Our seven-year-old went back to school this week. It was the culmination of several weeks of frenzied planning. We bought supplies, bought clothes, arranged for after school care, joined the PTO, talked him through the new routine, met his teacher, and arranged our schedules to include the morning and afternoon commute. In general, we did everything we could to make the transition from summer to school, from first grade to second grade, as smooth and joyful as possible. And finally, earlier this week, we reached the point where the whole family was looking forward to school starting again. After a summer of transition that might better be called upheaval, we needed the sustainable rhythm of the school year.

Humans need rhythms, habits, routines. This is part of the wisdom of the liturgy and liturgical calendar. Over the course of the year, the church takes us through a pattern of anticipation, celebration, growth, penitence, more celebration, and then workaday sustenance. We need this. “Back-to-school” has not yet made it into the church’s official calendar, but for many congregations it still marks an important transition—a moving back into the normal rhythms of worship, service, and learning after whatever disruptions the summer brought. The parish leadership at Saint Paul’s has been hard at work planning all summer, and we’re on the cusp of launching a new program year. This Sunday we’ll have a back-to-school blessing at 11:00 for all students and educators, followed by hot dogs and games in the churchyard. And next Sunday (8/14) we’ll dive into an exciting program year with the return of the adult choir to our worship, rehearsals for children and youth choirs, programming for all ages during the Sunday formation hour, and a low country boil after the 11:00 service. In the coming weeks we’ll begin a whole series of events and programs that we think will help us all draw closer to God, each other, and our neighbors. We need this. 

Of course, back to school in our house didn’t go at all according to plan. Half of our well-laid arrangements fell apart and we discovered on the first day of school that, inexplicably, our second-grader’s shoes were at a friend’s house. But to school he went, with sandals on and hair tangled and missing his pencil box. He showed up and we’re all in the process of settling into this new, good pattern. That will happen at church, too. Don’t wait until you’ve got it all in order to show up. Show up, get into the rhythm of church again, even if your hair is tangled or you can’t find your shoes or holiness. We need each other in our walk with God as surely as we need rhythms and habits.  

Eric+

We are pleased to announce that the Saint Paul’s nursery is open 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!

11 AM Rite II - In person

11 AM Facebook Live

Join us for our summer formation series on the Apostles Creed. Each session is independent of the next, so you do not need to have been at the last session to join.

We’re sending our students and educators back to school with our prayers and blessings. This is a wonderful opportunity to invite your friends to join us for this special service. All students, teachers, and administrators are encouraged to bring book bags, briefcases, or laptops to be blessed for the new school year.

As we begin a new school year, students from pre-K to graduate studies, teachers and instructors, and staff and administrators need our support; and we all need ways to express our hopes and concerns for them at this time. In order to draw those we love into the powerful ministry of Christian prayer, we invite you to name ALL persons (students, teachers, administrators, professors, staff, etc.) for whom you seek God’s intercession and blessing. On Sunday August 7, these names will be carried in a basket during the entrance procession, offered to God to be specially blessed along with all our students, teachers, laptops, bags, and backpacks in our Back-to-School Blessing.

School starts next week in Richmond County. Following the 11 AM service next Sunday, we will celebrate the end of summer with hot dogs and games in the churchyard. All are invited to join the celebration.

It is time to get ready! We will be gathering school supplies for the children at our partner neighbor school, Hornsby. We will have labeled containers in the narthex and the church office starting this Sunday until Sunday, August 7th. Thank you in advance for helping our students start off on a good foot.

Supplies Needed: Crayons, pencils, pens, colored pencils, paper, glue sticks, child-sized scissors, notebooks, and folders.

This Sunday

OR use the link below to purchase online.

Tickets purchased in advance are $45/ person which is a savings of $5 per ticket.

Childcare will be available.

Please support the Oktoberfest fund raising efforts by purchasing tickets and contributing to the silent auction or live auction items with all proceeds to support our community outreach efforts.

Please contact Marilyn Grau for auction donations or ideas.

For additional ticket information, please contact Melissa Friedman or by telephone at (443) 528-9149.

Kathleen Chandler, vocalist and Keith Shafer, pianist, are our musicians this week.

The Church is open daily from 9 AM-3 PM for prayer and quiet reflection. To do that well in our neighborhood, we could use some volunteers who are on hand to greet people. Bring a book or your journal, or just enjoy the quiet time to reflect & pray yourself, and then welcome guests as they arrive. Please sign up using the link below. We're suggesting that volunteers work in teams, but that is not necessary. Contact the parish office with any questions.

The Saint Paul’s Choir (older teens and adults) begins rehearsals next Wednesday, August 10, 7 PM and will sing next Sunday, August 14.

Auditions are not required to join the choir. You don’t have to be a soloist or even a member of Saint Paul’s. If you can sing and blend with others, email Director of Music, Keith Shafer or call (706) 724-2485 ext. 215.

Thursdays begin in the Chapel with a reading or other offering to enhance this space before the “Sit” begins. After the 20-minute Sit, an open discussion follows until 8:00 PM. This is an open group with no limit on the number of participants. Please email Suzanne Pursley-Crotteau or contact by phone at (706) 910-9331 for further information and/or to enroll in the sit.

The Canterbury Choir (children in grades 3-9 and the St. Nicholas Choir (age 5 through grade 2) begin rehearsals next Sunday, August 14, 9:25 - 10:00 AM. This year there is no weekday rehearsal for the children’s choir; all rehearsals are scheduled on Sunday mornings to accommodate busy family schedules!

Singing in the choir gives youth and children a lifetime love for music and their own connection to worship.

If you or any family or friends are interested in the choir program please email Director of Music, Keith Shafer or call (706) 724-2485 ext. 215.

This is a pastoral care project for our children and youth.

Wear your old clothes as we will be painting flowerpots. This is part of a ministry caring for our parishioners who are homebound.

This is the second part of our pastoral care project. We will plant flowers in the pots we painted. Then, each child and youth member will take a flowerpot to a parishioner who is homebound. We will begin the year by spreading the love!

The Parish Life Committee invites to you to "Gather by the River" with your parish family as we kick-off our fall program year next Sunday, September 14, following the 11 AM service.

We will celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, August 21 at the Celtic Service. All who wish to be baptized or would like more information about baptism are invited to contact Fr. Eric.

Sign up now for Ironman Swim Gear Drop Team, September 25, 5 AM, 5th Street Marina — Each year volunteers from Saint Paul’s greet athletes and help them with their bags on race morning at the Swim Gear Drop. We have the opportunity to fellowship with the athletes before they get in the water and encourage them before they start their race. It is an exciting time and a powerful ministry. This is an official Ironman volunteer opportunity and our participation in this event makes us eligible for a grant from the Ironman Foundation which funds our Ironman hospitality expenses on Ironman Sunday. To sign up to volunteer for the Swim Gear Drop use the button below and once on the Ironman Volunteer signup page and enter Password: SP2022. 

Parents of college students, the Daughters of the King have requested addresses for our college students so that they may send notes and small surprises to them during the year. As your children register for housing for the fall semester, please forward updated mailing addresses to the Parish Office. For more information, contact DOK President, Suzanne Pursley-Crotteau.

Children and Youth Open House: Come on over to the Children’s Ministry Center for an ice cream sundae extravaganza. We will have an ice cream sundae station with ice cream, syrup, whipped cream, and ALL the toppings. You will have time to visit our classrooms, register your child, and hear about this exciting time in the life of Saint Paul’s.

EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) KICK-OFF: Youth (6th-12th) and parents are invited to the Butler home for supper and games on the lawn. We will have a chance to hear about the mission trip to Ecuador next summer and hear about plans for the year ahead. It has been a long hiatus, but we are back and excited to be together

again!

August 17 - Wednesday Night Supper

August 22 - Vestry Meeting

August 27 - Master's Table Soup Kitchen

The Masters Table Soup Kitchen at 702 Fenwick Street will be staffed by Saint Paul’s Church volunteers on Saturday, August 27th. This will be an opportunity to get to know other parishioners while preparing and serving hot meals to our guests in the community that are food insecure.

We need 6 volunteers to prepare the food from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM and 12 volunteers to serve the food in the dining room from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

Preparing the food in the kitchen is limited to those 18 and over and involves slicing and dicing and assisting with the cooking. Serving involves plating the food cafeteria style, serving the guests and cleanup.

If you wish to serve, please RSVP using the button link below or contacting Al or Laraine Yarbrough by August 22.

The new Forward Day by Day issue for August, September, and October has arrived and is available in the Narthex and in the rack outside the parish office. If you would like to have one mailed to you, please contact 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 experience. These meditations are also available online at the Forward Movement website.

The Parish Office is updating our parish directory and has hired Alison Nesbitt to assist us in the collection of data. If you have not receive a call from her, please contact the parish office by email or by telephone at (706) 724-2485, so that we may update our parish records or add you to our records. .

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.