All Are Welcome

Pledge 2025: When you share your gifts with your neighbors, every step is walking in love. We invite you to share your time and talents by signing up for Lay Ministries, or participation in church groups.



We also invite you to share your treasure by turning in your pledge. A pledge is not a contract, but a goal. By turning in your pledge, the Vestry can plan 2025. So far, we have received 51 pledges; last year, we had a total of 64. Pledges can be turned in at the church office, on Realm or in the offering plate. Thank you for walking in love with us.

Vestry Nominations: The vestry is seeking nomination for three members to serve three-year terms on our vestry beginning in February. Candidates must be confirmed members and must attend regularly and pledge. You may submit your name or the name of another member to a member of the vestry. A slate of candidates will be presented to the membership prior to our annual meeting on January 19th. 

Altar Guild Volunteers Needed & Flower Scheduling: St Paul's Altar Guild needs volunteers for the following months: March (need 2), September (need 1), and October (need 1).

Also, flowers are needed for the following Sundays before Ash Wednesday: Jan 19th & 26th, Feb 2nd, 9th, & 23rd, and March 2nd. Contact Jo Cargill-Krug at 870-613-6981. Text Jo if possible and she will confirm what dates are available.

Mark Your Calendar:

• Coffee Hour: After the service, everyone is invited to the Parish House (two lefts at the bottom of the steps) for refreshments and fellowship
• Children’s Sunday School: Sunday, January 19th at 9:45 am
• Care Team Meeting: Sunday, January 12th after the 10:30 service
• St. Paul’s Annual Meeting: Sunday, January 19th between services; coffee & snacks provided
• Bishop Harmon’s Annual Visit: Sunday January 26th we will have a breakfast potluck between services. Please bring your favorite breakfast casserole or treat!
• Mahjongg Lessons: Every Sunday at 2:00 pm in the Parish Hall
• Adult Sunday School: Sundays, 9:30 am in the Parish Hall
• The Chosen Discussion Group: Every Monday from 5:30-7 pm. During the waiting period for Season 5 of The Chosen to become available, we will be using our Tuesday 3-4:30 pm meeting time to put together a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle depicting Jesus and the apostles. We invite anyone who likes such puzzles to join us each Tuesday afternoon for comradery starting January 7, 2025.

Blessing Box: Looking for ideas about what to donate for the Blessing Box? Rice Krispie treats, pop tarts, ramen noodles, fruit snacks, granola bars or chips work! These items will go in the Blessing Box, and will also be shared with our Lyon College students when the Care Team makes “snack bags” to pass out monthly. Thank you! 😊

Officiant: Sarah Harmon*

8:00 Lector: Mike Schmidt

10:30 Lector: Gary Perkey

Acolyte: Karis Ford

Ushers: Mike & Rhonda Mundy

Technical Support: Jon Healey

Coffee Hour: Sarah Drake

Altar Guild: Judy Purnell, Kathryn Johnson, & Jo Cargill-Krug

Community Meal (1/15/2025):  Team Wray

This Sunday's altar flowers are given to the glory of God and in appreciation of the work of St. Paul’s Vestry and the Rector Search Committee by Sandy and Nelson Barnett.

*This Sunday's sermon is from Sermons that Work, a ministry of The Episcopal Church’s Office of Communication. It is titled A Call That Cannot Be Denied and was written by Rev. Susanna E. Metz; Metz is an Episcopal priest who serves St. John the Baptist Church, Battle Creek, TN, Diocese of East Tennessee and is also an Assistant Professor, School of Theology, Sewanee, TN. Published by the Office of Communication of The Episcopal Church, 815 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 © 2024 The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. All rights reserved. When using this sermon in part or in whole, please credit verbally or in print Sermons That Work, a ministry of The Episcopal Church, and the original author.