A Note from the Assistant Rector
|
|
Dear St. Paul's,
In life, we constantly hold the weeds with the wheat. The weather has been so mild this winter. Every sunny, warm day, while my animal self enjoys the break from the usual cloudy, cold season, my conscience also shouts, “Our climate is in crisis! We need to act!”
I was reminded of this Christian paradox of holding multiple realities as I attended two funerals of our beloveds this first week of Lent. Lent is a 40-day season of repentance in which we prepare for Holy Week and Easter by taking up practices that help us turn toward God. Individually, some people practice fasting or abstaining from certain things. Others may exercise more generosity or try new forms of prayer or new patterns in their life to draw them more closely into the love of God and neighbor. Collectively, we change our liturgy and simplify our worship space. We don’t say “Alleluia” (Hope you’re not reading this out loud!). We won’t see Sunday flowers in the church again until Easter. We have more silence in the liturgy.
Those less familiar with Church details might expect funerals to be a sort of heightened Lententide. Someone has died, after all, and we are in mourning. It’s quite the opposite, though! Much like Baptism, funerals are a Church party. They are a celebration of resurrection – of Easter, even during Lent. We wear white and sing and shout “Alleluia.” Even (especially?) in the middle of loss and mourning, resurrection breaks through.
During this season of Lent, I wonder where Easter will break through for you to remind you that as you re-turn toward God (repent), God looks at you with love.
- Hailey
The Rev. Hailey Jacobsen
|
|
Sunday, March 5, at St. Paul's
|
|
8 a.m. – Holy Eucharist in the Chapel
9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. – Nursery Care: ages three and under
10 a.m. – Holy Eucharist with Choir (also accessible via Zoom)
11:15 a.m. – Common Hour for Formation, Fellowship, and Service (details below)
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Youth Group
7:30 p.m. – Evening Worship
|
|
Prelude: Partita on ‘O Gott du frommer Gott’, BWV 767 by J. S. Bach (Chamber Organ)
Anthem: Little Lamb from ‘Mass of the Children’ by John Rutter (Junior/Parish Choir)
Motet: View me, Lord by Richard Lloyd (Parish Choir)
Postlude: Fugue in C, BWV 537 by J. S. Bach
|
|
-
Adults: In our Lenten series on community, we continue to explore what "Christian community" has in common with other manifestations of community, and what makes it distinctive. This Sunday, in part 3 of the series, the Rev. Will Peyton leads a conversation about New Testament visions of Christian community and how they relate to our lived experiences of Church.
-
Children & Youth: This Sunday during Children's Chapel, our topic will be courage – based on the story of Nicodemus. Following the service, kids are encouraged to stay for Common Hour to explore the kinds of things that make us afraid. We'll meet in the Red Room from 11:15-noon.
|
|
Note: For virtual services and meetings, click on the title for the Zoom link.
|
|
Tonight, Thursday, March 2, 6:30 p.m. – IMPACT Rally (details below)
Monday, March 6, 8 p.m. – Compline (chancel)
Tuesday, March 7, 12:15 p.m. – Holy Eucharist (chapel)
Wednesday, March 8, 4:30 p.m. – Junior Choir & Primary Choir Rehearsal
Wednesday, March 8, 5:30 p.m. – Evening Prayer (chapel)
Wednesday, March 8, 6 p.m. – Community Dinner (details below)
Wednesday, March 8, 7 p.m. – Parish Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, March 9, 7:30 a.m. – Bible Study, open to all (parish hall)
|
|
Baptisms – St. Paul's is planning for Baptisms at our Easter Vigil service on Saturday evening, April 8, and again when the Bishop visits on Sunday, May 7. Pentecost Sunday, May 28, is also a possibility. To learn more about Baptism, whether for yourself or an infant or young child, contact the parish office to schedule a conversation with one of our clergy: 434-295-2156 or office@spmcuva.org.
|
|
Bishop's Visitation – The Rt. Rev. E. Mark Stevenson, Bishop of Virginia, will visit St. Paul’s, celebrating, preaching, and administering confirmation on the fifth Sunday of Easter, May 7. Parishioners and newcomers who are curious about confirmation, renewing a lapsed commitment to the life of the Church, or “becoming an Episcopalian” are encouraged to speak with a member of the clergy to make plans to explore the possibilities. For more information, call or email the office: 434-295-2156 or office@spmcuva.org.
|
|
Easter Lilies – St. Paul’s is blessed by the ministry of our Flower Guild, parishioners who volunteer throughout the year to enhance our worship with beautiful floral arrangements. At Easter, the church is adorned with dozens of Easter lilies. Parishioners are encouraged to support the ministry of the Flower Guild by making thanksgiving and memorial gifts for Easter. The names of all who are remembered or honored will be printed in our Easter bulletins. Contact Office Manager Alice Fitch (alice.fitch@spmcuva.org or 434-295-2156) by noon on Monday, April 3, to contribute and add names to the Easter lily list.
|
|
IMPACT Rally – Join St. Paul's parishioners and members of congregations across Charlottesville for IMPACT's in-person interfaith rally at Church of the Incarnation (1465 Incarnation Drive) tonight, March 2, from 6:30 - 8 p.m. St. Paul's is a founding member of IMPACT, a faith-based justice ministry coalition of more than two dozen local congregations with a proven track record of effecting positive change for the poor and marginalized in the Charlottesville area. At the rally we will be preparing for the annual Nehemiah Action (on March 21), where we will urge local officials to implement programs and policies to create more affordable housing, improve availability of early childhood education, and reduce wait times for public transportation.
|
|
IRC Partnership – After months of prayer and preparation, St. Paul’s has been assigned a local refugee family to support with material and social resources through our partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
The Mosavi family—parents Seyad and Hanifeh, 17-year-old son Nema, and 10-year-old daughter Mobina—is from Afghanistan. St. Paul’s IRC HOME ( Housing Outreach Mentorship & Education) team recently met with the family and their IRC caseworker to determine how St. Paul's can be most helpful to them.
Our next steps with the Mosavi family include acquiring home furnishings and providing language assistance, budgeting assistance, and resume writing / job search assistance. Please keep these new neighbors in your prayers. The HOME Team looks forward to sharing more information about opportunities to help soon.
|
|
Shrine Mont Camps – Please join us for worship and dinner on Wednesday, March 15, at 5:30 p.m. when we will welcome as our guest preacher James Williams, Director of Shrine Mont Camps. Been to camp? Come share your experiences! Questions about camp? Come ask them! Wondering how else to get involved in camp ministry? Come learn about opportunities at Shrine Mont this summer! (Shrine Mont camps are open to all, regardless of Episcopal affiliation. Financial assistance is available.)
|
|
Tomorrow, Friday, March 3, marks the 158th anniversary of the liberation from bondage of the majority of the people then living in the Charlottesville area. The Descendants of Enslaved Communities at UVA will present a public program of remembrance and celebration from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Newcomb Hall Ballroom, not at St. Paul's as previously planned. All are welcome.
|
|
Bryan Stevenson – On Tuesday, March 28, at 7 p.m. our friends at Theological Horizons present the 2023 Scoper Lecture in Christian Thought featuring Bryan Stevenson at the John Paul Jones Arena. Mr. Stevenson is the Founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative and author of the acclaimed book Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. In his lecture, Act Justly, Love Mercy: Exploring the Heart of Equal Justice, Mr. Stevenson will speak on the spiritual sources that empower his lifelong commitment to transformative acts of justice and mercy. As a sponsor of the event, St. Paul’s will offer resources for individuals and small groups in the parish to prepare for the event through reading and discussion (details below). Tickets for the lecture are available here.
|
|
Just Mercy Discussion Groups – St. Paul’s is offering a choice of opportunities to delve deeper into Bryan Stephenson’s thought in a two-session discussion group on his book, Just Mercy.
-
Wednesdays, March 22, 6-7 p.m., with a second session TBA. Serve yourself dinner in the parish hall and gather in the library.
-
Thursdays on Zoom, March 23 & March 30, 7-8 p.m. Look for the link in next week’s newsletter.
-
Sundays, March 26 & April 2, 9-10 a.m. Get a cup of coffee or tea and gather in the library.
Sign up for a discussion group in the parish hall or by emailing office@spmcuva.org. All are welcome, whether or not you have signed up in advance. Copies of Just Mercy are available at UVA Bookstore, Books & Crannies, Hearts & Mind Books, or wherever you buy your books. Tickets for the lecture are available here.
|
|
Holding each other's joys, sorrows, and concerns before God in prayer is a spiritual practice that characterizes our life together at St. Paul's. In our worship services we pray each other's prayers together. Outside of our time together many parishioners make it part of their daily lives to pray the prayers of the parish community. You are invited to participate in your own way.
Thanks be to God
for all the blessings of our lives, and for the faith, fellowship, and ministries of this parish community.
for the work of the Descendants of Enslaved Communities at UVA, for their leadership in bringing the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers into being, and for God's ongoing work of liberation and freedom.
for the engagement of Nicholas Tommas & Piper Carveth (daughter of Bruce & Barrie Carveth and granddaughter of Betz Gleason), to be married in April 2024.
for the faithful generosity of the St. Paul’s parishioners and friends who have made 2023 pledges, and all who support our life and ministries.
Your prayers are requested
for St. Paul's in this season of Lent, that by self-examination and repentance, we may be renewed for joyful service to the Church and the world.
by members and friends of St. Paul’s for David Nelson, David, Pierce, Jim, Bob, Helen, John, John Ritchie, Joy, Louise Sinclair, Marianne, Lind, Jean Kane, Elizabeth & Dick, Donna Hanna, Kathy & Brett Blizzard, C.W. & Bill, Donna Argon, Emily Merkel, David Lee, Keith, N., Robbie, Nathan, Chuck, David, Mary Marrs, Sonia Waters, Georgia & AJ, Kitty Eagle, Sharon, Cap Weaver, Beth, Gwen Ellen, Ian, David Morton, Dave, Ian McNett Jr, Sarah, Joseph, Tom, Amrie Dowling, Mo Lowdon, Nan, Howell, Margaret, LuAnn, Dave & Ann, Donna Driscoll, Janet Driscoll Miller, John, Caroline & Zach, Lila Margulies, John & Mary-Elizabeth Kish, Phyllis Judd, Marlene Kelly, Logan Strzepek, Jean, Lucy Everett, Jess Wine-King, Tilghman, Elly Sparks Brown, Ginger Meislahn, Sandy Gilliam, Roger Cordani, Peyton R. Williams, Jr, Cyane, Joanne Faunce, Wilma, John, Denise Sechser, Andrew Kramp, Mary Ball.
for members of our Building Committee as they work with Kerns Group Architects to develop an architectural master plan for St. Paul's: Peter Buchanan, Cara Carter, David Coppi, Jody Lahendro, Rachel Lloyd, Alice Meador, Jennifer Minetree, Jake Morton, Tony Potter, Pat Punch, Frank Rambo, and Anne Ribble.
for the Mosavi family as they build a new life in Charlottesville with the support of the International Rescue Committee and St. Paul's HOME team.
for the Rt. Rev. Gayle Harris, who begins her ministry as Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia on April 1, and for the Rt. Rev. Dabney Smith, who will serve as Visiting Bishop in the Diocese of Virginia from April through June of this year.
for Church of the Resurrection, Alexandria, and Trinity, Manassas, according to the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer.
for the Church of the Province of South East Asia, according to the Anglican Cycle of Prayer.
for the nation and the world, for an end to violence, hunger, injustice, and oppression.
We commend to God’s never-failing care
the faithful departed throughout the world, and all those known to God alone.
all those we love but see no more, including Damon DeVito, Charles Metivier, and Jim Sivley.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|