Weekly
Postings
news & events
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A Letter from the Interim Priest-in-Charge |
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HOW IS YOUR LENT GOING SO FAR?
How is your Lent going? I am pleased to report that in spite of my not being able to experience imposing ashes on you all on February 17, I was able to jump into Lent this year with a different excitement. Yes, I did use the words Lent and excitement in the same sentence! The “excitement” comes from the opportunity to work with Elisabeth Price, Maddy Elledge, Hannah Gosney, Keith Shafer, Hillary Bryant, Tom Kotti, Wright Montgomery, and others I will meet in the days ahead.
All of these gifts to Saint Paul’s share many common qualities of grace, loyalty, and professionalism, but one quality that stands out, and one which resonates with me is they are “planners.” Our team has spent the last couple of weeks planning Lenten services and Holy Week. This requires imagination and creativity – thank goodness the team possesses those qualities as well as the ones listed above!
As we have crafted these services, they have been done with the goal that they must be in some, or many, ways devotional experiences that encourage spiritual growth through the knowledge of God in Christ. That’s what it's about.
Peace,
Joe+
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EVENTS THIS SUNDAY | March 7 |
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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: 366 090 592
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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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Theodicy: God and Human Suffering.
For thousands of years, philosophers, theologians, and just plain people like us have asked, “If God is present and active in the world, if God is love, if God is merciful, if God is just, and if God is omnipotent, how can there be so much pain and suffering?” For the first 3 weeks in Lent, we will explore some of the solutions found in Holy Scripture and in the writings of traditional theologians, and how to grow our faith by speaking “accurately and justly of God amid suffering."
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Coffee and Conversation
Sundays, 10:35 a.m.
Meeting ID: 860 972 849
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We miss seeing you! Grab a cup of coffee and join us on Zoom before the 11 a.m. service for a few moments of fellowship! |
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EVENTS NEXT WEEK | March 8 - March 14 |
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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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YOUTH: Come Away by Yourself and Pray a While
Tuesday, March 9, 8 p.m.
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Prayer comes in many forms, and what deepens and enriches one person’s relationship with God may not do so for someone else. The Diocese will offer youth a three-week series on prayer. The series will introduce a few different types of prayer, both active and contemplative, and will offer a chance to practice each one. This series is a chance to set aside an hour each week to ground yourself, to explore different forms of prayer, and to connect with others who are able to take part. |
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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: A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Jaded journalist Lloyd Vogel agrees to interview children's TV legend Mister Rogers for a magazine profile. Vogel is convinced the PBS host's famous warmth is a put-on but learns firsthand the genuine depth of Fred Rogers' kindness. A timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism. This 2019 movie stars Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers, Matthew Rhys as Lloyd Vogel, Susan Kelechi Watson as Andrew Vogel, and Chris Cooper as Jerry Vogel. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood can be viewed on Amazon Prime streaming service.
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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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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 3/3/21
Offerings pledged this Week $11,650.02
Offerings received this Week $4,213.90
Operating Expenses to Date $133,679.82
Total Income Received to Date $151,104.82
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COVID-19 Vaccine Registration |
Eligible individuals, including those ages 65 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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