What's Happening This Weekend...

SAT: April 28

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9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

St. Paul's FPU Yard Sale

Overflow Parking Lot

9:30 AM

Town Hall Meeting

Bowden Hall

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9:30 AM

Acolyte/LEM Rehearsals

Sanctuary

SUN: April 29

Next Week...

WED: May 2

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 11:00 AM

SAT: May 5

CARIBBEAN DAY FESTIVAL

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12 Noon - 7:00 PM

SUN: May 6

Fifth Sunday of Easter

CARIBBEAN DAY

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9:00 & 11:15 AM

Looking 

Ahead...

SUN: May 13

SIXTH SUNDAY IN EASTER

MOTHER'S DAY

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9:00 & 11:15 AM

What the 

Future Holds...

SUN: May 20

SEVENTH SUNDAY IN EASTER

GRADUATE SUNDAY

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9:00 & 11:15 AM

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 

The next St. Paul's Town Hall meeting is this Saturday, April 28, 9:30 - 10:30 AM. 

Come to Bowden Hall to join in a casual, open-floor discussion about... whatever!

All questions, concerns, and constructive suggestions are welcomed!

BONUS TIMING: The St. Paul's Financial Peace Yard Sale is also this Saturday from 9:00 to 2:00 on that day. Bring a little cash and make some room in your car... just in case! 

The Financial Peace University (FPU) Spring 2012 Alumni are hosting a MULTI-FAMILY YARD SALE this Saturday, April 28. 

This is a part of their post-graduate work and all proceeds from the sale will go toward furthering their financial peace and eliminating debt. (YAY!!)

The sale takes  place from 9AM to 2PM in the Overflow Parking Lot across the street. There are 16 alums (and their families) participating so you KNOW it's going to be huge! 

BONUS TIMING: The St. Paul's Town Hall Meeting is 9:30 to 10:30 on April 28 so come on down and combine parishioner participation with some super-savvy shopping. 

The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) invites you to Women's Day 2012, Sunday, April 29 at the 11:15 AM service.  

This year's speaker is Rev. Sherri Wood-Powe, daughter of our own Ricky & Sarah Wood. Join us as Rev. Wood-Powe speaks on "Women Building Christian Bridges".  

We ask and encourage all women to wear white to the 11:15 worship on Women's Day.  Thank you!

 Email Azzari Jarrett for more information. 

After three years of service, the administrative office of St. Paul's bids a fond farewell to Leslie Epps-Bodrick as Assistant Parish Administrator. 

Thank you, Leslie, for all your work and we wish you the best of luck for a bright and blessed future. 

Leslie's last day was April 26. 

On behalf of the Wardens, Vestry and The Very Rev. Robert Wright, we want to thank you for your thoughtful comments and suggestions at the January Annual Parish Meeting and the follow-up Town Hall meeting.  Your concern for the well-being of our parish is heartwarming, and we are appreciative of your questions, suggestions, and feedback. We want to take this opportunity to provide you an update of actions during this first quarter.

Bishop of Atlanta Election Update

As you are aware, our Rector, The Very Rev. Robert Wright is one of the finalists for the position of Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta.  We again wish Fr. Wright prayerful strength as he goes through the discernment process and participates as a candidate for this position.  We know that he will do an outstanding job if elected. 

The Diocese of Atlanta scheduled a "Meet the candidates' walkabout for the next bishop of Atlanta May 14-18, 2012. 

Five evening gatherings between May 14 and May 18 will provide the people of the Diocese of Atlanta opportunities to meet and hear from the six candidates for the 10th bishop of Atlanta.  The dates and locations of these gatherings are:

• Monday, May 14, Grace Church, Gainesville;
• Tuesday, May 15, St. Luke's, Atlanta;
• Wednesday, May 16, Christ Church, Macon;
• Thursday, May 17, St. David's, Roswell; and
• Friday, May 18, St. Peter's, Rome.

Each program or "walkabout" begins at 6 p.m. and concludes at 9:30 p.m.  One of the events will be recorded and posted online for later viewing. The candidates will take turns -- walking from room to room -- addressing and answering questions of various groups of participants.  We encourage your participation in one of these events; St. Luke's is probably the closest option for most of us!

Update to Annual Meeting 2012

 In response to suggestions at the Annual Parish Meeting, January 2012 the Vestry took the following actions:

•  Designed and posted a button on the parish web site entitled Governance.  This page provides information about the ministry of the Vestry and Wardens in general and provides links to the Parish Bylaws, Diocesan Canons, and the current year's budget.

• Provided restricted fund information to the parish.

• Committed to convene one Town Hall meeting per quarter.  The next meeting is scheduled for April 28, 2012 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Bowden Hall.

• Appointed a Strategic Planning Committee to make recommendations to the Vestry and the parish concerning the Strategic Plan 2012.  The Chair of this committee is Mr. Arthur Richardson.  Among this committee's charges is to study and make a recommendation to the Vestry for debt restructuring and elimination.

• Purchased and installed a Lucite information center in the hallway of the church, to make available Vestry minutes and other relevant documents for the parish.

• Enhanced the weekly web letter's depth of information regarding the parish's life as well as keep an archive of all past web letters.

• Requested the budget committee to make recommendations to the Vestry regarding a reasonable cash reserve amount.  At its April meeting the Vestry approved a target of $125,000 for the cash reserve.

• The Vestry commits to provide as per the normal process written reports from all standing committees and church organizations for the Annual Parish meeting.  We will make those reports available on-line and in the administrative office no later than the Second Sunday of January of each year.  The annual budget will       be itemized utilizing standard accounting principles. The budget will be available on-line and in the administrative office for all parishioners before we present the budget as information with the Parish at the Annual parish meeting.  We will provide this information no later than the second Sunday in January.

• The Vestry reaffirms and will adhere to the process listed below in accordance with the By-Laws regarding announcing and receiving nominations for potential vestry members:

a) Between Nov. 2-Dec 2 the Vestry will solicit via announcements on-line and at Sunday worship applications from eligible parishioners for Vestry positions

b) Qualifications for Election to the Vestry: Those qualified to be Vestry members shall be: A "Member of the Parish" (as defined in Article II, Section I of the By-Laws); A "Communicant in Good Standing" who is not less than eighteen (18) years of age; A communicant of the Episcopal Church, either by confirmation, by Letter of Transfer or by reception by a Bishop into the Episcopal Church; a regular attendant of services in the year preceding election; and "Known by the Treasurer" to have made and maintained a stated financial commitment for church support in the year preceding election.

c) Eligible applicants will complete a form requesting biographical information, parish involvement, future program ideas, and gifts/talents they would bring to the position.  Each candidate will submit a picture for posting purposes both electronically and in the parish narthex at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

d) There will be a one month display (generally Dec. 16-Jan. 20, depending upon the date of the third Sunday in January) of pictures and the collected information noted from all eligible applicants for a January Parish election.

We encourage your continued support and feedback to the Vestry.  It is our goal to provide an open, transparent, and responsive approach in our leadership of the parish.  There are many ministries at work here in St.  Paul's.  We invite you to continue to find ways to participate at your comfort level in the life of the Church as we fulfill our common mission.  We thank you for all that you do in our efforts to build a stronger parish in service of our Lord.

The Dr. Beth-Sarah Wright Scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior who demonstrates leadership and committed service at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, academic excellence and leadership in the community.  The scholarship is $1,000.

Well, the St. Paul's trip to Brunswick did not meet its minimum for booking the event and has been cancelled.

EVERYONE WHO PAID A DEPOSIT 

HAS BEEN ISSUED A REFUND CHECK.

Bob Martin will hand out these refund checks after each worship services this Sunday. If you are unable to make it to church this week, please let Bob (or the office) know if you would like to have your check mailed to you instead. We're happy to accommodate you!

For additional information, contact  Bob Martin.

The Annual Caribbean/West Indian Celebration is next weekend, with a day of fun and games on Saturday, May 5 and a special worship service on Sunday, May 6.

Saturday (May 5) 12:00 Noon - 7:00 PM

FOOD: Feast on Island delights such as Jerk chicken, curried chicken, rice and peas, macaroni & cheese, beef patties, and much more!

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: Artists include the Pansonics Steel Band and the Mocko Jumbie Dancers

 

FUN & GAMES: There will be face painting, an inflatable moonwalk, and more!

Sunday (May 6)  9:00 AM and 11:15 AM

Inspiration worship! Enjoy our dynamic choir, featuring an exquisite blend Of the beautiful steel band.

Guest Preacher:  

The Right Reverend Dr. Brian Jemmott,

Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross, Decatur, GA  

CONSIDER THIS:  

In a class of 20 students, few if any teachers can find even 5 minutes of time in a day to devote to reading with each student.

Your donation can provide special reading time at home.  Please remember to bring your gently used books or new books to drop in the Book Drive box in the front hall of the church.  The books will serve as a great source for summer time reading for the children at Peyton Forest and F. L. Stanton.  

It's Spring! Let's plant the reading seed in their young, fertile minds and pray as it grows.

The first Episcopal parish in America was founded in what city and state? 

First person to email the correct answer to news@stpaulsatl.org will win a $10 Starbucks gift card. 

(Office staff/support or their families are not eligible to win.)

If you or someone you know who is a member of St. Paul's who will be graduating or retiring this year, the members of St. Paul's Ambassadors would like to honor you (them) on Sunday, 

June 3 immediately following the 11:15 a.m. service.  

Forms for the occasion are available at both entrances and at the back of the church.  Please complete the form no later than Sunday, May 20, and return it to the church office or to one of the Ambassadors.