Get Ready: Confirmation Classes Starting Soon

It's that time of year again -- time for middle schoolers and their parents to start thinking about confirmation class! All middle school youth who have not been confirmed at St. Paul's will receive a letter during the first week of January inviting them to be a part of the class. Please read this letter and talk with your child about this opportunity. This is a big step for young people and a wonderful opportunity to receive them as adults into the church.

Confirmation class is held Saturday mornings from 9 to 11 a.m., beginning February 9 and continuing for the five Saturdays following. The Bishop will confirm the class on April 7. It is very important that you can attend the classes (and of course the April 7 Bishop's Visit), so please make note of them now.

The letter will outline more details, but please email ellen@stpaulsalexandria.com if you have any questions or are interested in confirmation class.

Join Us Jan. 6 to Say Thanks and Farewell to Bill Campbell

Please join us to celebrate and give thanks for the ministry of Bill Campbell, our Director of Christian Education for Children and Youth, as he concludes his work at St. Paul’s. A reception in his honor will be held on Sunday, January 6 at 10 a.m. in Norton Hall.

Annual Epiphany Pageant

Please join us on January 6 at the 9 a.m. service for our annual Epiphany Pageant. This short remembrance of the end of the Christmas season is a fun way to mark the arrival of the Three Kings. Part of the day is bringing gifts for the Christ child (diapers, bottles, canned goods, etc.) which we will pass out through our Lazarus Ministry.

Merry Christmas from St. Paul's!

We wish you every happiness this holiday season and prosperity in the New Year. Please watch our annual Christmas video below for a bit of cheer and holiday spirit!

A message from the Angel Team: Thank you, St. Paul's!

Angel Tree 2012

On behalf of the Angel Team, we wish to thank the entire St. Paul's congregation for its generosity and support of the 2012 Angel Tree Program. We want to especially thank our "secret" angel whose donation enabled us to buy bikes for all of the children who asked for one as well as provide inflatable beds, a crib, an air purifier and coats for all. Our heartfelt thanks to all for your gifts, gift cards, and donations to the Angel Tree Fund to help us fill in where needed.

The 2012 Angel Tree Program provided gifts to approximately 185 children, adults, and seniors in Alexandria through the Department of Human Services Holiday Sharing Program, a classroom at Child and Family Network Centers, and the St. Paul's Head Start classroom. We made the holidays special for 103 children, 72 adults, and 10 senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Donations of gifts totaled between $25,000 - $30,000 and close to $3,500 in gift cards were given. 

The Angel Team worked tirelessly for several weeks and collectively put in more than 500 hours to distribute the angels, stars & hearts, collect the gifts, sort through all angel bags, shop and shop again to fill in bags, wrap the gifts which needed to be wrapped, label all bags, and then ultimately, deliver all gifts this past Monday.

Click the above photo to see more pictures of the St. Paul's Angels in action!

2013 Latrobe Lecture: The Precocious Infancy of St. Paul's Church

The St. Paul’s Foundation will welcome The Reverend John Ander Runkle, R.A., a specialist in religious architecture, to deliver the Latrobe Lecture. 

Since 1996, the St. Paul’s Foundation has hosted the Latrobe Lecture, named for Benjamin Henry Latrobe, the architect of St. Paul’s. Mr. Latrobe played a significant role in the design and building of St. Paul’s Church, which was built in 1817. Past lectures have focused on historical architecture and specifically on the life and works of Benjamin Henry Latrobe.

Fr. Runkle has served a number of parishes in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee since being ordained in 1999, he presently is on the staff of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Arlington, Va. He also serves as the Canon for Architecture and the Arts in the Diocese of Washington. As an historical architect, his career represents a devotion to the care and interpretation of architectural and cultural landmarks. 
 
We invite you to join us on Wednesday, January 16, at 7 p.m. for Fr. Runkle’s lecture, “The Precocious Infancy of St. Paul’s Church,” and at a reception afterwards. Please look for an invitation soon and mark your calendars for an evening that is sure to enlighten and engage all who attend.

Epiphany Evensong

On Sunday, January 6, at 7:30 p.m., St. Paul's will celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany with an Evensong. The St. Paul’s Choir will sing music by Byrd, Ayleward, Wood, and Mendelssohn. The three Magi will visit. Donations will be taken of non-perishable food items to benefit the Lazarus Ministry.

Volunteer Opportunities

St. Paul's will host the dinner at the Carpenter's Shelter on Wednesday, Dec. 26. We need servers and donations of salads and dessert at the shelter by 5:45 p.m. If you would like to help, please contact Lezlie Booth at 703-906-9024 or ldbooth@comcast.net.

Volunteers are also needed to help with the Christ House Dinner on Monday, December 31:

• Servers are needed from 4:30-6:15 p.m.
• Bakers can drop off baked goods at Christ House on Sunday or Monday before 4:30 p.m.

Christ House is located at the corner of West and Prince Streets in Old Town. If you have any questions, please contact Bob Aulthouse at 703-505-2008 or raulthouse@aol.com.

Thank you, St. Paul's Foundation!

Did you notice how nice and sparkling clean the outside of the church looks? The St. Paul's Foundation helps us to look our best during a season when we welcome many visitors and guests, as well as all year round. The Foundation's mission is to maintain the historic buildings and grounds of our parish and they saw to it that the façade received a thorough cleaning. Their efforts are greatly appreciated.

Advent and Christmas Service Schedule

In addition to the regularly scheduled services, here are service changes and additions to be noted:

December 16, 2012
7:45 a.m.    Holy Eucharist Rite I
9:00 a.m.    Pageant and Holy Eucharist
11:00 a.m.  Advent Lessons and Carols, and
                 Holy Eucharist with Adult Choir & hand bells
5:00 p.m.   Holy Eucharist Rite II with healing


December 22, 2012
5:00 p.m.    Faith@5 Service
Faith@5 Service resumes January 5, 2013.

December 24, 2012
4:00 p.m.     Holy Eucharist with Angel Choir,
                   and Youth Ensemble
5:30 p.m.     Choral Prelude
6:00 p.m.     Holy Eucharist with St. Cecilia
                   and Women's Choirs, and Brass
10:30 p.m.   Choral Prelude
11:00 p.m.   Holy Eucharist with Adult Choir, and Brass

The following will be the only services held on these dates:
December 25, 2012
10:00 a.m.      Holy Eucharist Family Service

December 30, 2012
10:00 a.m.      Christmas Lessons and Carols

Christmas Pageant Is This Sunday!!

Sunday, Dec. 16, is the annual St. Paul's Christmas Pageant during the 9 a.m. service. The 4th and 5th graders won't be the only performers, however. All younger children are invited to join in. Plan to arrive by 8:45 a.m. to pick up a costume in Norton Hall. There will be costumes for Little Stars, Little Angels, Animals, Little Sheep and Little Shepherds. Children will be prompted  when to come forward during the service.

This is a wonderful tradition that is made all the better by every child who participates. Everyone is also invited to the post-pageant reception in Norton Hall immediately after the service.

Christmas Poinsettias

Each year St. Paul's parishioners remember loved ones with a donation for poinsettias to the church. Envelopes are available in each pew for this purpose. Please write "Poinsettias" in the memo line on all checks.

Envelopes may be returned with the offering or to the office by December 19. For more information, please contact Donna Lefeve at 703-549-3312 ext 14.

St. Paul's Annual Christmas Pageant is December 16

copyright ©2002 The Church Pension Fund

The annual St. Paul's Christmas Pageant will be held Dec. 16 at the 9 a.m. service. All younger children are invited to join the pageant  so come early that morning to get a costume. Children will be prompted when to come forward during the service. This is a wonderful tradition and it is made all the better by every child who participates. Please plan to attend the post-pageant reception in Norton Hall.