September 8, 2019 ✠ Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
If interested in bringing a dessert, cheese tray, or wine please email Anna Stewart or call 615-600-6197.
Worship
We grow in relationship with God through worship
This Sunday: Joint Sunday Service with First Baptist Church
Sunday, September 8, 10:30 a.m. 
200 E. Main Street
Jesus’ prayer for us is that all Christians will be united. Join us to worship with members of First Baptist Church and to hear from renowned Episcopal theologian Miroslav Volf .

  • St. Paul’s will still hold its 7:30 a.m. worship service.
  • There will not be an 8:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. service at St. Paul's, only the 10:30 a.m. joint service at First Baptist Church.
  • Children’s Church will not occur.
  • No Christian Education.
  • The St. Paul’s nursery will be available during the joint service.
Weekly Centering Prayer
this Sunday, September 8, 4 p.m.
On Sundays when our Oasis Contemplative Service is not held, we meet in St. Andrew’s Chapel at 4:00 p.m. for an hour of centering prayer. Please contact Michael Miller or Nancy Carter for more information.
Reminder: Mid-Week Worship Service
Wednesdays, 7 a.m.
St. Andrews Chapel
This short and simple Rite One celebration of Holy Eucharist includes prayers, readings from the Scriptures, a brief homily, and does not include music. All are inited. Learn more
Choir & Choristers
Regular Schedules
The new choir year has begun and we'd love for you to join us!

Junior Choristers (Grades 2 to 5)
Wednesdays
5:00-5:45 p.m. in the Choir Room
Conductor: Rachel Lapinski

Senior Choristers (Grades 6 and up)
Sundays, beginning September 8
4:30-5:00 p.m. (just before SNL ), in the Choir Room
Conductor: Garrett Doo

To sign your child up for choristers, complete this form .
 
Adult Choir
Wednesdays
7:15-8:30 p.m. in the Choir Room
Director: Angela Tipps

For more information or to show interest email Angela Tipps. 
Flower Dedications

Thank you to all those who generously support our flower ministry and to our flower guild who create Sundays’ arrangements. We invite you to sponsor altar flowers for a week this fall, especially Sundays in September. Our altar flowers are a beautiful and important part of our worship and are reused to bless others in the church and community throughout the week. You may dedicate the flowers to celebrate a life event or memorialize loved ones. The minimum gift is $50, although with increasing prices, the actual cost of flowers each week is $75-100. 

Instructions for making a dedication can be found in the Narthex on the Flower Guild board.   
Outreach
We bring the love of Christ to the larger community
We Need You on the Food Team

Are you looking for a meaningful and also low-key way to be more involved at St. Paul’s? The food team is seeking new members! We prepare and deliver meals to church members who are going through transitions, illness, or grief. Our food team is organized on a monthly schedule, with a team leader each month. It is so wonderful to show our love for each other by delivering meals and visiting with each other. Please reach out to Anna Stewart by email or call 615-600-6197 to sign up!  
Undie Sunday: September 29

Dry socks and fresh underwear help every person feel more dignity. The Wednesday morning Bible study group is sponsoring “Undie Sunday” to gather these items for the homeless population in Murfreesboro.  A collection box is available in the parish hall; you may drop off your donations any time in September. “Undie Sunday” will be celebrated September 29. 

Needed Ladies’ items:
  • New panties: any style, size 6 small and up
  • New or gently used bras

Needed Men’s items:
  • New boxer shorts or boxer briefs, sizes Medium through XXL

Also Needed:
  • Socks: New traditional style socks in adult sizes (not anklet or extra-long)
Golf Fore Hope Annual Charity Scramble
Monday, September 23, 12:45 p.m.
INSPIRITUS (formerly Lutheran Services of Tennessee) Annual Charity Scramble will be Monday, September 23 at Stones River Country Club. Shotgun Start begins at 12:45 p.m. Registration is open until September 16 (please click here ) . Sponsorship opportunities are available. Proceeds support Healthy Garden Program, My Canvas Program, and others. Please consider playing in Golf Fore Hope.  

For more information, contact Janet Arning .
Discipleship
We equip all for ministry
Newcomers and Other Members Lunch
Sunday, September 15, immediately after 11 a.m. service
Newcomers and any others who are interested in membership at St. Paul's should sign up to attend "St. Paul's 101".

St. Paul's 101 is a class that explores what it means to be an Episcopalian, especially here at St. Paul's. We will serve lunch and provide childcare.

For more information, please contact Rick Burcham , call the parish office at 615-893-3780, or click here .
New Book Study About Spiritual Growth
Wednesdays, September 18 - October 30
6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Adult Christian Education Room
Beginning Wednesday, September 18, David Rowe leads a study of Richard Rohr’s  Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life .

Author Fr. Richard Rohr is a Franciscan priest whose book describes the spiritual evolution from concerns for identity and success in the first stage (“Who am I? How can I fit in?”) to profound questions about purpose and meaning in the second stage (“Is this all there is?”). He then explores the conditions that lead to the shift.

Rohr has something to teach people of any age, no matter where they find themselves in this process. Participants will see that learning will flow from exploring their spiritual experience as they have grown, and as they look forward to the future.

Copies of the book are available from Amazon in  paperback  for $16.96 or in a  Kindle  version for $10.99. We will also use a free PDF study guide available online that you can print (Google or search for “Falling Upward study guide”). David will have copies of the guide available at the first meeting. 

Our reading load each week is moderate, about two chapters with questions from the guide for each chapter. Missing a week is not a problem, but keeping up with the process is very important. 

Please contact  David Rowe  if you plan to attend or need assistance in the arrangements.
Pilgrimage
Mondays, September 23 - November 18
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Adult Christian Education Room
Our faith exploration for adults, known as Pilgrimage, begins on Monday, September 23, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., and runs for nine consecutive Mondays. We will meet in the Adult Christian Education classrooms behind the Parish Hall. Childcare is provided, as needed.

We will explore what it means to be Christian, specifically in the Episcopal Church, our understanding of the Sacraments, our use of Scripture and the Book of Common Prayer, and why we do the things we do. We will provide for each participant a copy of the book “Welcome to the Episcopal Church” as a source material for some of our discussions.

Please prayerfully consider joining us as your schedule permits. Contact Joyce Adkins with questions, 615-631-2869 or [email protected] . To learn more about Pilgrimage and to sign up, please click here . 
Fellowship
We bring seekers into the fellowship of the Church
Breakfast reception in honor of the Rev. Colin Ambrose & family
Sunday, September 15
9:45 - 10:45 a.m.
Parish Hall

Join us for a breakfast reception to celebrate Colin's new calling at St. George's and give our best wishes to the Ambrose family on their last Sunday at St. Paul's.

If interested in bringing a breakfast casserole or dish please email Anna Stewart by email or call her at 615-600-6197 to sign up!  
Ladies Night Out
Thursday, September 12
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Ladies Night Out is a very casual evening intended simply for fellowship. People typically bring along whatever beverage they might like to drink. If your day permits, bring along a snack to share as well. Hope to see you!

Please join us anytime between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m. at Libby Willis' home,
730 E Burton St, Murfreesboro, TN . Call Libby with questions, 615-545-0220.
Senior Birthday Luncheon
Thursday, September 19
11:30 a.m.
Parish Hall
Senior parishioners (ages 70+), please mark your calendars for our next Senior Birthday Luncheon. We will mail written invitations this week to parishioners who identified themselves as 70+ eligible. 
Supper Club This Fall
Sign up by September 8 to join!

What is a Supper Club?  It is a potluck dinner at a host’s home—an informal and relaxed setting. It’s an excellent way for newcomers and long-timers to gather. If you have loved past iterations called Red Plate Dinner Club and Amazin’ Grazin’ Dinner Club, then you’ll love Supper Club. If you have never participated, give it a try!

What’s the agenda?  The only plan is to get to know one another better and share food and fellowship (no program; just dinner, hospitality, and conversation).

Who can participate?  All adults who attend St. Paul’s (members and visitors) are invited to participate! Singles, couples, and friends are all welcome to sign up.

How does it work?  Everyone who has signed up gets assigned to host one month and attend the other two months (September, October, November) in groups of six to eight. The host provides the main dish, and the guests contribute to the rest of the meal with items such as a salad, sides, dessert, or beverages. The host within each group coordinates the meal.

Please email  [email protected]   by September 8, 2019 , to join the fun!
Celebrating Our September Birthdays
“O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on your servants whose birthdays are in August as they begin another year. Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (BCP, p. 830)

For our list of September birthdays to say or send “Happy Birthday” wishes, please click here .
Other News
Our Rector

Dear Friends,
 
Please keep me in your prayers this week as I travel to Duke Divinity School in Durham, NC, to be one of the presenters at DITA10. This conference, sponsored by the Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts, brings scholars, priests, artists, and musicians from the United States and Britain together to consider the future of Theology and the Arts. 

St. George’s Arts team, which I led while I was at St. George’s, will lead a workshop on Art in the Life of the Church. The workshop will draw on our experiences at St. George’s, we’ll share how the Arts can help increase a parish’s devotion to God, make disciples, and evangelize and serve the community. Other presenters include theologian N.T. Wright, poets Malcolm Guite and Christian Wiman, scholars Jeremie Begbie, Richard B. Hays, Norman Wirzba, and others. I am honored to be part of this conference and to be included in these conversations.  
 
Yours in Christ,
Kristine+


Congratulations!

Congratulations to Michael and Joy Miller on the birth of their son William Knox. He was born Saturday night August 31.

Writing to Fr. Polk

Several folks have asked for Fr. Polk’s snail mail address. It is 1094 West 5500 South, Victor, ID 83455. This is a valid address through the end of this month.
Shepherding Corner

St. Paul's thanks all our devoted Shepherds for taking the time to reach out to their flocks and report the good and the not so good news we can all face from time to time. You help connect our fellow parishioners with the staff and ministry leaders who want and need to know, especially about unfortunate events. 

If you don't have a Shepherd and would like to have one, or would like to take on the responsibility of becoming a Shepherd, please contact Rick Burcham at [email protected] or call the church office at 615-893-3780. 
Parish Service Announcement: Seat Cushions

Worship, learn, and fellowship in comfort. St. Paul’s Senior Adult Ministry have made several seat cushions available for use. There are two bins of cushions, one located in the narthex and the other in the parish hall. The cushions are free to use and can be picked up before service, class, or an event for your comfort.

Please return the cushion to the bin when you are finished.
Medicare Information Session - September 17, 2019
St. Clair Senior Center, Dining/Programming Room
9:30 - 11:00 a.m.

New to Medicare and have questions? Do you already have Medicare and need to make changes? Are you assisting someone with Medicare decisions and want to learn more? St. Clair’s Senior Center will be hosting Lorie Gilbreath from the State Health Insurance Program to go over Medicare plans and answer questions of those in attendance. No need to RSVP to this free event. If you have questions regarding the program, call Sandy Bragg from our Senior Adult Ministry at 615-556-3486. St. Clair Senior Center is located at 325 St Clair St, Murfreesboro, TN 37130.
Did you know there's a weekly diocesan eNewsletter?
Would you like to know what is going on in our diocese? Visit edtn.org to find all the news about the Diocese of Tennessee (geographically it is the Middle Tennessee area).

Would like to receive news from the diocese each week? Click here to subscribe to the weekly “Bishop's Blast”.
Recurring Events
Weekly Centering Prayer —On the Sundays the Oasis Contemplative Service is not held , we meet in St. Andrew’s Chapel at 4 p.m. for one hour of centering prayer. Please contact Michael Miller or
Nancy Carter for more information.

Oasis Contemplative Service —Meditative prayer is an ancient Christian practice that still holds meaning today as a form of worship, especially in a culture so full of noise, information, busyness, and unrest. Held the last Sunday of each month at 4 p.m. in our St. Andrew’s Chapel, those who long for quiet and a profound experience of God’s presence will enjoy Oasis, an hour of reflection and silent prayer. 

Senior Choristers (Grades 6 and up) — Sundays , beginning September 8, 4:30-5:00 p.m. (just before Sunday Night Live), in the choir room. Conductor: Garrett Doo.

Wednesday 7:00 a.m. Worship Service —A short and simple Rite One celebration of Holy Eucharist.

Lectionary Bible Study — Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. upstairs in the Parish Hall, we gather to examine the readings for the following Sunday. Jerry Redditt leads this group. Join us whenever you can. See item above to get the texts online, whether you attend or not.

Prayer Shawl Ministry — Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. until noon in Room 2-2.

Cursillo Reunion Group —Looking for a Cursillo Reunion Group? Don’t forget there’s one every Wednesdays at 5 p.m. in the Christian Education rooms just off the parish hall. We invite all to join us.

Junior Choristers (Grades 2-5) — Wednesdays , 5:00-5:45 p.m. in the choir room. Conductor: Rachel Lapinski.

Adult Choir — Wednesdays , 7:15-8:30 p.m. in the choir room. Director: Angela Tipps

Movement & Balance Class — Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the Christian Education Room behind the parish hall, instructor Jim Genet leads an exercise class focusing on movement and balance. Several parish members highly recommend him. The fee is $10 per class. Text Jim at 615-427-3406 to sign up.

Lectio Divina —A small group meets in St. Andrew's Chapel to practice lectio divina on Thursdays from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Don’t worry if you’ve never practiced this spirit-filled prayer tradition before, as others will be on hand to help you learn. If you plan to attend, contact Nancy Carter at 615-554-5371.

Ladies’ Night Out —Held the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at Libby Willis' home, 730 East Burton Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37130 .