St. Paul’s Parish Highlights

May, 2017

"The Baffled King Composing Hallelujah"

In a not-too-ironic way I’ve been listening to the song “Hallelujah.” In this case I’m referring to the song written by the late Leonard Cohen who died last year. I suppose that his quiet, deep voice creates (perhaps) the perfect mood for the song. All the same, there are a number of different covers of the song. One particular version by Rufus Wainwright (the version from the movie Shrek) was noted as being “purifying and almost liturgical.” There was even the video from Saturday Night Live when Kate McKinnon sung it in the opening—and it was a video that went viral. Other versions, which have at times had different lyrics from the original, all have their own particular qualities. This phenomena, Cohen offers, is because “there are many different hallelujahs…” As I write this, I think of some of these different versions of the song. Regardless of the version, I’m struck continually by the words: “It’s a cold and it’s a broken hallelujah.” Maybe it’s just clever phrasing, but the song smacks of honesty. Whether there is an almost joyful air, or a soulful dirge, there is no escaping the words: “it’s a cold and it’s a broken hallelujah.”I think even in the midst of the Easter season, this may be a realistic cry of our hearts—one which isn’t afraid to encompass the brokenness and lack in our world. It’s the Hallelujah that breaks into the cold of a hospital room, and seems less incongruous in a hurting world. It’s a sound of praise that can be lifted by lips which mourn…but it is at the very same instant a hallelujah. And perhaps because of its honesty there is no question of its resounding praise.Perhaps it’s an odd thing to be writing in such a somber way in the Easter Season…maybe this would have been better suited for Lent, but then I wouldn’t have been able to use the word “Hallelujah.” But at the same time, Eastertide is a time for Hallelujahs, “many different Hallelujahs” to use Cohen’s phrase. It seems to me that he was one who could appreciate the diversity of hallelujahs in life. Himself a man plagued by depression, at times addiction, and a

1

life that was anything but glamorous—certainly not a life that we would think of as evoking a joyful shout anyway.And still, from the broken to the bandaged-up Hallelujah is the song of the victorious—albeit the faulted and the hurting at the same time. It’s the song of those who would never deny Christ, but are troubled by doubting hearts. It’s the voluminous call and response of a Pentecostal tent meeting, and is the song we say that we make at our graves. It’s the song for every condition of life, really…So why write about broken hallelujahs in Easter? I do it because, to make sense of any of the human condition, we look to Christ as the Perfect Victim. We look to him as the Resurrection and the Life and know that somehow in him everything will be redeemed somehow—even our sorrow—by his participating in it with us. In Christ we find solace from the storms of life, not by virtue of him being indestructible, rather because even in his resurrection he still bears the wounds of his ruination. He even holds those wounds gloriously out-stretched to welcome the prodding hands of our disbelief.I also write in this way knowing that the mystery of our faith in Christ is far deeper and stronger than we sometimes realize. I think that we even forget that when our faith seems dim, we can trust that others will have faith for us. I think it’s because there are many different hallelujahs, and because of Christ’s love for us, even the cold and broken ones (the really earthy and honest ones) count most.

2

From the Desk of the Parish Administrator

The office is in need of gift cards of any denomination (not greater than $25). Safeway is best as people can get gas or food, but we are not picky. If you are able to give one or two, we would be most appreciative as would the person(s) who will receive them. Also, if you put the cards in the offering plate, please be sure to attach your name in some way so that you will receive credit on your giving statement. Thank you!

Tammy

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS: CRITICAL LIST AS OF 5.7:Kevin Brawley, Richard Van Y, Marilyn Tarr, John & Felice Holmes, Laura Marchand, Phillip Cahill, Kathy Bristow, Julie Keesee, Cheryle Holmes, Stovy Brown, Satoma Hostetler, Landon Chase Harris, Judy Ivancik, Yvonne Bohatch Maher, Susan Pietras-Smith, Melinda Thayer, Elaine Donnelly, Gloria Penn, Brenda Burns, Conrad Vanasse, Amania Crawford, Eddie Wood, Jean Cunningham, Alan King, Dorsey Odom, Vera Saville.

LONG TERM LIST AS OF 5.7:Bill & Susie Boss, Heather Cook, Gene Edward, Abby Leach, Ruth Stange, Les Pratt, Audrey Evans, Audrey Drennen, George Edsall, Christine Appel-Bucierka, Sherry Santana, Mary Evelyn Pineault, Hunter Gray, Daniel Armiger, Marlane DeMara, Barbara Stinnett, Wesley Hall, Graham Baldwin, Diane Schreiber, Cheryl Hall, Robin Mavor, Dan Baker, Cathleen Carlisle, Linda Santiff, Theressa Herrity, Britni O’Donnell, Ginger McKenney, Michael Kinneson, Frankie Bowen, Maureen Donn, Nell & Joe Benser, James Grey, Shirley Elliott, Terry Schreiber, Beth Welles, Chance Underwood, Sean Riley, Greg Brittain, Susan Vilcheck.

We pray for Michael our Presiding Bishop, our own Bishops Eugene & Chilton and The Diocesan Staff. We pray also for the Vestry and The Staff of St. Paul’s. We pray for Donald our

President, Larry our Governor and all those who serve the common good.

We pray for all members of the Armed Forces, especially Drew Beard, Rachel & Jacob Berry, Graham & Landon Cheban, Julia Croft, Ryan Croft, Michael Freimarck, Jesse Howell, Paris

Jones & Jason Duncan, Shiraz Kahn, Pete Santos, David Spalding, Danny Wilkins, James Wold, Brian Woolsey, and Katy Broom.

We pray for parents-to-be Katie & Justin Brittain, Andrea & Andrew Witt, and Kayleigh & Steven Witt.

We hold hope for all places at home and abroad where there is violence and suffering. We pray for the people in the Middle East who are fleeing the conflicts.

We pray for our war dead in all generations.

3

Mark Your Calendars

1. May 9- Vestry Meeting @ 7 pm.

2. May 13- Yo Mamas Band is playing at All Saints Art Festival @ 11 am.

3. May 20- Yard sale at the Calvert County Fairgrounds.

4. May 29- Office will be closed in observance of Memorial Day.

5. June 24 – Kassia Concert at St. Paul’s @ 4 pm.

6. September 16- Yard sale at the Calver County Fairgrounds.

7. October 21- Craft Show

8. November 18- Church Supper, Bake Sale and Raffle.

Milestones-

May Birthdays: Greg Brittain, Jr. (05/02), Pru Canham (05/03), Nova Meridian Dryo (05/04), Walter Boynton (05/05), Jack Smack (05/05), Bill Boss (05/05), Alice Yoe (05/06), Amari Witt (05/11), Marcia King (05/11), Mary Evelyn Pineault (05/11), Kristen Stantiff (05/11), Kellen Cundiff (05/14), Josh Upton (05/16), David Porter (05/18), Wendy Wood (05/18), Susan Vilcheck (5/21), David Brown (05/23), Carolyn Witt (05/24), Mariah Glasscock (05/27), Dana Krohnert (05/28), Grayson Cundiff (05/28), JoAnn Bowen (05/29), Sky Woolsey (05/30).

May Anniversaries: Bill & Linda Santiff (05/07), Emilotte & Alice Yoe (05/07), Daniel & Maribeth Wilkins (05/08), Carolyn & Tammy Witt (05/20), Jack & Judy Smack (05/21), Joel & Vicki Signor (05/30).

4

Kassia Concert

Five years ago, after a long period of research and the hard work of fundraising, St. Paul’s purchased a Bedient tracker organ. Preparation was made inside the church in February of 2012. A team of members were on hand to cheer its arrival in March, and to unload the crates from the truck. A team of seven people from the company worked to assemble the parts over a period of 10 days. Services were held in the parish hall during this time.The organ first sounded in our sanctuary at the Easter Vigil that year, and a dedicatory service followed in June with a festive Evensong and organ concert by Dr. Robert Delcamp. To celebrate the anniversary, St. Paul’s will host a concert series featuring three exciting events. The first, on June 24, is the Kassia Music Collective, a chamber ensemble featuring the music of contemporary composers. Members Adina and Bernard Vallandingham are from Charles County and are well-known in our area. The group recently performed on the Millennial Stage at the Kennedy Center.The second concert will feature Rebecca Yoder at the organ. Rebecca is also from Southern Maryland. and is completing her masters in organ performance at Rice University this month. She is moving back to our area and will soon nail down a date for her concert at St. Paul’s, and this will be in August or September.On October 9, the Russian a capella group LYRA will return to St. Paul’s. They sang for a packed house in 2015, and were very well-received for their thrilling performance of Russian sacred and folk music.Assistance with ushering, receptions and hospitality (for LYRA) is needed, so please let Susan Yoe know if you would like to help. Please mark your calendars now and tell all your friends to join us too. There is no charge for admission at any of the concerts, but a free-will offering will go to support the performers.

Susan Yoe

5

Server Schedule

6

7