Advent is the season in the church year when we prepare for the celebration of the Feast of the Nativity, or Christmas. This four week season is marked by themes of waiting, expecting and preparing. It is signified by the color purple being used in church. Join in the many events as the St. Paul’s Community marks this important season together!
Worship at St. Paul’s
Sundays and Saturdays
(beginning November 28 and 29, 2026)
- Saturday, 6pm, Sanctuary, no music
- Sunday, 8am, Chapel, no music
- Sunday, 8:45am with Children’s Chapel and Worship Band
- Sunday, 10:45am, with Chancel Choir and Organ
Wednesdays
- 11am in the Church, short service with music
Adult Education
Advent Devotional: Journeys Through Advent
This Advent, you are invited to prepare your hearts and minds for the birth of Jesus by reading St. Paul’s Advent Devotional Journeys Through Advent: Stories of hope, waiting, and God’s presence in the season of Advent.
The four weekly entries in this booklet are written by fellow parishioners in the St. Paul’s community. This devotional serves as a companion to all as you experience waiting for the coming of Christ into the world.
Hard copies of the Devotional will be available at the church and for download beginning on Sunday, November 22nd.
Beginning the week of November 29, 2026
Journeys Through Advent: stories of hope, waiting and God’s presence in the season of Advent.
This Advent, join a small group as we read and discuss four Advent Devotionals written by fellow parishioners. Using Daily Office Readings and scriptural text, we will reflect on hope, and what it means to wait for the birth and arrival of Jesus in the world.
Devotional will be available for download soon.
Small Group Time and Leaders:
- Sunday noon in the Library – Pauline Connelly ([email protected]) , Phil Parr ([email protected]) and Phoenix Poppendeck ([email protected])
- Sunday at 5PM, Library – The Rev. Jane Russomano-Esmonde ([email protected]) (with optional potluck following at 6:15pm)
- Tuesday at 9AM, hybrid, Library – The Reverend Noah Evans ([email protected])
- Tuesday at 6PM, Library – Julia Bavuso ([email protected]) and Melanie Nordwall ([email protected])
- Wednesday 7PM, zoom – Eileen Sharbaugh ([email protected])
- Thursday 11AM, zoom – Pam Ryan ([email protected]) and Geoff Hurd ([email protected])
- Thursday at 6:30PM, Lounge – Jodie Eckenrod ([email protected])
- Saturday 9AM, Library – The Rev. Guy Brown ([email protected]) & Frank Horrigan ([email protected])
Advent Small Groups
Bible Study with the Rector
Adult Forums
Adult Forums are a chance for parishioners to gather learn about the church, our parish and each other. They meet during the 9:45 Education Hour in the Undercroft.
November 29 Advent Wreathmaking – We will be making Advent wreaths using fresh greens, ribbons, and purple and pink candles. Come and learn all about how and why we mark each Sunday in Advent with a candle, and what those candles mean! Feel free to bring your old wreath forms to reuse.
December 6 How Did We Get the Bible? – How did the Bible end up with the number of books that it has today? Who did God call to write it, and in what languages? What is the apocrypha? How have people in the past read the Bible? Join The Rev. Jane Russomano-Esmonde in a discussion with these questions and many more about the history of the Bible, how it was formed, and what it all means for us today.
December 13 The Book of Mark with The Rev. Noah Evans – We will take a closer look at the Gospel of Mark. Together, we’ll explore what makes Mark’s account of Jesus’ life and ministry unique, how his stories and teachings compare with those found in the other Gospels, and how this book applies to our lives today. Mark is the Gospel used in the lectionary for December 2026-November 2027.
Ways to Serve
Angel Tree
Beginning on Tuesday, November 17th
Help us collect gifts for local partner agencies this holiday season by purchasing items for members of our community in need.
- Take a tag from our Angel Tree in the Undercroft beginning on Tuesday, November 17th.
- Make sure to put your name and contact information on the sheet beside the tree.
- Return the gift to the church before the due date on the sheet. (The sheet will also say whether the gift should be returned wrapped.)
- When returning gifts, attach the ORIGINAL TAG (or label with the recipient’s name, organization, and tag number).
Don’t want to take a tag? You can participate in our Virtual Angel Tree by signing up for a gift on our Virtual Angel Tree Here. (Please return these gifts by Friday, December 18th, labeled with your name and the tag number.)
If you have questions, or would like to take a tag but are unsure about how to purchase the gift listed, please reach out to the Rev. Jane Russomano-Esmonde ([email protected])
Reverse Advent Calendar
Join us in our yearly tradition in support of the South Hills Food Pantry! Each day of Advent, we invite you to donate the item indicated on the calendar by placing it in your own Reverse Advent Calendar box or bag, and then bring it to St. Paul’s when complete. All items will be donated to the South Hills Food Pantry. The calendar can be downloaded here, or you can pick up a copy in the Undercroft.
Cooking for the Neighborhood Resilience Project and Bethlehem Haven
Lunch Packing for our Community Partners
Food Packing for Casa San Jose
All – Parish Events
Christmas Flower Remembrances
The Altar Guild of St. Paul’s will decorate the church for the glorious services of Christmas Eve with seasonal flowering plants and flowers. It is our custom that these flowers are given in memory of loved ones as well as a meaningful thanksgiving for the blessing in our lives.
The names of those remembered and honored, and the donors, will be printed in the Christmas bulletin. A contribution of $25 for each name is requested. Please click here to order your Christmas Flower Remembrances by Sunday, December 15.
The plants and flowers will be delivered to those we want to reach out to and especially remember at this time of the year.
Advent Healing Prayer
8:45am and 10:45am services on Sundays through Advent
St. Paul’s will be offering Healing Prayer during communion during Advent. Please join us at either the 8:45am or 10:45am services on Sunday November 29th and December 6th, 13th, and 20th. If you would like the opportunity have one of our Healing Prayer Team pray for you, Please contact the Rev. Jane Russomano-Esmonde ([email protected]) with any questions.
Write for the Lenten Devotional
We are looking for writers for the 2027 Lenten Series of Devotionals. If you have written before, please consider signing up again. If you have not participated in the past, please consider contributing this year. The 2027 Lenten Season devotional begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter. A reflection is provided for each day. Contributing authors write one day’s reflection using scripture and assigned readings. To sign up to write a reflection or to be an editor, click here.
For questions or more information, please email Charis Kraski at [email protected], or call (412)531-7153×17.
Santa Breakfast Fundraiser
Saturday December 5th from 9:30-11:30 AM
St. Paul’s Nursery School welcomes all currently enrolled students, their immediate family members (including grandparents and caregivers), as well as St. Paul’s church members to this year’s Santa Breakfast.
This is the nursery school’s primary fundraiser for the year. Funds raised directly impact the heart of our school: our students, teachers, and programs. Thank you for the support!
Saturday December 5th from 9:30-11:30 AM. In order to accommodate as many families as possible, once you’ve registered, you will receive a group assignment as well as an assigned Santa picture time.
Group B families will attend the event from 10:30-11:30
The cost is $14 per person with children under 2 free.
Guys’ Night Out: Bible and Beer
Sunday December 6 at 4 pm at Caliente Pizza & Drafthouse, 329 Castle Shannon Blvd
Join the Rev. Noah Evans and Bob Melvin and other men from the parish for this pre-dinner gathering of fellowship and exploring some scripture together. Please RSVP so we know how much space to reserve. Email Noah ([email protected]) or call him at (412) 317153×11, or Bob ([email protected]) or call him at (412) 531-7153×18.
Beer + Pop + Carols (+ Pizza!)
Wednesday, December 9th at Caliente Pizza, 329 Castle Shannon Blvd
Beer + Pop + Carols (+ Pizza!) returns to Caliente in Mt. Lebanon on Wednesday, December 9!
Join your St. Paul’s family from 6:30-8:00pm for all of the food, fellowship, and SINGING. $15 gets you unlimited one-topping pizza and pop, so make sure to bring your appetite along with your merry!
Rector’s Advent Open House
Saturday, December 12, 2-4PM at his home
Drop by for food, drink, fun and fellowship with our Rector, Noah, and his family, Sara, Isaiah and Adah, and members of St. Paul’s and St. Andrew’s. All are welcome to come to the annual informal Advent gathering! Please bring gloves and hats to be donated to local ministries for those in need.
Advent Lessons and Music
Sunday December 13 at the10:45am Worship Service
Comprising the Service of the Word followed by Holy Eucharist, this service is a series of seasonal readings followed by hymns, carols, choral works, solos and other instrumental music. The service is based loosely on Lessons and Music first celebrated at King’s College, Cambridge in 1918.
Blue Christmas
Wednesday, December 16th at 7pm
In addition to being a time of joy, the Christmas season can also be a time of sadness and loss for some. It can be difficult to celebrate the Incarnation when you are facing the death of a loved one, or the loss of a job, or any of the myriad of other challenges life brings.
The Blue Christmas service is a time to both mark these complex feelings and bring them before God. This service is a service of lament, healing, light and hope. Blue Christmas will be led by our Stephen Ministers and the Rev. Jane Russomano-Esmonde. We hope you will join us either in the sanctuary or on Facebook, and invite your friends and family.
Pickwick Boys Christmas Lunch
December 17 at 12noon in the Undercroft
Join the Pickwick Boys’ (mostly retired men) Christmas Lunch. This year, this special lunch will be held in the St. Paul’s Undercroft and will include musical performances by some of its members.
Cost: $25; please bring cash or check. The money for lunch will cover the cost of the meal and also pay for a meal to be served for those in need through one of St. Paul’s Outreach partners.
RSVP via this form or to the Reverend Noah H. Evans, [email protected] or 412-531-7153×11
Christmas Pageant
Sunday, December 20th at 4pm, with potluck dinner to follow
The hour of the year you’ve all been waiting for! The St. Paul’s Christmas Pageant will be on Sunday, December 20th from 4-5pm. Please sign-up here. The pageant will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person.
Directly following the pageant, join us for the All Parish Potluck! Please bring something to share! Signup here.
We hear there will be a special guest! (Ho ho ho!)
Pageant Rehearsals: Please plan to attend both rehearsals
Saturday, December 12th from 10am-11am
Saturday, December 19th from 10am–11am
For questions, please reach out to Alexis Sheehan at [email protected] or 412-531-7153 x13.
Please sign-up here. For questions, please reach out to Alexis Sheehan at [email protected] or 412-531-7153 x13.
Join us for the All Parish Potluck after the Pageant! And we hear there will be a special guest! (Ho ho ho!) December 20th, following the pageant (Pageant begins at 4:00pm)
Please bring something to share! Signup here.
Christmas at St. Paul’s
Christmas Worship
Join us for Christmas Worship! All are welcome.
Christmas Eve Worship Services:
2pm in the Sanctuary- with Music and Children’s Chapel
4:30pm in the Sanctuary- With Music and Children’s Chapel
7pm in the Sanctuary- Carols with Chancel Choir; 7:30pm Worship with the Chancel Choir and Organ
9:30pm in the Sanctuary- Contemplative Service with Music
Christmas Day
10am in the Sanctuary
First Sunday after Christmas
- Saturday, 6pm, Sanctuary, no music
- Sunday, 8am, Chapel, no music
- Sunday, 9:45am, Sanctuary, Christmas Lessons and Music with Children’s Chapel
Christmas Lessons and Music
The Book of Occasional Services offers Christmas Lessons and Music. On Sunday, December 27, we will offer Christmas Lessons and Music. Comprising the Service of the Word followed by Holy Eucharist, the service is a series of seasonal readings followed by hymns, carols, choral works, solos and other instrumental music. The service is based loosely on Lessons and Music first celebrated at King’s College, Cambridge in 1918.
This service will be followed by an all parish brunch.
Deliver Christmas Flowers
Epiphany Events
Epiphany Quiet Day: Finding Our Own Maps with the Reverend Sara Irwin
Join the Rev. Sara Irwin and other St. Paul’s women as they explore the story of the Magi and they map for sharing and recieving the presence of God. Come for a moring of reflection, prayer and renewal. Cost is $10. Register here.