What’s Happening at St. Paul’s 1-8
 What’s Happening at St. Paul’s |
Less than two weeks ago, we looked with hope as the year 2020 ended and a new year began. I don’t for a minute believe that the old burdens and problems are erased somehow and we start fresh. That’s what God’s forgiveness does. We indeed this year already have witnessed even more burdens as Wednesday, the horrors of the Capital building being besieged by a violent Trump mob unfolded in real-time before the country. We watched in fear. The world watched in shock. Our enemies watched with scorn. I remind our community of faith that Wednesday was The Feast of the Epiphany, the celebration of God’s love in Christ being manifested to the world; the star led the Magi to the child who bowed before his holiness, Christ’s baptism by John acknowledged by the appearance of a dove over Jesus’ head and God’s voice saying, “You are my beloved, my Son,” and his glory revealed on the mountaintop, face white as snow, revealed as God’s Son at the Transfiguration. Wednesday, the Epiphany, at the conclusion of Morning Prayer, one of our faithful out-of-town digital community members wrote in the scroll at the end of the prayers, “Guide us to thy perfect light,” the last line of the hymn, “We three kings of Orient are.” This was my prayer for the day and still is. In my sermon last Sunday I mentioned an interview by our presiding bishop, The Most Rev. Michael Curry in which he acknowledged that we are in a time when nightmares are more common than dreams. But he shared his belief learned from his slave ancestors and loved ones not to submit to the nightmares; not to submit to the dark forces that threaten to undermine our belief in the mercy and love of God. The world needs people of faith to “hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good” as our patron Paul calls us to do in Romans 12. As times become more turbulent and uncertain in this moment, our faith community is called to “Love one another with mutual affection…,” pray for our elected officials, especially our Maine delegation that they may be safe and take action to hold violent rioters and their enablers accountable and to connect with each other lovingly for support. Please know that your clergy are here for you, Katie, Mary Lee and I are here to weep with you, if that’s what you need right now, for St. Paul also wrote his community in Romans 12, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” And I extend to you the invitation for St. Paul’s daily prayer on Facebook live every day at 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Join our virtual community as we pray and read the appointed Scripture for the day. Join others in our virtual community, some even out of state are finding God’s hope and peace with us daily. And give thanks for the lay worship leaders and clergy who are making these daily prayers possible. Mark your calendar for the Zoom “Soup and Scripture Chat” on Sunday, January 17, 4:00 p.m. when our community will gather in conversation and love as we study Mark 1:14-20, the call of Simon and Andrew. May we be strengthened in our faith in God and our love for one another in this troubling time. In the peace of Christ, Carolyn+= |
Sunday, January 10 The First Sunday after the Epiphany  9:30 a.m. Family Worship Rev. Katie Holicky and musician Susan Brown will lead us in a time of song, prayer, story, and sharing with our friends! Here is the link for the Zoom gathering. Click here for the 9:30 Family Worship Booklet  10:30 a.m. Spiritual Eucharist Click on the links below: To watch on Facebook Live for the Worship Booklet for the Worship Summary Sheet for the St. Paul’s Announcements Readings Genesis 1:1-5 Acts 19:1-7 Mark 1:4-11 Psalm 29 Lectionary Page  Explore the sermon over coffee on Zoom Sunday, 11:30 am Join in for a facilitated virtual gathering to check in with each other and explore the morning’s sermon. Parish Announcements Daily Morning Prayer and Compline — Join us every morning and evening on St. Paul’s Facebook Live for Morning Prayer and Compline, 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Next Sunday, January 17 10:30 a.m. — Diocesan Spiritual Eucharist on Facebook followed by Exploring the Sermon Coffee Hour on Zoom 4:00 p.m. – Zoom Small Group Soup and Scripture chat. Join us to eat your warm soup and to chat over the Scripture passage: Mark 1:14-20, the call of Simon and Andrew. The Vestry has accepted with thanks to the Nominating Committee the following slate for annual elections to be held in a Zoom Annual Meeting, January 24, 2021, at Noon. Junior Warden (two-year term), Jan DeBlieu Vestry (three-year term), Deborah Goodwin, Ellen Hall, Ellen Ranen Diocesan Delegates: Andree Appel, Charlie Priest, Pat Ryan, Charla Spann Alternates to Diocesan Convention: John Ott, Lili Ott, Susan Brown We thank the Nominating Committee: Johanna Wigg, Chair, Bill Edman, Susan Martens, Abigail Manny Patterson. Faith-Filled Generosity — If you haven’t already made your pledge, there are two easy ways to complete the form. Just go to St. Paul’s website, there you can download and print out a form or chose a link below. Then just fill it out and mail it back to the church at St. Paul’s, PO Box 195, Brunswick, ME 04011. If you prefer you can fill out the online form also found on the Giving page of our website. Thank you! Find a pledge form here: Online pledge form here. Click here to download and print a pledge form, then complete and mail to St. Paul’s PO Box 195 Brunswick, ME 04011. Parishioners who would like giving envelopes please contact the church office to arrange delivery or pick up. Looking Ahead Sunday, January 17, 10:30 a.m. — Diocesan Spiritual Eucharist followed by Exploring the Sermon Coffee Hour on Zoom 4:00 p.m. – Zoom Small Group Soup and Scripture chat. Join us to eat your warm soup and to chat over the Scripture passage: Mark 1:14-20, the call of Simon and Andrew. Monday, January 18—Martin Luther King Jr. Day Noon—1:00 p.m. — Pray on MLK hosted by Civil Righteousness-Maine on the Brunswick Town Mall. FMI, http://tiny.cc/ryt7tz Sunday, January 24, 12:00 p.m.—Zoom all-parish Annual Meeting: Presentation of Ministry Reports, Pledging and Financial Reports, 2021 Budget, and Parish Election. No Exploring the Sermon Coffee Hour. Zoom Meeting ID: 96617111762, Passcode: church Sunday, January 31, 3:30 pm – St. Paul’s parking lot in-person gathering outdoors, candle lighting vigil to renew our baptismal covenant and pray for peace. Ice Fishing Outing—Due to ice conditions, we are postponing parish ice fishing until Saturday, February 20 with a backup date of February 21. Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program The holidays are past and high Covid-19 cases and deaths continue. I am a soccer fan and Liverpool is my favorite team. They have an anthem called “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. One of the lines is “Walk on with hope in your heart”. As we go through the winter months, we need to have this in mind. Our hope is that we can return to a more normal life some time this year. We need to work to make it happen. Unfortunately, many millions of people will face hardship even if they never contract his virus. Many are facing the loss of their housing, the ability to pay bills, and to put food on their table. Our community is not immune from these realities. We at St Paul’s had supported MCHPP throughout the past several years by donating non-perishable food, but the way we can help now is financially. Any amount will help them serve those in need as that number grows. Whether it is $5.00 or $50.00 it will go a long way. Please mail your contribution to: Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Project, 12 Tenney Way, Brunswick, ME 04011. Thank you, Bill Edman. Prayer Requests Pray for Trinity in Saco Pray for the wardens and vestries of our congregations Pray for Anderson, Andrew, Cedric, Jason, Michael, Richard, and all in the military. Pray for those who have died remembering especially Ethel Grasmuck, who died last week, and Lloyd Day, husband of the Reverend Peggy Day, who died this week. We pray for: Christy, Ryan & family, Ray, John, David, Judi, Nick, Bob, Kathy, Skip, the Blackburn family, Willow, Tierra, Ann, Jim, Lollie, Steve, James, Nia, Linda, Dave, Caroline, Jeffrey, Arthur, Tracey, Carol, Shirley, and Roger W. Jennifer, John, Reeve, Victor, Travis & family, Ben, Diane, Nate, Elijah, Priscilla, Garrett, Elliot, Marcia, Lynn, Peter, Patricia, Patrick, Bill, Bob, Paul, Sue, Julie, Harlan, Nan, Clare, Cameron, Barbara, Carol, and Chris+. Matthew, Herb, Gair, baby Thomas, Jason, Annie, Carole, Arline, Franklin, Terry, Mark, Donelda, and Sudie, Pat, Marie, Michael, and Jim, Debbie, Carol, Robbie, Ron, Hope, Shirley, Lois, and Therese Call or email the parish office if you would like a name to be placed on the prayer list. The names will be removed after three months unless otherwise notified. Click here for this week’s calendar |
Celebrating the Season of Creation