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Letter from the Rector
Summary of St. Paul's Annual Meeting, January
30
From the Young Men of Sudan
The Jewish Roots of Jesus
Episcopal Relief and Development
Water for Sudan
Support the Church School Lenten Project
Our Lenten Journey
A "Premier" Evensong Service
With Heart & Voice CD Available
Mission I Activity
Spirituality 102
Stephen Ministry News
God Speaking in the Word
Vestry Highlights
Vacation Bible School in June
Showdown Chili
Wanted
Sabbatical comes from Sabbath: to rest, reflect and revitalize in the hands and heart of God.
The St. Paul's Vestry has granted Tom McCart and me sabbaticals. My sabbatical begins August 1st and ends November 19, 2005. I feel both excited and blessed to take what will be my second sabbatical during my 26 years of ordained ministry.
From my first sabbatical, taken when I was Rector at St. David's in Kennebunk, Maine, I learned the value of sabbatical time both for me as Rector as well as for you as the congregation.
My primary focus will be a 7 week pilgrimage to Nepal, participating in ancient mountain treks to sacred temples and shrines during several Holy Day festivals in October. I want to explore what it means to live in a post-Christian era. Having blessed several couples of Christian and Hindu faith in marriage, the blending of Christian and Eastern faith is becoming more of a reality in my ministry. What does this mean for us as Christians?
In the months ahead, I will give more details of my sabbatical - my plans for study, for a possible retreat week at Chapel House at Colgate University, and my specific route when in Nepal.
For now I ask your prayers, for me and for the parish, as we move ahead together for this Sabbath time.
Faithfully yours,
The Rev. Frederic W. Reynolds
Rector
Balloting for Warden and Vestry members took place and the newly elected were announced by Rick Harrison, Junior Warden: Chris Moore, Warden; and Dean Arvan, Bob Frank, Erin Glanton, and Charlotte Kimberly-Haag for three year terms and Griffin Jones to fill an un-expired one-year term. Fred Reynolds recognized the outgoing Warden, Barbara Warner and Vestry members, Sally McGucken, Neal Panzer and Anne Refermat.
Reports were given by The Reverend Thomas McCart, Associate Rector and The Reverend Leslie St. Louis, Curate for Family Ministry. Fred Reynolds, Rector, introduced new staff members Nancy Wood, Finance and Operations Manager and Judy Loveland, Clergy Assistant.
Treasurer Chris Moore gave a comprehensive report on the finances for 2004 and the budget for 2005. Highlights included:
A more detailed financial report is available at the Church Office.
Bob Frank gave an update on the Parish Hall Renovation. To date there is $608,000 available for the project. Pledges are still being accepted. The committee is currently reviewing the revised plans and costs. The next step is construction drawings and putting the project out to bid in March so that work can be done June to September, 2005. Bob reviewed the plans for the various areas. A group of those who cook in the St. Paul's kitchen will be convened to look over the kitchen renovation plans.
Barbara Warner spoke about the Parish Plan that the Vestry has created over the past year. She pointed out the time line available to all. The full plan is available in the Parish Office. Input from parishioners is welcome and can be given to the Wardens, Vestry and Clergy.
Fred Reynolds thanked the following outgoing chairs for their work: Paul Smith, Chair of Investment Policy Committee; Liz Cook, Chair of Communications; Nancy Lyke and John Wilson, Co-Chairs of Stewardship; Kathy and Jerry Schaertel, Co-Chairs of Habitat for Humanity; Bob Avery and John Bevier, Chair of Acolytes, Torchbearers and Crucifers; Alice Eldredge, Welcome Committee; Chris and Mark Fitzstevens and Suzanne Brown, Shalom; Cait Dickinson, Library; Carole Ross, Coffee Hour Coordinator; Gail Bush and Gwen Cheney, Antique Show; and Susan Dow, ECW.
Fred Reynolds closed the meeting with a prayer.
Sally McGucken
Clerk of the Vestry
Dear Members of St. Paul's Church or Parishioners,
We (young men of Sudan) thank you all for the Christmas stockings and for a recent finest news or event about the Sudan, the comprehensive peace accord, which was pronounced signed and witnessed by the Secretary of State, Colin Powell and other world's delegate. We all here today to express and present our gratitude and appreciation on to you all, the parishioners of St. Paul's Church. Thus, your petitions or prayers have had been heard by the almighty God and we now invite you to join us to celebrate the special accomplishment, the South-North peace agreement.
We also thank you for Memorial scholarship, and for Guet's family accommodation and even for water project. Your involvement, effort as well as support in the water project fund raising means a lot or more to us. We all delighted and grateful about everything you have done and continue to do in our life. You are all played a prominent role in our life transition at the Rochester area and we all remain speechless about what to say to you. Nonetheless, we owed you, the members of St. Paul's Church and parishioners, a lot and we just want to pay it or rest back by words of mouth.
Above all, we urge or ask you to continue praying about Western Darfur peace treaty and the Tsunami, nature disaster, victims and many more. Your help or support means a lot in our life transition and we all feel so grateful to you and that is why we are all here today to express our happiness and appreciation on to you.
Yours Faithfully,
The Young Men of Sudan
This year we are delighted to welcome again Professor Lesleigh Cushing, Assistant Professor, Religion and Jewish Studies, Colgate University, as our speaker. The fact that Jesus was Jewish often gets overlooked. Professor Cushing will explore this rich topic with us during our Lenten series in a variety of ways, including Matthew's Jesus as a New Moses, Jesus as a rabbinic sage, and the Jewish responses to Jesus both then and now.
Join us for a simple celebration of the Eucharist at 6 pm, followed by a soup supper at 6:30, and the program at 7:00 (we promise to end promptly at 8:00). To be good stewards, please sign up in the Parish Activities Book (there is a page for each of the five evenings). Child care will be provided upon request.
"Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, 'Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?" And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.'" Matthew 11:1-2
· · ·
Here is the way the world works: it's much better to be rich than poor.
Poverty makes poor people more susceptible to dying from easily preventable diseases. For most "rich" people, most preventable diseases are treatable.
Where we live, a bout of diarrhea is a nuisance, and your child might have to miss school for a day or two. In southern Africa, a mother can lose her child in a day or two to the same illness.
The means by which disease may be prevented are often simple: clean water, an insecticide-treated mosquito net, a vaccination, nutritious food. Some good advice from a traveling health technician who leaves behind a few trusted neighbors trained in the provision of basic health services. It's not - as we say - rocket science. It's usually very simple.
Jesus was simple. Some people who saw and heard him were disappointed by him. He wasn't very kingly. He appeared to be a very ordinary man, a carpenter - definitely working class. And the signs of his kingdom were not very kingly, either. No fanfare. Not even John the Baptist was absolutely certain - are you the one who is to come, he asks, or should we look for another? Maybe it was all too simple - just healing, one by one by one, village by village, house by house. Good news preached to the poor and healing for those who needed it, over and over again. Simple, one-by-one things.
Yes, they were simple things. But they were signs of the kingdom - Isaiah had said that these and many other sorrows would be conquered, and here they were, in the midst of the conquering. And it was quiet and simple. One by one.
The signs of the kingdom are the same today. Not much in the way of fanfare.
Just one-by-one things, simple things. Things we can become part of, just by joining with those who visit the sick we will never meet ourselves, who bring them food we could never bring them ourselves, who bring healing and strength and encouragement to the very poor whom we will never see. By ourselves, we cannot be signs of the kingdom to them - they don't know us, and we are too far away.
But through our relationship with Episcopal Relief and Development, we are part of it now, through prayer and support of those who partner with local health workers, community leaders, clergy in communities devastated by diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria. Look at what is happening, Jesus says tenderly to John, who wonders, at the end of his life, if his whole ministry of proclamation has been in vain. It has not been in vain. The signs are all here, one by one, and the kingdom really is coming into the world.
Written by the Rev. Barbara Cawthorne Crafton for ERD.
· · ·
Episcopal Relief and Development saves lives and builds hope in communities around the world. We provide emergency assistance in times of disaster. When the immediate crisis is over, we rebuild devastated communities and offer long-term solutions in the areas of food security, health care, and HIV/AIDS.
We have an opportunity to contribute to ERD on St. Paul's annual ingathering Sunday, March 6. Please come, and please give.
Linda Workman
Parish Representative for ERD
By the time this reaches your eyes, St. Paul's member Salva Dut should already be in the New Sudan and nearing his hometown and reunion with his mother and father after 18 years of separation. And by the first of March, drilling for clean, safe water may have already started in the town he fled nearly two decades ago.
Water for Sudan Inc., the not-for-profit non-governmental organization (NGO) that Salva started with support from the St Paul's community, has very nearly reached the end of the beginning (creation and funding for operations) and is on the verge of realizing the ultimate vision that Salva has cherished for years.
After a wonderful sendoff at the Rochester airport on Sunday, January 9th, Salva and I arrived in Kampala, Uganda at 11:30 Monday night. Within three days we had signed a contract for 7 boreholes to be dug and hand pumps installed in villages in southern Sudan, a part of the world where two decades of war had been formally ended the very day we left for Africa. We continued to Nairobi, Kenya, to get the papers required by the new government of New Sudan and to meet with representatives of other NGOs (PACT, UNICEF, etc.). We wandered through labyrinths of bureaucratic paperwork (the signing of one document in a lawyer's office was delayed for 2 days after the lawyer's pen ran out of ink!), laughed at the foibles of humans not so very different from ourselves, prayed for God's grace to guide us through difficult decisions, and parted ways with the future of Water for Sudan safely cradled in Salva's remarkable hands and God's abounding love.
We have already applied for additional funding to supplement the ongoing generous financial support of St. Paul's parishioners and others, and are hoping that this is just the start of a mission that will benefit tens of thousands of people for many years to come. The need in that part of the world is so very great, and the profound gift of healthier lives so easily achieved…
Salva joins me in thanking all of the members of St. Paul's for their support, their encouragement and their prayers through this intense and blessed time. And we can all take great pleasure and joy in seeing one of our own members following the clear call of God to serve less fortunate others.
Jim Blake
Water for Sudan
As part of your Lenten journey this year, won't you meditate on the power of water and take part in bringing this life-giving liquid to people who desperately need it?
Each day hundreds of thousands of people in greater East Africa drink unsanitary water they have spent hours walking to gather. This water is contaminated with parasites and is responsible for more than a third of all hospitalizations. This suffering can be prevented with fresh, clean water.
Getting safe water to the villages of southern Sudan is the goal of parishioner and Sudanese native Salva Dut. He has created Water for Sudan, Inc., an organization to drill wells and install pumping and purification systems.
With fresh, clean, safe water, Salva's people will have dramatically improved lives - and, we can help…
Coffee Hours during Lent:
"God, forgive what causes me to lose sight of your grace. Mark my life anew with the imprint of your creative and forgiving touch." (Genesis of Grace pg. 14)
Dear Friends in Christ,
The above-mentioned prayer is part of the opening of a meditaional guide to lent entitled Genesis of Grace by John Indermark. It is a book that I used as part of my Lenten journey last year and one that I heartily recommend.
On the 9th of February, with the imposition of ashes on our foreheads we each enter our own Lenten journey. I invite you, therefore to a holy lent, to time of journeying with God; to walking along a path which leads to greater intimacy with God, to being drawn, in fact, into the very heart of God.
Lent is a time to feel the hands of God at work in our lives shaping us, molding us. The fingerprints of grace mark us from the beginning. These fingerprints, God's fingerprints, continue to leave their traces upon those who journey with God through Lent and beyond.
God's hands moved over the waters of creation and from their depths life was born. During our baptismal service we pray in the Prayer of Thanksgiving over the Water:
"We thank you, Almighty God for the gift of water. Over it the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation. Through it you led the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt into the land of promise. In it your Son Jesus received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us through his death and resurrection, from the bondage of sin into everlasting life." (BCP pg. 306).
God's grace and water are the wellsprings of life. Clearly without either one we could not survive. In Lent we are asked to consider God's grace in our lives and to consider taking on an act of mercy as part of our spiritual discipline for our forty days in the desert. The children and teachers and all of us involved in the church school have combined these two into one for our Lenten journey. As you are aware we at St. Paul's have been supporting Salva Dut and the Water for Sudan project. In the days and weeks ahead you will see the children selling water to support their brothers and sisters in the Sudan who have not the wellspring of life. As the water is purchased the cups of water will fill a large pitcher here at St. Paul's. This water will be used in the service of footwashing at the beginning of the Holy Days, providing for us the washing of mind, bodies and souls as we await the death and resurrection of our Lord, as well as helping to tap the wellspring of life a world away.
I invite you, therefore to a holy Lent. Join with us in this journey filled with God's grace and share in spreading that grace abroad.
Grace and peace be with you,
Leslie St. Louis
Sung by the St. Paul's Youth and Alleluia Choirs
Sunday, February 27, 2005
4:00 p.m.
The Youth and Alleluia Choirs have begun a new tradition of singing an Evensong Service each year. The Evensong service, itself, is a long-standing choral tradition, offering a liturgy that is entirely sung. On Sunday, February 27, the youth choirs will be singing an Evensong service of all newly composed music. Laura Dunbar, Youth Choir Director, has commissioned four pieces for the Youth and Alleluia Choirs. This will be the world premiere of each of these pieces!
All of the composers will attend the service, and Caleb Burhans will also be singing. There will be a "meet and greet" reception for the composers following the service. A free will offering will be taken to go toward the Youth Music Fund. We hope to see you there, to support our youth and experience the first performance of this new music!
Laura Dunbar
Youth Choir Director
The October 3 Evensong in thanksgiving of Richard Gladwell's 30th anniversary of his nationally known radio program "With Heart and Voice" is now available on CD. In addition to St. Paul's Choir, singers and organists from Christ Church, Rochester, Third Presbyterian Church and St. Thomas Church took part, as well as James Bobb, organist at Incarnate Word Lutheran Church. The CD is available from the church office for $10 each.
David Fetler
Choirmaster
The Mission I Funding Committee began its 2005 work without approving any grants, but with further refinements to the deliberation process. The committee affirmed that the committee should not consider Rochester-area capital projects and general requests for scholarship aid.
Requests from several local organizations were introduced, but all will need to complete a detailed application for Mission I funds. That application process is designed to assure Mission I grants are going for projects with specific scope and goals and there is personal accountability for funds and a proposed budget. Finally, any group requesting funding must agree to complete an evaluation form to demonstrate that the funds awarded helped achieve the intended result.
Mission I gives precedence to programs where St. Paul's parishioners are directly involved. Step-by Step, a group that works on building self-esteem for women inmates at the Albion State Correctional Facility and the Monroe County Correctional facility, got a Mission I grant in 2004 and is looking for volunteer support. They need typists, who can work at home, transcribing inmates' written stories so they can be bound into books for them to keep as part of their graduation program. If you think you can devote a few hours to this, call Mission I member Bill Watson at 385-3800.
If you want to know the kind of impact Mission I funding can have, look for the letters of School #9 second graders in the Parish Hall. They got to enjoy the children's play, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, as a result of a Mission I grant. The thank-you notes are both touching and rewarding.
On Saturday, February 26, we welcome again Sr. Carolyn Darr, SSM, who will lead our second "Spirituality Day" at St. Paul's. The day will include formal presentations by Sr. Carolyn, opportunities for quiet reflection, and informal conversation. She will also offer participants a number of "tools" for developing a prayer life and directions on "how to use them." The day begins at 9 a.m. and will conclude with the Eucharist at 3 p.m. A light lunch (donation accepted) will be served at noon. This event is limited to 75 people, so please sign up by calling the parish office, 271-2240, to reserve your place.
Sr. Carolyn is the Superior of the Society of St. Margaret, an Episcopal religious order of women. Their Mother House is located in Boston, Massachusetts. She is also the Liturgist and Director of Music for the Society, and is active as a Spiritual Director and retreat leader throughout the country.
A Stephen Minister is…
A Stephen Minister is NOT…
If you would like to know more about this ministry, please contact any of our Stephen Leaders: Anne Refermat, Judy Carpenter, and Tom McCart.
Christians believe God speaks to us through his Word. And we hear him more clearly in company with others. We are then nurtured by His Spirit.
On the second and fourth Tuesday evenings of each month, those who would like to sharpen listening skills together with Christian friends, and who would like to explore our scriptural first steps, are invited to meet from 7:30 to 8:30 PM with the Rev. Edward French. The first meeting will be March 8th, then March 22nd at the Parish Hall. If possible, we shall then meet in the homes of those who take part. It is hoped that we shall meet each month through the spring. Those interested are asked to leave their names and telephone numbers with the secretary in the church office.
We shall begin with the early stories of Genesis.
Mr. French received his STB from General Seminary in Old Testament studies and the STM in Ethics in 1967. He also holds an EDM degree from Harvard University. His wife Jean is active in St. Paul's and their sons, Benjamin and Nathan are a part of the SPY program. They returned from South Africa in 2001 and live in Pittsford.
"God, forgive what causes me to lose sight of your grace. Mark my life anew with the imprint of your creative and forgiving touch." (Genesis of Grace pg. 14)
November
A report was received and accepted from the Human Resources Commission, Les Kernan, Chair, with recommendations for salary ranges for certain staff positions.
An anonymous $10,000 challenge grant from a parishioner was announced and the Vestry approved launching a matching grant effort for the Water for Sudan Project, to begin in January, 2005.
An anonymous unrestricted gift of $42,000 was announced by Treasurer, Chris Moore.
A Vestry Designated Fund called the "Long Term Deferred Fund" was created to hold pledges that are pre-paid several years in advance.
December
The Safe Church Policy was renewed, which consists of policies and procedures concerning allegations and incidents of sexual misconduct.
Resolutions were made regarding clergy housing allowances, by law the amount of clergy salary that is untaxed. This is in lieu of providing a residence for clergy.
Sabbaticals were approved for Fred Reynolds for August 1-November 15, 2005 and for Tom McCart from November 20, 2005 to the end of February, 2006.
An additional gift of $5,000 from the UMO Fund was granted to the Race and Reconciliation project.
A bonus for Sexton, Louis Martin was granted for his additional and exceptional work during Tom Lincoln's medical leave.
A balanced budget was passed for 2005.
Sally N. McGucken,
Clerk of the Vestry
Vacation Bible School has been changed into a more traditional 1/2 day program during the summer vacation. We alternate locations with the Church of the Incarnate Word and this June the program will be at Incarnate Word.
The program will run mornings the week of June 27 through July 1. Please mark your calendars. We are hoping that all who volunteered to help in the past will be with us again. We are always looking for adult and youth volunteers. Last year we had 40 children registered in the program. Please join us! Please call me at 381-3373 for more information or to volunteer.
Carol Miller
Here is the recipe for the chili that was served at the 2004 Annual Meeting luncheon on January 30. The recipe is from the files of Mary Callaway and originally appeared in The Houston Chronicle April 2, 1995.
2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
2 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2 8 oz. cans water
2 med. size onions, diced, divided
2 green bell peppers, diced, divided
4 Tbsp. chili powder
Salt, pepper & garlic powder to taste
Grated cheddar cheese, sour cream
2 ½ lbs. ground beef
4 Tbsp. Mole Sauce (in Mexican food section)
Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions & bell peppers & sauté until onions are translucent. Add salt, pepper & garlic powder. In a separate skillet brown meat leaving in chunks; drain fat.
Add onion mixture to meat, along with 2 Tbsp. Mole sauce. Transfer to large pot. Add tomato sauce, 2 cans of water, 3 Tbsp. Chili powder. Bring to a boil. Add remaining 2 Tbsp. Mole sauce. Simmer 1 hour. Season & stir occasionally.
Sauté remaining onions & pepper in olive oil, 2 minutes. Add to pot, along with beans. Add remaining Tbsp. Chili powder, or to taste. Heat another 15 minutes & serve with garnish of cheddar cheese & sour cream.
Serves 10.
Wanted
People who like to iron to help prepare linens for sale at the Antiques Show in April. Please call Gail Bush for details.