Welcome to St. Paul’s

Advent

2021 Winter Schedule

Click on the Winter Schedule to the left for a large version of the events scheduled at St. Paul’s for December.

Advent Devotions

Advent is the liturgical time in our Church calendar when we focus on waiting and preparing our hearts for the coming of the Jesus, the Christ child.

You are invited to use this season of Advent as a time of reflecting and drawing closer to God through the daily reflections and prayers inspired by Scripture and the spiritual writings of Henri Nouwen. “The Fullness of Time” Advent Devotion booklets can be found in the Narthex or just inside the church office doors.

Advent Wreath Making

Join us for our final Gathering for Good of 2021! We will gather in Otey Hall to have a pasta dinner and to make Advent Wreaths!

Dinner will be $5 per person or $20 maximum per family. Kits for making Advent Wreaths will be available for a suggested $10 donation.

If you’d like to donate greens for this St. Paul’s tradition, you may drop them off in the 6th Avenue Courtyard beginning November 28th. Please leave them on the table under the covered walkway.

Alternative Gift Fair

On Sunday, December 5, St. Paul’s will be offering a wonderful alternative to gift giving. Several representatives from local charitable organizations will be in Otey Hall in from 8:30 am – 1: pm and 4:00 -6:00 pm, just before our traditional “Lessons & Carols.”

These mission-driven groups will welcome donations to help them continue their important work while in return you get the opportunity to honor a family member or friend with a unique gift. You will leave with a pretty personalized gift card for giving that reflects the donation.

Representatives will be present from a variety of nonprofits, including: Begin Anew, Episcopal Relief & Development, Gigi’s Playhouse, My Friends House, NOOK (Needs of our Kids), and Healing Housing. Click the button below to learn more about these organizations:

Sweets and Treats and Advent Lessons and Carols

Our Annual Sweets and Treats and Advent Lessons and Carols celebration will be Sunday, Dec. 5, beginning with a movie showing in Otey Hall (The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!) Cookies and hot chocolate are at 5:00 pm, then the choir’s offering of our favorite service, Advent Lessons and Carols, at 6:00 pm.

The Alternative Gift Fair will be set up in Otey that evening, as well. You can have a sweet family moment, hear beautiful music in a worshipful setting, and cross those names off your Christmas list in one heavenly evening.

Bring some sweets to share. We hope to see you there.

Blue Christmas

Our “Blue Christmas” service will be on Tuesday, December 14 at 6 pm. This is a quiet service with reflective music, designed to acknowledge pain, depression, loss, grief, illness, or other struggles you may experience this holiday season.

In that place of darkness, we encourage comfort in the light of Christ during this Advent season of holy waiting and expectation.

Please feel free to invite family or friends who might benefit from this service.

Social Graces

Lunch and Musical Entertainment – Thursday, December 16

11:30 am – Catered Lunch
12:00 noon – 1:00 pm Seasonal Musical Entertainment

$10 for lunch. RSVP by Monday Dec 13. Note any dietary restrictions. Pay for lunch at the event

RSVP to Monna at monna@stpaulsfranklin.com or 615-790-0527.

Social Graces is a ministry planned for people 55 years old and older, but anyone, any age is welcome to our programs and events.

Caroling Down Main

Caroling Down Main Street, Sunday December 19, 4:30 – 6:00 pm

We will meet in Otey Hall at 4:30 and the carol down Main Street until 5:15 pm. We will return to Otey Hall for a short movie, cookies, and hot chocolate! Songbooks provided.

Children’s Pageant

This year, the pageant will “rehearsal free”. This means that anyone can participate on Christmas Eve, even friends or cousins visiting from out of town! We will have rehearsal for the hymns we will sing during the pageant, however. This will take place on Sundays: December 12th and 19th during the 10 am Christian Formation Hour. Again, this is not mandatory to participate. It’s just a time to brush off our vocal cords to be ready to “Go Tell it on the Mountain” on Christmas Eve! Remember, the pageant will be at the 4:30 service on December 24th. Call time for children who are participating is 3:30 pm. If you have any questions, send them to libby@stpaulsfranklin.com.

Christmas Eve at St. Paul’s

4:00 PM Carol Sing-A-Long with St. Paul’s Strings
4:30 PM Children’s Christmas Pageant and Eucharist Service

7:00 PM Carol Sing-A-Long with St. Paul’s Strings
7:30 PM Festive Eucharist Service

10:30 PM Carol Sing-A-Long with St. Paul’s Strings
11:00 PM Festive Eucharist Service

Christmas Day

Christmas Day Eucharist 10:00 am followed by Christmas Day Potluck Lunch at 11:30 am in Otey Hall.

We provide the turkey and ham. You bring an appetizer, side dish, or dessert.

Questions? Contact Kathy Ulezelski or Gerald Hancock.

Epiphany Brunch

We will kick off the second half of Christian Formation with an Epiphany Brunch on January 9th at 10am in Otey Hall! We will get together in Otey Hall to share a meal and fellowship with our parish family before returning to our regular Christian Formation schedule on January 16th. Drinks will be provided, so bring a dish to share and we will see you there!