Weekly e-pistle 12/17/2015

December 17, 2015 This Sunday, December 20th   4th Sunday of Advent Holy Communion - 10 AM   All are welcome to receive Communion! Cradle and cross are inextricably connected on the fourth Sunday of Advent.  Between a lovely tribute to the little town of Bethlehem and the blessed virgin Mary's magnificent song of praise, the letter to the Hebrews reminds us in no uncertain terms that Christ's advent is for "the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."  It is the kind of tension in which the church always lives in the holy communion - with high delight - "we proclaim the Lord's death."   Sunday's Readings:    Micah 5:2-5a        Psalmody-Luke 1:46b-55     Hebrews 10:5-10       Luke 1:39-45 [46-55] Sunday's chancel flowers: are given to the glory of God by Anita Patten - Happy Birthday John!  Happening Around St. Paul's Christmas Caroling & Cookie Tasting Party - Saturday December 19th Fruitvale Healthcare Center,Oakland -  Meet at St. Paul's at noon to carpool.  We will join other volunteers of the Lutheran Ministry to bring cheer to the residence and staff at the Fruitvale Healthcare Center.  Bring some cookies to share.  Home-baked or purchased (soft cookies and no nuts please).  We are also collecting warm socks.  Place your donated socks in the box in the entrance of the fellowship hall. Bring your poinsettias on December 20th  - Each Christmas our sanctuary is made more beautiful by the lovely poinsettias decorating the chancel area.  You are invited to donate one or more poinsettias for our Christmas decorating on December 20th.  Please bring your poinsettia donation December 20th before or after Sunday worship. Deck the Halls and Trim the Tree - Sunday December 20th - Joins us Sunday December 20 to decorate the Christmas tree following worship. There will be activities for the whole family and lunch will be provided.    Brown Bag Meal Ministry  Remember the hungry on street corners and elsewhere by having a Brown Bag Meal handy in your car to offer these folks.  The bags are available for pick-up at church, along with envelopes to donate the $4.00 it costs to fill a bag.  The donation, however, is optional.  Please record your name, the date, and number of bags you take.  Give generously and joyfully!    Serving God This Week: Presiding Minister The Reverend Pamela Griffith Pond Assisting Minister Dean Alberg Crucifer Teresa Arellano Lector Kim Hervey Ushers Judy Faye & Corie Hervey Organist & Pianist Marian Smock Flowers Anita Patten Fellowship Hosts Kathy Sutin & Bev Smith The Coming Week at St. Paul's: Sunday, December 20 4th Sunday of Advent Katharina von Bora Luther, renewer of the church, died 1552 10:00 a.m. 11:45 a.m. Eucharist Tree Decorating and Lunch Monday, December 21     Wednesday, December 23 7:00 p.m. CODA Thursday, December 24 The Nativity of our Lord 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve  Friday, December 25 Saturday, December 26                     Sunday, December 27 1st Sunday of Christmas 10:00 a.m. 11:45 a.m. Eucharist Tree Decorating In the News:  "What I No Longer Believe is True About Congregations" an article by Susan Nienaber in Ministry Matters.  Read the full article here From the Congregation: Anita Patten served two scrumptious soups at the Martha Circle's Christmas luncheon. We think you'll love them as much as we did, so we're sharing the recipes! Christ's Care List Healing of body, mind and spirit:   Vera Bennett  Bill Blaylock (Relative of Pr. Pamela)  Sandra Burroughs (Don Johnson's sister)  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  Debbie Foster (Don Johnson's sister) Dee Fix   Harold Fix  Helen Gainey (Vera Bennett's friend)   Shirley Gonsalves  Dorothy Griffith (Pr. Pamela's mother)   Palmer Hagestrom (Friend of Pr. Pamela)  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)  Gladys Jones (Kathy Campas-Sutin's Mother)  Louisa Johnson  Cassy Kapsalis (friend of Judy Faye)  Caryl Kroan  Rick Kroan  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)  Mike Tomlinson (Teresa Arellano's brother)  Schiann Towle (Lisa & Dwayne Olson's daughter)  Bill & Betty Valentine (Vera Bennett's friends)  Steve West (Don & Louisa Johnson's friend)         Those who grieve:    Pr. Jim & Denise Warnock and the loved ones of Quoyah 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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