Friday, December 10, 2021
Friday, December 9, 2021
WORSHIP
This Sunday, service of Lessons and Carols!
Sunday School this Sunday
Kids, join us for Sunday School this Sunday with Mary Foster. We will have a special Advent lesson and craft. Class meets at 10:10 am. Sunday School meets in person on the first three Sundays of each month, and there will be an adult friendly children's homily on the 4th Sunday. Please register your children online here: https://www.stpaulschatham.org/sunday-school-registration
Christmas Memorials
Christmas Memorials may be made in any amount, and designated for Poinsettias, Music or the Memorial Garden. If you would like to remember a loved one by making a donation, please send a check to the office by December 15th, and note the name or names to be remembered and by whom (i.e., Jane Doe, sister of John Doe). Please make checks out to St. Paul's and note "Poinsettia", "Music", or "Memorial Garden" on the memo line.
Stewardship Ingathering
Pledge Card Return Reminder
We are so grateful to all of you who have already returned your pledge cards. If you still have yours, please bring it to the service this Sunday and place them in the offering plate, mail them to the church or drop them off in the main office. Together we will keep St. Paul's thriving in the new year. Thank You!
Prayers
We ask your prayers this week for Jennifer, Ed, Michael, Kim, the King family, Andy, the Kellogg family, Gloria, Sam, Matt, Marky, Sarah, Chris, Mary, John, Sophia, Michael, Ray, David, Marilyn, and Mark.
Please notify the office if you have any changes or additions to the Prayer List.
THIS WEEK
Christmas Cookie Swap This Sunday, December 12
After the 10 a.m. service
Ready, Set, Bake! Gather the family together and start baking. It's almost time for the Christmas Cookie Swap. YUM! Please wrap 3 or 6 cookies (depending on size) in individual plastic or paper bags for the swap.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Bishop is Coming!
The Rt. Rev. Carlye Hughes, Bishop of Newark will be worshipping with us at St. Paul's next Sunday, December 19th. Please plan to attend services next Sunday and meet our Bishop! Bishop Hughes will be present in the Parish Hall following the service for a talk, and question and answer period.
St Paulʻs presents Masters of Hawaiian Music featuring Grammy award-winning musicians, Hawaii's unique acoustic guitar stylings, and rich storytelling. Tickets for the Friday, January 21, 2022, 7:00 pm show are $25 advance/$30 at the door and can be purchased from Andy Wang or at http://hawaii.brownpapertickets.com. All profits benefit St. Paul's programs and outreach.
Special Events for Advent
The season of Advent is a special time for reflection and prayer. We have several special offerings planned for this year, which we hope will enrich you in body, mind, and spirit. We hope you will join in one or all!
Advent Zoom Supper Group Next Thursday, December 16th
The Zoom supper group is back for Advent. Join us as we prepare a simple meal, hear a story of a biblical heroine and dine together on Zoom. Traditional Jewish recipes will be provided in advance. Please email Rev. Ellen at Zoom information:
December 16th
Meeting ID: 810 6301 6679
Passcode: 600607
Advent Zoom Book Group
Year W A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church
Tuesday Evenings from 5 to 6 p.m.
December 14, 21
The Advent Zoom Book Group is a collaboration with St. Stephen's, Millburn and Christ Church in Short Hills Tuesday Evenings from 5 to 6 p.m. November 30, December 7, 14, 21There is a new lectionary being introduced in the Episcopal Church, Year W A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church by Wilda C. Gafney. Bishop Hughes has approved the use of this extraordinary new work in our Diocese, which includes scriptural readings that focus on women in the bible. The book group will take a deep look at the texts. We have 2 copies available at St. Paul's, one church copy and one from Rev. Ellen. If you plan to join the group and want to borrow a copy, please contact Rev. Ellen at ellen@stpaulschatham.org. Click on the picture to order your own copy.
Here's the Zoom information:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89007366018?pwd=RFNTcFFpZ2ZwT01Xb2ZhWlcvM3hlUT09The password is SSM119.
Daily Online Audio Advent Reflections and Weekly Discussion Group
Thursdays at 7 p.m. December 9, 16, 23
St. Paul's is participating in a new district wide Reflection program and discussion group this year. Our church is in the Diocesan Evelyn Underhill District named after Theologian Evelyn Underhill. Reflections are taken from the book Advent With Evelyn Underhill. The discussion group will be led each week by clergy from the churches in our district.
Time: 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Dec 9, Dec 16, Dec 23,
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89965386150?pwd=clJ0WElmaE5jUUtVek81VktLand2dz09
Meeting ID: 899 6538 6150
Passcode: 034756
Advent Outreach Opportunities
North Porch Giving Tree
Look for our display in the lobby! During Advent and Christmas our spiritual life centers on the Holy Mother and Child. In honor of Mary and Jesus, give a gift of urgently needed baby supplies to mothers and children in need this season. Donations include diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, baby toiletries. Support North Porch Women and Infants Centers by choosing an ornament from our holiday giving tree.
NEWS
Vestry Meeting Summary
November 2021
The Vestry met virtually on November 17. The Vestry discussed the current financial status of St. Paul’s; the church will likely end the year with a loss of close to $50,000, even after the application of both federal PPP funds. While Expenses have tracked on budget, and income from building use was higher than expected, General Income (paid pledges) has lagged significantly and is the primary reason a loss is expected. The Vestry next discussed the progress of the transition process. All necessary paperwork has been filed with the Diocese including responses to discernment questions. The next step is for the Diocese to send candidate profiles to the transition team for review. Rev. Ellen reported that St. Paul’s is looking for a new Director of Christian Education to run Sunday School. Ellen will be having lunch soon with the Youth Group and will organize the pageant for Christmas. Ellen also talked to the Vestry about the schedule for the Bishop’s visit on December 19. There will be a congregational meeting with the Bishop after the service that day, followed by a meeting between the Bishop and the Vestry. Additionally, December 19 is the 4th Sunday of Advent, the day we traditionally green the church, and a greening event will be planned. The Vestry also talked about ways to encourage parishioners to return to worship in person. Parishioners are encouraged to discuss their concerns with any member of the Vestry or Rev. Ellen. The Buildings and Grounds team reported on several projects including the successful refreshment of the Sprout House play area with new wood chips, the removal of two dead ash trees, and their ongoing efforts to price options for new flooring/carpet in the Sanctuary and first floor. Upgrades to the ventilation and HVAC system are also being investigated. An effort will be made to locate grant funds if possible to help with these expenses. The Vestry approved the purchase of a new desktop computer for the parish Office to replace the old malfunctioning one. The Vestry discussed the current Stewardship appeal; parishioners are requested to return 2022 pledge cards on November 21 so that realistic budgeting can begin for next year. The Rectory lease has been renewed by the current tenants.
Transition Committee Update Dec 1, 2021
Dear St. Paul's Family,
In November, the Transition Team responded to several questions posed by the Diocese to get a sense of who St. Paul’s is as a community and what we’re looking for from our next Priest-in-Charge. In conversation with Canon Clark, Bishop Hughes’ designee for helping churches manage through this process, she indicated that she’s in discussions with 2-5 candidates in the Diocese to assess interest and fit.
The Canon anticipates sharing names of candidates around Christmas. The Transition Team will collect and review information from candidates in January and likely interview through the first quarter of 2022. Assuming one of these candidates is a strong fit, our goal is to have a recommendation to Vestry for our new Priest-in-Charge in March.
While these are aggressive targets, we’re making good progress and hope that you continue to keep us your prayers.
Jim Mollo, Head of Committee
Transition Committee Members
Jim Mollo, Frank Willis, Olivia Mollo, Barbara Cheifet, Ted Pishko,
Jennifer Coury. Andrew Walker, Shirley Wu, Sarah Meiring
Tour the Holy Land in May of 2022
Have you ever wanted to walk in the footsteps of Jesus? Join parishioners and friends of St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church of Ridgewood for a 10-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land in May of 2022. The Rev. Andy Olivo, Rector of St. Elizabeth’s, and Canon Iyad Qumri, a Palestinian Christian and tour guide, will lead this trip. Some of the holy places and experiences include Jericho, Nazareth, the Church of the Annunciation, a Renewal of Baptismal Vows in the Jordan River, the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, the Church of the Nativity, Walk the Stations of the Cross through the Old City of Jerusalem, pray at the Empty Tomb in the Church of the Resurrection, share the Holy Eucharist in Emmaus, and much more.
The cost of the trip is $2,595 (+ airfare) per pilgrim, and includes all lodging, all meals, all transportation, and all entrance fees! For more information about this trip, please email me aolivo@stesridgewood.org. All are welcome!
