The Epistle

St. Paul's Anglican / Episcopal Church | Iglesia San Pablo

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

December 15, 2024

Dear George,

52 parishioners and community members gathered on the Eve of the Feast of St. Nicholas December 5 last Thursday for a Carol Sing of Christmas Songs Sacred and Secular. Led with excellence, animation and vigor by Father Frank and members of our Choir, a good time was had by all!

This last Sunday, Advent Two, saw our monthly children's sermon, a stewardship testimonial, and customary rousing coffee hour following!

On the Fourth Sunday of Advent our older Youth Group will present a Large Christmas Card they have been working on for Alma, our local retirement home.

Nuptials were celebrated Saturday for Gabrielle Lysette LaRue an Coby Don Bailey from Texas. Gabrielle's parent's nuptials were presided over by the Reverend Jon Donavan in Galveston many years ago!

Andrea Spessard, Stewardship Chair, draws our attention to Stewardship and Pledge materials (see below.) It is the Vestry's hope that the majority of pledges might be received by December 31 in order to plan an accurate 2025 budget for presentation at the Annual Meeting January 19, 2025.

Andrea's Stewardship You Tube (five minutes) may be viewed HERE

Grace and peace,

GFW+

60th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY: MARY BETH AND BUD LAWRENCE!

"WALK IN LOVE" shall be the theme for our 2025 Stewardship Endeavors, now launched. For preparation of the 2025 budget, it is hoped most pledges will be received by December 31.

A Link to online direct Pledge is HERE

A Link to our Pledge Letter is HERE

A Link to the Pledge Card for printing and return is HERE

A Link to Stewardship Chair Andrea Spessard's 5 minute Stewardship YouTube video may be viewed HERE

ECCLESIASTICAL PARAMENTS SOUGHT:

Ecclesiastical designer Cliff Chally recently delivered our Laudian Frontal, together with a Gold Set and a Green Set of Antependiums, Orphreys, Burses and Veils (the Green Set shown above). The Laudian Frontal and Green and Gold accoutrements were commissioned by the Reverend Canon Dr. Barbara Stewart and Canon Woodward.

Three more sets (Antependiums, Orphreys, Burses and Veils are desired...one for the Lenten Season (2025), one for the Advent Season (2025) and one Red Set for the Feast of Pentecost and Saints' Days. Each set costs $3,093. These may be donated by individuals, couples, or collaborating participants (as by Stewart and Woodward).

If all three sets are purchased together a 10% discount applies: $8351 ($7,351 remainder needed USD). Should you wish to commission, contact the Rector at StPaulsRectorSMA@gmail.com

The Liturgy for Advent Two may be found HERE

Andrea Spessard's YouTube Stewardship talk (five minutes) may be viewed HERE

The appointed lessons for The Third Sunday of Advent, December 15, may be found HERE

Los lecciones para adviento tercer, estan AQUI

WOMEN'S SPIRITUALITY GROUP

Meetings are generally the first Saturday of each month at 10AM - 11:30 in the parish Church.

ST PAUL'S BEREAVEMENT GROUPS: Martha Hamill, thanatologist and bereavement counselor, leads groups in English and in Spanish. The pain of loss can be overwhelming, but there are healthy ways to cope and heal. The groups are free of charge and occur in the conference room Tuesdays 4 - 5:30pm in Spanish and 5:30 - 6:30pm in English.

Saturday Breakfast Group -

The Saturday 9:30 breakfast group meets at Ataño Cuatro HERE

Book Club information may be had by contacting Susan Robinson at: sporterrobinson@gmail.com

Gerardo Arteoga (stage four colon cancer) and partner Carlos

Virginia Barron (hospice care)

Jonathan Brown (surgery recovery)

Emma Candelaria

Nolan Xavier Cavanagh (infant hemophilia A; grandson of Cheryl Cavanagh)

Michael Coon (bereaved)

Robert Davis

James Fred

Lynne Gleason

Dorothy Glenn

Mireille Grovier

José Guadalupe

Israel Habacuc

Ariadna Marlene Guzmán Hernández (Ariadna's mother, bereaved)

Linda Hickerson (cerebral tangle: friend of Carol Troys)

Deborah Holsworth

Laura Holleman (addiction recovery)

Ouida Huber (John Baker's mother)

Kathy Lapsys

Tim Noel Marinello

Marni McGee

Anne McAfee

Lindy McKay (brain bleed)

Margie McKinley (macular degeneration)

Tracey Montauriol

Santiago Munguia

Olson and Long Families (bereaved)

Francisco Ortíz

Karen Ramirez

Karina Yañez Rios (Padre Miguel's wife)

Susan Robinson (post-back-surgery)

The Seitz Family (bereaved)

Elaine Sells

Father Jeff Sells+

Rosalba Suárez (leukemia)

Pamela Summers

Fr. Ernie Townsend+

Paul in Brussels (friend of Carol Troy)

FOR OUR COMPANION COLLABORATIONS

All Saints'-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, Montecito, California

Trinity Episcopal Church, Folsom, California

Santiago Apostol, Querétaro

UPCOMING DATES/EVENTS

• Christmas Eve December 24 is at 5pm
• Christmas Day December 25 is at 10:15am