Weekend of January 28, 2022
The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany &
The Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, the Apostle
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The idea of getting back to "normal life" has come up several times for me in recent conversations. It always leads me to ask people if they've ever seen the movie Tombstone. I'm not a big western guy, but this is one of my favorite movies. Val Kilmer is amazing as Doc Holliday, and should have won an Oscar for it. But I digress. At the end of the movie, as Doc Holliday is on his death bed, he asks Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) what he wanted out of life. His answer is basically just to have a "normal" life." Doc's response has always stuck with me: "There's no normal life, Wyatt. There's just life."
I do believe that is a true statement. Life is filled with ups, downs, twists, and turns. It can be a rollercoaster, and the last two years have felt like a rollercoaster. At the same time, however, there is something that we can point to as the calmer times in life. Times that are more steady, predictable, and stable. That's probably what we mean when we say "normal" life. Maybe a better word than normal is typical. Typical smooth days are a relief from the twists and turns.
It is nice to begin to see some days here at St. Paul's of the more typical variety. It is nice to be able to think about "getting back to normal," if we want to use that term. This weekend it will be nice to celebrate our patronal feast, the feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, the Apostle. It will be nice to sit in our own space for Bible study Sunday morning at 9:00 AM with Greg Williams. It will be joyous to "Make a Joyful Noise" out on our turf Sunday evening, and to bless some Mardi Gras ladders (more below). In a couple of weeks, it will be nice to gather once again for our Annual Parish Meeting and Commitment Sunday (Feb. 13). All of these things feel more normal, and we're here for it.
I still prefer thinking in terms of steady, stable, or typical, though, because I agree with Doc. There is no normal life, there's just life. And life, especially a Christian life of meaning and purpose, is anything but "normal" much of the time. Those twists and turns may not be fun, but they sure do shape us and help us grow. That I appreciate.
Keep the faith, St. Paul's.
God's Blessings,
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- We are grateful to be back in our worship space at 6249 Canal Blvd., and we hope you'll be able to join us this Sunday, January 30, 2022.
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7:45 AM: Holy Eucharist in the Church
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9:00 AM: "Lectionary Lounge" Bible Study with Greg Williams in the Parlor
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10:15 AM: Holy Eucharist in the Church with Children's Chapel
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Servers: Want to know if you're scheduled to serve in worship this week? Click Here to see the Schedule
- If you need an alternative to in-person worship, you can view the live stream on our YouTube channel HERE and on Facebook HERE
We encourage you to spend some time beforehand with the readings and Collect of the Day. Don't have a Book of Common Prayer for Sunday? Find it online HERE. |
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We all have questions about meaning. "What is my purpose in life?" "Who am I?" "Where does God fit into my life?" The Epiphany season is, in many ways, about discovering who Jesus is. It's also, though, about discovering God by discovering ourselves. Throughout the eight Sundays of the seasons Fr. Rob, Mtr. Liz, and some special guests will preach a series of sermons titled, "Epiphany: A Season of Self-Discovery." If you want to learn more about yourself, and deepen your spirituality, this series is for you. Join us this Sunday! You can watch previous installments in the series on our YouTube channel:
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The Season after the Epiphany is also the perfect time for Home Blessings. Whether you've just moved in or lived there for 30 years, formally blessing your home is a beautiful way to acknowledge the presence of Christ in your midst. If you would like to schedule a house blessing with Fr. Rob or Mtr. Liz, please contact us here. |
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The new year is a great time to renew your commitment to a spiritual practice. One easy way to begin is with The Good Book Club. Through Ash Wednesday we invite you to join other St. Paul’s members, as well as Episcopalians around the world, in reading the book of Exodus. There is a reading schedule available online at goodbookclub.org Watch your email for other ways to build on this practice throughout the month. Do something good for yourself and your relationship with God in 2022 by joining in!
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Join us in celebrating our school's return to campus on Saturday, February 5 with a Fun Run around the school! Registration is $10. Sign up at stpauls-lakeview.square.site.
PLEASE NOTE: The deadline to sign up is TODAY, Friday, January 28!
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Save the Date for Sunday, February 13th!
This will be an important date in the life of St. Paul's as we will hold our Annual Parish Meeting and make our financial commitments to God on the same day. Our theme for the day is "Growing in Gratitude". On Sunday, February 13th we will present reports on the life of the church over the past year and elect new vestry members as we look towards the future of the church. If you would like more information about the vestry, who can serve, and how to nominate someone please visit our website here.
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THANK YOU to everyone who participated in a listening session with Ministry Architects last week. Now the work of renovating our children, youth, and family ministries begins! We ask for your prayers during this important time. To read the report written from the listening sessions, keep up to date on our renovation, and to learn more about our partnership with Ministry Architects, please visit our website here.
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Join us THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 30TH from 4:00-6:00 PM on the outdoor turn on Vicksburg St. to Make a Joyful Noise and enjoy fun and fellowship. And, we invite you to bring your Mardi Gras ladders to be blessed ahead of the parades this Carnival season. We will bless the ladders at 5:00 PM. Come and enjoy our wonderful community as we celebrate this Mardi Gras season!
Questions? Contact Mtr. Liz here.
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This is NOT your usual Bible study, although we will be reading from the Bible, we will be reading for answers to put into action in our lives now. The guys are reading through Exodus as part of The Good Book Club. You can find the schedule of readings here.
-Wednesday, February 2, 2022
-6am - 7am Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits & Coffee
-Parlor, St. Paul's Episcopal Church (enter at Canal Blvd. door by Chapel)
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Dr. Jeanne, Director of the St. Paul's Center for Counseling & Education, is a valuable resource in our community. Whether you need to talk through a specific problem or discuss issues in general, Dr. Jeanne is ready and able to help. You can meet with her by phone and Zoom, and at an outdoor space that is both private and COVID safe. If you would like to set up a meeting with Dr. Jeanne, please call or text her at (504) 330-2549 or email her at jrobertson@stpauls-lakeview.org. |
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The Shreves Family, Steve and The Harris Family, Tom and The Serignea Family, The Eggleston Family, The Merrick Family, The Segal Family, Paula, Helen, Steve, Susan, Gail, Michele, Barbara, Sally, Lee, Justin, George & Barbara, Cindy, Alice, Ozzie, Bill, The Williams Family, Mark & Joy, Tino & Lupe Navarro, Deborah & Ian Gage, Corey & family, Mallory, The Guerra and The Alfortish families, Henry, Jodee, Charlie, Matthew, Robert, Yasmeen, Betty, Pat, Joseph, Phil, Noah, Stephen, Ann, Gerald, Tom, Earlyn, Bryson, Clyde, Zina, Christina, Harlon, Jack, Jane, Mike, Kylie, Chad, Harold; Kay, Judy, Ruth, Helen, Devin, Phillip, Anna, Pam, Mary, Vic, Claire, Paul, Sue, Delores, Jean, Shelly, Judson, Chris, Robert, Ted, Stephanie, Audrey, Harvey, Jan & Ralph, Eugene, Nan, August, Patti, Nathaniel, Kathleen, Rosemary, Larry & Carl, Bonnie, Erin, all those who are ill with COVID-19, the people of Haiti in the recovery efforts, the people of Afghanistan and those in harms way, and all victims of natural disasters, especially those of Hurricane Ida and the recent tornados the midwest and south.
We pray for all those in the healthcare profession, especially Ranjit Chima, Lindsey Hill, Rob Ramirez, Laura Beth Ramirez, Bob Vieth, Stephanie Palmisano, Kelley Morel, Tommy Morel, Jasmine Bahd, Jeanne Robertson, Doug Bostick, Vicki Kennedy, Gene Antenucci, Melissa Carnall, Betty Lo, Chris Blaise, Jennifer Chamberlain, Michael Napoli, Alison Napoli, Jane Clayton, Alison Quayle, Ian Townley, Mike Santone, Mark Thomas, Jean Thomas, Nikki Wilder, Riley Sibley, Catie Brown, Catherine Courtney, Julie Rose, Amelia Martin, Jamie Fineran, and all others who care for those who are suffering in body, mind, or spirit.
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St. Paul's Episcopal Church
In-Person Services at
Christ Church Cathedral:
Sundays 10:00 AM
Virtual Services:
Sundays at 10:00 AM
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