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Letter from the Rector
Antiques Show Kick-off
Antiques Show Update
Agnus Dei Tapestry
Episcopal Church Women
A Trip To Sweden
Shalom Fellowship Meeting: Friday, March 4
Sound System
Episcopal Relief and Development
Labels for Hilside
Memorial Scholarship Applications
Usher News
Church School Lenten Project
As I mentioned in a sermon immediately following the Tsunami disaster, such a horrific loss of life is never God's will; rather it is our response to such a disaster that will allow us to experience the compassion and love of God.
Thanks to your compassionate hearts, you have contributed close to $5,000 for the Tsunami Relief Effort through the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund. Your Vestry responded immediately by making a $10,000 contribution to ERD from the St. Paul's Unusual Mission Opportunity Fund.
Most of us know about Salva Dut's "Water for Sudan" project. He is in Sudan now preparing to drill the first fresh water well by the middle of March. A St. Paul's parishioner put forth a matching $10,000 challenge grant for "Water for Sudan" and you have responded with over $10,000 in matching dollars. The St. Paul's Church School, for a Lenten project, is selling cups of water for $1.00 and have already filled one five gallon jug for "Water for Sudan."
On March 6 The Venerable Tenzin Yignyen, a Tibetan monk and Professor of Mandala Sand Art and Buddhist Philosophy at Hobart & William Smith College will be our guest preacher for Episcopal Relief and Development on World Mission Sunday.
Many of you have contributed to the Rector's Discretionary Fund that enables me to provide monies for refugee families, emergency rent and food, repairs for automobiles, and Rochester community programs that provide resources for the homeless as well as programs to systemically address the greater issues of affordable housing.
Natural disasters, unclean drinking water, religious conflict, and urban poverty are never God’s will, but our gracious and generous response always is.
Faithfully yours,
The Rev. Frederic W. Reynolds, Rector
Sunday, March 6, is the official kick-off for the 2005 Antiques Show & Sale. The sale itself will be held on April 21, 22 and 23.
Come to the enhanced Coffee Hour on March 6! Committee members will be there to sign you up for working a shift at the show (early birds can choose their favorite shop!). You are encouraged to begin bringing donations for the Show. Leave donated items on the stage on Sundays, or bring them to the office during the week. We are looking for your gently-used linens, jewelry, old curiosities and books. If you have large or bulky items, please speak to Tom Lincoln prior to delivery.
Pre-sale tickets will be available for purchase on March 6 at the enhanced Coffee Hour, and on April 3, 10 and 17 at Coffee Hours, for the same reduced price: $3.00 each, or 4/$10.00. They will also be available in the office beginning Monday, March 28.
With your help this will be the most successful show ever.
Gail Bush
This year's Antiques Show will provide the opportunity for outreach by developing a progressive educational fund for the Young Men of Sudan, and inreach with the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) and St. Paul's Youth (SPY). We are all excited to make a difference by focusing primarily on these programs.
There is one additional way you can help. We will have a Silent Auction in one of our first floor rooms. Roughly half the dealers have pledged an antique to sell and we are looking for perhaps a dozen or two parishioners to step up with a quality donation… a trip, an antique (jewelry or furniture) or some other great idea – use your imagination to help a good cause. Also, we have developed a relationship with Giving Works, a charitable association of eBay, and can now sell items on eBay. So, your gift can be turned into an in-kind contribution with a listing on our site.
Call Jerry DeLuccio, 582-2648 (eBay or Silent Auction) or Robyn Tanner (Silent Auction), 967-2498, or sign up at our enhanced Coffee Hour on March 6. What a great and easy way to donate to something special.
Jerry DeLuccio
The Vestry recently approved memorial monies to be directed towards the design and materials of a needlepoint tapestry depicting themes from the resurrection. The tapestry will be done in wool and hung in the Sanctuary over the entrance to the Columbarium. A sketch of a proposed tapestry had been created by the late Francis Speer, a long-time parishioner, based upon traditional resurrection themes researched by Gwen Cheney. Upon advice from John Bero, the architect overseeing the recent renovation to the Sanctuary, the tapestry will measure approximately 6 by 9 feet and will be affixed to a specially crafted set of brackets and pole to blend with the existing woodwork. The tapestry will be mounted on the wall over the entrance to the stairwell to the left of the Norton Chapel.
Fran's original sketch, together with a partial selection of the colors to be used, can be viewed by interested persons in the Parish Hall. The final design is being executed by Woolworks in New York City, a needlepoint shop specializing in custom pieces with experience in ecclesiastical hangings. Woolworks recently designed the Rector's red stole to match the red hangings, the silencers for the offertory plates, and seat cushions for four side Chancel chairs.
In keeping with past practice the work will be stitched by parishioners accomplished in needlepoint who have worked on existing pieces. It will be professionally mounted to ensure proper hanging. The stitchers will include Gail Bush, Gwen Cheney, Joan Flint, Carol Panzer, Barbara Warner, and Nancy Wolcott.
Mary Critikos
The Episcopal Church Women will hold a formal tea for this year's outstanding senior girls in the Debutante program at John Marshall High School on Thursday, March 17, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. This tea, in its fifth year at St. Paul's, honors these young women and their families. At the same time, it provides a social experience new to many of them; something they will likely encounter as they begin their college careers. This Debutante Tea was initiated at the suggestion of Michael Robinson at an ECW luncheon meeting a few years ago. Mr. Robinson, former John Marshall High School Principal, will be our speaker at this lovely party.
The ECW extends a hearty invitation to all parishioners, to join us as we honor these young women. Help is needed in preparing the tea, as well as being present to help guests feel welcome. If you would like to help with this wonderful event, please call Nancy Lyke at 244-0795.
Nancy Lyke
In January I had the privilege of spending 12 days in Gothenburg, Sweden with the Eastman School Organ Department. Gothenburg is home to several truly world-class pipe organs. These instruments are unique; they are not "the latest" in organ building, but carefully-preserved originals (or meticulously-crafted copies) of organs played by the old masters. Featured in the collection are:
By playing music written for these instruments on these instruments, I gained an enormous appreciation of the "soundscape" known to composers such as Buxtehude (North German), Widor (French Symphonic) and Howells (English Romantic). The quality of the pipework, and meticulous attention to detail was truly staggering, and the resulting sounds unlike anything that can be heard in North America. It is small wonder that instruments such as these inspired the best musical minds of their day.
I am tremendously grateful to The Rev. Fred Reynolds and to the people of St. Paul's for their support in making this trip possible. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime educational experience. I know the lessons learned in Sweden will influence my organ playing for years to come.
With sincere thanks,
Tim Pyper
Shalom welcomes everyone who wants to explore the Christian family life! Please come and join the Shalom monthly fellowship meeting on Friday, March 4 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. We will start with a family-style pizza supper. At 7:00 the adults will spend some time discussing "Anglican Church Music" with St. Paul's organist Tim Pyper while the younger ones have fun coloring Easter eggs in the kitchen. Nursery care is provided as well. If you would like more information about Shalom, see our page on the St. Paul's Web site (www.stpaulsec.org/shalom.html), or contact Shalom coordinators Nancy Curtis or Angie Jones.
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Operators are needed for St. Paul's sound system. You will be taught how to run the sound amplification system levels for Sunday 10 a.m. services, and the recording equipment that allows shut-ins and absentees to enjoy the benefits of our Sunday Worship. The only requirement is normal hearing acuity and a willingness to learn the system. Please contact Bob Grainger or Elmer Cheney at the coffee hour after the 10 a.m. service or call Bob at 442-3305 or Elmer at 442-1332 for more details.
I am so proud of you and so grateful for your generous gifts to the ERD South Asia Relief Fund and to Salva Dut's Water for Sudan. It makes me very happy to be associated with such caring, giving people. With your help, ERD has been able to provide food, water, tents, health kits and now counseling services to those affected by the tsunami. If you would like to read first-hand accounts written by the volunteers in Sri Lanka and India, you can do so at www.er-d.org in the Crisis Center section, Stories from the Field.
But if you do this, you will notice that the Stories from the Field come from all over the world, not just South Asia. There are articles about a recent flood in Venezuela, the mudslide in California, crises in Haiti, the Congo, Zambia, Burundi and throughout the world. Every day we are inundated with news of the latest natural disasters, civil wars, disease epidemics, ongoing oppression, and countless stories of suffering. I cringe to realize how inured I have become to this. I take these stories in stride, expecting more with every newscast. When I take the time to really listen to them, however, and to put human faces with all that suffering, I want so much to be able to help. To reach out and offer a cup of cold water to those with no clean water, to hold a grieving mother or orphaned child in my arms, to offer my warm bed to someone who has lost his home.
No matter how much I give, there is always more need. I am tempted to say "I give up, I can't help all these people." And it's true, I can't help all of them. But I can make a difference to some of them. I am so blessed to have something to give that it is a real privilege to be able to respond. God has so generously blessed us in this country, it is just astounding. How can I do anything else but share that with my neighbors around the globe?
Sunday, March 6 will be St. Paul's annual ERD ingathering. I ask each of you to respond to the continuing need in our world. As a church we are a wonderful, vibrant manifestation of God's love in this world, and ERD is one of our most effective tools.
God's peace to all,
Linda Workman, ERD Parish Representative
Thank you label savers who have contributed 1850 labels to the 2004-2005 campaign. These will be redeemed for educational materials for the campus school and for sports equipment—items not covered in the agency budget.
We continue collecting. Needed are labels from Campbell products and Campbell Cousins: Prego, Franco—American, Swanson, Pepperidge Farm, Marie's, Vlasic, and V8, plus UPC codes from packages, boxes, and frozen items.
Please submit the entire label with "Campbell" or other brand name intact. Labels may be left in the Church Office or the Sunday Office in the containers provided.
Margaret Kaiser
Applications are now being accepted for St. Paul's Memorial Scholarships. These scholarships are available to all members of the St. Paul's family who meet the following criteria:
Note: Applications may be downloaded from the St. Paul's website www.stpaulsec.org or a copy may be picked up in the Church office.
Please start to think about being an usher for our March 27 Easter Sunday services. There will be fine music and a need for eight ushers at both the 8:00 am and the 10:00 am services. The sign up sheet is available in the church office. Newcomers are welcome.
If you are interested in serving your church as an usher, or would like information about ushering, call the church office or me, and someone from the usher committee will contact you. It requires serving only two or three times a year and is an excellent way to meet other members of the congregation.
Elmer Cheney, Usher Chairman 442-1332
Pour water into the Water for Sudan jug to support the Church School Lenten Project. The jug will be in the Parish Hall during Coffee Hour for the Sundays in Lent. The donation is $1 a cup.