| Hello everyone at St Paul, This third midweek Advent we continue to follow the poem series from the Rev. Sarah Are. Don’t forget to join us tonight online at 7:00PM or at anytime on FB or YouTube. Remember to keep dreaming!In the name of Jesus, Rev. Aaron BaughmanAt-Home Communion for Everyone Would you like to participate in communion from home? St. Paul is now offering at home communion to everyone who is worshiping from home. Simply send an email to Jeanine at jeanine_secretary@sbcglobal.net or call her at 614-563-3230 to sign up communion kits will be blessed by Rev. Aaron before distribution. Be sure to note how many people are in your family when you reply to Jeanine so that we can be sure to get you the right amount. Our next installment will be for Christmas Eve and the whole Christmas season. Be sure to sign up to receive your candle for the at home candle light service, included in our next communion kit . If you are interested in helping with distribution please let us know! |
| 46 And Mary said,“My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” – Excerpt from Luke 1  The Third Week of Advent – poem 1 SOW JOYIf I wanted to sow joy,I wouldn’t use words. I would turn the music all the way up,And push the table against the wall,Until we had room to dance. I would roll the windows downAnd drive you out of town,Until fresh air filled your lungs. I would squeeze your handAnd look you in the eye,So that you would know you are not alone. I’d lay down the picnic blanket and we’d look at the stars,So that nothing could separate you from God’s great beauty. I’d open my door, like Elizabeth did for Mary.I’d tell you to stay as long as you’d like.Make yourself at home. What’s mine is yours. And maybe we’d sing. And maybe we’d laugh.And maybe it would be enough to be in the presence of God and each other. If I wanted to sow joy, that’s what I’d do.So sing me your song. We’ve got dancing to get to. Sarah Are | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org The Third Week of Advent – poem 2MARY When I was young, my church hosted a Christmas pageant.Families would show up on Christmas EveWith diaper bags and children thrown over their shoulders.No amount of Silent Night could quiet that room.It was a holy and beautiful chaos. What was special about that church Christmas pageant,Was we, the children, got to pick our character in the story.So for one night, we could be Magi in Burger King crowns.We could be angels with wings made of clothes hangers.We could be shepherds in bathrobes, protecting the flock.We could be Mary, beautiful and brave. And the preacher would stand on the stepsAnd tell us the Christmas story,And as our character entered the scene,We would run down the center aisle and assume our place at the manger.(As an aside: Is there anything more holy than seeing a childRun down that center aisle, as if getting closer to God is all they have in mind?) And as the story progressed, the front steps would become crowdedWith dozens of Magi and a wide array of animals,But I would always choose Mary. I would always choose Mary—Mary the teen mom. Mary who said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” Mary who sang. For even at that age, even as a child,We could tell that Mary was afraid, and into that dark, Mary sang. So I and most of the other little girls in the church that night,Would tighten the blue bed sheets draped around our shoulders,And run down the center aisle when our name was called.For in that moment, We were on our way.In that moment,We were those who dream.In that moment,We were all Mary.In that moment, We were brave. Sarah Are | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org  This Sunday will be livestream ONLYInstructions to watch Live StreamYou don’t have to watch it live. You can watch it anytime during or after the service.You can go to youtube.com and search: “St. Paul Lutheran Church New Rome, OH” You can subscribe and get an email when we are live. It is also posted on our website and Facebook page.Facebook-www.facebook.com/stpaullutherancolumbusohiochurch website: http://stpaulnewrome.com |