Good Day St. Paul's,

With increasing COVID cases and subsequent risk, it is important to observe distancing 2 meters from others of different households. Please maintain a one pew buffer between yourself and other parishioners and, if in the same row, please keep at least 2 metres from those from other households. Masking will also continue and masks continue to be available for those without one. Passing the peace will once again be done as visually passing of the peace from your seats. This is all to comply with provincial restriction, and to ensure the safety of others. Please see Rev. Myron's letter to the parish that was sent out earlier this week, which is attached here.

This update is for the 3 following upcoming services, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the 1st Sunday after Christmas. Each of these services will also be available online as a live-stream and all of the bulletins are attached here. To find our live-stream services, please visit our website and visit the Events tab and click on the “St. Paul’s Sunday Service” event to find links to our YouTube Channel; or CLICK THIS LINK.

As always, please read on for more announcements.

Sincerely,

Asher Hébert
Office Administrator
St. Paul's Anglican Church - Edmonton

Advent and Christmas Services at St. Paul’s
All Christmas services at St. Paul’s will be available both in person and on our YouTube Channel (search “St. Paul’s Anglican – Edmonton”) HERE. Please plan to join us!

  • December 24: Christmas Eve service starting at 7:00PM
  • December 25: Christmas Day service starting at 9:00AM
  • December 26: 1st Sunday after Christmas service starting at 10:00AM  

Community Corner for Sunday, December 26, 2021
All set to welcome in 2022? Although our celebrations will be small again this year in light of health concerns, there are still many good ideas for ways to ring in the new year. This fun article “14 New Year’s Eve Traditions We Learned From Our Grandparents” has some great ideas for celebrating while keeping it small https://www.countryliving.com/life/g5075/new-years-eve-traditions/.

In 2021 there has been a significant focus on Residential Schools in Canada, but what does it mean when someone says they were a victim of the “60’s Scoop”? For a quick introduction to this, read theCBC article “The Sixties Scoop Explained” https://www.cbc.ca/cbcdocspov/features/the-sixties-scoop-explained. In the article there are links to other articles and the documentary “Birth of a Family”, which documents the mid-life reunion of four Dene siblings who were separated in infancy and have no memories of life together. 

Share your activity or event – Community Corner is the perfect spot for you to extend an invitation to the congregation for an event or activity you are involved in. Please let Michelle know at least a week before you want it in the bulletin


Advent Fundraiser: Indigenous Birth Fund of the Diocese

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this initiative, whether in prayer or through financial support. Indigenous cultural birth helpers such as Rev Lori Calkins play an essential role in healing, breaking intergenerational cycles of trauma, and cultural reawakening for Indigenous families of many nations.

This work also provides direct, tangible, multi-generational redress for the harms done by the Anglican Church’s participation in running Residential Schools (see the TRC Calls to Action https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/indigenous-people/aboriginal-peoples-documents/calls_to_action_english2.pdf) Funding is close to depleted so this contribution will help her essential work to continue. Please hold Rev. Lori Calkins, her colleagues and the families they support in prayer.

We are halfway to our goal to raise $15,000 for this ministry, or roughly two months’ salary. Only together can we ensure the spirit and goals of the TRC Calls to Action are met and exceeded. When you donate, please write "Advent Fundraiser" in the memo line of your cheque or e-transfer. For more information, please speak with Michelle Schurek or one of the members of Focus on Missions.

Christmas Eve Music - December 24
Angels From the Realms of Glory/Emmanuel
Child of Bethlehem
Christmas Offering
Silent Night
Gesu Bambino
The First Noel
Joy to the World

Christmas Day Music - December 25
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Once in Royal David's City
Good Christians All, Rejoice
See Amid the Winter's Snow
Of Eternal Love Begotten
O Come, All Ye Faithful

Sunday Service Music - December 26
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Immanuel
Angels From The Realms Of Glory
The First Noel
Light Has Come
Joy to the World

Service Volunteers Reminder for Sunday, December 26
Music/Sound: Andrew's Team/Dave
Service Team: Jackson Team
Prayers of the People: Gay G.
Vestry: Connie P.
Chapel: Dudley and Pat
Kids: Kids stay in service 

Layette Donations—Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who donated items and/or participated in putting the layettes together after church on Dec 19. This initiative was a great success, and we have 12 baskets for clients of Indigenous Birth of Alberta.

Daily Morning Prayer
Starting January 3rd come join us on zoom weekdays for morning prayer at 8am, except for Thursdays and Sundays. Every Thursday we will meet at St. Paul’s in person for morning prayer and to discuss Joan Chittister’s book Wisdom Distilled from the Daily. The zoom link can also be found on our website. Please contact Myron or the office for the zoom link and a book. 

Volunteering: If you have been thinking about getting involved in our church life and the services, please contact the office. 

2022 Offering Envelopes are now available for pick up from the Office. If you would like envelopes or would like to stop getting envelopes, please contact the office. 

Office Closed and Staff Away Next WeekThe office will be closed and staff working from home next week, Dec 27-31. Michelle is away next week. Schedules will return to normal in the new year.

Youth and Kid’s Club Youth and kids are not in session for the remaining services of the year. Youth and kids are welcome to be part of all of the upcoming main services until January.

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