St. Paul's Memorial Church Newsletter
Telephone: 295-2156 www.stpaulsmemorialchurch.org March 31, 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 every day. You can reach it by clicking http://spmcrector.blogspot.com/
Guest Preacher on Sunday, April 3 - The Rev. Dr. George F. Regas will be our guest preacher at the 10 a.m. service this Sunday (04/03). Dr. Regas retired as Rector of All Saints Church, Pasadena, California, in May of 1995, after 28 years in this job. All Saints Church is one of the largest Episcopal Churches in America with a dynamic and culturally diverse congregation. The predominant focus of Dr. Regas' 28 years at All Saints in Pasadena was in the arena of peace and justice.
Adult Ed - The Adult Education Forum is pleased to offer a session with our guest preacher, The Rev. George Regas. Come to the church after the 10 a.m. service.
Lenten confessions - Do you have a stone on your heart, something that is weighing you down? Come claim the forgiveness that is yours by making a personal and confidential confession during Lent with one of our priests. Private confession and absolution is especially appropriate in Lent as one of the sacraments of the Episcopal Church, called "The Reconciliation of a Penitent" on BCP p. 447. It is a powerful liturgy for priest and penitent, and ends with the proclamation of forgiveness and restoration "in the perfect peace of the Church." You can make an appointment for private confession with a priest by calling the office on weekdays. We will also have priests available during Holy Week (April 17-23) and on the afternoon of Good Friday April 22.
Japan Earthquake Response Fund: Following the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that struck off the coast of Sendai, Japan, on March 11, Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting the Nippon Sei Ko Kei (NSKK; the Anglican Communion in Japan) in its initial response efforts. Please go to Episcopal Relief & Development's website, www.er-d.org, to learn more or to contribute to the Japan Earthquake Response Fund.
The St. Paul's Gay Straight Concerns Group/ Integrity-Charlottesville is having a meeting Sunday, April 3, following the 10 a.m. service in the library. All are welcome to join!
Prayer Shawl Ministry - Ann Normansell will display prayer shawls in the parish hall following this Sunday's (4/3) 10 a.m. service. If you know of someone in need of comfort, please choose a shawl. These shawls are knit with prayerful intention for healing and comfort.
Community Night – Join us next Wednesday (4/06) at the 5:30 p.m. for our monthly taizé service. Our weekly community night dinner and education offerings follow.
Linen Guild - Do you prefer to serve in an "invisible" ministry? If you do, St. Paul's Linen Guild needs you. Want more information? Please call Nancy Galloway at 973-2150, or Mary Carolyn Lawson at 906-6266.
Work Pilgrimage to New Orleans -Seek the Lord in the City of the Saints! - There are still open spaces for the Work Pilgrimage to New Orleans! Don't deny the Call! Join your fellow pilgrims June 11 - 19 in a ministry of work and social justice in the Big Easy. Contact Jonathan Schnyer by phone (434-760-1354) or email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).
AIM Benefit Pancake Breakfast – The Alliance for Interfaith Ministries (AIM) is hosting a pancake breakfast fundraiser on Saturday, April 9, at Applebee’s on 29N, from 7:30-9:30 a.m. AIM provides emergency assistance to local families who are threatened with homelessness, loss of power or fuel, or other temporary financial emergencies. The benefit breakfast includes all-you-can-eat pancakes and sausages for $5, and all of the money goes directly to AIM. Come for a delicious breakfast with your family and friends and support a good cause! Contact Alice Fitch, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 296-8989, if you have any questions.
FINAL PHOTO DIRECTORY APPOINTMENTS: APRIL 27, 28, 29 & 30 - We are on the final stretch of having all parishioners included in our new Church Photo Directory that will come out later this year. Have you made your appointment yet?! Please contact Janet Hendrix at 295-5295 – leave a message for a call-back in the evenings or call her as late as 10:00 any night. Email is a good way to reach her too: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . If you are attending St. Paul’s, but have not transferred your letter – the rest of us think you are a member here. Please participate!
Integrity Charlottesville - Last fall our nation was horrified by the surge of suicides by LGBT youths due to bullying they had received at school. Despite the lack of media coverage, the needless deaths of young people continue; last month another 13 year old took his life due to constant bullying at school. Integrity-Charlottesville is co-sponsoring the movie "Bullied: A Student, a School and a Case that Made History" with other LGBT and Allies in Charlottesville. Following the film there will be a discussion led by a panel of teachers, administrators, consultants and students from our community. The movie and conversation will be held on April 3 from 2:00 until 4:30 p.m. at Sojourners United Church of Christ located at 1017 Elliott Avenue.
Spring Cleaning - Ministry Beyond Our Walls (MBOW) has discovered a number of ways that parishioners can help others in our community at no cost while doing your Spring Cleaning just by sharing needed items that you and your family no longer use. The MBOW team is collecting the following items: cocktail and formal wear, professional clothing, children’s DVDs and CDs, light reading books, and children’s winter coats and sweaters. Please look for more information in this Sunday's announcements.
Lenten/Easter Bookfair at St. Paul's, April 10th: The bookfair will have the usual mix of meditation books, theology, biography, prayer books bibles, hymnals, children's books and more. (Books are more nutritious things to put in an Easter basket than chocolate rabbits, and books last longer too!). Don't forget your checkbook, we are still low tech. Questions? e-mail Patsy Goolsby at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Feeding the Hungry - Ministry Beyond Our Walls (MBOW) is responding to hunger needs by supporting The Food Pantry of Greene County with regular in-gatherings of food. Why are we choosing to help Greene County? Food pantries serving our immediate community report frequent requests for food assistance from Greene because of scarce resources in their area. Layoffs by major employers have increased the demand for assistance. The community has responded by forming Greene Alliance of Church and Community Efforts (GRACE), a volunteer effort, to provide a three-day supply of food to people referred by other agencies. The demand has grown by more than two hundred households in the past year and GRACE is seeking assistance from churches beyond Greene County.
MBOW will be collecting the following specific products requested by the Pantry over the next few months: April – family-size canned green beans and shelf-stable 2% milk (32 oz.). May – peanut butter and applesauce. June – spaghetti and spaghetti sauce. Containers for your donation will be placed in the Narthex and the Chancellor St. lobby. If you would like to help but are unable to shop, please consider writing a check made out to St. Paul’s with “Food Pantry” in the memo line. For more information, please contact Joan Burchell at 979-3115.
Flower Guild - Join us in preparing for a glorious Easter by bringing flowering and green branches, and all kinds of blooms to the parish hall on Thursday, April 21 or Friday, April 22. And by helping to create bountiful baskets of blooms to adorn Saint Paul’s (Don’t be shy! Experienced arrangers will be available to help.) on Saturday, April 23, beginning with a brief service at 9:00 a.m. (morning coffee and a light lunch will be served.) Children who accompany a parent may bring a small basket to arrange. We’ll share some of our blooms, and they will have a treasure to take home. So we may plan for you, please let one of us know if you can join us: Susan Cluett ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), Stuart Dopp ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), or Frances Lee-Vandell ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). Even if it’s a last-minute decision, don’t hesitate to come.
Blessings to all,
The St. Paul’s Flower Guild
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Easter Lily Memorials or Appreciations
Remember a loved one and beautify our Easter worship with an Easter Lily plant. A $25 contribution is suggested. The deadline for returning the form to the office is Monday, April 18.
Your name: _______________________________________
E-mail or phone number: ____________________________
This memorial is (circle one) in honor of / in memory of _____________________________________
A check is attached for $ ____________
