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Our Weekly e-newsletter       StPaulsRiverside.org           February 9, 2017
In This Issue
February 5th Sermon
Knowing One Another
Bishops Letter Regarding Refugees and Follow-up Letter
Open House at Rectory
High School Group Bowling
Pancake Supper
St. Paul's Auction
February Birthdays
This Week
Readings for Worship
Subscribe to the Beacon
February is Canned Tuna / Chicken Month 
February 5th Sermon
Fifth Sunday of Epiphany
Matthew 5:13-20
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Last Sunday I preached on the Gospel passage concerning how we are all called to be lights in the world.  My sermon is below. 

During my sermon, I referenced our bishop's two letters concerning the executive ban on travel.  Each letter is below for your information.   

I've had some wonderful and engaging conversations and follow-up from these two letters and my sermon. Please be in touch if you have any reflections or comments. 

In the peace of Christ,
Stephanie 

"And Jesus said: You are the Light of the World"
Today's Gospel reading from Matthew is a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount from last week when we heard in the beatitudes about God's blessings. This morning we hear about how Jesus calls us to be the light of the world. In my first two months here I've been considering what makes this church and the people particularly special, and how you are lights in this congregation and the world around us.
What I've noticed is the deep and meaningful relationships which have flourished here.. together many of you have raised families in this place, supported each others through professional setback, personal challenges and moments of rejoicing and you continue to build up these relationships, as some of your group have moved into assisted living or nursing homes, or moved to retirement communities far away. Some of you have attended funerals for those you have known and worshipped with for 50 plus years.
Younger generations have now formed groups to share parenting tips, social occasions and other moments to mark the passage of time, to gather at coffee hour for a quick word and conversation, an encouragement in facing the week ahead or a time to affirm good news together.
While the formation of groups is not an unusual occurrence it seems to me that what is unusual and life-giving is that these relationships last through generations and transcend particular times in a person's life, they occur not in a membership organization around a shared hobby or interest, but rather here in a place where God and God's love is the center of our shared life together.
Each of you light this house, God's house, with your presence and your witness. With your relationships and your caring for those in this congregation in a life sustaining, growing, struggling community of faithful. As affirmed in the words of Matthew's Gospel, " we do not place our lamp under the basket but rather on the lampstand, so it gives light to all the house."
It's with such joy that today we welcome in just a few minutes our newest members to this beautifully lit house, Thomas and Alidya, whose parents today will present themselves and their children to be part of this House of God, a place where no membership is required or standard are to be met, just a willingness to reflect God's light here and in the world.

Yet, the thing is that Jesus does not limit the light to shining within God's house as he urged those gathered on the mountain hearing this sermon 2000 years ago and to us gathered here this morning "to be a light to the world" to let our light shine before others, to go forth in the world to share our love of God, for all to see. God only knows that in the incredibly divided country we  are called to share this light so that, in the words of the Gospel, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." While I know from snippets of conversation with parishioners that many differences of opinion exist on how to share this light and witness to God's love, I believe it is the strength of our relationship, steeped in God's unity that calls us to beam our witness out into this country and the world . Author Madeleine L'Engle's put it so clearly when she said "We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it."
Can you just stop and imagine for one minute how lovely this light can be when it shines forth from each of us, making others yearn to share it, to experience what we all experience when we fully feel God's love in our own hearts? Goodness knows that in this divided world people of faith must not add to this division but instead try to show a deep sense of care and concern for whom they disagree, sharing the incredibly strong and powerful light of God.

I believe that this past week's series of letters from our bishop's was a good example of care for others as the shining of God's light in the world. In our weekly email I sent a link to a letter written by our bishops concerning the ban on Syrian refugees and travel for people coming into the US from 7 countries. The letter reminded us that Jesus, Mary and Joseph were refugees, that we are called to welcome strangers and aliens into our lands, and recounted the church's engagement in re-settling refugees. It concluded with a list of actions which we the people of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut might consider as appropriate responses to the ban.
While this letter may have been for some of you an affirmation of your own views on this issue, to others the letter may have seem to be an criticism on values which you hold dear. In a subsequent letter, sent out yesterday morning, it became clear according to the bishops that after the original letter was sent that it had created hurt and anger in about half of the people who had been in contact with them. Yesterday morning the bishops apologized for any harm that may have come from the original letter. They noted "we are committed to finding open dialogue, safe space to where people can share ideas, disagree at times and find healthy ways to share God's peace with strangers and friends alike."
So this is truly a challenge to us Christians, it's these uneasy times in our country today. We are invited to shine the light not only on what we may feel truly and passionately is right and to share these views openly, while listening caringly and equally as openly to others which whom we disagree. And always at the heart of this witness must be shining the light on God, who is truly the light.
I wonder how you can be thoughtful and faithful in conversation with those whom you disagree and to pray for ways that you may be a light to the world that honors God, a world and church which Thomas and Aliyda, our newest members, will live in in the decades ahead.

In the words of Natalie Vergplogen, please pray with me: "Loving God, who is the shining light of my soul, I welcome your invitation to dance in the new light that is your presence alive in me. I desire for my house to be filled with you mercy, that I might become a shining sign of you, filling the earth with hope and joy." Amen
Knowing One Another: 
Sacred Conversations
Please consider joining me in Knowing one another: Sacred Conversation, small group gatherings as a chance to learn about each other and talk about our hopes and prayers for St. Paul's in the years ahead. 

We have developed opportunities for everyone in the congregation to participate in one of these gatherings where light fare will be served.  

The following daytime gatherings will be offered in the church library and child care will be provided as needed.   
   
Sunday, February 12, 11:30AM-1PM        
Wednesday,  February 22, 1:00 PM-2:30PM
Sunday, February 26, 9AM- 10AM                 
Sunday, March 5, 9-10:00 AM
Wednesday, March 8, 10:30-12 noon
 
Two evening gatherings will be held at the home of parishioners :(TBA)
 
Sunday, March 12, 4-5:30PM                       
Sunday, March 26, 4-5:30 PM
 
To ensure that we have sufficient food and drinks, Blakely Stinebaugh will be taking RSVPs .  Please be in touch with her at blakelystinebaugh@gmail.com or 203.561.0607.   

In Christ's peace,
 
Stephanie
Bishops' Letter Regarding
 Refugees and Follow-up Letter
January 30, 2017 and February 3, 2017
The Bishops of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut have written the following letters on the recently enacted travel ban and invite your reflection. 



https://www.episcopalct.org/news/follow-up-on-bishops39-letter-regarding-refugees/
Open House 
Please join Stephanie and Gordon at their home in Riverside for an open house, light fare and fun!  

Stephanie & Gordon
51 Summit Avenue
February 26th
4-6pm
Come when you can.  Leave when you must!

 RSVP to elizabeth.schrohe@stpaulsriverside.org 
so we can make sure we have enough fare and refreshments!  
SHG Bowling!
February 26th
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 Senior High School Group will meet again on Sunday,  February 26th from 6-8pm for Bowling and dinner!  

All High School Teens are invited to come.

Please RSVP by text to Joanne Gorka 203.981.4882
Save the Date for the Annual
Pancake Supper!
pancakes
Save the date for Shrove Tuesday.  Join us in Selleck hall at 5:30pm on February 28th for a pancake supper and lots of fun!  If you want to volunteer to help please contact Kathy Petersen at kathyp4069@gmail.com
Mark Your Calendar!   
St. Paul's Spring Auction
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Mark your calendar !  Our biennial auction will be held  Saturday, May 6th  at Riverside Yacht Club.  

Many more details (and asks to help) coming!
 February Birthdays
  Happy Birthday...  Oliver Barr, Ginny Blackwell, Jonathan Blum, Alexander Burdick, Claire Burns, Will Burns, Laurie Caputo, Mark Carbone, Taylor Carrescia, Colin Davis, George Davis, Wayne DeVries, Robert Ehrhart, Amy Fallon, Susan Foster, Kate Fritsch, Emma Gilson, Alexander Hall, Mark Hall, Robert Hinshalwood, Abby Hirsch, Matthew Hirsch, Erik Hoffer, Christopher Iragorri, Carol Johnson, Jeff Keleher, Leslie Livingston-Alfano, George Lowther IV, KK Lowther, Katie Lund, David Lynn, Lexie Lynn, Don MacDougall, Matt McSharry, Jenny Otterstedt, Grace Petersen, Tom Petersen Jr., Suzanne Ranta, Jaye Richey, Kenneth Rogozinski, Andrea Sherman, Robby Sherman IV, Blakely Stinebaugh, Robby Tolette, Marureen Worfolk. 
  If we missed your name, please let us know so we can update our database.  
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200 Riverside Ave
 Riverside, CT  06878
(203) 637-2447