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St. Paul's
at Midweek
March 31, 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 Weeks
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
April 4, 2021
Easter Sunday
10am Eucharist in our parking lot. Registration is required (see below). The service will also be live-streamed vis our Facebook page.
Tuesday, April 6
Tuesday in Easter Week
April 11, 2021
Second Sunday
of Easter
10am Eucharist in our parking lot. Registration is required (see below). The service will also be live-streamed vis our Facebook page.
Monday, April 12
Tuesday, April 13
Wednesday, April 14
Zenaida, Philonella, and Hermione, Unmercenary Physicians, c. 100 and C. 117
April 18, 2021
Third Sunday
of Easter
10am Eucharist in our parking lot. Registration is required (see below). The service will also be live-streamed vis our Facebook page.
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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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This Week
by Mike Dunham,
JuniorWarden
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As your Junior Warden it seems strange to be writing for Midweek during holy week. As I think about it, I am reminded of how relevant this week is, considering where we have been for the last year. This week is about mourning the death of Jesus and celebrating the promise of the risen Christ. We have all mourned losses during the last year, even if we did not know someone who died. Now as Easter approaches we can see hope in declining infections and deaths. Slowly we will be able to return to a more normal like.
It’s likely that our life as a church community will not be the same. We really have no idea how things will turn out but I guess that is true of life in general. We can make all the plans we want but certainty is not something we are given. We do have faith, that whatever happens, the eternal God will always be there.
As far as our church building things have changed for the better. Six months ago we had numerous broken windows and an on-going trash problem all around the church. Two things have happened that allowed us to turn the corner. Fr. Luis’ idea to put a fence around the courtyard has all but eliminated the trash problem in front of the church and the vandalism has been significantly reduced. Second, we have hired a Sexton, his name is Don. He is handling the cleaning of the interior and any small maintenance issues. We now have a new mail slot, making things easier for our mail carrier. The old CDC playground is cleaned-up and soon the cement in the courtyard will be repainted. We have been able to expedite other projects that require outside services. Broken windows have been replaced, trees are trimmed, and the sprinkler system works properly (for now!).
There are other projects in the planning stages. The west wall along the columbarium has long needed to be painted. The wood that holds the stained glass windows has been exposed to the elements for a long time. The small courtyard has been cleaned but the foam matting that covers the cement will need to be removed before we can make any significant change to the courtyard. In the mean time we are planning on painting and staining the wood and gutters. As the weather heats up we will move our efforts indoors. We plan to paint the old youth room and possibly the forum.
If you have questions feel free to contact me.
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Getting in Touch
Although mail will be regularly collected, the parish office will be closed until further notice.
However, if you have questions or concerns, you can reach
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Two Important Notices
Please note that there will not be an edition of Midweek next week.
Details above list events for next week and the week after.
Also, there will be no Monday morning coffee hour.
It will resume the following Monday, April 12.
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Beginning Easter Day have returned to in-person worship. However, itʻs important to bear in mind that we continue to live in the midst the COVID pandemic and so particular protocols have been put in place and must be observed. In order to provide for appropriate social distancing during the our worship registration is required. You can register here; only one registration is required for each household. Registration closes for each Sunday the Friday before. Full details and more information can be found here.
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Re-Imagining St. Paul's
Feeding Ministry
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As you all know, we had to stop our food ministry at St. Pauls for a time. The need for food for our neighbors has not stopped however. It is our hope to resume this ministry in the near future. We currently had the opportunity, with the help of our previous food pantry organizer Jan Dunlap, to clean out the food we currently have stored and distribute it to Catholic Ministries. We would like to continue to provide them food until we are able to start up our ministry once again. We would like to ask all of you who are planning to attend Sunday services to bring in either canned or boxed food for our food ministry team to collect and distribute every week. Good choices would be soups, meats, beans, easy made freeze dried boxed meals or canned meals such as spaghetti or ravioli, as well as cereals and oatmeal. Most importantly, continue to keep those who suffer from food disparity and a way we can continue to meet their needs in your prayers. If you have any questions contact Deacon Cathy Kline.
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Eastertide Bible Study:
Looking at the Apostles
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Our reading of the Gospels, especially in the season of Lent, draws our attention repeatedly to this unusual group of men that Jesus gathered around him and who accompanied him throughout his ministry. While a number of these individuals are very well known – like Peter, John, and Thomas – many Christians have difficulty in discerning how exactly they fit into the story of
Jesus and the life of the early Church.
Beginning April 14th at 6pm, Luke Martinez (our Field Education Student) is leading a six week, weekly Bible study. The study will look at the Apostles as they are remembered in our Holy Scriptures, and discuss the ways that their experiences and growth can speak to us as modern Christians. Moreover, we will also look at historical and archaeological sources relating to the early Church to better understand how these simple men – fishermen and tax collectors – served God's Son and became the pillars of our faith. If you have have any questions contact Luke here. You can access the Zoom link here.
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St. Paul's Creation Care Committee is in its initial stages. As part of its ministry, it is launching its own monthly newsletter. It will cover all kinds of tips and practical information for more responsible use of our natural resources, as well as advertising and promoting ways we can get involved in this increasingly important aspect of Christian stewardship. You can access the first newsletter here.
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Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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In Our Prayers
Remember in your prayers Kammie, Scott, Gwen, Michelle, Ethan, Penny Jan, Tanya, the Toia/Gonzales family, Nancy, Roy, Maria, Wanda, Bob, all those living with the effects of COVID-19, and all who are in sorrow, sickness, or any kind of need.
Remember all the recently departed, and also all those whose year's mind falls at this time.
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Monthly Prayer Diary
You can access the
Prayer Diary for March here
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Parish Prayer List
Revised
As we reach the end of the first quarter our parish prayer list will again be revised. This means that all names will be removed at the end of March, and a new list compiled starting April 1. If you would like a name to remain on the list or a name to be added please contact Fr. Luis via email.
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Walking
by Jack Hernandez
On this sun bright afternoon
we walk along neighborhood paths,
she slowly behind her walker
stopping occasionally to pick up trash,
we talk about our youthful places
those times of flashing newness.
A father throws a baseball to a boy,
he misses and I pick it up
failing to throw it very far,
she tells me that it’s difficult
to read regular print anymore.
Her husband and son have recently died
but she continues on living alone
waking and walking each day
accepting what comes, what goes.
A lesson I have learned
this gleaming day.
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Michelle Quiogue
Isaac Haney
Michael Cisneros
Nakiya Ayala
Jose Cantu
Rosalinda Sosa
Michael Dunham
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April 4
April 6
April 7
April 11
April 15
April 16
April 26
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Community News
and Information
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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.
Please see our FaceBook page 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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Church Office
(661) 869-1630
Priest-in-Charge
The Rev'd Luis Rodriguez
Senior Warden
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Bishop's Warden
Junior Warden
Michael Dunham
Midweek
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