Weekly e-pistle 11/26/2015

November 27, 2015 This Sunday, November 29th   1st Sunday of Advent Holy Communion - 10 AM   All are welcome to receive Communion! Advent is about the "coming days." God's people have always lived in great expectation, but that expectation finds specific, repeated enunciation in the texts appointed for these four weeks. The ancients anticipated a "righteous Branch to spring up for David." The Thessalonians awaited "the coming of our Lord Jesus with all the saints." Our Lord's contemporaries hoped for the time "to stand before the Son of Man." With them we eagerly await the coming days: another Christmas celebration, a second coming, and the advent of our Lord in word and supper.   Sunday's readings:   Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36   Congregational Meeting THIS SUNDAY, 11:45 a.m.:  The agenda will include ministry updates and next year's budget. Members have voice and vote. Regular attendees who are not members cannot vote, but are invited to participate in the discussion.    Happening Around St. Paul's KIDS: Hear a special story and learn the Sankta Lucia song today, immediately following worship!  Come hear the story of St. Lucy ("Stakta Lucia" in Swedish; "Santa Lucia" in Italian), and learn her special song!      THANK YOU - You helped hungry people in our community! Thanks to all who participated int St. Paul's Brown Bag Meal Ministry campaign on Sunday during our Thanksgiving Luncheon.  Thanks also to all who helped on the previous Sunday to assemble the brown bag meals and to the children who decorated the brown bag meal holders that were used as centerpieces on the tables during the luncheon. A number of people took bags to hand out for the first time.  Once you have given out that first Brown Bag and know that someone's hunger is lessened for the day, you will want to do it again and again.  Additional Brown Bags are available on the table downstairs.  Please take one to keep in your vehicle, and you will have something nutritious readily available to give to someone in need.  We raised a mind-blowing $577 in donations on Sunday!!  Thank you!  You are such a blessing.  Please continue to give freely and joyfully.  Brown Bag donation envelopes are available downstairs on the table with the Brown Bags.  Please fill in your name and address on the outside of the donation envelope, and your donation (cash or check made out to St. Paul's) will be reflected in your contribution statements from the church.You can still pick up a nutritious bag meal at St. Paul's on Sunday for only $4.00 -- the cost of producing it -- and you'll be prepared to give help when it's needed most!   Fellowship Coffee Hour:  We are lightening up on the food our hosts offer during Coffee Hour when there is no special event going on.  Our intention will be to offer a simple snack, such as cookies, cheese/crackers, and fruit, to accompany our time together as a community of faith.   Sunday's chancel flowers are given to the glory of God by Wayne Olson, just because.  The Coming Week at St. Paul's: Sunday, November 29 1st Sunday of Advent  10:00 a.m. 11:45 a.m. Eucharist Congregation Meeting Monday, November 30     Tuesday, December 1  6:30 p.m. Worship Commission    At Anna's House  Wednesday, December 2 7:00 p.m. CODA Thursday, December 3   Saturday, December 5                    Sunday, December 6 2nd Sunday of Advent St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (died 343)  10:00 a.m. Eucharist Serving God on Sunday, November 29th    Presiding Minister The Reverend Pamela Griffith Pond Assisting Minister Don Ockrassa Crucifer Kim Hervey Lector Don Johnson  Ushers Don Ockrassa Organist & Pianist Marian Smock Flowers Wayne Olson Fellowship Hosts Lisa Olson & Jody Schumacher Christ's Care List Healing of body, mind and spirit: Vera Bennett Cassie Bremer (Jessica Nelson's daughter) Mary Brown (Joseph White's colleague)   Cathleen Cardoza (Relative of Pr. Pamela)  Kathy Campas-Sutin Marty Clark   Margaret Cole Wayne (Vera Bennett's friend) Carleen Embree Dee Fix  Harold Fix Helen Gainey (Vera Bennett's friend) Shirley Gonsalves Dorothy Griffith (Pr. Pamela's mother)  Bessie Hawkins (Vera Bennett's friend) Sheldon Heitz Anna Hervey Donald Hervey Sam Hervey  Phyllis Huseby (Jody Schumacher's aunt) Jan Jackson Pr. Karen and Dave Johnson (Pr. Pamela's colleague and her husband) Louisa Johnson Gladys Jones (Kathy Campas-Sutin's mother) Cassy Kapsalis (friend of Judy Faye) Caryl Kroan Rick Kroan James Laird (Keith & Sonya Domingo's friend) Loree Lucas Carol Massie (friend of Valda Rose)  Raul Matasol (friend of Pr. Pamela & Dave Pond)  Pr. Larry Nelson (John Patten's friend) Luna Nightshade  Nikkie (Vera Bennett's goddaughter) Pr. Jennifer Obermueller (Pr. Pamela's colleague) Jeanine Pai (Marian Smock's niece) Anita Patten Dean Pollock (Jody Schumacher's brother) Justin Pollock (Jody Schumacher's great nephew) Alissa Princewell Gary Schumacher Angelika Shanley Angela Smith (Bev Smith's daughter) Pr. John Sumwalt (Pr. Pamela's colleague) Schiann Towle (Lisa & Dwayne Olson's daughter) Bill & Betty Valentine (Vera Bennett's friends) Steve West (Don & Louisa Johnson's friend)    Those who grieve:  The family of Dorothy Warner Marian Smock and other family of her sister, Frances Wieber The family of Mary Heitz      Our pastoral call process and each member of the call committee: Judy Faye, Chair Vicki Pyle, Secretary Frank Gonsalves Don Ockrassa Jessica Nelson       We also pray for:  Safety in our community - An end to racism and other injustice A just and lasting peace in the Holy Land Refugees  Those serving in the armed forces    St. Paul's Lutheran Church The Reverend Pamela Griffith Pond, Interim Pastor 415.847.8030 (cell) pastorpamela@live.com 1300 Tuolumne Street Vallejo, California 94590

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