THE GOOD NEWS August 2015

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1 The mission of St. Paul s is to be the Body of Christ and instruments of his love and grace committed to serve and nurture this church and community. THE GOOD NEWS August 2015 Inside this Issue Parish News & Notes Vestry highlights Upcoming Events EYC Happenings Church Calendar and Ministry Schedule Rock, Paper, Scissors 3 from the Rector It s amazing to me that bumper stickers continue to be such a big part of popular culture. Of course there are the political ones, urging others to vote, presumably for the same candidate or issue as the owner of the car. There are the ones that make it plain that the owner, or at least his or her car had been to Holiday World, or Wall Drugs in the Badlands, or Mammoth Cave. There are the ones that were pure pop culture, including my favorite relic of the 70s, featuring a yellow smiley face and the then ubiquitous, if somewhat saccharine greeting, Have a Nice Day. One that I remember being incredibly popular when I was a kid in our biblically conservative community was that little bit of bumper sticker theology that I m quite sure is familiar to most folks, since you still see it around here every now and then, especially if you get over near the Creation Museum or the Noah s Ark replica: God said it. I believe it. That settles it. Now, there s nothing wrong with the theology itself. We are meant to rest in the assurance of God s mercy and grace and love. As the Church s designated representative in such matters, I can assure you (and try every chance I get) that what God has promised is indeed settled. For a fact. For sure. For ever. It s just that the folks who drove those cars in the parking lot were pretty certain that they had it all figured out and could settle on their metaphorical backsides. As a matter of fact, they were quite certain that the God said it part was talking about the red-letter King James Version of the Bible. To be fair, the Church fought long and hard to get to the point of the creation of the Authorized Version published under the authority of King James I of England (King James VI of Scotland but that s a whole other history lesson) in From the canons prescribed by various leaders of the Early Church, to St. Jerome s translation into the Latin, right down to Tyndale, Wycliffe and the Protestant reformers, the process of defining and then defending the Holy Scriptures of the old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, and to contain all things necessary to salvation. (BCP p. 526) has been a phenomenal work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church. But somewhere along the way, the openness that was the goal of Reformation zeal for putting the Word of God into the hands and minds and hearts of all God s people got lost in the struggle, calcifying into a self-justifying system every bit as rigid as the Church structures it sought to displace. That happened most fiercely during the European wars of religion in the sixteenth and seventeenth century (The Bible mixed up in politics quel surpriz gasp in surprise!), but I would argue that it enjoyed a considerable resurgence in the mid- to late-nineteenth century (that s where the folks I grew up with got it, I m sure) and again toward the end of the twentieth. At its worst, we take whatever version suits our reading, as interpreted by whatever teacher pleases our ears, and turn it into a form of paper infallibility that supports our own immutable, inerrant claims. There is no doubt in my mind or heart that Holy Scripture is the clearest revelation we have of the nature and purpose of our Creator, of our own authentic nature and true purpose, and of the person and work of Jesus Christ in returning us to right relationship with each other. When we use Scripture, however, as a personal possession to prove our point, to make our argument, or to undergird our prejudices and oppressions, we forget that Scripture is instead a holy gift of God, to enlighten our life so that we may be the light of the whole world. Peace and joy,

2 Upcoming Events Sundays 8 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite 1, 9 a.m. Choir Practice, 10 a.m. Choral Eucharist, Sunday School. Coffee Hour following the service. Tuesdays 6 p.m. Saints, Sinners and Cynics Rookies Sports Bar Wednesdays 12:10 Midweek Eucharist suspended for August Sunday August 9 6:00 p.m. Youth Swim Party with First Christian Henderson Country Club Sunday August 16 CCO Sunday Shampoo Monday August 17 Noon, St. Ann s Guild Tuesday August 18 5:30 p.m. Vestry Meeting Rector s Study Saturday August 29 Prayer Shawl Ministry Ingathering, Parish Hall Parish News and Notes Alexis & Caitlin serve dessert for the kids who were part of our Summer Feeding Program.

3 Why Go to Church? from the Postulant I noticed for some people how easy it is to claim to be a Christian. As a result, we tend to take the faith for granted. People go to church of Sunday because that is what we do. But I wonder how may people really understand why we go to church. There is a difference between going to church and worshipping God. One is a matter of routine, and the other is a conscious spiritual activity. When we believe that the church s mission is to bring us to everlasting life, we have to realize that this is serious business. The work of the church is to feed the poor and take care of the sick and promote social justice. Yes, these are signs of our faith, but the church has a purpose and that purpose is to save souls. This requires prayer, an understanding of what the church teaches, and a willingness to practice what we preach. I believe and you will agree, that ministry does happen in the congregation, but that is only part of the church s ministry. Most ministry happens out in the world more broadly where we are living, working, interacting with each other and where our ideas, beliefs, and attitudes are reflected in our actions everyday. All persons of faith have God given gifts for church ministry. However, few Christian laity recognize or accept or even affirm their own special gifts. I believe all Christians are called to full-time ministry, but not all are able to recognize their call or respond with a yes. Therefore, we need our church family to help us recognize our calling and to mutually respect and affirm each other s unique gifts. Serving on a Vestry or being on a committee is very important but preparing food, tending the sick, cleaning up, doing yard work or just listening to other s problems are different actions of Christian ministry that is carried out in may ways resulting in a variety of gifts. Gifts from God that each of us can give our best efforts to. It takes very little effort to come to church, but it takes a lot of hard work to be a faithful Christian. Remember we are still in ordinary time and it s time to do some serious growth in our Christian lives. And use our God given gifts when the opportunity arises. Faithfully, Smiling Bright Our challenge for giving to Christian Community Outreach for July was toothpaste, and all told, we collected more than 75 tubes of dentifrice. As anyone who has had to stand in the dental care aisle at the supermarket or pharmacy can tell you, the variety is nearly overwhelming. We had toothpaste from Crest, Colgate, Aim, AquaFresh, Pepsodent, and the aforementioned Close Up. We supplied the stuff in fresh mint, ultra mint, cool mint, original mint and cinnamon. We gave toothpaste in tartar protecting, cavity protecting, even triple protecting and triple action. Since Susan, our usual model and spokesperson was off in Vermont running way farther than she had to, Larry and Diane did the heavy lifting this month. We did not compute how long a ribbon might be created from all those tubes, nor did we calculate how many total brushings it represents, but with over 500 ounces of toothpaste given for CCO to distribute, one thing is certain, a lot more families in Henderson will be able to smile bright and breathe easy. Our next 3rd Sunday collection for CCO is August 16 when, at Mary s request, we're once again looking for shampoo. Education Sunday At St. Paul s we are always proud that we are part of the wider fabric of education in our community. Here where we call home, where we are called to serve in Christ s name, we are blessed with many who are committed to greater education for everyone, and especially for our children. The Henderson County School District has declared August 9 as Education Sunday, and we will celebrate the beginning of the new school year by sharing that with a special blessing for all our students at worship that morning. Kids and youth are invited to bring their backpacks to be part of that celebration and blessing. As the students, parents and teachers who are part of our congregation prepare for the start of another school year, we pray for their success and for their fulfillment and that they all continue to grow in mind as well as in body.

4 Independence Celebration Leslie Newman EYC youth (but not their leader) attended the parish Fourth of July picnic and party. Other strictly EYC activities that were planned for July included attending the Vanderburgh, Warrick and Henderson summer musicals and a bonfire at the Brain Injury Adventure Camp with the Presbyterian youth were on the calendar but did not materialize due to our families summer schedules, from jobs to sports camps to vacations to vacation Bible schools at other churches, and maybe because of the heat! Holiday World A whole convoy of St. Paul s kids, a handful of their friends, and a full contingent of adults for safety and good measure, found their way to Holiday World June 30. As has become custom, the Parish paid the way for those that helped with VBS earlier in the month, and everyone else went as helped with a great discount. For some, fun took the form rushing terror on the park s newest coaster, the Thunderbird. Some preferred the somewhat less challenging Frightful Falls or W ildebeest. Others were more content with bobbing in Bahari Wave Pool, or floating down Bahari River. Everyone seemed to enjoy the pizzas Fr. Rich arranged for lunch. Whatever the pace, from the youngest, to the most seasoned, everyone had a long, full day of fun in the sun and on the water. Even though they were still filled with the energy that comes with youth, it was a much quieter convoy home than when the day began. Camp Wrap-Up Leslie Newman Anna and Sophie Hays and Alexis and Trae Purdy returned to All Saints Camp in July for another week of service as Counselors-in-Training and Assistant Counselors. And Kendall Pullum rounded out St. Paul s crew of campers as well. St. Paul s youth are such a vital part of summer life at All Saints, and All Saints is such a vital part of the lives of our youth and children. The camp experience and leadership training, the friends they make, and the Christian environment and formation afforded the youth who attend All Saints have the most significant impact St. Paul s provides our youth during their tooshort time with us. Many, many, many thanks to all who make this possible - from the donation of money that is used for scholarships, the use of vehicles for transportation, and the time to take the youth and children to and from All Saints, and the time spent with them on this journey. What Our Kids are Up To Leslie Newman Under the category of you probably can t imagine all the things our youth do, you may recall former EYCer Haleigh Johnson (now Emerson) was a champion barrel racer. Lexy Smith, one of our newest youth, rides horses, too, and like Haleigh, she doesn t just ride horses. Lexy is a member of the Union County 4-H Varsity Equestrian Drill Team, which is made up of 12 horses and riders. This year the team was plagued by bad luck, injury, and illness, with several horses and riders being affected. In one instance, Lexy's horse fell with her at district 4-H competition and Lexy was sidelined for a couple of weeks with a foot injury. Her horse, Tiger, a 15 year old American Quarter Horse, had some problems with soreness, as well. But in July everyone on the team pulled it together for the state 4-H competition in Louisville. They performed, while carrying flags, an intricate pattern set to music and a theme about butterflies, life transitions, and overcoming adversity. They won the title of Kentucky 4-H State Champion Drill Team, topping 10 other teams in the open division! Each girl received a trophy buckle and blue ribbon. A video of their winning performance can be seen on the Union County 4-H Facebook page. Lexy s mom, Juliah Baird has been sidelined with an injury of her own to her Achilles tendon (ouch) during this same time and so we haven t seen them lately. We hope their family can be with us again soon! Splashing to Summer s End Leslie Newman As August approaches, EYC looks forward to a swimming party with our friends at the Christian Church, the Presbyterians, and Community Baptist. The fun at Henderson Country Club on Sunday, August 9, starts at 6:00, with a pick-up time of 8 and includes supper. More information will hit your boxes soon. And we may try to squeeze in another visit to the Deep s pool, as well, since we ve had such a blast in year s past, it d be a shame to miss it.

5 Vestry Notes At their regular meeting on July 21, St. Paul s Vestry: Reviewed financial reports, still with a small surplus of income over expenses for the year. Confirmed September 27 as the date for the Parish Picnic. The pavilion at Audubon Park is reserved. Directed the Finance Committee to discuss investments with Field & Main before the next meeting. Lamented the cancellation of the gutter work and asked the Building Committee to get fresh bids. Authorized the Junior Warden to arrange for a new air conditioning unit for the dental office. Considered the benefits of a future, more modest and internally driven capital campaign. Received an interim report from the Formation Committee of their work on a Parish Safeguarding Policy. The next meeting of St. Paul s Vestry is scheduled for 5:30, Tuesday evening, August 18. EfM Class Getting Back to Work We re already leaning forward for another year of Education for Ministry, and there s certainly room for you. We have a handful of EfM veterans already ready to resume their adventure beginning Monday evening, September 14, but we d like to be able to include the perspective of new Year 1 learners as well. Education for Ministry is a four-year program of theological education for the laity of the Episcopal Church through study of the Hebrew Bible, the Christian Testament, Church history and the broad spectrum of theological thought. More importantly, though, EfM is about learning a new way of looking at the whole of life with God-focused eyes. Like every good thing in life, there are some costs involved: The fees are nominal, and scholarships are available. The time involved is manageable; the class will meet thirty-four times between September and June, usually on Monday evenings. The real cost is the commitment to participate with your whole self. Not coincidentally, that is also the greatest reward to be gained from EfM being part of something so filled with challenge and with wonder. To find out more about what Education for Ministry can do for you, talk to Fr. Rich or one of our returning upper classmen: Bill Brodsky, Larry Courtney, Paula Crowley, Ann Street, or Marty White. A Month of Wednesdays Fr. Rich First of all, thank you, thank you! Your concern, comfort, and love for Jenny and me during her hospitalization and since, has sometimes been literally overwhelming. We continue to wait for the medications to do their job of melting the clot in her heart so that her doctor can try to address the underlying atrial fibrillation, but though fatigued, Jenny is doing well. All that, however, has meant some modification in our family s routine (if it ever was). At least in the short term, that has meant that I am now the commuting spouse instead of Jenny, and that has meant that I have had to rearrange some things here to allow me to be more attentive in Clarksville. Our cycle of Wednesday Eucharist, Parish suppers, and adult formation programs are as fulfilling to me as many of you have expressed they are to you. But for the month of August, we will suspend them both, trusting that by the time the next Good News goes to print, the Martindale family will have some good news as well, and we can get back to a more normal routine. Thank you again for your prayers and, as ever, for your abiding love! Did You Know? Former Henderson resident, Peter McCoy Jr. was recently featured in the Gleaner for his part in South Carolina s controversy over the Confederate battle banner. But did you know that Peter was once a member of St. Paul s Episcopal Church, and an active member of our corps of acolytes? We never know how our lives, as individuals or as a Parish, might effect the world. Feeding Bodies and Souls From the photos in this issue, you can see that the Summer Feeding Program underway as this issue is completed, is a rousing success. Look for more information, and many, many thanks, in the next Good News. Heading Off to School Leslie Newman We hope you will join us in prayers for our recent graduate Warner Mattingly as he departs for the University of Kentucky and for all our students as they return to school. Alexis Purdy and Renner Wehr will both be seniors in the coming year. My, how time flies! Financial Summary as of June 30, 2015 Pledged Amount to Date $91,441 Pledged Income received to Date $96,513 Other Operating Income to Date $26,081 Operating Expenses to Date $120,925

6 St. Paul s Episcopal Church Staff The Very Rev. Rich Martindale, Rector Leslie Newman, EYC Director Evalyn Champion, Organist/Choir Master Donna Mulcahy, Bookkeeper Judy Duncan, Parish Secretary Phone Prayer List Parish Family Steve Dan Joan Marsha Charlene Barbara Billy Marty Terry Donna Seymour Michelle Bill Jenny John Tom Doris Ann Our Family & Friends Don Pam Farley Jerry Jane Ashley Kathy Nancy Jeff Carol Polly Beverly Jean Peggy Jennifer Darrell Mary Catherine Rachel Celina Diane Molly Shane Barry Jack David Remington Patty Joe Mike Chris Sally Ken Alan Jan Bonnie John Wayne Logan Isaac Camden Agnes Joretta (Because our newsletter is published on the internet, Barbara Laurie only first names are listed here.) Linda Heather Tobyn Nolan Vestry Members Service Times Sr. Warden Carolyn Fuller Sunday 8:00 Rite I Jr. Warden Greg Powell 10:00 Rite II Clerk Susie Watkins Wednesday 12:10 Rite II Budget and Finance Hugh Hennessy, Bill Gentry w/anointing Parish Life Marilyn Dixon, Marty White, Greg Powell Building and Grounds Carolyn Fuller, Greg Powell, Bill Gentry, Hugh Hennessy Outreach Carolyn Fuller, Marty White Worship and Music Susie Watkins, Kurt Wilson, Marilyn Dixon Christian Formation and Youth Jennifer Preston, Susie Watkins Communications Kurt Wilson, Jennifer Preston Treasurer Hugh Hennessy St. Paul s Episcopal Church 5 South Green Street Henderson, KY