Scripture Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13
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Pastor Amy is preaching this weekend. We welcome you to the following in-person services:
Saturday at 6:00 PM - Worship in Wesley Hall
Sunday at 8:30 AM - A Service of Word & Table in the Sanctuary
Sunday at 10:30 AM - Worship in the Sanctuary
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Sunday Morning Ministries for All Ages |
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Please click here to view a complete description of our in-person worship services plus Sunday morning classes and other ministries offered for all ages.
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New COVID-19 Update for December 2021
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Advent "Close to Home" worship series begins this weekend! |
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About our Advent Theme
When something touches us close to home, it affects us deeply. During the Advent and Christmas season, we journey through scriptures and rituals that are tender, heavy with emotion, and vulnerable. We carry the memories and truths of this season close to our hearts. Close to Home acknowledges the “already but not yet” tension of our faith: Emmanuel is with us, and yet, God’s promised day—our everlasting home—is not fully realized. It names our deep longing for God to come close to us.
The Advent and Christmas scriptures are rich with home metaphors and imagery. In these scriptures, home is both physical and metaphorical, something we seek and something we are called to build. Ultimately, God is our home and resting place. God draws near and makes a home on earth—sacred ground is all around us.
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Pick up an Advent House for in your home this weekend
We hope you will join us in-person or online for worship in this holy season. You will see a house displayed on the communion table. We have small replicas of this house, sized to hold a tea light candle, for everyone in St. Paul’s community to take home and display in celebration of our true shared home in God. This Advent gift will be available for pick up after all worship services, as well as in the double door entrance for pickup this weekend. If you’d like to arrange delivery, please call the church office.
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Advent 2021 Playlist
Listen to an Advent playlist curated by the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts. Our own Tom Taylor is serving as Interim Director of the Fellowship! Enjoy!
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Advent Devotionals and Calendars
The Close to Home Advent Devotional is available along with a Print at Home Family Advent Calendar.
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There is still time to turn in your stewardship pledge card by mail or drop off to the church office. Thank you for your faithful support of the ministry of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. These estimates greatly aid our Finance Committee in preparing a reasonable budget for the new year. |
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Look for the Mitten Tree in Wesley Hall. Please help it bloom with your donations of mittens, gloves, hats, and scarves for children and adults on the North Side. The deadline for donations is Tuesday, November 30.
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Take home advent kits will be available for pick up beginning December 1. Call the church office at 412-486-7006 or email the office if you would like to reserve a kit.
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Ring Pittsburgh: Your Community Handbell Choir |
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Ring Pittsburgh returns to celebrate the Holiday Season! We are excited to bring you the Joy of our music once again! Please join us at St Paul’s United Methodist Church, Friday December 3 from 7:00 - 7:45 PM for a Family Friendly concert: fun for all ages! Free to all; baskets will be available for a free-will offering.
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The NoMIC Angel Tree is up and loaded with gift ideas for folks served by from the East End Community Ministry and the Neighborhood Resilience Project. The following tags on our tree:
Yellow Stars: The Working for Justice group is collecting 100 new hats and gloves for the Neighborhood Resilience Project. Take a Star and purchase a hat and glove set for a senior. Drop these unwrapped gifts in one of the two large boxes wrapped in Christmas paper near the Angel Tree.
Blue Angels: Lists a gift for a child in kindergarten through 12th grade that are supported by the East End Community Ministry. Please wrap these gifts, attach the tag to the gift and place underneath the Angel Tree.
Please Register Your Choice(s)
We ask that for each Angel or Star that you take, please write on the sign-up sheet your name, phone number and the number located on the Angel that you have selected, or the word STAR. You may also call the church office for assistance signing up for an Angel or Star. Please return gifts to the Angel Tree on or before Sunday, December 5, 2021. Thanks for participating in this year’s NoMIC Angel Tree Mission!
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In This Together: Group for Parents of those with Mental Challenges |
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Is your child (any age) dealing with mental health challenges? Please come to the “In This Together” conversation group and find community and support with other parents who “get it.” This group covenants confidentiality, so this is a safe space to share and feel less alone, while honoring your child’s privacy. If you’re wondering whether your child’s issues “qualify” for this group, they probably do! Contact Pastor Karen or Pastor Amy with any questions, and to confidentially RSVP for our next meeting, December 4 at 10:00 AM, in New Horizons Room.
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The Charge Conference will be held Monday, December 6, at 7:00 PM at St. Paul's.
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Key Club Christmas Decorations |
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Start decorating! You have Christmas decorations that you don’t want. We want what you don’t.
As a service to the community, The North Allegheny Senior High Key Club is collecting unwanted, gently-loved, Christmas / Hanukah / December holiday decorations to distribute to those in the area who are in need during the holiday season. We are not collecting large decorations such as trees or large outdoor items - trees must be 4 feet or shorter.
All items should be brought to St. Paul’s between 6 and 10 PM on Monday, December 6. There are “coupons” that we are distributing in the community so that those in need can come in and shop for a bag of decorations for no charge during our holiday hours on December 7. If you know of someone in need, please email Sharon Volpe to get a coupon.
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It has been a difficult year, and many are struggling with grief and loss, illness, anxiety, weariness, or strained relationships. If you are having a hard time this holiday season, you are not alone.
We invite you to Blue Christmas, a quiet service of lament and hope on Sunday, December 12, at 7:00 PM. The hymns, prayers, scriptures, and reflection will help us to name our pain and trust in God’s steadfast love together.
As we get real with God, ourselves, and others about our struggles, we become more able to receive the hope Christ offers. If you have any questions about the service, or if you just need someone to talk to or pray with, please feel free to call/text Pastor Karen at (412)889-2355.
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Three Rivers Ringers Christmas Kaleidoscope Concert |
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Sunday, December 19, 2021 at 7:00 PM
at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
Three Rivers Ringers returns! After a year of virtual performances, Pittsburgh’s premier handbell ensemble is thrilled to return to live concerts with Christmas Kaleidoscope.
This December, Three Rivers Ringers takes you on a colorful holiday journey, filled with new takes on old favorites. It’s a wonderful evening of music, featuring a powerful setting of I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, some swingin’ bells in St. Nick Boogie, an exciting, rhythmic O Come, O Come, Emmanuel and much more!
FREE, donations encouraged. All attendees must be masked, and those over 12 should be vaccinated.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Our birthday card ministry has been on-going for 1 year! It's time to start signing up for 2022, and WE NEED VOLUNTEERS. It's a new year! We need help with December, January and February.
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Bible/Book Study with Pastor Karen |
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Pastor Karen's Bible studies will not meet this week. We will begin our Advent Study December 1 and 2, meeting Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM via Zoom, and on Thursday mornings at 9:00 AM in the Charles and Susanna Wesley Rooms. We will be exploring and discussing the Advent preaching texts from our "Close to Home" series.
Please email Pastor Karen if you would like to participate via Zoom, and she will send you the link!
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UMW, Cookie Walk Donation Reminder |
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This is a reminder from the UMW to please make your donations in lieu of the Cookie Walk this year. If you are so led, please send your contributions to Carolyn Mettig at 4973 Oakhurst Ave., Gibsonia PA 15044. Carolyn would like to have all contributions by December 10. This will enable the UMW Board to distribute donations to the various missions they support annually.
The UMW thanks all who have made contributions this year to continue the support of women, youth, and children locally and across the globe.
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The United Methodist Church Union is sponsoring another coat drive this year. But we need some help! On Friday, December 3, at 9:30 am, we will gather at the Farmhouse to sort the coats by sizes. We will also take all the tags off the coats, hats, mittens, and scarves. It will take several hours and can be lots of fun! It will be like Santa’s workshop!
Saturday, December 4 is the day of the coat drive. We are inviting you to help that day too. We need workers starting at 8:30 am and throughout the afternoon. You can come for a few hours or all day. We need volunteers to match kids with a coat and offer refreshments. And this is the chance to really play Santa!
We also want to provide cookies and cocoa and carols. We are looking for donations of individually wrapped cookies or treats. And we will provide hot cocoa and the treats after they receive their new coats. We have a couple of free tables of books and free gently used clothing and produce. Donations are welcome for this as well.
If you are looking for ways to truly get into the real spirit of Christmas, come and join us as together we help others. Yes, it is fun to be like Santa, but we know it is far better to be like Jesus. If you want to help or have questions, please contact: Rev. Beth L. Nelson 412-398-7894 or by email.
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NHCO Holiday Toy Shop, November 8 - December 8 |
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Every holiday season, the North Hills Community Outreach holds a toy collection, allowing thousands of children in need to have a memorable holiday.
There are four easy ways to donate
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Buy from the Amazon Wishlist by Clicking Here
- Donate money at NHCO.org for us to buy wanted items and choose to have the funds go towards Toy Collection.
- Donate gift cards for teens.
- Purchase and drop off the following popular items
Legos, LOL Dolls, Super Heros, Board Games, Art/Craft Sets, Make-Up, Teen Cologne
Donations can be dropped off at any of the three offices Monday - Friday, 9am - 4pm. The Allison Park location also accepts donations the first Saturday of every month between 9am-Noon. If you have any questions, please contact Vicki Burstynowicz, Sharing Projects Coordinator at 412-487-6316, opt. 1, x3143 or by email. For an informational flyer, Click Here.
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Christmas Gifts for Bethlehem Haven |
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Bethlehem Haven is a women’s shelter located in downtown Pittsburgh - it provides a number of services including emergency shelter; transitional housing; health services; as well as employment services to women in the Pittsburgh area. The Haven also provides some medical, mental health and employment services to non-residents.
Suggested gifts include: gloves/ mittens, scarves, hats, wraps and socks. Items should be new. Gift cards are most appreciated, especially stores that are located on a bus line – Target, CVS, Rite Aid, Burlington Coat Factory. Gift bags/ wrapping paper are also welcome. Please do not wrap your gifts. Look for the Bethlehem Haven donation basket in the Ministry Center. Donations are being accepted through Sunday, December 12, 2021. Contact is Sue English
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Sharing Joy at Christmas: Sponsor an Orphan's Education!!! |
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As you prepare your Christmas list, why not consider sponsoring an orphan’s education at the Nyadire UM Mission in Zimbabwe? The Nyadire Home of Hope Outreach (HOHO) program enables hundreds of orphans to attend school. Each sponsor of a HOHO orphan provides $75 annually which covers the child’s school fees for one year. Also, each sponsor provides an additional $25 which is used to purchase school supplies in Zimbabwe for the child, making a total of $100. Sponsors receive the name of their orphan and are encouraged to write letters, and sometimes receive letters in return. Letters to and from the orphans are hand-carried by mission trip members, usually once or twice each year.
Here are some responses from orphans who are sponsored by St. Paul’s members:
- “May the Almighty bless you and your family for the love you are showing me. You are showing me love as my parents.”
- “To tell the truth, without your kindness I would not be able to complete my education.”
If you wish to become a new sponsor, please pick up the brochure titled “Home of Hope Outreach - School Sponsorship Program for Orphans in Zimbabwe” located in the Communications Center in Wesley Hall, and the Ministry Center in Wesley Hall.
To assure the enrollment of a child at the start of school in January 2022, we ask that you submit the form found in the brochure along with your check for $100 payable to St. Paul’s UMC by Monday, December 20. Place the form and check in Tom Greway’s church mailbox for a proper recording of newly sponsored orphans. If you need additional information, please contact Tom Greway at either 724-444-3070 or at tennis2tom@aol.com. TATENDA! (Shona for “thank you!”)
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Preschool Registration for 2022-2023 School Year |
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Registration for St. Paul’s Preschool began for St. Paul'S UMC Members on November 15, 2021. All registrations are accepted on a first come, first served basis through our online system. Classes are expected to fill quickly, so don’t delay. Email or call Linda Morris-Bagley 412-486-5591 in the preschool office to receive a registration link.
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Faith Geer Eyeglass Program |
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We are collecting and processing donated eyeglasses. Donated eyeglasses can be dropped off in bins marked Mission Vision located in the Welcome Center. Mission Vision has lent us 2 lensmeter machines to be kept and used at St. Paul’s. These machines read the prescription of the eyeglasses. We are in the process of learning to use the machines.
There are two different ways to help with processing eyeglasses.
1) Donated eyeglasses can be picked up from church to be cleaned at home, then returned to church.
2) Process eyeglass using the Lensmeter at St. Paul’s.
If you would like more information about this program, Contact Kathy Belcastro (412-487-3678)
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If you would like to gift flower arrangements to beautify our chancel, please sign up by the Tuesday before the weekend of your choice. Sign up sheets are now posted on the bulletin board near the church mailboxes, or contact Marilyn in the church office. Arrangements are $43 each.
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Children's & Youth Ministries |
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Children's & Youth Ministries Updates |
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For this week's Children's Ministries update, Click Here, and
Click Here for this week's Youth Ministries update.
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Children's Ministries Emergency Registration |
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We appreciate your continued financial support. For those of you who typically place your gifts in the offering plate and are continuing to worship from home, please consider mailing them to the church office (1965 Ferguson Road, Allison Park 15101).
Have you found yourself shopping online more often? Please register for Amazon Smile in the name of St. Paul's and use the UMC Market (Allison Park) as a portal for all your online shopping. St. Paul's receives a small percentage from your purchases at no extra cost to you!
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