The Messenger 

                                  May 2007

 

 

Message from the Rev. James W. Mathieson –

Dear Friends:

          The Vestry desires to recognize the life of Polly S. Nurney, with a special memoriam that would speak to her life in this parish, and the dedication and joy she exposed all of us to as a servant of God.

          Polly joined the eternal triumphant in January, and we all have felt her loss. She was a tower of strength, stood by us and helped us; who cheered us by her sympathy, and encouraged by her example; who rejoiced to serve all people, and whose joy it was to be of service.  This was Polly – and we miss her.

          Because of our high regard for her servant-hood in this parish, we are going to purchase an Eucharistic chalice in her memory, to be inscribed with her name and our grateful thanks for her life, eternally one of us.

          “To the glory of God, and in loving memory of Polly Smith Nurney  1953-2007”

          We are sending this announcement to you, to allow you the opportunity to join us in giving to this memorial for Polly.

          If you are so moved, send your gift to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, for Polly’s memorial.  Our many thanks for your prayers and thoughts-

          Sincerely,

          The Rev. James W. Mathieson

PS – we would like to have the memoriam ordered before the end of summer, to help facilitate this- please have all donations into the church by May 31, 2007.  They may be made out to St. Paul’s, with ‘Polly Nurney Memoriam’ in the memo line.  Thank you for your support.

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Grace-  “Tell me about it.”

Grace is God’s personal attitude toward man, His action and influence upon him. For Christian grace is concretely manifested in and communicated through the historical person Jesus Christ.  The word ‘charis’ (Grace) which means ‘favor’ was used by St. Paul’s as a synonym for God’s love. The attitude of spontaneous, uncaused favor with which God regards man expressed itself fully in the life, words, deeds, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. The love evokes from us a response, faith, which is our self giving trust in, our commitment and obedience to God in Christ.  Grace (love) manifest in Christ, elicits from us faith by capturing our wills, not by infusing into us a new faculty. Because participation in this grace (divine favor) restores and completes our original nature, grace is understood to be the ground and source of all existence.

          The following is an excerpt from a sermon by Paul Tillich, from the sermon “You are accepted.”  The Rev. Dr. Tillich was considered one of the brightest and most influential of the world’s Christian theologians in the 50s and 60s.  He always wrote and spoke as “Jesus Christ- the ground of our being.”  A Lutheran minister, who survived the German Purge of the 30s and 40s, he escaped to America and taught religious studies at Harvard for many years.  He attended the Episcopal Church throughout his life in America.

          “For some people, grace is the willingness of a divine king and father to forgive over and over again the foolishness and weakness of his subjects and children.  We must reject such a concept of grace; for it is a merely childish destruction of human dignity.  For others, grace is a magic power in the dark places of the soul, but a power without any significance in practical life, a quickly vanishing and useless idea.  For others, grace is the benevolence that we may find between the cruelty and destructiveness in life.  For other people, grace indicates the gifts that one has received from nature and society, and the power to do good things with the help of those gifts. 

          But grace is more than gifts.  In grace something is overcome; grace occurs “in spite of” something; grace occurs in spite of separation and estrangement.  Grace is the reunion of life with life, the reconciliation of the self with itself. Grace is the acceptance of that which is rejected. Grace transforms fate into a meaningful destiny; it changes guilt into confidence and courage. There is something triumphant in the word grace; in spite of the abounding of sin grace abounds all the more.”  Paul Tillich, from the sermon “You Are Accepted”, 1948.

THE NEW PICTORIAL DIRECTORY IS IN THE WORKS!!!

We are excited about the new Pictorial Directory which our church is creating.

There are many benefits attached to the creation of the directory:

    - Help people (including our new rector) connect names and faces to build

     a stronger church family

    - Celebrate St. Paul and its ministries

    - Create a beautiful directory that is both a history book and outreach tool

Each participating family (household) receives a complimentary 8 X 10 portrait and a beautiful directory.  Each family has the opportunity to purchase quality portraits and frames at competitive prices.  You will visit the church only once.  The professional certified photographers of Olan Mills will set up a complete studio in our church and create beautiful portraits. You will view your poses electronically with a portrait consultant immediately after photography.

Sign up dates are May 6, 13, and 20.  Stop by the sign up table following the 8:00 AM or 10:30 service to schedule your family's photography session.  Photography dates are June 6 and 7, from 3 PM to 9:30 PM.

If you have any questions concerning the pictorial directory, contact Beverly Judkins, Elizabeth Jenkins, or Thomas Judkins.

If you would like to have a generational photo taken, now is the opportunity.

If you have a special pet you would like to include in your portrait, bring them along.  Just let the person at the sign-up table know when you schedule your appointment.

 

SUMMER’S ALMOST HERE!  Which means…  Camp Chanco Summer Sessions are filling up fast. If you have a child between the ages of 8 and 17- there’s a camp session they’re eligible for!  Go online to www.chanco.org for all the registration forms, a list of camp schedules, or you can contact the church office for a brochure.   If your child is definitely interested in going, contact Pretlow Pacheco 255-0068 or the church office for info on possible financial aid to cover a portion of the session fees.  Hurry-  registration is first come, first serve! 

CHURCH YARD CLEAN-UP DAY!    Grab your rake, gloves and clippers on Saturday May 5^th at 9am and help clean up our church yard!   All help is greatly appreciated- see you there!  Call John Rector at 925-0403 with questions.

LAST CALL FOR GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS: Do you have a loved one graduating from high school or college this spring?  We would like to acknowledge our graduates in next month’s Messenger.  Please e-mail or call the church office with the candidate’s full name, where they are graduating from and where they may continue their education in the fall.  Please have this information by Monday, May 21^st at the very latest!  Thank you.

Transition Team Update:  The Transition Team is busy making plans for the arrival of our new Rector and we need your help.  If you would like to assist in any way please fill out the form below and drop it in the collection plate, or contact any Vestry member.  There are a number of areas that need support and we’re sure we can find one that you will find fun and rewarding.

Bob Leonard

Transition Team Lead

ATTENTION:  LECTORS/ EM’s/  USHERS:             

5^th. Sunday                   Acts 13:44-52              EM: MOORE               EM: WALLER

of Easter                       Psalm 145                                                        EM: RECTOR

Revelation 19:1, 4-9                                         LR:  MOTTLEY

Prayers – Form                                    

                                                                                    USHER:  DICKENS                                       

6^th. Sunday      Acts 14:8-18                EM: HUNDLEY          EM: JENKINS

of Easter                       Psalm 67                                                          EM: JUDKINS

Revelation 21:22-22:5                          LR:  CARTER

Prayers – Form                                    

                                                USHER: CARTER      

7^th. Sunday                   Acts 1:1-11                  EM: PEACHY             EM: HARRIS

of Easter                       Psalm 47                                                          EM: SETNICKY

Ephesians 1:15-231                                          LR: REYNOLDS

Prayers – Form VI                                           

                                                USHER: FARRIS                                

Day of Pentecost           Acts 2: 1-11                 EM: KYLE                   EM: QUILLEN

                                    Psalm 33:12-15                                               EM: MOTTLEY

1 Corinthians 4-13a                                         LR: KLAGES

Prayers – Form VI                               

                                                USHER: PETTIT        

 

ANNUAL APPRECIATION DAY PICNIC!   Sunday May 27^th marks the feast of Pentecost and the close of the Sunday school year for children.  Traditionally, here at St. Paul’s we gather together for a fun, casual afternoon picnic.  This is our way to say “thank you” to all our acolytes, Sunday school teachers, volunteers, and all choir members for another year of dedicated service to our life here at St. Paul’s.  

The church will provide the beverages-  so be sure to come out, bring your sunscreen, and we’ll see you here on the church grounds for a great picnic!

Food Pantry Update:   We would like to thank Pretlow Pacheco for her hard work and dedication to the pantry over the past few years.  Pretlow has recently stepped down as the Volunteer Coordinator for the pantry to concentrate on personal commitments and her duties as the Christian Education Director.

THIS MEANS WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW MORE THAN EVER.

WE NEED:  3 more happy faces to cover one Monday morning a piece between now and the end of June. 

We REALLY NEED:  a shopper.  This person would pick up the Wal-mart shopping card from the church office,  take the supply list and then go forth and procure us some supplies!   This can be done once a month.  (just to let you know-  you may need to be creative with where you put the supplies if you have a tiny car!)

WE REALLY  REALLY  NEED: your donations.  Be they monetary or actual food stuff. (Packages of ramen- any flavor*** Cans of pork-n-beans ***  Juice boxes (any flavor)***  Canned tuna fish *** Canned spam***

Boxes of Mac-n-cheese

WE  REALLY  REALLY  REALLY  NEED:  folks to stick around for half an hour after church on Sundays to put the bags together for Monday morning. 

And we can always use- your prayers.  This is a volunteer organization-  it was created to address a growing problem:  our neighbors in our community need helping feeding their families!   Yes, Monday morning is busy for everybody-  yes many, many of our parishioners work- if you are unable to join us Monday morning- that’s OK!  Please don’t be dissuaded from helping out with the shopping, or with putting together a bag on Sunday after church, or with bringing a few cans with you on Sunday as a donation.   WE NEED YOU!  WE….NEED….YOU!  Contact the church office to volunteer.

May Highlights:

Sat. May 5^th-  Yard Work Day. 

Sun. May 6^th-  first day to sign up for photo session for the new pictorial directory

Mon. May 7^th-  Last ECW meeting before Summer

Sat. May 12^th-  Fundraiser dinner hosted by the Rite -13   7:00 p.m.

Sun. May 13^th-  MOTHER’S DAY (now you have no excuses) ;  parish breakfast 9am;  High School                                    Seniors Recognition at 10:30 a.m. service;  Baptism 10:30 a.m.; second day to sign up

                        for photo session for new pictorial directory

Fri. May 18^th- Marj Setnicky in concert at Christ & St. Luke’s, Norfolk  12 Noon

Sun. May 20^th-  third day to sign up for photo session for new pictorial directory

Mon. May 21^st- Vestry 7pm

Thurs.  May 24^th-  NEWSLETTER  DEADLINE

Sun. May 27^th:  Pentecost; Last day of Children’s Sunday school classes;  Appreciation Day picnic                                        (covered dish) on church grounds  12 noon

Monday May 28^th:  Food Pantry closed.  Office closed.  Memorial Day