St. Paul's at Midweek

January 25, 2023



This Week

by Martin Brown,

Bishop's Warden

We have begun another year and the opportunities are many for being involved in the life of St. Paul’s. On January 25^th we commemorate the Conversion of St. Paul and will be having our annual Parish Dinner the following Friday. You might recall during the Annual Parish Meeting last Sunday, Fr. Luis spoke about prayerfully considering getting involved in one of the many sub-committees we currently have going on at St. Paul’s. Many of them are headed by BC members; however, this is only out of necessity. We encourage everyone’s participation, including the leadership skills of other parishioners to head these sub-committees eventually being powered fully with parishioner involvement. I am hopeful for our parish as I see the participation of new faces each Sunday at Holy Eucharist and hearing many say that they want to be more involved in church. The sub-committees are not the only ways to be more involved either. Many people have specific talents, hobbies, and interests which can contribute to the life of our church. We may not even be aware of the great things that can begin at St. Paul’s with just one person’s willingness to share their interests. Being involved in the church helps manifest Christ in the world. As we are in the Epiphany season, in the Gospel readings we see Jesus go from the naming of the Beatitudes to his Transfiguration before moving into Lent. We learn how Christ is manifest in and through us with his sermon on the mount, restating God’s law and changing in front of the chosen disciples to witness his glorification with Moses and Elijah. Christ is manifest when we live the beatitudes, guard our conduct, and allow the glory of Christ to shine through us in our interactions with others. When we volunteer for the church in any way we are contributing to furthering the Gospel and helping to make Christ manifest in the world. It is an honor for me to sit on the Bishop’s Committee and give of my time and talent to the church by helping with the governance of the business of this parish. I am excited to begin working with the newly appointed BC members: Be Boswell, Michael Cava, and Runa Lemminn. They are all eager to help and hardworking and I am looking forward to seeing what new things we can accomplish with them on board. I leave you with a few words of encouragement. You are needed in any way that you are willing to serve. There are so many things that you can do for St. Paul’s and some of them may be something that you are already interested in and have experience doing. Each member of this parish is valuable and there is much work to do be done so if you feel called to be a good laborer, please speak with a member of the clergy or someone on your Bishop’s Committee. We would love to hear from you and work with you.

The Coming Days at St. Paul's

Wednesday, January 25

The Conversion of Saint Paul

8.30am Morning Prayer

6.00pm Evening Prayer

6.30pm Eucharist

Thursday, January 26

Titus and Timothy, Companions of Saint Paul

8.30am Morning Prayer

Friday, January 27

John Chrysostom, Bishop and Theologian, 407

8.30am Morning Prayer

6.00pm St. Paul's Annual Dinner and Fundraiser

Saturday, January 28

Agnes of Rome, Martyr, 304

8.30am Matutina (Morning Prayer in Spanish)

January 29, 2023

The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

8am Eucharist

9.00 Looking at Matthew

10am Eucharist

The 10am service is live-streamed via our Facebook page.

.Monday, January 30

Charles, King and Martyr, 1649

8.30am Morning Prayer

6.00pm Evening Prayer

6.30pm Eucharist

Tuesday, January 31

Marcella of Rome, Monastic and Scholar, 410

8.30am Morning Prayer

3.30pm St. Paul's Book Group

6.00pm Evening Prayer

6.30pm Eucharist

Wednesday, February 1

Brigid of Kildare, Monastic, c. 523

8.30am Morning Prayer

Eve of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple

6.00pm Evening Prayer

6.30pm Eucharist

Thursday, February 2

The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple

8.30am Morning Prayer

Friday, February 3

8.30am Morning Prayer

Saturday,February 4

Cornelius the Centurion

8.30am Matutina (Morning Prayer in Spanish)

February 5, 2023

The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

8am Eucharist

9.00 Looking at Matthew

10am Eucharist

The 10am service is live-streamed via our Facebook page.

Why is the

Christmas Creche Still Up?

When you came into church this last Sunday you may have wondered why the crèche is still up. Isn't Christmas over? As we celebrate the Christmas/Epiphany season our focus is on the manifestation of God’s Light in the person of Jesus, who is both human and divine. And while not a lot of people realize it, the end of this seasonal cycle comes with the Feast of the Presentation on 2 February. It is then we celebrate forty days after Jesus birth and commemorate his being presented in the Temple. It is then we rejoice with the old man Simeon who recognizes Jesus as “a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to [God’s] people Israel.” (Luke 2:32) Christmas/Epiphany has only begun. We have many days to continue our observance and contemplate its significance. The crèche will remain until February 2 as a reminder that the Christmas event is an ongoing process through which God is constantly revealing his glory in the world, most particularly through his people.

Parochial Annual Meeting

Report

Thanks to all who made possible our Annual Meeting this past Sunday. Be Boswell, Michale Cava, and Runa Lemminn have all joined the Bishop's Committee for a three year term. Martin Brown will continue as the Bishop's Warden and Jan Dunlap as the Junior Warden. Lori Toia and Jan Dunlap have been elected ay Deanery Representatives, with Tanya Miller as the the alternate.

You can download the Annual Meeting Booklet with committee reports here. You can download our Treasurer's Report here, and Fr. Luis's address here.

Extra Campaign

Thanks to those who have made a contribution to St. Paul’s Extra Campaign. So far contributions have totaled just over $5000 in contributions. Thanks to all who donated, and remember you still can.

Study Course:

Looking at Matthew

The course, Looking at Matthew, continues this Sunday and on subsequent Sundays through February 19. This introduction and overview of the Gospel of Matthew will be led by Fr. Luis and meet from 9am-9.45am (between the 8am and 10am Eucharists) in the Forum. If you have any questions, see Fr. Luis.

Feast of the

Conversion of Saint Paul

Tonight (January 25) is the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, a Holy Day in the Church and one of our patron saint's principal feasts. In observation and commemoration of the day Evening Prayer will be said at 6pm and a Eucharist celebrated at 6.30pm. After which a group will be going to The Brimstone at The Padre Hotel to continue our celebrations. The Eucharist being offered with intention of the work of our Bishop's Committee in the coming year. Bishop's Committee members will be at this and at our fellowship time at The Padre.

Bishop's Visit this Sunday

This Sunday, January 29, Bishop David Rice will be making the first of his two visits of 2023. He will be presiding and preaching at the 10am service. It's always a particularly special day when the Bishop visits. Please make every effort to be at St. Paul's that day.

THIS FRIDAY:

St. Paul's Annual Dinner

and Fundraiser

Tickets are now available for St. Paul’s Dinner and Fundraiser and you can buy yours at the door on the night, or you can also buy tickets by visiting our website (www.stpaulsbak.org).

Priced at $25 each (or two for $40), tickets include admission, dinner, and a drink. The evening will feature food, raffles, a silent auction and more. This is a night you will not want to miss. Be sure to invite friends and family.  If you have any questions or can offer any help contact Runa Lemminn or Martin Brown. 

Two Special Services Next Week

Commemoration of Charles, King and Martyr

Monday, January 30, is the commemoration of King Charles the Martyr who was executed in 1649 by the parliamentary forces that overthrew the English monarchy and outlawed the Book of Common Prayer. Although some see Charles as a victim of his own pride, his faith and willingness to suffer and die for what he believed in are not in doubt. After the monarchy was re-established in 1660, a revised Book of Common Prayer was issued in 1662. This included a commemoration of Blessed Charles with a proper collect and readings. In a sense, he is the first "canonized" saint in the Anglican Church since the Reformation. We will be commemorating King Charles the Martyr the evening of January 30. Evening Prayer will be said at 6.00pm and the Eucharist celebrated at 6.30pm. The Eucharist will be celebrated for the special intention of the present King of Great Britain, Charles III.

The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple

The Feast of the Presentation (February 2) commemorates when Jesus, forty days after his birth, is presented in the Temple at Jerusalem as narrated in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 2:22-40). The feast is the traditional end of the Christmas/Epiphany season as the light of Christ is revealed in center of the world, believed to be where the Temple stood. The day is also the mid-way point between the winter solstice (the shortest day of year) and the vernal equinox (when day and night are equal in length). It is a sign that God's promise of light is real and gaining ground. This Wednesday, February 1, is the Eve of the Presentation and Evening Prayer will be said at 6pm and a Vigil Eucharist celebrated at 6.30pm. This is an important holy day in the Church's calendar, please make time to come and celebrate.

Monthly Prayer Diary

The Prayer Diary for February is now available. The Prayer Diary is a monthly publication of St. Paul's that can serve as a focus for your daily prayer. Each day lists the special commemoration of the day (if any), but also the intentions of the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, those of our Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, and that of our parish. You can always download a digital copy of the current one in the "In Our Prayers" section of Midweek below, or you can get one from the narthex.

St Paul's Food Pantry

St. Paul's Food Pantry is up and running, and serving those in need on regular basis. Its doors are open on the 1st, 3rd and 5th (if there is one) Monday of every month. If you have any questions are want to find out how you can help contact either Jan Dunlap or Dcn Cathy Kline.

Currently our Food Pantry is need of

peanut butter, chili, Chef Boyardee, canned chicken, hearty soups, single serving juice drinks, hot chocolate packets, instant oatmeal, cup of soup

Whenever possible,

all canned items should have pop-tops.

Daughters of the King

The Order of the Daughters of the King is an order for women whose mission is the extension of Christ’s Kingdom through prayer, service and evangelism. At the St. Paul's the order serves our community through their prayers and acts of service.

Do you have a special concern you'd like the Daughters to pray for? Contact Cathy Henry who heads our parish chapter. You can also contact her for further information on the DOK, or you can visit the Order's website here. The Daughters of the King are also at the front of church during the distribution of communion to pray with you for your needs and concerns.

Finding the Sunday Readings

Did you know you can always find the readings for Sunday by following this link? Did you find two sets of readings for the Sunday? If there are two "tracks", at St. Paul's we are using "Track 2"

Our New Bishop's Committee

has a work day scheduled for Saturday, February 25. This will it be its first meeting.

Church Office

(661) 869-1630

Priest-in-Charge

The Rev'd Luis Rodriguez

frluis@stpaulsbak.org

follow Fr. Luis on facebook

Parish Deacon

The Rev'd Cathy Kline

deaconcathy@stpaulsbak.org

Deacon Associate

The Rev'd Lisa Jacoby

deaconlisa@stpaulsbak.org