Dear Friends in Christ,
Last week I reflected on the question “What is our theology of community engagement?” I focused on the importance of the word “with.” I wondered if instead of asking ourselves “What would Jesus do?” (WWJD) we might ask “Who would Jesus be with?” (WWJW). I promised I would continue to “think out loud” on the theology of community engagement, so let’s take another step.
The question “Who would Jesus be with?” leads us to the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation, our belief in the union of God with humanity in Jesus. “In the beginning was the Word,” we read in the prologue of John’s gospel, “and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … And the Word became flesh and lived among us.” (John 1:1, 14)
The central importance of the Incarnation is clear each time we recite the Nicene Creed. In the Creed we claim that Jesus is divine: “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God.” Yet this does not mean God the Son is distant from us. Quite the opposite, Jesus is intimate with us. “For us and for our salvation,” we say, “he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary and was made man.” This truth is so profound and mysterious it is common for people to bow as these words are recited, marking them with particular reverence.
In his brief overview of The Episcopal Church, A People Called Episcopalians,” John Westerhoff writes: “Ours is an incarnational faith. We believe that the extraordinary is to be found in the ordinary. We affirm life in this world and believe that the body, pleasure, and material reality are fundamentally good. This means that we are free to make choices: to love, to create, to reason, and to live in harmony with creation and with God. … Part of God’s creation, we are made in the image of God. What matters is what we do with and how we care for these gifts. We are to honor them, care for them, and share them will all people.”
Community engagement is our response to the gift of the Incarnation. We do not simply proclaim this doctrine; we live it. Whenever and wherever we see God’s creation exploited and abused. Whenever and wherever we see people dehumanized and stripped of their dignity. Whenever and wherever we see, in the words of one of the baptismal promises, “the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God.” Whenever and wherever we see any of this and so much more, we bear witness to the presence of God. We may not be able to fix a problem or right an injustice. There may not be much we can do or accomplish (though we must keep trying!). Yet by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can always show up, incarnating Christ’s love, grace and compassion in the world.
As the great 16th century mystic St. Teresa of Avila said, “Christ has no body but yours. … Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are [Christ’s] body. Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. You are the eyes with which [Christ] looks compassion on this world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”
Your Friend in Christ,
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PLEASE MAKE YOUR GIFTS BY JUNE 30, 2023
St. Paul's gives thanks for all who help in providing the financial resources that allow us to continue to live more fully into our mission, vision and purposes. View the households that have submitted estimates of giving here. If you have not done so, you can still make an estimate of giving here.
As FY2023 draws to a close, you are invited to support our end-of-year financial push, helping to position us for our continued work in FY2024. If you have already satisfied your estimate of giving for 2023, please consider an additional gift. If you are behind on your estimate of giving, please give what you can. Every gift matters. Make your gifts electronically here, or text MYGIFT to 97000, or mail a check. Estimate forms are also available in the pews. All gifts are tax deductible, in accordance with IRS guidelines.
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SUMMER WORSHIP & FELLOWSHIP
Sundays through September 3, Worship at 8:30 & 10 a.m.*
*Our staffed nursery will be open for infants to 3-year-olds from 9:45 - 11:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings.
Fellowship, after the 10 a.m. service, St. Paul's Courtyard (weather-allowing)/Burrows Commons
Join us in the courtyard for a time of connection and refreshments while kids enjoy kickball, four square, jump rope, giant bubbles and/or chalk. There is no fellowship on July 2 or September 3. Thank you to our June 25 refreshment host, St. Paul's LGBTQ Faith.
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Wednesdays, Worship at 11 a.m., St. Paul's Chapel of the Good Shepherd (adjacent to the sanctuary)
This spoken worship service (no singing) has a short sermon, the optional laying of hands for healing and Holy Eucharist (approx. 45 minutes long).
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SUMMER BOOK DISCUSSION
Sundays, June 25, July 9 & 23, August 6, 9-10 a.m., Roberts Library
St. Paul's Green Team invites all to read and discuss The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams. In a dialogue between the two authors, the book focuses on Jane's "Four Reasons for Hope" in the face of climate change: The Amazing Human Intellect, The Resilience of Nature, The Power of Young People and The Indomitable Human Spirit. Jane describes her journey from young girl to naturalist to advocate for environmental justice. She also shares stories about the amazing efforts of individuals and groups who have joined her in helping to build a better world. For more information, please email Robyn or Ted Gibboney.
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PAULI MURRAY :: A LEGACY OF JUSTICE, IDENTITY & POETRY
Friday, June 30, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Ujamaa Community Book Store (inside Flanner House)
All are welcome to celebrate the feast of the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray with a night of poetry and food at Ujamaa Community Book Store on Friday, June 30. This event will feature local poets and live poetry, a food truck from The Jollof Buka and antique typewriters to write your own poetry through Antiquated Arts.
To commemorate the feast, a diocesan service will be celebrated on Saturday, July 1 at All Saints. Refreshments will be available that day at 5:30 p.m. followed by the service at 6 p.m. Questions, email the Rev. Patrick Burke.
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HOLY BAPTISM
Baptisms will next be administered on Sunday, August 13
Baptism is the sacrament by which we are adopted as God’s children and made members of Christ’s body, the Church. Interested in baptism, please click below to learn more or to request to be baptized. The deadline to register for August 13 baptisms is Thursday, July 20.
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NEWCOMER EVENTS
Sundays, July 16 and August 13, 11:15 a.m. - 12 p.m. (immediately following the 10 a.m. service)
Guided Tour on July 16, Meet in the nave (sanctuary)
If you are curious about the places and spaces that we call St. Paul's, join the Rev. Jeff Bower for a guided tour.
St. Paul's/Episcopal Church 101 on August 13, Meet in the CRR (Community Resource Room)
Join the Rev. John Denson and the Rev. Jeff Bower in the CRR (second floor, Parish Center Building) to explore a brief history of St. Paul's, our life in the Diocese of Indianapolis and our relationship with the Episcopal Church.
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UPCOMING ALL-PARISH EVENTS
Sunday, August 6, 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Backpack Blessing & Summer Festival
Thursday, September 14, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Choir School Open House
Friday, September 29 - Sunday, October 1, Waycross Camp & Conference Center All-Parish Weekend
Parents: For a list of upcoming family ministry-specific events, click here.
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HOSPICE VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Morning Light operates a hospice home that supports terminally ill residents of limited means to live with dignity in their final chapter. Morning Light is seeking volunteers to provide compassionate and contemplative care. Those interested are welcome to attend any of the next three training sessions: Saturdays, June 24 or August 26 (10-11:30 a.m.) or Wednesday, July 19 (3:30-5 p.m.). Questions, or to register, email Brittany Babbitt or the Rev. Patrick Burke.
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SUMMER OF SERVICE WITH MLK CENTER
Summer service opportunities with MLK Center are available.
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MLK Cooking Club Summer Camp, Fridays, 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., St. Paul's Parish Hall & Kitchen :: Help to facilitate 50 kids from the MLK Center learning to follow recipes and prepare foods at a summer camp held in our kitchen. Donations for food items, shoppers, adult facilitators and kid participants are all needed.
Serving two-three times in either of these roles is a great way to be in relationship with others from our community! Questions, email Laurie Pierce. See all details below:
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JOIN A PARISH TEAM!
Want to feel more connected at St. Paul's and work on a shared project with 5-6 others? Laurie Pierce is seeking males, introverts, those without children in the home, and those not sure what they believe in/think they have nothing to offer, to serve on teams. If you love this community, kids, events, bringing people together, our worship, or mentoring, please click below to learn more about the teams being formed:
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