Weekly
Postings
news & events
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To the Community of Saint Paul’s Church,
This coming Sunday, Trinity Sunday, we will hear Paul’s words to the saints in Corinth, “Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.”
Putting things in order is a high calling. So much in our lives and in our community seems out of order, physical distancing, face masks, record unemployment, social unrest. Some things we control, others we do not. How we react, how we respond can help to bring into order the un-ordered places in our lives.
Much to Paul’s dismay we will never all agree, but we can work together and work toward that peace that passes all understanding. We can wear a mask because it can help someone else. We can wash our hands so that we don’t spread disease. We can give to help those have lost their jobs. We can see in ourselves and in our communities that there is need for honest refection and change.
Again Saint Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians says to them, “As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, "At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you." See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!
We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”
May we as God’s people, chosen and beloved, remove the obstacles that separate us and help us to know that now is the acceptable time to begin living into the salvation that is ours through our Lord Jesus Christ. It will not be easy, Paul reminds us, but it is possible in the power of the Spirit.
Let us pray:
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
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O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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EVENTS THIS SUNDAY | JUNE 7
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GODLY PLAY- Children through 5th grade
Sundays, 9:30 a.m.
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID:
366 090 592
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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!
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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 - The Universal Christ, by Fr. Richard Rohr
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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.
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NEW FORMATION OPPORTUNITIES
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The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr
Led by Fr. Jenkins
BEGINS June 16, 8 Tuesdays; 7 - 8:30 p.m.
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Book Discussion Group--
Richard Rohr's The Universal Christ. Interested in reading, learning and discussion with a more traditional book group format?
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Centering Prayer & "Sitting" Practice Group
Seeking Interested Participants
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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
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OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES | JUNE 5 - 14
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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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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.
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EVENTS NEXT WEEK | JUNE 8 - JUNE 14
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Praying
Together
Audience
: A
ll - visitors, guest, and parishioners!
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE:
Noonday Prayer Tutorial and worship
Wednesday, June 10, 12 - 12:30 p.m. Followed by Noonday Prayer at 12:30 p.m.
Daily Devotions Tutorial & worship
Wednesday, June 10, 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 10, 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
$9,744.40
Operating Expenses to Date
$410,238.35
Total Income Received to Date
$433,485.86
Stewardship Campaign:
2020 Pledge Cards Received to Date 174
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Are we missing your birthday?
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