St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Wilkesboro, NC
336.667.4231 office@stpaulwilkesboro.org
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Kedron's Corner
A Lesson in Discipline, Episcopal style
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There are a zillion things that make us Episcopalians...red doors on churches, midnight mass on Christmas Eve, children who know what the Eucharist is and happily receive it, wine in church, morning prayer, compline. The list goes on and on. Though, if we boil down to our essence, what makes us Episcopalians is a distinct worship style and an adherence to church rules called “canons.”
Every deacon, priest and Bishop is asked at their ordination “Will you conform to the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church?” We all promise to “solemnly engage and conform” to these 3 things.
But what happens when we don’t? What happens when the Church or a member of the leadership doesn’t conform? Many of us love the Episcopal Church because it does NOT require conformity and in fact, welcomes a breath of opinion and perspectives. Yes, it does. Yet, we have a standard of belief and a norm of behavior. Those standards are set by our ordination vows and General Convention (when representatives from each diocese gather every 3 years) and we call them canons (rules) or doctrine (what we believe).
We got a lovely lesson this week in how we respond when someone doesn’t conform— when someone breaks the rules.
For years, the Episcopal Church has supported the equal rights of all people. From calling to an end to apartheid in 1976 to 55 resolutions over the years supporting education, prevention and care for those with HIV /AIDS.
Most recently, General Convention has spent years praying, talking and studying the sacrament of marriage with a goal of opening it to same gender couples. In 2015, Convention overwhelmingly approved rites for blessing same gender unions allowing all couples who want to be married in the Church access to that rite. This approval came as a mandate that each diocese allow same gender marriages.
Some Bishops balked and one Bishop, Bishop Love of Albany, NY has forbidden his clergy to perform same gender marriages. Rule “doctrine and discipline” broken. In response, our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry this week has restricted Bishop Love from disciplining or penalizing any clergy or congregation that participates in a same gender ceremony. What our Presiding Bishop did not do was cut off, kick out, name call, fight or otherwise end the conversation with Bishop Love. He has found a way to allow the conversation to continue and for Bishop Love, for the time being, to maintain his role.
Oh that we could be like Mike! Bishop Curry has taken a road less traveled yet very compassionate and more generous than most. He not allowed the contradiction to end the conversation or relationship. He has disciplined one who is straying from his vows with such grace and candor. In time we shall see what happens. No matter, I am convinced that there has been grace upon grace given and pray for the healthiest end possible.
See you Sunday— Kedron +
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FAMILY TO FAMILY GROCERY RELIEF MINISTRY
Our Family to Family Grocery ministry could use volunteers to shop for food items, assemble bags, and help with distribution when the time comes.
As part of the grant from the Diocese through the Human Hurt & Hope Fund, we are able provide store gift cards for your use. You can contact Rachel Minick in the office (336) 667-4231 or stpaulscyfm@gmail.com to obtain a gift card.
If you choose to use your own funds, a letter acknowledging your gift will be provided. Because of the grant terms, we have to keep an account of all bags purchased using personal funds as well as the grant provided funds.
For questions about this ministry, please contact JOE & WILLIE BARBER at
williebarber@ymail.com
or DEACON SUSAN at ridinhabit@gmail.com.
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January 13th, 2019 Sermon
Rev. Kedron Nicholson
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Annual Meeting and Vestry Slate:
Annual Meeting Jan. 20
th
(after 10:30 worship)
Join us on Jan. 20
th
to elect Vestry members, approve the 2019 budget and celebrate our parish. There will be worship at 8:30, however, we encourage everyone to come to a shortened 10:30 worship and stay for the meeting. The canons of the Diocese of WNC call for a parish-wide gathering once a year to do the business of the church. Your voice is important! Children can play in the nursery with our nursery worker, Morgen, if they like or stay in the sanctuary for the meeting.
The following people have been nominated for the 4 open slots on Vestry:
Doug Merritt, Ramona Curtis, Mark Williams, Dick Sloop
. Nominations from the floor will be taken at the Annual Meeting and a simple majority vote will be taken. Thank you to those who are standing for election!
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Youth Group will meet
Sunday, January 20th
5:00-6:30pm
in the Parish House basement
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The Feed My Sheep teams need more members!
Feed My Sheep is made up of 11 teams that prepare a meal for a church family due to illness, death in family, new arrival, or hospitalization.
This is done on a rotating basis and some of our teams could use more help. With the rotating system, the hope is that each team will only be called upon about 3-4 times per year. If you are not currently on a team and would be willing to join a team please contact Gwen Temple at 828-266-5530 or email her at
gt1116@aol.com
. We could really use your help!
Thank you!
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Please check the Sunday Servants schedules
on our website
and make arrangements for coverage if you are not available.
Thank you!
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What if?
What if I want to bake communion bread?
What if I want to usher with a friend?
What if I feel called to visit my neighbors who cannot make it to church and take them communion?
What if I have always wanted to carry the cross in the processional?
What if...?
Join us in the Commons on Sunday, February 3rd for a ministry fair to learn about options for serving at St. Paul's and find the answer to your "what if?"
Tables with information and hosts will be set up between services and following the 10:30 service.
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ECW News and Announcements:
Please support the ECW Valentine's Day outreach project. We make goodie bags for to members and neighbors on our prayer list and member who are homebound.
We are asking for donations of candy, kleenex, notepads, pens, pencils, nail files and other toiletries. Please fill the box we have placed in the commons, over the next four weeks, with your donations. We will collect them and fill the goodie bags at our February 11, 2019 ECW meeting.
We appreciate your support, Episcopal Church Women
We want to express our sincere gratitude for your help in making our annual bake sale and bazaar a success. We raised over $1,600, which we will use to assist our neighbors in the community.
THANK YOU!
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Sunday, January 20th:
8:30am
Holy Eucharist in Chapel
9:30am
Children and Youth Sunday
school, Coffee Club in the lower level of the Parish House
9:45am
Choir Practice
10:15am
Nursery opens for children under 4
10:30am
Holy Eucharist in the Sanctuary
Following 10:30
Annual Meeting in the Sanctuary
Children are invited to join Ms. Morgen in the nursery during the meeting.
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Looking Ahead
Tuesday, January 22:
7:00pm
Al-Anon in library
Wednesday, January 23:
6:45pm
Choir Practice
7:00pm
Dick Underwood Book Club
Thursday, January 24:
11:30am -1:00pm
Assistance Ministries at Wilkesboro United Methodist Church
12noon
Al-Anon in library
Saturday, January 26:
Vestry Retreat– please keep them in your prayers as they work for the good of the church.
Wednesday, February 6:
5:30pm
Healing Service in the Chapel
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Birthdays
20- Luci Smoak
21- Rose Racey
22- Ruth Harris
24- Jeanne Loflin
24- Laura Welborn
24- Andrew Scroggs
25- Becky Caudill
26- John Willardson
Anniversaries
25- Mike and Beth Graf
25- Teri Canter and Patrick Zander
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Prayer List
Please remember in your prayers:
All those who are ill or unemployed. All those who are on our prayer list.
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Illness
Rik Absher, Jim Andrews, Joe Barber, Pam Baugh, Wayne Boyd, Jacob Brown, Ken Canter, Billy Coles, Rancene Cook, LaMar Creasman, Ann Davis, Tim Day, Mike Duncan, Craig Freas, Ernestine Freas, Gail Gattis, Mike Graf, Ruth Gray, Edward C. Griffith III, Peggy Harris, Janet Hartzog, Gerald Hendley, Larry Hendley, Margo Hurd, Steve Jackson, John Jacobson, Pat Jones, Joan Knox, Maggie McCann, Kay McCloskey, Susan McManus, Ann McNeill, Doug Merritt, Donna Moore, Becky Mullins, Bertie Pardue, Bob Skees, Carolyn Stephens, Ryan Rigby, Tom Thomas, Elsanaa Thompson,Marie Waddell, Robin Walsh, Dick Whittington, Susan Whittington, Cole Younger
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Armed Forces
Let us pray for
the safety of
all our troops
,
especially Rob Beauchaine, Matthew Cage, Alex Cline, Philip Cooney, Karl Duerk, Mike Earley, William Grant, Edward C. Griffith IV, Jacob B. Hall, Jonathan Johnson, Brandon Moore, Russ Necessary, Zach Necessary, John W. Pardue, Charlie & Lauren Pendry, Adam Pinkerton, Philip Southwell, Mark Stone, Patrick Szvetitz, Jackson Triplett, Levi Walker, Nathan Wyatt, and all others who serve in Iraq, Afghanistan and throughout
the world.
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Readings:
The Liturgy of the Word for January 20th, 2019
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Isaiah 62:1-5
For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest,
until her vindication shines out like the dawn,
and her salvation like a burning torch.
The nations shall see your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will give.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate;
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land Married;
for the Lord delights in you,
and your land shall be married.
For as a young man marries a young woman,
so shall your builder marry you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so shall your God rejoice over you.
Psalm 36:5-10
Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, *
and your faithfulness to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the strong mountains,
your justice like the great deep; *
you save both man and beast, O Lord.
How priceless is your love, O God! *
your people take refuge under the shadow of your wings.
They feast upon the abundance of your house; *
you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the well of life, *
and in your light we see light.
Continue your loving-kindness to those who know you, *
and your favor to those who are true of heart.
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John 2:1-11
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
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St. Paul's Episcopal Church | 336-667-4231 | office@stpaulwilkesboro.org | https://stpaulwilkesboro.org
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