THE GABRIEL
Parish Newsletter for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church July 19, 2021
Calendar Reminders
July 19
July 24
6:00 pm NA Meeting, Parish Hall 9:30-11:30 am AA Meeting
July 25
Luke Stifler. On Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsJeff/live_ videos/
July 29 11:00 am Memorial Service for Doris Wilson
10:15 am Morning Prayer, with
Collect for 9th Sunday after Pentecost (July 25th)
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Lessons: 2 Kings 4:42-44; Psalm 145:10-19; Ephesians 3:14-21; John 6:1-21 1
OUR PARISH PRAYERS:
Today, we pray for our church: for Michael, our presiding bishop, for Jennifer our bishop, and for the people of our companion diocese of Brasilia, and their bishop, the Rt. Rev. Mauricio Andrade; and in the diocesan cycle of prayer we pray for St. Augustine, Danville--The Rev. William Barfield.
In faith and hope
We pray to you O God.
We pray for those in need of food, shelter, clothing, and of God’s healing touch, especially for those who have asked us to remember them in prayer: Virginia, Beverly, Juanita, Gwen, Mary Sue, Delani, Nan, David & Michele, Patricia, Sonny, John, Fred, Laura and Michael. Comforter of the suffering, warm our hearts and hands to loving service.
We pray to you O God.
For all who fear God and believe in you, Lord Christ, that our divisions may cease, and that all may be one as you and the Father are one, we pray to you, O Lord. Make us one in heart and mind to serve you with joy forever. Amen.
REJOICE ALWAYS, PRAY WITHOUT CEASING, GIVE THANKS IN ALL
CIRCUMSTANCES,
FOR THAT IS THE WILL OF GOD FOR YOU!
FROM THE GABRIEL TEAM:
NEXT SUNDAY (July 25th): Morning Prayer will be led by Luke Stifler. Also, don’t forget—the
little red wagon is waiting to be filled with food donations for the Center for Lay Ministries!
ONLINE MORNING PRAYER SERVICES: The next service will begin Sunday, July 25th at 10:15 am. It will be live and in person at St. Paul’s, and on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsJeff/live_videos/
Please join us, during or after the service, and tell others about the service. Also check YouTube for videos of past services: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCynD2CNlCMbJ5YOb1Euce5Q.
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MANY THANKS for your continued faithful responses to the need for funds. Please bear in mind that with our return to in-person services, costs begin to escalate and your contributions are still needed.
PARISH OFFICE HOURS : MTWF 10:00-4:30 and Thurs 10:00 to 1:00 pm.
If you have something you’d like to add to the next newsletter (including a brief update on what you and/or your family have been doing since last we met together), please email the team at stpaulsjeff@gmail.com by Sunday afternoon. Please put “newsletter” in the subject line.
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST ARRIVAL!!!
Robyn and Shane Wiggington announce that their firstborn, XANDER WIGGINGTON, arrived on Tuesday, July 13th at 2:48 AM. He was 8 lbs 9 oz., and 20.5” long. We are told he has a head full of dark hair. CONGRATULATIONS, ROBYN AND SHANE!!!!
Episcopalian’s “Three-Legged Stool” (from the Sr. Warden)
Tradition
We are not Christians in isolation but are part of a living faith that spans 2000 years. Tradition is the embodiment of our experience as Christians throughout the centuries. The heart of our tradition is expressed through the Bible, the Creeds (statements of faith, written in the first centuries of the Church’s existence), the Sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism and the ordained ministry passed on by Christ to his Church.
Our tradition is expressed with many voices, among which are a variety of worship styles, languages, cultures, architecture and music. Our tradition encourages this diversity. We seek to value the life and story each person brings to the community of faith. As in a multi-textured tapestry, each person’s offering is woven into the life of the whole, making it stronger and more beautiful.
--Quoted from Connections.org
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REV. SUZANNE SHARES “THE BUMMER LAMB” FROM SERMON ON 7/18
Every once in a while, a ewe will give birth to a lamb and reject it. There are many reasons she may do this. If the lamb is returned to the ewe, the mother may even kick the poor animal away. Once a ewe rejects one of her lambs, she will never change her mind.
These little lambs will hang their heads so low that it looks like something is wrong with their neck. Their spirit is broken.
These lambs are called “bummer lambs.” Unless the shepherd intervenes, that lamb will die, rejected and alone. So, do you know what the shepherd does?
He takes that rejected little one into his home, hand-feeds it and keeps it warm by the fire. He will wrap it up with blankets and hold it to his chest so the bummer can hear his heartbeat. Once the lamb is strong enough, the shepherd will place it back in the field with the rest of the flock.
But that sheep never forgets how the shepherd cared for him when his mother rejected him. When the shepherd calls for the flock, guess who runs to him first?
That is right, the bummer sheep. He knows his voice intimately.
It is not that the bummer lamb is loved more, it just knows intimately the one who loves it.
It’s not that it is loved more, it just believes it because it has experienced that love one on one.
So many of us are bummer lambs, rejected and broken. But He is the good Shepherd. He cares for our every need and holds us close to His heart so we can hear His heartbeat.
We may be broken, but we are deeply loved by the Shepherd.
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MINUTES OF THE VESTRY MEETING July 15, 2021
The meeting of the Vestry was called to order at 6:32 PM by Sr. Warden, Walker “Sonny” McCulloch. Members of the Vestry present were Steve Fleece, Charlene McAndrews, Marylee James, and Treasurer Bill McCulloch.
The Sr. Warden opened the meeting with prayer.
The Sr. Warden asked for approval for the minutes of the last meeting. Steve Fleece moved to accept, and Charlene McAndrews seconded. The minutes were accepted as written.
A request from the Clark County Youth Shelter for donations was discussed. Steve moved to send them a check for $250.00 and Charlene McAndrews seconded. The check will be sent this coming week.
We continue broadcasting services from the sanctuary, and services are going well under the leadership of Rev. Barrow. She was only able to clear her schedule for one Sunday in August, but Rev. John Allen will take two of the remaining Sundays and we will prepare Morning Prayer for the remaining two if necessary. The Sr. Warden has spoken to Rev. Buckwalter, but she is not ready to return to the pulpit yet. She did recommend some newly retired priests for Sonny to contact.
There has been some misunderstanding between the Church and our tenant, Centerstone. They were under the impression that they could use the Parish Hall whenever they chose, rearrange the furniture, and not pick up after themselves. Marylee is having discussions with them about this, and the Vestry agreed that such use of the Parish Hall was not a part of the proceedings, but they could use it with permission and if they signed the Use of Premises Agreement and kept to the boundaries mentioned in it, and used the Hall only with permission.
Jim Miller has informed us that the state of his health will not allow him to finish the organ project without help. He suggested that Bob Madara and Mike Lankert be paid to assist him, and that conversation is pending.
Bill handed out the Treasurer’s report, At the end of June our Gross Balance between income and expenditures for the year to date was -$10,795; approximately $4,000 more than at the end of May. However, in the first week of July we received $5,000.01 from the diocese covering back payments, which actually puts us just over $1,000 less in arrears than at the end of May.
Charlene McAndrews expressed the need for a new tripod for the Camera and a small table to hold the computer used to broadcast the services. The request was approved.
The next meeting of the vestry will be held on August 19th. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 pm.
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ANSWERS TO THIS WEEK’S HISTORY QUIZ:
1. Who was the architect for the Rectory?
ANS: Arthur Loomis
2. Who was the architect for the Church?
ANS: Arthur Loomis
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