A Message from the Interim Rector: |
|
Arabella Pope found some old tapes of a previous Christmas Pageant and has kindly made them available to us as an early Christmas gift. We will be showing them online to cheer us on our way to Bethlehem this year. Sadly, the pageant cannot be held indoors because of our COVID-19 protective protocols, but we are going to have the closet possible Christmas experience one can muster - THIS SATURDAY at 4.30 p.m. as we join the Walk of the Holy Family.
The church will be decorated, luminaria lighting the path of socially distanced and masked pilgrims from six local churches. We begin at Christ Ascension, Lutheran Church and the St Paul’s contingent will be the first to begin the half mile pilgrimage up Germantown Avenue. Small groups will be led by a shepherd and a star and each small group will practice social distancing before they arrive at St. Paul’s Bethlehem Pike entrance. A small and masked volunteer choir, led by Karen Richter, will greet the pilgrims outdoors as they follow a path of luminaria down through the columbarium to the transept door. As they enter the church, Andy will be giving everyone examples of seasonal music on our beloved organ and the church is looking spectacular, thanks to the ever-faithful Flower Guild and Mrs. Edith Dixon’s generous support of our floral and greens decorations. The sounds and smells of Christmas will waft over the moving procession as it makes its way down the center aisle to exit on East Chestnut Hill Avenue, flanked by Christmas trees and more lights.
Now back outside, just in front of the Rectory, you will see a makeshift stable built for the Holy Family where pilgrims can light candles, offer prayers and listen to familiar hymns like “A stable lamp is lighted” and “Silent Night." We will read the Christmas Gospel and acknowledge the “Empty Chair Memorial” where we remember everyone who has been exiled this year from the Christmases we once knew or came to expect. Others have lost loved ones.
|
|
Remembering those who cannot be with us this Christmas
The Empty Chair Memorial at our Christmas celebration on Saturday evening.
Holy Jesus, son of Mary, God made flesh, born in the seclusion and exclusion of a lowly stable:
Hear our prayers for all who will spend this holiday season alone or without loved ones.
As we contemplate the empty chairs around the world this Christmas
Be with all in our human family who mourn the loss of loved ones, intimacy and their sense of security.
May the Light of the Bethlehem stable give us courage, wisdom and hope to travel with you and one another to a resurrected humanity.
Let this difficult journey to Bethlehem, be for us and all of humanity a message of peace, hope and love.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel, and free us from all that holds us captive, now and always. AMEN
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Chestnut Hill. Christmas 2020
|
|
|
Scan the QR code or text 'HolyFamilyWalk2020' to
(833) 755-6550 to get a link to donate.
|
|
|
The Third Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 13th
9 AM: Live-streamed only! Holy Eucharist with organ and choir. The Rev. Canon Albert Ogle is celebrating and The Rev. Dan Kline is preaching. Music is led by Dr. Andrew Kotylo. This service will also feature our weekly Godly Play lessons and an update on the Rector search.
-
This service will be available live on YouTube at 9 AM. Bulletin and service link will come in a Saturday evening email and will be posted on Facebook on Sunday morning.
11 AM: Adult Education Forum: Phillip Cary joins us with a talk on Preparing the Way of the Lord, the second installment in a two-part series - Click here to join the Zoom call.
|
|
CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! We need some items to help with the holidays!
St. Paul's has been designated as the final stop on this outdoor celebration of the birth of Jesus. Thank you to all our volunteers and people who donated heaters and items for this important event.
|
CONGRATS TO THE GAGNE FAMILY
As we go to press we had some good news from important members of our church family. Pam Gagne writes:
"Our son Erick Gagne and his wife, Ashley just gave birth to their daughter on December 7 , Laurel Donohoe Gagne. Erick and Ashley have been on our prayer list and are appreciative of all the love and support from St Paul's. Ashley’s mother died in a tragic accident September 28 and that’s when they were added to the list. Erick has accepted a position as an assistant professor at Penn and that has brought them back to the area from Colorado".
|
|
|
An Update from the Search Committee
This week the committee had a workshop with our consultant, Barbara Abbott, to learn more about how our discernment process can work best going forward. Next week we’ll be working on the specifics of how to evaluate rector candidates: what criteria does the Parish Profile suggest, and what interview questions will help us see how each candidate measures up to those criteria? We’ve received a number of candidate “portfolios” (not just resumes), and they all look really interesting.
The Search Committee will be meeting by Zoom every Tuesday evening (except Dec. 29th) for the next several months, and we’ll always "pray ourselves in” at the beginning of the meeting, so Janice Fiore suggested a way the congregation can help us: if you think of it, or want to put Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on your calendar, you could stop what you’re doing for just a minute and say a prayer for our work of discerning the best rector for St. Paul’s. Thank you!
Louise Thompson
|
|
|
|
Many thanks to everyone who sent their pledges into the office and online these past couple of months. As of December 10th, we have received 128 pledges for a total of just over $550,000-- about 87% of our goal! If you have not pledged to the operating budget for 2021, we have some good news for you and a way of double-blessing our work together as we welcome a new rector and a new chapter in the life of St. Paul's. An anonymous gift of $100,000 has been made to match any increases in existing pledges and new pledges by December 15th. Please pledge online to ensure we meet the deadline and help us end 2020 with the resources we need for the days ahead. You are not only a blessing to us, but we are doubly blest by this great collaborative team effort. Your generous ensures that St. Paul's can continue to be a positive force in our community for many years to come.
|
|
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Affel
Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Albert
Mr. Richard Alexander
Mr. Douglas Anderson
Mr. Henry Ballerstedt
Mr. & Mrs. Justin Baxter
Mrs. Charlotte Betancourt
Ms. Charlotte Biddle
Ms. Patricia Bonsall
Ms. Pamela Bracey
Ms. Elizabeth Brooks
Mr. Colin Brown & Ms. Lauren O'Garro-Moore
Mr. & Mrs. Wilson Brown, III
Mr. Martin Brueckner & Ms. Kristen Poole
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Budd
Mr. Robert Busser & Ms. Karen Richter
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Butler, Jr.
Mr. Sandy Byrd & Mrs. Bessie Jordan-Byrd
Mr. Stephen Camp-Landis
Ms. Lynn Carroll & Ms. JoAnn Puccella
Ms. Alessandra Cartelli
Ms. Margaret Class
Miss. R. Jeanette Cord
Mr. Henry Crouter
Mrs. Nina Deats
Dr. Mary Anne Delaney & Ms. Helen McBride
Ms. Cheyenne DeMulder & Ms. Shana Stites
Mrs. Ruth Desiderio
Ms. Sandra Dillon
Mrs. Edith Dixon
Mr. Mark Ducket & Mr. Stan Gaddy
Ms. Suzanne Dure
Ms. Margaret Emmons
Mr. Joe Fafara & Ms. Catherine Davis
Mr. & Mrs. William Fikioris
Ms. Janice Fiore
Ms. Joan Fischer
Mr. & Mrs. Walter Foulke
Mrs. Margaret Freeman
|
|
Mr. & Mrs. W. Roderick Gagné
Ms. Jane Gray
Ms. Lee Gast
Mrs. Sandra Glendinning
Mr. Wm. Graham
Dr. & Mrs. John Grigger
Mr. Clark Groome
Mr. & Mrs. Mark Hanlon
Mrs. Henry F. Harris, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Bob Hayes
Mr. Charles Head & Mr. John Faggotti
Mr. Brian Henes
Mr. Jeffrey Hoeltzel
Mr. and Mrs. & Mrs. Robert Hubby
Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Hyde
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Irwin
Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Johnson
Mrs. Joseph L. Jones
Ms. Bernice Jones
Ms. Denise Jones
Dr. Richard Kagen & Ms. Valerie Stevens
Mr. & Mrs. John Kimberly
Mrs. Charlotte Kleis
The Rev. Daniel Kline
Mr. Charles Klitsch
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Knudson
Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Knup, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Kolb
Michael & Sarah Latini
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Leonards, III
Ms. Chesley Lightsey & Ms. Sherri Hamilton
Rosaria Love
Ms. Mary Loveland
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Lower
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Mabry
Mr. Myron Manternach & Ms. Tabitha Oman
Mr. Timothy Martin & Ms. Paula Brown
Mr. Tim McLean & Mrs. Anna Marley
Mr. George McNeely
Mrs. & Dr. Karen McShane
|
|
Mrs. Evelyn H. Miller
Mr. Harvey Shipley Miller
Ms. Lisa Miller
Mrs. Lyn Montgomery
Ms. Wendy Munyon
Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Nalle
Mr. Jonathan Nidock
Dr. & Mrs. Daniel O'Connell
Mrs. Suzanne O'Neil
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas O'Rourke
The Rev. Canon Albert Ogle & Mile Petrov
Mrs. Jeanne Omans
Mrs. Margaret Pearson
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Pearson, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Robin Peirce
Mr. & Mrs. Adam Piatkowski
Mr. & Mrs. James Pope
The Rev. & Mrs. James Proud
Mrs. Rose Randall
Mr. & Mrs. George Reath Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. John Rollins
Mrs. Trudy Roman
Mr. & Mrs. Steven Schindler
Ms. Madeline Schroth
Mr. Schwarz & Mrs. Jorge-Schwarz
Mrs. Nancy Shepard
Captain & Mrs. Carl Sheppard, Jr.
Mr. Edward W. N. Smith
Mrs. Judith Smith
Dr. George Spaeth
Ms. Elizabeth Starrantino
Mr. Newbold Strong
Ms. Charlotte Sutton
Mrs. Elaine Sykes
Mrs. Louise Thompson
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Van Sciver, III
Mrs. Patricia Voigt
Mr. & Mrs. James Walker
Mr. & Mrs. William Wemple
Dr. Robert Whitaker & Dr. Hillary Burdette
Mr. & Mrs. J. Randolph Williams, Jr.
Mr. Sheppard Williams & Mr. Stephen Stone
Mr. & Mrs. Hugh Williamson
Mrs. Margaret Woodruff
Mr. John Zimmermann, III
|
|
Honoring our Legacy Society:
"In the Company of Angels"
We are deeply grateful to everyone who remembered St. Paul's in their estate planning and wills. The parish benefits so much from your contributions and ways you would like to be remembered.
We recently listed the most recent group of members in the Sunday bulletins. This important society, founded in 1936 to underpin all of the ministries here, allows for close to 25% of our budget from bequest-related investments. Please let us know if we do not have a record of your bequest or if you would like more information.
|
|
|
|
During this time when most of us are not attending church services in person, we are offering a Virtual Collection Plate. Please contribute what you would normally have given each Sunday and help Saint Paul's continue its important work! |
|
Message from the Outreach Committee
St. Paul’s Giving Tree items are due Friday, December 11 at the Rectory!
Please send or deliver gifts/gift cards to the Rectory as specified below.
As you celebrate the season of Advent, please consider participating in St. Paul’s Giving Tree project. The "tree" this year is available online through “Sign-Up Genius” under Outreach on the Website and in Happenings under Outreach from November 29 until December 13. You can choose an item here.
1. Purchase item.
2. Return it unwrapped, marked “Outreach” to St. Paul’s Church Rectory, 22 E. Chestnut Hill Avenue, Phila. Pa 19118 via mail or in person (enter through the back door - Tuesday thru Friday from 9 am-5 pm only)
This year St. Paul’s is partnering with three organizations who aid those with compromised living situations and food insecurity: Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network (PIHN), and Episcopal Community Services (ECS) and Whosoever Gospel Mission. Your generosity is much appreciated by the Outreach Committee and especially by those in our neighboring communities who struggle each day. Thank you so much.
Items are due Friday, December 11, UNWRAPPED to the St. Paul’s Rectory.
Questions? Contact Charlotte Biddle at biddlesea@gmail.com or 215-247-0837.
|
|
Shop and Drop
Your contribution to St. Paul’s Shop and Drop has made a positive impact on so many families in our nearby communities through our weekly deliveries to St. Luke’s food pantry in Germantown. The demand continues to rise.
Consider donating:
Vegetables/rice/potatoes, other: canned vegetables, boxed mashed potatoes, and rice
Protein: Peanut butter (or any other nut butter), nuts/seeds/trail mix, canned tuna fish, canned chicken, soup/stew-hearty, shelf stable milk. Consider donating jelly or jam in unbreakable containers to accompany peanut butter.
Carbohydrates: Crackers, granola bars, cereal
Other: Red tomato sauce, fruit cups, applesauce, canned fruit, and dried fruit.
The St. Paul’s Outreach Committee thanks you for your dedication.
Charlotte Biddle and Tom O’Rourke, Outreach Committee Chairs
|
|
UPDATE: St. Paul's is unbelievable!!!! We at Outreach are overwhelmed and delighted by the generosity of St. Paul's parishioners and will be delivering 40 coats to Face to Face this week. Thanks to all. Keep scratchin'!
It’s time! It’s getting cold.
Face to Face Germantown again needs gently used winter coats - men’s and women’s - the larger the better. You all were amazingly generous last winter. Jody and I made a trip a week with your coats and they were all snapped up.
So, please check the closet and if you see a coat you won’t wear again and would like it to see new life, you can drop it off in the back of the church, near the usher's table or in the rectory during office hours.
Jody and I will see that it gets to Face to Face.
Thanks so much.
Tom O'Rourke
|
|
|
|
Phillip Cary joins us this weekend for the second of a two-part series discussing Jesus as LORD: The Advent Message.
This Sunday is about Preparing the Way of them Lord. He writes:
"It's striking how the term 'Lord,' which designates the name of the God of Israel in the Old Testament, gets applied to Jesus, beginning with the infancy narratives of St. Luke. What does this tell us about who Jesus is?" Q & A to follow.
|
|
|
|
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
by Isabel Wilkerson
Join us for the last week of our book discussion based on the work of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson. She explores the origins of racial hierarchical systems in America, particularly through the development of laws in the life of our nation. As a part of our praxis, we plan on implementing a community project at the end of our study.
|
Time: 7-8pm
Dates: Wednesdays
12/16: Part 7 (p. 361-389)
|
|
|
|
Special thank you to Sarah Latini and Kim Leach for contributing craft ideas for last week's drop-offs! Special thank you also to Cathy Davis and Joe Fafara for helping to deliver the kits! |
|
|
|
Please continue to pray for Max and Avery Peterson during this difficult holiday season. If you are hurting at any time this week, please reach out to the clergy for any pastoral care. We are available around the clock. |
|
Missed last week's live-streamed service?
You can watch it (or re-watch it!) here. Albert ogle reflects on the important life of John the Baptist.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
