St. Paul's by-the-Sea
Weekly news & updates
September 18, 2020
Sunday's Service

This Sunday, September 20, 2020 at
10 am we will gather inside the Red Doors Community Center (10959 Worcester Hwy, Berlin) for a Rite II Holy Eucharist service. Pastor Blake Wamester will officiate.

Come and join us!
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Lectionary:
Pastor Karen's 9/13 Sermon

Click here to read a PDF of her sermon

Click here to watch the Facebook Live video of the 9/13 service.
Vestry Update

Many thanks to Tom Shuster and John Knotts who have accepted invitations from the Vestry to fill recently vacated seats. Tom will join immediately and John will join at the end of October when he completes his Census work.

Class of 2021
Andy Diaz & Tom Shuster

Class of 2022
JeriLyn Holston-Andrews,
John Knotts, and LB Steele

Class of 2023
Karen Gordon & Paul Rogers
A Word to the Church from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry

This link will take you to a video and the text of his sermon at The Episcopal Church House of Bishops, which met virtually September 16, 2020.
Prayer List:
Gary & Beverly Cooper, Robbie Whittington Joyce, Sylvia Tyler, Cathy, Shelton Watson, David Rouch, Danny Haberman, Lou Anne Garton, Joan Leatherwood, Christopher, Rachel Lee, Cindy Dreslin, Kyle Harmon, Pat Stephens, Shirley Connor, Yvonne Field, Nancy Turnbull, Michele Werner, Joe Walcott, Tammy Johnson, Jan West, Scott Burke, Jose Cabrera, Deborah Gooch, Jan Richardson, Joan Kamorowski, Melissa Martin, Lois Renn, Ryan Fischer, Hannah Wolf, Julia Rayfield, Jerry & Sandy Cushing, Debbie Simpkins, Ember Poppiti, Max Long, Bonnie Caudell, Cary, Cathy & Mark Baxley, Katlyn, Mary Scott, Etta, Chris Lynch, Tom Stearns, David Warren, Aunua, Letty Trimper Hurst, Ann Smith, Ann Plowman, Margaret Hudson, Matt Leszcz & family, Kenneth Rudia, Catherin Hatfield, Rev. Penny Morrow, James Miller, John Anderson, Judy Hoffman, Andy Hales, Ken Toms, Brannon Thacker, Fr. Joe Rushton, Connie Mayers, Suzanne Zantzinger

We need your help to keep the list current. Please contact the church office with corrections, additions, and/or deletions. Thank you!

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer:
We give thanks for the witness of God’s people at Old Trinity, Church Creek, and St. John’s, Cornersville, and for their Rector, the Rev. Dr. Dan Dunlap, and his spouse, Donna.

Local Faith Community Prayer Cycle:
Community Church of Ocean Pines, Ocean Pines

Birthdays
9/20 Brian Connor
9/24 Tom Shuster

Anniversaries
9/20 Cheryl & Mike Nottingham
SPBTS Book Club

There is still plenty of time to join the the Book Club! On Sunday, October 11, 2020 at 1 pm (via Zoom) the group will discuss The Book of Longings, by Sue Monk Kidd. Please contact Jody by email (click here) or call the church office 410-289-3453 ext. 100 to sign up. All are welcome to join.
Letter from the Vestry
The following letter was mailed yesterday to the parishioners in our parish directory.
We are copying it here in an effort to reach as many parishioners, past and present, as possible.

Dear Parish Family,

We find ourselves starting over once again, embarking on a new era for our church, one that requires honesty and commitment and healing. As we begin to navigate this journey back, we need each of you.

Our differences make us diverse and healthy and vibrant. Open discussions are possible when we remember that all views matter and deserve respect.

We have been fractured and scattered in many directions. However, the good news is we are resilient. Our history proves it!

Our church building has endured nor’easters, hurricanes, and a fire. Our undercroft has been filled with water too many times to count. Part of the building has been rebuilt out of the ashes of a fire and human loss. But St. Paul’s by-the-Sea is still standing more than one hundred and twenty years after the laying of the cornerstone.

We need help and we are asking for yours. Our hearts are open, our doors are open. We sincerely hope you will join us as we embark on this new beginning.

For the immediate future we will have supply priests conducting a single 10am Eucharist service each Sunday. This Sunday, September 20th will be the last service at The Red Doors Community Center. Pastor Blake Wamester, Pastor Karen’s husband, will officiate. On Sunday, September 27th, we will welcome everyone home to the church on 3rd Street. Pastor Karen Wamester will officiate.

We are presently in the process of hiring a mediator to conduct a congregational meeting so that all can begin the healing process. Per the Bishop’s instruction, once this meeting has been completed, and we have a better idea of what the congregation wants for the future of St. Paul’s by-the-Sea, we will be ready to call an interim. Then we can begin the search for our next rector.

Please join us as we rebuild. We need our church family back together again. We hope to see you on September 27th.

Sincerely,
The Vestry of St. Paul’s by-the-Sea
Pledge Reminder
It comes as no surprise, that due to the Covid 19 related suspension of services, SPBTS has experienced a sizeable reduction in income. We sincerely thank all those who have continued to send in their contributions during the closure. Those who have not, we kindly ask you to consider bringing your pledges up to date. Thank you!