Come, let us gather to seek, question, and embody together the new life of God’s work in and around this welcoming and diverse community of faith. No matter where you find yourself on the journey of life, faith, doubt, and hope, you're welcome at Grace-St. Paul's as you are.
Community worship
Sunday mornings:
8 a.m. Holy Eucharist, spoken with no music
10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with music.
Children are welcome in worship. Clipboards with weekly materials for kids of different ages are on the shelves at the back of the church. Ushers and greeters will be happy to help you with your needs. Childcare for those 3 and under is available in our nursery during the 10 a.m. service; the nursery is available for parents to use throughout the morning.
Sunday mornings, 9:00 a.m. – “Between the Services” – Spiritual Formation for all ages, September through May. Kids start off in the church, while adults meet in Craft Hall for discussion of life, faith, and community.
Wednesday evenings, 7:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist. An intimate time of Word and Sacrament, apart from the bustle of life.
Upcoming Special Services...
January 22: Annual Meeting One service for the whole community at 9 a.m., followed by the Annual Meeting, with activities for children during the meeting.
***
"Between the Services"
Holy conversation, holy play at 9 a.m.
Upcoming Adult Forum:
Adults gather in Craft Hall to go deeper in talking about faith and life.
Tentative upcoming topics:
January 15: Missio: Engage! - with team member Jack Dalton!
January 22: No Forum: One service at 9 a.m., followed by the GSP Annual Meeting
January 29: "Who's Our Neighbor?"
Children and teens:
Kids gather in the church at 9 for music (except on January 22), then go
to their individual rooms. January Church School themes: Many themes will
focus on light, how Jesus revealed who he was, and early stories of healing
and miracles.
Great Work, Grace-St. Paul's!
In 2011, you and your leadership:
-repaired property damaged by years of neglect,
-reversed trends in stewardship, meeting the 2012 pledging goal,
and
-began to lay a stronger, healthier spiritual foundation through
the 9 a.m. Formation hour for everyone and the initiation of Missio: Engage!
You and your leadership have come through a pivotal year - celebrate!!!
Grace-St. Paul's on the National Website - Again!
The new, updated website of the national Episcopal Church is exciting, insightful
- and it's now live! Check it out at http://episcopalchurch.org/.
In particular, go to the "I Am Episcopalian" page http://episcopalchurch.org/page/i-am-episcopalian
to see videos of regular Episcopalians around the country witness to the
life-giving presence of the Episcopal Church - and see a few familiar faces!
Watch as Pat Hines, Brian Bridgewater, Ely Molina, Martha Heckel,
and Rose Cooper share their stories with us, the nation, and the
world, and you'll even catch glimpses of Dylan's and Zoe's Pentecost
baptisms (if the videos aren't up yet, check back by the end of
the week). And what better witness to the new life of Missio: Engage
- its story-telling and, most importantly, story-listening..... Check out
the site!
Have a Child Age 3 or Younger? Nursery Care Is
There For You
A "best practice" of many growing churches is having consistent, professional childcare in the nursery for our youngest folk, ages 3 and under so that the kids and new parents are more comfortable with a consistent face, and parents are grateful for the break! We'll be trying that out this winter and spring. We're happy to welcome our new, regular nursery supervisor and assistant. Care for those 3 and younger will be provided from 7:45 till 11:15 every Sunday morning (care will begin at 8:45 on one-service Sundays).
Bags of Love
It's that time of year for one of our favorite traditions, when GSP Church
School kids make Bags of Love to be handed out at the Trenton Area Soup
Kitchen on Valentine's Day. Donations are now being accepted through February
12 - but as many as you can bring by January 22 helps our
kids begin work on the project while adults are at the Annual Meeting. What's
needed? Individually wrapped chocolates, lip balm, juice boxes, granola
bars, personal-sized packs of tissue. Please put items in the basket in
the Narthex. For any questions, check with Mary Marks (609 890 1035)
Annual Girls' Friendly Society Epiphany Coffee
Hour
On Sunday February 5, at the special coffee hour following
the 10 a.m. service, Grace-St. Paul's sponsors its annual tradition of an
Epiphany Coffee Hour for GFS. All are invited to come, and bring a friend.
Watch here for more upcoming info!
Praying Our Story - Lenten Retreat
Our Holy Scriptures are filled with stories of ordinary people living their
ordinary lives and finding themselves met there by a covenant God of unconditional
love. Their experiences shed light on ours. For that to happen, we have
to be present to our day-to-day moments, expect that God will show up, and
cultivate a heart aware of and ready to notice God's love at work in our
experiences. This retreat morning will offer specific guidance toward finding
God as vibrantly alive in our own real-life stories. Saturday, March
10, 9 to noon, led by Sr. Rita Woehlcke, SSJ, a longtime spiritual
director and retreat leader focusing on the moments of our lives as where
God finds and partners with us. Rsvp to 
.
Crisis Ministry Update
The response throughout Mercer County to the fire that broke out in the food pantry at the Crisis Ministry in Trenton has been overwhelming. Crisis Ministry, which serves so many, has been able to begin restocking its pantry, as well as repairing its Trenton facility. But it still needs our help, especially at this crucial time of the year. To restock the pantry, the following items are needed:
- Canned proteins (tuna, salmon, chicken, chili), shelf-stable milk (like Parmalat), peanut butter, canned potatoes, cans of fruit (low-fructose), hot cereal (oatmeal, grits, cream of wheat), honey (plastic container) and small/medium boxes of cold cereal.
- 1-2 lb. boxes of pasta; boxed macaroni and cheese; 2 lb. bags of rice; 1 lb. packages of dried beans
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste; shampoos and conditioners, razors and shaving cream; soaps and lotions, feminine products.
We will collect these items in the barrel at the church door. We will also
stay in touch with the ongoing needs of TASK, the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.
Watch this space for how we can provide hands-on help and get more deeply
involved with the life-giving work of Crisis Ministry.
"Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the
hope of the poor be taken away."
-BCP
Every Sunday will now be TASK barrel or Crisis Ministry Sunday. TASK needs
our help and we are answering the call! When is the last time you went
hungry? There is a place where people wake up hungry in the morning and
go to bed hungry at night. These people are our neighbors. The place they
live is called Trenton. TASK provides more than 3,000 free meals per week
to people in need in the Trenton area. Please remember TASK during
your weekly grocery shopping with a very simple theme, One-a-week! Pick
up one item during your shopping trip to put in the TASK barrel. Needed
non-refrigerated items include: Fruit singles, pudding singles, Chef Boy
R' Dee microwave cans, spaghetti sauce, salad dressing, juice boxes, peanut
butter, jelly, canned fruit, non-perishable foods, macaroni, canned beef
or turkey gravy, or canned veggies. Personal hygiene itemes also needed:
shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, disposable razors, and bars
of Soap (Irish Spring, Zest, Coast and Lever 2000 are patron favorites).
NO glass jars, please!
Bishop Councell's Annual Visitation to Grace-St.
Paul's, and Confirmation of our Youth
On Palm Sunday, April 1, we'll have one service at 9 a.m. for Bp. Councell's visitation to Grace-St. Paul's and for the confirmation of our wonderful teen confirmation class. Be sure to plan on this special service, an extraordinary way to enter Holy Week, where the Procession of Palms will truly be a celebration of the new life of the Grace-St. Paul's community, our youth, their leaders, and our bishop
All
Are Welcome at Grace-St. Paul's
Visit us at: 3715 East State Street Extension
Mercerville, New Jersey 08619
Services are Sundays at 8 am and 10 am.
Church School every Sunday during the school year.
Join us weekly for Coffee Hour after each service.
Call to learn more! (609) 586-6004
fax (609) 586-6024