Sanctuary cross
GOOD NEWS!    
A Newsletter of St. Paul's Church, Concord, NH
"A place to belong . . . Whoever you are . . . Just as you are."
October 2011
In This Issue
October Calendar Highlights
Shorts
Clergy Corner
Ministries and Missions
Topics in the News
Poll of the Month
Formation
Photo Feature
From the Vestry
Youth Happenings
Personal Reflections
History and Artifacts
October Calendar Highlights  

 

2  Blessing of the Animals Service 

 

3  Men's Just Supper, 6:00 PM

 

9  United Thank Offering In-gathering

 

10  Church Office Closed 

for Columbus Day

 

11  Forever Young, 11:30 AM

 

12  "The Miracle of the King James

Bible" Adult Forum, 6 PM

 

15  Safe Church Training, 8:00 AM

 

16  Soul Supporters

Breast Cancer Walk, 12:00 noon

at Memorial Field 

 

16  Ministry Celebration Breakfast

after 8:00 and 10:00 AM services

 

18  Parish Potluck

with Bishop Robinson, 5:30 PM

 

18  Vestry Meeting

with Bishop Robinson, 6:30 PM

 

19  Friendly Kitchen, 4:30 PM

 

26  "The Miracle of the King James

Bible" Adult Forum, 6 PM

 

28  Halloween Howl in Main Street -

SPY takes part, 4:30 PM

 

See entire calendar          

 

For details of these and other parish events, check the weekly

 

Shorts 

 

Bishop Search

The search for the 10th Bishop of New Hampshire moves into an exciting new phase this month, as the online Diocesan Profile and video are launched on October 1, and nominations are invited for consideration by the Committee.

If you know of anyone who might be the right person to serve as our bishop, please direct them to the Bishop Search Website at

www.search.nhepiscopal.org/

  

 St. Paul's Church Fair 

Mark the date in your calendars:

our Annual Church Fair will take place on Saturday, November 5,

9 am - 2 pm.

 

Please note that there will be

NO White Elephant Sale this year.

Please do NOT bring donations of household items to the church. 

We do invite your donations of

Christmas decorations and jewelry for sale at the Fair, and please look out for other opportunities to take part in this great event!

 

For more information or to sign up to help, send an email to [email protected] with "Church Fair" in the subject line. 

Quick Links...
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]
Come Worship With Us

 

Saturdays: 4:30 PM 


 

Sundays:                          

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

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

 

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

 

            Clergy and Staff
Rev. Kate B. Atkinson,
Rector
Rev. Herb Sprouse,
Assistant Priest
Rev. Darrell Huddleston,
Priest Associate
Rev. Charles Edward LeClerc, BSG,
Deacon
Rev. 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

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Clergy Corner

                                by Rev. Kate Atkinson
Kate Passport    
Dear friends,

 

At our all-parish lunch last month, we heard about some fascinating 

new activities, ministries and initiatives in our parish.  There is no doubt that the four MMR (Mutual Ministry Review) task forces have hit the ground running! I am so impressed by the creativity and commitment of those teams, and by the willingness of the parishioners who signed up to join them on September 25, or are supporting their efforts in other ways.

 

More and more, day by day, St. Paul's is a living example of what it means to be the Body of Christ.  As individuals, we each have our own set of gifts - skills, experiences, talents, and knowledge - which say a lot about who we are and what we can do.  Those gifts really come into their own when we put them together with other peoples'.  And when we combine our gifts to support or enable mission and ministry, the Kingdom of God takes off!

 

This month there are some great illustrations of what I am talking about, right here at St. Paul's. The "Buy-a-Brick" campaign for Haiti (described by Herb in this issue of Good News!) is an obvious one.  One brick is just that: a brick. But when you put together hundreds and thousands of bricks from this parish, this diocese, and the entire Epis-copal Church, you end up with a new cathedral complex and cultural center in Port au Prince. For the people of Haiti, that structure will represent so much more than a building; it will symbolize new life, new hope, and a strong connection between God's people throughout the world.

 

Our current telephone initiative is another example of the Body of Christ at work, as we reach out to every house-hold on our members and friends list, simply to check in, to make sure everyone is OK, that their contact details are up to date, and that they know what's happening in the parish.  Individual members of the Body of Christ depend on one another, and they care about one another.

 

This month we are launching our annual pledge campaign, with the theme: "Transforming the World, One by One."  As I said at the lunch gathering, each of us truly does have the capability of transforming the world.  It doesn't mean we have to do everything ourselves; it doesn't mean that we carry the entire burden on our shoulders. It does mean that we share a responsibility - to one another, to our community and to the world - and that the contribution each one of us makes is deeply important. 

 

There is no such thing as an insignificant member of the Body of Christ.  There is no such thing as an insignificant member of the parish of St. Paul's.  As we step out together to accomplish great things, please remember that and take it to heart.

 

Yours faithfully,   

Kate+

[email protected]   

Ministries and Missions

                              by Rev. Herb Sprouse     

 

Herb 1On January 12, 2010, less than two weeks after I arrived at St. Paul's Church, a devastating earthquake hit Haiti leaving millions of people homeless and destroying much of the country's infrastructure.  During the next few weeks, the world rallied to the aid of the poorest country in the hemisphere.  We sent our prayers, our money and every other possible kind of assistance to Haiti as the horrifying long-term impacts of the disaster became clear. Shortly after the quake, St. Paul's welcomed to our pulpit Sister Sarah Randall, from the Boston house of the Sisters of St. Margaret (an Episcopal women's religious order.)  She witnessed to her order's century-long work in Haiti and the total destruction of their convent adjacent to the Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Port-au-Prince.  We sent her forth with our prayers and generous financial support, as the sisters began the arduous task of replacing not only their convent but the many schools, medical facilities and other institutions that the Episcopal Church had founded in Haiti.
 
Last October we embraced the needs of the Holy Trinity Music School, a focus of national pride and hope that was located within the Cathedral complex and was also completely lost. Our visitor that month was Jeanne Pocius, an extraordinary
 American musician and educator who is serving as midwife for the rebirth of the school.  St. Paul's incredible response - collection of a truckload of equipment and supplies including more than 85 musical instruments - established a relationship with the school that we hope will continue for many years to come.  But Haiti remains largely in ruins, international media concentrate on more recent events, and most Haitians still suffer incredible hardships.
 
This month our Mission of the Month returns our attention to the needs of Haiti and her people. As we approach the second anniversary of that terrible day, The Episcopal Church has initiated a large-scale program to rebuild the cathedral and the many facilities located within its complex. Why, you might ask, would the church focus on a bricks and mortar project of this type when such tremen-dous humanitarian needs remain?  The answer is twofold. First, the cathedral and its facilities have long been critical to the spiritual, educational and economic life of the entire country.  It is both a powerful symbol and a major participant in all of Haiti's aspirations.  Second, we should also remember that the Diocese of Haiti is the largest diocese in OUR Episcopal Church.  It falls to us to replace these facilities so that our church can continue with its important mission there.  And so we begin at the cathedral, the very center of our church's life in Haiti.
 
Here at St. Paul's we will be joining with the national church and our diocese to help rebuild the cathedral complex through the Buy-a-Brick Campaign.  During October, you will see and hear about our parish's drive to sell "bricks" at $10 each to support the rebuilding campaign.  Everyone - kids, youth, adult members and parish leadership - will be participating.  So buy a brick (or two or ten) and help build a cathedral!  It's fun, it's Holy Work, and it's a reminder that the Episcopal Church in Haiti is OUR church, and that all Haitians are our sisters and brothers in Christ.
Topics in the News    

      by John Bouton  

John Bouton

It is rare that a topic of national concern arises within two miles of our church, but the past ten days have shown the resilience and faith of a community stirred more than shaken. As everyone has surely learned by now, racist, xenophobic graffiti was scrawled on the siding of several refugee families' homes by an unknown perpetrator over the weekend of September 18th. Since then two rallies have been held, more than 25 letters, editorials, and articles have been published in the Concord Monitor, and the hundreds in the region have demonstrated their support for refugee resettlement and the targeted families.

      Organized by Rev. Jason Wells, vicar of Grace Church in East Concord, the Interfaith Council's "Love Your Neighbor" rally on Wednesday attracted about 250 to the State House lawn. Bishop Robinson was one of several featured speakers. The rally followed a family-oriented gathering of hundreds at a playground the weekend before. The programs were designed to show support for the families targeted by the hateful speech.

     These events reinforced the need for education about refugee resettlement. In an initiative remarkable for its foresight, the Concord Reads selection for this year was Outcasts United, a nonfiction work detailing the travails and triumphs of a youth soccer team with a roster exclusively comprised of refugee children whose families had settled in a small town.

     To my mind the best article to educate us in the wake of this incident was by Deb Baker, a parishoner at St. Paul's Church who is active in refugee resettlement issues. Baker's op/ed piece responded to the unfounded generalizations recorded in the graffiti. Writing in the Concord Monitor on September 22, Baker observed, "Refugees do not get a 'free ride.' Before they ever set foot on American soil, they are indebted for their airfare. The aid they receive from official resettlement is heartbreakingly little - and ends within months - because of laws and resource limitations beyond the control of local agencies. Volunteers from those agencies and grassroots organizations do their best to help refugees learn English, continue their educations and find work. Somehow, despite the incredible economic hardship, they manage to build new lives even as they overcome past traumas and adapt to a new culture." Pointing to the self-reliance, resourcefulness, and hospitality of the refugee families she has met, Baker also cited statistics that show how wrong the hate-mongering xenophobes were in questioning the lawfulness of the refugee families, noting that "U.S.-born citizens are jailed at four times the rate of foreign born. The Migration Policy Institute found that "immigrants have the lowest rates of imprisonment for criminal convictions in American society."

     Led by the example of so many good people in Concord, Episcopalians have the opportunity to show their support for those who have suffered hardship in their home countries and smooth their way in their new one. As the famine in Somalia shows, it is unlikely that the need to love our neighbors will ever be far from us.

   

Poll of the Month 

 

Last month's question was:  "To what extent should the Church involve itself in political issues?"  Here are the results:

 

Not at all.  Church and State should be completely separate.                          19% 

It's OK to encourage debate/reflection on issues, but not to take a position.      60% 

It's OK to take a position, but don't tell us how we should vote.                        16% 

It's OK to offer guidance on choosing a candidate.                                            2% 

It's OK for the Church to engage in lobbying and petitioning.                              2% 

 

This month's question is:

 

Which article in Good News! do you most look forward to each month?

Clergy Corner
Topics in the News
Formation
Photo Feature
Personal Reflections

To vote, click here
 
Formation: Education for Ministry              

by Jerry Tepe  

 

Jerry Tepe        In early August, Tamar Roberts, Shawn LaFrance and I underwent three days of training to become Education for Ministry (EfM) mentors. St. Paul's is beginning its second year of sponsoring two EfM groups with almost twenty participants from St. Paul's and other churches in the area.

 

        In case you have missed it previously, EfM is a four year course of study.  One portion could certainly be labeled "Bible Study" as we do read the Bible and explore not only the text, but also the background, both Christian and Jewish, that led the writers and compilers to what they wrote and eventually included in the Bible as we know it. After two years of study focusing on the Old and New Testaments, students then concentrate on church history and theology.  We also worship together at each session, taking
turns designing and leading the liturgy.  

 

        But EfM is even more than all of that.  EfM is also training in using our faith and our

experience of God in our everyday lives, and in opening our eyes to the ministry each of us has in this world. This is done through Theological Reflections (TR), the core of the EfM program. The TR process invites the group members to share an event from their life that posed a question about how to best respond, and then - through various methods - first analyzes the event, then moves on to develop a faithful approach to a response.

 

        So that is the EfM student's experience; but what exactly is an EfM mentor? Mentors are responsible for the administrative organization of the program, registering the groups and making sure the weekly classes keep to a general schedule. We are there to facilitate the work of the group, encouraging discussion and participation. But a mentor is not a teacher. We did not receive any specific additional knowledge about the subject matter of the bible, theology or church history. In fact, some mentors have never even been students in the program prior to being trained.

 

        The main responsibility of mentors is to facilitate the Theological Reflections. Almost 90 percent of our training time was devoted to practicing and evaluating the facilitation of the TR process. We took turns leading and participating in some of the dozen or so different methods of doing a TR. As in the classes themselves, this exercise of training was often enlightening and opened our minds and our hearts to applying our spirituality to  the trials of everyday life and in our relationships with others.

 

        If you are looking for a closer walk with God, a deeper understanding of your personal

journey of faith, and a greater appreciation of the journeys of others - as well as some great discussions and fellowship - I encourage you to become a part of EfM.

Photo feature: All-Parish Luncheon          

                                                        by Kathy Bush                                                                     

 

      The Vestry and Clergy provided an All Parish Luncheon on Sunday, September 25, 2011. The kitchen crew with Robin Broadbent cooked up an awesome pasta and oven-baked vegetable plate, provided a bread bowl, cider and beverages, and a variety of homemade desserts.

      Representatives from the four Mutual Ministries reported on their progress.  Casper Kranenburg spoke about What's Behind the Red Doors? and the exciting new Come and See Program. Kate Atkinson shared the To Love and Be Loved committees' ideas for hospitality and making connections. Valerie Blake and Jim Barker talked about Finances and Stewardship. John Elsnau reported about Shared Responsibility and strengthening our prayer groups. Kate also introduced a newly framed list of those who included St. Paul's in their Planned Giving (wills and trusts). And Steve Baker updated us on the Bishop Search and its timetable, which can be found at http://search.nhepiscopal.org/

      We all left feeling we got a lot of somethin' for nuthin'!

 

From the Vestry 
                            August Vestry NotesVestry                                                                  by Tamar Roberts 

 

The August vestry meeting was held on the 16th, with five members missing. Herb opened the meeting with a devotion.

 

Valerie presented the year to date budget report and explained that the income side looks very good due to a bequest of $69,000. We should not have to draw from the invested funds at this time. Valerie reported that pledge income is behind by about $16,000, which she believes is due to the summer attendance being down. She will try to set the estimated income lower in the summer months when preparing next year's reports to make the comparison more realistic. Currently, the monthly estimate is simply one twelfth of the annual amount. Valerie also noted the need to replace a part of the air conditioning system, and that she would be requesting quotes to replace the entire system as we seem to be replacing pieces of it often. The quotes will be used in preparing the 2012 budget.    

 

Committee reports were distributed before the meeting. By voice vote, the vestry ratified the previous email approval for the distribution of Chapter Two funds.

 

Kate announced that we will commemorate 9-11 at the regular services that weekend, and that there will be an interfaith observance on the State House lawn at 12:30 on that day in which members of St. Paul's are participating. There will be a State Observance earlier in the morning.

 

The Bishop Search Committee is busy developing a written and a video profile. Summer Celebration Camp is happening this week, with 30 children and many adults enjoying great times and creative projects. There will be a Flea Market in the parking lot this Saturday.

 

The next phase of the MMR will be a luncheon on Sept. 25. This will again be a simple lunch, coordinated by Terry Irwin and Ginnie Schartner, with an update of where we are. It was suggested that vestry members who were not involved in the last event be involved in this one.

 

Herb announced that the Shared Responsibility MMR group has changed their name to Mutual Support and Shared Responsibility. They have added to their task: prayer and outreach ministries. The name of the outreach center will be Assistance with Dignity, with the Food Pantry, Chapter Two Clothing Voucher System, and the Prescription Assistance Program under this title. They have passed the task of signage for this to the Beyond the Red Doors group.

 

We have two new EfM mentors that have been trained, with a third who will be trained this weekend. There are six new students, four of them from other parishes. There will be an initial Safe Church training here at St. Paul's on September 24.

 

The Diocesan program "Financial Planning as Spiritual Practice" will be piloted at St. Paul's starting tomorrow. Charles LaFond is leading the first session, and Cathy Menard will lead the following two sessions.

 

There are two volunteer jobs that need to be filled. A coordinator is needed to replace Diane Barlow in the Food Pantry. A volunteer is also needed to post items on E-bay that are received by Chapter Two, but are not really appropriate to sell there due to type or value.

 

Casper told us that a Pork Fest and Yard Sale were held at Grace Church, East Concord on this Sunday past, and they raised $1,500 towards food for school-age children.

 

Edie reminded all Vestry members to wear their name tags and a flower on Sunday mornings so they are visible to newcomers who may have questions.

 

Casper also reminded us that the vestry is responsible for the cost of the meal for the Friendly Kitchen this month. Each vestry member is asked to donate $10 towards the meal, which will be grinders, chips, fruit, pasta salad, and dessert.      

 

On October 2nd , the Vestry will meet after the 10:00 service to discuss the nine resolutions that will be voted on at Diocesan Convention. This discussion will provide guidance to our convention delegates when they are asked to vote on the resolutions at convention on Oct. 29.

 

Lee reiterated the importance of the discussion on the resolutions, the importance for vestry input. The process does work - last year the input from the vestry amended a resolution and the resolution was passed with the amendment.

 

We were reminded that on August 28, we will celebrate and say goodbye to Katie Solter as she leaves us to be the Assistant at St. Andrews, Hopkinton.

                       

Edie asked if we should increase our VOD presence on September 11. It was decided to keep VOD as is, but everyone should be more aware of who is in the building that day.

 

Terry brought a request from an usher to the vestry for a buzzer to be installed to signal the Sunday School when it is time for the children to come up for the service. The cost to install this is an issue as we work to keep expenses down. Tamar noted that with four ushers, this really shouldn't be an issue. The decision was made to leave as it currently is. Kate will poll the ushers at the usher gathering on September 18.

 

Kate offered the Closing Prayer, and the meeting was adjourned at 7:50 PM.

 
 

Casper Kranenburg, Senior Warden                                                Lee Waples, Junior Warden

Youth Happening

                                                       by Mark Pace        

Mark
Children and Youth Choirs
 
In our music ministry at St. Paul's this year, we are dividing our children into two groups.  We are blessed with a large group of older children, many of whom have been in Children's Choir for over seven years and are now in middle school.  These older kids are looking for a more advanced choir and music experience.  To accomplish this we are creating a separate Children's Choir and Youth Choir.

Every Monday afternoon at 4:00 I take the Kindergarteners and 1st graders for a music education session that includes singing, learning how to read music, steady beat studies, and Orff instru-ments (those strange, barred instruments).  At the same time Cindy White takes the 2nd and 3rd graders and works on a beginning Handchime Choir, while Tracy Pace takes the 4th grade and onward for an advanced Handchime Choir.  At 4:30, I take the 4th graders and above to the choir room for an advanced Youth Choir that is working on singing in 3-part harmony as well as doing more complicated music. At the same time Tracy and Cindy take the K-3rd graders and work on singing and basic musicianship through more Orff music, and music reading games.

It is thanks to our dedicated and talented volunteer helpers that we are able to make this new
arrangement work. I am hopeful that it will keep our older kids more interested and excited about music as well as giving our younger kids more age-appropriate musical experiences. Look out for the debut of the two new choirs at our 10:00 AM Ageless Worship service on October 2!
 
Personal Reflections 

                                                       by Harriet DeGreenia

 

Harriet       My sister Jeannie began coming to St. Paul's with me around 1991 and I always sat on the outside edge of the pew.  Shortly after her baptism in March of 1992, I lost my seat. One Sunday she went into the sanctuary before me and took MY seat.  When I came into church, I said, "Hey, you're in my seat."  Her response: "I don't see your name written anywhere."  That did not set very well with me but I quietly sat down beside her. I didn't give her a heartfelt hug during the Peace, hoping she would see that I was upset.  However, until Jeannie could no longer attend church, her seat never changed!! 

 

       Jeannie found great peace, joy, trust, comfort and friendship at St. Paul's.  She was very open with her feelings.  I, on the other hand, did a great job of keeping my feelings to myself.  When someone asked Jeannie how she was doing, she would give an honest answer and would laugh or cry openly.  When I was asked how I was doing, I gave my pat answer "I'm OK".  I was often very envious of how comfortable and open Jeannie was at St. Paul's.  I would find myself asking, "How come she can be so open and I can't?"

 

       Through God's grace, my eyes have been opened to the beautiful, loving, caring family that makes up St. Paul's. When Jeannie decided to stop her cancer treatments and enter the Hospice program, I ran to St. Paul's, scared to death, not wanting to accept the news. This can't be happening.  She's my best friend, my beloved sister.  How will I be able to go on without her?  I was met that afternoon with open arms and lots of hugs from Kristin and Kate while I openly wept.  Kate reassured me that God and my St. Paul's family would help me through.  Truer words could not have been spoken!!

 

       Jeannie died on May 18, and I cannot begin to express my thanks to the remarkable people of St. Paul's for walking this journey with her, and with me and my family.

 

       Yes, God has answered my questions about how Jeannie could feel comfortable enough to be herself here at St. Paul's - because now I feel that way too.  My family and I are so very blessed to be a part of this amazing family.  Though my heart is shattered, I know that I will walk on through life's journeys and will always be a part of St. Paul's truly wonderful fellowship.  And I have no doubt that Jeannie is looking down lovingly, smiling at her St. Paul's family.            

 
History and Artifacts
                                                                            by Frank Spinella
Red Doors

 

     Although they are comparatively rare today outside of the United Kingdom, boy choirs were once common in Episcopal churches in this country as well.  Mandate, the Bi-Monthy Magazine of the Prayer-Book Society, noted in its March/April 2001 issue that "From the late 19th century until the mid-20th century most cathedrals and large parishes in the American Episcopal Church were served by a choir of men and boys."

 

     St. Paul's was no exception.  Lyford's History of Concord (1903) records that "In May, 1883, a change was made in the choir of the church, and a boy choir substituted for the quartette and congregational singing which preceded it. This choir has been a feature of St. Paul's church since that time."  The boy choir was started by Frank E. Brown, of whom Vol. IV of the Geneological and Family History of the State of New Hampshire (1908) states: "For many years he was organist of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and organized and directed the first vested choir in that church in Concord."  S. B. Whitney, writing in the April, 1892 issue of The New England Magazine, concurs: "St. Paul's Church, Concord, N.H., has maintained a boy choir for many years, under the direction of Mr. F. E. Brown, organist and choir master. Mr. Brown relinquishing his post a year ago, Mr. H. G. Blaisdell succeeded him and the choir is prospering under his administration, and promises to attain a high state of perfection."

 

     It seems that Blaisdell, already well known for his direction of what is now the Nevers Band, quickly made good on that promise. The Granite Monthly reports in its July, 1893 issue that "The choir of St. Paul's (Episcopal) Church of Concord, consisting of thirty-five boys and men's voices, H. G. Blaisdell, choir master, gave a concert in Phenix Hall, Concord, on Tuesday evening, June 6. . . The full choir sang admirably, and, under more favorable circumstances, might expect a full house to encourage them. As it was, the boys will realize something besides 'well done' for their work. The tenor and basses of this choir are equal to any in New England."

   

� St. Paul's Church, 2011. Next Newsletter: November 1; deadline for submissions: October 28.  Please do not reprint text or graphics without permission.