Church Messages Feb 2008

Cappuccino (one cup) $3.95	Provide 4 to 8 doses of hepatitis B vaccine.
Tiffany Sterling Silver Teething Rattle $95	Supply clean water for life for a child in Africa
Cashmere Sweater $125	Clothe a baby in need in New York City for 6 months
Toy Hummer H2 Ride-on $260	Sponsor a child for an entire year (food, education, clothing and shelter) through the Christian Children's fund.
Flat-Panel TV $5,000	Help teach 2,660 Afghan girls to read and write

These may not reflect lavish spending in Duluth, but seeing what those sums of money can buy for men, women and children in impoverished countries might cause us to think about ways we may have spent similar amounts. How much might the MDGs 0.7% do to supply medicine, water, clothing, food, education and work for those in desperate poverty?

Plan to stay for the Hunger Awareness Lunch on Sunday, March 2, following the 10:00 a.m. service.

Goal No. 6 is to Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other Diseases. Malaria, and other diseases that take the lives of hundreds of thousands each year in third world countries, have been conquered in developed nations.

HIV/AIDS is a special challenge. How did Jesus respond to a sufferer of the deadly and stigmatizing disease of Leprosy? "Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do choose. Be made clean." (from Luke 5:12-14) The eight goals are a comprehensive list of challenges, that "reflect a global consensus; they are a roadmap toward a world free from the suffering caused by extreme poverty." For our MDGs Lenten program at St. Paul's we will emphasize part of Goal No. 1, to Eradicate Extreme Hunger.

Come to the Hunger Awareness Lunch on Sunday, March 2. Choose to give 0.7% (1/10^th of 1%) of annual income. "If we are to succeed at alleviating unnecessary suffering for billions of God's children, we need to be involved." (from Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation www.e4gr.org

St. Paul's annual rummage sale will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2008. Start cleaning your closets, basements and garages for GENTLY USED items such as good CLEAN clothing, tools, household items, toys, books, sporting goods, furniture, small appliances (that are in good working order) and any other interesting items you may come across in your cleaning out process. PLEASE NO COMPUTERS OR RELATED EQUIPMENT INCLUDING MONITORS . Remember, if you would NOT buy it, we can NOT sell it !

We will NOT be able to store items in the church but do have storage space in the garage so if you must bring your items early please call Kathy and she will make arrangements to open the garage so you can unload your items there.

There will be a meeting in the Parish Hall on Wed., Feb. 13th at 10:30 AM for anyone interested in being on the Rummage Sale Committee. For questions, please call Maren Hustad at 728-5720 or Joann Marinac at 728-6330

Watch for more news of the Rummage Sale in the March Messenger.

Thank you, Maren and Joann

Applications for new college scholarships for the 2008-2009 school year from St. Paul’s Church Scholarship Fund must be submitted to the Scholarship Committee c/o St. Paul’s Church by March 15, 2008. Application forms are available in the church office.

There are many definitions of a sabbatical. One that seems appropriate: “A sabbatical is an extended period of time granted for professional development and spiritual renewal away from normal ministerial responsibilities and in a manner that is not possible during normal routine. Sabbaticals are not vacations, but carefully planned periods of time devoted to study, reflection, rest, and renewal. They frequently become a path to understanding one’s vocation in new ways or as a vehicle for a transformed sense of pastoral identity.”

Twenty-five years ago I stood up before the people in the sanctuary of St. Paul’s and said, “I am home.” I knew little about the workings of the church back then, but I knew St. Paul’s is where I had found the love of God, in the lives of the people – in this congregation. My love for you abides in God’s love.

Over the years the people of St. Paul’s nurtured me and my family, helped me grow in faith and commitment, gave me encouragement and opportunity to do God’s work in many ways. Finally, through prayers, discernment, spiritual and material support, you launched me into the world to do the work of a deacon.

My ministry was to be elsewhere. Being part of the growth and development of a young congregation, of total team ministry, and of Indian ministry in the diocese has been an exciting and joyous experience. By God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit I have been given ministries as a voice for acceptance and cooperation among all faith communities, for the poor, the hungry, the lonely, and the prisoner. My cup has been filled many times over.

I am now in my seventh year as a deacon in the diocese. Fifteen months ago I was given the opportunity to return to St. Paul’s. It was a dream fulfilled. My welcome by old friends was heartwarming and encouraging. There were also many faces new to me, friendly and welcoming. It was exciting to see the motivation and energy coming from a new generation of members raised up or brought aboard during my absence. One thing had not changed – I once again found the love of God in the lives of the people – so many people committed to do God’s work.

More than half my time at St. Paul’s, during Deacon Sue Deetz’s leave of absence, has been in a status with an unclear future and purpose. During that time I often felt uncertain about how I fit in with the St. Paul’s ministry team. And since then, I have been unable to entirely overcome the feelings of uncertainty about my effectiveness as a deacon at St. Paul’s. I also found I was not living up to the standards expected by some of a deacon participating in the worship services of St. Paul’s. I was letting people down.

Being effective as a deacon, in deed and example, requires energy and stamina, as well as optimism, enthusiasm, and hope for the future. Health issues have become a distraction and wear away at those qualities. The time has come for “study, reflection, rest, and renewal.” And, although I intend to return to St. Paul’s, I also see that this time of renewal and reflection may lead to “a path to understanding one’s vocation in new ways or as a vehicle for a transformed sense of pastoral identity.” My love for St. Paul’s, the people, its sacred space, its place in the wider community will always be there, drawing me back. But there is also that still small voice.