St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

The Epistle

January, 2017

Love God. Love others. Help others love God.

We welcome you to join us on our journey as we strive to share the love of Jesus through worship, Christian education, fellowship and service to each

other and the community beyond our walls.

From Your Rector

Here are some quotes I have saved over the last couple of months that give us something to think about as we begin this New Year.

The fact that there’s a highway to hell and a stairway to heaven says a lot about

anticipated traffic numbers.

If we could spread love as quickly as we spread hate and negativity, what an amazing

world we would live in.

Before you leave this church, look at the many stained glass windows that are here.

They are made of different small pieces of glass of different shapes. Yet they create a

harmony and a great beauty that is a work of art. Our community has to be a stained

glass window where we all come together to create a world and a community of peace

and harmony. (Bishop Kevin J. Farrell, Diocese of Dallas)

The biggest communication problem is we don’t listen to understand. We listen to reply.

The past should be left in the past or it can steal your future. Live life for what tomorrow

can bring and not what yesterday has taken away. Every day is a gift.

(ShutUpImStillTalking)

A lot of problems in the world would disappear if we talk to each other instead of about

each other. (idlehearts.com)

A sign on a Batesville Casket truck: Don’t text and drive. Yours may be on the next

shipment.

Before you speak…Think. T-Is it true? H-Is it helpful? I-Is it inspiring? N-Is it Necessary?

K-Is it Kind?

The Other Serenity Prayer: God, grant me the serenity to stop beating myself for not

doing things perfectly, the courage to forgive myself because I’m working on doing

better, and the wisdom to know that you already love me just the way I am.

Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.

(Buddha)

Father John+

Thank you to all who participated in and attended the Thanksgiving Eve Service.

Thank you to Eunice Barton for another successful and fun Advent Workshop.

Thank you to Eunice Barton and Jane Parker for covering the office while Fr. John, Bruce, Jennifer, and Diane attended the Mental Health First Aid Course offered by the Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier.

Thank you to all who made our Blue Christmas Service a truly beautiful worship experience. Thank you to Paula Giroux, John Dubay, our homilist, Judy Finlayson, Ruthie and Steve

Koerts, Karen Cahill, Eunice Barton, Sandy and Dick Schwab, and Jennifer Westermann for the lovely reception afterwards. Despite the weather, thirty people came together that snowy afternoon to worship and be one with each other in this time of year that for many is difficult.

I want to extend my deepest appreciation to Paula Giroux, Our Music Director, for helping to Plan and orchestrate such a lovely Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols. How beautifully it told to us the birth of our Savior in word and song. Thank you to the musicians in the vocal choir, the hand bell choir, Junior Bronze and the Chimes 4 Jesus. Thank you to Susette Walton, Bruce Dailey, Aiden and Sanders Browning for narrating the story for us. All three services were beautiful and many hands were involved in the creation of them and decoration and the clean-up: to the Acolytes, Altar Guild, Lay Assistants, Eucharistic Ministers participated in varied ways. Thank You! Thanks to those who went tree hunting and brought us back another prize tree: Jennifer, Jack, Kurt, Debbie and Bill. Thank you to Dick White for graciously allowing us to “hunt” on his land.

from the Children’s’ Home

Christmas Decorations January 8th, 11AM

Come help put the Christmas decorations away for next year. Feel free to bring a snack to share.

Epiphany Friday, January 6, 6PM

Join us as we celebrate the wise men’s visit to the baby Jesus. After a short service at 6PM, join us in the Fellowship Hall for an ethnic feast. Please bring a dish to pass reflecting your heritage. Kids, bring your swinging arm, the piñata will be full! Please note: Readers are needed for this service. If you would

like to read, there is a sign-up sheet on the table in back of the church. If you speak another language, we would love to have you participate but, experience is not necessary!

Stewardship Thought

The Bread of Life--the food that nourishes us and sustains us. We will bless this bread as a sign of God’s abundance and generosity. There are many kinds of bread; there are many nationalities and ethnic origins in our country. We as Christians are called to give thanks for all generous gifts. Our offering is a concreter way we say “Thank you” to God. As your Rector, I thank you for your generous spirit and sharing of your time, talent and treasure.

Fr. John+

Mark your Calendars

The Bishop is coming! Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe will be here on Sunday, February 26, 2017 for her triannual visitation. More info to follow.

Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina will meet on Mondays, January 2nd and January 16th at 6:00 PM in

the Gould Chapel at St. Paul’s. Lectio Divina is a meditative way of looking at

Scripture. No reservations or notification needed; just come! Speak with Fr. John

if you have any questions.

WOMEN of the CHURCH Message to the Parish from the Women of the Church

Most of you are aware I am sure that we have an active Women of the Church group. You have probably seen our articles in the Epistle and Bulletins and know we gather regularly, have meetings, make sleeping bags, and have a lot of covered dish meals. I am sure you are also aware we have rummage sales – one in the spring and one in the fall. You may not, however, be aware of the purpose and benefits of these sales. The rummage sales are both a ministry and a fund raising effort of the WoC. The lower income people in our community benefit by the low prices to clothe their families. Plus, the two rummage sales are the only WoC fund raising efforts. Funds raised are used for ministry within St. Paul’s, our community, and worldwide efforts for people in need. For example, our fall rummage sale/bake sale left us with net earnings of $1,445.85. These funds, augmented with additional funds from our treasury led to the following donations: Father John’s Discretionary Fund $ 500 St. Paul’s Window Project: $ 25 Mercy House Grocery Store Gift Cards $ 300 TOTAL $2,025 Donations from the past few rummage sales have included financial support to St. Paul’s for the garden landscaping project, window shades in the Christian Ed building, aisle torches and as noted above, the upcoming stained glass window project for the sanctuary. We also make a $500 donation to the Rector’s Discretionary Fund after each rummage sale. In addition to these we have supported many meaningful projects outside our doors, both in our community and worldwide. Much is accomplished as a result of the hard work we put into these rummage sales, however, for it to be feasible we must not only have the support of more of the women of the parish, but also the men. Parish support for the last rummage sale was lower than needed, for many reasons. Without the commitment of both men and women to help with the labor required for this event we will not be able to continue. Many of us who offer our hands to help are admittedly getting older and facing restrictions on what we can and cannot do. Men play a key part in moving the rummage from the rummage room to the Parish Hall, and also in the cleanup process and hauling bags of unsold rummage upstairs for pickup. Again, we know that some of the men in our church are also facing the challenge of aging. Our success is contingent upon many hands to make light of the work, as well as younger adults who can help with moving items, lifting and/or post-sale cleanup. The WoC is now at a point where it must assess if it is truly feasible for the rummage sales to continue. During the month of January we will be putting out more information to ensure that the parish fully understands what the WoC does and where our funds go. We will then have sign up sheets that list the various tasks and the estimated time commitment for each, to determine the level of support available for the rummage sale, thereby assisting us in making the decision as to the practical future of this event. Sometimes change is necessary and we must move forward from what we have always done to something new. Other times, all that is needed is to reach out and ask for help. We ask that you consider all information provided and assess your level of interest and ability to assist.

Sandy Schwab, Chair

WoC News

2017 – time seems to fly by. The New Year brings continuation of some activities, some new endeavors and definitely lots of fellowship and ministry. January brings a few changes to our meetings. We will once again schedule our January and February meetings for the afternoon. We

have worked so hard over the past number of months, plus the added pace of the holidays leads us to January being a time of relaxation and socializing. We will gather for lunch at the Blue Dolphin, on a date near mid-month that will be determined. Please watch the Sunday bulletin and your email for further details. The sleeping bag workshops will also resume in January. The women of the church have agreed to be in charge of the Trinity Canteen on Sunday, January 29th. Karen Cahill will chair this event. Sign-up sheets will be provided early in January for workers to help at the canteen, as well as workers to help with food preparation prior to Sunday. During Lent we do not meet on Wednesday evenings, since the parish hall is needed for the parish Lenten Program and suppers. Dates for meetings and/or workshops during Lent will be determined as the time nears. In closing, I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year and say what a pleasure it has been working with you all during the past year. I look forward with great anticipation to what we can accomplish in 2017.

Sandy Schwab, Chair

Acolyte Training

There will be Acolyte Training for current and newcomers, youth (3rd grade going into 4th) and adults (no age limit), on January 8th at 12:15 p.m. after bell rehearsal. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall to eat and then head upstairs to train. If you are curious about what an Acolyte’s function is, we invite you to come and find out. Georgia Wilber and Ruthie Koerts

Rector’s Forum for January

During the month of January the Rector’s Forum will cover a variety of topics led by a variety of people. The schedule is as follows:

January 1 – No Forum – Happy New Year!

January 8 – No Forum – Undecorate the Church

January 15 - TBD

January 22 - TBD

January 29 - TBD

Blue Christmas Sermon by Mr. John Dubay, FMT, M.Div. Ms.Ed. CAS

December 11, 2016 The Christmas season is a challenge for a great number of

us. It is almost like we are traveling in a parallel universe. We hear Happy Holidays, Best wishes, Merry Christmas from friends, and colleagues and family who expect us to respond to them with the same emotional level or greater. We put on a good face so as “not to ruin everybody else’s Christmas or be called a gloomy Gus.” At times, we feel like we are expected to magically change to fit some mysterious mold called “the holiday spirit”. Stores at the Mall call out to us to come and buy something that will make our children or us happy. Something inside tells us that what they are selling will not heal the blueness inside. It may even make us worse with blueness coming back with a vengeance. Our blueness may be from grief at the death of a loved one. Our life may feel stuck and feeling God does not hear our prayers for direction and you would think God would be especially attentive at Christmas. We may be at odds with family members or a special friend.

For some it’s the darkness of winter and the lack of sunlight which brings on the seasonal blueness. For all of us, we are impacted by the fact that our brain has negative bias. If we have a negative and positive experience of the same size at the same time, our brain remembers the negative and feels it more than the positive one. It takes three or more positives to make us feel more positive than negative. Our blueness may be a blue flag that we are in need of a transfusion of good behaviors. Status quo will not do. What are some of the behaviors that move us into mood of positive feelings? Here we see the wisdom of our creator and the fruits of research help us. Regular prayer and meditation and church services carry great counterweight to balance our souls toward the positive side. Participate in some form of charity work or activity that means doing something for those who do not have our abundance. Trying to build a new family tradition with all family members. New behaviors and ways of celebrating will be new and exciting and not dredge up negative emotions and also make room for the Spirit to move in. Daily count your blessings, at least five blessings. AA and NA members have been doing it for decades knowing that it works. Lean on your faith and nourish your soul in ways most meaningful to you. A church service like this, volunteering with your kids in a place that feeds those hungry, volunteer with those preparing Christmas gifts for kids who would not otherwise get some or maybe deliver those gifts. We could as a family sit down and come up with ideas or activities. If your blueness is grief, be patient with yourself. It takes time to find a new meaning and return to joy.

Perhaps the Blue Christmas worship should be a yearly Advent service held on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. For some reason, the holidays increase our remembering a past where life was painful and trying. The evening news or daily newspaper also make it difficult not to be blue. This is why our service tonight is so meaningful. We see our God coming into the world he created and coming into a body like ours to create a new humanity, a new world and a new universe. We see this infant as that great love. It is hard for us to comprehend. It is hard for us to see his crucifixion and resurrection as the guarantee and seal of that newness. Paul calls him the firstborn. We are those born after him and in him. The prayer after communion tonight calls on our God to send us forth a people forgiven, healing and renewed that we may proclaim love to the world and continue in the risen life of Christ. That fact and that hope can rebalance our life some toward the positive side of the scale. Our life is a continuous rebalancing on the scales of our life toward the risen Lord.

Prayers for Our Ministries

Each week a different ministry area of St. Paul’s is featured in the bulletin to highlight, encourage involvement and give thanks for the people who make it happen. During the month of January we pray for the following ministries:

January

1/1 Gould Investment Committee 1/22 Lay Assistants 1/8 Gould Scholarship Committee 1/29 Lectors 1/15 Ice Cream Social

Flower Memorials

1/1 not available

1/8 not available

1/15 available

1/22 available

1/29 available

Sanctuary Candle Memorials

1/1 available

1/8 available

1/15 available

1/22 available

1/29 available

Note: Please call the office (748-8118) any time during the month if you would like to designate the altar flowers or candles in memory of a loved one, to recognize a special event or simply in thanksgiving for God’s many blessings. Forms are in the back of the church. Dates may be shared.

JANUARY 1/2 Sarah Bowie Soules 1/21 June Palmer 1/5 Jewel Fenty 1/22 John Swavola 1/7 Susan Kinne 1/23 Carole Walton 1/11 Anneliese Besemer 1/26 Bruce Dailey 1/13 Judy Shannon 1/27 Ronald Reece, Bruce Fineout 1/14 Lynda Helmer, Michael Jones 1/30 Jim Buffum 1/15 Christopher Meade

JANUARY

1/02 William & Bea VanNess 1/26 Ed & Mary Cermak 1/11 Stephen & Casey Korchynsky 1/28 Jerry & Sandra Saccoccio 1/14 Raymond & Lisa Besemer Are you an January birthday or anniversary but you don’t see your name here? Please let the office know so we can update our records! We don’t want to miss anyone!

The office will be closed on Monday, January 2nd. Have a healthy, happy new year!

The office will be closed for Martin Luther King Day on Monday, January 16th.

Prayer Requests

If you know someone who might benefit from our prayers, please use the form in the basket on the table in the back of the church. You may place the form in the collection plate or drop it in the office.

Movin’ On Luncheon Monday, January 9, Noon

NOTE: The Movin’ On Lunch will be held on the 2nd Monday of January. All widows and widowers are invited to share in this time of food and fellowship on Monday, January 9th at noon in Fellowship Hall.

Trinity Canteen Sunday, January 29

St. Paul’s Church has once again committed to supporting the Trinity Canteen, at Trinity Church in Binghamton, by taking on each 5th Sunday of the month. We, as a church: purchase, prepare, serve and clean up for the Trinity Canteen on each of those Sundays. Your donation of brownies, bananas and salad ingredients will be appreciated. Our next Canteen will be on January 29. A signup sheet is located in the back of the church. The Women of the Church will be hosting this month’s Canteen. We will meet at 10AM on Sunday to carpool to Trinity.

January Liturgical Ministers Schedule

January 1 8:00 AM 10:00 AM

Lay Assistant Mary Cermak Karen Cahill

1st Reading Steve Koerts

2nd Reading Luther Chergosky Suzanne Pettit

Chalice Chip Kinne Eunice Barton

Readings Numbers 6:22-27 Galatians 4:4-7

January 8 8:00 AM 10:00 AM

Lay Assistant Debbie Dieffenbacher Ruthie Koerts

1st Reading Karen Cahill

2nd Reading Bill Dieffenbacher Barb Dailey

Chalice Richard Parker Georgia Wilber

Readings Isaiah 42: 1-9 Acts 10:34-43

January 15 8:00 AM 10:00 AM

Lay Assistant Jane Parker Steve Koerts

1st Reading Judy Finlayson

2nd Reading Jackie Reece Judy Shannon

Chalice Jack Westermann Suzanne Pettit

Readings Isaiah 49:1-7 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

January 22 8:00 AM 10:00 AM

Lay Assistant Jennifer Westermann Jim Garceau

1st Reading Georgia Wilber

2nd Reading Garvin Alexander Kelly Parker-Seeley

Chalice Jane Parker Eunice Barton

Readings Isaiah 9:1-4 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

January 29 8:00 AM 10:00 AM

Lay Assistant Jack Westermann Jim Buffum

1st Reading Bob Pettit

2nd Reading Luther Chergoxky Zach Manchester

Chalice Debbie Dieffenbacher Karen Cahil

Readings Micah 6:1-8 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Note: If you are unable to serve on a given week, please try to find a substitute. Luther Chergosky is available as a substitute Lay Assistant for 8:00 services. If you need a phone number, please call the office at 748-8118. Copies of our church directory are available as well for your convenience.

St. Pauls’ Episcopal Church

Vestry Minutes, November 8, 2016 To love God, Love others, Help Others to love God

Rector: Fr. John R. Martinichio

Wardens: Bruce Dailey, Jennifer S. Westermann

Vestry:

Eunice Barton Mary Gilfoyle (A) Ruthie Koerts

Karen Cahill Lynda Helmer Robert Pettit

Duncan Finlayson Lynne Jones Richard Schwab

Treasurer: Jack Westermann

Gould Fund Manager: Tony Farrand

Fr. John opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. with the prayer “Hope for the Broken Hearted” by

Debbie Kay.

Bernice Gould Fund: Tony Farrand presented his report on the performance of the Gould Fund.

October Minutes: Motion made by Ruthie Koerts with second from Lynn Jones to accept the

October minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

Financial Reports:

Bob Pettit -

The Gould fund balance as of the end of October was $4,310,797 which is down $69,824

from the end of September.

If the draw stays at the current $14,250/month the draw for the year will be 4.06%.

Ideally it should stay at 4% or under.

Income vs. Expenses

o Income – Pledge is currently about $3,500 over budget but the expectation is that

that will even out based on the past schedule of donations.

o Expenses – Expenses are currently over budget by $6,280.

Jack Westermann:

Unbudgeted expenses – two unbudgeted expenses contributed to the $6,280 overage:

three new fire extinguishers and elevette repairs.

Some of the overage will level out as we have numerous expenditures that are paid on a

quarterly basis.

Motion made by Lynda Helmer with second from Karen Cahill to accept the reports as

presented. Motion carried unanimously.

Stewardship Report: Pledge totals as of today (November 8, 2016) stand at $120,172.

Consent Agenda:

Audit Report – Jack reported that

o The credit card traceability should be more transparent.

o The inventory of building assets should include monetary replacement values.

Motion made by Eunice Barton with second from Bruce Dailey to accept audit as presented.

Motion carried unanimously.

Investment Committee – Motion made by Bob Pettit with second from Ruthie Koerts to

approve the following people as Investment Committee members: Charlie Collison,

Bruce Dailey, Jack Westermann, Tony Farrand and Jim Garceau. Motion carried

unanimously with Bruce abstaining.

Gould Grants – The grant committee reviewed applications from the Johnson City Police

Department, Roberson Science Museum and Episcopal Relief and Development. Motion

made by Duncan Finlayson with second from Karen Cahill to accept the applications as

submitted. Motion carried unanimously.

Rector’s Report:

Fire Suppression System – The annual inspection of the fire suppression system over the

stove revealed that it was not functioning properly. Fr. John called Chris Welsh of Welsh

Restaurant Equipment (our supplier) to see why. He is to come this week.

Stained glass windows from the synagogue – Fr. John received an estimate from

Creations by Carol which will include the repair of the window and the creation and

installation of a shadow box for it at the cost of $1,500. Motion made by Eunice Barton

with second from Lynne Jones to authorize Creations by Carol to do this work. Fr. John

will take the window to her studio tomorrow.

Fr. John’s Sabbatical – Fr. John announced that he has secured supply clergy for the

months he will be away but is not yet at liberty to say who it will be.

Warden’s Report:

Bruce Dailey passed along Gould grant thank you notes from the Broome County

Council of Churches and Good Shepherd Fairview.

Miscellaneous Items:

Vestry Eligibility – Fr. John felt that a phrase from the canons determining one’s

eligibility to be better defined, the phrase being ‘a regular contributor to the support of

the parish for the previous year’. The vestry settled on this clarification: ‘a regular

contributor means pledging and having that pledge measurable by meeting the pledge

obligations, per church records, in the 12 months prior to the election at the annual

meeting.’ Motion made by Dick Schwab with second from Lynda Helmer to approve

this clarification. Motion carried unanimously.

Vestry Responsibility – Fr. John feels that vestry members should assume a greater

responsibility as members than attendance at monthly meetings, especially in light of his

upcoming sabbatical. He will distribute a list consisting of all the ministries of the church

for the vestry to become involved with.

2017 Budget – Bob Pettit distributed copies of the first draft of a budget for 2017. Short

discussion on it; we will peruse it further in December.

Christmas -

o Fr. John and Dick Schwab worked on the placement of the new manger. It will be

placed behind the altar on the reredos. Dick will build a platform extension on the

top to hold the pieces as well as a crude manger.

o Fr. John and Paula Giroux are planning a “Blue Christmas” service which will be

held on Sunday, December 11. This service is geared toward those for whom the

Christmas season can be a depressing time.

Next Meeting: Tuesday, December 13, 2016, 7:00 PM.

Meeting adjourned at 8:52 PM with the praying of the Lord’s Prayer.

Minutes submitted by Jennifer S. Westermann, Vestry Clerk