THE GABRIEL
Parish Newsletter for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church September 20, 2021
Calendar Reminders
Sept 20
Sept 25
6:00 PM NA Meeting
9:30-11:00 am AA Meeting 10:15 am Morning Prayer,
Sept 26
with Lois and Patricia Harding. On Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsJeff/live_ videos/
Collect for 18th Sunday after Pentecost (September 26th)
O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Lessons: Numbers 11:4-6,10-16,24-29; Psalm 19:7-14; James 5:13-20; Mark 9:38-50
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Oct 3 World Communion Sunday
Oct 10 Bishop Jennifer Annual Visitation
OUR PARISH PRAYERS:
With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord, whose kingdom we long for,
Today, we pray for your 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. Michael’s, Noblesville--The Rev. T.J. Tetzlaff.
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 Robert.
For people struggling with COVID, or with other undiagnosed or terminal illnesses,
For people having surgery.
For people caught in drug addictions, and a web of accompanying problems, Comforter of the suffering, warm our hearts and hands to loving service.
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.
Lord of the Church, hear our prayer and make us one in heart and mind to serve you with joy forever. Amen.
FROM THE GABRIEL TEAM:
NEXT SUNDAY (Sept. 26th ): Morning Prayer will be led by Rev.Suzanne Barrow. Don’t forget—the little red wagon is waiting to be filled with food donations for the Center for Lay Ministries!
ONLINE SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES: The next service will begin Sunday, September 26th 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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BISHOP’S VISITATION ON OCTOBER 10TH
Bishop Jennifer will arrive for her annual visit to our parish on Sunday, October 10th. At this point, we know that she will want to meet with the Vestry (usually at 9:30 am) and also to chat informally with the membership in the Parish Hall during and after our famous Pitch-In lunch. Rev. Suzanne will be here to help us make sure we do everything right! Please make every effort to be with us and welcome our Bishop.
WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY
Sunday, October 3rd is World Communion Sunday. The Downtown Churches have indicated a desire to return to our practice of meeting with the other downtown churches for communion before our Sunday morning service. Because of COVID restrictions, however, plans are not yet final. We will let you know by email prior to that date.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE HYMN? Next Sunday we are going to be asking! Choose your most-loved hymn from either the blue H82 hymn book, or from Lift Every Voice and Sing (LEVAS)—we want to know, and you will get the chance to tell us.
LAY EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS, Dennis and Charlene McAndrews, are ready and eager to bring communion to any who are unable to be present at Sunday services. Whether you regularly attend Sunday service but cannot get here for any reason on a given Sunday, or you are homebound and would like to have the Eucharist brought to you on a regular basis, please contact Marylee at the church office: 812-282-1108, or stpaulsjeff@gmail.com .
MANY THANKS for your continued faithful responses to the need for funds.
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.
FROM MARYLEE
It has been three months since our beloved Deacon Jim conducted Morning Prayer on his last Sunday with us before he retired. In that period of time, we have endured unrelenting heat and other worldwide evidences of drastic climate changes; we have found ourselves in yet another stage of a deadly pandemic; we have discovered there is no end to the creativity of those who would lie to us, cheat us and otherwise continue to complicate our lives. Yet, the world moves on: when one seeks them out, stories abound of acts of generosity, compassion, bravery and love toward our fellow occupants of this planet. Within St. Paul's, we are able to meet together still, and enjoy each other’s company. We share our deepest concerns, our food (we are Episcopalians, after all!) and our love for each other. All this, despite our differences—which no
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one would deny, are many. And that is what makes us beautiful. And resilient. And powerful.
Yes, there are those who for reasons of their own, decide to leave us. And there are those, also for reasons of their own, who come to visit and decide to stay. This is normal, and while we miss those who move on, we are blessed to welcome the newcomers who will enrich our lives with their presence. This is the evidence of healthy growth and life.
We have much to do in coming months to get back to being the close-knit, productive and active church we have been in the past. I have no doubt whatsoever that this will happen because I know two things: First, I know the people who love this church even more than I do (if that is possible ïŠ). I know how strong, how gifted, and how dedicated we are. Second, I am daily reminded of the God who has been with this church for 185 years so far, and as I often say to myself “God did not bring me this far to abandon me.” And He never has.
With that in mind, next Sunday is Morning Prayer. Let us support our prayer leaders with love, prayer, and when possible, our actual presence. God bless...
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