st. paul's news - november, 2007

8/14/2019 St. Paul's News - November, 2007

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St. Paul's Episcopal ChurchLansing Michigan

Volume 32, IssuBy The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon Weller

St. Pauls NewsNovember, 20

W e all love agood celebra-tion. It brings a certainjoy to our lives thatwarms both heart and

soul. All Saints Sundayhas become one ofthose celebrations. This

has happened because of many convergingevents and the common goal of dedicating our-selves to God we all should share. Considerwhat will happen on November 4.

We will have upwards of a dozen baptisms. Asthis happens, we all witness individualsbecoming Christian and being imbued with thesacramental presence of the Holy Spirit. It hasthe ability to fill us with warm fuzzies because

the children are always so loveable and thecommitment of the adults, both parents andGodparents, is so admirable.

Also occurring on that Sunday will be the pres-entation of our 2008 pledge cards at the time

of the offering. Coupled with the normal Sundayoffering, it provides evidence of the love wehave for Christ and for Gods working agent inthe world, St. Pauls.

Another happening for the day will be the wel-coming of new members. All Saints Sunday be-comes a most appropriate time to welcome newmembers because of our use of the BaptismalCovenant as a statement of our goals as mem-bers of St. Pauls. New people join us becauseof the evidence of our commitment and theirdesire to join in our life together.

Another occurrence will be the reading of theNecrology. This reading of the names of thosewho have died during the preceding year is areminder, both of their dedication to the Churchand of Christs dedication to be Gods savingagent to the world. We are also reminded ofthe place prepared for us in the kingdom ofheaven.

(Continued on page 14)

The Rev. Dr. Gordon Weller

The Joy of Celebrating

In the Presence of the Presiding Bishop

By Sue Millar

L ast month Chuck and I were privileged to attend the AMEN All Michigan Episcopal Network Conference held at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. The food was amazing, the scenerylovely and the conversations stimulating, but the best part was meeting and hearing our new Pre-siding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori, lead a large group discussion and give the homily at theclosing Eucharist. Rest assured, we are in good hands under her leadership.

After shaking her hand, I mentioned that I watch her shoulders to see if there is any sign of her be-ing worn down by her responsibilities. Oh, no! It is a joyful thing, and were in this together. In-deed, though her schedule must be taxing, she gives no sense of being overwhelmed. Instead, herintelligence, insight, commitment and vision result in a leadership style that offers hope and confi-dence.


Calendar 17

Choir Schedule 9

St. Pauls News 10

Upcoming 2

Vestry News 7

Inside this issue:


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Page 2 Upcoming St. Pauls ActivitiesActivities at a Glance

Ongoing Activities St. Aelreds Guild, third Wednesday, 5:00 PM

Book Cart, 2nd Sunday after 10 AM B&PW, Tuesday, November 13, 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. Pauls Library, open every Sunday St. Elizabeth Guild, Tuesday, November 27, 12:30

PM at the home of Debby Pierce Prayer Group, first Tuesday, 5:30 PM, Choir Re-

hearsal Room Mens Breakfast, third Thursday, 7-8 AM, Hill Room Mid-Week Eucharist, Tuesdays, noon

This Month at St. Pauls and Elsewhere All Saints Day services, November 1, 7 PM Newcomers Dinner, Saturday, November 3, at the

home of Martie & Tom Repaskey Baptisms and UTO Ingathering, Sunday, November

4 during 8 and 10 AM service Food Drive, Every Member Canvas, and Housing

Assistance Fund Fruit & Greens Sale all end onNovember 4

MDG (Millennium Development Goals) Series firstsession, Sunday, November 11 during 10 AM ser-

vice Silver Bells in the City, Friday, November 16, 5-9

PM Harvest Home Dinner, Wednesday, November 21,

6 PM dinner; 7 PM Holy Eucharist SILS (Supervised Independent Living Services) Par-

ish collection of household goods, Thanksgiving thruChristmas

Looking Ahead Hymn Sing, Sunday, December 2, 9:45 AM Amahl and the Night Visitors , Friday & Saturday,

December 7-8, 7 PM Miter Meeting, Thursday, December 13, 7 PM, St.

Augustines, Mason

Men of Orpheus, Friday, December 14, 7 PM The Holiday Gathering, Friday, December 14,6:30 PM

Lange Choral Ensemble Concert, Saturday, Decem-ber 15, 7 PM

Lessons & Carols, Sunday, December 23, 10 AM Parish Wide Book Read, discussions for three

weeks beginning the week of January 7, 2008 Annual Meeting, Sunday, January 27, 2008, after

10 AM service ERD Book Sale coming in February

Newcomers DinnerBy The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller

O n Saturday, November 3, our fall group of New-comers will gather for dinner and fellowship atthe home of Martie & Tom Repaskey . The followingday, All Saints Sunday, we will welcome the newcom-ers into the congregation at the 10 a.m. service. Pleasejoin in welcoming our new members at the receptionthat will follow the service. If you have neverofficially joined the parish and would like do so now,

please contact one of the clergy or call the Church of-fice to be included.

NecrologyBy The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller

E very year, at both the All Saints Day ser-vice, November 1, and the service on thefollowing Sunday, we read the Necrology, a list-ing of all those who have died during the preced-ing year. Please contact the Church office if youhave a name you would like to add to the list.

T ft| Wt Thursday, November 1, 2007

7 p.m.

A major Holy Day in the life of the Church


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Page 3Upcoming St. Pauls Activities

By MaryLea Benson

F or many years, several members of St. Pauls have been assisting with The Housing Assistance Fund Saleof holiday fruit, wreaths, poinsettias, and roping of fresh greens, bringing to you the opportunity to helpthe less fortunate in our community through your purchases. Well, its that time of year again!

The Housing Assistance Fund (HAF), now in its 23rd year, is an informal coalition of Lansing-area churchesdedicated to helping the homeless. Money raised in the annual holiday sale is distributed to two local shelters,Haven House in East Lansing and Loaves and Fishes in Lansing. Winter is an especially challenging time forhomeless persons in mid-Michigan and the shelters on which they rely. Your concern can make a difference forsomeone now.

Beautiful and fragrant wreaths of fresh greens are available in seven sizes from 20diameter to 70 diame-ter, with optional bows, and in your choice of a Douglas fir/cedar/white pine combination or fragrant Fraserfir. Equally lovely roping is fashioned from Douglas Fir, cedar and white pine boughs. Lush, high-quality poin-settias come in three colors and sizes in foil-wrapped pots. Boxed fruit options include Florida-fresh and juicynavel oranges, pink grapefruits and tangelos in 20- and 40-pound cases.


Every Member CanvassWrapping UpBy Karen and Bob Tarrant,Stewardship Committee

J ust a reminder that the Every Member Can-vass is wrapping up on November 4 this year.The Canvass is being conducted earlier in an ef-fort to give the Vestry an accurate projection ofpledge revenues prior to establishing the budgetfor 2008. If you have not returned your pledgecards yet, please do so as soon as possible. If youhave misplaced your packet, additional packetscan be obtained at the church or by calling theoffice. Our Every Member Canvass is an essentialcomponent of our Stewardship at St. Pauls andtogether we are proving that the Gift of Gener-osity continues.

O n Sunday, November 4, clocks fall back from 1:59 a.m. to 1 a.m. This timewas originally chosen because it was practical and minimized disruption.Most people were at home; it prevents the day from switching to yesterday,which would be confusing; it is early enough that the entire continental U.S.switches by daybreak; and the changeover occurs before most early shift workersand early churchgoers are affected.

Be sure to change your clock on Saturday night when you go to bed or you mighteither be late for 8 a.m. or really early for 10 a.m. services.

Its Time to Fall Back

Housing Assistance Fund SaleHurry, Ends Soon!

UTO IngatheringBy Kay Gallup

T he Ingathering will take placeat the two services on Sunday,November 4. Envelopes will be en-closed in the bulletin the Sunday before and the Sun-day of the Ingathering. Boxes are at the entry to thechurch.

The mission of the United Thank Offering is to expandthe circle of thankful people.

Past offerings have aided people in areas from Africato Honduras, the Sudan, Korea, from Mexico to Papua,New Guinea and all over the United States.


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Page 4 Upcoming St. Pauls ActivitiesThe MDGs Are Coming to St. Pauls!By Dr. Stephen R. Lange, Minister of Music

W hat, you might ask, are MDGs? Those of you who have read The Record recently will know thatMDG stands for Millennium Development Goals. They are eight goals that leaders from 191 na-

tions, including the United States, agreed on to cut extreme global poverty in half by 2015. (More that onebillion people live on less than a $1a day!) The goals include addressing freedom from misery and suffering,hunger, illiteracy, disease, poor housing, insecurity, and providing environmental sustainability. Up to now even though St. Pauls contributes to wide-ranging outreach programsthe church has not intentionally ad-dressed these issues as a congregation.

This year, there will be a series of programs designed to help us become more aware of the nature and scopeof the MDGs and to find concrete ways in which we can help further the realization of these goalsthroughindividual, small-group, and parish-wide efforts. This series will begin on Sunday, November 11, with an inter-view of God (during the normal sermon time) to get Gods thoughts on these goals and their realization. Thesecond in this series will be on December 2, the First Sunday of Advent, when a guest speaker will share ex-periences as a refugee from Sudan. And the third and final segment will be on February 3, with a special

event after the service to help us understand more fully the scope of the MDGs and then to find concrete waysto address them. Please join us with an open mind and open heart as we discern how we as a parish can helpto alleviate the extreme conditions many people in the world face every day.

By Dr. Stephen R. Lange, Minister of Music

N ovember means that preparation for the Thanksgiving and Christmas Seasons will get into full swing asSt. Pauls Handbell Choir joins with the Handbell Choir of Pilgrim Congregational Church, JohnBroughton, director, to usher in Silver Bells in the City. An annual event in Lansing, Silver Bells includes a fes-tive parade, singing groups, instrumental ensembles, fireworks and a concert of Handbell music put on at St.Pauls immediately afterwards. Following the concert there will be free hot chocolate and cookies in the Merri-field Room for anyone who would like to stop by. This year England choristers will be selling hot chili on thelawn of St. Pauls before and during the parade. Please come down and enjoy the festivities!

The Holiday Seasons Are Approaching!

4 Fs 2007-08 ProgramsTaking Care of Ourselves & Others

The 2 nd and 4 th Mondays of each monthFaith, Fellowship, Food and Fun for anyone who has time in the middle of the day!

12:00 Eucharist 12:30 Lunch 1:00 Bible Study on the Psalms 1:152:00 ProgramSign up for each session on the table outside the Merrifield Room

November 12

Spiritual Eldering with retired director of refugeeservices, Pat Hep.

November 26

Spiritual Eldering continued with Pat Hep.

December 10

A special Christmas Celebration with the Grand LedgeMadrigals led by Nancy Lange.

We will continue the 4Fs programs on January 14 andwill have program information in the December St.Pauls News .


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Page 5Upcoming St. Pauls ActivitiesHarvest Home Dinner and ServiceBy Dr. Stephen R. Lange, Minister of Music

S t. Pauls traditional Harvest Home dinner and service will be held on Wednesday, November 21, begin-

ning at 6 p.m. in the Merrifield Room. England choristers will serve the dinner. (Donations for their upcom-ing trip will be accepted!) Following the dinner, at approximately 7 p.m., the service of Holy Eucharist will beheld in the church. Members of the Cherub Choir will sing an anthem for this service. There is a sign-up sheet onthe table by the elevator. Please feel free to invite friends or relatives to join us for this celebration of Godsbounty.

The Holiday GatheringBy Millie Ericson, Vestry Member

S ave the Date for The Holiday Gathering,Friday, December 14, 6:30-9 p.m. at thehome of Kathy and Larry Gut , 5553 Wild IrisLane in Haslett. Celebrate with friends, food andmusic. In the spirit of the season, give to the Epis-copal Relief and Development Fund. More detailsto follow.

B&PWBy Barbara Richardson

W e are going on a trip!! Come join us on Novem-ber 13 at 6 p.m. in the Hill Room. CarolIngells , our speaker will tell us about her recent trip toTurkey.

The board will meet at 5:30 p.m. and join the rest ofthe guild for dinner. All women of the church are in-vited, but reservations are needed for dinner, soplease contact Nancy Milne at 882-0573 by Nov. 11for a reservation. The cost of dinner is $8.

St. Elizabeth GuildBy Debby Pierce

T he November meeting will be at 12:30 p.m.on Tuesday, November 27 at my home,1424 Wellington, Lansing. We have a great

meeting scheduled and hope everyone will at-tend.

The December meeting will be our Annual Corpo-rate Communion and Breakfast at 8 a.m. on Sun-day, December 9 at St. Paul's.

If you are interested in attending a meeting or injoining the St. Elizabeth Guild, please call me at394-4800 or 485-5446.

Thanksgiving BasketsBy Dr. Stephen R. Lange, Minister of Music

S t. Pauls will be providing Thanksgiving baskets for needy families in the

Lansing area this year. If you are interested in providing food for a basket,making a monetary contribution or delivering a basket someone else has pre-pared, please sign up on the sheet by the elevator. Instruction sheets are avail-able by the sign-up sheet.


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Page 6 Upcoming St. Pauls Activities

Miter MeetingsBy The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller

O ur Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Wendell Gibbs, Jr., and hisstaff have embarked on a Diocesan wide visita-tion program called Miter Meetings. These meetingsare meant to provide an opportunity for members ofthe Diocese to gather, ask questions, receive answersand promote conversation between the parishes andthe Diocese. The Miter Meeting for our area is sched-uled for Thursday evening, December 13, at St.Augustines in Mason. It begins at 7 p.m. and ends at8:30. Please feel invited. Should you like to carpool orneed a ride, contact the Church office.

T his year St. Pauls will offer a rich and variedselection of music to celebrate the Advent/Christmas Seasons. The First Sunday of Advent

(December 2) will be marked by a short Hymn Singbefore the 10 a.m. service. It will last from 9:45 to9:55 a.m., and will, we hope, help the congregationstart their preparation for Christmas on an upbeatnote, so to speak, while giving them the opportunity tosing a few more of their favorite hymns. Requests forhymns to be sung may be made to the Minister of Mu-sic, Stephen Lange.

On Friday and Saturday, December 7-8, at 7 p.m.,the choirs of St. Pauls will present the wonderfulChristmas work, Amahl and the Night Visitors. Thisshort opera, written by Gian-Carlo Menotti, tells thestory of a poor, crippled, shepherd boy who lives withhis widowed mother in a simple hut about the time ofthe birth of Jesus. The three kings stop by this hut ontheir way to visit the baby Jesus in the manger and thestory unfolds from there. It is a wonderful story, withhumor, great singing and a very touching message. Itwould make a great family outing! The roles will bedouble cast with Thomas Laub and Margaret Kariuki as the Amahls, Larissa Clark and Victoria Walker as

the Mothers, Michael Nauss , Larry Clark and RickLaub as the Kings, and Matthew Nauss as the page.In addition, members from all the choirs will form thechorus of shepherds and shepherdesses. Bring friends!

On Friday, December 14, at 7 p.m., the Men of Or-pheus, an all-male Lansing singing group, will presentits annual Christmas Concert at the church. Directed byformer parishioner Gayle Pohl, the Men of Orpheuswill present a concert of lighter Christmas music. St.Pauls Handbell Choir, directed by Mary Rodeck, willjoin them for this concert.

On the next night, Saturday, December 15, also at 7p.m., the Lange Choral Ensemble will present its annualChristmas concert. This year the concert will featureMagnificat by Johann Sebastian Bach, a setting ofseveral Spanish Christmas carols by Steven Sametz,and several shorter numbers by such composers asMarenzio, Gesualdo and Clausen. Tickets for the con-cert are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniorcitizens. The Magnificat will be accompanied by asmall instrumental ensemble.

The service of Advent Lessons and Carols will be heldon Sunday, December 23, during the 10 a.m. service.All of St. Pauls choirs, including the Handbell Choir,will join in this annual musical celebration of Jesusbirth.

Christmas Music at St. PaulsBy Dr. Stephen R. Lange, Minister of Music

ST AELRED'S GUILDoffers spiritual friendship to members of our congregation in time of need throughnotes, visitation, prayer list management, Eucharistic visits, celebration of births and marriages as well asphone calls to shut-ins. St. Pauls would like to know when one of our parishioners is in the hospital, is unable tocome to church, has been moved to a special care facility or just might appreciate a card or visit to let themknow we are thinking about them and praying for them. Please pick up a form for this special ministry at theWelcome Table after church or call Kathleen in the office at 482-9454. All parishioners are welcome to joinus in this Ministry theThird Wednesday of each month from 5:00 - 6:00 PM in the VanAtta Room.


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Page 7 News from the Vestry Financial Information as of September 30, 2007By Jeff Irwin

The September accounting was not complete as of the writing of this article. The following is based on prelimi-

nary data.The total pledge and non-pledge revenue received through September 30 was $209,183, which is 74 percentof the total 2007 budget. September is 75 percent of the year, so we are short of the total pledge budget for2007.

Through September 30, we estimate we have incurred a net operating loss of over $103,000. Our budget for2007 is for an operating loss of $152,000. At this time, it is not clear if we will have a loss of $152,000 by theend of 2007, but we will incur a large deficit.

The restricted and designated funds have recorded close to $94,000 in revenue. This includes both investmentgains and restricted contributions.

As of October 15, 2007, it had been necessary to withdraw $130,000 from the Perpetual Fund to provide

cash to keep the church operating.

Highlights from the October VestryMeeting:At the O ctober 16 Vestry meeting your Vestry: Conducted devotions based on the lessons and

biographical sketches for Thomas Cranmer, HughLatimer and Nicholas Ridley (found in Lesser

Feasts and Fasts - 2006) and compared, con-trasted and reflected on the message deliveredin the Presiding Bishop's web cast delivered ear-lier in the afternoon.

Reviewed the "Welcoming Church" and "VisionStatement" documents and decided to evaluatethe original hopes declared and actions accom-plished, and present future goals at this year'sannual meeting in January.

Reviewed the effectiveness of ACTION ofGreater Lansing.

Reviewed the status of the Oliver Towers project. Approved expenditures to continue with the Public

Relations Plan. Discussed the need to update the Web site and

keep it current. Conducted a review of the amendments, changes

in the Canons and issues to be discusses at Dioce-san Convention next week.

Appointed a replacement delegate for LibbyRichardson who will not be able to attend.Kathy Gut will serve as the replacement.

Discussed the Presiding Bishop's appearance atDiocesan Convention and the attendance at thedinner. We currently have about 55 people whoare going to be in attendance.

Discussed the options available for the Audit of2006 as mandated by the Diocese.

Received and accepted the Treasurer's Report (asummary will be found elsewhere in the issue).

Received various Committee Reports. The generalopinion is that with minor exceptions, things arerunning smoothly and much is right with the parish.

Allocated up to $400 dollars for Zacheria Akol'sair fare to talk with Bishop Gibbs.

Discussed what it would mean to support ZacheriaAkol during his three years in seminary. Moreinformation will be gathered before a decision ismade.

Received clergy reports.Note: More detail may be found in the official Ves-try Minutes and various printed committee reportsavailable and posted on the bulletin board outsidethe Rector's office


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Upcoming St. Pauls ActivitiesPage 8Mission & Outreach Activities:

Where is Christ calling you to help others?

November 4 Housing Assistance Fund, Fruit & Greens Sale

Ends UTO Ingathering Food Drive Final Day

November 11-18 Thanksgiving Baskets

November 19 LAEP (Lansing Area Episcopal Projects) Quar-

terly Meeting

December Starter Apartment Collecting for SILS Mitten Tree

December 2 or 9 Housing Assistance Fruit & Greens pick up at

All Saints, East Lansing

December 24 Collecting gifts to support the Christ Child in

support of Eves House

January Possible sponsoring of meals for Ronald

McDonald House guests

February Episcopal Relief & Development Used Book

Sale fundraiser

Check the newsletter articles and the Sunday Bulle-tin Announcements for additional details and infor-mation

Annual MeetingBy The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller

T he Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday,January 27, 2007. At that time, we will re-view the past, plan for the future and elect peo-ple to implement our dreams. Please mark thisdate on your calendar and plan on attending.Light refreshments will precede the meeting andchild care will be provided.

Third Annual Used Book Sale

P lease remember to set aside any books youwant to pass on for the third annual ERDused book sale, coming in February.

For the past two years, you have donated a widevariety of books. You have purchased them foryourself, for friends or family. We have, as a re-sult, raised significant dollars to support the life-saving work of Episcopal Relief and Development.

We will begin collecting books for the sale inJanuary. Thanks for your support.

By Sue Millar, ERD Diocesan Coordinator


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Page 9

Wednesday, October 31 (Halloween) - Because Halloween falls on Wednesday night this year, there willbe no Family Night activitieschoir rehearsals or classes Thursday, November 1 - There will be no Chancel Choir rehearsal this night

Wednesday, November 21 - Harvest Home dinner and service. Cherubs and Boys and Grace Choirs willrehearse from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Cherubs (only) will sing an anthem for the Harvest Home service. (Dinnerwill be at 6 p.m. and the Service at 7 p.m.) High School Choristers will serve and help clean up asneeded.

Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22 - there will be no Chancel Choir rehearsal

Sunday, December 23 (Lessons and Carols) - All choirs will sing for the 10 a.m. service

England Parents: We will meet on Sunday, November 11, after the 10 a.m. service. We will finalize plansfor the Harvest Home dinner and determine when we will host brunches and start preparation for theAuction.

Choir Newsletter and Dates to RememberBy Dr. Stephen R. Lange, Minister of Music

November 4 (All Saints Sunday) Boys and Grace; High School; ChancelNovember 11 High School; ChancelNovember 18 High School; Chancel (Mozart Missa Brevis) November 25 High School; Chancel

December 2 Boys and Grace; High School;December 9 High School; ChancelDecember 16 High School; ChancelDecember 23 (Lessons & Carols) Cherub, Boys and Grace, High SchoolDecember 30 Choirs will not be vesting

Singing Schedule

Date Choirs

St. Pauls Choirs


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Page 10 St. Pauls News

St. Pauls November Prayer List

W e pray for those who are sick and in need: Cindy Robinson, Richard, Audrie& Aaron Hegmon, Shelley Robinson, Donna, Grady, & Dennis Letner, ClaraVoges, Mason Hill, Lois Caswell, June Wyatt, Dick Siebert, Carol, Judith Jones, BeckyChamberlain, Nancy Hiscoe Clark, Charles Weaver, Ben Herbert, Chance Collins,Caroline Thomas and her parents, brothers & godparents, Betty Jensen, Dan Heany,Marsha & Skip Macholz, Gloria Harvat, Jack Siebold, Joe Manson, DakBai DakBai,

Irene Jones, Mary Ann Kelley, Ed Farmer, Sally Engle, Ed Jones, Alice Jessop Lamb, Justin, Elizabeth,Barb Hacker, Andrew Astley, Claire Carruthers, Annette Ophaug, Jeff & Sandy Howe and Mary Tuckey

We pray for and remember those in the Military, serving in dangerous areas: Daniel Reno, DanielLaurion and Andrew Chegwidden

We pray for those expecting: : Opuene & Karen Amachree, Stuart & Rochelle Cullum, Cory & Stacy Nel-son, Christopher & Kristan Chase, and Justin & Jessica Leonard

We celebrate the birth of: Benjamin Wayne Ashcraft , son of Brian & Amy (Fowler) Ashcraft ; Annika GraceBarnas , daughter of Daniel & Gretchen Barnas

We pray for those who have died: Nicole Boron and David Hughes

We celebrate the wedding of: Amber Marie Dufrene and Harry Edward Mika III

Prayer List

Vestry NominationsBy The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller

N ames of candidates for election to the Vestry are now being received. Qualifications include:

Baptized At least 16 years of age Regular in attendance A contributing member of the congregation Willingness to attend 10 vestry meetings Willingness to chair a vestry committee Willingness to attend the vestry retreat on Feb. 1-2, 2007

If you are willing to serve or have someone you would like to nominate, please confirm his or her willingness toserve and then submit the name. As always, nominations from the floor are acceptable.

St. Pauls Nursery Looking for A Few Moms and DadsBy The Rev. Ronald C. Byrd, Sr., Curate

S t. Pauls Sunday school and nursery are off to a great start and roaring right along. Our average weekly

attendance for Sunday school is around 32 students and there are usually more than seven children in thenursery. While we believe we have adequate staffing for our Sunday school group, we could desperately usea few volunteer moms and dads in the nursery to assist Kelsey Booth, our nursery childcare provider. If thereare any parents willing to lend their time and talent in the nursery, perhaps one Sunday a month, God andKelsey will be well pleased!


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Page 11 St. Pauls Youth Ministry

Youth Group Raises Over $1,000 for Crop Walk

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

T he Youth Group would like to thank St. Pauls Parish Family for its generous support in pledges and dona-tions towards this years 10K Walk for Hunger. Thanks to YOU, we were able to raise over $ 1,000. Wewould like to give a special THANK YOU to an anonymous donor who matched first-time donor amounts. Thegroup of 10 walked 10K (thats 6.5 miles!) on Sunday, October 14. The money raised was enough to provideclean water for drinking and domestic use, as well as education and training for improved community health,hygiene and sanitation. This service project is the first of several the group has planned for the coming year.

Youth Group 2007-08Kick-Off Meeting and Outing

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

S t. Pauls Youth Group kicked off its 2007-08 ministry seasonon Sunday September 23. Eleven youth gathered at thehome of Barb Heany for pizza and an organizational meeting.The group had an opportunity to become acquainted with Fr. Ronand his family, as well as exchange ideas for activities for theupcoming year. After a spirit-filled meeting and lots of pizza, thegroup took a trip over to FunTyme Adventure Golf (miniaturegolf) in Grand Ledge. A fun time was had by all. There was lotsof laughter, and several holes-in-one were celebrated!

Youth Group celebrates after the season Kick-OffMeeting at FunTyme Adventure Golf

F or the first time in St. Pauls history, the youthgroup will form a Youth Council with an executiveboard (voted in amongst themselves) to oversee and

facilitate youth group activities and projects and toadvocate youth ideas and concerns to the Parish of St.Pauls.

The council is intended to provide a vehicle for ouryoung people to self-govern their youth ministry pro-grams, as well as provide for basic leadership, man-agement and organizational skill development. Theyouth executive board will consist of a president, vice

president, secretary and treasurer. Elections will beheld October 28, so we ask that you please keep us inyour prayers as we blaze a new way forward inyouth ministry at St. Pauls.

Youth Group to Form CouncilBy the Rev. Ronald C. Byrd, Sr., Curate

P lans for the St. Pauls Youth Group program yearare well under way, and we are expecting tohave another exciting year, with a new focus andmany great activities and service projects. The youthgroup targets young people grades 6-12, and minis-try programs are designed around three primary ar-eas of focus: in-reach, outreach, and mission. Here area few of this years upcoming events:

Nov. - Neighborhood Canned Good Drive

Dec. - Youth Group Christmas Party and trip tonursing home for bingo

Jan. - Lock-in and service project at Lansing RescueMission

Feb. - Trip to Full Blast Indoor Water Park Mar. - Youth Group to sponsor Easter Party for

small children Apr. - Fundraisers: car wash, ice cream social dur-

ing coffee, fellowship and taco dinner on familynight

May - Cedar Point!

Stay tuned to SPN and the weekly bulletins for moredetails and information.

St. Pauls Youth Group HappeningsBy the Rev. Ronald C. Byrd, Sr., Curate


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St. Pauls NewsPage 12

R ecently I heard someone suggest thatchurches typically educate their children andbless the adults. The speaker then observed

that churches would be stronger if they blessed thechildren and better educated their adults.

If this makes sense to you, the Book Cart offers booksfor sale, once a month, for adult education.

We have books to nourish your spiritual life. We havebooks that can help you clarify your beliefs, that helpyou better understand the message of the Bible, andthat will challenge you to live the Good News eachday right where you live and work. We can also spe-

cial order bibles, prayer books and most any othertitle you would like.

I had the privilege of hearing our new PresidingBishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori, speak at the Dioce-san Clergy Conference at Mackinac Island a weekago. This experience whetted my appetite for hernew book, On a Wing and A Prayer . The back coversays it well: "Katharine Jefferts Schori reflects on ourcomplex world through the lens of scripture and theChurch's vocation to serve both its members and thoseconsidered 'outsiders' by our church and the world . . .Read this book as a series of daily meditations, andby the end of it, you will not only know BishopKatharine better, but you will find yourself filled witha livelier hope, re-energized for the ministry and mis-sion of all of us baptized in Christ."

Book Cart OfferingsBy Sue Millar

Young Adults Who Have Aged-Out of Foster Care Need Our Help

S ome 18-year-old former foster teenagers/adultswhose foster families no longer receivestate assistancefind themselves without a place tolive or without any family support.

Child and Family Services attempts to aid these youngadults through its Supervised Independent Living Ser-vices (SILS), but much state funding of the program hasbeen cut. When these teenagers are placed into anapartment, they get financial assistance for rent, butthey have no funds and no family/friend support forall the items that a young person needs to start inde-pendent living from blankets and sheets to fryingpans, glasses, toilet paper, etc.

During 2006, the Lansing Area Episcopal Projectschurches (including St. Pauls) have taken monthly turnsproviding new apartment start up items for one ofthese SILS young adults. Last year, the young adultchosen by St. Pauls had an apartment completely

stocked by our Vestry members alone. This year wewill be asking the entire congregation to step forwardto purchase and donate these needed items.

We will ask you to make this effort between Thanks-giving and Christmas. Please watch for further bulletinannouncements and the December newsletter for thedetails. By that time we will also know if our youngadult recipient is male or female, and possibly have afirst name. All communication is confidential throughChild and Family Services.

Mission & Outreach will provide you with a detailedlisting of all items we need. Examples includeBathroom 3 bath towels, 3 hand towels, 3 wash-cloths, a bathmat or bath rug, shower curtain andrings, tumbler and soap dish, and a laundry bas-ket (into which we would pack all of the above).There are seven areas (care packages/rooms) like theone listed above for us to fulfill for a pre-Januarydelivery date.

Stay tuned!

By Bill Fineout, Diaconal Candidate


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Accomplishing "Two Goods" with One GiftBy Sue Millar

W hen shopping for gifts for my grandchildren or friends, I often go first to the United Nations store onMichigan Avenue. If I find a suitable choice, I have the double satisfaction of accomplishing two"goods" with one gift. My love has been expressed through giving a lovely gift, and I have helped supportThird-World craft people who are struggling to earn the barest of livings.

As the season of Advent and Christmas gift giving approaches, Episcopal Relief and Development offers avariation on that idea with its Gifts of Life Catalog. Within its pages you will find many ways to honor andremember a friend or family member for whom you have difficulty shopping while also bringing helpand hope to unseen "neighbors" across the globe. Pick up a catalog on the cloister table next to the name-tags if you, too, would like to experience the satisfaction of giving gifts that create two "goods" at the sametime.

For example, in the name of a friend or family member, support a mobile health clinic ($15 per person), equip

a native fisherman or woman ($50), send 10 seedling trays of drought-resistant seeds ($20), provide a familywith basic farming tools ($150) or give a flock of chickens ($135)!

I also like the thought that all of these are "gifts that keep on giving."

Russian Orthodox & Sudanese Episcopal ServicesBy The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller

I f you come into the cloister of the Church on most Saturday

mornings, you will probably notice the smell of incense waft-ing through the building. From the Chapel, you will hear thesound of people speaking in Russian, and those who are onlywith us on Saturday mornings hosting a coffee hour in the Merri-field room.

In the same way, on Sunday, beginning around noon, there willbe the rhythmicsound of nativedrums coming fromthe Church. Again the language will be unfamiliarDinka, atribal dialect from southern Sudan in Africa. By 1:30 p.m., mem-bers of this congregation will be gathered around the table, talk-

ing and having refreshments just as we do at coffee hour.One of the best things we do in sharing the love that is Christ isoffering our building to those who are so very different from our-selves. The two pictures that accompany this article show the Su-danese at worship and the Chapel set up for a Russian Orthodoxservice.


The Sudanese Episcopal Congregation worshiping atSt. Pauls on Sunday afternoon

St. Pauls Chapel in preparation for the RussianOrthodox Congregations Services


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A final event will be the offering of the UTO (United Thank Offering) ingathering by the women of ECW(Episcopal Church Women). This offering is collected twice every year and exemplifies the continuing commit-ment to helping those less fortunate.

When you couple these things with the many normal parts of the service like the lessons, the music and the ser-

mon, it is easy to see why corporate worship is so powerful, meaningful and attractive.Because All Saints Sunday can be such a wonderful experience, it also becomes a perfect time to inviteneighbors or acquaintances to attend Church with you. Consider bringing someone you think may appreciatewhat we have here at St. Pauls.

Plan on being present on November 4, not as an observer, but as one who is actively celebrating his or herfaith and is excited about sharing it.

(Continued from, The Joy of Celebrating, page 1)

ACTION of Greater LansingBy The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller

F or the last several months, many members of St. Paul's have participated in an organization called AC-

TION of Greater Lansing. ACTION calls on Christians to band together and use the power of their num-bers, and their faith and belief that God calls us, to seek out and eradicate systemic injustice in our community.

After almost a year of organizing, talking, research and plan development, a presentation was made on Sep-tember 24 that called for two initiatives to be addressed by local authorities, one on crime and one on sub-stance abuse. This gathering of over 400 committed Christians was called a Nehemiah Action Assembly after

the Old Testament prophet who called on his people to deal with the injustices of theirday. The first initiative was the establishment of a "Hot Spot Card" program. Thesecards would be placed first in churches and later in other strategic locations so peoplecould report areas of crime and/or substance abuse to the authorities without fear ofreprisal. ACTION would collect the cards and monitor the progress of the police investi-gating the situations. On the 24th, Lansing Police Chief Mark Alley embraced the planvery enthusiastically, even to the point of committing the police department to paying for

the development and printing of the cards.The other initiative was in the area of local (city and county) prisoner release. ACTION'srecommendation was that prisoners, when released from jail, be given help and assis-tance in finding solutions to the problems that landed them there in the first place. Simi-lar programs are available from the state, but not on the county/city level. Members ofthe Law Enforcement Committee of Ingham County were present, and while they couldnot make commitments, they invited ACTION to attend their next committee meeting fordiscussion. Several days later, members of the ACTION group were present, made an-

other presentation and received the support of the committee in attempting to enact ACTION's recommenda-tions. Members of St. Paul's who were involved in the process consider this a huge success.

Now the process starts again. Our goal is to once again poll the community, identify injustice, rally support, doresearch, make recommendations and seek justice. If this kind of involvement interests you, consider becoming a"justice team" member. Contact Ed and Pat Meier or Fred and Terri Junger for more information.

St. Pauls NewsPage 14

ACTION calls onChristians to band together and use

the power of their numbers, and their

faith and belief that God calls us,

to seek out and eradicate systemic

injustice in our community.


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A Parish Wide Book ReadBy Millie Ericson, Vestry Member

T aking off from East Landings One Community, One Book, St. Pauls will launch an opportunity this winter

for all members of the parish to join in reading the same book, gather in small discussion groups andcome together for a guest lecturer who will further enlighten us on the books topic as well as explore the theo-logical implications. The goal is to enhance our sense of fellowship and common connections as the Body ofChrist at St. Pauls.

The book chosen is The Worst Hard Times, the Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Eden (New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2006). With section headings like Promise, Betrayal,and Blowup, and a conclusion that suggests rebirth, the book offers implications for our Biblical and spiritualjourney as Christians as well as connections to the Millennium Development Goals. It is highly readable, writtenby a Pulitzer Prize winning author, focusing on the personal stories of those who remained in the Dust Bowl dur-ing the worst hard times and endured.

Discussion Groups will convene for three weeks in January, beginning the week of January 7. These will beheld at various times and locations to best facilitate the needs of everyone. The guest lecturer will be an-nounced later.

Please indicate your interest in participating by signing up on the table outside the Merrifield Room. (This isimportant so that we know how many books to order.) If you would also like to be part of the January discus-sion groups, please include your preferred time and location. Also indicate on the sheet if you would like tohost a discussion group in your home and/or facilitate a group. (Group facilitators will meet in the late Fall toprepare.)

Copies of the book are now available for purchase from the Church Office for $10.25 each. Think up a crea-tive name for our book read, and, if your idea is chosen, win a free copy. Submit suggestions to Millie Ericsonor Gordon Weller . For further information, contact Millie, Gordon or any member of the Parish Life Committee.


Judi, Hugh & Antonio Clarke join other players in a rousinggame of Trivial Pursuit at the Parish Pizza Party.

Grandfather and Granddaughter enjoy playing Candy Land.


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Upcoming St. Pauls ActivitiesPage 16

Katharine* believes in listening, in the importance of continuingconversation so that mutually acceptable truth has generousopportunity to emerge. For example, we need to respect theintegrity of those who disagree with us as we listen to differentinterpretations of scripture.

When she described the actions of the recent conference of theAmerican Episcopal bishops in New Orleans, which included theArchbishop of Canterbury, she assured us that our bishops re-sponse to the Windsor Report was not one of backing down orchanging position, but one that would provide time for contin-ued conversation. Those in Africa who control the microphonesmay talk of schism within the Anglican Communion; however, there are many African clergy and bishops whoare more open to change than their leaders suggest. Speaking of the African bishops who most loudly dis-agree with the American church, Katharine commented that bishops retirewhich said to me, Be patient,and in time we will work this out.

When the Presiding Bishop gave the blessing at the end of the final Eucharist, she gave it in fluent Spanish, asign, I thought to myself, of her great generosity of spirit, her wisdom and her competence. The EpiscopalChurch has been blessed indeed.

*Someone asked the Presiding Bishop what she preferred to be called. She unhesitatingly answered, Call me by

my baptismal name, but not Bishop Katharine, please.

(Continued from, In the Presence of the Presiding Bishop, page 1)

St. Pauls Staff and Parishioners enjoy dinner at theAMEN Conference on Mackinac Island

Once again, were offering Home-style Fudge in one-pound decorative tins or one-half pound tubs! Choosefrom Chocolate Walnut, Chocolate, Maple Walnut, Vanilla Walnut, Peanut Butter and Chocolate Mint. Tin de-signs vary and are all lovely winter/seasonal scenes.

All of the items offered are perfect for your own enjoyment or for holiday gift giving. Each item will bear alabel to share the story that proceeds from the sale of the item benefiting the two shelters. Special are thegifts that help to make a difference in the world.

Orders are only being taken through November 4, so order soon if youre interested. Delivery to All SaintsEpiscopal is anticipated the first weekend in December.

When you pick up your order at All Saints, stop to visit the Alternative Holiday Marketplace. Your purchasesof jams, jellies, crafts, candles, note cards, fairly traded coffees and teas, jewelry, baskets and art objectsfrom around the world will support a variety of mainly faith-based non-profit organizations committed tohelping the poor locally and globally, including the Housing Assistance Fund. Shop for a better world!

For more information, contact MaryLea Benson .

(Continued from, Housing Assistance Fund Sale, page 3)


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The St. Pauls News is a publication of St. Pauls EpiscopalChurch, Lansing Michigan.

St. Pauls 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

St. Pauls News Editorial Staff

Christine Caswell, Editor

Tom Shawver, Staff Writer

Helen Hiscoe, Proofreader

Lyn Zynda, Layout Editor

st. paul's news - november, 2007

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