St. Paul's Memorial Church Newsletter
Telephone: 295-2156 www.stpaulsmemorialchurch.org February 10, 2011
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/
The Adult Education Forum four-week series on environmental stewardship.
Week 3 (2/13) will feature Sharon Biaocco of the Green Sanctuary Program talking about mountain top removal coal mining and its implications for the church.
Week 4 (2/20) will conclude our series with Exploring the Nitrogen Footprint. Our final session features UVA professor James Galloway and Canterbury-UVA student Olivia Hutton discussing their research in mapping the earth’s nitrogen footprint and its relation to global warming. We meet in the lounge after the 10am service.
PACEM - From Saturday, February 12 through Friday, February 25, St. Paul’s Memorial will serve as a safe, welcoming and sheltering refuge for homeless women in our community.
GENERATION WISE will host a Valentine's Tea on THURSDAY Feb 17 from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. All you of sage years, come join us for fellowship, refreshments, and reflection on how love relates to our wellness! For more information, contact Ann Willms, Associate Rector, at 434-295-2156 x 103 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
STEPHEN LEADER COMMISSIONING will take place during the 10 a.m. service on Sunday, February 20. Stephen Ministry is a one-to-one lay caring ministry which is under development at St. Paul's Memorial Church. Stephen Leaders Anna Askounis, Margaret Haupt, and Ann Willms will be commissioned in their call to train, supervise, and encourage Stephen Ministers. For more information, contact Ann Willms, Associate Rector for Pastoral Care, at 434-295-2156 x103 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
STEPHEN MINISTRY INFORMATIONAL LUNCH: Stephen Leaders Anna Askounis, Margaret Haupt, and Ann Willms will host a lunch on Tuesday February 22 at 12:30 p.m. in the library for those interested in learning more about becoming a Stephen Minister. Please also see the new Stephen Ministry page on our church website which you can access at www.stpaulsmemorialchurch.org. Simply click on the Stephen Congregation logo. RSVP to Ann Willms at 434-295-2156 x103 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Wednesday Night Homilist – Join us next Wednesday (2/16) at the 5:30 p.m. service when Ashley Faulkner will be our guest homilist. Our weekly community night dinner and education offerings follow the service.
St. Paul's Families Email List - If you'd like to receive information on upcoming family events at St. Paul's, as well as church school and nursery news, please join our St. Paul's Families email list. To sign up, please visit the "Families" page of the St. Paul's Website (under the Parish Life link). Or contact Alice Fitch at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and she'll add you to the list.
Midway Manor ministry provides free recreational activities for low income seniors and disabled residents of the Midway Manor, a section 8 apartment building at 100 Ridge Rd. Charlottesville. The most popular recreational activity is a monthly BINGO night with prizes that cannot be purchased with Food Stamps—paper towels, laundry detergent, hand lotion, etc. Two additional volunteers are needed on the third Tuesday of each month from 6:15pm to 8:30 p.m. to help arrange the prize table, deliver prizes to BINGO winners, serve refreshments, and serve as caller. Volunteers are enthusiastically embraced by the residents. Contact Joan and Don Burchell – 434-979-3115 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
IMPACT - Please make plans NOW to attend the Nehemiah Action (the big meeting) on Monday, March 28 at 6:30 p.m. at U Hall. For more information, contact John Frazee, Christie Thomas or Margaret Victoria Lee.
Pilgrimage - "Happy are they whose hearts are set on a pilgrim's way." Five years after Katrina, less than 25% of the 18,000 working poor that lived in the lower ninth ward in New Orleans have returned to their neighborhood, and the area looks more like a Nebraska wheat field than bustling city. Volunteers from St. Paul's youth group and Canterbury fellowship (others welcome) will head south to help rebuild their neighbors' homes in the Diocese of Louisiana June 11-19. Deadline to sign up is Feb. 15. Participation in two retreats (Feb. 26 and April 9 is required). To sign up, or for more information, 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 ).
Lenten Retreat: Finding our peace in his will – Koinonia of Charlottesville is sponsoring a Lenten Retreat at St. Paul’s on Saturday, March 26, from 9 a.m. until noon. As we move into Lent, Margaret Guenther will offer Meditations on a few lines of T.S. Eliot’s “Ash Wednesday.”
Blessed sister, holy mother, spirit of the fountain, spirit of the garden,
Suffer us not to mock ourselves with falsehood
Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to sit still
Even among these rocks
Our peace in His will
And even among these rocks
Sister, mother
And spirit of the river, spirit of the sea,
Suffer me not to be separated
And let my cry come unto Thee.
Guided by the poem, participants will reflect on the deceptively simple challenges of Lent – to care and not to care, to sit still amid the rocks in a frantically busy world, to let go and find our peace in God’s will. The retreat is free and open to all, but we do ask that you call the St. Paul’s office to reserve a space.
Concert by the Catholic University of America Chamber Choir - On Friday, Feb. 18, St. Paul’s will host the Catholic University of America Chamber Choir, for a free concert at 7:30 p.m. The concert is being presented by the St. Anselm Institute, an intellectual Catholic organization at the University of Virginia. The choir is conducted by the renowned Leo Nestor, and will perform works by Jakob Handl, Monteverdi, Howells, and Britten, along with music of American composers such as David Hurd and Gerald Near. Escape a winter’s evening with some treats for the ear, mind, and soul.
Jazz Mass - It’s Mardi Gras at St. Paul’s! Sort of. Sunday, Feb. 20, we will celebrate our first ever Jazz Mass at the 10 a.m. service. The jazz ensemble from our November centennial concert will be back to accompany our worship with jazzed-up hymns, fun sets, and a taste of New Orleans. Join us as we “sing a new song to the Lord” with a Jazz Mass!
Shrine Mont - Please mark your calendars and plan to join us for another wonderful weekend at Shrine Mont. This year's parish weekend will be held July 15-17. Watch for more details in the near future.
United Nations Association - The next United Nations Association Chapter meeting will feature Bruce Knotts, executive director of the Unitarian-Universalist United Nations Office. The title of his talk is "Defining Human Rights in the 21st Century at the United Nations". This meeting of the local chapter of the UNA-USA will be Sunday, February 20 at 3:00 PM. It is free and the public is invited. Please mark you calendars.
Flower Guild - JUST IN TIME FOR SPRING..... The St. Paul's Flower Guild will be selling packaged note cards that display beautiful examples of their handiwork. Cards will be available for sale in the Parish Hall immediately following the 10 a.m. service and in the Church office thereafter. These cards are perfect for gifts or for your own note writing as the Easter season approaches.
New Church Directory! Photo dates are now scheduled – March 3, 4 & 5 and March 16, 17, 18, & 19. Check your calendar! Beginning Sunday, February 13, and every Sunday thereafter, Wayne Nolen and Janet Hendrix will be in the social hall before and after church to sign you up for your photo appointment. Please participate! You will choose your directory photo within 15 minutes of your photo being taken. Get the best appointment to fit your schedule by signing up early.
