Our annual Christmas pageant will once again take the place of the sermon at the 10:00 service on Sunday, December 18.  The youth group has written our Christmas pageant this year - it's a wonderful new way of looking at the well known story of the coming of Christ into the world.  There will be a rehearsal for the pageant on Saturday, December 17 at 10:00 a.m., and children participating in the pageant are asked to arrive at church at 9:00 a.m. on the day of the pageant for final preparations.

On Sunday, December 18, at 11:00 a.m., we will begin getting the church ready for Christmas.  Pastor Vicki will provide soup and bread for those who are able to stay and help.  Help of all sorts, by all ages (even kids!), is needed, so please stay if you can.

The Lancaster Food Pantry needs help!!!!!   In our own community we have more hungry people than we have food.   This year we are going to reach out to those in our own area.  Church school children and any others who wish to participate will collect food and pennies.  We hope to end up with a mile of pennies or other monies which we'll convert to pennies and food which is in short supply.   Each week everyone will bring pennies or other monies and put them in a special container to be located in the parish hall.  Each Sunday will be designated for a particular food.  On Epiphany Sunday, we'll create our mile of pennies in the church, and, hopefully, we'll have a mile or even more.  Let's do it!!!! 

DECEMBER 18         NOODLE/RICE DISHES  (not mac' 'n cheese) + PENNIES

DECEMBER 25         PAPER PRODUCTS  SUNDAY (Kleenex, paper towels, etc.) + PENNIES

JANUARY 1              CANNED FRUIT SUNDAY + PENNIES

JANUARY 8              PERSONAL CARE SUNDAY (toothpaste, shampoo, etc.) + PENNIES

Joint Deanery MLK -  The Central and Eastern Erie Deaneries will be holding a joint celebration of Martin Luther King Day on Mon. January 16 at the Diocesan Ministry Center in Tonawanda - more details will be coming but St. Paul's will be responsible for a part of the service.

Overnight with the Bishop - Grades 6 - 12 - at the Diocesan Ministry Center - Fri. January 20 - Sat. January 21.  Cost $10 - spend time with Bishop Franklin and your friends from around the Diocese.

Bishop's Ball - Grades 6 - 12 - at the Diocesan Ministry Center - Sat. February 11. Dance the night (part of the way) away with the Bishop and young people from all over the Diocese - your friends are welcome too.

There will be three services on Christmas Eve, and one service on Christmas Day.  They are:

• 4 p.m. (Christmas Eve) - This celebration of Christmas Eve is designed for families with children.  The service is a little shorter, the sermon is designed with children in mind and the children are invited up to the altar during the Eucharistic prayer.
• 7 p.m. (Christmas Eve) - All of the pomp and ceremony of Christmas, the choir, some of your favorite hymns and the joy of the season.
• 11 p.m. (Christmas Eve) - The late service has become a quieter more meditative service - some of your quieter favorite hymns, organ music and dimmed lights bring the Silent Night.
• 9 a.m. (Christmas Day) - A simply Eucharistic service, without music.  There will be no 8 & 10 a.m. services on Christmas Day.

The Annual Meeting is coming - and St. Paul's will elect three members of the vestry and a warden.

Vestry members are the governing board of the Church - they serve a three year term. 

Wardens are part of the vestry and, with the rector, form the Executive Board of the Church.  They serve a two year term. 

Both wardens and vestry members are expected to attend monthly vestry meetings and to participate on one vestry committee and one ad hoc committee.  The total time commitment for wardens and vestry members is approximately 5 hours a month.

Any adult member of St. Paul's who has been confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church is eligible to run for vestry or warden.  The warden and vestry members are elected at the Annual Meeting - which will be January 29.