Weekly
Postings
news & events
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March 12 - March 21, 2021
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A Letter from the Interim Priest-in-Charge |
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ENRICHING OUR LIVES PRAYING THE DAILY OFFICE
I want to offer you all a couple of Latin phrases that are sure to impress your friends the next time you get together: Lex orandi, lex credendi. Translated, this says that the law of praying is the law of believing, or more commonly put, “as we pray, so we believe.” Getting a sense of what this means will not only impress your friends, but will give you a response when someone asks, “What do you Episcopalians believe?” Basically, the answer is this, “what and how we pray says what we believe and shapes what we believe.”
While you are mulling over this, let me get to the real reason for this little letter today. That would be The Book of Common Prayer. Those of you who are getting to know me may have noticed that I’m a Prayer Book pusher in general, and more specifically, a Daily Office pusher. The Daily Office offers people of faith the opportunity to experience liturgy not just on Sunday, but every day, up to five times a day – Morning Prayer, Noon Day Prayer, Evening Prayer, Compline, and Daily Devotions (page 36-146). Of all these opportunities I want to give a shout out for An Order of Service for Noonday.
Saint Paul’s is one of the few, if not the only, church in Augusta that offers Noon Day Prayer. This short but beautiful service is offered virtually on Mondays and Wednesdays at 12:05 p.m. After the service on Monday, the sermon from the previous Sunday is discussed for a few minutes. You should also know that a significant part of the service is offering up in prayer the names of those who are home-bound or in situations where they might never make it back to church again. We owe Ellen Nesbitt and her LEV Team many thanks for identifying and keeping up with those folks to let them know that they are not forgotten.
If you get a chance, please join us. It’s a great way to start your afternoon.
Peace,
Joe+
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A Letter from the Senior Warden |
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To the People of Saint Paul’s:
The current elephant in the church is the question of when we be able to gather together and worship as one. Please know that this hot topic is one which the Vestry will address next week at our meeting. We have a lot to consider because any return to in-person worship will require a plan from the Vestry and a willingness from the congregation to follow it. The Vestry shares your desire to return as appropriate and that we miss you too! When we return, we will have need for additional ushers, greeters, etc. to help us adhere to protocols. There will be opportunities for you to participate actively in worship and we hope that you will.
The listening sessions continue. We have a target end date and look forward to receiving the information and sharing it as a group. We are considering how to best share the information and explore it as a group. I suspect that the timing – after our Lenten reflection and Easter celebration – will be perfect. Whatever we learn, we pray that it will strengthen our community and allow us to better serve Christ and each other in His name.
Ashley Wright
Sr. Warden
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A Letter from the Rector Search Committee |
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Dear Saint Paul’s Parish,
Our Parish Profile and our Office of Transition Ministry (OTM) Community Portfolio have both been approved and posted on the website of The Episcopal Church’s Office of Transition Ministries. This is the online job listing routinely searched by priests across the Church seeking to discern their next call.
Our committee has not met for the past three weeks as we are waiting to receive a list of candidates approved by the Diocese who have indicated interest or have been nominated from any other source. If anyone from the Parish would like to nominate a candidate, please feel free to contact the Search Committee, or ask the potential candidate to email The Reverend Loren Lasch, Canon to the Ordinary for the Diocese of Georgia. You are an important resource for us in this process, and we welcome your input and suggestions.
Our committee will be meeting next Tuesday, March 16th, to get an update on the candidates on our list, put together our question list, and develop our plan for our initial interviews. You will be receiving updates biweekly in the Weekly Posting as we enter this new phase of our discernment process. In addition, please visit the Saint Paul’s website and click on “ Rector Search” to get more detailed information on our timeline and process. Our committee welcomes your questions, ideas, and suggestions, and we are grateful for your continued prayers and support during this process.
Yours in Christ,
Saint Paul’s Rector Search Committee
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EVENTS THIS SUNDAY | March 14 |
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Don't forget to set your clocks forward one hour Saturday night! |
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Godly Play - Children through 5th grade
K-2nd grade, 9 - 9:40 a.m.
3rd-5th grade, 9:45 - 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 814 3601 6314
Please note this a new link and Meeting ID
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We take children and their relationship with God seriously and seek to provide both space to foster encounters with God and the language necessary to make meaning of those experiences. Within the Godly Play classroom, the Biblical narrative is lovingly presented to children using beautiful materials with an invitation to step into each story with awe and wonder. Children are then allowed time to respond to and reflect on their experience of the story.
The Godly Play class sends weekly emails on Saturday morning. If you have children K-5th grade and would like to receive this email, please contact Maddy Baker.
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Foundations of Christianity Inquirer’s Class
Newcomers & long-term members welcome
Sundays, 9 a.m.
Led by Fr. Bowden
Meeting ID: 893 0981 4467
Password: SPCgather
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All are invited to this series of conversations about the foundation of Christian life. Each week we reflect on content from two sources:
1) one half of a chapter in Julia Gatta’s "Life in Christ."
More details from the orientation session are available here.
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Sunday Forum
Sundays, 9:30 a.m.
Led by Fr. Dolen
Meeting ID: 860 972 849
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THIS SUNDAY'S TOPIC:
God is Love
Our study "Theodicy: God and Human Suffering" was completed last week. This Sunday we explore,"God is Love."
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Coffee and Conversation: Birthday Sunday
Sundays, 10:35 a.m.
Meeting ID: 860 972 849
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Help us celebrate our friends with March birthdays during Coffee and Conversation on Zoom. Enjoy a fun song the Saint Paul's choir has prepared, and fellowship with your Parish family!
Click here for more information on Birthday Sunday, including Zoom instructions!
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Rose Sunday Concert
Sunday, March 14, 3 p.m.
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Join us on Facebook Live Sunday, March 14, at 3 p.m. for this annual event. Our Director of Music Keith Shafer will perform works by J. S. Bach, Dan Locklair, Charles Paterson (a Rumba!), Samuel Barber, and Denis Bédard on the organ. |
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EVENTS NEXT WEEK | March 15 - March 21 |
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Noonday Prayer
Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:05 p.m.
Led by Fr. Bowden
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, while joining our prayers in 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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About Your Sermon: Conversations on Sunday's Sermon
Mondays, Noon - 1 p.m.
Led by Fr. Bowden
Meeting ID: 595 177 454
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Every Monday we invite you to gather for and discuss the Good News of Jesus Christ proclaimed in Sunday’s sermon from the 11 a.m. service. We begin with Noonday Prayer at 12:05 p.m. and then jump into discussion to explore your questions and interests, theological themes, and implications. We end promptly at one o’clock for those joining during a lunch hour.
The video of the service is available on our Facebook page immediately following Sunday’s 11 a.m. livestream. The sermon usually begins at about 25 minutes into the service, to which you can advance the video.
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Sacred Space at Saint Paul's
Tuesday and Friday, or by appointment
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Sacred Space is an opportunity for you to be in your church’s sacred space to rest and pray. You will be provided with a simple Order of Service to guide your prayers, but pray according to your practice and however fulfills your needs for your own sacred time and space.
Please note that during this time, we ask that everyone sign up to attend as each time is limited in the number of participants. You will be required to submit your email address for contact tracing.
Masks are kindly required by all individuals at all times. You will receive a follow-up email with more details on additional guidelines.
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Labyrinth Walk
Wednesdays in Lent, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., or by appointment
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The Labyrinth will be available for self-guided walks Wednesdays during Lent in the Berlin Room. Printed guides will be provided in the room. Please wear or bring socks to wear after removing your shoes. Visit veriditas.org for more information about prayer and meditation with labyrinths.
Please be sure to sign-up as slots are limited to individuals or families to practice social distancing. If your desired time is not listed, please contact the Parish Office to schedule a time.
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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
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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The Theology of Film
Thursdays in Lent at 7 p.m.
Meeting ID: 876 9052 0993
Password: 551123
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We have been invited to join on Zoom with the folks of St. James Episcopal Church for a class led by their Interim Rector, the Rev. Michael Singer. The one-hour class will feature a different film each Thursday night during Lent (all films can be found on Netflix or Prime).
We hope this is a fun and enlightening Lenten study with the added benefit of getting to know some of our brothers and sisters in Christ from St. James.
FILM FOR NEXT WEEK: SPIRITED AWAY
Spirited Away is an Academy Award-winning feature-length anime from the creative mind of Hayao Miyasaki and Studio Ghibli. It features the tale of 10-year-old Chihiro’s family as they move to a new house, but when they stop on the way to explore an abandoned village, her parents undergo a mysterious transformation and Chihiro is whisked into a world of fantastic spirits ruled over by the sorceress Yubaba. Put to work in a magical bathhouse for spirits and demons, Chihiro must use all her wits to survive in this strange new place, find a way to free her parents, and return to the normal world. Overflowing with imaginative creatures and thrilling storytelling, Spirited Away became a worldwide smash hit, and is one of the most critically acclaimed films of all time. Spirited Away features the voices of Rumi Hiiragi as Chihiro Ogino, Miyu Irino as Haku, Mari Natsuki as Yubaba and Daveigh Chase as Chihiro. Spirited Away can be viewed on Netflix streaming service.
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Manna Pantry - Volunteers Needed
Saturday, March 20, 8:15 - 11:30 a.m.
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Manna Pantry at Saint Paul’s Church provides a box of food to those in our community who need this supplemental assistance. Golden Harvest Food Bank will issue pre-packaged family boxes for us to distribute. Due to COVID-19 safety regulations, masks are required.
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OTHER FORMATION OPPORTUNITIES |
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As we enter this season of Lent, more information on Saint Paul's Lenten offerings is available on our website. You will find opportunities for daily prayer, study, conversation, reflection, and worship. |
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LOVE IS THE WAY: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times
Beginning Eastertide
This Easter season, the Racial Healing Ministry of our diocese will host a diocesan-wide reading group of Bp. Curry’s Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times.
12 Copies are available ($20 per) in the Parish Office.
Book Discussion Guide Now Available
A book discussion guide for the Diocese of Georgia's 1Book1Diocese reading of Love is the Way is now online here: Discussion Guide PDF
Bishop Curry to meet online
Individuals may also read the book and then join for the online meeting with Bishop Curry to discuss the book.
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OTHER RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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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 3/3/21 for the Year 2021
136 Pledge Cards representing $605,801.00
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 3/10/21
Offerings pledged this Week $11,650.02
Offerings received this Week $13,360.00
Operating Expenses to Date $167,591.09
Total Income Received to Date $176,233.00
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COVID-19 Vaccine Registration |
Eligible individuals, including those ages 55 and older, can now register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the Washington Square shopping center. 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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