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Weekly
Postings
news & events
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November 17 - November 26, 2023 | |
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Last weekend the Diocese of Georgia held its annual Diocesan Convention in the Augusta area. Delegates from churches all across central and south Georgia gathered for what is both a family reunion and a legislative session for the diocese. We prayed together at Our Savior in Martinez, did business in the gym at Episcopal Day School, and celebrated the Eucharist at Saint Paul's. Saint Paul's was represented by wardens Cameron Nixon and Erick Montgomery and vestrymember Rex Teeslink. I thank them for serving for us in the wider church, and I also thank all the faithful ministers who made Friday night's Eucharist and reception possible.
Each convention is unique. This year the resolutions were relatively quiet. We name Anna Alexander the patron saint of the diocese, renewed our companion diocese relationship with the Dominican Republic, and called on the national General Convention to reduce the amount each diocese has to pay the national church. That was all important work: honoring the history of the faith in this area, deepening our ties to the global church today, and pleading for a church structure that will work for the future. We also continued to staff the diocese, electing folks to many roles in the wider church and confirming the bishop's appointments to other roles.
But the more prominent part of convention this year was the storytelling: narrating together where we are and where we are going as a diocese. The theme framing this storytelling was "kindle our hearts and awaken hope," and we practiced Christian hope in the midst of a changing world. The bishop announced a strategic plan process that will, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, hopefully shape the next chapter in our faith tradition in Georgia. Saint Paul's works with a different scale from many of our siblings nearby, but most of our fundamental questions are the same: how do we live into our mission today, with who we are, what we have, and who we are becoming? With the resources we have and the needs of God's people in God's world, what is the faithful form of giving ourselves to God? What is God doing in our lives, and what does a faithful response look like? Like everyone else, we're continuing to live into these questions. And with God, we're doing so with hope.
Eric+
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EVENTS THIS SATURDAY | November 18 | |
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Manna Pantry
Saturday, November 18, 8:15-11:30 AM
Tyler Hall and West Parking Lot
We’re looking for extra hands for our next Manna Pantry which coincides with the Walk for Water, Saturday, November 18, 8:15-11:30 AM in Tyler Hall.
Manna Pantry provides a box of food six times a year to those in our community who need this supplemental assistance. With your help we will unload the groceries from Golden Harvest, pack food boxes, reload the truck, and deliver all food boxes on Saturday. Sign up for the Manna Pantry Team using the link below. For more information contact Melissa Friedman .
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Walk for Water
November 18, 2023, 9 AM
CSRA Walk for Water returns this year and once again Saint Paul's is the midway point of the walk. We're excited to support this event and invite you to join this important work. It will be a beautiful day to join the walk or join us for hospitality at Saint Paul's.
For more information contact Elisabeth Price.
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EVENTS THIS SUNDAY | November 19 | |
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Sunday Worship Schedule
8 AM Rite I
11 AM Rite II
11 AM Facebook Live
11 AM YouTube Live
5:30 PM - Celtic Evening Prayer and Communion
6:30 PM - Compline + Sit and Wait (Chapel)
All of our Sunday worship services are in-person.
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Continental Breakfast This Sunday
Sunday, 9:00 AM, Tyler Hall
| Busy morning? We have a continental breakfast this Sunday. Donations accepted. | | | |
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The Nursery will be open Sunday, Nov. 19
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
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We are pleased to announce that the Saint Paul’s nursery is open for children 6 months to 4 years of age. The nursery will be available this Sunday morning beginning at 9:30 A M.
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Community Circle led by Fr. Biddy
9:25 - 10 AM
Note the schedule change, Sunday, November 19
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In place of the Children's Choirs, Fr. Biddy will lead the Community Circle in the St. Patrick's Room in the CMC. Join us in a lively worship.
For more information contact Fr. Biddy.
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NO St. Nicholas Choir
NO Canterbury Choir
Note the schedule change, Sunday, November 19
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Canterbury Choir returns Sunday, November 26. St. Nicholas Choir returns December 3.
If you or any family or friends are interested in the choir program, please email Director of Music, Keith Shafer or call (706) 724-2485 ext. 215.
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The Way of Love
9:30 AM, The Berlin Room
Our series in the Sunday Forum continues: The Reverend Deacon Kimberly Dunn leads The Way of Love.
The Way of Love is a way of life. More than a program or curriculum, it is an intentional commitment to a set of practices. It’s a commitment to follow Jesus: Turn, Learn, Pray, Worship, Bless, Go, Rest. We will learn what this commitment and way of life looks like through loving others as Jesus exemplified and God commands. For more information, contact the Rev. Deacon Kimberly Dunn.
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Godly Play (PK-2nd Grade)
Sunday, 10-10:45 AM
St. Francis' Room, CMC
YES! We have Godly Play this week. Kim Butler will lead.
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Spark (Upper Elementary grades 3-5)
Sunday, 10-10:45 AM
St. Patrick's Room, CMC
YES! We have Spark Class this week. Kitty Gordon will lead
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Youth Formation
Grades 6-9
November 12, 10:00 AM
YES! We have Youth Formation this week. Fr. Biddy will be joining the formation class.
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Confirmation Classes begin
Sundays, 12:30 PM, Tyler Hall
If you’ve been baptized but not confirmed, or were confirmed elsewhere and now consider the Episcopal Church your home, join us to take the next step of Confirmation or Reception. Confirmation classes are also a wonderful opportunity if you have questions and just want to know more. Signal your interest by emailing Fr. Eric. Classes begin Sunday, October 15, 2023, 12:30 PM.
YOUTH CONFIRMATION:
Students in grades 9-12 who have not been Confirmed are encouraged to contact the clergy to let them know of your interest.
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EYC
(Episcopal Youth Community, Grades 6-12)
Sunday, 5-7 PM, at St. Bart's, North Augusta
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This Sunday we will be making a mini stocking craft for the St. Bart’s Walking Tall kids and families, a ministry supporting local homeless families.
For more information, contact Alison Nesbit or The Rev. Deacon Kimberly Dunn .
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Celtic Evening Prayer and Communion
with Prayers for Healing
Sundays, 5:30 PM
Celtic Evening Prayer and Communion is a candle-lit service that emphasizes the contemplative side of worship, features some of Augusta’s best Celtic musicians, and offers prayers for healing for those attending, for others, and for the world. Come as you are and enter into a place of rest, prayer, and reflection.
Celeste Ray is our guest musician this week.
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Sit and Wait Meditation Group
Sundays, 6:30 PM, Chapel
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Sit and Wait has moved to Sunday night with a new format beginning on September 3, 2023. This service will follow the Celtic Service at 6:30 PM. The format will follow An Order for Compline from the Book of Common Prayer (page 127-135). The focus of the service will be the appointed Rule of Benedict for the Day. At the end of Compline, a twenty-minute sit will follow, and everyone will leave in silence.
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EVENTS NEXT WEEK | November 18 - November 26 | |
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ZOOM Book Study
Tuesdays, 7:30 PM,
Grateful: The Subversive Practice of Giving Thanks led by Barbara Coleman.
“Every day there are reasons not to be grateful. Terrible, distressing, painful, and awful things happen all the time. Yet gratitude is a defiance, of sorts, the defiance of kindness in the face of anger, of connection in the face of division, and of hope in the face of fear. Gratefulness does not acquiesce to evil–it resists evil.”
Books are available in the Narthex on Sunday and in the parish office during the week. $20 donation. Sign up on the website, so that we can forward class schedules and updates.
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Thanksgiving Eve Service
November 22, 5:30 - 6:50 PM
A Parish Fellowship Dinner precedes our Thanksgiving Eve Eucharist, Wednesday, November 22, 5:30-6:50 PM, in the River Room. Please join us for a wonderful evening with your parish family as we give thanks for our many blessings. The dinner menu will be available next week.
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Thanksgiving Eve Eucharist
November 22, 7 PM
Bring your family and friends to the Thanksgiving Eve Eucharist, Wednesday, November 22 at 7 PM. The offering Thanksgiving Eve will be given to the DCCM (Downtown Cooperative Church Ministries) Food Bank. Join us in giving thanks on this national & religious holiday.
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Compline - ZOOM
Wednesdays, 8 - 8:15 PM Social time follows worship
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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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Parish Office Hours
The Parish Office will be closed Thursday, November 23 and Friday, November 24 in observance of Thanksgiving. Our regular weekend schedules for Saturday and Sunday, November 25-26 are unchanged.
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Angel Tree Kick-off
November 26
Calling all Angels! November 26 is the kick-off for our Angel Tree Christmas program. This year we will be providing gifts to support children at W. S. Hornsby School. Angels will be available on the front portico after the 11 am service for three Sundays. Donations are appreciated, and checks should be made out to Saint Paul’s Church and designated for Angel Tree Ministry. For more information on how you can get involved, please email Barbara Coleman or Melissa Friedman.
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Dates for your Calendar
November 20 - Vestry Meeting
December 3 - First Sunday of Advent
December 6 - MMM
December 9 - Augusta Choral Society Concert
December 10 - Veterans Ice Cream Social
December 10 - Creation Care Holiday Wrap Exchange and Party
December 16 - Ordination
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Open Sundays For Altar Flowers
December 3 & 10
December 3 and December 10 are open for Advent greenery ($50) If anyone would kindly like to sponsor a Sunday in honor or memory of someone or “many” someones, please contact the Parish Office .
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Tuesday's Music Live
November 28, 12 Noon, Nave
Tuesday’s Music Live 35th season continues Tuesday, November 28, at 12 noon, with a free concert by the Davidson Chorale. More information by calling the Box Office, (706) 722-3463 or tuesdaysmusiclive.com.
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Creation Care Tree Sale
Begins December 3
The Creation Care Committee encourages you “to do one simple thing” in the spirit of Christmas by buying and planting a minimum of just one tree this holiday season. Or, give them to family and friends as living gifts to the glory of God. The Dogwood, Crepe Myrtle and Red Bud saplings are just $10 each. Sales start on December 3. More details will be forthcoming, but any questions may be directed to Jennifer McKee.
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Make an Advent Wreath for your home
December 3, 9-10:50 AM, Tyler Hall
Join us in Tyler Hall, the first Sunday of Advent, December 3, 9-10:50 AM to make an Advent Wreath for your home. Drop in as your schedule allows. All supplies will be provided, including wreathes, live greens, and candles. $20 donation.
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Children's Christmas Program
Rehearsals begin December 3, 10 AM
We will begin preparing for our annual Children’s Christmas program beginning Sunday, December 3. We will be telling the Christmas story and rehearsing for this joyful program during formation (10-10:45 AM) during the first 3 Sundays of December. The program will be shared by our children at the 11 am service on December 18.
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Guided Labyrinth Walk
Sunday, December 3, 4 PM, Berlin Room
On the First Sunday of Advent, December 3, 4 pm in the Berlin Room, Belinda Peebles will lead a labyrinth walk as we wait and walk in anticipation of the birth of Our Savior, Jesus Christ. There will be a brief introduction to walking a labyrinth and a time for reflection prior to the walk. No experience walking a labyrinth is required.
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OTHER RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS | |
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The new Day by Day issue for November, December, and January has arrived and is available in the Narthex. If you would like to have one mailed to you, please contact Hannah in the parish office. Forward Day by Day is a booklet of daily, "page-a-day," inspirational meditations each reflecting on a specific Bible passage from the daily lectionary readings of the Episcopal Church. The meditations are rich in substance and offer a wide range of witness and experiences. These meditations are also available online on the Forward Movement website. | | | |
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Saint Paul's Faithfulness
as of 11/8/2023
Offerings Pledged this Week $13,942.31
Pledged Offerings Received this Week $20,277.13
Total Operating Expenses to Date $897,134.92
Total Income Received to Date $975,283.92
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Are we missing your birthday?
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