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St. Paul's
at Midweek
January 13, 2021
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Whoever you are,
and wherever you find yourself on your journey of faith,
we welcome you to our inclusive faith community.
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The Coming Week
at St. Paul's
While public worship in the church continues to be suspended, a number of services and opportunities for fellowship and study are being offered
January 17, 2021
The Second Sunday
after the Epiphany:
10am Morning Prayer
(from our Cathedral via Facebook and YouTube)
6pm Evening Prayer (from St. Paul's via Facebook and YouTube
Monday, January 18
Confession of St. Peter
10.30am Coffee (or Tea) Morning
7.00pm Epiphany Prayer Vigil for the Nation
Saturday, January 23
10.00am Ordination of Cathy Kline and Terry March
January 24, 2021
The Third Sunday
after the Epiphany:
10am Morning Prayer
(from our Cathedral via Facebook and YouTube)
6pm Evening Prayer (from St. Paul's via Facebook and YouTube
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Morning Prayer will continue to be recited privately at 8.30am for the well-being of our city, the nation, and the world, and for all those living with the effects and consequences of COVID-19
Please note, that due to the present health crisis, our Food Co-op Ministry will be closed until further notice.
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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".
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Getting in Touch
Although mail will be regularly collected, the parish office will be closed until further notice.
However, you can reach our Parish Administrator
via email. Alternatively,
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This Week
by
Brian Whitfield,
Bishop's Warden
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Happy 2021!
It is finally a new year, and like all new years, it brings with it a sense of excitement, plans, and goals for our lives. However, we are still in the midst of a pandemic, and things right away don't appear that they will change. The same is true for St. Paul's; at last week's annual meeting, the parish voted to extend the terms for the Bishop's Committee and Diocesan Council. This will allow the leaders in these positions to offer continuity as we hope to reopen this year. As always, we ask for your prayers and guidance, and we continue to move forward in difficult times.
Likewise, thinking about who we are and to whom we belong is also something that we retain in the new year. Epiphany is our current season and helps us reflect upon the beginning of Christ's ministry on this earth. As we celebrate his beginning, we start with our Lord's baptism and have a chance to reflect on our own baptismal covenants. As 2021 has already had a rocky start, we must remain faithful to our baptismal covenants to resist evil, repent, be the example of the Good News of God in Christ, to serve Christ in all persons, and to strive for justice and peace. May these values help us in these coming weeks and years.
As we remember to stay faithful to our promises, there is a lot to look forward to this year. Our church has had extensive work done in the east wing, the courtyard, and continues in the kitchen. Our pledges have gone up, our members have continued to be involved, and opportunities for spiritual growth and nourishment are provided throughout the week. As cases reduce and the pandemic gets under control, we have wonderful plans for the new year and look forward to returning to in-person worship and the physical community that we all miss. Hold on, stay true to yourself, and look forward to a great year.
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The Week's Highlights
and Looking Ahead
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• Novena for Diaconal Ordinations begins January 15
• Monday Coffee Morning: January 18, 10.30am
• Epiphany Prayer Vigil for the Nation: January 18, 7.00pm
• Ordination of Cathy Kline and Terry March:
January 23, 10.00am
• Forward Day by Day (February - April) Now Available
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Sunday Worship at St Paul's
During the present health crisis Sunday worship continues at St. Paul's. In the morning you are encouraged to join online worship from our cathedral in Fresno. This can be accessed here. In the evenings at 6pm via Facebook and YouTube Evening Prayer is led by Fr. Luis from our chapel. Check this out on our Facebook page by clicking here, and be sure to follow us if you aren't already. If you watch via YouTube, please subscribe to our YouTube channel.
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Praying at St Paul's
Remember, the Church's round of prayer continues and our members are encouraged to gather in spirit on or around 8.30am to say Morning Prayer.
If you are not too familiar with Daily Office and the Prayer Book, Morning and Evening Prayer are easily found online. St. Bede's Breviary is highly recommended, and can be accessed here. You can access our Parochial Prayer Dairy here, and if you have found the non-Scriptural readings helpful you can download the Universalis app and just click through to Spiritual Readings. This last is a Roman Catholic site and there is a small charge for the app.
Continue faithful in prayer in these time, and if you any questions please contact Fr. Luis.
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Novena for Ordinations
Terry March from The Church of the Saviour in Hanford, and our own Cathy Kline are being ordained deacon on Saturday, January 23 (specific details below).
As Christians it is our duty and joy to hold them up in prayer as they prepare for this new ministry. Over the last many months, at St. Paul's we have used novenas (nine days of prayer) a number of times. On Friday, January 15, and until the day of their ordination we are invited to gather (albeit apart) daily in prayer for both Cathy and Teri. Each day via Constant Contact (email) and Facebook the novena prayers for the day will be sent/posted. However, you can download the entire novena here.
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Epiphany Prayer Vigil for the Nation
January 18, 7pm-8pm
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Wherever we may each stand, we know our nation is in crisis. We are at crossroads that will determine our identity and direction into the future.
Nevertheless, the message of the Gospel, and especially of Epiphanytide, is that God's kingdom of light, of peace and justice, is already being revealed among us, and we must witness to this reality.
Join the people of St. Paul's and throughout our diocese to pray in solidarity with the reality of light over darkness, of revelation over things hidden and secret. Join us as we pray for our nation, for those in authority and for those preparing to assume authority.
Our Zoom Prayer Room will be open Monday, January 18 from 7pm-8pm for periods of prayer, silence, and reflection. Drop in for the hour or for any time in that hour and for as long as you like.
You can join the Zoom Prayer Room here, and the passcode is prayer.
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Rosary on the Feast of
Our Lady of Exile
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Thursday, January 21, is the feast of Our Lady of Exile. Who is Our Lady of Exile? She is the Blessed Virgin Mary under a title recalling when she, St. Joseph and the infant Christ-child had to flee Bethlehem for exile in Egypt. In fear of losing his kingship to the child “who had been born king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2), Herod had begun a government program of killing all boys under the age of two. In this story and in Mary’s title Lady of Exile, we are called to see Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus in all those who must flee their home for safety’s sake. In the exiled Holy Family, we are called to see all those who must live in a country other than their own, and who may there live in fear and on the margins. As such, under her title Our Lady of Exile, she is the patron of those who forced to leave their homeland to take refuge or to seek work abroad, of all those, homesick for her homeland and hoping to find understanding and sympathy in the adoptive land.
At 5.00pm, St. Paul's Marian Society is hosting a recitation of the rosary via Zoom.. As with all Society events everyone is invited. If you are not familiar with the rosary, it is an old spiritual practice of prayers and reflection on key biblical events; the purpose of which is to quiet the mind and open our hearts to the mysteries revealed in those events. Consider joining in On January 21. The Zoom invitation is here, and the passcode is “exile”.
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Wednesdays as Days
of Special Devotion
As a parish, remember we are keeping Wednesdays as days of fasting and prayer for the pandemic of COVID-19, but also and perhaps more disturbing pandemic of self-centeredness, which as our Presiding Bishop preached "has been the root cause of every humanly created evil that has ever hurt or harmed any child of God or even the earth itself." While fasting is technically going without food, Fr. Luis has asked that we fast each Wednesday by doing "something to frustrate our appetites", whatever that appetite may be. Also we are asked each Wednesday to pray the Great Litany beginning on page 148 of the Book of Common Prayer. You can also find an alternate version of the Great Litany here. As Fr. Luis wrote, "The journey away from ourselves is the journey towards the other, and hence community. Spiritual disciplines like fasting and prayer are the first steps towards spiritually-motivated action and solidarity. I hope we can take these steps together, and discover where the Spirit will lead us."
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Collect of the Week
Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
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In Our Prayers
Remember in your prayers Kammie, Scott, Gwen, Michelle, Ethan, all those living with the effects of COVID-19, and all who are in sorrow, sickness, or any kind of need.
Remember the recently departed, among them, Carolyn Alter Sperber. Remember also Mariam Stepanian, Malcolm Chun, priest, and all those whose year's mind falls at this time.
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Monthly Prayer Diary
You can access the
Prayer Diary for January here.
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Calling Volunteers
for Online Worship
As we continue to live into these days of online worship, we also continue to discern ways in which our common life can continue and flourish. Part of this is still enabling a sense of corporate worship even while we remain distanced physically. To that end we are looking for volunteers to lead parts of our Sunday evening service. This would entail making a recording of yourself doing a reading or leading intercessions. This can be done relatively easily on one's phone, tablet or computer. If you would like to volunteer for this ministry or have any questions, please contact Fr. Luis.
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Forward Day by Day Available
The Forward Day by Day devotional booklets for February, March, and April have arrived. Many people use this publication as part of their regular prayer life. If you do (or would like to), please contact Fr. Luis for a copy. They can be easily sent through the mail.
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Look Out for Upcoming Christian Formation Opportunities
The past year a number of opportunities were offered for Christian Formation and Education; Bible studies, book groups, and an online retreat, among. Keep and eye offerings in the coming year. This will include further sessions of our book group as well as well as Bible studies and a reflective course during Lent. As they say, "Watch this space", as all activities and information are communicated here in Midweek, and of you haven any thoughts or ideas for upcoming offerings, please get in touch with Fr. Luis.
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Parish News and Information
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Parish Annual Meeting
The Parochial Annual Meeting was held this past Sunday beginning at 11.30am and preceded by Morning Prayer at 11am. About 25 people gathered and presentations were made by Fr. Luis and Cindy Smith our Treasurer who presented the budget for 2021. One resolution was presented and passed providing for the extension of all Bishop's Committee members' terms by one year. The rationale was to provide continuity of leadership as we looking to transitioning out the the present pandemic and once again inhabiting our campus. You can find the packet of information presented at the meeting (including the budget and resolution) here. A copy of Fr. Luis' report can be found here. If you have any questions
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Cathy Kline's Ordination
Cathy Kline (along with Terry March from Church of the Saviour in Hanford) is being ordained deacon on January 23 (see full details below). This is a significant event for our diocese, and most especially for us at St. Paul's and for the people of Cathy's home parish, St. Michael's, Ridgecrest. Please keep Cathy and Terry in your prayers as they prepare for the day and begin their ordained ministry
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Creation Care
Parish Meeting
The Creation Care Commission began about two months ago. You may have read some of the information that April Brown and I have put in Midweek. We believe this is an important issue for us as a faith community. There are many challenges facing all of us and it is easy to feel overwhelmed. We are hoping that during this holiday season we can all take some time to reflect on what care for our planet means to our faith.
In January we would like to hold a virtual meeting with members of St. Paul’s to discern our path forward. We are interested in ideas big and small. Please consider getting involved and bring forth your idea’s. Feel free to email me with your thoughts.
Stay safe,
Mike Dunham
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Air Quality in the Central Valley
Makes National News
This New York Times article concerns air quality in the Valley. In particular the effects on our children. Please take some time to read it and contemplate what we can do to create change.
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Vanco - A New Way of E-Giving to St. Paul's
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You’ll notice a new “donate” button on the St. Paul’s website. We’re changing our e-giving platform from Network for Good to Vanco, which partners with our pledge system Servant Keeper. What are the advantages to working with Vanco? First, all donations and pledges get directly deposited to St. Paul’s bank account. We won’t have to wait 1 - 1 ½ months for a check to be sent. Second, for all check writers - you can set up your monthly pledge or any recurring donation to be taken out of your account automatically, which means you don’t have to write out a check or mail a check - saving you precious time. Lastly, using Vanco - you do not need to set up any kind of “account” to use it. It’s completely optional to set up a profile. One advantage from the church’s perspective is that Vanco works with Servant Keeper (SK), so any donation instantly gets credited to a parishioner’s SK profile, ready for the year-end contribution statements.
Like most e-giving platforms, there is a processing fee of 2.75% (for debit/credit cards; 1% for checking accounts). When inputting your payment information, there is the option for the donor to help St. Paul’s offset the processing fee by adding it to your donation. This is optional though, so it is completely up to the donor. At St. Paul’s, we appreciate any and all donations!
Also, you can download the GivePlus app (through App Store/Google Play) if you’d rather use your smartphone to manage donations. Once downloaded, you can search for St. Paul’s by entering our zip code (93301) or St. Paul’s Episcopal Bakersfield. Just scroll through till you find us! Once you find us, you can proceed to setting up your donations.
If you have ANY questions, feel free to email Diane Mangum at didi93307@gmail.com. She has used the app and the online site and can help with any questions.
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Fellowship and Connection
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Monday Morning Coffee
(or Tea) Hour
As we continue sheltering in place and physical-distancing (when did these become verbs?) we become all too aware of the importance of our fellowship at St. Paul's. While it's not exactly the same as gathering in Grace Hall or joining Fr. Luis for coffee at Blue Oak, we are still going to try to gather each week via Zoom. Get yourself a cup of tea or coffee this coming Monday, January 18, at 10.30am, and click onto Zoom via your phone, tablet or computer, and let's chat. The Zoom invitation link is here. See you then, and if you have any questions, get in touch with Fr. Luis.
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Children's Sunday ZOOM Time
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Our Children's Zoom Time meets the first Sunday of each month. The next meeting is Sunday, February 7, at noon. This is a chance for the younger members of our congregation to get together for fellowship, prayer, and Christian formation. If you can any questions contact Lori Toia.
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St. Paul's Sunday
Afternoon Social
Our monthly Sunday Afternoon Zoom Social meets the first the Sunday of each month at at 2pm. Our next meeting is February 7. Join members of St. Paul's for a time of fellowship and conversation during these COVID-times. Click here for the Zoom link. If you have any questions contact Lori Toia or Fr. Luis.
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Are You in Need of Anything?
Are you or someone you know in need of food or other essentials but are unable to get out? Are you in a high risk group and anxious about going out to get what what you need? Please email Fr. Luis. Volunteers are at the ready to help out in any way they can. Please, please, please get in touch. We are all in this together.
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Youth Ministries of St. Paul
We are happy to announce the re-launch of our youth ministries at St. Paul’s! We have so many exciting upcoming events for our youth. If you are the parent of a child ages 5-18, please join our Youth Ministries messaging service. You will NOT receive any spam messages. This messaging service allows you to send messages directly to our youth leadership and to receive info on upcoming events. Text this message- "@youth2216" - to 81010.
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Poetry Corner
Call Me by My True Names
by Thic Nhat Hanh
Do not say that I'll depart tomorrow
because even today I still arrive.
Look deeply: I arrive in every second
to be a bud on a spring branch,
to be a tiny bird, with wings still fragile,
learning to sing in my new nest,
to be a caterpillar in the heart of a flower,
to be a jewel hiding itself in a stone.
I still arrive, in order to laugh and to cry,
in order to fear and to hope.
The rhythm of my heart is the birth and
death of all that are alive.
I am the mayfly metamorphosing on the surface of the river,
and I am the bird which, when spring comes, arrives in time
to eat the mayfly.
I am the frog swimming happily in the clear pond,
and I am also the grass-snake who, approaching in silence,
feeds itself on the frog.
I am the child in Uganda, all skin and bones,
my legs as thin as bamboo sticks,
and I am the arms merchant, selling deadly weapons to Uganda.
I am the twelve-year-old girl, refugee on a small boat,
who throws herself into the ocean after being raped by a sea pirate,
and I am the pirate, my heart not yet capable of seeing and loving.
I am a member of the politburo, with plenty of power in my hands,
and I am the man who has to pay his "debt of blood" to, my people,
dying slowly in a forced labor camp.
My joy is like spring, so warm it makes flowers bloom in all walks of life.
My pain is like a river of tears, so full it fills the four oceans.
Please call me by my true names,
so I can hear all my cries and laughs at once,
so I can see that my joy and pain are one.
Please call me by my true names,
so I can wake up,
and so the door of my heart can be left open,
the door of compassion.
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Margaret Carlson
Allison Perkins-Thomas
Emi Sperber
Elaine Berg
Mal Schleh
Jessica Reyes
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January 9
January 11
January 12
January 20
January 24
January 26
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News and Information
from our Diocese
and the Wider Church
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SJRAISE, The Diocesan Immigration Commission has a new monthly newsletter?
You can check it out HERE and subscribe at the bottom, or email Deacon Angela at dioadmin@diosanjoaquin.org to be added!
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Community News
and Information
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Evicted in Kern
a report published by Faith in the Valley
Did you know that an estimated 20,000 Kern households, including 24,000 children are in danger of facing eviction due to relying on income from industries that have been impacted by COVID-19? This important report by our community partner, Faith in the Valley highlights an important dimension of the housing crisis in our county. You can access the entire report here.
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Community TRUSTT
Community TRUSTT is committed to improving relations with local law enforcement. TRUSTT is an acronym for “Together, Rebuilding Unity, Seeking Trust and Transparency.” Members of the community and representatives of each branch of local law enforcement, including BPD, KCSO, Probation, KC District Attorney, Juvenile Court and KC High School District Police, participate. We advocate for best practices in 21st Century Policing and highlight the experience of those most negatively affected by law enforcement, including communities of color and all minority groups. Our dialog is civil and direct. We are currently advocating for Independent Expert Review of law enforcement, juvenile justice and training and justice in gang enhancement charges.
Monthly meetings are held the second Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m. Please see our FaceBook page for the Zoom link.
Please contact Marilyn Droppers at 661.204.1987 for further information.
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Kern Welcoming and Extending Solidarity to Immigrant (KWESI)
Through KWESI those living at the Mesa Verde Detention Center right here in Bakersfield find fellowship and hope. KWESI volunteers are regular visitors to those detained at Mesa Verde and are also an important link for them to world outside. Consider giving some of your time to this the important work. To volunteer call either call Jeannie Parent at (661) 877-1894I or Eddy Laine at (661) 345-4736. To get a better sense of the work being done by KWESI, click here to see a recent update newsletter.
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Connecting with St. Paul's
and The Episcopal Church
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If you need to speak with
Fr. Luis, our Priest-in-Charge, please call the main office at (661) 869-1630.
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Church Office
(661) 869-1630
Priest-in-Charge
The Rev'd Luis Rodriguez
Senior Warden
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Junior Warden
Michael Dunham
Parish Administrator
Lily Guerra
Midweek
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