What’s Happening at St. Paul’s 12-5-2021 | St. Paul's Episcopal Church

What‘s Happening at St. Paul’s 12-5-2021

Beloved community,

This week, it is with great joy that we look towards celebrating our first First Sunday Life Together since the pandemic began! I have heard from many of you that it has been so hard to be away from one another in this intergenerational way. When the vestry met with Bishop Brown as part of his visitation last month, he shared with us a deep appreciation for our community and the ways we focus on intergenerational connections. The Bishop explained that it is through these connections in particular that churches all over the nation are thriving. Intergenerational connections are part of the core of who we are here at St. Paul’s. In this last year plus we have missed seeing our kiddos and our gran-friends (and those in between). We have missed worshiping as one gathered body. We have missed the fellowship that follows. So, this Sunday December 5, will be a day to rejoice and look with hope to all that God is calling us to as this intergenerational body of Christ. We will gather in the Nave for worship at 10:30am. Please know that we will also Live Stream the service to the Hall for those who would like the assurance of a bit of extra space. And, we will give preferential seating to our families with young ones in the vestibule where the door will be cracked for extra air flow. Please do know that if you are unable to be with us in person for any reason that worship will also be offered via Facebook Live.

After worship, you are invited to join together in the parking lot for fellowship around Solo Stoves (bonfires) to share in s’mores and conversation.

*Note: There will be no Exploring the Sermon via Zoom on 12/5.

With peace,

Rev. Katie Holicky, Assistant Rector

First Sunday Life Together December 5th: All are welcome to worship and enjoy fellowship together on Sunday December 5th! We will hold one service at 10:30am followed by parking lot fellowship with bonfires and smores! We look forward to coming back together in this beloved intergenerational way!

Please know the vestibule will be open for seating and we will live stream the service to the Hall if that feels like a safer option for you.

There will be no Exploring the Sermon after worship this week.

We are now gathering for indoor worship

Please click on this LINK and watch a short video for important information from the Wardens and The Rev. Katie on our regathering.

St. Paul’s Guidance for Indoor, In-Person Worship and Gatherings
Indoor worship begins 11/14
Updated November 5, 2021
Guidelines subject to change as pandemic unfolds.

INDOOR IN-PERSON WORSHIP (Digital worship offered as well!)
Based on the most recent CDC instructions, please follow our guidelines for safer in-person indoor worship:

We will require that you wear a mask. (sanitizer & masks will be at each entrance)
We will require that you sign in for contact tracing purposes.
We will encourage three feet of physical distancing. (Seating will be clearly marked and ushers will help us keep our distance. Please only pass the peace to those near you to limit movement around the Hall and Nave)
We will say the responses, but no congregational singing. (The choir will sing)
We will not come forward to receive the bread or wine; communion of one kind from pews.
We will limit two people or family units in each restroom, masked.
We will not require a limit on the number of people in attendance, and will use the Vestibule for overflow seating at 10:30.
We will not offer in person fellowship after worship.

These are reasons we are able to assemble more safely for indoor in-person worship at this time:

Cumberland County has a high vaccination rate and lower cases than other parts of the state.
St. Paul’s membership has a high vaccination rate, though we are not requiring proof.
The Nave and the Hall are well ventilated. (*Bundle up!)
There will be no congregational singing. (The choir will sing)
There will be no coming forward to receive bread or wine. (Taken individually while seated in pew)
We will continue our contact tracing sign-in upon entering.

INDOOR GATHERINGS AND MEETINGS FOR ST. PAUL’S GROUPS

Masks are required for all people accessing the building.
Sign-in for contact tracing is required.
St. Paul’s fellowship and committee groups may meet in the building. (Please no food at this time. If you need to take a drink, please replace your mask quickly.)
Outdoor receptions may not require masks, but masks are recommended. (We will NOT have indoor receptions at this time.)
No limit on the number of people inside the building.
Limit to two people or family groups in each restroom.

Dear St. Paul’s Parishioners,

What a joy it has been to be back in the Church for the Sunday service! Thanks to Rev. Katie Holicky and the Wardens for helping us take the next step towards normality.

Speaking of “normality,” the members of the Finance Committee are in the annual process of developing budgets for 2022. To that end, they need a good sense of where pledges stand for the next year.

To all of you have submitted your pledge for 2022 we offer a heartfelt, “Thank you!”

If you have not you pledged for 2022, we encourage you to do so. Every pledge in any amount will help us continue to fulfill our mission.

Click here to fill in an electronic 2022 Pledge Card and for an online giving link.

Click here to download a pdf of the 2022 Pledge Card, which you can print and deliver or mail to St. Paul’s (P.O. Box 195, Brunswick, ME 04011).

Blessings to all,

David Treadwell and Bob Jackson
Stewardship Committee, Co-Chairs

Diocese of Maine Hymn Advent Calendar

We are delighted to share this Advent resource with you. Follow along each Advent day in December as we share favorite Advent (and Christmas) hymns and songs, submitted by members, youth, clergy, and staff from all around the diocese!

The link to the Advent calendar is here.

Sunday, December 5th The Second Sunday Of Advent

0:30 a.m. Picnic Eucharist in the Nave and on Facebook
Click on the link below to view from home:
To watch on Facebook
for the Worship Booklet
for the St. Paul’s Announcements

Readings

Parish Announcements

December 12th, 3rd Sunday of Advent
We welcome back our beloved Rector!

We missed you, Rev. Carolyn!

The December Messenger has arrived.

Click here to read all the news!

When Jesus instructed his followers to love their neighbors as themselves, nobody was thinking of vaccines…. read more by Dr. Daniel Summers, M.D., F.A.A.P. Dr. Summers is a pediatrician and regular contributing columnist at Arc Digital, and his writing has appeared in The Washington Post, the New Republic and Slate, among others. Dr. Summers is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in both General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. Dr. Summers is on-staff at Children’s Hospital, and MassGeneral Hospital for Children. He lives in southern Maine with his husband and their four children.

Please follow this link to read more.

Hope for Christmas
For the past few years the St. Pauls’ family had reached out to teens and children in foster and kinship care programs to let them know that they are not forgotten at Christmas. This year you can help by taking a wish off the Christmas tree at the church, fulfilling the wish and returning it to the church by Sunday, December 12th. Another way to help is by donating grocery, store, or gas gift cards that we can give to our Kinship and Foster Families. Any donation will be greatly appreciated and passed on to our families. Thank you for care about the children and families who are often forgotten. Contact Linda Ashe-Ford 207 841 3370 with any questions.

Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program
The word for this week is UP. The economy is up, employment is up, and shopping is up. Unfortunately the price of gas is up, food is up and heating oil is up. The latest report says that 1 in 9 Mainers face food insecurity. You have seen many ads on TV and newspapers asking for coats and toys for children. MCHPP will help fill the need for a Christmas dinner for food insecure families and seniors in our area. Despite our growing economy, the need to support our neighbors is greater than before. Your donation in any amount will help insure that no one who needs assistance goes hungry. Each dollar you give is multiplied 4 times by the buying power of MCHPP. Please send your check to MCHPP, 12 Tenney Way, Brunswick, ME 04011. Thank you for your continued support for our friends and neighbors in the Brunswick area.

Thank you for your support.

St. Paul’s Schedule

Sunday
NO 9:00 a.m. Family Picnic Eucharist in the Great Hall & on Zoom
(ID: 96617111762, Passcode: church)

NO 9:30 a.m. Family Group in the Garden

10:30 a.m. Picnic Eucharist in the Nave & on Facebook Live. https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsBrunswick/live

12:00 p.m. Middle & High School Youth in the Garden (2nd & 4th Sundays)

NO St. Paul’s Zoom Exploring the Sermon after 10:30 a.m. “picnic Eucharist’ approximately 11:50 a.m. ON 12/5

Daily Morning Prayer and Compline
Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday, 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Facebook Live.

Tuesday 12:30 pm Women’s Bible Study in the Garden (if raining, on ZOOM, ID: 814 5988 6763 Passcode: 032484)

Wednesday afternoon Bible Study, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. meets in the Garden (or Great Hall if raining)

Prayer Requests

St. James’, Old Town
St. Andrew’s, Newcastle For the work of United Thank Offering
Pray for Anderson, Andrew, Cedric, Jason, Michael, Richard, and all in the military.
Pray for those who have died remembering especially Shirley Jessup, who died last week.

We pray for:
Christy, Ryan & family, Ray, John, David, Judi, Nick, Bob, Kathy, Skip, the Blackburn family, Willow, Ann, Lollie, Carol, Harlan, Rick+, Elizabeth, Lyn and family

Patsy, Ward, Robert G., Donna, Alan, Victor, Travis & family, Diane, Nate, Priscilla, Garrett, Elliot, Barbara, Alice, baby Isla, Cyndie and Bob, and Ed Barker family

Matthew, Ron, Hope, Darah, Ronald, Ray, Patricia, Steven F, Diane, Therese, Sallie, Julie, Jacob, Carolyn B, Ralph R, Caroline, Kimberly B. and Jane and family

Call or email the parish office if you would like a name to be placed on the prayer list. The names will be removed after three months unless otherwise notified.

Click here for this week’s calendar