St. Paul's E-News November 26th - Thanksgiving: Our Invitation to Give Gratuitous Grace


St. Paul's Episcopal Church


Inclusive-Loving-Generous


www.stpaulwilkesboro.org

336.667.4231
office@stpaulwilkesboro.org

Thanksgiving:

Our Invitation to Give Gratuitous Grace


When we are baptizing a new member into the Body of Christ one of my favorite parts of the service is when I take the chrism oils, make the sign of the cross on the forehead of our newly baptized and I say, “You are anointed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ’s own forever."


Our Baptisms call us into the art and practice of reflecting God’s grace in the world around us. As people of the Baptismal Covenant, we are called to see the world through God’s eyes and be a conduit for God’s grace and love.


As conduits of this grace and love. we are meant to learn to love and offer grace as God does; God’s love and grace come in gratuitous and extravagant waves of forgiveness, hope, joy, and any other acts or emotions that find us feeling absolutely overwhelmed with thanksgiving and gratitude.


Often, our offerings of forgiveness love, grace, or shared joy are metered, they are carefully measured and marked by a reticence to open ourselves up fully to allow the extravagant nature of God’s love to flow out as extravagantly and wastefully as God hopes we might.


God shows us how to do this fully through the life of Jesus. He was a walking, talking example of what God knows all of us can be and do.


To make ourselves a conduit for gratuitous grace is a response to the revelation of God: God sought to create a people who could change the world, who could make the world a place where every person knows that they are loved, are valued, has a contribution to make, and has just as much right to the good things of the world as every other person.


To live this way means more than anything to see the uniqueness, individuality, and unfamiliarity in others as beautiful.


We have an ever-pregnant possibility before us to be a source of grace and hope to neighbors in our community. Thanksgiving is a particularly important time for us to display the love of God at the center of our life together.


Sharing God’s gratuitous grace and love means to become aware and attentive to the sorrow, grief, or anxiety that rises within us when we see others struggling or unfairly targeted. This practice calls us to act and respond to need, rather than deny or ignore it. I know you want to join with me in letting our care for others shine through.


The current division within our nation offers us the opportunity to offer hospitality and to promote a sense of inclusion, and deep welcome to all. The love we show to one another and to our most vulnerable neighbors, week by week, allows gratuitous grace to flow out of our beautiful church and pour out into a world that is hungry for grace.


As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we are reminded that gratitude is also a way to share grace and all that grace entails. Holy Gratitude transcends being thankful for only the positive aspects of life and taps into a deep well of thankfulness even in times of difficulty and struggle; a thankfulness that can translate into wanting everyone to experience the good things that we sometimes take for granted because of our safety in the world.



Happy Thanksgiving,

Mother Stephanie

**Please note that neither Mother Stephanie or St. Paul's will ever send out an e-mail or text communication requesting money, gift cards, etc. They are happening on a regular basis! If you receive any suspicious communications like this, please ignore and delete these communications. Contact the Parish Office at any time with questions or concerns regarding possible scams.**

Upcoming

Sunday Service:



The First Sunday of Advent


Sunday, November 30th


8:30 in the Chapel

10:30 in the Church

More Worship and Study Opportunities at St. Paul's:


~Centering Prayer meets every Tuesday in the Parish Office Conference Room starting at 1:30.

Sunday Altar Flowers


Altar Flowers have been given this coming Sunday by Ron and Tana Myers in honor of their wedding anniversary.

'Tis the Musical Season!


Check out the upcoming seasonal performances below that will be sure to get you in the spirit!

Parlier House Renaming Update


We genuinely appreciate the responses and feedback we received to our poll asking for your thoughts on a new name for the Parlier House, and we have shared the results below.


  • Whittington House - 51 votes
  • Hope House - 32 votes
  • Mercy House - 16 votes


Other singular suggestions included Grace Home, Phoenix House, The Lazarus House, McKenzie House or Rev. Frank's place, as well as two suggestions not to rename the property.


Your Vestry will be considering these results as they work to take the next steps in this process. Watch this space for another update!

Children & Youth Fellowship Opportunity


Make plans to participate or contribute to our next fellowship opportunity for our children and youth!


We are planning to make treat bags to distribute to our neighbors that visit our Crisis assistance program on Thursday, December 18th. Our goal is to have enough goodies to make 100 treat bags.


We are asking for members to bring bags of individually wrapped candy by the Parish Office, or to leave in the Commons in the designated collection box.


Sunday, December 14th will be your last chance to drop off candy as the treat bags will be being packed by our children and youth that same afternoon in the Parish House.


If you have any questions about participating or contributing, please contact the Parish Office at (336) 667-4231.

Do You Receive Along the Way?


Would you like to receive updates on stories and events from all around the diocese, including parish events, and what's currently being offered at different camps and conference centers? Would you like to also receive information on national Episcopal Church news, resources for clergy and lay leadership, and job openings?


If so, please sign up for the official weekly newsletter of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina, Along the Way, that is published every Wednesday (excluding some holidays.) Please use the link below to subscribe, as well to access previous newsletters.


https://www.diocesewnc.org/newsletter

St. Paul's Winter Coat Drive

The Annual Winter Coat Drive at St. Paul's continues in support of the members of our community that are in need.


We are currently accepting new or gently used sweaters, blankets, gloves, socks, coats, and hats for adults and children in all sizes.


Please drop off your donations in the Parish Office, or in the Commons.


Keep Your Bags Coming!



Bedroll Report for October:

Completed: 17 

Distributed: 13


YTD:

Completed:  199

Distributed:  196


Since Starting in 2017:

Completed:   762

Distributed:   749



2025 Goal:

225 (88.4% completed with 2 months to go)



Thanks for bringing your grocery bags!

Scam Alert!


We continue to urge any recipients of questionable e-mails or texts to PLEASE DISREGARD these communications and contact the Parish Office with any concerns or questions regarding the validity of e-mail or text communications. Do not reply to these communications or provide any personal information.

Scripture for Upcoming Sunday Service:


Sunday, November 30th

The First Sunday of Advent

8:30 in the Chapel

10:30 in the Church



The First Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5


The Response: Psalm 122


The Second Reading: Romans 13:11-14


The Gospel: Matthew 24:36-44



Processional Hymn: #57 Lo! He Comes, with Clouds Descending (stanzas 1 and 4)

Sequence Hymn: #61 "Sleepers, Wake!" A Voice Around Us (stanza 1 only)

Recessional Hymn: #66 Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus




The First Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

In days to come

the mountain of the Lord’s house

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

and shall be raised above the hills;

all the nations shall stream to it.

Many peoples shall come and say,

‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

to the house of the God of Jacob;

that he may teach us his ways

and that we may walk in his paths.’

For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,

and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

He shall judge between the nations,

and shall arbitrate for many peoples;

they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,

and their spears into pruning-hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

neither shall they learn war any more.

O house of Jacob,

come, let us walk

in the light of the Lord!


The Response: Psalm 122

Laetatus sum

I was glad when they said to me, *

"Let us go to the house of the Lord."

Now our feet are standing *

within your gates, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is built as a city *

that is at unity with itself;

To which the tribes go up,

the tribes of the Lord, *

the assembly of Israel,

to praise the Name of the Lord.

For there are the thrones of judgment, *

the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *

"May they prosper who love you.

Peace be within your walls *

and quietness within your towers.

For my family's and companions' sake, *

I pray for your prosperity.

Because of the house of the Lord our God, *

I will seek to do you good."


The Second Reading: Romans 13:11-14

You know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.


The Gospel: Matthew 24:36-44

Jesus said to the disciples, “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”

Prayer List


Please remember in your prayers: All who are ill or unemployed and those who are on our prayer list.


Short-term

Jamie Tate, Rose Andrews

 

Long-term

Aliza Grace Mabie, Cade Gibbs, Ray Call, Shane Jenkins, Kaye Hall, Dot Beamon, Da'Shon Horton, Ken Asel, Steve Jackson, Doug Rhodes


Armed Forces

Let us pray for the safety of all our troops, especially John Craine, Micah Duerk, Faith Lankford, Cole Griffith, Jason Westmeyer, and all others who serve throughout the world.

 

Please send to the church office the addresses of troops with connections to

office@stpaulwilkesboro.org, especially those abroad.

Prayer Requests


To make a prayer request:


  • E-mail the Parish Office at office@stpaulwilkesboro.org, or call the Parish Office at (336)-667-4231. The Parish Office is open Monday - Thursday from 8:00 to 3:30.


  • Scan the QR code below to be taken directly to our Prayer Request Form.


  • Visit our website here and find the "Prayer List Request" under the "About St. Paul's" section.

A Note on Prayer Requests


Bulletins are printed on Thursday mornings and requests submitted after that time will not be in the printed bulletin for that week, but they may still be spoken. 


Prayer requests received by noon on Wednesday will be included in the weekly e-newsletter.


Our short-term prayer list will be cleared at the beginning of each month, unless a request has been sent to the office to keep an individual on the short-term prayer list.


Our long-term prayer list will be cleared every three months, unless a request has been sent to the office to keep an individual on the long-term list.

Serving St. Paul's in

November

Altar Guild

2 

Laurie Love, Reba Whittington, Kendall Forester


9

Mike Southwell, Mary Southwell



16 One Bread One Body One Spirit at 9:30 in the Labyrinth

Drew Mayberry, Pam Mayberry


23One Bread One Body One Spirit at 9:30 in the Church

Sharon Greene, Bonnie Merritt


30 

Laurie Love, Reba Whittington, Kendall Forester

Readers

Laurie Love, Steve Reid




9

Edward Southwell, Maggie McCann




16 One Bread One Body One Spirit at 9:30 in the Labyrinth

Drew Mayberry




23 One Bread One Body One Spirit at 9:30 in the Church

Cindy Smith




30 

Laurie Love, Dick Sloop

Acolytes



David Shupe, Linda Schneider



9

Julie Koch, Robin Shumate



16 One Bread One Body One Spirit at 9:30 in the Labyrinth



23 One Bread One Body One Spirit at 9:30 in the Church

Drew Mayberry, Matthew Minick



30 

Keyonii Staley, Mark Williams

Ushers


Jeff Beard, Ryan Minick



9

Jeff Beard, David McNeill





16 One Bread One Body One Spirit at 9:30 in the Labyrinth

Bob Houghton



23 One Bread One Body One Spirit at 9:30 in the Church

Bill Harris, Ron Myers





30 

John Harwell, Ryan Minick

November 29th - Maggie McCann

December 1st - Devvie Asel

December 3rd - Sarah Fesperman

November 28th - Lonny & Joan Bumgarner

November 29th - Ron & Tana Myers

December 3rd - Ralph & Rosa Jolly

Stay Connected to St. Paul's!


Use the St. Paul's Youtube Channel link to tune in to live services, as well as to watch previously recorded services.

Use the St. Paul's Website link to access our website anytime. Please contact the Parish Office if you would like to add to, or edit our website information.

Use the St. Paul's Vestry link to directly access Vestry Meeting Minutes.

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