As we turn the page again on the calendar to the last month of the year and await the first snow of the year, we are met with anticipation of the coming season at every street corner we pass and every retail store we enter. The songs are in the air. Lights are shining in all the trees. There is a certain Christmas spirit that comes with even the smell of a peppermint candy cane or a fancy coffee drink with a Christmas cookie, and yet, as people of faith, we know there is something even deeper we’re waiting for than peppermint and a pastry.
Advent invites us to step back from the noise and stand for a moment in the quiet: to remember that all of this is really about a child born in a small town on the margins of an empire. It’s about God choosing to enter a complicated, hurting world in the most vulnerable way possible: as a baby, laid in a manger.
That’s why this year our Advent worship series is called “What Child IS This?” The world around us has plenty of ideas about power, success, and glory, but who is this child who comes without any of those things? Who is this child who draws shepherds and angels together in the same night sky?

• In the weeks of Advent that follow, we’ll keep exploring different dimensions of this child:
• The one who comes without a crown and whose kingship is humble.
• the one who brings good news to the lowly and left out.
• the one whose birth unsettles the powerful.
• the one whose very presence is God’s “yes” to a world that often feels full of “no.”

My prayer is that in the midst of full calendars, emotional ups and downs, and the swirl of the holidays, you will find St. Paul’s to be a place of holy pause and a community where you can catch your breath, light a candle, sing the old songs, and remember why this story still matters.
As you see the lights go up and the seasons change, I hope you’ll also make space to join us in worship. Bring your joy and your grief, your gratitude and your questions. Bring the parts of this year that went beautifully and the parts that broke your heart. Lay them at the manger with all of us.
Together, we’ll keep asking, “What child IS this?” and we will discover again that the answer can change everything.

In Christ,
Rev. David Petty

Blue Christmas Supper Service 
December 17, 2025 5:00 pm

We all know that our Christmas experience isn’t always the joyful time of year our culture, both religious and societal, expects us to have. Sometimes, the loss of someone we love saps the joy out of the season. Other times, life just isn’t going as well as we would like. Join us for our Blue Christmas Supper service on December 17th at 5:00 p.m. This service is a time when we are given “permission” to acknowledge our sorrow in a time when we are often expected to feel joy. This service is intended to help create a space for both grief and joy during this Christmas season. The service will be in Waddill Hall and on Zoom.

Livestream
If you can’t make it in person, we invite you to join us live using the following links for the services:
Join Zoom Meeting            ID: 719 634 7046                 Passcode: 80909

December 24, 2024
5:00pm - Family and Children's Service:
Come All Ye Families of all shapes and sizes. Join us for a fun, family-friendly Christmas Eve service. Every element of this service has been designed with families and kids in mind (whether you’re 1 or 99). We will sing familiar Christmas songs, watch a video or two explaining the Christmas story. Crying babies and kids running up and down the aisles are welcome. The more the merrier.

7:00pm - A Service of Lessons and Carols:
Come all for the service where we pull out all the stops! We will have the organ, piano, choir, bells, and more! This traditional Christmas Eve service consists of scripture, music, and a message of hope. We will end the service by lighting candles and lifting them high as we celebrate that the light of Christ has come into the world at Christmas. If you are looking for the "Classic" Christmas Eve Service, this is for you.

“Please donate now - the holiday season is almost here and Christmas Unlimited needs your financial support! Unfortunately, inflation has decreased the number of donations we have received. Without additional funding, we may not be able to continue our 102-year-old mission of providing new Christmas gifts and school supplies to children and families who are less fortunate throughout the Pikes Peak Region.

Established in 1923, Christmas Unlimited is one of the region’s oldest 501 (c) 3 non-profit charities in Colorado Springs. Last year, we served 8,756 children from 2,500 families. Because we are a completely volunteer run organization, we rely on the community’s financial assistance to help cover essential operating expenses which have increased dramatically in recent years.

We have been helping families celebrate the beauty of Christmas gift-giving by enabling parents or caregivers to select toys for their children in a store-like setting. Parents “shop” without their children so the youngsters will be surprised by their gifts on Christmas morning. The entire process is festive, friendly, and fun; all in the spirit of helping a child experience the magic of Christmas.

Christmas Unlimited greatly appreciates any and all donations. Thank you so much for your consideration and support.”

Monetary donations should denote December Monthly Mission or Christmas Unlimited.

Each communion Sunday thereafter we will have a basket for those who feel called to give above and beyond their pledge. This "second-mile" giving will help fund the pastor's discretionary fund, which helps meet community needs as they arise, such as gas, lodging, clothing, etc. Feel free to bring your spare cash and change to help make a change in the lives of those in need.

 
 
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
James 1:17.
 
Be A Gift
For all of its holiday spirit, Christmas cheer, and joyful celebrations, this time of year can also be one of the loneliest, most painful seasons.  There’s enormous pressure placed on us to be jolly, happy, and merry all the time.  We see movies, TV shows, cards, and stories with large happy families.  We watch eager shoppers scramble for bargains, excited to buy whatever they choose without seeming to worry about their budgets.
But what if your family lives far away?  Or you don’t have many people in your life? What if your budget can’t accommodate even the smallest gift or tiniest ornament?  What if you’re not sure how you’ll pay the rent or afford groceries or cover the heating bills?
If you’re serious about reclaiming Jesus as the reason for the season, you must be willing to be Christ to those who need him most.    Look around you and see how you can meet the needs of others as a Christmas gift to the Lord, a thank you present for the indescribable gift of God’s precious Son..

Hospitality
Our big event for December is Christmas Eve. There will be cider and coffee plus lots of goodies to welcome all to our Christmas Eve services. We will be serving between the two services. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO FILL OUR TABLE WITH GOODIES. You can bring your donation to the church on Sunday, Dec. 21st or take them to the kitchen on the 23rd. This will give us time to plate them for the 24th. Thank YOU for helping us to provide a warm welcome to all who come to worship with us.

St. Paul’s members- we need your help. If you know of anyone in our St. Paul’s family who is homebound, in a nursing home, or unable to come to church for a while, please let me know their name and phone number. I will be happy to contact them and see if they would appreciate having communion brought to them. Lu Petersen, 597-2824.

As the holidays approach, it’s never been a better time to purchase grocery cards from the church. They can be used at all Safeway and Kings Soopers stores. In addition to using them for your own grocery shopping, they make great gifts and stocking stuffers. They are as simple to use as a credit or debit card. You can purchase grocery cards for $25, $50, or $100. The cards never expire and you can use them multiple times until the entire balance on the card has been sent. Best of all, the church makes 5% of the face value of each card sold.

A number of students attending the TESLA school across the street from the church have some needs that you can help supply. They need food cards, deodorant (boys and girls scents), hairbrushes, toothpaste/toothbrushes, hoodies/sweaters (all adult sizes), and boys’ and girls’ t-shirts and long sleeve t-shirts (all adult sizes).
They have also asked for help with a food drive. You can donate grocery cards or non-perishables. Any assistance you can provide will let the young people know that people care about them.

We will be collecting coats for Springs Rescue Mission. A box is located in the Narthex.

There will be a Christmas Tree placed in the Narthex for your offerings of hats, scarves and gloves. We are also collecting socks. Please bring new socks of every size (preferable wool as they keep feet warmer and dryer).

The Children’s Ministry has been called to collect pop tabs to donate to the Ronald McDonald House.
A jar will be placed in the Narthex on the information table.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact
Valerie Cox @ 660-2446 or Valerie.cox29@outlook.com

A big THANK YOU to all of the St. Paul’s members for contributing so many turkeys and also monetary donations to help Crossfire Ministries feed some of the needy in our community. We have such a generous congregation.
Thanks again. Lu Petersen

Gerry Cooper 12/1
Janice Day 12/1
Bobby Fowler 12/1
Norma Pardun 12/6
Tom Porter 12/8
Aidan Couitt 12/9
Patrick Ford 12/9
Wayne Mowery 12/12
Sue Hilty 12/13
Jaymie Pfahl 12/15
Gayle Myers 12/18
Doris Carroll 12/19
Amy Kruse 12/19
Dick Woods 12/23
Ginny Fredell 12/24
Erin Couitt 12/31

Michael & Barbara Newberry
December 19, 1964
61 Years
Doug & Sharon Johnson
December 19, 1970
55 Years
John & Jackie Fletcher
December 20, 1970
55 Years
James & Beth Ford
December 21, 2017
8 Years
Bob & Sue Hilty
December 28, 1963
62 Years
Bob & Donna Rickett
December 27, 2019
6 Years

11:00a Adult Sunday School
5:00p Youth Group7:00p Vocal Fusion