The St. Paul's Epistle
June 16-31, 2003
In Memory of
George Leader
and
Ruth Harter
Contents
Letter From the Ven. Peter Yuang Mac
Onward David Craighead
Wedding Blessings
ECW News
Covenant Agreement
Graduating Seniors
Episcopal Relief and Development Update
New York City through and African Eye
Dear Fred/Members of St. Paul's.
Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Bishop Nathaniel and I are currently visiting in the Diocese of Los Angeles after having been blessed by our participation in the New Wineskins mission conference. From here we will visit both the Diocese of San Joaquin and the Diocese of San Diego before returning to Nashville, Tennessee and then on to the Diocese of Indianapolis. We have quite thoroughly enjoyed good visits and continue to be in good health.
This letter comes to you as an expression of our gratitude. We want to thank you for our time with you; we are certainly blessed by your support of the Sudanese among you and for your prayers and hospitality for us. We look forward to a continuing relationship with you and hope that we can in one way or the other reciprocate your kindness and hospitality when you or members of your diocese visit us in Sudan.
As the peace talks in Kenya continue, our greatest need continues to be advocacy. Last month, the United Nations Human Rights Commission failed to pass resolution L35, which keep Sudan as an "item No. 9," one with serious human rights problems. Hence, Khartoum with its appalling Human Rights records has been rehabilitated in Geneva. The Sudan Peace Act, passed by Congress last October, is now the only viable instrument to encourage a quick and just peace in Sudan. Please consider petitioning President Bush to maintain pressure on both parties for a quick and just settlement. We as Christians in the Sudan cannot over-emphasize how important your support is, as brothers and sisters in Christ, to the cause of peace and justice in our beloved country of Sudan.
Faithfully yours,
The Ven. Peter Yuang Mac
Diocesan Administrative Secretary of Bor and
Archdeacon of Baidit Archdeaconry
Onward David Craighead
Onward David Craighead, to a brand new life,
Time to smell the flowers, free from care and strife.
We're happy you won't leave St. Paul's, we need your friendly smile.
We need your gentle wisdom whenever we get riled.
Forty-eight years you've played for us, Sundays faithfully,
Preludes, hymns and postludes in perfect harmony
That we seek together, harmony in life.
With joy and gratitude, St. Paul's family gathered on May 18, following the ten o'clock service, to celebrate the gifts and talents of David Craighead. Fellowship, laughter and warmth filled the Parish Hall. Sue Grinnell, our gracious emcee, introduced the program. Children and adults sang, with music by the masters and words written for the occasion by talented parishioners. Fred read several tributes to David and then presented him with a book filled with the tributes and memories.
It was a joyous day!
It was a privilege and a rewarding experience to work with the energetic, dedicated and talented volunteers who served on the reception committee. A huge thank you to the hardworking team of Marylu Andrews, Mary Critikos, David Fetler, Peg Fitter, Bonnie Martin, Carol Panzer, Patricia and Elizabeth Tice. Special thanks also to:
- Grace Wong, Susan Dow, Fran Speer, John Bevier, Elmer Cheney and Stan Refermat for their valuable contributions.
- All who provided the delicious tea sandwiches and eighth-note cookies.
- The Senior Choir participants.
- Laura Dunbar and the Youth Choirs.
- The Church School Staff and parents for their wonderful cooperation.
- Rita Coulter, Abby Hartman, Lisa Hubbard, Tom Lincoln and Wayne Reinert for their ever-ready, cheerful assistance.
The joy we shared is increased by David's reassurance that he will remain an active, involved member of our parish family. Alleluia!
Anne Refermat
Blessings on the Marriages of
Cynthia Behrent and Michael Liess
June 7, 2003
Robin McKnight and Jonathan Reuter
June 14, 2003
ECW News
The Episcopal Church Women proudly announce their officers for the coming year: Susan Dow, President; Nancy Kleintop, Vice President for Programs; Mary Critikos and Fran Speer, Co-Vice Presidents for Lunches; Recording Secretary, Dorothy Phillips; Corresponding Secretary, Marylu Andrews; Treasurer, Gwen Cheney; and Assistant Treasurer, Margaret Kaiser.
ECW will meet one final time this month, on Thursday, June 19th, 11:00 a.m., for a potluck picnic at the home of Susan Dow, 216 Whistle Stop, Pittsford. Call the church office to make a reservation.
The ECW heartily welcomes all parishioners to attend their meetings and activities. A pamphlet outlining next year's programming will be published and mailed in late summer.
Covenant Agreement
On June 8, 2003 Bishop McKelvey signed 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.
Graduating Seniors
My name is Henrik Soderstrom. I'll be graduating from the
Harley School this month. I've enjoyed studying AP Biology, English and
Art, as well as creative writing, jazz band, a cappella chorus and
debate team! I am looking forward to spending two weeks in Scotland as
part of the Harley Scottish Exchange, before which my jazz quartet
hopes to record a CD. I was blessed and thrilled to be accepted to
Rhode Island School of Design. I plan to defer my entrance for a year
to study fine arts in Sweden while staying with my Swedish aunt. After
finishing at RISD, if it's the direction in which God continues to lead
me, I hope to be able to support myself in a career in the visual arts.
Suzanne Reynolds graduates from Brighton High School on
June 24. While at Brighton, Suzanne participated in Varsity Basketball
and Tennis, the Morning Show News and Mountain Bound camping week. She
will attend the Business and Economic School of Lehigh University in
the fall.
Episcopal Relief and Development Update
Many thanks to all of you who donated to the Episcopal Relief and Development fund on our March 30 ingathering. This year you contributed a generous total of $1,589! I am greatly encouraged that so many people will continue to give in this time of economic uncertainty, and with so many demands for our resources coming from all sides. St. Paul's is a wonderful family, and I am grateful for all of you.
In the 2 months since our collection, ERD has been busy. In April and May, relief efforts in Iraq have continued, including delivering tents, food, medicine and supplies to Iraqi people displaced by the war. ERD is working in partnership with the Mideast Council of Churches to continue to assess needs and provide assistance. In Sri Lanka, ERD is providing shelter, food, clothing and medicine to victims of devastating storms. In Algeria, ERD is in contact with the Episcopal Diocese to determine what may be needed for earthquake relief. And closer to home, ERD is in contact with the Dioceses of Kansas, West Missouri, West Tennessee, and Springfield (IL).
Each diocese is still assessing the situation in their areas to determine their most crucial humanitarian needs. I will continue to keep you informed about the efforts of ERD, how your contributions are used and how you can help. You can find out more by visiting www.er-d.org. May God's grace be with you all.
Linda Workman
New York City through an African Eye
It was Monday, May 12, when Nancy Frank and I took a train from New Jersey to New York City / Penn. Station. We walked to the Episcopal Church Center, which was our main purpose of travelling to one of the biggest cities on the planet. The Worldview here is very different. The snow cultural experience from Rochester city was nothing compared to another experience in the Big Apple where every space from the ground to the sky is congested. Everybody is serious, tense and focused. It becomes even hard to ask for a direction in case one is lost since the atmosphere is "composed" and everyone looks like a stranger. This is where the booklet which is known as NY Guide Map becomes very important from the pocket to the hand and straight to the mind. My background is different from this experience since the land and directions from one destination to another is flat like Lake Ontario or a clear sky with no clouds and you can see far as the strength of your sight. Yes, this is man come of age! He is in the process of becoming and being!
In the afternoon we decided to visit the United Nations
Headquarters. After the normal screening, like going through the
immigration security routine, we were told by the information desk
personnel to wait for the Tour Guide who arrived after 10 minutes.
After she introduced herself to our tour group of about 15 people, we
were guided first to the Security Council Chambers and then to the
other Chambers. There were also other groups each with a Tour Guide. We
were privileged in our group to have a Guide who is well-versed in UN
affairs. Every Chamber has its uniqueness and significance in the light
of global mission of peace and coexistence, promotion of human and
social development and, among others, concerns for the preservation of
the Ozone Layer and the need of protecting the environment. In almost
every strategic public place there are different pictures, drawings and
historical texts with strong symbolism and relevant messages that are
meant to help us all to relate to one another as sons and daughters of
one family.
In your prayer list, pray for the UN affairs and the wisdom and God's Guidance and Protection upon the personnel in this very important institution.
On Tuesday, May 13, we visited America's Gateway: the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, the Statue of Liberty National Monument, and then, from the Islands, back to visit Trinity Church, St. Paul's and Ground Zero: the former site of the World Trade Center. Each site, picture, symbol, statue and the listed names of the Great Heroes, our brothers and sisters of the regrettable 9/11, has a living testimony especially remembering the good will of men and women: the volunteers who offered their services at St. Paul's Chapel can be summarized in an African proverb which says: "A single hand [of a person ] cannot cover the sky," which means it will take many hands to accomplish a given task. That is, collective responsibility and mutual help lead to the accomplishment of difficult tasks. The Church is the Body of Christ with many different parts which function together to make the whole body organs alive and active. St. Paul's Rochester is that One Body and in Christ we are all interdependent.
At the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, which symbolizes the America's Gateway, we saw pictures, writings and historical texts, and diverse antiquity. I was overwhelmed to stand next to the Statue Family Tree, green in color, [in my culture green is a sign of Peace]. The family tree is a symbol of all the different nationalities, races, languages and colors of the World. It's the picture of native languages in the Day of Pentecost [Acts:2 ]. The Immigration was also like the Exodus story from the land of bondage to the promised land.
The genealogy of the family tree is like an African proverb which says: "The family tree is not cut". It means all families are families, but we are looking for the one whose members are clustered like a bunch of Palm nuts. That is, we are all One family which is closely knit together and whose members relate to each other intimately. We are all clustered together like the palm fruits in a bunch of palm nuts, and hence such family members are inseparable. The proverb is a reminder that we are closely knit together in the family tree because we all come from the same heritage. Our ever-living dynamic symbol is the sharing of One Cup and One Bread.
The Rev Michael Lolwerikoi