Advent Service of Lessons and Carols, Sunday, December 4, 10:00 a.m., sung by St. Paul’s Choir, featuring music of Johann Franck, Paul Manz,  Stephen Caracciolo, and Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Advent Evenings begin Thursday, December 8, with a pot luck supper served from 6 to 6:45 p.m. in the Parish Hall.  You are invited to bring a main course, salad, or dessert to share.  From 7:00 until 7:30 p.m.., we gather for a time of Advent Scripture, Song and Prayer in the Parish Hall.  Choir rehearsal begins at 7:40 p.m.

Our 27th annual interfaith Thanksgiving Eve service will be held here at St. Paul’s on Wednesday, November 23, at 7:30 p.m.  This year’s theme is “Hope-Full”.  Particularly in these times, it is good to come together as people of faith across lines of tradition and belief to give thanks for our shared blessings.  There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex for refreshments.  “Finger food” dessert items are requested.

On November 20, we welcomed the Rev. Erin Tamayo and Juan Torres, representing Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, Los Angeles (CLUE-LA), as part of our community’s observance of the Reign of Christ and Commitment Sunday.

A newly-organized independent group of elder leaders from many of the defining American social justice movements of the 20th century will lead an interfaith service of solidarity and host a conversation with Occupy demonstrators and other interested individuals on the south lawn of City Hall in downtown Los Angeles beginning at 2:00 p.m. The panel of elders are the Rev. Malcolm Boyd, the Rev. James Lawson, Rabbi Leonard Beerman, Dolores Huerta, the Rev. George Regas and Maher Hathout.  Similar events with other notable elders will be held in San Francisco, Oakland and New York.

EQUIPPING LEADERS FOR MISSION (ELM) classes begin September 17 at the Synod Office in Glendale. The program trains leaders to serve their congregations, neighborhoods, and various ministries, offering four-week core courses the first year and four “track” courses the second year.
For more information and registration information visit www.socalsynod.org/elm or contact Pastor Laurie Arroyo at larroyo@socalsynod.org or 818-507-9591 X102.

The Choir of St Paul’s Church presents “A Choral Eucharist” this Sunday, June 6, 10 a.m.

In this year of confirmation, Susan Palo Cherwien’s reflections on CREDO: I Believe will be the framework for the music of
Praetorius, Kopylow, Chilcott, Ippolitof-Ivanov & Manz.

St. Paul’s hosts the 25th annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve service on Wednesday evening, Nov. 25 with the Santa Monica Synagogue community.

Rabbi Jeffrey Marx and Pastor Jim have been meeting to plan this quarter-century celebration which will have as its theme “Gratitude for Grace.”

More than just a retrospective of 25 years of relationship between the two congregations, the service will accentuate living in humble awareness of God’s gracious gifts in our lives: health, family & friends, livelihood, the creation, and community.

For the past quarter of a century, the people of St Paul’s and Sha’arei Am have shared this evening together.  For a number of years, the synagogue’s home was here at St. Paul’s.

Service time is 7:30 p.m. and refreshments will follow in the Parish Hall.  Dessert sign-up in narthex.

Now that our youth have returned from the ELCA National Youth Gathering in New Orleans, and have had some time to reflect on their experiences in service and worship, it’s time for them to share the experience and their gratitude for the congregation’s support.

The four young men who, along with 30,000 other Lutheran youth and their 7,000 adult chaperones, attended the Youth Gathering last July are now eager to tell their story with the congregation which so generously supported their fundraising efforts last spring and early summer.

On All Saints Sunday, Nov. 1, and in celebration of “when the saints go marchin’ in”, the four young men from St Paul’s (with a little help from their parents) will serve up a sloppy joe lunch (with salad, chips, cake, and beverage) immediately following worship.  An audio-visual presentation is planned, along with each youth sharing a portion of the 5-day experience in New Orleans.

A freewill offering will be taken to help toward meeting the remaining expenses not covered by previous fundraisers (approx. $1,500).

Rest eternal grant them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them.

+ Beverly Weddle + Stacey Manuel Twist + Elmer Hansen +

Sunday, November 1 is the Festival of All Saints.  We give thanks for the life and witness of all our beloved dead, who are now at rest in God’s eternal embrace and in resurrection hope.

You are invited to submit the name(s) of your departed loved one(s) for the printed listing of those from among us who have died.

All Saints Sunday is also a time for a parish community to remember those in particular from its fellowship who have died in the past year.

As we gather on that Sunday, we hear the promises of scripture which describe a time when tears shall be no more, and a place where there will be no more sadness and pain, only light and joy in the presence of God.

We will sing, pray, name the names of our departed loved ones, toll the chimes, light candles, and keep silence as we commune with the saints.

Pastor Alexia Salvatierra, Executive Director for California Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), is our guest preacher on Reformation Sunday, Oct. 25, at St. Paul’s. Pr. Salvatierra formerly was Executive Director for CLUE-LA.

A gifted preacher of God’s Word, she will proclaim the Gospel among us and update us on ways the Gospel is being lived out toward a more just and fair wage in our state and local community. The Rev. Salvatierra is an ordained ELCA pastor.

On the eve of Reformation Sunday (Saturday, Oct. 24), the New City Parish (NCP)holds its 8th Annual Fall Event with a dinner and silent auction at Mt. Olive Church, 1343 Ocean Park Blvd, in Santa Monica. NCP invites us to celebrate the reformation with an ongoing commitment to “glocal” mission in our neighborhoods and around the world. Keynote speaker is The Rev. Twila Shock, Director of ELCA Global Mission Network. $50 donation is requested.  RSVP (310) 673-2584.

Finally, on Reformation Sunday afternoon at 4:00, a Westside ELCA Reformation celebration takes place at Mt. Olive Church in Santa Monica with a Bach cantata sing-a-long followed by (what else but) a potluck dinner! Semper Reformanda (and don’t forget your jell-o mold)!!