Weekly Services
Sunday - 4 Services
8:00 & 10:30 a.m.
Holy Eucharist
1:00 p.m.
South Sudanese Service
Dinka Language
5:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist
Spanish Language
Tuesday
12:05 p.m. Holy Eucharist
Wednesday
6:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist
Saturday
5:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist
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Rector's Notes:
Alleluia, Christ is risen! Well, not quite yet, but very soon. On Friday, we took the terrible journey of the Passion story revealed through the liturgy of Good Friday at noon and the Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m. Lent arrives at it inevitable annual destination; there is no alternative ending. Over the weeks of Lent, we contemplated the story of Jesus, the teachings of the Gospel he incarnates. Toward the end, we considered the elements of the message of Jesus to the church and to the world. Finally, for Palm Sunday and Holy Week we imagined powerful images of what the Gospel is ("the grinding power of a millstone" GKChesterton) and what it is not ("an electric blanket" Flannery O'Conner). We were reminded on Palm Sunday by the Midwestern theologian Edna Hong that in the end we must stand alone before the broken body crowned with thorns hanging on the cross, bloody and broken. As she wrote we must slog "down the dark, steep path to this crucial spot," standing before the Cross of Christ where there is no illusion or deception to distract us. There, eyes wide open, hearts pounding, our faith is liberated from its tiny anthropocentric hubris and we become giant stones shouting out God's grace, mercy, love, and justice. How does this happen you ask? That is the mystery yet to come, the mystery of Easter morning. Still, it is the sacrifice of the servant hanging on the cross, that offers the key to our transformation into the Body of Christ, for you cannot find the empty tomb without passing before the bloody cross. Alleluia, Christ is risen!
As a 4th or 5th grader, I was introduced to the magnificent cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. There was so much beauty there, so much that even as a 9- or 10-year-old I stood in the nave gasping as I noted the awe-filled holiness of the place. Still, I was a 9 or 10 year old. It was not the magnificent rose window or the soaring arches of the classic gothic architecture that captured my imagination.
I was not moved remarkably
by any singular work of art or artifact. To be sure, I understood I was standing in the midst of centuries of human attempts to reflect God. But those things mentioned in the last week of anguish over the fire were not what captured the attention of young Stan. Not the crown of thorns or the windows or any of the other amazing artifacts, I was mesmerized by the gargoyles. Everywhere I looked I saw these hideous forms staring back at me. Unsure of my own worth at the time, that these grotesque statues adorned this magnificent building inspired me to understand even I could be loved by God. To this day, I love gargoyles; they occupy a special place in my story. Edmund Kemper Broadus's poem "A Gargoyle of Notre Dame" makes me smile as I think of these curious creatures who stand constant sentinel over Paris.
With angel's wings and brutish-human form,
Weathered with centuries of sun and storm,
He crouches yonder on the gallery wall,
Monstrous, superb, indifferent, cynical:
And all the pulse of Paris cannot stir
Her one immutable philosopher.
Of course, I wonder which survived and which plunged to the ground as Notre Dame suffered such catastrophic insult last week. I want to say to those who succumbed to the fire, "Well done, you stood your guard; now return to the earth from which you came."
A special message from our organist, Dr. Kurt Knecht:
Next week, I will attend the premiere of my
 newest work, "Time and the River." It is a multimedia project that was commissioned by the Lincoln Friends of Chamber Music. Images, time-lapse photography, and video from the
Platte Basin Timelapse project
will accompany the music. The work is scored for nonet (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin, viola, cello, and double bass) and consists of around 35 minutes of music in 9 movements. The work will be performed by faculty members of the Glenn Korff School of Music at the University of Nebraska on April 27th at 7pm. "Time and the River" will be live streamed online. We will post the live stream link as soon as it is available. It will also be recorded for future broadcast on public TV and radio and for use in a forthcoming DVD.
If you are interested in baptism, confirmation, reception into the Episcopal Church, the transfer of your membership letter, or anything else about your parochial status (i.e. belonging to St. Paul's, Episcopal Church, and/or Christendom) contact the
Rector for more information.
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Easter Message from
The Most Rev'd Michael Curry
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Parish Calendar
April 27-
Runnels-Melton Wedding
May 11:
Antrim ~ Roath Wedding
See below for more information
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Christian Formation
Sunday School
"Godly Play"
10:20 am on the third floor, for ages 4-11. Children join the worship service in time for communion. Nursery care provided for younger children on the 2nd floor.
St. Paul's Adult Formation
M
orning Series
Is on break for April 21 & 27
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Upcoming Events ~ More Information
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Help Wanted - Are you Feeling Called?
We need more caring
hands on-deck in the
St. Paul's Parish Nursery.
Each Sunday we have two paid staff persons caring for our youngest (and cutest!) members. All are required to take the "Safeguarding God's Children" training, pass a background check, and love our kids and their families. We also occasionally need nursery caregivers during the week for special meetings, worship services, or events. Please speak with
Caite Brouse if you are ready to join the team. Service hours for high school students are available, but the training requirements remain. Thank you!
Coffee Hour Hosts
April 21 - Meredith Seaton
April 28 - EfM
May 5 - Birthday Sunday
Hosting Coffee Hour is a fun and easy way to get to know other St. Paul's members! The host brings the food and the church provides the drinks. An example of what a host might bring would be: two large pans of brownies (cut very small), maybe a bowl of fruit (oftentimes grapes cut into small clusters), and a bowl or two of pretzels or popcorn. If you have questions or wish to co-host with another member, please contact Alison. Dates are available.
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St. Paul's Tech Squad forming:
Two have come forward - will you be next? Join Cory, Richard and Enos to learn the ropes of St. Paul's audio & livestream technology. We have a simple systems in the church which need a few sets of trained eyes and ears to help us manage & trouble-shoot now and then. Teens, young adults, seniors - all techies are welcome to join the Tech Squad. School service hours and/or additional jewels in your crown in heaven are available. We need you. Please contact
Techie
if you are interested or willing to learn our AV systems. Thanks so much!
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Other News & Thanksgivings
Invite Your People to Church
It's that time of year. Folks look up and wonder - should I go to church this Easter, and if so, where? The easiest way to plant the seed "St. Paul's of course!" is to invite them through our Facebook Event for Holy Week. Go to the event
here, click "share," and all of your Facebook Friends will appear. Click "invite" next to their names, and they will receive a short message that says "
N has invited you to attend St. Paul's for Holy Week." Simple, nice, and relatively painless. Holy Week begins Sunday.
We also have more postcards that you may have to mail to others, and you can always text, email or call people as well. L
et's get clicking people, and proclaim the Good News across the land ~ or at least across KC :-)
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Join community members, health care providers, lawmakers and others for the premiere of "Critical Condition: Stories of Health in the Heartland." This short film features Kansans from across the state sharing their challenges and triumphs as they strive to take care of themselves and their families.
Watch video
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| Critical Condition: Stories of Health in the Heartland |
The premiere will be at
6pm on Tuesday 4/23 at Johnson County Community College. Immediately following the screening will be a live panel discussion and Q&A featuring the award-winning filmmaker Ky Dickens, subjects featured in the film, and community leaders. Space is limited, and you must register to attend. You can RSVP
here.
This screening event is designed to foster an important and open dialogue about the role that Medicaid plays in the lives of our friends, neighbors and communities. I encourage you to invite your friends, colleagues, board members and others who could benefit from better understanding people in our communities who struggle to access adequate health care.
I hope to see you there! Email
Hilary Gee with questions.
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Curious to know how you can save $350 on
St Paul's Reformation Tour
through Germany
in Sept 2020?
for information or a brochure and reserve your spot before June 1, 2019.
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Our fundraising event at Jalapeno's Restaurant
brought a lot of support for our partner school,
Holy Cross School
, Haiti
the total food bill must have been over $1700,
because the total donation was
This may not sound like a lot,
but let us put this in perspective.
If we think of an average cost per plate of $10,
came out to show their support.
This donation will pay the salaries of
which also means supporting 2 Haitian families for a month.
It also means that 2 teachers can continue to educate
for another month.
Your support goes a long way in Haiti.
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Last Sunday we distributed the new Prayer Request Forms from the St. Paul's Pastoral Care Ministry Team. Additional forms available from the box on the wall in the tower room, near the pulpit, on the Usher's Desk at the 40th street door, and the Receptionist Desk at the South/School side door. If you are interested in becoming a part of this ministry, please contact Heidi Carter, Associate for Ministry.
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Thank You ~ Name Tag Ministry
Thank you Ann Readey and Betsy Parker for stepping-up to help! Watch the ePistle and announcement sheet for progress on the Nametag project, and make plans to wear yours every week. Hooray!
Thank You ~ Parish Directory Ministry
Thank you Alison Barnes Martin, Nancy Day, Nicole Blanc and Nancy Franklin for agreeing to help us work together to get a new updated parish directory - with pictures!! This will be fantastic. Please watch communications for ways you can cooperate with them, and help make this dream a reality. Hooray! Hooray!
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Cool News from the Pantry
* Around November, we were able to negotiate an arrangement which allows our pantry to receive TEFAP milk allocations; as a result, we are currently receiving and distributing about 190 half gallons jugs of milk a week. This is about 735 additional pounds to be loaded and unloaded each week, but the results are very much appreciated by the pantry clients.
* Courtesy of KCPL, we are distributing packages of 4 LED light bulbs each to pantry clients. We will receive and hopefully by the end of April distribute about 1000 light bulbs to pantry clients ... (84 boxes x 12 pkgs x 4 per pkg) Again, these are being well received and appreciated by the pantry clients.
Make plans now to volunteer for the next TFAP distribution on Saturday morning, April 20, from about 9:00 to about 12:15. Contact Melissa Hill for details.
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2019 Stewardship
Every year, in response to the many and great gifts God freely bestows upon us, we are all invited to make a pledgeto the financial support of St. Paul's Parish.
Our gifts become a witness in the world of this parish's response to God's call to us to be a faithful community serving all God's creation.
You can use the link below to make your pledge or contact the
Church Office
for a paper pledge form.
Thank you for your support financially, for your participation, and by remembering our efforts in your prayers.
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verse
of the week
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
- John 13:34-35
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voice
of the week
In a civilization that glorifies success and happiness and is blind to the sufferings of others, people's eyes can be opened to the truth if they remember that at the centre of the Christian faith stands an unsuccessful, tormented Christ, dying in forsakenness.
- Jürgen Moltmann
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prayer
of the week
In our hope and anticipation of Easter Sunday, it is all too easy for us to dismiss the reality of the death of Christ. Today, Lord God, help us to sit in the uneasy, tormenting presence of the crucified Christ, granting us the eyes to see and ears to hear the sufferings of others without turning away. Amen.
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thought for the week
J. Heinrich Arnold
Surrendering to the will of Jesus means becoming one with him and with one another. Jesus fought so hard to surrender his will to the Father's that he sweated drops of blood. Evil powers surrounded him and tried to cause his downfall, but he remained faithful: his attitude was "Thy will, not my will" (Luke 22:42). This should be our attitude, too, in all questions, even if we are persecuted for our faith. Whatever happens, imprisonment or even death, we should say, "Thy will, not my will."
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B
eyond the Walls of St. Paul's
Opportunities to Stay Connected and Involved
Please Visit Our Website at
www.stpaulskcmo.org
for information about The Diocese of West Missouri's
Youth Ministries
, The Episcopal Church, Outreach opportunities and Advocacy and Community Engagement. Scroll down the welcoming page to find a series of interesting links and information. Thank You.
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click for:
April 18:
Regional Maundy Thursday Events
May 3: Youth Dinner
June 2-7:
Camp WEMO
July 8-16:
Pilgrimage 2019
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by 6:00 p.m. Wednesdays.
Please help out the Epistle editor and submit your items in a timely way. Thanks!
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St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Day School
11 E 40th St.
Kansas City, Mo. 64111
(816) 931-2850
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