Weekly
Postings
news & events
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September 3 - September 12, 2021
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Dear People of Saint Paul’s Church:
The Clergy, staff, and Vestry are trying to ensure that our worship and faith experiences are as familiar as possible. In this attempt, we have made some changes, including the request for spacing out in the church, isolating the choir, and altering the acceptance of communion. We are doing this for the benefit of everyone. We know that it is not perfect. As one of our church leaders tells me, the only ways to stop this disease are to pray without ceasing and to close the church to prevent transmission. We want to pray together. We want our community to be healthy. We want to help. This requires some changes. Again, we ask you, PLEASE wear a mask regardless of your vaccination status. Our local hospitalizations are still at critical levels. The CDC recommends masking indoors in areas with high transmission rates regardless of vaccination status.
We have altered our receptions to welcome and celebrate the Rev. Dr. Eric Biddy’s arrival. He will greet the church outdoors following each service next Sunday. Hopefully we will have enough room to spread out so that he can see our faces. Masks will still be welcomed.
As we prepare for this next transition, we thank our clergy for the care, guidance, and spirituality that they have shared with us this year. Each of them has shouldered a burden with faith, joy, and love. Fr. Joe Bowden, Fr. Bill Dolen, and Fr. Erwin Veale, please know that you carry the love, appreciation, and thanks of this Church always. As Fr. Joe prepares to transition back to Good Shepherd, we pray that he will continue to be with us not only in spirit but also in person. It is said that people come into our lives for a season, a reason, and lifetime. We pray that Fr. Joe’s season with us becomes a lifetime.
Many hands have held these doors open during this time. The Return to Worship Committee, the Vestry, the staff, Carolyn Dolen, the ushers, Laurie Montgomery, Wright Montgomery, Tom Kotti, and so many more people have happily toiled to make our Church a place of worship and sanctuary to all. Please know that you are loved and accept our thanks and our prayers.
Yours,
Ashley Wright
Senior Warden
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HELP US WELCOME THE BIDDY FAMILY |
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The Biddy family will arrive in Augusta this weekend. Thank you for your generous gifts to stock the Biddy's pantry. You were truly wonderful! As we continue to welcome them to Augusta, you are invited to be a part of our welcome in several ways.
1- Join the Hospitality Team for Next Weekend's Receptions
2- Deliver a Dinner
To help the Biddy family get settled, (but mostly just to share our love with them) we'd like to deliver dinner twice a week to the Biddy family for the month of September.
If you'd like to purchase a gift card to your favorite restaurant, that would be wonderful too! Please bring it to the parish office or to church on Sunday, Sept. 12. We'll have a basket for welcome cards and notes.
3- Host a Backyard Gathering for 10-12 Parishioners
To help Fr. Eric get to know the parish, we are organizing small gatherings during the fall. These small gatherings will allow us an opportunity to reconnect with each other and get to know the Biddys. We will schedule multiple opportunities on Sunday mornings for small gatherings, but wish to schedule many off-site events in the neighborhoods of the CSRA so that every parishioner has the opportunity to attend a casual gathering followed by an Eucharist. We have had many offer their homes already and we will schedule dates for those events as soon as we are able to check the Biddy's calendar. Please contact Elisabeth Price if you would like to host an event.
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IRONMAN WEEKEND AT SAINT PAUL'S |
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SAINT PAUL’S CHURCH’S
UPDATED IRONMAN WEEKEND EVENTS 2021
Saint Paul’s loves Ironman and our athletes, supporters, and guests. Our Ironman Team has been working to discern how we can continue to support and provide hospitality to our Ironman friends on race weekend while also respecting concerns over the Delta variant and current high community transmission rates. We have been watching our local hospital numbers, talking to local healthcare professionals, and prayerfully considering our best path forward.
Our theme for Saint Paul’s Ironman Weekend is “Love Your Neighbor.” In normal times, this means throwing our doors open and extending a warm welcome to all. During this upsurge, we think we best express our love for our neighbor by supporting and encouraging in ways that help keep everyone healthy and safe and by honoring and supporting the work of our health care workers in only hosting events that we are able to minimize risks.
We typically host/participate in four different volunteer events throughout the weekend, and each event has been evaluated independently. After a period of consideration and risk/benefit assessment, we have decided the following:
1- CANCEL OUR ANNUAL SAINT PAUL’S/TRIAUGUSTA PASTA DINNER FOR THIS YEAR
This event brings hundreds of people from many different places and with different vaccination statuses inside for an extended period of time. It would be difficult to socially distance and wear masks. We explored the idea of providing to-go meals but our kitchen captain, Eric Friedman, and I discussed this and decided against this option for the safety of our volunteers. Everything is made from scratch and requires a large number of volunteers in close quarters for an extended period of time for prep work and cooking. We look forward to hosting the dinner again in 2022.
2- CONTINUE TO VOLUNTEER AT THE SWIM GEAR DROP
Each year volunteers from Saint Paul’s greet athletes and help them with their bags on race morning at the Swim Gear Drop. We have the opportunity to fellowship with the athletes before they get in the water and encourage them before they start their race. It is an exciting time and a powerful ministry. This is an official Ironman volunteer opportunity and our participation in this event makes us eligible for a grant from the Ironman Foundation. This funding is used to cover our expenses for hospitality. To sign up to volunteer for the Swim Gear Drop go to this link:
Enter the group password: love your neighbor. We need to have 25 volunteers sign up by Sunday, September 12, 2021 to be eligible for the grant so sign up today!
3- MODIFY OUR RACE DAY HOSPITALITY
We will move our race day hospitality outside and continue to provide refreshments, water, coffee, and an outdoor spot for athletes, supporters, and guests to gather and relax. We will continue to provide things for our guests’ convenience like a charging station for phones, a table with emergency race day supplies (e.g., bandaids, safety pins, duct tape, Sharpies, etc….), and provide water bowls for our four-legged friends. We are currently planning to set up a hospitality area in the parking lot closest to the railroad tracks and closest to the swim start.
4- CONTINUE OUR CHEER STATION ON THE RUN COURSE
Our church is located close to the halfway point of the run course. We will continue to support our runners with our cheer station. With the Georgia heat, we think this might be the most important support we do. We always have tents, signs, balloons, noisemakers, music, and lots of ice and popsicles. Most importantly, we have the best volunteers encouraging and energizing the runners when they are having to dig deep. The afternoon is always a lot of fun and guaranteed to inspire you.
We are thrilled that our new priest, the Rev Dr. Eric Biddy, has been invited to pray at the opening ceremony for the event continuing this Saint Paul’s Ironman tradition. We are so excited for the Biddy family to experience our Ironman ministry and downtown Augusta on race day. It will be a wonderful opportunity for Father Biddy to meet our community and our community to meet Father Biddy.
This year will look a little different, but we are committed to making this weekend a fun and fulfilling experience for our guests and volunteers and to show God’s love to all. We will be sending out additional information and sign-ups very soon. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me at 706.833.8541 or kimberlyybutler@gmail.com
Yours in Christ,
Kim Butler
Coordinator for Ironman Weekend at Saint Paul’s
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EVENTS THIS SUNDAY | September 5 |
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Saint Paul's Nursery is OPEN
9:30 AM -12:30 PM
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We are pleased to announce that the Saint Paul’s nursey has reopened for children 6 months to 4 years of age. The nursery will be available on Sunday mornings beginning at 9:30 a.m. to allow parents to attend formation. If you have any questions about the nursey, please contact Katie Gullette or the parish office. Miss Connie, Miss Jenna, and Miss Leila are all VERY EXCITED to welcome you back! |
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Sign up for Formation Classes
In the Narthex
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Christian Formation class for all ages begin September 12th. This Sunday you will find registration forms for our children and youth classes in the Narthex and here.
Formation happens bit by bit, moment by moment over a lifetime. It is in the retelling of the story, the Sunday communion, the community of faith that surrounds you reminding you of your belovedness and helping you live out our baptismal covenant.
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Sunday Worship Schedule
8 AM Rite I - In person
5:30 PM - Celtic Evening Prayer & Communion
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All 3 of our Sunday worship services are in-person with no requirement to sign-up. Welcome Back! |
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There are many opportunities for you to get involved in the life of the church. We invite you to explore the various ministries of Saint Paul’s and encourage you to get involved. There will be information in the Narthex with contact information to find out more if you are interested. Please check it out. |
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EVENTS NEXT WEEK | September 6 - September 12 |
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Join the Hospitality Team
Reception on the Lawn to Welcome the Biddy Family
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We have always been known for our memorable receptions at Saint Paul's. It's our way of sharing our hospitality as well as the Good News of the Gospel with all those who walk through our church doors!
The Parish Life & Hospitality Committee invites you to volunteer your time and talents to throw a Reception on the Lawn for our new Rector, Fr. Eric Biddy and his family on Sunday, September 12th.
We need parishioners to prepare food and make platters on Saturday morning, set up the reception on Sunday morning, serve cake and punch, and help clean up after the reception Sunday afternoon.
We also need hosts for coffee & donuts following the 8:00 AM service and wine & cheese reception following the Celtic service at 5:30 PM.
Questions, please contact Eric Friedman. To keep everyone safe, please only volunteer if you've been fully vaccinated for the Covid-19 virus and plan to wear a facemask and gloves while preparing and serving food. Thanks! |
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Parish Office Hours
Monday, September 6
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The Parish Office will be closed Monday, September 6, in observance of Labor Day. |
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Noonday Prayer
Wednesday, 12:05 p.m.
Meeting ID: 595 177 454
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Noonday Prayer is a short and simple service which allows prayer to enter into the midst of our daily work or other activities, whil e joining our prayers to the ongoing prayer of the Church around the world. It may also be observed in private and is found online here and on p.103-107 in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP) or in the simplified version for daily devotions on page 138. |
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Compline
Wednesdays, 8 - 8:15 p.m. Social time follows worship on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 595 177 454
Dial-In: (646) 876-9923
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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 an opportunity for a mid-week visit.
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Save these fall dates - Details to follow. |
- September 12 - Fr. Eric’s First Sunday at Saint Paul’s
- September 12 - Christian Formation Classes begin for ALL ages
- September 26 - Ironman Sunday
- October 2 - Walk for Water
- October 3 - Blessing of the Animals
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Tuesday's Music Live Returns
September 21, 12 noon, The Nave
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Tuesday’s Music Live will begin its 33rd season with a free concert by the Con Brio Quartet on September
21st at 12:00 noon. The 2021-2022 season will not include lunch. Patrons are encouraged to visit some
of downtown Augusta’s restaurants after the 30-minute concerts conclude. For more information visit
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OTHER RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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Sign up NOW for Ironman Swim Gear Drop |
Twenty-five Volunteers for Ironman are needed to work the Swim Start Gear Drop Area next to Saint Paul’s Church on the morning of Sunday, September 26. To volunteer, register NOW on the Ironman website. Use the password “loveyourneighbor.” *Please note, the Gear Drop option will only show up if you put in the password. For additional information, email George Barrett or or contact by phone at (706) 831-7436. More information about Ironman Weekend at Saint Paul’s will be forthcoming. |
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Updated address for College Students |
Parents of college students, the Daughters of the King have requested addresses for our college students so that they may send notes and small surprises to them during the year. As your children register for housing for the fall semester, please forward updated mailing addresses to the Parish Office.
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Vases for the Flower Guild |
The Flower Guild is collecting glass or plastic flower vases to deliver flowers to our parishioners on the
prayer list. If you have extra vases you would like to share, please drop them off in the Tyler Hall kitchen. The
Flower Guild appreciates your support! For more information, please contact Pam Uros. |
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Join our Christian Formation Team |
Our parish has consistently listed a strong youth & children’s ministry as one of our top priorities. Your support and involvement in this program are vital. There will be curriculum to follow, supplies available for any projects you would like to create, and LOTS of support. For more information, contact Coleman Graham Kim Butler or Ivey Coleman. Christian Formation class for all ages begin September 12th.
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Meg and Donald Horton have agreed to serve as our new acolyte master team. If you have a child, 9 years-old or older, who is interested in being an acolyte, please contact Meg Horton at megmhorton@gmail.com. |
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Altar Rail Cushion Project |
A needlework project to restore our altar rail kneeling cushions has begun. The projected cost is $15,000 and will take at least two years to complete. Financial contributions and needlework are both being sought. If you needlepoint or even if you are interested in learning and would like to be a part of this project, contact Laurie Montgomery for more information. Financial contributions to the project may be made on the online giving page of Saint Paul's website (select altar rail cushion fund) or by check (please add a designation for altar rail cushion on your check). |
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From the Stewardship Chair
Lord, we give faithfully, and in our giving, we honor you,
the source of all our blessings, our daily bread, and all the gifts in our lives.
Received as of 5/12/21 for the Year 2021
137 Pledge Cards representing $610,801
If you have not completed a pledge card, please complete this year’s annual stewardship appeal and return it to the church as soon as possible, or pledge online on our website at saintpauls.org/pledge-card/. If you did not receive a pledge appeal in the mail or have simply misplaced yours, please email the parish office or contact by telephone at (706) 724-2485 ext. 225.
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Saint Paul's Faithfulness
as of 9/1/2021
Offerings pledged this Week $11,650.02
Offerings received this Week $5,853.90
Operating Expenses to Date $541,700.59
Total Income Received to Date $582,255.36
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COVID-19 Vaccine Registration |
Eligible individuals, including those ages 12 and older, can now register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Registration must be completed in advance on the AU Health website.
South Carolina residents who are eligible can also register to receive the vaccine at Aiken Technical College through the AU Health website.
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Are we missing your birthday?
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