A Note from the Associate Rector for University Ministry | |
Dear St. Paul's,
“Why do we kill people who kill people to show that killing people is wrong?” I found this question written on an old metal button many years ago, and it has haunted me ever since. It so succinctly captures the absurdity of capital punishment. The death penalty doesn’t make sense. When you actually consider it, and look beyond the surface, past the rhetoric and emotional manipulations, it really is nonsense. But, such is the nature of evil.
What I find most perplexing is the great number of Christians who casually accept it. Followers of Jesus, who are seeking to follow the example of his life and teachings, who also support state-sanctioned murder and don’t see the contradiction. It has for so long been the norm in our society, I think it is hard for some to imagine an alternative.
To be fair, it isn’t easy to face such horrors and examine the powers of evil and death up close. Our inclination is to turn away, like the disciples who abandon Jesus on the cross. We’d rather hide ourselves behind locked doors. Yet, when we choose to stay, and keep open our hearts and minds, we may encounter the profound mystery of God’s grace in new and unexpected ways.
The story Jenny McBride tells in her book, You Shall Not Condemn, which she will also discuss in her upcoming Koinonia lecture, gives a close-up view of what it is like to confront the powers and principalities of evil and death in this world. It is heart-wrenching, and frustrating, and utterly devastating. And yet, it also reveals the ongoing power of hope, and friendship, and joy that draws us into the mystery of our faith. Death is not the end.
– Peter
The Rev. Dr. Peter Kang
| Sunday, April 21, at St. Paul's | |
The Fourth Sunday of Easter | |
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8 a.m. – Holy Eucharist in the Chapel
9 a.m. – You Shall Not Condemn Book Group (library, details below)
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. – Nursery Care (ages three and under)
10 a.m. – Holy Eucharist with Choir (also accessible via Zoom)
11:15 a.m. – Common Hour for Formation, Fellowship, and Service (details below)
6 p.m. – Youth Group (grades 6-12)
6 p.m. – TUF Graduation Party (parish hall)
7:30 p.m. – Evening Worship
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Children and youth are invited to spend Common Hour on the swings at Pen Park! Families are encouraged to meet Heather Annis at the Pen Park playground at 11:30 a.m. to start thinking about what we'd like to see in our church playground.
While St. Paul's kids are visiting actual playgrounds, adults are invited into a conversation with the rector about the important things that happen on playgrounds and how the choices that lie ahead in our building project can shape relationships, fellowship, and community for all ages at St. Paul's.
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Note: For virtual services and meetings, click on the title for the Zoom link. | |
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Thursday, April 18, 7 p.m. – You Shall Not Condemn Book Group (via Zoom, details below)
Friday, April 19, 10 a.m. – Funeral for Louise Proffitt
Note: The April 19 Choir and Organ Concert has been postponed (details below).
Saturday, April 20, 3 p.m. – Marriage of Piper Carveth & Nicholas Tommas (King Family Vineyards)
Monday, April 22 - Friday, April 26, 8 a.m. – Weekday Virtual Morning Prayer
Monday, April 22, 4 p.m. – Virtual Lectionary Discussion Group
Monday, April 22, 6 p.m. – University Fellowship Conversations on Faith & Life (TUF Study Space)
Monday, April 22, 8 p.m. – Compline (chancel)
Tuesday, April 23, 12:15 p.m. – Holy Eucharist (chapel)
Tuesday, April 23, 1:30 p.m. – You Shall Not Condemn Book Group (chapel, details below)
Wednesday, April 24, 4:30 p.m. – Junior Choir & Primary Choir Rehearsal (choir room & chapel)
Wednesday, April 24, 5 p.m. – Singing and Music Games for 3-5-year-olds (chapel)
Wednesday, April 24, 5:30 p.m. – Evening Prayer, with homily by Deke Polifka (chapel)
Wednesday, April 24, 6 p.m. – Community Dinner (parish hall)
Wednesday, April 24, 6 p.m. – You Shall Not Condemn Book Group (library, details below)
Wednesday, April 24, 7 p.m. – Parish Choir Rehearsal (parish hall)
Thursday, April 25, 7:30 a.m. – Bible Study (library)
Thursday, April 25, 7 p.m. – You Shall Not Condemn Book Group (via Zoom, details below)
Sunday, April 28, 5:30 p.m. – 2024 Koinonia Lecture: Faith and Advocacy on Death Row (details below)
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2024 Koinonia Lecture: Faith and Advocacy on Death Row | |
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The Rev. Dr. Jennifer M. McBride will visit St. Paul's next Sunday, April 28, preaching at the 10 a.m. service, and speaking briefly during Common Hour following the service. At 5:30 p.m., McBride will deliver the 2024 Koinonia Lecture entitled Faith and Advocacy on Death Row. The lecture will be followed by a reception in the parish hall.
McBride has an M.A. and Ph.D. in Religious Studies from UVA. She is the Associate Rector for Formation at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Atlanta. Previously she served as an Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Theology and Ethics at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and held the Board of Regents Endowed Chair in Ethics at Wartburg College in Iowa. After a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Emory University, McBride directed a theology certificate program for incarcerated women through Emory's Candler School of Theology.
In advance of McBride's visit, parishioners are invited to read her book, You Shall Not Condemn: A Story of Faith and Advocacy on Death Row and join one of several book discussion groups being offered prior to her visit. Learn more and sign up for a book group here.
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Celebrating Fifty Years of Women's Ordination –
On Wednesday, May 8, parishioners, friends, and neighbors are invited to St. Paul's for a screening of the documentary The Philadelphia Eleven.
In July of 1974, The Philadelphia Eleven became the first women ordained as priests in the Episcopal Church, two years before General Convention affirmed and explicitly authorized the ordination of women to the priesthood. Pizza and conversation will be available in the parish hall beginning at 5 p.m.; the movie will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. and end just before 7 p.m. Watch the trailer here.
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Habitat for Humanity - St. Paul's will kick off our exploration of a renewed relationship with Habitat for Humanity with a May 5 Common Hour presentation from the Rev. Kelly Eplee, Habitat's Director of Donor Relations, and a May 10 workday at the innovative Southwood redevelopment project, where Habitat is working with the residents of a former trailer park to transform their neighborhood with new homes without displacing anyone. For this initial workday, St. Paul's will send an advance team of parishioner volunteers representing different communities and ministries within our parish; to register your interest in future workdays, email office@spmcuva.org.
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The University Fellowship | |
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The University Fellowship Conversations on Faith & Life – At the next weekly Conversations on Faith & Life, students from The University Fellowship (TUF) will gather with students from other campus ministries in the newly updated TUF study space for a meal and conversation with UVA alum, Dr. Nauman Faizi, Professor of Religion at LUMS in Lahore, Pakistan. His topic will be Interreligious Dialogue from a Muslim Perspective. This is part of an ongoing effort in line with UVA president Jim Ryan's recent request to local clergy to help students find ways to build relationships and engage in dialogue across differences.
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Episcopal Church Leadership Scholarship – The University has entrusted St. Paul’s with selecting the recipients of a unique scholarship for Episcopal students at UVA. Since 2015, St. Paul's has awarded $1,768,000 in ECL Scholarships (previously known as Skinner Scholarships) to Episcopal students at UVA. We anticipate awarding more than $250,000 in scholarships for the 2024-2025 academic year. The purpose of the scholarship is to help educate students for life and leadership within the Episcopal Church. This scholarship is for undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate a high level of commitment to, and involvement with, the Episcopal Church. If you or someone you know might be interested in the scholarship, contact the Rev. Dr. Peter Kang at peter.kang@spmcuva.org.
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Choir and Organ Concert POSTPONED – Due to unexpected delays with our organ restoration, we have had to postpone the choir and organ concert previously scheduled for Friday, April 19. Once the necessary organ restoration work is completed, we will announce a new date for the concert.
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Holding each other's joys, sorrows, and concerns before God in prayer is a spiritual practice that characterizes our life together at St. Paul's. In our worship services we pray each other's prayers together. Outside of our time together many parishioners make it part of their daily lives to pray the prayers of the parish community. You are invited to participate in your own way. | |
Thanks be to God
for all the blessings of our lives, and for the faith, fellowship, and ministries of this parish community.
for the birth of Alexandra Elise Rouzer, born April 10 to Nerissa & Garett Rouzer and big brothers Ethan and Owen.
for the faithful generosity of all who have made commitments to the future ministry of St. Paul's through the Building Centennial Campaign.
Your prayers are requested
by members and friends of St. Paul’s for David, Pierce, Jim, Bob, Helen, John, John Ritchie, Marianne, Donna Hanna, Kathy & Brett Blizzard, C.W. & Bill, Emily Merkel, David Lee, Keith, N., Chuck, Mary Marrs, Sharon, Ian McNett Jr, Mo Lowdon, Margaret, Logan Strzepek, Jean, Lucy Everett, Tilghman, Elly Sparks Brown, Sandy Gilliam, Anne, Al & Helen Reynolds, Susan, Townson, Akouvi, Karl, Chrissie, Anne, Shelby, Joe Piorkowski, Megan, Caitlin Bomar, Jim Campbell, E., Hermann & Katharina, Will Brandt, Jean, Brant Hopper, Jim & Marjorie Warren, the Klotz family, Mark, Sue, the Hogan and Maybank families, Whit Worman, Karen, Jimmy White, the Drake family, Mary Jane, Audi, Marlene Kelly, Sherlene Henry, Mary Beth Norman, Christopher Carter, T. Martin Carter, Matt Argon, Paul Henry Sr., Ida Hughes, Lucille Fillingame, Ray Dueser.
for St. Paul’s this Easter season, that our ministry in the world may be a sign of resurrection life.
for those preparing for marriage, including Piper Carveth and Nick Tommas, to be married on Saturday.
for the search for our next Assistant Rector, for the candidates, interview teams, and the person God is preparing to join us in ministry.
for those preparing to graduate next month, including the members of The University Fellowship being honored at the TUF graduation celebration this Sunday: Makana Brooks, Yuni Choi, Kennedy Moore, Arlo Morgan, Jake Morton, Will Newburg, Emily Scott, and Megan Sugg.
for Charlottesville and the University of Virginia, and for all our neighbors, including students, staff, faculty, and administrators.
for the work of Habitat for Humanity, for our renewed partnership, and for the residents of Southwood.
for the nominees standing for election as 28th Presiding Bishop: the Rt. Rev. J. Scott Barker (Diocese of Nebraska), the Rt. Rev. DeDe Duncan-Probe (Diocese of Central New York), the Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez (Diocese of Pennsylvania), the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe (Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania & Diocese of Western New York), and the Rt. Rev. Robert Wright (Diocese of Atlanta).
for the people of Haiti in this time of crisis, and especially for our partners at the Episcopal parish and school of Légliz Kris Roi in Léger.
for peace in the Middle East, and for those threatened, injured, and bereaved by violence in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.
for Christ Church, Alexandria; Good Shepherd, Burke; St. John's, McLean; and Varina, Richmond, according to the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer.
for the Anglican Church of Australia, according to the Anglican Cycle of Prayer.
for the nation and the world, for an end to violence, hunger, injustice, and oppression.
We commend to God’s never-failing care
the faithful departed throughout the world, and all those known to God alone.
the victims of terrorism and war in Israel and Gaza.
all those we love but see no more, including Carol Muntz, whose funeral will take place in the chapel on Sunday, May 5, at 2 p.m.; and Louise Proffitt, to be buried from St. Paul's tomorrow at 10 a.m.
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