The St. Paul's Epistle
February 1-15, 2006
Contents
Dear Members and Friends of St. Paul's
Spring Programs for Young People
Adult Education Opportunities
SHALOM Welcomes Families
ECW
Coming up: EROI Recital at St. Paul's
Calendar Collection Update
SPY Corner
The Lure of the Tropics
Looking Forward to Lent
Shrove Tuesday
Ash Wednesday
Lenten Program
Dear Members and Friends of St. Paul's:
When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:13-15)
Wednesday the 18th of January was the Feast of the Confession of St. Peter. This is the day we celebrate Peter's confession or admission that Jesus is the One, the Messiah, the living God. It strikes me oddly sometimes that we have come to this place in the gospels so quickly. Wasn't it just under a month ago that we were kneeling at the manger proclaiming the birth of a child? Did we not just see this child baptized? Yet here we are deep into the ministry in Galilee walking with Christ and the disciples.
Who do we say Christ is? Not only in our personal lives, our lives of devotion, but in our communal life? Who do we as St. Paul's, as the Episcopal Church USA, as Christians in an increasingly secular world, say Christ is? This is not some theological, rhetorical question; this is a question of daily life. What we think and say about Christ impacts how we live and move and have our beings. How we interact with this living God in thought, word and deed changes everything we do.
"And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah!" Jesus' answer to Peter as soon as Peter confesses Christ is to bless him. Life changes when we commit to walking in the path of the living God. Blessings come to us, life opens up and the possibilities become endless.
We are moving rapidly toward Lent and our journey from the light of Epiphany to the deep darkness of examination and repentance. Who will you travel with, who will be placed in the tomb and return resurrected in the great three days. Will it be Christ the rabbi, the teacher? Will it be Christ the healer? Perhaps Christ the savior.
We began a discussion with Marcus Borg about who the historical Jesus is and what exactly is the heart of Christianity. I invite you to a prayerful conversation with yourself as we approach Lent; a conversation in search of the Jesus of your life, of your history. I invite you to search for the answer to Jesus question; "Who do you say I am?"
Leslie M. St. Louis
Curate for Family Ministry
Spring Programs for Young People
Lent, Easter, and Pentecost -- how will our young people be involved? Pick up the calendar for this spring's classes and activities in the Sunday Office or in Wainwright Hall.
Note that the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper is served in the Parish Hall on March 1 beginning at 6 p.m.
Adult Education Opportunities
Food for the brain and spirit is available! Taste, chew, or digest the offerings this spring. For details, see the Spring 2006 Adult Formation Brochure, available in the church or at Wainwright Hall.
SHALOM Welcomes Families
Shalom is St. Paul's group for families with school-age and younger children. Shalom's mission is to promote social relationships for adults and youth within the church, and provide spiritual support for the Christian family life. If you are a young family attending St. Paul's, Shalom warmly welcomes you to attend one of our monthly fellowship gatherings! Our next fellowship event will take place on Saturday, February 4th, in the Parish Hall. We will start with a family-style potluck dinner at 5:30. Bring a main dish or side dish to share, and stay for an open discussion forum for the adult members and a supervised game night for school-age kids. Shalom provides child care for infants and preschoolers. For more information about Shalom, or to join the Shalom email list, see Nancy Curtis or Angie Jones, or check out the Shalom web page at http://www.stpaulsec.org/shalom.html. We hope to see YOU at Shalom!
ECW
On Thursday, February 2, Grant Holcomb, the Director of Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester, will present "What's Happening at the Gallery." A business meeting at 11:00 a.m. will be followed by a luncheon at 12:00. The program will start at approximately 12:45. Reservations for lunch are requested. Please call 271-2240.
ECW will also meet on Thursday, February 16. There will be no business meeting. We will gather for a "brown bag lunch" (that means whatever you bring) and fellowship at noon in the Vestry Room. Coffee and dessert will be served. at 12:45 Leslie St. Louis will lead us in Bible Study. Later we will work on projects for Hillside Children's Center.
Coming up: EROI Recital at St. Paul's
Mark your calendars for the EROI (Eastman Rochester Organ Initiative) recital in the sanctuary on Friday, February 10 at 7:30 p.m. Several Eastman organ students, including Tim Pyper, will be performing a wide variety of repertoire on our magnificent 1927 Skinner organ. Admission is free, but a freewill offering will be collected in aid of student travel associated with the EROI project (in 2005, for example, the Eastman organ students traveled to Sweden to study on historic instruments there). Last year's recital was a magnificent musical treat, so don't miss out!
Calendar Collection Update
Many thanks to all who responded to the ECW request for 2006 calendars. Over twenty-five pounds of calendars were mailed to the Seamen's Institute of NJ and NY, a ministry of the Episcopal Church. These will be given out to seafarers of all nationalities, and I feel certain these attractive calendars will brighten someone's otherwise dreary space on board a ship. So many, many thanks to the many who helped make this a successful project.
Mary Jane McKnight
SPY Corner
Polar Wave!
February 12
We will meet in the Parish Hall at 1:00 p.m. Come prepared for the weather with hats, gloves, neck gaiters, snow pants, warm winter jackets and boots. We plan to arrive at Polar Wave at approximately 2:00 p.m. and should return to St. Paul's at 5:30 p.m.
Please RSVP to Laura Hayden by February 9 (383-8808 or lhayden@rochester.rr.com)
Save the date: February 28,
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
SPY members please be there by 5 p.m.
The Lure of the Tropics
The Caribbean came to St. Paul's Coffee Hour on Sunday, January 22. Elizabeth Tice, chair of the Parish Life Committee, arranged palm trees and monkeys and served citrus-flavored goodies. The tropical effects lured volunteers to sign up to help out for one time at a variety of up-coming parish events. If you missed the party, call the Church Office for more information.
Looking Forward to Lent
Shrove Tuesday
February 28
6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Pancake Supper
Ash Wednesday
March 1
7 a.m. - Holy Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes (Chantry)
12 noon - Holy Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes (Chantry)
6 p.m. - Holy Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes
(Child friendly service, Church)
Lenten Program
Thursdays March 2 through March 30
(Please note the change to Thursday evenings)
Join us for a simple celebration of the Eucharist at 6 p.m.,
followed by a soup supper at 6:30, and the program at 7:00.
Michael C. Tinkler, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Art
Hobart & William Smith Colleges
(Topic to be announced)