WEEKLY UPDATE
A Note from Vestry Member Christie Thomas
Dear St. Paul’s,

“Listening is an act of love.” This is what one of my wise friends said when I asked the question, “What comes to mind for you when I say the word ‘listening’?” It’s true, isn’t it? One of the most loving gifts we can give to each other is our attention, our focus, our time.  

Some of you know that last November I had the privilege of being elected to the Diocese of Virginia Standing Committee – a “12-member elected council of advice to the bishop.” Quite naturally, I am still learning my responsibilities, but it took no time to learn of the dedication, expertise and passion for spreading God’s love to the world that my fellow committee members bring to this work. It was also evident from the start that they share my excitement and optimism for this current time of transition and for the future that lies open before us. One essential reason for this optimism is our unanimous, clear-hearted support for Bishop Goff, who has been given responsibility for the Diocese (known as Ecclesiastical Authority) until our next Bishop Diocesan is elected. That’s where you come in….

Bishop Goff and other Diocesan leaders want to hear from you. They have organized a series of Listening Sessions to, as Bishop Goff put it, help us look back “…to our roots in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to a deep recollection of who we are called to be and what we are called to do in his name.” She continues, “Each session will include a time for your Bishops and other diocesan leaders to talk about our deepest longings and heart-felt desires for our Diocese, followed by time for us to listen to yours.” I will be attending the Listening Session on Saturday, February 16 (5 - 7 p.m.) at Roslyn Retreat Center in Richmond, and I hope you will join me at that session or you will attend one of the other sessions being offered at other times and locations.

Bishop Goff is demonstrating this act of love through listening. Will you take part?

- Christie
This Sunday at St. Paul's
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
(Readings: Isaiah 6:1-8 / Psalm 138 / Luke 5:1-11)

8 a.m. – Holy Eucharist in the Chapel (quiet, traditional)

9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Nursery Care: birth - kindergarten (Sunday school wing)

10 a.m. –  Holy Eucharist with Choir (festive, intergenerational)

11:15 a.m. – Adult Forum: Charlene Green leads a discussion of Charlottesville's racial and ethnic history (details below)

11:15 a.m. – Sunday School: pre-K - 5th grade (Sunday school wing)

11:15 a.m. – Youth Groups: 6th - 8th & 9th - 12th grades (Sunday school wing)

12:30 p.m. – Skinner Scholar Lunch (details below)

5:30 p.m. – Evening Eucharist in the Chapel (informal, candlelit)

6:30 p.m. – The University Fellowship Sunday Supper: Casual meal and conversation, free and open to all undergraduate students (lounge)


Music Notes

This Sunday, we welcome guest musicians from the newly formed UVA Consort, who will offer a choral prelude to the 10 a.m. service. This is a small, student-directed vocal ensemble, founded in the fall of 2018. See below for information about their upcoming concert here at St. Paul’s on Feb. 16.

The Junior Choir will sing Fairest Lord Jesus by American composer Richard DeLong (1951–1994), who was Director of Music at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Plano, Texas for many years. His choral music is performed throughout America, displaying a wonderful gift for creating fresh, appealing melodic lines.

The organ postlude is Tu es Petra by the Parisian composer and organist Henri Mulet (1878-1967), a pupil of Charles-Marie Widor. Tu es petra is a toccata which closes a collection of “Byzantine Sketches.” Each movement describes an architectural aspect of the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur in Paris. The title refers to Jesus’ play-on-words to his apostle Peter: “Thou are the rock and upon this rock I will build my church.” With its sinister pulsating chords, the piece has been described as a battle between good and evil.
Upcoming at St. Paul's
Friday, February 8 - Saturday February 9 – Vestry Retreat at Rosyln

Saturday, February 9, 10 a.m. – Prayer Shawl Ministry (details below)

Saturday, February 9, 1-3 p.m. – Diocesan Listening Session, St. Barnabas, Annandale (details below)

Monday, February 11, 9 p.m. – Compline (chancel)

Tuesday, February 12, 12:15 p.m. – Holy Eucharist (chapel)

Wednesday, February 13, 4:30 p.m. Contemplative Prayer (church school wing)

Wednesday, February 13, 4:30 p.m. – Junior Choir Rehearsal (choir room)

Wednesday, February 13, 5-7 p.m. – Diocesan Listening Session, Emmanuel, Woodstock (details below)

Wednesday, February 13, 5:30 p.m. – Evening Prayer, with homily by Peter Morris (brief, informal, all ages)

Wednesday, February 13, 6 p.m. – Dinner for all (parish hall)

Wednesday, February 13, 6 p.m. – Poetry Reading Group (details below)

Wednesday, February 13, 6:15 p.m. – The University Fellowship Gathering (Canterbury house)

Thursday, February 14, 7:30 a.m. – Bible Study (library)
Contact Jody Lahendro: jdl7d@virginia.edu

Saturday, February 16, 7:30 p.m. – UVA Consort Concert (details below)

Sunday, February 17 – Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
St. Paul's News & Notes
Charlottesville's racial and ethnic history - Did you know that white residents were in the minority in our area in the 1860's? That Vinegar Hill started out as an Irish-immigrant neighborhood? Do you know who "the Four Hundreds" were? These are a few of the lesser-known parts of the history and development of the community we live in today. To help us learn more, Charlene Green, manager of the City of Charlottesville's Office of Human Rights, will lead the Adult Forum February 10 and 17 with a presentation and discussion of Charlottesville's racial and ethnic history, and how that history has shaped the present.

Diocesan Listening Sessions in preparation for Bishop search – The Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff, Suffragan Bishop, will host five Community Listening Sessions around the Diocese in the season of Epiphany as a first step toward the upcoming search and election process for the 14th Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia. Each session will include a time for you and your Bishops to share your dreams for our Diocese. Times and locations are listed below. Roslyn, located just west of Richmond, is the closest location to St. Paul's, but all parishioners are welcome at any of the sessions. Carpools from St. Paul's to Roslyn on Feb. 16 can be arranged; please email Vestry member Christie Thomas (mail4christie@gmail.com) if you can offer a ride or if you need a ride.

  • Saturday, February 9, 1-3 p.m. St. Barnabas, Annandale
  • Wednesday, February 13, 5-7 p.m. Emmanuel, Woodstock
  • Saturday, February 16, 5-7 p.m. Roslyn Retreat Center, Richmond
  • Monday, March 4, 3-5 p.m. St. Margaret’s School, Tappahannock

Prayer Shawl Ministry – The Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet on Saturday, February 9, from 10 a.m. - noon in the lounge. Shawls are knit with prayerful intention for anyone needing comfort and healing. This is a drop in meeting. Come and stay as long as your Saturday morning allows.

Skinner Scholars – There will be a meeting of Skinner Scholars this Sunday, February 10, at 12:30 p.m. in the lounge. We will gather for lunch and conversation about our involvement in the Episcopal Church and ways we hope to be involved in the future.

St. Paul’s Poetry Reading Group – A new St. Paul’s Poetry Reading Group has formed and is meeting every other Wednesday to read and discuss the poems that have caught their eyes and ears. The next meeting is Wednesday, February 13, from 6 - 7:30 p.m. in the church library. All are welcome, no homework assignments, and no prior poetry experience necessary! Bring a poem or come as you are. If you'd like more information, email Peter Moench: moench.peter@gmail.com.

UVA Consort Concert – All are invited to a free concert at St. Paul's by the UVA Consort on Saturday, February 16, at 7:30 p.m. This is a student-directed vocal ensemble, founded in the fall of 2018. This inaugural concert features music of Purcell, Rheinberger, Byrd, Duruflé and more. They will also be singing at St. Paul's on Sunday, February 10 during the 10 a.m. service. 

Flower Memorials – Interested in offering a flower memorial? The St. Paul's Flower Guild will create a lovely arrangement to honor your loved one, and your memorial will be noted in our Sunday service bulletin. Please contact Office Manager Alice Fitch (alice.fitch@spmcuva.org or 434-295-2156) with the date of your requested thanksgiving or memorial.

Communion Bread Bakers – The St. Paul's Communion Bread Bakers would welcome additional bakers. Most bake once every 4 to 6 weeks, using a recipe from the Virginia Theological Seminary. Please contact Julie Lautenschlager at julielynn1776@gmail.com if you're interested in baking.

2019: A Foundation for the Future – If you haven't yet made a 2019 commitment, you may do so here, or mail or bring a pledge card to church anytime. Be part of a thriving 2019 at St. Paul's!
Mission & Service News
PACEM (People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry) needs YOU! – PACEM’s mission is to engage the faith community of Charlottesville in providing shelter and compassionate support for members of our community who are homeless. St. Paul’s hosts the women’s shelter for two consecutive weeks this year, Saturday, March 2 - Saturday, March 16, and we need your help to welcome our guests!  

To sign up or to learn more about this ministry, please stop by the PACEM table in the parish hall after the 10 a.m. service any Sunday in February, or contact one of the coordinators listed below:

  • Hospitality: For food-related tasks, please contact either: Anne Ribble (anneribble47@gmail.com, 434-996-8663) or David Slezak (davidslezak@yahoo.com, 434-981-4161).

  • Support: For non-meal related tasks (laundry deliveries, set-up and take-down, and overnights), please use this link for an online Sign-Up Genius page, or contact Julie Lautenschlager: (julielynn1776@gmail.com, 434-242-2853).

  • Contributions: We are collecting travel-size toiletries (shampoo, soap/body wash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc.) and ladies' socks and underwear (new and unopened please) to offer our guests when they arrive. There is a box in parish hall for your donations. Any surplus will be given to the Haven at the end of our hosting period.

*****

An Update on the African Development Project (ADP) – ADP leaders have just received a progress report from Chris Macoloo, the World Neighbors director for Africa who spoke at our Harambee dinner in April. The project ADP helps support in Uganda has enabled thousands of villagers to improve their income and food security, especially the most vulnerable groups, such as widows, orphans, and people living with HIV. The progress report can be found here. We hope to send additional support to this project soon.

Thanks to the support of many donors, ADP was able to send $4,000 in January to the Privilege School in Kenya, where some 72 orphans depend on our aid to remain in school. With the term starting, the school needed funds for school fees, clothes and food for the orphans, as well as other improvements. Read the heartfelt thanks of principal Lydiah Vusaka here.

To make a profound difference in the lives of our friends in Africa, make checks to St. Paul’s Memorial Church, with “ADP” in the memo line. Many thanks for your support.
Prayers of the Parish
Holding each other's joys, sorrows and concerns before God in prayer is a spiritual practice that characterizes our life together at St. Paul's. In our worship services we pray each other's prayers together. Outside of our time together many parishioners make it part of their daily lives to pray the prayers of the parish community. You are invited to participate in your own way.

Thanks be to God

for the birth last Thursday of Anna Eloise Duarte, son of parishioners Allison and Luis Duarte, and younger sister of James.

for our newly elected Vestry, as they mark the start of their work and ministry together at the Vestry Commissioning next Sunday.

for the hospitality ministry of The University Fellowship students, who prepared our Wednesday night dinner this week.

for the faithful gifts of all who support the life and ministries of St. Paul's, including the 233 households who have made financial commitments for 2019.

Your prayers are requested

for members and friends of the parish who are sick, sorrowful, or in any kind of trouble, including David Nelson, Anne, Robert & Dorothy, Anne, Mary Elizabeth Beck, Ruth, Mary Ann Miller, David, Lila M., the Barbour family, Ronald, Pierce, Doug Vest, Libba, Finley & his family, Thomas, Jim, Matti, Bob, John, Tiffany Gordon, John Ritchie, Debby Strzepek, Beverley & Bob, Lynda, Joyce, Jason, Joy, Margaret Ann, Nancy, Tyson Kemp, Marisa, Mary Bevis, the Haamel family, Judith, David, Ellen, Mark, Katie, Carol, Joann Healey, Chauncey, Nichole, Peggy, David, Norvene, Kyle, Heather Warren, John, Hunter, Elizabeth, Renee & Adele, Glen, Betsy.

for Kris Roi Episcopal Church and School in Léger, Haiti, and for our growing partnership with them.

for the renovation of our children's and youth ministries and for all our leaders and volunteers as we begin our search for a Director of Children’s & Youth Ministries.

for our city and community and nation; for the victims of racism, injustice, and oppression; and for all who serve the common good in law enforcement and the courts.

for Grace Church, Stanardsville and St. Margaret’s, Woodbridge, according to the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer.

for the people and ministries of the Anglican Church of Canada, and for their Primate, the Most Rev. Frederick Hiltz, according to the Anglican Cycle of Prayer.

We commend to God’s never-failing care

victims of violence and warfare throughout the world, including migrants and refugees who have died fleeing danger.

all whom we love but see no more, including Bill Eure and Robert Severin .