Weekly
Postings
news & events
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To the Community of Saint Paul’s Church,
A thoughtful reflection from Scott Gunn, Executive Director of Forward Movement:
Dear friends in Christ,
My friend Furman Buchanan posted a photo on his Facebook last week, and I'm still thinking about it. You can see the photo: a lovely labyrinth with "hope" written in stones at the center.
I love this because the labyrinth is, itself, a symbol of pilgrimage, or perhaps a pilgrimage in miniature. We pray and walk along, twisting and turning until we reach the center. Sometimes we find ourselves going back away from the center, even though we know our final destination. We press on.
Life is like that, isn't it? We pray and we move along. We find ourselves in twists and turns, sometimes moving away from where we want to be. Like the labyrinth, there are no shortcuts.
Hope is one of those words that we toss around a bit too casually sometimes. "I hope there is racial healing" is easy to say. That kind of hope isn't worth much, frankly. It's an idle expression that seems to cost nothing and mean little. But if we truly believe that racial healing is possible--that is, if we have hope--we will be empowered to work toward it. The only reason not to work for something is if we believe it will never happen.
Christian hope is fierce. Christian hope is not only for the life to come, but for seeing glimpses of God's kingdom and God's radiant glory in this life. We are meant to have hope that the world can be better, filled with God's love and showing forth God's kingdom of righteousness, justice, mercy, and grace. When we have that hope, we will want to proclaim God's kingdom and work for a world with righteousness, justice, mercy, and grace.
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Too often, political leaders and media fill us with the cynical idea that there is no hope. They say the world cannot be better. We who follow Jesus should know better. We should know that God's love is stronger than death, stronger than sin, and stronger than our fears. This is why the church must speak in the public square and shout from the rooftops: there is hope.
Hope is not shallow, cheap, or easy. Having hope does not deny the suffering and adversity of this world. Instead, Christian hope says that suffering, adversity, sin, and death do not have the last word.
I try to remember all this as I watch the news. The pandemic, racism, violence, economic divides, white supremacy, and degradation are all present in this world. They are real, and we must turn against them as we turn away from Satan and toward Jesus. Evil does not have the final say. The final say is our Christian hope, shown in an empty tomb on Easter Day, that God's love reigns triumphant.
So how do we defeat evil and the forces of wickedness in our time? The first step is hope.
Let us pray.
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen
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(BCP page 833)
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Christianity and Race Webinar
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Christianity and Race: The Story goes on (and on)
Monday, June 15, 8 p.m.
Zoom Webinar - Register below
The University of The South’s Roberson Project on Slavery, Race, and Reconciliation invites you to this discussion
Bishop Carlye Hughes, Dr. Jody Allen, Dr. Woody Register, and the Rev. Dr. Ben King.
The protests and demonstrations we see around the world are responding to generations of systemic and unpunished violence against Black people in the United States. Even as many in the Episcopal Church now join these protests, we know that historically the Episcopal Church has participated in slavery, segregation, and abuse of civil rights. Panelists will speak about the origins and continuation of racial injustice in Sewanee, the Church, the nation, and the world, while also highlighting the African Americans who, in the face of such violence, have shaped us for the better.
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EVENTS THIS SUNDAY | JUNE 14
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SUMMER GATHERINGS WITH GODLY PLAY- Children through 5th grade
Sundays, 9:30 a.m.
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID:
366 090 592
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This gathering will be a relaxed time where we have the chance to connect and talk with each other, share a story or activity, sing, and pray together. We will continue to meet at our regular formation time, Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and you can join us by using the same link and password that we have been using each week.
See you Sunday!
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RECTOR’S FORUM
Sundays, 9:30 a.m.
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID: 860 972 849
OR phone-in: (646) 876-9923
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The Rector's Forum offers a time and place for engaging conversation that is not anchored to a specific curriculum or topic. Always we consider how to honestly and faithfully live out our Baptismal vows, now more than ever!
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CHRISTIAN FORMATION - Reflection Group
The Universal Christ, by Fr. Richard Rohr
8 Sessions, begins Tuesday, June 16; 7 - 8:30 p.m.
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This small group gathers for eight structured meetings to reflect on the meaning of Christ and thus of being Christian.
Learning objectives -- participants will:
- learn about a forgotten teaching of Christ;
- have opportunity to learn and engage in Christian contemplative practices;
- practice growing in presence to one another;
- set intentions for becoming a more loving, engaged presence in the world.
NOT INTERESTED in joining?
Consider LISTENING to the podcast:
Another Name For Every Thing
. Season 1 presents conversations about the book. Subsequent seasons delve into being Christian from the theological perspective of the Universal Christ
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OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES | JUNE 12 - 21
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Write A Note To A Family in Need
Golden Harvest is collecting notes of encouragement for families who are struggling during the COIVD-19 crisis. The notes will be included in boxes of emergency food that are distributed across our service area. To participate, simply write a handwritten response to one of the prompts below:
- Prompt 1: Write down your favorite scripture or prayer and include a drawing that illustrates your scripture or prayer.
- Prompt 2: Write a note of encouragement and illustrate it with an image that symbolizes hope for you, like a rainbow or sunrise.
Mail notes to:
Golden Harvest Food Bank
Attn: Volunteer Notes
3310 Commerce Drive
Augusta, GA 30909
Or dropped off at the Aiken or Augusta Warehouse.
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EVENTS NEXT WEEK | JUNE 15 - JUNE 21
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Praying
Together
Audience
: A
ll - visitors, guest, and parishioners!
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE:
Noonday Prayer Tutorial and worship
Wednesday, June 17, 12 - 12:30 p.m. Followed by Noonday Prayer at 12:30 p.m.
The Holy Eucharist
Wednesday, June 17, 7:30 - 7:55 p.m. Followed by Compline at 8 p.m.
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID: 595 177 454
OR phone-in: (646) 876-9923
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Our church's deepest and strongest roots are found in daily common prayer.
The Book of Common Prayer
contains a variety of daily prayer services for both private or public
use, but few Episcopalians today are comfortable with how to pray these prayers solo or in community (in whatever form it presently takes). Praying Together offers tutorials about prayer and our prayer tradition so that everyone may learn how to pray the daily prayers of our church, giving their attention and intention to God's presence in the community of common prayer.
Contact Fr. Jenkins
if you would like to request instruction about a particular daily prayer service or at a particular time.
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Noonday Prayer
Wednesday, June 17, 12:30 p.m.
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID: 595 177 454
OR phone-in: (646) 876-9923
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Following a Noonday Prayer tutorial, all are invited to gather for a Noonday Prayer Service through Zoom.
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Compline
Wednesdays, 8 p.m.
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID: 595 177 454
OR phone-in: (646) 876-9923
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“The Lord Almighty, grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end.”
Wednesday evenings, we will gather online to pray the service of Compline at 8 p.m. The service will be led by members of the parish and the bulletin will be presented through Zoom so all may participate. Compline is a beautiful, simple, and quiet service to end the day with on
e another in prayer with Go
d.
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OTHER RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Saint Paul's Faithfulness
Offerings Pledged this Week $15,000.00
Offerings received this Week $10,588.33
Operating Expenses to Date $428,799.57
Total Income Received to Date $445,714.20
Stewardship Campaign:
2020 Pledge Cards Received to Date 174
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Are we missing your birthday?
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