Weekly
Postings
news & events
|
|
February 11 - February 20, 2022
|
|
It was wonderful to see so many of the Convocation's Priest in attendance!
Picture credit (The Rev. Jim Said)
|
|
Bishop Logue takes a selfie during his meeting with the Wardens, Vestry, and Vestry Elect. |
|
Back when viewers would have to wait a week in between episodes, instead of binge-watching a whole season in a weekend, TV shows would sometimes start an episode with a voice over saying, “Previously on Super Great TV Show with a Complicated Plot.” We’d then be treated to a little montage highlighting the most relevant plot points from previous episodes, which would prepare us for what was going to happen next. I feel like we need one of these montages for the gospel of Luke this week. In the season after the Epiphany, our Sunday readings go sequentially through the first weeks of Jesus’ public ministry. We have taken a break from this sequence for the last two weeks as we observed first the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul and then the Presentation of our Lord/Candlemas. So this Sunday, we’re being dropped back in to a story from which we’ve looked away for a bit.
When we left off, Jesus was preaching in the synagogue of Nazareth, his hometown. He had been growing in popularity, but things quickly take a turn for the worse. On the day we were talking about Saint Paul, we missed Luke telling how the hometown crowd turned against Jesus and tried to throw him off a cliff. He escaped—or, in Luke’s telling, it sounds more like he declined to be thrown off the cliff and “went on his way.” We then missed the story of Jesus calling some of the first disciples. He was teaching a large crowd, and commandeered Simon Peter’s boat as a pulpit. After the sermon, he instructed Peter on how to get a miraculously large catch of fish. When Peter sees how many fish they caught, he pledges himself to Jesus and then he and his business partners drop everything to follow Jesus and become “fishers of people.”
That catches us up on the schedule of Sunday readings, but this week we have a leap ahead in Luke, anyway. Everybody who shares our calendar of readings will miss Jesus continuing to travel around the surrounding towns and villages, healing people in need, singling out more new disciples, and resisting criticisms from religious leaders who think he and his followers should follow religious customs more rigorously. These are key themes that we’ll be able to track throughout Luke’s gospel. Jesus organizes and equips his closest followers for his mission. He persistently serves those in the most need. And he is from the start at odds with established religious authority, calling the people to a deeper and more direct faith that challenges the religious establishment. It is in this context that Luke turns, in this week’s reading, to his version of the Sermon on the Mount, frequently called The Sermon on the Plain. If you want to feel fully caught up, join me in reading all of Luke chapters 4 through 6 before church this Sunday. See you then.
Eric+
|
|
"Meet Saint Paul's"
Margaret Scott Penix and Barbara Register share their Flower Guild Pastoral Ministry with the children of Saint Paul's and help them make Valentine's to share with parishioners.
|
|
These ministries are tangible reminders of God’s love and of the beauty of sharing love with others. Thank you, Margaret and Barbara, for your important ministries. Thank you, children of Saint Paul’s for reminding us that you are active participants and leaders at Saint Paul’s. We love you and your enthusiasm and generous hearts!♥️♥️♥️ |
|
EVENTS THIS SUNDAY | February 13 |
|
|
|
|
Saint Paul's Nursery is OPEN
Sundays 9:30 AM -12:30 PM
|
We are pleased to announce that the Saint Paul’s nursey has reopened for children 6 months to 4 years of age. The nursery will be available on Sunday mornings beginning at 9:30 a.m. to allow parents to attend formation. If you have any questions about the nursey, please contact the parish office. Miss Connie and Miss Jenna are all VERY EXCITED to welcome you back! |
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday Forum
“Women of the Bible: Exploring Difficult Stories and Their Significance Now.”
Sunday, February 13, 9:30 AM
Berlin Room
|
The Daughters of the King will lead a four-part series for Christian Formation during Epiphany, February 13, 20, and 27th at 9:30 AM. “Women of the Bible: Exploring Difficult Stories and Their Significance Now” will read and study these difficult Biblical texts as they relate to current reality for women in 2022. Please join us. |
|
|
|
|
|
Godly Play (grades PK - 1st)
9:30 AM -10:30 AM
In the Children's Ministry Center
|
ALL children inherently know God, but it is up to us to give them the language of the Christian faith so they can grow to make meaning of our faith in their own lives. Godly Play is a profound method rooted in Montessori principles that forms child spirituality by attending to their natural gifts for wonder and discovery. Children are greeted at the door of the Godly Play room by the "door person." It is VERY important for parents to respect the boundary of the door threshold by not entering the children's sacred space--their Godly Play room. We cannot wait to welcome your children each Sunday!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spark: 2 Classes (grades 2-3) & (grades 4- 6)
9:30 AM -10:30 AM
In the Children's Ministry Center
|
Our older children will again immerse themselves in SPARK, where they will work with the same themes and Scripture that we all encounter in common worship. Every lesson follows a four-part pattern: Gather, Open the Bible, Activate Faith, and Send. Week after week, the children and their leaders gather together, explore the Scriptures, enjoy one another's company, pray, and discover God's presence in their midst.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Second Sunday Birthday Celebration
Sunday, February 13, 10:30 - 10:45 AM
|
Join us during “Coffee and Conversation” (10:30 - 10:45 AM) in the Churchyard. ALL are invited to our brief but joyful celebration for all whose birthdays fall in February. |
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday Worship Schedule
8 AM Rite I - In person
11 AM Rite II - In person
5:30 PM - Celtic Evening Prayer and Communion
|
All three of our Sunday worship services are in-person with no requirement to sign-up. |
|
|
|
|
|
Celtic Evening Prayer and Communion
5:30 PM
|
Our guest musician is Carl Purdy. |
|
|
|
EVENTS NEXT WEEK | February 14 - February 20 |
|
|
|
|
Compline
Wednesdays, 8 - 8:15 p.m. Social time follows worship on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 595 177 454
Dial-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, those who gather through Zoom have an opportunity for a mid-week visit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Attention Gardeners!
Saturday Morning Work Fest
Saturday, February 19, 9 AM
|
Please join our regular garden volunteers for a Saturday morning work fest on February 19th beginning at 9 AM. We’ll be preparing the East side bed next to the church by removing existing verbena, tilling the ground, adding soil amendments, and dividing and replanting perennials from the garden between the West side of the church and the chapel. If you can participate in this event, please email Keith Shafer or call or text him at 706.339.7208. Keith will provide you with information about tools we need. Volunteers with pick-up trucks especially appreciated! |
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday's Music Live Continues
Tuesday, February 22, 12 Noon
|
Tuesday’s Music Live continues its 33rd season Tuesday, February 22, with a free concert by The Will Anderson Trio. Contact TuesdaysMusicLive.com for more information or call the Box Office at (706) 722-3463. |
|
|
|
|
|
Master's Table Soup Kitchen
Saturday, February 26, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
|
The Masters Table Soup Kitchen at 702 Fenwick Street will be staffed by Saint Paul’s Church volunteers on Saturday, February 26. This will be an opportunity to get to know other parishioners while preparing and assisting in cooking hot meals for our guests in the community that are food insecure.
Due to Covid restrictions we are limited to 8 volunteers to prepare the food from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM and 8 volunteers to serve the food in their courtyard from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Masks will be required when inside the building regardless of vaccination status.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Evensong
Sunday, February 27, 5:30 PM
|
The Saint Paul’s Choir will sing Evensong at 5:30 PM on Sunday, February 27. The music includes works by William Smith of Durham, Philip Moore, and David Hogan. Mr. Hogan was a passenger on board TWA Flight 800 which exploded off the coast of Long Island on July 17, 1996, killing all 230 passengers and crew. Formerly a tenor in the choir of the Washington National Cathedral, Mr. Hogan was a gifted composer whose setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis was dedicated to his choir and will be included in our upcoming Evensong. The rector will officiate, Mark Dickens will be the guest organist, John Robertson will be cantor, and the music will be directed by Keith Shafer. A reception follows the service and child care will be offered beginning at 5 PM. |
|
|
|
|
|
SAVE THE DATE FOR OKTOBERFEST
Saturday, September 10, 6:30 -10 PM
The River Room
|
Save the date for Oktoberfest by the River, Fund Raising Outreach Event, featuring an oompah band with German theme dinner.
More details to follow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 1 - Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner
March 2 - Ash Wednesday
|
|
|
|
OTHER RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS |
|
|
|
Forward Day by Day Available |
The new Day by Day issue for February, March, and April has arrived and is available in the Narthex. If you would like to have one mailed to you, please contact Hannah in the parish office. Forward Day by Day is a booklet of daily, "page-a-day," inspirational meditations each reflecting on a specific Bible passage from the daily lectionary readings of the Episcopal Church. The meditations are rich in substance and offer a wide range of witness and experiences. These meditations are also available online on the Forward Movement website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gathering Safely Plan Updated 12-29-21 |
The Vestry has approved a plan for gathering safely. This plan is available using the link below and on our website . Clergy, vestry, and regathering committee members will continue to monitor the situation and publicize precautions and changes. |
|
|
|
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.
The Finance Committee and the Vestry are beginning the work of preparing the 2022 budget. Your pledge allows them to prepare a more accurate budget. If you have not yet completed a pledge card, please prayerfully consider your pledge to a momentous year. Pledge cards are available in the Narthex and by contacting the parish office. You may also pledge online using the link below.
Pledge Cards Received: 134
89 Increase (22 new), 5 Decrease, 40 no change
|
|
Saint Paul's Faithfulness
as of 02/02/2022
Offerings pledged this Week $12,159.00
Offerings received this Week $43,834.67
Operating Expenses to Date $58,195.01
Total Income Received to Date $94,142.03
|
|
|
|
COVID-19 Vaccine Registration |
Eligible individuals, including those ages 5 and older, can now register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. 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.
|
|
|
|
Are we missing your birthday?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
