What‘s Happening at St. Paul’s 02-06-2022
This screen shot is part of a video I took at the 100th anniversary celebration of Beth Israel, the synagogue in Bath. One hundred years ago, the congregation gathered at Centre Street and walked up Washington Street in Bath to the site where they would build their synagogue. Last Sunday, on a clear, cold, sunny, post-blizzard day, a group of about 100 congregants and “allies” made our march up the same streets. We followed the chuppah (celebratory canopy) up Washington and stood outside in front of the synagogue where we heard the history, received greetings from town and state elected officials and heard stories from members. The occasion was joyful and full of delight. I congratulate this congregation and my colleague, Rabbi Lisa Vinikoor their religious leader. Some day, our Jewish neighbors won’t have to worry about having to schedule the security of the Bath Police. That’s my prayer.
One story I loved was told by Isaac a high school student. He lives on Washington Street very near Beth Israel. He introduced us in his story to his neighbor named Al who is 80 years old. Isaac told us that Al delivered cookies to him every Saturday. He pointed to Al’s house and said, “I’m not kidding. Every single Saturday, EVERY Saturday, in the pandemic, Al delivered cookies to my house. And every single Saturday, they were different: Snicker doodles, chocolate chip, ginger snaps, sugar cookies, all kinds. One Saturday in December my family had erected the menorah in front of our house to celebrate Chanukah. It had blue and white lights on it. That day, Al brought over his cookies. They were sugar cookies. I looked and saw that they were sprinkled with red and green sugar. Al looked at the cookies. He looked at the menorah and said, ‘Oh. I think those are the wrong colors. I’m sorry.’ He left and the next day he returned with sugar cookies sprinkled with blue and white. THAT is what our community is like. We celebrate each other with respect.”
I took the story of Isaac to heart. That is what neighborly love in action, neighborly respect in action is all about. And it doesn’t have to look heroic. It can be a regular delivery of cookies and mutual conversation.
And maybe, in the future…concern for violence because of religion gives way to universal joy and love. That’s my prayer, too.
In kindness, respect and love,
Carolyn +
First Sundays Life Together Modified Eucharist February 6th
10:30 a.m. First Sundays Life Together Modified Eucharist in the Nave and on Facebook
You are joyfully invited to worship and enjoy fellowship together on Sunday, February 6thPlease 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. 
11:50 a.m. Explore the Sermon over Coffee on Zoom
Click here for the Zoom meeting link.
St. Paul’s Guidance for Indoor, In-Person Worship and Gatherings
(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)
Double masking is recommended by the Maine CDC and the Diocese of Maine. Feel free to take one of our masks for double masking
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.
We will not offer in person fellowship after worship.
- 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)
Sunday, February 6th The Fifth Sunday After Epiphany
10:30 a.m. First Sundays Life Together Modified Eucharist in the Nave and on Facebook
Click on the link to Facebook Live below to view from home:
To watch on Facebook
for the Worship Booklet
for the St. Paul’s Announcements
Readings
Parish Announcements
Ash Wednesday and Lent
Ash Wednesday, March 2nd 7:30 am to 8:15 am – Ashes and Lenten bags will be distributed to all who come to the parking lot. We will give each person instructions for individual imposition of ashes, a Lenten prayer and the Lenten Meditation book.
Noon – Join us for Ash Wednesday Liturgy with modified imposition of ashes and Eucharist in-person in the Nave and on Facebook Live.
First Sunday in Lent, Great Litany, March 6th
10:30 a.m. First Sundays Life Together
Announcing the Adult Formation Lenten Program Offerings:
Tuesdays in Lent: Zoom, 7:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m., March 8, 15, 22, 29.
The Evil Done on Our Behalf (exploring this important phrase we say in the corporate confession during Eucharist)
Speakers: Chick Carroll, Macauley Lord, Deborah Goodwin, Pat Ryan
Saturday, March 19, (The Feast of St. Joseph) 10-Noon. St. Paul’s Great Hall
Movie: “Mission: Joy – Finding Happiness in Troubled Times.”
Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program
Surprise! This week’s article isn’t about a donation of money but of time. MCHPP is in need of volunteers to help them accomplish their mission. Do you like to cook? Cooks are needed to prepare the daily meals they serve at noon time. Drivers are needed to transport food donated by local supermarkets to their facility. Volunteers are also needed to package weekend bags of food that need to be delivered to local schools. Many of these needs only require a few hours of your time. The time can be as little as one day a week. The experienced volunteers will be glad to assist you in whatever you choose to do. You will not only contribute to the welfare of their clients, you may also make new friends and be welcomed with open arms. Finally, they will be able to take you when it is convenient for you. Please contact them to offer your help at 725-2716 ext. 305.
Healing Prayer Box
The Healing Prayer Team has placed a decorative box (with paper and writing implement provided) on a table in the vestibule. Please take the opportunity to request healing prayer for yourself or for someone else, just as you would if we could anoint and lay hands on you in person. Our commitment is to pray for whatever needs you share with us. As has always been true, we abide by a policy of strict confidentiality. A member of the Healing Prayer Team will check the box every Sunday. The Healing Prayer Team (Pam Nugent, Andree Appel, Sarah Arnold, Myrna Koonce, Carol Thomas, Virginia Vincent, Bob Walkling, Julia Walkling)
St. Paul’s Schedule
Sunday
NO 9:00 a.m. Family Modified Eucharist in the Great Hall & on Zoom
(ID: 96617111762, Passcode: church)
NO 9:30 a.m. Family Group
10:30 a.m. First Sunday’s Modified Eucharist in the Nave & on Facebook Live. https://www.facebook.
NO 12:00 p.m. Middle & High School Youth (2nd & 4th Sundays)
Sunday St. Paul’s Zoom Exploring the Sermon after 10:30 a.m. “First Sunday’s Modified Eucharist’ approximately 11:50 a.m. ID: 96617111762, Passcode: church
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 on ZOOM, ID: 814 5988 6763 Passcode: 032484)
Wednesday Bible Study 1:00 pm in the Great Hall except 1st Wednesdays on Zoom (ID: 881 3208 5376, Passcode: 326628)
Prayer Requests
Pray for our Committee on Indian Relations and pray for the needy and the hungry.
Pray for Anderson, Cedric, Jason, Michael, Richard, Peter, and all in the military.
Thanksgiving for the birth of Eleanor Alix Case (Ellie), granddaughter of Fred & Carolyn Case.
We pray for:
Christy, Ryan & family, John, David, Nick, Bob, Kathy, Skip, the Blackburn family, Willow, Ann, Lollie, Carol, Harlan, Rick+, Elizabeth, Lyn and family, Sam,
and Michael M.
Chip, Eddie, Patsy, Robert G., Victor, Travis & family, Diane, Nate, Priscilla, Garrett, Elliot, Barbara, and Ed Barker family, Nancy and Dave, Reta, Sally, Mary Lou V,
and Billie Matthew, Ron, Hope, Darah, Ronald, Ray, Patricia, Diane, Therese, Sallie, Julie, Jacob, Carolyn B, Kimberly B, Jane and family, Julia, Sue, Ed+, Andrea H, and Judy and Sam P, Ashley and Linda
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.
2022