The St. Paul's Epistle
June 16, 2006
Contents
Dear Members and Friends of St. Paul's
Welcome to St. Paul's
Trinity Church, Pass Christian, MS
Summer Read
Jillian Jacobs - Graduating Senior
St. Paul's at Park Avenue Festival
SPY Corner
The Hope of Sudan
Sudanese and Refugee Resettlement Ministry
Dear Members and Friends of St. Paul's:
David Fetler enters his 51st year this month as Choir Master here at St. Paul's. For over half a century David has glorified God through his gifts of composing and conducting great music. He has helped shape the classical and sacred music culture not only at St. Paul's, but at Hochstein and the Rochester Chamber Orchestra. David has discovered and mentored some of the finest musicians in Rochester.
We here at St. Paul's will take this next year to honor and give thanks to David for his remarkable ministry of music. In May of 2007 the family of St. Paul's will have a grand celebration for David at our 10 a.m. Sunday service. Then, in early June, we will invite the Rochester community to join us for a special concert of choral music. More details will follow in early 2007. We also hope to continue guest musicians playing the preludes and postludes on Sunday's at the 10 a.m. services in honor of David.
As David will retire in June 2007, I have asked Ted Curtis to be chair of the Parish Musician Search Committee, and he has graciously accepted. A committee of about seven people will be assembled over the next several weeks to start their work over the summer.
We have a great musical tradition at St. Paul's. David Fetler has been a major building block of this tradition. It will be a privilege to say "Thank you, David!" over this next year.
Faithfully yours,
The Rev. Frederic W. Reynolds, Rector
We welcome into the body of Christ at St. Paul's
Church:
Confirmation:
Maia Fitzstevens,
Olivia Alexandra Moore &
William Andrew Stahl
Reception:
Mary Ann Coleman &
Guinevere Marie Mott Scibienski
Reaffirmation:
Michael Chase Scibienski
Trinity Church, Pass Christian, MS
As St. Paul's liaison with Trinity, I visited their parish May 2 - May 4. I met their rector, Chris Colby, Mike Smith (Jr. Warden), Pam Freeman (Secretary), Jeremy Blauvelt (Youth Minister), Thomas C. Shellnut (Treasurer), and several other members of Trinity.
While it was wonderful to finally meet the people with whom I had been communicating via telephone and e-mail for several months, it was also very sad to see the ruins of a once beautiful coast and pleasant village. The devastation is evident all along the 26 miles of Mississippi's Gulf Coast, and much of Pass Christian is like a ghost town. There are blocks and blocks of streets where homes are gone - the only signs of their previous existence are the remaining concrete foundations and driveways.
Where once green grass and gardens grew, salty sand and crushed shells, delivered by 30 foot Gulf surges, now cover empty lots. At the east end of town there are some old, stately homes that were spared from much or any damage whose owners are lucky to be living comfortably, but the rest of the few remaining residents live and work in FEMA trailers.
Pass Christian's business district buildings are either demolished or boarded up, and basic service organizations - city hall, police department, public library, veterinary, animal shelter, and bank branches - are now residing in trailers. A make-shift public shower and a laundromat (unpainted plywood on cinderblock pilings) have been installed next to a "tent neighborhood." The hardware store is the one and only business back in a restored building. The elementary and middle schools are gone. The high school's first floor was destroyed while the second floor remained intact and so there is hope that the high school will be repaired in time for classes in September. In the meantime, all of Pass Christian's students are taking classes in trailers on the property of the DeLisle Elementary School north of Pass Christian.
Now that most of the debris has been removed, many of the visiting relief workers are gone or will be leaving soon. As you can imagine, it is very quiet in Pass Christian. Amidst all of this disheartening devastation rises the (somewhat) repaired chapel of Trinity Church, its rooftop cross, symbol of hope, unscathed by the hurricanes. Down below, however, the two adjacent church buildings (which housed the offices, parish hall, parlor, choir and school rooms), along with their contents, are gone except for the pilings and some floors. Church business is now conducted in a trailer that has electricity, but no plumbing.
On Tuesday, May 2, I met with Chris and Thomas Shellnut and gave them the UMO check. They were very grateful to receive our gift of $7,500.
Chris was also delighted with our Trinity Album and the beautifull uplifting artwork created by our church school children. He remarked that we were the only church to have done such a thing - now he and Pam want to make an album of Trinitarians, to commemorate their people and their good works. Chris was also very moved by our many letters of condolences, prayers and good wishes. (The following weekend Chris shared all of these at their vestry retreat). Tuesday afternoon Pam gave me a guided tour of Pass Christian, including the sites where her, her father's, and her mother's houses used to be.
On Wednesday, I visited with Jeremy and other parishioners in the church trailer-office, put the bookplates in the 52 Books of Common Prayer that we gave Trinity and took more photographs.
On Thursday, May 4, I met with Mike Smith (whom Chris has asked to be Trinity's liaison with us) to discuss future projects to provide assistance and develop fellowship between our parishes. Mike said that the experience of receiving so much help, support and love from so many people from across America has been "humbling" and that, for now, what they need more than material help is spiritual support. I will be working with Mike to figure out how we may do this beyond our next step which is to incorporate prayers specifically for Trinity in our Prayers of the People each Sunday. In the meantime, in 2 - 3 months, they are hoping to commence rebuilding their church, symbolically beginning with the bell tower.
On October 8, I will present a Sunday Forum covering my trip and future programs planned in conjunction with Trinity. In the meantime, please visit the display in the parish hall and take the time to look at the photographs of Trinity's parish. We ask that you continue to pray for all who have suffered and lost so much, for all who on a daily basis bravely labor to restore their community, and for the many who have had to leave their beloved homes and village forever.
Ayanna Hofmann
Return to contents...Summer Read
Need a summer project that doesn't involve gardening, soccer, or cleaning? Join Leslie St. Louis in reading Love: A Guide for Prayer to find a deeper place for prayer in your own life. Our practice will involve short daily readings with meetings once a week to share their meaning in our lives. We will meet on Mondays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. beginning on June 19. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your spiritual journey with others at St. Paul's. It's summer; feel free to attend as many sessions as you can. Love: A Guide for Prayer by Jacqueline Bergan and S. Marie Schwan. ISBN 1-59325-032-0. Available at The Good Book Store. Specific Meeting Dates: 6/19, 6/26, 7/10,7/17,7/24 and 7/31. Questions: Contact Nancy Grear: 262-3925 or ncgrear@frontiernet.net
Jillian Jacobs - Graduating Senior
For the past four years of my life I have devoted my time to family, friends, school work, sports, and work. In school I took an interest in social studies, and I tried to take as many courses as I could in that department. I enjoyed English as well because I love to read. I spent 3 years on the Fairport Crew team and was elected the Varsity Girl's team captain for the fall 2006 season. I also currently work at the YMCA teaching swim lessons and life guarding.
Next year I am planning on going to Syracuse University, and I have yet to decide what I want to do. I am either going to do a double major in political science and international relations or I am going to major in pre-law. Ultimately I would like to become a lawyer, a senator, or an ambassador. As for sports I'm sure that I will join a club team so that I can stay in shape and make some new friends in the process. I'm looking forward to the college experience but I am sure I will miss my family and friends in Rochester.
St. Paul's at Park Avenue Festival
This year St. Paul's will have a presence at the Park Avenue Festival, August 5 and 6. If you would like to participate, please call George Kittredge 385-2412 or John Bevier 389-1931. Be on the look-out for details in the next Epistle!
New Member Ministries Commission
SPY Corner
Pool Party at the Moore's
June 25
Come for lunch and spend the afternoon at the pool! We will meet at the Moore's (60 Valewood Run, off of Baird Road) at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 25. Bring your swimsuit and a towel. Pick up is at 3 p.m. SPY parents and siblings are welcome to join us!
Please RSVP to Laura Hayden
(383-8808 or email)
SPY at Camp Cory
THE HOPE OF SUDAN
The Hope of Sudan is a non-profit, Rochester-based ministry originating at St. Paul's, that financially supports educational opportunities for the Young Men of Sudan (aka Lost Boys) through grants, campaigns, and fund-raising projects.
These Young Men were forced from their villages as young boys and lived most of their formative years as orphans in refugee camps. Their HOPE in coming to America is to receive an education and build lives that bring hope to their country and their families.
Each year, 10% of all non-designated contributions will be pledged to help further educational outreach within Sudan. The United Nations has declared the Sudan the most devastated place on earth, with illiteracy rates now running over 90% due to three generations of continuous war and displacement.
The educational charter of the foundation is to provide not only scholarships to the young men, but to coordinate local volunteer efforts to serve as mentors, tutors, and life guides.
Volunteers are always much needed and greatly appreciated.
Three of our Community College Graduates who are now in 4 year Schools: Left to right: Deng Agoth, RIT; David Garang, Niagara; William Riak, Geneseo
For more information, or to become involved, contact Ann Marie and Jerry DeLuccio at 585-582-2648 or by e-mail.
Sunanese and Refugee
Resettlement Ministry
The Lost Boy ministry extends our efforts to help refugee families being located in Rochester. This ministry is highly integrated with other church organizations and social agencies within the community.
Volunteers assist these families to assimilate into society here in America. This support is offered throughout the entire cycle of resettlement.
The early stages include assisting families with safe and affordable housing, transportation to appointments, and orientation regarding issues such as procuring food, understanding sanitation, and finding jobs.
Later stages involves life style coaching and mentoring in terms of education, skill development, financial planning and overall growth within our society.
Sudanese Family participating in family events with volunteers and friends
For more information, or to become involved, contact Ann Marie and Jerry DeLuccio at 585-582-2648 or by e-mail.