The St. Paul's Epistle
February 1, 2007
Contents
Dear Members & Friends of St.
Pauls
New Member Welcome Sunday
A Stephen Minister Goes on the
Road
Letter from Trinity Church
Nathan French
Re-Live the Pageant!
Pancakes and Program
Church School Weekly
Offering
Church School Calendar
SPY Corner
Dear Members & Friends of St. Pauls
On several occasions, I've mentioned my fondness for the writings of Nora Gallagher and especially her book Things Seen and Unseen: A Year Lived in Faith. It is one of those books that I find myself reading and re-reading year after year, discovering new insights with each reading. Gallagher describes the season of Epiphany as "the season of the weird." It is an apt description. A mere twelve days after Christmas we join the Magi - three magicians or kings or astronomers or all the above - who somehow find their way to Jesus, bringing a rather "odd assortment of gifts." We quickly move to the baptism of Jesus (by whom depends upon which gospel you read, as I noted in my recent sermon), followed by Jesus' first miracle of turning gallons and gallons of water into wine. For Gallagher, this compilation of events brings into focus the "dawning sense of what God has in store for" Jesus. "If it is true for Jesus, I realize in this season, then it is true for me," she writes.
As we move through this "weird" season of Epiphany, which leads to Lent and the Easter joy beyond, I invite you to reflect on the question of "what God has in store for" you this year. Will it be a star you follow, a descending dove, or the gift of abundant wine, or will it be some other holy surprise?
It is the experiences of our journey, gathered and considered in the same fashion as Jesus reflected on his experiences, that lead to faith, Gallagher argues. "Faith is not about belief in something irrational or about a blind connection to something unreal. It's about a gathering, an accumulation of events and experiences of a different order. These experiences are gradually convincing enough, or you have paid them so much attention, they reach critical mass. The famous 'leap' comes at the beginning, when there is not enough experience to justify the effort. Even then, something begins faith - a memory of a reality or of an experience that doesn't quite fit with everything else, the longing a soul has to find its shape in the world."
Whether it's people bringing you strange gifts, or seeing stars in the sky, or feasting at a party, may your journey this year deepen your faith in the God who desires for each of us and all creation the fullness of life.
~ Thomas McCart
New Member Welcome Sunday
February 11, 2007 there will be a special "enhanced" coffee hour celebrating parishioners who have joined St. Paul's since January 2006. We will be asking everyone to wear nametags that Sunday to the coffee hour, so that we can be sure everyone can get to know one another better.
In addition to welcoming the new parishioners, there will be opportunities for you to learn more about our Greeters Program, Visitor's Welcome Table, Ushering, Tour Guides and the New Member Ministry Commission. Plus there will be food, balloons for the kids, possibly live entertainment and a free gift to the first 144 coffee drinkers.
So, whether you are new to St. Paul's or an "old timer", be sure to come to the Coffee Hour following the 10:00 service on February 11 and get to know more of your fellow parishioners.
~ Beth Gallagher, New Member Ministries Commission
A Stephen Minister Goes on the Road
Stephen Ministry is a ministry of caring. It came about through the recognition that everyone has needs at some time during their lives for the kind of comfort and encouragement that one person can give another.
Although I am on leave during 2006 and 2007, I carry with me the lessons learned during the 50 hours of training to become a Stephen Minister. Last year as I traveled and volunteered in Central America, South America, and Europe, I found myself using those skills with people who looked a bit different, spoke a different language, dressed differently, and often had different beliefs… but, had the same feelings, hopes, desires, and love for their children and families.
There were the physically and mentally challenged children in the hospitals and orphanages struggling everyday to do simple tasks, sharing the joy of accomplishment as we encouraged and supported them. Some of these babies and children had problems that would prevent them from having much of a future but they could laugh and cry and smile and frown. In a moment of happiness they give you a hug that will stay in your heart forever.
There were the students anxious to learn. I listened to a sixth grade boy who wanted "to become a doctor and a diplomat so I can change the world." I listened to an executive businessman in Spain, who stopped everything for a week to immerse himself in English, as he rediscovered his desire to spend more time nurturing his family. My 18-year-old translator in Ukraine passionately told of her dreams to become "an independent woman" and cherished her opportunity to learn at the University.
There were the native volunteer leaders who took such good care of all of us and repeatedly showed us their gratitude for our mere presence in their country. They proudly showed us the beauty and history of their countries while doggedly working to improve life for the many less fortunate.
Listening, encouragement, support, sharing, comfort… things we all need at one time or another, are given through the language of Love. This Love transforms ones need into Hope and Joy. The St. Paul's Stephen Ministers extend that hand of Love to you.
~ Kitty MacDowell
Letter from Trinity Church Pass Christian, Mississippi
January 5, 2007
Dear parishioners,
Let me first apologize for the delay in responding to your very generous gift of $7,500 to Trinity Church. Without help from you and many others, there is no possible way for us to rebuild this parish. In 1970 when Trinity Church rebuilt after the devastation wrought by Hurricane Camille, most of the money came from New Orleans. That will not happen again as you know. Today, Trinity Church relies on the grace of God and the generosity of many friends, like you.
Since the storm, many good things have been accomplished. Our architect, Mr. Bill Argus, has presented a site plan which will help us tremendously as we rebuild. Since the storm we have been able to clear the debris from our church property and from most of the cemetery. We have been able to wrap the frame of the church with plywood and a plastic called Tyvek. This allows us to hold services on Sunday morning. We are the only one of the six devastated coastal Episcopal Churches that has a working building. We have emergency lighting and portable propane gas heaters. We have 100 brand new folding chairs as a result of the generous members of Christ Church in Mobile. We have a beautiful handmade altar from the Diocese of Quincy. We have dozens of Prayer Books, Bibles and Hymnals due to the generosity of many friends.
Trinity Church is bouncing back. We covet your prayers. We thank you for your very generous support. AND hopefully, down the road, you will be able to stop in and see what we are doing as we continue to recover from Hurricane Katrina.
Your grateful servant,
The Reverend Christopher Colby, Rector
Nathan French
Nathan French, a 2006 comfirmand and current member of the high school class, has been awarded second prize for an essay he entered in a contest sponsored by the Interfaith Forum of Rochester. The topic was "Building Community, Bridging Our Differences." Congratulations to Nathan, with thanks to him for sharing a portion of his writing!
~ Barbara Warner
"… Though I was born and raised in Boston for the first 6 years of my life, I spent the next 5 years in South Africa. This experience shaped my opinions of race, ethnicities, and cooperation among both of those. When I went to school, I experienced a sense of unity with the children of all the colors and origins. Perhaps it was simply that I felt nothing against any group, but it has always seemed odd to me that people would fight among themselves because of ethnicity or race. However, though I experienced this sense of unity with those children who I played with, I also saw the history of hatred etched in the countryside. Whites in South Africa, who come from Dutch descent, make up a tiny portion of the population. However, they still control about 80% of the farmland, 12 years after the end of the Apartheid. A great legacy echoes throughout the land of an injustice that lasted far too long. The separation still exists, not legally, but in the townships, the population distribution, and simply the attitudes.
"However, this legacy could only be seen among the adults. The children, who had never been taught to hate any of the other children, felt a sense of community and strength together as one. I remember one day sitting on a hill looking over a poverty-stricken black neighborhood and reflecting on the immense waste of life and happiness that was rooted in baseless hatred of one another. I decided that it would not be me who made these mistakes over again. From that day on, I was always friendly and amiable to all groups and races. For after all, when it comes to groups of people, the whole body when they cooperate is truly greater than the sum of its parts. Perhaps my experiences were not with an ethnic group, but it was certainly two groups that had no reason not to work together. It is the same idea here as it was there; it is the same idea with ethnicities as it was with race in post-Apartheid South Africa. It is only through strength together, not strength against one another, that a sense of community can be felt."
Re-Live the Pageant!
Christmas Pageant 2006 has been preserved on audio tape, thanks to Bob Grainger, sanctuary sound-system engineer. If you would like a copy of this tape, please let me know by email at barbara@stpaulsec.org or call the Church Office. To help with costs, there is a charge of $5.
~ Barbara Warner
Pancakes and Program
Mark Tuesday, February 20, on your calendar. This is the day for the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper in the Parish Hall at 6 p.m. All are welcome for the last celebration of Epiphany and a look toward Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the 40 days of Lent. Come to enjoy and to learn about the Lenten Outreach Project for this spring. You may want to be involved and everyone's support is appreciated.
~ Barbara Warner
Church School Weekly Offering
Help our little ones to remember to put a couple coins in an envelope each week for the Church School collection. This simple act can make a big difference in growing the habit of sharing.
~ Barbara Warner
Church School Calendar
Teachers are readying class lessons and activities for spring. To know what is happening in the Church School during Epiphany, Lent, and Easter through Pentecost and on to the Parish Picnic, watch for copies of the Church School Calendar Spring 2007!
~ Barbara Warner
SPY Corner
Polar Wave!!!
Sunday, February 4
We will meet in 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 Wednesday,
February 2 (383-8808 or lhayden@rochester.rr.com)