Weekly
Postings
news & events
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April 16 - April 25, 2021
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A Letter from the Interim Priest-in-Charge |
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NOT JUST A GREAT READ – A MUST READ!
Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times
All my life I have been a bibliophile, which is a fancy word for someone who loves books and loves to read. Every now and then a new book shows up, which I don’t just read and then either give away or put on the shelves, but I read again and again. Those books become like reference texts.
Our Presiding Bishop’s latest book, Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Time, is one of those books that tend to stay on my desk for long periods of time. The subtitle of the book tells it all: “Holding onto Hope in Troubling Times.” I believe we would all agree that these are troubling times! Bishop Curry offers the antidote for these and all troubling times – “Love is the Way!”
Bishop Curry offers no abstract or philosophical analyses of love. He simply tells his personal stories of how he has experienced the love of God, which he proclaims is the only source and key to life and that love is “an equal opportunity employer.” The Bishop writes that “even though we walk in a world that at times feels closer to a nightmare than to a dream, the solution is ‘the way of love is how we stay decent in indecent times.’”
I have known Bishop Curry since his election as presiding bishop in 2015. I have been around him numerous times in both formal and informal gatherings. Every time I have spoken with him or heard him preach, he always speaks of “a universal hunger at the heart of every human being to love and be loved.” This “hunger” is the body of his book in which he examines a series of questions that he has been asked over many years: What is love? How do I find God’s love? How do I find the energy to keep loving? Can love really change the world? Won’t loving everyone make me a doormat? What if love reveals me to be a hypocrite? Do I have to love even my enemy? Does love mean avoiding politics?
As you can easily see I am a fan of Bishop Curry and this book. I would love to talk with any of you all who may have the time and interest to read and discuss his book during Eastertide. If you feel a tweak to do this, please contact Maddy Baker with your interest. Maybe we can get together and have some fun!
By the way, the books are available in the Parish Office – drop by and pick up one while they last.
Peace,
Joe+
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EVENTS THIS SUNDAY | April 18 |
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Godly Play - Children through 5th grade
K-2nd grade, 9 - 9:40 a.m.
3rd-5th grade, 9:45 - 10:30 a.m.
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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.
The Godly Play class sends weekly emails on Saturday morning. If you have children K-5th grade and would like to receive this email, please contact Maddy Baker.
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Sunday Forum
Sundays, 9:30 a.m.
Led by Fr. Dolen
Meeting ID: 860 972 849
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THIS SUNDAY'S TOPIC: Jesus and the Doctrine of Salvation
In Eastertide, explore what Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition say about why Jesus had to die and be raised on the third day.
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Coffee and Conversation: Birthday Sunday
Sundays, 10:35 a.m.
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Help us celebrate our friends with April birthdays during Coffee and Conversation on Zoom. Enjoy a fun song the Saint Paul's choir has prepared, and fellowship with your Parish family!
Click here for more information on Birthday Sunday, including Zoom instructions!
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EVENTS NEXT WEEK | April 19-25 |
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Noonday Prayer
Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:05 p.m.
Meeting ID: 595 177 454
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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, whil e joining our prayers to 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 for daily devotions on page 138. |
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About Your Sermon: Conversations on Sunday's Sermon
Mondays, 12:05 - 1 p.m.
Led by Fr. Bowden
Meeting ID: 595 177 454
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Every Monday we invite you to gather for and discuss the Good News of Jesus Christ proclaimed in Sunday’s sermon from the 11 a.m. service. We begin with Noonday Prayer at 12:05 p.m. and then jump into discussion to explore your questions and interests, theological themes, and implications. We end promptly at one o’clock for those joining during a lunch hour.
The video of the service is available on our Facebook page immediately following Sunday’s 11 a.m. livestream. The sermon usually begins at about 25 minutes into the service, to which you can advance the video.
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Sacred Space at Saint Paul's
Tuesday and Friday, or by appointment
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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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Compline
Wednesdays, 8 - 8:15 p.m. Social time follows worship on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 595 177 454
Dial-In: (646) 876-9923
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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, those who gather through Zoom have an opportunity for a mid-week visit.
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LOOKING AHEAD: FORMATION OPPORTUNITIES |
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MIDDLE SCHOOL: New Beginnings Event with the Diocese of Georgia
April 26-27, 6-8 p.m., on Zoom
This event, led by high school youth for middle school youth, will take place on Monday and Tuesday evenings, April 26 and 27. High schoolers from around the Diocese will offer some thoughts on Friends, Changes, the Church and Me, and Sharing our Gifts. As they prepare, they are thinking back to their own middle school years and what they wish someone had said to them.
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LOVE IS THE WAY: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times
This Easter season, the Racial Healing Ministry of our diocese will host a diocesan-wide reading group of Bp. Curry’s Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times.
Limited Copies are available in the Parish Office.
Book Discussion Guide Now Available
A book discussion guide for the Diocese of Georgia's 1Book1Diocese reading of Love is the Way is now online here: Discussion Guide PDF
Bishop Curry to meet online
Individuals may also read the book and then join for the online meeting with Bishop Curry to discuss the book.
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OTHER RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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From the Stewardship Chair
Lord, we give faithfully, and in our giving, we honor you,
the source of all our blessings, our daily bread, and all the gifts in our lives.
Received as of 4/15/21 for the Year 2021
136 Pledge Cards representing $605,801.00
If you have not completed a pledge card, please complete this year’s annual stewardship appeal and return it to the church as soon as possible, or pledge online on our website at saintpauls.org/pledge-card/. If you did not receive a pledge appeal in the mail or have simply misplaced yours, please email the parish office or contact by telephone at (706) 724-2485 ext. 225.
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Saint Paul's Faithfulness
as of 4/15/21
Offerings pledged this Week $11,650.02
Offerings received this Week $26,373.90
Operating Expenses to Date $228,281.32
Total Income Received to Date $273,367.70
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Welcome back for in-person worship! |
We are excited to be offering a limited in-person gathering for our Sunday morning worship at 11 a.m. During this time, spots are limited and pre-registration is required. Please note that masks are to be worn at all times.
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Spring is in the air! Would you like to help with gardening chores at Saint Paul’s Church? Grounds Chair Keith Shafer is looking for those who enjoy gardening to assist with the care of the Baird Rose Garden and the gardens in the churchyard. You can volunteer, arrive at a time convenient for you, do as much or as little as you’d like, and receive training if you’d like it. Keith will have a list of chores. The church employs a landscape maintenance company to do routine maintenance, but the care of the gardens is provided with volunteers.
Contact Keith Shafer, (706) 339-7208, to discuss your interest. |
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COVID-19 Vaccine Registration |
Eligible individuals, including those ages 16 and older, can now register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the Washington Square shopping center. Registration must be completed in advance on the AU Health website.
South Carolina residents who are eligible can also register to receive the vaccine at Aiken Technical College through the AU Health website.
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Are we missing your birthday?
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