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 View as Webpage

Your Wardens' Update ". . . Daily I give thanks for all of you. As we anticipate our Savior’s birth, the beginning of a new church cycle, and a new calendar year, we cannot say what is in store for us. What I do know with certainty is that we will do it together in love." See full article HERE

Advent Anticipation All of us have had that intimate experience of waiting for someone special to arrive. Think of the times you have waited for the doorbell to ring, or searched among the crowds at the airport for that one familiar and beloved face. This is the meaning of Advent – it’s a time of waiting and anticipation, a time of longing, a time of hope. We know what will happen in our Christian story. We know that our Beloved and the One to Whom we belong will come. Still we wait, still we long, still we hope. --Rev. Lyn

Your Stewardship Team This is the third in a series of reflections about our upcoming Every Member Canvass Ingathering Sunday.  Were you aware that in 2018 members of this Parish Community of Faith made an annual average pledge of $4,376, or $84 a week (updated figures)?  We are so grateful for the continuing spiritual and financial support that St. Paul’s members have offered in prayer and  Inspired by the Spirit .  As we look ahead to this coming New Year of God’s Abundant Grace, let us encourage one another to even more deeply support St. Paul’s by increasing our pledge commitment, or by making a pledge for the first time.   Remember: we can turn in our pledge card ahead of time by placing it in the offering plate or mailing it in, giving us a head start!

Ushers Needed Be the face of welcome for those visiting St. Paul's by helping people to feel comfortable in our worship services. Hand out bulletins, pass offering plates and help people to know when to come up for communion. Express our value of abundant hospitality. To sign up, talk to Pony Davis

Contemplative Art Adult Ed., Sunday, 12/9, 10:30-11:15 am in the Sun Room Experience Contemplative Art with Elaine Hild, Brianna Van Dyke, Judy Matthews and Laurie Gudim. We had a prayerfully nourishing time on Sunday as we sat in silence and created together. On December 9 we will again have art supplies and writing materials available, but you can also bring your favorites – journaling, knitting, sewing, painting, or any other art form that you love.

Coming Soon! Celebrate Our Celebrants Join us this Sunday, December 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, December 16, at 10 am to celebrate Rev. Lyn Burns and her service to St. Paul's. A light breakfast will be hosted. Any questions? Contact Beth Etter

St Paul’s Giving Tree  St. Paul's Giving Tree provides much needed supplies to the Voices Carry Child Advocacy Center in Fort Collins. All the needed items can probably be found in the grocery store. About Voices Carry Child Advocacy Center : We are an inspiring example of a successful public/private partnership. In 1994, a community task force began meeting to find a better way to serve children involved in child abuse investigations and their families. It is our job, as adults, to shine light on the issue of child sexual abuse. When a child is brave enough to tell his or her truth here at the CAC, it is up to us to make sure that this small voice is heard.  As we know, child sexual abuse thrives in secrecy, and Voices Carry signifies the courage necessary to speak up. Please take a tag from the tree in the narthax and return the item  unwrapped  no later than Monday, December 17. If you have any questions ,please contact Joan Stephenson . Thank you for your support!

Where's the Coffee If you haven’t visited coffee hour after one of our services lately, please do. There is great, freshly brewed coffee, decaf coffee, and also hot water for tea along the west side of the Fellowship Hall. Because of the current kitchen remodel, we are sharing coffee hour treats with Trinity Lutheran folks, so please help yourself to any of the foods on the tables near the coffee station. Coffee Hour is a great opportunity to introduce yourself to someone you don’t know!

A Thank You from Homeward Alliance I just got off the phone with one of the families that received a Thanksgiving basket. She called just to say “thank you.” She said it relieved some stress of the holidays and she was just so thankful to receive it. She wanted me to pass along her thanks to all involved.   Also, I want to personally thank everyone involved in making it happen. While all the OVOF families are housed and have incomes, most of them are still living in poverty. Cooking a big meal like that would certainly be a burden on many of them. Thanks for relieving that stress from their lives. Pass along my thanks! Diane Matthews One Village One Family Program Manager

Habitat for Humanity Opportunities The next Habitat For Humanity Build Days are Saturday, December 8th and Saturday, January 12th. No experience or tools are needed, the work is at your own pace and skill level (including total newbie), and it's an opportunity to help build a safe, decent, affordable home for a hardworking local family. Work from 7:45 AM to 4:00 PM, and enjoy a fabulous free lunch onsite, provided with love by one of our partner parishes. Try it once, you'll want to come back! Please contact Gray Currier by noon of the Sunday before to get signed up.

Christmas Worship Services Children’s Pageant – Monday, December 24, 1:30 pm Midnight Mass – 10:30 pm Christmas Day Service – 10:30 am (followed by a Festive Lunch)   Christmas services of all three Faith Communities will be published in the December calendar.

Christmas Day Festive Lunch   St. Paul’s is organizing a Festive Lunch at noon on Christmas day after our Christmas Day service . Everyone is invited – whether you wish to come for a cup of eggnog and snacks or to eat a full meal. There will be a variety of Christmas and non-Christmas dishes, as well as gluten-free and vegetarian dishes. Please join us with your friends. If you are able to contribute to the lunch in any way, there will be a sign-up sheet in the narthex this Sunday. Any questions, please contact Rev. Lyn

From Jacki Petrino 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 December 2. Cash donations are also welcome and someone else will buy items for you! If you have questions, please contact Margaret Wick , 330-224-6305 (cell). As always, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Episcopal Relief and Development Responds to California Wildfires Episcopal Relief & Development is partnering with the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California as they coordinate with local congregations to provide emergency support to those impacted by the wildfires in Northern and Southern California. Please continue to pray for the individuals and families affected by the California wildfires as well as the firefighters and first-responders. Donations to the US Disaster Fund will help those affected by the devastating wildfires. Donate HERE

Rev. Lyn has a collection of crosses Rev. Lyn has a collection of crosses she would like to give to whomever would like one. They will be displayed outside her office on Sunday morning.

Trinity Book Group Members of Mary of Magdala and St. Paul's are invited to join with the Trinity book group on Monday, December 3, at 9:30 am 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.

Soup Suppers and Taize Services For three Wednesdays in December (5, 12 and 19) Trinity Lutheran, St. Paul’s Episcopal, and Mary of Magdala Ecumenical Catholic Community will join for an evening of fellowship and contemplation. A simple soup supper in the Fellowship Hall at 6 pm will be followed by Taize worship at 6:45 pm. Sign up sheets are on the counter in the narthex for those who wish to contribute soup or volunteer to help set up or clean up the soup suppers. :

Remember These Opportunities: ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHAMBER SINGERS under the directorship of Ann Bunyan, will offer a brilliant luminescence of song. Sunday, December 2 at 3 pm, King of Glory Lutheran Church, 2919 Wilson Ave., Loveland; Sunday, December. 9 at 3 pm, First Presbyterian Church, 531 S. College Ave., Fort Collins. Admission at the door: $18 adults; $5 students. 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 their 5 pm 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. PLEASE HELP ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS. Join the Murphy Center in proclaiming December 8th as Homelessness Awareness Day in Fort Collins . P ease 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 BETSY PERNA'S HIMALAYAN SINGING BOWLS will be in the Sun Room one time in December, December 15, 11 am - 12:30 pm

 "A Difficult Parable" Laurie Gudim at Episcopal Cafe's Speaking to the Soul HERE .