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St. Paul's Newsletter
June 2015

From Aaron's Desk

The Season after Pentecost


In Paul’s first Letter to his beloved Timothy, he encourages his spiritual son to lead his community in the pursuit of genuine love, good conscience, and true faith.

The nascent church faced many trials and distractions: Claims of false messiahs and the already happened occurrence of Christ’s return; gnostic offshoots; crooks; money-grabbers; and, in the case of the church in Ephesus over which Timothy presided, people who misconstrued the Gospel of Christ, teaching contrary doctrines that varied from overly-mystical and superstitious, to rigorous in legalism.

Timothy was in a difficult place. The syncretistic religiosity of the Roman Empire was very accomodating to new Religious movements, and so the early Christian church attracted all sorts of religious nomads who were mostly just drawn to the novelty of new "spiritual movements", but who also wanted to combine their pre-existing beliefs and practices with these new ones. In other words, it was not uncommon for someone to adhere to several different sects, and for doctrines between them to meld. If you’ve ever wondered why the early church was so dogmatically doctrinaire, this was one of the reasons.

Paul’s encouragement for Timothy then is as valid and as vital for the church that celebrates the season after Pentecost today. This is the same church that has been given the power of the Holy Spirit, and recognizes that it is this Spirit that is Christ at work in the world.

The response was simple: You can’t out argue, out compete, or out think these distractions. Ideological warfare doesn't change people's lives, or introduce them to Kingdom of Christ. Guard yourself from these outside influences and maintain the truth in love, faith, and fidelity to your conscience.

Like Paul, when then Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (now Pope Francis) was confronting the challenges and disparities of modern life in Buenos Aires–the false allure of wealth, slavery, poverty, pride, oppression–his simple words spoke louder than tomes of defense against those who were attacking the church, “You must guard Christ in your hearts.”

Distractions will come. Temptations flourish. Enemies will gather. Jesus even warned that the world will hate the people of God (And be warned when you are too well liked). Gnosticism still flourishes in America and around the world under the pretenses of Christianity. Certain moral quandaries are confusing and seem to divide along sectarian lines. The weight of proceeding faithfully can feel overwhelming.

Or it can be freeing; Freeing because it’s not ours to bear.

By guarding Christ in your hearts, you allow Him to lead. You learn to love the world as He loves the world, and to reject anything but what he offers. By acting in conscience you are leaning on His Spirit to guide you to action, even the difficult ones, empowering you to live as Christ’s people (Christ-ians) in the world. It’s not lawlessness, or an anything goes philosophy, but Christ’s law that guides us — a law that tends to place more importance on grace, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion, rather than strict obedience. It's a law that heals rather than tears apart and that calls its adherents to give rather than demand. It's outward moving, and it all stems from the abundance of Christ himself. It is Christ's Spirit at work within us recreating us to be like God that spills outward.

Be careful not to act against your conscience Paul warns Timothy, because it destroys faith. And, faith is life. By living in faith we are putting our hope and trust into tender hands of God. It is His word that will bring the weight of His promise to bear.

“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." Is. 55:11

These are the hallmarks of a church in the world after Pentecost.

In Christ,

Aaron W. Smith, Rector

aaron@stpaulsms.org, 251-716-1199


Consecration of Bishop-Elect
James Russell Kendrick

Saturday, July 25th 2015, 2pm

Join the with the whole Diocese in the consecreation of our new Bishop, which will take place at Mobile Civic Center Expo Hall, 401 Civic Center Dr. Mobile Al. More information about the consecreation can be found here: http://goo.gl/rTKjGe



Farewell and Thank you to Bishop Duncan and Kathy

Over the past few months, members of the Diocese have expressed their thanks to the Duncans in many ways for their love and service as they prepare to depart for retirement. The Transition Committee has arranged two additional opportunities for members of the Diocese to say a fond farewell and a hearty thank you to the Duncans. All are welcome to take part in these events.

The first of these two events will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at Holy Nativity Church, 222 North Bonita Avenue, Panama City. Eucharist with Baptism and Confirmation will begin at 6:00 pm, with dinner and refreshments on the lawn following. For more information and to RSVP, please call the Holy Nativity Church Office at 850-747-4000.

The second event will take place on Sunday, June 7, 2015, at Church of the Redeemer, 7125 Hitt Road, Mobile. There will be a covered dish picnic on the lawn from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Lois Bolter Lobolter1@gmail.com or call the church at 251-639-1948.


This and That Around St. Paul's

Cursillo — Mark your calendars for Cursillo #155, September 10-13. Lias McDonough from St. Paul’s, Mobile, is Lay Rector. Questions? Call Nelda Reichley (583-1035) or Janet Foote (967-1661).

Ecumenical Ministries Needs — IT'S OUR MONTH! June is our month to supply the needs for Ecumencial Ministries. We collect year round but are responsible for June in particular. Here is the list of items they need to most: Mac and cheese, tuna helper, canned fruit, canned tuna, peanut butter, jelly, canned cream soups. Drop box is outside of the kitchen in the Parish Hall.

In Need of Prayer? — Please contact our Prayer Line (prayers@stpaulsms.org) to have someone added to our prayer list or to sign up to receive emails with prayer needs in the community.

Summer Refreshments —Please sign up for refreshments, and remember to keep it simple during the summer months. Ask someone to share the responsibility with you – it’s a great way to get to know some new people. Thanks to all of you who participate!

New Directories — New directories are available on the lamp table by the back door to the Parish Hall. Please update any information with Donna. Remember – if you give birth or anniversary dates, please include the year. Thanks!


Coming Events at St. Paul's

June 15, 6-8pm — Men's Group Kickoff

St. Paul's will kick off it's Men's group with a steak, on June 15th. Event will be held at Bill and Betsy Spradling's house: 11655 Mockingbird Ln (NOT the on in Rock Creek, but off of 24 and Fish River), Fairhope Al 36532 . See directions here: http://binged.it/1FZaZjf
Please bring $10 and your own drinks. If you haven't already signed up, contact Canon Sommerville to confirm attendance at 205-283-5371, or cannonsommerville@gmail.com.

June 28 — RESCHEDULED The Annual Parish Picnic

We are going to reschedule our annual parish picnic for the fall. Please keep your eyes open for the coming event.

July 17th — Women's Gathering

Please contact Sue Dees for details. 251-463-2972


News and Updates

Project House of Hope

As a follow up to the announcement that Janet Foote made in church on Sunday, she is helping some friends who are headed to Haiti on June 19th to work with Project House of Hope. They are adding a new sewing machine project to help empower the women by teaching them basic sewing skills and a few patterns to make and sell. They are accepting donations of thread, shears, needles, (both hand and machine,) embroidery thread, bobbins, straight pins, measuring tape, cotton fabrics, etc....... If anyone has any extra and would like to donate, please contact Janet Foote @ 251-978-6311 or janet@footeoilandgas.com to arrange for pick up or leave at church in box provided.

From Dr. Don Palmer—

Food is of God

“When it was afternoon, he came with the twelve, and after they were seated at their desks and he had called the meeting to order, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

Something is badly amiss. That’s not the way we remember it. The version? Bogus RSV. Rather, “When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve, and while they were eating (the feast of the Passover) he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

Eating together is special. Jesus chose to tell the apostles of his approaching death when they were eating together, celebrating the sacred Jewish feast of the Passover. The Seder, the celebration of the Passover, was, and is yet, a commemoration of a most fundamental event in their history, and ours, sharing food, eating together. This Jewish feast was the timely setting for the Last Supper, which we recall as Holy Communion, the Eucharist, the Last Supper, the Mass, or the Love Feast (“agape”), and it is central in all Christian denominations. Perhaps the hunger which we daily experience for the more visible earthy/earthly food can be thought of as a metaphor for spiritual hunger. Happily, the metaphor isn’t subject to growing seasons, water, or fertilizer. A compassionate Creator.

Food is so many things intertwined with, participating in, relating to, the spiritual nature of our existence. Contemplation gives us pause to remind ourselves of the innumerable hungry human beings, children of God just as we, whom we don’t think about-----often enough. There is a wonderful poem---not Shakespeare, Milton, or even Edgar A. Guest, but good nonetheless----, titled “The Deacon and the Potatoes.” The deacon, a bit officious and “on assignment”, went to visit a widow whose straits he should have been more aware of. He properly began a lengthy prayer, asking for good will, heavenly food for the widow, thanksgiving for nice weather, on and on., Annoyingly, the widow periodically suggested potatoes. The deacon resented her intrusion while he was on stage. The widow woman suddenly burst out, “And don’t forget the potatoes!” The deacon finally got the point, and scurried home, chastened and enlightened, returning with some of his own potatoes. He then said, ” ’Shall we pray?’ Said the widow, ‘Now you may’ ”, and together they offered a more realistic prayer.

I think that food is one of the languages of God. The custom, apparently more developed in the South, of taking bountiful food, home-cooked with love, to the home of someone with illness or the death of a family member, is love in action, nudged from above.

This is not to say that we can’t ignore it. Some years ago, at that stage in our sociologic maturation, one would occasionally hear a rebellious and recalcitrant diehard make the proctologic pronouncement, “God says we have to love them, but he didn’t say we have to eat with them.”

God is not mocked.

Food, a language of God, sustenance and pleasure for the some, a phantom and a need for the others, is woven into Scripture. There are some 50 foods mentioned in the Bible. In addition to the expected meats --- beef, sheep, goats, and venison----we find partridge, quail, pigeon, and dove. And lots and lots of fish. Grains referred to are barley, corn, wheat, millet and spelt (look it up). No okra, but beans, cukes, gourds, leeks, lentils, and onions. Many fruits…apples, dates, figs, melons, grapes and raisins, sycamore fruit, and the strange pomegranate. Eggs, of course, and milk in its several forms. One is struck with (to me) the somewhat disproportionate number of spices: anise, coriander, cinnamon, cumin, dill, garlic, mint, mustard, and rue. Salt. Finally, we must thank John the Baptist for his contribution: locusts, with wild honey. (How better to eat locusts?). Donna and Sue Dees have the Scriptural references for this impressive list.


LEM, Lector, and Usher Schedule

You may find June through September schedule online here .

DATETIMELEMLECTORUSHERS
7-Jun8AMZeanah, BZeanah, B 
7-Jun10AMCollins, JKaplerchuk, PVeigas
14-Jun8AMNorris, DPruitt, J 
14-Jun10AMHouser, CFoote, MKaplerchuks
21-Jun8AMMelvin, JMoore, D 
21-Jun10AMSpradling, BSlay, ESlays
28-Jun8AMReichley, NReichley, N 
28-Jun10AMKaplerchuk, PCook, MSpradlings
5-Jul8AMZeanah, BZeanah, B 
5-Jul10AMLynch, DBarnes, KSlays
12-Jul8AMMelvin, JMelvin, J 
12-Jul10AMGodwin, MFoote, MSchapkers
19-Jul8AMSlay, BSlay, E 
19-Jul10AMMccartney, SCook, MSpradlings
26-Jul8AMCollins, JMoore, D 
26-Jul10AMCarroll, KKaplerchuk,PZeanahs

*If, for any reason, you cannot serve on the Sundays scheduled, please arrange for a substitute; call Donna (923-6220) and let her know who is filling in for you or, if you cannot find someone, she will. Thank you for your cooperation!


Outreach

What We're Sponsoring

Baylights at Beckwith (Nelda Reichley; www.beckwithal.com/baylight)
Samaritan's Purse (Elaine Slay; www.samarit anspurse.org)
Ecumenical Ministries ( www.baldwinemi.org)
Saving Grace Home for Women (Carol Anne Brown; savinggracehome.org)
Cursillo (Janet Foote; www.coastalpilgrims.com)
Family Promise ( www.familypromise.org)
Wilmer Hall (www.wilmerhall.org)
Thanksgiving Dinner (Buster and Elaine Slay)
Caring Cooks (Aileen Barnes and Lisa May)
Episcopal Relief and Development (Sue Dees; www.episcopalrelief.org)
Camp Beckwith (Aaron Smith;www.beckwithal.com)
Magnolia Springs Head Start Program (Aileen Barnes)