Advent and Christmas at St. Paul's

Each day in the Advent season and the Christmas season offers opportunities to rejoice in the anticipation and celebration of God's greatest gift: Jesus.

ADvent & CHristmas Worship Schedule

please scroll down to find special activities.


  • Sunday, December 24: CHristmas Eve Day

    On Sunday morning, we will have a single worship service at 10:30 AM, with a service of lessons and carols celebrating Christmas Eve Day, and we will share communion.


    On Sunday evening, we will hold one Christmas Eve worship service in the Sanctuary. Join us at 7:00 PM for an organ prelude, then worship at 7:30 PM.  This service will feature the Sanctuary choir. It will also be family-friendly, with the option to have candlelight or flame-free glow-sticks to light the final moments of the service.


    Both the 10:30 AM and the 7:30 PM services will be livestreamed. Go to our Worship at Home page: stpaulsk.org/worship/worship-at-home



    Poinsettias will decorate the Sanctuary and wreaths will brighten our doors. The Poinsettia Dedications bulletin is available here as a *pdf or contact the church office to receive a copy by mail.

  • Sunday, December 17

    Worship with Communion at 9:00 & 10:30


    Join us for Sunday Worship for the 4th Sunday in Advent. Representatives of the Scattered for Service program will be available for the last of the Alternative Giving program orders. 



  • Sunday, December 10

    Worship with Communion at 9:00 & 10:30


    The third Sunday of Advent is Music Sunday, as is our tradition. Our Sanctuary Choir will be a featured part of worship at 10:30 AM with selections for the season. The Joyful Ringers bells will make the 10:30 service ring with glad tidings of great joy. 


    The 9:00 worship service continues to offer a smaller community experience with communion. 


    Our poinsettia coordinator will be available following each worship service for those who wish to order poinsettias and make dedications. 

  • Sunday, December 3

    Worship with Communion at 9:00 & 10:30


    Join us for worship on the second Sunday of Advent. After services, visit our poinsettia coordinator, Betsy Sanford, in the Narthex after each worship service to order poinsettias, with a dedication in honor or memory of someone special. 


  • Sunday, November 26

    Worship with Communion at 9:00 & 10:30


    The first Sunday of Advent is also the UMC's designated "Student Sunday" Special Sunday. St. Paul's will enjoy a sermon message from special guest speaker, Andrea Pupino during worship. Advent resources will be available in the Narthex, including the devotions booklet "Those Who Dream" an the "Advent 2023" calendar of devotions.



Poinsettias & Wreaths

Poinsettias in red and white grace the Sanctuary this Christmas season. These plants and the wreaths on our doors may be dedicated in honor and memory of loved ones and to the glory of God by members and friends of St. Paul’s. 


The Poinsettia and Wreath Dedications are shared in our special bulletin. Click the button to view the *pdf.

Poinsettia Dedications

Special Holiday Giving

St. Paul's has three separate ways to warm hearts even during the cold weather months. These special giving opportunities directly benefit local families who are less fortunate, or support organizations actively working on safety-net programs, social justice, or care for God's creation. You can read more on the Holiday Giving page!


These are special giving opportunities beyond the general support of the church. If you would like to make a general offering or pledge support for St. Paul's ministries, worship, and initiatives, please find that information on our Giving page, or contact the church office.

  • Christmas Offering

    The annual Christmas Offering is usually received during Christmas Eve worship and looks beyond our walls to bring help and hope to those less fortunate. At their December meeting, the Church Council determined 100% the offering will be split evenly between UMCOR and St. Paul's Hunger Ministry. 


    The Pastor's Christmas Offering Letter, an invitation to give to this special offering, is available by clicking the link below or by mail upon request.

    Christmas Offering Letter


    Special offering envelopes will be available in the Christmas Eve worship bulletin. Offerings by check may be made out to St. Paul's UMC with "Christmas Special Offering" in the memo. To make a Christmas Special Offering by credit card, 

    please click here to go to the Giving page.

  • Scattered For Service

    Scattered for Service is our seasonal "alternative gift" program. Select from our 20 hand-picked charities and choose the one(s) you wish to support, and receive personalized acknowledgement cards knowing 100% of your contribution will go to the organization of your choice. 


    The Scattered for Service catalog is now available! You can view the detailed list of charities and order online using a credit card. Click here to visit the Scattered for Service page at https://stpaulsk.org/service/scattered-for-service


    For those preferring to use cash or check, a paper version of the order form and catalog can be found in the December issue of The Epistle newsletter, available in the Narthex or church office, and downloadable online by clicking HERE: The December Epistle.

  • Holiday Giving

    The holidays bring special opportunities to support those in our area with limited means. In addition to serving our Hunger Ministry families, St. Paul’s is proud to be a community partner of the Montgomery County Department of Health & Human Services "Holiday Giving Project" serving our ZIP code. We have two Holiday Giving programs:

    Thanksgiving Feast: This year, St. Paul's Holiday Giving coordinators provided a special one-time Thanksgiving grocery store card valued at $50 for families on our Hunger Ministry list plus referrals through our partners at the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. Providing grocery support this way allows our recipients to create the feast that best fits their family - and their food allergies or diet restrictions. We welcome contributions year-round to offset the cost of this program - you can donate online using the Miscellaneous option at our Giving page and put "Thanksgiving" for the designated cause.

    The Christmas Giving Tree: For the Christmas holiday in 2023, St. Paul's will be providing $25 Target gift cards to families in need so they can purchase gifts for their children. This year we will be providing for families on our Hunger Ministry list plus those referred to us by partners at Montgomery County through the Department of Health & Human Services. Providing Target gift cards gives the recipient families maximum flexibility to select and purchase meaningful, age-appropriate presents, and makes the best use of our volunteers' time and church resources. Thank you for your financial contribution towards the cost of these Target cards.

    There are three ways you can participate:
    • Donate a $25 Target gift card. Deliver it to the church office by December 10.
    • Donate wrapping paper, rolls of tape, and bows by December 10. We will make these wrapping items available to gift card recipients, so they may wrap gifts as they choose.
    • Make a financial contribution in any amount for us to purchase Target gift cards. Donate by credit card online (use the button below!) or by cash or check made out to St. Paul's with "Giving Tree" in the memo. Donations are appreciated by December 10 but are gratefully received throughout the entire Christmas season.

Music Sunday

December 10, 2023

As is our tradition, when we celebrate the third Sunday in Advent, our 10:30 worship service transforms into a musical celebration of the season, by turns joyful and contemplative. For 2023, under the direction of Director of Music Tom Pedersen, we will welcome a string quintet, percussion, piano, organ, Joyful Ringer's bell ensemble, Children's Choir, Sanctuary Choir, featured section leader soloists Anna Phillips-Brown and Noah Beye, and guest tenor soloist Nathan Hawsey. The congregation will join in hymns, prayer, Scripture, and lighting the advent candles. Please read more about this worship program of music on our MUSIC page at https://stpaulsk.org/worship/music.

Children's Advent & Christmas Craft Workshop

Children’s Advent & Christmas Craft Workshop

Held in conjunction with the December Pancake Breakfast each year!

Saturday, December 2, 2023

9:00-10:30 AM

Fellowship Hall


After you enjoy the pancake breakfast, enjoy this opportunity to make a variety of Advent and Christmas-related crafts. Children, their friends and adults, and youth helpers will all be making projects together. This workshop is free of charge, but donations are welcome. 


For more information, or to volunteer, please contact Meg Baker at mbaker@stpaulsk.org.