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As your priest charged with the care and nurture of children, young adults and their parents, I am particularly interested in exploring with you the idea of parenting as a ministry. When we were present at the Baptism of our children, our friends' children, or our grandchildren, in fact at every Baptism we ever attended, we all made a promise before God to uphold the person being baptized in their life in Christ (BCP p.303). In the same way that it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a church to raise a Christian child. All of us, as members of a Christian community, are called to help nurture each other.
The pressures and concerns of two working spouses, or one working spouse, or one unemployed spouse, or a family headed by one parent, seem to be overwhelmingly complicated. Children especially have a great deal of stress in their lives because of increasingly competitive schooling, their peer relationships and their own complicated social lives: childhood has changed forever. The Church must maintain its active role in supporting parents and their ministry of raising their children. Let us remember that as soon as the children were baptized at St. Paul's, they became ours, and we need to live into that responsibility as much as possible.
Going to Church today is a decision, and the church needs to support everyone, especially families, who make that decision, and who make the effort to attend. The St. Paul's community can then grow into its role as an extended family, a place of refuge, a place of strength. St. Paul's can and must continue to provide a sense of mission for personal as well as social benefit. There are numerous opportunities here to help support families in their ministry as parents. I encourage you to take advantage of as many of them as you can.
Our sense of mission where children and families are concerned is deeply rooted in the collect taken from the Service for the Thanksgiving for a Child. "We give you thanks for the blessing you have bestowed on this family in giving them a child. Confirm their joy by a lively sense of your presence with them, and give them calm strength and patient wisdom as they seek to bring this child to love all that is true and noble, just and pure, lovable and gracious, excellent and admirable, following the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." (BCP p. 443). Through the ministries of the church school, Saint Paul's youth and especially Shalom, both parents and children are nurtured and supported in their commitment to the decision to maintain and grow a Christian faith. Children are not the future of the church. They are the church. Let us continue to support the ministry of parenthood for the care of our children.
Yours Faithfully,
Edward W. Hunt
Curate for Family Ministry
St. Paul's offers two scholarships to help provide financial assistance for the continuing education of students in the parish. They are the Almus and Merriel Thorp Lay Theological Scholarship and the St. Paul's Memorial Scholarhip.
Grants from the Merriel and Almus Thorp Lay Theological Scholarship Fund are meant to help develop knowledge and skills by which recipients may increase and deepen their ministry in the Diocese of Rochester. The fund is generally able to award one grant per year. Grants will not exceed $1,000. The administrators of the fund normally consider grant applications quarterly: January, April, July and October.
St Paul's Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by Vestry resolution December 8, 1948 provides scholarships for students pursuing a College or Theological degree. The maximum grant available is $1000. Applications are due in the church office by April 15.
If you are interested in either of these grants, application forms can be found in the Sunday Office or Wainwright Hall (271-2240).
January 26 is our annual parish meeting. It is an important opportunity to exercise our citizenship in the kingdom of God through St. Paul's by voting for new Vestry members, hearing warden and treasurer reports about the state of the church, and honoring people and ministries that help us carry out our mission in Christ.
Lunch for the Annual Meeting on January 26 is being prepared by the Vestry and the Parish Life Committee. Children will have lunch and a special program. Call the church office (271-2240) or sign up in the Parish Hall or Sunday Office.
Thank you to the members of the 175th Dinner Committee for a wonderful finale!
Mary Jane McKnight,
Chairperson
Joan Flint
Emma Griswold
Anne Harrison
Dan Harrison
Larry McKnight
Carol Panzer
Gail Pearson
Elizabeth Tice
Patricia Tice
Joe Willard
Peg Willard
Mission I Funding gave a grant several years ago to the home church of William, Theodora and Claudius Scott and families, St. John the Evangelist Church in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to put a three-faced clock tower on the church's tower. It was an arduous process to obtain the information from the British manufacturer and to send monies through reliable channels. Just recently we received this letter to St. Paul's parishioners.
To: St. Paul's parishioners
From: Committee of Twelve and Associates, St. John the Evangelist
Church, Brookfields, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Unveiling and dedication of three-face tower clock
Reference to our letter of 10, October 2002, I wish to inform you that we have unveiled and dedicated the Tower Clock on Sunday 24, November 2002.
The service was well attended by a cross section of the Freetown Community including the Mayor of Freetown. I have enclosed a copy of the video for your perusal and retention (The video will be available for St. Paul's to see at coffee hour on Feb. 16.)
I would want to again express on behalf of the Committee, our sincere thanks and appreciation for your most generous gift that we received with great joy.
I would like to say that the Church is desirous to twin with your Church. We have a School, which was damaged during the rebel incursion in Freetown. We have been soliciting funds to do major repairs to the School as well as getting tables and chairs for the pupils. In addition we have a very formidable Choir that is second to none in the Country. We are trying to develop this Choir further and we are likewise soliciting funds to keep them going in terms of getting them robes, anthems, hymn books and other requirements.
The Church shall in due course communicate with you as regards the twinning. As regards the other aspects mentioned, we shall be grateful if you could be of any assistance to us of which details could be furnished to you.
As we look forward to your continued assistance in the vineyard of God, I remain,
Yours truly,
BA Beckley
Several of St. Paul's parishioners recently attended a CPR training class held at St. Paul's on December 14. Thirteen of our ushers were instructed in CPR and rescue breathing techniques: Scott Arrington, Hank Couch, David Fergusson, Frank and Jeanne Hutchins, George Kittredge, Tom Lincoln, Nancy Lyke, Judy McGrath, Frank Peale, Gail Pearson, Stan Refermat and Don Radlo. They join already trained parishioners who include Mike Byrne, Alice Eldredge, John Gardner, Griffin Jones, Sandra Stenzel and Bill Hosley. This gives St. Paul's Church a total of 19 parishioners who have CPR and Rescue Breathing training and are available to help if needed. If anyone else is trained in CPR or First Aid and is willing to help at church events, please contact Mike Byrne at 225-5659 or email MikeB123@rochester.rr.com .
Mike Byrne
Thanks to the efforts of Jack Pearson and Dick Vaughan, the music library in the basement next to the Columbarium is in a better condition than it has ever been. Jack and his friends repaired the walls and painted them. Next is a new floor carpet. With music scores nicely filed, the library now appears worthy of the treasure that it holds. Stop and take a look.
Bill Hosley
If you could occasionally drive the Rev. Michael Lolwerikoi:
Call Nancy Frank if you can help occasionally (271-2240). Many, many helpers make light driving for all. The reward will be those unexpected moments of light in conversation with Michael enroute.
Ground space has been prepared on the west side of the church near the Chantry door for the planting of a red bud tree (Cercis canadensis) in accordance with the landscape plan. This tree can be dedicated to the memory or honor of someone special. The cost of a nine-foot tree is $655. Anyone wishing to create this memorial should contact Bill Hosley at 385-3719.
As of January 1, we have saved 12, 000 airline points toward the Rev. Michael Lolwerikoi's free domestic flight through the consumption of Kellogg's designated couponed cereals (Muselix, Granola, Cracklin Oat Bran, Special K with strawberries, Complete, etc.) Each week a few coupons come in and I am so thankful. Those points have gone onto Bob Frank's airline miles' statement so that he can fill in with personal airline points should that be necessary. As you know a parishioner surprised us with a donated international flight so this will expand Michael's possibilities to fly either to and from New Haven for a break (instead of the bus) or to take advantage of an opportunity anywhere in the United States when it is offered.
Thank you so much. As I eat my couponed cereal each morning, I am grateful for all the assistance in this endeavor and all the crunching and munching that we at St. Paul's are doing to create possibilities for Michael.
Nancy Frank
Please take note of and honor the parking spaces reserved for the clergy and snow removal equipment. In case of an emergency, your vehicle may need to be towed!
The Annual Meeting of the Altar Guild will be held Sunday, January 19, 2003, at 11:45 a.m. in the Cadigan Room. All active and sustaining members are cordially invited to attend. There will be a light luncheon followed directly by the meeting, which should close at approximately 1:00 p.m. We will welcome new members and have a short informative program.
Linda White
Linda Lakeman
The Rev. Frederic Reynolds
49 Shoreham Drive
Rochester NY 14618
473-7811
The Rev. Thomas McCart
152 Dartmouth Street
Rochester NY 14607
244-2641
The Rev. Edward Hunt
1430 Elmwood Avenue
Rochester NY 14620
473-0457
OFFERING ENVELOPES for 2003 are in the Narthex. Please stop by and pick them up. If you requested envelopes and they are not there, please put your name and phone number on the sign-up sheet.
HEALING SERVICE: This weekly service has been moved to Wednesdays and will be held in the Norton Chapel.
LITURGY NOTE: The dominant theme of the scripture readings for the seasons of Christmas and Epiphany is the incarnation of God. That theme is prominent in Eucharistic Prayer B (e.g., "you sent him to be incarnate") which we will use throughout these seasons as a liturgical response to the biblical readings.
CAR NEEDED: A refugee with a new job needs a car that is in working order with no major repairs pending. Please call Nancy Frank at 271-2240.
JOURNEY TO ADULTHOOD (J2A) is a program of spiritual formation for young people that provides a liturgical framework for their experience in our modern culture. J2A follows the imperatives of the Baptismal Covenant and enables young people to discover and experience the love of God. Louise Moore, Mark Fitzstevens, Ed Hunt and Carol Miller will be taking this training here at St. Paul's and parents and other interested adults are urged to join us.