Weekly
Postings
news & events
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A Letter from the Senior Warden |
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Dear People of Saint Paul's Church:
Saint Paul's is known for many things. We are famous for a few: music and hospitality. This weekend, we will be able to showcase both so beautifully on the Fourth of July. Last week we celebrated our first restriction free services. They were well attended, and they felt so good, so safe and so familiar. This weekend, we are able to add in a little more "homecoming" with the choir joining Keith Shafer for this celebratory service. You are invited to worship and rejoice. Our Church, by virtue of its age and history, is the perfect place to celebrate our freedoms and pray for our country. This service of celebration and thanksgiving is one of our most well attended by non-church members. Please invite your family, friends and neighbors to Saint Paul's for our Independence Day service.
May God bless our country!
Yours,
Ashley Wright
Senior Warden
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A Letter from the Interim Priest-in-Charge |
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INDEPENDENCE DAY - FREEDOM DAY
Day after tomorrow we will celebrate the 6th Sunday after Pentecost and hear the readings from Proper 9 at the 8:00 am service. Those attending the 11:00 am service will hear the Propers for Independence Day.
Not too long after our Sunday morning time together is done, a significant number of our Augusta area brothers and sisters will begin to gather to “celebrate” Independence Day. When I was much younger I was among those gatherers to enjoy what I have to admit is one of the most spectacular fireworks displays I have ever seen. In my humble opinion the fireworks over the East River (Statue of Liberty) in New York City have serious competition with the fireworks over the Savannah River (Fifth Street Bridge)!
I will not join the downtown “revelers” that evening – the wisdom that comes with age (and having nowhere to park) has tempered my usual enthusiasm for being elbow to elbow with thousands of my closest friends. The faithful who attend our 5:30 pm Celtic Service have voted to do the same – no Celtic Service on July 4th.
The 4th is called Independence Day, which is appropriate, but maybe calling it Freedom Day would have been better. After all, our great American experiment is all about freedom!
Of course that begs the questions, “What are we free from? What are we free for? How do I know I am really free?” Is my freedom strictly a political thing –my freedom to speak, my freedom to vote – or is it a larger concept that affects - others, to mask or not to mask – to vaccinate or not to vaccinate?
Americans are free – the freest people in the history of the world! While celebrating our nation’s freedom, let us also celebrate the incarnation of God in Christ, who through his suffering, death and resurrection, gave us the ultimate freedom – the freedom from sin and death!
There are no fireworks that can come close to that!
Peace,
Joe+
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EVENTS THIS SUNDAY | July 4 |
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Saint Paul's Nursery is OPEN
9:30 AM -12:30 PM
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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 Katie Gullette or the parish office. Miss Connie, Miss Jenna, and Miss Leila are all VERY EXCITED to welcome you back! |
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Sunday Forum - NO FORUM THIS WEEK
Sundays, 9:30 a.m. | Berlin Room
Led by Fr. Dolen
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The Sunday Forum will return July 18.
TOPIC: Reclaiming Holy Scripture
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Sunday Worship Schedule
8 AM Rite I - In person
No Celtic this week only
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All 3 of our Sunday worship services are in-person with no requirement to sign-up. Welcome Back! |
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Coffee and Conversation
Sundays, 10:30 - 10:45 a.m. | Tyler Hall
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Grab a cup of coffee and join us IN PERSON before the 11 a.m. service to chance to catch up with your Saint Paul's family. (Our continental breakfast will return in fall.) |
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NO Celtic Evening Prayer
Sunday, July 4
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Because of parking and traffic logistics in downtown Augusta, we will not celebrate Celtic Evening Prayer and Communion this Sunday, July 4. |
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EVENTS NEXT WEEK | July 5 - July 11 |
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Parish Office Hours
Monday, July 5
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The Parish Office will be closed Monday, July 5, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. |
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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 use the calendar below to reserve a time just for you, or contact the parish office if you'd like a different time not listed. |
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Manna Pantry Prep
Wednesday, July 7, 10:a.m. - 12 noonish
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Manna Pantry is an outreach ministry of Saint Paul's that provides food to 150 families and individuals on odd-number months throughout the year. Volunteers are needed for assembly of boxes in the air conditioning. This month, we'll assemble boxes for Manna Pantry separately from distribution (see below, scheduled July 17). Contact Melissa Friedman for more information. |
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Noonday Prayer
Wednesday, 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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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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A CUP OF JOE - New Adult Formation Class
Sundays, beginning July 11, 10 a.m.
The Chapel of St. Peter and St. Paul
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Why do we Episcopalians make the sign of the cross? When do we do it? How do we do it?
If those and other questions about our rituals, rites and liturgy keep you awake at night then plan to meet with Fr. Joe Sunday, July 11 at 10 a.m. for the answers.
Coffee will be provided!
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Second Sunday Birthday Celebration
Sunday, July 11, 10:30 - 10:45 AM
In the Churchyard
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Next Sunday Birthday Returns. And we have celebrating to catch up! ALL are invited to our brief, but joyful celebration for all whose birthdays fall in June and July, Sunday, July 11, 10:30-10:45 AM, in the churchyard. Come, sing, and share a cupcake with your parish family. |
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Manna Pantry Distribution
Saturday, July 17
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Manna Pantry is a ministry that provides food to 150 families and individuals on odd-number months throughout the year. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, July 17, 9-11:30 a.m. in the east parking lot to distribute the food. Contact Melissa Friedman for more information. |
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Back to the Creek Retreat for Youth
Friday, July 30 - Sunday, August 1| Honey Creek
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For youth in Grades 6-12, this "Back to the Creek Retreat" will allow our young people to take a break at Honey Creek before their school year begins. The cost is $125. Participant numbers will be limited for this event to enable everyone to spread out in the dorms and during worship and other activities. Registration opens next week. Please contact Canon Joshua Varner for more information. |
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Education for Ministry (EfM) program
TIME TO ENROLL
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CALLING THE CURIOUS: Are you curious to explore the meaning of Holy Scripture, the history and traditions of Christianity, and our ever-changing understanding of God that you may more deeply live your faith? Then it is time to consider the Education for Ministry (EfM) program. EfM is a small-group study and spiritual growth program open to ALL people and begins each August. Contact Saint Paul's EfM mentor, Alan Andrews or Fr. Joe Bowden to have a full conversation about it. WE LOVE EfM! |
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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 5/12/21 for the Year 2021
137 Pledge Cards representing $610,801.00
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 6/30/21
Offerings pledged this Week $11,650.02
Offerings received this Week $10,382.68
Operating Expenses to Date $419,141.50
Total Income Received to Date $424,161.07
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OPEN Sundays for Altar Flowers |
If you would like to sponsor a Sunday in honor or memory of someone or “many someones,” please contact the Parish Office. The normal charge is a minimum of $100. What a lovely way to remember or honor someone and contribute to the Flower Guild at the same time.
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Donate to the Summer Music |
On the summer Sundays when the choirs are on vacation, special music is provided by guest instrumentalists or singers. If you’d like to donate the music on these Sundays, please email Director of Music Keith Shafer or call him, (706) 724-2485 x 215 for further information and cost. Gifts can be made as thanksgivings or memorials.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Registration |
Eligible individuals, including those ages 12 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.
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Are we missing your birthday?
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