Weekly ePistle 7/16/14

Jul 25, 2014

Thoughts from Lori+

I have recently been away to take up the role of grandmother while my daughter and son-in-law were on a trip to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. It was a true gift to be able to do that for them and to enjoy the company of one of our grandchildren. It is one of the things that the vestry granted us – two additional weeks of “family time” – when we negotiated a new “letter of agreement” as I transitioned from being your priest-in-charge to being your rector. As I said to them when I accepted this new call, Bill and I both love it here, but it was one thing to come up to Chicagoland for an 18 month adventure as an interim in Wilmette, but quite something else to make it long-term. Our only hesitation was that we are so far from our children and grandchildren. This additional family time is a generous gesture, and we thank you.            On another note, one of the standard parts of a rector’s package is continuing education; in fact, it’s a diocesan requirement. We are expected to use this time and budget in whatever ways benefit the priest and the parish. This year, I am planning to attend two short conferences, one in Chicago and the other in nearby Racine, Wisconsin. The first, July 24-26, is a Living Compass (LC) training session which will certify me to lead LC groups. I intend to offer such groups beginning here at St. Paul’s in the fall, so watch for more information in the very near future. [Our own Bobbi Fiali will be doing this training in the fall in order to share it in Hawaii. We hope to do some things together the next fall when she returns from her winter in the Pacific.]

The second conference, August 11-14, is call “Habits of the Heart for Healthy Congregations.” I learned about it from friends in Memphis who are coming to attend it. When I looked into it, I found it to be quite expensive, so I applied for and received a partial scholarship. The main speaker will be Parker Palmer, well-known Quaker author and teacher. We are reading the second edition of his book, The Promise of Paradox, in preparation for the conference. It’s available for purchase if you would like to be reading it along with me. I believe you will find it inspiring and thought provoking, and will add to our discussions here at St. Paul’s when I return.

Except for a couple of days later in August, we won’t be taking vacation time until October. More on that later. Meanwhile, I hope you are able to take or make time for rest and refreshment during this summer. We Americans have less vacation time than any other developed nation, and even when we have it, we often don’t take full advantage of it. Do try. It will pay many dividends, especially if you are able to balance activity and rest! If you travel, God bless your going out and your coming home. Oh, and remember, if you visit another church in your travels, bring back a service sheet to post on our bulletin board.

Peace and blessings,

Lori +

P.S. July 1st was the second anniversary of our coming together as priest and parish, and the 15th was the second anniversary of our first Eucharist. On the one hand, it hardly seems possible that it’s been two years already! On the other hand… only two years? It seems like we’ve always been together! Either way, THANKS BE TO GOD.

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Please note:

The office will be closed Friday, July 18

 


Quarterly Statements

Your quarterly pledge statement is available on the table in the narthex. Please pick it up on Sunday. If you have any questions, please contact Dan Jannotta, our treasurer, at idocdan@yahoo.com.


July 20 Servants:

Ushers: Donald Jaworski, Rick Carlstedt   
Lector: Judy Robel 
Intercessor: Ann Beyers
Eucharistic Ministers: Pam Dietmeyer, Deb Lang  
Vestry Person of the Day: Bev Jannotta  

 


Lessons and Hymns

for July 20th, Pentecost VI – Proper 11A
       by the Rev. William P. McLemore  

THE SCRIPTURE LESSONS:

The First Reading: Again, the first readings have choices for this Sunday. The first choice is Genesis 28:10-19, Psalm 139:1-11,22-23; the second choice is Wisdom of Solomon 12:13, 16-19l or Isaiah 44:6-8, Psalm 86:11-17. Genesis tells of Jacob’s dream and the ladder. Wisdom of Solomon affirms that God judges with “mildness and great forbearance.”  Isaiah describes God as “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no God.”

The Epistle: Romans 8:12-25. Here St. Paul portrays creation as “groaning in travail” and as followers of Jesus Christ we await the adoption by God.

The Gospel: Matthew 13:24-30,36-43. Jesus tells the parable of the sower who sows good seed but an enemy comes while everyone is asleep and sows weeds and explains that He sows the good seed so be careful of the evil one who sows the bad seed.”

THE HYMNS:

PROCESSIONAL HYMN: No. 423. “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise.”The writer of this hymn, William Chalmers Smith, may have been inspired by I Timothy 1:17, “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.” (The last verse of today’s Epistle reading.) The tune, “St. Denio” is based upon a number of Welsh ballads later adapted by John Roberts (1822-1877).

THE SEQUENCE HYMN: No. 365. “Come Thou Almighty King.”   Students of hymnody have searched far and wide for the true author of this hymn. Some feel it has the composition style of Charles Wesley’s music. The 1982 hymnal simply calls it “Anonymous” (ca. 1757). The first three verses present each person of the Trinity and the final verse begins, “To thee, great one in three.”

PRESENTATION HYMN: No. 302. “Father, We Thank Thee Who Hast Planted.” This hymn was written by Francis Bland Tucker (1895-1984) and is based on an important teaching manual for the Early Christian Church, “Teaching of the Twelve Apostles.” The prayers used in this hymn are considered much older than the “Teaching” and may very well date back to the 1st century and the formation of the Gospels. Dr. Tucker was born in Norfolk, Virginia, the son of a bishop and brother of a former presiding bishop. He was ordained a priest in 1920 and served as Rector of Christ Church, Savannah, for 22 years.   The Diocese of North Carolina elected him as a bishop in 1945 but he refused the nomination saying he was devoted to serving his parish in Savannah.

COMMUNION HYMN: No. 304. “I Come With Joy to Meet My Lord.” This hymn is a product of the Rev. Dr. Brian A. Wren, born in Britain on June 3, 1936 and a minister and scholar of the United Reformed Church. Most recently he was the Conant Professor of Worship, Columbia Theological Seminary, in Decatur, Georgia.

He wrote this hymn in 1971 with Hope Publishing Company holding the copyright. The tune is an American folk melody.

RECESSIONAL HYMN: No. 542. “Christ Is The World’s True Light.” This hymn was written by George Wallace Briggs (1875-1959) to express the true nature of Christian mission work. “In Christ all races meet, their ancient feuds forgetting, the whole round world complete, from sunrise to its setting.” The hymn reflects the evangelistic aspect of the season of Epiphany.   The tune, “St. Joan,” was composed in 1941 by Percy E. B. Coller and is named for his wife.


 

ALTAR  FLOWERS

Please contribute to the beauty of our worship by dedicating the altar flowers. The suggested donation is $35, and your dedication may be “in memorial for…” or “in thanksgiving for…” There is a calendar of Sundays on the bulletin board in the narthex where you can sign up. Your dedication will be listed in the Sunday service bulletin on the appropriate date. Thank you so much for adding to our worship in this way.


 

Don’t forget! Summer Diaper Drive

The summer months are vacation months for many of us, including schools, organizations, and charities. Consequently, there is little activity for donations and diaper drives. But as you know, baby’s bottoms don’t take vacations EVER. St. Paul’s Diaper Bank is in need of children’s diapers, especially size 5’s.  Here’s the great news! St. Paul’s Church will be conducting a diaper drive on behalf of the Diaper Bank in June, July, and August. Please help us by bringing your diaper donations to church on Sunday mornings.  We will also accept monetary donations.  Checks should be made out to the “St. Paul’s Diaper Bank.”  Let’s make this a huge success!  Remember, every little bottom counts.

June Collection = 619

July (as of 7/13) = 198


 From the cartoons created by
the Rev. William P. McLemore
1965 – 2014.

 1975 04 04

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


101 Reasons to be Episcopal

Reason 67

“Episcopalians believe in moderation in all things, including moderation.”

Sheena A. Lawrence

Diocese of Atlanta

 

Love God. Love Your Neighbor.

Change the World.

St Paul's Episcopal Church Welcomes You.