What‘s Happening at St. Paul’s 11-19-2021

How wonderful it was to gather in person in the Nave last Sunday for the first time in 20 months! When Rev. Katie opened the service with “Welcome Home!” and parishioners broke into spontaneous applause, I’d bet that more than one of us teared up. The feel of worshiping in that beautiful space was indeed like coming home. Deep thanks to all who helped with the service, from the altar guild members, readers, ushers and choir members to our priest and deacon.
There were a few glitches here and there, with some microphone pops and a little confusion about whether the offering plate would be passed. (It will be positioned at the very front of the middle aisle, where people passing by can easily make contributions.) But in general it seemed that all went well. Was that your experience? Do some things need to be tweaked? If so, please let us know, especially if you had problems hearing the service.
Moving to inside worship was a big step. We’d like to let you know about a second step that will be taken December 5^th—the first Sunday in December. That day we will make a trial run at reviving our traditional First Sunday Life Together, in which the 9:00 and 10:30 services are combined into one, to be held at 10:30. In the old days before the pandemic, this was a beloved monthly practice. Children were able to come to “big church,” and those of us whose children have grown and flown were able to enjoy the frisky energy of youth. It’s a vibrant way to worship, and one that we hope we’ll be able to resume on a regular basis.
To make sure we have ample space to spread out, the Vestibule will be available for extra seating that day. The Great Hall will also be open as needed, with live streaming from the Nave.
And there’s more. After the service our intergenerational fellowship will continue in the parking lot with bonfires (inside Solo stoves) and s’mores. It won’t be quite like coffee hour in the Great Hall—but it will give us a chance to visit, catch up, and come together as a parish. We’ll be able to chat freely and linger. Dress warmly—and bring a thermos with a hot drink, if you like. More details will be forthcoming at this Sunday service. See you there!

In peace,
Jan DeBlieu
Junior Warden

We are now gathering for indoor worship

Please click on this LINK and watch a short video for important information
from the Wardens and The Rev. Katie on our regathering.

St. Paul’s Guidance for Indoor, In-Person Worship and Gatherings
Indoor worship begins 11/14
Updated November 5, 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. (*Bundle 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.

Worship with us on Thanksgiving Day
10:00 a.m. Picnic Eucharist in the Nave.

First Sunday Life Together December 5th: All are welcome to worship and enjoy fellowship together on Sunday December 5th! We will hold one service at 10:30am followed by parking lot fellowship with bonfires and smores! We look forward to coming back together in this beloved intergenerational way!

Please know the vestibule will be open for seating and we will live stream the service to the Hall if that feels like a safer option for you.

Dear St. Paul’s Family,
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, all of the nine vestry members and wardens have made their pledges to date. Their combined pledges are 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 the end of November, even those who have automatic withdrawals. Whatever you can pledge during these uncertain times will be deeply appreciated as we walk each other home.

Yours in love and with appreciation,

Bob Jackson and David Treadwell, Stewardship Committee Co-Chairs

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.

Sunday, November 21st Last Sunday after Pentecost, Christ the King

10:30 a.m. Picnic Eucharist in the Nave and 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

1 Samuel 1:4-20
1 Samuel 2:1-10
Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25
Mark 13:1-8
Lectionary Page

Family Ministries Sunday Schedule

9 am Family Picnic Eucharist in the Great Hall & on Zoom
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/96617111762?pwd=SGlCQmpXMnYvWTZCNkpzR2dnU1VqQT09

Meeting ID: 966 1711 1762
Passcode: church
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Meeting ID: 966 1711 1762
Passcode: 828473

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

When Jesus instructed his followers to love their neighbors as themselves, nobody was thinking of vaccines…. read more by Dr. Daniel Summers, M.D., F.A.A.P.

Dr. Summers is a pediatrician and regular contributing columnist at Arc Digital, and his writing has appeared in The Washington Post, the New Republic and Slate, among others. Dr. Summers is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in both General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. Dr. Summers is on-staff at Children’s Hospital, and MassGeneral Hospital for Children. He lives in southern Maine with his husband and their four children.

Please follow this link to read more.

Yuletide Magic Marketplace

We invite you to visit this festive market filled with beautiful handmade items from the crafters and fiber artists of St. Paul’s. There are only 3 more Sundays to shop and support this worthy endeavor! All proceeds go through St. Paul’s outreach to local charities. New items are added every week!!
· Need a beautiful hand knit shawl, sweater, scarf, hat or gloves/mittens for that special person on your list?
· How about a beautiful piece of jewelry made with hard to find and soon to be phased out Swarovski crystals?
· Or how about dressing up your Christmas dinner table with beautiful quilted table runners or placemats and matching napkin sets?
· You’ll also find a nice selection of delicious pickles, honey, pickled beets and spiced apple rings.
· Christmas tree decorations are also available.
· Perhaps a unique needle felted gnome would be perfect for that hard to buy for, “has everything”person.
The items are too numerous to include everything here so come see for yourself the next 3 Sundays after each service. To schedule an appointment to shop other than Sunday morning call Charla Spann (844-8220) or Carol Martin (844-8133). And, remember that new items are added every week! Note: Appropriate Covid-19 precautions will be in place!

The roll-out of the Sacred Ground program to the entire community is now underway! We will likely be launching several groups before the holidays and several more in the new year. If you have not yet participated in these powerful conversations about race, now is a great time to join. Please also consider inviting a friend or neighbor into this important inter-faith dialogue. Together we can start to turn the tide on the racial disparities that continue to plague our society.

Want to learn more or register for the program?

Visit: https://stpaulsmaine.org/learning-sacred-ground-new/

Have questions?

Contact our Sacred Ground Program Coordinator: Andrea.H.Lauerman@gmail.com

Lenten Meditations Booklet
Advent (sometimes known as “Little Lent”) is the time we hope 40 people will step forward and volunteer to write a meditation for our annual Lenten Meditations Booklet. If you’ve done it before, you know that there are lots of readings to choose from, and if you haven’t done it before, I hope you will give it a try and be one of our authors. The finished meditations are all due to me on Monday, January 3, 2022, which means you have a whole month to write it. I will be outside the parking lot doors after both services on Sunday, November 28 and Sunday, December 5 with a sign-up list and some samples of the booklet from previous years. You can also sign up by just calling me (207-737-2369) or e-mailing me (momperson458@roadrunner.com)
Thank you, Pam Nugent

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.

St. Paul’s Schedule

Sunday
9:00 a.m. Family Picnic Eucharist in the Great Hall & on Zoom
(ID: 96617111762, Passcode: church)

9:30 a.m. Family Group in the Garden

10:30 a.m. Picnic Eucharist in the Nave & on Facebook Live. https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsBrunswick/live

12:00 p.m. Middle & High School Youth in the Garden (2nd & 4th Sundays)

St. Paul’s Zoom Exploring the Sermon after 10:30 a.m. “picnic Eucharist’ approximately 11:50 a.m.

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. George’s, Sanford
Pray for all victims of war
Pray for Anderson, Andrew, Cedric, Jason, Michael, Richard, and all in the military.
Pray for those who have died remembering especially Shirley Jessup, who died last week.

We pray for:
Christy, Ryan & family, Ray, John, David, Judi, Nick, Bob, Kathy, Skip, the Blackburn family, Willow, Ann, Lollie, Carol, Harlan, Rick+, Elizabeth, Lyn and family

Patsy, Ward, Robert G., Donna, Alan, Victor, Travis & family, Diane, Nate, Priscilla, Garrett, Elliot, Barbara, Alice, baby Isla, Cyndie and Bob, and Ed Barker family

Matthew, Ron, Hope, Darah, Ronald, Ray, Patricia, Steven F, Diane, Therese, Sallie, Julie, Jacob, Carolyn B, Ralph R, Caroline, Kimberly B. and Jane and family

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