Ordination

Saturday, December 16, 11 AM

Mark your calendar for this important date in the life of Reverend Kimberly, the people of Saint Paul's, and in the life of the Church. God willing and the People consenting, The Rt. Rev. Frank S. Logue, Bishop of Georgia, will ordain Kimberly Elaine Dunn to the Sacred Order of the Priests, Saturday, December 16 at 11:00 in the morning. A reception follows in the River Room.

The liturgical color of the day is white. Rev. Kimberly invites you to wear white.

If you would like to contribute to a gift from the parish, please add a notation to your check or on-line gift. The offering for the service will be given to Rev. Kimberly's Associate Rector Discretionary Fund and gift's may be designated for that purpose as well.

Deadline Sunday, December 17

Poinsettias, Wreathes, & Christmas Brass

Wreaths and red poinsettias in the church are enjoyed throughout the Christmas season and additional professional musicians enhance our Christmas Eve services. If you would like to contribute toward the cost of Christmas Eve music, or give a poinsettia or wreath, please return the form found in Sunday's bulletin to the Parish Office. Requests may also be made by e-mail to mailbox@saintpauls.org and using this link below no later than Sunday, December 17.

Deadline Sunday, December 17

Creation Care Tree Sale



The Creation Care Committee encourages you “to do one simple thing” in the spirit of Christmas by buying and planting a minimum of just one tree this holiday season. Or, give them to family and friends as living gifts to the glory of God. Tree sales for Dogwood, Crepe Myrtle and Red Bud saplings are going fast—purchase yours now for just $10 each. Visit us after the 11 AM service in the Narthex or purchase online. For more information, contact Jennifer McKee.

Continental Breakfast This Sunday

Sunday, 9:00 AM, Tyler Hall

An Adult Christ at Christmas

9:30 AM, The Berlin Room



Our series in the Sunday Forum continues: The Reverend Eric Biddy leads our Advent series based on biblical scholar Raymond Brown's book, An Adult Christ at Christmas.

We all know the Christmas story-- which means we never actually listen to it. Biblical scholas Raymond Brown tried to draw adult Christians' attention to the complex and rich biblical traditions around the birth of our Lord in his book An Adult Christ as Christmas. We'll us Brown's work as a guide to hear new things in an old story. Weekly lessons may be attended independently from one another (attendance at previous lessons not necessary).

The Children's Advent/Christmas Program

Sunday, December 17, 11 AM

The Children's program will take the place of the sermon at 11 AM.  A reception follows the service in Tyler Hall with a hot chocolate bar and finger foods hosted by our children and their families. This is the perfect time to tell your favorite little “Friendly Beasts” what a joy it is to share moments like this with them!

Caroling and Cocoa

Sunday, December 17, 5 PM

Meet at Saint Paul’s this evening for an intergenerational event sure to bring lots of holiday cheer. We will begin at Saint Paul’s for a quick pizza dinner and instructions, and then we will carpool to two locations. Wear your festive holiday apparel and bring your jingle bell!  For more information, contact Kim Butler.

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.

Robyn and Don Macey, flute and violin, are our guest musicians this week.

Christmas Breakfast for Hornsby Teachers

Monday, December 18 

We're celebrating with our Hornsby partners as they finish their work prior to the winter break. To get the teacher workday started, we're bringing breakfast and holiday cheer. Wear your reindeer and contact Barbara Coleman to join this early morning party. Three or four helpers will make this day festive.

Senior Lunch

Wednesday, December 20, 12 noon

Join us for our 4th monthly lunch for seniors. Just a relaxing social time. We'll gather Wednesday, December 20 at 12 Noon in Tyler Hall. Lunch is provided but donations welcome. Please sign up in the Narthex on Sunday mornings or on our website using the link below.

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.

Mid-Week Eucharist

Thursdays, 11:30 AM

Note: No service 12/28

A mid-week Eucharist in the Chapel begins at 11:30 AM. Lunch in the Berlin Room follows at 12 noon with a weekly Bible study (more information below.) Join us as your schedule allows: Come for Eucharist and lunch, lunch and Bible study, or stay for all three. (So that we may honor mid-day schedules, lunch is scheduled for 15 minutes and will continue through the Bible study conversations.)

Lectio at Lunch

Thursdays, 12 Noon, Tyler Hall 

Note: No gathering 12/28

Join us for a delicious and engaging Bible study!

Every Thursday in Tyler Hall you’ll find a lunch combo that can’t be beat! We offer a tasty meal with a generous helping of fellowship, plus a lively discussion arising from the Gospel of Mark. Our text is N.T. Wright’s Mark for Everyone which takes this Gospel in small bites, reflecting on each week’s reading with relevant and important insights. We finish promptly at 1:00 PM and invite you to join us as your schedule allows. You may bring your own lunch or share in the meal provided. Donations accepted.

Questions? Contact Kitty Gordon.

Longest Night

A service of Hope and Healing

Thursday, December 21, 7 PM, The Chapel

This Eucharist in the chapel makes space for all of the ways that this time of year is also hard. It is a Christmas liturgy of hope for those of us also living with loss, regret, disappointment, and pain. All are welcome.

Greening of the Church

Saturday, December 23, 9:30 AM

You are invited to the Greening of the Church, Friday, December 23, 9:30 AM. Contact Pam Uros join the Flower Guild as they decorate the church for Christmas.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Sunday, December 24, 11 AM

We’ll mark the last Sunday of Advent with a regular service with the Saint Paul’s Choir at 11 AM.

Christmas Schedule

Christmas Eve, 4:00 & 10:00 PM

Christmas Eve Festival Celebrations with Choir, Brass, & Drums

The Nursery will be open for the 4 PM service.

Christmas Eve On-line, 4:00 & 10:00 PM

Streamed live on Facebook and YouTube

10 PM live on WGAC (wgac.com)

Christmas Day, 10:00 AM

Christmas Eucharist with Carols in the Chapel

Dates for Your Calendar

December 18 - No vestry meeting

January 9 - Tuesday's Music Live Returns

January 20 - Quiet Morning

January 20 - Beginning to Zentagle

January 27 - Manna Pantry

January 28 - Annual Meeting

Dates for Your Calendar

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.

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

7 days scheduled between June 6 - June 16, 2024

Information Meeting Wednesday13th, 6:30 PM

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

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).  

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.