WEEKLY UPDATE
A Note from the Rector
Dear St. Paul’s,

This Sunday, we begin an adult-forum series on the complex, important, and much-discussed topic of race.

We'll begin at the beginning: What do our earliest origin stories in Scripture (creation and the exodus from Egypt, for example) tell us about a faithful approach to the reality of differences among peoples? We'll consider the ways in which Jewish identity was forged in exile, and how that history shaped the ways that Jewish and non-Jewish followers of Jesus, including our patron St. Paul, would come to imagine and describe an emerging "Christian" identity. Finally, we'll take stock of some of the resonances and dissonances between Biblical concepts and images of "peoplehood" and the American history and mythology that are the context for contemporary racial issues nationally and locally.

Does that sound like a lot to cover in 45 minutes after church this Sunday? It's probably too much to cover in a lifetime. But my hope is that we will be able to establish some Biblical and theological touchstones for wider-ranging discussions throughout the spring, including conversations with scholars, historians, and local leaders, that will help us connect our culturally particular experiences of race in Charlottesville and America with biblical heritage and Christian theology.

I'm looking forward to exploring this terrain with you beginning this Sunday. Then next week, in observance of Martin Luther King's birthday, University Chaplain and Associate Rector Mark Wastler will lead a reflection on King's own biblical and theological perspective and its relationship to his posthumous emergence as a secularized national hero. Stay tuned for further details about this series as we continue to pray for justice and seek to participate faithfully in God's work of reconciliation.

- Will

The Rev. William Peyton
This Sunday at St. Paul's
First Sunday after the Epiphany, the Baptism of our Lord
(Readings: Isaiah 43:1-7 / Psalm 29 / Luke 3:15-17, 21-22)

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 (parish hall)

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

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

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

Music Notes

About Sunday’s Organ Postlude:

The Parisian composer and organist Henri Mulet was a pupil of Charles-Marie Widor and became organ professor at both the Ecole Niedermeyer and Schola Cantorum, as well as organist of several important churches. He became frustrated with his career and left Paris, living out his days in a secluded monastery – he also burned many of his manuscripts. Nevertheless, several of his organ works have become important staples of the repertoire. He wrote Carillon Sortie during the time when he was teaching at the Ecole Niedermeyer and serving as organist of St. Roch church in Paris. It is a joyful, exuberant piece, with fast moving notes ringing out in imitation of bells. Mulet dedicated it to one of the leading virtuoso organists of the day, Joseph Bonnet, who played at St. Eustache.
Next Week at St. Paul's
Monday, January 14, 9 p.m. – Compline (chancel)

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

Tuesday, January 15, 2 p.m. – Generation Wise (lounge)

Wednesday, January 16, 4:30 p.m. Contemplative Prayer (church school wing)

Wednesday, January 16, 4:30 p.m. – Junior Choir Rehearsal (choir room)

Wednesday, January 16, 5:30 p.m. – Evening Prayer (brief, informal, all ages)

Wednesday, January 16, 6 p.m. – Dinner for all (parish hall)

Wednesday, January 16, 6:15 p.m. – The University Fellowship Gathering (Canterbury house)

Thursday, January 17, 7:30 a.m. – Bible Study (library)
Contact Jody Lahendro: jdl7d@virginia.edu

Friday, January 18, 7 p.m. – The University Fellowship Welcome Dinner (parish hall)

Sunday, January 20 – Second Sunday after the Epiphany
St. Paul's News and Notes
Parent/Student Youth Group Open House – This Sunday, January 13, in lieu of regular youth group classes, members of the Ministry Architects Renovation team will be hosting concurrent youth group open houses in the middle school and high school classrooms. Parents and students are welcome at this event! Renovation Team members will be going over the events calendar, discussing logistics, and taking your questions and suggestions. No RSVP necessary.

Children's & Youth Ministries Calendar – The Children's and Youth Ministries Winter/Spring calendar is available here and printed copies are available at the church.

Student Welcome Dinner – On Friday, January 18, at 7 p.m. in the parish hall, The University Fellowship (the recently renamed Canterbury Student Fellowship) will host a Welcome Dinner for new and returning students.

Annual Meeting and Potluck – This year’s annual meeting will be on Sunday, January 27, with a festive themed potluck dinner beginning immediately following the 5:30 p.m. service (at 6:30 p.m.) and the business meeting starting at 7:30 p.m. Vestry and staff members will be "hosting" individual potluck tables, each with its own theme. You can RSVP for the dinner by signing up for one of the tables in the parish hall this Sunday, or by contacting Alice Fitch in the church office: 434-295-2156 or alice.fitch@spmcuva.org.

Vestry Nominees – The Vestry is pleased to announce the slate of candidates who have agreed to stand for election at the annual meeting on January 27: Margery Daniel, John Frazee, Lara Hall, and Margaret Mohrmann. Thanks to the Vestry Nominating Committee for their hard work: Peter Dennison, Phil LaMar, David Litherland, E. D. Rambo, Christie Thomas, and Erika Viccellio.

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. Details for carpools from St. Paul's to Roslyn on Feb. 16 will be announced in the coming weeks.

  • Thursday, January 17, 6-8 p.m. Christ Church, Spotsylvania
  • 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

Contributing to St. Paul's Lenten Meditation Booklet – In preparation for Lent, parishioners are invited to write short reflections on the passages of scripture assigned for each day in Lent. Reflections will be compiled into a booklet for distribution throughout the parish, providing an opportunity for mutual inspiration and support in daily Lenten prayer. No special training or expertise is necessary or expected. Sign up in the parish hall after the 10 a.m. service or contact Anne Ribble (anneribble47@gmail.com or 434-996-8663).

Wednesday Dinner Volunteers Needed – St. Paul's provides dinner every Wednesday following the 5:30 Evening Prayer service, and each week a group of parishioners volunteers to put together the dinner. Our Wednesday evening crowd generally consists of university students, junior choir families, and whoever else shows up! The meal provides a great time of community and fellowship. We are currently working on scheduling volunteers for the spring semester and we need your help! Please consider volunteering. We will pair you with another volunteer, or you can recruit a friend or two and sign up as a team! Contact Wednesday Dinner Coordinator Pam Dennison (pddennison@gmail.com) to sign up or if you have any questions about this ministry.

Generation Wise – Generation Wise, a St. Paul's group which builds community among our older members, will meet Tuesday, January 15, from 2 - 3:30 p.m. in the lounge. We will be taking up (and completing) discussion of the Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s latest book The Power of Love. Participants are urged to read the book. A decision will be sought as to future plans. Newcomers are welcome. If more information or a copy of the book is desired, contact Jean or Bill Sherman: sherman@nantucket.net or 434-975-1605.

Haiti Partnership Meeting – A St. Paul's Haiti Partnership information meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 20, at 12:15 p.m. Lunch will be provided. We will discuss plans for the next visit with our partners in the Diocese of Haiti, the status of a clean-water project in the village of Léger, and develop a plan to work with the local nurse and teachers on clean water education. Needed: educators, people interested in global health, engineers, people to help with logistics, and all parishioners interested in our relationship with Kris Roi Episcopal parish and school. For more information, contact Mary Preston at molumphy@aol.com. RSVP to Alice Fitch in the church office: alice.fitch@spmcuva.org or 434-295-2156.

34th Annual MLK Choir Celebration – Singers of all backgrounds and abilities are invited to participate in this interfaith community tradition on Sunday, January 20, at 5 p.m. Register by calling Community Choir Coordinator Michelle Allen at 825-8549, or emailing mlkcommunitychoir@gmail.com. For more information, contact parishioner Katey Buford (kate@biographybydesign.com) who is coordinating St. Paul's participation. Rehearsals are scheduled for January 12 and 19 at 4 p.m. and January 15 at 7 p.m., at Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church.

Stephen Ministry Update – Stephen Ministry is an essential component of pastoral care at St. Paul's. Stephen Ministers are lay volunteers who have committed to extensive training and supervision in order to provide one-on-one care for fellow parishioners and others who are experiencing grief, illness, or other stressful transitions. If you are curious about becoming a Stephen Minister, or if you think you might benefit from having a Stephen Minister, contact any of St. Paul's Stephen Leaders (Doris Greiner, Margaret Haupt, Deborah Healey, and David Truslow) or a member of the clergy staff. And thanks to Stephen Minister Tracey Hopper, who travels with the prayers or the parish to Florida next week for training to join the Stephen Leader team.

A Note from the Flower Guild – The Flower Guild wishes to thank all of the parishioners who made Christmas poinsettia donations as memorials or in gratitude for friends and family. You made possible the lovely setting for our services. It is your generosity that funds all of our purchases of flowers throughout the year. Please contact Alice Fitch in the church office if you are interested in honoring a loved one by donating flowers for a specific Sunday during the year: alice.fitch@spmcuva.org or 434-295-2156.

2019: A Foundation for the Future – To date, 214 individuals, couples, and families have made financial commitments to St. Paul's for 2019, including many new pledges and dozens of substantial increases. Large and small gifts from parishioners and friends are a blessing to the whole congregation and to countless others who benefit from our ministries. 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!

Pledge Envelopes – If you requested pledge envelopes, they are available in the parish hall.

Text to Give – St. Paul's is now able to receive financial gifts via text message, providing a convenient giving option for those who don't carry cash or checks. To make a contribution of any amount, text SPMCUVA to 434-771-1025. You will receive a reply with a secure link to a user-friendly site where you can enter your credit card data and any dollar amount. For the time being, all text donations will be recorded as loose-plate offering, and will therefore not be applied toward your pledge.

Save the Date – Does that new 2019 calendar have you daydreaming about summer? Plan to be a part of St. Paul's annual parish weekend at Shrine Mont, July 12-14, 2019!
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 Katie & Ken Shevlin and their son Fritz, in whose honor flowers are given this Sunday on the occasion of Fritz’s baptism.

for the leadership and commitment of Ann & David Normansell, retiring from the Parish Choir after many years of joyful, faithful participation in the music ministry of St. Paul’s.

for the fun and fellowship of last Sunday's Yule Log Hunt, and for the work of John Frazee and all the other volunteers who made it possible.

for the faithful gifts of all who support the life and ministries of St. Paul's, including the 214 households who have made financial commitments for 2019.

Godspeed and blessings

to Jonathan & Rachel Teubner, whose faithful leadership has blessed St. Paul’s in countless ways, and to their children Ella and Isaiah, as they leave Charlottesville next week in preparation for their move to Australia.

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, Evelyn, 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, Sharon, Joyce, Jason, Joy, Margaret Ann, Nancy, Tyson Kemp, William, Adele, Renee, Marisa, Mary Bevis, the Haamel family, Judith, David, Ellen, Mark, Katie, Carol, Joann Healey, Chauncey, Sarah, Nichole, Peggy, David, Norvene, Kyle, Heather.

for Vestry nominees Margery Daniel, John Frazee, Lara Hall, and Margaret Mohrmann, standing for election at the Annual Meeting on January 27.

for the ministry of Tracey Hopper as she prepares to attend a week of Stephen Leader training in Florida next week.

for students returning to Grounds and embarking on a new semester this week, and especially for Skinner scholars and members of The University Fellowship.

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 Epiphany Church, Herndon and Grace Church, Casanova, according to the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer.

for the people and ministries of the Anglican Church of Australia, and for the Most Rev. Philip Leslie Freier, Archbishop of Melbourne & Primate of Australia, 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 Ann McClung; Guy Miller, whose funeral is scheduled for February 1 at St. Paul’s; Donita Moorhus (Georgie Kettler’s sister); Mary Rohmann (mother of Margaret Parsons); Harwood Spaulding; and Tammy Thompson.

Dr. & Mrs. G.S. Fitz-Hugh, in whose loving memory flowers are given this Sunday.