June 25, 2020: St. Paul’s Family Worship Weekly Postcard

Blessings to St. Paul’s Beloved  Family Eucharist Congregation!  
All Things Youth
Hello St. Paul’s Middle and High School Youth!

Middle and High School Youth Gatherings At the request of our youth we will be gathering twice on Sundays. Join us for prayers at 9 a.m. and stay for family worship. Youth group will be later in the afternoon. Please note we will use the same Zoom for both gatherings.  This Sunday, June 28 Check in and Prayer 9 a.m. via Zoom Youth Group 1-2 p.m. via Zoom  Click Link to joinMeeting ID: 966 1711 1762Password: church High Schoolers: Don’t forget you are always invited to participate in the Diocese of Maine Youth weekly Compline. Fridays at 8 p.m.  Click Link to join, or call (301) 715-8592Meeting ID: 912 2904 6535 
In addition, please check out the below info on an upcoming offering on Reimaging Policing brought to us by the  Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing in Atlanta.

You can click here to register for one, two or all three parts of the series: (the series began last week, but feel free to jump in now!)

Thursday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m. – When the Hype is Over
Eventually, the anger will subside, but will your energy die down with it? We invite you to a candid conversation where we will discuss actionable steps and viable solutions to end police brutality.

Thursday, July 2 at 6:30 p.m. – The Colors of COVID: The Media and Your News Feed
Join us for an honest conversation to explore the disparities in how the media portrays COVID-19 and police brutality, both of which disproportionately affect black and brown people.
Resources for Racial Justice
Family Sermon by Rev. Dr. Mark Bozzuti-Jones about the sin of racism.

A list of resources from some Episcopal friends in North Carolina.  

NEW: A short family guide to supporting racial justice now.  

Book Lists: (various social justice topics, including racial justice) Social Justice Books; A Teaching for Change ProjectAct for Social JusticeEmbrace Race: “Diverse” Books for Children
Small Groups Forming
Small Groups for Families!

Are you interested in participating in a family small group? Small groups have begun to gather outdoors at St. Paul’s.

Please reach out to Katie via email at katieholicky@stpaulsmaine.org so we can create groups!

Each group will follow safety protocols: keeping distance, masks when age appropriate, etc.
Join Us for Worship
Join us this Sunday, June 28, the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

9:30 a.m. Rev. Katie Holicky will lead us in a time of song, prayer, story and sharing with our friends! Here is the link for the Zoom gathering.

10:30 a.m. Morning Prayer, on the Facebook live feed

11:30 a.m. Virtual Coffee Hour on Zoom. Here is the Zoom link.
Sunday Paper Junior
To read, print and color the Sunday Paper Junior, click here.
Fun Things for Families
NEW for the Summer!  
Summer Activity Pack is brought to you by Church Publishing and is a great free summer resource.
Here are some helpful resources to keep you and your family faithfully connecting during this season at home.  

Family Sunday School brought to you by SparkHouse! Enjoy some faith based family time. This resource includes a video with songs and stories, an info/ activity sheet and coloring page! 

Building Faith Brick by Brick brings Legos and Bible stories together for this playful way to explore scripture. Parents, all questions/ prompts are included in each lesson! 

Enjoy some Bible Stories brought us by Godly Play. Well suited for the youngest among us.

From paper print outs to how to make-your-own 3D labyrinths, use these ideas for finger labyrinths for a grounding moment. 

Parents and teens, are you looking for a way to deepen your daily prayer practice? 

Pray As You Go. Here is a helpful website, also available as an app for your smartphone or tablet, that offers you a daily practice of readings, prayers and even musically Psalms!

Here are some helpful articles for talking with your children about COVID-19. *
Building Faith has a helpful article about how to talk about COVID-19 with your children.
The CDC has also provided some helpful information for supporting children during this time.
The Episcopal Church, “Sacred Ground”
Sacred Ground Program on Race and Faith

As a parish we have registered for this 10 session film-based dialogue program on race and faith. The three groups are presently full. Contact the Parish Office at stpauls@stpaulsmaine.org if you’d like your name to be added to the list for the next group for later in the fall.
Podcast Series on Hope
Podcast Series

Faith in Maine begins an eight-week series of audio essays on the concept of hope by Rev. Martin Smith. The series runs Monday, June 15 until Monday, August 3. 

Find Faith in Maine at http://faithinmaine.org/ or anywhere you download podcasts.
Newcomers Gatherings
Welcome Newcomers!

Following CDC guidelines, St. Paul’s will be offering small outdoor fellowship groups. The second Vestry sponsored Newcomers Gathering is this Sunday, June 28 at Carol and Macauley Lord’s home.  We invite St. Paul’s Newcomers to join us as you feel comfortable doing so. If you are interesting in coming, please contact Patsy Oehl at 844-8332.
How St. Paul’s is Staying Connected
Parish Office Staff Hours for June and July: Beginning June 1 to end of July 2020 (Possibly August, provided no one tests positive and the outbreaks in our area reduce).


Precautions to Observe While you are in the building of St. Paul’s We want parishioners and guests to be able to contact staff members in person while at the same time we take the Maine CDC recommended precautions.

1.The hallway off the Union Street parking lot to the office and the office itself are the only areas open. Call or email the staff member working that day to alert them you’ll be coming and use the intercom at the parking lot door to call them to open the door when you arrive.

2. Wear a mouth and nose covering when in the building. We have a mask to give you.

3. Use hand sanitizer to wash hands. (Restrooms and kitchen will be closed.) We will provide hand sanitizer stations along the hallway off the Union Street parking lot.

4. Please be sure to sign in.

5. Observe distancing precautions: 6 feet apart.

6. No more than four will be in the building at a time.
Spotlight on St. Paul’s Small Groups
Featured This Week: Wednesday Morning Men’s Group

Men interested in learning more about and/or becoming active in the St. Paul’s Wednesday morning Zoom Men’s Group (8:15-9:15 a.m.), are encouraged to read the document provided in the calendar section of the St. Paul’s email that describes the norms that guide us. Please call one of the following members if you would like to be come to a meeting so we can better welcome you when you come. We can also tell you on the phone a little about what we do.  Please feel free to call: Rick Wile at 756-0095, Al Niese at 406-2396 or Paul Womer at 449-7425. Thanks!  We look forward to having you come!
The Gathering Place
An Update on the Gathering Place

The Gathering Place has re-opened in a limited fashion Monday and Thursday mornings from 8:30 until 11:30. A limit of 12 guests are permitted inside and masks are required.

Guests may remain for one hour, after which time new guests are allowed in. Many infrastructure changes have been made to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus to guests and volunteers. 

Snacks and beverages are not allowed at this time.

Volunteers provide companionship and help with technology for accessing resources.

For more information, please visit http://brunswickgatheringplace.org/.
How to Help and Where to Find Help in Maine
Click image to connect
Resources in Brunswick

Link to Support Brunswick Facebook page 
Link to Fred Horch’s Support Brunswick Resource Guide 
St. Paul’s Online This Week
Click to Join
Sunday 6/28
Zoom 9:30 am Family Story, Prayer & Sharing
Facebook 10:30 am Sunday Morning Prayer
Zoom 11:30 am Virtual Coffee Hour  
Zoom 1:00 pm Middle & High Schoolers
contact  Patsy Oehl at 844-8332 1:00 pm Newcomers Gathering
Monday-Saturday
Facebook 7:30 am Morning Prayer
Facebook 7:30 pm Compline
Tuesday 6/30
Zoom 9:30 am Holy Stitchers
Zoom 12:30 pm Women’s Bible Study
Wednesday 7/1
Link to Meeting Format 7:30 am Men’s Group – contact Al Niese at 406-2396 Rick Wile at 756-0095 or Paul Womer at 449-7425
Zoom 7:00 pm Choir T
hursday 7/2
Zoom 11:00 am Healing Prayer Service
Zoom Noon Prayer Group