This Sunday at 10:30am

December 22nd is the fourth Sunday of Advent. Our focus scripture reading comes from Isaiah 7:10-16 and Matthew 1:18-25: "The Lord himself will give you a sign..."  
What are the signs and promises of the Incarnation today?
How do we resist God's presence breaking into our world as Joseph tried to do? 
How do we know that Jesus is with us?
Musical Offering: A Fifth Above, a woodwind quintet, will play familiar Christmas carols.  You won’t want to miss them – they’re fabulous! 

Christmas Eve Worship, 5:30 pm

Join us for a candlelight service with trumpeter, choir, and carols.  Child care will be available for children 5 and under. Sing the carols, light the candles. Feel the warmth of God’s love! 

This Month

Year-end donations to the church: Contributions that you wish to include on 2013 tax documents must be in the church office no later than Sunday, December 29, or in the mail postmarked no later than December 31.

Pastor Annie will be on vacation from December 25th through January 1st, though you may still contact her in an emergency. Many thanks to Rev. Joe Marting for leading worship on Sunday, December 29th. The church office will be closed on December 25th and January 1st. 

Coming Soon!!

Have You Thought About a New Year Resolution?
How about reading the entire Bible in one year?  If that sounds challenging, it is!  But, it’s doable . . . and more fun with a group of people.  It takes about 20 minutes a day.  Of course, it also requires some energy to plan reading time into your daily schedule.  If this is something you’d like to try, e-mail Annie at pastor@faithdesperes.org or sign-up in the Gathering Space.  Reading schedules are provided, and monthly get-togethers to touch base are optional (time to be decided by participants).  Together, we can do this!  

January 5, 12, and 19, 2014
The Annual ADG Book Study will be on three consecutive Sunday afternoons (January 5^th, 12^th, and 19th) from 12:00 – 1:30 PM in the Gathering Space.  Lunch (sandwiches, salad and drinks) will be available for a small fee, and the discussion will be from 12:30 – 1:30.  This year’s book is Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, by Reza Aslan.  Copies of the book can be obtained from the church office for $16.50 (there are only two books left).  The book can also be purchased at local bookstores ($27.00), or ordered from Amazon ($16.36 for a hardback copy, or $11.75 for a Kindle version). A sign-up sheet for lunch is in the Gathering Space.  Please let Marie in the church office know if you’ll be attending so she can send you a reading guide (also available here). 

January 10, 2014
The next TNT (20s and 30s Something) Dinner will be on Friday, January 10th at 7:00 pm. Childcare will be available at the church beginning at 6:30pm. Place to be determined – look for an e-mail or upcoming blogs for a location announcement.

March 26, 2014
Tour Churches of Soulard with the History Team and find out why St. Louis was once called the "Rome of the West."  Visit Trinity Lutheran, St. John Nepomuk, St. Vincent De Paul, St. Mary of Victories and St. Raymond's.  Have a Lebanese feast for lunch (at your expense) and see the "Who's Who" of St. Louis.  Cost is $49. Make reservations with Betsy Stoll or call 314-821-0533.

Worship This Sunday, December 15th

December 15th is the third Sunday of Advent. Our focus scripture reading comes from Isaiah 35:1-10: "The desert shall rejoice and blossom." 
How do we sing the Good News in our day and age? 

Special thanks to the Faith Des Peres Choir for providing our Christmas Cantata, “A Celebration of Carols,” by Joseph M. Martin, in Sunday’s worship service.

The Advent Devotion Book is now on the website. Click here to download a copy.