The St. Paul's Epistle
June 1-15, 2003
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In Memory of Beatrice Hoar 1911 - 2003 |
Contents
Letter From the Rev. Hunt
Organ Concert
The Revised Common Lectionary
Attention June Graduates!
Youth Ministry Recognition Sunday
ECW Picnic
ECW Reminder
Note from David Craighead
Parish Picnic
Reply From Iraq to St. Paul's Church School
Wedding Blessings
(CHAPP) Community Health And Pharmacy
Partnership
Companion Diocese
Stewardship Committee
Southeast Ecumenical Ministry
Fellow seekers on the path:
June 15 is Youth Recognition Sunday. It is a time when we at St. Paul's gather together to celebrate the contributions of the young people of the parish. This year we will have a completely youth run service, everything from readers to officiants and ushers. Laura Dunbar has been preparing the Youth and Alleluia choir. Carol Miller and the Church School teachers have been getting the students well versed in the prayers that they will offer to God.
While Youth Recognition Sunday is an important celebration in which we highlight our Youth, we need to also recognize those who are preparing our youth. This dedicated group of individuals is not only faithful in their attendance in the Church School, SPY events, and choir practice, but are always finding ways to make the Christian experience more meaningful to the younger members of the parish. It is through their devotion week after week, which is going a long way toward the healthy and fruitful formation of young persons in the faith. The Youth and Alleluia Choirs and the church school students are developing their repertoire not only of music, but also of a life of prayer through singing sacred songs and other prayers offered to God. The SPY advisors develop the strong bond of Christian fellowship which is a great support to any faith community. Our children are instructed in the faith, know their prayers, know the sacred songs important to the parish, and they know each other They know all of this through the efforts of those who make youth a priority in their lives. It is through your support of these persons and the ministry they perform that we are able to grow the church, and to maintain our traditions as Episcopalians. So let us recognize not only the contributions of the youth of the parish, but also those adults who see the value and potential in our children and who make the nurturing of our children their ministry.
Edward W. Hunt,
Curate for Family Ministry
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You Are Cordially Invited David Craighead
Sunday, May 18, 2003 Reception to Follow in the Parish Hall |
The Revised Common Lectionary
On Advent I, 2002, we began using the Revised Common Lectionary for Year B on a one-year trial basis. What distinguishes the RCL from the lectionary of the prayer book is the provision for a series of semi-continuous readings from the Old Testament for the Sundays after Pentecost (also known as Ordinary Time), which begins on June 15. For Year B, the Old Testament readings are drawn from the Davidic narrative supplemented with selections from Wisdom literature. In the prayer book lectionary, these OT readings are viewed as a parallel, a contrast, or as a type that finds its fulfillment in the gospel reading. By offering a series of semi-continuous readings, readings not related to the gospel of the day, a larger selection of OT themes are provided to the gathered community.
ATTENTION JUNE GRADUATES!!June is the month that we celebrate, in The Epistle, the graduation of our high school seniors. Please send a picture and short biography to Rita Coulter in the church office by June 15 telling us what you've been doing and what plans you may have for the future so that all of us at St. Paul's can share in your success. |
Youth Ministry Recognition Sunday
We are making plans for an especially joyful and rousing Service at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 15. Our youth will be participating and we'll have the opportunity to celebrate the gifts of our church school children, teachers, choirs, and acolytes. Please plan to be a part of this special morning and stay for the Parish Picnic.
Carol Miller
ECW Picnic
The Episcopal Church Women will hold their annual Spring Picnic on Thursday, June 19 (note date change) at 11:00 a.m., at the home of Susan Dow, 216 Whistle Stop, Pittsford. Please make your reservation by calling the church office. The lunch will be pot luck salads and desserts. Questions? Call Susan at 742-5477, or send an email.
Installation of ECW Officers
This picture was taken following the installation of ECW officers on Thursday, May 15th. Starting at the left it is: Fran Speer, Nancy Kleintop, Gwen Cheney, Susan Dow, Margie Kaiser, Mary Criticos, and Marylu Andrews. |
ECW Reminder
Don't forget to make your reservation 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
Dear Friends in the Beloved Community —
The great beauty and elegance of yesterday's reception has so deeply moved me that I've thought of little else ever since. Each detail was tended to with loving care — the refreshments, decorations, the musical selections, the spoken word, and the contributions by the children — it all touched me greatly. This was an occasion created by someone with imagination and love; I'll yet find out who!
It was only hours before the event that I got a bit of an idea as to what was going on. Here again was a example of what I have so admired at St. Paul's: the church at work. To be with you all for whom I have such love and affection reminds me of my personal commitment: to be a lay minister to you all in any way that I am capable.
Gratitude can be present but difficult to express. I will do all I can to convey this to you. My daily prayer for St. Paul's Church is that God's blessing continue to shine on us all, and that the church continually grow in spreading God's word and advancing His kingdom.
Deep gratitude and love to you all,
David Craighead
Parish Picnic
Mark this date on your calendar! The St. Paul's Parish Picnic returns on Sunday, June 15. Many fun activities and games are being planned. Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and soda will be provided. Plan on bringing your favorite dish to pass, along with a hearty appetite. All are welcome! There will be no charge for this event; however, a free will offering/donation in any amount will be gratefully accepted. If you would like to help with any aspect of the planning, set up or cleanup, please call Alice Eldredge at 637-8851. See you at the picnic!
Note: There will be childcare for the June 8th Concert honoring David Craighead.
Reply From Iraq to St. Paul's Church School
Thank you all for writing and taking the time to think about us here. We've been very fortunate to receive so many letters, so much food, so many prayers from all over the country. I am especially heartened by notes received from the children.
It is important to realize that there are people in the world who do not want Americans to live as we live - free. These same people repress their own people who really want the privileges that Americans enjoy. They are willing to fight for a change to their lives, and they desire American involvement. The Iraqi people are very friendly and wave and smile often. They look to us to prevent a return to the previous ways, and also to make their lives better little by little. We can have friends here and the people here want to have American friends - they don't want to be American, but that's OK.
The First Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) is composed of Marine units from California, with assistance from all over the country- especially the reserves. I am stationed in Quantico, VA where I live with my wife Brenda, and daughter Lauren and our dogs. I work as a planner in the Fires Plans Section; I am an artillery officer. Our section planned aircraft and missile attack during hostilities, and after that we changed quickly to begin planning for humanitarian assistance and infrastructure repair for the Iraqi people. We lived in tents during the fighting - at some times the enemy got a little close but fortunately no Marines with the headquarters were injured. The desert winds and blowing sand caused us all problems.
The MEF moved through the desert and ended up here in Al Hillah, at the site of a palace of the former dictator. We are also next to the site of the ancient city of Babylon. I was able to take a tour with one of the archeologists. Very interesting to be able to walk on the same streets as Daniel.
For Parker Moore - I think that Champ and Duchess would rather have a bone but they are involved too.
For Ian - Thanx buddy we're well here. I sent along a photo of the place we're living.
For Emily - You've got the wagging tails on the Golden Retrievers- my favorite. Thank you.
For Teddy - Thanks for the wonderful card, pretty soon you'll be in the 4th grade and moving up. I'm proud to know you.
For Olivia - Thank you for the note. I am not sure the worst has happened, but you are smart to see that America had to take action.
For Isabel - Thanks for the thoughts and prayers. We are all proud to do this.
For Ingrid - Thank you for the note; knowing that there are folks in America like you and those at St Paul's makes it worth the time away from family and friends.
It looks like I'll be moving back to Kuwait soon to get ready to return in early July to the US. I hope you all have a great summer and do well in the remaining school days. Thank you all for everything. You are wonderful.
Semper Fidelis,
KURT S. OSUCH, Major, United States Marine Corps, Babylon, Iraq
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Blessings on the Marriages of
Kelley Knapp and Carl Gullo
Amy Brenner and Jess Alexander |
(CHAPP) Community Health And Pharmacy Partnership:
SEM piloted CHAPP in the summer of 2001 with the help from a neighborhood pharmacy. This relief effort is designed to assist individuals with necessary medicine and medical supplies while they are applying for appropriate assistance and insurance benefits. The individuals are screened to determine their specific need for insurance coverage. SEM staff works to help them understand their options to secure necessary health care services such as, EPIC, Medicare, Family Health Plus, Medicaid, etc. Since other social service agencies are already available to help people enroll in these programs, CHAPP fills the gap by providing assistance with prescriptions and medical supplies while they are waiting for insurance coverage to begin. It is important to review with the clients the process and to confirm all paperwork is properly filled out and submitted, then following-up with the insurance carriers to ensure that health coverage is expedited in a timely manner. Prescriptions are funded by donations and SEM has received funds from local foundations such as the Monroe Foundation, Episcopal Diocese and the Gilbert Spirit Fund of the First Unitarian Church. If you know of someone that can use this great service that SEM now provides, please have them call Laurie J. Jenkins at 271-5350.
Companion Diocese
On June 8, 2003 Bishop McKelvey will sign a covenant agreement with the Diocese of Ontario as our companion diocese. If you travel to Ontario, Canada in the Kingston area this summer and plan to attend church, kindly identify yourselves by bringing greetings to them from Bishop McKelvey and the Diocese of Rochester. Also, upon your return, kindly let us know which church you attended and bring back any material to share with us. For a list of their churches, sign onto their web site.
Stewardship Committee
St. Paul's Church is a gift that has been entrusted to us. The beautiful building, the rich tradition of worship, music and preaching; the diverse offering of ministries and programs; and the legacy of those who came before, are ours to care for, to strengthen and to preserve for future generations. So many of St. Paul's parishioners respond as stewards by giving their time and talent to make possible the vibrant parish life we experience together. We give thanks for the abundance of energy, talent and commitment demonstrated by our St. Paul's family that allows us to respond to our immeasurable blessings by doing God's work in our church and the community and world at large. Financial support is also an essential element in our stewardship. It represents the cornerstone of our capability for ministry. Our goal is to achieve 100% pledge participation. Please join us this year with renewed enthusiasm and make the 2003 Stewardship commitment one that will permit St. Paul's parish to continue to expand its Christian work. Let's all join together to "lift high the cross!"
Southeast Ecumenical Ministry
St. Paul's provides space and financial support to the Southwest Ecumenical Ministry, located in the basement of the church. SEM is a non-profit organization that helps to provide emergency food supplies to over 250 people monthly. The SEM food cupboard serves the community by providing groceries on a temporary or recurring basis to individuals or families who are in need of short-term assistance while they wait for a first paycheck or the start of benefit payments such as unemployment, Social Security or DSS, or have other difficulties that can effect their ability to provide their household with necessary supplies. The food cupboard is one of three programs SEM provides.
SEM was established in the summer of 1969, when several of the Southeast area churches began a youth ministry together. The organization became SEM, the Southeast Ecumenical Ministry, serving the needs of a more diverse age group. Working with case managers and social workers ensures that SEM's resources are distributed in an efficient and effective manner, with the clients' needs having been assessed before they are referred to SEM's food cupboard.
Volunteers throughout the Rochester community come to the food cupboard at St. Paul's to assist with organizing food drives, shopping, delivery and packing, as well as scheduling and clerical tasks. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, call the office at 271-5350. Donations of food and personal hygiene items can be dropped off at Wainwright Hall. SEM is a vital part of the St. Paul's church community.