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a seasonal publication of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in St. Clair, Michigan.
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Merry Christmas!
epistle Want to make the most of the season?
The happiest time of the year
Merry Christmas
The Meaning of Christmas
Resetting the Table
Small Acts of Giving
Follow Jesus in the New Year
Final Thoughts : Epiphany
Worship Opportunities
Christmas is one season we feel like we
“get”. For us, we see it as a time to gather
with family, to share in the love of Jesus,
and to remember our feelings and experi-
ences of family.
What if we hold to the idea that Christ-
mas doesn’t end when we wake up on the
morning of the 26th, trucking our tree out
to the curb. What if we celebrated all 12
days; wishing people a “Merry Christ-
mas” and giving gifts to one another?
the A seasonal publication of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
1.2 Issue in this issue >>>
Merry Christmas & blessing to you and your entire family throughout
this holiday season!
I am so very thankful to be with you this year, with St. Paul’s as we
celebrate the seasons of Christmas and Epiphany: two of my absolute
favorite seasons. In Christmas, we celebrate the incarnate Word of
GOD, Jesus. We celebrate his coming in our history, his continued
presence with us, and his future coming again to reconcile the world.
It is awesome! In season after the Epiphany, we are mindful of Je-
sus’s mission in the world.
Mostly, I am thankful to have found a home at St. Paul’s. We are a
people that demonstrate the love of Christ with one another and with
the stranger. A people moved to act and be. A people who are able to
recognize our united life together as a journey and continued experi-
ence of the divine love of GOD. There are few things more
“Christmasy” than that.
In this season of hope and expectation, may we remember what we
are called to do and who we are called to be: the hands and feet of
Christ.
Peace to you,
Drew+
Christmas & Epiphany
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The Epistle
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
115 N. Sixth St. St. Clair, MI 48079
T: 810.329.3821 F: 810.329.1166
stpaulstclair.org @StPaulStClair
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Rev. Drew Downs
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Phillip Lundman
To have a submission considered for the upcoming issue of the Epistle, please contact
Rev. Drew at [email protected]
Or call 810.329.3821
Next issue: February 10th, 2012 Submissions for this edition are due
by February 6th, 2012
Supporting St. Paul’s
Ask us about the many ways of giving: pre-authorized giving, weekly envelopes, offer-ings at services, annual gifts and bequests.
Drop by/Mail in:
PO Box 161 115 N. Sixth St
St. Clair, MI 48079
Call: 810.329.3821
As the calendar shifts, we find ourselves in a flurry of changing
seasons. Christmas, then the Season after the Epiphany, followed
quickly by Lent. During this time we shift our focus to different
priorities.
UnWinding of the Greens Sunday, January 13, we will gather after the 10:00 am and join
together in a new annual tradition: the Unwinding of the
Greens. Please join us as we take down the Christmas decora-
tions and prepare our worship space for the new season.
Worship Team Meeting At the changing of the season, it is an appropriate time to gather
all those involved with leading worship together to get on the
same page. All worship leaders, which includes readers, acolytes,
choir, Eucharistic ministers, musicians, ushers, and the altar
guild are strongly encouraged to join us Sunday, February 3 af-
ter the 10:00 service for a meeting and re-training. If you or
someone you know is interested in any of these ministries, please
encourage them to join us!
In the indelible Christmas special A Charlie Brown Christmas,
the title character wonders aloud if anyone knows the meaning of
Christmas and Linus recites the birth narrative from Luke. It is a
warm moment. But Christmas is only half about the birth of Je-
sus and the coming of our savior. The other half is the lengths
GOD went and will go to love humanity.
We get the name “Christmas” from the Christ Mass, a sequence
of three masses in the Latinized church, celebrated three times
(midnight, dawn, and day) on December 25th, one for each of the
characteristics of Jesus’s incarnation. We maintain this tradition
in the Lectionary (if not our practice) by having three different
choices of readings to highlight those different aspects. This tra-
dition helps guide us toward a broader understanding of GOD.
For Christians, we gain comfort from the pastoral image of Je-
sus’s birth. But it is much more than that: we learn about the
lengths GOD will go to save us and the challenge of sharing that
incredible love with one another. May this Christmas season
bring you joy and the shareable love of Christ.
worship >>>
Resetting the Table Swiftly Changing Seasons
The Meaning of Christmas Linus is half-right
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mission >>>
formation >>>
Church Leadership
WARDENS
Carol Borne Myron Kubbe
VESTRY
Al Barnes Sally Beck
Lois Kaufman Dorothy LaFrance
Bette Stencil Micelle Weaver
ALTAR GUILD
Peg Lozen Pat McNamara
BUILDINGS & GROUNDS
Tom Jubb
CARE/SHARE
Cortney Paddock
CHILDREN’S FORMATION
Jacquie Ebelt
THRIFT SHOP
Jackie Rands
ORGANIST
Carrie Stewart-Gulan
RECTOR
The Rev. Drew Downs
Help Spread Ice Melt! You don’t have to shovel or plow snow. What we need is help
spreading the Ice Melt. If you’d like to give us a hand a few times
this winter, contact Tom Jubb or the church office.
Got Bottles? Are you tired of sorting those returnable bottles and cans and re-
turning them to the local stores? Why not let the Spiritual Care
Share Ministry take care of that chore for you. Beginning in Janu-
ary we will be collecting returnable bottles and cans to further
giving in 2013. Watch for further details.
St. Paul’s Day Sunday, January 27th, we will celebrate our patron’s feast day,
the Conversion of St. Paul. We will have one service at 9:00,
gather for our annual meeting, and share in a potluck. Please mark
your calendars and come celebrate with us.
Small Acts of Giving Two important ministries & St. Paul’s Day
Follow Jesus in the New Year
Adopt learning as a resolution this year
We currently have two weekly ministries of formation, but expect
more to come!
The Basics of Faith Our weekly gathering to explore the basic elements of our faith,
including worship, history, and why we do this!
Wednesdays at 6:30 pm -The Living Room
Bible Study Each Sunday, we gather between the services to explore the story
of Scripture. Bible Study returns in February.
Sundays at 9:15 am -The Living Room
Reflections posted Tuesday at spbiblestudy.wordpress.com
Newcomers Class Coming in January, we will be offering a newcomers class for
those new to the faith, looking to join, or hoping to be confirmed.
Dates, Times, Location are TBD
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What is Epiphany?
In The Next Issue
What is the Bible?
Who is St. Paul?
Surviving Lent
Epiphany is a season of witness, realization, and mission.
thoughts... final
Contact us at 810.329.3821 stpaulstclair.org
coming soon >>>
We know that an epiphany is a moment of realization. Perhaps a di-
vine “ah ha!” or “Eureka!” in which something just clicks.
It is also the day the Christmas Season ends. Therefore, Epiphany
always falls on January 6th, after twelve days of Christmas. Begun
in the Eastern church, Epiphany was a much bigger deal than Christ-
mas, marking Jesus’s baptism and the beginning of His mission of
reconciling the world. The Latinized church turned its focus to the
arrival of the “wise men” and Jesus’s ministry to the Gentiles.
There is an interesting connection between the two ideas about
Epiphany: that it is both about “ah ha!” moments and the mission of
the church. Perhaps it is best summed up by the old Christian word:
witness. That we have an experience of the incarnate Word and are
compelled to share it. Perhaps this is the season for sharing!
EPIPHANY 1/6
8:00 am & 10:00 am
EPIPHANY 1 1/13
8:00 am & 10:00 am Unwinding of the Greens
EPIPHANY 2 1/20
8:00 am & 10:00 am
ST. PAUL’S DAY 1/27
9:00 am Celebration and Annual Meeting
EPIPHANY 4 2/3
8:00 am & 10:00 am
EPIPHANY 5 2/10
8:00 am & 10:00 am
Worship Opportunities Celebrating Christmas and Epiphany
Christmas Eve -Family Worship
December 24, 4:30 pm
-Carols and Eucharist
December 24, 10:30 pm
Christmas Day December 25, 10:00 am
Christmas 1
-Morning Prayer
December 30, 8:00 am
-Festival Lessons & Music
December 30, 10:00 am
Visit our Facebook page for more!
www.facebook.com/stpaulstclair
