November 18, 2021
Stewardship Ingathering This Sunday
This Sunday we are beginning the Stewardship Ingathering. Please bring your pledge cards with to the service and place them in the offering plate.
Join Us for Sunday School at 10:10 am!
Kids, join us this week for Sunday School lead by Mrs. DeBiasse . Class begins at 10:10 am.
Sunday School will meet 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
Music Notes
The prelude, by the 19th-century composer Cesar Franck, is a peaceful work in three short movements. The middle gets a bit excited, but still not overwhelmingly so. The postlude, however, takes a different track, beginning fairly softly, then constantly doing a crescendo to a full-organ ending.
"Holy is the True Light" by the 20th-century organist and composer Gerald Near, is quite dissonant in parts, but with some rather gentle tonal writing as well. I think it puts the text across very well " Holy is the true light, and passing wonderful, blending radiance to them that endured in the heat of the conflict. From Christ they inherit a home of unfailing splendour, wherein they rejoice with gladness evermore.
The text of the Farrant anthem is a prayer, ending with an "amen" which forms no part of the anthem as originally written, according to the editor. Sure fits well, though.
Jim Little
Choir Director
Prayers
We ask your prayers this week for Michael, Kim, the King family, Andy, the Kellogg family, Gloria, Sam, Matt, Marky, Sarah, Chris, Mary, John, Sophia, Michael, Ray, David, Marilyn, and Mark.
THIS WEEK
Community Food Bank Turkey Drive To Be Held this Saturday
The Community Food Bank and Chatham United Methodist Church will be holding a Turkey Drive this Saturday - 11/20/21, from 9:00am to 2:00pm at the Main Street driveway entrance to the Chatham Middle School.
Donations of frozen turkeys and hams, as well as canned vegetables and fruits; canned soups and stews; pasta, rice and other grains; and other non-perishables items are being sought. All you need to do is drive up and Boy Scouts from Troop 8 will gladly take your donated items from your car for you.
Your generosity will be greatly appreciated, as the need is especially strong this year.
Something New at St. Paul's!
A Home Office Away From Home
Are you working remotely and in need of a quiet place to work away from the distractions of home? Well, now you can have it. We are offering quiet work spaces in the church for parishioners who need a home office away from home. We have a few areas available including the conference room, vestry library. Free of charge to parisioners. If you're interested, please email office@stpaulschatham.org.
Upcoming Events
Youth Group Lunch at Arminio's,
Sunday December 5 at 11:30 am
Join Rev. Ellen for the Youth Group lunch at Arminio's on Sunday, December 5th. Ages 13-18 are welcome. RSVP to Rev. Ellen at Ellen@stpaulschatham.org.
Upcoming 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 Wreath Making Sunday November 28th After the Service
Join us again this year for this fun Advent tradition of decorating an Advent wreath for your home. The Advent wreath is a symbol of everlasting life in Christ. It holds 4 candles. We light a new candle and read special prayers each Sunday in Advent. They are the symbol of the light of Christ entering the world. The light increases as the birth of Jesus approaches, bringing light to the world. Supplies will be provided. Registration is requested. Please email Rev. Ellen at ellen@stpaulschatham.org
Advent Zoom Supper Group Thursday Evenings at 6 pm December 2nd and 16th
The Zoom supper group is back for Advent. Join us each week as we prepare a simple meal, hear a story of a biblical heroine and share our meal together on Zoom. Traditional Jewish recipes will be provided in advance. Please email Rev. Ellen at ellen@stpaulschatham.org if you plan to join!
Advent Zoom Book Group - 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, 21
There 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. Please email Rev. Ellen at ellen@stpaulschatham.org if you would like to participate.
Daily Online Audio Advent Reflections and Weekly Discussion Group (Thursdays at 7 p.m. December 2, 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. Please email Rev. Ellen at ellen@stpaulschatham.org if you plan to participate
Advent Outreach Opportunities
Diocese of Newark Prison Ministry Kids Gift Drive
We are collecting Christmas gifts for the children of the incarcerated again this year. The kids in our group, boys and girls, range in age from 6 to 17, with most between the ages of 10 and 15. Gift ideas include new toys, books, hats, scarves, gloves etc. Please drop off unwrapped gift items in the lobby of the church or in the basket in outside the office beginning this Sunday, November 14th.
North Porch Giving Tree
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. Look for our display in the lobby on Advent 1, November 28th.
Christmas at Sea Program - The Seaman's Church Institute
Thousands of sea men and women will be away from home on board ships this holiday season. The Christmas at Sea Program run by the Seaman's Church Institute in Port Elizabeth and Newark provides gifts of much needed hand knit hats and scarves, toiletries, and other items for those whose ships dock in port from November through early January. The Director of the International Seafarer's Center in Port Newark is Tim Wong, former St. Paul's Youth Director and son of parishioners Philip and Sylvia Wong.
If you would like to contribute a handknit item, the Christmas at Sea patterns, which are specially designed with mariner safety in mind, are available to download here. Toiletries, travel size games and puzzle books, and leftover Halloween candy are also needed for the care packages. All items can be dropped off at the church beginning November 14th.
Advent/Christmas Resources For Families
Faithful Celebrations: Making Time for God from Advent through Epiphany
Many of our experiences in life happen when several generations are together – at church, at home, in our communities. Holidays and family events are times for celebration, learning, rituals, food, and fun. This edition of Faithful Celebrations focuses on Advent, the Annunciation, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Los Posadas, Christmas and Epiphany. It includes plenty of activities to learn more about each of these sacred seasons or days in a church setting, at home, camp, or anywhere in-between.
Faithful Celebrations: Making Time for God in Winter
Activities for celebrating secular and sacred seasons of the year • For use in churches, schools, camps, at home Many of our experiences in life happen when several generations are together― at church, at home, in our communities. Holidays and family events are times for celebration, learning, rituals, food, and fun.
SAVE THE DATE
The Bishop is Coming!
The Rt. Rev. Carlye Hughes, Bishop of Newark will be worshipping with us at St. Paul's on Sunday, December 19th. More information to follow in the coming weeks.
Blood Drive!
A Blood Drive sponsored by the Chatham Emergency Squad will be held on Saturday, December 4th at St. Patrick's Church. For more information (including how to win a weekend in NYC!), click here
NEWS
A Transition Update
from Jim Mollo, Head of Committee
Dear St. Paul's Family,
The existing process for a search under our new Bishop has changed from prior years. The process begins within the Diocese after matching the needs of the parish with the skills of candidates. The Transition Team is given a set of questions to answer. The answers posed by the Diocese help identify candidates for a Priest-in-Charge. We're consolidating the responses into a narrative for Canon Clarke (who handles searches on behalf of the Bishop)
We anticipate receiving candidate names shortly after that. The Transition Team will interview the candidates and make a recommendation to the Vestry. We ask that you keep us in your prayers throughout this process.
Jim Mollo
Frank Willis
Olivia Mollo
Barbara Cheifet
Ted Pishko
Jennifer Courey
Andrew Walker
Shirley Wu
Sarah Meiring
Vestry Update
COVID Protocols
To protect our parish members as well as all others using the building, we have established several procedures and system upgrades. We continue to look to further improve some items to make our church that much safer. As a reminder, here are key items that we currently have in place:
We follow the Diocesan worship guidelines that Bishop Hughes establish in the Journey Forward. Among the many documents found, the Quick Refence Guide and COVID Act Now county risk rating are what we follow for our COVID safety protocols.
With Morris County still at Orange (High Risk) as of November 18, St. Paul’s continues to follow protocols that require everyone to be masked and maintain 6-foot social distancing while inside the church (for worship or meetings). We have also made the decision to allow masked singing (both choir and parishioners) during the service and a coffee hour outside after the service.
On December 19, we will welcome the Bishop for the Sunday service and a meeting in the parish hall with the congregation after the service. Following the meeting, we will have the traditional greening of the church.
Physically we have made and continue to assess improvements to our facilities. These include:
During the services, opening of some doors and windows to allow additional airflow.
During the services, opening windows or running ventilation in our restrooms for additional airflow.
Investigating upgrades to our air filtration system and assess for a retrofitting to protect from COVID-19. This is likely to be a significant capital expenditure. We are working with other congregations to understand options and any possible grants.
I will keep you up to date as we progress forward on this journey. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact me or anyone on the Vestry.
Eric Leininger
Senior Warden
News from The Episcopal Church
Bishop and Blacksmithing crew melt guns for garden tools, and more
In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we ask your prayers this week for The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia .
News from the Diocese of Newark
First five Black women Diocesan Bishops--a conversation
In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we ask your prayers this week in thanksgiving for the work of the ACTS/VIM Board.
