St. Paul's News - February, 2008

St. Paul's Episcopal Church Lansing Michigan

St. Paul’s News February, 2008

The Quiet By The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon Weller

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here is nothing as quiet or as peaceful as a snowy morning. One day this past week, I happened to be up early to clear The Rev. Dr. Gordon Weller the driveway. I got out early because I had much to do. I opened the garage door and surveyed the scene. It caused me to stop. Everything was clean and white, and quiet, so quiet. I took a brief pause and sat on the bench on the porch. Nothing seemed to be moving. It was so restful that one could drift off into a personal world of peace.

times during the day. I even paused to try to recapture it, but it was not to be. As we begin the season of Lent, I think I am going to look for more of the quiet moments. We are all so busy — and while it is for some good or necessary purpose — it never gives us all we want. I look at the programs that are offered here at St. Paul's and comment to myself about what a spectrum they cover and how they are so appropriate. Lent is a time of increased Spiritual involvement, isn't it? But I yearn for the quiet. I think God might be there.

My intent for Lent is to somehow answer that need. Perhaps I can come to church a half hour Long before I was done with the moment, my neighbor came out. A wave and a "Hi, how are earlier on Sunday morning or Tuesday noon, and tell no one I'm here. Perhaps it might snow ya!" and it was all over. A pull on his snow blower cord, and it was as if "the moment" had again and I can recapture what I think I've lost. I never been there. Soon others were out, and the think the Riverwalk is open this time of year. I have friends with quiet wood lots. Could I find whole subdivision was atwitter, and the echoes across the pure white made it even louder that it what I seek there? I seek the quiet. I invite you to probably was. I thought about that quiet several join me.

Vestry 2007: A Final Report By Greg Wortley, Outgoing 2007 Senior Warden

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would like to thank you — the members of St. Paul’s — for giving me the opportunity to work on the Vestry these past three years. In addition, I would like to thank the 2007 Vestry, in particular, for giving me the opportunity to work as Senior Warden this past year. I’m sure I speak for all who are now rotating off the Vestry — Bobbi Tisdale, Kathy Gut, and Judi Clarke — when I say that there has been much personal benefit from being in a position which provided such a rich learning experience. Certainly our collective hope, as the 2007 Vestry class, is that efforts expended in good faith have contributed to an ongoing strengthening of St. Paul’s mission. In that regard, for any who may have missed the Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, January 27, I offer this brief recap of my concluding thoughts as Senior Warden, the full version of which can be found in The Annual Report 2007: Wow! What a journey the year 2007 was for the St. Paul’s community! A cursory review of the year yields a staggering array of new and/or special happenings in our corporate life. Of all that has taken place in 2007, however, the most significant has been our work on two key issues which overarched the many activities of the year. As I approached my term as

February 2008

(Continued on page 14)

Volume 33, Issue 2 Inside this issue: Calendar

15

Choir Schedule

9

Mission & Outreach

11

Prayer List

8

St. Paul’s News

6,8,10

Upcoming

2

Vestry News

7

Youth Group

13

Page 2

Upcoming St. Paul’s Activities Activities at a Glance

Ongoing Activities • St. Aelred’s Guild, • Book Cart, 2nd Sunday after 10 AM • B&PW, Tuesday, February 12, 6 PM • ECW, third Monday, 7 PM • Family Night Dinner, Wednesdays, 5-6 PM • 4 Fs, second and fourth Mondays, noon to 2 PM • St. Paul’s Library, open every Sunday • Prayer Group, first Tuesday, 5:30 PM, Choir Rehearsal Room • Men’s Breakfast, third Thursday, 7-8 AM, Hill Room • Mid-Week Eucharist, Tuesdays, noon This Month at St. Paul’s and Elsewhere • Youth Group Council Meeting, February 3 • Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner, February 5, 6 p.m. • Ash Wednesday Services, February 6, 7 AM, Noon, (Chapel) 7 PM Church

• ERD Book sale, Sunday, February 10 & 17 • Lenten Lunch-N-Book Reviews, Mondays, beginning

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• Seeking the Common Good, Lenten Educational

Offerings, Wednesdays beginning February 13, 6:15-7:30 PM • Valentine Date Night, Saturday, February 16 • Catechism Instruction, four weeks beginning Sunday, February 17, during church school Looking Ahead • Cabaret, Saturday, March 8, 5 PM • Spring Blood Drive, Saturday, April 19 • “Serving God with Gladness” Women’s retreat, April 25 & 26, Weber Center • England Choristers’ Auction, Sunday, April 20 • Ascension Day Outreach Dinner, Thursday, May 1 • UTO Ingathering, Sunday, May 4

Shrove Tuesday Festivities By The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller

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veryone knows Mardi Gras. As a season of celebration, it officially ends on the Tuesday evening before Ash Wednesday. This year that is February 5. In some cities and communities, like New Orleans or Rio de Janeiro, this has come to be a time of unbridled celebration. Traditions, good and not so good, abound. Either way our memories are filled with possibility. In our own way, St. Paul's has come to look forward to our Shrove Tuesday celebration with the same anticipation. This year at 6 p.m., the men of the parish will cook the traditional dinner of pancakes and sausage for us all to share. The cost is a free-will offering to benefit the Mission & Outreach Fund. Following the meal, the children will accompany Father Weller into the courtyard and burn the leftover palms from Palm Sunday 2007. Be sure to bring your old palms to the dinner or to Church the Sunday preceding. This year we will start a new tradition. MaryLea Benson will have materials present for Prayer Quilting. Anyone who would like to be involved during the season of Lent is welcome. Quilting will be explained and the concept of prayer while tying knots in the quilt will be demonstrated. Come to the dinner for fun, friendship and faith. Sign up on the sheet which is on the table outside the Merrifield room or by calling the Church Office.

B&PW By Barbara Richardson By The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller

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here will be three services of Holy Communion with the imposition of Ashes on Ash Wednesday, February 6. These will be at 7 a.m., noon (both in the chapel), and at 7 p.m. in the church.

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he B&PW Guild will meet February 12 at 6 p.m. in the Hill Room. Our guest speaker, the Rev. Ron Byrd, will present a Lenten program. Dinner is $8 and reservations are requested. Please call Debby Pierce at 485-5446 by February 10 for a reservation.

February 2008

Upcoming St. Paul’s Activities

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Lenten Educational Offerings By Dr. Stephen R. Lange, Minister of Music

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hat do Ben Baldus, Tom Clay, John Nevin, Pat Babcock, and Professors Claude F. Jacobs and William McNeece of the University of Michigan-Dearborn all have in common, other than that they are highly respected experts in their respective fields? Answer: They will all lead one of the sessions that will focus on “Seeking the Common Good” this coming Lent. The sessions will be on Wednesday nights from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. in the Merrifield Room. Child care will be provided. Anyone wishing to attend these meetings or wishing to have dinner at family night is asked to sign up on the table by the elevator. These sessions are intended to provide us with a biblical foundation for the choices we will be making in the upcoming elections in the fall and to provide a forum to explore and discuss the ramifications of some of these issues that have local, national and international implications. The programs will include: • February 13 - Christian Citizenship 101: Biblical Foundation for Christian Involvement in the Public

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Arena. Ben Baldus, Director of the Office of Public Policy and Advocacy at Lutheran Social Services of Michigan and a Lutheran Pastor licensed as a priest in the Episcopal Church USA, will outline biblical reasons for involvement in the political process and help us to understand our responsibilities and opportunities as Christian citizens. February 20 - The Economic Life of the State: Robbing Peter to Pay Paul or Passing the Buck. Tom Clay, Director of State Affairs, Emeritus, for the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, and former director of the state’s Executive Budget Offices, will help us to understand Michigan’s budget process and how economic issues often drive the other issues we face. February 27 - When did I see you in Prison: Corrections, Mental Health and You. C. Patrick Babcock, the chair of the State Mental Health Commission, will offer insights on what has happened to Michigan’s mental health system and what might be done to help fix it. This is a topic of great interest to all, especially since more than one-fifth of Michigan’s budget goes to Corrections. March 5 - Great Lakes, Great Stewards. John Nevin, a strategic policy analyst with the International Joint Commission of the U.S. and Canada, a former adviser to the governor of Michigan and an Ingham County commissioner, will talk about the state of the Great Lakes, the impact of climate change, the challenge of low water levels, invasive species and diversions, and explain how we as individuals can take specific steps in our daily lives to be better stewards of precious water resources that we share with all God’s creations. March 12 - Difficult Dialogues across Race, Religion, Culture and Ethnicity. Professors Claude F. Jacobs and William NcNeece of the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Difficult Dialogues Initiative, will discuss how we can learn to discuss controversial, contentious and divisive issues in a meaningful and constructive manner across religious, racial, ethnic and cultural boundaries.

Please share this information with interested neighbors, friends and relatives. The programs are open to the public without charge and should be especially beneficial and stimulating as we wrestle with some of these very thorny, yet critical topics and how we can respond to them.

Deadline for Donating Used Books By Sue Millar

you have waited until the last days to sort your books, please act now so If that you will enjoy more bookshelf space, and we will increase our sales to benefit ERD. Sunday, February 3 is when we need your books since we will then be preparing for the sale. As we did last year, we will be selling books on two Sundays: February 10 and 17 after the 10 a.m. services. Remember this is a great three-step process: (1) you donate books; (2) you buy books; (3) we send a check to ERD. Your participation is crucial to the success of this project. Thank you.

February 2008

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Upcoming St. Paul’s Activities

Lenten Offerings II By Dr. Stephen R. Lange, Minister of Music Monday Lenten Lunch-N-Book Review Series

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n the five Mondays of Lent, five parishioners will review books that relate in some way to our spiritual journeys. The books scheduled for review are:

• February 11 - Walking on Water by Madeline Le’Engle reviewed by Dorothy Marsh • February 18 - Let Your Life Speak by Parker J. Palmer reviewed by The Rev. Ron Byrd • February 25 - The Dignity of Difference by Jonathan Sacks and Cosmopolitanism by Kwame Anthony Ap-

peah reviewed by Chris Couch • March 3 - They Did It for Love by Kate Morgenroth reviewed by Carolyn Such • March 10 - To be determined The schedule for each Monday is Holy Eucharist from11:30 a.m. to 12 noon, lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m. and review from 12:30 to 1 p.m. (although some reviewers may start earlier than 12:30). This series replaces 4 F’s for the season of Lent. Please sign up for lunch ($4.50) if you plan to attend.

4 F’s 2008 Programs “Taking Care of Ourselves & Others” By Nancy Sheldon The 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month 12 p.m. Eucharist 1 p.m. Bible Study

12:30 p.m. lunch 1:15-2 p.m. Program

From February 11 through March 10, Lenten Book Reviews will replace regular 4F’s meetings (see Steve Lange’s article). We will return to our regular schedule on March 24, focusing on health care issues with the upcoming election: • March 24 - Chris Couch enlightening us on the process of enacting legislation concerning health care issues

with insightful humor

• April 14 - “Looking back at the social policies in US health care” with Luke Shaefer • April 28 - “The future of health care in the United States as presidential candidates put forth their different

plans” with Anne Rosewarne, president of the Michigan Health Council

• May 12 - Year-end picnic with participants giving a brief review of one or two of their favorite books that

would make for good summer reading

Mark It on Your Calendar: April 25 and 26!! By Annette Irwin, ECW President

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hat is the date for this year’s Women's Retreat. It will be lead by Carol Ingells, and we will be going back to the beautiful facilities at the Weber Center in Adrian, Michigan. Some of you may recall we have been at this location in the past and all seemed to enjoy themselves. The grounds are beautiful and provide for a peaceful place to walk, write, talk or simply sit and enjoy the outdoors. The theme for this year’s retreat is "Serving God with Gladness and Singleness of Heart," and you can count

on Carol to give all an opportunity for rest, reflection, solitude, conversation and fun. Women are often busy being the caregivers, whether it is caring for a friend, family member or co-worker, while working, raising families and volunteering in schools, civic organizations and, yes, at St. Paul's! This retreat will give you a chance to take some time for you. More information will be coming soon on the specifics of time, costs and how to sign up.

February 2008

Upcoming St. Paul’s Activities

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Spring Blood Drive

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lease save Saturday, April 19, 2008 for St. Paul’s Annual Spring Blood Drive. The Red Cross is counting on us to provide 50 (units) or pints of blood on this day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Merrifield Room.

St. Paul’s has an enviable record for meeting our goal both in the fall and in the spring. A donor can give blood every eight weeks, so to be eligible for April 19, you must not give blood after February 22, 2008. What do we ask of donors? • • • • •

Identification – Donor card or driver’s license and also social security number Age – Donor must be at least 17 years old Weight – Donor must weigh at least 110 pounds Health – Health history will be conducted each time you donate Know Medications – Donor must know exact names of medications he or she is currently taking

In addition to donors, we will need: • • • • •

People to help work two hour shifts on April 19 Volunteers to make and bring eight sandwiches Set up committee at 6 a.m. and take down at 3 p.m. People to help with signup on Sundays after the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. services Telephone committee to call and remind donors and helpers of time they have signed up to donate or help

We will register volunteers on Sundays from March 7 through April 13. The donation process takes about one hour. Most of the time is spent in registration, medical history and the refreshment area. The actual donation takes about six to 10 minutes. It is in your best interest to eat and increase fluids during the four hours prior to donating. We have a dedicated group of donors and volunteers who have helped us since our first drive in 2001. We hope many of you will join this group and help us go over the top in our goal of 50 pints. If you have any questions, please call Eleanor Doersam at 484-7089 or Pat Riley at 882-1691.

Cabaret

Bible Studies to Continue

By Dr. Stephen R. Lange, Minister of Music

By Dr. Stephen R. Lange, Minister of Music

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wonderful evening of light dining and heavy entertainment — or is that heavy dining and light entertainment? You’ll have to come to be sure — will be held at St. Paul’s on Saturday, March 8, starting at 5 p.m. The menu will be “Italian-esque”: spaghetti, salad (Italian dressing, of course), roll and dessert, to be followed by some of St. Paul’s finest singers performing works from Broadway, off-Broadway and probably from places that never even approached Broadway, with Cherubs, Boys’ and Grace, High School Choirs, and several adult soloists and groups performing. Reservations are necessary, so please purchase your tickets early and often. It’s a great way to spend an evening: good food, great entertainment and wonderful fellowship, not to mention that you’d be supporting a good cause — the England Choristers’ Travel Fund. Please join us and invite friends!

February 2008

dult Bible Study is alive and well at St. Paul’s! There are two Lectionary-based curricula currently being offered. On Sunday morning, Ed and Pat Meier and Sue LeDuc are offering Bible study between the services from 9 to 9:45 a.m. On Wednesday nights, Rick Laub and Larry Clark lead a study group from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. Please feel free to drop in as you are able.

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Upcoming St. Paul’s Activities St. Paul's News Calling all Beanbags By Lyn Zynda

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he St. Paul’s Youth Group is looking for beanbag chairs to outfit its newly renovated meeting room. The furniture was hugely popular during the late 1960s and early ‘70s, and their popularity resumed in the mid‘90s. If your bean bag has been hanging around the basement since college, here’s your opportunity to give it new life. Contact Fr. Byrd or another member of the committee to donate.

“One Book, Many Journeys” Parish-Wide Book Read Well Received By Millie Ericson, Chair, Parish Life Committee

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iscussion groups focusing on this year’s book, The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan, took place over a three-week period in January. A total of 45 people in five groups met in the homes of parishioners scattered around the greater Lansing area for discussion and fellowship. Reports indicate that this has been an enjoyable and stimulating experience for all involved. The book and discussions created awareness of our responsibility related to both past and potential environmental issues. Further discussion related to these issues will be part of the Lenten Program outlined elsewhere in the newsletter.

A huge thank you is due to a number of people who helped to make the book read so successful: John Craig for first suggesting the idea; Mindy Pauly for suggesting the chosen book; Lisa Craig for researching and finding scriptures, supplemental readings and resources, as well as developing study questions; Susan Henderson for the bookmark idea; Don and Sally Lawrence, Debby and Max Pierce, Barb and Libby Richardson, Kathy Gut and Chuck and Sue Millar for hosting groups; Lisa and John Craig, Kirk and Barb Lindquist, Sally Laurion and Kathy Gut for facilitating discussions; Mary Luginsland for suggesting the name; and all members of the Parish Life Committee for the ideas, planning and support that made the book read possible. We are already thinking about next year’s “One Book, Many Journeys” topics and welcome suggestions for possible books.

A Warm Feeling

Keeping Up to Date

By Rev. Ronald C. Byrd, Sr., Curate

by Sue Millar Editor’s Note: This article is being republished since some information was inadvertently deleted last month.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16) This year’s contributions to Eve’s House and St. Paul’s Mitten Tree were incredible! Our parish family collected nearly 100 mittens, a number of scarves and hats, and seven boxes overflowing with baby clothes and accessories! WOW! There will be many children tonight who are warmer, drier and happier because of your generous donations. Through St. Paul’s, the light of Christ shines on the children of our community and our Father is glorified by your good work.

The Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN) sends occasional e-mails when there is news about public policy issues that have a bearing on Christian mission and ministry. At present, EPPN frequently addresses issues related to the Millennium Development Goals, a current focus at St. Paul’s. To receive EPPN news, go to the web site, www.episcopalchurch.org/eppn, and look for the Register space. It’s a great way to stay connected with the public work of our Church, and it helps me as well to live out my baptismal vows.

February 2008

News from the Vestry

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Financial Information as of November 30, 2007 By Jeff Irwin As of this writing, the accounting for the year ending December 31, 2007 was not complete. Some of the amounts in this report will change prior to the January 27, 2008 annual meeting, but the changes are not expected to be significant. The year ended with a loss on operations of $144,283. Although significant, it is $7,727 less than the budgeted loss for 2007. Noteworthy items included total pledge revenue of $295,000, which was $12,014 over the budgeted pledge revenue, and we received $12,000 to provide funding to install air conditioning in the Merrifield room. The Diocese funded a grant of more than $27,000 to support the salary of our curate. Overall, nearly $400,000 of revenue was recorded as operating revenue in 2007.

The church also received funds over $71,000 with a variety of restrictions. The largest single gift was $59,194 from the Lucille Penniman Trust. Per standing vestry policy, 90 percent of this amount was designated to St. Paul’s Perpetual fund and 10 percent was designated for Mission and Outreach programs. During 2007, investment income of $4,478 was recorded from the designated and restricted funds. The total net asset increase was $75,947. The operating loss of $144,283 and designated and restricted funds gain of $75,947 resulted in a combined net deficit of $68,336 for 2007. This is the overall loss for the year.

When expenditures meet the purpose defined in the various designated and restricted funds, cash is released from the restriction. As a result, $21,593 was transferred from those funds. In addition, per vestry Operating expenses totaled more than $543,000. authorization, $150,000 was transferred from the St. One item of note was $40,800 of the Diocesan Paul’s Perpetual fund to provide cash to continue the pledge, which is 100 percent of our apportionment. Approximately $15,000 in outreach services was paid operation of the church. by the church. In addition, nearly $24,000 in funds As of December 31, 2007, the total fund balance was were disbursed through the receipt of contributions $539,486. The unrestricted fund balance was $2,728. designated for specific programs, such as an appeal to support a Sudanese student’s education and CARS There is a total of $536,758 in designated and restricted funds. Inc. to provide transportation to needy individuals. (Continued on page 14)

Vestry Highlights At the January 15 meeting of the vestry of St. Paul's, be presented at the Annual Meeting • Discussed the possibility of Fr. Weller’s sabbatical your Vestry: • Received committee reports • Shared spiritual reflections of Christmas and • Approved improvement and refreshing of the Epiphany with one another as devotions Sacristy • Received the December 2007 financial report • Discussed stewardship and how to improve re(found elsewhere in this issue) sponse (slightly more than half of the cards were • Approved a 2008 budget to be presented at the returned) Annual meeting • Discussed Mark Doyle's marketing presentation • Passed a motion that any pledges that have desand how to use its results ignations or restrictions will be placed in the Mis- • Discussed signage and the improvement of the sion and Outreach Fund as a gift before they are web site used by the operating account • Marked that the Vestry retreat is scheduled for • Discussed the protocol of the Annual Meeting Feb. 1-2 at the Weber Center in Adrian • Reviewed the slate of candidates that will be • Received clergy reports presented for election at the Annual Meeting • Closed with prayer and thanksgiving for the out• Reviewed our understanding of the "Visioning" going Vestry and "Welcoming" documents and how they will

February 2008

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St. Paul’s News Recycling By The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller

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s part of our Christian responsibility, recycling is rapidly becoming a necessity. The difficult part is finding a place to recycle all those things that someone else will make use of. We would like to help at St. Paul's. Beginning February 1, there will be a recycling bin for used printer cartridges and cell phones in the Merrifield Room. When you come to church on Sunday, just bring your used items (preferably in a zip lock bag) and place them in the appropriate container. When the container is filled, we will take the items to the appropriate place.

St. Paul’s Prayer List We pray for those who are sick and in need: Cindy Robinson, Richard, Audrie and Aaron Hegmon, Shelley Robinson, Grady and Dennis Letner, Clara Voges, Mason Hill, Lois Caswell, June Wyatt, Dick Siebert, Carol, Judith Jones, Becky Chamberlain, Nancy Hiscoe Clark, Charles Weaver, Ben Herbert, Chance Collins, Caroline Thomas and her parents, brothers and godparents, Betty Jensen, Dan Heany, Marsha and Skip Macholz, Gloria Harvat, Jack Siebold, DakBai DakBai, Irene Jones, Mary Ann Kelley, Ed Farmer, Sally Engle, Ed Jones, Alice Jessop Lamb, Justin, Elizabeth, Barb Hacker, Andrew Astley, Mary Tuckey, Michael Skinner, Ginny Bancroft, Darrick, Chris, Tom, Marcella Stachwick, Cheryl, Leslie Hall, Sally, Patricia Utter, Janet Hamilton, Sally, and Michael Kurtzahls

Prayer List

We pray for and remember those in the Military, serving in dangerous areas: Daniel Reno, Daniel Laurion and Erika Harkness Barker

We pray for those expecting: Kristan and Christopher Chase, Jessica and Justin Leonard, Rachel and Jeff Bott, and Kym and Matt Hall

We celebrate the birth of Kory Amachree to parents Opuene and Karen Amachree, and his siblings, Kaema and Nakai We celebrate the baptism of: Kayleigh Joanne Fiszer

February 2008

St. Paul’s Choirs

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Choir Newsletter and Dates to Remember By Dr. Stephen R. Lange, Minister of Music Ash Wednesday, February 6: Cherub Choir and Boys’ and Grace Choirs will meet as normal. The High School Choir is invited to sing with the Chancel Choir for the 7 p.m. service (rehearsal at 6:30 p.m.). The Chancel Choir will also rehearse after the service (at 8:15 p.m.), and not on Thursday, February 7.

Saturday, March 8 – Cabaret: All Choirs - 5 p.m. dinner, 6 p.m. entertainment (all the children and youth choirs will sing at the Cabaret program at 6).

Sunday, March 23 - Easter: All choirs - This year, there will be only one Easter service at which the choirs will sing: the 10 a.m. service. (There will be services at 7 and 10 a.m. and not at 9, 10 and 11 a.m., as we have had in the past.)

Singing Schedule Date

Choirs

February 3 February 6, Ash Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. February 10 February 17 February 24

Boys’ and Grace; High School Chancel Choir

March 2 March 9 March 16, Palm Sunday March 23, Easter, 10 a.m. service*

Boys’ and Grace; High School Chancel; High School Chancel; High School Cherub Choir, Boys’ and Grace, High School, Chancel Chancel; High School

March 30

Chancel; High School Chancel; High School Chancel; High School

*This year, there will be 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. services on Easter Sunday

February 2008

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St. Paul’s News

Thank you from the Turks and Carol Ingells On behalf of the three young Turkish families who attended St. Paul’s on Sunday, December 9, I want to thank the congregation for its warm welcome and friendliness to them. As you might imagine, it is a bit scary for Muslim people to present themselves in a Christian church. The women, especially, are so easily labeled as nonChristians because of their head coverings. They came because they sincerely care about improving understanding and relationships between people of different religions and cultures. My recent trip to Turkey helped open my mind and heart to the fact that most Muslim people are good and loving. Entering that whole different culture, I was uneasy and wary. But before long, I realized these were people like you and me, who long for peace, justice and cooperation between all people, regardless of their beliefs or customs. I have never experienced such generosity of spirit — from our hosts to the strangers on the street. My Turkish friends found our worship interesting and lovely, and they truly enjoyed meeting many of you at coffee hour. It was a very special time for all of us. Another way of sharing Christ’s love with all whom we meet. Thank you!

The Turkish Children visit at Christmas: (l to r) Reda Bayraktar, Dilara Alpay, Nema Bayraktar and Aytiken Alpay

God Bless You Everyone! By The Rev. Ronald C. Byrd, Sr., Curate Jennifer and I would like to extend our sincere and gracious thanks to all of you who helped to make our Christmas a memorable one. Your gifts, goodies and greeting cards are very much appreciated and we will forever remember your generosity and loving kindness. May God’s blessings be with each and every one of you.

February 2008

Mission and Outreach Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Mission & Outreach Activities: Where is Christ calling you to help others?

By The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon Weller

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ver the last several months, we have had several presentations designed to make the congregation more aware of what the Millennium Development goals are and how they fit into the objectives of the United Nations — who developed them — but also the Episcopal Church and the Christian community which have adopted them. In November, we explored a theological rationale for our support. In December, we heard a personal recounting by one of our Sudanese immigrants about the conditions prevalent in a thirdworld country. Now, on February 3, we will begin to explore how we may implement some programs that might help alleviate some of the conditions mentioned in the eight MDGs. At both services, Mr. David Bower, Michigan Regional Director of Church World Services (CWS) will be our preacher. In his capacity with CWS, he has personal experience in supplying assistance to many third-world situations. He also has first-hand experience with the generosity of Americans and the Christian Community. He will give us the benefit of that experience and Christian insight. Following the services, at about 11:30 a.m., we will have the opportunity to listen to several people give examples of what we might do as the community of St. Paul's to answer the call for assistance. It will be an open forum with questions, answers and discussion. We will then leave those ideas to germinate for the season of Lent and revisit them on Palm Sunday when we will entertain suggestions from all members of the congregation as to which projects we might support. Please plan on being present and being involved. Child care for all ages will be provided.

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February 10 & 17 •

Episcopal Relief & Development Used Book Sale fundraiser

February 26 •

ACTION—Community Problems Assembly (Vote on 2008 Focus Area)

March 8 •

Cabaret

March 16 •

MDG/Mission and Outreach Project Choice(s) for St. Paul’s

April 19 •

Blood Drive – Red Cross

April 20 •

England Choristers’ Auction

May 1 •

Ascension Day Outreach Dinner/Eucharist

May 4 •

UTO Ingathering

May 5 •

ACTION – Rally

May 19 •

ACTION – Nehemiah Action Assembly

Check the newsletter articles and the Sunday Bulletin Announcements for additional details and information.

February 2008

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St. Paul’s Youth Ministry

Youth Ministry Articles Provided in Collaboration By: Youth Christian Education and Youth Fellowship Chairperson, Dr. Judith Brown-Clarke Youth Group Executive Council President, Steven Kariuki Youth Group Coordinator, Barbara Heany Youth Group Advisor, Tom Foltz Acolyte Guild, Directors Patricia Bellinger & Carol Sleight The Rev. Ronald C. Byrd, Sr., Curate

Sunday School Program Swings into Second Semester

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unday School is still buzzing from the wonderful spirit of the holiday season. In early December, the classes created and sent Christmas cards to the sick and shut-in members of our congregation. In response, we received cards from three very grateful recipients thanking the students for their thoughtful gesture. Our next effort is to make and send Easter cards in March. We are transitioning into the second semester of Sunday School, which for most classes will not mean any changes. However in the first, second and third-grades, Kathy Gut and Jill Walker will replace Judi Clarke as teachers. Judi will continue her service as a substitute teacher for all classes. As you consider your stewardship offering to St. Paul's in the upcoming year, please consider giving your time and talent to our children as a substitute Sunday school teacher.

As you may notice, the individuals who volunteer to teach Sunday School continue to miss a large portion of the worship service. It would be a blessing to have a pool of substitute teachers so that our core teachers can have some respite Sundays. For more information on how to become involved in St. Paul's Sunday school program please see Dr. Judi Brown-Clarke or Fr. Ron.

Upcoming Youth Events February 3 February 9 February 16 April 4-5

Youth Group Council Meeting Presentation by Ms. Libby Richardson Trip to Summit – Ice Skating Babysitting Training – Provided by the American Red Cross Valentine’s Date Night (Babysitting Service for St. Paul’s Parishioners) Card Box City Lock-in

Message From Executive Council By AJ Fletcher

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he St. Paul's youth group is on its way to being a group run by the kids themselves. It is not easy and is slow going. This is the first time the youth group has attempted to do anything like this. The future is looking bright for us, and we are on our way to being a well-functioning organization.

The youth group has added a section of life stories to its regular meetings on the first of every month. Our first speaker came to America to escape Africa's hostile and unforgiving environment. Mrs. Kariuki's experiences, which she gladly shared with us, showed the power of prayer and how merciful God is. In other news, the youth group has penciled in a date for our Card Box City in early April. At this event, the kids will put themselves in the shoes of the homeless. We are doing this to raise awareness of the hardships that the homeless have to face every day. The youth group will walk away knowing something with which to empathize. There will be a change to the executive board for a new member to be voted in. This member or — as we would like to call it — the historian will be in charge of making a scrapbook of the youth group and all its activities, presenting it to everyone at the open house near the end of the year. We hope to start putting our news and updates on the web site soon and will continue to include them in SPN.

February 2008

St. Paul’s Youth Ministry

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Catechism During Lent

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uring Lent, Fr. Ron and friends will be offering catechism instruction to the Jr. and Sr. High Sunday school students. Catechism classes will begin February 17, the second Sunday in Lent, and run through March 9, the final Sunday of Lent. The catechism will be divided into four major areas: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and Christ and the Church. Each of these areas will be explored to address student’s questions concerning the nature and being of the persons of the Trinity in their lives and in the Church. To encourage participation, classes will be offered during the normal Sunday school hour and incentives will be given to those who complete all four sessions. We hope all of our Jr. and Sr. High students will come, see, share and learn this thing we call “An Outline of Our Faith (aka) The Catechism.”

Youth Group Activities By Courtney Irwin

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ave you been wondering what the kids have been doing lately at Youth Group? Well, here’s what we have been up to.

The youth group is going to be holding a babysitting service sometime around Valentine’s day. More information about this will be in future issues of St. Paul’s News or the church’s announcements. At our meeting this month, Ms. Kariuki told the youth group her story about when she was in Kenya. Ms. Kariuki’s story moved all of us spiritually. If you have an inspiring story about how your faith has helped get you through hard times to tell the Youth Group, please contact someone in the Youth Group (Steve Kariuki, AJ Fletcher, Bailey Sanchez and Steven Walker are all on the executive board). Thank you Ms. Kariuki!

Youth Group Looking for Life Stories

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t. Paul’s youth group realizes how blessed it is to be part of a congregation filled with so many wise and inspiring people who have made a wealth of contributions not only to our parish, but society as well. That is why they have decided that they would like to invite parishioners to come to their youth group meetings to share their life stories. The youth feel that hearing these life experiences and achievements can help them grow in faith and inspire them to become meaningful members of society.

On January 6, Josephine Kariuki, mother of two youth group members, Margaret and Stephen, shared her amazing story of their flight from Kenya to avoid civil war conflict. Her story of incredible faith during a time of unimaginable obstacles illustrated how the power of prayer can work in your life and bring you through life’s challenges. The youth are grateful to Mrs. Kariuki for sharing her life story with them.

Jesus Loves Me, and I Love Him Too

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ll dressed up, with smiles on their faces, and hands folded, Mathieu and Nicholas Wiesner, Nicholas Johnson and William Wortley knelt at the altar rail and received their first communion at St. Paul’s on Epiphany Sunday.

Mathieu, Nick, Nick, William and Emma Clark, along with their parents, completed a two-and-a-half-hour first communion workshop, before receiving Fr. Gordon’s official blessing. The workshop’s curriculum was designed to be both instructional and participatory, with three learning objectives: the nature of the Eucharist and order of the worship service, the origin and meaning of Holy Communion, and the Sacrament of the “body and blood” of Christ. The workshop was divided into four sections: didactic, multi-media, hands-on (baking bread), and discovery (time with children in sanctuary and at the Altar which stimulated and generated questions). Upon completion of the workshop, students were given certificates of accomplishment. Fr. Ron remarked, “I had a really wonderful and great time with the little people. They’re so smart…and we had a lot of fun.”

February 2008

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St. Paul’s News

(Continued from, “A Final Report,” page 1)

senior warden, Tom Repaskey asked me what the focus of my vestry leadership would be….Stemming from my previous two year’s vestry experience, I responded immediately with what I have felt strongly to be St. Paul’s most pressing issues: stewardship and welcoming. In my estimation, as well as the estimation of many with whom I have served on the Vestry, work on these two broad issues is vital for addressing our operations budget shortfall and establishing St. Paul’s on a firm foundation for carrying out its stated vision of mission: “following Christ in restoring all persons to unity with God and each other.” Work on both issues in 2007 was an extension and further development of work completed in previous years. In terms of stewardship, Bob and Karen Tarrant, the entire Stewardship Committee and Kristine Miller, stewardship and planned giving coordinator for the Diocese of Michigan, have all continued to raise our consciousness as to the scope and depth of what it means to be stewards of God’s gifts…the “Welcoming Church Initiative” which Martie Repaskey, Chuck Millar and the entire Evangelism Committee produced continues to generate various means by which St. Paul’s can be inviting to the community at large. In an effort to bring the welcoming initiative the attention and definition that stewardship has gained through the “Gift of Generosity” campaign, I sought to highlight the many faces of welcoming in my St. Paul’s News articles in 2007. Hoping not to sound redundant from month to month, I nevertheless “Rekindle the gift of God that is wanted to keep welcoming in the front of our consciousness throughout the year and to flesh out from various within you . . . for God did not angles what welcoming requires from each and every one of us. give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, and of love, and in 2007 definitely yielded results, conThough our work on both issues tinued efforts will be needed. On both issues, St. Paul’s continues to of self-discipline.” evidence positive results. In terms of stewardship, giving of time, talent and treasure continues to rise, both in terms of the congregation as a whole, and in terms of the contributions of individual giving units. And, likewise, in terms of welcoming, the number of new faces to the parish continues to rise, as does the number of welcoming activities that continue to evolve. However, in welcoming, as well as in stewardship, there are no “quick fixes.” Both have been and will continue to be “works in progress” that require ongoing commitment and creativity.

In fact, continued work on these key issues will require a steady focus, courage and resolve. Of course the danger involved in such “works in progress” is that we will lose focus, and/or lose courage or resolve. I’m reminded of the advice given in The Second Letter to Timothy (1:6-7): “Rekindle the gift of God that is within you . . . for God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, and of love, and of selfdiscipline.” As with all our work at St. Paul’s, the fuel for our ongoing work on such key issues as stewardship and welcoming must be a grounding in God’s empowering gifts of grace, and the courage and resolve to trust those gifts. In December, Mark Doyal — a man of faith who is establishing a public relations firm for nonprofit organizations, and with whom we have consulted during the past six months — presented to the Vestry findings from two focus groups he conducted among some of St. Paul’s newer members. A key component to his presentation was how St. Paul’s communication with the wider community starts with our identifying, our celebrating [and] our trusting the gifts of God’s Spirit [that have] generated in us as a parish — gifts quickly identified when talking with those recently drawn to membership here. Mark will be presenting his findings to the congregation in the near future and, in my estimation, such a presentation, such an ongoing consultation, will form an important next step as we move from 2007 to 2008. As we do so, may we be ever open to the ongoing transformations that God’s Spirit of power, love and self-discipline generates at St. Paul’s. (Continued from , “Treasurer’s Report,” page 7)

The 2008 budget approved by the vestry for final acceptance at the annual meeting showed an operating loss of $139,285. While this is again a very large number, it is slightly lower than the 2007 budget deficit. In addition, the designated and restricted funds are not budgeted. However, it is known that the fourth and final distribution of at least $50,000 from the Lucille Penniman Trust will occur in 2008. Ninety-percent will be placed in the St. Paul’s Perpetual fund and 10 percent will be placed in the Mission and Outreach fund. I would like to thank Chris Strukel, Kathleen Johnson and Elisabeth Richardson for all of their time and talent in keeping the financial records of the church in order.

February 2008

February 2008

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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 Mr. William H. Fineout, Acting Deacon Ms. Mary Rodeck, Assistant Minister of Music Ms. Kathleen Johnson, Office Manager

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February 2008