Dear Friends in Christ,
Photographs, videos and reports from Turkey and Syria in the aftermath of Monday’s earthquake give us at best a superficial glimpse of the devastation. As bad as it looks, most of us cannot truly comprehend the immensity of the tragedy and destruction. As I’m writing two days after the earthquake, the death toll has neared 17,000 and will certainly continue to climb.
In September 1985 when he was 11 years old, New York Times columnist Bret Stephens experienced the 8.0 magnitude earthquake in Mexico City that killed at least 5,000 people. This experience, plus another years later when he was reporting on an earthquake in Pakistan, gives him a particular insight into the terror and desperation being experienced today by the people of Turkey and Syria. He also understands that the impact of an earthquake is far deeper than the destruction we see with our eyes.
“Earthquakes,” he wrote in a column this week, “are always said to be ‘natural’ disasters. It’s a misleading term. The real disaster is almost always man-made, often in the form of poorly constructed homes and buildings with insufficient rebar and other structural supports, followed by incompetent crisis management in the aftermath of the catastrophe.”
In other words, it’s a disaster made from indifference, inhumanity and injustice. The poor and the marginalized, those who live in substandard housing, those who lack sufficient resources to meet the most basic human needs are the ones most likely to lose their homes and to die in earthquakes and other disasters. Stephens was understandably traumatized as a child by the Mexico City earthquake, but his family and his home survived unscathed because they lived with means and privilege. “To this day I think about how very lucky we were, and ache for so many who were not.”
In the letter of James in the New Testament we read, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:27) Too many people who call themselves Christians focus more on being “unstained” than on how they “care” for those society has left behind. Purity of belief is too often prioritized over purity of compassion.
How many more widows and orphans are there in Turkey and Syria today than there were on Sunday? How might we practice true religion by caring for them and for all those who have been pushed down by indifference, inhumanity and injustice? We don’t need to look across the globe to find them. They live in our city and in our neighborhoods. “Even in the age of Ukraine and other disasters,” Stephens wrote, “can we still muster a sustained sense of charity and compassion to help, intelligently, in the long recovery that lies ahead?”
If you want to support relief efforts in Turkey and Syria, go to Episcopal Relief & Development and donate today. Your gift will go directly to support those in the most need.
Your Friend in Christ,
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UPCOMING EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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THREE CHOIRS FESTIVAL
Christ Church Cathedral & St. Paul's
Sunday, February 12, 10 a.m.
Sunday, February 12, 4 p.m.
Choral Evensong with all singers from the three choirs, St. Paul's
Richard Webster (Trinity Church, Copley Square, Boston) will lead singers from three Episcopal churches in the Diocese of Indianapolis: St. Paul’s, Trinity and Christ Church Cathedral. This weekend-long festival of music making culminates with Choral Evensong at St. Paul’s, featuring over 100 singers.
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NEWCOMER SCHEDULE :: EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Sundays, February 12, March 19 and April 2, 16 & 23
February 12 and April 16 :: St. Paul's and the Episcopal Church 101, 10:15-11 a.m.
Join the Rev. Jeff Bower in the CRR (second floor, Parish Center) after the 9 a.m. service for an overview of all things St. Paul's and an introduction to the Episcopal Church.
March 19 :: History of the Book of Common Prayer, 10:15-11 a.m.
Join us in the Parish Hall after the 9 a.m. service for this Adult Faith Forum.
March 19 :: Newcomers Luncheon, 12:30 p.m.
Please RSVP to join us in the Lilly Room for a luncheon following the 11:15 a.m. service. RSVP by emailing Tana Hunnicutt no later than March 16.
April 2 :: Tour the places and spaces we call St. Paul's, 10:15-11 a.m.
Please meet the Rev. Jeff Bower in the nave/sanctuary of the Church after the 9 a.m. service.
April 23 :: Learn more about the Eucharist, 10:15-11 a.m.
Join the Rev. Jeff Bower in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd after the 9 a.m. service for an instructed eucharist.
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ADULT FAITH FORUM
Sunday, February 12, 10:15-11 a.m., Parish Hall
Join St. Paul's Staff Singer, Sarah Ward, as she leads To shout and sing the good old way: a brief history of the American tradition of shape-note singing. In preparation for the Sacred Harp Passiontide service on March 12, this forum will examine of one of the oldest continual traditions of American music-making: shape-note singing. Sarah will return next week to lead the February 19 Adult Faith Forum, "Tune my heart to sing thy grace: a Sacred Harp singing lesson."
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WELCOME NEW YOUTH LEADER, TINA WEIGEL
St. Paul's is pleased to announce that Tina Weigel has accepted the offer to serve as our part-time Youth Leader. Tina has agreed to work for St. Paul's for six months, allowing all parties to enter into a season of discernment for Family Ministry. During the next six months, we welcome conversations with you about the future of this ministry/leadership roles. Learn about Tina here. Questions, contact Laurie Pierce.
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ALL-PARISH PANCAKE SUPPER
Tuesday, February 21, 5-7 p.m. dinner, Parish Hall
7-7:30 p.m. Imposition of Ashes, Sanctuary
All are invited to join us on Shrove Tuesday for a buffet-style Pancake Supper in the Parish Hall – friends and neighbors are welcome (no RSVPs needed). Plan to stay afterwards for our first Imposition of Ashes service in the sanctuary at 7 p.m. Volunteers of all ages are encouraged to sign up to help where they can with this event. There are a variety of timeslots and ways to help. This is a great opportunity to get to know others at St. Paul’s by working on a small team. Questions, contact Laurie Pierce.
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WILDERNESS WORSHIP
All are welcome to attend this worship offering at St. Matthew’s, to include a prayer service with Eucharist, warm fire, hot cocoa and fellowship. Questions, email the Rev. Patrick Burke.
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TGIF! EVENT
Friday, February 24, 6 p.m., Parish Hall
Adults (21+) are invited to watch the film, Courage, Brains and Muscle: Our Environmental Champions. This documentary follows former Indiana First Lady, Judy O'Bannon, traveling the state in search of environmental champions, discovering creative individuals who are successfully improving sustainability and reducing pollution. This film is being presented to TGIF! by the St. Paul's Green Ministry. A potluck chili, chowder and/or soup dinner, with all the sides, will be enjoyed as we watch the film! Please bring your favorite dish and beverage to share. RSVP to Alan Davis below:
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INTERESTED IN BEING CONFIRMED?
Diocesan confirmations with Bishop Jennifer will be held at
St. Paul's on Sunday, April 30 at 3 p.m.
Baptized adults interested in confirmation are invited to sign up below. Persons interested in confirmation are required to complete a series of classes (12:30-1:30 p.m. on Sundays, February 26, March 26 and April 2) and attend two Adult Faith Forums (10:15-11 a.m. on Sundays, March 12 & 19). Questions, please contact the Rev. Barbara Kempf. Learn more about the sacrament of confirmation in the Episcopal Church here.
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CRAINE HOUSE BINGO
Saturday, February 25, 5-9 p.m.
Have fun while raising money for Craine House. Tickets are $50/each and include dinner, two drink tickets and BINGO. A silent auction and 50/50 raffle will be available (License # 013753). Questions, email Scott Redmon or call 203.482.6491. Purchase tickets below:
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GRACE UNLIMITED MINISTRY INTRODUCTION
Sunday, February 26, 10:15 a.m., CRR (second floor, Parish Center building)
The Rev. Sam Vaught, Chaplain of Grace Unlimited Campus Ministry at Butler University, invites Butler alumni, faculty, staff and interested neighbors to a conversation about the ministry. What is happening this Spring? How can you be connected and get involved? These questions, and more, will be answered. If you can’t make it but would like to be part of the conversation, please email Father Sam Vaught.
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HELP TO SERVE FAMILIES OF THE DECEASED
Volunteers are greatly needed in order for this ministry of hospitality to continue. St. Paul’s offers simple receptions with light refreshments following funerals held in our church. Help is needed to provide refreshments (cookies, baked good, nuts, dried or fresh fruit) and to be present to serve (receptions last 60-90 minutes). For further details and to sign up, please email Tana Hunnicutt.
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NEED TO RENT A SPACE?
You’re in luck, we have it! St. Paul’s has rentable rooms for one-time events and meetings, as well as longer-term rental options. In addition, the Parish Center kitchen is now a certified “Shared Kitchen.” Know an organization looking for space? Please point them our way – we would love to talk about opportunities to collaborate and utilize our facilities. Rooms and rates are available below. Questions, email Dan Thompson.
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SAVE THE DATE :: CELEBRATE ST. PAUL'S
Saturday, April 22, 6-10 p.m.
Plans are underway for an all-parish celebration, and we hope that you will hold the date for an evening of food, fellowship, fun and special programming for all ages. That's right! No need to get a sitter for this exciting time of connecting and building relationships and community together, as we enter into the Easter Season and all the many ways that it affords us to engage our gifts and create impact together. Stay tuned for details.
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