St. Paul's Episcopal Church 301 E. Stuart Street, Fort Collins, CO 80525 Phone: 970-482-2668 Email: [email protected] - Website: www.stpauls-fc.org View as Webpage

Dear Faithful (and patient!) Friends! We continue to be in contact with the Diocese regarding our search for a priest. Bishop Rob has officially left the Diocesan Office; Bishop-Elect Kym now occupies the Bishop’s office and has been updated on how the Priest in Charge process works here in Colorado. And, because we were able to meet with Bishop-elect Kym 2 weeks ago, she is also very aware of and excited by our particular situation - the uniqueness, the possibilities and the frustrations. We, your Wardens, remain very hopeful that the person God has chosen to walk alongside us in this adventure is getting ever closer…. Read full reflection HERE

Holy Week and Easter Worship Schedule Palm Sunday, April 14 - Services at 8 am, 9 am, and Trinity Lutheran at 10:30 am; the last "Potter's" reader theater at 10 am in the fellowship hall Monday in Holy Week, April 15 - St. Paul's Holy Communion Service - 7 pm Tuesday in Holy Week, April 16 - St. Paul's Holy Communion - 7 am in the parish administrator's office and and 7 pm in the sanctuary Wednesday in Holy Week, April 17 - Tenebrae - 7 pm Maundy Thursday, April 18 - Mary of Magdala Footwashing and Holy Communion - 6 pm; Trinity and St. Paul's Holy Communion, Footwashing, and Stripping of the Altar - 8 pm Good Friday, April 19 - Joint worship services: Seven Last Words of Christ - 12 pm and Stations of the Cross and Solemn Collects - 7 pm Holy Saturday, April 20 - Trinity Easter Folk Eucharist - 5 pm; Mary of Magdala Great Vigil of Easter - 7 pm; and St. Paul's Great Vigil of Easter - 9:30 pm Easter Sunday, April 21, Trinity Sunrise Easter Service - 7:00 am; St. Paul's Easter Service of Holy Communion - 8:30 am; Trinity Easter Service - 10:30 am NOTE: By popular demand, The Saturday Great Easter Vigil is BACK, but at 9:30 pm. Come for the lighting of the first fire, readings and singing, candles, bells, and a joyous welcome to the resurrection

Habitat for Humanity Build Days Our next 2019 Build Dates are Thursday April 25th, and Saturday May 18th. Please contact Gray soon and join our happy crew!

Learn about the Episcopal Church Interested in learning about the Episcopal Church? We are hoping to have classes on Monday and Wednesday eveings in May that will give you more insight into this rich tradition. This series will prepare those interested for confirmation on June 1. Contact Laurie Gudim or Rhoda Robinson if you are interested in learning more.

Safe Housing for Survivors of Domestic Abuse April 22, 7 - 9 pm Pathways Hospice 305 Carpenter Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80525 The League of Women Voters presents A Panel Discussion Featuring: Kelli Pryor, Outreach Program Coordinator, Crossroads Safehouse, Fort Collins, Kari Clark, Executive Director, Alternatives to Violence (ATV), Inc., Loveland, Brittany Clay, Victim Services Advocate, Victim Services Office, Fort Collins Police Department, and a Survivor who will describe the issues that brought her to find safety and support at Crossroads Safehouse, how she was helped there, and what she has done to make a new abuse-free life for herself since leaving Crossroads Safehouse.

Remember and Renew Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Columbine High School mass shooting, The Episcopal Peace Fellowship is hosting weekend events in and around Littleton. The Remember and Renew Weekend intends to mobilize support for preventing gun violence by giving voice to survivors and families of gun violence, advocating for policy changes, becoming aware of contributing factors, and building a base of support among sponsoring organizations. For a calendar of events and more information, go HERE

Free Bike Tune Ups On Saturday, April 27, The City of Fort Collins FC Bikes and partners are offering free tune-ups at convenient locations around the community. Plus, you can stay for fun activities and grab a snack while your bike is repaired! Trinity Lutheran Church is one location More info here or call (970) 221-6987 or email FC bikes.

Braiding Sweetgrass As people start to turn their attention to the outdoors, St. Paul’s is going to sponsor the reading of Braiding Sweetgrass, a book that is a gift of braided stories meant to heal our relationship with nature by weaving together the three strands of indigenous ways of knowing, scientific knowledge and the story of an Anishinabekwe scientist. It brings these strands together in service to what matters most. We are hoping people will read the book during April so that we can have meetings to discuss it on May 1, 8 and 15. Further details to be publicized soon. For more information, please contact Terry Birdsong [email protected]. The book is available at Amazon.

The Trinity Men’s Bible Study Group is organizing an invitation of the Mental Health First Aid Colorado|MHFACO workshop to Trinity We do not yet have a date or time, but need to get a list of people who are interested in attending at a future time (to be scheduled based on the most popular date and time). So far we have 10 people from our men’s breakfast who want to attend + spouses. I, Larry Salmen am interested in this class , as a good friend’s son took his own life, and Sharyn has been on the board of Summitstone Mental Health Partners and has been aware of this class for some time. Mental health problems are widespread in Larimer county and affect over 40% of the families in our community. The suicide rate in Larimer County is higher than the average, and usually happens among young males, and aging people. This program is a top-notch service to communities like ours. It would be a great service for our church members to be able to detect and get professional assistance to address mental health crises, just as we do for heart attacks. This service can prevent loss of lives of fellow church members, friends, coworkers, or family members. We need a minimum of 15 people to arrange for a class for all 3 churches that worship at Trinity. How many would be interested in attending? For more information, please contact me, Larry Salmen .

A St. Luke's Believe Out Loud Presentation on Couple Therapy Thursday, April 25, at 6:30 pm, St. Luke's Episcopal Church parish hall "New Ways to Understand and Improve Your Relationship: Insight From a Couple Therapist." You are invited to learn more about the neuroscience of love and how you can use it to create a better relationship with your partner that will enhance the quality of your life.  Guest speaker Dr. Beth O’Brien, PhD, is a licensed psychologist in Fort Collins with 25 years of counseling experience and special training in the Psychobiological Approach to the Couple. Dr. O’Brien will explain how understanding attachment styles and the science of the brain and emotions can help you deal with problem areas in a relationship and feel closer and more secure. There may be in-class exercises and discussion as well as an exercise to practice at home. This special event will include light refreshments. We would appreciate knowing that you plan to attend.  All are welcome, whether currently in a relationship or not. There is no fee. Email Gayle at St. Luke's for more information and to sign up.

Flowers for the Altar T o dedicate altar flowers in memory of a loved one, in celebration of a birthday or anniversary, or just to express gratitude to God, sign up on the list located on the red bulletin board where we used to gather for coffee. The money for these flowers comes from donations. We ask for a $25 donation, but any amount is acceptable. Write the check to St. Paul’s, put “Flowers” in the memo line, and put it in the offering plate. Thanks!

"Our Projected Shadow" “ He will have to be dealt with, though, or he'll be back. If his followers cannot be convinced he's a charlatan, you will have to wait for a time when he is not protected by them. Doesn't he go off alone sometimes to “pray”? Well, then, maybe you can recruit a spy and set a trap. "  -- Laurie Gudim writes for Speaking to the Soul at the Episcopal Cafe. Read the full reflection HERE .