Weekly Services
Sunday - 3 Services
10:00 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
For the Summer Schedule please contact the church office.
Wednesday
6:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist
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This Sunday: 10:00 am Service & Patio Fun
Join us for Worship at 10:00 am with more beautiful music with our guest organist John Schaefer and prayers, followed by a quick cuppa in the Garden Room and games on the patio (or parish hall pending heat). Please see other important information about this weekend below, and thank you in advance for grabbing your name-tag at the south entrance so we can get to know each other better.
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Rector's Notes:
Thoreau, in his 1862 essay "Walking*" in The Atlantic, writes, "I have met with but one or two persons in the course of my life who understood the art of Walking, that is, of taking walks - who had a genius, so to speak, for sauntering, which word is beautifully derived "from idle people who roved about the country, in the Middle Ages, and asked charity, under pretense of going a la Sainte Terre, to the Holy Land, till the children exclaimed, "There goes a Sainte-Terrer," a Saunterer, a Holy-Lander. They who never go to the Holy Land in their walks, as they pretend, are indeed mere idlers and vagabonds; but they who do go there are saunterers in the good sense, such as I mean. Some, however, would derive the word from sans terre, without land or a home, which, therefore, in the good sense, will mean, having no particular home, but equally at home everywhere. For this is the secret of successful sauntering. He who sits still in a house all the time may be the greatest vagrant of all; but the saunterer, in the good sense, is no more vagrant than the meandering river, which is all the while sedulously seeking the shortest course to the sea."
I first read this essay as a college student (along with Civil Disobedience--confession is good for the soul) and became enamored with the idea of walking. C.S. Lewis was another saunterer and his reflections on the topic were equally compelling (he writes a beautiful piece on discovering faith on a long walk across the English countryside on a foggy day). The life of a saunterer always appealed to me. Sadly, the perquisites of parish ministry rarely afforded time for the kind of long, meandering walks either Thoreau or Lewis describe. I feel that might be changing for me. I hope to become a "Saunterer," a "Holy-Lander," not necessarily in the sense of going to the ancient world of our faith, but in the sense of more intentionally encountering with less defined purpose the wonder of God's creation. To be sedulously seeking the unknownable may be the perfect oxymoronic description of a roving "Saunterer." Perhaps I seek a Frost-esque
mulligan; I took the road more traveled and now I want to try "the road less traveled by." Maybe so
, but I know God is there waiting for me to take a step into the wilderness. With appreciation to Garth Brooks, it is time for me to "stand straight, walk proud, and have a little faith.**" rsr+
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The Mayor & City Council salute the Rev'd Doctor R. Stan Runnels on the occasion of his retirement, and thank him for his dedicated service to this City. What a cool thing for Father Stan, and St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
Photo credit goes to parishioner Bill Buckner.
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Parish Calendar
Information about these events can be found in the "more information" section below.
July 21:
Healing
Prayer Sunday
July 22-28:
MissionPalooza
!
August 4: Celebration of Thanksgiving & Brunch
for Father Stan
August 4: Birthday Sunday
August 8: ECW Meeting
Mitzi Foster's home
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We are thrilled to report that as of July the total pledges to
St. Paul's for 2019 exceeded those of 2018, 28 households increased their pledges, and 13 households made new pledges.
This is great news!
2020 promises many transitions for us as a faith family, requiring our full attention and care. We thank you in advance for your continued stewardship of this remarkable place. We are reminded daily, and proclaim weekly, that all we have comes by God's grace. We are called to return but a portion of that to serving God's life.
Summer Blessings ~ Your Stewardship Ministry Team
You can still use the link below to make a 2019 pledge, or contact the
Church Office
for a paper pledge form.
Thank you for your support financially, for your participation, and by remembering the worship, outreach, and people of St. Paul's in your prayers.
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Christian Formation
Sunday School
"Godly Play"
This summer the children of the parish are focusing on serving others. They have planned special projects using their great gifts to meet a world's deep need. Please join us at 10:00 am on the third floor. Everyone aged 4-11 is welcome to come and bring a friend. Children join the worship service in time for communion. Nursery care provid
ed for younger children on the 2nd floor.
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Education for Ministry Registration Ends July 2019
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Other News & Opportunities
On the
3rd Sunday of each month during the 10:00 service a team of parishioners offers private healing prayers for you, or with you on behalf of someone else. All are
invited to visit either the small chapel west of the larger worship space (the nave), or the tower room on the east side, at any point during communion. You are also welcome to fill out a Prayer Request Form, available in both spaces and at the entrance (the narthex).
St. Paul's will be partnering with
Lifetouch for parish family pictures and publishing a new parish directory. It couldn't be easier! Please find the link
here
for easy appointment-making! We are so excited to partner with Lifetouch because it will make it easier to communicate with each other.
There will be continuing information at church and in the Epistle.
Portrait Dates:
August 26th-29th (Monday-Thursday) for 2:00-8:40pm
If you have any questions, please feel free to call Alison 816-686-3223 or
email her.
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 From the Music Director:
The Missouri Choral Artists is a new professional choir with singers based around the state of Missouri. I conducted this group last summer, and it was one of the best choral groups I've heard in this part of the country. They are making their KC debut on
Sunday, July 21 a Visitation Parish just south of the plaza at
2pm. I and several other St. Paul's Choir members will be singing in this year's cast of singers. With our parish choir out for the summer this would be a great way to get your fill of amazing choral music just down the street after a Sunday lunch on the plaza! I hope to see you there to hear this new and exciting young ensemble.
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 August 8th Meeting
6:30 to 8:30pm
Mitzi Foster's Home
(Mr. Blanding's Dream House)
1035 West 65th St.
Kansas City, MO 64113
Admission: "WHAM" a donation for the St. Paul's Food Pantry! .... canned ham , chicken or tuna!
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Transition Update: A note from Your Vestry
The Transitions Officer from the Offices of the Bishop met with the Vestry and Staff in July meeting to give us an overview of the process moving forward, now that Father Stan has announced his retirement. It is fairly simple:
1 - Celebrate Stan and Say Farewell with Love and Thanks (see celebration luncheon info in the ePistle)
2 - Establish clergy coverage for upcoming liturgies until we call an Interim Priest
3 - Welcome the ministry and services of an Interim Priest, who will work with the staff to provide full time attention to the St. Paul's parish until a new Rector is called.
4 - Discern and empower a Search Committee to work with the Offices of the Bishop to call a new Rector, once the parish has done her work establishing a profile and setting goals.
If you have any questions or concerns about this interim time for the life of the parish, please feel free to speak with any member of the Vestry. Your prayers are appreciated.
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Local Episcopal Opportunities
for
Summer Fun & Wellness
The St. Paul's family is invited to participate in a Episcopal Vacation Bible School and a community-wide Yoga Event at our Cathedral.
Read on for more information:
Vacation Bible Schools:
The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer:
Athens - Paul's Dangerous Journey. For 3-12 Year olds (nursery available for younger siblings) Monday-Thursday,
July 22nd-25th. 5:30 - 7:45 p.m. with a light supper, Bible stories, games, music, and Greek marketplace activities. No fee. Pre-Registration required.
www.redeemerkc.org More info from VBS directors Alli Irvin (816-709-8687) or Suzanne Puntney (
freestate5@gmail.com
).
Yoga on Your Cathedral Lawn:
We are invited to join other Episcopalians and community folk for three different 90 minute Yoga events! They will be All-Levels classes, held on the Cathedral lawn beginning at
1pm.
July 20th, August 10th, and September 21st
. There is no charge. Bring your yoga mat or towel, a water bottle and enjoy the great outdoors!
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Prayer Request Forms are for requesting prayers for yourself, and for others. They are 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 the Pastoral Care Ministry Team, please contact Heidi Carter,
Associate for Ministry.
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Bring your friends. Worship God. Spread the Gospel.
A Prayer For the Good Use of Leisure
O God, in the course of this busy life, give us times of
refreshment and peace; and grant that we may so use our
leisure to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds, that our
spirits may be opened to the goodness of your creation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
BCP 825
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Help Wanted
TEFAP & Backstage Hands Needed
at Pantry
TEFAP: The Emergency Food Assistance Program has experienced a large increase in quality and quantity of food coming into our pantry. As a result, more clients are coming, bringing friends, and we are able to help them all. We served over 120 households last month (last year we averaged 80 per month). While we are happy to be able to help more, we really need more able bodied folks to help with moving, setting up, and distributing all of this heavy food. If you are able to help, it's only once a month, on the 3rd Saturday of the month, from 8am - noon. If you work with a youth group, scouting group, or know of youth or young adults needing service hours, we would welcome the connection. Please contact Melissa Hill via St. Paul's at stpauls@stpaulskcmo.org.
Thank you!
Backstage: Many of us have seen, and been a part of, the food distribution at
our Pantry. It is humbling, hard and holy work.
But there is a very important part of our Pantry ministry that goes mostly unseen, and it's there that we can use your help.
To save money
,
where possible and practicable
, o
ur Pantry
acquires
bulk supplies of essential items for our pantry clients. It takes time and care to divide-up these supplies for distribution. It includes things like
rice, pasta, dry beans
,
laundry
and dish
detergent, hair care supplies, frozen foods, etc. If you are able to come and help us sort these into shareable sizes, please let us know
. Thanks so much. Richard Scarritt
, Easom Bond
and
Sterling Roath
.
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
Catie 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
July 21 - ?you?
July 28 - Jessica Kerrigan
Aug 4 - 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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verse for the week
Happy are your eyes because they see. Happy are your ears because they hear. I assure you that many prophets and righteous people wanted to see what you see and hear what you hear, but they didn't.
- Matthew 13:16-17
voice for the week
Sometimes, Grace throws you and your 'world' into the washing machine, full spin, so that the fearful and controlling tendency is compelled to offer itself to the Totality-to the will and dance of the Cosmos.
- Mooji
prayer for the week
Divinely unsettle us so that we cease clinging to control, oh Christ who causes eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand.
Amen.
thought for the week
When someone strips another of his clothes, he is called a thief. Should not someone who has the power to clothe the naked but does not do so be called the same? The bread in your larder belongs to the hungry. The cloak in your wardrobe belongs to the naked. The shoes you allow to rot belong to the barefoot. The money in your vaults belongs to the destitute. You do injustice to everyone who you could help but do not.--
Basil the Great, 4th Century
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 Episcopal Church response to the crisis on our border
J
uly 2, 2019] Over the past several weeks, The Episcopal Church has responded to the reports of inhumane conditions for children and other asylum seekers in government custody in a number of ways. This response includes calls for donations and goods from Episcopal dioceses on the border, prayers for those seeking safety, efforts to engage in advocacy, and pastoral messages from bishops around the Church.
"We are children of the one God who is the Creator of us all," said Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. "It is our sisters, our brothers, our siblings who are seeking protection and asylum, fleeing violence and danger to children, searching for a better life for themselves and their children. The crisis at the border is not simply a challenge of partisan politics but a test of our personal and public morality and human decency."
The Episcopal Church, through the Office of Government Relations (OGR) and Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM), has compiled a list of resources, bishop statements, and information in response to the ongoing humanitarian situation at the southern border.
"Reports of poor care for children in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody and continued policies to limit access to asylum are extremely concerning to people of faith. We must remember these children are here because they cannot find safety anywhere else," stated Rebecca Linder Blachly, Director of The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations. "The U.S. has an established system to process asylum seekers, who are coming to the U.S. legally. The response to asylum seekers who are desperate and afraid should not be deterrence or detention. We have the capability to respond in a humane and compassionate manner, and I am grateful for everyone in The Episcopal Church who is responding to this crisis."
"The enormity of the challenge is daunting. It is easy to feel helpless to make a difference. While we cannot do everything, we can do something," said Curry. "The links to resources of bishops and dioceses on the border, the Office of Government Relations and Episcopal Migration Ministries offer practical suggestions for how we can each and together do something."
The Office of Government Relations represents the policy priorities of The Episcopal Church to the U.S. government in Washington, D.C. This office aims to shape and influence policy and legislation on critical issues, highlighting the voices and experiences of Episcopalians and Anglicans globally. All of its work is grounded in the resolutions of General Convention and Executive Council, the legislative and governing bodies of the church. Connecting Episcopalians to their faith by educating, equipping and engaging them to do the work of advocacy through the Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN) is a key aspect of this work.
Episcopal Migration Ministries is a ministry of The Episcopal Church and is one of nine national agencies responsible for resettling refugees in the United States in partnership with the government. Episcopal Migration Ministries currently has 13 affiliate offices in 12 states. To directly support EMM and its life-changing work, visit
www.episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text 'EMM' to 41444 (standard messaging and data may rates apply).
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Missionpalooza is a less than a month away!!!
Register today!!
Come and be the difference in our world!!
We will be going to different worksites where we will be feeding the hungry at St. Paul's KCMO food pantry. Another group will be helping move, clean, and organize supplies at Habitat Restores. Your group may be helping to clean and organize items for homeless or at risk youth with Synergy or cleaning kennels and helping pets with Unleashed Pet Rescue and Midwest Animal ResQ.
We are in need of work site adults during the day. If you are available for even one afternoon please let us know we would love to have you!
This event is for grades 9-12. July 22-28.
Please follow the link to register as a youth or adult volunteer!
Thank you!!
"Will you seek to serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?"
~Meredith Seaton
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:
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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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