What’s Happening at St. Paul’s 6/24/2022
| Dear Friend, From the very earliest days of the Church around 64 CE, the two apostles, Peter and Paul have been celebrated on the same feast day, June 29. These two weren’t exactly “bosom buddies.” They argued about what was to be “in” the new faith and who needed a special “entrance” into the faith. Our patron saint Paul is who we will celebrate on Sunday, July 3 when we gather for First Sundays, Life Together at one service, 10:30 a.m. I have always been fond of St. Paul because of his passion for sharing the meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection for all people and his continuous message of love. He, a Jewish scholar and early persecutor of Christians, came to know Christ personally through the dramatic conversion experience on the road to Damascus as he traveled to persecute more Christians. I would say that his conversation was two-pronged: first, Christ had to get his attention by knocking him off the horse and blinding him (Acts 9); second, he needed a hospitable household and community in which to heal. Ananias, who did NOT at first want anything to do with Paul (named Saul at the time) recognized his role to offer home and healing for Paul’s recovery. The one thing I learned on my sabbatical trip following Paul’s steps in Turkey and Greece was Paul’s deep desire to pass along the Good News of Jesus in a way that drew the people of his communities together. He was deeply concerned to draw people from the margins into the way of Christ to the center of the faith community. His absolutely stunning reflection on love in community many of us are familiar with in First Corinthians 13 demonstrates the divine hospitality of “faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.” He received this love first hand and passed it on for the rest of his life. As we stood outside the agora in Corinth our tour guide pointed to the high hill above the ancient city called the acropolis. There, the pagan temple was located and that was where the temple prostitutes lived and worked. These women were likely slaves. Our tour guide described them as utter outcasts and had shaved heads unlike the women in fine households below who prided themselves in their long, beautiful hair. The story goes that, as Paul taught in this affluent community, he shared the humility of Jesus and suggested that the women of households cover their heads completely in solidarity with the temple prostitutes whom Paul was evangelizing in that community. Whether or not this story is true or local Greek legend, I immediately thought of Paul’s words in First Corinthians 13, “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs…” This passage of love is the spirit of hospitality God has given us at St. Paul’s. It’s as if God has planted this passage of love in community from our patron saint into our hearts. Next Sunday, July 3, we will not only remember Independence Day weekend, but we will also immerse ourselves in the celebration of our patron saint, Paul of Tarsus, who gathered Jew and Gentile alike into the community of love, the Church. In the “…greatest of these…” love, Carolyn+ |
| FAMILY MINISTRIES SUNDAY WORSHIP  Join Us ForSunday WorshipFamily Ministries Sunday 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 Please note starting 6/12 there is no Family Group or Youth Group this summer. Outside toys will be available for folks to enjoy in the garden after 9am worship. Summer Schedule Is HERE!Join us for various activities and outings throughout the summer! Waivers are required for every participant. Our Next gatherings are: Sunday 7/17 Waterfront Day at the home of the Wigg-Golek family in Harpswell Wednesday 7/27 Concert on the Mall, 6-7:30 pm Meet in St. Paul’s parking lot at 5:30 pm, and walk over together. The entire Parish is invited to join us!We will carry on this summer with 9 am 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. *Please fill out this updated registration form for children participating in Family Ministry offerings. Join us for First Sundays Life Together worship on July 3rd at 10:30 am i n the Nave and on Facebook Live! We will celebrate the Feast of Saint Paul! Safe Church Traininghttps://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.”We Celebrate Pride Month in June!  Staff Vacations: June 30—July 13 Rev. Katie Holicky will be on vacation. July 2—July 9 Randy Day will be on vacation. The office will be closed Monday, July 4th. Please contact Rev. Carolyn Eklund for any pastoral emergencies. SUNDAY WORSHIPSunday 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 Readings 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 Galatians 5:1,13-25 Luke 9:51-62Lectionary PageCURRENT GUIDELINES FOR WORSHIP AND GATHERINGS IN THE BUILDINGPARISH ANNOUNCEMENTSPRAYER REQUESTSWebinar July 29: The History and Contemporary Reality of Black Communities in Maine: Participants will learn about the history of slavery and racism in Maine, including the role of eugenics and the term Vacationland. Presenters will talk about our shared ancestry and how slavery has impacted the way the world functions today. Participants will also learn specific examples of racism and how it plays out in communities. Enroll at https://www.nephtc.org/enrol Sacred Ground Taking New Registrations  You may have heard about the honest conversations on race that are happening in the Sacred Ground program. Maybe you’ve even considered enrolling but stopped short for one reason or another. Now you have another chance! We are currently taking registrations for circles beginning this summer and fall. We offer groups on Zoom and in-person, and we make the schedule based on participant availability. We also hope to offer a “no-tech” circle for participants who are not comfortable using email or accessing course materials online (hard-copy registration forms are available outside Randy’s office and can be put in Andrea Lauerman’s box when completed). Sacred Ground is for anyone who wants to understand racism more clearly and envision how we might move forward in a different way. No matter where you are in your understanding of these issues, you are welcome here!Learn more 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. Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program Now that school is out, MCHPP has started their summer lunch program. They have established seven sites that will provide free lunches for children 18 and under. All children are eligible for this program, no questions asked. Please visit their website to find the locations and times. https://www.mchpp.org/ 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 Invitation to Help the Country Store: Strawberry season will soon be here, followed by the delicious blueberries Maine offers. There’s nothing better than fresh, homemade jam on breakfast toast! The Country Store at the Yuletide Magic Marketplace offers jams and jellies, along with pickles, salsa, honey, and a variety of canned items all homemade from local gardens and farms. If you are making some of these items, please consider making a few extra for the Country Store. We have canning jars available if you need some. And, Carol Martin will be doing an instructional workshop in August on the art of canning. More information about the date and time of that event will follow in the coming weeks. If you are not a canner, be sure to stop by the Country Store on December 3rd to purchase some of these homemade treats made with love by St. Paul’s parishioners. You’ll be glad you did! Saturday, July 16th: Newcomer’s Brunch at St. Paul’s 10:00—noon. You are invited if you’ve visited or joined St. Paul’s in the last two years! |
| Saint Paul’s Weekly Calendar |
