ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Grinnell, Iowa
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THIS WEEK AT SAINT PAUL'S

November 2, 2009

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God." — Matthew 5:9

McKibben's Service - Our church will hold a service for the committal of cremains and interment of ashes for Bill and Betty McKibben in the Resurrection Garden at noon on Sunday at St. Paul's. The Rev. Sallie Verrette will officiate.

In Honor of Reba - An idea has arisen to plant a tree or two rose bushes to honor Reba Postels and the McKibben Family outside of the Resurrection Garden or on the walkway leading to the sanctuary. It will be discussed in church.

Reba Postels's Funeral - Some 225 people attended Reba Postels's Memorial Service, sponsored by St.Paul's and hosted at the Grinnell United Methodist Church. A big thank you goes out to everyone who participated!

Loaned Piano... Without our requesting it, Critchett Piano Co. has dropped off a keyboard for us to try out. My first impulse was to have them come and take it back immediately. However, as long as it is here, it gives us a chance to hear how one would sound in our service. So I have asked Kevin to play our hymns on it this Sunday. There are no plans on anyone's part to purchase an instrument. And from the congregational meeting we had regarding this, if we ever do decide to buy one, it would be quite a ways into the future. And so our primary need is for feedback on how the instrument sounds on Sunday.

Dear Members and Friends of St. Paul's:

In my time as Senior Warden this year, I have come to realize a few things about St. Paul's. First and foremost, there are still a lot of things that get done around our church that I as senior warden am not even aware of -- everyone participates! It's wonderful to have been a leader in a church full of leaders.

We all contribute to the church in a variety of ways; such contributions seem to bear the most fruit when they are made out of a sense of a desire to contribute, rather than out of a sense of guilt (or the thought -- "if I don't do this, who will?") Ultimately, I hope we can be responding to God's call when we are deciding the ways in which we will participate in the life of the church in the coming year.

As we all know, the least favorite kind of contribution to discuss is financial, but I think the same principles apply. I am quite persuaded that the church should not be asking its members to make pledges just to keep the church operating, any more than we should be asking someone to teach a Sunday school class because there's no one else who is willing, or any more than we should be asking someone to lead in the prayers because otherwise we won't have a full morning worship experience.

Of course, we all know the church can't operate without all of our contributions, whether they be of time, talent, or treasure. But I believe our contributions will multiply the most and bear the most fruit when they are given out as a response to God's call to give.

So, please think about how much of your income you think God is calling you to give to support the church. I hope you'll think in terms of percentages, and that's not just because I'm a mathematician! In many places, the Bible holds up the tithe, which is 10% of one's income, as a standard of giving. Perhaps that's just not possible for you, but maybe you can move a little closer to it.

The church will be mailing out pledge forms shortly; we would very much like to get your pledge back at our morning service on either November 22 or November 29. If you know you can't make it to the service either of those days, please do send your pledge card back to the office. If you can't make a pledge, please indicate that to the church office as well, so that those who are planning the budget for next year won't be left to wonder.

Above all, please keep St. Paul's in your prayers.

Grace and peace,

Christopher French
Senior Warden

St. Paul's Church Mission - The people of St. Paul's aspire to grow in knowledge and love of Christ through prayer, worship, education, ministry, and service to the world and local community, the adjacent college campus and each other. We are an open and affirming congregation, welcoming all people to join the life and ministry of our congregation.

Upcoming Events

Kids Against Hunger - The next Kids Against Hunger date is Nov. 15. The St. Paul's team will be working from 1 – 1:45 p.m.

"No Room At The Inn" - Do you have a unique nativity set? You can display it during the Jingle Bell Holiday Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in St. Mary's Church Basement as part of "No Room At The Inn." This will be the first year that St. Paul's has been involved in the event. Six other churches in Grinnell also participate. There will be a live nativity and choirs singing between 5:30 and 8 p.m. Last year, our Sunday School children sang during the event along with First Presbyterian Church. They will be singing again this year. The Pinders plan to submit their unique nativity. For the children's table, St. Paul's will submit the wood nativity figures that Fr. Pope made for the Sunday School students. If you wish to submit your nativity and write a brief story about it, please contact Gailanne.

Grinnell College Alumna Makes News -

Mears, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in history from Grinnell College, was honored in 2008 with the "Pioneer Award" for her efforts to help rebuild a city and for her ability to encourage others to do the same.

"We're delighted to have Katie Mears on board," said Abagail Nelson, ERD's senior vice president for programs. "Katie has been working with the Diocese of Louisiana, our program partner in post-Katrina community rehabilitation. On her first day in the office, she jumped right in to the support the Diocese of Atlanta."

"We have approved our strategic plan through 2012 with a high priority on domestic disaster response and preparedness," said ERD President Rob Radtke. "Katie's hiring is a major step toward our goal of helping U.S. diocese prepare their congregations and communities to effectively respond to and recover from disasters."

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

- Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude"
© Abbey of Gethsemani

Christian Education

Sunday School - Sunday School for children up to age 10 is at 9:15 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church. This week's theme is, "Blessed are the meek..." Woman at the Well: John 5-42. The Sunday School will present their service projects.

Young Adult Class - Our Young Adult Christian Education class starts with a light breakfast in St. Dunstan's Hall at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Journey to Adulthood - The J2A Class will meet at 4 p.m., Nov. 11 at the Dill house, 1219 West St.

Readings for Sunday, Nov. 8 - 1 Kings 17:8-16, Psalm 146, Hebrews 9:24-28, Mark 12:38-44

November 8th ROTA

last modified, 11/05/09