The St. Paul's Epistle
June 1, 2007
Contents
Dear Members & Friends of St.
Pauls:
Youth Recognition Sunday
David Fetler
The Parish Picnic
Stephen Ministry
The Hope of Sudan
With Thanks from the Church
School
People on a Journey Sharing in the
Future
Southeast Ecumenical Ministry
Confirmands Meet the Bishop
Support for Right On School
Honoring David Fetler
Directory Update
Pledge Reminder
SPY Corner
Easter 5 Sermon
Dear Members & Friends of St. Pauls:
On June 3, at our 10:00 a.m. worship service, we will celebrate David Fetler's 51 years of musical ministry at St. Paul's - over a half-century of leading several generations of families to hear and sing praises to the glory of God. We have been blessed by David's passion and vitality that so permeates his incredible love of God through his music.
Following the service, skits, tributes and song will honor David's ministry with us as we gather in the Parish Hall. So don't miss it! This is our opportunity as the family of St. Paul's to give thanks to David for all that he has done for us to deepen and enrich our faith through his gift of music.
On June 10, we will give thanks to Laura Dunbar as our Youth and Alleluia Choir Director for the past 5 years. She graduates from Eastman with 3 majors. Laura has helped plant seeds of faith and love of God for many of our youth through music. Come and honor Laura for her joyful ministry to God with our Youth and Alleluia Choirs.
Also on June 10, we will give thanks to Adam Peithmann for his year as our organist. He will continue to be with us until the first Sunday in August, after which he will prepare to leave for Germany to begin his advanced organ study, thanks to a Fulbright Scholarship.
Louis Martin, after 6 years as our assistant sexton, has taken a new position with the University of Rochester. Over the next few months, Louis plans on preparing to take the exam to be a truck driver. On May 23, the St. Paul's Staff honored Louis for his friendship and collegial support of all our ministries here at St. Paul's. We wish Louis the very best as he ventures forth into a new career path.
As we say goodbye to beloved staff members, we make preparations to say hello with the appointment of our new Director of Music in early June.
God has blessed us with faithful and talented staff and will continue to do so as we move into the future, trusting in the new creation of Christ's resurrection.
Faithfully yours,
~ The Rev. Frederic W. Reynolds, Rector
Youth Recognition Sunday
Youth Recognition Sunday, June 10, will include the Eucharist. As with Cross of Flowers, we are experimenting with moving this service to a Eucharist instead of a Morning Prayer-type service. Why, you might ask? The primary reason is that we are an eucharistically-centered faith. Communion is the norm in our church, but many of our young people wondered why they did not get to have communion on the one day of the year we set aside for them. With these thoughts in mind, we have decided to move to a trial of this service as a Eucharist. It is a great way to celebrate our ministries by and with our youth and to come to be fed by the body and blood of Christ, the very reason for our life and work. We hope you will join us and that you will comment on the service to one of the clergy afterwards.
~ The Rev. Leslie M. St. Louis
David Fetler
Come celebrate our love for David Fetler and his beautiful music on Sunday, June 3. Join the party in the Parish Hall after the 10 a.m. service which will include a stand-up lunch and a brief, joyful program.
~ Carol Miller
The Parish Picnic
Mark your calendars now for the end of the year Parish Picnic and entertainment on Sunday, June 10, following the 10 a.m. service. Hamburgers, hot dogs, rolls, chips and drinks will be provided. Last names beginning A-M please bring a side dish (salad, veggie or fruit tray) Last names beginning N-Z please bring a dessert. Nothing hot please. Hope to see you there!
(One-to-one Ministry by a Trained, Caring Friend)
Stephen Ministers' May Meeting
An important part of Stephen Ministry is the twice monthly meeting that is called the Peer Supervision Group. This is when Stephen Ministers provide support, encouragement, and accountability for one another in a small group so that all of them can provide the best care possible for their Special Friends. Our St. Paul's group has enjoyed the opportunity to be with Stephen Ministers from Asbury First Methodist Church a couple of times each year. In early May a large contingent of fifteen of them met with us in the parlor at Wainwright Hall. Our time together began with a Eucharist offered by Tom McCart. Following refreshments, our special guest Theo Munson, Bereavement Counselor at Lifetime Care, spoke to us and answered our questions about end of life care and comforting the seriously ill and their families. This was the conclusion of our continuing education on death and dying. Please keep St. Paul's Stephen Ministers and their Special Friends in your prayers.
~ Judy Carpenter, Sally McGucken and Anne Refermat
The Hope of Sudan
The Hope of Sudan along with Ms. Ock Hee Hale of Bloomfield Gardens cordially invites members of our parish family to join the festivities dedicating a labyrinth on Saturday, June 9 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bloomfield Gardens, 2 Lehigh Station Road, Honeoye Falls. Proceeds will benefit the Hope of Sudan. The day's activities include music, bagpipes, food and guided labyrinth walks.
~ Ann Marie DeLuccio
With Thanks from the
Church School
All of us this school year have been thankful for
- energetic, questioning children and young adults
- encouraging families
- a caring congregation
- each other
as we reached for an ever-deepening relationship with God in Christ through learning, worship, and community.
Missy McMullen and Becky Hall - Child Care (Infants and
Toddlers)
Sue Hall & Tom Milliman - Godly Play
(Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten)
Sandra Stenzel and Ashley Torres - Godly Play (Grades 1
& 2)
Chris Fitzstevens, Peter Doyle, and Jessica Wood -
Lectionary Learning (Grades 3, 4 & 5)
Louise Moore and Karley Rous - Rite-13 (Middle
School)
Nancy Kleintop and Tim Davis - Confirmation
Donna Nash-Bayley and Erik Warner - High School
The Rev. Leslie St. Louis - Family Minister
Barbara Warner - Coordinator
People on a Journey
Sharing in the Future
Question: What if you, as a communicant of St. Paul's, had given $10,000 to the Arbor Society Fund in 1980?
Answer: Over the years, your gift would have provided $39,000 for the ministries and mission of the church, AND, your gift would still be an asset worth $78,000 within the Arbor Society Fund.
Action: Please call Fred Reynolds at 271-2240 and let him know that you have included St. Paul's in your financial planning, i.e., your will or other instrument, and marvel at all that it will do. You don't have to state a specific amount, just let us know and you're automatically a member of the Arbor Society. It couldn't be easier.
Southeast Ecumenical Ministry
On behalf of Southeast Ecumenical Ministry (SEM) and those we serve, we thank you for your continued support of our work. Your generous gift of $1,375 to SEM is most appreciated and will aid our endeavor to fill the ongoing need.
Thank you for your active role in the fight against hunger and its causes. Working together we have the power to make a real difference in the lives of many people right here in our local community!
Sincerely,
Ann Ryan, SEM Coordinator
Confirmands Meet the Bishop
Bishop Jack McKelvey joined confirmands and their families and sponsors for a festive brunch on Saturday, May 12. The young people told about themselves and their confirmation class. The Bishop asked, "Was Jesus a Christian?" He answered questions about himself as a young person in church. He explained his views about all receiving communion and urged the group to look at the stories in the Bible as answers to questions posed by the people of the time. Getting to know each other, the group moved forward to the rite of Confirmation on Pentecost.
~ Barbara Warner
Support for Right On School
St. Paul's has contributed $1,000 to the Right on School at St. Luke's and St. Simon's Church. This free, six-week summer program provides experiences that help promising urban children achieve academic success.
~ Barbara Warner
Honoring David Fetler
Some 50 or so "Friends of Fetler" gathered to surprise and honor David Fetler at the conclusion of the St. Paul's Spring Concert on May 6. In his final concert as Senior Choir Director, David directed the choir in Vaughan Williams' "Five Mystical Songs" and other selections, some of which were his compositions. David will be retiring in June after 51 years of ministry.
Singers - previous choir members and friends of David, some of whom sang with him years ago and some of whom continue to sing with him at various concerts - joined voices as Laura Dunbar conducted and Adam Peithmann accompanied them in "Gloria in excelsis" from Vivaldi's Gloria and Lutkin's "The Lord Bless You and Keep You." These special pieces expressed joy and blessings to him to celebrate his work.
~ Erin Glanton
Directory Update
The schedule for printing the annual Parish Directory has been changed to late July so that the office staff may review the listings for accuracy. If any part of your information has changed, please send your corrections to Wayne@stpaulsec.org as soon as possible. Thank you!
~ Thomas McCart
Pledge Reminder
Please continue to make your pledge payments as we head into the summer months.
We realize many folks travel and have plans during this busy time of year and are not able to attend church every week. This is just a reminder to help us keep the cash flow on budget by mailing in your payments if you are unable to attend on Sundays. Thank you for your cooperation.
~ Emily L. Wood, Treasurer
SPY Corner
Parish Picnic and Spring Planting
On Sunday, June 10, following the Parish Picnic, we will plant annuals at St. Paul's. Come prepared to dig in the dirt and bring work gloves if you have them. Pick-up time is at 1:00 p.m.
Love One Another
The strong support for Leslie over the past few weeks continues to show the deep Christian roots of love and justice embodied in the people of St. Paul's. Here is my sermon text from Easter V, May 6, 2007. It is reprinted for the benefit of those who were unable to hear it that Sunday.
~ The Rev. Frederic W. Reynolds
| May 6, 2007 | Easter 5 | Acts 11:1-18, John 13:31-35 |
Most if not all of you have received a letter from your clergy and wardens. It expressed our sadness, confusion and anger toward an anonymous person who questioned Leslie's integrity as a clergy person in our community because she is living in a committed, faithful relationship with her partner.
Although the letter was written to Leslie, it was written to all of us in this community as well. It asks the hard question in our gospel: "Are we a community striving with all our heart, mind and soul to be followers of Jesus and love one another just as He loved us?"
The context of our gospel is the "Last Supper". Jesus has washed the feet of all his disciples, including Judas. Then he identifies his betrayer by feeding him, by dipping a piece of bread into his dish and handing it to Judas. He doesn't just point his finger at him and throw him out, he feeds him. It is Judas who flees, who leaves the circle of friends he has been with for 3 years. And then Jesus gives his disciples the love commandment: "Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another" with echoes of Judas' footsteps still ringing in their ears.
The disciples must have asked in their hearts: "Does Jesus include Judas? Are we to love him even as the betrayer? He couldn't possibly mean Judas, because Judas will lead our beloved Jesus to this death." And perhaps that's when it began to dawn on them, a little flicker of light about what Jesus was about to do and what he meant about "loving one another, just as I have loved you." Jesus knew he was going to the cross. He loved the disciples so much that he was willing to go to his death to show them and to show us that God's love has no limits, no boundaries, no restrictions! The greatest love you can give is your own life for the sake of others. There isn't anything beyond that , that you can give. It is far more than respecting your neighbor's rights or having warm feelings and affections. It is acting on behalf of another even when it will cost you. For Jesus, it meant costing him his life, because he knew no other way to embody the incredible love of God. This kind of love is to be the distinguishing mark of his disciples, of his followers, you and me.
A few days ago I received a letter from a wonderful colleague and friend. From his many funny and insightful words, these stand out and ring painfully in my heart: "I shall never forget the question asked of me when I arrived for my interview at seminary. 'Mr. Jones, did it ever occur to you that this Church doesn't particularly like you?' I was ordained in Honduras because, although there were several Curacies open in the Diocese of Long Island, at the time none of them would accept a Negro."
The Church's integrity and witness to each other and the world is always hurt and diminished by the hatred and lack of love that marks some Christian words and dealings with one another. It is no easy task for Christians to love one another.
Our reading in Acts condenses into a short, but powerful, story of Peter's revelation to accept Gentiles as followers of Jesus. This was an enormous leap of faith. Jewish prohibitions against the eating of pork and shell fish, as well as the necessity of male circumcision, were ancient laws and rites of passage for faithful Jews. Rigid taboos of who were clean and unclean determined who you could touch, associate and eat with to avoid ritual contamination. Gentiles, especially Samaritans, were the pariahs of their time. The hatred, injustice, and systemic cultural taboos that we know today that are directed at African Americans and now Gay and Lesbians were equally true for Gentiles and Samaritans. But Peter, impulsive, reactive, thick-headed Peter, experienced a new revelation, a cracking open of his heart and soul to hear loud and clear: "to love one another, just as I have loved you."
Many of us here know and remember Fran Speer. He was a member of our Church for over 25 years. He loved the Episcopal Church and St. Paul's in particular. For the most part he came and sat in the pew on Sunday morning. Until he came and sat down with me and said that he felt God calling him to speak out about AIDS. He himself was now battling AIDS. When he went "public" to this congregation, some remarkable things began to happen. He became the chief architect for our Christmas and Easter flower decorations. He accepted an invitation to be on the Altar Guild. And he became an unofficial member of the Episcopal Church Women's association, not exactly a hotbed of radicalism but rather a passionate group of women who threw their arms of love around Fran. When he died, his funeral was attended by the most eclectic group of people in my ministry; from members of the Gay community in Rochester to the Episcopal Church Women of St. Paul's.
When we open up ourselves to the sometimes painful power of the Holy Spirit, remarkable acts of love bind us close together to people who we before had shunned, avoided, and perhaps even hated.
That's what makes this love the distinguishing mark of Jesus' followers.
It is a love that is willing to stand right in the middle of violence, hatred and betrayals with nothing else than our faith in Christ's resurrection. It is a love that believes and trusts that God's love is more powerful than our fears and our overwhelming need to create victims and scapegoats. This is a love that dares to believe: "See, I am making all things new."
Until that day comes, it is the work of the Church, the work of you and me to let our lives be transformed by Christ's love that incomprehensibly knows no limits, no restrictions, and no barriers.
"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Striving to live into this love is the hard work of any Church that follows Jesus. I give thanks to God that this is such a Church!