THE EPISTLE ST PAUL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH SEPTEMBER Reflections from the Rector: Navigating the Dallas Avenue Chasm

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1 ST PAUL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH SEPTEMBER 2013 THE EPISTLE Reflections from the Rector: Navigating the Dallas Avenue Chasm In the Gospel story about the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), which will be the Gospel lesson on 9/29, Abraham tells the rich man who has died and is in anguish in Hades that between us and you a chasm has been fixed in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us. (v. 26, RSV) With the Dallas Avenue bridge out and the repaving project now underway on the detour route, it must feel like a great chasm has been fixed between where we are and where we need to go. The good news is that the bridge will be rebuilt and the paving project will be completed. But in the meantime..sigh. When I was seventeen, my family moved from Key West to the booming but already crowded area of Broward County just west of Fort Lauderdale. My best friend, Charlie Bass, lived seven miles south. The trip from my home to Charlie s home was a grueling seven mile crawl on the congested six-lane U.S. Highway 441 also known in those parts as State Road 7. It will probably not come as much of a surprise when I tell you I was not a very patient driver, especially as a teenager who had places to go, things to do, and people to see. Upon observing how I would take off quickly and weave in and out of traffic, my father made the suggestion that, as an exercise in patience, when I travel State Road 7, I get in one lane and stay in that lane for the entire distance. I tried it, and with much prayer and self-imposed discipline, after a few times I discovered that I actually enjoyed the trip more. I certainly was less anxious. It may have taken me a few minutes longer, but I got to where I was going. In the next weeks and months, navigating around Selma will no doubt be frustrating at times for all of us, but since there is nothing I can do about the traffic and the roads and the chasm on Dallas Avenue, I m going to try to see all of this as an opportunity: an opportunity to practice patience; an opportunity to slow down and be more aware of my surroundings; an opportunity to give thanks for those working on these projects; an opportunity to spend more quality time with others in the vehicle with me. In the parable, the eternal fate of the rich man and of Lazarus was sealed by a fixed chasm, but the attitude with which I navigate life s detours is up to me. Faithfully, David+ A Collect for Guidance (BCP, p. 100, Morning Prayer II) Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. You will show me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. BCP, Psalm 16:11 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: SENIOR WARDEN; LOBSTER FEST PARISH RETREAT INFO 3 FALL CHRISTIAN EDUCA- TION OFFERINGS LITTLE FRIENDS; ALLE- LUIA III SONGBOOKS; PUMPKIN PATCH ST. PAUL S OTR ; EL HOGAR MINISTRIES POEM BY GREG BJELKE MONTHLY CALENDAR

2 PAGE 2 THE EPISTLE FROM THE SENIOR WARDEN With God s Help I Will Get Involved!! After sitting down a few weeks ago and listening to David, Betsy and Joyce plan the New Church Calendar which begins with Kick-Off Sunday, September 8, I was amazed at how much St. Paul s has to offer to all ages of our congregation. We have a very doing Church and it s our own fault if we can t find some activity or group to attend or join. As St. Paul s Senior Warden, I pledge and promise to support our Clergy, Vestry and Staff at St. Paul s during the New Year by becoming more supportive and more involved in our church family. If you are having a difficult time thinking of some group to join or some event to attend at St. Paul s, let me help you out. I ask that you consider some or all of the following: Attend Church at 7:30 A.M. or 10:30 A.M.; Become a breakfast team member or fellowship at breakfast with other parishioners; Become an Usher, an Acolyte, Lector, Lay Reader or Chalice Bearer; Join the Choir, Altar Guild, Flower Guild or a Bible Study ; Attend, teach, or help with Sunday School, Children s Church, EYC, PB&J Club; Attend and then become a part of the Cursillo Community or Daughters of the King; Serve on St. Paul s Vestry or support Little Friends School; Be a part of a Foyer Group or Attend a Cottage Supper, Lobster Fest, Pumpkin Patch, Parish Retreat, Christmas Tree Trimming, Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, Lenten Meditations, Lenten Luncheons, Holy Week Services, Parish Picnic; Volunteer to be a part of the Stewardship Committee, the Parish Life Committee, Meals on Wheels or the Christian Outreach Alliance Food Pantry. While I am exhausted just thinking about everything that s going on at St. Paul s and have probably left something out, I hope you get my point. There s a lot going at our Church and I dare say that many times we don t take advantage of what St Paul s has to offer. With God s Help I commit to becoming more involved at St. Paul s and I ask that you do the same!!!! ~ from Catesby Jones, Senior Warden St. Paul s Lobsters Are Returning on October 10th St. Paul s will soon be hosting our annual Lobster Fest! Nancy Travis, Lobster Queen Extraordinaire, is once again donning the Lobster Crown to organize and spearhead this tasty and grand extravangaza. Not only is this an opportunity to feast and fellowship together as a parish, but it is also a wonderful chance to extend a gracious WELCOME to those members of the wider Selma community who join us in this event. Please be ready to say Yes, absolutely! when Nancy begins calling for this year s volunteers! And, Nancy, from all of us, thanks for your saying YES, yet again!

3 PAGE 3 ANNUAL PARISH RETREAT ~ OCTOBER 18-20, 2013 It s that time again! Time for our Parish Retreat at Camp McDowell where we can play and pray together, take hikes, sing into the night, or just sit back and enjoy the fellowship of other parishioners! Arrive at Camp Friday afternoon/evening for a potluck supper (bring your own pot and your luck and don t forget your supper!) at Stough Lodge. All other meals are included. Saturday morning we will explore together the delightful book by writer Anne Lamott entitled Help Thanks Wow: The Three Essential Prayers while the children engage in arts and crafts projects and other fun. Sunday morning after breakfast we will celebrate Holy Eucharist in the beautiful Chapel of St. Francis and then head home at our own pace. You can your registration to Joyce at parish@stpaulselma.org by copying and pasting the box below into your message, complete the form and send your check payable to St Paul s with Retreat in the for line in. Or you may mail your form and check to St. Paul s, P. O Box 1306, Selma, AL Questions? Call the church office at LODGING Single Room $75.00 per night (one person per room) Double Room $42.50 per person per night (two persons per room) Additional Person over 10 years in double room is $11.00 per person per night. Children 6-10 years free lodging when they are the 3rd or 4th person in room. (Children under 6 years free lodging and meals.) SINGLE ROOM $75.00 x 2 DAYS= DOUBLE ROOM $85.00 x 2 DAYS= ADDITIONAL PERSON (over 10) $11.00 x 2 DAYS= TOTAL LODGING $ MEALS Meals: $6.50 per meal per person (under 6 years is free) Friday evening dinner is covered dish to share. Saturday breakfast and lunch and dinner in dining hall. Sunday breakfast in dining hall. Saturday breakfast $6.50 x number of persons = Saturday lunch $6.50 x number of persons = Saturday dinner $6.50 x number of persons = Sunday breakfast $6.50 x number of persons = TOTAL MEALS $ TOTAL COST = $ Reservation Name: SORRY, NO PETS ALLOWED!! Birmingham and Montgomery - Take I-65 North in Birmingham. Take exit 264 and turn left onto Daniel Payne Drive going west. Go approx. 1 mile and then turn right on Coalburg Road. Then turn left onto I-22/78 (Corridor X) towards Jasper. Take Exit 63 and turn right onto 269 North into Jasper. Turn right at second light onto 18th St. and an immediate left onto 9th Ave. which will turn into HWY 195. Take HWY 195 approx. 15 miles to mile marker 13 and turn right into camp. REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 9th!!!!!!!!!

4 PAGE 4 THE EPISTLE ~ FALL 2013 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OFFERINGS~ St. Paul s Fall Christian Education will resume on September 8 th with Kick-Off Sunday! There are classes on Sunday mornings for all ages: Children: K-5 th grades Weaving God s Promises Episcopal Curriculum led by our enthusiastic team of volunteers. The children will explore through story, art, and worship the many promises of God to all God s children. This is St. Paul s third year using this excellent resource and the theme this year is Weaving God s Beloved Community. Teens 6 th 12 th grades The youth will be engaging in a lectionary-based Bible Study geared toward teenagers called TeenText. Meeting in what is fondly known as the Stellar Cellar, the teens will be led on a rotating basis by Bill and Bunny Gamble, Jay Minter, and Ashley Griffin. Adults All adults are invited to join the ongoing and lively conversation in Tipton Parlor in discussing the Sunday lectionary (usually focusing upon the Gospel lesson). The group is led by Gery Anderson and others. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In addition to these Sunday morning opportunities, the EYC (Episcopal Youth Community 6 th 12 th graders) meets on Sunday evenings from 5:00-6:30pm. The youth will be talking about various aspects of teenage Christian life using Rob Bell s book Love Wins for Teens in addition to those Sundays when we simply have fun and other Sundays when we focus on an outreach project. Supper is provided by generous culinary offerings of St. Paul s parishioners - sign up sheet in the Parish Hall!! Weekday Bible Study Tuesdays from 11am-12noon in the Bishops Room. We are studying the New Testament book of Hebrews. All are welcome to join us! Peanut Butter and Jelly Club Our afterschool program for children 1 st -5 th grades on the second Monday of each month. This year our theme is Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust : Discovering God in Disney.

5 PAGE 5 Hello from Little Friends! Here we go again and it s good to be back! There such an air of excitement as the school year begins again! We are always so glad to welcome back our returning students and eagerly look forward to getting to know our new students and families. If you think you might be interested in enrolling your child in preschool, we do have openings in all classes! Please come take a tour of Little Friends and see what we have to offer! This is an important ministry of St. Paul s and we are proud of our program and the staff of Little Friends. You can follow our many activities by liking our Facebook page Little Friends School. We are off to a great school year and welcome your continued support! Gina Fuller Director ALLELUIA III! For many years, St. Paul s and our Diocese have been well-served by the Alleulia II song books which are in our pews and from which we sing our praises to God. The more recent Alleulia III songbook is a greatly expanded edition both in terms of number of offerings and quality of accompaniment. We are launching a drive to purchase at least 120 of these new books for our church at $20 each. We have already received several donations. Joyce has an account set up and you can contribute to it by noting Alleluia III on the memo line of your check. Sing alleluia to the Lord! (Alleulia III, p. 145). PUMPKIN PATCH PREPARATIONS!! (~From Pumpkin Patch Coordinator Dusty Brown) It s almost time for this year's Pumpkin Patch! For years, this hallmark of St. Paul's has been a pleasant reminder of simpler times. Whether it's a Halloween Jack-o-Lantern or your mother's homemade pumpkin pie, nothing brings the fall season to mind quicker than a pumpkin. We want to make this year's Pumpkin Patch the best one ever. From tiny wee pumpkins for table decorations to great huge ones for your front porch, we have a pumpkin just right for you. So come on down and visit St. Paul's Pumpkin Patch. And while I have your attention, please take a few minutes to reflect on what the Pumpkin Patch means to you and your family. This event requires a huge amount of time and we need some of yours. If you've ever volunteered for a shift in our lovely courtyard, you know how nice the experience is. If you haven't worked with us before, you should come spend some time this year. Many hands make light work and we would love to have you with us. Stewardship isn't limited to cold cash. Warm hearts are also needed. Volunteer with the Pumpkin Patch this year and see what you've been missing.

6 PAGE 6 THE EPISTLE St. Paul s on the Road Bill and Bunny Gamble Episcopal Church of the Advent, Lillian, AL Howard Tinsley St. Andrew s Episcopal Church, Greensboro, NC; St. Paul s Episcopal Church, Corinth, MS David and Betsy Powell St. John s Episcopal Church, Montgomery, AL; St. Wilfrid s Episcopal Church, Marion, AL Margie and Richard Burk St. John s Episcopal Church, Montgomery, AL Miller Childers, Cecil Gayle, John Miller, Nancy Bennett Trinity Episcopal Church, Apalachicola, FL Anne Galt Pilcher St. James Episcopal Church, Fairhope, AL A Poem by St. Paul s Junior Warden and Poet-in-Residence, Greg Bjelke ENJOY! Garbage and Gates...Keeping cool no matter what it takes. Little Friends, Fleas and Faucets, Cats, Window units and computer crashes. Lawn equipment that just won't start, Soggy basements and the sexton's job...heart to heart. Before I close let me say, It's just another day... for Jr. warden's pay. Greg Bjelke August 2013 Thank you, Greg, and your Jr Warden team members for all your tireless work looking after our church buildings and grounds! El Hogar Home of Love and Hope Each year St Paul's has been sponsoring two students from El Hogar Ministries, Inc., Honduras. This year in November Denis Misael and Merlin Jeremias will graduate. They are very excited about this event and have each written a note (which can be found on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall stairwell) to thank us. It would be nice if each of us would take the time to write a card to the boys on their graduation. Let them know we are thinking of them and wishing them well in their future. You can mail a card {in English or Spanish} directly to Honduras with this address: <Student Name - Center> El Hogar de Amor y Esperanza Apartado Postal 764 Tegucigalpa, DC, Honduras The vestry has voted to renew our sponsorship of two more young students who will be raised and educated by El Hogar Ministries. In addition, the Christian Education Committee has decided to devote our Fall 2013 Sunday School Offering to the ministry of El Hogar. The Mission of El Hogar is to transform and empower hopelessly poor children in Honduras by providing a loving home and education. [Their] goal for them is to fulfill their ultimate potential and productive, caring, and independent Honduran citizens. Learn more about this wonderful ministry at The Rev. Matt Engleby, the Executive Director of El Hogar Projects, will be at St. Paul s on Sunday October 27 th to preach and to present a program during the Christian Education hour. More on this later. ~from the St. Paul s Outreach Committee

7 PAGE 7 September 1st 15 Pentecost 8:00 Holy Eucharist 10:00 Holy Eucharist 4th Holy Eucharist 7:00am Breakfast follows Little Friends Chapel 9:30am 8th 16 Pentecost - Christian Ed Kick-Off Holy Eucharist 7:30am Christian Education 9:10am Holy Eucharist 10:30am EYC 5-6:30pm 9th PBJ Club 3:30-5:30pm DOK Eucharist and Meeting 11th Holy Eucharist 7am Breakfast follows 9:30am Little Friends Chapel Cedar Hill 10am 15th 17 Pentecost Holy Eucharist 7:30am Christian Education 9:10am Holy Eucharist 10:30am EYC 5-6:30pm 17th Bible Study 11am 18th Holy Eucharist 7am Breakfast follows 9:30am Little Friends Chapel 19th Vestry 5:30pm 22nd 18 Pentecost/Holy Baptism Holy Eucharist 7:30am Christian Education 9:10am Holy Eucharist 10:30am EYC 5-6:30pm 24th Bible Study 11am 25th Holy Eucharist 7am Breakfast follows 9:30am Little Friends Chapel 10:00 Cedar Hill 29th 19 Pentecost Holy Eucharist 7:30am Christian Education 9:10am Holy Eucharist 10:30am EYC 5-6:30pm CHOIR REHEARSAL EACH WEDNESDAY at 6PM!! SEPTEMBER/EARLY OCTOBER Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat SAVE THE DATEs! Pumpkin Patch OCTOBER! (Beginning date TBA) Blessing of the Animals Sunday, October 6, 4:00pm, The Clos Lobster Fest October 10 details to follow! Annual Parish Retreat at Camp McDowell Friday October 18 Sunday October 20 Visit to St. Paul s by The Rev Matt Engleby, Executive Director of El Hogar Ministries Sunday October 27th All Hallows Eve Service October 31, 7:00pm, Old Live Oak Cemetery Community Thanksgiving Service Sunday, November 24, 6;00pm, St. Paul s Parish Annual Meeting Sunday December 8. ONE service only at 9:00am, followed by Annual Meeting and Potluck Lunch. Tea Time Tree Trim and Caroling Party Sunday, December 15, 4:00 6:00pm *NOTE* CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Candice and Steve Frazer, 1319 Magnolia Curve, Montgomery, AL, 36106, gunky03@gmail.com and cbfrazer@gmail.com

8 ST PAUL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH SEPTEMBER Lauderdale Street P O Box 1306 Selma, AL Church Office: (334) Fax: (334) The Rev David Powell - rector@stpaulselma.org The Rev Betsy Powell - associaterector@stpaulselma.org Joyce Dawson - parish@stpaulselma.org Patti Campbell choir@stpaulselma.org St. Paul s Vision Statement St. Paul s Episcopal Church, Selma, Alabama, is a Christian community with open doors and invisible walls. Enlivened by God s love, we experience: Life-sustaining worship Life-long learning Life-empowering service