Weekly
Postings
news & events
|
|
To the Community of Saint Paul’s Church,
(From Episcopal News Service)
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has joined other faith leaders in calling for a national day of mourning and lament on June 1 as the United States exceeds
100,000 documented deaths from COVID-19
.
“I encourage Episcopalians to join with other people of faith this weekend to grieve and honor those who have died from COVID-19,” Curry said in a press release. “Let this tragic moment not pass without us honoring the many among us who have lost their lives or lost their loved ones and commending them and ourselves to God’s love and peace.”
The idea originated from a group of Christian leaders including Curry that meets regularly, led by Jim Wallis, founder of
Sojourners
. The group issued a statement saying that “an unprecedented group of 100+ national faith leaders — from Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions” had signed on to the call, as well as the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
The grim milestone of 100,000 dead Americans coincides with a time that is sacred to all three Abrahamic faiths, said the Rev. Charles Robertson, canon to the presiding bishop for ministry beyond The Episcopal Church. Muslims have just finished celebrating
Eid al-Fitr
, the end of Ramadan; Jews will celebrate the feast of
Shavuot
May 28 through 30; and Christians will celebrate Pentecost on May 31.
“So that’s why, as we hit this 100,000 number in the U.S. alone, it seems appropriate that people in churches, synagogues and mosques throughout the nation recognize this moment and not let it pass without us honoring those who have lost their lives and their families,” Robertson told ENS.
The interfaith period of mourning builds on the ecumenical effort to remember, mourn and celebrate the lives that have been lost, as expressed in the National Council of Churches’ virtual memorial service on May 24, at which Curry spoke.
“This is yet another, even broader, coming together of people from all different religions,” the Rev. Margaret Rose, ecumenical and inter-religious deputy to the presiding bishop, told ENS. “This is a time of lamenting and mourning, and it’s a time to come together.”
Local governments and civic groups will observe the national day of mourning with moments of silence, lowering of flags, interfaith vigils, ringing of bells and civic memorials, according to the group’s release, and congregations are encouraged to honor the dead this weekend in their own ways, according to their faith traditions.
“The beauty is that they can make notice of this and mark this tragic [milestone] of 100,000 deaths in their prayers of the people, they can find other ways in their liturgy to do it, in their preaching, but what we didn’t want was to prescribe a specific formula of what to do, but rather to simply call on everyone, each congregation in their own way, to find a way to mark this moment,” Robertson said.
One way Episcopalians can incorporate the gravity of the pandemic into their worship is by praying a new collect, composed by a team of Episcopalians and Lutherans, called “A Prayer for the Power of the Spirit Among the People of God.” Written “to unite us in common prayer and revive us for common mission” during this crisis in the spirit of Pentecost, Curry and his Lutheran counterpart, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, invite congregations to pray it from Pentecost through the first Sunday in September. In addition to expressing a shared desire for renewal in a troubling time, the collect also commemorates nearly 20 years of full communion between The Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The collect will be used in
Washington National Cathedral’s Pentecost service
, during which Curry will preach.
Let us pray:
God of all power and love, we give thanks for your unfailing presence and the hope you provide in times of uncertainty and loss. Send your Holy Spirit to enkindle in us your holy fire. Revive us to live as Christ’s body in the world: a people who pray, worship, learn, break bread, share life, heal neighbors, bear good news, seek justice, rest and grow in the Spirit. Wherever and however we gather, unite us in common prayer and send us in common mission, that we and the whole creation might be restored and renewed, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
|
|
|
|
Consecration of Bishop-Elect Frank Logue
Saturday, May 30 at 11 a.m.
|
God willing and people consenting, Frank Sullivan Logue will be ordained and consecrated a Bishop in the one holy catholic and apostolic Church, and the 11th Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia.
Your presence (online) and prayers (real-time) are requested.
|
|
|
|
EVENTS THIS SUNDAY | MAY 31
|
|
|
|
|
GODLY PLAY- Children through 5th grade
Sundays, 9:30 a.m.
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID:
366 090 592
|
Saint Paul's takes children and their relationship with God seriously and seeks to provide both space to foster encounters with God and the language necessary to make meaning of those experiences. In our new digital environment, we are excited for families to gather with their children to experience the Biblical narrative lovingly presented, followed by a time for awe and wondering. See you Sunday!
|
|
|
|
|
|
RECTOR’S FORUM
Sundays, 9:30 a.m.
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID: 860 972 849
OR phone-in: (646) 876-9923
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
YOUTH FORMATION - Middle and High School
Sundays, 10:30 a.m.
OR Zoom App, Meeting ID: 795 073 836
|
Youth gather for some theology, fellowship, and lively conversation before tuning into 11 a.m. worship. Join us for our LAST meeting before the summer...It’s everything you love about our Sunday morning experience, except the chicken biscuit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHRISTIAN FORMATION - The Universal Christ, by Fr. Richard Rohr
|
This small group gathers for eight structured meetings to reflect on the theology presented in Fr. Richard Rohr's The Universal Christ: How a forgotten reality can change everything we see, hope for, and believe.
Participants will:
- learn about a forgotten teaching of Christ;
- have opportunity to learn and engage in Christian contemplative practices;
- participate will practice growing in presence to one another through paired and group sharing
- set intentions for becoming a more loving, engaged presence in the world.
A wonderful supplemental or alternative is to listen to Fr. Rohr’s podcast about the books and its practical implication,
Another Name For Every Thing
. Season 1 presents conversations about the book. Subsequent seasons delve into being Christian from the theological perspective of the book's theology.
|
|
|
|
NEW FORMATION OPPORTUNITIES
|
|
|
|
The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr
Led by Fr. Jenkins
BEGINS June 16, 8 Tuesdays; 7 - 8:30 p.m.
|
Book Discussion Group--
Richard Rohr's The Universal Christ. Interested in reading, learning and discussion with a more traditional book group format?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Centering Prayer & "Sitting" Practice Group
Seeking Interested Participants
|
Centering Prayer
is a receptive method of Christian silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God's presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. It can be helpful to one's practice of centering prayer, especially at the beginning, to have periodic accountability and support through a group.
If you are interested in learning about centering prayer, about exploring possibilities for forming an online sitting group, or about other contemplative practices,
please notify Fr. Jenkins
.
|
|
|
|
OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES | MAY 29 - JUNE 7
|
|
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.
|
|
Distribute Meals with St. Luke
Deliver breakfasts and lunches to children in need in Richmond County on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday throughout May. Email
StephTeague@aol.com to learn how you can get involved.
|
|
EVENTS NEXT WEEK | JUNE 1 - JUNE 7
|
|
|
|
|
Praying
Together
Audience
: A
ll - visitors, guest, and parishioners!
NO TUTORIALS scheduled the first week following the Feast of Pentecost
|
Contact Fr. Jenkins
if you would like to request instruction about a particular daily prayer service or at a particular time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compline
Wednesdays, 8 p.m.
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID: 595 177 454
OR phone-in: (646) 876-9923
|
“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.
|
|
|
|
OTHER RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
|
|
Saint Paul's Faithfulness
Offerings Pledged this Week $15,000.00
Offerings Received this Week
$8,985.00
Operating Expenses to Date
$399,954.00
Total Income Received to Date
$417,649.46
Stewardship Campaign:
2020 Pledge Cards Received to Date 174
|
|
|
|
Daughters of the King Discernment Classes for New Members
Begins Friday, June 5; 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
|
The St. Ruth Byllesby Chapter of the Order of the Daughters of the King (DoK) will offer discernment classes for new members beginning the last full week of May on Zoom.
DoK is an international prayer and service order in the Episcopal Church, and The St. Ruth Byllesby Chapter is part of the ministries of Saint Paul's Church. If you are interested in discernment classes or have questions about the DoK, please
email Suzanne Pursley-Crotteau
at or call her at (706) 910-9331.
|
|
|
|
Are we missing your birthday?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
