THIS COMING SUNDAY

December 7th, the Second Sunday of Advent

• SUNDAY'S APPOINTED MASS READINGS: Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85; 2 Peter 3:8-15; Mark 1:1-8
• Once again, Sunday’s bulletin will contain a special envelope for use in making contributions towards greening the church for Christmas.
• SUNDAY SCHOOL RESUMES on December 14th.  The students will begin their rehearsals for the crèche service to be held at the end of mass on December 21st.
• There will not be a Compline service in Advent.  The next Compline service will be Sunday, January 4, 2015.

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE

Looking ahead to Christmas

• A mass with carols for families with small children will be said at 5:30 pm on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24th.
• Later in the evening, carols to welcome Christ’s Birth will be sung beginning at 10:30 pm. 
• Solemn Mass of Christmas Midnight will begin at 11:00 pm. 
• On Christmas Day, mass will be said at 9:00 am.

OUTREACH

• BOOK DRIVE - This week, we continue to collect new books for children and young adults (ages 6 to 18.)  The books will be wrapped on December 14th and delivered to less fortunate children in time for Christmas.
• THANK YOU - The director of the food pantry at First Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn Heights expressed her heartfelt thanks to the people of St. Paul’s for the generous offerings from our November food drive.  We are also grateful to Jean Del Colliano who organized the drive.  Jean and her daughter Tess packed up the donations and delivered them to First Presbyterian Church on December 1st.

MESSIAH

• SING - The Second Annual Sing-it-Yourself Messiah will be held on Sunday, December 21st at 4:00 pm.  Tickets for this parish-wide community event are available at Coffee Hour and online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/969490. 
• PRACTICE -This year Vince Peterson will offer a free pre-concert class for singers who would like to review a cross-section of difficult singing spots throughout the score – a fun and engaging afternoon, full of insights, tricks, and free singing tips!  The class will run from 2:30 to 3:30, with a break at the end of class for some light refreshments in the Parish Hall before the concert. 
• LEARN - In addition to practicing and singing Messiah, you can also learn more about the composition when Rufus Hallmark and Vince discuss Handel’s great work and answer questions about it at the Adult Christian Education Class, the week before on Sunday, December 14th.  Class will begin after Coffee Hour.
• BAKE - In keeping with Christmas traditions, you may also want to help John Lord bake cookies for the Messiah singers.  Baking will begin on Saturday, December 20th at 9:00 am.  Contact John if you are able to help.

OTHER DECEMBER EVENTS

• PHOTOGRAPHY - The second round of photography for our Parish Hall Photo ID Board will take place on Sunday, December 14th during Coffee Hour.
• CHRISTMAS GIFT SALES - We will be offering for sale a number of holiday craft items and Christmas gifts during Coffee Hour on December 14th and December 21st.  See John Lord if you have homemade crafts that you would like to donate to the sale.
• EMPIRE CITY MEN'S CHORUS CONCERT - A Stable Lamp is Lighted - Saturday, December 6th at 8:00 pm.
• CHORAL CHAMELEON and CHAMELEONIC CONCERT - Mysterium - Sunday, December 14th at 7:00 pm.