What’s happening at St. Paul’s 7/8/2022
 Dear Friend, My late spouse John was a member of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association in New Jersey. With that membership came the joy of driving a preserved antique WWII Jeep in the Chatham, New Jersey Fourth of July Parade. I remember that first parade and all the joy, flags, bunting, crowds of families and kids three persons deep along the route cheering and waving. John let me wear his Marine Corps campaign cover (that’s what they call hats!) and I rode in the passenger side of the restored jeep. The Chatham Firefighters served hot dogs and soda to all participants as we came to the end of the route. This is the memory that comes to me as I write once again our elected officials to urge them to ban assault weapons. Honestly, I am thinking that a Fourth of July parade mass shooting could have happened in Chatham. The horror of the Highland Park July 4 assault on their peaceful town parade reinforces how vulnerable peaceful gatherings in small towns are. The shock and tragedy of more deaths and severe injuries are the result of another young man using assault weapons on parade-goers. More lives have been ruined forever on what had been a joyful community celebration in Highland Park. Recently, vestry member Ellen Hall and I were lamenting the toxicity of so much gun violence, division and conflict in this country. She shared with me a breathing technique that has helped strengthen her faith and bring her relative peace. She breathes a long breath out, imagining any pain, negativity, fear, anger going out. Then she takes a long breath in and imagines love, joy, and peace coming into her body. She also taught me another way to imagine the breathing that has helped her in these difficult times. She breathes out love, peace and joy into a broken and troubled world. And breathes in its sorrow, anger, pain and brokenness. She says that it helps to know she’s contributing to transformation for good in the world from her breath. I knew right away that I wanted to try it! This week, I’m imagining breathing out God’s love, Christ’s healing, and the Spirit’s wisdom in the world. And I’m breathing in hatred, division, tragedy, and conflict, and then I’m leaving it with God for healing. In God’s love and healing Spirit, Carolyn+ July 8-11 2022, The 80th Episcopal General Convention Resolutions and Live Feed of the House of Deputies and House of Bishops. https://media.episcopalchurch.org/video/ |
| FAMILY MINISTRIES SUNDAY WORSHIP Join Us For Sunday Worship Family 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.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.” Staff Vacations: June 30—July 13 Rev. Katie Holicky will be on vacation. July 2—July 9 Randy Day will be on vacation. Please contact Rev. Carolyn Eklund for any pastoral emergencies.July/August Messenger Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program MCHPP operates a food bank as one of their services. This began last August. Clients can call ahead and place an order for what they need. Since its beginning MCHPP has distributed over 20,000 pounds of food to 263 households. They expect this program to increase in the future. Much food for those program is donated but they still have to purchase some. Your donation will help keep this program operating. Please donate any amount that you can spare to MCHPP, 12 Tenney Way, Brunswick, ME. SUNDAY WORSHIP Sunday 10:30 a.m. Modified 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 Amos 7:7-17 Psalm 82 Colossians 1:1-14 Luke 10:25-37Lectionary PagePARISH ANNOUNCEMENTSCurrent Guidelines for Worship & Gatherings 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 the 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. PRAYER REQUESTSTuesday, July 12th noon to 5 pm: Blood Drive. This coming Tuesday is our first blood drive since 2019. The Red Cross is in constant need of blood for many reasons. Our blood drive is from 12:00 to 5:00 PM. To encourage donations the Red Cross will automatically enter every donor into a drawing to win a “Shark Package”. The package includes the following: a beach bike, smokeless fire pit, paddle board, kayak and a $500 dollar gift card. Donation times are still available. Please go to the Red Cross web site to sigh up. Don’t 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. |
| Saint Paul’s Weekly Calendar |
