THE GABRIEL
Parish Newsletter for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church December 13, 2021
Calendar Reminders
Dec 13 6:00 pm NA Meeting
Dec 14 Beginning at 8:00 am, we will be moving the offices from the basement back to the Education Wing.
Dec 19
Rev. Suzanne Barrow. On Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsJeff/live_ videos/
Dec. 24 7:00 pm Christmas Eve Service
Dec 26 10:15 am Holy Eucharist, with Rev. Suzanne Barrow. On Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsJeff/live_ videos/
Collect for 4th Sunday in Advent (December 19th)
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Lessons: Micah 5:2-5a; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-55; Psalm 80:1-7
Advent Family Prayer (May be used throughout Advent)
God of Love, Your Son Jesus is your greatest gift to us. He is a sign of your love. Help us walk in that love during the weeks of Advent, as we wait and prepare for his coming. We pray in the Hames of Jesus, our Savior, Amen.
Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec18
6:30 pm Vestry Meeting
6:30 pm Bible Study 9:30-11:00 am AA Meeting
10:15 am Holy Eucharist, with
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OUR PARISH PRAYERS:
Intercessor: In joyful expectation of his coming to our aid we pray to Jesus.
We pray for Michael our Presiding Bishop, for Jennifer our Bishop, for Mauricio Bishop of our companion diocese of Brazilia, for St. Andre’s school in Mithon in Haiti. In our Diocesan Cycle of Prayer we pray for Church of the Nativity, Indianapolis--The Rev. Ben Wyatt, The Rev. Karen Sullivan; and we pray for all who minister in Christ’s name.
Maranatha,
Come, Lord Jesus.
Come to your Church as Lord and Judge.
Help us to live in the light of your coming and give us a longing for your kingdom. Maranatha,
Come, Lord Jesus.
Come to your world as King of the nations. Before you rulers will stand in silence. Maranatha:
Come, Lord Jesus.
Come to the suffering as friend and comforter.
We pray for those who have commended themselves to our prayers, especially Lois, Virginia, Juanita, Gwen, Mary Sue, Delani, David & Michele, Robert and Charles.
Break into our lives, where we struggle with sickness, upset and distress,
and set us free to serve you and our neighbor.
Maranatha,
Come, Lord Jesus.
Come to us as shepherd and guardian of our souls. We remember all who have died and rest in you. Give us, with all the faithful departed,
a share in your victory over evil and death. Maranatha,
Come, Lord Jesus.
Come, Lord Jesus, with power and great glory.
Lift us up to meet you, that with St Paul and all your saints and angels we may live and reign with you in your new creation.
Maranatha,
Come, Lord Jesus.
(Silence is kept.)
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Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay;
give new courage to your people, who trust in your love.
Raise us to share in the joy of your kingdom
on earth as in heaven, where you live and reign with the Father and the Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen.
FROM THE GABRIEL TEAM:
NEXT SUNDAY (December 19th): Holy Eucharist will be celebrated by Rev.Suzanne Barrow. Following the service, there will be coffee hour in the Parish Hall. Don’t forget—the little red wagon is waiting to be filled with food donations for the Center for Lay Ministries! Please note that the wagon has been moved to the Parish Hall entrance, on your left as you enter.
AN IMPORTANT VESTRY MEETING will be held in the Parish Hall at 6:30pm on Tuesday, December 14th. Issues include end of year reporting, upcoming Annual Meeting, and open positions on the vestry to be filled.
ONLINE SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES: The next Sunday service will begin December 19th at 10:15 am. It will be live and in person at St. Paul’s, and on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsJeff/live_videos/
Please join us, during or after the service, and tell others about the service. Also check YouTube for videos of past services: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCynD2CNlCMbJ5YOb1Euce5Q.
CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE 7:00 pm on Friday, Dec. 24th. Holy Eucharist will be celebrated by Rev.Suzanne Barrow. It will be live and in person at St. Paul’s, and on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsJeff/live_videos/
MOVING DAY DEC 14TH: The church offices and meeting room will be moved back into the Education Wing on Tuesday. This decision was based on the facts that the basement location is not easily accessible to the elderly and disabled, and the renovations to the basement for possible future rentals cannot take place while it is occupied. Movers and Spectrum will arrive between 8 and 9 on Tuesday. Lang Co., who has the maintenance agreement on the copy machine, will come and move it at 1 pm. We don’t need strong backs for movers, but we will welcome strong hearts for organizing and setting up once the moving is done!
LICENSED LAY EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS, Dennis and Charlene McAndrews, are ready and eager to bring communion to any who are unable to be present at Sunday services. Whether you regularly attend Sunday service but cannot get here for any reason on a given Sunday, or you are homebound and would like to have the Eucharist brought to you on a regular basis, please contact Marylee at the church office: 812-282-1108, or stpaulsjeff@gmail.com .
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Virginia Bushau reminds us that she is making capes and muffs or mittens for those who are in need. If you know any person or organization in need, please let us know at the church office by phone or email, and we will get the information to her.
MANY THANKS for your continued faithful responses to the need for funds.
PARISH OFFICE HOURS : MTWF 10:00-4:30 and Thurs 10:00 to 1:00 pm.
If you have something you’d like to add to the next newsletter (including a brief update on what you and/or your family have been doing since last we met together), please email the team at stpaulsjeff@gmail.com by Sunday afternoon. Please put “newsletter” in the subject line.
STAIR SAFETY: Thanks, Dennis!
The photo above shows the new railing that Dennis McAndrews made and installed for those of us who, for whatever reason, struggle with going up and down those two steps every Sunday morning for communion. Some have balance problems, others vision problems with glasses, and others are just in too much pain to easily navigate steps. There is the ramp, of course—but that requires even more walking for those who do not walk easily. As Mel Porter shows below, the new railing makes a huge difference! Thank you, Dennis!
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