The Epistle

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

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

CHIRSTMAS EVE 5pm Tuesday

CHRISTMAS DAY 10:15 Wednesday

CHRISTMAS ONE December 29

Dear George,

Sandra Álvarez and the Spanish language congregation organized a wonderful

Posada last Friday at 5pm, with the Holy Family entering to traditional songs and prayers, with plenty of delicious tamales, punch, atole and goodies following! The beginning of a new tradition at St. Paul's.

On the Fourth Sunday of Advent our older Youth Group prepared two Large Christmas Cards which they have been working on for Alma, our local retirement home. Unfortunately, the Rector failed to show these off at announcement time.

Said Rector tripped on a horse hitch post in route to dinner Saturday December 21 and suffered a right shoulder dislocation. I was fortunate to be in the company of nurse Israel Apoderado. who conveyed me to (and remained at MAC hospital) through the night and several attempts to redress the separa, otherwisetion, finally requiring anesthesia. I am in a sling until January 15 with difficulty performing basic tasks, including computer tasks. Your understanding is requested, and fortunately all matters pertaining to Christmastide are complete.

Laurie Marino and Adrian Ross decked the parish hall in Festal Christmas attire which brightens hearts!

Vestry meets 10am December 27, otherwise the parish campus is closed December 26 - January 2.

Wishing you and yours and all of us together a blessed Twelve Days of Christmas arriving 5pm December 24!

GFW+

"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 Four may be found HERE

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

The appointed lessons for The Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 22, may be found HERE

Los lecciones para el Quarto Domingo de Adviento, 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 are on recess until January 14, 2025.

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

Jeff Arnold

erardo 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)

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)

Laura Holleman (addiction recovery)

Ouida Huber (John Baker's mom)

Kathy Lapsys

Josefina Ledesma

Tim Noel Marinello

Marni McGee

Anne McAfee

Margie McKinley (macular degeneration)

Tracey Montauriol

Santiago Munguia

Francisco Ortíz

Karen Ramirez

Karina Yañez Rios (Padre Miguel's wife)

Susan Robinson

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
• Vestry: 10am December 27
• Tres Magos Deliveries Monday January 6, 2025
• Annual Meeting January 19, 2025
• Patronal Festival (The Conversion of St. Paul) January 26