On The Road to Damascus...
Weekly Email Blast
December 22, 2022
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For those celebrating Birthdays & Anniversaries:
This Week:
Gina Olson (12/26), Ryan Caferra (12/28), Sean House (12/28), Esther Ottaway (12/29), Kyle Beyer (12/29), Laura Wetzel (12/20), Tristan Battistoni (12/31).
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WEEKLY MESSAGE
This weekend we celebrate Christmas: the celebration of the Word of God made incarnate in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus is the Word. Literally Jesus' life was the teachings of God, which is why The Gospel of John refers to Jesus himself as “Truth." The ultimate Truth with a Big T shows up in a form we will recognize. This should not be such a surprise since for centuries we have said that God created us in "his own image." Our ancestors imagined this going all the way back to the book of Genesis. And on Christmas Day we say "The Word became flesh and lived among us.”
For this reason, we say Jesus is fully human and fully divine. Jesus is both the Son of Man and the Son of God. As the Son of Man we believe he is the “perfect" human. But Jesus didn’t come to stand before us as the perfect human set upon a pedestal or even set upon a cross. Jesus came to give us the Holy Spirit: The spirit of life and guidance; “a mighty counselor, the prince of peace.” The light he shone for us in his earthly pilgrimage was first light, the light of creation beaming out of another human being to illumine our hearts and our minds with the love of God.
Our story tells us that Jesus shows up as a tiny baby to remind us that while God may be immoveable, we need to nurture the light in each and every fragile one of us.
As we grow up we need to learn to overcome the darkness in our own lives by nurturing the light. This Christmas forget about perfection, and instead... let the light of life illumine your heart and mind!
Merry Christams!
Heather+
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STREAMING SERVICES
If you aren't able to be with us in person, for whatever reason, please tune into our FaceBook page on Sunday morning where we will continue live-streaming our 10:00am service. The link for streaming is:
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WHO DOES WHAT THIS WEEK
SUNDAY
Altar Setup Esther
8:00AM
EM Billy W
Lector Pat M
Usher Jonathan
Altar Reset Billy W
10:00AM
EM Esther
Lector Rita
Acolyte John Stubbs
Asst. Acolyte Celina
Ushers John G., Linda
Asst Ushers Heather, McKenzie
Hospitality --
Vestry Counters Marilyn, Ginny
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Main Altar Flowers this week are offered by: The Parishioners
Altar flowers may be dedicated in memory of a person or anniversary. A sign up sheet for the entire year is available in the narthex of the church. Won't you consider honoring a special date? Simply sign up and make checks payable to St. Paul's, memo line: Altar Flowers.
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Coffee Hour is on hiatus ... see you in 2023
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Our Thrift Shop will be closed until after the new year.
Stay tuned for more information!
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Adam's Gift Cards are a great way to help St. Paul's while doing your usual shopping. They make great "last minute" holiday gifts too!
Consider buying a $25, $50, $100 card, safe in the knowledge that a portions of sales comes straight to St. Pauls!
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WILL RESUME ON JANUARY 4TH - Wednesday Noon Study (Noon to 1:30pm) will expand to include the exploration of mystics such as Theresa of Avila, Julian of Norwich, and John of the Cross. These Christian Saints lived prayer-filled lives that were imbued with visions and experiences of Christ that continue to inform how we recognize and name spiritual encounters with the Divine. Mystics experience God as love with ultimate compassion and share an understanding that failings are something to grow from rather than to dwell upon. We will be using modern translations. Join us Wednesdays at noon. Bring a lunch.
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EVENTS OF NOTE
THIS WEEK - 12/24 Christmas Eve, Festive Eucharist 5:30PM
THIS WEEK - 12/25 Christmas Day, without music 9:00AM
01/07 Epiphany "Sound Bath" Service 2:00PM
01/09 Vestry Meeting 7:00PM
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We now have available Gluten Free Communion Hosts. If you are celiac or gluten intolerant, make yourself known to an usher who will explain the simple procedure for receiving one of the a gluten free hosts.
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The Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Food Pantry is currently open
every Wednesday from 6:00 to 7:30 pm
Guests are welcome from anywhere in the Arlington school district....
no proof of income required.
Volunteers are welcome any time and so are donations of $ or nonperishable food!
Contact Liz Whitman at 845 464 3903 for more information
Please consider donating any of the following:
Deodorant
Shampoo
Ramen Noodles
Children's Cereal
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Special Prayer List
Barbara Bedder
Judy Buechele
Terri Ghee
Craig Gordon
Rhoda Gruner
Jimmy Ho
Pat Johnson
Kathryn
Gerri Knechtel
Betty Lorentzen
Marilyn
Linda Rothmann
Rosemary Wright
Samantha
Shelby
Stevie Stubbs
In Memory of Bettijean Cave
In Memory of Teri Jones
In Memory of Harold House
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Reminders
Adams Gift Cards: Year-Round Fundraising - PLEASE CALL GINNY OR DEBBY TO ARRANGE FOR PICKUP.
If you shop at Adams or give gift cards as gifts, our ministries benefit from this fundraiser. Thank You!
Communications
If you use Facebook, please like & follow the St. Paul's page. Also, please invite people you know who may be interested in the mission and outreach ministries at St. Paul's. ALSO, please "Subscribe" to our YouTube channel and let others know about it. Let's get the WORD out!
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UPDATED Weekly Ministry Schedule
Wednesdays:
12-1::30 PM Wednesday Study and Bag Lunch
6:00 PM Ecumenical Food Pantry: PV United Methodist Church
Thursdays:
6:00 PM Centering Prayer, Church & Zoom
6:45 - 8 PM - Healing Service Grief Support Group*
*3rd Thursday of the month
Fridays:
6:00 PM: Evening Prayer, Church
Sundays:
8:00 AM Holy Eucharist Rite I, Church
10:00 AM Holy Eucharist Rite II, Church & FB
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In case of Pastoral Emergency:
Please call (845) 635-0465 to reach the person on call.
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Are you enjoying the newsletter, On The Road to Damascus? Do you have suggestions? Is there someone else you think might like to receive a copy? To subscribe simply send an email to stpaulspv@gmail.com with the name and email address you want added. Help us spread the Word.
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Do you have an announcement or prayer you would like included in this newsletter? Send and email to stpaulspv@gmail.com with the details. It's that easy!
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