FROM THE RECTOR

In the days leading up to the new year, people reflect on the year that is coming to an end, and wonder what to expect in the new year. Will it be as good (or bad) as this year? We may look to the future with hope or dread. Are you optimistic about the new year, or are you afraid of what might happen? 

The Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE) produces a daily email titled, “Brother Give Us a Word.” SSJE is an Episcopal monastery in Maine and I have been reading their daily email for years now. It is a short (a few sentences) reflection on a word. Today’s (December 30th) word is “Holiness” and the reflection is as follows:

It has been a year in which God’s world has known misery. Yet the world has also seen the light of holiness shining forth in the many who have found grace to join Christ in acts of humble service for the sake of others. We are becoming children of God as we embrace the way of the cross, our only way of true life, joy, and peace. (Br. Jonathan Maury, SSJE)

As we reflect upon this past year, a great deal of our experience depends upon our focus. Do we see God at work in our lives and in the world? Or, are we living in fear? Our reflections upon this past year affect our expectations of the coming year. 

Without a doubt, 2022 was a challenging year for my family. Yet, Christianity teaches us to live with hope. It teaches us to “see the light of holiness shining forth in [others],” as Br. Maury writes.  We have drawn strength from the love, concern, and prayers of others and we are so very appreciative.

Yet, my faith has not made me immune from fear. I have, at times, found myself consumed with worry. I’m not the only one. With news of the decline in attendance in the Episcopal Church and in St. Paul’s this past year; members have expressed fear of what is to come. If we compare our experience to other churches, we may wonder what we need to do to get more people to come to St. Paul’s. My daughter recently pointed out to me that many denominations use fear to bring people through their doors. They focus on the wages of sin (death & eternal damnation) and scare many people into attendance. 

In our practice of faith, we focus on love – God’s love and acceptance. We do not use the fear of judgment and condemnation to bring people into our church and keep them coming back. Attendance may not be what it was, but St. Paul’s has experienced a resurgence and I expect it will again – not by using fear, but by building community. In addition to the three events the men’s group hosted in 2022, the St. Paul’s Care Team was formed and began caring for our members and people in the community. I have seen excitement among its members as they “have found grace to join Christ in acts of humble service for the sake of others,” as Br. Maury said.

I do not know how we do this in a way that may bring people into our fold. This new year will bring challenges – some new and some old. We need to look toward the light of holiness in order to respond with grace. I pray that in doing so we will find the hope that overcomes the fear that keeps us for reaching out with love and sharing God’s grace with others.

God’s Peace,

Jim+

HISTORY PIECE OF THE MONTH

-Nelson Barnett

Bishop Leonidas K. Polk – from Worthy of Much Praise by Nancy Moore Britton and Dora Le Baker Ferguson.

Note: We are beginning the search for a new bishop for our Diocese, and here is the story of the first bishop.

Mainly through the efforts of four missionary bishops during the years 1835-1870 the Protestant Episcopal Church was planted in Arkansas and the other territories carved out of the Louisiana Purchase.

The first, and probably best known, of these men was Leonidas K. Polk, the soldier-bishop. While a student at the United States Military Academy at West Point, Polk led a religious revival which left a strong Episcopalian imprint upon the United States military for many decades Abandoning his military career for the ministry, he was elected missionary bishop of Arkansas at the General Convention of 1838. After only two years however, he was transferred. He was elected bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana, which he considered his home state, then was also assigned to be foreign missionary to the Republic of Texas.

Polk made his first visit to Arkansas in February of 1839. Although he suggested Batesville as a strategic point for one of the five missionaries promised to the state, it is not recorded that he ever came here himself. “The field (in Arkansas) is large,” he wrote, “the harvest white, the labourers few.”

Polk returned to Arkansas in 1840 for another short tour. This time he left three missionary clergy at work and two established congregations in Little Rock and Fayetteville.

Later, when the Civil War began, Polk was offered a commission in the Confederate Army. The story is told that he went to seek the advice of Bishop Meade, then senior in the House of Bishops, at his home in Northern Virginia.

“What did he tell you?” Polk was asked.

“I saluted him,” said the good bishop, “and said to him: ‘Sir, I have been offered a commission in the Confederate Army, and have come to ask your advice.’ “

“His reply was: ‘Sir, you hold already a higher commission than that, in the church militant.’ “

“I am aware of that, right reverend sir; and I do not intend to resign it but hope to hold it in the church triumphant.”

“Well, the senior bishop did not give his consent then?” the questioner pursued.

“Yes, he did,” said Polk, with a twinkle in his eye and a confident manner that was peculiarly his own. “Yes, he did; I quoted scripture to him, and we talked the matter all over thoroughly, and he finally told me if I felt it my duty to accept, I had his full consent, and so say all the rest of my brethren.”

Polk held the rank of lieutenant general when he was killed at Pine Mountain, Georgia, on June 15, 1864.

Christmas Parade 2022

Please use the following link to view a short video of pictures taken at this year's downtown Christmas Parade: Christmas Parade Video

Poem submitted by Kay Longenbach

BELL TOWER WORK COMPLETED

St. Paul’s received over $46,000 in grant money to help with critical repairs to the Bell Tower. The contract for the repair was $63,000 and an additional $1,000 was needed when it was discovered that one of the exterior stone lintels needed to be replaced. Below are some before and after pictures of the work:

OTHER NEWS:

PUB THEOLOGY

Pub Theology will be held Tuesday, January 3rd, at 6:00 pm at Fox Creek BBQ in their private room. This casual Dutch-treat dinner includes a theological discussion before dinner. If you’re able to come, we would love to have you . . . and bring a guest or two!

CHURCHMEN’S CLUB

The Churchmen’s Club will have their first meeting Saturday, January 14th at 6:00 pm at Scott McSpadden’s outdoor kitchen at his home (1725 Sun Valley Dr.). The meeting agenda will include discussing the upcoming Mardi Gras preparation for February and it will also be a ‘Bring Your Spouse’ meeting as well. Please contact Scott McSpadden at 870-307-2404 for a head count for food before the meeting if you plan on attending.

TWELFTH NIGHT PARTY

St Paul’s Care Team is planning a celebration of Twelfth Night on Friday, January 6th at the Barnett Farm beginning at 6:00 pm. All are invited to come and bring a favorite appetizer/finger food and your own adult beverage.

ST. PAUL’S ANNUAL MEETING, BREAKFAST & VESTRY ELECTIONS

St. Paul’s will hold its annual meeting on January 29th between services. A brunch will be served. At the meeting we will answer questions concerning the report (which will be made available on January 22nd) and elect three members to serve on the vestry. 

SUPER BOWL SOUP

The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) is planning a fundraiser soup sale on the weekend of the Super Bowl this year, February 12th.

The women of ECW will be making soup and are also inviting the parishioners to join in with their own special soups. We will sell the soup by the quart from the Parish Hall on that day. Prices are yet to be determined. More will be decided at the next meeting on January 10th at Pam Baxter’s. Stay tuned for details or, better yet, come to our upcoming meeting.

CARE TEAM

St. Paul’s Care Team had a busy month in December. In addition to some restructuring the way we can care for our members and plan events, they participated in the Christmas Parade (see pictures in the video link above), hosted a reception after the 10:00 pm Christmas Eve Service, and began collecting coats to give out at our Community Meal. Its next meeting will be Sunday, January 22nd at 6:00 pm in the Parish Hall. 

PUZZLE SWAP

If anyone would like to be involved in a puzzle swap, Barbara Terrell, Cindy Allen and I love jigsaw puzzles and have quite a few to donate or swap. We could bring them to the Parish Hall and leave them in the free books area. – Jo Cargill-Krug

MONTHLY RECIPE

Some of our readers have suggested that we feature a recipe of the month to be submitted by you! Feel free to send yours to the church email address at stpaulsbatesville@gmail.com and we will compile it into the next issue!

FLOWER CHART 2023

It’s time to plan our flower donations for the new year. We try to fill the first of the year up to Ash Wednesday first and then the dates after Easter. However, any date can be reserved now. Please call or text Jo Cargill-Krug at 870-613-6981 to reserve a date. Here are the dates we need to fill first: January 15th, 22nd, & 29th, February 5th & 12th and March 12th.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTER SCHEDULE

Altar Guild: Judy Purnell & Sandy Barnett

We could always use more volunteers to do altar work. We try to assign teams of two workers for each month’s work. Requires about an hour and a half each Saturday and thirty minutes on Sundays. For more information, contact Jo Cargill-Krug by phone at 870-613-6981 or by email at jo33car@gmail.com.

EPISTLE STAFF

Jo Cargill-Krug, Editor

Fr. Jim McDonald, Publisher

Nelson Barnett, St. Paul's Historian

Katie Janke, Layout & Design