St. Paul's Memorial Church Newsletter
Telephone: 295-2156 www.stpaulsmemorialchurch.org May 3, 2012
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/
Election of Bishop Suffragen - The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia is pleased to announce that the Rev. Canon Susan E. Goff was elected as bishop suffragan of Virginia at a special Electing Council of the Diocese held on Saturday, April 21 at St. George’s, Fredericksburg. Goff was elected on the fourth ballot, with 148 votes in the clerical order and 164 votes in the lay order. An election required 104 votes in the clerical order and 130 votes in the lay order. A suffragan is a bishop elected by a diocese to assist the diocesan bishop.
Adult Education on May 6: Integrity, Charlottesville, the Episcopal organization promoting the full inclusion of all baptized people, including those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender, presents lawyer and activist, Andre Hakes, discussing her personal experience with same-sex adoption. The trials and tribulations that Andre and her partner, Catherine, went through are particularly meaningful now that the Commonwealth of Virginia has made discrimination against LGBT persons seeking to adopt or foster children legal.
Outdoor Church Service and Parish Picnic – There will be no 10:00 a.m. service on May 20, UVa's Graduation Sunday. Instead, join us at McIntire Park (shelter #1) from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., for an outdoor church service followed by a parish picnic. Fried chicken and drinks are provided; other main dishes, sides, and desserts are potluck. Please bring a dish to share, your own plates/cups/utensils (to be kind to the environment), chairs if you would like to have them, and kites. There will be games and a piñata for the kids! Mark your calendars and join us for this fun family event.
Ordination of Rob Morris to the Transitional Diaconate - Robert Lee Morris will be ordained to the Transitional Diaconate on Saturday, June 9, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Comforter in Richmond. Rob was sponsored for ordination by Church of Our Saviour, and we got to know him as an intern here at St. Paul's.
A New Community Night Offering from The Rev. Janet Legro - Three Bits of Wisdom to Guide Our Relationships: Wednesdays at 7 p.m., continuing May 9 & May 23. Using the teachings of the Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault, Episcopal priest, author and contemplative, we will look at three ways to free ourselves from judgement and attachment in our relationships. In other words, we will explore ways to free up our relationships - free for joy, compassion, and loving attention. The Rev. Bourgeault's work comes directly from the teachings of Jesus, the wisdom tradition, and the practice of Centering Prayer. We will spend Wednesday evenings together exploring these teachings, looking at examples from scripture and life, and finding ways to put them into practice. Janet will provide some brief readings to guide our conversations for those who would like to read along. Janet will also try to show some funny clips from the TV show, Modern Family, to highlight these teachings and have a little fun. Please join us any Wednesday evening you are able from 7 - 8:15 p.m.: May 9 and May 23. There will be no class on May 16th.
Community Night – Our final community night dinner and Wednesday evening service of this school year is May 23, 2012. The dinners and the Wednesday night services will resume in September.
News from St. Paul's Ivy - On Wednesday, June 20 at 5:30 p.m., the Rev. Eric Liles will be instituted as the new rector of St. Paul's Ivy.
Update on our Stephen Ministry - Pray for each other so that you may be healed (James 5: 16b).
Our Stephen Ministers will meet today for Continuing Education and Peer Supervision. We will be learning about caring for people before, during and after hospitalization.
A Note from Ann Willms
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.Please accept my heartfelt thanks for your generous gift of money upon my departure from St. Paul's Memorial Church!
All the funds will be used to support the mission trip of adults and youth from St. Paul's, Ivy, who are mission partners in the Carpenter's Kids program in Tanzania. St. Paul's, Ivy is linked with St. Paul's, Nzali, Tanzania in a partnership that aims to make education accessible to the 70 most at-risk children in the village. By providing shoes, uniform, books, and a daily hypernutritious meal, Carpenter's Kids addresses many of the Millennium Development Goals that have been a focus of the Presiding Bishop's emphasis on mission in the Church.
This will be the third visit of SPIvy to Tanzania, and the first to include youth. We have been asked to teach English to the two grade levels of children that will be taking standardized national tests. My family will be an integral part of the teaching group, with my husband serving as the medical officer, and my children as assisting teachers. I am providing pastoral and spiritual support before, during and after the visit.
Besides the provision of teaching and supplies, however, a key element of this trip is the mutual fellowship, cultural exchange, and companionship in Christ that we will share. The essence of mission - a community sending and being sent into a dimension of difference - is central to being Christian. "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." John 20.21. Please keep us in your prayers. We look forward with joy to being with brothers and sisters in Tanzania, and thank you again for supporting this mission!
Shrine Mont 2012: Pilgrimage and Pathways, Traveling with God - Share stories of pilgrimage, go hiking, play softball, meditate, swim, listen to music... do as much or as little as you like...join us this July 13-15 for our parish weekend at Shrine Mont. The weekend this year coincides with the Bishop's Music Festival. Individual recreation, family fun and more. Questions? Anne Cressin: 434-249-4362/ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Ministry Beyond Our Walls (MBOW) : Calling Bingo Callers! - Members of St. Paul's have been helping with monthly bingo games at Midway Manor (low income senior housing near downtown) for some time, and they are in need of a new caller. If you can spare 2 hours one day a month, we'd love to hear from you! Please contact Betty Kerner (202-0616) or John Frazee (242-0103) for more information.
Vacation Bible School – It's time to start thinking about VBS! The dates are June 25 - 29 (9:30 a.m. - noon), and this year's theme is The Story of Paul. All children 3 and up are welcome, although we do ask that three year olds have attended preschool or are happy to stay. Please join us for a week full of storytelling, art, crafts, music, drama, games, snacks, and a whole lot of fun. For more information, or to register, please call or email Iris Potter (823-2709, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).
Reel Theology: Summer films and theological reflections
Again this summer we are planning to show a series of films that work well as a basis for a theological reflection in June and July. Come join us on Wednesday nights beginning June 13. Since we don't have Community Night during the summer, eat before you come, or brown bag it -- we'll provide popcorn. The movies will start promptly at 7; the discussion will follow, after a short break. If you want to come just for the movie, that's OK too. Watch this space in coming weeks for this summer's lineup.
Region XV Episcopal Churches Habitat Build Schedule for 2012
Next workday: Saturday, May 12* Lunch from 12-12:30 (don’t forget to pack!)
*Habitat greatly prefers having volunteers on site for the entire shift. If you cannot stay for the whole day, we’ll be better able to get you plugged into a meaningful task if you could leave or arrive at the lunch break instead of randomly through the shift. Please inform your group’s coordinator in advance. Otherwise, Habitat will be counting on you for the day.
Location: GPS address: 1410 Carlton Ave. Charlottesville, 22902. Sign in usually occurs behind the red duplex at the corner of Rives and Midland.
Parking: Street parking on Carlton Ave., Rives St. , Midland St.
Age Requirement: Must be at least 16 years old to build at Sunrise. See www.cvillehabitat.org/youth-families for more information about opportunities for younger volunteers. All volunteers under 18 years of age must have a minor liability form on file (www.cvillehabitat.org/volunteer-forms )
Event Contact: Katie Geisshuesler, Volunteer Manager. Office: (434) 293-9066 Mobile: (828) 989-1082
Region XV Build Schedule: May 12 (8:45-3:30); June 9 (summer hours: 7:45-2:30, Lunch 11-11:30); July 14 (summer hours: 7:45-2:30, Lunch 11-11:30); August 11 (summer hours: 7:45-2:30, Lunch 11-11:30); September 15 (8:45-3:30); October 13; November 17; and December 15.
