WHAT’S HAPPENING AT ST. PAUL’S: MAY 13, 2022
 Dear Friend,  Last Sunday we had the joy of welcoming Bishop Brown for a visit. It was such a gift to be together to worship at 9am, have him join us for Family Group, for worship at 10:30 am, and join us for the reception afterward. It was a great Sunday! At Family Worship, we joyfully sat on the floor together and talked about his crosier as a symbol of his leadership. That object helped us to talk about the Gospel story and wonder together about what it means to be the shepherd and what it means to be the sheep, and how to know which we are supposed to be at different moments.After worship, we headed outside with our sheep ears to play a rousing game of “Sheep and Shepherd”. As we took turns being sheep and the shepherd, the shepherd needed to lead their sheep to fresh grass to eat, refreshing water to drink, and away from danger like wolves! At the end of our game we circled up and I led us in conversation by way of a few guiding questions like What does it feel like to have the shepherd guide the sheep to water, food, and safety if a wolf were to come? (To which the kiddos said: safe, happy, loved, cared for, helped, guided) What does it feel like to lead the sheep? (To which the kiddos said: fun, happy, hard sometimes, I was glad the sheep were with me so I didn’t feel alone.) As we ended our conversation we finished our structured time with our much beloved Silly Body Prayers (fun and silly way to pray with our entire bodies).  As we finished up the Bishop turned to me and said, “Is it like this every week?!” It was a joy to say, “Yes! Because this is who we are and who we are becoming! A joyful people to thoughtfully join together across many generations to learn, grow, and love.” I feel this to be true not just because of these reasons, but also for many more. We are a people that are walking with confidence into our future. We are a people that believe in and live out every single day the radical hospitality of Jesus Christ. And we are a people who do so with passion! Bishop Brown expressed joy and thanksgiving for his experience of Family Ministry. And the joy and thanksgiving didn’t stop there! What a gift to receive and confirm those who said “Yes, with God’s help!” at 10:30am worship. What a gift it was to welcome folks more deeply into the community. And what a gift to hear the Bishop’s sermon reminding us all that we are called to be part of sharing the good news and bringing new life to the church and the world. Part of my joy in reflecting on this past Sunday comes by way of wondering what we might be walking towards with God. I wonder how we will keep being this amazingly welcoming body of Christ as the world and church changes? I wonder how our intergenerational ways of being and willingness to try on new things might bring new life to this community and the wider church? I wonder how we will be the sheep and the shepherd and bring new life to the world? With love, Rev. Katie Holicky, Assistant Rector |
| FAMILY MINISTRIES SUNDAY WORSHIP  Join Us ForSunday Worship  Family MinistriesSunday Schedule 9 a.m. Modified Eucharist in the Great Hall and on Zoom. Followed by Family Group. Worship Booklet Here. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/96617111762?pwd=SGlCQmpXMnYvWTZCNkpzR2dnU1VqQT09 Meeting ID: 966 1711 1762 Passcode: church Family Group following worship. 12-1pm, 2nd & 4th Sundays Middle & High School Youth Group.  Summer Schedule Is HERE!Our first event is this Sunday, May 15th Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment 184 Burnett Road Freeport, Maine 04032 Leave after 9am Family Worship ends, bring a lunch or snacks for a picnic, stay as long as you like! We will carry on this summer with 9am Family Worship. We will not have a formal Family Group lesson, though the outside toys will be available for you to stay and enjoy playing in the Garden. While we will not be having Family Group, we WILL BE enjoying some fun outdoor activities together over the course of the summer. Keep an eye out for the summer schedule that will be shared soon!*Please fill out this updated registration form for children participating in Family Ministry offerings.9:30 am Sundays Family Group follows 9 am worship on Sundays. Join as we pray, play, and spend time in the story! This is an intergenerational space to learn and grow together. All are welcome! Please note: Wear a mask and practice physical distance. Family Group will not be meeting during the summer. Our final gathering will be after First Sundays Life Together worship on June 5th. Please check the summer gatherings schedule above. We hope you can join us for some summer fun! Hello St. Paul’s Middle and High School Youth! Please wear a mask! 2nd and 4th Sundays, 12-1pm Youth Group will not be meeting during the summer. Our end-of-school year gathering will be on May 22nd. Please check the summer gatherings schedule above. We hope you can join us for some summer fun! Safe Church Training https://episcopalmaine.org/resources/safe-church-training/The Diocese of Maine (“the Diocese”) is committed to the prevention of child abuse of all forms. The purpose of this policy is to help the church to be a safe place for all who worship, or minister, or come in any sort of need, including children, youth, 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.”Email Scams are on the uptick. Please note that neither the rector, any member of staff, or fellow parishioner will ask you for gift cards (or similar items), nor will we ask you if you’re ‘free now’ via email. Please don’t reply to these messages! If you want to check with the sender to confirm, contact them by phone or using an email address you know to be theirs. They are scams and these addresses should be reported to Google or your email provider. To report to Google, you may visit https://support.google.com/mail/contact/abuse. After reporting, block the sender from your account. HELP UKRAINIAN FAMILIES Your urgent support will help Episcopal Relief & Development provide humanitarian assistance to people fleeing the violence in Ukraine, working with ACT Alliance and our Anglican partners in Europe.SELECT YOUR DONATION AMOUNT CLICK HERE SUNDAY WORSHIP Sunday 10:30 a.m. Modified Festival Eucharist in the Nave and on FacebookClick on the link below to view from home: To watch on Facebook for the Worship Booklet for the St. Paul’s Announcements ReadingsActs 11:1-18Revelation 21:1-6John 13:31-35Psalm 148Lectionary PagePARISH ANNOUNCEMENTSPRAYER REQUESTS ** UPDATE ** Current Guidelines for Worship & Gatherings in the Building ** Maine has the highest infection rate to date in the country, therefore we are now HIGHLY recommending masks at all times in the building. ** Sunday Worship: Masks are required in the nave and for Family Worship. Congregational singing and Passing of the Peace are now permitted at 10:30 a.m. worship. Modified Eucharist with individual wafers will continue for now. Windows are cracked for ventilation. Both Pleasant Street and parking lot doors will be accessible. Gathering in the building: Masks are HIGHLY recommended. For meetings/gatherings with 15 people or larger the Great Hall and Upstairs choir rehearsal space are the only spaces available. Groups less than 15 may reserve the library or a classroom. Please contact Randy Day, Parish Administrator, at randyday@stpaulsmaine.org to reserve these spaces. If the group is singing, masks are required. Windows are cracked for ventilation. Graduates to be Celebrated! Please email us (katieholicky@stpaulsmaine.org or stpauls@stpaulsmaine.org) with the name of a loved one who is graduating from high school, college or graduate school. On June 5th, Pentecost Sunday, we will pray a blessing for our graduates at both services. Reaching Beyond Our Bounds: Help Us Expand Our Connection to People with New Systems for Soundand Online Streaming. Thank You for Contributing! Campaign Update: $15,874 donated to date. Reaching Beyond Our Bounds: Help Us Expand Our Connection to People with New Systems for Sound and Online Streaming Thanks to a bequest from the late Jo Belknap, we have the opportunity to expand our online worship capacity with a new live streaming system that will be accessed easily and reliably through the St. Paul’s website. . To make a contribution send a check designated to St. Paul’s with “digital upgrade” in the memo or donated through Breeze or at https://stpaulsmaine.org/giving/  The St. Paul’s Sacred Ground program was recently profiled in an article in the Times Record entitled “Brunswick-based Program on Race is Extending Membership”. This article explores the evolution of the Sacred Ground program, its impacts, and the expansion of the program into the broader Brunswick community. The article was also featured on the website of the Portland Press Herald on Monday, May 1st, spreading the word even more broadly. Learn more about Sacred Ground by visiting our website at https://stpaulsmaine.org/learning-sacred-ground-new/ or by contacting our Program Coordinator at SacredGroundME@gmail.com / (207)295-7856. A Sacred Ground Affinity Group meets on the 2nd Monday of the month at 1:30 p.m. in the Great Hall to further discuss the lessons learned in the Sacred Ground study. Those attending will explore Stephanie Speller’s most recent book The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline, and New Hope for Beloved Community. Contact the parish office to pick up your copy. Those wishing to offset the purchase of a book and shipping cost are invited to make a donation of $16. Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program MCHPP is a member of the Food Security Commission of the Mid Coast. It is comprised of over 25 food pantries, soup kitchens, farms and other groups. Their mission is to find ways to source food, fundraise, improve services, support the community, and increase their volunteer base. There is also a program that can provide seeds so that clients can grow their own vegetables. The seeds are provided at no cost. Despite this cooperation among agencies in the Mid Coast, food insecurity remains a erious problem. You can help with a donation in any amount to help MCHPP. Please send your donation to MCHPP, 12 Tenney Way, Brunswick, ME 04011. |
| The Messenger is published monthly, excluding January, and with a combined July/August issue. It is emailed to the parish. Paper copies are available at the church for those who prefer them. It is also mailed to those who do not have email. Please send submissions for the June issue by May 25.Articles may be emailed to stpauls@stpaulsmaine.org |
