2014 EVERY MEMBER CANVASS Update as of 12/13/2013 Pledge Cards Sent Out 209 Pledge Cards Returned 96 Pledge Cards Still Out 113

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1 2014 EVERY MEMBER CANVASS Update as of 12/13/2013 Pledge Cards Sent Out 209 Pledge Cards Returned 96 Pledge Cards Still Out 113 Pledge Goal $425,000 Pledged to Date 329,609 Percentage of Goal Amount 76% Pledge Total Still Needed $ 95,391 To the 96 families who have returned their pledge cards we say THANK YOU! To the 113 families who have not yet returned your pledge card, please do so by Sunday. We seek to know Christ and to reach out to others in His name. THE EPISTLE THE REV. JIM REED, INTERIM RECTOR ST. PAUL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH PO Box 548 EDENTON, NC RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U S POSTAGE PAID EDENTON NORTH CAROLINA PERMIT NO 71 THE EPISTLE NEWSLETTER OF ST. PAUL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH Lector: Mimi Reiheld Isaiah 7:10-16 December 22, :00 A.M. - Rite I 9:45 A.M. - Christian Education 11:00 A.M. - Rite I Lay Readers: 8: Mark DeHart 11: Bob Adams Romans 1:1-7 Hood Ellis Ushers: Michael Cavanagh, Wilson Green, III, Jeff Sackrison, Lee Segerstrom Acolytes: 8:00 Server Ellie Whichard 11:00 Server.....Gaskin Foreman Crucifer Newbern Foreman Torch Bearer.... Carson Foreman Torch Bearer.... Vestry Person of the Day Kathy Busby Next Week Hood Ellis Greeters: 8:00 A.M Terry Waff 11:00 A.M.... Lee Segerstrom COLLECT OF THE DAY WE BESEECH THEE, Almighty God, to purify our consciences by thy daily visitation, that when thy Son our Lord cometh he may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

2 PLEASE PRAY FOR: James & Rebecca, John Adams, Leta Bateman, Jim Beasley, Carol Becker, Carolyn & Julian Bell, Joe Brucia, Max Busby, Larry Cook, John Cutter, Patrick Davis, Brian Day, Lee Friar, Abby Frye, Jess French, Patrick Haley, Blake Harmon, Patricia Hart, Dean Heal, Ann Hines, Nell Hollowell, Allen Hornthal, Nathalie Johnson, Lori Knapp, Lee Miller, Don O Brien, Guy Piche, Doris Quinn, Cheryl Ray, Nicole Sorey, Nancy Stanek, Sallie Tarkington, Earl White, Ed Woolwine, Bob Wright. Also during this week please pray for: Committees of the Diocese of East Carolina Grace Church, Lewiston-Woodville Dec. 24th: Julie Perry Tracy Powell Ralph Land Dec. 26th: Bill Pepper Dec. 27th: Samuel Harding Dec. 29th: Candy Roth Dec. 31st: Nicholas Beaman Jan. 2nd: John Chilcoat Jan. 4th: Nell Wood Clay Willis Annie Gray Dixon Katie Gray Farless Jan. 5th: Jenny Fringer Bud Powell Richard Parrish Jan. 9th: April Lane Les Kersey CHRISTMAS ST. PAUL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH December 24th ~ Christmas Eve 5:30 ~ Children s Service in the Church 10:30 P.M. ~ Special Christmas Music 11:00 P.M. ~ A Candlelight Holy Eucharist Service Blessings, Fr. Jim December 25 ~ - Christmas Day 10:00 A.M. Holy Eucharist EYC This year the EYC decided to carol on Saturday evening during the Christmas tour. Unfortunately, the weather was horrible so we didn t get to carol as we have in the past in a wagon. We did, however, still carol to nursing home residents at Chowan River Nursing Home. It is always so touching to me to see our young people interact with those who are lonely and forgotten. They brought much joy Saturday evening to many folks by singing Rudolph, Silent Night and many other favorites. I want to thank Kathy Keel for hosting us for dinner after we caroled and Geoff Marett and Sean Tunney for driving. On Sunday afternoon WeeYC decorated cookies and delivered them to Primetime Nursing Home. While handing out cookies the WeeYC also caroled to the residents. They even took cookies to Fr. Jim. It was a fun and joyous afternoon had by all! I pray you all have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy many wonderful moments with your friends and family. I also pray you will have a few minutes of quiet time to sit in awe of all that Jesus has done for us! Merry Christmas! UPCOMING EVENTS 1/5 ~ Epiphany 5p.m. Call Kim at or -stpaulsyouth@embarqmail.com

3 Christian Education Corner Many thanks go to Julie Perry and Patti Mordecai for preparing the pre-school and chapel classes for our Christmas Pageant. We thank Cindy Gandee for helping the children learn the songs and Linda Thornton for her help with the service. Parents, we appreciate your support. We especially thank the younger children and the youth in grades 3-12 who shared their Christmas message. We wish you a very Merry Christmas! Reminder: No Sunday school on December 29. Please do your best to get caught-up with this year s (2013) pledge giving. If you have not sent in your 2014 pledge card please do so this week. Thank you! Finance Committee BOXWOOD CUTTING and CHURCH DECORATING Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 8:00 am: We need many men and women from our parish family to make 19 wreathes, hang the wreaths, set out 100 poinsettias, and decorate the church with smilax. Working together is fun and rewarding, and a way to praise God. Let us prepare our spirits and our minds, as well as our church, for the blessed celebration of Our Savior s birth. This is a church-wide project and we need everyone s help. For questions please call Susan Creighton, Sing Praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion. Declare His deeds among the peoples. Psalm 9.11 A Bible verse to learn: Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. Psalm 146:1

4 Let us tell the world about this For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 Now there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field and keeping their flock by night, behold, an angel of the LORD came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:8-11 The above Scriptures announce the birth of Jesus the Christ! They were written about 700 years apart! What great news they bring to us! Jesus the Christ is born! Let us tell the world about this! Virginia Wood Evangelism Committee EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN NOTES EVERY WOMAN OF ST. PAUL S IS A MEMBER OF ECW Many Christmas Blessings to everyone: Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight! Glories stream from heaven afar; Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia! Christ the Saviour is born! Christ the Saviour is born! THANKS TO EVERYONE What a wonderful celebration it was this past Sunday for Carolyn Jackson s retirement, which will be at the end of this year. Many thanks to all the men and women of our parish family who were able to help. Special thanks to Gay Chatham for organizing this lovely event. Our next event will be ECW s January Wine and Cheese Gathering one evening next month. The date and the place to be announced. Do you remember the Bible Verse? Write it here

5 2013 ANGEL TREE REPORT It is always overwhelming each year...the body of Christ in action! I was thinking about all the wonderful things I could say...and making it sound new again...and then, I thought of just listing some of the things that were done to make this happen: 1. The Angel tags are handed out in church for the shopping to be done...we try and provide some needed clothing and some toys...this year we did 4 bikes, 1 skateboard, 3 remote control cars, art supplies, and lots of dolls...and there are ipods, and gift cards...and 4 families we thought needed Food Lion cards 2. the presents arrive at church in beautiful wrapping...this year we even had Dora wrapping for the little girl who loves Dora...each gift is wonderfully decorated 3. the presents are sorted by family and bagged up with directions and phone numbers 4. the presents are delivered to the families after another personal contact 5. Cards are sent to the prisoners to tell them we delivered gifts in their name...or not, which are the hardest to write The lines on the bottom of the Angel cards are from the parent in prison...their words... "I will be there for more special times than all the times that I've missed! we'll have the rest of our lives together to make up for lost time. I love you." "I hope that this puts a smile on your face. I love you very much." "Be good boys for Momma and your grandmother and granddaddy." "Mommy loves you more than the number of stars in the sky, always and forever." "Be strong. I love you and miss you so much." "From God." I really don't think I can add anymore...except thank you for another year... and may we all continue to pray for our angels and their families. Peace Debbie Boyle and Gay Chatham The Outreach Committee is pleased to announce that through your generosity we have disbursed over $25,000 to support our neighbors near and far. Whether it's packing meals for families across the globe or donating food to the Food Pantry for families across town, we have shared our gifts and love with others. We look forward to sharing God's Love even more in 2014 by sharing ourselves. This year's Christmas offering will kick off the funding of our next St. Paul's Mission trip. Honor the Greatest Gift we've been given by helping spread the Good News of Christ. EXTRA EXTRA--READ ALL ABOUT IT. ST. PAULS CHURCH IN EDENTON, NC THE MOST BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED IN THE STATE. ALL THIS IS DUE TO THE PARISHONERS HARD WORK ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 21ST TO MAKE IT SO. IF IT WEREN'T FOR SO MANY HANDS MAKING SO MUCH LIGHT WORK, IT COULDN'T HAPPEN. BE SURE TO BE THERE ON SUNDAY, DEC 22ND TO VIEW THIS SPECTACULAR SIGHT. NOW I AM EXPECTING THIS TO BE THE BEST YEAR EVER, AS WE HAVE TO IMPRESS FATHER JIM WITH OUR TALENTS. PLEASE TAKE 2 HOURS ON FRIDAY THE 20TH TO CUT GREENERY, AND 2 HOURS ON SATURDAY THE 21ST TO HELP PUT TOGETHER THE WREATHS AND HANG SMILAX, WORK ON THE ALTAR AND WINDOWS TO MAKE ALL THIS HAPPEN. I AM THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR DEDICATION. CHRISTMAS JOY AND LOVE, SUSAN

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