The St. Paul's Epistle
December 16-31, 2005
Contents
Letter from the Rector
Downsizing???
Almost two years for Paul's Place IHN
Christmas Memorial Flowers
Decorate the Mitten Tree
An Alternate Gift Idea
A Meal and More
The Christmas Pageant
Thanksgiving
Church School and Christmas
SPY Corner
Christmas Schedule
Parish Hall Open for Business
A New Year - A New Look for St. Paul's
Dear Members and Friends of St. Paul's:
What a wonderful "welcome home" you gave me and continue to do as I meet you in church and in the supermarket. In the weeks and months ahead, I look forward to sharing with you my experiences and learnings of traveling in Nepal and living among Hindus and Buddhists. My sabbatical gave me all that I had hoped for: rest, refreshment, and learning. I came home to you with the power of the Holy Spirit reverberating in my soul.
I also came home to our transformed Parish Hall, kitchen, and library. "Wow" sounds trite, but that's what I heard over and over again on Wednesday night, when many of us entered the hall for the first time in almost 6 months. What an incredible transformation! We now have a beautiful and gracious space that can seat up to 200 people with a state of the art audio-visual and lighting system. On December 2, our Bishop, Jack McKelvey, joined us to rededicate our parish hall and to give thanks to all the people who worked tirelessly to bring it to completion.
I especially give thanks to Bob Frank. From being on the Planning Committee, Fund Raising Committee, and being the "Clerk of the Works" for the entire construction period, Bob literally did it all. His ability for organization, management and interpersonal skills were truly gifts to us, the parish. Through it all his magical sense of humor and patience buoyed many of our spirits when our own were at a low ebb.
Bob, we THANK YOU!
Faithfully yours,
The Rev. Frederic W. Reynolds, Rector
Downsizing???
Our Youth and Alleluia choir room is in need of a better piano for rehearsals. If you are downsizing or simply don't need your small, grand piano (good condition, please), and would like to take a charitable tax-deduction, then please speak with Fred Reynolds to discuss this need at St. Paul's.
Almost two years for Paul's Place IHN
The Interfaith Hospitality Network here at St. Paul's has completed seven weekly rotations over the past two years of providing comfortable housing, food, and encouragement for families in the Rochester area that have been displaced from their homes. It's hard to believe that we have provided over 400 "bed-nights" and prepared over 1,100 meals to these displaced families.
But we could not have provided this outreach program had it not been for the great volunteers who have come forward with a very small commitment of their time. Over 30 St. Paul's parishioners as well as a great team of volunteers from the Rochester Zen Center come forward four times a year for one-week periods to prepare meals, provide evening companionship, and overnight hosting to the guest families.
A very special "Thank You" is due to Chris Curtis, who stepped up to the task of buying and organizing food for each week's rotation as well as arranging for all of the dinner-preparation volunteers. The families have been so grateful and appreciative of all the great food that the Curtis Culinary Team has provided!
We have weathered the storm of the Parish hall renovation through two of the weekly rotations (August and November) and have mastered the fine art of microwave cooking in the Spanish Chapel kitchen. We now look forward to serving meals to the guest families next January in the renovated church kitchen.
Paul's Place at St. Paul's church is one of many faith communities in Rochester providing this outreach service to displaced families in the Rochester area. The Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (RAIHN) has provided over 5,600 bed nights and over 15,000 meals since its inception in April 2004. The problem of temporary family displacement isn't going to simply go away.
And Paul's Place isn't going to go away either. We need your help more than ever. All it takes is a couple of hours of your time. Cook a meal, play some evening games or watch a movie, or spend an overnight in St. Paul's away-from-home. It's fun, refreshing, and hugely inspiring.
Please call us for more information or go to the St. Paul's web site or www.raihn.org.
Gayle & Doug Hitchcock
586-6389 or email.
Christmas Memorial Flowers
Each year we fill the church with Christmas poinsettias, wreaths and greens in memory of loved ones. Envelopes for donations to this year's Memorial Flower fund will be found on tables around the church on Sundays and in the office during the week. Please print clearly the names of those you wish to honor - we do not want to guess at the correct spelling of a name. Make checks payable to St. Paul's Episcopal Church and write Christmas Flowers on the memo line.
The deadline is Monday, December 19.
Decorate the Mitten Tree
Your gifts of mittens, hats, and scarves will warm Rochesterians this winter. Please help the Church School decorate the Mitten Tree in the Parish Hall through December 18.
An Alternate Gift Idea
Benefit Water for Sudan, Inc. and give a gift at the same time! Call or email Nancy Frank to obtain the gift form at 586-0037 or email.
A Meal and More
A Meal and More depends on St. Paul's to provide the turkeys and roasts for their Holiday meals. We can do this again this year if you will please write a check for $10 or more to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, with A Meal and More in the memo line. It is nice to know that we help make it possible for others to enjoy a festive meal this holiday season.
The Christmas Pageant
Come to Bethlehem: Angels, shepherds, magi and others, come gather around the crèche! All children and adults are invited. Practice for the Pageant on Saturdays, December 10 and 17, from 10 to noon with pizza for lunch. Enjoy the Pageant on Sunday, December 18, at 4 p.m. and stay for supper and carols in the Parish Hall.
Thanksgiving
For those of you who were in church on Sunday, November 20 and/or for the Thanksgiving Day service, you certainly saw and enjoyed the beautiful display in front of the high altar highlighting the bounties of the season! We would like to thank the caring work of Patricia and Elizabeth Tice, and their ongoing creativity in beautifying our worship space as they have so often done for us during special services and seasons. What talent we are blessed to have among us. Thank you Elizabeth and Patricia!!!
Church School and Christmas
On Sundays, December 25 and January 1, classes will not meet so that children can worship with their families. Infants, toddlers and young children are welcome in the upstairs day care area. All classes will resume on January 8.
SPY Corner
Christmas Pageant and Dinner
December 18
We will meet at St. Paul's at 4:00 p.m. to attend the Christmas Pageant. Please encourage your families to join us as well. Following the pageant, we will gather together at the SPY table in Parish Hall for dinner.
Christmas
Christmas Eve
Saturday, December 24
3:30 p.m. - Children's Service & Holy Eucharist
5:30 p.m. - Holy Eucharist/All Choirs and Brass (Child care
available)
10:45 p.m. - Choir Carols
11:00 p.m. - Holy Eucharist/Senior Choir and Brass
Christmas Day
Sunday, December 25
10:00 a.m. - Holy Eucharist
New Years Day
Sunday, January 1
8:00 a.m. - Holy Eucharist
10:00 a.m. - Christmas Lessons and Carols
Parish Hall Open for Business!
A New Year - A New Look
for St. Paul's !
St. Paul's is getting a fresh, new look - a new logo and message line - starting January 1, 2006! We have been using an image of our church on our letterhead and some of our other materials for a long time. It has served us well , reflecting our tradition and history. But, St. Paul's has grown and changed over the years, and it is time for us to reflect the best of what we are today.
How was it developed?
Over the last several months, the Communications Commission with the support of the clergy worked hard to select and refine just the right look and message. We looked at our values and objectives, our strengths and weaknesses, our position in the community, what we do well and what we could do better. We looked at other churches and organizations, and employed outside professionals to help us in the process.
Why change now?
This review showed that a more contemporary, warm and welcoming image would more closely represent the positive energy and vision that is St. Paul's. The goal of the Communications Commission was to develop an image for the church that would clearly reflect this in all we do.
How will it be used?
You will see our new image on everything St. Paul's puts out, from letterhead and business cards, to brochures, to the Epistle and our website. This consistent approach will help us more effectively invite others in.
Why is consistency important?
A consistent image helps us clarify what we have to offer, and gives people an idea of what to expect when they enter St. Paul's.
We're not changing everything!
Our look is changing - but our values and our vision remain the same.
We developed our main message (what we want to say to the community about ourselves) and our logo (the image that reflects that message) from our vision statement and the prayer that follows:
Our Vision: We pray that all who enter St. Paul's experience God's presence in this community of faith, a community that through Christ strives to be loving, joyous, inclusive, transforming and filled with God's Grace. Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, St. Paul's welcomes you.
We are loving, joyous, inclusive.
We pray that all who enter St. Paul's experience God's presence in this community of faith.
We are Christ-centered people of faith.
We are individuals on our own personal journeys.
We are a community that welcomes all on their individual journeys.
We will begin to use the new image starting January 1, 2006.
What will it look like?
In the next issue of the Epistle, you will see the new image. It is easily identifiable as St. Paul's, even at a glance. So, be on the lookout for our new look!
Communications Commission
Mary DeFranco, Chair