St. Paul's Episcopal Church



301 E. Stuart Street, Fort Collins, CO 80525
Phone: 970-482-2668
Email: office@stpauls-fc.org - Website: www.stpauls-fc.org

The Wardens' Report


 Dear Friends,

Thanks be to God for our Place Committee and all the hard work that has been done to help us discern the location that God is calling us to re-plant St. Paul's Church.  Ably led by Chris Schraeder, the committee developed a Place Evaluation Guide, a tool we can use to help us discern where God is calling us to be. Over the past month, Committee members met with small groups for five different meetings; over 40 people were able to attend these meetings, learn about the work of the committee, ask questions and add ideas. At the meetings Committee members shared their work and process, including research from large and small Parish meetings for the past 6 years and all the way up to the Profile we completed in May of 2018. Meeting participants added comments and ideas that enhanced the work of the committee. On June 2nd we will have an All Parish meeting to share the work of the committee and the groups and to discuss the findings so far. The Committee will complete their work and submit a report at the June 11th Vestry meeting. The Vestry will review the report and recommend next steps -- stay tuned as we will definitely need more and different volunteers for the next steps in our Place discernment.

Priest ?? Word from the Diocese is that paperwork is being completed and we will hear about a candidate soon.....

Please join us in a prayer for God's guidance in the vital work before us:

O God, who created the earth and all living things to love and to be loved, hear our prayer. You sent prophets to teach us and then your Son Jesus to show us the Way to love and be loved as you created us to do. Help us now to hear the prophets of this century and to follow the Way Jesus showed us some 2000 years ago. Guide us to the Place you would have us, St. Paul's Church, dwell: the Place where we can love and be loved in your Holy Name. Help us to recognize the Priest you have prepared to walk with us in this time and Place. Help us to trust in your love and guidance as we face and make important decisions. In faith and love we pray to you, Creator God, Loving Savior and Holy Spirit. Amen
Please Sign Up Now

The Faith Family Hospitality community impact cannot be overstated!

FFH keeps families together and safe, reduces their time in homelessness, and supports them with dignity. Their experience results in fewer disruptions – for both parents and children – to education, medical care, and family, peer, and work life. FFH works! And your help is needed to keep St. Paul's commitment. Make an immediate and lasting impact. Make a dinner, hang out with guests for an evening or stay overnight. PLEASE VOLUNTEER!! 

5 sign-ups needed:
3 for dinner on 6/8
1 for evening host on 6/5
1 for overnight on Friday, 6/7

 To sign up, either fill in the paper sign-up on St. Paul's bulletin board or go HERE  
Confirmation at the Cathedral

On June 1, at 10 am three St. Paul’s people, Elaine Hild, Alex Martin, and Beth Stoneburner, will be confirmed by the new Bishop of Colorado at the Cathedral in Denver. Want to come stand with them for this important event? Talk to Rhoda for more information and ride sharing. (rhodarobinson43@yahoo.com; 218-341-0226)
Celebrations at St. Paul's

On June 2, after the 9 am worship service we will have an all-Parish meeting.

On June 9, after the 9 am worship service we will celebrate our three confirmands, Cora Emslie, who has graduated from high school, and our EfM graduates.

Come be community together!!
Coming to a Close

May is coming to a close and so is this cycle of “Dinner with Friends”. We thank everyone who signed up to be a part of the most successful participation yet. And, we thank our “shepherds” for keeping our seven dinner groups on track.

We will be taking a summer break and then, come August, there will be another sign up opportunity for our coming autumn dinner groups. And, this Fall, we are adding a new wrinkle to this fellowship ministry. There will be a designated group for those who have young children, knowing that they would enjoy one another’s company in the context of “Dinner with Friends”.

We would also extend an invitation to two or three Parishioners to join the Steering Committee to help this ministry continue in strength. If one would be interested in serving in this ministry, she or he is asked to email Bill Hoelzel or call (970) 999-5230. Since two members of the Steering Committee have had to step down, we really do need your help.
St. Paul's at the Food Bank

St. Paul’s volunteer outreach to those in need of food in Larimer County is happening regularly at the Food Bank warehouse, located near the Ft. Collins/Loveland airport. We now are scheduled to volunteer once a month on a Tuesday afternoon from 1:00 – 3:00.  The following dates are scheduled for the next few months: June 18, July 9 and August 20. We have a faithful core of volunteers but more folks are always welcome. If interested, please email Jo Baietti or call her at 970-223-1686

And another thing. . .

Beginning in June, the Food Bank’s Summer Feeding Program kicks off, and this summer is one for the record books! The Food Bank needs some additional help! Check out the link at the end of this email to go to the Food Bank’s website for more information and instructions on how to sign up. They are in need of regular kitchen volunteers. You don’t even have to be a good cook! There are a couple other opportunities: site monitoring visits to each location where food will be served and some opportunities to do an activity with kids who will be at their Food Truck meal sites.

Poudre School District offers free meals for children this summer!
Meals served at three schools

The PSD Child Nutrition Program is offering meals to children (for free!) and to adults (for a modest price) this summer. Any child 18 or younger can receive free breakfast and lunch from June 4 - July 27. Adults can also enjoy nutritious breakfasts for $2 and lunches for $3.75.
Breakfast served: 8 - 9 a.m. Lunch served: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.  Lunches include an entree, milk and eight different fresh fruits and veggies to choose from. Free meals will be served at: 
  • Bauder Elementary School, 2345 W. Prospect, June 4 - July 27
  • Beattie Elementary School, 3000 Meadowlark Ave, June 4 - June 29
  • Laurel Elementary School, 1000 East Locust Court, June 4 - July 27
Award Winning Documentary "Chasing Coral" Coming to Trinity!

Our Joint Ecological Team is sponsoring a free screening of the movie ‘Chasing Coral’ on Saturday, June 8th, at 1:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. This Sundance Film Festival award-winning film will be shown in honor of World Oceans Day. The film chronicles the phenomenon of coral bleaching and follows a team of divers, scientists, and photographers as they document and reveal these events to the world like never seen before. We’ve lost 50% of the world's coral reefs in the last 30 years, and that number continues to increase, due in large part to coral bleaching — a process that occurs when ocean temperatures become too warm, causing coral reefs to turn white and die.

The film is 90 minutes long, and there will be a question and answer period afterwards. A staff person from the CSU School of Global Environmental Sustainabilty will facilitate our discussion. This event is open to the public and all are welcome.

“This story is bigger than coral reefs, it’s about the collapse of an entire ecosystem and the role we all play in taking action while there is still time. That is why I’m thrilled to see people connecting the film to the local environmental changes people are facing and the local solutions we can start accelerating today.” – Jeff Orlowski, Director of Chasing Coral  For more information go HERE
EfM - A Ministry of Nurture at St. Paul's
 
The Education for Ministry (EfM) program is an excellent way to make connections: with our tradition, with God, and with one another. This four year program explores the Old Testament, the New Testament, Church history and Contemporary Theology. Laurie Gudim and Terry Birdsong are your mentors. Sign up a year at a time for $375 per year. Scholarships are available.

Education : Do you want an in-depth look at scripture, both Old and New Testaments? Do you wonder when and by whom the books of the Bible were written and when they became officially recognized? Do you wonder what was going on in the cultures for whom these books were written? Are you interested in church history? Would you like to compare your theology to that of others both within the Christian tradition and beyond? We can do that together in EfM.

for Ministry:  Each of us has a unique calling that expresses where our deepest joy and the world's profound hunger meet. Discover yours -- or articulate it further. Together in community each member of the EfM group builds their sense of the unique voice God has given them and discovers the next way God is calling for it to be used.

A small faith-sharing group.  One of the best things about EfM is that it is an intimate group of people who support one another as we learn and grow together. We share one another's joys and sorrows and help out where there is need. We pray together as we study and reflect together.

For more information, email  Laurie Gudim  or call her at 970-556-3111 or email  Terry Birdsong
Wear Orange in the Square

Sunday, June 9 from 1:00-2:30 pm in Old Town Square in Fort Collins

The gathering will focus on educating families on preventing unintentional shootings from unsecured firearms, and on suicide prevention. BeSmart presentations, information on mental health issues and suicide warning signs and other ways to keep adults and children safe will be available from Moms Demand Action and community partners. Several children's activities will round out this family-friendly event.
The Ordination and Consecration of Bishop Kym Lucas.

We had a great worship experience last Saturday as we live streamed the consecration of Bishop Lucas, the 11th Bishop of Colorado. If you'd like to experience this event for yourself, here's the link. There are appearances by Max and Julia Warnock, Julia Williams, Becky Sheller and the Rev's Bonnie and Lyn . We especially recommend the sermon. Go a little more than an hour into the recording, to where the Gospel is being read (in Spanish only!) and start from there.
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!
"Guided by Our Demons"

"But the very demons who drive you have another side. They alone can peer into the depths. The wounds that we breathe into – that we really allow to have their say – will guide us beyond social conventions and constraints to power a profound, authentic creativity and spiritual understanding."

-- Laurie Gudim writes for Speaking to the Soul at the Episcopal Cafe. Read the full reflection HERE .