Albert Ogle shows us how to make a very simple Advent Wreath to light up at home while we continue to light the parish community wreath every Sunday. Thanks to Anne Coste and the Flower Guild for our beautiful Advent decorations.
The Budd family will be lighting Sunday's Advent Wreath. They wanted to thank everyone in the parish for their wonderful experience in sharing 187 meals with families in need this past Thanksgiving.
"Last Sunday’s delivery of Thanksgiving meals to the Food Pantry at St. Luke’s, Face to Face, and Southside Church Center in East Germantown was met with immense gratitude, huge but masked smiles, and socially distant hi fives. Your generous participation allowed us to provide 187 turkey dinners. With over 120 participants we were also able help the Interfaith Housing Alliance Food Cupboard meet their growing demand, too. We are so grateful for our community’s response, and what is possible when we join hands.
We hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving, and are remaining safe and sound in the midst of these trying times.
Peace,
The Roak and Budd Families
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JESUS IS COMING - look busy.
The satirical statement above has been printed on t-shirts and is displayed on church notice boards as we all find ourselves already entering the Advent season. Where did 2020 go? Questions and judgement are certainly a part of the Advent theme and the coming of Jesus (in Bethlehem) and the second coming of Christ are all interwoven into the Advent themes we will once again, hear. What will we hear differently this year, I wonder?
We are a remarkably busy congregation, that is for sure. Just read some of the offering and opportunities for community service, participation in a great outdoor ecumenical celebration of Christmas on December 12th (pick up pageant costumes on Sunday between 9-11) and awesome Christian education.
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The Second Sunday of Advent
**New Sunday schedule!
Sunday, December 6th
9 AM: Live-streamed only! Holy Eucharist in the sanctuary with organ and choir. The Rev. Canon Albert Ogle is preaching and The Rev. Dan Kline is celebrating. Music is led by Dr. Andrew Kotylo, Emily Amos, and four staff singers. This service will also feature our weekly Godly Play lessons.
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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 The Advent of Christ our Lord, the first installment in a two-part series - Click here to join the Zoom call.
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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. We need 12 volunteers to help with shepherding people through the campus, the church and to socially distance as we conclude the walk (to benefit the Interfaith Hospitality Network). The church will be open, partly decorated and organ music and limited singing will be part of the celebration. Children and adults are encouraged to wear pageant costumes. Pageant costumes may be picked up from the church after services on December 6th from 10:15AM-12PM using the online reservation system (see below).
We also need to borrow 4-6 propane outdoor heaters. Please call Albert Ogle (845) 443-3516 if you can help with any of these items. Please join the volunteer Zoom meeting, Monday, December 7th at 5PM if you are willing to volunteer on campus between 3PM and 7PM on the Posada evening.
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An Update from the Search Committee
The Rector Search Committee has been meeting regularly, first to set up our Basecamp account to manage our work, then to study in depth what St. Paul’s is like. Carroll Sheppard’s “7 Generations of St. Paul’s” was very helpful, and we’re immersing ourselves in the Parish Profile to understand who we say we are. Next we’ll use the Profile to develop a prioritized list of the qualities we want in our next leader, and interview questions to help us explore those qualities in our Rector candidates. We’ve begun to receive portfolios from interested priests, and suggestions from parishioners. If you know of a priest whom you think we should invite into our discernment process, please send me that information, and as always, keep the Committee in your prayers!
Louise Thompson
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Many thanks to everyone who sent their pledges into the office and online these past couple of months. As of December 3rd, we have received 124 pledges for a total of just over $541,758-- about 85% 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.
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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! |
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Message from the Outreach Committee
St. Paul’s Giving Tree will be available with ornaments beginning Sunday, November 29, on the tree in the Rectory and online.
As you celebrate the season of Advent, please consider participating in St. Paul’s Giving Tree project. The tree this year will be in the Rectory living room or 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.
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Shop and Drop
More than 200 households (more than 600 people) receive food from the St. Luke’s food pantry each month, but that the demand is rising. On one recent day, 45 households came for food. Your contributions directly impact people in our community.
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.
Linda Boggs, Outreach Committee member
Charlotte Biddle and Tom O’Rourke, Outreach Committee Chairs
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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
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Phillip Cary joins us this weekend for the first of a two-part series discussing Jesus as LORD: The Advent Message.
This Sunday is about The Advent of Christ the Lord. He writes:
"The angels at Christmas give the shepherds glad tidings of 'a savior, which is Christ the Lord.' This is echoed in the primal Christian confession that 'Jesus is Lord.' What does this confession mean, and why is it glad tidings?" Q & A to follow.
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Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
by Isabel Wilkerson
Join us for a weekly 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.
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Time: 7-8pm
Dates: Wednesdays
12/9: Part 6 (p. 311-360)
12/16: Part 7 (p. 361-389)
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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! |
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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. |
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Missed last week's live-streamed service?
You can watch it (or re-watch it!) here.
Dr. Carroll Anne Sheppard preaches.
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