E-News May 12, 2022

336.667.4231
office@stpaulwilkesboro.org

Faith: The School for Love

 

I was reading an essay this week that began with the question: If you knew you were about to die, what would you tell the people you love? What cherished hope or dream would you share? What last, urgent piece of advice would you offer?



In our Gospel this week, we hear Jesus answer this difficult question.  We know the timeline: Judas has left the Last Supper in order to carry out his betrayal, the crucifixion is being plotted and Jesus knows that his disciples are about to be tested and then scattered by their own lack of courage. Jesus goes straight to what is important and gives them only one commandment.  “One simple, straightforward commandment, summarizing Jesus’s deepest desire for his followers: ‘Love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.’


Love is what is very much at the center of Jesus’ life and ministry. 

 

Jesus came to us so that we might know God’s joy, love, compassion, justice and mercy completely. But God underestimated our willingness to accept such a gift. A treasure such as this gift represents comes perhaps with too many strings attached.

 

But still, God’s love for us seeks us out, and our rejection of this love cannot kill God’s hope that we might embrace the freedom and joy that this great love represents and then disseminate this great love in response.

 

Here Jesus is on the eve of his death, and he tells us that if we love him, we will build a school for love; we will create communities and relationships that teach and share this love with the world.

 

John’s Gospel is sometimes hard to understand so we might understand the command to Love a little better if we know a little bit about John, the author of this sometimes, confounding Gospel. John is a poet and his language and images spring out of his poetic imagination. His work is full of dualism—the great battle between darkness and light. 

 

For John there is God’s created order, the stars the moon, the seas, the mountains and prairies and the people the animals---all of the things God gazed upon and declared “good!” And in God’s hope for this creation there is love, joy, justice, mercy, compassion and beauty.

 

And then there is “the world” and the “evil one” who seems to have a lot of influence on all of these marvelous works that God has done. For John the world and the evil one represents all that opposes God’s will for us, (God’s will is no more or no less that we might have God’s joy and have it abundantly and share joy and love extravagantly) they represent all that seeks to destroy what is beautiful, hopeful, kind and good and life-giving. These are the things that steal our joy and inhibit our ability to love.

 

“The world” is the dominion of war, greed, lust, dominating power, violence, degradation and oppression. Cast in those terms it seems like something so dramatic and so obviously horrible that any right-thinking person would never go anywhere near these pitfalls. 

 

But we all know these forces are subtler than that. Their power over us is in how sweetly they call us into believing they have something good to offer. We are bombarded with constant messages that tell us to self-protect, to get our piece of the pie, to look out for number one. We are constantly taught that to love is to be weak, stupid even.

 

But what we often forget is that if we self –protect too much, we end up killing, not loving our neighbor. If we focus too much on getting our piece of the pie, we usually end up with more than our fair share. And if we get lost in looking out for number one, we become deeply suspicious of all those who are not number ones…

 

But now, because it is still Easter and because we are an Easter people, let’s cross over back into the light and take hold of that Joy and Truth that is at the heart of Jesus’ command to love.


 Yes, Jesus understands that it is hard to maintain an awareness of the God’s love in the midst of the everyday. We know that there are many things that conspire to keep us from perceiving God’s beauty, order, oneness, and mystery.

Jesus, in John’s poetic prose, calls us to wake us up from the dull stupor that overtakes us when we listen to the world’s incessant messages of fear, and war, and waste. This is the evil one’s greatest tool---to wear us down slowly, to make us think there is no hope so that we will sleepwalk into darkness.

 

But the Light of Christ is so bright and so strengthening, and so life giving that the evil one’s power can never extinguish it. Never doubt it. If we feel like we are in the grip of darkness all we have to do in the end is remove our hands from our eyes and see God’s startling and gracious love everywhere. Know that love is what we are made of, and love is how we save not only ourselves, but how we nurture this fractured and broken world.


We are invited to live in the presence of God (this is eternal life now). Or, to put it another way, both Jesus’ life and prayer invites us to live in such a way that we make God’s love more present, both to ourselves and to others.

Our every word and every action, no matter how ordinary, can be performed in a way that makes God’s love more present in this world. God is present in every place, at every moment, we are absolutely swimming in God’s love for us, it is only our perception that is clouded. Whatever we do to increase awareness of this reality is a courageous decision to take part in God’s never-ending love for the world—today and always let’s be the school of love. 


Grace and Peace,

Mother Stephanie





 










ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE PROJECT READY TO BEGIN!


NEW INFORMATION!


Breaking Ground for Accessibility, Hospitality and Safety! 


Our Administrative Offices are moving across the driveway to the "undercroft" or downstairs of the church. In the last year you have read the articles and followed our progress as we have moved to this exciting moment.


We are very delighted and thankful for the feedback we received to the plans, and we are projecting our ground-breaking on June 1st.


A primary goal of this important project is to create an administrative office that is first and foremost accessible! This has long been missing. Secondly, this space will finally offer a space that is professional and appropriate for confidential counseling, pastoral care, interviews and other meetings.


And finally, while we always seek to be a place of welcome for all of God's people, it is also important to offer our staff an office that provides a safe and secure entrance as we seek to share God's grace and love in an embattled and suffering world. 


The new entrance will offer greater security to those within while still providing access to our vital and compassionate programs.


In addition, the choir has graciously helped this to happen by relocating the choir room down the hall.  We will build out a dividing wall and give the choir what they need to feel comfortable and supported in their new space.


This renovation will also provide a new meeting room that is great for smaller groups of all ages, and we will still have a dedicated room for our youth across in the downstairs of the Parish House.



BRICKS!


The wider parish has an opportunity to participate in funding this exciting project by purchasing memorial or honor bricks in the names of friends, family, or other church members you would like to recognize.




The bricks will be part of renovating the plaza steps as you approach the Commons doors.


We will offer the bricks at $150 each, but this can also be considered an opening price! We are always happy for you to contribute more and this extra will be used to primarily to meet our fundraising goal. But, we can also offer a "brick scholarship fund" in which some of these monies could go toward making sure an individual's financial situation did not prohibit them from participating in this communal activity or recognizing a loved one.


We are so appreciative of your excitement about the project and look forward to sharing more excitement with you soon!








MEET THE BISHOP

       


Bishop Jose will be holding a “meet and greet” for the Foothills Deanery on Tuesday, May 17 in Lenoir. It is part of the Centennial Celebration of the Diocese. This will be a good opportunity to learn more about what is going on in the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina.

Time: 6 to 8PM.


Location: The Double J Farm

        2113 Dogwood Vista

        Lenoir, NC  28645

Cost: $40 per person includes meal and beverages.


For more detailed information and a link to register, go to Foothills Deanery


If you have questions, contact Drew Mayberry. He likely won't have an answer, but he'll get one for you!


Assistance Ministries

Looking Forward to Return to

In-Person Gatherings on May 19th!



Our Assistance Ministries Team is looking forward to a return to

in-person gatherings with a meal provided. Initially, the meal will be simple lunches with a dessert and as a volunteer base grows around this joyful activity fuller meals will emerge.



If you are a former volunteer for this essential ministry or you would like to participate in this ministry for the first time you are welcome to join us.




We continue to extend a special thank you to all of those who have come out to volunteer their time and efforts in this wonderful fellowship.

Fifth Sunday of Easter


May 15, 2022


8:30 AM Service in the Chapel

10:30 AM Service in the Church


Scripture for Sunday Service

First Reading - Acts 11:1-18

The Response - Psalm 148

Second Reading - Revelation 21:1-6

The Gospel - John 13:31-35






Last Collection Day for Hope Ministries is Friday, May 13th










ECW Collecting Baby Items for Hope Ministries

Diapers (mainly 3,4,5) and anything to do with care and feeding except food will be welcome. There will be a box in the Commons for dropping off items, or you may make a donation to EWC noted "Hope Ministries" and drop it by the office.





ECW’s May meeting included a presentation on the St. Paul’s Labyrinth by Sheree Sloop. Fifteen members learned how our parish was in the forefront of the “labyrinth” movement in the 1980s and 1990s with the creation of our paved prayer space, the outdoor Coventry Chapel, and the new columbarium. Our labyrinth is the same size and design as the medieval one in Chartres Cathedral in France, and Sheree was able to tell us the meaning behind the differently shaped stones and loops in the labyrinth.


Stocking our Little Free Pantry



The response to our Little Food Pantry has been tremendous over the last few months. But we’ve noticed a few donation items that are not going over well. Too many bulky items like rice, noodles and dried beans and lentils are being stocked in the LFP. When so many of these things are put in the pantry at one time, there’s not enough room for different items, and there are only so many ways a person can cook beans, etc. Please don’t put more than 2 or 3 of the same kind of item in the LFP, and check to see the next week if they’re gone and need to be restocked. Here are some items that we need in the LFP: 

Things That Disappear Quickly

Canned pasta with meat
Canned chili with beans
Boxed potato dishes
Canned stew
Boxed chicken soup
Canned vegetables
Macaroni & cheese
Tuna

Crackers
Canned fruit
Canned milk
Instant oatmeal
Syrup
Pancake mix
Peanut butter
Jelly
Dried fruit


Summer sausage
Canned meat
Sugar
Ketchup, etc.
Salt & Pepper
Dried spices & herbs
Cooking oil
Dish washing detergent




Scripture for upcoming Sunday Service

 

 


First Reading                            Acts 11:1-18

Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?" Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, `Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' But I replied, `By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' But a second time the voice answered from heaven, `What God has made clean, you must not call profane.' This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, `Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.' And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, `John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?" When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, "Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life."


The Response

 Psalm 148

Laudate Dominum


Hallelujah!

Praise the Lord from the heavens; *

praise him in the heights.

Praise him, all you angels of his; *

praise him, all his host.

 Praise him, sun and moon; *

praise him, all you shining stars.

Praise him, heaven of heavens, *

and you waters above the heavens.

 Let them praise the Name of the Lord; *

for he commanded, and they were created.

 He made them stand fast for ever and ever; *

he gave them a law which shall not pass away.

 Praise the Lord from the earth, *

you sea-monsters and all deeps;

 Fire and hail, snow and fog, *

tempestuous wind, doing his will;

 Mountains and all hills, *

fruit trees and all cedars;

Wild beasts and all cattle, *

creeping things and winged birds;

 Kings of the earth and all peoples, *

princes and all rulers of the world;

 Young men and maidens, *

old and young together.

 Let them praise the Name of the Lord, *

for his Name only is exalted,

his splendor is over earth and heaven.

 He has raised up strength for his people

and praise for all his loyal servants, *

the children of Israel, a people who are near him.

Halleluiah! 

                                                                             

Second Reading                                        Revelation 21:1-6

 


I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

       "See, the home of God is among mortals.

He will dwell with them as their God;

they will be his peoples,

and God himself will be with them;

he will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Death will be no more;

mourning and crying and pain will be no more,

for the first things have passed away."

And the one who was seated on the throne said,

"See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life."




The Gospel                                                 John 13:31-35                                                     

At the last supper, when Judas had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." 





















 

 


MASKS ARE OPTIONAL IN WORSHIP

Masks are optional for inside worship and other inside activities for the foreseeable future.

Please help us put an end to this Pandemic by getting vaccinated.

Love yourself, love your neighbor, get vaccinated!

Please remember in your prayers: All who are ill or unemployed and those who are on our prayer list.

Short-term

Ken Canter, Yasmin Evans and her children, Ava and Colton, Doug Merritt, Becky Mullins, Juanita Phillips, Jeff Smith, Rebecca Carroll, Joe Fesperman, Sloan Barnhill, Sharon Burkenbine, Althea Johnson,Tamera Burkenbine

Long-term

Deacon Susan Whittington, Jim Priester, David Temple, Wes Martin, Ken Asel, Doug Merritt, Julius Parks & Family, Esther Eller

Armed Forces

Let us pray for the safety of all our troops, especially Micha Duerk, Faith Lankford, Cole Griffith, Zach Necessary, Walker Pardue, Philip Southwell, Mark Stone, Jason Westmeyer, and all others who serve throughout the world.

 

Please send to the church office the addresses of troops with connections to

office@stpaulwilkesboro.org, especially those abroad.

Prayer Requests

Prayer requests can be made by using the app under "contact us" and then the "prayer request" tab, or by emailing the office at office@stpaulwilkesboro.org, or calling the office during regular office hours.

Bulletins are printed on Thursday mornings and requests submitted after that time will not be in the printed bulletin for that week, but may still be spoken. Prayer requests received by noon on Wednesday will be included in the weekly e-newsletter.
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Serving in May

Altar Guild



15th:

Mary Lankford

Sharon Greene

Bonnie Merritt



22nd:

Mary Southwell

Mike Southwell


29th:

Laurie Love

Ramona Curtis

Reba Whittington

Readers



15th

8:30 Tom Carnes

10:30 Mary Southwell


22nd:

8:30 Edward Southwell

10:30 Nancy Scroggs


29th:

8:30 Tom Carnes

10:30 Dick Sloop

Acolytes




15th:

Amelia & Julie Koch


22nd:

Rebecca & Hannah Hartzog


29th:

Keyonni Staley

Tom Carnes

Ushers



15th:

8:30 Bill Harris

10:30 David McNeill


22nd:

8:30 Jeff Beard

10:30 Sandra Elledge


29th:

8:30 Mike Adams

10:30 Ryan Minick

Birthdays & Anniversaries:



May 17-Matthew Minick

May 20-Betsy Almoney

May 21-Susan Shaw

May 21 -Jennifer Richardson






May 20-Jim & Betsy Almoney

May 21-Stanley & Susan Dudek

May 21-Ryan & Rachel Minick

                                                         May 21 - David & Connie McNeill


SIGN UP TODAY!
Sponsor our Sunday Flowers to Honor Your Special Memories and Occasions!

Signup sheet and envelopes are in the commons.
Cost: $40 for one vase and $80 for two.
Sign up for one or both vases.

Standing order with City Florist, who will bill the church monthly. If you want something special for your two vases, call City Florist with your request. In that case, if you pay them directly, let them know your flowers replace our order.
If you want to “do your own thing” sign up for both vases then let Kathie Smith know at least a week before your chosen Sunday, so that the standing order can be canceled.
Flowers Sign Up


The May/June/July issues of Forward Day by Day are in the mailbox by the front door of the office.





LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

AND

YOURSELF!


GET VACCINATED AND BOOSTED!!!


PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITY!

St. Paul's Episcopal Church | 336-667-4231 | office@stpaulwilkesboro.org | https://stpaulwilkesboro.org
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