Weekly
Postings
news & events
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A Letter from the Interim Priest-in-Charge |
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GOOD OLD-FASHIONED PREVENTIVE SPIRITUAL MEDICINE
It is a lot better to prevent a disaster than to clean up after one. In looking back on six decades in medicine, this may be the most important thing I learned!
I am, of course, talking about “preventive medicine.” I haven’t seen that phrase used much over the past year as we all have experienced radical lifestyle changes to lower the risks of being infected by Covid-19, but that’s exactly what we have been doing.
Whether or not we are aware of it, Americans have significantly bought into preventive medicine. We spend a lot of time and money in what has become the daily practice of preventive health care, all the way from brushing our teeth with plaque preventing toothpaste, to getting regular mammograms and slathering sunscreen on ourselves.
Even the various political parties acknowledge the value of preventive health care and include it as a major plank in their platforms. I recall one of the previously proposed health care plans advertising “wellness not sickness.”
As a physician and priest, those words resonate with me as a message, not just for health care, but as a mission for the Church.
The Church spends a lot of its time dealing with “spiritual sickness” also better known as sin. I submit that the church serves as a hospital – practicing preventive spiritual medicine. I’m not going to offer an exhaustive list of preventive spiritual health care practices or habits, but here are a few that people of faith throughout the centuries have found helpful in boosting their spiritual health. By the way, all of these came from Jesus.
Prayer: A time to be quiet and be in a relationship with God - a time to reflect on our own life and our life with God. As a fringe benefit, studies have shown that people who pray regularly are, in general, healthier than those who don’t.
Regular Bible Reading and Study: The Bible is the story about God. Somewhere along the way we misguided humans turned things around and thought the Bible was about us. Since the Bible is about God, it then has its own weird logic, paradox, and vocabulary. With study, we eventually realize that indeed God’s ways are not our ways, but God’s way is the only way to life and health.
Serving Others: Reorienting our compasses from ourselves to others keeps us on the right spiritual tract. Jesus is the quintessential example of service. Unconditional acts of kindness change us and the world.
It is important to be aware that preventive spiritual health care practices are not ends unto themselves. The end is a full relationship with God in Christ. That’s what Jesus meant when he said, “I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly.”
Peace and Health,
Joe+
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Book Study Opportunity with Fr. Bowden
Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times
Beginning Sunday, May 9 at 10 a.m., The Berlin Room
Fr. Bowden will host a study on our Presiding Bishop’s latest book, Love is the Way: Holding on the Hope in Troubling Times. In this book, Bishop Curry offers no abstract or philosophical analyses of love. He simply tells his personal stories of how he has experienced the love of God, which he proclaims is the only source and key to life and that love is “an equal opportunity employer.” Fr. Bowden declared this book as “not just a good read, but a must read!”
Copies will be available in the Parish Office to anyone interested. If you would like to join the study with Fr. Bowden, please contact Maddy Baker with your interest.
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EVENTS THIS SUNDAY | May 2 |
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Godly Play - Children through 5th grade
K-2nd grade, 9 - 9:40 a.m.
3rd-5th grade, 9:45 - 10:30 a.m.
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We take children and their relationship with God seriously and seek to provide both space to foster encounters with God and the language necessary to make meaning of those experiences. Within the Godly Play classroom, the Biblical narrative is lovingly presented to children using beautiful materials with an invitation to step into each story with awe and wonder. Children are then allowed time to respond to and reflect on their experience of the story.
The Godly Play class sends weekly emails on Saturday morning. If you have children K-5th grade and would like to receive this email, please contact Maddy Baker.
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Sunday Forum
Sundays, 9:30 a.m.
Led by Fr. Dolen
Meeting ID: 860 972 849
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THIS SUNDAY'S TOPIC: Jesus and the Doctrine of Salvation
In Eastertide, explore what Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition say about why Jesus had to die and be raised on the third day.
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Coffee and Conversation
Sundays, 10:35 a.m.
Meeting ID: 860 972 849
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We miss seeing you! Grab a cup of coffee and join us on Zoom before the 11 a.m. service for a few moments of fellowship! |
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With new guidelines, we are excited to open more slots for in-person worship! Click the button below to reserve your seat. |
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EVENTS NEXT WEEK | May 3 - May 9 |
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Noonday Prayer
Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:05 p.m.
Meeting ID: 595 177 454
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Noonday Prayer is a short and simple service which allows prayer to enter into the midst of our daily work or other activities, whil e joining our prayers to the ongoing prayer of the Church around the world. It may also be observed in private and is found online here and on p.103-107 in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP) or in the simplified version for daily devotions on page 138. |
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About Your Sermon: Conversations on Sunday's Sermon
Mondays, 12:05 - 1 p.m.
Led by Fr. Bowden
Meeting ID: 595 177 454
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Every Monday we invite you to gather for and discuss the Good News of Jesus Christ proclaimed in Sunday’s sermon from the 11 a.m. service. We begin with Noonday Prayer at 12:05 p.m. and then jump into discussion to explore your questions and interests, theological themes, and implications. We end promptly at one o’clock for those joining during a lunch hour.
The video of the service is available on our Facebook page immediately following Sunday’s 11 a.m. livestream. The sermon usually begins at about 25 minutes into the service, to which you can advance the video.
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Sacred Space at Saint Paul's
Tuesday and Friday, or by appointment
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Sacred Space is an opportunity for you to be in your church’s sacred space to rest and pray. You will be provided with a simple Order of Service to guide your prayers, but pray according to your practice and however fulfills your needs for your own sacred time and space.
Please note that during this time, we ask that everyone sign up to attend as each time is limited in the number of participants. You will be required to submit your email address for contact tracing.
Masks are kindly required by all individuals at all times. You will receive a follow-up email with more details on additional guidelines.
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Compline
Wednesdays, 8 - 8:15 p.m. Social time follows worship on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 595 177 454
Dial-In: (646) 876-9923
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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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OTHER RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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From the Stewardship Chair
Lord, we give faithfully, and in our giving, we honor you,
the source of all our blessings, our daily bread, and all the gifts in our lives.
Received as of 4/28/21 for the Year 2021
136 Pledge Cards representing $605,801.00
If you have not completed a pledge card, please complete this year’s annual stewardship appeal and return it to the church as soon as possible, or pledge online on our website at saintpauls.org/pledge-card/. If you did not receive a pledge appeal in the mail or have simply misplaced yours, please email the parish office or contact by telephone at (706) 724-2485 ext. 225.
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Saint Paul's Faithfulness
as of 4/28/21
Offerings pledged this Week $11,650.02
Offerings received this Week $5,196.57
Operating Expenses to Date $261,753.03
Total Income Received to Date $285,561.77
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The new Day by Day issue for May, June, and July has arrived. 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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Save the Date: Senior Sunday is May 16 |
Parents of graduating high school seniors: Senior Sunday is May 16. Please complete a senior recognition form and return it to the Parish Office along with a digital picture of your senior by Sunday, May 9. Feel free to send responses by email - the form is not necessary. If your son or daughter is interested in being included in this service, please contact the Parish Office by NEXT Wednesday, May 5.
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Altar Flower Sponsorships Available |
If you would like to sponsor a Sunday in honor or memory of someone or “many someones,” please contact the Parish Office. The normal charge is a minimum of $100. What a lovely way to remember or honor someone and contribute to the Flower Guild at the same time.
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There will be a Flower Guild meeting TOMORROW, May 1, at 9:30 a.m. in Tyler Hall. We invite everyone who loves flowers and is interested in learning more about the Flower Guild and its mission to attend. No experience required!
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Welcome Back for In-Person Worship |
We are excited to be offering a limited in-person gathering for our Sunday morning worship at 11 a.m. During this time, spots are limited, and pre-registration is required. Please note that masks are to be worn at all times.
With new guidelines, we are able to open more slots! Click the button below to reserve your seat.
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Spring is in the air! Would you like to help with gardening chores at Saint Paul’s Church? Grounds Chair Keith Shafer is looking for those who enjoy gardening to assist with the care of the Baird Rose Garden and the gardens in the churchyard. You can volunteer, arrive at a time convenient for you, do as much or as little as you’d like, and receive training if you’d like it. Keith will have a list of chores. The church employs a landscape maintenance company to do routine maintenance, but the care of the gardens is provided with volunteers.
Contact Keith Shafer, (706) 339-7208, to discuss your interest. |
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COVID-19 Vaccine Registration |
Eligible individuals, including those ages 16 and older, can now register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the Washington Square shopping center. Registration must be completed in advance on the AU Health website.
South Carolina residents who are eligible can also register to receive the vaccine at Aiken Technical College through the AU Health website.
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Are we missing your birthday?
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