We are entering the seasons of Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas, which to me means that we are in the most invitational time of the year.
Thanksgiving meals, the anticipation of Christ’s birth along with the excitement of opening up new days on our Advent Calendars, and of course Christmas Eve services followed by Christmas itself. You can even throw New Year’s Eve parties into this time of celebrating the idea of gathering together with great joy!
I think about holiday movies and of course, music of the season, all of which are jam packed with thoughts of being together with others. “City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style. In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas. Children laughing, people passing, meeting smile after smile and on every street corner you hear … silver bells.”
Ah, people meeting smile after smile, and guess who is responsible for making sure that we are included in those meetups filled with smiles? You and I are!
Since this is St. Paul’s newsletter, I am focused on bringing people both new and old together at church. In church. So that new folks can discover the love of God and Jesus Christ, the loving and funny church family we have, and the mission work we do because of our faith.
I recently heard about a church located not that far away from St. Paul’s where there was once more than 300 people in worship on Sundays. They now have under 20 people in worship. I read in a blog that people of faith need to come up with creative ways to get people into their churches, because fewer people are walking into churches just because they see a church on a street corner.
So you and I have invitational work to do! Most of you are “online” to one degree or another so it begins there. It’s so simple to share a message about what’s happening at St. Paul’s because all you have to do is go to St. Paul’s Facebook message about an event and then click on the button marked “SHARE.” Magically (okay, it’s not magic it’s technology) all of your FACEBOOK friends will know what’s happening at church … you do want them to know, don’t you? And to start to come to church?
Here’s a quick list of events connected with St. Paul’s. There’s always worship on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. too! You can invite your friends, neighbors, family members, coworkers, and strangers to:
- SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16 at 6pm – POTLUCK SUPPER to celebrate our church
- SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23 at 5pm – Thanksgiving Service at First United Methodist Church in National Park, New Jersey
- SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30 at 4pm – GLOUCESTER COUNTY FLUTE ENSEMBLE concert at St. Paul’s
- FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5 at 7pm – CHRISTMAS SINGALONG (My FAVE!!)
- WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 24 at 5pm – CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
- THURSDAY JANUARY 1, 2026 at Noon – NEW YEAR’s DAY SERVICE
Share the good news, spread the word, and be invitational— it’s the perfect season!
Blessings,
Pastor Dave