Christmas Greetings
Dear family and friends of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church,
May the grace of God be with you!
How many of you enjoy using Advent calendars as a way to countdown to Christmas?
It is believed that the origins of Advent calendars date back to the 19th century, when German protestants developed creative ways to mark the days leading up to Christmas. The earliest forms of countdowns included ticking off chalk marks on walls or doors, placing straws in a nativity manger, or lighting candles. Some families also hung devotional images each day, which led to the first-known handmade, wooden Advent calendar in 1851. Over time, Advent calendars came to be made with doors (or drawers) that would reveal 24 small treats, like a Bible verse, piece of chocolate, or small toy. Today, some are filled with Lego, cheese, and even 24 days of individual puzzles that together create one large nativity puzzle.
This past year we, as a congregation, looked more closely at ways to open ourselves, individually and as a church, to growing in Christ’s ministry here in the community.
Each week we open our doors to invite people to gather in worship to encounter the power and grace of God revealed in Christ. We have also opened doors to discerning and seizing possibilities to share worship space with other communities of faith. We have opened our doors on special occasions as well to share music and our Christmas traditions.
This past year, we opened doors for neighbours to help neighbours through new missions such as St. Paul’s Closet and St. Paul’s Pantry. With the help of students from Woodstock High a blessings cupboard was built. Neighbours can take food and toiletries as they need (at no cost) and they can also stock the cupboard with items to help one another. While St. Paul’s closet has only been open a few months, people have opened doors and drawers in their home to share clothes and other household items to furnish other people’s homes and closets. This has been particularly helpful for those moving to the area for school and adapting to New Brunswick’s ever-changing temperatures and weather conditions!
When we reflect on Christ’s birth as told in Luke, we picture Mary and Joseph knocking on the door only to find out there was no room in the inn, or main house. But that didn’t stop the home owner from opening the doors of their stable to them, an area that provided shelter, warmth, safety, and even bedding for Christ to come into the world. Although surrounded by animals and later visited by shepherds, we can imagine that Mary was not without the assistance of female family members or midwives when labour came.
Sometimes we have to push ourselves or think creatively to open doors to see God drawing near to us in wondrous ways. Likewise, we might have to think about other, less obvious, doors that can be opened to help us be the church.
Jesus said “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7: 7-8)
For the ways this past year we have turned to Jesus and found renewed purpose and ministry this past year, we give thanks. For faith that has been nurtured and relationships that have grown, we are blessed. For strength and support that has been provided in times of hardship, we are comforted. And for the possibilities that await us, doors to be open – in our building, in in our lives, in our hearts – we are filled with hope, for God – in Christ – has done – and is still doing – more that we can ever imagine.
May God open our hearts and draw us nearer to him in worship as we draw closer to Christmas and the new year. May God bless each of you in worship each Sunday at 11 a.m. On the 4th Sunday of Advent – Christmas Eve Day – at our 11 a.m. service we will celebrate the sacrament of communion. At 7 p.m. you are also welcome to experience the wonders of Christmas at a Christmas Eve service of lessons and carols led by our organist Nolan Golding and members of the congregation.
It is our ongoing hope that as a community of faith God will continue to help us to grow in worship, in faith, in relationships, and in care of God’s creation. May God continue to help us open doors in ways that welcome and meet people in their place of need, and equip us to foster joy and gladness in the world around us, that others will find cause to rejoice in God’s goodness. And may our time, presence, words, gifts, offerings, and service continue to bear witness to God’s presence in this world. Should you feel moved to further support Christ’s ministry through St. Paul’s above with a special Christmas offering, we have provided envelopes at the church. E-transfers are also accepted at stpaulspresnb1@gmail.com . On behalf of Session, I wish to thank you for your generous spirit.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
In Christ,
Rev. Wendy on behalf of the Session of St. Paul’s