Weekly
Postings
news & events
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To the Community of Saint Paul’s Church,
I share the following letter for the Augusta area clergy:
To the Augusta Convocation of Episcopal Parishes,
All of us look forward to the time when we can gather again in our parish buildings to worship in ways that are familiar and comforting. We share frustration that cases of COVID-19, while a small percentage of our population, are not seeing a decline that is needed for us to gather for in-person worship.
This past week the Diocese of Georgia released “
Safer Standards Guidelines
” which give direction on the safest way for us to gather in person. Each of us and our parishes are planning for the safest possible return to in-person worship. Every parish in the Convocation has different opportunities and challenges. We are working together as we move forward together.
To that end, in conversation with one another and Bishop Logue, we have decided that unless there is a dramatic decrease in infection rates, we will not gather for in-person worship within the Augusta Convocation until at least August 2, 2020. This has been a difficult decision but one that we believe is being true to our call to love one another.
As we continue to be the Church in virtual worship and personal service we are supported by the fellowship of love and prayers that surrounds and sustains us.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
The Rectors and Clergy of the Augusta Convocation
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From the Search Committee
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Dear Saint Paul’s Family,
The Transition Handbook for the Diocese of Georgia begins with these words,
“Discerning the call of a new priest to serve as rector or vicar is an act of prayer. Consciousness that one is doing a holy thing for the good of the whole congregation and the sacrifice of personal agenda are the two essential qualities in all those involved in the decision.”
When we accepted our positions as co-chairs for the search committee for rector of Saint Paul’s Church, our first responsibility was to pull together a team that would represent the breadth of our parish. We appreciate that our church family is made up of people at different stages of life with different ministry focuses, life experiences, and priorities and also understand that we will be a richer team with different perspectives and voices represented. Our team will be doing the critically important work of self-evaluation and increasing our understanding of how we can move forward in a way that honors the strengths of our congregation and helps us grow into the community we are working to become. This work will require listening, thoughtfulness, empathy, respect, honesty, and a deep commitment to discerning God’s will for our church family. After prayerful consideration, we were able to select a committee of parishioners whom we feel will fulfill the needs of our parish at this point and time. We are deeply grateful to the following parishioners for their commitment to Saint Paul’s and their willingness to serve:
Ramzi Assad
Julie Badger
Hava Chandler
Melissa Heckathorn
Meg Horton
John Robertson
Wright Montgomery
The Canon to the Ordinary will serve as a guide for our committee during the search process. Our diocese is currently in transition with Frank Logue, our former Canon of the Ordinary, recently ordained and consecrated as our 11th Bishop of Georgia. Loren Lasch has been called as his replacement and will be the new Canon. She begins serving our diocese on July 1, 2020. At that time, we will begin our work together.
Please know that we consider communication with the parish an essential part of this process. We will work to keep everyone informed about progress through updates included in our
Weekly Postings
, on our website, and announcements at church. We want to keep you informed so we can all journey through this process together. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, concerns, or need additional information.
We are so excited about beginning this important work together. We ask for you to keep this committee and all of our church family in your prayers as we move through this discernment process. We pray for God’s guidance as we set out on this journey together:
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your whole Church, and so guide us in this parish during our time of self-study and search that we shall grow in our commitment to one another and to the cause of your Christ, and may come to choose a faithful pastor to join us in our ministries in our parish, community, and diocese; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
In Christ,
Brad Sandbach and Kim Butler
Co-Chairs for the Saint Paul’s Church Search Committee
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EVENTS THIS SUNDAY | JUNE 28
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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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NEW FORMATION OPPORTUNITY
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CHRISTIAN FORMATION - Reflection Group
The Universal Christ, by Fr. Richard Rohr
8 Sessions, 90 minutes each, Dates TBD
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This small group gathers for eight structured meetings to reflect on the meaning of Christ incarnated and implications practicing or renewing our daily practice of Christianity.
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 26 - July 5
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Deliver Meals with 431 Ministries
St. Luke UMC has continued its meal delivery program through a partnership with 431 Ministries, an organization that provides local food distribution. Deliveries will take place on
Thursdays with two volunteers per shift.
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EVENTS NEXT WEEK | JUNE 29 - JULY 3
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Praying
Together
Audience
: A
ll - visitors, guest, and parishioners!
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE:
Noonday Prayer Tutorial and worship
Wednesday, July 1, 12 - 12:30 p.m. Followed by Noonday Prayer at 12:30 p.m.
Daily Prayer with our Prayer Book
Wednesday, July 1, 7:15 - 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, July 1, 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 – NOW OFFERED through Facebook Live and Zoom
Wednesdays, 8 p.m.
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID: 595 177 454
OR phone-in: (646) 876-9923
Compline is a beautiful, simple, and quiet service to end the day together in prayer with God. This service is led by members of the parish using an on-screen bulletin so everyone may pray together. Following the prayers, those who gather through Zoom have opportunity for a brief mid-week visit.
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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 $5,085.00
Operating Expenses to Date $463,492.35
Total Income Received to Date $485,400.60
Stewardship Campaign:
2020 Pledge Cards Received to Date 174
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Are we missing your birthday?
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