The St. Paul's Epistle
September 16, 2006
Contents
Dear Members and Friends of St. Paul's
Welcome New Members!
Visitors & Newcomers
Church School 2006 - 2007
Fred Reynlods
Cruise the Genesee With SPY
Iraq... Stay or Go?
Race & Reconciliation, Inc.
SPY Corner
Seventeenth Century Baroque Organ
The Story of American Art Pottery
Dear Members and Friends of St. Paul's
In his last note from these pages, Fred Reynolds spoke of the mixture of pain, pride and gratitude he feels at being a priest in this church in this time. It is indeed an interesting, and oft times difficult, place to be these days, not only as a clergy person but also as a Christian.
I remember, still with tears, the meeting I had with my mentors at the Cathedral in Albuquerque, as they told me that they had no doubt as to my call to Holy Orders but that they also had no doubt that, as a female, I would not make it through the process successfully in that diocese. The choices were but two: go to seminary without benefit of a bishop or forgo my call to ordained ministry. The tears flowed. I remember as well the meeting I had with a rector in Tennessee as I searched for my first position. As we walked and talked the tension mounted, his discomfort written all over his face. Finally, he mustered the strength to tell me that, although he saw my gifts, he could not call a woman as our ordination was an abomination. I remember how the consecration of Gene Robinson split my seminary class in two. Those who had studied together, prayed together and played together now pitted one against the other on opposite sides of an issue so deep that neither could see the other's side. I could go on. The stories of pain and heartache are endless, be they stories about the ordination of women, sexuality, female presiding bishops, race, etc.
This pain, however, is not new. It is a very real and ever present part of our journey as God's people. The scriptures, both Old and New Testament, are full of stories of God's intervening grace in the midst of very real human pain. In the Gospel lesson for September 10 we heard the story of the Syrophoenician woman. You will recall she comes to Jesus asking for her daughter to be healed of a demon. At first, as if forgetting momentarily that God's grace is for all, Jesus tells her no. But she persists, reminding Jesus that even the dogs receive the scraps from the table. And with that the argument is lost. Jesus recognizes her faith. That faith, along with God's grace, heals her daughter of the demon.
These may be painful times, but in the midst of these times God's grace abounds. It comes among us to heal us, to lead us and to change us. I do not know exactly what that means, what that looks like or how it happens. But I recognize it, when it happens, as God's existence with God's people. I recognize that in the midst of turmoil and pain grace happens!
The Rev. Leslie M. St. Louis
Welcome New Members!
Please join me in welcoming Rita Lancy, Betsey King and Gary Scott to St. Paul's. Betsey comes to us from First United Methodist Church in Dallas, TX, Rita has enrolled her baptism here at St. Paul's and Gary transferred his membership from Epiphany, Gates. Welcome them by introducing yourself to them soon!
Visitors & Newcomers
You are warmly invited to bring your questions about St. Paul's and the Episcopal Church to the "Visitor's Corner" following the 10 a.m. service on the first Sunday of each month, beginning October 1. This gathering meets in the East Room (see the map in the Sunday Notices). This is a wonderful opportunity for you to come to know more about us and for us to come to know you. See you then!
Church School Classes 2006-2007
Nursery: Babies and toddlers are welcome in the nursery rooms at the top of the stairs at the East Avenue side of the Parish Hall beginning at 9 a.m. Teachers are Missy McMullen and Becky Hall.
Primary Classes: As children participate in Godly Play with movable figures and props, Bible stories, parables, and lessons about religious traditions come to life. Godly Play supports children as they grow in belief and faith and take part in the worship and life of the congregation.
3 & 4 year olds and Kindergarten: meet upstairs in the Church School wing, on the left at the end of the corridor. Teachers are Sue Hall and Tom Milliman.
Grades 1 & 2 meet upstairs in the Church School wing, the first room on the left. Teachers are Sandra Stenzel and Ashley Torres.
Intermediate Grades: The focus for this group is the lectionary, the Bible lessons for the day. Through discussion, art, drama, and games, students have the opportunity to grow in faith and fellowship as increase their understanding of the Bible and the Church year.
Grades 3, 4 & 5 meet upstairs in the Church School wing in the room to the right at the top of the stairs (in the back of the Primary Chapel). Teachers are Peter Doyle, Chris Fitzstevens, and Jessica Wood.
Middle School: Pre-teens look toward the freedoms and responsibilities of growing up. They incorporate the lessons of the lectionary, prayers, and rituals of the church to investigate how their faith and community support their increasing maturity. Rite 13 celebrates these young people in their transformation into young men and women.
Grades 6, 7 and 8 meet in the Church School wing in the first classroom on the right. Teachers are Louise Moore and Karley Rous.
Confirmation Class: Young people explore issues of faith, present and past; the message of Christ, the ways of the Episcopal Church and find ways that they can support their church and community. Preparation for Confirmation is a continuation of the life-long search to discover the meaning of Christian commitment and explore ways to live out this commitment.
Potential Confirmands meet in the Church School wing in the last room on the right. Teachers are Nancy Kleintop and Tim Davis.
High School: Students gather to move forward on their journey to adulthood. They look at the advantages of conscientiously making choices that impact on themselves and others. They ask and seek answers about applying their faith to their lives.
High School students meet in the library in the Parish Hall. Teachers are Donna Nash-Bayley and Erik Warner.
Teachers are in their classrooms by 9:30 a.m. ready and enthusiastic - please welcome them on time so that classes can get started promptly at 9:40. If you would like a calendar of activities for this semester or have comments and questions, please contact Barbara Warner, Coordinator for Christian Formation 271-2240 or at Barbara@stpaulsec.org.
Fred Reynolds
In September Fred Reynolds completes his tenth year as Rector of St. Paul's. At the 10 a.m. service on Sunday, September 17, Senior Warden Chris Moore will recognize Fred with story and prayer, and then he and Junior Warden Stan Refermat will present several gifts for the church and for Fred. Following the service is a picnic to continue the celebration. We hope you can be present for this festive occasion.
Cruise the Genesee with SPY
Join SPY members and their families for a river cruise aboard the Mary Jemison on Sunday, October 1 from 3:30 until 5:30 p.m. Space is limited. Contact the church office beginning Monday, September 25 if you can join us!
Iraq… Stay or Go
The Christian Dialog Committee will ask the question, "Should we stay or go?" We will bring opinions from national and international figures. We would like you to bring your coffee, your opinions and a couple of friends to the Vestry Room on October 22 at 11:30 a.m.
Race & Reconciliation, Inc.
Race & Reconciliation, Inc., an organization founded by Derrick Smith to address issues of race, invites you to take a ride on the "Mary Jemison" river boat. The date of the event is October 13 and it will begin at 7:00 p.m. from the boat's Corn Hill dock, 290 Exchange Boulevard. Dessert and coffee will be served. Enjoy the sights and sounds of old-time river boating while you support R&R's next concert event, "One People, Many Traditions". The cost of the river boat ride is $30 per person.
Concert details: One People, Many Traditions. A Celebration of Our African and Asian Heritages.
November 11, 2006, 7:30 p.m., St. Louis Catholic Church, Pittsford, NY
Nadine Carey, Soprano; Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church Mass Chorus, Patrick Crumity, Director; Ryuko Mizutani, Koto; Lewis Wong, Violin, performing the world premiere of An Enemy of the People by Paul Stuart.
Tickets: $15 general admission, $5 for students, free for children under age 12. Call (585) 264-1705
SPY CORNER
Overnight at Camp Cory
We will meet at St. Paul's at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, September 22 and then head off to Keuka Lake for an overnight at Camp Cory. Friday evening we will have dinner, play games and enjoy a bonfire. On Saturday we will complete a service project for the camp and then enjoy the camp's facilities, including the ropes course. Pick up time will be at 3:00 p.m. Saturday at the church.
Please RSVP to Laura Hayden by Friday,
September 15(383-8808
or lhayden@rochester.rr.com)
Cruise Aboard the Mary Jemison
SPY is sponsoring a cruise aboard the Mary Jemison (see the previous page).
We will meet at 3:15 p.m. at the dock, which is located across from the Corn Hill Market (319 Exchange Blvd.).
SPY members - please RSVP to Laura Hayden
by Wednesday, September 20 (383-8808 or
lhayden@rochester.rr.com)
Seventeenth Century Baroque Organ at the
Memorial Art Gallery
Dr. Hans Davidsson, Professor or Organ at the Eastman School of Music, will be discussing the newly installed 17th century Italian baroque organ in the Herdle Fountain Court of the Memorial Art Gallery October 5 at 1:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall following the ECW Luncheon at noon. Dr. Davidsson will be showing slides and discussing the organ's importance as part of the Eastman Rochester Organ Initiative (EROI). In addition, he will further discuss the second organ installation in the near future at Christ Church, Downtown, to be named after Dr. David Craighead, Organist Emeritus of St. Paul's Church.
Dr. Davidsson is the founder and general artistic and research director of the Goteborg (Sweden) Organ Art Center (GOArt), the leading international center for interdisciplinary research in historical performance practice. An active scholar and performer, he has given recitals, master classes and lectures on both sides of the Atlantic and has performed at prestigious festivals worldwide. Won't you join us in what promises to be a stimulating program.
As always, if you plan on Luncheon at noon with ECW, please confirm your reservation through the Church office at 271-2240 by Monday, October 2.
Mary Critikos
The Story of American Art Pottery
Donald S. Hall, former director of the Strasenburgh Planetarium and an authority on American art pottery, will speak September 21 at 1:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall following the ECW Luncheon at noon. Audience members are invited to bring in suspected pieces of American art pottery for possible identification and inclusion in his talk.
Hall defines American art pottery as clay objects, made in factories in America, which were designed to be beautiful as they were useful. He will be addressing, in particular, the grapevine pottery on the reredos behind our High Altar.
If you plan on Luncheon at noon with ECW, please confirm your reservation through the Church office at 271-2240 by Monday, September 18.
Mary Critikos