The Third Sunday After the Epiphany, January 27, 2008
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist I with Homily
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist I with Sermon by Alan Mead
5:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist II with Hymns
Scripture for Sunday – Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4:12-23, Psalm 27:1, 5-13
Collect for Sunday – Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Thanks to all who are scheduled to serve this Sunday:
Acolytes and Candle Bearers – Steve Corey, William Lee, Mary Michaels, Rob Corey, Helen Geiger, Martin Geiger, and Juliet Halvorson-Taylor
Lectors – Virginia Ritchie, Doris Greiner, Jarrett Millard, and David Nelson
Altar Guild – Sally Kauzlarich, Peggy Devan, and Kay Hollifield
Flower Guild – Sue Rainey, Joan Burchell, Bettina Blackford, and Cyane Williams
Ushers – Tommy and Lori Brannock, Cleve Brannock, Mary Struble, and Wayne Nolen
Chalice Bearers – Bonny Bronson, Gwynn Crichton, Katherine Dougherty, John Frazee, and Michael Wheelwright
Coffee Servers – Karen and Gary Mawyer
Pastoral Notes – The parish sends deepest sympathy to the family of Murray Howard who passed away in his home in Charlottesville on January 4, 2008. Murray was a former member and Junior Warden of St. Paul’s whose efforts had a significant impact on our church as well as the wider university community.
Birth – Congratulations to Darren and Heather Ball upon the birth of their son, Wade Renwick Ball, who arrived on Thursday, January 17th, 2008
St. Paul’s Annual Meeting, Sunday January 27th – The Nominating Committee has presented a slate of ten candidates for the six new Vestry members to be elected this Sunday. Those nominated are Sterling Alexander, Jane Boatner, Jane Butler, Louise Gallagher, Doris Greiner, Jonathan Hine, Pat Punch, Howell Rauss, Dudley Rochester, and Marsha Trimble. Pictures and background information have been mailed. Below are answers to frequently asked questions about the vestry election.
How does the nomination process work?
The nominating committee is made up of the six members of the vestry who are completing their term of service and three additional people appointed by the vestry to three year terms on the nominating committee. This year the committee was chaired by Sue Rainey and included retiring vestry members Peter Dennison, Nancy Brockman, Vickie Gottlob, Cole Hendrix, and Alice Fitch. The three at large members were Bill Bergen, Mary Wagner, and Paul Bushrow. They received more than 40 suggested nominees from members of the parish and developed the slate presented here.
Who can vote?
All adult communicants in good standing, registered in St. Paul’s, shall be entitled to vote in the election of Vestry members. “Adult communicants” are all baptized persons, sixteen years of age and over, who have received Holy Communion at St. Paul’s at least three times during the past year.
When and where will the election be held?
The vestry has established the following place and time for the election:
Friday, January 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., in the church office.
Sunday, January 27, from 8:30 a.m. until the end of the Annual Meeting, and from 6:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. All votes must be cast in person.
How should the ballot be completed?
There will be 10 candidates on the ballot. All ballots must contain votes for 6 people. Ballots that contain votes for more or fewer than 6 people will be discarded.
Why do the rules require that I cast my ballot for six people? Why can’t I vote for fewer candidates?
Diocesan canons require that vestry members be elected by a majority vote. Many years ago, when the rules permitted parishioners to vote for fewer than six candidates, St. Paul’s vestry elections required multiple ballots before six people received a majority. This resulted in very long annual meetings, and some vestry members were elected by a minority of those attending. In other words, those who could stay long enough to cast a ballot, wait for the votes to be counted, and then repeat the process had more influence than those whose family situations required them to leave before the meeting ended. The current rule requiring parishioners to vote for no fewer than six candidates obliges all voters to study prospective vestry members’ qualifications and make often difficult choices. In recent years the nominating committee has increased its efforts to ensure parishioners can readily learn about vestry candidates and their backgrounds. While not perfect, experience has found our current voting procedure promotes interaction and greater thoughtfulness during the election process
When will the results be announced?
The results will be announced in the newsletter of January 31st and at all three services on February 3rd.
How is the vestry leadership elected?
Requests for nominations for Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Register, and two at large members of the Executive Committee are sent out to the 2007 vestry members. These are received by Sue Rainey, chair of the nominating committee. They are taken to the Executive Committee and the Rector where a single slate is prepared for presentation to the 2008 vestry at their first meeting on February 19th.
Search Committee January Update – The Search Committee continues to evaluate our Rector candidates with great thought and prayer, working together along with the candidates in discernment. This month we are visiting candidates in their home parishes. Please keep us in your prayers as we move closer to calling our new Rector.
Special Film Screening and Discussion of Justice Without Borders on Tuesday, January 29, 2008, 7:30 pm in the lounge – Justice Without Borders is a new Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) documentary about the global movement seeking justice and accountability for the perpetrators of the most grave human rights abuses. The film features interviews with Executive Director of AIUSA Larry Cox, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno-Ocampo, and human rights activists from around the world. This event is sponsored by Amnesty International Group 157 – Charlottesville, The Blue Ridge Virginia Chapter of the United Nations Assoc. of the USA and the Social Justice Committee of St. Paul’s Memorial Church. The event is FREE.
Lenten Retreat – The Rev. Heather A. Warren will be conducting this year’s Lenten Retreat, a two hour morning session titled “Lent in Solitude” at St. Paul’s on Saturday, February 9 between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. It will be based on Thomas Merton’s “Thoughts in Solitude”.
Bishop Lee Coming to St. Paul’s on February 10th – The Right Reverend Peter James Lee will be at St. Paul’s for Confirmation and a Reception on Sunday, February 10th. As this may be his last visitation to St. Paul’s before his retirement, the Vestry has proposed a collection for a contribution to Shrine Mont in thanksgiving for his ministry in the Diocese of Virginia. Contributions may be sent to the office or placed in the alms basin. Checks should be marked “Bishop Lee fund”.
Joint Lenten Suppers with Mt. Zion Baptist Church – For over ten years, St. Paul’s and Mt. Zion Baptist Church have gathered during Lent to share a meal, worship, and learn. Our two gatherings this year are scheduled for Wednesday, February 13th, at 6 pm at Mt. Zion and Wednesday, March 12th, at 6 pm at St. Paul’s. More details will follow in the coming weeks.
St. Paul’s Environmental Footprint – An ad-hoc committee has formed to make a recommendation to the Vestry on a process by which St. Paul's can undertake changes that will help us reduce our environmental footprint and increase our stewardship of God's creation in our worship and daily practices. Find out more about GoSPEL (Greening of St. Paul's Environmental Life) at the St. Paul's web-site under "Parish Life." Please contact any committee member or Leslie Middleton at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 293-3079 with ideas or suggestions.
PACEM Volunteers – St. Paul’s will be hosting PACEM women from January 26 through February 8. (PACEM is a community-based effort to provide shelter and food for the area’s homeless population during the winter months and is carried out by about 25 local congregations.) For this two weeks of welcoming homeless women into our church home, please consider getting involved in some way that suits your schedule and interests. This effort is a rich opportunity to reach out to members of the community who are unquestionably in need. If you have food-related questions, please contact Anne Ribble at 296-7882; direct all other questions to Marsha Trimble at 977-3671. Or e-mail the organizers at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
A Note from the Social Justice Committee – As you know, the Episcopal Church supports the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) which are also supported by the "ONE Campaign." The Social Justice committee wants to let you know that you can find a comparison of the presidential candidates' stands on each of the 8 MDGs by going to the website www.ONEVOTE08.org. This is a part of the effort to get the candidates to go "ON the RECORD".
“Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political
and moral questions of our time: the need for man to overcome oppression and
violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Man must evolve for all
human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The
foundation of such a method is love.” Martin Luther King, Jr., Nobel Prize
acceptance speech, Stockholm, Sweden, December 11,
1964. www.episcopalchurch.org/ONE. Pray for Peace.
Prayers for Peace – Every Monday the Social Justice Committee is hosting a gathering in the sanctuary for Prayers for Peace. The prayer time is at noon and ends at 12:30 pm. This is a reflective time for all people interested in praying for peace to come together for silent and spoken prayers.
