The St. Paul's Epistle
April 1-15, 2003
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In Remembrance Katherine Lensing June 1915--March 2003 |
Contents
Letter From the Rector
Christ--Beyond Incarnation and Atonement
Habitat News!!!
Memorial Scholarship Reminder
Campbells's Label Program
ECW News
St. Paul's Day Care Center
Usher News
New Benches Added To Columbarium
Southeast Ecumenical Ministry
Easter Flowers
News from St. Paul's Friends
Antiques Show Insert
Dear Friends and Members of St. Paul's,
As I write this, it is almost certain that the United States will go to war with Iraq. Wherever you are, either for or against this war, I am sure that you are filled with many conflicting thoughts and feelings.
As Christians, I believe we should be deeply disturbed any time there is war. We need to be concerned not only for our soldiers who will be in harms' way, but equally for innocent men, women and children of Iraq who may die or be left homeless from the war.
In time of war, the power of prayer is urgently needed. I offer the following prayer written by Bishop Fred Borsch:
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For those who serve in the military forces, for those who wait at home and for all the innocent caught up in the conflict; Lord, hear our prayer. That the conflict may come to a speedy end, and that those at risk may be safely delivered; Lord, hear our prayer. That weapons of mass destruction not be used; Lord, hear our prayer. That our spirits not be inflamed by hatred; Lord, hear our prayer. That we may be granted the spirit of repentance and reconciliation; Lord, hear our prayer. That our President, George Bush, be upheld by our prayers and that he and Saddam Hussein and the leaders of all the nations be guided by your spirit of mercy and peace; Lord, hear our prayer. That refugees may find safe haven; Lord, hear our prayer. That international humanitarian law be strictly applied and adhered to; Lord, hear our prayer. |
We are people empowered by the Holy Spirit of God to pray and work toward the vision of Shalom, the Heavenly Kingdom, a world of peace.
In a time of darkness, we are called upon to be people of hope, trusting in the power of the resurrection to transform our broken world.
In a time of Lent, we are called upon to repent and turn to God.
"Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy, Lord, have mercy."
Faithfully yours,
The Reverend Frederic Reynolds
Rector
Christ - Beyond Incarnation and Atonement
Bishop John Shelby Spong, the pre-eminent voice for liberal Christianity, and the Bishop of the Diocese of Newark for 24 years, will speak at St. Paul's on Tuesday, April 29, at 7 p.m.
In his latest book, A New Christianity For a New World: Why Traditional Faith is Dying and How a New Faith is Being Born, Spong steps up his call for a new reformation of Christianity—one that he says will make the Reformation of the sixteenth century "look like a child's tea party."
Bishop Jack McKelvey and the Rev. Frederic Reynolds extend a cordial welcome to people of all faiths and denominations to join Bishop Spong for his lecture and what will undoubtedly be lively discussion.
Habitat News!!!
Construction is scheduled to begin April 1 on our new Habitat house being built by the South East Area Rochester Churches for Habitat coalition. Volunteers are urgently needed, particularly on weekdays! Call Kathy Schaertel at 288-6489 (evenings) or Lisa Schiffler at 442-1617.
Memorial Scholarship Reminder
St. Paul's Memorial Scholarship fund provides scholarships for students pursuing a vocation, college or theological degree. Applications should be received in the church office by April 15.
Campbells's Label Program
During the 2002—2003 Labels for Education campaign, St. Paul's contributed 2,050 labels. We are now collecting for the 2003—2004 campaign. Contributions may be left in the containers provided in the Church Office or the Sunday Office. Needed are labels from all Campbell's products; also Swanson, Prego, V-8, Franco-American, Pepperidge Farm, Marie's, and Vlasic. Please submit the entire label with "Campbell" or other brand name intact. From Pepperidge Farm cookies, crackers, and bread, the UPC code is needed.
Margaret Kaiser
ECW News
Consult your calendar way ahead and plan to join the Episcopal Church Woman on Thursday, October 2, 2003, for a day trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake. We will leave St. Paul's by bus at 9:00 a.m., attend a matinee of the musical "Happy Ending" at the Royal George Theater, and have a buffet dinner at the Queenston Heights Restaurant, returning around 8:30 p.m. The cost of this trip is $85, which includes a theater ticket and dinner. Please make your reservation by sending a check to Gwen Cheney, 1565 Clover Street, Rochester, NY 14610. Call Susan Dow, 742-5477, with any questions.
Please note: due to increased security at the U.S.-Canada border, passports (preferable) or photo I.D. with birth certificates will be required.
While this outing is sponsored by the ECW, everyone in the St. Paul's community is welcome to join us for this delightful event!
Susan Dow
To the members of the St. Paul's Congregation:
As the Board of the St. Paul's Day Care Center met last month to review progress and establish priorities for the coming year, we were mindful of both the challenges and opportunities facing the Center. During this session, we were also struck, as we often are, by the important role that your generous support plays in enabling us to carry out efforts that are so central to our mission. As you may know we consider our relationship with St. Paul's Episcopal Church as an important component to our mission:
While they are separate and distinct organizations, St. Paul's Day Care Center and St. Paul's Church share common values around the care and growth of young children. In addition, the Center is an outreach mission of the church. In fulfilling this role, the Center strives to serve families of diverse backgrounds and experiences, including Rochester's neediest families.
We wanted to take an opportunity to share with you some of the ways in which we are able to better serve our children and families because of the generous support you provide:
- Tuition assistance to families in need. St. Paul's is currently able to offer financial assistance to 15 families who would not otherwise be able to afford the weekly tuition. This represents 28 percent of our Center's families. Given our mission to provide the best possible care to all families, the ability to offer this benefit is tremendously important, particularly in this current climate of budget and service cutbacks within Monroe County.
- Opportunity to serve families with special circumstances. Due to the support we receive, we are able to hire high quality caregivers and then offer them the best training available in the community. This, in turn, gives us the skills to support children with special needs— developmental, social-emotional and special family situations and turmoil.
The current financial climate has been challenging for many organizations, and we know that the Church has felt this impact as well. Please know that your support has been deeply appreciated by the Board and staff of the program as we work to advance the Center's Mission and Vision.
Sincerely,
Anne Wilder
President, Board of Directors
Usher News
Please start to think about being an usher for our April 20, Easter Sunday services. There will be full music and a need for about eight ushers at both the 8:00 a.m. and the 10:00 a.m. services. The signup sheet is available in the church office.
If you are interested in serving your church as an usher, or would like information about ushering, call the church office 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
New Benches Added To Columbarium
The Columbarium, already a lovely and peaceful place, has been enhanced by the addition of two new benches. The wooden benches are upholstered in a tapestry that blends beautifully with the rugs. They are placed beneath the edges of the table.
Members of the Columbarium Ministry believed there was a need for additional seating in the Columbarium. People go there from time to time to meditate. During an interment there are usually several people in attendance. These people are sometimes physically and emotionally drained at the time of the loss of a loved one and would welcome a place to sit down. The Ministry asked Fran Speer, a professional interior designer, for help in selecting appropriate benches.
Money from the Memorial Fund was used to purchase the benches. This restricted fund is used for projects that enhance the worship of the church. We believe the new benches certainly meet this criterium and we are most grateful to the Vestry for answering our request.
We encourage members of the congregation to visit the Columbarium and see the fine new benches.
Dorothy Phillips
Chair, The Columbarium Ministry
RIT Photojournalism Student writes:
Photojournalism has historically been viewed as a truth-telling medium. Documentary photography shows the harsh realities of life as well as the simple beauties. It was the love of photography and curiosity about the world around me that brought me to study photojournalism at RIT three and a half years ago. In my final year here at RIT, my classmates and I have been documenting the Southeast area of Rochester through the instruction of our professor Loret Steinberg. Stretching from University Avenue to Mt. Hope, the southeast is a section of Rochester that is as diverse an area as any city in the nation. Our class wanted to show that the idea of community is still alive in our city. Through our explorations we found the good as well as the bad aspects of this area, yet in all of the stories, each of us saw how people were coming together to strengthen the idea of community. Whether bringing change or helping neighbors, community does not merely exist when a disaster strikes. For my part of the project I have been documenting the services that Southeast Ecumenical Ministry (SEM) provides. The people who volunteer at SEM showed me how they give to our community without reserve. Often in conjunction with other local groups such as Americorps and students from McQuaid High School, SEM promotes the idea of a neighborhood that is said to be lost in other communities. Flossie Kerr was the most interesting person that I met in the entire southeast area. Although she is eighty years old, she gives back to the community in numerous ways, whether sorting food at SEM, working with the blind at ABVI or mending clothes for Wesley on East, Flossie is the example of one person making a difference in the community. The project my fellow students and I have been undertaking will be continuing for the next two months. I invite all who are interested to see the culmination of our efforts at Gallery R on Friday, April 4, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., in a gallery showing of the work. My classmates and I will be on hand to discuss the way we saw this diverse area. On behalf of all of my classmates, thank you to everyone at SEM and throughout the southeast area for letting us into your lives.
Christopher Powers
Easter Flowers
If you would like to make a memorial dedication of Easter Flowers, the last day for donations is April 13th (Sunday offering), in order for names to be included in the Easter bulletin.
News from St. Paul's Friends
Remember Guk Rut? Guk and his family and three children came from Sudan and lived in Rochester for 2-3 years. Guk called me from Omaha one day in February to say that he still thinks often of St. Paul's and feels sad that he hasn't kept us up to date. Since his move he has completed his Associates degree in Criminal Justice and will graduate in June with a Bachelors. He feels he is living the American Dream as he has recently purchased a Habitat for Humanity home. Since he has left Rochester he and his wife, Mary have had another baby, Nyabun, now 2 years old. He wants to be remembered to "all of you at St. Paul's."
Remember Peter Doluony? "I would like to give you my information when I have. Now I am Pastor. I have been licensed May 12, 2002. Again I was ordination December 29, 2002. I liked your church until right now. I am Sudanese Pastor in all Nebraska in Omaha. Thank you. Pastor Peter Doluony." The information that Peter enclosed in his letter says that he is the first licensed and ordained Sudanese Pastor of the Missionary Baptist faith in Nebraska. It also says he has been preaching the gospel for 17 years. While Peter was here at St. Paul's, Jerry Schaertel took him up to Bexley to explore the ministry. It was going to mean a GED, a four-year degree and three years at Bexley. I am happy Peter found a shorter route to achieve his life's goal. Peter is the father of a family that had seven children in it when he was here in Rochester.
Nancy Frank
St. Paul's 54th Annual
ANTIQUES
Show & Sale
Friday April 25 11-8
&
Saturday April 26 10-4
One singular donation
Every single thing you've got!
One broiler combination
Every stew and crock pot
One gift and suddenly everyone else gives too
You know you'll never regret it and
WE THANK YOU!
One unwanted Christmas present
The purple crocheted boot rack!
One silver handled floor mop
Curtains and a rug to match.
Will we take these? Natch!
And then some
One linen cloth for Charlotte and
Your 50's wedding dress
For the girl who's second best to no one.
Oh my, give us your old jewelry
Do you really need that foolery
And that rickety old rocker
Your clean garage will be a shocker.
ANTIQUES SHOW PREVIEW PARTY
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THE LINEN SHOP
Donations are most welcome! We need:
Placemats, napkins, linens and laces
Silk scarves and linen handkerchief cases
Bedspreads and pillows, doilies and mats,
Even velvet and fur period hats!
Dust ruffles, blanket covers, pretty pillow shams,
Hand made toys such as bears, cockatoos and lambs
Yesterday's baptismal dresses, bonnets and socks
Wedding dresses and veils—maybe in their original box!
Shower curtains, hand towels. Mattress covers and rugs
Anything and everything that you can possibly lug
Like army blankets, quilts, hand crocheted spreads
And all those gift presents—in which you wouldn't be caught
dead!
Dresser scarves, gloves, bed jackets and nighties
All the Victorian Secrets Grandpa called "delighties"
Old flags and banners and insignia of course
Treasures you can part with—without much remorse!
A tax deduction form will be ready for you
(It just might help when the taxes are due).
But most important of all you wil have—our everlasting
gratitude
Said from our hearts—not a rhyming platitude!
Charlotte Spears and the Linen Committee