Dear Friends in Christ,
The most mysterious part of the coronation of King Charles III was his anointing, hidden as it was behind panels. So, what happened as the choir sang Handel’s “Zadok the Priest”? The Archbishop of Canterbury used a spoon from the 12th century—the oldest piece of royal regalia used in the coronation, possibly dating back to the reign of Richard the Lionheart—to anoint the King’s hands, chest, and head with oil.
The anointing probably seemed strange to people who are not accustomed to such rituals in the church. As Episcopalians, we can understand it as a sacramental rite. Sacraments, the Catechism of The Book of Common Prayer tells us, “are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace, given by Christ as sure and certain means by which we receive that grace.” In a sacrament, a divine gift is given and received. We are made new.
The anointing then was the heart of the coronation, not the moment in which the crown was placed on Charles’ head. The crown symbolizes his role and authority. The anointing transforms him.
Dominic Green described it this way in a column published in The Wall Street Journal on May 12. “When Charles Windsor had breakfast on Saturday morning, he was a normal king with a busy day ahead. In the private communion of being anointed he was irreversibly changed. … Consecrated, this mild-mannered constitutional monarch emerged from the abbey as one of the world’s few priest-kings. Charles is the head of the state and its church. He symbolically fuses the secular and the spiritual.”
If you think this all sounds ridiculous, I understand. We in America long ago gave up on monarchy. Even the British no longer believe in the divine right of kings. But as Christians who practice our faith in the Anglican tradition, we take sacraments and sacramental rites seriously. And while Green and others connect the anointing of Charles to priesthood, I am most intrigued by the connection to baptism.
The oil used to anoint Charles, chrism, is the same oil with which we anoint the newly baptized. Immediately after the baptism the priest places a thumb in oil and then makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of the newly baptized saying, “You are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ’s own forever.” In baptism we claim nothing less than that we are transformed by the Holy Spirit, that we become something more than we were.
This Sunday, the Feast of Pentecost, Samuel will be baptized. He will be presented at the font as the child of Anna and David. After the baptism he will remain their child but will also be something more: Christ’s own forever. And in one of those wonderful paradoxes of our faith, Samuel will be connected to a man in England who was anointed with chrism a few weeks ago. For though on the one hand Charles was set apart in his coronation, on the other hand the anointing with chrism also reminds us that at heart he is the same as Samuel. A child of God, sealed by the Holy Spirit, marked as Christ’s own forever.
Your Friend in Christ,
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SUMMER WORSHIP/FELLOWSHIP REMINDER
Beginning THIS SUNDAY, May 28, Worship at 8:30 & 10 a.m.
During the summer, our Sunday schedule changes to allow all to gather in worship and for fellowship.
Sundays, June 4 - August 27, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Fellowship - St. Paul's Courtyard and Burrows Commons
Enjoy refreshments, casual conversation and outdoor children's activities immediately after the 10 a.m. service this summer (no fellowship on July 2 or September 3). Thank you to our June 4 refreshment host, St. Paul's Vestry.
Our staffed nursery will be open for infants to 3-year-olds from 9:45 - 11:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. There will be no Sunday School or adult programming now through Labor Day weekend.
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THANK YOU SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS & CHILDREN'S CHAPEL LEADERS!
As the Sunday School year comes to a close, we thank all those who have taught and nurtured the children and youth of St. Paul's. Interested in helping for the 2023-2024 program year? Contact Laurie Pierce.
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We are thankful for the 185 households who have already completed an estimate of giving for FY2024. We have reached $702,000 of our $850,000 goal. If you haven't yet done so, please provide your estimate today.
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BROAD RIPPLE DUCK RACE
Sunday, June 4, 3-5 p.m., Broad Ripple Village
"See which lucky duck takes the checkered flag!" Free children's activities are available on the Rainbow Bridge (Guilford Ave north of Westfield Blvd) — visit the St. Paul's booth while there. At 4:30 p.m., 3,000 rubber ducks will be launched at the start line (where the Monon trail crosses the Central Canal). Purchase ducks at the race from 3-4:30 p.m., prior to the race at the BRVA office or at various Village events — just $6/ea for a chance to win gift cards from Broad Ripple merchants. Proceeds fund BRVA projects.
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STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS
Thursday, June 8, 2023, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monument Circle
The Christ Church Cathedral Women are seeking volunteers to assist with the 57th Indy Strawberry Festival shortcake booth. Learn more below or sign up to volunteer here.
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Parade start time is 10 a.m.
11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Diocesan booth volunteers are needed
The Diocese of Indianapolis will march in the Indy Pride Parade (Mass Avenue) and will host a booth in the festival afterwards (Military Park). Volunteers are needed to march in the parade, staff the diocesan booth at the festival or both. Learn more and complete registration below:
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SAVE THE DATES FOR (SUMMER & BEYOND) ALL-PARISH EVENTS
Sunday, August 6, 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Backpack Blessing & Summer Celebration
Friday, August 25, 6 p.m., Baseball, Faith & Fireworks at Victory Field
Friday, September 29 - Sunday, October 1, Waycross Camp & Conference Center All-Parish Weekend
Parents: For a list of upcoming family ministry-specific events, click here.
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DAYSPRING COLLECTION
Burrows Commons
Dayspring Center provides emergency shelter, clothing and three nourishing meals per day for homeless families with children in central Indiana. Non-perishable food items, household items and in-kind contributions (details here) are appreciated at all times. Questions, email Cathy Henney. Drop off on any Sunday and a volunteer from St. Paul's will deliver donations when the box is full. A list of specific items needed now can be found below:
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