The Epistle

St. Paul's Anglican Church | Iglesia San Pablo

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

December 3, 2023

Dear George,

The 2024 pledge letter from Stewardship Chair Andrea Spessard (alspessard@gmail.com) and the 2024 pledge card were in the bulletin November 26, and will appear in next Sunday's bulletin, December 3, as well. They may also be downloaded from the parish website HERE, and are available from the parish administrator at StPaulManagementSMA@gmail.com

The Vestry is pleased to announce three candidates for Vestry Class of 2027:

Jeff Arnold

Christine Durboraw

Kathy Lapsys

A presentation of the 2024 budget will be offered at the English language coffee hour and at the Spanish language coffee hour January 21 prior to our Annual Meeting February 4, 2024.

Two free English classes are underway at 6pm every Tuesday and Thursday, both now fully subscribed. Our free tennis program for 20 underserved young people from greater San Miguel is underway each Tuesday and Thursday.

Advent grace and peace,

GFW+

Upcoming Events:

MEN'S RETREAT: A pre-Advent overnight Men's Retreat or December 1 and 2. Sign-up presently available in the Parish Hall or with the parish Administrative Assistant Claudia. 1,800 pesos per person.

ST PAUL'S ICONOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: December 4 - 8 with Mary Jane Miller and Padre Antonio.

HOLIDAY BAZAAR: December 16, 10am - 4pm, Parish Hall.

VESTRY: December 22nd

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

Paul Finnegan

Mary Beth and Bud Lawrence

Marjorie and Mike Pope

Padre Miguel Rangel and Karina Yañez

Canon George F. Woodward III

NOVEMBER 26, THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING

Raquel Martin serves as Lector; Stewardship Chair Andrea Spessard presents; Israel Apoderado celebrates Saturday's baptism of he and Imelda's son at San Antonio Padua; Bonnie and Duane Eriksmoen celebrate their 67th anniversary of Holy Matrimony.

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!

REVERSE ADVENT PROJECT

a St. Paul's Development Project Event

You are invited to purchase items for each day of Advent leading toward Christmas Day. Boxes to place the items in are available for pick-up in the Parish Hall, where the boxes may be returned. A bottle of cooking oil is also appreciated! Doug Craig told me today all this can be ordered online and delivered from La Comer! The Rector went to La Comer and hand-picked items, because he couldn't figure out how to achieve this online. I think the total cost was under $100 U.S. We're electing December 10th as termination day for this ingathering so we may proceed with distribution,

o Day 1 Box of Cereal

o Day 2 Bag of beans

o Day 3 Bag of lentils

o Day 4 Boxed milk (2 or 3 would be appreciated)

o Day 5 Salt

o Day 6 Canned fruit

o Day 7 Canned tomatoes

o Day 8 Canned tuna

o Day 9 Jar of jam

o Day 10 Jar of applesauce

o Day 11 Pollo Boullion

o Day 12 Large box tomato sauce

o Dat 13 Harina for Tortillas

o Day 14 Box of Crackers

o Day 15 Package of rice

o Day 16 Package of Oatmeal

o Day 17 Package of Pasta

o Day 18 Spaghetti Sauce

o Day 19 Canned Chicken

o Day 20 Sardines

o Day 21 Canned Corn

o Day 22 Canned Mixed Vegetables

o Day 23 Canned Carrots

o Day 24 Spam

o Day 25 Boxed fruit juice

TWICE MONTHLY THURSDAY EUCHARISTS AT LOS LABRADORES

The first and third Thursday of each month, Canon Frank Hebert leads a Eucharistic Liturgy in the chapel of Rancho Los Labradores. Rancho Los Labradores is about 13 kilometers from San Miguel and is home to a nursing care facility as well as over 100 homes and condominiums. If you are interested in helping out, please call Canon Frank at 55 2967 3819 or contact him by email at fnhebert@gmail.com...

MEN'S PRE-ADVENT RETREAT

Friday (2:30pm) December 1 - Saturday (4pm) December 2

Hacienda Landeta

"RECLAIMING ADVENT"

Meet at St. Paul's at 2pm for carpooling.

A time both contemplative and convivial, the men of St. Paul's are invited on retreat to prepare for Advent, the first season of the new liturgical year.

Tertulias/presentations on the themes of Advent, a variety of liturgies, silent meals and a robust fogata (campfire) will feature, led by the Rector and other clergy from St. Paul's.

Single rooms only, with meals included for 1800 pesos per person. To register, use the Sunday sign up sheet or contact our Administrative Assistant Claudia at: StPaulManagementSMA@gmail.com

ST PAUL’S ICON WORKSHOP with Mary Jane Miller and Padre Antonio (Vicar; Santiago Apostol, Querétaro)

Monday December 4 and concluding Friday December 8

9am – Noon daily; Lunch Break; 1:30pm – 4pm daily (Sack Lunch to be brought)

STUDIO EVENT: Sagrado Corazon # 14, Colonia San Antonio, San Miguel de Allende

7,000 pesos (a portion donated to St. Paul’s Sunday School)

Materials included

8 person maximum

Class begins and ends with a blessing of the hands and of the icon by Padre Antonio

Contact the Administrator to register: StPaulManagementSMA@gmail.com

Classic Iconography    http://www.sanmiguelicons.com/     

Books for Purchase        Lulu.com

Workshops offered       http://www.sacrediconretreat.com/

Modern Catholic Iconography  https://www.millericons.com/

The sermon and Stewardship talk for November 26 may be viewed HERE

The appointed lessons for December 3, Advent One, may be found HERE

Lecturas para la Misa del 3 de deciembre, adviento uno, NOON estan AQUI

WOMEN'S SPIRITUALITY GROUP

Meetings are generally the first Saturday of each month at 10AM - 11:30 in the parish Church. Our facilitator, Sally Zedillo, may be reached at

newtoliver@yahoo.com

ST PAUL'S BEREAVEMENT GROUPS: Edna Marta 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 September.

Gail Baker

Virginia Barron (hospice care)

Douglas Buchanan

Steve Clark

Patricia Corr (terminal cancer, Matt Stokes Mum)

Diana Rosario Rangel Cruz (lymphoma)

Christine Eyre

Tony Faught

Linda Gilmer (Jeff Spears Aunt)

Lynne Gleason

Dorothy Glenn

Mireille Grovier

José Guadalupe

Jenny Kerston

Mike Lapsys

Tim Noel Marinello

Marni McGee

Mari Mitchel (achilles heel recovery)

Santiago Munguial

Christian Olson

Francisco Ortíz

Father Jeff Sells+

Canon Barbara Stewart+ (COVID)

Bruce Stuart

Rosalba Suárez (leukemia)

Pamela Summers

Jaye Truax

Ken McCuthceon Vaun

FOR OUR COMPANION PARISH AND COLLABORATIONS

Trinity Episcopal Church, Folsom, California

Santiago Apostol, Querétaro