Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Paul’s
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
OCTOBER 2010 — VOLUME 35, ISSUE 7
news
Another 9/11 has passed and all the
Church Events
tragedies of the day were recalled in a October
variety of ways. The TV gave coverage to
many of them. As I relived that day, one CANTERBURY MSU FALL
1
Little Things small TV piece came to light again. It was
just one ten-second sound bite that has 3
FEAST
BLESSING OFF THE BEASTS
become the staple of the medium. For just
By the Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller a moment, one of the people interviewed 4 4FS
shared why he was not in Tower One of 9 BAPTISM CLASSES
the WTC as he should have been. He MITTEN TREE APPEARS,
stopped to buy doughnuts for the office. MSU V U-M FOOD DRIVE,
He thought it would be a nice thing to do. 10
MATTHEW SHEPPARD
Because of this little thought and action on that fateful morning, his life was spared. MEMORIAL SERVICE, CROP
There were others who experienced the same thing. One missed the bus. Another’s WALK,
alarm clock didn’t go off. A third got a blister because he wore a new pair of shoes 12 B&PW
and needed to stop at the drug store for a Band-Aid. There are any number of stories
like this, and the most common question after the sigh of relief that they were spared 16 NEWCOMERS’ CLASSES
was/is, “Why?” People ask themselves if it was in God’s plan and why? Does God have INSTRUCTED EUCHARIST,
a reason or purpose for me to have survived? YOUTH CHRISTIAN EDUCA-
17 TION COMMITTEE, UNITY
As an answer to that, let me say “maybe.” God does have the ability to alter each per- BRUNCH
son’s life in some ways, maybe even when a person stops to buy doughnuts for his co- 18 4FS
workers. What I don’t believe in is predestination. Our lives are not all mapped out with 30 FALL BLOOD DRIVE
no possible deviation from a path. To believe in predestination denies one of God’s
31 MORNING PRAYER
(Continued on page 8)
4 F’s
By Nancy Sheldon
Please mark your calendars and join us for the 4 F’s Group in 2010-2011. This year, our meetings are the first and
third Mondays of each month (*exceptions noted). Anyone is invited who has time in the middle of the day!
12 noon Eucharist 12:30 p.m. Lunch ($4.00)
1 p.m. Bible Study (Steve Lange) 1:15-2 p.m. Program
October 4 – Potter Park Tour behind the scenes
October 18 – Maplewood Home for Women & Children (City Rescue Mission)
November 1 – Programs by Altar Guild and on Kneelers
November 15 – Overview of Lutheranism by Amanda Highben of University Lutheran Church
December 6 – Someko Singers Christmas Celebration (with Melanie Walker and Emily Laub)
*January 10 – Program on Australia, Fiji and New Zealand by Nancy Rudd
*January 24 – Program on Autism, its causes and treatments
February 7 – Visit to Ele’s Place (grief counseling for children)
February 21 – Rites of Passage
March 7 – Visit to Mt. Hope Assembly of God Church & Gideon Healing Center
*March 9 (Ash Wednesday) to April 24 (Easter) – 5 Lenten Book Reviews
May 2 – Visit the Buddhist Retreat Center (lunch & Eucharist at the Millars’)
May 16 – Annual Picnic, book review, planning session at Nancy Sheldon’s
Page 2
U-M v. MSU at St. Paul’s Matthew Sheppard
By the Rev. Deacon William Fineout Memorial Service
Who will win the football game? The important By the Very Rev. Dr Gordon F. Weller
question is who will win the St. Paul’s U-M v. MSU
food drive! Once again, this fall classic of food and Once again, on the Sunday closest to Matthew
donations for the Greater Lansing Food Bank will Sheppard’s Martyrdom date, St. Paul’s will conduct
happen here at St. Paul’s. Starting September 24 a Eucharist service of worship that speaks out
and finishing on Sunday, October 10, we ask each against hate crimes. Please plan on attending Octo-
of you to step up and donate on behalf of “your ber 10, at 7 p.m., and let your presence voice your
team.” According to our organizers, Pat and Tony support.
Smith and Nancy and Pete Sheldon, the U-M team
is the decided underdog based upon past drives.
Details will be posted in the Sunday bulletins.
Newcomer?
By the Very Rev. Dr. Baptisms on
Gordon F. Weller B&PW November 7
Are you new to the parish? Have By Nancy Rudd, Presi- All Saints Sunday, at the
questions about the Episcopal dent 10 a.m. Service
Church? Questions about St. Paul’s?
Want to explore what membership The October meeting of the It will again be time for our fall
means? Consider coming to a class B&PW Guild is Tuesday, baptisms. In preparation for this
offered on Saturday, October 16, October 12. We will meet sacrament of initiation, we have
at 9:30 a.m. We will try to answer in the Hill Room at 6 p.m. scheduled one class on October 9
all your questions at that time. In for dinner and a business for all people, including parents
addition, All Saints Sunday, Novem- meeting. Our program will and Godparents for children. It will
ber 7, is when we welcome by name be a talk by Bill Fineout. begin at 9:30 am and last until
and individual recognition our new Please call Debby Pierce 11:30. Depending on the number
fall members. Please identify your- for a reservation. Dinner is involved, there may be a need for
self to Fr. Weller or Evangelism $8. Join us for an evening other classes. They will be scheduled
chair, Sally Lawrence, so you can of delicious food, a pro- at the participants’ request. If inter-
be included. In addition, there is a gram, and great compan- ested, please contact Fr. Weller
Newcomer dinner on Saturday eve- ionship. and/or the parish office to reserve
ning, November 6, beginning at 6 a time.
p.m. There will be more news as we
get closer to that date.
Page 3
Morning Prayer
By the Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller
For the last 30 or more years, Eucharist has been our primary service of worship on Sunday morning. But there is an-
other service that was once used more frequently and is missed by many. It too can be used in the worship of God. It is
Morning Prayer. On Sunday, October 31 (the fifth Sunday of the month), we will have the service of Morning Prayer
as our principal service at 10 a.m. Please understand that we are not trying to replace Eucharist with Morning Prayer.
We are not returning to a previous time. We are trying to offer the widest variety of services in our worship of God
as we possibly can. This throwback service will please some, confuse others, and irritate some, but we hope it ener-
gizes all in their worship of God.
CarsINC
By John Irwin
We are pleased to report that the 14th car that CarsINC has placed is going to James. He is from the Sudan and is a stu-
dent at Grand Valley State. The placement of this car was made possible in part by the generous donation for the Suda-
nese Advancement Foundation.
We are eager to report that CarsINC now accepts Laptop computers and iPods for recycling. This is in addition to our cell
phones, inkjet and toner cartridges. You can not only help keep the environment green but help to place automobiles
where they can do the most good.
Page 4
Financial Information as of August 31, 2010
By Julie Young, Treasurer
Pledge income in August was $25,385. This brings year to date total pledge income to $193,448, which is 58 percent of
the annual budget amount. Operations for August had a net loss of $13,576.
There was one transfer required from the investment account into the operating account during August for $10,000. An
additional $20,000 transfer was made from the Perpetual Fund and was given as a loan to Father and Linda Weller per
vestry authorization. Payment in full, plus interest, is expected on this loan within 90 days.
The investment accounts/funds had a net loss of $17,288 for the month.
Vestry Highlights
On September 22, 2010 your Vestry: Heard a synopsis of RSVP
Brainstormed ideas about electronic communication
Had a meal together and evangelism
Did devotions together, Deacon Bill Fineout providing Were reminder about Canterbury Fall Feast
leadership, on the new Diocesan program, RSVP Were reminded about the dates we have signed up
(summarized elsewhere in this issue) for to provide dinner for the Canterbury MSU stu-
Had a long discussion with Joe DeLuca, from Maner, dents
Costerisan and Ellis about the cost overrun of our new Received a treasurer's report synopsis found else-
server where in this issue
Review the Clergy pension options Received various Committee reports
Received an update on the Pictorial Directory Did a mini janitorial review
Reviewed the Church credit card application Had a mini sound system review
Received a report on the float scheduled to be in the Ratified or pledge to the diocese ($45,503)
Silver Bells parade
Pass a motion for include the office manager’s
Reminded Vestry that calling of parishioners will need daughter in health insurance
to take place during the stewardship campaign
Approved money for first aid training for some ushers
Heard a reminder that all meetings, however small, so they could come back to train other ushers
need to be cleared through Kathleen in the front of-
fice
Needlepoint News
Mandy Lawton, Chairperson
A new memorial kneeler was installed this summer. Gordon and Nancy Milne had the kneeler made in memory of the
Frost Family.
The Frosts were long time members of St. Paul's. The Kneeler was stitched by Mary Tuckey, Nancy Milne, and Sue Millar.
The kneeler is on the left side of the church by the third pillar. Please take a look at the new "silent beauty" for St. Paul's.
The needlepoint committee refurnished the chair seats in the chapel. These seats had the original filling in them. They are
more comfortable now for our ministers.
Page 5
New Youth Group Blazes a Youth Group Potluck
Trail at St. Paul’s Planning Meeting
By Barbara Heany, Vestry Member By Barbara Heany, Vestry Member
For the first time ever, St. Paul’s will have a youth Parents and youth (grades 4-12) met on September 19
group to accommodate Grades 4 and 5. As our par- to organize and plan fellowship events and outreach
ish grows in vibrancy, with more and more youth, we projects for the coming year. All three youth groups
have felt the need for a fellowship for our younger shared a meal together and then broke off into their
youth approaching middle school. Larissa Clark will individual groups:
be the Youth Coordinator. Let’s all give Larissa our
love and support as she blazes a trail into the future the newly formed intermediate group for grades 4
of this much needed ministry. & 5 led by Larissa Clark
the junior high group for grades 6-8 led by Barb
Heany, and senior high group led by Judi Brown-
Clarke.
The youth groups are looking forward to an exciting
year. Look for a schedule of events in next month’s SPN
issue.
RSVP
By the Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller
Here is a logo and some initials you will be hearing a lot of in the coming months
and years. The initials stand for “Revitalization and Strategic Vision Planning” for
the Diocese of Michigan. They represent the Diocesan attempt to achieve a common vision and goal for all the parishes.
During the coming months and years, we will have special events and messages that will be used around the Diocese to
help start and promote this effort. A group from across the Diocese has been working on this for almost a year. It is sched-
uled to make a presentation to the whole diocese at the convention in October.
Page 6
Choir News
Choir Newsletter
A big “welcome back” to all the choristers and their families. It was great to have all of you together on September
12. What a wonderful, uplifting, exciting addition you were to the service. It was indeed a joyful noise (emphasis on
joyful!) that you made. Your gift of time and talent enriched and blessed all those present. Thank you!
Singing Schedule
Date Choirs Date Choirs
October 3 Cherubs, Boys’ and Grace, High School November 7 Boys’ and Grace, High School, Chan-
cel* (Because it is All Saints’ Sunday)
October 10 High School, Chancel
November 14 High School, Chancel
October 17 High School, Chancel
November 21 High School, Chancel
October 24 High School, Chancel
November 28 High School, Chancel
October 31* Chancel Choir (*Because this is a Morn-
ing Prayer Sunday, the Boys’ and Grace
Choirs and the High School Choir will be
in church school classes for the entire
time of the service.)
Page 7
Mission and Outreach Activities
Requests for Prayer
October Where is Christ calling you to help others? We pray for those who are sick and in need: Cindy
Robinson, Shelley Robinson, Mason Hill, Lois
1 Canterbury MSU Fall Feast & Auction Caswell, Marjorie Belles, Barb Powers, Skip &
Canterbury MSU dinner at St. Paul’s Marsha Macholz, Tom Foltz, Bill, Jan Bigham,
3
Max Sutton, John & Grace Hawkins, Maureen,
10 Crop Walk, Food Drive ends, Christian Ser- Noah, Jared Miller, Pat Amundson, Emilio Garcia,
vices Hat and Mitten Tree begins Lloyd Law, Ray Benner, Andrea Ingraham, Mary-
Lea Benson, Jacob Thomas, Pat Reno, RuthAnn
30 Fall Blood Drive Lubben, Lee Kinney, Ellie Freed, Raymond White,
Housing Assistance Fund, Fruit & Greens Sale Susan Irish, and Marquerite Upham.
We pray and remember those in the Military, serv-
November ing in dangerous areas: Jeff Doorlag and Justin
Murphy.
TBD ECW United Thank Offering
We pray for comfort for the family & friends of
14-21 Thanksgiving Baskets Army Ranger Spc. Bradley Rappuhn, Martha Flo-
res and Steve Berger, who recently passed away.
December We pray for and celebrate the birth of Benjamin
David Hall to parents Kym & Matt Hall, and big
5 Canterbury MSU dinner at St. Paul’s sister, Hannah; and Mallory Lane Barris to parents
Sacha Mallory & Seth Barris.
Sudanese Education Fund
We pray for guidance and continual help in all our
24-25 Layette Gifts for the Christ child doings here at St. Paul’s.
Ongoing
1st Sunday Manna Sunday, loose and dedicated offer-
ings for street ministry, busing and work boots;
Youth Noisy Offering for local charities
Heifer Gift Cards
Prayer Quilts
CarsINC
Habitat for Humanity
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