What‘s Happening at St. Paul’s 10-22-2021
With joy and gratitude, we want to let you know that our parish will reopen for indoor worship on Sunday, November 14th. Since this is the week after the tent is to be taken down in the Memorial Garden, there will be no interruption in our in-person worship services. The 9:00 service will be held in the Great Hall, and the 10:30 service in the Nave. In both locations, windows and doors will be open for ventilation, so please dress warmly.
We have made this decision after speaking with many parishioners and weighing many factors. The high vaccination rate among us is a key reason that we feel safe in moving back inside. So, also, is the strong desire of many (perhaps nearly all) of us not to return to a strictly online worship format for the winter. Because so many people want this so badly, we believe we will all act with the caution required. We have so enjoyed being able to gather in the garden after a year of worshipping apart! With care we can continue indoors.
There will still be some risk, however. For this reason, worship in the Nave will not look quite like it did in Februrary 2020. The summer tradition of our picnic Eucharist will continue: Worshipers will be asked to bring their own bread from home or to take a wafer provided in a sealed container. Sadly, there will be no cup. We will not be approaching the altar but will remain in our seats for the duration of the service. The choir will be able to sing, but the congregation will not. We see these cautions as worthwhile to enable us to be together again in our beloved worship space.
As with our outside services, we will be collecting the names and phone numbers of those who attend to allow contact tracing if needed. We are asking all worshippers to mask. Indoors, we will also be asking parishioners to sit in family or shelter groups at least three feet apart from each other, as recommended by the CDC guidelines. Because our Nave is small in comparison to the number of members that St. Paul’s is blessed with, distancing ourselves from other shelter groups may be a challenge. We are examining the possibility of providing extra seating in the Vestibule. Please see the November Messenger for more details.
Services will continue to be streamed on Facebook (for 10:30) and Zoom (for 9:00) for those who choose not to come.
For those who do attend in person, don’t forget to layer up! The warmth of being together will offset the chilliness—but extra clothes will help too.
Our worship practices may need to change as the pandemic continues to unfold. For now, though, we are happy to take advantage of this opportunity to gather safely.
In years to come, we will talk of this time the way people talk of wars and pandemics past. We will celebrate the vibrancy of St. Paul’s—how we held fast to following the mission of Jesus to care for each other; how we debated what was safe and what was not; and how we did all we possibly could to provide for our many-faceted needs. For now, we simply give thanks for being able to rejoice and regather.
Yours in love,
Rev. Katie Holicky,
Cliff Ruprecht, Senior Warden
Jan DeBlieu, Junior Warden
St. Paul’s Guidance for Indoor, In-Person Worship and Gatherings
Updated October 19, 2021
Guidelines subject to change as pandemic unfolds.
INDOOR IN-PERSON WORSHIP (Digital worship offered as well!)
Based on the most recent CDC instructions, please follow our guidelines for safer in-person indoor worship:
- We will require that you wear a mask. (sanitizer & masks will be at each entrance)
- We will require that you sign in for contact tracing purposes.
- We will encourage three feet of physical distancing. (Seating will be clearly marked and ushers will help us keep our distance. Please only pass the peace to those near you to limit movement around the Hall and Nave)
- We will say the responses, but no congregational singing. (The choir will sing)
- We will not come forward to receive the bread or wine; communion of one kind from pews.
- We will limit two people or family units in each restroom, masked.
- We will not require a limit on the number of people in attendance, and will use the Vestibule for overflow seating at 10:30.
- We will not offer in person fellowship after worship.
These are reasons we are able to assemble more safely for indoor in-person worship at this time:
- Cumberland County has a high vaccination rate and lower cases than other parts of the state.
- St. Paul’s membership has a high vaccination rate, though we are not requiring proof.
- The Nave and the Hall are well ventilated. (*Bundled up!)
- There will be no congregational singing. (The choir will sing)
- There will be no coming forward to receive bread or wine. (Taken individually while seated in pew)
- We will continue our contact tracing sign-in upon entering.
INDOOR GATHERINGS AND MEETINGS FOR ST. PAUL’S GROUPS
- Masks are required for all people accessing the building.
- Sign-in for contact tracing is required.
- St. Paul’s fellowship and committee groups may meet in the building. (Please no food at this time. If you need to take a drink, please replace your mask quickly.)
- Outdoor receptions may not require masks, but masks are recommended. (We will NOT have indoor receptions at this time.)
- No limit on the number of people inside the building.
- Limit to two people or family groups in each restroom.
As of this writing, the response of our St. Paul’s family to the 2022 Stewardship campaign (“Regather, Rejoice, Give Thanks”) has been most promising. As an example, four of the nine vestry members and one of the two wardens have made their pledges to date. Their combined pledges are 19 percent higher than their pledges for 2021. Our leaders believe in.our mission and ministry, confident that we will emerge from the pandemic even stronger than before.
Thanks to all have demonstrated their support by making their pledges for 2022. We hope to maintain the momentum as more pledges come in during the weeks ahead. As a reminder, we ask that all parishioners complete pledge forms by November 7, even those who have automatic withdrawals. Whatever you can pledge during these uncertain times will be deeply appreciated as we walk each other home.
Safe and secure online Giving is available on the Saint Paul’s website. Click here for the Giving and 2022 Pledge Card link. Click here to download a pdf of the 2022 Stewardship letter.
Yours in love and with appreciation,
Bob Jackson and David Treadwell, Stewardship Committee Co-Chairs
2021 Pledging at St. Paul’s
Total number of pledgers = 144
| $5,000+ | 16 pledges | $17,600 (median) | $147,626 (given by Group)*2 |
| $2,500-4,999 | 36 pledges | $3,650 (Median | $121,926 (given by Group)*1 |
| $1,000-2,499 | 54 pledges | $1,700 (Median | $86,895 (given by Group)*5 |
| $500-999 | 23 pledges | $750 (Median) | $15,189 (given by Group) |
| $1-499 | 15 Pledges | $250 (Median) | $4,360 (Given by Group) |
*Total number of people lost this year = 8
Sunday, October 24th The Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
10:30 a.m. Outdoor Picnic Eucharist in the Memorial Garden & on Facebook
Click on the link below to view from home: 
To watch on Facebook
for the Worship Booklet
for the St. Paul’s Announcements
Readings
Worship when Weather’s an Issue: Please check St. Paul’s Facebook and emails for weather-related worship updates. If 10:30 worship is moved into the Nave due to bad weather we will only have the worship team in the Nave, following our current COVID protocols. As followers of Jesus we hold fast to the mission to keep one another and the most vulnerable safe.
Family Ministries Sunday Schedule
9 am Family Worship
Family Worship Bulletin Here
Family Group following worship, ending by 10:15
12-1 pm, 2nd & 4th Sundays Middle & High School Youth Group
Parish Announcements
For All Saints’ Sunday, November 7th, please notify the office if you have loved ones who died in the past year that you would like remembered.
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).
St. Paul’s Zoom Exploring the Sermon has resumed after 10:30 a.m. “picnic
Eucharist’ approximately 11:50 a.m. Please join us using the link to the Zoom meeting sent in the Saturday Worship Links email.
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
Vestry’s Nominating Committee (Charla A. Spann, Katy Rivera, Phil Studwell, and Paul Womer) is requesting names of parishioners willing to serve as 2022 Convention Delegates and for a 3 year term as Vestry member. For further details and requirements please contact one of the committee members.
Changes are coming to Zoom software releases that will optimize security and platform performance. Your action may be required!
Beginning November 1, 2021, all Zoom accounts will be required to update their Zoom software to ensure it is no more than nine months behind the current version. Users will be prompted to update their software when using the platform should their version fall behind.
For more information, including how to update your Zoom account, click HERE
Reserving the Memorial Garden: Please contact the church office if you’d like to schedule a meeting in the Memorial Garden to ensure you’re on our calendar and we avoid double-booking. Thank you!
Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program
MCHPP has established satellite food pantries in Housing Authority facilities in our area. The food pantries are fully stocked with fresh produce, dairy products, meat, frozen meals, and eggs. The food pantries are in Bath and Brunswick. This enables clients with mobility and health problems to access good food. There is a cost to this in buying and transporting the food to these locations. Please consider writing a check to MCHPP to help support this vitas program. Any amount will help them and will be greatly appreciated. Their address is MCHPP, 12 Tenney Way, Brunswick, ME 04011.
“Costly Grace:” a film-based workshop
Join us on Zoom the morning of Nov. 13th to watch the German film Sophie Scholl: The Final Days* about a young woman in Nazi Germany who is now acknowledged as a “national icon” for her individual courage and conscience. After watching the film, Mary Lee will help us ponder what it meant for Sophie Scholl (and means for us) to accept what Dietrich Bonhoeffer calls God’s “costly grace,” and we’ll share ways in which each of us has encountered a time when we were asked to give up our current way of living, or to give over some aspect of our being, for the good of others, and ultimately for the good of our souls.
To register for the workshop, please email either Mary Lee maryleewile@gmail.com or Pam Nugent momperson458@roadrunner.com so that we can be sure you receive the Zoom link for the program.
* The film (subtitled in English) received three Lolas (German Oscars) including the Audience Award and Best Actress Award to Julia Jentsch for her brilliant characterization of the title role. The film also won two Silver Bears for Best Director and Best Actress at the 2005 Berlin International Film Festival.
Sunday
9:00 a.m. Family Picnic Eucharist in the Garden
9:30 a.m. Family Group in the Garden
10:30 a.m. Outdoor Picnic Eucharist in the Garden & on Facebook Live. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/
12:00 p.m. Middle & High School Youth in the Garden (2nd & 4th Sundays)
St. Paul’s Zoom Exploring the Sermon with, our guest preacher, Deirdre Good, former professor at General Theological Seminary! after 10:30 a.m. “picnic Eucharist’ approximately 11:50 a.m. Please join us!
Daily Morning Prayer and Compline
Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday, 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Facebook Live.
Tuesday 12:30 pm Women’s Bible Study in the Garden (if raining, on ZOOM, ID: 814 5988 6763 Passcode: 032484)
Wednesday afternoon Bible Study, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. meets in the Garden (or Great Hall if raining)
Prayer Requests
- Pray for St. Peter’s, Bridgton and for Church of Our Father, Hulls Cove.
- Pray for the deacons of the Diocese of Maine.
- Pray for the Maine Episcopal Public Policy Network.
- Pray for Anderson, Andrew, Cedric, Jason, Michael, Richard, and all in the military.
- Pray for those who have died.
We pray for:
Christy, Ryan & family, Ray, John, David, Judi, Nick, Bob, Kathy, Skip, the Blackburn family, Willow, Ann, Jim, Lollie, James, Dave, Caroline, Jeffrey, Carol, Harlan, Shirley, Rick+, Elizabeth, Courtenay, Larry, Courtenay, Patsy, Ward, Mary Ann, Steve, Nancy, Joe, and Robert G., and Larry
Jennifer, John, Victor, Travis & family, Ben, Diane, Nate, Priscilla, Garrett, Elliot, Marcia, Lynn, Bill, Bob, Paul, Sue, Clare, Cameron, Barbara, Christy, Michael, Ryan, and Jacob, Jen and all essential workers, Sandy, Jennifer, Caroline, Carol, Judy, Alice, baby Isla, Cyndie and Bob, Peter, and Olivier
Matthew, Herb, Jason, Annie, Terry, Mark, Donelda, Sudie, Pat, Marie, Michael, Debbie, Carol, Ron, Hope, Therese, Lois, Bob, Virginia, Sally, Steve, Luke, Catarina, Darah, Barbara, Ronald, Ray, Patricia, Steven F, Bill, Dave, Diane, Therese, Sallie, Julie
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.
