Weekly
Postings
news & events
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To the Community of Saint Paul’s Church,
I have recently been reading a biography of a former rector of Saint Paul’s Church. John E. Hines: Granite on Fire (by Kenneth Kesselus), chronicles the life of John Hines from his deep roots in South Carolina to his election as Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, and into retirement. Throughout his life and ministry Bishop Hines was an advocate for social justice; not simply ministering to those in need, but confronting the systems firmly in place that perpetuated injustice and inequality in the economic and social realms of life.
In 1937, John Hines arrived at Saint Paul’s a twenty-six-year-old man full of hope for what the future could bring. Even with the arrival of a personable young priest the stewardship campaign for that year fell far short of its goal. He wrote to the congregation, “The canvass has failed! And I, your Rector, take the blame, for the blame really is mine” for not teaching that “it is a happier thing to give than to receive.” His tone turned sharply critical, however, as he upbraided those parishioners who believed that God could be “bought off with good intentions and pitifully small pledges.” The mission of the church, he said, is more than “a nice thing for the Women’s Auxiliary to write papers about,” but rather encompasses “the future of your soul.” As it was, he continued, “religion is about the cheapest thing in Augusta.” Calling for “selflessness,” he concluded, “The Church advances on the wings of those brave souls who know what it is to give UNTIL IT STOPS HURTING!”
As we begin our stewardship campaign in a year that has been fraught with challenges, it is our “bounden duty and service” to dig even deeper, to give “until it stops hurting.” Those challenges are many as Cameron Nixon has mentioned: loss of River Room revenue, added cost of your new rector, and the uncertainty of when we might be able to gather in the ways we so love. But, more than facing challenges it is an opportunity for us to be the Church in the world, proclaiming the hope and unconditional love of Jesus Christ not only with our words, but in our actions.
John Hines, while only serving as rector at Saint Paul’s for four years, made an indelible mark on the Episcopal Church. As Presiding Bishop his call to social action was grounded in his belief that the world, that politics, that our community life cannot be separated from the Gospel that we proclaim. Taking risk and speaking truth to power were hallmarks of his entire ministry. I am certainly not John Hines, but I pray that his example may lead us to know who and how we are to be.
It is also my prayer that we face the challenges before us with strength and conviction so that we, the Church, may “advance on the wings of the brave souls who know what it is to give UNTIL IT STOPS HURTING.”
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FROM THE VESTRY WORKING GROUP |
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Dear Members of Saint Paul's Church,
Thank you to all who provided feedback about the Leonidas Polk plaque. We wanted to let you know that the Vestry will not be voting on the matter at its upcoming October meeting. The Vestry is primarily focused on reopening and budget for the upcoming year. Please continue to convey your thoughts to the Vestry Working Group, as the matter remains under consideration by the Vestry for action at a time in the near future.
Peace,
Matt Gullette, Brett Montroy, and Laura Robertson
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EVENTS THIS SUNDAY | OCTOBER 11 |
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GODLY PLAY - Children through 5th grade
K-2nd grad, 9-9:40 a.m.
3rd-5th grade, 9:45-10:30 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. 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.
Please note the addition of a second Godly Play class split by age meeting at different times. You will receive weekly emails on Saturday morning with more information. If you don't receive this email and have children K-5th grade, please contact Maddy Elledge.
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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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COFFEE & CONVERSATION: BIRTHDAY SUNDAY EDITION
Sundays, 10:35 a.m.
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID: 860 972 849
OR phone-in: (646) 876-9923
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Help us celebrate our friends with October birthdays during Coffee and Conversation on Zoom. Members from the Saint Paul's choir have even prepared us a fun song that you don't want to miss!
Click here for more information on Birthday Sunday, including Zoom instructions!
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CELTIC EVENING PRAYER AND COMMUNION
Sundays, 5:30 p.m.
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Our Celtic Evening Prayer is a candle-lit service that emphasizes the contemplative side of worship and features some of Augusta’s best Celtic musicians. This service invites you to come as you are to enter into a place of rest, prayer, and reflection.
Please note that during this time, we ask that everyone sign up to attend as each service is limited to 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.
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EVENTS NEXT WEEK | OCTOBER 12 - 18 |
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Sacred Space at Saint Paul's
Tuesdays and Fridays
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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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Noonday Prayer
Monday, October 12, 12:05 p.m.
Wednesday, October 14, 12:05 p.m.
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID: 595 177 454
OR phone-in: (646) 876-9923
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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, while joining our prayers in 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 daily devotions on page 138.
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Centering Prayer - Orientation and Intention
Wednesday, October 14, 7:15 - 7:55 p.m.
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID: 595 177 454
OR phone-in: (646) 876-9923
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Centering Prayer is a receptive method of Christian silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. Learn more about Centering Prayer or learn on your own at Contemplativeoutreach.org.
"Contemplative practices facilitate and deepen our relationship with God.” This tutorial will offer a beginner’s approach to the prayer practice. “The more we practice and allow the transformation process to happen, the more we are able to experience the Indwelling Presence in everything we do.”
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Compline – Facebook Live and Zoom
Wednesdays, 8 - 8:15 p.m., social time follows worship on Zoom.
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID: 595 177 454
OR phone-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, which are streamed on Facebook Live, those who gather through Zoom have opportunity for a mid-week visit.
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NEW FORMATION OPPROTUNITY |
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BECOMING BELOVED COMMUNITY
…WHERE YOU ARE
Ministry of Racial Healing, Justice & Reconciliation
Next Full Group Meeting: Tuesday, October 27,
Noon - 1 p.m.
Email Fr. Jenkins for to connect with the working groups
OR from Zoom App, Meeting ID: 845 5492 0571
OR phone-in: (646) 876-9923
Why racial healing and justice? The answer is found in our baptismal identity, most fully articulated in our Baptismal Covenant (BCP 304-5). Why now? Because injustices long accepted as normal no longer are invisible or below our consciousness. The right time to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God” always is the present moment. We cannot change the past; the future, however, can be made better.
This group is working collaboratively to shape this ministry, and we invite your participation. This group meets to lend mutual support and guidance, to connect around common passions and interests, and to discern the path that leads to racial healing and justice where we are. Many small groups are forming to pursue common interests in community.
Drawing guidance from The Episcopal Church’s Becoming Beloved Community framework, we strive to discern individually and collectively how to: 1) tell the truth about our church and race, 2) proclaim the dream of beloved community, 3) practice the Way of Love in the pattern of Jesus, and 4) repair the breach in our institutions and society.
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OTHER RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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Saint Paul's Faithfulness
Offerings pledged this Week $15,000.00
Offerings received this Week $12,885.40
Operating Expenses to Date $752,745.56
Total Income Received to Date $690,357.28
Stewardship Campaign:
Pledge Cards Received to Date for the Year 2021: 3
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Are we missing your birthday?
Birthday Sunday will be celebrated THIS SUNDAY, October 11, on Zoom!
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