Lessons and Carols

Sunday, December 31, 11 AM

Christmastide is the joyous and short season between the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and the Feast of the Epiphany. On the First Sunday of Christmas, we continue to celebrate with A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at 11:00 AM. This beloved tradition helps us to set the mystery of the incarnation into the larger sweep the biblical story of God’s salvation for the world. These are the stories that shape our lives as we pass through the church’s year of grace, year after year, season by season, and Sunday by Sunday.

Celtic Evening Prayer and Communion

with Prayers for Healing

Sundays, 5:30 PM

Celtic Evening Prayer and Communion is a candle-lit service that emphasizes the contemplative side of worship, features some of Augusta’s best Celtic musicians, and offers prayers for healing for those attending, for others, and for the world. Come as you are and enter into a place of rest, prayer, and reflection.

Matt Dickerson is our guest musician this week.

Parish Office Hours

The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, January 1. Regular parish office hours resume Tuesday, January 2.  

Sign up for a Foyer Dinner Group

For groups meeting January, February & March

Each group of 8-10 people meets once a month for three months (January, February, and March). Groups gather for a simple meal and relaxed conversation in group member’s homes. Generally, the host provides the main dish and others bring the rest of the meal (appetizer, salad, side, or dessert), but groups can be organized in many other ways. We will schedule new groups for spring. Sign up beginning next week. Fr. Biddy will organize the groups and send information by the first week of January to get you started. For more information, contact ebiddy@saintpauls.org.

New On-line Formation Offering

The Wounded Healer

Tuesdays; January 2 - February 6

7:30–8:30 PM

Our online formation book studies continue in January with The Wounded Healer by Henri J. M. Nouwen. Books are available from many book sellers or in the Narthex this Sunday and the parish office during the week ($15 donation). Sign up on our website. “In this hope-filled and profoundly simple book, Henri Nouwen offers a radically fresh perspective of how we can best serve others.”

Mmm... (Men's Monthly Meal)

Wednesday, January 3

Join us for our next Men’s Monthly Meal (Mmm!) scheduled Wednesday, January 3 . (Men gather at 4 PM to cook, the parish gathers at 6 PM for dinner.) On the menu: Sausage Tortellini Soup, Potato Leek Soup, Homemade Creamy Tomato Soup, Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie. PLEASE RSVP on the website, so that we may be a good host. 

Summer Mission Experience

Information Meeting Wednesday 3rd, 6:30 PM

Mission dates - 7 days scheduled between June 6 - June 16, 2024

You are invited to join Saint Paul’s parishioners, family, and friends on a mission experience this summer to Ecuador, June 6-16, 2023. Please prayerfully consider joining us as we reach out to people in need and serve as the hands of Christ.

An information sheet is available here. If you would like additional information about Quito, Ecuador, the mission work, and trip details, please contact Gene or Rose Helmich, or call 803-640-3405. The deadline to join the trip is January 31, 2024.

Baptism Offered

Sunday, January 7

The Prayer Book notes Holy Baptism is especially appropriate on four dates: at the Easter Vigil, on the Day of Pentecost, on All Saints’ Day or All Saints’ Sunday, and on the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord.



We will celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism on Saturday, January 7, 2023 on the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord. All who wish to be baptized are invited to contact Fr. Eric

Reception Following Celtic Service

Sunday, January 7

Save the Date — An Epiphany Celebration follows the Celtic Service, Sunday, January 7. Join us for a light refreshments on the Portico (weather permitting).  

Dates for Your Calendar

January 9 - Tuesday's Music Live Returns

January 20 - Quiet Morning

January 20 - Beginning to Zentangle

January 27 - Manna Pantry

January 28 - Annual Meeting

Year-End Gifts

Offerings or Special Gifts of cash/check must be dated and postmarked no later than December 31, 2023, to qualify as 2023 charitable contributions. Please note the Parish Office will be closed December 25-29.

VESTRY NOMINATIONS

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 Cameron Nixon. Prior to nominating someone else, please discuss with them their interest and willingness to serve in this role.

VESTRY RESPONSIBILITIES

The basic responsibilities of the Vestry are:

• to help define and articulate the mission of this congregation
• to support the church's mission by word and deed
• to support the clergy in furthering the mission of Saint Paul’s
• to ensure effective organization and planning
• to manage resources and finances
• to attend monthly vestry meetings and annual vestry retreat
• to serve as liaison to assigned parish committees

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

MINIMUM CRITERIA

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

• Have you been confirmed or received in the Episcopal Church?
• Do you regularly attend worship services at Saint Paul's?
• Are you a pledging member of Saint Paul's?

CANDIDATE PROFILES

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: 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. If you are interested in being confirmed when the Bishop visits next year, please contact Fr. Biddy.