Sanctuary cross
GOOD NEWS!    
A Newsletter of St. Paul's Church, Concord, NH
"A place to belong . . . Whoever you are . . . just as you are."
September 2010
In This Issue
September Calendar Highlights
Milestones
Clergy Corner
Ministries and Missions
Formation
Photo Feature
From the Vestry
Youth Happenings
Personal Reflections
History and Artifacts
September Calendar Highlights

9/11  Safer Church Training

Required training for all volunteers who work with children and Youth.  


9/21 Forever Young Group

St. Paul's active seniors group enjoys lunch, fellow-ship, and fascinating guest speakers.  
This month, author Joan Bigwood (Kate Atkinson's sister) talks about her novel, 'Co-opted'.


9/15  Friendly Kitchen

Volunteers from St. Paul's
take part in this fun and fulfilling ministry once a month.
 

9/18  Saturday Night Alive!

Our new, informal service of Holy Eucharist takes place in Ordway Hall and is followed by 'Dinner and a Movie'.


9/21  Pot Luck Supper

Bring your favorite dish and share food, fun and fellowship with friends and family.

9/21  Vestry

This elected committee of St. Paul's parishioners meets every month to manage the programs and ministry of the parish.
 
For details of these and other parish events, check the weekly Centre Point 
Milestones
the tortoise and the hare

 

Baptisms - August 29, 2010

Shelby Anderson

Akual Bior

Luke Hennessy  

Peter Holland

Eric Perron

Quick Links...
Come Worship With Us

Sundays:                         8:00 AM This celebration of  Holy Eucharist is quiet and reflective. Occasional music, but no choir.

10:00 AM This is and informal service of  Holy Eucharist. Music includes traditional and contemporary hymns and choir anthems. All ages welcome.

Tuesdays: 12:10 PM 
Holy Eucharist in the chapel.

Thursdays: 12:10 PM        Holy Eucharist in the chapel.

Third Saturday of the Month: 5:30 PM  Saturday Night Alive!  A relaxed and informal service with non-traditional music. Followed by "Dinner and a Movie".

        Clergy and Staff
Rev. Kate B. Atkinson,
Rector
Rev. Herb Sprouse,
Assistant Priest
Charles Edward LeClerc,
Deacon
Will Ottery,
Deacon
Mark Pace,
Director of Music
Kristin Dunklee,
Parish Administrator
Sarah Nyhan,
Minister for Families, Youth and Children
Kellie Denoncourt,
Minister to High School Youth
Andrew Brundrett,
Sexton

The Episcopal Church Welcomes You

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
21 Centre Street
Concord, NH 03301
Tel: 603-224-2523
Fax: 603-224-
2524
[email protected]

Join Our Mailing List
We're back!
After several years of hibernation, the St. Paul's Newsletter has awakened in a new format, designed to keep you informed and to enhance our mission of  Worship, Education, Fellowship and Outreach.  We welcome your feedback -- and your contributions to future issues.  Contact us at [email protected]

Clergy Corner
Kate
by Rev. Kate Atkinson

I
am delighted to be greeting you from St. Paul's brand new news-
letter, GOOD NEWS!  This first issue is indeed bursting with good news -- a wonderful celebration of some of the many reasons why our parish is so special.


It is fittin
g that the launch of GOOD NEWS! coincides with the start of the school year.  For many of us, the month of September, even more so than January, signifies new beginnings.  There is something inspiring about seeing children and youth move on to a new grade, or to a new school or college -- something that makes us more aware of possibilities and opportunities in our own life.


GOOD NEWS! comes from the old English word "gospel" (godspel).  The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are full of good news and new beginnings, and some of the most striking new beginnings are those involving a response to God's call.  There is nothing more awe-inspiring than the discovery of God-given gifts, to be used in service to God and one another.  That discovery is the basis of ministry, and you will be finding out about the many forms our ministry can take, in this and future issues of GOOD NEWS!


I pray that, as you read about the life and ministry of our remarkable parish, you will be encouraged to explore new possibilities and opportunities for yourself. Please feel free to talk to Herb or me about your explorations; we are happy to provide information, guidance, or simply a listening ear.

Happy new beginnings and God bless you.
 
Ministries and Missions
Rose WIndowby Rev. Herb Sprouse
 

         Ministry of Presence

 

September's "Mission of the Month" at St. Paul's is Ministry of Presence -- St. Paul's unique approach to comprehensive pastoral care for parishioners.  Through our ministry of presence we are providing care by being present to the care receiver -- as well as living out our essential belief that God is always present in the lives of those who are suffering. 

 
Initiated in fall 2009, Ministry of Presence recognizes that pastoral care in the parish consists of many related types of caregiving which can best be provided in a coordinated and spiritually grounded effort.  The goals of this group of ministries are:


       
To provide the best pastoral care possible to St. Paul's parishioners;

         To ensure that all in need of care receive appropriate care on a timely basis;

         To equip all Ministers of Presence with the skills and perspectives needed to provide care; and

         To provide spiritual practice in support of these ministries.

 

Membership consists of all who provide pastoral care in its many forms:  Eucharistic Visitors (14 are currently licensed), Stephen Ministers (currently 7), the Prayer Group, the Flower Ministry, Deacons and other regular visitors to retirement communities, nursing homes, hospitals and parishioners who are homebound.

 

Ministers of Presence meet as a group on a monthly basis, for prayer and spiritual development exercises, training and skill enhancement, coordination of care responsibilities and mutual support and encouragement.  The group encourages all who feel they are called to provide pastoral care to explore that calling by joining them each month.


For more information, please contact me at:

Formation at St. Paul's  
                                   by John Bouton

Education for Ministry Convenes for 2010-2011


A
spiritual formation group new to St. Paul's is starting this Fall. Education for Ministry (EfM), a lay theological program begun in 1975 by the School of Theology at Sewanee, will offer a grounding in the Christian tradition to participants in two groups here.

According to the Rev. Herb Sprouse, who participated in EfM while a parishioner at St. Thomas Church in Hanover, the seminar format of weekly meetings provides deep opportunities for learning, reflection, spiritual growth, and eventual service. A trained mentor will guide each of two groups scheduled for this school year at St. Paul's.  Because the Diocese of New Hampshire is a sponsoring diocese for the program, tuition costs are reduced for students, and financial aid is available for St. Paul's parishioners.
According to the EfM website, "While the course materials provide substantial academic content, the focus of the program is on life as ministry and in understanding that ministry."

The EfM program, which can be completed in four years, provides Christians with the basic skills in theological reflection, which lay the
foundation of Christian ministry.  Through this process, students sharpen their skills of personal and cultural assessment and enhance their ability to be effective in a variety of ministries. As Herb indicates, "While it may seem daunting to begin such an extensive program, most students are both a bit sad when they finish and eager to get on with the ministries for which they have prepared."

Sign-ups for this year's EfM program continue through mid-September. For more information please contact the Rev. Herb Sprouse:

Photo Feature: St. Paul's Picnic 2010
On a beautiful Sunday morning in June, the people of St. Paul's gathered for an outdoor service at Rollins Park in Concord.
PicNic 4
     Photographs by Dick Miller














 
 
 
Members of the congregation sat in lawn chairs instead of pews and enjoyed music played by members of St. Paul's Choir and Youth Group.
 
 
Church PicNic 3


Deacon Will prepares the elements
 for Holy Communion.
Retired supply clergy
 























Rev. Herb Sprouse and Rev. Kate Atkinson
listen to the reading of the lessons.

Kate and Herb


 
 





































Baby Gavin, baby Sophie, their parents and godparents gather at the font in front of the gazebo for an open-air baptism!
PicNic 1

The service was followed by a potluck picnic lunch, with
the "Men's Just Supper" group providing grilling expertise!
PicNic 2


From the Vestry 
               by Tamar Roberts
Vestry retreat

           July Vestry Notes


The Vestry held its regular monthly meeting on July 20 with five members absent for various reasons.  Linda Spinella met with the Vestry which voted unanimously to support her in the discernment process for possible ordination.  The church's recent successful participation in the annual Concord Market Days was discussed.  Work has begun on Spiritual Formation for the upcoming year, and people are registering for the EfM program scheduled to begin in September.

 

Mission & Outreach is undergoing some exciting changes.  Watch for the "Mission of the Month" throughout the year to learn more about the many missions that our parish participates in, and ways that you may be able to help.  The August Mission of the Month was the St. Paul's Refugee Partnership, and it was agreed to host a fresh produce table on Sundays in August, to help raise money to assist local refugee families.

 

There will be more information coming about a new volunteer "Job Bank" giving you the opportunity to try out various ministries.  We are also introducing a gift card program that you can use to honor family and friends while helping others. 

 

Kate has been accepted into the Leadership Greater Concord Program for 2010/2011.  All vestry members were encouraged to attend a diocesan Leadership Institute to be held in May of 2011.

 

On the financial end, income continues to be an issue, but the recent appeal to the parish has resulted in an increase of approximately $20,000.  Subsequent to this meeting, the Vestry agreed to provide a half-year financial report to the parish.  You can view this report by clicking on the link below:


Jan - Jun 2010 Report to Parish
Youth Happenings
Our Gang        by Sarah Nyhan, Minister for Families, Youth and Children
 

The fall of 2010 promises to be a season full of great activities and experiences for children, youth and families here at St. Paul's.  Sunday school for children from age 3 through the fifth grade will take place in our downstairs classrooms each Sunday morning beginning at 9:45 am - except for the first Sunday of the month when we celebrate Ageless Worship all together at our 10 am service.  Our Sunday school program uses the Godly Play curriculum, and this year we are pleased to be adding enrichment lessons about saints for our fourth and fifth graders, and more response time for all of our students.  We will also include special lessons from the Heifer Project as we learn together about mission work in that program as well as the other areas in which our church reaches out to others.


Our Confirm not Conform program for middle school students combines preparation for confirmation as well as youth group activities.  We are currently planning an outdoor adventure, involvement in the Crop Walk in late September and an increased presence in both Ageless Worship and the Saturday Night Alive services. 


The Mustard Seed Enrichment Program for children aged 2-4 and their families has returned on Wednesday mornings, offering a safe age-appropriate play and learning time in a Christian environment.


Nursery care for parents of young children who would like to pursue volunteer work at St. Paul's will be offered on Tuesday mornings this fall, giving young families a great chance to become more involved in the life of the church.

 
For more information about ministry to children and young families, contact Sarah Nyhan.
Personal Reflections
 .................................................................................................................................................
Marilyn Watson

                                by Marilyn Watson


                        Moving Forward           


The years between 2005 and 2008 were an extremely painful chapter in my life.  In the course of a bitter divorce after 25 years of marriage, I had to endure my ex-husband's wrath. But for every cruel act done by this one person, there were three other people who were wonderful to me. I thought, if I survive this ordeal, I must give back to others.

 

I am a private, loyal, honest and fun-loving person who my Mother would say, "wears her emotions on her sleeve."  So naturally, I was convinced that my emotions were seen by everyone at St. Paul's when I started to attend the 8 o'clock service in April of 2006.  I thought that by staying in the back of the sanctuary, I would be "safe" as I began a very deep self-reflected journey.   That journey started in the left side back pew of the sanctuary, and after a couple of months, the right side back pew.  I came early for the eight o'clock service to journal the week's events of the anguish, despair and suffering I was enduring. In the back I was able to "watch" the congregation - thinking, do I want to become a parishioner?  Would I find friendship and hope to turn my life around?

 

After four months, I was beginning to get a comfort level, so I moved up nine pews on the right-hand side. After seven months, the St Paul's minister whom I had come to cherish, left. I  listened to the vestry's explanations, and cried.  But at that point, I was determined to stay.  I needed to overcome the pain I felt, and during the Peace, when I shook hands with parishioners from the left side, right side and the middle pews, they greeted me warmly and sincerely.

 

I am still not fully healed from my divorce; I have forgiven my ex-husband but have not forgotten his cruelty.  St Paul's has been a tremendous part of my healing. I laugh everyday instead of cry, I embrace my faults instead of trying to be a perfectionist, I view my day more as an adventure than as dread  -- and for the first time in my life, I love me as I am.

 

Bless you St. Paul's!

History and Artifacts
by Frank Spinella
 
Did you know that our first church building dates from 1839?
The following is taken from James O. Lyford's account in History of Concord, N.H., Vol. II (1903):

"In the summer of 1836 John West took it upon himself to obtain funds to build a church, but he had hardly more than made a beginning when death brought his labors to a close.  Two years later, at a meeting of the wardens and vestry, held October 13th, the subject of erecting a church was again considered, and a committee, consisting of Albe Cady, Leavitt C. Virgin, and Isaac Hill, was appointed to draft a plan for a suitable building, estimate the expense, ascertain the cost of a lot, and, dividing the whole amount into one hundred shares, report at a future meeting.  On December 17th the committee reported that more than half the shares had been taken, and that donations had been received to assist in erecting the church.  Thus, encouraged, the society proceeded at once to purchase a lot of Nathaniel G. Upham for one thousand dollars.  The lot and the building erected thereon were situated immediately east of and adjoining the lot now occupied by St. Paul's parish.  A plan of a church drawn by John Miller was accepted, and a contract made with Virgin & Miller to erect a building in accordance therewith.  The work was completed near the close of 1839, and January 1, 1840, the church was consecrated to worship by the venerable Bishop Griswold of the Eastern diocese, of which New Hampshire was then a part."


A History of Concord, by Nathaniel Bouton (1856), elaborates:


    "The corner-stone of St. Paul's diocesan church, in Concord, was laid with appropriate ceremonies, on Thursday, the 13th of June [1839].  Service by Rev. Mr. Ten Broeck, assisted by Rev. Mr. Chase of St. Andrew's Church, Hopkinton.  An interesting address on the condition and prospects of the Society was delivered by the Rector, Mr. Ten Broeck.  A deposit of various articles was made beneath the corner-stone."


Now, what do you suppose those articles were?

� St. Paul's Church, 2010. Next Newsletter: October 1; deadline for submissions: September 20.  Please do not reprint text or graphics without permission.