The St. Paul's Epistle
August, 2005
Contents
Letter from the Associate Rector
Heads Up!!!!
What's Up with the Curate
Back to School!
Church School Staff
Parish Hall Renovation Update
Paul's Place Interfaith Hospitality
Network
For Learners and Teachers Only!
The Many Faces of God: An Interfaith
Encounter
Join the Senior Choir
Shalom Welcomes You!
Mayoral Candidate Forum
Adopt a Kindergarten at School #9
SPY
Thank You
Mendelssohn's Elijah
New "Song of Praise" in September Literature Circles at School #9
Elijah
A Letter from your Treasurer
St. Paul's Youth Choir Program
Back to School Breakfast
Stewardship Committee Newsletter
Dear Members and Friends of St. Paul's:
Summer is truly upon us. As you travel this summer (or whenever), I would appreciate it if you would bring back worship leaflets from the various churches you visit. It is good to see what other churches are doing, and I'm not bashful about borrowing good ideas and adapting them to our particular needs. You may give them to me on a Sunday morning or simply put them in my mail box at Wainwright Hall.
As you are visiting places, people will be visiting us here at St. Paul's. All too often we are uncertain of how to begin a conversation with someone we don't recognize. Here are some simple ways to overcome this:
- Introduce yourself and say, "I don't believe we've met, have we?" This goes a long way toward solving the problem of greeting an unrecognized fellow member and also provides some direction for the conversation.
- If the person is a visitor, ask, "What brings you to our church today?" This may provide some information on how the church may continue to be of service to that person.
- At some point in the conversation, you might want to state in one sentence what you most appreciate about St. Paul's, such as "I really like this church because…"
- Draw their attention to the display racks and the new brochure describing St. Paul's.
- Invite the person to join you for coffee fellowship after the service, and before you leave them, invite them to return for another service or program.
- If it can be done graciously, introduce the visitor to someone who shares a common interest or who can speak to the information gleaned from your conversation.
We're all in the business of welcoming. I hope the above will help you welcome people this summer and throughout the year.
Faithfully,
Thomas McCart
Heads Up!!!!
During Holy Week this year, we mailed a post card to every household in our 14607 zip code inviting people to our Easter Day services. (There are more than 7500 households in our zip code!)
Although it is difficult to determine exactly how many people accepted our invitation, we do know from those who told the clergy at the door that approximately 20 families in our neighborhood did join us that day, several commenting "Thanks for the invitation." We also know that other families joined us for services during Eastertide, because several commented "I couldn't be here for Easter, but I came today."
Encouraged by this response, we will be sending another post card inviting people to our Back to School Breakfast and our wonderful Church School program.
So, on Sunday, September 11, be on the look out for new faces in the congregation, and be prepared to give these folks a wonderful St. Paul's Welcome by greeting them warmly, helping them through the service, inviting them to coffee, encouraging them to complete a visitor's card, handing them a St. Paul's Brochure (in the display racks), and letting them know that there is a place for them at St. Paul's!
What's up with the curate?
Things are starting to hop around here. Barb, Laura and I are putting the finishing touches on plans for a bang-up Church School program year. This year our Back to School Breakfast Sunday will also include a specially designed all church school worship opportunity. I have missed all of you over the summer and am anxious to see you back. I know you have had experiences that will enrich me and your friends here at St. Paul's, and I can't wait for us to share them.
In the SPY corner, Louise Moore and the other SPY advisors have worked diligently along with me to plan meaningful and fun events for our 6th through 12th graders. We will kick off on the evening of September 11 with our first regular meeting of the year, and I will be participating in a special ecumenical service to remember the events of September 11. I hope you will want to come and participate in this special event. More details to follow on that event.
I hope that each of you have had a blessed and refreshing summer. Growing in mind, body and soul, and I look forward to our second year together.
Grace and Peace,
Leslie
Back to School!
Our Church School teachers are a diverse group. Here are some specifics revealed at a recent meeting:
…I am a classically trained double bass player. I have played in over ten different countries and have worked with children on parole, probation and foster care teaching African drumming.
…I have always loved teaching Sunday School and learning about God together.
…I speak Spanish and enjoy watching Spanish soap operas. I will be taking drama and photography in high school this year.
…As an adult, I am a full-time college student.
…This summer our family has been honing their skills in miniature golf, and I have enjoyed reading 1776 by David McCullough and The Arab Mind by Raphael Patai.
…I taught literacy in the Rochester City School District for 35 years.
…I moved here on my own from Oregon almost a year ago, fresh out of college.
Each teacher is enthusiastic about beginning classes this fall:
…I hope students will be able to grow in God and use their faith in real life situations.
…Welcome back! I hope you had a great summer. I look forward to seeing you.
…Jesus loves you! All the time.
…I still feel like I'm a kid myself and as an older sister of six siblings, I can't wait to get to know all the young people.
…Our group needs each of your gifts and talents. Welcome.
…I look forward to a year of sharing and learning. By being together we will grow in faith and life.
Barbara Warner
Church School Staff
| J2A (High School)/ Confirmation |
Erik Warner Donna Nash-Bayley |
|
Rite 13 (Grades 7/8) |
Louise Moore Steve Bewlay |
| Grades 3-6 |
Peter Doyle Jessica Wood Chris Fitzstevens |
|
Godly Play (Grades 1 /2) |
Sandra Stenzel Ashley Torres |
| Godly Play (PK / Kindergarten) |
Sue Hall Tom Milliman |
| Nursery |
Missy McMullen Becky Hall |
| Youth Music Director | Laura Dunbar |
| Minister for Families | Leslie St. Louis |
| Coordinator for Christian Education | Barbara Warner |
Parish Hall Renovation Update
Work on renovating the Parish Hall has been progressing this summer. At the end of July when this article was written demolition has been completed and the Hall is a mess - just as it should be at this phase. Construction, or putting it back together, started August 1. This is a little bit behind schedule as we found a few more pipes that needed to be moved than we had expected. One surprise was finding pipes running to the second floor church school boy's room. The church school boy's room was only partially functional and since we had to replace the pipes we were able to make it fully functional. We take all these surprises as blessings. Other findings included the fact that the front of the stage was originally curved but was straightened out adding steps during some prior work.
We have also been working on kitchen equipment and counters and find that we are able to do more than we originally planned. The plan called for refurbishing the metal stand alone islands. Taking the advice of our kitchen supplier we will be able to replace these units, greatly modernizing the kitchen.
The House Committee has also been hard at work and has identified new chairs and tables. The chairs will have cushioned seats and backs. As soon as the Committee can approve a larger sample of fabric the chairs will be ordered. The Committee looked at many chair options and had ten different samples delivered to Wainwright Hall where the Committee, church staff and anyone walking through tried them out and provided their feedback. The final selection is very comfortable and light weight which is critical for easy set up and storage.
At this point it is estimated that we are about a week behind schedule but Tom McCart is moving full speed ahead with all fall activities. Tom has shared that while he believes in our schedule he is looking into a few contingencies, such as tents for the Back to School Breakfast, just in case. The next several weeks should be very exciting as the renovated Parish Hall starts to take shape. Keep the construction workers, architects, and committee members in your prayers and pray for not too many more surprise blessings.
Bob Frank
Paul's Place Interfaith Hospitality Network
To those of you who have volunteered in the past, we really need your help for the upcoming week of volunteering for Paul's Place Interfaith Hospitality Network. The week runs from Sunday, August 28 through Sunday, September 4 (Gayle's Birthday). Please call us with your availability to do a shift that week. We really need you as the support congregation from the Zen Center has many other events going on in their life that week.
To those of you who are new to St. Paul's church, we are asking for your time to support a great outreach program right within the walls of St. Paul's church. It only takes a few hours of your time to volunteer.
We are part of the Rochester Interfaith Hospitality Network (RIHN) that has 13 faith communities that take turns during the year to host several families that have been temporarily displaced from their homes. This is a great way to keep the families together until they get back on their feet in an apartment or house.
Typically, we have volunteers that prepare meals (up to 14 people), stay with the families during the evening hours and also a team of volunteers that stay in the church overnight and see the guests off in the morning. It's an easy, fun and rewarding outreach project.
We really need some volunteers for all shifts and all days starting Sunday, August 28 through the morning of Sunday, September 4. Please call us at home to find out more or to volunteer for a shift in this great outreach program.
P.S. For volunteering this shift, you'll get a sneak preview of the new Parish Hall renovations!
Faithfully Yours,
Gayle & Doug Hitchcockbr
Home: 586-6389, Cell:734-3352 or 704-3977
For Learners and Teachers Only!
We grow as Christians when we read, question, and share. Plan to grow this fall. Watch for Fall Adult Christian Formation Offerings.
Barbara Warner
The Many Faces of God:
An Interfaith Encounter
The Reverend C. Denise Yarbrough, rector of St. Mark's, Penn Yan, is offering a series of classes and site visits this coming year in Rochester beginning in September. This is an experiential course in world religions and interfaith dialogue in which Christian students have the opportunity to visit places of worship in a variety of major world religious traditions, while engaging Christian theological understanding. All classes will be held at the Inn on Broadway, and there is a registration fee and required readings.
Complete details, including a class schedule, can be found at www.rochesterepiscopaldiocese.com/Leadings.html.
Join the Senior Choir
Come and join the Senior Choir to sing many wonderful and outstanding works. In addition to a rich variety of anthems and canticles, there will be a performance of Mendellsohn's great oratorio Elijah on October 2 at 4:00 p.m., with Derrick Smith in the role of Elijah. Our annual Evensong will be on November 6 at 4:00 p.m. December 11 we will offer a service of Advent Carols and Lessons at 4:00 p.m. and on January 1, 2006, our traditional Christmas Lessons and Carols at the 10:00 a.m. service. In addition, there will be an opportunity to sing Handel's inspiring Messiah with the Rochester Chamber Orchestra on December 4, and then our annual Spring Concert on May 7. Come and sing joyfully and bring your friends who also sing.
David Fetler
Shalom Welcomes You!
SHALOM, St. Paul's group for families, cordially invites all members of St. Paul's who have school-age or preschool children to attend a Shalom gathering during the upcoming program year. Shalom is a friendly gathering of St. Paul's families that provides social and spiritual support for the Christian family life. Fellowship gatherings are typically held once a month during the church school year, and feature a simple shared meal (usually pizza or potluck), followed by supervised programs for youth, and a discussion and fellowship hour for adults.
At Shalom, you and your kids will have fun, enjoy Christian and family themed discussions and activities, and form friendships and relationships that can strengthen you in both your church and personal lives. Shalom is not a committee or guild and has no formal membership, so you do not have to "join" it. Events are open to all! Just watch the Epistle, Sunday morning announcements, or the Shalom page on the St. Paul's Web site for information about Shalom gatherings, and then show up and discover the Shalom experience! Our first event of this fall will be a planning meeting held in early September, and our first fellowship gathering will take place in early October.
Shalom coordinators for the 2005-2006 program year are Nancy Curtis (nancyecurtis@yahoo.com or 218-4236) and Angie Jones (ahr25@cornell.edu or 442-8177). Please contact us if you have any questions, and we hope to see you at Shalom soon!
Nancy Curtis
Mayoral Candidate Forum
Third Presbyterian Church, 4 Meigs Street, Rochester, is hosting a Mayoral Candidate Forum on Sunday, August 21 at 7 p.m. This forum will offer the opportunity to hear from the three primary candidates and to discuss with them a wide range of issues, including those that might hold particular importance for the faith community. For further information call 271-6513.
Adopt a Kindergarten at School #9
Learning is fun in kindergarten. Do you enjoy imaginative storytelling? Do you like reading out loud, counting little plastic bears and playing memory games? Can you have a good laugh when a five year old wins?
If so, please consider giving an hour a week between mid-October and mid-May to ensure that every kindergartener at Martin Luther King School #9 receives individual attention from a caring adult who helps build academic and social skills.
You can select a convenient time and know that you'll always have a child to work with when you arrive at your assigned classroom. We are fortunate that an anonymous donor has provided funding for training, educational materials and books used by the tutors, Christmas and graduation gifts (books) for each child, and sheet cakes for each classroom's graduation party.
However, all the funding in the world cannot replace the human connection. and that's where you are so important. Interested? Please contact Liz Cook at 442-0492 or cookliz314@aol.com.
SPY
Calling all St. Paul's Youth (Grade 6-9). Mark your calendars!! Spy begins the evening of September 11. This year's focus is mission work, fellowship and fun. Get your spy packet at the Back to School Breakfast.
Thank you
A sincere and heartfelt thank you to Mary Gulick and Laura Fleming for the gift of their time. Both volunteered to drive Monica, Susan Deng & Victoria Deng to the Harley School for the summer program.
ELIJAH
St. Paul's Choir
Festival Singers & Orchestra
DAVID FETLER, Conductor
DERRICK SMITH, Elijah
Nancy Curtis, Soprano
Holly Bewlay, Soprano
Pamela Terry, Alto
Jessica Best, Alto
Olivia Moore, Youth
Grady Bailey, Tenor
Bernard Holcomb, Tenor
Christopher Moore, Baritone
Sunday, October 2, 2005
4:00 p.m.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
(Corner East Avenue & Westminster Rd.)
Suggested donation - $10
Students - $5
Families - $25
Call 271-2240
New "Song of Praise" in September
From September 11 to November 20 we will be singing a Song of Praise in our Hymnal that we have not done before. It is the Gloria in excelsis, S-278 in the front part of the Hymnal, composed by William Mathias. One of the most significant Welsh composers of the 20th century, William Mathias has an international reputation for outstanding instrumental as well as sacred choral music, and one can find some Celtic influences in his music. We will be rehearsing this new music before the opening Processional Hymn on September 11 and 18. This is a continuation of our goal to expand our musical horizon. "Sing unto the Lord a new song."
David Fetler
Literature Circles at School #9
For the past two years volunteers have met twice a week to lead literature discussion groups for twelve 5th grade students. The children are all avid readers who had been identified by their teachers as needing reading enrichment. The staff Language Arts coordinator selected the books and provided study guides.
Discussion topics ranged from surviving as a prisoner of war to weather systems that contributed to the Great Depression to comparing business communication with other forms of writing. The facilitators developed vocabulary exercises, gave writing assignments and even taught the kids how to read a newspaper.
In May we hosted a picnic. The children surprised us with a cake, roses and lovely thank you notes. We took turns telling the children how much we appreciated the opportunity to work with them. and then we asked for feedback.
They asked for more books, longer books and extended time for the book clubs. They told us they enjoyed hearing stories from the volunteers' experiences and that those stories helped them understand more about the times and places where the stories took place.
After the party we began to think about ways we could keep the kids reading over the summer. and finally came up with the idea of giving the children a magazine subscription. We are grateful to the Antiques Show committee for voting to provide money for a magazine subscription to "Ranger Rick" for each child in this year's group and to make sure that we can continue to host a party and provide magazines for the groups next year. Thank you to everyone who supported the Antiques Show for giving these children a reward for being "bookworms".
PS If you'd like to find out more about this program, please contact Liz Cook at 442-0492 or cookliz314@aol.com.
Literature Circle Volunteers: Carol Panzer, Kim Salisbury, Yvette Smothers, Nicki Doolittle, Chick Plummer, Russ Stratton, Liz Cook and Jean Lang
Elijah
Additional singers and instrumentalists will join St. Paul's Choir in the presentation of Mendelssohn's great oratorio Elijah on Sunday, October 2 at 4:00 p.m. in our sanctuary. Some dozen members of Rochester's Festival Singers will take part, as well as instrumentalists from the Eastman School of Music. Derrick Smith will sing the important role of Elijah. Other soloists are sopranos Nancy Curtis and Holly Bewlay, altos Pamela Terry and Jessica Best, tenors Grady Bailey and Bernard Holcomb, the Youth, Olivia Moore, and baritone Christopher Moore.
Due to the many forces needed for this presentation of Elijah, and the expenses involved, there will be a suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for students, and $25 for families. We would also be grateful to those who could make a $50 contribution or a $100 patron for this special event. It is a real treat for us to be able to offer this inspiring oratorio to our parish and to the greater Rochester community. Call 271-2240 for further information.
David Fetler
A letter from your Treasurer
The Summer months always bring a special challenge in managing the Church's cash flow. Because so many of us are enjoying well-deserved vacations, often away from Rochester and Church, the Church's income ebbs fairly significantly every Summer. Expenses, however, as you might expect, continue at regular year-round rates. I am asking you to consider continuing your generous giving through the Summer months if you are able. Thank you for your assistance!
Emily Wood, Treasure
ST. PAUL'S YOUTH CHOIR PROGRAM
The youth choir program at St. Paul's provides the opportunity for youth to meet new friends, and learn about the importance and function of music within our liturgy. The two youth choirs sing a wide variety of music throughout the year, and participate in many services, feast days, concerts, and special occasions.
Alleluia Choir
- 3rd - 8th graders
- Rehearses: Wednesdays 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Music: unison, 2-part, and 3-part singing
- Soprano and Alto
Youth Choir
- 9th - 12th graders
- Rehearses: Sundays 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
- Music: 2-part, 3-part, and 4-part singing
- Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass
Each choir sings in a Sunday service once per month. There are special events for the choirs to participate in, as well.
Program Highlights
- November Youth Service
- Celebration of gathering together for Thanksgiving
- Christmas Pageant
- Intergenerational - involving choirs, church school, and adults
- Christmas Eve Services
- Youth Evensong Service sung in February or March
- Easter Services
- Cross of Flowers Service
- Spring Concert
- Youth Recognition Sunday
- Celebration of youth commitment to St. Paul's programs
Any and ALL youth are invited to join the youth choir program! The program year begins September 11 and runs through June. A commitment to participating in this program is well worth the chance for youth to build community, learn about the history/practices of music within our liturgy, and increase knowledge and skill within the arts.
For further information about the Youth Choir Program, please contact me.
Laura Dunbar, Director.
Back to School
Breakfast
Sunday, September 11
Breakfast Served 8:45-9:30
Classes Begin At 9:40
Stewardship Committee Newsletter
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
A Journey of Giving
Each year one of the many tasks the Stewardship Committee takes on is to originate a new theme - to come up with a few words that best inspires our mission of reaching out to each person at St. Paul's. The committee generally feels that the previous year's theme was excellent and can't imagine surpassing it. Then our leader sets us straight. Over the past couple of years themes have included "Lift High the Cross", which had a wonderful hymn, and "by grace we live, by love we give" that brought everything together. During theme deliberations, the committee seemed to center on pathways and journeys, deriving at this year's theme of "A Journey of Giving." The words are simple, yet transcend through the Stewardship Committee, St. Paul's, Christianity and each one of us personally.
The Stewardship Committee is on a course of changing the way we approach our annual campaign and reaching out to each person affiliated with St. Paul's. We have brought in Pam Klainer to educate us about literal and spiritual sides of money. She is also helping guide us through stewardship approaches. We have enabled a large base of stewards for outreach. We hope to expand this program each year by adding to our base as well as reaching out during the whole year and not just the fall campaign.
Along with the theme, a stewardship logo was designed and created by Paul Berezney. An arched window surrounds the focal point of the cross with lines of perspective leading to it. Aspects of St. Paul's and journeys to the cross are simply and powerfully revealed in this logo. Our journey in Christianity leads us to be giving in all aspects. Christ's life was an incredible journey of loving, teaching and giving in every way, including giving of his own life so that we may live.
A couple of committee members have shared their personal reflection about our new theme:
"I was not raised in a church-going family, so I did not understand the term "Stewardship." Naively, I figured that it was just church-speak for fund-raising. After all, we refer to a "hallway" as an "ambulatory;" could this be so different? As my own journey of faith has progressed, I continue to be amazed at how truly different Stewardship is from fund-raising. Our annual Stewardship pledge is more than a tangible sign of our personal relationship between our family and our church, but also a pledge to our church community. The communal aspect of stewardship reveals our faith in our church ministries and the members who selflessly give of their own time and energies to make these ministries successful. It is for both of these relationships, the personal and the communal, that we increase our pledge each year on our journey toward tithing."
Angie Jones
"Whether we realize it or not, most of us are on a journey of giving or being good stewards. Some are just starting and others have progressed down the path of generosity, usually with maturity. I will share some of my steps. My spiritual/giving background includes being raised in a large family in the rural Southern Tier and attending "relatively poor" protestant churches that struggled to keep their doors open if not for the larger church organization. The congregation was abundant with good hearts full of time and talent, but their treasure reflected rural living and their difficulty to support the church, pastor and a part-time organist. There was no stewardship campaign or pledge and the underlying theme was to give with your heart - any dollar is welcome. In the big city of Rochester, my employer reviewed everyone's responsibility to the community as I embraced the United Way's Fair Share Program. As I raise a disabled child, I continually receive gracious generosity from Strong Hospital and Mary Cariola Children's Center. I obviously patronize those wonderful organizations. I've attended churches with envelopes, but St. Paul's was the first church asking for a pledge. Wanting to become a part of the St. Paul's community for my own spirituality and family, I gladly pledged. "Of course, once at St. Paul's, you are asked to participate (not just sit idly in the pews) and joining the Stewardship Committee was not what I expected, let alone knowing what they actually did. The committee has developed me into a better Christian and moved me further in my own "journey". I realize how the wonderful ministries at St. Paul's encompass the people, the community and the world. Pledging to St. Paul's not only keeps the doors open, but supports the ministries whose gracious volunteers create a better world. I now understand that a weekly offering is more than any spare dollars I have in my wallet. As I accumulate life experiences in the "giving realm," each pledge or charity is met with reflection. Pledging to St. Paul's is more than supporting literal means, but also loving God through our first fruits. "My perspective is that everyone is on their own journey of giving. Some of us are in the early stages and some are happily tithing their way. It is important that we are all on this giving journey in both our hearts and wallets; that our journey isn't stationary and we continue to grow and give."Duane Swanson
Stewardship Satire
Two men were shipwrecked on an a deserted island. The one immediately began panicking: "No food, no water, no shelter! We're going to die."
The second guy just shook his head. "Calm down. God is with us. We'll be rescued soon."
"How can you be so sure?" the first replied.
"Well, I'm a CEO who makes $15 million a year, and I tithe to my church. Believe me, the stewardship and finance committees will find me!"
Important Dates for Stewardship Callers
As mentioned numerous times, St. Paul's has a Stewardship base that calls on the congregation in the fall campaign. These are the important dates:
- New Caller Training: Thursday, September 8th, 7 - 9pm AND Saturday September 10th, 9am - 12pm
- Refresher Class: Thursday, October 6th, 7-9pm OR Saturday October 8th, 9am - 11am
STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
Barry Brown & Angie Jones Co-Chairs
Henry Couch, Chris Curtis, Griffin Jones, Bill McCoy, Donna Suchy, Duane Swanson, Mary Ellen West, John Wilson