St. Paul s Episcopal Church The Epistle. September, 2014

Transcription

1 St. Paul s Episcopal Church The Epistle September, 2014 Love God. Love others. Help others love God. We welcome you to join us on our journey as we strive to share the love of Jesus through worship, Christian education, fellowship and service to each other and the community beyond our walls. A Message from Your Rector I am not much of a reader but every now and then someone, Dolly Chergosky in this case, gets me to read a book. I liked this one because it was only about 100 pages. The book is Christianity without Superstition: Meaning, Metaphor and Mystery. The author, John McQuiston, II is an attorney and an active layperson in the Episcopal Church and he answers some of the tough questions having to do with belief, faith, Scripture and following Jesus. I particularly like his telling of attending an inquirer s class with his wife and asking the rector, What am I required to believe to be a member of this church? He was surprised by the rector s response of: That is up to you. Isn t the Episcopal Church great in that we don t have to check our brains at the door? He tackles the million-dollar assumption that faith is not all about adhering to creeds, beliefs, and rules and regulations but more following the way of life that Jesus lived while among us and has left us an example: LOVE. I guess the Scribes and Pharisees would not be happy since he challenges their legalistic views of religion. Yet, many of us fall into that category in one way or another. But as long as we act, say and behave in a way that is pleasing to God we have won the battle and gained the prize. I think whichever way you look at religion; as a set of beliefs or as a way of life, someone is going to find an issue with it. But for those of us who choose Christianity as a way of life, while it is by no means easy, it is one that we find rewarding and fulfilling. For those of us who grew up in the pre-vatican II church and for those struggling to find meaning and value in life this book makes sense in that he calls us to embody the compassion and selflessness that Jesus modeled with His life. Our upcoming Spirituality Day on Saturday, October 18 th (details will be in October Epistle) will focus on many of the concepts discussed in this book although reading this book is not a requirement in order to participate in the Spirituality Day. On Monday evening, October 20 th, we will meet to reflect on the Spirituality Day. If you get a chance to read the book I highly recommend it. Please join us for either event or both. Christianity without Superstition: Meaning, Metaphor and Mystery by John McQuiston, II Morehouse Publishing, Father John+

2 Thank you to Michelle Wolf, Jack Westermann and Mike Kakusian for helping to keep the lawns looking great. Thank you to Jim Garceau for leading us in Morning Prayer while Fr. John enjoyed a well-deserved vacation. Our garden has been kept watered thanks to Sue Hankey and Dolly Chergosky. Thank you to all those who set up, prepared and cleaned up after the Movin On luncheon: Lynn and Bill Freeman, Jane Parker and Sue Jones. A cold cuts/blt smorgasbord! We have had some wonderful summer music provided by Carl Kinne, Barbara Dailey, Karen Cahill and Judy Shannon. Thank you for enhancing our worship. So many people helped to make our annual Ice Cream Social a memorable event! Leading the charge this year were Eunice Barton and Bob Pettit with tremendous help from: Judy Doherty, Duncan Finlayson, Nancy Boyd-Goff, Keri Smith, Stephanie and Garvin Alexander, Marge Johns, Karen Cahill, Mary Gilfoyle, Patty Wallace, Jim Gilmore, the Swavola family, Valerie Griswold, Casey Korchynsky, the Conrad family, the Rincavage family, Fr. John, Jennifer and Jack Westermann and Lynne Jones. Thank you also to the unsung heroes who helped with the clean-up. Special thanks to the Hershey Ice Cream Company and McDonald s for their donations of the ice cream and orange drink. An ever popular feature of the Ice Cream Social is the opportunity to win a raffle basket. Thank you to Suzanne Pettit for gathering the wide variety of baskets that were offered. (A list of the winners can be found elsewhere in this newsletter.) Thank you to everyone who donated school supplies for our school aged CHOW clients. They will be off to school ready and well equipped to learn! St. Paul s is truly blessed to have such a strong cadre of volunteers. Please note that if you have helped in some capacity and I have missed your name, it is not because you are not appreciated. I try to catch a glimpse of those who come and go but I do miss you sometimes; be assured, we are thankful for you, too!!! Need a little boost? You are invited to stop by and pray in the Chapel or Church anytime during the week, Monday thru Thursday from 9AM to 2PM. Sometimes we just need a little boost in our week. Unfortunately, we can t leave the doors open all the time but we hope this time might be a help and offer you a place of solace in your busy lives. 2

3 St. Paul s Red Cross Blood Drive Tuesday, September 2, 1:00PM 6:00PM On Tuesday, September 2, St. Paul s will be hosting a Red Cross blood drive in the undercroft (fellowship hall). Both donors and volunteers are needed. Due to more relaxed summer schedules there tends to be a drop-off in the number of people who donate blood so this would be a good time to get back on schedule. Volunteers will be needed to help with registration/check-in and staffing the canteen after donating. There is a sign-up sheet in the back of the church for those who are able to donate blood or you may schedule through the Red Cross directly at either RED CROSS or redcrossblood.org. Please contact Jennifer Westermann ( ) if you can help us with registration or the canteen. Women of the Church Wednesday, September 3, 5:30 PM Everyone is invited to a presentation by George Cummings, a Revolutionary War enthusiast. He will speaking about roles women took on during the war but promises to have nuggets of interest for the men as well! We will begin with a potluck supper so please bring a dish to share and your own table service. And a friend! Bring lots of friends! For information call Eunice Barton at Jubilation Sunday Sunday, September 7 Traditionally, our Ministry Fair has been held on the Sunday following Labor Day. The Ministry Committee has been discussing the effectiveness of its current format and has proposed an overhaul. While we will still be meeting the first Sunday after Labor Day, we will be gathering this year for an all parish indoor picnic, immediately following the 10AM service, in celebration of Jubilation Sunday. Chicken spiedies and hot dogs will be the main course; we ask that you bring a dish to share. Please use the sign-up sheet in the back of the church so we know how much meat to buy. In order to get a more detailed look at our ministry areas, we will be featuring a specific ministry each Sunday. From praying for to signing up, each week will be dedicated to the development and promotion of each and every one of St. Paul s areas of ministry as well as our outreach programs. Ministry groups are encouraged to claim a space on one of the bulletin boards in the Fellowship Hall to share your work with us. A calendar list of each Sunday ministry date is available in the church office. 3

4 Movin On Luncheon Monday, September 8, Noon The menu of the month for the September Movin On lunch will be breaded chicken patties with warm peach sauce. All widows and widowers are invited to enjoy this culinary delight. (Note: Menu subject to change with very little notice.) Choir Notes The bells and vocal choirs will be starting this month and there is always room for more. On September 4, the St. Paul s Ringers and the Adult Choir will begin rehearsing on Thursday evenings at 6 and 7PM respectively. Chimes 4 Jesus, open to kids in 1 st grade and up, will start rehearsals on September 14 following the 10AM service. Whether you have always wanted to join or are wondering if this might be for you, stop by any rehearsal and check us out. No auditions are ever needed. Bible Study Thursdays, 9:00AM Bible study continues to meet on Thursdays at 9:00AM in the Conference Room. The readings for each upcoming Sunday are read and discussed. You ll learn a little background of each reading (was it a letter? Set of instructions? Book of poetry?) and some of the culture of the times. Prior reading of the Bible is not a requirement, just bring one! We will supply the coffee. Anti-Racism Training Saturday, September 20, 9AM-5PM The Diocese has passed a resolution requiring all leadership including, lay and ordained persons, professional staff and those in position of leadership on committees, commissions and boards to receive Anti-Racism training. A workshop will be held at Trinity Memorial Church on Sept., 20 from 9AM to 5PM. Workshop materials and lunch will be provided. Anyone planning to attend, please contact The Rev. Dena Cleaver-Bartholomew at to register. 4

5 CHOW Garden Have you looked at the CHOW garden? We are having a great crop which means we need people to harvest it! The zucchini is almost finished but the tomatoes are ripening fast and the potatoes will soon be ready to dig up. Check with Dolly Chergosky ( ) if you need and gathering guidance. Raffle Winners Ice Cream Social Ice cream and the zoo mobile set a winning tone for everyone but some lucky ones went home with a raffle basket. The following people struck it rich this year: Paula Giroux Garvin Alexander Evan Swavola Grace Miller Treyvon (last name not known) Sandra Button Natasha Haley Julie Rotger Jim (last name not known) Starr Pringle Eileen Patch Casey Korchynsky Kelly Parker-Seeley Robert Barnhart M. Jones Ryan Wavra Isabella Kane Thank you to all who donated items for the baskets. CHOW Concerns We will continue with our featured food of the month with September focusing on spaghetti sauce and 100% fruit juice. These items have been in short supply at the CHOW warehouse which means we have not been receiving them with our deliveries. Of course, donations of any non-perishable food is very much appreciated. Prayers for Our Ministries Each week a different ministry area of St. Paul s is featured in the bulletin to highlight, encourage involvement and give thanks for the people who make it happen. During September we pray for the following ministries: 7 Counters 14 Acolytes 21 Altar Guild 28 Card Committee 5

6 Christian Formation Sunday School for both children and adults will begin this month. We offer two classes for the youth of the parish which will begin on Sunday, September 14 th. Those aged 4-6 will meet in Room 205. Those who are 7-12 will meet in Room 206. If your child is older than 12 please see Fr. John; we would love to add another class! The Adult Forum will meet in the fellowship hall beginning on Sunday, September 28 after the 10:00 service. Forum will start with a brief coffee/doughnut fellowship time before settling in for the discussion of the day. Enriching Our Worship The Vestry, on recommendation of the Worship Committee, has approved the addition of a new hymnal to our worship. The Wonder, Love and Praise Hymnal is a second supplement to The Hymnal This hymnal contains collection of two hundred hymns, songs, and spirituals including a large selection of service music and devotional pieces. It is a valuable resource for worship here at St. Paul s. The sturdy paperback pew edition contains all necessary accompaniments. There are additional hymns for Advent, Holy Week, Baptism, Ordinations, and Funerals as well as for healing, mission, unity, and peace. There are a dozen bilingual hymns and another dozen from Lift Every Voice and Sing II. The service music section contains twenty-nine new canticle settings including six Glorias, two Te Deums, A Song of Wisdom and A Song of Pilgrimage from Supplemental Liturgical Materials. There are two sets of Gospel Acclamations based on hymn tunes for the seasons of Easter and Epiphany. In addition there are twenty-nine selections of other liturgical and devotional music that includes table graces, rounds, acclamations, and selections of music from Taize. Many of the songs we use at funerals can be found in this hymnal. We are looking for those who wish to purchase a books(s) in loving memory of, in thanksgiving for and in honor of whichever person or event you would like. The cost of each hymnal is $ We need 104 hymnals in order to place four in each pew. They will either be kept at the end or placed in the pew when we need them. Forms are available in the back of the church. 6

7 October News: Spirituality Day Saturday, October 18, 9:00AM 3:00PM I would like to invite you to come to a day to nurture our inner spirit. This will be on Saturday, October 18 th and will be led by the Rev. Dr. William Redfield, a priest in the Diocese who is responsible for Wisdom House in Fayetteville, NY. So mark your calendars. Come reach for the Kingdom; don t let rules keep you from God. You will be led in a connection to God. More information to follow. Fr. John+ CREDO Fr. John has been invited to attend a CREDO conference from September at the Roslyn Conference Center in Richmond, Virginia. This program is a benefit of the Church Pension Fund and is by invitation only. CREDO provides a holistic approach to health and wellness. It provides an array of conferences and post-conference resources that help participants examine, evaluate, and re-energize their health and wellness. The Latin word, credo, can be roughly translated as I believe, but it has a much deeper meaning. Literally translated, it means, I give my heart. CREDO encourages participants to rediscover the passionate essence of their lives and ministries in the context of their faith, their relationships, and community. The mission of CREDO is to provide opportunities for people to examine significant areas of their lives and to discern prayerfully the future direction of their vocations as they respond to God s call in a lifelong process of practice and transformation. The CREDO experience provides a profound opportunity for participants to reflect on their journeys, discern God s presence and calling deep within themselves, and renew, reaffirm, and recommit their passion and conviction for their authentic vocations. CREDO is more than a single conference experience. Through the strength of a holistic approach to wellness, participants are invited to examine their minds, bodies, spirits, and hearts by examining four significant areas of their lives spiritual, vocational, health, and financial. Through a post-conference curriculum of wellness resources, Episcopal Church clergy can continue to deepen their patterns and commitment to lifelong wellness. CREDO is: An intentional Christ-centered community; A work of the heart, mind, body and spirit; A living stream with a sustainable spirit; A four-step life cycle process of identity, discernment, practice, and transformation. Please keep Fr. John in your prayers as he uses this time to further discern God s call to him. 7

8 Flower Memorials September 7: The flowers on the altar today are given in celebration of the anniversary of Ruthie and Steve Koerts. September 14: Available September 21: The flowers on the altar today are from Beverly W. Costello in loving memory of her husband, Charles Costello and from Sylvia Fulk in loving memory of her mother, Doris Dieguéz. September 28: Available Sanctuary Candle Memorials September 7: The Sanctuary Candle burns this week in loving memory of Hazel and Wayne Knickerbocker from their daughter, Patricia Roberts. September 14: The Sanctuary Candle burns this week in loving memory of Leo Cook from his wife, Nanda and his loving family. September 21: The Sanctuary Candle burns this week in loving memory of Charles Costello, husband of Beverly W. Costello. September 28: The Sanctuary Candle burns this week in loving memory of Bill Babuka from his wife, Shirley Babuka. 8

9 Birthdays 9/1 Christine Yannuzzi 9/22 Dale Bachmann & Marie 9/6 Sam Martinichio & Michael Kakusian Dollmetsch 9/9 Bill Smith 9/23 Julie Yacovoni 9/13 Don Manning, Duncan Finlayson and 9/24 Jennifer Kakusian Tim Petras 9/26 Sharon Powell 9/14 Kendra Besemer 9/27 Robert Britton & Dorothy 9/15 Valerie Griswold Riley 9/16 Melissa Moon 9/28 Debra Dieffenbacher 9/17 Midge Wieland & Daniel Maxim 9/30 Janet Thomas & Amy 9/19 Jack Westermann Manchester 9/20 Casey Korchynsky & Art Meade Anniversaries 9/01 Jennifer and John Kakusian 9/04 Barb and John Martinichio 9/08 Janet and George Kroculik Annette and Bob Bakalar 9/10 Brenda and Mark Baileys Denise and Daryl Spak 9/16 Dolly and Luther Chergosky 9/19 Sue and Bob Hankey 9/25 Dorothy and Dale Bachman We would sure like to recognize your special day. If you are not listed, please contact the office at

10 Liturgical Ministers September AM 10AM 7 Lay Minister Mary Cermak Sue Jones 1 st Reading Zach Manchester 2 nd Reading Garvin Alexander Carl Kinne Chalice Chip Kinne Eunice Barton Ezekiel 33:7-11 Romans 13: Lay Minister Jennifer Westermann Jim Garceau 1 st Reading Judy Doherty 2 nd Reading Jackie Reece Judy Shannon Chalice Jack Westermann Barb Dailey Genesis 50:15-21 Romans 14: Lay Minister Katie Cornell Jim Buffum 1 st Reading Bob Pettit 2 nd Reading Debbie Dieffenbacher Sue Pettit Chalice Jane Parker Karen Cahill Jonah 3:10-4:11 Philippians 1: Lay Minister Jennifer Westermann Georgia Wilber 1 st Reading Sue Jones 2 nd Reading Mary Cermak Ray Besemer Chalice Luther Chergosky Jim Garceau Ezekiel 18:1-4, Philippians 2:1-13 Please note: If you are unable to serve on a scheduled day, please find a replacement. Ted Wolf ( ) may be available to substitute. Vestry Notes As there was no vestry meeting in August, the July minutes will be approved during the September meeting. They will be posted on bulletin boards throughout the building. 10