The Epistle

St. Paul's Anglican Church | Iglesia San Pablo

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

January 7, 2024

Dear George,

As we continue the Christmas Season and celebrate the arrival of 2024, may we cultivate grateful hearts for God's many blessings!

Madre Karen O'Malia is in need of meals, having suffered both a seizure and a torn rotator cuff. If you can provide a meal please contact Madre O'Malia at preachitsister1@gmail.com, or once the office has reopened on January 2, our Administrator Claudia at StPaulsManagementSMA@gmail.com

Next Sunday at Coffee Hour we celebrate Madre O'Malia's many contributions to St. Paul's as Madre O'Malia officially retires. Donations are sought for this event. Please contact our Senior Warden Paula Hebert at plhebert@swbell.net or, once the office has reopened on January 2, our Administrator Claudia at StPaulsManagementSMA@gmail.com

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 (500 pesos) to purchase very small toys to be distributed in the very poor pueblo of Tierra Blanco (in route to Guanajuato) on Tres Magos, the Feast of the Epiphany, Saturday January 6. This was a quite wonderful endeavor last year. Padre Miguel may be reached at: padremiguelsma@gmail.com

Wishing you a Blessed Christmastide, a Happy New Year, and a Holy Epiphany!

GFW+

Upcoming Events:

CELEBRATION OF A MINISTRY: We celebrate the Reverend Madre Karen O'Malia's+ many contributions to St. Paul's Church at English Coffee Hour Sunday January 7th, the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord

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.

The sermon for the Second Sunday in Christmas, December 31, 2023, may be found HERE

The appointed readings for the First Sunday After the Epiphany, January 7, 2024, may be found HERE

Los lecciones para el primero domingo despues de La Epifania, 7 de inero, estan AQUI

CALLING FUTURE LECTORS!

Fellow lectors and those who enjoy reading and are looking for a simple way to serve the church and our Lord:

On Jan 14, I would like to have a short training session after the 10:15 service. I will also be contacting many of you by email before then to fill in JANUARY reading dates.

Please join us, even if you have never read in church before, if you think you may enjoy reading the lessons once every few months. 

Thank you. Patti Morgan 

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 Community Development Project (formerly the Dispensa Project). Parishioner Geoffrey Drayton leads this effort, and welcomes all questions.

TWICE MONTHLY THURSDAY EUCHARISTS AT LOS LABRADORES

This coming Thursday, January 4, sees a 3pm celebration of Holy Eucharist at Rancho Los Labradores. Twice monthly services at Rancho Los Labradores continue on the first and third Thursday of each month at 3:00pm.  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.  Contact Canon Frank if you wish to assist or attend (the guard at the entrance will then be notified. Canon Frank may be contacted at fnhebert@gmail.com

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.

WOMEN'S SPIRITUALITY GROUP

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

Paul in Brussels

Tracey in Paris (chemo)

Gail Baker

Virginia Barron (hospice care)

Douglas Buchanan

Rebecca Carney (back surgery; bereaved)

Steve Clark

Patricia Corr (terminal cancer, Matt Stokes Mum)

Tony Faught

Mary Folse

Cynthia Gilley (knee surgery recuperation)

Susan Gist

Linda Gilmer (Jeff Spears Aunt)

Lynne Gleason

Dorothy Glenn (fall)

Mireille Grovier

José Guadalupe

Mike Lapsys

Tim Noel Marinello

Marni McGee

Santiago Munguial

Christian Olson

The Reverend Madre Karen O'Malia+

Francisco Ortíz

Sandra Rangél

Susan Robinson

Father Jeff Sells+

The Rev'd Canon Dr. Barbara Stewart+

Bruce Stuart

Rosalba Suárez (leukemia)

Pamela Summers

Jaye Truax

Ken McCuthceon Vau

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

Martia Carney Parrino (Becki Carney's sister)

Charles Pettyjohn

Catherine Colleen Porter

Elenor Marie (Suzie) Nace



FOR OUR COMPANION PARISH AND COLLABORATIONS

Trinity Episcopal Church, Folsom, California

Santiago Apostol, Querétaro