 5 pm, and each third Saturday, 10:30 am to 12 pm. 2018 RICHARD HAGEN LECTURE: “Radical Hospitality in a Time of Fear” Monday, November 19, First United Methodist Church, 6:30 pm.:

"The Narrow Gate" "Jesus commands us, “Love God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength; and love your neighbor as yourself.” Laurie Gudim at Speaking to the Soul . See full reflection HERE .