DEAR FRIENDS 

Advent is upon on us, and you will notice many liturgical changes for this season.  Purple becomes the liturgical color, the “Gloria” is suppressed, and the Advent Wreath appears, with its four candles surrounding the central Christ candle.  Each Sunday a new candle is lit, symbolically adding more light, as we count down the days until Christmas Eve when we celebrate the birth of the Christ Child, the Light of the World, the Christ Candle is finally lit, and the 12-day celebration of Christmas begins.  We will begin the season of Advent this Sunday, as is traditional at St. Paul’s and in many places in the English-speaking world, by singing The Great Litany in procession.  The congregation is invited to join the procession, following the altar party (and don’t forget your prayer books).  
 
People often refer to Advent and to Lent as “penitential seasons” and often, therefore, associate the color purple with penitence.  And there is some truth to that characterization, especially in Lent.  But actually, purple is not the color of penitence; it is the color of waiting, and of prayer, and of supplication.  Advent is a season of prayerful waiting and preparation: waiting to acknowledge and celebrate once again the Incarnate Word in Jesus Christ at Christmas, and preparing for his return at the end of time to “judge both the quick and the dead.” These two themes, interwoven together liturgically and spiritually, are central to the Advent season.  They are indeed its very purpose.   And embedded within the concept of waiting on God to reveal himself, there is the notion of listening─listening for God’s “still, small voice.”  And so, we are going to adopt another liturgical change at mass this Advent season, a spiritual discipline of sorts, and one which I hope will encourage all of us to wait and to listen.  I am going to introduce it and explain it during my sermon on Sunday, so I won’t give it away just now.  You’ll just have to wait and see.  Waiting is, after all, part of Advent.
 
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Wallace

AUCTION TOMORROW!

Doors open at 5.pm. 

Don’t let your chances pass you by!

• Pal up with friends to win dinners!
• Can you travel Jan 20, 2120 on the vacation of a lifetime to the Holy Land?
• HAMILTON, Harry Potter, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, plus many exciting performances!
• Restaurants, Food, Cultural Memberships
• Crafts, Antiques
• Laughs, Fellowship and Dinner
• Tickets $40

We cannot accept credit cards so please bring your checkbook and cash!
Catalog pdf here.
 

CALLING ALL YOUNG SINGERS!  

We are very excited to announce that the younger children will be singing again this year at the Crèche Service on December 16.  This year we also want to organize the 9-17 year olds to sing, as well.  Cynthia Racine will work with the younger students during Sunday school, and rehearsals for the youth will be 12:45-1:30 after church (hopefully giving everyone enough time to grab a snack and listen to announcements).  If you have any questions, please contact Catherine Torrey or Cynthia Racine.

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS 

Envelopes for Christmas flowers will be included in this Sunday’s bulletin.  This is your voluntary gift to the Christ Child on his birthday and to help decorate St. Paul’s for the Christmas Season. Envelopes may be placed in the collection plate or mailed to the church, or you may use the Paypal function on the church’s website (please include the note Christmas Flowers).  If you would like to donate flowers in memory of someone or in thanksgiving, please print clearly on the envelope.  Checks should be made payable to St. Paul’s Church.

FOOD DRIVE 

The Sunday School classes are sponsoring their annual Food Drive again this year in support of the food pantry at First Presbyterian Church.  Donations of non-perishable food items may be placed in the baskets in the rear of the church.  Of particular need are protein items (peanut butter, tuna, cans of Vienna Sausages, etc.). Please no opened or expired items. This year’s food drive will extend through the 12 Days of Christmas to Epiphany, Sunday, January 6.  Thank you all for you donations!!  If you have any questions or wish to help in any way, please contact Jean Del Colliano.

FATHER WALLACE AWAY 

Father Wallace will be away from the parish Thursday evening, 11/29, through Saturday afternoon, 12/1, attending the Diocesan Congregational Development Institute (DCDI) at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, NY.  The Friday morning Low Mass will proceed as normal. Fr. Garenton will celebrate.

CHRISTMAS CHILDREN’S BOOK DRIVE 

St. Paul’s annual Christmas Children’s Book Drive will begin next Sunday, November 25, and continue until Sunday, December 16.  Donations of NEW children’s books (ages 4 to 18, with emphasis on elementary and middle school children), cash or checks (made out to St. Paul’s and labelled Book Drive) are most welcome.  Please note that paperbacks are the best choice for books.  The books will be taken to the Miccio Community Center in Red Hook for distribution. 

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING IN CARROLL PARK

6:00 p.m.─7:00 p.m., Friday, December 7 

Members of St. Paul’s Choir will be singing Christmas Carols this year at the Carroll Street Park Tree Lighting.  Show up to support neighborhood and your fellow parishioners.  Read more about the Tree Lighting here.

CRÈCHE SERVICE

Sunday, December 16

The very popular Crèche Service, at which the youth of the parish read lessons and place the figures in the manger, will take place during High Mass this year on the Third Sunday in Advent, December 16.  You won’t want to miss it.  

CONFESSION DURING ADVENT 

It is traditional for Christians to make their confessions at least twice a year, generally during Advent and during Lent.  Please contact Father Wallace to make an appointment for your Advent confession.  

STEWARDSHIP 

The Stewardship Committee continues to accept pledges for 2019.  If you have not yet turned in your pledge, please prayerfully consider doing so. Pledge cards are available on the table in the back of the church.  

SOCK DRIVE 

St. Paul’s is collecting socks again this year to be distributed to the homeless during the winter months. The collection bin is in the Parish Hall.  See Eoin if you have any questions.  Socks will be collected through Epiphany, Sunday, January 6, 2019. 

BIBLE BASICS CLASS 

Fr. Wallace’s Bible 101 class continues Sunday, 1:00 pm, in the Library.  Newcomers welcome.

ADVENT & CHRISTMAS SERVICE SCHEDULE

• Sunday, December 16, Advent III and Crèche Service - 11:00 a.m., High Mass 
• Sunday, December 23, Advent IV - 11:00 a.m., Sung Mass
• Monday, December 24, Christmas Eve -  
  • 5:30 p.m., Mass of Christmas for Families
  • 10:30 p.m., Carols to welcome the Birth of Christ (Please note earlier time)
  • 1:00 p.m., Solemn Mass of Christmas
• Tuesday, December 25, Christmas Day -  9:00 a.m., Christmas Day, Low Mass (Lady Chapel)
• Sunday, December 30, Christmas I - 11:00 a.m., High Mass

THE DESSOFF CHOIR IN CONCERT

Sunday, December 9:  3:15 pm pre-concert lecture; 4:00 concert 

The Dessoff Choirs are a world-renowned choral ensemble, and we are delighted to have them at St. Paul’s! Tickets $20-$40; more information at www.dessoff.org.

PRAYERS FOR ST. PAUL’S DURING THE TRANSITION AND RECTOR SEARCH

As you read the Eblast each week, it is a good opportunity to take 30 seconds and offer a prayer for St. Paul’s during its transition and for the members of the Search Committee. Prayers to that effect will be included each week in the Eblast.

• For St. Paul’s:
  O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light riseth up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, we beseech thee, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou wouldest have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see light,, and in thy straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 
• For the Search Committee: 
  Direct the Search Committee, O Lord, in all their doings with thy most gracious favor, and further them with thy continual help; that in all their works begun, continued, and ended in thee, they may glorify thy Holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

THIS COMING SUNDAY: December 2nd, 2018

The Great Litany in Procession; The First Sunday of Advent 

• Sunday's Appointed Readings and Homily
  • The First Reading—Jeremiah 33:14-16
  • Psalm 25:1-9
  • Epistle—I Thessalonians 3:9-13
  • The Gospel—Luke 21:25-36
  • Sermon—Fr. Wallace 
• Music
  • Organ Prelude: “Prelude: Adagio” (from Organ Sonata No. 1 , Op. 65)—Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
  • Mass begins with The Great Litany
  • Mass Setting:  St. Paul’s Service─David Hurd
  • Sequence Hymn “O come, O come, Emmanuel,” Verse 4, Hymnal, 56
  • Anthem:  “Low, how a rose e’er blooming”—Michael Praetorius
  • Hymn at Communion: “Sleepers, Awake! A voice astounds,” Hymnal, 61
  • Hymn at the Dismissal: “Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding,” Hymnal, 59
  • Organ Postlude:  Veni Emmanuel—arr. Noel Rawsthorne