The St. Paul's Epistle
October 16, 2007
Contents
Dear Members & Friends of St.
Pauls:
Expanding the Narthex
St. Paul's Church, Mission
I
The Bible & The World
Lecture
You're in the Driver's Seat!
Becoming a Member
SPY at Camp Cory
The Ghoulies and Goblins are
Coming!
Usher's Dinner
All Saints' Celebration
Flower Ministry Needs
Volunteers
"Harvesting Justice" Conference
Scheduled
Label Savers Alert
St. Joseph's House News
Daylight Saving Time Ends
Opportunities for Adult
Formation
SPY Corner
Dear Members & Friends of St. Pauls:
As many of you are aware, the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church met in New Orleans at the end of September. Our bishops meet on a regular basis to discuss concerns, to strengthen relationships, and to seek to discern more clearly how to carry out the ministry and mission of the church. This particular meeting took on more significance as a result of a meeting of the Primates in February of this year. At their meeting, the Primates (the archbishops of the provinces of the worldwide Anglican Communion) specifically asked the Episcopal Church to respond to a number of concerns, most related to questions of human sexuality and the identity of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The attendance of the Most Reverend Rowan Williams, archbishop of Canterbury, and other dignitaries at this meeting of our bishops underscored its significance.
In several respects the statement from the bishops at the conclusion of their meeting in response "to questions and concerns raised by our Anglican Communion partners" was not surprising (the full text can be found at www.episcopalchurch.org). They called for an immediate end to diocesan incursions by uninvited bishops, supported a proposal by our Presiding Bishop to provide for the pastoral care of those seeking alternative oversight, and again encouraged the communion to a listening process about human sexuality.
Convention 2006 urged the exercise of restraint in giving consent to the election to the episcopate of anyone "whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion." The bishops moved beyond that resolution, however, by adding a comment acknowledging "that non-celibate gay and lesbian persons are included among those to whom B033 pertains." For many this action is questionable - first, on the grounds that it takes both houses of General Convention (Deputies and Bishops) acting in concert to speak for the Episcopal Church, and second, this comment puts them at odds with another statement contained in the same document that affirms "all God's children… are full and equal participants in the life of Christ's Church."
Central to this meeting was the on-going concern over the unity of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and it is clear that the bishops tried to address this concern. For some the statement by the House of Bishops is seen as a clear expression of the Episcopal Church's desire to remain in communion and a clear and adequate response to the Windsor Report and the Primates' communiqué (e.g., the report of the Joint Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council [the ACC is a representative body of the Anglican Communion] and the Primates of the Anglican Communion). For others, what has transpired is not satisfactory (e.g., the dissenting statement of Mouneer Anis, Primate of Jerusalem and the Middle East). In fact, within days of the meeting's adjournment, the Right Reverend Robert Duncan, bishop of Pittsburgh, announced that Anglican bishops from ten jurisdictions and organizations were ready to create a new structure for an Anglican presence in the United States.
At this point in time, it is impossible, I believe, to predict how these recent events will "play out." I know that I am not willing, easily, to give up the larger Communion, and I know that I firmly believe that "all God's children… are full and equal participants in the life of Christ's Church." I know also that I will continue to pray daily for this wonderful church of ours, and I ask that you join with me.
~ Thomas McCart
Expanding the Narthex
The Vestry and clergy of St. Paul's have approved the expansion of the narthex in the church. A narthex is defined as an entrance hall of a Christian church between the porch and the nave frequently separated off by a screen. At St. Paul's the narthex is the area one enters from either the tower entrance or the bride's entrance. It is the area where greeters and ushers welcome people into the church, where people hang up their coats, and where the choir occasionally forms before the procession. The area is also used to receive food donations for SEM, by the ushers and EMs during the offertory, and for a guest book for funerals, weddings and concerts. The clergy also use the area at the end of the service.
Much happens in the narthex and frequently it becomes crowded and not as welcoming as we would like for the entrance to our spiritual home. In addition to the current crowding, the New Member Ministry at St. Paul's is looking for a central place to welcome newcomers. In good weather the New Member Ministry has a table set up outside which works well. On rainy days and in the colder snowier months, welcoming new members outside is not feasible. With two primary entrances to our church, the tower entrance and the bride's entrance, new members need to be welcomed in a central location. The New Member Ministry Commission has requested an area in the narthex to welcome people new to St. Paul's. The current narthex is too narrow to allow for a welcome table where we greet people and welcome them to our church.
Given the narthex is currently crowded and we want a central place to welcome new members the logical solution is to expand the narthex. The expansion can be easily accomplished by removing two rows of pews at the back of the sanctuary and moving the screen forward. The plan calls for the sound control system to be moved forward as well so the narthex and the church will look very much the same as it does today. It is expected that, once started, the work can be completed in just over a week with minimal disruption during the intervening Sunday. A start date has not yet been scheduled and will be arranged around weddings and holiday periods.
The clergy, vestry, new member ministry commission and property committee welcome your comments now or at a forum on November 4.
St. Paul's Church, Mission I
Each year, the vestry designates a portion of the budget to Mission I to be granted to needy organizations both locally and world wide. It is the function of the committee to evaluate requests which we receive and to make grants based upon our examination of:
- The goals of the organization,
- The soundness of the organization insofar as that it has a tax-exempt status and is a well-organized group, and
- The specific program for which a grant is requested.
There are certain types of projects which we do not fund, eg., capital projects or projects that will benefit only one person. We look for projects that will spread out and provide health, services or training to a group or to a community.
We make grants in three very broad areas:
- Rochester area schools and school children,
- Rochester based groups serving the needy and/or unfortunate, and
- Groups or organizations from outside the United States, primarily third world countries.
To date this year, we have made grants in all three areas and we are examining other applications at this time. But, we still have funds available. If any member of St. Paul's knows of a group that has a project that is in need of funding, the committee would like to urge you to have that group contact Mission I. They need to go online and download the application form which is on the website, and to use that form for their application. We require that they use this form, since it helps both them and us to evaluate their request. If necessary, they may go to the church office and pick up an application.
Please Note! It is not necessary for the group to have any connection with St. Paul's, the Diocese of Rochester, or the Episcopal Church. All applications are evaluated equally.
~ Ed Rubel, Chair, Mission I
The Bible & The World Lecture
You're in the Driver's Seat!
Erma Mawn, Director of Case Management, and Kim Petrucci, Director of Development, both of The Episcopal SeniorLife Communities, will be presenting a program affirming Knowledge is Power at any Age Thursday, November 1 at 1:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall following the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) Luncheon. They will help us embrace the future with enthusiasm and peace of mind. They will share practical information and community resources to help us continue living independent lives to the fullest. They will be coming to us armed with names and know-how with the express intent of helping each of us help ourselves as we may begin to face unknown challenges. Their role is supportive and real and, above all, comforting.
Won't you please join us in what promises to be an informative and confidence-building program. They assure us that they will be bringing take-away materials (this is not a marketing ploy!) that we can share with our loved ones.
As always, if you plan on Luncheon at noon with ECW, please confirm your reservation through the Church office at 271-2240 by Friday, October 26.
~ Mary Critikos
Becoming a Member
Are you new to St. Paul's? Has our balanced meal - Word & Sacrament - nourished you? Are you considering joining us in this wonderful journey in faith?
Wherever you are, wherever you find yourself on your journey in faith - there is a place here for you. Your presence here has enriched us, and we pray that your life in Christ has been deepened as you worshiped with us.
If you believe there is a place here for you, we invite you to become a member of St. Paul's. It is an easy process:
- If you are an Episcopalian, simply let us know the name of your last parish, and we will write to request a Letter of Transfer.
- If you come from another Christian tradition (Methodist, Presbyterian, etc.) and have been baptized, you may have your baptism recorded here. Simply complete a form that we will provide you upon request.
- If you have not been baptized, you may request baptism. Simply make an appointment to speak to one of the clergy.
If you have any questions about becoming a member of St. Paul's, please speak with any of the clergy.
~ Thomas McCart
SPY at Camp Cory
St. Paul's Youth (SPY) kicked off the program year with a trip to the YMCA's Camp Cory. It was a wonderful way for the kids to reconnect after the summer hiatus. While at camp, the kids completed a service project, cleaning and stowing the sailboats for the off-season. There was plenty of time for fun. We enjoyed exploring the campgrounds, gathering for an evening bonfire on a beautiful summer-like evening, and canoeing and kayaking on Keuka Lake. As we reflected upon those things that we are most grateful for, it was family and friendship that so many of us spoke of. If you are a middle school or high school student, please consider joining us. SPY is a place where we explore the ways in which we live out our Christian faith and where lasting friendships abound.
~ The Rev. Leslie M. St. Louis
The Ghoulies and Goblins are Coming!
A favored event returns! Saint Paul's Youth (SPY) hosts the annual "All Hallows Eve Party" for the pre-school through fifth grade kids and those who want to look on. The Spanish Chapel will be decorated in festive Halloween style and there are games and goodies galore. This is our third appearance and sure to be bigger and better than ever, especially if you join us!
The youth of the parish are invited to test out their costumes by wearing them to church on Sunday, October 28. Our party will be directly following the 10 o'clock service to make it as easy as possible for as many ghoulies and goblins, princesses and paupers to attend. We hope that those of you who no longer have wee ones at home will also come and join the fun.
The revelry will start with a grand parade from the church to the Parish Hall to the Spanish Chapel. Won't you join the fun?
Remember Costumes a Must on October 28!
~ Leslie St. Louis
Usher's Dinner
The annual Usher's Dinner will be held on Tuesday, October 30 in the Parish Hall. Social Hour will begin at 6:30 p.m. We will offer both chicken and beef dinners. Sign up in the Activities Book or call the church at 271-2240 no later than Sunday, October 28. Come join us for an evening of friendship and good food.
If you are interested in serving your church as an usher, or would like information about ushering, call the church office and someone from the usher committee will contact you.
~ Elmer Cheney, Usher Chairman
All Saints' Celebration
All Saints' and All Souls' Day will be observed at the service on November 1. The names of parishioners who have died this year will be remembered. You are invited to place names of non-member loved ones who have died on a printed list that will be available at the service. Please call the parish office with their name by noon, October 30.
Flower Ministry Needs Volunteers
A significant pastoral care ministry takes place every Sunday at St. Paul's as volunteers take flowers from the Altar to our home-bound, those in the hospital or recovering at home, and members of this community who are celebrating an "advanced" birthday.
This is not a complicated ministry. One simply comes to the flower room on the day you are scheduled to deliver, arrange a small vase of flowers from the altar, pick up a "delivery" card (maps provided!), and you're on your way!
Although a simple ministry, it is one that is deeply appreciated by the recipients. Just one example is this note from a parishioner: "The beautiful thought expressed in the card accompanying the exquisite flowers from the altar added to the great pleasure of receiving them. The reminder of God's love and concern and from the friends at St. Paul's is a wonderful gift."
I hope you will consider this important ministry. If you have questions, please contact me or Mary Jo Doyle (421-3464).
~ Thomas McCart
"Harvesting Justice"
Conference Scheduled
Any member of St. Paul's congregation looking for new insights on issues surrounding immigrant farm labor in the Upstate New York area should consider this conference on November 8 at First Presbyterian Church in Batavia. The conference runs from 12:30 p.m., and is sponsored by Rural & Migrant Ministries (RMM). The Episcopal Diocese is a covenanting denomination for RMM in Western New York and I serve on the RMM board.
The conference Keynote Speaker is Rev. John Fife, a dynamic speaker, who will share his first-hand experience with life threatening border stories of the marginalized. Fife, the retired minister of Tucson's Southside Presbyterian Church, was tried and convicted for offering hospitality and protection to refugees fleeing the violence and death squads of the civil war in El Salvador and Guatemala in the 1980's. Today, he continues his work on behalf of a new wave of immigrants seeking survival in the United States.
In addition to Fife's plenary speech, the conference will feature workshops ranging from "Farm Worker 101" - an introduction to farm workers and immigration - to "From the Pulpit to the Kitchen Table" - the theological basis for reaching out to our foreign brothers and sisters - and "Radical Hospitality" - case studies of congregations creatively welcoming immigrants.
The conference offers a chance for members of Western New York faith communities, academics, labor leaders, students, immigrant-farm workers, law enforcement and politicians to come together to explore alternative approaches to the current climate of fear and division that surrounds immigration issues.
~ Bill Watson
Label Savers Alert
The Labels for Education program has recently changed its requirements. Now, the UPC code is used to redeem labels for educational and sports equipment. Please submit the entire label with the UPC code intact. Codes from other Campbell companies are also needed: Pepperidge Farm, Swanson, Marie's, Prego and V8. Labels may be left in containers provided in Wainwright Hall and the Sunday Office.
~ Margaret Kaiser
St. Joseph's House News
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" (Heb. 13:2).
St. Joseph's House of Hospitality, located at 402 South Avenue, has been serving the poor and neglected of Rochester for over 60 years. It has been a refuge from harsh weather, a haven for companionship, a place to stay during transitional periods, and a source for a meal.
"Feed my lambs."
Our Lord's words to St. Peter are also our call to offer a nourishing meal to some of society's most vulnerable members. At St. Joseph's House of Hospitality, St. Paul's parishioners gather on the first Saturday of each month from September to June. We shop for the food, which we prepare as a luncheon for our guests in a restaurant-style setting. A typical meal includes a casserole, Italian bread, green salad, fruit, homemade cookies, milk and tea. We set the tables and prepare serving and clean-up stations. There are two seatings with a capacity for 48 guests each. When people have been seated, we serve food to each guest and give seconds to those who request them. After lunch, we wash the dishes. Our day lasts from 9:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
In the simple act of serving a meal, we fulfill part of our baptismal covenant, by seeking and serving Christ in all persons and respecting the dignity of every human being.
St. Paul's church has been working with the staff and volunteers at St. Joseph's House for 20 years! After 10 plus years, the current co-chairs, Jane Smith and Mary Ellen West, are retiring but will continue until December 2007.
If you feel called to co-chair this very important ministry, please contact Jane or Mary Ellen. Training and how-to documentation is available. Please take some time to consider assisting with this mission. The needs of the guests at St. Joseph's House remain high.
Please contact Mary Ellen West 442-9632 westme@frontiernet.net or Jane Smith 385-4012 jsmith@library.rochester.edu or one of the Wardens or Clergy for more information.
~ Jane Smith and Mary Ellen West
Daylight Saving Time Ends
Remember that Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 4. It will be time to "fall back."
Opportunities for Adult Formation
Discuss Walter Brueggemann's latest book Mandate to Difference on Thursdays, October 18 and 25 at 7 p.m. in the East Room. Thanks to Kitty MacDowell for facilitating the discussion, assisted by the Rev. Sandra Arrington. Plan also to attend Dr. Brueggemann's lecture at St. Paul's on Sunday, November 4 at 5 p.m.
Look at what Mormons believe and why they believe what they do. Join Rector Fred Reynolds on Sundays October 28; November 14 and 28 from 9-9:40 a.m. in Wainwright Parlor.
Search for the true Jesus of Scripture with the Bible Study Class. This group gathers with the Rev. Leslie St. Louis in the East Room each Sunday morning from 9-9:40 a.m..
Christian Pathways welcomes those who want to discuss the work of Dr. Walter Bruggemann on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. in the Church Conference Room. Christian Pathways is coordinated by David and Linda White.
SPY Corner
All Saints' Party!!!
October 28
Wear your costume to church; it's the 3rd Annual All Saints' Party! SPY will be hosting the pre-school through fifth grade kids for a party in the Spanish Chapel following the service. We need face painters and pumpkin painters as well as help with arts and crafts and games. We will decorate the Spanish Chapel the morning of the party during church school. Lunch for all will be provided. Pick up time is 1:30.
Please RSVP to Laura Hayden by Thursday, October
25
(383-8808 or lhayden@rochester.rr.com