Lay Ministry Schedule / Altar Guild / This Week At St. Paul's / Suggested Readings

The St. Paul’s Millennium Development Goals Committee requests the honor of your presence in the Fellowship Hall following the 10:00 a.m. service, Sunday, March 2nd.

A Hunger Luncheon will be served and we will be inspired to give .7 of 1% of our annual income.  The fund will be used to support Goal No. 1:  Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger.  Lunch and special activities will also be provided for younger children.  Older kids will join in the adult activities.  Commitments to give may be made either as individuals or family groups.  Donations may be made as personal circumstances allow, with early Fall, 2008, as our goal to complete the 2008 effort.

In the weeks following our Luncheon, as a congregation we will decide how to give our .7 of 1%.  The Episcopal Relief and Development program has several options to consider. See www.er-d.org/giftsforlife.  The eight Millennium Goals were developed by the United Nations to reduce extreme poverty around the world by 2015. Some national governments are strongly participating.  Individuals who combine their .7 of 1% resources can also make a powerful impact.  We will manage our contributions; funds are not directed to the United Nations MDGs agency.

A song I remember from childhood Sunday School days seems wonderfully relevant for reflection.  Our lives include both physical and spiritual hunger.  When we generously give our care, concern, and food to those in extreme poverty, we will both feed their bodies and offer prayers for spiritual hope in their lives.  In turn, our spirits will be fed and nurtured as we serve God’s extended family.

Come and dine the Master calls us, come and dine.  we may feast at Jesus’ table anytime.

He who fed the multitudes, turned the water into wine, to the hungry calls now come and dine.

St. Paul’s MDGs Committee:  Sue Anderson, Joanne Chesser, Natalie Constance, Diane Kolquist, Jill Peterman, Rhoda Robinson, Nelson Thomas, and Sally Rogers.  AND, special thanks to the Hunger Luncheon support staff who will be listed in the April Messenger.

Peace, Bill Van Oss
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Recently an article appeared on the front page of The Duluth News Tribune detailing the involvement of two former priests in our diocese. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) criticized the diocese for allowing a former Episcopal priest, Lynn Bauman, to be a guest leader of a workshop at the House of Prayer in Collegeville. Bauman was convicted in 1999 of molesting an 8-year-old boy in Texas.

SNAP also criticized the diocese for allowing a former Catholic priest from Duluth, Mark Makowski, to serve as an alternate representative on Diocesan Council for Region 8. Makowski was convicted in 1995 of sexual assault of a 16-year-old boy while he was pastor in Grand Marais and Grand Portage.

I want to be sure that the facts of these cases are clear. Neither Bauman nor Makowski is functioning as a clergy person in any church. Both have been deposed (removed from the clerical state). Both have served their sentences. Bauman remains on probation and informed the bishop, the House of Prayer board and local law enforcement that he was a guest at the House of Prayer.
Neither of them had a position that put them in contact with minors. The workshop Bauman led was attended only by adults who were aware of his background. The committee Makowski was on (Diocesan Council) includes only adults. Neither of them had contact with children or minors in these capacities.

The Episcopal Church, our diocese and St. Paul’s Parish does everything possible to ensure the safety of everyone, especially children and young adults. Clergy are given the most extensive screening and background checks available. Candidates for ordained ministry are background checked, screened and given psychiatric and psychological exams. Safeguards are in place to ensure that problem clergy cannot transfer to another parish or diocese. Lay staff are given background checks and Safe Church training. Volunteers and anyone with a key to the building must complete Safe Church training. An adult is never alone with a minor. They are always accompanied by another adult. All of our nursery staff work in pairs and complete the Safe Church training. Leaders and staff of outside groups that use our building like Mind-2-Mind and Boy Scouts have background checks and Safe Church training. Clear glass has been installed in every office door at St. Paul's. The Episcopal Church and our diocese have formal procedures for anyone who has a complaint against a clergy or lay person.

As you can see, the Episcopal Church and St. Paul’s have many procedures in place to ensure the safety of everyone who comes through our doors, especially children and the vulnerable. The church acknowledges that terrible things have happened in the past. Where harm has been done it has attempted to provide assistance to bring about healing. I believe we are also doing everything w

Bill Van Oss and Alice Olson will have a service of Eucharist in the chapel at Lakeshore on Wednesday, March 5 at 4:00 p.m.  All are welcome to this service!
e can to see that these things never happen again.

Regarding the specific cases detailed in the newspaper article, neither of these men would have come into contact with children by leading a workshop for adults or serving on diocesan council.

Neither would be allowed to have any volunteer or professional role or position in an Episcopal parish in the Diocese of Minnesota that would put them in contact with children or young adults.

There are some people who think that once they are convicted of these crimes that the people who commit them should be locked up forever. That is not how the law works nor is it the position of the church. The church believes in redemption and forgiveness.
We need to do everything possible to protect, but we also acknowledge that those who have been convicted, punished and who comply with the terms of their release are members of society who can be involved in the church in ways which will not endanger others.

I hope this has been helpful in clarifying any questions or concerns you might have. Please know that I am always available to answer your questions.

Peace, Bill Van Oss   
 

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PALM CROSSES

  Tuesday, March 11, 9:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall, the Altar Guild would like to invite as many people as possible to join members in making crosses for Palm Sunday. It is always fun. Those who have made them previously, often only need a quick reminder and there is instruction for anyone coming for the first time and willing to learn. Please mark your calendars for March 11. We look forward to a fun and productive morning working together.

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        St. Paul's Prayer Station

About six months ago, we celebrated the return of St. Paul’s Prayer Station. As you’ll remember, for many years people were invited to come forward near the Baptistry to receive special prayers (for health/grief issues, concerns about family/work/society, thanksgivings for a birth/new job/promotion, etc.) at the end of the 10:00 a.m. service. Then, during the period of transition between Rectors, the lay ministers serving at the Prayer Station took some well-deserved ‘time-off’.


We are grateful for, and blessed by the ministry of Ann Mars, Jean Moberg, Nan Stokes, Myra Bowman, and Marcia Stephens as our Prayer Station ministry team.  Feel free to visit with them at the station . . . giving voice to your questions, concerns, thanksgivings, or desire for prayers.

Barb Hauck
 

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Standing on the Side of Love
 

Wednesday, March 26th at 6:30 p.m., a DVD will be shown at Wednesday night church night. This DVD is a series of testimonials about the experiences of GLBT individuals as they struggle with their spiritual needs with organized church communities. A member of the organization, Standing On the Side of Love, will be there to discuss their organization and the DVD.
 

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