Breaking Bread. Our Mission is Growing Disciples of Jesus Christ. The Newsletter of the Episcopal Church of St. Peter & St. Paul ~ August 2015

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1 Breaking Bread Our Mission is Growing Disciples of Jesus Christ The Newsletter of the Episcopal Church of St. Peter & St. Paul ~ August 2015 A Community of Disciples by The Rev. Tom Pumphrey Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:24, NIV) Dear Friends in Christ, Whitewater kayaking is not a solitary sport. For much of the last twenty years, however, I ve treated it that way, getting on the river perhaps once or twice a year, trailing after paddlers I just met at the put-in, in case of emergency. It wasn t as much fun alone; I never really grew in my skills, and from time to time, it was downright dangerous. This year, I joined the Georgia Canoe Association, a club that organizes river trips, among other activities. It took me back to the way I started kayaking with the Keelhauler s Canoe Club in Cleveland, Ohio. While on vacation this summer, I took several trips with the GCA. Some of the trips had serious objectives: to challenge ourselves to learn more in difficult water to help build our skills and confidence. Experienced paddlers guided the way, safety boaters waited below rapids, colleagues encouraged each other, gave feedback, and lots of cheering for each other as we finessed our way in the whitewater. We even cheered for each other when finesse had nothing to do with it! And when I was eaten by the rapids, there were teammates there to fish me out of the water, pull me to shore and help get me back on the river. It was exhausting. It was exhilarating! It was what got me started on the river in the first place. Christian Discipleship is not a solitary endeavor. So many people drop in on church a couple of times a year, put their name on the list in case of emergency, and keep their inner life insulated from others. Even if we are engaged with church, so often, we re chatting on the riverbanks of true discipleship, content to watch others in the rapids, not preparing for the whitewater in our own lives. What if there was a community where we could really know and be known by others who are navigating this river of Christian discipleship? What if we could learn from experienced disciples of Jesus Christ, cheer each other on, pick each other up when we fall, and encourage each other toward deeper fidelity and true godliness? What if we had relationships close enough and healthy enough that we could challenge each other, looking for the opportunity to grow and develop as followers of Jesus? It would be exhausting. It would be exhilarating! It would be a deeper experience of the power of God that brought us together in the first place. Invest in true Christian discipleship and true Christian community, and the rewards will be more than you could ask or imagine. Yours in Christ, Parish Retreat. 2 Parish Choir Rehearsals. 2 Lift High the Cross. 3 ECW - Dr. Beth-Sarah Wright. 3 Children s Ministries. 4 Daughters of the King. 4 On the Inside... Adult Christian Education. 5 Youth News. 6 Stewardship & Spiritual Growth. 7 Supporting the Caregiver. 8 Stephen Ministry. 8

2 Breaking Bread 2 Save the Date for the Parish Retreat! ~ Come join us for the St. Peter & St. Paul Parish Retreat this fall, Friday through Sunday, October 2-4. The retreat is open to all parishioners, of all ages. It will be held at the Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, NC. Please come spend a weekend with your parish friends and family in the mountains of Western North Carolina. During portions of the weekend, adults, teens and kids will have separate activities focused on the theme of "God Stories," during which we will become more aware and appreciative of how God is at work in our lives. At other times, all of us will be together as a church family. There will also be free time during the weekend to spend as you wish - either on the grounds, or at nearby areas such as Pisgah, Brevard, The Blue Ridge Parkway and Asheville. Saturday evening will conclude with a bonfire, music and S'mores! Pricing & Registration Forms available in Parish Office. Space is limited! Forms & Deposits are to be returned to the KANUGA mailbox in the Parish Office. Available on our website or in the office. Questions: Peter Protis at pprotis@gmail.com. Parish Choirs Fall Rehearsal Schedule This fall our Children and Youth Choirs will rehearse on Tuesday evenings in combination with Tuesday Night Dinners and Adult programs. Rehearsals take place in the Choir Room under the direction of George Chesnut. The Adult Parish Choir will rehearse on Wednesday evenings. Children's Choir Rehearsal resumes Tuesday, August 11-5:30-6:15pm Tuesday Night Dinners resume Tuesday, August 11-6:15-7:00pm Youth Choir Rehearsal resumes Tuesday, August 11-7:00-8:00pm Adult Programs meet from 7:00-8:00pm - Parish Hall "Introduction to the Bible" with The Rev. Tom Pumphrey Adult Choir Rehearsal resumes Wednesday, August 12-7:30-9:00pm The Episcopal Church of St. Peter & St. Paul The Vestry 1795 Johnson Ferry Road Marietta, GA Office Hours: Monday Thursday ~ 9 a.m. 5 p.m. Friday ~ 9 a.m p.m. Phone: (770) Fax: (770) Visit us on the web at After Hours Pastoral Concerns: Rector The Rev. Thomas C. Pumphrey Associate Rector The Rev. Elisa P. Harres Parish Administrator Suzy Bristow Administrative Assistant Katherine Boyet Financial Administrator Amy Pillsworth Youth Minister Ryan Mulkowsky Director of Children s Ministries Becky Beal Director of Music George Chesnut Sexton Mitch Brown Vestry Senior Warden Susan Prout 2 Junior Warden Peter Williams Clerk Andy Lorenzen Treasurer Tom Martin Recorder Mike Nancarrow Linda Doss Bobbie Lencke Joey Mayes Kurt Mueller Justin Streeter

3 3 Breaking Bread Lift High the Cross When you attend a worship service, notice our youth serving as part of the worship team. They are wearing long white robes with hoods and rope belts. Some of them are wearing green (or another color depending on the liturgical season) drapes over their robes. They will be carrying crosses, candles, the Gospel book, flags, and banners. These are our acolytes. What, exactly, is an acolyte? The word acolyte comes from the Greek word akolouthos, meaning follower or attendant, and the first known mention of acolytes was in the year 251, when Pope Cornelius wrote in a letter that there were 42 acolytes in Rome. At that time, they were considered a minor order of clergy, but that is no longer true. Today, acolytes assist the priests in leading the congregation in worship. They participate in all the major phases of the Eucharist service the gathering, the liturgy of the Word, the Great Thanksgiving, and the dismissal. They help provide dignity to the mystery that is the Eucharist by carrying the crosses and torches, the Gospel book, the flags and banners, and by providing the incense on special feast days. Our youth grade 5 and above are invited to consider becoming an acolyte. Training will be conducted after the beginning of Sunday School on a date to be determined. For further information and/or to be added to the list of new acolytes, please contact Todd Butcher at butchers@comcast.net or Pamela Robinson at pdlrobinson@aol.com. Come spend an evening with Dr. Beth-Sarah Wright She will be speaking to us about Spirituality and The Power of Prayer in our everyday lives. Join us in the Parish Hall Thursday, September 10th Social Time begins at 6:30pm Covered Dish Dinner begins at 7:00pm Don t Forget to Bring Your Favorite Dish to Share Presentation begins at 7:30pm Presented by Episcopal Church Women of St. Peter & St. Paul No Reservations Required All Women Are Welcome No Childcare Available

4 Breaking Bread 4 Children s Ministries by Becky Beal, Director of Children s Ministries A new school year and a new Sunday School year has begun and we invite you to be a part of our Sunday mornings as well as special offerings this Fall! Children will bring their backpacks to be blessed, before beginning the school year, on August 2 nd at the 10:30 service. Then we re off to a great start for Sunday School which begins August 9 th from 9:15-10:15. Our Fall Communion instruction begins on August 8 th with Little Hands at the Altar which is open for all ages. The continuing classes, Come to the Table are for children second grade and older. The Sundays of August 16, 23 and 30 from 11:45-1:15 are set aside for this study of Holy Communion and the sacred spaces in our church. Adults often enjoy this instruction as well as the kids! Come and join us to volunteer and participate in our Sunday morning worship. Announcing a New Event We have a great way for you to meet other parents, your child s teachers, and your child s friends a COOKOUT! Please plan to join us on Sunday, September 13, in the pavilion, right after the 10:30 service for fun and food! Children can play on the playground and volleyball court and we will have Four Square and Hopscotch activities while parents get to know each other a bit better. With Mind, Body, and Spirit, Uphold and Bear the Cross The St. Clare Chapter of the Order of the Daughters of the King at St. Peter and St. Paul invite you to get to know us. Our next meeting is Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 10:30 AM in the Parish Hall. We have a special guest speaker, Dr. April Love-Fordham will be discussing her latest book, James in the Suburbs, A Disorderly Parable of the Epistle of James. A light lunch will be served. RSVP s are not necessary, but would be most appreciated. Contact Amy Stillwell at All women are most welcome!! Our Mission To Spread Christ s Kingdom through prayer, service and evangelism. Our Vision Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Daughters seek to know Jesus Christ and to make Him known to others and to reflect God s love throughout the world. Our Rule of Life As Daughters we undertake a Rule of Life, which can be thought of as a covenant between God and ourselves. It helps us to focus on our walk with Jesus Christ. Our Rule of Life consists of a Rule of Prayer and Rule of Service. Our Rule of Prayer Daughters seek to grow and deepen their relationship with God through the Rule of Prayer. We fulfill this vow by praying daily for unity in Christ s church, the spread of Christ s kingdom, God s blessings upon members of our chapter and our clergy and the spiritual growth of our parish. Our Rule of Service Daughters are dedicated to fulfill their baptismal vows as they strive to be Christ s faithful servants by participating in worship and study and by assisting clergy in the outreach and work of the church. For more information, contact Amy Stillwell at

5 5 Breaking Bread Sunday School Adult Education in August Classes begins August 9-9:15-10:15am The Rector s Class: Learn about God s Grace on August 9 and 16, the unique and important ministry of Stephen Ministers on August 23, and join us for a special Pilgrimage Brunch on August 30, where we will hear a report from our High School Pilgrims who traveled to Montreal and Quebec this past June. Lectionary class invites all adults to join us each Sunday morning where we have a lively discussion of the lectionary readings with input from all attendees. We share our view points on the lesson and how it applies to our lives. Also, we explore how the lectionary readings affect our journey as disciples of Christ. Please come and join us anytime throughout the year. Jim Woodruff is the facilitative leader for this class. Meets in Room 5 downstairs. Book of Acts using N.T. Wright Acts Study Guide. The class will follow N.T. Wright s Study Guide chapter schedule and discussion topics/questions. Tom Mimms, Stuart Wright and Kurt Mueller will lead the class discussion. The class schedule to accommodate special Sundays and holiday periods will be provided at our first class meeting on August 9 th. We will meet in Room 8, downstairs. You can buy the N.T. Wright Study Acts Guide book online, through Sweet Spirit or download onto your Kindle. Growing Christian Families: For Parents of Young Children is a new ministry starting this fall. Mike and Kim Nancarrow will facilitate this class in Room 6. In our first series of classes, we will look at our busy lives and culture and discuss ways that we can find peace and prioritize the things that are really important. We will refer to relevant bible verses for insights and principles to guide our discussions. There will be no prep work required and drops in are welcome! Women s Study group will study one book of the Bible (as yet undetermined) this fall. All participants are encouraged to study a purchased guide during the week and to contribute (as much as comfort allows) to open discussions. If you like to laugh, learn, and love, this is the class for you! Facilitated by Anne Wright in Room 7. Tuesday Nights Introduction to the Bible ~ Starting Tuesday, August 11, 2015 from 7 8 PM (dinner from 6:15 7 PM) with The Rev. Tom Pumphrey in the Parish Hall. Do you consider yourself a Bible Novice? Do you need a better sense of the basics? This Tuesday night series offers an overview and practical orientation to get you started. We'll survey the basic story lines and their significance, and get a sense for how they all tie together. We'll use the book "A Tour of the Bible" as an optional resource for this class (it is not required). To reserve a copy please send an to Tom with your request. The cost for the book is $15 (pay when you pick it up). Bible Studies Tuesday Women s Bible Study will be starting a new study called "Discover your spiritual gifts, personal style and God-given passion for serving in the Body of Christ". Beginning August 18, still from 10-11:30 in the Children s Ministries lobby with childcare available. Wednesday Women s Bible Study currently studying Gospel of Mark, meet in Garden Room from 10:00-11:15am. Begins September 9. Thursday Men s Bible Study... a new Bible Study group for men is meeting Thursday mornings from 7:00 8:00 AM in the Conference Room. Every other Saturday: Brotherhood of St. Andrew welcomes guests to attend their men s Breakfast, Bible Study and Meeting from 7:00 8:30am in the Garden Room.

6 Breaking Bread 6 Youth News by Ryan Mulkowsky, Youth Ministry Upcoming Events for August: August 2, Youth Ministry Parent & Student Meeting All students from 6 th -12 th grades and their parents are invited to attend this informational meeting because of the exciting new developments in Youth Ministry and Sunday School. This will also be a time when Ryan will be able to answer any questions you may have, and will discuss the entire program in detail. Meeting starts at 9:15am in the Garden Room. August 9, First Day of Sunday School & Evening Youth Groups We kick off Sunday School and Evening Youth Groups for the school year on Sunday, August 9 th. Sunday School occurs weekly from 9:15-10:15am in Rooms 1-4 downstairs in the Garden Room area. To register for Sunday School, you can either meet Ryan during coffee hour on July 26 th and August 2 nd and fill out a physical form or, for your convenience, we are implementing a new electronic registration form! To access this form and complete it, you can log on to our website and under Children and Youth, click on the Sunday School Registration Form link. Evening Youth Groups occur weekly starting with Middle School Youth Group from 5:00-6:15pm and High School Youth Group from 6:45-8:00pm. This is a time where we share a meal, play games, have a short devotional lesson, and break out into small groups. If you would like to serve either as a teacher, helper, or substitute leader for Sunday School; or as a leader for Evening Youth Groups, please contact Ryan. August 29, Diocesan Youth Day Retreat Filled to be Emptied We will be attending the Diocesan EYC Youth Day Retreat hosted at All Saints' on August 29 from 10am-5pm. The focus of the retreat will center on hunger and what it means to be called to serve those in need and to reach our hands out into our communities. Cost is $5.00. Join us for a day of worship, fellowship, service, programming for young adults, and even special programming for Youth Workers! This will be our kick-off Monthly Youth Outing (MYO) for the Fall so please come out and let s fellowship and serve together! Registration is open until August 23.To register for this event, please contact Ryan. August 30, Pilgrimage Team Presentation & Brunch The 2015 Pilgrimage Team is so thankful to each and every one of you who supported us on our journey to Quebec City and Montreal, Canada in June. This was indeed a truly powerful experience with the living God, and we are forever changed. We want to express our deepest appreciation by hosting a Thank You Brunch on August 30 from 9:15-10:15am in the Parish Hall. During this brunch, the students will be presenting how the trip impacted them and has allowed them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. The cost is free, but we ask that you RSVP by August 24 so we can have an accurate headcount. To RSVP, please contact Ryan. New Ways to Connect! In order to better connect you to what is going on in the youth ministry here at SPSP, we have developed several ways for you to stay engaged: Social Media: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram:

7 7 Breaking Bread & Text: We ask that especially parents and students, along with connecting on our Social Media sites, also connect with what is going on through our new direct campaign and texting service. These two sources will be the most effective way for you to stay current on everything going on in our youth ministry! Link to Subscribe to our Updates: Link to Subscribe to our Texting Updates: Weekend Retreats This Fall: Parish Retreat: St. Peter & St. Paul will be hosting a parish retreat open to everyone in our parish community, including students, at Kanuga Conference Center on October 2-4 th. Happening #64 Renewal Weekend: Happening is a Diocesan-wide renewal weekend sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta at Camp Mikell. Adults attend as chaperones, but teenagers lead the weekend FOR teenagers. Happening Team, which facilitates the weekend experience, consists of young people and adults who are active members of their parish. Happening is open to all high school youth who have completed their first semester of freshman year (i.e. 2 nd Semester 9 th -12 th grades). To register for these events, please contact Ryan. Stay Connected: Along with the many new ways you can connect (outlined above), also check out the weekly bulletin, sign up for the church Weekly Blast, and logon to our website for the latest updates and information on not only what is going on with the youth, but also what is going on in our parish as a whole. If you have any questions, or if you would like to serve in the youth ministry here; please contact our Youth Minister, Ryan Mulkowsky, at RMulkowsky@peterandpaul.org or call the church office. Stewardship and Spiritual Growth Connecting the Dots This article deals with the giving of your treasure and Spiritual Growth. Sure, the topic of giving is sometimes difficult to discuss but it doesn t have to be if you approach it from the right direction. There are many Bible verses that talk about giving but consider the following from Deuteronomy 16:17. Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you. The verse capsulizes two important points: (1) giving back to God (2) what God has given you. Approaching it from this direction you have removed the secular aspects of giving to a spiritual giving. If you believe that everything you have is a gift from God then your giving is the result of gratefulness and praise. Subsequently, your spiritual growth deepens as you become Christ-like in the giving of your time, your talent and now your treasure. For in Hebrew 13:16 it states, Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Ask for God s help through prayer if you are unsure as to how to spend your treasure. The Holy Spirit can guide the willing listener, and the willing listener guided by the Holy Spirit will grow as a disciple of Christ.

8 Breaking Bread Breaking Bread August 2015 Breaking Bread 8 SUPPORTING THE CAREGIVER DON T NEGLECT THE BODY OF CHRIST Friends of St. John the Caregiver Attending worship is probably the largest gathering of the Body of Christ. There is healing just by being fully present to God with the Body of Christ. It is a gathering of wounded people, trusting in God and offering praise and thanks together. We are not made to go through life alone. But the Body of Christ is also where two or three are gathered together in My Name. God may come to you through someone else and may work through you to encourage another. With God s help you can make it through today. Remember, it is only for a season. Each of us may be sure that if God sends us on a stony path He will provide us with strong shoes, and He will not send us out on any journey for which He does not equip us well. Alexander McLaren Plant the Seed. Stephen Ministry Stephen Ministry is our parish s one-to-one caregiving ministry. God works through Stephen Ministers to plant a seed of hope and healing in a person whose life is barren and forlorn because of some crisis or tragedy. Stephen Ministers care for people who are: Grieving In a crisis In need of long-term care Dying The family and friends of people in crisis Divorcing Hospitalized Experiencing losses as they age Going through a crisis of childbirth To learn more about becoming a Stephen Minister, contact: The Rev Elisa Harres, eharres@peterandpaul.org;