Honor your Mother this Mothers' Day!

This Mothers' Day, honor your mother (or someone else special) by helping mothers in some of the poorest parts of the world have a safe childbirth experience.

Every expectant mother hopes for the safe birth of a healthy newborn, but in many parts of the world safety can be compromised by lack of basic healthcare supplies. In many poor countries most births take place at home attended by local traditional midwives. The midwife has training and knowledge to handle most births, but often does not have the very basic equipment, such as a clean cloth for the mother to lie on, a suitable instrument to cut the umbilical cord, or a towel to dry and wrap the baby. Maternal and infant death due to infection is not uncommon. Some simple supplies can make a huge difference.

The St. Paul Social Ministry Committee is sponsoring our 7th Midwife Kit Project

Together we will create kits that will be sent via Village Help for South Sudan. Through this organization, we have previously supported the Wulang School and the building of a new health clinic. The kits will be used by local midwives to help make deliveries safer and more welcoming for mothers and babies.

There are several ways you can be a part of this important project:

• Make a monetary donation. Every $20 sponsors the making of one kit, shipping, and training local midwives who will use them.
• Make a donation of your time by coming to church on Thursday, June 6th at 7 p.m. to help assemble the kits
• Pray for the mothers and babies who will receive the kits
• Come to Adult Forum on April 28th to meet Ron Moulton, director of Village Help for South Sudan. Ron will give us updates on the school and health clinic, as well as talk about future work in Wulang. When asked about the importance of the midwife kits, Ron recently wrote:

"South Sudan still has the highest infant and maternal mortality rate, girls still get married and bear children too early, and rural areas like Wunlang have the worst statistics. The midwife kits from St. Paul are treasured by the women of Wunlang because they are given directly to them, and we (Village Help for South Sudan) are the only support they receive."

Look for contribution form and further information in upcoming Sunday bulletins.

For more information and additional photos follow this link.  The midwife kits pictured here are the kits that were assembled in June 2012.  It took nearly a year for them to arrive in Wunlang!    

Walkathon for Camp Calumet Lutheran

Camp Calumet is very excited about the May 11, 2013 Walkathon! For many years, this event has been the signature "get-ready-for-summer" gathering for so many. The 5-mile walk takes walkers of all ages and abilities through beautiful Gloucester, Massachusetts. Everyone enjoys the sound of roaring waves crashing on the beach, conversation with friends new and old, and a delicious hot dog and hamburger lunch with chips, cookies, and refreshing drinks at the finish line. The whole thing starts with a 9:30 AM registration at Good Harbor Beach, and we start walking at 10 AM.

How can you get involved?

- Join TEAM ST. PAUL and walk the beautiful 5 mile course, much of which is along the shore. This is a FABULOUS activity for all ages. Families welcome!!

- Make a financial contribution to TEAM ST. PAUL. This year, all donations will be matched with Social Ministry Funds, up to $2000.

- Also, watch and listen for "Power Hours" when your donations made following the service will be matched DOUBLE with Social Ministry Funds.

Be sure to stop by the table in the Lower Narthex to sign up as a walker and/or make a donation.

For those of you not familiar with Camp Calumet Lutheran, it is a true gem of the New England Synod, located in the White Mountains of NH on the shores of Lake Ossipee.

St. Paul has always had a strong connection with Camp Calumet. Over the years, many of our children have attended Resident Camp, our older youth have been trained and worked as counselors, many adults in our congregation have worked at Camp Calumet over the summers, our congregation has participated in retreats and members of all ages have enjoyed special times spent in the Family Camping Camp Ground.

Some would say Camp Calumet is one of the most spiritual places on Earth and Lutheran Outdoor Ministries is one of the most positive things that can happen to a child.

For more information about Camp Calumet, visit their website http://www.calumet.org/  

For more information regarding Team St. Paul or questions regarding donations please contact Lionel Goulet at qco@QuietCounsel.org or George Wilson at gwilson1@rcn.com  

God of Hope,

whose Spirit gives light and power to your people,
empower us to witness to your name in all nations,
to struggle for your own justice
against all principalities and powers
and to persevere with faith and humour
in the tasks that you have given to us.
Without you we are powerless.
Therefore we cry together:
Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus.

-"An Invitation to Prayer" at the opening of the fifth assembly of the World Council of Churches, Nairobi, 1975.