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Dear Friends in Christ,
The holiday season is now in full swing. Neighborhoods twinkle with light displays, newly purchased Christmas trees sit atop cars on their way to their temporary home, delivery trucks roam the streets from before dawn to late into the night and holiday music plays everywhere we go.
As much as I enjoy all of this — and I really do love it — very little of the holiday season has anything to do with the season of Advent which begins on Sunday, December 3. While you and I will spend a lot of our time and energy this month preparing for Christmas, the brief liturgical season of Advent — only 22 days this year — reminds us of our continual need to prepare for the coming of Christ. As Henri Nouwen wrote, “The Lord is coming, always coming. When you have ears to hear and eyes to see, you will recognize him at any moment in your life. Life is Advent; life is recognizing the coming of the Lord.”
There are many ways to prepare our hearts and souls for the coming of Christ. For example, Church Publishing offers a variety of books and resources with Advent reflections for all ages. Kate Bowler offers a free daily devotional, Bless this Advent, which you can follow online or download to print. You might try a simple daily meditation centered on the Advent prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.” Using the prayer as a mantra, say it in your mind as you inhale. As you exhale, let go of all other thoughts, worries, and distractions. Then repeat for a minute or two or however long you wish.
This year at St. Paul’s, the Rev. Beth Scriven, Associate Rector, and Laurie Pierce, Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry, created a simple booklet with weekly prayers and reflection questions for our use as we light the candles on our Advent wreaths. The prayers are the same ones we’ll pray during Sunday worship. The reflection questions will be presented during Sunday School and the Adult Forum. As we move through the season, we’ll collect your responses to the questions on sticky notes, using them to create an Advent wreath full of your reflections. Wherever the focus of this Advent intention — at home, at church, or in both places — the prayers and questions will invite us to prepare for the coming of Christ together as a community. (The booklets are available in Burrows Commons or click here to view a digital copy; if you don’t have an Advent wreath, you can make one during the All-Parish Coffee Hour on December 3.)
Lighting candles, saying prayers, and reflecting on questions will not immediately solve the problems of the world or resolve the challenges in our own lives. But this doesn’t mean the spiritual practices of Advent (or any other season) are empty rituals without purpose or meaning. I’m reminded of an ancient story — as told by Br. Curtis Almquist, SSJE in a sermon a few years ago— about a spiritual seeker who desires wisdom from a master.
“Master, is there anything I can do to make myself enlightened?”
The master replies, “As little as you can do to make the sun rise in the morning.”
“Then what use are the spiritual practices you prescribe?”
“To make sure you are not asleep when the sun begins to rise.”
As we wait for Jesus to come, Jesus waits, as Nouwen put it, for our “ears to hear and our eyes to see.” The intentional focus of Advent prepares us to recognize and receive the Holy One who comes in each moment of our lives, to love us, save us, call us, and equip us to be the light of Christ in the world.
Your Friend in Christ,
The Rev. John. Denson, D.Min., Rector
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ADVENT LESSONS & CAROLS
9 & 11:15a, Sanctuary
This annual favorite highlights the wonder and anticipation of the season of Advent. Featuring music by Paul Manz, Boris Ord, Jan Sandström, Charles Wood, Arvo Pärt, Stanford Scriven, Andrew Smith and Johann Sebastian Bach.
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ALL-PARISH COFFEE HOUR
ADVENT WREATHS
10:15-11 a.m., Parish Hall
Join us for light refreshments and Advent Wreath crafting. For those making wreaths, we ask for donations for candles ($5) and wreath bases ($10); please do bring clippers. If able, please bring wreath greenery from your yard to share and drop off in the Parish Hall before the 9 a.m. service.
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OUTREACH OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE PROJECTS
Christmas Families:
Before and after the 9 & 11:15 a.m. services, Burrows Commons
Outreach is sponsoring kindergarten students from School #43, and their siblings, this Christmas. Parents of 60+ children will be provided with a $100 gift card to help with Christmas needs. Please help to reach this goal. Click below to make online donations, text SCHOOL43 to 97000 or donate in person to Outreach committee members in Burrows Commons. Any amount is much appreciated!
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Alternative Gift Market:
Outreach is collecting donations for six organizations this year: The Julian Center, Dayspring Center, Mission in Mombasa, Habitat for Humanity, Indiana Youth Group and The Damien Center. Purchase a card for $5 and up. These cards are a great way to show someone you care this holiday season! Click below to make online donations, text MARKET to 97000 or donate in person to Outreach committee members in Burrows Commons.
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BROAD RIPPLE LIGHTS UP FESTIVAL
Sunday, December 3, 3-6 p.m.
St. Paul's is once again sponsoring this year’s Broad Ripple Lights Up Festival presented by DAVID Electric. Bring the whole family for visits from Santa and a reindeer, children’s activities and a tree lighting ceremony! Click here for all details. Be sure to stop by the St. Paul's booth and say "hi" between 3-5 p.m. We will be in Wonderland Village on Guilford Avenue, between Westfield & Broad Ripple Ave.
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FALL CHOIR SCHOOL RECITAL TONIGHT
TODAY, Thursday, November 30, 7 p.m., Sanctuary
St. Paul's Choir School youth will reveal their instrumental talents with seasonal music. Let the sounds of our gifted young musicians lift your spirit!
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VESTRY NOMINATIONS ARE DUE TOMORROW
Click below to submit Vestry nominations through Friday, December 1. The Vestry is tasked with strategic oversight and communication toward objectives and goals in support of St. Paul’s mission. Members meet for several hours on the third Tuesday of most months and serve a three-year term. Click below to read more about the functions of our Vestry.
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CHRISTMAS MUSIC/FLOWER MEMORIALS
DUE TOMORROW
Memorials may be made through Friday, December 1
Thank or honor loved ones by sponsoring music or flowers for Christmas Eve. Names will be printed in Christmas Eve bulletins. Donations of $40/music and $50/flowers are appreciated. Click here to email Liz Hoffman for music or flowers; click below to submit payment online and provide names to be printed, or text SPONSOR to 97000:
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CHRISTMAS BULLETIN ART DUE TUESDAY
Children and youth are invited to submit artwork that can be featured on our Christmas Eve bulletin cover and in promotions. Artwork should in some way represent the Nativity Story. Download an artwork form below or pick up a printed copy in Burrows Commons or in Sunday School classrooms. Submissions may be turned into the Church Office, or you may scan submissions and click here to email Meegan Kriner no later than Tuesday, December 5.
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OUTREACH UPDATE
Outreach members have been participating in a Lay Clergy group at the MLK Center that is currently discussing housing in Indianapolis. Click here for an update on their November 21 meeting. Questions, click here to email Janie Frazier.
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TUESDAY STUDY GROUP
Tuesdays, 12-1:15 p.m., Broad Ripple Brewpub
Beginning Dec 5, the book A Master Class on Being Human will be studied. Authors Braxton and Pinn, two eminent Black thinkers ponder broader philosophical and theological questions that inform our politics and sense of what it means to be human: the meaning of religion, the stubborn dilemma of moral evil and the power and problems of hope. All are invited to join for conversation, regardless of reading the book. Questions, click here to email Larry Johnson.
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A WALK HOME ::
HOW TO ACCOMPANY THE DYING
Wednesday, December 6, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Online
Join for an online series provided by Tyne Parlett, a St. Paul's ministry intern who is also a death doula. The training will use the structure of contemplative care to increase awareness, experience, and skill in the art of vigil sitting and supporting those in their final transition. Click here to register for an event link or click here to email Tyne with questions.
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CHORAL MATTINS
Sunday, December 10, 11:15 a.m., Sanctuary
Join us for the morning version of Choral Evensong. St. Paul’s Choir sings responses, canticles, the psalm and anthem. Featuring music by Sarah MacDonald, Henry Purcell, Jakob Handl and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. Communion from the reserved sacrament will be available.
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CHORAL EVENSONG
Sunday, December 10, 4 p.m., Sanctuary
Join us for a service of Evensong. Featuring music by Sarah MacDonald, Gary Davison, Wayne Marshall and Michael McGlynn. This service represents one day out of the week of Choral Evensongs that St. Paul’s Choir will sing at Ely Cathedral, July 15-21, 2024. Your gracious presence is part of the St. Paul's Choir pilgrimage.
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186th DIOCESAN CONVENTION RECAP
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Please click here to view here to view the updated Constitution and Canons that include the updates from the 2023 Diocesan Convention.
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Please click here to view here to view the playlist of videos from the convention, which includes, Cole Arthur Riley's Workshop, Bishop Jennifer's Address, Cole Arthur Riley's Keynote Speech and the Business Session.
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HARD SEASONS :: GRIEF AND THE HOLIDAYS
Monday, December 11, 5-6:30 p.m., Online
The holiday seasons are tough for all, especially those experiencing grief. Grief complicates the way that we show up to ourselves, our holidays and to others. Take some time with Tyne Parlett and others who have experienced loss and grief. Process and plan the holiday season and all that it can hold for you. Click here to email Tyne Parlett for a link to participate.
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GET INVOLVED, STAY INVOLVED | |
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MEAL TRAIN
"Meal Train" allows volunteers to sign up to bring food to someone needing support. The Meal Train Ministry would love to have you on the team. Email notifications arrive when there is a new meal train, and you may view details and decide if the dates listed will work for you to deliver a homemade or store-bought hot meal. Email Laurie Pierce if you would like to be added to the team. Please let Clergy or Laurie know if there is someone in our church community that could benefit from a Meal Train.
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MLK CENTER
The partnership between MLK Center and St. Paul's is starting to take off — we need YOU to make this relationship sustainable! Sign up below to help with a Holiday Celebration on December 15 from 4-5 p.m. If you would like to help deliver food from the MLK Center to School #43 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m., or have general questions, click here to email Laurie.
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