Thoughts from Lori
There are two questions that resonate with me on a regular basis. The first is: WHAT ARE YOU READING? Whenever someone asks me this, I’m immediately curious about what that person is reading, and a great conversation ensues. It also prompts me to actually consider the question and ask myself some pertinent questions; like, what am I reading? Is it worth my time? Am I reading something fun? Edifying? Engaging? Do I have too many books going at one time? What’s the best thing I’ve read lately? Is what I’m reading having a positive effect on my life?
What are YOU reading? Please feel free to share it with the rest of us. We can even make a list of recommended reading for ourselves. Just send me the information. We could even start a swap library. Anyone interested?
The second question is: WHAT MAKES YOUR HEART SING? Great question, isn’t it! But if you’re like me, it may bring you up short. What does make my heart, your heart, sing? Floats your boat? Lights you up? Are you able to answer this right off the bat? If so, I’m surprised. Surprised because it seems to me that many, if not most of us, are out-of-touch with knowing the answer. We are so focused on work and busyness, so distracted by TV, the Internet, social media and the like, that we rarely make time to even consider such a question.
It takes time to know the answer. It takes silence; long, quiet walks; contemplation, reflection. And when was the last time you (or I) did any of that? It also takes time and intentionality to read. So I invite you to live for a while with these two questions:
What are you reading? What makes your heart sing?
And may the Spirit move in you as you consider your answers.
Faithfully,
Lori +
THE WOMEN’S TEA
It’s coming fast! The Women’s Tea is only two weeks from Sunday. See the invitation below. Tickets are on sale each Sunday, including the 8th, and in the church office (Tuesdays through Fridays from 9am to 1pm.)
The St. Paul’s Women’s Tea At “The Rectory”
On Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock, February 8, 2015
Tickets are on sale now!
Tickets are $20 for parishioners and $10 for their guests. Proceeds will be used through Episcopal Relief and Development to benefit women in developing countries as they work to establish small businesses.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
This Sunday, January 25th, is our official Annual Parish Meeting following our morning worship. As is our tradition, please bring a covered dish to share. After lunch, we’ll have our very efficient business meeting. This is your church! Come and take part. [Note: if you need childcare in order to participate, please let me know as soon as possible.]
One of the main items on the agenda will be to vote for new Vestry members and the new Junior Warden. The Nominating Committee is presenting the following slate of nominations:
Darrell Rowe Rick Carlstedt John Patnaude (two year term for the unexpired term of Beth Lukas) Beth Lukas, for Junior WardenNominations may be made from the floor under these conditions:
that the nominee is a member of this parish in good standing; with prior permission of the nominee; and attested by the Treasurer to have made and maintained a pledge for the year prior to election.
Please call in advance if you have any questions about this process.
FLU SEASON IS HERE
This is likely to be one of those years when the flu season is particularly threatening. For the next six to eight weeks, I am asking that we take precautions to protect ourselves and each other. Let’s temporarily curtain our exuberant Passing of the Peace. Instead of hugging – or even shaking hands – let’s bump elbows or simply speak the words of Christ’s Peace to each other. Yes, the elbow thing feels silly, but if it keeps us all safer, it will be worth it, and it’s only for a while.
There will be safe, alcohol-based hand sanitizer in each pew. Use it as frequently as you like, but especially before coming forward for Communion. Even though it sounds counter-intuitive, please refrain from receiving Communion by Intinction. (That’s when you dip the edge of the wafer in the wine.) The silver of the chalice and the fortified wine we use reduces the spread of bacteria and viruses, and fewer are spread by sipping from the chalice than by hands hovering over the wine.
If you prefer, you may receive only the bread and be assured that you have received the sacrament. Or, if you would like me to dip the wafer for you (mine being only one hand rather than multiple hands), keep the wafer so that I can see it, and I’ll do it for you.
All of these requests are just for the time being; they are not permanent. Your patience and cooperation are much appreciated. Let’s do all we can to STAY WELL!
Flower Chart for 2015
Please contribute to the beauty of our worship by dedicating the altar flowers. The suggested donation is $35, and your dedication may be “in memorial for…” or “in thanksgiving for…” There is a calendar of Sundays on the bulletin board in the narthex where you can sign up. Your dedication will be listed in the Sunday service bulletin on the appropriate date. Thank you so much for adding to our worship in this way.
On the Calendar
Women’s Wednesday – Feb. 4th, 7:00 p.m. Men’s Breakfast – Saturday, Feb. 7th, 8:00 a.m. Women’s Tea – Sunday, Feb. 8th, 3 – 5 p.m. Endowment Committee – Wed., Feb. 11th, 6:30 p.m. Shrove Tuesday Tacos – Feb. 17th, 7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday – Feb. 18th, noon, 7:00 p.m. Vestry – Thursday, Feb. 26thLessons and Hymns for Sunday, January 25th
(Third Sunday after Epiphany – Year B) by the Rev. William McLemoreTHE SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
The First Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10. Jonah warns the city of Nineveh of God’s displeasure and they repent and God spares their city.
The Psalm: Psalm 62:6-14. This psalm in the first person attributes to God trust and attention, “God has spoken once, twice I have heard it.”
The Epistle: I Corinthians 7:29-31. Paul tells the church at Corinth to prepare for the end of the “present form of this world.”
The Gospel: Mark 1:14-20. Jesus begins his preaching ministry and calls some of his first disciples.
THE HYMNS:
Processional Hymn: No. 375, “Give Praise and Glory unto God.” Fully German in composition and tune, it was written by Johann Jacob Schutz for his 1675 “Christliches Gedenkbuchlein” (Christian Hymnbook). Again the theme of healing can be found it its message, “With balm in my inmost heart he fills, his comfort all my anguish stills.” The tune has the feel of a Bach composition but was composed by Peter Sohren who was born in Elbing, West Prussia, around 1630.
Sequence Hymn: No. 533. “How Wondrous and Great.” This is one of the nine hymns written by Henry Ustick Onderdonk for the Hymnal of 1820. It is a paraphrase of the Song of Moses and the Lamb, Revelation 15:-3-4. This hymn also reflects the missionary spirit of Epiphany: “To nations of earth thy light shall be shown.” The tune, “Lyons,” closely resembles a Haydn minuet.
Presentation Hymn: No. 469. “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy.” This is only part of a much longer hymn written by Frederick William Faber that appeared in “Hymns 1862.” The words express an expansive image of God’s love and mercy that pours forth over all the earth. “For the love of God is broader than the measure of the mind; and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.” The tune, “St. Helena,” is new to our 1982 hymnal, composed by Calvin Hampton who was the organist and choirmaster at Calvary Episcopal Church, Gramercy Park, New York City, for twenty years (1963-1983). This setting is best sung simply with deep meditation on the words.
Communion Hymn: No. 321. “My God Thy Table Now is Spread.” The words of this hymn have been altered somewhat since it was written by Philip Doddridge in the mid-eighteenth century. This is his original last verse: “Revive thy dying churches, Lord, And bid our drooping grace live; And more that energy afford, A Saviour’s Blood alone can give.” The newer words soften the anguish and gore of the earlier. The tune is “Rockingham,” and is an old English melody adapted and harmonized for the words of this hymn.
Recessional Hymn: No. 537. “Christ for the World We Sing.” Samuel Wolcott (1813-1886) wrote this hymn in response to a banner posted at a Young Men’s Christian Association meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1869. The message read, “Christ for the world, and the world for Christ.” Legend has it that he formed the hymn walking home through the streets on February 9, 1869. It has been in the Episcopal hymnals since 1892. The tune, “Moscow” is named for the city where the composer, Felice de Giardini (1716-1796) died. The music fits the earnest spirit of evangelism and conversion communicated in the text.
January 25th Servants
Ushers: Jim Lukas, Beth Lukas Lector: Jim Lukas Intercessor: Jim Lukas Eucharistic Ministers: Pam Dietmeyer, Charlie Boak Vestry Persons of the Day: Deb Lang, Al Robel101 Reasons to be an Episcopalian
Reason 15
“When asked if he was saved, Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple replied, ‘I have been saved, I hope to be saved.’ That understanding of faith, hope, and humility reinforces me as an Episcopalian/Anglican.”
Dean George L. W. Werner, Diocese of Pittsburgh
From the cartoons created by the Rev. William P. McLemore
1965 – 2014
