St. Patrick’s will have three Christmas Eve services this year and a service on Christmas morning!

12:00 Noon – A SPANISH Christmas Eucharist with Fr. Janssen Gutierrez as Celebrant

5:00 PM – Family Christmas Eve Eucharist with a living children’s nativity.  Children of all ages will participate in the retelling of Jesus’ birth.  There is room for plenty of angels and shepherds, so all children can join in the fun.  Music will be led by Bob Moore, Carolyn Hyman, Richard Phillips, and Daniel Moore on drums. 

7:30 PM – Christmas Eve Eucharist with choir and percussion. The choir will be singing some special music before the service begins, so come early. The festive worship will be followed by special fellowship with champagne and chocolates!  Bring some chocolate to share.

Christmas Morning at 9:30 AM – We will join together for worship on Christmas morning singing as many Christmas carols as we can fit into the service.

Again this year you have an opportunity through Operation Christmas Child to send a powerful message of hope and unconditional love to sick, abandoned, deprived, suffering children in some of the world’s most remote regions. The majority of these children have never received a gift of their very own and have never heard of Jesus – the Greatest Gift of all.

It’s as simple as filling a simple shoe box with small toys, educational supplies, hygiene items.  What a marvelous way to celebrate the birth of Jesus by reaching out in love to ‘one of the least of these’ – His Precious Children.

A display of suggested items for packing the box is available on the table in the fellowship area.  Or visit the Operation Christmas Child website for more details.

DEADLINE FOR RETURNING BOXES IS ON OR BEFORE SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6.

All Saints Sunday – November 6, 2011

All Saints Sunday is coming, November 6. This is an opportunity to formally remember loved ones who have gone before us and are now among the Saints. If you would like to remember a loved one who has died since last All Saints Day (November 1, 2010), call the church office or email Rose at office@stpatricksepiscopal.org with the names of those you would like included on our remembrance list which will be read during the service.

On Sunday, November 6, everyone is invited to bring a candle in memory of those who have died to include in a display of all those who have been important to us.  The lighted candles signify their presence among us as we worship together that morning.

Beautiful weather, joyous music, sounds of dogs barking and responding at just the right time, animals decked out in St. Patrick’s bandanas, and a great crowd under the tent made for a hectic but joyous celebration at our  2011 Blessing of Animals. Special thanks to Linda and David Lane and all their helping hands who coordinated the morning’s event. Visit our Facebook page for lots of great pictures!

On Wednesday mornings from 9:30 until 10:45 a group of women meet for discussion. We are currently reading The Heartbeat of God: Finding the Sacred in the Middle of Everything, by our Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori. This is an up-close look at the secular issues of our day that have profoundly religious roots, and looks at our responsibility to take action as individuals and communities of faith. Katharine confronts these challenges we face and shows us how our decisions can be, and should be, informed by our faith.  See Mary Geiger for a copy of the book.  Ladies, if you are available on Wednesday mornings, please come join us.  There is only a brief portion to read each week.

Children from 4 years old through 5th grade enjoyed a week of Bible stories, music, crafts, and games as they learned how the Bible is God’s guide for our lives in the same way a recipe book is our guide in the kitchen. Under the direction of Christian Formation coordinator Mary Geiger and a host of volunteers of all ages, the children had a memorable time at St. Patrick’s.

We love our new piano!

We also have a new supplemental hymnal, Alleluia III, for congregational singing. It greatly enhances our repertoire beyond the 1982 Episcopal Hymnal, which we still use regularly. Alleluia III replaces the old Songs of Praise books, which were more limited (and getting quite shabby!). We thank those who have donated toward the purchase of the Alleluia III hymnals.