Blessings to St. Paul’s Beloved Family Eucharist Congregation!
Join us for Worship
Family Ministries Sunday Schedule
October 17th, Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost
- 9 am Family Worship
- Worship Booklet here
- Family Group following worship, ending by 10:15
- 12-1 pm, 2nd & 4th Sundays Middle & High School Youth Group
Important Message from your Stewardship Committee
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
During these uncertain times, the phrase, “walking each other home” comes to mind. When you think about it, that’s what we do at St. Paul’s, we try to walk each other home. We try to be there for each other during good times and bad. We dig — really dig — into the meanings of the gospels. We pass the peace and mean it. We meet in small groups to discuss deep issues. And, important, ours is not an insular community. Rather, we reach out to those around us who are in need by sharing our time and our treasure. We have heeded the words of poet John Donne: “No man is an island.”
The challenges of the pandemic have made for tough walking for every one of us. But we have done so by keeping our heads high and our mission firm. As noted in the Warden’s letter, “we have proved we are a church community that can pull together and provide for each other even under dire circumstances.”
The Stewardship Committee has established the theme “Regather, Rejoice, Give Thanks.” As we consider the meaning of those words, we can step back and reflect upon what this Church means to us. St. Paul’s is, for so many of us, our true north or, as T. S. Eliot wrote, “a still point in a turning world.”
To meet the challenges that lie before us, we are hopeful that the average annual pledge will increase by 3 to 5 percent for 2022. That is an ambitious goal, but ours is an ambitious parish: our faith inspires our confidence. Whatever you can do will be deeply appreciated as we continue, together, to walk each other home. Please click here for a link to online giving.
Yours in love and with appreciation,
Bob Jackson and David Treadwell, Stewardship Committee Co-Chairs
Save the Date!
Join us in welcoming Bishop Brown for his visit on October 31st!
The October issue of The Messenger is here with all the latest news of the parish.
Click here to read all the news of the parish.
Mask up St. Paul’s!
Mask up St. Paul’s!
Please don’t forget to wear your mask while at church.
Let’s do all we can to keep
one another safe!
Updated Gathering Guidelines here.
Family Groups
9:30 am Sundays
Family Group follows 9am worship on Sundays.
Join as we pray, play, and spend time in story!
Our gathering will end at 10:15.
If you are interested in joining a Family Group please reach out to Rev. Katie.
Please wear a mask, practice physical distance
All Things Youth
Hello St. Paul’s Middle & High School Youth! 2nd & 4th Sundays
12-1pm in the Garden.
Please wear a mask, practice physical distance, and bring your own water and snack should you need them.
Sunday Junior Paper – Click to Read!
A Special Offering
For many of us, our chances to learn about Christianity’s “hows and whys” ended in early adolescence. But our experience of its teachings continues, as do the challenges put to our faith by life and its stresses. Sometimes our childhood understanding feels a bit…thin.
Christianity beyond Sunday School
This discussion-based course will focus on key topics in the Christian tradition, such as how the Bible came to be; how Jesus of Nazareth became acknowledged as “savior;” answers to the question, “why do bad things happen to good people;” why there are so many different denominations, etc. We’ll try to come to a more mature understanding of the possibilities offered to us by Christianity.
Parishioner Deborah Goodwin (Ph.D., University of Notre Dame, Associate Professor Emerita of Religion, Gustavus Adolphus College) will facilitate the group. We will meet via Zoom on Sunday afternoons, from 4 – 5:30 p.m., on October 17 and 24, and November 7 and 14. We will use as a companion book, Remedial Christianity by Paul Alan Laughlin (Polebridge Press, 2000; ISBN-13: 978-0944344774), available from online sellers and from your local bookstores, by order.
The class will be limited to 12 people. For questions or to sign up, please email dgoodwin@gustavus.edu
Yuletide Magic Marketplace
Yuletide Magic Marketplace
Please join us for the grand opening Sunday, October 17th at 9:30 a.m on the 2nd floor of St. Paul’s. The marketplace will be open to parishioners every Sunday through November 28th after both services and by appointment during the week. Find accessories and apparel, holiday and home decor, canned goods, tree decorations and much more! Make a huge dent in your holiday shopping while supporting St. Paul’s outreach program to local charities. You’ll find gifts for everyone from babies to grandparents! St. Paul’s crafters and fiber artists have been busy! Stop by, shop and support the many hours they have contributed to help make your holiday handmade! Note: Appropriate COVID precautions will be in place.
For more information call Carol Martin (207-844-8133) or Charla Spann (207-844-8220).
An Update from The Sacred Ground Program Coordinator
We all want to see improvements in the racial disparities in our society, but it can be difficult to have meaningful conversations about these issues. The Sacred Ground program is based on the idea that these conversations can and should be a healing process. This program uses discussion groups led by trained facilitators in order to make this conversation safer and more impactful. Many parishioners at St. Paul’s have participated in this program and experienced its profound effects.
When parishioner Caroline Russell received an inheritance, she gathered with a discernment committee at St. Paul’s to determine the best way to use the funds. Having participated in Sacred Ground, she knew it had the power to touch hearts and be transformational, and it became clear to her that funding Sacred Ground was the answer. Her donation is now making it possible to share this curriculum much more widely in the community.
We are modifying the Sacred Ground program to be applicable to people of all faiths, and are currently recruiting participants for our next round of discussion groups. These conversations will be inter-faith, meeting roughly once every three weeks for a total of ten sessions. We hope you will join us.
Want to learn more or register for the program?
Visit: https://stpaulsmaine.org/
Have questions?
Contact our Sacred Ground Program Coordinator: Andrea.H.Lauerman@gmail.com
MCHPP Program Support
Brunswick schools are open for the 2021-2022 school year. The good news is that children are be able to receive free lunches; however, it does not solve the entire problem of food insecurity. MCHPP is again running their Backpack Program providing nutritious food to the children to help them get through the weekend when school is not in session. The children can pick up a bag of food anonymously. The food is the type that will not spoil. MCHPP will have to purchase most of the food used in this program.
Please consider writing a check in any amount to MCHPP, 12 Tenney Way, Brunswick, ME 04011. Put Backpack Program on the memo line.
Celebrating the Season of Creation