Join us this Sunday

December 8th at 11 AM

Second Sunday of Advent

Lisa Smith

Celebrant & Preacher

to join online use the links for

Zoom-link or YouTube

Follow along with the service

Bulletins will be emailed

~ send request to admin@stpaulspaterson.org

Misa este Domingo

8 de Diciembre a las 11 AM

Segundo Domingo de Adviento



Lisa Smith

Celebrante y Predicadora

enlaces para asistir por el internet:

Zoom-link o YouTube

Para recibir el boletín

envie su correo electrónico a

admin@stpaulspaterson.org

every Tuesday and Wednesday at 8:30 pm

Offered on Deacon Erik's Facebook Page:

Erik G Soldwedel

Have you ever read or learned about four women of the Bible that heralded the coming of Jesus the Messiah? These are the women who prepared the way of the Lord. 

I thank a clergy colleague who announced that her congregation would be learning about these four brave women as a major part of their Advent services, one for each candle of the four weeks of the season.

You will not find these women in Luke’s Gospel to be part of the lineage of Jesus Christ in any way. We all know from centuries of tradition that the house of David begins with Jesse’s root. However, tradition ignores much in this lineage that pre-dates Jesse.

Tamar, the first of the four women, is mentioned in Matthew 1:3 and in Genesis 38. She was a widow who took redemption into her own hands after her father-in-law, Judah, refused to let her marry his third son, Shelah. Under a disguise, she entered the city gates and Judah mistook her to be a prostitute. Tamar becomes pregnant from her encounter with Judah and instead of being stoned to death for adultery; she exposes Judah as the father of her child. Judah was shamed into his primary responsibility and redemption was found.

The second woman is Rahab mentioned by Matthew in Chapter 1, verse 5. The Prophet Joshua [Ch. 2, vs, 1-24] credits Rahab with assisting Israelite spies sent by Joshua to assess the Promised Land. In return for her bravery, she is granted admittance to the Israelite community along with her family as written in Joshua Ch. 6, vs. 17-25.

Ruth, who Matthew mentions for her bravery, is the third woman in this pre-Jesse lineage [Ch. 1, vs. 5]. We read in Ruth Ch. 1, vs. 16, how she stubbornly decides to return with her late husband’s mother to her home in Israel. This was a brave move for Ruth who was a Moabite and a former Priestess of the Temple of Moab. Ruth takes the customs of her late husband’s faith and so that she and Naomi can live securely, she lies at the feet of her late husband’s wealthy kinsman redeemer, Boaz. She ultimately convinced him to marry her, and she bore him a son Obed, who was the father of Jesse. Ruth is the great, great grandmother of David.

Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, King David’s General, is the fourth woman mentioned in Matthew [Ch 1, vs. 6]. Bathsheba is recorded in 2 Samuel 11:4 as the woman forced into an adulterous relationship with King David while her husband was at war. It is recorded that David had Uriah the Hittite murdered in battle [2 Samuel Ch. 11:15-16] as he impregnated Bathsheba with a child. That child, Absolom, was killed by God as retribution for the adultery committed by David and Bathsheba [2 Samuel Ch.12:14-1]. However, Bathsheba cunningly ensures David’s Dynasty by giving birth to her second son Solomon as recorded in the book of Kings [Kings Ch. 1]. 

In a bible authored by men, these four women are noted for bravery in spite of sordid lives. The relationship as recorded in Hebrew scripture is clear as Matthew recognizes their intricate role in the heralding of Jesus. Each of these women has a connection with Mary the mother of Jesus. Matthew begins his gospel with the story of Mary’s pregnancy. This pregnancy was scandalous to say the least, and it demonstrates that Matthew exposes how God uses women to further his plans by placing them in sexually dangerous and vulnerable positions.   

Mary, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba all give birth to great children who redeemed Israel and made it great. Jesus is the fifth and final child born from what could have been marked as a great scandal. However, Jesus brought what all of Israel was crying for, Emanuel. The carpenter turned Rabbi offered forgiveness and a way to share faith in a loving God with all we meet. I believe these brave women offered not just life and first nourishment to their children, instilling in each child a brave and tender heart. We find this tender bravery in all that Jesus did in his mortal life span.

In this season of expectation filled with doubt, fear and hope for our nation, let us draw inspiration from these women who worked tirelessly for their faith and redemption. Each of us has ancestors and mentors who have guided us. I often speak of women in my life related by blood and by love -- each of them brave and tender. They have made me a better man and a better Christian by the fierce love shared with me. This is the love that sustains me in times of fear and expectation. 

Let us make this Advent a time to honor the women in our lives and share their stories with future generations.

¿Ha leído o aprendido alguna vez acerca de las cuatro mujeres de la Biblia que anunciaron la llegada de Jesús el Mesías? Estas son las mujeres que prepararon el camino del Señor.

Agradezco a una colega del clero que anunció que su congregación aprendería acerca de estas cuatro mujeres valientes como parte importante de sus servicios de Adviento, uno por cada vela de las cuatro semanas de la temporada.

En el Evangelio de Lucas, no encontrará que estas mujeres sean parte del linaje de Jesucristo de ninguna manera. Todos sabemos por siglos de tradición que la casa de David comienza con la raíz de Jesé. Sin embargo, la tradición ignora mucho en este linaje que es anterior a Jesé.

Tamar, la primera de las cuatro mujeres, es mencionada en Mateo 1:3 y en Génesis 38. Era una viuda que tomó la redención en sus propias manos después de que su suegro, Judá, se negara a dejarla casarse con su tercer hijo, Sela. Bajo un disfraz, entró por las puertas de la ciudad y Judá la confundió con una prostituta. Tamar queda embarazada de su encuentro con Judá y en lugar de ser apedreada hasta la muerte por adulterio, expone a Judá como el padre de su hijo. Judá fue avergonzado y asumió su responsabilidad principal y se encontró la redención.

La segunda mujer es Rahab mencionada por Mateo en el capítulo 1, versículo 5. El profeta Josué [cap. 2, versículos 1-24] le atribuye a Rahab el mérito de ayudar a los espías israelitas enviados por Josué para evaluar la Tierra Prometida. A cambio de su valentía, se le concede la entrada a la comunidad israelita junto con su familia, como está escrito en Josué, capítulo 6, versículos 17-25.

Rut, a quien Mateo menciona por su valentía, es la tercera mujer en este linaje anterior a Jesé [cap. 1, versículo 5]. Leemos en Rut, capítulo 1, versículo 16, cómo ella decide obstinadamente regresar con la madre de su difunto esposo a su hogar en Israel. Este fue un movimiento valiente por parte de Rut, que era moabita y ex sacerdotisa del Templo de Moab. Rut adopta las costumbres de la fe de su difunto esposo y, para que ella y Noemí puedan vivir seguras, se acuesta a los pies del rico pariente redentor de su difunto esposo, Booz. Finalmente, lo convenció de que se casara con ella y le dio un hijo, Obed, que fue el padre de Jesé. Rut es la tatarabuela de David.

Betsabé, la esposa de Urías, el general del rey David, es la cuarta mujer mencionada en Mateo [cap. 1, v. 6]. Betsabé está registrada en 2 Samuel 11:4 como la mujer obligada a una relación adúltera con el rey David mientras su esposo estaba en la guerra. Está registrado que David hizo asesinar a Urías el hitita en batalla [2 Samuel cap. 11:15-16] cuando embarazó a Betsabé con un niño. Ese niño, Absalón, fue asesinado por Dios como retribución por el adulterio cometido por David y Betsabé [2 Samuel 12:14-1]. Sin embargo, Betsabé astutamente asegura la dinastía de David al dar a luz a su segundo hijo, Salomón, como se registra en el libro de los Reyes [Reyes 1].

En una Biblia escrita por hombres, estas cuatro mujeres son conocidas por su valentía a pesar de sus vidas sórdidas. La relación registrada en las escrituras hebreas es clara, ya que Mateo reconoce su intrincado papel en la proclamación de Jesús. Cada una de estas mujeres tiene una conexión con María, la madre de Jesús. Mateo comienza su evangelio con la historia del embarazo de María. Este embarazo fue escandaloso por decir lo menos, y demuestra que Mateo expone cómo Dios usa a las mujeres para promover sus planes al colocarlas en posiciones sexualmente peligrosas y vulnerables.

María, Tamar, Rahab, Rut y Betsabé dan a luz a grandes hijos que redimieron a Israel y lo hicieron grande. Jesús es el quinto y último hijo nacido de lo que podría haber sido marcado como un gran escándalo. Sin embargo, Jesús trajo lo que todo Israel estaba pidiendo a gritos: Emanuel. El carpintero convertido en rabino ofreció perdón y una manera de compartir la fe en un Dios amoroso con todos los que conocemos. Creo que estas mujeres valientes no solo ofrecieron vida y primer alimento a sus hijos, sino que inculcaron en cada niño un corazón valiente y tierno. Encontramos esta tierna valentía en todo lo que Jesús hizo durante su vida mortal.

En esta época de expectativas llena de dudas, miedo y esperanza para nuestra nación, inspirémonos en estas mujeres que trabajaron incansablemente por su fe y redención. Cada uno de nosotros tiene antepasados ​​y mentores que nos han guiado. A menudo hablo de mujeres en mi vida relacionadas por la sangre y el amor, cada una de ellas valiente y tierna. Me han hecho un mejor hombre y un mejor cristiano por el amor feroz que compartieron conmigo. Este es el amor que me sostiene en tiempos de miedo y expectativa.

Hagamos de este Adviento un momento para honrar a las mujeres en nuestras vidas y compartir sus historias con las generaciones futuras.

Speaking about the spirit of generosity that comes with Advent as we prepare Christmas gifts for those to whom we want to show our love and appreciation, Bishop Hughes observes, "Our heart opens up, and our goal is to take care of somebody else, and something in that gives us something that we weren't expecting – an incredible sense of love and peace and abundance and a knowledge that we are in the midst of God's world doing what God wants us to do, that we are giving what God has to give, that we are giving God's love, not just our own love, that it's fueled by God in the first place." (Time: 4:44 | Read the transcript.)

Hablando sobre el espíritu de generosidad que acompaña al Adviento cuando preparamos regalos de Navidad para aquellos a quienes queremos mostrar nuestro amor y aprecio, el obispo Hughes observa: "Nuestro corazón se abre y nuestro objetivo es cuidar de otra persona, y algo en eso nos da algo que no esperábamos: una increíble sensación de amor, paz y abundancia y un conocimiento de que estamos en medio del mundo de Dios haciendo lo que Dios quiere que hagamos, que estamos dando lo que Dios tiene para dar, que estamos dando el amor de Dios, no solo nuestro propio amor, que es impulsado por Dios en primer lugar". (Tiempo: 4:44 | Lea la transcripción).

Below is the 2025 pledge card. If you haven't received or returned a card yet, you can...

• place your completed card in the collection plate on any Sunday
• use a blank pledge card found in the pews
• print this page and take it or mail it to church at your convenience
• or send an email with your pledge details to admin@stpaulspaterson.org

Convened by Lisa Smith

The next Bible Study session is

December 5th at 7pm

we will read and study Chapter 6 of the book

“The Gospel of John: A Beginner’s Guide to the Way, the Truth, and the Life”

by Amy-Jill Levine 

and also read Chapter 20 of John in scripture

To join, click the link below:

Bible Study Zoom Link

This month's

Family Souper Cafe

December 14, 2024

12 noon until 1:30 pm

Volunteers should arrive by 11 am

and talk to Milsey Katz or

Irene Sterling

isterling369@gmail.com

St. Paul's Church

422 Broadway (near East 18th Street)

Facebook: Sundays at St. Paul's

https://www.facebook.com/SundaysAtStPauls/

Sundays at 11 am

Church Services:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83826152130?pwd=K3o0ZXErMktXZi9QNi9DTU9taWU0UT09

(note: this is a new updated link, with no waiting room)

Thursdays at 7 pm

Bible Study:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81310479830

typically the 3rd Saturday each Month at 10 am

Listening Circle:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84505778645

Mary Lindie 12/12

Joyce Henry 12/16

Patsy Brooks 12/16

Wayne Yankus 12/17

Ed Ramos 12/24

Ez Ramos 12/28

Elaine Vinopal 12/31

(please email your birthdays to be listed in this section, admin@stpaulspaterson.org)

Christian communities pray for one another all the time. 

Several requests have been made to create and share

a Parish Prayer List, 

and we will starting in September.  

The following are the guidelines for this list;

first names only and we will pray for them in no specific

way as to the request. 

The names will be read once a month

during a regular Sunday service.

Every effort will be made to refresh the list every month. 

The list will be printed in the Quill and a printed copy

will be available at the church.  

There is a culture in our nation that promotes violence and carnage due to the lack of a nationwide gun law and the banning of semi automatic weapons being available to anyone other than the US Armed Forces. Yesterday Wednesday September 4th there was another fatal school shooting. The Right Reverend Robert Wright, Bishop of the Diocese of Atlanta Georgia offered the following prayer in response to Wednesday's shooting and death of two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School.  

“Gracious God, our strength and consolation, be present with our children and their families at Apalachee High School. Dispatch your angels to those families who have lost children and loved ones; help them to feel your love and care even at this dark hour. Heal those who have been hospitalized through the care of skilled professionals and restore them to health. Bless the first responders and law enforcement officers who run towards danger on our behalf. And finally, we pray for the one who committed this violence that they would repent and live the rest of their days as your healing instrument, this we pray in the name of Jesus, Lord and friend.” AMEN

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Parish Office Hours

Mon by appointment

Tue - Thur 10 am - 2 pm

Fri by appointment

Sat Closed

Sun we open at 10 am for worship at 11 am

(Hours may vary, please call ahead to confirm)



Reverend Erik Soldwedel,

Deacon in Residence

Office hours by appointment only

Mobile: 201-788-3407 

Email: eriksoldwedel@gmail.com



Please let Ed know of any questions and updates to your member profile in the Church Database.

Recuerdense de contactar a Ed para actualizar su pérfil y datos en el directorio de la iglesia.

bookkeeper@stpaulspaterson.org

Click the image below to read the latest edition of The Voice Online

March 1950 View from Van Houten Street before St. Margaret's Hall was built (photo shared by William L. Griffin IV, grandson of The Rev. William L. Griffin, Jr.; Rector of St. Paul's Church from 1939 to 1964)