What‘s Happening at St. Paul’s 02-18-2022
I would like to put the following short note in thanking those who participated in contributing a testimony to LD 1626.
I wish to thank all those who sent a testimony to the State Legislature on LD 1626 giving Maine Indians sovereignty. CIR (Committee on Indian Relations, Diocese of Maine) had been working on this for several years. The topic was presented as a resolution and passed at Maine Episcopal Convention in the Fall. Bishop Brown backed it and hoped that all churches in the Diocese would participate so it would receive plenty of attention from around the State. Some clergy from other denominations also presented testimonies. The Bill is thought to have received more testimonies than any other in the State an example of what a Christian community can attain.
Gratefully, Nick Smith
SAFE CHURCH TRAINING UPDATES
Beloved Community,
On March 1st the Diocese of Maine will be rolling out an updated version of Safe Church Training. We give thanks for this updated resource that helps us to live more deeply into our Baptislam Vows as the Body of Christ at St. Paul’s, Brunswick.
What it is “Safe Church”? “The purpose of this policy is to help the church to be a safer place for all who worship, or minister, or come in any sort of need, including children, youth, elders, the vulnerable, (everyone in our community), and those who work with them. We believe that this policy is one aspect of honoring our baptismal vows to “respect the dignity of every human being.”” (Episcopal Diocese of Maine)
Who needs to complete it? Clergy, Staff, Vestry, everyone who works with children, and everyone who visits folks beyond our church walls, or anyone else who may be interested!
Why should I complete this training? Completing this training is a path for us to learn ways in which we honor our Baptismal Covenant and to put our faith in action as we commit to the work of keeping one another as safe as possible.
How can I complete training if I don’t want to do it online? We will hold a few in person gatherings for folks to complete the training together! Stay tuned for more information.
Check out this video by clicking here to learn more from the Presiding Bishop and others as to why Safe Church Training is so important.
Beginning March 1st you can find the Diocese of Maine Safe Church Training Information by clicking here. After you have completed your training please print out your certificates and turn them into the Parish office so we can make sure our records are up to date.
If you have any questions please reach out to the Rev. Carolyn Eklund or the Rev. Katie Holicky.
Sunday, February 20th The Seventh Sunday After The Epiphany
Family Ministries Sunday Schedule
9 a.m. Modified Eucharist in the Great Hall & on Zoom
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 966 1711 1762
Passcode: church
Family Worship Bulletin Here
Family Group following worship, ending by 10:15
12-1 pm, 2nd & 4th Sundays Middle & High School Youth Group
10:30 a.m. Modified 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
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)
Parish Announcements
It’s almost that time again! Please send in your articles for the March 2022 issue of the Messenger to stpauls@stpaulsmaine.org by Friday, February 18th.
We expect to have Lenten Meditations Books
available on Sunday, February 27.
You may also pick them on Ash Wednesday or stop by the church office during office hours.
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 con-fession 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.”
The movie will be followed by a discussion led by the Rev. Mary Lee Wile
Ash Wednesday and Lent
There will be no Facebook Live Morning Prayer at 7:30 a.m. on Ash Wednesday, March 2. Instead, please join us on Face-book Live when we bless the ashes in the parking lot, read Psalm 51 and say the prayer for Ash Wednesday from the St. Paul’s park-ing lot. Compline will resume on Wednesday evening on Facebook Live Wednesday evening, 7:30 p.m.
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 Meditations 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
St Paul’s Truth-telling Initiative
Have you finished the Sacred Ground program and wonder what is next? Are you interest-ed in being a “citizen historian”?
Join me and other members of St Paul’s as we look to discover more about our history as a parish and our roots in the broader context of our country history of racism.
Contact Andree Appel at andreeappel@gmail.com.
Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program
The latest economic news has not been good. First of all the Public Utilities Commission authorized CMP to raise electric rates by a whopping 83%. We have the continuing problems of supply chain shortages and rising prices of everyday goods and services, including gas prices, grocery prices, and heating oil prices. This will hit seniors, young families and those with limited incomes very hard and force them to make decisions that
will effect their well-being. In addition, school will be out next week and children who depend on school lunches will not have that meal to rely on. If you can contribute any amount to help support MCHPP as they feed our neighbors, it will be much appreciated.
Their address is MCHPP, 12 Tenney Way, Brunswick, ME 04011.
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
9:00 a.m. Family Modified Eucharist in the Great Hall & on Zoom
(ID: 96617111762, Passcode: church)
9:30 a.m. Family Group
10:30 a.m. Modified Eucharist in the Nave & on Facebook Live. https://www.facebook.
12:00 p.m. Middle & High School Youth (2nd & 4th Sundays)
St. Paul’s Zoom Exploring the Sermon after 10:30 a.m. Modified 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 on ZOOM, ID: 814 5988 6763 Passcode: 032484)
Wednesday 1:00 pm Bible Study in the Great Hall except 1st Wednesdays on
Zoom (ID: 881 3208 5376 , Passcode: 326628)
Prayer Requests
Pray for Episcopal Peace Foundation
Pray for Anderson, Cedric, Jason, Michael, Richard, Peter, and all in the military.
Pray for those who have died remembering especially Martha Louise Thorpe, sister of Lois Kwantz, who died this week.
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, Diane, Nate, Priscilla, Garrett, Elliot, Barbara, and Ed Barker family, Nancy and Dave, Reta, Sally, and Billie, Matthew, Ron, Hope, Darah, Ronald, Ray, Patricia, Diane, Therese, Julie, Jacob, Carolyn B, Kimberly B, Jane and family, Julia, Sue, Ed+, Andrea H, and Judy, Carol, Phyllis H.and Sam P.
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.
