Wednesday, November 24, 2021
Join Us on Sunday for an Adult Friendly Children's Homily!
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
Stewardship Ingathering
Stewardship Ingathering has begun. Please bring your pledge cards with to the service and place them in the offering plate, or send them to the Church Office.
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 John, 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
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 but not required. Please RSVP
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!
Christmas Cookie Swap—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.
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!
Zoom information:
December 2nd
Meeting ID: 854 9216 6241
Passcode: 432557
December 16th
Meeting ID: 810 6301 6679
Passcode: 600607
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. 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:
Tuesday, November 30th at 5:00pm.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89007366018?pwd=RFNTcFFpZ2ZwT01Xb2ZhWlcvM3hlUT09
The password is SSM119.
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.
Time: 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Dec 2, 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
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. Sunday is the last day to donate. If you would like to donate gift bags, help wrap and/or deliver the gifts, please email Rev. Ellen.
North Porch Giving Tree
Look for our display in the lobby this Sunday! 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.
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. Last day to drop off items is this Sunday.
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. Click on picture to order.
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. Click on picture to order.
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
Messiah Community Sing 2021
Come celebrate the holiday season! Sing those fabulous choruses from Handel’s Messiah with members of The Masterwork Chorus at St. Peter's, Mountain Lakes on Sunday, December 5th. Patterned after Masterwork’s popular Summer Sings, the Messiah sing – along, will be conducted by Masterwork’s own Martin Sedek, and accompanied by the amazing Carol Walker. Click on the picture for more information.
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
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!
News from The Episcopal Church
Applications open for General Convention Official Youth Presence 2022 The Episcopal Church invites teens age 16 to 19 to apply to become part of the 80th General Convention’s Official Youth Presence, a group whose members have seat and voice in the House of Deputies. Up to two youth from each of the church’s nine provinces will be selected to participate in the Official Youth Presence from July 4-14 in Baltimore, Maryland. Youth who are selected must also attend orientation and training in Baltimore from March 31 to April 2.
In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we ask your prayers this week for Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil.
News from the Diocese of Newark
In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we ask your prayers this week in thanksgiving for the work of the members of the Cathedral Chapter of Trinity & St. Philip's.
