Hello –
In the weeks ahead St. Paul’s offers a rich array of experiences to help you follow Jesus in prayer, worship and service.
• This Sunday is the debut of our new Children’s Choir. They’ve been practicing every Friday afternoon and will even practice twice this week to prepare. Come and rejoice in this new ministry!
• We offer two invitations to Christmas Generosity.
One is to purchase a gift card from a place like Target for the women and children of Young Moms Marin. Bring it in and place it in the basket in Duncan Hall. It will be distributed to those most in need. There is a beautiful short letter by Teresa, the leader of YMM, describing many of the wonderful transitions these little families have experienced during the 4 years we’ve been hosting them. Pick one up at the table in the vestibule or email me and I’ll send it to you.
The other is to write a Christmas card to each of our ‘North Seg Seven,’ our seven Christian brothers on San Quentin’s Death Row. We did this for the first time last year and it was surprising how deeply touched each one of them was. Yesterday, a remarkable thing happened. As you may know, three of our seven are on the south side of North Seg and four are on the north side. This means they very rarely have even the possibility of all seven gathering. Yesterday, a razor went missing so all 68 people on North Seg were together while all the cells were searched. Joseph, the man we’ve been visiting for nearly 20 years, reported that all seven of our brothers peacefully gathered together and talked of their shared appreciation of what we do. God is good!
• Our SPRIF III campaign is now at $180,000! We’re getting close. Plus, today we have two surveyors coming to survey our courtyard, which is the first necessary step to replacing our concrete mess with a courtyard that’s safe, accessible and beautiful- The Rev. Hugh Hardin Courtyard. We hope to have the new courtyard in place by the end of the summer. Please keep your generous gifts coming!
• Our Christmas Service times are the same as always: 5pm Family Service, 10:30pm Solemn Eucharist preceded by music and 10am Eucharist followed by a pot luck feast in Duncan Hall hosted by my family.
While I have your attention, three more things…
• Make your New Years resolution a deeper commitment to the life of prayer with scripture. We have 7 weekly or bi-weekly ways to support you. Three new ones are:
The Forum meets every Sunday from 9:00 to 9:40. We are playing together with the ancient understanding of spiritual growth as like a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
A Newcomer class will begin on Sunday, January 3rd in the Upper Room and will continue as long as there’s interest.
A new Bible Study will start on Thursday, January 7th at 6:15pm. We begin with an overview of the Bible and tips on how to read it. We will then start moving through the rich, poetical and short books of the 12 minor prophets.
• The Priests in charge of all 12 of Marin’s Episcopal Churches, after months of careful and prayerful conversation, have created three short statements of common ministry. They have to do with God’s word in times of change, our deep roots in Jesus and our common love of the poor. You’ll be hearing more in the new year. In the meantime, they’re posted on the bulletin board in the vestibule.
• Finally, please keep in mind three things. On Saturday, January 16th I offer another workshop of my dramatic adventure story called Pelican Pilgrims. On Sunday, February 7th, Superbowl Sunday, we have our Annual Meeting. Finally, keep your eye out for another Open House at our home in San Anselmo.
Blessings,
Christopher
p: (415) 456-4842
*Find out more at www.stpaulssanrafael.org