The St. Paul's Epistle
April 1-15, 2005
Contents
Letter from the Rector
Why Do We Provide Clergy Sabaticals?
Godly Play
Elijah - May 1
Vestry Highlights Through March
St. Paul's Note Paper
Bereavement Support Group
Thank you!
Episcopal Church Women Meetings
S.E.M. Needs Your Donations
Planned Giving/Arbor Society
Paul's Place
Golf Tournament
For You... From the Stephen Ministers
Antiques Show Insert
Dear Members and Friends of St. Paul's:
The Great Fifty Days of Easter surround every hour and day of the month of April. It is a time to sing our Alleluia's, whether in Church or in our home.
But for some of us, even though the church calendar says Easter, our personal lives are still with Good Friday.
The Rochester economy still struggles as, even now, people in our parish are losing their jobs after years of loyal service to their boss or corporation.
A woman struggles with knowing each day that her husband's memory of her is slowly ebbing away.
Every day he wakes up to the deathly stillness of his home, reminding him of his own 50 years of marriage filled with passionate conversation and loving laughter.
Theologian H.A. Williams calls Lent "Easter in disguise." I think he means that in every human trial of suffering are already the seeds of hope, health, and new life. As each of us has entered our own dark time of the soul, we have emerged from this darkness by a power beyond ourselves that transformed us into a new "me." We call it resurrection. Easter doesn't deny our pain and suffering, but transforms it!
As Easter people, filled with the grace and power of Christ's resurrection, may we extend our hands of faith to our family, fellow parishioners, friends, and neighbors, standing with them as witnesses that their pain will be transformed into hope. Then our Alleluias are solid lights of hope out of the darkness.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Faithfully yours,
The Rev. Frederic W. Reynolds
Rector
Why Do We Provide Clergy Sabbaticals?
Both our Rector and our Associate Rector will be taking sabbaticals at different times over the next twelve months. Just as the weekly Sabbath allows us time for rest, worship and spiritual growth, so sabbatical time offers our clergy a respite from their regular duties while they work equally hard at personal spiritual growth objectives.
The practice of offering sabbaticals is not new in large Episcopal Churches nor is it new at St. Paul's. Previous clergy have been afforded these renewal and refreshment opportunities. Previous vestries have embraced the wisdom of this practice, knowing that to provide continuous pastoral care and spiritual leadership to a large congregation is emotionally draining to our clergy. In fact, when we called the Rector (1995) and the Associate Rector (2002) the vestries in place at the time provided for earning sabbatical time at the rate of one month per year of service (with no sabbatical to exceed four months).
The Rector earned a sabbatical five years ago, but deferred it due to important parish activities (the capital campaign, the construction program, new clergy). There is never a perfect time to schedule a sabbatical. Yet our clergy need time to study and reflect, to gain new perspective, to deepen their spiritual roots. As parishioners we too get new perspective during their absence and benefit from their new knowledge and understanding upon their return.
Both Fred and Tom have exciting and challenging plans for their sabbaticals.
Rick Harrison
Senior Warden
Godly Play
Godly Play is a way of teaching children to "become more fully aware of the mystery of the presence of God in their lives." There will be an information/ training session on April 8 and 9. If you would like to know more, speak with Leslie St. Louis or Barbara Warner.
Elijah - May 1
St. Paul's Choir and guest singers will present Mendelssohn's great oratorio Elijah on Sunday, May 1 at 4:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of St. Paul's. Derrick Smith will sing the role of Elijah. Among the other soloists will be Nancy Curtis and Holly Bewlay, sopranos; Pamela Terry, alto; guest tenor Grudy Bailey and baritone Christopher Moore. Come and bring your family and friends to hear this work.
Note: The concert has been postponed to October 2.
Vestry Highlights Through March
The Vestry took the following actions at its recent regular meetings:
- Elected Emily Wood to the Assistant Treasurer position.
- Elected Chris Curtis, Chris Moore, and Barbara Warner as delegates to Convention.
- Approved the expenditure of $7,000 from the Memorial Fund to support the work on the Agnus Dei tapestry.
- Approved the expenditure of $30,000 from the property reserve to perform work on the organ's Great Division during the summer of 2005.
- Accepted the 2004 external auditors' report on the financial statements of the church.
St. Paul's Note Paper
The Episcopal Church Women have packets of attractive note paper for sale for $3.00 per packet of twelve. The front of each note card has a pen and ink drawing of the exterior of the church. Whether you need them for your own notes or to give as gifts, look for our basket at coffee hour, ask at the desk in Wainwright Hall, or call Marylu Andrews at 425-1517.
Bereavement Support Group
A free, six week support group for those grieving the loss of a loved one will begin Tuesday, April 5 at Incarnate Word Lutheran Church, 597 East Avenue, at the corner of East and Goodman. The group, facilitated by Dana McIver and William Wilkinson, is open to all. It will meet from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. for 6 consecutive Tuesdays. For more information and to pre-register, call Dana McIver at 671-6624.
Thank you!
Thank you to Elizabeth and Patricia Tice, Joyce Crofton, Kay Prey, Charlotte Kimberly-Haag, Sally McGucken, Mary Corcoran, Gail Bush and Patrick Moran for beautifying and glorifying our Easter worship this year with flowers throughout the sanctuary. A lot of fun and hard work took place on the Saturday before Easter and it was so lovely on Easter morning.
Thank you especially to Tom Lincoln, Louis Martin and Scott Owen who are always so helpful with the behind the scenes help and support. You are so appreciated!
Jennifer Marini & Susan Hyde
Episcopal Church Women Meetings
Episcopal Church Women (ECW) will meet on Thursday, April 7. At 11 a.m. Tom McCart will lead us in Bible study. We will have a "Brown Bag Lunch" afterward and a business meeting which will be followed by a viewing of the video made at our 1997 Fashion Show. Come for all or part of this event. Everyone is welcome!
Episcopal Church Women (ECW) will meet on Thursday, May 5. St. Paul's own Patricia Tice will be our guest speaker with a slide presentation entitled "Tracing the History of Ice Cram in the United States." Patricia is curator of the John Wehle Gallery of Art at the Genesee Country Village and Museum in Mumford. In addition, she teaches Art History at the Eastman School of Music and at RIT. Please join us for a most delightful presentation. The business meeting is at 11:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist and installation of officers at 12:00 noon, pot-luck luncheon at 12:30 p.m. followed by the presentation.
Please call Gail Bush at 377-5129 and tell her what you will bring.
S.E.M. Needs Your Donations
When you are doing your weekly shopping, please remember to pick up a donation for S.E.M. They need: laundry detergent, dish soap, toilet tissue, hand soap, toothpaste and brushes, canned stew, soups, crackers, canned vegetables and jelly. Also they are always looking for paper grocery bags in which to pack a family's food.
If we each bring one item each week, we can help S.E.M. a great deal. Many thanks, Gail Bush.
Planned Giving/Arbor Society
One of the reasons why St. Paul's Church buildings, programs, and missions are alive and well today is because many individuals who have been a part of this parish in the past have put their trust in the future by making donations and bequests to the endowment funds of this parish. While planning for your family and loved ones, please consider leaving a gift to St. Paul's Church. In doing so, you will become a member of the Arbor Society. More than 140 parishioners have joined the Arbor Society since its founding in 2000. Some have remained anonymous. Many have chosen to have their names engraved on leaves of the Arbor Tree and inscribed in a leather bound book, both of which are located in St. Peter's Chapel. Please contact the church office for more information or to let us know of your intention.
Joan and Dave Flint
Paul's Place
Hi, volunteers at Paul's Place… The next rotation for our hosting families as part of the Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network is Sunday, May 1 through Sunday, May 8.
Please "pencil-in" your calendars and let us know what shifts you would like to work. If you have any friends that would like to participate in the program, we are always looking for more volunteers.
In a couple of weeks, we will send out the spreadsheet with volunteer shifts, but we are looking for your commitment and preferences at this time. Please call us at 586-6389 with any questions.
Faithfully,
Doug & Gayle Hitchcock
Golf Tournament
Episcopal Senior Life Communities' 9th Annual Golf Tournament takes place on Monday, June 13 at Shadow Pines Golf Club, Penfield, N.Y.
We would love to have you join us this year! Fun, low-key golf competition, scramble format, fellowship, camaraderie, lunch, dinner, prizes included. Join as a Parish foursome, and you may win the Parish Division Competition. Proceeds are used to support services for residents in all of our communities. Call Kim Petrucci at 546-8439 x 3121 if you have any questions or would like a brochure.
For You… From the Stephen Ministers
At the end of the Stephen Ministry Forum last fall someone who attended said they thought that we were going to share some of our learning with the group so that everyone could be more helpful to their family, friends and neighbors. While repeating the classes that we have taken in the Stephen Ministry training may not be possible, from time to time we hope to share information about community resources or helpful books and articles that may help everyone as they minister to others.
So here's our first recommendation....
Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on soda, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. Proverbs 25:20
Don't Sing Songs To A Heavy Heart, by Kenneth C. Haugk, PhD.
This is a wonderful little book written by the founder of Stephen Ministries. Through his own personal journey with his wife during her terminal illness and subsequent death, Dr. Haugk offers his perception of what was helpful to him and his wife. As a researcher, Dr. Haugk has taken time to gather opinions from other patients, caregivers and medical professionals. He points out potential pitfalls that many of us have either offered in good faith or experienced in our own lives. The examples are down to earth, and the suggestions for what is most helpful when ministering to family, friends and neighbors are clearly stated. Throughout the book, Dr. Haugk relates each issue to scripture and begins each chapter with a prayer.
In cooperation with the St. Paul's Library Committee, copies of this book will be available for you to borrow from the Church Library located in the Parish Hall.
Judy Carpenter
St. Paul's 56th Annual
ANTIQUES
Show & Sale
Friday, April 22 11 - 7
&
Saturday, April 23 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
Thursday, April 21
Celebrate the opening event of the 2005 Antiques Show with an exciting evening offering exquisite wine, delicious hors d’oeuvres and delightful fellowship. This is a wonderful opportunity to view the splendid array of antiques and make your favorite purchases before these items are available to the general public. Watch the mail for your invitation to this fun filled gala.
Return to contents...Help Wanted—We Need YOU!
Your help is needed to staff the Antiques Show. Are you a baker? of pies? of cookies? of brownies? cake? breads? scones? Do you make homemade jam or jelly? Let us know if we can plan on you. We’ll send you a reminder a few days before. Please call June Hasty at 288-9131 or Molly Coulter at 586-7751. To help in one of our other shops, call Louise Creatura at 265-9596 for the Old Curiosity Shop; Sharron Isaacson at 872-2919 to help in Linens; David White at 482-2616 if you would like to help sell books; and Linda Butwid at 473-6857 or Jeanette Lyons at 328-2592 to work in Jewelry. If you are new to St. Paul’s, or not sure where you can best help, call Linda White at 482-2616, or Liz Cook at 442-0492 and they will help you find your perfect spot. Let’s all help make this the most successful Antiques Show ever!
To do that, WE NEED YOU!
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 will have—our everlasting
gratitude
Said from our hearts—not a rhyming platitude!
Charlotte Spears and the Linen Committee
BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS
Do you have piles, or shelves, or boxes of books cluttering up closets, tables, attics or basements? The Book Nook needs your donations of used books of all kinds. Please bring them to the Parish Hall stage on Sundays or the Church Office during the week, and we will find new owners for all of your gently read paperbacks and hardcover books.
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