Dear Friends,
Lin Yutang (1895-1976) was a Chinese linguist and writer who lived in China and the United States. The son of a Chinese Presbyterian pastor, Lin renounced Christianity as a young adult and became a professor of English (later in life he returned to his Christian faith). He founded Chinese magazines, edited English-language journals, contributed essays to Chinese literary magazines, wrote several books, and compiled a Chinese-English dictionary. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1940 and 1950. He also found time to invent the Ming Kwai Chinese typewriter.
Given his accomplishments, it’s easy to imagine his life being stressful and busy, racing from one important project to the next, multi-tasking to get it all done. And yet, he understood the importance of finding balance while juggling so many projects. “Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone,” he wrote in The Importance of Living. “The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.”
We don’t need to be as accomplished as Lin for our lives to feel busy and overwhelming. We can feel this way even if we don’t have a long list of tasks or projects. In the last years of her life, my mother worried about the tasks she thought she should do but no longer had the energy to accomplish. She labored to do even routine things, reluctant to allow others to help her. Like so many of us, she struggled to find balance between the essential and non-essential parts of life.
We’re moving into a time of year which adds significant tasks and commitments to our already full lives. On top of our normal responsibilities and activities at home or work or school, we add holiday season preparations that paradoxically bring us joy while also causing us additional stress. Whether to please ourselves or others, we strive to create the ideal holiday celebrations. I wonder if by trying so hard to do the right thing for others we lose the opportunity to spend meaningful time with others.
What if we decide during the upcoming Advent and Christmas seasons to practice “the noble art of leaving things undone”? What if we prioritize our list of tasks, focus on the most essential, and let go of everything else? Would we really lose anything? Might we instead gain something more important?
A favorite prayer of mine for the end of the day is the Night Prayer from A New Zealand Prayer Book. In the prayer we ask God to grant us peace at the end of the day, praying, “What has been done has been done; what has not been done has not been done; let it be.”
That feels like a good prayer for the weeks ahead, a mantra inviting us to be present and open to the true gifts of the season: anticipating the coming of the incarnate God who chooses to dwell with us and celebrating with the family, friends, and community who walk through this life with us.
Your friend in Christ,
Rector
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UPCOMING EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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“PHISHING” EMAIL REMINDER
Please be vigilant and do NOT purchase anything or provide financial information. If in doubt, call the office at 317.253.1277. St. Paul's Church office has been contacted numerous times in the past week regarding an increasing number of phishing emails claiming to be from St. Paul’s staff. Staff and clergy will only contact you using official stpaulsindy.org email accounts and will never ask anyone to purchase gift cards, or anything else, on our behalf. Advanced scammers use “spoofed” email addresses that superficially mimic genuine emails addresses (i.e., therevjohn@gmail.com, stpaulsindy@gmail.com). Victims of spoofed email addresses have no idea this has happened and no control over stopping it. Please double-check before clicking links or downloading anything. For more details, click here.
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Adult Faith Forum: Sunday, November 20, 10:15a, Parish Hall
All are invited to attend as Marc Bessiake and Milton Keys present a Q&A forum highlighting their film, The Masterpiece. This short documentary by Marc Bessiake focuses on Indianapolis local, Milton Keys as he navigates life as a producer, music teacher and preacher living with cerebral palsy. Bessiake is a St. Paul’s Faith, Justice & the Arts grant recipient and used that funding for the creation of this film. See a preview of the film below:
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ADVENT LESSONS & CAROLS
Sunday, November 27, 9 & 11:15a, Sanctuary
Join us for this annual favorite, highlighting the wonder and anticipation of the season of Advent. Featuring music by Donald Pearson, Paul Manz, George Guest, John Scott, Bruce Neswick, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Palestrina.
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COFFEE HOUR & ADVENT WREATHS
Sunday, November 27, 10:15-11a, Parish Hall
Enjoy light refreshments while making an Advent Wreath. For those making wreaths, we ask for donations (candles $5 and wreath bases $10). Please bring clippers and wreath bases from home or use what we have available. If able, please bring wreath greenery from home to share!
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VESTRY NOMINATIONS OPEN
Nominations for Vestry members will be accepted through Friday, December 2.
The Vestry is tasked with strategic oversight and communication toward objectives and goals in support of St. Paul’s mission. Members serve a three-year term and meet for several hours on the third Tuesday of most months. Click below to read more about the functions of our Vestry and to nominate someone you think would be an asset in this important role.
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CHRISTMAS MUSIC AND FLOWER MEMORIALS
Memorials due by Friday, December 2
Honor loved ones by sponsoring music or flowers for Christmas Eve. Donations of $40/music and $50/flowers are appreciated. Email (music) Meegan Kriner, or Pamela Smith (flowers) or submit payment and names below.
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BULLETIN COVER ARTWORK SUBMISSIONS
Due by Tuesday, December 6
Children and youth are invited to submit artwork that can be featured on our Christmas Eve bulletin cover and in promotions. Artwork should in some way represent the Nativity Story. Download an artwork form below or pick up a printed copy in Burrows Commons or Sunday School classrooms. Submissions may be turned into the Church Office; scanned artwork can be emailed to Barbara Bates.
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ST. PAUL'S CHOIR CONCERT - HANDEL'S MESSIAH
Sunday, December 11, 4p, Sanctuary
St. Paul’s Choir, joined by a festival orchestra, sings excerpts from Part One of Handel’s Messiah, along with J.S. Bach’s exuberant Magnificat in D Major. Soloists are drawn from the staff singers in the choir to provide a concert perfect for the season. Admission is $15 (cash/check)/$15.75 (credit card). Tickets can be purchased below. Questions, email Meegan Kriner.
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LUNCH AND LEARN
Wednesday, December 14, 11:30a-1p, Parish Hall
Join the Rev. Jeff Bower, Associate Rector and Director of Stewardship, and Dan Thompson, Senior Director of Parish Operations, as they outline the perks of giving a planned gift. The discussion will include benefits for donors in leaving a legacy, potential tax advantages and how a donor can designate future use of a gift. Also shared will be the importance of such gifts to the long-term vitality of St. Paul’s. Rev. Jeff and Dan promise to make it interesting (as interesting as tax planning can be) so please come learn the basics and hopefully consider a planned gift to St. Paul’s! The cost of lunch is $5. Please RSVP to Tana Hunnicutt below, no later than Friday, December 9.
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CHRISTMAS PAGEANT ROLES
Sunday, December 18, 4p, Sanctuary
Sign up below if your child would like to participate in this year's Christmas Pageant. Children act out the story of Christmas. All ages are welcome and encouraged to be in this service that includes Christmas carols and prayers. Visiting friends and grandchildren are welcome to be a part of the pageant too! Questions, email Laurie Pierce.
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GIVING & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES |
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HELP PROVIDE THANKSGIVING MEALS
Sunday, November 20, 7:45a-12p, drop in Burrows Commons
Monday, November 21, volunteers needed to deliver food
The Outreach Oversight Committee plans to support 100+ families through ministry partners including the Damien Center. Outreach will provide turkeys for families but help is needed to provide the other items. Monetary donations to support this effort may be made by texting tday to 97000 or by making a donation here. Questions, email Catherine Henney or the Rev Patrick Burke. A list of items needed can be found below:
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NURSERY VOLUNTEERS WANTED
Who loves to hold babies and play with young children?
Volunteers are needed to sub in the nursery from 9-10 a.m. on Sundays when two other nursery staff aren’t available. Requirements are that you love playing with and caring for ages 0-3; are age 18+; a background check has been completed; and Safe Church, Safe Community training has been completed (previously known as Safeguarding God’s Children). Each helper will serve once every six weeks, depending on the number of volunteers. Questions, contact Laurie Pierce.
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