The Epistle

St. Paul's Anglican Church | Iglesia San Pablo

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT in the Morning

CHRISTMAS EVE in the Evening

December 24, 2023

Dear George,

This coming Sunday December 24 is Advent Four in the morning at 10:15am and Christmas Eve in the afternoon at 5pm. See further info below. A quiet Christmas Day Eucharist without music will be celebrated Monday December 25 at 10:15am.

Susan Robinson and Doug Craig, have, as is their custom, underwritten our Christmas Eve Music, which offers Xavier Hernández a free hand in establishing a remarkable group of musicians for Christmas Eve! Bless you Susan and Doug.

Susan Robinson has been hospitalized December 17 at Joya under inauspicious circumstance, and your prayers are especially requested.

2024 Pledge Cards may be downloaded from the parish website HERE, and are available from the parish administrator at StPaulManagementSMA@gmail.com

Padre Miguel+ is accepting small donations (100 pesos - 400 pesos) to purchase very small toys to be distributed in various communities in the campo surrounding SMA on Tres Magos, the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6. Padre Miguel may be reached at: padremiguelsma@gmail.com

Advent grace and peace,

GFW+

Many thanks to everyone who worked at the fabulous Holiday Bazaar here at St. Paul’s on Saturday.  We were blessed with clear skies and a gallant crew of workers. 

There were a wide variety of products and food which made for a festive event.  I am pleased to announce that the proceeds will exceed $2,500 which will be distributed between our children’s ministries and St. Paul’s Community Development Project. Sincere thanks to the vendors and the buyers, Kathy Lapsys

Upcoming Events:

LOS LABRADORES CHRISTMAS MASS: Thursday December 21 at 3pm

VESTRY: December 22nd at 10am

ADVENT FOUR: One English Eucharist only, 10:15am Sunday December 24

CHRISTMAS EVE: One English Eucharist only, 5pm Sunday December 24

CHRISTMAS DAY: One English Eucharist only, 10:15am Monday December 25

BUDGET PRESENTATION: January 21, 2024 coffee hours

ANNUAL MEETING: February 4, 2024

DIOCESAN SYNOD: Saturday February 10, 2024, Mexico City

To join ST PAULS SAN MIGUEL NEWS' WhatsApp community for parishioners and friends, for the sharing of announcements, news and prayer requests. Ask webmaster Eric Fash to add you: send an email with your phone number to ericfash@gmail.com

STEWARDSHIP 2024

With Gratitude to Almighty God for Pledges in support of labor and ministry at St. Paul's Church

Stewardship Chair Andrea Spessard writes: "As of Friday, December 15, we have received pledges which meet 50% of our 2024 budget needs. We are very grateful for all of the pledges received to date and invite other members of the St. Paul's community to submit their pledges for 2024 this week on our website, via email, or in person.

We're excited to introduce Edu Cafe! Educafe.org is a Mexican not-for profit raising educational funds from the sale of coffee grown in Oaxaca and Veracruz. Each bag is priced at 200 pesos, of which 87 pesos goes to a project of your selection. The QR code on the back of each bag allows you to select the project of your choice, a few of which support St. Paul's Development Project (formerly the Dispensa Project). Parishioner Geoffrey Drayton will have coffee available after Liturgy Advent One, December 3, and can answer further questions!

Merry Christmas!

It has certainly been a difficult year for the Stuart family. Despite the death of Claudia and the diagnosis and treatment of Bruce's lymphoma, Dani has continued to attend Bereshit Christian School. He is now a tall 13 year old who enjoys school, drawing and YouTube. He enjoys puns and jokes and hanging out with friends.



So many of you from St. Paul's have generously donated food and money to ensure that Dani and Bruce have had support during this year of upheaval. The fund has paid for school tuition, books and uniforms. It has also paid for Dani's medical care and legal fees, grief counseling and transportation fees. We appreciate your outpouring of love, support and prayers. This year would have been even more painful without you. 

TWICE MONTHLY THURSDAY EUCHARISTS AT LOS LABRADORES

Twice monthly services at Rancho Los Labradores continue on the first and third Thursday of each month at 3:00pm. Rancho Los Labradores is located on the highway to Dolores Hidalgo about 13 kilometers from San Miguel de Allende. In addition to over 100 houses and condominiums, Labradores boasts various amenities, including a lovely interfaith chapel. Canon Frank Hebert, a resident of Rancho Los Labradores and Assisting Clergy at St. Paul's, leads the Thursday services, which include hymns, a sermon, and Holy Eucharist.  

The special Rancho Los Labradores Christmas service will be on Thursday 21 December at 3pm, followed by a special celebratory coffee hour. If you would like to help by participating in the service or providing some food or drink, please contact Canon Frank at 55 2967 3819 or fnhebert@gmail.com.  This will make it easier for you to pass through the security gated

ADVENT THREE

The Gospel, Canon Frank preaching, Chris Durburow offtering a Stewardship Report.

Photos courtesy of John Baker

WOMEN'S SPIRITUALITY GROUP

Meetings are generally the first Saturday of each month at 10AM - 11:30 in the parish Church.

ST PAUL'S BEREAVEMENT GROUPS: Edna Martha Hamill, thanatologist and bereavement counselor, leads groups in English and in Spanish. The pain of loss can be overwhelming, but there are healthy ways to learn to cope and heal. The groups are free of charge and occur in the conference room Tuesdays 4 - 5:30pm in Spanish and 5:30 - 6:30pm in English. The group is suspended until January 2024.

Paul in Brussels

Tracey in Parish (chemo)

Gail Baker

Virginia Barron (hospice care)

Douglas Buchanan

Rebecca Carney (back surgery; bereaved)

Steve Clark

The +Most Reverend Michael Curry; Primate of the Episcopal (Anglican) Church in the United States of America

Patricia Corr (terminal cancer, Matt Stokes Mum)

Tony Faught

Cynthia Gilley (knee surgery)

Susan Gist

Linda Gilmer (Jeff Spears Aunt)

Lynne Gleason

Dorothy Glenn (fall)

Mireille Grovier

José Guadalupe

Jenny Kerston

Mike Lapsys (tumble)

Tim Noel Marinello

Marni McGee

Mari Mitchel (achilles heel recovery)

Santiago Munguial

Christian Olson

Madre Karen O'Malia+

Francisco Ortíz

Susan Robinson (hospitalized)

Father Jeff Sells+

The Rev'd Canon Dr. Barbara Stewart+

Bruce Stuart

Rosalba Suárez (leukemia)

Pamela Summers

Jaye Truax

Alonzo Bautista Vallejo (shattered leg)

José de Jésus Bautista Viejo (destroyed pancreas and kidney)

Ken McCuthceon Vaun

Andrew Whitman

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

The Reverend Canon Peter D. Haynes

(Diocese of Los Angeles)

Martia Carney Parrino (Becki Carney's sister)



FOR OUR COMPANION PARISH AND COLLABORATIONS

Trinity Episcopal Church, Folsom, California

Santiago Apostol, Querétaro

The Sermon for the Third Sunday in Advent, December 17, may be viewed HERE

The appointed Propers for Advent Four, December 24 at 10:15am are HERE

The appointed Propers for Christmas Eve, December 24 at 5pm are HERE

The appointed Propers for Christmas Day, December 25 at 10:15am are HERE