St. Paul's Memorial Church Newsletter
Telephone: 295-2156 www.stpaulsmemorialchurch.org November 2, 2011
Pastoral Emergency: 806-9069
Rector’s Blog – Join in the conversation with Rector Jim. You are invited to join each day in conversation on Rector Jim's blog Fiat Lux. Jim updates it daily. You can reach it by clicking http://spmcrector.blogspot.com/
Condolences of the Parish to Patsy Goolsby upon the death of her mother, Ethel Murphy Goolsby.
Time Change - The United States reverts to standard time on the first Sunday in November. Remember to turn your clocks back one hour when you go to bed Saturday night.
Adult Education this Sunday (11/06) - We continue Voices of Faith, a series of talks by people of faith in our midst who will tell us about the lives of individual people of faith who have inspired them. Joe Lenow, Skinner Scholar and ministry intern, will talk about the major impact that St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430) has had on his life.
Newcomers - A recognition of our new members will be held this Sunday, Nov. 6, at the 10 a.m. service.
Prayer Shawl Ministry - The prayer shawl ministry will meet on Saturday, November 5th from 10 a.m. - noon in the parish hall lounge. Ann Normansell will display shawls following the 10 a.m. service on Sunday, November 6th. If you know of someone who is in need of a comforting shawl, please see Ann following the service.
Stop Hunger Now - Volunteers needed for a Stop Hunger Now meal packaging event to be held on Saturday, November 19, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Senior Center, 1180 Pepsi Place. Stop Hunger Now is an international hunger relief agency that coordinates the distribution of food and other lifesaving aid to children and families in countries all over the world. Stop Hunger Now's meal packaging program has perfected the assembly process that combines rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and a flavoring mix including 21 essential vitamins and minerals into small meal packets. The November 19 event goal is to package 30,000 meals which will be sent to the Robert Ford Orphanage and School in Haiti. If you plan to participate, please contact Sarah Hendley, event coordinator, at 975-6742.
Community Night Thanksgiving Dinner and Hymn Sing -- On the night before Thanksgiving, Nov. 23, Jim and Lori Richardson will cook turkeys and host our annual pre-Thanksgiving dinner. Please bring side-dishes. Following dinner, we will have a hymn sing in the parish hall so be sure to look up in advance which hymns you want to sing.
Advent National Cathedral Trip is on! Good news! Washington National Cathedral will be reopening in time for us to have the scheduled trip on Monday, December 12. This trip, sponsored by St. Paul's Generation Wise, will include noon Eucharist, a 20 minute organ demonstration, and 30 minute guided tour. We will leave from the church at 8:45 a.m. and return around 5:30 p.m. Transportation will be by chartered bus and the cost is $25 per person. Please let Ann Willms know if you are interested in going, as space is limited.
Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 295-2156 x 103 to sign up.
Shop and Share God’s Abundance. Please remember to support the Greene County Food Pantry as you shop for your family each week. The Food Pantry has requested that we collect smooth peanut butter, a wonderful high protein food popular with all ages. In addition, they also need supplies of canned soup. Shut-in seniors particularly ask for canned soup because it is easy to prepare and easy on any problematic dental and gum conditions. Last month the pantry served more than 450 families. If it is inconvenient to bring food to church, please consider writing a check addressed to St. Paul's and note "Food Pantry" on the memo line.
News from the Diocesan Stewardship of Creation Committee - Not the best time of year to be thinking about solar power? Plan ahead now for spring! So why is it that California seems to be the first in a lot of things? Perhaps, California is more that the land of fruits and nuts, but also on the cutting edge of being better stewards of God's Creation?? Forbes reported that residential solar company SolarCity -- in a move to capture customers who want to further curb their carbon footprint -- has begun installing home electric car charging stations along with rooftop photovoltaic arrays. Homeowners can now charge their car batteries with greenhouse gas-free solar electricity. That ramps up the return on investment in a rooftop photovoltaic system given that it lowers the cost of powering an electric car. What a great idea! Now, let's see if we can get SolarCity to offer this product in Virginia! Visit www.solarcity.com for more information on other energy saving solar ideas.
Interested in discussing issues of concern to all Stewards of Creation? See the new SoCC blog site for other articles and add your own comments at http://www.caringforgodscreation.net/Blog/
A Message from the Diocese of Virginia's Stewardship of Creation Committee. To learn more about the SoCC, please visit http://www.caringforgodscreation.net/default.asp
Your Name Here! Would you like a St. Paul's name badge? We have two styles to choose from - magnetic and clip-on. Enter your name on one of the sign up sheets in the Narthex, Parish Hall or the Chancellor St. hallway and we will be glad to make one for you to pick up from an usher the following Sunday.
The Men's Bible Study (A message from Tim Rambo) - On behalf of the other men who have been able to go to the Men's Bible Study that started this fall, I want to encourage you to consider finding a way to fit it into your schedule in the coming months. It was easy for me to fear where the time would come from but have found the 2 hours/month to be an enriching part of my week; the conversation always brings thought-provoking comments as well as humor, and Andy Guffey is a remarkable source of knowledge and a great facilitator. Never read the Bible? Don't know if it was David or Goliath with the cool slingshot? That's alright. Just give yourself a unique start to your Wednesday and come enjoy the company of other men exploring their faith and seeing how the Bible can be a part of their day other than on a Sunday. Grab some coffee and join the discussion and listen to me beg Andy to finally answer that question about David and Goliath. 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 7:30-8:30 a.m., church library (featuring Bodo's bagels/cream cheese and Shenandoah Joe's coffee). The next meeting is November 16!
Stephen Ministry Update: Our Stephen Ministers cover two topics in their training this week. Please keep them in your prayers. Maintaining Boundaries in Caregiving. Our Stephen Ministers are learning the importance of establishing boundaries in caring relationships, both to honor their own needs and to acknowledge the appropriate extent of their ministry with their care receiver. Crisis Theory and Practice: Danger versus Opportunity. Our Stephen Ministers are also learning the effects of crises on people’s faith. They are exploring how to help a person experiencing a crisis to move toward greater wholeness. Continue to lift up our Stephen Ministers and Stephen Leaders in your prayers.
This is the sixth in a series of six written testimonials from parishioners about how St. Paul’s changes their life
“Why St. Paul's”
by Theresa McCullough
When asked why St. Paul’s is important to my family and me, I reflected on how the reasons have changed since first coming to the church about four years ago. I was raised in a large Catholic family, one of nine children, and attended Catholic school from first through twelfth grade. For many years, I struggled with the Catholic Church’s inability to address certain concerning (!) issues. My husband and I were very ready to find a church community more aligned to our beliefs and one we could participate in as a family for years to come. Our friends, John Frazee and Cindy Cartwright, suggested that we visit St. Paul’s. From our first service, there were amazing things waiting for us!! We were elated to see a woman priest on the altar celebrating the Mass and to know that the priests at this church could enjoy the blessings of married life. As important, we found what we had been seeking - an open-minded and inclusive faith community embracing all racial and ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientations.
Since that first service, the importance of St. Paul’s has grown deeper for me. These three qualities found at St. Paul’s are now essential in my life: a quiet, calm space for prayer and reflection, the love and support from cherished friendships and the faith community as a whole, and opportunities to give back to those in need.
Sunday mornings, St. Paul’s becomes my quiet, calm space for reflection. In my noisy and often chaotic home (an understatement), I find it difficult, if not impossible, to find time and space for contemplation. St. Paul’s provides for me a beautiful, sacred space where I can reflect on the past week, the week ahead, and what’s happening in my family, community, and the world. One might think that this can be achieved at most, if not all, houses of worship. However, the reasons that it exists for me at St. Paul’s are specific to our church. I find it in the generous, kind, and open energy of Iris and Tony Potter as I drop our children at church school. I am often lucky enough to feel or see the quiet spirit of John Reid as I make my way past the offices. Finally, I am calmed further by Pam Dennison, who provides a serene and reliable welcome to me each week. These four people, as well as many others, and their dedication to our church community inspire me and I am filled with gratitude for their unique spirit.
Another reason I LOVE St. Paul’s is all the people I LOVE at St. Paul’s. We have developed many wonderful friendships in the last four years and I depend on these bonds for support and understanding each week. I feel extremely blessed to have connected with many women in a weekly Bible Study here and I can’t imagine my life without these open-hearted, strong, and compassionate friends! I look forward to building on these bonds and beginning countless other relationships in the years ahead.
Last but certainly not least, I am so thankful for the opportunities at St. Paul’s to give back. For a few years, I have volunteered as a teacher in my children’s classes in the church school and have truly enjoyed the chance to learn from and grow with St. Paul’s children and young adults. I am blessed to know and support Brenda Peterson in the giving ministry of Friends in Deed. I feel fortunate to be a small part of such a compassionate and caring group within our church community that is always willing to reach out to another. I am grateful for the opportunity on the first Thursday of each month to volunteer with spirited, funny, and generous men and women from St. Pauls’ who gather with our fearless leader Marsha Trimble to prepare and serve a meal at the Salvation Army. I truly enjoy all these different communities at St. Paul’s and have received far more than I have given in my work with each one of them.
My heart is filled with gratitude for these and countless other blessings at St. Paul’s (especially Jim, Ann, Heather, and Nick!). Thank you for allowing me to share a few with you.
Morning Prayer - St. Paul's is now offering Morning Prayer every weekday at 8 a.m. with ministry intern Joe Lenow. Come begin your day with this peaceful, reflective service - and then join us afterward for some free gourmet coffee. Monday-Friday, in the choir loft; the service lasts around 20 minutes. We hope to see you!
Sunday Scriptures: Going deeper – Join Joe Lenow, our ministry intern, for a preview of the following Sunday’s Scripture lessons after our 10 a.m. worship each Sunday. We’ll examine what the lessons say, and explore why they say it, and, time permitting, the way they say it. Read ahead! We’ll be glad to welcome you. The upcoming readings:
November 6 - Judges 4:1-7; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30
November 13 - Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Ephesians 1:15-23; Matthew 25:31-46
THE ST. PAUL’s GIVING TREE - As stewards of our time, talent and treasure, each of us lives out our ministry through the ways in which we serve in the church and in the world. This year we celebrate the many and varied ministries each of us carries out by inviting you to add "ministry leaves" to the tree. Stop by the annual giving table in the Parish Hall on Sunday morning, add your "ministry leaves" to the tree, and watch our giving grow! Anonymous "pledge leaves" will be posted to the tree each week as well. Brought to you by your annual giving team. Loving others in the power of the Spirit; Witnessing to God's love in the world.
St. Paul’s Annual Giving - Frequently Asked Questions (Each week we will answer several frequently asked questions about annual giving and pledging. For more information, go to www.stpaulsmemorialchurch.org/giving.)
How can I pay my annual pledge? There are several ways to pay your pledge. You may pay by cash or check, using weekly pledge payment envelopes, or use Electronic Funds Transfer to have a set amount transferred from your account on a regular basis. You may also make payments with stock.
Do I have to pay when I pledge? Can I pay in installments? You may pay your pledge when you make it or you may pay in installments. The pledge commitment is for January through December, 2012. Each quarter, you will receive a statement summarizing your gifts for the year. St. Paul’s is dependent upon pledges to meet the parish’s monthly financial obligations. Therefore, staying current allows St. Paul’s to respond to its financial obligations in the same spirit that we respond to all other needs.
Why should I pledge when I regularly put money in the offering plate? Non-pledge funds collected each week help support the ongoing life of the parish. However, pledges are very important because they enable us to plan responsibly and to establish an operating budget for the parish for the coming year.
Can I change my pledge? Yes, you can change your pledge if your circumstances change. Simply advise Debbie Little, financial secretary at 295-2156, ext. 105, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
The ofrenda, a tradition from Mexico's "Day of the Dead", is a special table set up inside the church where we place items that remind us of people we love who have died - small photographs, or a poem, or a candle, or a paper flower. The ofrenda table will be in the church through the month of November and is dismantled on the First Sunday of Advent. Please feel free to bring items to add to the ofrenda.
Christmas Pageant - "Carriers of the Light", the Christmas Pageant for this year, will be held on the 11th of December during the 10 o'clock service. All boys and girls who are interested in participating in the candle- lighting musical by Anna Laura Page and Jean Shafferman are welcome to join us for the rehearsals every Sunday. The rehearsals will take place in the Church School wing, immediately after the 10 o'clock service. Our first rehearsal will be held on November 6. For more info, contact Albrecht von Gaudecker (434) 296-6748.
Social Justice Bowl - Virginia Organizing will be having its eighth annual Social Justice Bowl on Friday, November 18, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 Rugby Road, in Charlottesville. Please join us for a soup and bread supper and a short entertaining program, honoring local fighters for social justice. Then take your beautiful hand-crafted bowl, donated by a local potter, home with you. Tickets are on sale at Timberlakes Drug Store and Quest Bookshop and cost $25. Or you may send checks to Virginia Organizing, 703 Concord Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22903. Your support is helping expand community organizing in Virginia, as we push for policy reforms which will directly benefit low-income and working families. Please consider sponsoring individuals who would like to attend but cannot afford to do so. The sponsorships are $25 each. Please contact Sally Bastian for more information at 434-984-4655 x229 or at
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United Nations Association - The local chapter of the United Nations Association will meet at the Unitarian-Universalist Church, 717 Rugby Road on Sunday, November 20, at 3:00 p.m. Local community leader, peace activist, and poet Bob McAdams will give a talk on "Reflections on a Community Envisioning Peace Process". He recently organized widespread community support for the International Day of Peace (September 21) that focused on envisioning the peace process. The talk is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
The St. Paul’s Memorial Acolyte Team is excited to announce a new program: The Acolyte Family Plan!!!
Yes, now parents who would like to acolyte with their children will be able to be Servers and Crucifers.
Please contact Buck Smith This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you are interested.
