The Shamrock - May 21, 2014
 









 

A Note from Ashley Lytle:

 

My dear friends, how wonderful are you, and how great is God? As my time at St. Patrick's comes to an end, I am more aware than ever before of God's presence in this place. You all have been swift to love, eager to care and true to who you are. In many ways I look up to this parish as a model of unconditional faith and steadfast love for one another and for the work of the Holy Spirit. These qualities are unique.  Sundays among you all have held some of the most powerful and formative moments of my life. This is a truly sacred place.  Each one of you, young and old, plays a part in creating that space and allowing for God's will to work among you. You are able to create this free and exploratory space through the infinite grace that pours from your hearts. Grace abounds on youth Sunday. Grace abounds when the kids on the back row make me laugh during the Lord's Prayer.  Grace abounds when the lock in leaves crumbs and marshmallows all over the church. Grace abounds when our Sunday school class is nothing more than a loud snowball fight in the halls. Grace abounds in this place.  You nourish each other, push each other, and love each other through this life--all in the name of God. You have taught me much, but above all you have taught me what Christian love can look like. I'll be hard pressed to find another parish that hugs as much as y'all do. Thank you, my kind friends, for embodying the love of Christ in all you do. You are truly good.  

(Photos: Wendy Lauber)

 


Parish News  

  

Wonderful Wednesdays  - Looking At The Resurrection: Join us during the Great Fifty Days of Easter as we explore the resurrection through the lenses of Scripture, Tradition and Reason. Guided first by the Scripture, we will survey perspectives on the resurrection as understood by the Church, mystics, and even modern science. We will also offer generous space to explore our own experiences and reflections. We will meet one last time on May 28. Led by Fr. Dick, CeCe Balboni and others.

 

Dinner at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. The cost for children 12-years and younger is $5.00, cost of an adult meal is $7.00. Please be sure to be a part of this upcoming program and dinner. Email your reservations to Amanda Vaughn by the Monday before - please note if you need childcare.     

Explorer's Camp and VBS Update: You have responded to the challenge! We are so very excited about offering our two summer camps to the community free of charge. Thanks to your generosity, since we made the request at the services last Sunday we have collected over $2000.00 in support for the camps. If you feel moved and would like to contribute, please drop a check off at the office or in the offering plate, indicating in the memo line that your contribution is designated for the children's camps. Meanwhile, please spread the word, register your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and neighbors, and let's get behind these two wonderful summertime opportunities for our young people!

 

 

June 23-27 - Creative Explorer's Camp - The Light of the World. 

Information and registration forms can be found on our website or on the table outside the office.   

 

 

 

July 21-25 - Vacation Bible School: Christmas in July. 

Information and registration forms can be found on our website or on the table outside the office.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Youth and Parent Meeting, May 25: We will gather on Sunday, May 25, during the Sunday School hour, to listen, discern and dream about our Youth Program. Please join us.    Closed Sign

 

 

Office Closure: The office will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26. 



 

 

Celebration Worship Service - June 1: Contemporary Style Worship Service at 5 p.m. on Sunday June 1, in the Parish Hall - By now most of you have heard about our May service which was a wonderful evening of praise, celebration, and good food. If you haven't or were not able to attend, please come and check it out for yourself June 1. It will include a homily by one of our parishioners, Kathy Malcom-Hall and communion, too. Don't worry about feeding the kids before you come, stay afterward and enjoy a simple meal together. No reservations needed. Help us spread the word by inviting friends, old and new, to worship with us in this casual and open-hearted way.   

 

The Gathering: Friday, June 6, 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. This is a contemplative and progressive gathering with prayer, poetry, music, guided meditation, and silence, inspired by wisdom traditions, modern Celtic spirituality, and natural spirituality. Music by Ramsay and friends. The invitation is *OPEN* to all ages. All are welcome!

   

Pentecost Picnic - June 8: Save the date of June 8 for our Pentecost Picnic. Buy your tickets this Sunday. This is one of the biggest events of the year. Following the amazing 10:30 Pentecost Service, we will have food, music, fun and games on the back lawn.   The cost is $7 for adults, $4 for kids, $25 per family maximum. When you buy your ticket, sign up to bring one dozen deviled eggs or a dessert or sodas. This is a great time to invite your friends and neighbors to experience God's richness at St. Patrick's.

 

Vestry Meetings: These meetings are open to all. The next Vestry Meeting will be Thursday, June 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Nave.

 

Stewardship Update: It is never too late to pledge! Pledge cards for the 2014 Operating Budget are available in the office and you can find a printable pledge card here.Pledge cards should be returned to the parish office. "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Cor. 9:7   

 

Want to Join St. Patrick's? Please email Amanda Vaughn or call her at 770-455-6523 for more information.

Ministry Update  

    

50 Days of Easter: As Paschal candles are lit throughout the world on  Easter morning to signal the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Bishop Rob Wright will ignite 50 days of online Easter prayer throughout the 109 communities of the Episcopal Church in Middle and North Georgia.  Click here to find out how to participate. 

Stephen Ministry: "Get On With Your Life" - but you can't. You may grieve the loss of a loved one for years. And the first year can be all downhill.  A Stephen Minister would like to care for you. Stephen Ministers are trained and supervised to care sensitively for those going through difficult times. Call Fr Dick at (770) 455-6523 to be put in touch with a Stephen Minister. Anything you discuss will be kept strictly confidential.

Christian Formation

Lectionary for this Sunday

 

Sundays

Nursery - newborn - 4 years - Room 6 

 

Children and Youth classes are on break for the summer. 


Adult Formation Classes:  

  • Roundtable Discussion Series, Parlor  
  • Dreams: A Way to Listen to God, Library
  • The Old Testament: Messages For Today - Too often we think of the Old Testament as writings concerned with whatever was happening "way back when" and fail to see their relevance to the way we live some thousands of years later.  In this class we will look at selected Old Testament books and the message they have to teach us about living in the 21st century. Meets in Boardroom 8a/8b

           May 4-May 25  Praying the Psalms - A four week look at psalms from the time of Moses to the present led by Deacon Ed.  

 Did you know: 
  • The people of God have been singing and praying psalms for more than 3,000 years?
  • The Psalter (book of psalms) is the songbook of the people of God in gathered worship?
  • The Book of Common Prayer devotes 20% of its pages to the psalms?
  • Psalms in The Book of Common Prayer are arranged for Morning and Evening Prayer so that the entire book of psalms will be read every 30 days?
  • David is the author of about 1/2 of the psalms?

During the four Sundays in May we'll learn more about this beautiful section of Holy Scripture and talk about how praying the ancient psalms is relevant to our walk with God today.

 

Week Three - Christian application of this ancient Jewish songbook including Cramner's approach in the Book of Common Prayer

Week Four - Singing (chanting) the Psalms - from ancient times to today's Anglican chant forms

 

We'll use Walter Brueggemann's book "Praying the Psalms: Engaging Scripture and the Life of the Spirit" as our guide.The book is available on Amazon.com and other retail outlets.

 

Join us for lively discussion and discover new ways to use the psalms to enrich your conversation with God.

  • Contemplative Class: A Native View of God: Some of us have had transformative encounters with Indigenous peoples and their ways of relating to God. We will explore these experiences and discuss how to relate to indigenous cultures and see God and the land through their eyes and how it can inform our walk with Christ. Come and join in our sharing. We will not follow a book per se, but inspiring materials can be suggested to those who are interested. Contact Jon Richardson with questions or suggestions. Reach Jon at 770-451-7519 or email him here. RSVP's are appreciated, but are not required. Meets in Gathering Room.  
Parish Birthdays
May 19-24

 

Tom Nichols, Cathy Sanders, Lorie Tola, Nick Jackson, Pam Williams, Heather Talipsky, Sherri Richards, Elizabeth Sosnowski, Kim Dymecki, Jillian Hall  

 

 Happy birthday!

 


Income Summary

 

 

    
 

Actual Income (Adjusted) - YTD*

 Budgeted Income - YTD

 Year to Date Difference: Actual - Budgeted

 Projected Year End Difference

 Projected Year End Difference (% of Annual Budget)

 

$158,885        

 

$185,847        

($26,962)

($70,101)

-14.5%

 

* : pre-payments of pledge values have been annualized

    
 

This Week at St. Patrick's

 

For more detailed information, please check the website. If you are not on the weekly Shamrocks email list and would like to be, please email Amanda Vaughn.    

                                    

                                                                   

Thursday, 5/22     

12:30 p.m.          Holy Spirit Prayer Group, Library

6:00 p.m.            Brotherhood of St. Andrew Meeting, Parish Hall/Kitchen
8:00 p.m.            The Male Room (AA - Men only), Room 14

 

Friday, 5/23                                                                   

8:00 p.m.            The Dunwoody North Group (AA), Room 14
  

Saturday, 5/24    

8:30 a.m.            Malachi's Mobile Food Pantry  


Sunday, 5/25             

8:00 a.m.            Holy Eucharist, Chapel  

9:15 a.m.            Adult Christian Formation Classes  

10:30 a.m.          Holy Eucharist,Nave

12:30 p.m.          Hospitality House, Parish Hall   
 

Monday, 5/26 - OFFICE CLOSED - Memorial Day                     

7:00 p.m.            Men's Accountability Group, Room 1

8:00 p.m.            AA (open), Room 14

  

Tuesday, 5/27
6:45 a.m.            Men's Prayer Group, Room 8
6:00 p.m.            German Ensemble, Choir Room
         

Wednesday, 5/28                                      

9:45 a.m.            Dream Group, Library 

12:15 p.m.          Holy Eucharist with Healing, Chapel
1:30 p.m.            Malachi's Storehouse, Parish Hall  
6:00 p.m.            Wonderful Wednesday Dinner, Parish Hall
7:00 p.m.            Wonderful Wednesday Program, Nave
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Thank you for being a faithful reader of the Shamrock!  

Visit the website for more details on events and programs.  

 

Contact us:

The Office is open Monday thru Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The phone number is 770-455-6523.

 

Deadline for submitting news items for The Shamrock and bulletin is noon Tuesdays. Send news and photos to amanda.vaughn@stpat.net. Most news items will run for two weeks. 

 

The Shamrock is published weekly. It is distributed most Wednesdays.

 

All content submitted is subject to editing. 

 

Contact: Amanda Vaughn, Director of Communications, 770-455-6523 or amanda.vaughn@stpat.net 

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