Advent Sacred Space and Time

If Christ is the revelation of the whole meaning of humanity, if the meaning of human life is solely and entirely to be found in the fact that I am a child of God, then everything in my life becomes relevant or irrelevant in proportion as it tends to my growth as a member of Christ, as a child of God, and to the extension of Christ in the world of humankind through his Church. —Thomas Merton, The Good News of the Nativity

ast night at our Vision Committee meeting we talked about the four marks of the effective early church, four marks which incidentally still indicate an effective church today. These marks are 1) constant prayer, 2) fellowship, 3) breaking of bread, and 4) the Apostles' teaching. Yes, you probably recognize these as being part of our Baptismal Covenant. A church which is healthy and vibrant will engage in these four activities. Every week at St. Paul's we offer activities that help us to live out our promise to do these things. We offer the Eucharist, the Daily Office, opportunities for fellowship and study. We welcome you to join our community and encourage you to engage in these activities for your own Christian Formation.

During the season of Advent, on Wednesday evenings, we are offering another opportunity for your continued formation, one that will support your life of prayer, study and fellowship. Beginning at 6 pm, we will offer Evening Prayer and Stations of the Nativity (see more about this elsewhere in The Epistle). Then, following a light supper, we will have a time of prayer and reflection on our Advent Study Book Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton. This book is based primarily on writings of the contemplative monk, Thomas Merton, and is a useful guide to deepen your prayer life during the season of Advent. The book is divided into four sections (for the four weeks of Advent) and focuses on the themes of Hope, Salvation, Compassion and Tenderness. We will reflect on these together as a community. The book also contains meditations for Christmas as well which you may use on your own at home.

In the first section of this book, Merton is quoted as saying, “We live in a time of no room, which is the time of the end. The time when everyone is obsessed with lack of time, lack of space, with saving time, conquering space, projecting into time and space the anguish produced within them by the technological furies of size, volume, quantity, speed, number, price, power and acceleration.” If this sounds like your life (and I have to admit that sometimes it does sound like mine), then consider setting aside Wednesday evenings in Advent as sacred space and time, where we can enter once again into the mystery of the Word Made Flesh and prepare for His Advent.

Advent Blessings,

Mother Susan+

Outreach Report

Pam Jentz

n October donations to the Food Pantry totaled 349 pounds; the total through November 14 was 165

pounds.

Thanksgiving Baskets: Thirty-seven were assembled and delivered throughout South Bend and Mishawaka. A huge thank-you to all for your support, and a special acknowledgment to those who shopped and delivered the baskets: Teresa and David Betz, Diane Haywood and Vickie Hesch, Jim Lovelace, Chris and Gerald Cannoot, Dave Jentz., Betty Jo Boyer, Jan and Jack Frieden. These baskets helped to cheer many people who would not otherwise have had a Thanksgiving dinner.

Operation Christmas Child: Packed with love and sent with prayer, thirty-one shoeboxes joined the nearly eight million boxes that will be distributed to108 countries worldwide.

St. Margaret's House: The Fashioning Our Lives event was hugely successful with 300 plus in attendance. It was a very enjoyable day.

Looking ahead: Don’t forget Souper Bowl Sunday, coming up in January 2011.

Again I express my gratitude for your support of the outreach projects at St. Paul's.

Pam

The Vision Committee

We've been meeting since September and you probably are wondering what we have been doing. During that time, we have examined the life at St. Paul's—what we do well, what we can improve. We have all agreed that St. Paul's, in its life cycle, is a parish of mature faith where much is happening. We have discovered once again the richness and depth to our communal life. As a result, we have come to understand that we cannot rush Vision. Advent is beginning—the season of waiting and expectation. We on the Vision Committee feel that something big and wonderful is ready to happen at St. Paul's, but we have not yet clearly discerned what that will be (or from what direction it will come). Consequently, for the season of Advent, we are taking a break to pray and to refocus. We would ask the congregation's help in two ways: first, pray with us. We are unable to do our work without your prayers. Further, we would like to convene a group formally whose mission it is to pray for the work of St. Paul's Vision Committee. If you would be interested in being part of such a group, please let us know. Secondly, would you like to be part of the Vision Committee? Perhaps you have dreams too. Perhaps you have energy that will help us focus. We welcome your participation. If you are interested in being part of a prayer group or part of the Vision Committee itself, please contact Mother Susan.

Literacy Project Training Dates Set

he Literacy Project will begin in earnest with a nine-hour tutor training course, to be conducted on three consecutive Thursday evenings, January 20 & 27 and February 3. Sessions will begin promptly at 6 PM in the undercroft and will wrap up no later than 9. A snack will be served. Once training is completed, tutors will be matched with adult learners based on a number of factors, including scheduling preferences and meeting place. For instance, if you prefer not to be out at night, you will be matched with an adult learner who is available to meet during the day. This flexibility to meet at a time and place convenient for individual participants made the Literacy Project particularly attractive to the

Outreach Committee, who are sensitive to the reality that outreach events with fixed dates inevitably exclude participation by parish members for whom specific dates do not work. Here is your chance to use an open time in your schedule to change a life. If you are unsure about becoming a tutor and wish to know more before making a commitment, please attend the January 20 session. For more information, please contact Jude Keltner.

Advent Contemplation and Meditation

n Wednesday evenings during Advent, we continue with Evening Prayer and Stations of the Nativity at 6 PM. Following this, we will enjoy a light supper. Soup will be provided and participants are asked to bring a salad, bread, or dessert. Then the group will engage in a quiet, reflective study of the Advent/ Christmas edition of Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton, focusing on writings of Thomas Merton and edited by Jonathan Montaldo and Robert G. Toth of the Merton Institute for Contemplative Living. Books are available for purchase at $5.00

Sunday School Teachers

December Schedule

Jen was still trying to fine-tune the December schedule as the EPISTLE went to press. (Can one say that when most of the copies are electronic and never see a printing press? Anyway…) So check your Sunday bulletins for the last-minute details.

A Conversation on the

Anglican Covenant

he Anglican Covenant may be the most significant development in the Anglican Communion in our lifetime. In an era of significant divisions among Communion partners, the Covenant seeks to clarify and formalize the ties that bind us together in Jesus Christ. This proposal is not without its difficulties, however, in matter both of polity and precedence.

The Diocese of Northern Indiana is pleased to engage in conversation on the Anglican Covenant. All are invited and encouraged to gather on Saturday, January 22, 2011, at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in South Bend, for presentations both for and against the covenant, small group conversations, and large group reflections.

The day will begin with registration at 9:30 and Morning Prayer at 9:45. A Jimmy John’s lunch box will be available for purchase for $8, or you may prefer to bring your own.

For a detailed program and/or to let them know you’re coming, you may call the Cathedral of St. James, 574-232-4837, email them, stjames@michiana.org or go to their website, http:// www.stjamessouthbend.org, and click on Events.

From Your Editor

he holidays can bring great joy, but as you all know, they can bring difficulties as well. One of those difficulties is that I must prepare the EPISTLE much earlier than usual for the two months at the end of the secular year, so that they will be in your hands (or computers) by the last Sunday of the month. I know that many people whose contributions make the EPISTLE what it is had to scramble to get me their information on time for this December issue, and it won’t be any easier for the January issue. So please, if you need to get me an article or picture for the January EPISTLE, I would like to have it no later than December 15, and earlier if possible. That way I can have the completed newsletter in Carole’s hands by the 20th, so she can get it out to you. My email address is jdams@jeannedams.com

And speaking of pictures, I would love to have photos of both Christmas Eve services and of any other special holiday doings. I say, the more pictures, the better! -Jeanne

The above poem by Bishop Gray is a fitting introduction to our newest project here at St. Paul’s. Our parishioners have collaborated to offer "Stations of the Nativity" as a gift to the parish at large this Advent. The offering comes in two parts. First, fourteen striking, contemporary works of art will be hung in the sanctuary in place of the usual Stations of the Cross. These stations will be used for a meditative service on Wednesday evenings as a part of Evening Prayer. Second, a booklet featuring fourteen thoughtful prose or poetic devotions will be offered for parishioners to take home and use throughout the season. "The Word of God is sharper than any double-edged sword," the Bible says. It is hoped that this arresting collection of words and images will point us to the Nativity story and ultimately to the Word Incarnate—Jesus Christ.

More Advent Activities

wo interesting area events are planned by our extended church family for Advent. First, all are invited to an Advent Lessons and Carols service on Sunday, 5 December at 5 pm at the Cathedral of St. James, followed by a reception in Cathedral Hall. The service will include choirs from across our diocese. And at 6 pm on Sunday, December 19, St. Michael and All Angels will present a staged reading of the beloved Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol.

Adopt-A-Family for Christmas

f you would be interested in helping to sponsor a family

for Christmas, Mother Susan could use your help. She has been assisting a family of three in the community for a couple of years. The father works when he can find work. The mother cares for their three-year-old son who has health problems. Mother Susan would like to see the family receive some gifts for Christmas. There are three ways you can help: 1) make contributions to Mother Susan's discretionary fund (check is written to St. Paul's, with a memo for Adopt-a-Family) 2) assist with shopping for the family 3) assist with wrapping gifts Please speak to Mother Susan if you are interested.

B&P cont’d

Christmas Eve Children's Pageant

alling all angels, shepherds, wise men, sheep, cows, heffalumps and woozles! Any children planning to be in attendance at the Christmas Eve 5:30 PM service should count on being included in our Christmas Eve Children's Pageant. This is a wonderful opportunity to be able to act out the greatest story ever. All children in attendance will be included (including grandchildren, nieces and nephews). Costumes are provided or you may wear your own. Please let Mother Susan know if you will be able to

participate.

Operation Christmas Child

ere is a photo we took the night of the Operation Christmas Child Soup Supper. We prepared and wrapped 31 boxes for needy children in countries all over the world. The picture is of Rebecca Haynes kneeling beside the boxes before we said blessing prayers over them.

Men's Group Breakfast

n Saturday, December 4 beginning at 8 AM, all men are invited to join us in the Undercroft for breakfast. The women of the church will be cooking, and the men will be gathering to eat and to begin dreaming and planning for Men's Group activities at St. Paul's during 2011. Any questions? Please contact Brad Fulton or Jason Vice.

Seen Any Good Leaders?

ext year we will have two openings on Vestry, a one-year term to finish out the term of Jen Fulton (who is resigning as she enters discernment for Holy Orders) and a three-year term. Do you know of anyone, including yourself, who might be good for those positions? If so, please talk to Mother Susan or a member of the Executive Committee (Jon Adamson, Lisette Bolduc or Jack Frieden). Additionally, we will be seeking to fill the position of Senior Warden and Treasurer, and your input on those positions would be greatly valued!

Thanks

atti and Jimmie Anderson would like to thank everyone for their prayers and support while Jimmie was in Memorial Hospital. You are all asked keep Jimmie in your prayers as he recovers from his diabetic coma—probably a slow recovery time.

isette Bolduc thanks everyone who helped at both Parish Work Days. We worked hard, but also had an excellent time getting to know one another. Workers were Jeanne Dams, Yates Forbis, Betty Jo Boyer, Diane Haywood, Dale and Jude Keltner, Dave and Nadine Collier, Sara and Marty Wolfe, Angelo Pascucci, Jan and Jack Frieden, Dave Betz, Jen Fulton, Vikki Hesch and Lisette Bolduc. Lisette also mentioned that as the buildings and grounds are spruced up and cleaned out, spare items will be offered first to parishioners for a month in the weekly bulletins, then disposed of in another way.

Ministry Schedule for December

8:00 AM
Chalicifers	12/5 Sara Wolfe	12/12 Bill Whitman	12/19 David Betz	12/26 Marty Wolfe
	Bill Whitman	David Betz	Marty Wolfe	Sara Wolfe
Lectors	Angie Hambling	Bill Hambling	Sara Wolfe	Bill Whitman
	Pete McQueen	Jeanne Dams	Jim Gross	Teresa Betz
Ushers	Jim Lovelace	Jim Gross	Bill Whitman	Jim Lovelace
Oblationers	Sharon Katona	Gina Myers	J & C Gross	Jeanne Dams
10:00 AM
Chalicifers	12/5 Tami Lewis	12/12 Jim Pecsi	12/19 Betty Jo Boyer	12/26 Mike Thompson
	Scott Williams	Jen Fulton	Ken Finkbiner	Jim Pecsi
Lectors	Lauren Whitnah	Scott Williams	Yates Forbis	Mary K. Bissell
	Mike Thompson	Tami Lewis	Lisette Bolduc	Barbara Books
Acolytes	Rebecca Haynes	Ken Finkbiner	Madeline Randall	Scott Williams
Torches	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
Ushers	Ralph Burget	Jason Vice	Dale Keltner	Jon Adamson
	Ken Finkbiner	Dave Jentz	John Lendel	Ralph Burget
Oblationers	D & P Jentz	M & J Thomson	B & M Thames	K & C Finkbiner
Intercessors	Brad Thames	Tami Lewis	Sharon Burget	Susanna Cover

NOTE: If you cannot fulfill your scheduled ministry, please make arrangements for someone to take your place.

Round and About the Vestry

he Vestry met on November 11 and made the following major announcements and decisions (in addition to those mentioned elsewhere in this newsletter): 1) The shed adjacent to the parking lot is no longer needed and will be offered for sale. 2) A bid for roof repairs was accepted. 3) We will explore the possibility of an assistant to the Junior Warden, as it is a demanding position. 4) The speakers at the back of the church are not used and will be returned to the diocese.

The Bottom Line

Oct YTD Total income 18,240 150,578 Total expenses 16,233 147,770 Bottom line 2,006 2,807

The complete treasurer’s report and full Vestry minutes are always available in the church office for your perusal.

O Come Let Us Adore Him