St. Paul's News - December, 2008

St. Paul's Episcopal Church Lansing Michigan

St. Paul's News Tiny Tim and Charlie Brown

December, 2008

By The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller any of our most loved Christmas stories are born out of pain and suffering. Tiny Tim was on a crutch. The hills of Appalachia have provided tales of sorrow and happiness interwoven with the sentiments of Christmas. In The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, the Herdmans were a “pack” of misbehaving children underappreciated by all. Even Cindy Lou Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas or Charlie Brown in A Charlie Brown Christmas have their moments of sorrow.

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The Rev. Dr. Gordon Weller

This Christmas threatens to be one with many of those kinds of stories filling the newspaper and evening news programs. People are losing their homes, sometimes set out on the street with no place to go. And, while I think it is not right that consumerism overwhelms the spirit of Christmas, this year will be a financial disaster for many. Some businesses will close, stores will close, and jobs will be lost. Sorrows will abound. The paradox of some of this is the way we romanticize the story of Mary, Joseph and Jesus. In reality it was a story of sorrows. It was about an unwed mother, an unyielding Roman Empire forcing unreasonable travel, no room at the inn and a child being hunted down by a murderous King Herod. What brings all these stories together is the ability of God to transcend the sorrowful reality of (Continued on page 12)

“There is No Security Without Giving” St. Paul’s Celebrates Invitation Sunday with Dr. Steve McSwain By John Nevin, Vestry Member n All Saints Sunday, St. Paul’s welcomed philanthropy expert Dr. Steve McSwain as guest preacher. The key message was that there is no security in possessions and that the only real measure of security we can achieve is through our faith in Jesus Christ and by sharing God’s blessings. Invited to the parish by the Stewardship Committee, McSwain explained to the St. Paul’s family that many people don’t contribute more because of the mistaken notion that they can achieve security through a savings account. McSwain said that the recent market crash and financial crisis were clear evidence that those who seek security by hoarding what they have will be sorely disappointed. Invitation Sunday was covered by Channel 10 and Channel 6, and Dr. McSwain was also interviewed by local radio stations, including 1240-WJIM and 1320-WILS.

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The service on November 2 was followed by a Unity Brunch prepared by the ECW. We were even blessed by a preview of the upcoming production of “Godspell.” In particular, the Stewardship committee is very grateful to Max and Debby Pierce and to Barb Richardson and Libby Richardson for making the brunch such a success.

(Continued on page 12)

Volume 33, Issue 10 Inside this issue: Calendar

13

Choir Schedule

7

Mission and Outreach

8

Prayer List

6

St. Paul’s News Upcoming Activities

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St. Paul's News Activities at a Glance

Ongoing Activities • St. Aelred’s Guild, third Wednesday, 4:30 PM • Book Cart, 1st and 2nd Sunday after 10 AM • B&PW, Tuesday, December 9, 6:15 PM • ECW, 3rd Monday, 7 PM • Family Night Dinner, Wednesdays, 5 PM • 4 Fs, 2nd and 4th Mondays (except as noted) Noon2 PM • St. Paul’s Library, open every Sunday • Prayer Group, 1st Tuesday, 5:30-6:30 PM • Men’s Breakfast, 3rd Thursday, 7 AM • Mid-Week Eucharist, Tuesdays, noon This Month at St. Paul’s and Elsewhere • Quiet Morning Saturday, December 6, 9-noon

• Men of Orpheus, Friday, December 12, 7 PM • Lange Ensemble, Sunday, December 14, 7 PM • The Gathering Holiday Party, December 19, at the

Gut home, 7-9 PM

• Lessons & Carols, Sunday, December 21, 10 AM

Looking Ahead • Ministry Retreat, January 8-10, 2009 • Baptisms, January 11, 2009 • Parish-wide Book Read, beginning the week of January 11, 2009 • Annual Meeting, Sunday, January 25, 10 AM • Voyaging on the Dawn Treader, Friday, January 30, 2009 • ACTION, April 28, May 12, 2009 7 PM • 160th Anniversary Celebration, May, 2009

Help Fill the Mitten Tree By The Rev. Ronald C. Byrd, Sr., Curate t is once again my honor to be the mitten tree program coordinator during the four weeks of Advent. Last year I was privileged to deliver nearly 100 mittens and a number of gloves, hats and scarves to Cristo Rey. Your generous donations were met with excitement and appreciation, and I can only say that this was another job well done St. Paul’s!

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Please target your contributions for children age 0 – 5. This year’s Mitten Tree offering will be given to Christian Services, which will distribute the collected efforts to the WIC Office (Women, Infants, and Children) and Head Start Classrooms. Mitten and hats too large for 5 year olds will be given to Judson Memorial Baptist’s Love Clothing Center in Lansing. I’m confident that the members of St. Paul’s will surpass last year’s collection by bringing new mittens, scarves, hats, and gloves to decorate the Christmas tree in the cloister. This is a warm and wonderful gift we can give our brothers and sisters to prepare for the harsh Michigan winter ahead.

B&PW

St. Elizabeth Corporate Communion

By Barbara Richardson

By Debby Pierce

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he December 9 meeting will feature Dr. Stephen and Mrs. Lange with a program of Christmas music.

Dinner is at 6:15 p.m. in the Hill Room and costs $8. Everyone is welcome and for a reservation, please contact Debby Pierce. We invite you to join us for a wonderful evening of holiday food and beautiful music.

The December meeting on St Elizabeth Guild will be a Corporate Communion at the 8 a.m. service to be followed by brunch and a musical program. Vicki Walker and her daughter, Melanie will entertain us with a selection of Christmas music. For additional information and to make reservations, please call Debby Pierce.

December 2008

St. Paul's News

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Christmas Eve Collection By the Rev. Deacon Bill Fineout nce again the St. Paul’s community will step up and provide layette items for newborns. This year’s Christmas Eve collection will go to Christian Services – Small Children’s Closet at Pilgrim UCC. They partner with social workers at Ingham Regional Medical (Pennsylvania Campus) and Sparrow Hospitals who give needy moms a voucher for the items. The Small Children’s Closet provides a LOVE Layette that contains all new clothing and items to bring their babies home from the hospital. Christian Services follows up with a call to see if they need an appointment for other clothing and needs that can be met through the Christian Services Church network.

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2008 Christmas Services Wednesday, December 24, Christmas Eve 4 p.m. 10:30 p.m. 11 p.m.

Family/Children’s Service Special Music Choral Eucharist

Thursday , December 25 , Christmas Day 10 a.m.

Eucharist

In our celebration of Christ’s birth, let us remember those in need with generous gifts of baby bottles, diapers, formula, clothes, etc.

Cookies for Lessons and Carols By Lyn Zynda, ECW President ollowing the Festival of Lessons and Carols on December 21, St. Paul’s presents the annual Christmas Tea. The members of the Episcopal Church Women’s Steering Committee polish the silver, dust off the “good” china and glass punch cups, decorate the Merrifield Room and arrange the cookies, breads and dessert bars in anticipation of this time-honored event.

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Perhaps newer members of the church wonder where all the delicious cookies come from. From you, dear friends, from you. Traditionally, every female member of St. Paul’s is automatically a member of ECW and we depended on the women to provide the sweets for this eagerly anticipated event. But, because this is the 21st century and we are an inclusive bunch, we will gladly accept cookies and such from St. Paul’s folk of all genders. (Personally, I think we should rename the group ECP — Episcopal Church People.) Now, I recognize this is a busy time. There are a myriad of reasons not to participate, but be honest, do you really want to see this event fade away? There’s something really special about seeing the kids dressed up in their Christmas finery with a cookie in each hand and chocolate on their faces. Please contribute by bringing three dozen of your best cookies or dessert bars. Perhaps a coffee cake or sweet bread better fits your baking skills. Whatever! What’s is important is that we all do our part. If you have questions or need further information, give me a call at 202-6992.

December 2008

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St. Paul's News

4 F’s Looking Back Helps Us to Look Forward By Nancy Sheldon

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sually the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month (exceptions noted *due to Town Hall conflict): • • • •

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12 noon Eucharist 12:30 p.m. Lunch ($4.00) 1 p.m. Bible Study (Steve Lange) 1:15-2 p.m. Program

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Anyone is invited who has time in the middle of the day! Please sign up for lunch outside the Merrifield Room or call the Church office for a reservation.

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• December 8 - We will continue our annual

tradition of a Christmas celebration with a special luncheon before a concert in the church. Since Nancy Lange is no longer the Choral

Director in Grand Ledge, we’ve invited the Someko singers from Okemos, as our own Matt Nauss is a member of this talented Okemos High School group. January 12 - Fr. Weller will give us a presentation on the Roman Catholic Church and how it presently relates to the Episcopal Church by comparing and contrasting the two faiths. January 26 - We will visit the Cathedral of St. Mary and have someone there guide us and talk to us about the cathedral and the Catholic faith. February 9 - Steve Lange will give us a presentation on the Wesley brothers and the relationship of Methodism to Episcopalianism. February 23 - We will visit Central United Methodist church next door and tour their facilities. We will also continue our conversation with Joe Huston, their minister, about the Methodist church and their faith.

gãÉ ZÜxtà Z|yà \wxtá yÉÜ à{x [ÉÄ|wtç fxtáÉÇM ERD Gifts for Life Catalog

ERD Bishops Blend Coffee vailable for purchase almost every Sunday. Over 20 percent of the cost supports the work of ERD, plus you are supporting a Fair Trade product that assures individual coffee farmers a fair price for coffee that is shade-grown without pesticides or fertilizers, protecting the environment.

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By Sue Millar lovely new ERD Gifts for Life catalog is available in the cloister to help you honor your loved ones this holiday season when you provide a donation to ERD’s live-saving work. Your gift could be in the form of a mosquito net that prevents the spread of deadly malaria. Or you could provide animals that give food and a livelihood or support a sanitation system for a village. This catalog gives us another opportunity for a win-win transaction. Be inventive, be generous and be glad.

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Visit the Book Cart Twice in December By Sue Millar he Book Cart will be available for the first two Sundays in December in order to provide greater opportunities for your purchase of books, jewelry or T-shirts for folks on your Christmas list. You could also place special orders for prayer books and/or bibles, and there is plenty of time to have a name embossed, which is a nice personal touch. Of course, if you browse the table, there’s always the chance that you will find a book that will appeal to your own interests. So do stop by.

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December 2008

St. Paul's News Music to Punctuate the Christmas Season

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The Advent/Christmas celebrations will get into full swing with special music at several of St. Paul’s services. Advent Lessons and Carols will be held on Suneveral Choral Concerts will highlight St. Paul’s day, December 23, during the 10 a.m. service, reChristmas celebrations this year. First will be a counting in seven lessons, the fall and redemption of Christmas concert by the Men of Orpheus, an all-male humanity. All of St. Paul’s choirs, including the Handbell singing group from Lansing. Directed by former parish- Choir, will join in this annual musical preparation for ioner Gayle Pohl, the Men of Orpheus will present a the celebration of Jesus’ birth. concert of lighter Christmas music. Their concert will be Three days later, St. Paul’s will celebrate again with Friday, December 12, at 7 p.m. Tickets will be availtwo Christmas Eve services, which will also feature speable at the door. cial music. At the 4 p.m. Family Service, the Cherub Second, the Lange Choral Ensemble will present its an- Choir and the Boys’ and Grace Choirs will sing an annual Christmas concert on Sunday, December 14 at 7 them. The 11 p.m. Festival Eucharist service, featuring p.m. Entitled “Christmas Music for Brass, Organ, and the singing of many carols, will be preceded by a half Choir,” the concert will feature several Renaissance hour of Christmas music, presented by St. Paul’s musitwo-choir numbers, “Christmas Cantata” by Daniel cians. The music will include pieces for soloists, choir, Pinkham, several settings of well-known carols, and handbell choir, and brass quartet. several movements of “Magnificat” by John Rutter. Tickets for the concert are $8 for adults and $6 for children and seniors.

By Dr. Stephen R. Lange, Minister of Music

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Join “The Gathering” for an Advent Party By Millie Ericson elebrate the Holidays with friends, food and music featuring live jazz with Jeff Kressler and Associates. Join us on Friday, December 19, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the home of Larry and Kathy Gut, 5553 Wild Iris Lane, Haslett. Please Note: This is a new date to accommodate Jeff’s schedule.

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Jointly sponsored by the Parish Life Committee and Episcopal Relief and Development, the event is open to all adults in the Parish and their friends. Bring either an appetizer or dessert and wine to share. You will have an opportunity to celebrate the Spirit of the Season by making a donation to Episcopal Relief and Development. Information about ERD will be available at the party. Sign up on the sheet outside the Merrifield Room.

Yes, the ERD Used Book Sale Will Return By Sue Millar or those of you who are already setting aside books for this spring’s sale, that’s well and good. For the rest of you, this is a request and reminder to begin filling boxes or bags to help us re-circulate your good books while raising money for ERD’s efforts to bring safe drinking water where it is now lacking. We will put out collection boxes in January. And remember, no magazines, computer manuals or texts, please. CDs and DVDs welcome. Thank you.

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December 2008

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St. Paul's News

Vestry Elections By The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller ive new members will be elected to the Vestry at the January 25 Annual Meeting. One will be our youth member. This position, created in 2006, is for a one-year period and is filled by a young person nominated by a youth caucus, which will be held in early January, and then elected at the Annual Meeting. The outgoing Youth Representative is Stephen Karauki. Thank you, Stephen, for your time and efforts. The other four positions have been admirably occupied by Sr. Warden, Charlie Krupka, and Vestry members Susan Henderson, Kelly Gmazel and John Nevin, who is completing an unexpired term. We thank them for their service as well. These four positions will be filled at the Annual Meeting. To qualify you must be:

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A Baptized member At least 16 years of age Regular in attendance A contributor to the life of the congregation with time, talent and treasure Willing to attend a minimum of 10 Vestry meetings a year Willing to chair a Vestry committee

Willing to attend a Vestry retreat at the Weber Center on February 6-7, 2009 If you would be willing to serve or would like to nominate someone, please confirm that person’s willingness and submit his or her name in writing through the parish office. As always, nominations from the floor of the Annual Meeting will be accepted if the consent of the person nominated has been obtained.

e pray for those who are sick and in need: Cindy Robinson, Richard, Audrie and Aaron Hegmon, Shelley Robinson, Mason Hill, Erik Lindquist, Charles Weaver, Chance Collins, Barb Hacker, Darrick, Marjorie Belles, Aleda, Dave, Kathryn Senko, Barb Powers, Patricia Reno, Skip and Marsha Macholz, Carrie, Michael Skinner, Edward Such, Virginia Jessop, Mason Beasley, Judy Jones, Mary McClelland, Ken Vogel, Berthella Hockert, MaryLea Benson, Cambria McMillen, and Marguerite Upham.

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We pray and remember those in the Military, serving in dangerous areas: Daniel Reno, David Granger, Bill Sheldon, and Michael Benson. We pray for comfort: for the family and friends of Vivian Toomey, Richard Edwards, Mary Olds, and Clement Laurion, who passed away recently. We pray for the recently baptized: Hannah Violet Hall, daughter of Matthew and Kimberly (Kym) Hall, Thomas James Hilbert, son of Douglas and Shelly Hilbert, and Kate Brooks Waugh, daughter of John and Elana Waugh. We pray for those expecting: Sarah (Weller) and Joseph Evenden, Linda and Don Junger, Amanda and Darrick Alvarez, Summer (Sleight) and Jake Stevens, and Brooke and Ian Broughton.

December 2008

Choirs News St. Paul'

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Choir Newsletter and Dates to Remember By Dr. Stephen R. Lange, Minister of Music Special Dates to Note:  Thursday, December 25 — There will be no Chancel Choir rehearsal  Wednesday, December 31 and Thursday, January 1 — There are no rehearsals  We will resume the normal singing schedule on Sunday, January 4 and Wednesday, January 7. 

Singing Schedule Date

Choirs

December 7 December 14 December 21 Lessons and Carols December 24 4 p.m. Family Eucharist 11 p.m. Choral Eucharist December 28

Boys’ and Grace; High School High School; Chancel All Choirs: Cherubs, Boys’ and Grace, High School, Chancel Cherubs; Boys’ and Grace High School; Chancel Choirs will not be vesting

January 4 January 11 January 18 January 25

High School and Chancel High School and Chancel High School and Chancel High School and Chancel

Annual Meeting By The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller he Annual Meeting will be held on January 25, 2009, immediately following the 10 a.m. service. This will be a very important meeting as we will review our activities in 2008, our hopes for 2009 and elect Vestry members for three-year terms. Please make every effort to attend. Child care will be provided.

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December 2008

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St. Paul's News

Water for Life: Church World Service Collection Ends December 14 By the Rev. Deacon Bill Fineout ll water bottle “piggy banks” are due, along with other donations, by Sunday, December 14, when we end this year’s special Millennium Development Goals project. For the last six months, we have handed out bottled water donated by Meijer, and we have asked parishioners to fill the empty bottles with money.

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Church World Service will use our collective donation to support places like Kenya. Mary Obiero, coordinator for the Water for Life program in Kenya, said that only 61 percent of the rural population has access to an improved drinking water source. “It is the responsibility of women and girls in Kenya and Africa, in general, to fetch water. In the arid and semi -arid areas of Kenya, where we work, they walk an average of between seven and 13 miles round-trip in search of water. The first priority… is to increase the supply of potable water for households in water-stressed communities, and to reduce the distance women and girls walk,” she said. “We are also providing water to schools, because teachers also send the girls out to search for it, making them miss valuable class time.” Closer proximity to potable water keeps women in the community and girls in schools, also providing access to better sanitation facilities. If you haven’t taken a bottle of water yet, please do and enjoy it, fill the bottle with money and return it on December 14. Let’s “dig deep” for good water. Water for Life!

Mission and Outreach Activities: Where is Christ calling you to help others? November 15—December 15

May 21

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Sudan Education Project 2009

Ascension Day - Deacon's Dinner

December 13

May

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Housing Assistance Fund – Fruit and Greens Pickup

Sudan Education Project for 2010

December/Advent

Ongoing:

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• Outreach Committee meeting, second Monday,

Youth - Mitten Tree

December 14 •

MDG – Water for Life Ingathering/Wrap up

December 24 •

Gifts for the Christ Child

April 1—December 13, 2009 •

5:30 p.m.

• Manna Sundays for street ministry (busing/work • • • •

boots) Water for Life Heifer International Prayer quilts Cars INC

Check the Newsletter articles and the Sunday Bulletin

Episcopal Relief and Development or Heifer InternaAnnouncements for additional details and informational

tion.

April 12-26 •

Food Drive—Food Bank

December 2008

St. Paul's News

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Financial Information as of October 31, 2008 By Jeff Irwin As of October 31, 2008, pledge revenue collected was $242,736, which is 81.4% of this year’s budget. This puts us very close to meeting our pledge income for 2008. The operating loss was $125,381, including $17,209 recorded in the month of October. The designated and restricted funds recorded a slight gain of $519 in market value in October. For the first ten months, the loss in investment value was $64,325. With contributions, the funds’ net income was $23,178. The combined net income of operations and funds is a $102,203 loss. Through November 13, 2008, it has been necessary to withdraw a total of $100,000 from the Perpetual Fund in order to make payroll and pay outstanding bills. An additional $3,200 has been withdrawn from the Perpetual Fund for special purposes authorized by the vestry.

Vestry Highlights On Tuesday evening, November 17, your Vestry:

∼ Stewardship report of 100 pledges so far in

• Enjoyed dinner together • Approved the October minutes • Shared devotions on where we find God in life

∼ Reviewed Adult Christian Education programs

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changing moments Received a draft of the 2007 audit Continued discussion on the 2009 budget. This evening’s discussion centered on Diocesan Support and Staff Compensation Received a report on the revamping of our web site Discussed LAEP (Lansing Area Episcopal Projects) representation Reviewed Vestry calling with an eye to the calling scheduled for early January, 2009 Received various committee reports and noted: ∼ B&G Reported flat roof leaks

the amount of $230,132

to be presented in the spring

• Noted a new, less expensive, color copier for the •

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office Appointed Charlie Krupa, Susan Henderson, John Nevin and Kelly Gamazel (the out going Vestry members) as the nominating committee for the 2009 Annual Meeting Discussed the possible need for and opportunities available for fund raising in the 2009 period Agreed to the need for a Shawver Fund long range planning committee Noted that the deadline for reports to be included in the Annual Report booklet is January 3, 2009 Received clergy reports

Healing Prayer in the Style of Taize oin us on Friday, January 16, 2009 for a quiet evening of Healing Prayer in the Style of Taize at St. David's Episcopal Church, 16200 W. Twelve Mile Rd., in Southfield. The Taize starts at 7 p.m. in the church sanctuary. The sanctuary will be open at 6:30 p.m. for anyone who would like quiet meditation. During the service, there will be clergy and prayer team members available for individual prayer and anointing. Anyone who would like to participate in the choir should arrive at 6 p.m. for rehearsal. Also at 6 p.m., in the Parish Hall, there will be a short class on the healing aspects of Christ's ministry. Immediately following the healing service, a prayer labyrinth will be available in the Parish Hall. This is an nondenominational service and is open to everyone. For further information, call the church office at 248-557-5430.

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The Gathering “Coffee House at St. Paul’s” By Millie Ericson n November 7, the Merrifield Room was turned into a 60s/70s style coffee house and about 45 people enjoyed the waft of freshly brewed coffee and the sounds of folk music from the “New St. Paul’s Minstrels,” a.k.a. various talented members of the congregation, singing such classics as “Imagine,” “Puff the Magic Dragon,” “Country Roads” and “This Land is Your Land.” Thank you to Max and Debby Pierce for so skillfully transforming the Merrifield Room. Thanks to Larry Clark for all his hard work in organizing the music and sound system. Thanks to all the singers for joyfully entertaining. Thanks to the members of the Parish Life Committee for all their contributions. Watch for return of this fun event next year!

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The New St. Paul’s Minstrels Deborah McMartin-Finkel, Carol Ingells and Larry Clark

ACTION Chooses the 2008-2009 Topic for Justice Ministry By the Rev. Deacon Bill Fineout n the October ACTION Problem Assembly meeting held at St. Paul’s, with representatives from all ACTION churches attending, a vote was taken to choose this year’s subject for research. The focus will be on “centralized helping services and agencies for those in need,” so people will not have to travel from one end of town to the other to get assistance. The ACTION research team (which you may join) will explore this to see if changes can be made for the sick and needy who now have to travel to many places. Usually the people who have the greatest need do not have their own transportation or have problems which don’t allow them easy travel.

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We hope you will join your St. Paul’s ACTION team again in May when we need all of you to attend the Nehemiah ACTION Assembly, on Tuesday, May 12. Please put this on your calendars now, and make it an Outreach priority.

December 2008

St. Paul's News

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Communications and Evangelism Committee: On the Move! By Stephanie VanKoevering, Vestry Member wo St. Paul’s committees joined forces in October. The Communications Committee officially merged with the parish Evangelism Committee to strengthen and support a program of streamlined, intensive public relations activities. The new committee is now co-chaired by Roger Fowler and Stephanie Van Koevering.

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The committee has already begun working on website refinements and a media plan for the parish’s 160th anniversary. These projects are expected to lead to renewed interest in the spiritual, cultural and mission-oriented resources St. Paul’s has to offer. In November, committee members helped support Invitation Sunday with press materials and outreach to local reporters. Newcomers were also welcomed at an annual dinner gathering at the home of Larry and Kathy Gut. In the weeks and months ahead, the committee will continue to accomplish its action plan objectives and seek new ideas and members. Parishioners with an active interest in strengthening St. Paul’s connection with the community are encouraged to consider becoming part of this vital, active committee. Please contact one of the committee chairs or speak with Fr. Weller if you are interested in becoming involved.

“One Church, Many Journeys” Parish-Wide Book Read By Millie Ericson oth Book Read titles, (Contempt of Court, the turn-of-the-century lynching that launched 100 years of Federalism, by Mark Curriden and Leroy Phillips, Jr. for adults; and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C.S. Lewis, 3rd book in the Chronicles of Narnia, continuing the story of Prince Caspian, for families) are now available from the St. Paul’s book cart at a discounted price.

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Book groups will be formed to meet in January to discuss Contempt of Court. If you would like to host a discussion group in your home or facilitate the group, please sign up on the sheet outside the Merrifield Room. Each group will meet for one afternoon or evening a week for three consecutive weeks beginning the week of January 11. An exciting family event, “Voyaging on the Dawn Treader,” will be held on Friday, January 30. Calling all creative “St. Paulites.” If you have skills or interest in carpentry, set design, art/drawing, creating game ideas, drama, costuming, school carnival development, Bible school/Sunday school planning (or just like to have fun), your skills are needed on an Event Design Team for this family fun night. Contact Millie Ericson to become part of this exciting team.

Notes about the books: Contempt of Court is a real life legal/court room thriller every bit as compelling as anything written by John Grisham. The book tells the story of a case that was (in the words of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall) “perhaps the first instance in which the [Supreme] Court demonstrated that the Fourteenth Amendment and the equal-protection clause have any substantive meaning to people of the African-American race. Importantly for us, it is a story of Christians acting out their witness to seek justice, even in the face of great risk to themselves, their families and their careers. It is the story of a simple man, whose epitaph reads: “God bless you all, I am a [sic] innocent man. Farewell until we meet again in the sweet by and by.” It is a story of sacrifice and redemption. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader continues the story of Prince Caspian as he sets out with familiar characters, including Reepicheep, Edmund and Lucy, on a great sea voyage to the Lone Islands and beyond, in search of the seven Lords.

December 2008

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St. Paul's News

(Continued from, “Tiny Tim and Charlie Brown” page 1)

any human situation and infuse the divine power of love and hope. As the seasons transition from Advent to Christmas to Epiphany, we will hear more stories of personal heartbreak and sorrow. God does not cause these tragedies that His glory might be revealed, but we should be reminded that they are opportunities for us to be God’s agent of change in the world. May you be blessed in these marvelous seasons with the love and hope that is God, and may we be given to share these wonderful gifts.

(Continued from, “No Security Without Giving,” page 1)

The two Sundays prior, the congregation heard testimonials regarding, “What St. Paul’s Means to Me,” from Jean Shawver and Matt Ferguson. Both were inspiring, passionate and heartfelt, perfectly delivering the message that St. Paul’s is a very special place and that by sharing our gifts, we can share both the glory of Christ and the love of fellowship. Both presentations are posted on St. Paul’s webpage at www.stpaulslansing.org. At the Invitation Sunday services, a healthy number of pledge cards were returned, but we have a long way to go to meet the needs of the parish and our work in the community. Pledge cards and copies of the testimonials have also been mailed out to everyone who has not yet pledged.

You Might Be Episcopalian If… . . .when you watch Star Wars and they say "May the force be with you", you automatically reply "And also with you" . . .if the only good reason to raise your hand during a hymn is to question the organist's re-harmonization . . .if you might be an Episcopalian if words like: "vouchsafe", "oblation", "supplications", "succor", "bewail", "wherefore", "dost" and "very" (in its archaic sense) are familiar to you even if you don't have a clue what they mean . . .if your groomsmen at your wedding whisper "with God's help" to you during your vows after you say "I will . . .if you think that the Bible is a holy book because it quotes the Book of Common Prayer so well . . .if you catch yourself genuflecting or bowing as you enter a row of seats in a theater . . .if you know the best way to quiet a room: "The Lord be with you!" . . .if your covered dish for the potluck dinner is escargot in puff-pastry shells . . .if you know that a primate isn't just a monkey . . .if you know that the nave is not a playing card . . .if your friend said "I'm truly sorry. . ." and you replied, "and you humbly repent?" . . .if you consider a sticker on your car to be an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace . . .if you know that the Senior Warden and the Junior Warden are not positions in the local prison . . .if you not only talk about God, but God is placed in the palm of your hand And finally, . . .if you reach a point when you're not sure about anything theologically but you still feel completely at home at the altar rail and somehow know you're meeting God there, even though you can't begin to understand how. ***Ed. Note: Many thanks to Stephanie VanKoevering for sharing.

December 2008

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Non Profit Org. US POSTAGE PAID LANSING, MI Permit 1621

St. Paul's Episcopal Church Lansing Michigan 218 W. Ottawa Lansing, MI 48933 Phone: 517-482-9454 Fax: 517-485-8621 Choir Room: 517-482-0369 Website: Stpaulslansing.org

The St. Paul’s News is a publication of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Lansing Michigan. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Staff The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon Weller, Rector The Rev. Ronald C. Byrd, Sr., Curate Dr. Stephen R. Lange, Minister of Music The Rev. Deacon William H. Fineout Ms. Mary Rodeck, Assistant Minister of Music Ms. Kathleen Johnson, Office Manager

St. Paul’s News Editorial Staff Christine Caswell, Editor Helen Hiscoe, Proofreader Lyn Zynda, Acting Editor

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