Newsletter, December 6
A Word about Advent from Paula+
If you were here either of my first two Sundays, you’ve heard my take on Advent: contrary to popular culture, it is not about getting ready for Christmas, not about gifts and wrapping, cookies and ham, lights and trees. Those things, which can be fun, can also shift our focus from the meaning of Advent – taking the time we need to prepare to meet the incarnate God as if for the very first time, all while preparing to meet the risen Christ at the end of time. Yeah…it’s a lot and it doesn’t sound anywhere near as fun as gifts and wrapping, cookies and ham, lights and trees.
And still, I hope you do take some time every day to nourish your hearts and your souls (actually, I hope that for you all the time) so that you are able to experience the inbreaking of God into the world in new and different ways, in deeper ways, this year. And I’ll tell ya, if you welcome that beautiful baby anywhere near as well as you have welcomed me and my family, your lives cannot help but be transformed.
Peace & Blessings,
Paula+
Events
Date | Time | Event |
| December 19, Wednesday | 7:30pm-10pm | Finance Committee Meeting |
| December 21, Friday | 7:00 pm | Blue Christmas Service |
| December 23, Sunday | 11:00am – ??? | Greening of the Church with Brunch |
| December 23, Sunday | 11:30am – 1pm | Vestry Meeting |
Christmas Eve | 5:00pm | Family Service |
| Christmas Eve | 10:00pm | Festival Eucharist |
| Christmas Day | 10:00am | Spoken Eucharist |
| December 30, Sunday | 8:00am | Spoken Eucharist |
December 30, Sunday | 10:00am | Lessons & Carols |
Serving at the Altar 12/9 & 12/16
December 9 8am Reader: C. Francis | December 16 8am Reader: N. Sieffert |
| Altar Guild: C. Francis | Altar Guild: N. Sieffert |
| 10am Readers: S. Landers B. Churchill | 10am Readers: F. Dorn P. Wick K. Wade |
| Chalicist: R. Riedel | Chalicist: J. Soughan |
| Ushers: S. & L. Landers | Ushers: J. & K. Wade |
| Altar Guild: A. Cole | Altar Guild: J. & T. Scharff |
| Coffee Hour: The “Church Ladies” | Coffee Hour: The Soughan Family |
| Altar Flowers: N/A | Altar Flowers: N/A |
Good News!
We have hired a new parish administrator, Doreen Schindler. She comes to us with lots of experience in office administration, marketing, and social media. She will be working some the week of December 17th (because that is such a busy week for us!) and will begin her regular schedule January 2nd. Her office will be in the Education Building right next to Rev. Paula’s. When you see her, please join us in welcoming her!
Parish Office Hours:
Rev. Paula’s regular schedule is Sunday thru Thursday.
She isn’t always in the office, so please call or email her to schedule to see her.
She can be reached at 973-376-0688, though for pastoral emergencies you may try her on her cell: 508-542-1327. Her email is rector@ststephensmillburn.org
The new parish administrator’s office hours will be published just after the first of the year.