Weekly Postings news & events
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April 17 - April 26, 2020
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To the Community of Saint Paul’s Church,
As we gather for Sunday worship whether in person, or virtually via Facebook live or radio, in the midst of the Great Thanksgiving we say these words: “Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.” As we live into these weeks and months of physical distancing these words, for me, speak so much of my experience.
It seems like so long ago, but in fact only a month, that we were gathering together on Sundays and throughout the week for worship, choir practices, committee meetings, meals and formation. Something important to us died; the community gathered in its many and various forms. I mourn that loss, that sense of connection.
Then last week, in new and different ways, we proclaimed in a common voice, “Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.” It didn’t feel the same. Like the women at the tomb we didn’t find things as we have grown to expect. Again for me, like those women, the reality of the day began to become real. Christ is risen; risen in what we see and experience in the lives of those around us. In the reaching out in new ways to touch the lives of others. It is in the honest care and concern for “neighbor” that we know Christ is risen.
Then comes the next part, but when? When will Christ come again. When will we gather again as the body of Christ at Saint Paul’s Church. When will things return to “normal”. Just as the early followers of Jesus tried to figure that out, so are we. But, there are things we can learn from their experience. On that Easter morning things changed and there was no return to the old “normal”. The presence of the risen Jesus transformed everything and that same presence in our lives today is reason to hope. We hope, we pray that as we live our lives the risen Christ shines through.
Also, I am pretty sure that when Christ comes again it’s now going to be how I expect. Just as some 2000 years ago Jesus came as an itinerant preacher with a gang of ragtag followers, not as people expected; so now God is making his presence felt in new and unexpected ways.
It is my prayer for all of us that we be open to the power of God working in ways that we don’t expect. To paraphrase words from our Eucharistic prayer C let us pray:
Life giving God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world about us. Deliver us from the presumption of turning to you for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal. We ask, O Lord, that the grace of your presence make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may have the strength to face the days ahead serving the world in his name. Accept these and all our prayers O Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ, our strength and redeemer.
Amen.
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Stay connected with Saint Paul's Online
One place to find ALL online worship, events, meetings, etc. We know it is difficult to keep track of everything - Zoom meeting links, service times, new events - so we have gathered and placed everything you need on one web-page:
Church-ONLINE
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EVENTS THIS SUNDAY | APRIL 19
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GODLY PLAY- Children through 5th grade
Sundays, 9:30 a.m.
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID:
366 090 592
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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. In our new digital environment, we are excited for families to gather with their children to experience the Biblical narrative lovingly presented, followed by a time for awe and wondering. See you Sunday!
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RECTOR’S FORUM
Sundays, 9:30 a.m.
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID: 860 972 849
OR phone-in: (646) 876-9923
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The Rector's Forum offers a time and place for engaging conversation that is not anchored to a specific curriculum or topic. Always we consider how to honestly and faithfully live out our Baptismal vows, now more than ever!
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YOUTH FORMATION - Middle and High School
Sundays, 10:30 a.m.
OR Zoom App, Meeting ID: 795 073 836
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Youth gather for some theology, fellowship, and lively conversation before tuning into 11 a.m. worship. It’s everything you love about our Sunday morning experience, except the chicken biscuit.
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EYC - Middle and High School
Sundays, 1:30 p.m.
OR Zoom App, Meeting ID:
859 002 714
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EYC will combine both middle and high school age groups this Sunday! Join us on Zoom to catch up with Ranie and one another.
Contact Ranie
for more information.
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Read the Book of Matthew in Easter
Now - Sunday, May 31
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EVENTS NEXT WEEK | APRIL 20-26
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Praying
Together
Hosts: Lay and Clergy
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID: 595 177 454
OR phone-in: (646) 876-9923
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Daily Prayer draws us into God's life and shapes how we see and experience the world. The Book of Common Prayer offers a variety of services for daily use whether you have 5 or 45 minutes to give.
Each week the clergy will offer several tutorial on different daily services so all may learn to pray one or more of these liturgies either privately or in community online. Our goals are to equip and support all who desire to deepen their daily prayer life and at the same time to grow a team of lay people who may lead services on a shared schedule. We currently hold Compline (Night Prayer) online weekly on Wednesdays at 8 p.m.
If you are interested in learning to lead a prayer service, please
email Fr. Jenkins for more information about the expectations and next steps.
THIS WEEK'S TUTORIALS:
Noonday Prayer
Wednesday, April 22, 12 - 12:30 p.m.
Evening Prayer
Thursday, April 23, 5 - 5:45 p.m.
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CANTERBURY CHOIR - Just for Fun!
Wednesdays, 5 p.m.
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID:
859 002 714
OR phone-in: (646) 876-9923
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Just for fun, the Canterbury choir is gathering online to catch up and connect with each at their regular rehearsal time, Wednesdays at 5 p.m.
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Compline
Wednesdays, 8 p.m.
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID: 595 177 454
OR phone-in: (646) 876-9923
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“The Lord Almighty, grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end.”
Wednesday evenings, we will gather online to pray the service of Compline at 8 p.m. The service will be led by members of the parish and the bulletin will be presented through Zoom so all may participate. Compline is a beautiful, simple, and quiet service to end the day with one another in prayer with God.
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Easter Reflection, Prayer and Reading Group
8-10 Weeks, Beginning April 26, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
*Book delivery may be delayed, so we are postponing our start date another week.
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This small group will spend time reflecting together on what we learn reading Fr. Richard Rohr's The Universal Christ: How a forgotten reality can change everything we see, hope for, and believe. by Fr. Richard Rohr
Using a study guide, participants will:
- learn about a forgotten teaching of Christ;
- have opportunity to learn and engage in Christian contemplative practices;
- participate will practice growing in presence to one another through paired and group sharing; and
- set intentions for becoming a more loving, engaged presence in the world.
Fr. Rohr has a podcast,
Another Name For Every Thing
, where Season 1 offers chapter-by-chapter conversations about connecting the book's content with lived experience.
Excited to begin, PEACE, and ALLELUIA, CHRIST IS RISEN! Fr. Jenkins
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Ordination to the Sacred Order of Deacons: Ranie Neislar
Sunday, April 26, 2 p.m.
Facebook Live
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God willing and the People consenting, the Right Reverend Scott Anson Benhase, Bishop of the Diocese of Georgia, will ordain Ranie Halski Neislar to the Sacred Order of Deacons, Sunday, April 26, at Saint Paul’s Church. Your Prayers and Presence (on-line) are requested.
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OTHER RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
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YOUTH PARENTS - Call on Me Prayer Books
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What can you offer your teens that is relevant and useful? Call On Me is a good place to begin. It is like The Book of Common Prayer, but contains prayers and passages of Scripture more relevant for what tweens and teens.
We have a limited number of these prayer book in the office today and would like to offer them to any families who would like to have them. Please
contact Fr. Jenkins, or
order your own. We welcome offerings to cover the cost, but we will send one per young person to any who request them.
"When my oldest son was experiencing a particularly difficult week as an eighth grader, I discovered him reluctant to share his bedtime prayers. He gently explained that perhaps he was now too old to say children's prayers with his parents. I suggested that he could say his prayer by himself from now on... then he confessed that he didn't know how... Call On Me is just the resource that I needed to help my son." From the author's Forward, p. v.
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Handmade Care Cards for AU Patients and Staff
- Handmade "Get-Well" Care Cards for patients
- Handmade "Thank-You" Care Cards for staff
Join in efforts to help uplift the spirits of patients and staff at Augusta University Medical Center with a Handmade Care Card. Both children and adults are invited to create Handmade "Get-Well" Care Cards for patients and Handmade "Thank-You" Care Cards for staff. Each patient will receive a "get well" card as part of their breakfast tray, and each staff member will receive them at the beginning of their shift.
Care Cards can be mailed to:
Care Cards
C/O AU Health Pastoral Care
1120 15th Street, BA 2476
Augusta, Georgia 30912
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Parish Directories
A number of you have asked about getting an updated parish directory so that we can be in touch with one another. If you would like us to email you the most recent parish directory, please
email Hannah Gosney.
These directories are for our personal use only.
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Are we missing your birthday?
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