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GOOD NEWS!
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St. Paul's Church Newsletter |
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A Newsletter of St. Paul's Church, Concord, NH
"A place to belong . . . Whoever you are . . . Just as you are." | February 2014
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February Calendar Highlights
Feb. 2 First Sunday Communion
at Friendly Kitchen - 12:00 PM
Feb. 3 Men's Just Supper - 6:00 PM
Feb. 4 Building & Grounds Meeting -
5:00 PM Executive Committee - 5:30 PM Feb. 6 Holy Eucharist at Havenwood -
10:30 AM
Feb. 9 Via Media Adult Formation in the Library - 9:00 AM. Series continues through March 30.
Spirituality Adult Formation in
the Conference Room - 9:00 AM
Feb. 9 Baptisms - 10:00 AM Feb. 15 Safe Church Training - 8:00 AM Feb. 17 OFFICE & OUTREACH CENTER CLOSED for Presidents Day Feb. 18 Fellowship Pot Luck with Bishop Rob - 5:30 PM Vestry Meeting - 6:30 PM Feb. 19 Friendly Kitchen - 4:30 PM Feb. 20 Stewardship Meeting - 6:00 PM Mar. 2 First Sunday Communion at Friendly Kitchen - 12:00 PM See entire calendar
For details of these and other parish events, check the weekly
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Milestones
Marriage
Stewart (Bud) & Lillian Warren
1/18/2014
Memorial Services
Donald Levesque - 1/10/2014
Charles Kennedy - 1/11/2014
Frederick Upton - 1/11/2014
Esther Spaulding - 1/15/2014 |
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Shorts
Via Media
Sunday Morning Forum
9:00 AM in St. Paul's Library
during February and March 2014.
Via Media brings people together through a program that uncovers the truth and beauty of the Episcopal Church and explores what it means to be a part of our church in today's world - using the thoughts and discussion of respected theologians and religious scholars.
2/9 An Anglican Way of Being Christian
2/16 God and Creation:
The Abundance of God's Goodness
2/23 God in Jesus:
An Incarnational Faith
3/2 God and the Holy Spirit:
The Breath of New Life
3/9 The Bible:
Word of God for the People of God
3/16 Sin: Roadblocks to Abundant Life
3/23 Thy Kingdom Come:
The Promise of Christian Hope
3/30 So What:
What Does it Mean to Be a Christian?
For more information,
or to sign up to attend,
please email the Church Office,
or call 603 224 2523.
Or just arrive on the day.
Ten Talents Underway
The Ten Talents program is a way for you to share your talents with your fellow parishioners. The church invests Ten Talents in you and you, in turn, convert this investment ($10) into a product or service that you can share during coffee hour between now and March 16.
Coffee hours during the days of Ten Talents are like bustling markets with plenty of amazing things on offer. Fudge, photo cards, honey, barbeque sauce, and ice scrapers are just a small sample of various things parishioners have shared in past years. Many offerings from last year's Ten Talents will be available this year as well as many new things. Please visit coffee hour and be generous in your support of our volunteers for St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
So far, 29 volunteers have generously offered their imagination, creativity, and energy and received their Ten Talents. There is still time for you to do the same! If you would like to volunteer for this year's Ten Talents program or have any questions at all, please contact Steve Baker or Kate.
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Come Worship With Us
Saturdays:
4:30 PM Our Simple Saturday Service of Holy Eucharist.
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.
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St. Paul's Episcopal Church
21 Centre Street
Concord, NH 03301
Tel: 603-224-2523
Fax: 603-224-2524
rector@stpaulsconcord.org
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Clergy and Staff
Rev. Kate Atkinson,
Rector
(Rest Day: Friday)
Rev. Darrell Huddleston,
Priest Associate
Rev. Charles Edward LeClerc, BSG,
Deacon
Rev. Will Ottery,
Deacon
Mark Pace,
Director of Music Ministries
(Rest Day: Friday)
Kristin Dunklee,
Parish Administrator
Sarah Nyhan,
Minister for Youth, Children and Families
Andy Brundrett,
Sexton |
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Welcome to the first Good News! issue of 2014.
For February, we have a profile of our beloved Maeve Blackman, a look at how the Rector's Discretionary fund helped a family escape from violence in South Sudan--much like the Holy Family when Herod was after them. Youth faces and voices are featured in a pair of Epiphany poems and an eclectic assortment of Magi. This month's poll is just for fun. Starting in March, though, look for questions about the content and direction of this newsletter. We want your input! |
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Clergy Corner
 by Rev. Kate Atkinson
Dear friends,
When I made announcements about our recent Annual Meeting, I promised that it would be "brief-ish" and fun, and that the food would be delicious. I think the 150 people who attended would agree that those promises were fulfilled!
For many of, the fun started when we read our Annual Report for 2013. (If you haven't done so already, I urge you to take a look at this and see for yourself just how much is going on at St. Paul's, and how many parishioners - new arrivals as well as longer-standing members - are involved in the life of our parish.) Our appreciation continued as the meeting got underway and we were reminded anew of just how much goes into the effective functioning of a church like ours.
For example, our Treasurer, Valerie Blake, and her dedicated committee, spend countless hours planning, calculating, trimming, forecasting, and reporting the financial aspects of our parish. Although we are first and foremost a spiritual organization, we are a very large one, and we need talented, committed people like Valerie and her team to make sure we use our resources wisely. You will have heard that we are still working with a deficit budget, but, thanks to this team, plus our remarkable Stewardship Committee, chaired by Jim Barker and Ray Fournier, we are moving toward greater financial stability. "Fun" may not be quite the right adjective, but the words "optimistic," "encouraging," and "hopeful" all came to mind as Valerie delivered her report.
There was, however, plenty of laughter as we presented a wealth of feedback from our table question: "What are we looking for in our new Assistant Priest?" - with one desirable attribute being the ability to walk on water! And the "Ode to Talents," followed by Steve Baker's droll "Ten Talents" appeal, was equally entertaining.
Warm and heartfelt applause greeted the presentation of gifts to some long-serving lay ministers, including Jared Roberts - who has "aged out" of his position as Youth Delegate to Diocesan Convention; June Novo - who has retired from leading Forever Young for six years and will be succeeded by Kim Wheeler, Timmy Miller and Ronna Frazier; Jack Griffin - whose 27-year ministry as Verger and acolyte trainer has touched the lives of many of our parishioners, including those of his successors, Phil Denoncourt and John Elsnau; and Gary Brundrett - who has stepped down as Head Usher at the 8:00 service, although he is still around, bright and early every Sunday, to give a hand to his successor, Theresa Neves.
We were blessed by the presence of The Rev. Steve Blackmer, currently on placement at St. Stephen's, Pittsfield, who came straight from their Annual Meeting to ours, and was presented with a set of beautifully embroidered vintage vestments that had been donated to St. Paul's by former priest, George Richard, who wanted to be sure they went to a good home. Renewed, recycled and reused, those vestments were the perfect gift for our environmentally conscious Steve!
We also welcomed newly elected vestry members, Joanne Gutt, Steve Knight, Brian Pontius, and Ginnie Schartner, and Convention Delegate Bob Washburn; and we thanked departing vestry members Terry Irwin, Edie Perkins and Davis Richmond, and Convention Delegate Barbara Wanner.
And of course it goes without saying that the meatloaf, garlic beans, and mashed potatoes were out of this world - not to mention the delicious selection of potluck desserts. Thanks to Robin Broadbent and her amazing Kitchen Krew, we were well-fed and wonderfully cared for.
And we still managed to be brief-ish! We were finished by 1:30 and heading home with smiles on our faces.
St. Paul's is the only parish I know of with consistently fun Annual Meetings! It is just one of many reasons why our parish is such a great place.
Happy New Year! May it be full of fun.
Yours faithfully,
Kate+ |
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Ministries and Missions:
The Rector's Discretionary Fund
by Jean Gillespie
The Rector's Discretionary Fund supports a St. Paul's ministry giving help where it is needed, when it is needed. A recent event gives an unusual example of this ministry.
Parishioner Monica Macol Noi's son, Charles, his wife Hanan, and their seven children aged 3 months (twins) to 14 years, were living in Juba, South Sudan, and were in grave danger due to the coup and ensuing civil war. By the time Kate heard of this and was in touch with Charles, theirs was the only family left in an increasingly unsafe neighborhood. They had an opportunity to evacuate to Kampala, Uganda, but needed money in order to do so.
Kate shared this need with the people of St. Paul's at the Lessons and Carols services, noting the parallel between the predicament of Charles' family and that of Mary and Joseph, who had to flee to Egypt to escape a political massacre. She asked for donations to the Rector's Discretionary Fund which could then be used to help Monica's family. The response of the people of St. Paul's was immediate and generous, and has enabled the family to evacuate safely.
Much of the assistance funded by the Rector's Discretionary Fund is through the Emergency Assistance Network (EAN), a group of 13 faith communities who work together to provide assistance to local people in need. In most cases help is needed with accommodation expenses, and the EAN is frequently responsible for preventing individuals and families from becoming homeless. A discretionary fund check from St. Paul's will be added to contributions made by other members of the Network, resulting in a total amount to fill the urgent need.
There are urgent needs within the parish as well. Kate often uses her discretionary fund to help with emergency situations when parishioners have nowhere else to turn.
These things could not happen without our help. The Rector's Discretionary Fund receives the loose plate offering from the 8:00 service every week, and from the 10:00 service on the first Sunday of each month. Additional funds come from clergy fees for weddings and funerals and from ad hoc donations. If you would like to contribute, make your check payable to St. Paul's and put "Rector's Discretionary Fund" in the memo space. Cash can be placed in a pew envelope and the Discretionary Fund box checked.
The Rector's Discretionary Fund gives us all an opportunity to be a part of an important outreach ministry of St. Paul's.
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Poll of the Month
Last month's poll question was:
What is your usual method of shopping for Christmas gifts?
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I go to the big stores to take advantage of "Black Friday" and other promotions.
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7%
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I like to browse local shops in my hometown.
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20%
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I prefer alternative giving such as Honor Cards; we have too much stuff already.
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27%
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Why fight the crowds? I shop online.
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33%
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By December it's all done; I've been collecting items for loved ones all year.
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13%
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100%
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Note: Results may be affected by the fact that people who shop online are also more likely to answer online polls...
This month's question is:
What do you do to bring light into your world during the darker months of the year?
- Open the shades and curtains to let in more daylight.
- Hang up Christmas lights and keep them up through January.
- Light lots of candles and/or sit by the fire.
- Nothing special; I like the dark.
- Fly south for the winter.
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Formation: The Spirituality Group
by Tim Frazer
The Spirituality group began Advent 2013 confronting a variety of challenging essays in Watch for the Light, a collection of daily readings for Advent and Christmas from writers as far apart in time as St. Thomas Aquinas and Dorothy Day. As we considered thoughts from Kathleen Norris and Henri Nouwen, questions about the Virgin Birth and the hope of Advent dominated the discussion.
Kathleen Norris, a secular American poet who re-entered church life as a Benedictine Oblate, considers the Annunciation in her essay. Her writing is fueled by rage at the lifeless, often dumbed-down language frequently used in traditional readings of Mary's life-changing event, as well as at a modern reaction that is sterile and smugly therapeutic. Norris had heard a sermon claiming that the Virgin Birth was not real and could be read as a message that teen pregnancy is okay. Norris, in a fury, decries "the profound skepticism of our age, the mistrust of. . .tradition," accompanied by "language that is thoroughly comfortable and satisfyingly unchallenging."
What then to make of the Virgin Birth? Monastic tradition offers a deeper definition of virgin-a place in the heart untouched by shallow truisms, still open to God's truth. Norris writes, "It is only when we stop idolizing the illusion of our control over the events of life and recognize our poverty that we become virgin. . . . Am I virgin enough to respond from my deepest, truest self and say something new, a 'yes' that will change me forever?"
Henri Nouwen was a priest who battled depression throughout his life but whose faith gave him a joy in celebrating the Mass. He gave up an Ivy League divinity school professorship to do mission work and ended his life in service to the developmentally disabled. Nouwen's essay "Waiting for God" reflects on patience, especially the lack of it in contemporary life, observing that living in fear makes waiting difficult or even impossible. It leads to "aggressive, hostile responses" to threats, which are "the roots of a 'first strike' approach to others."
For Nouwen, waiting entails hope, which is a manifestation of faith. The Rev. Huddleston asked the group to reflect upon and try to define hope. One reflected that hope was sometimes difficult, having once hoped that World War II would be the end of all wars. Others recalled Fr. Robert Tumwekwase's talk to St. Paul's a year ago about the African concept of Advent. In Africa, waiting is an accepted part of life, and it was in Africa where Nelson Mandela waited, surely with hope, for 27 years in prison, emerging to liberate his country and teach forgiveness.
A consensus emerged that having hope was very different from simply wishing (an act of will). With hope, we may well await the unknown, but we wait with trust. Nouwen observes, "A waiting person is someone who is present to the moment who believes that this moment is the moment."
The groups will continue a study of some of the same writers during Lent. As we receive the Eucharist we proclaim, "Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again!" Lent and Easter will celebrate the first two, which have already happened. The third is that for which we wait in hope.
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Photo Feature: Visitation of the Magi
The Rev. Darryl Huddleston explains that the original Magi were Persian astrologers, people who studied the stars.
 These "wise men," also known as the Three Kings, were portrayed this year by (left to right) Joseph Nyhan, Nathan Pace and Georgia Atkinson. 
The Magi led the other children down the center aisle to bring back Magi figures made in various parts of the world, including one from South America that depicts him riding a llama.
Well, llamas are in the camel family.
Another figure was carved of olive wood in the Holy Land. Below, Joseph examines the llama while Georgia holds Magi figures from North America and Africa.
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Behind the Scenes:
Maeve Blackman, Chapter Two Tuesdays
by Gail Thorell Schilling
Maeve Blackman wears her tweeds and family tartan (Royal Stewart) with grace on Sundays. She is equally smart in jeans on Tuesdays as a volunteer in Chapter Two Thrift Shop, a position she has held for nearly five years. The Glasgow native, now 27 years at St. Paul's, attends to mundane tasks such as selling, recording, packaging and tidying the clothes shop, but more importantly she develops rapport with the regular clients - and understands their situations. Maeve says, "We provide affirmation of clients as human beings." The former volunteer coordinator for Massachusetts General Hospital explains, "It's important for somebody to volunteer in Chapter Two to fill a need in the community. We have a large number of people who come from halfway houses on their way out of prison. They need decent clothes to apply for a job. In my experience, they are so nice, so polite." Her face creases in smiles. "I can't imagine what they were in for..." Maeve remembers the woman who eagerly upgraded her wardrobe for her new job as bell ringer for the Salvation Army. Another time, a woman and daughter, once regular clients, returned after an absence of some time. "The little girl excitedly told me, 'We have our own clothes washing machine!'" Maeve chuckles at the memory. "That a child would be so excited about a clothes washing machine...These are the things that make it worthwhile." Yet, Maeve concedes, "Tuesdays are a challenge - you are faced with spiritual and compassionate decisions, challenges. How does one define 'empowering'?" With her fellow volunteers and church leadership, Maeve ponders the paradox: When is a handout a hindrance to independence? The reflective volunteer has also served as Clerk of the Vestry and Senior Warden, even front desk receptionist. For a time, she coordinated all the lay ministries, a 15-hour a week commitment. Except for several years spent caring for her late husband, the Rev. George Blackman, she volunteers continually - but not indefinitely. Maeve states, "I believe in rotation of leadership and bringing senior people out and new people in unless there's a crisis. Since 1987, we've gone through two interims with two ministers who were very good, indeed. The thing that is consistent at St. Paul's is the parish family, an extended, caring family -- which is why I sit where I do on Sundays (side front). I like looking out at all the faces. That's where I get the boost that carries me through the week." And Tuesdays.
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From the Vestry
Vestry Notes
Summarized by Marcia Harrison
prior to vestry approval of the minutes
It's been a pretty harsh winter so far! St. Paul's Vestry meeting for December had to be cancelled due to severe weather, but since there were some things on the agenda that were just too important to delay we squeezed in an abbreviated meeting on a Sunday after worship services. We needed to approve our 2014 budget and our decision was to go with a budget that supports a part-time assistant priest. This difficult choice not to hire a full-time priest was made in an attempt to hold expenses down. Undoubtedly, this change will be felt in many ways as we hope and intend to keep moving onward and outward as a parish in 2014.
At our January meeting there were 15 members present along with clergy (Kate) and staff (Kristin). Terry Irwin provided a meditation to our group, focusing on Prayer and Discernment as a Way of Life. Terry read the statement attributed to Jesus: that one who knocks on the door will find the door opened to him/her. He told his story of a 10-day retreat and solo experience in the Adirondack Mountains and the door opening for him. He found himself inspired to restore life balance through service to others and he now enjoys working with a beautiful refugee family in our community.
After review, we then approved the minutes of our November and December vestry meetings. We also shared our recent experiences with parish ministries. Kate Atkinson talked with us about a new plan to hold an informal monthly Eucharist service at the Friendly Kitchen, beginning on February 2nd. The service is a response to the initiative of the Diocese to take the "Church" into the community. She encouraged Vestry Members to volunteer to be lay assistants at the service.
In our Treasurer's Report, Valerie Blake presented the Profit & Loss Budget Performance Report for December, 2013. She said that December was a healthy month for pledge receipts and other revenue contributions. She reported that the expenses had been managed well by the Clergy and Staff. At year end, the net revenues for 2013 were approximately $77,000 over budget. Noses, however, will need to remain tight to grindstones for the foreseeable financial future.
The Rector reported that the pledges received to support the 2014 Budget were now approximately $5,000 greater than the goal for the 2013 Stewardship Campaign. She noted that efforts continue to secure additional new pledges, to add to the 40 new pledges already received, and to seek 2014 pledges from Parishioners who pledged in 2013. She complimented the Stewardship Committee as "extraordinary" and thanked vestry member Ray Fournier for his leadership efforts with the Committee. Ray acknowledged the good results and the great efforts of other members of the Committee. He noted that additional volunteers/members of the Committee are being sought and invited vestry members to join the Committee. Kate Atkinson also provided an overview of the agenda and activities of the upcoming Annual Meeting of the Parish.
Our Senior Warden, Casper Kranenburg, expressed hearty and sincere thanks for the service and contributions of the retiring vestry members, Terry Irwin, Edie Perkins and Davis Richmond. All of us on the vestry will surely miss working with these three wonderful colleagues. We recognize that in many instances, some of us would never have known what good people surround us had it not been for our vestry service together.
In other business, we discussed what happens when vestry members are not able to attend vestry meetings when important votes are to be cast. A request was made to the Clerk of the Vestry to prepare a summary of the ways in which Vestry Members can cast their votes.
Kate Atkinson initiated a discussion of the request by Dan Walsh and Shawn LaFrance to be present in the area of the Food Pantry to assist eligible persons to enroll in Accountable Care Act insurance programs. After much discussion and a desire for more information, the proposal was tabled until the February vestry meeting.
A closing prayer was provided by Valerie Blake.
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Youth Happenings: Epiphany Poems
CnC (Confirm not Conform) member, Sophie Johnson, has been inspired to celebrate the season of Epiphany with some original poetry.
Her first poem alludes to the epiphany experienced by Steve Blackmer on a plane, when he first discerned God's call to ordained ministry. During his time as St. Paul's Youth Minister, Steve shared this remarkable story with the youth groups - and it clearly made an impression!
Sophie describes the second poem as "an open-for-interpretation story that can be taken literally or spun to seem like a personalized story."
The thought that came of a wisp of wind that one extraordinary day,
The bemusing notion, just a-floating
Over yonder ways
Now something told me
To get chasing
After that windborne cue
Nothing warned me
Of the things
I'd hardly known I knew
I ran and I jumped
And climbed the old oak tree
Even the breeze seemed to cackle
How I'd made a fool of me
But deep down I knew
That it was worth it
Hardly I knew how much
The epiphany
Whispering, sighing
That guided me to you
Epiphany II
Revelation of the future
Explanation from the past
The thought that comes upon you
And in your mind it'll last
The sign of future knowledge
The chimes of in-depth wisdom
Pieces of the divine puzzle
That lead you to His kingdom
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Personal Reflection: Mid-Week Eucharist
by Pete Bradley
 They have crucified the Lord. Our hopes are defeated. The leaders of our little band are in hiding. Brokenhearted, we two are on a back road fleeing the city. Out of nowhere a stranger joins us on our way. Quietly, step by step, he leads us to a new understanding of everything. Our new friend joins us for supper. There is something in the way he breaks the bread and passes it to us. Suddenly we're overtaken by unspeakable love and joy. Our eyes fill with tears. We reach out to hold Him. But he is gone. How were we so blind? "We must run back and tell Peter and John." "Do this in memory of me." On that long-ago Thursday Jesus gave this command. At Emmaus he himself acted as their priest and showed them exactly how this would work. And work it has. "Do this to keep my memory alive." That memory is still strong two thousand years later because of the Church's faithfulness in following that command every day since. We participate in that faithfulness today. Most every Tuesday and Thursday, I am privileged to be one of the regulars at the Eucharist at St. Paul's. We are much like the companions on the Emmaus road. Good people, but in ways broken and in need of the sacramental presence of Jesus. We gather in his name. So he is present in our midst as He promised. Indeed, in a way, we become Jesus for one another. Our priest opens the word for us, sharing wisdom and whimsy. Trying to lead us to a deeper understanding. There is something special about weekday Communion. So quiet, intimate and warm. So simple. "Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church... That we all may be one." So many schisms, wars, excommunications and all manner of strife within Christianity. It is so shameful and sad. I love this prayer. Just in saying it, we move toward its fulfillment. Unity will never come from committees negotiating compromises on rules or dogmas. It will come from little people like us praying for each other and with each other. We own our sinfulness. For me, more what I have left undone than what I have done. And our priest blesses us with God's forgiveness. The peace of God passes all understanding. But each time we share it our understanding of it deepens. As this peace fills the room, we are suddenly in the eternal now. Our Eucharist is somehow being linked with every Eucharist ever celebrated. The room fills with a great cloud of witnesses just as St. Paul said. I catch glimpses of my own loved ones and heroes. I am lifted up by their joy. Then she blesses the bread and breaks it just as the Lord did at Emmaus. And he is known to us in the breaking of the bread just as before. There are strangers in the group. So she announces that all are welcome at the table. I love it when this happens. It is one of the things I love about the Episcopal Church. Then she commissions a Eucharistic Minister to bring Communion to a homebound elder. I love it that our sharing in the heavenly banquet will continue and spread. Soon it's over. The blessing and the dismissal. We all go back to ordinary time refreshed and renewed. "Rejoicing in the power of the Spirit, Alleluia, Alleluia!" As we depart I see two strangers running off in a great hurry. They must need to tell someone. Maybe you.
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© St. Paul's Church, 2014. Next Newsletter: March 1; deadline for submissions: February 24. Please do not reprint text or graphics without permission.
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