This Sunday at the 11:00 AM service, the sermon will be replaced by a short pageant by the children of the parish. I have no doubt that it will be adorable. But we don’t usually plan liturgy around the question, “what would be cutest?” I’ve been thinking this week about what we are actually doing with a pageant, and I’m convinced that it’s not just about being adorable.  

The pageant this year will tell a certain version of the Christmas story, which is its own good. A story so familiar can strike us in a new way when told with fresh faithfulness. And, as we have mentioned, it will be adorable. But as much as anything, I think the pageant is a kind of reciprocal training in intergenerational discipleship. In giving the children the responsibility of taking the sermon slot, we are telling them that they are not waiting to begin their Christian life. Their Christian life and ministries in the church are already ongoing. God is already loving them and inviting them more deeply into the love that makes the world. And we adults already need to hear their witness. Our spiritual life is deepened by their adorable ministries.  

Ah, and that’s the reciprocal part. Because as much as we love and give to children, we probably do need more training on receiving from them. Allowing children to minister to us is good for children. But it also good for us. They have gifts that genuinely benefit us. Also, learning to receive from the ministries of children makes it easier for us to receive ministries from all kinds of other unlikely places and people. God came to us in a baby far from palaces and far from home. God still comes to us through the most unlikely places. Learning to appreciate the ministries of children trains us to receive the ministries of the surprising Christ himself. See you Sunday. 

Eric+

If you’ve been baptized but not confirmed, or were confirmed elsewhere and now consider the Episcopal Church your home, join us to take the next step of Confirmation or Reception. (For more detailed information, read Fr. Eric's letter of invitation here.)

Confirmation is a mature affirmation of faith, a responsible renewal of the promises made (perhaps on our behalf) at Baptism, and an invitation to go deeper, to take the next step. To wrestle seriously with the questions that matter most and then make a deeper commitment to keep pursuing these questions with this group of people, in this way of living the questions. Confirmation is not an end—it is a commitment to continue.

Reception is the Rite for those who have been confirmed in another Christian communion/denomination and want officially to become Episcopalians. The promises to be reaffirmed are the same as Confirmation and Baptism. If confirmed in another denomination, Reception is the process of joining the Episcopal Church.

Everyone who wishes to take a class to prepare for Confirmation or Reception will be accommodated, but we need to know who you are, fast. Signal your interest by emailing Fr. Eric by Thursday, December 23.

Bishop Logue will next be at Saint Paul’s on Thursday, February 10, 2022, for the Celebration of New Ministry (sometimes called the Installation of a new rector) and for Confirmation. We won’t see him again at Saint Paul’s after that 2023.

The Finance Committee and the Vestry are beginning the work of preparing the 2022 budget. Your pledge allows them to prepare a more accurate budget. If you have not yet completed a pledge card, please prayerfully consider your pledge to a momentous year. Pledge cards are available in the Narthex and by contacting the parish office. You may also pledge online using the link below.

88 Increase (22 new), 5 Decrease, 36 no change

as of 12/09/2021

Offerings received this Week $12,278.90

Operating Expenses to Date $854,480.12

Total Income Received to Date $861,292.99

The Vestry Nominating Committee is seeking candidates whom you believe would make outstanding Vestry members for Saint Paul's. If you'd like to suggest someone, including yourself, please contact retiring Senior Warden Ashley Wright. Prior to nominating someone else, please discuss with them their interest and willingness to serve in this role.

The basic responsibilities of the Vestry are:

We expect to elect for three full three-year terms and the remaining year of Matt Gullette’s unexpired term. If the new senior warden comes from the current vestry, we may have an additional unexpired term to fill.

To be eligible for the Vestry, a nominee must answer "yes" to all of the following questions.

Each nominee slated to run for election to the Vestry will be invited to share a profile with the parish via our regular parish communications including the weekly newsletter.

A Note on Eligibility: It was recently brought to our attention that some of our election practices vary from what is required in the diocesan canons (church law in our diocese). Conversations with the Bishop’s staff have clarified the language that will bring our practices into alignment with diocesan canons. On page 19 of the attached Constitution and Canons, those eligible for election are those “confirmed adults in good standing eighteen years of age or older enrolled in the Congregation” (Canon 2.1). Those eligible to vote in an election are “those confirmed adults enrolled in the Congregation who are in good standing and who have reached the age of sixteen” (Canon 2.3). Those already in the process of being confirmed or received and otherwise eligible, are eligible to run and vote while waiting for the bishop’s next visit.

Please contact the Parish Office to update our files.