Sunday, December 2, 2018     
The First Sunday of Advent

IN THIS ISSUE
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ONGOING EVENTS  

Adult Bible Study
Lectionary Bible Study
This Bible Study group meets Wednesday mornings 9:00-10:30 upstairs in the Parish Hall.  They study the readings for the next Sunday.  The group is led by Jerry Redditt.  Come join whenever you can .  
 
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Wednesdays 10:30-noon, room 2-2

Choir Rehearsals
Adult Choir 
Wed. 7:15-8:30  
--  
Sr. Choristers 
(grades 6-12)
Sun. 4:30-5   
--  
Jr. Choristers 
(grades 2-5) 
Wed. 5-5:45  

Ladies' Night Out
Meets the Second Thursday of every month at 6:00 p.m. 

Connect Fund
The first Sunday of each month, the loose plate offering goes to fund our CONNECT Ministry (Benevolence Fund).
Picture
This Sunday Morning, December 2nd
Adult Holiday Coffee Hour
After 7:30 Service and During the
Christian Education Hou
r

On this first Sunday in Advent, we will gather in the Parish Hall for a Holiday Coffee Hour!

Christian Education for children and youth is occurring this Sunday.

In addition to some great fellowship the St. Paul's Archives Committee will be displaying holiday pictures and bulletins from St. Paul's history.
Advent Wreath Cropped
This Sunday Night, December 2nd
Advent Wreath Party: 5 to 6:30 pm
Please join us for our annual Advent wreath making party, in the Parish Hall. We will enjoy a meal together and create wreaths with our St. Paul's family. 

This is a great fellowship opportunity for the whole church; hope to see you there! 

Please RSVP by today:

Questions? Email Cindy Guevart at
[email protected] .
Pageant for Christmas Angel Image
Christmas Pageant Sunday
December 16th
Our annual Christmas pageant will be Sunday, December 16th at the 8:30 am service!
Practice times are: Saturday December 1st from 9-11 am, Sunday December 9th from 12-2 pm, and there is a MANDATORY dress rehearsal on Saturday December 15th from 9 am-noon.
Email Cindy at [email protected] for questions.

Wesley Arning Ordained
To The Sacred Order
Of Priests
Our own Wesley Arning will be ordained a priest on Saturday, December 15th at 10 am at St. James the Less Episcopal Church in Madison, TN . We invite you to join the larger diocese at the ordination. 

Please keep Wesley in your prayers as he prepares for this important day. St. James the Less Episcopal Church, 411 W. Due West Ave., Madison, TN 37115 .
Poinsettia Dedications
Christmas Flowers
These will be on the Flower Guild bulletin board in the Narthex this week. Deadline for Poinsettias is Sunday Dec. 23rd. 

There will also be flowers on the altar throughout Christmas. If you wish to contribute to those the deadline is Monday Dec. 17th. These are firm deadlines because the office staff needs time to prepare the
bulletins and print. 

Please leave envelopes in the box on the Flower Guild bulletin board or in the Flower Guild mail
slot in the office.
Fellowship
Senior Birthday Luncheon 
December 6th
Senior parishioners (ages 70+), please RSVP today if you haven't already replied to the invitation to attend the Senior Birthday Luncheon to be held this Thursday, December 6th , at 11:30 am in the Parish Hall.
Join in the fun! 

Contact Liz Huber at 615-584-0482 or email [email protected] to RSVP with
"accept" or "decline".

RSVP deadline is this Sunday, December 2nd.
Senior Coffee and Conversation
December 7th
You are invited to attend the monthly Senior Coffee and Conversation get-together, on Friday December 7th, in the downstairs classrooms behind the Parish Hall, from 9:30 to 11 am . This is a great opportunity to spend time enjoying and getting to know fellow parish members better, in a casual atmosphere. Please join us for some good snacks and a hot cup of coffee or tea.
(Sponsored by your Senior Adult Ministry)
Ladies Night Out
Ladies Night Out - December 13th
Please join us for Ladies Night Out, Thursday, December 13th , anytime between 6-9 pm at Libby Willis' home, 730 E. Burton Street, downtown Murfreesboro (2 blocks behind Central Magnet, corner of Burton & Hale). It is a very casual evening intended simply for fellowship. People typically bring along whatever beverage they might like to drink . If your day permits, bring along a snack to share as well.  Hope to see you!  
Call Libby with questions, 615-545-0220.
Outreach
 
Loose Offering This Sunday,
December 2nd, Supports CONNECT Ministry!  
PLEASE Donate!
We host CONNECT Ministry sessions twice a month
(1st & 3rd Mondays) and offer a supportive location for people to come and address their financial needs and other  problems they may be facing. We have been able to help 26 families gain a bit more footing in their lives. 

Our hope is to offer CONNECTIONS to all who come through our door. 

Contact  Liz Huber, [email protected]
for more information.
                              
Fall Quarterly Food Drive-December 9th
On Sunday, December 9th, we will be collecting food for St. Paul's Fall Quarterly Food Drive, benefiting the Rutherford County Food Bank. 
Donations can be dropped curbside in front of the church office that day, or can be delivered to the Narthex. 
Ushers will hand out the red food drive bags during the services this Sunday, Dec. 2nd.  

Thank you in advance for your generous donations.
                     
Coldest Nights News
Coldest Nights Shelter has been open for multiple nights this season. We have been hosting 3 to 10 women a night. There have been donations from a few organizations, most notably the Women's Club. The group donated books for the women to take and read. There
is always a need for supplies - snacks, wipes, powdered creamer, Rover passes etc.

A Coldest Nights Giving Board has been set up in the Parish Hall that lists all of the needs. Please consider donating an item or two. 

If you would like to be a
Nightly Volunteer (6:30 pm - 8:30 pm), please
contact Liz
Huber,
[email protected] .
                     
Bell Ringing
There are still times available to show that an hour of your time is worth more than a "drop in the bucket!!!"  The times and places for St. Paul's to ring the bell for the
Salvation Army are:
Saturday, December 8th at the Kroger on Memorial Blvd. Times still available are 3-4, 4-5, 5-6, and 7-8. Or Saturday, December 15th at Hobby Lobby. Open time slots are 10-11, 11-12, 4-5, 6-7, and 7-8. Please contact Mary Probert at
[email protected]  or 615-995-6212 to sign-up and/or for more information!  
Pastoral Care
 
David Earl Miller to be
Executed December 6th
Regardless of your individual stance on the death penalty, Jesus calls us to love all, including David, and to express this love in prayer. As God is with all of us in our sin,
we ask that God surround David, his family, his victim 
Lee Standifer, and his victim's family with God's
love and presence.
News
Annual Meeting
Annual Meeting - Next Sunday
December 9th
December 9th there will only be one service at 10:00 a.m. for our Annual Meeting.
There will not be Christian Education. Catechesis will be offered during the meeting. Children will join their parents at communion. Nursery will be available.

Please Note - Only one service on December 9th at 10:00, including our Annual Meeting with Voting for new Vestry members.

Rector Nomination Process

The nomination process for our new rector is now open and will continue through the end of 2018.
If you would like to nominate a potential candidate, please use the nomination forms and stamped, pre-addressed envelopes available on the table in the Narthex. All names put forward are kept strictly confidential to protect the privacy of the potential candidate. You will notice that these nominations are directed to the Diocesan Office of Transition Ministry in Nashville, where all candidates will be given an initial reference check and may receive approval for submission to the Search Committee. Some names suggested may not be forwarded to the Search Committee for a variety of reasons which are sensitive and will remain confidential. Due to the confidentiality of the search process, you will not receive any feedback on your nomination,
but please know that your participation is important and appreciated . The Search Committee thanks the parish for its strong participation throughout this time of transition and for your continued prayerful support of our work.      

Parish Profile

The Search Committee is pleased to let you know that the Parish Profile has been uploaded to the St. Paul's website! Why is this so newsworthy? We may now begin to accept names of clergy candidates, which will lead us into the discernment phase of the search for our 7th rector. To view, you may visit 
stpaulsmurfreesboro.org  and click on the tab marked Rector Search at the top of the opening page. We wish to thank everyone who helped bring this portion of the search process to a successful conclusion. Many parishioners helped write sections, research figures, provide photos, proofread and generally keep a sharp eye on the content. Our special thanks go to Art Growden for his beautiful design and Paul Adams for his timely update of the St. Paul's website and efficient uploading of Search Committee material. We are also thankful to God for His continued blessings and leading of our efforts to discern the rector He would choose for St. Paul's.

Our New Parish Website
Check out our new parish website: click  HERE

You will find new information about our parish including audio recordings of recent sermons.
 PRAYER FOR OUR FUTURE RECTOR

December Birthday List


   
 

Click for HERE

For a list to say or send
"Happy Birthday" wishes!
Parish Contact List 
 
Fr. Colin Ambrose: Interim Rector

Priest Associate and Rector Emeritus
Older Adult Ministry:  Fr. Gene Wise
[email protected]
 
Sr. Warden: Ed Arning--  [email protected]

Jr. Wardens: Scott Telford and Justin Davis-- [email protected]
 
Rector Search Committee-- [email protected]

Assistant to the Rector for Christian Formation and Liturgy
Dr. David Rowe-- [email protected] 
 
Assistant to the Rector for Pastoral Care
Kathleen Herzog-- [email protected]
 
Assistant to the Rector for Outreach
Liz Huber- [email protected]    
 
Organist and Director of Music (Choir & Choristers): Angela Tipps-- [email protected]

Membership Coordinator
Krista Phillips 
--  [email protected]
 
Children's Ministry Coordinator:  Cindy GuĂ©vart-- 

Interim Youth Ministry Coordinator:  Amy Jackson - [email protected]
 
Nursery Director: Dierdri Matteson-- [email protected]
 
Bulletins/E-blast/Announcements/Calendar -- 
Kathy Warlick and Alice Gibson

Parish Administrator/Financials: Sharon Teets-- 
 
Communications: Art Growden-- [email protected] 
 
Parish Nurses: Jennifer McGuire-- [email protected]
Jeanmarie Martin-- [email protected]

Newcomer's Ministry--Pam and Rick Burcham, 
Kathy Reeves-- 

General Questions email--  [email protected]

Church Website--  www.stpaulsmurfreesboro.org