June 12 is the Feast of Pentecost - it is the day that the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles.  It is sometimes called the birthday of the church because it is the day that the apostles started telling others about Jesus.

We are celebrating Pentecost in several ways this year:

• Wear red, yellow or orange - the Holy Spirit descended like a tongue of fire - so wear fire colors to church
• Spirit of St. Paul's awards - We initiated these last year - we will award people who seem to demonstrate the spirit of St. Paul's in a variety of ways - these are mostly the unsung heroes of the church - if you know someone who should be honored let Pastor Vicki or Mona Gaddis know.
• Sunday School awards - for Sunday School students who have achieved distinction
• Teacher recognition - for the teachers who give tons of time to our students
• Graduate recognition - if you know of a high school or college graduate who should be honored let the office know

 And lastly - the next in our series of coffee hour contests.  The 10 a.m. coffee hour contest will be Picnic food.  Bring your favorite picnic food to share - vote with your cash - the winner gets a fabulous prize and proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity.

We will once again hold a Chiavetta's Chicken Dinner fundraiser on Saturday, June 18.  Pre-sale tickets are now available, and are $10.

If you have signed up to donate an item, please drop it off at the church by June 12, so that the folks making potato and macaroni salads have all the ingredients they need.   

Also, we will need people to help out on the day of the event, so sign up for a shift (or two!) on the poster in the parish hall.  Thanks!

The Spring Ingathering of the United Thank Offering will take place on Trinity Sunday--June 19.  The UTO  has been in existence since 1889.  (The amount of the first offering was $87.)  By combining the Spring and Fall offerings as a means of giving thanks, the national UTO usually offers over two million dollars in grants for mission and ministry throughout the world.  There are special envelopes available.  (If anyone would like a blue box for the Fall collection, please see Mona Gaddis or the rector or Liz.)  

The Annual Parish picnic will be Sunday June 26 at Sunset Park at the corner of Harris Hill and Wehrle (one block from the church).  The schedule for the day is:

• 8 a.m. - Holy Eucharist Rite 1 at the church
• 10 a.m. - Holy Eucharist at the shelter in the park
• 11: 15 a.m. - Games.  Simone Rowan is organizing the games -
  contact her if you want to help
• Noon - Lunch - Hamburgers, hot dogs and beverages provided.  Bring table service and a dish to share.

As you may have heard, the Clarence community is sponsoring a Habitat for Humanity house in Buffalo.  So far Clarence has raised $70,000 towards the house - with over $1200 of that coming from St. Paul's.  The next step is actually building the house.  Construction has been delayed because the rainy spring has prevented the preparation of the foundation and the framing of the house - but volunteers will be needed in June, July, August and September.  Normally work is done on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays during the day.

The best way to sign up to work is to go to the Habitat Web-site at -

  www.habitatbuffalo.org and click on the volunteer tab at the top of the page.  You can see when work is being done and when volunteers are needed.  All skill levels can be accommodated - you don't have to be experienced to be helpful.  There is also an on-line safety video they would like you to watch.  If you are interested in putting together a St. Paul's work crew let Pastor Vicki know.