Christmas Services at St. Paul's
Christmas Eve - 4:30 p.m. - Chapel (Childcare available)
Christmas Eve - 10:00 p.m. - Church
Christmas Day - 11:00 a.m. - Church
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
The good news captured in a poem
Dear Friends in Christ -
The old master poets really had a way with words, expressing truth in words of beauty. Someone at St. Paul's shared this poem with me this week, and I wanted to share it with you.
Counting down the hours until we gather 'round the manger . . .
faithfully,
Janet+
ANNUNCIATION
Salvation to all that will is nigh;
That All, which always is all everywhere,
Which cannot sin, and yet all sins must bear,
Which cannot die, yet cannot choose but die,
Lo, faithful virgin, yields Himself to lie
in prison, in thy womb; and though He there
Can take no sin, nor thou give, yet He will wear,
Taken from thence, flesh, which death's force may try.
Ere by the spheres time was created, thou
Wast in His mind, who is thy Son and Brother;
Whom thou conceivst, conceived; yea thou art now
Thy Maker's maker, and thy Father's mother;
Thou has light in dark, and shutst in little room,
Immensity cloistered in thy dear womb.
John Donne (1572 - 1631)
The old master poets really had a way with words, expressing truth in words of beauty. Someone at St. Paul's shared this poem with me this week, and I wanted to share it with you.
Counting down the hours until we gather 'round the manger . . .
faithfully,
Janet+
ANNUNCIATION
Salvation to all that will is nigh;
That All, which always is all everywhere,
Which cannot sin, and yet all sins must bear,
Which cannot die, yet cannot choose but die,
Lo, faithful virgin, yields Himself to lie
in prison, in thy womb; and though He there
Can take no sin, nor thou give, yet He will wear,
Taken from thence, flesh, which death's force may try.
Ere by the spheres time was created, thou
Wast in His mind, who is thy Son and Brother;
Whom thou conceivst, conceived; yea thou art now
Thy Maker's maker, and thy Father's mother;
Thou has light in dark, and shutst in little room,
Immensity cloistered in thy dear womb.
John Donne (1572 - 1631)
Monday, December 22, 2008
The power of the story
Dear Friends in Christ -
This week, the Story is all about the birth of a very special baby. We know the cast of characters: Mary, Joseph, innkeepers, livestock. And we know how it's all going to turn out, right?
But this Story has a miracle. More than one, actually. The first miracle is that even though we read the same words every year, they sound different. We notice different parts of the story. Different questions bump around in our hearts. Different notions stir our imaginations. The Word becomes flesh and dwells among us.
What miracle will you encounter through the Story in the coming days? Come close. Let the words of the story come over (overcome) you again. Meet Wonder in the manger.
Faithfully,
Janet+
This week, the Story is all about the birth of a very special baby. We know the cast of characters: Mary, Joseph, innkeepers, livestock. And we know how it's all going to turn out, right?
But this Story has a miracle. More than one, actually. The first miracle is that even though we read the same words every year, they sound different. We notice different parts of the story. Different questions bump around in our hearts. Different notions stir our imaginations. The Word becomes flesh and dwells among us.
What miracle will you encounter through the Story in the coming days? Come close. Let the words of the story come over (overcome) you again. Meet Wonder in the manger.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Sunday, December 21, 2008
CAROLING CANCELLED
Christmas Caroling (scheduled for 5:00 p.m. this evening) has been cancelled due to - you guessed it! - this crazy windy-rainy-snow stuff.
Hope you're keeping warm and cozy at home with a cup of hot chocolate in hand!
Hope you're keeping warm and cozy at home with a cup of hot chocolate in hand!
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
Dear Friends in Christ -
Worship services for this morning (Sunday, 12/21) will proceed as scheduled at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., with the Christmas Pageant during the 10:00 a.m. service.
Of course, I would love to see you at church this morning. One thing is almost certain: the pageant we so carefully practiced yesterday won't come off exactly as planned. God's surprises are always good ones, so come and see!
Do use wisdom and caution in deciding whether or not to come out in the snow and ice. If it's not safe for you to get out today, please take some time to worship at home. The Gospel lesson for today Advent IV is the story of the Annunciation - the angel coming to Mary invite her to be part of God's saving plan (Luke 1:26-38).
Later today we'll make the decision about whether or not the Christmas Caroling scheduled for 5:00 p.m. this evening will continue as planned.
May you sense God's presence in the beauty of the snow, and may you sense your need for Him in the uncertainty that stormy weather creates.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Worship services for this morning (Sunday, 12/21) will proceed as scheduled at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., with the Christmas Pageant during the 10:00 a.m. service.
Of course, I would love to see you at church this morning. One thing is almost certain: the pageant we so carefully practiced yesterday won't come off exactly as planned. God's surprises are always good ones, so come and see!
Do use wisdom and caution in deciding whether or not to come out in the snow and ice. If it's not safe for you to get out today, please take some time to worship at home. The Gospel lesson for today Advent IV is the story of the Annunciation - the angel coming to Mary invite her to be part of God's saving plan (Luke 1:26-38).
Later today we'll make the decision about whether or not the Christmas Caroling scheduled for 5:00 p.m. this evening will continue as planned.
May you sense God's presence in the beauty of the snow, and may you sense your need for Him in the uncertainty that stormy weather creates.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Saturday, December 20, 2008
SATURDAY ACTIVITIES are a GO!
Pageant Rehearsal at 10:00 a.m. and the Angel Tree Party at 12:00 noon will go on as scheduled. Drive safe!
Friday, December 19, 2008
SATURDAY UPDATE
The Men's Group breakfast and study scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Saturday has been cancelled due to the snow.
As of this time (9:00 p.m. Friday evening), the Pageant Rehearsal and Angel Tree Party are still ON. Any schedule changes/cancellations will be posted here by 8:00 a.m.
As of this time (9:00 p.m. Friday evening), the Pageant Rehearsal and Angel Tree Party are still ON. Any schedule changes/cancellations will be posted here by 8:00 a.m.
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