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Epistle: Pentecost June 2013 Issue

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Our newletter about life in the parish of St. Paul's, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

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Page 1: Epistle: Pentecost June 2013 Issue
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S t . P a u l ’ S E P i S c o P a l c h u r c h • M u r f r E E S b o r o • S t P a u l S M b o r o . o r g

of our common worship. Sure, we have Youth Sunday once a year, but is a half dozen Sundays in the life of a teenager really going to spark the imagination and passion to actually fall in love with our way? Furthermore, do we believe our teenagers would know what to do or be ready if we did simply hand them the keys? After many conversations over the last year with Fr. Polk and Fr. Colin, they have given us the space to create The Youth Chapel. It will be the space for the youth to engage, explore, and take ownership of our liturgy. Like athletes training for the Olympics, The Youth Chapel, will be our gymnasium to get ‘hands on’ with the liturgy. Like scientists, The Youth Chapel will be our laboratory to conduct experiments in the way of Jesus. Starting in August it will take place in St. Andrew’s Chapel on Sunday mornings at 8:30am and is open to all 7th-12th grade members of St. Paul’s and their friends. After the passing of the peace we will rejoin our families for communion in the Nave. There are plenty of other reasons, hopes and expectations for The Youth Chapel service and I would love to discuss them with anyone who asks. God willing good things are in store next Fall for our youth community.

Shalom. [email protected]

The word Liturgy comes from the Latin word, liturgia, which means the ‘work of the people.’ Since becoming an Episcopalian in 2006, I have come to love our liturgy. My Book of Common Prayer is one of my most prized possessions and its prayers have become my daily bread. I also believe in the Episcopal Church. I believe that although our hands are dirty working through various controvers ies and cultural changes, we will continue to contribute to building God’s Kingdom in powerful ways in the coming decades. Furthermore, our rootedness, our earnest effort to connect to the ancient church, and our humble willingness to adapt, adjust, and translate our Gospel message to the ever-changing culture we presently reside with, gives us the tools to endure beyond the superficial attempts to be ‘relevant.’ Yes, I love being an Episcopalian and I believe we have a bright future. There’s only one problem. Our teenagers, for the most part, are bored with church. But I don’t believe that this has to be this way. You see, when I first started attending the Episcopal Church I found it difficult to access. The liturgy,

Steven LefebvreDirector of Youth and Young Adult Ministries

this so-called ‘work of the people,’ seemed reserved for special people for special occasions. It wasn’t until I started doing Morning Prayer once a week with a friend of mine that I really got my hands dirty in the Book of Common Prayer. Shortly after that I began leading a youth group in the Episcopal Church and it was then I realized that our liturgy is exactly what you make of it. I began leading contemplative Compline services in the Belmont bell tower with my college group. I did daily Morning Prayer in the Nave with a friend from church. I led a poetry retreat using the Daily Office with our young adult group. I led high-energy charismatic services and charming candle lit vigils all using our Book of Common Prayer. We as Episcopalians have an incredible tool to introduce people to the Holy Spirit in the midst of us and create community in the name of Jesus. I believe our youth, are ‘bored with church,’ because we’ve never really allowed them to get their hands dirty in the soil of our liturgy. To them it seems distant, rote, and unrelated-able. Now don’t get me wrong… I think we have a beautiful service here at St. Paul’s. The service we make every Sunday is indeed, ‘the work of our people,’ but is it the work of our teenage people? Is there space for them to actually take public ownership of our Sunday service and make decisions about how, what, where, and who does the various components

The Youth Chapel

or “mundane,” this term comes from the word “ordinal,” which simply means “counted time,” because we number the Sundays in order from the First Sunday after Pentecost all the way up to the Last Sunday after Pentecost, twenty seven Sundays in all. That’s right; twenty-seven weeks of this church year will be spent in Ordinary Time. And in some ways, it might be right

to think of this time as common or mundane. Because this is the usual time in the church, the time that is not marked by a constant stream of high points and low points, ups and downs, but is instead the normal, day-in, day-out life of the church. This time is a time to grapple with the nuts and bolts of our faith, not coasting on the joy of Christmas, or in the penitential feel of Lent, but instead just being exactly where we are, and trying to live our faith in that moment. It is a time to reflect on our life

together, to trim back on those parts that need trimming and to fertilize where need be. It is a time of growth. That is why the color in ordinary time is green.* As we live in ordinary time, let us keep in mind our mission to “Worship God and to bring all into a loving relationship with Jesus Christ.”

[email protected]

* Parts adapted from a blog by The Rev. Melody Wilson Shobe, Assistant Rector at a church in the Diocese of Texas.

The Holy Spirit, Pentecost and Ordinary Time (Continued)

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The annual Liturgy of Light celebration was held May 5 in St. Andrew’s Chapel. This beautiful celebration of the Easter vigil was led by our 3rd - 6th graders and celebrated the life and light Jesus shares with us. During the liturgy children and parents came forward to receive a candle lit from the Paschal candle. These candles were then inserted in a container in front of the altar. The liturgy invites children and parents to

VBS June 17-21

Liturgy of Light

experience the light of the risen Christ shared with us as individuals, and second, the beauty of the communion of light when we gather as a community. Just as the light grows from the collection of candles, the light of Christ grows as we share God’s love together.

Colin Ambrose, Associate Rector, is on a sabatical until July 7th

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Good Morning, my name is Zach Ring – I am a senior at Webb School and I have been here at St.

Paul’s since I was 1 ½ years old. I have so many memories from those years. I participated in several summers of Bible School, Catechesis classes for Sunday school, summer mission trips and have been an acolyte for 10 years. As I’ve grown up here, this church community has blessed me. But now ….. I find myself a senior, deciding where I am to go next. I will be leaving town. I will be leaving this place. So what do I take with me? That’s

the question – what do I take with me? Yes, I’m sure we will make many trips to Target to get all the necessary “stuff”, and to Bed Bath and Beyond to get XL bed sheets and even Best- Buy to get a new Alarm clock! However, as I prepared for this time with you this morning I re-flected over my years at St. Paul’s I real-ized there will be so much more I’ll be taking. Things that God has taught me here through several experiences. Ex-periences that God used to develop in me- like strength, persistence, and de-termination. I want to share one story in particular with you.

We read from the Gos-pel of John “Now in Jeru-salem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, which has five porticoes. In those lay many invalids – blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.” John 5:1-9 This morning I want to tell you about a time I felt like this man. This man who had been ill for thir-ty-eight years – and who

laid each day by the pool hoping some-one would help him. It all began on the second day of school of my 8th grade year. On that morning I woke up with what seemed to be a 24-hour bug. Two weeks later I was still very nauseous and unable to eat. By late September I spent 3 days in Vander-bilt Children’s Hospital and still no relief or diagnosis. In fact, I was worse. In order to leave the hospital I had a walker be-cause I could not walk. With my doctor’s referral, the week before Thanksgiving my mom and I traveled to see a specialist in Philadel-phia. He had answers and said, “I know what is wrong and I can make you better but you’re going to have to work really hard.” The trauma my body had suffered with the still unidentifiable virus along with a basketball injury 6 months earlier had triggered a rare neuro-vascular dys-trophy. For the next 8 weeks I went to phys-ical therapy every day from 8:00 – 5:00. I spent more time there than most of their part time staff! By January I was ready to go back to school – I could walk again. However, I was still nauseous. I could walk but I still could not eat. We were as-

Youth Sunday

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sured by doctors that “I would get better with time.” By the beginning of 9th grade I was still nauseous but perhaps a little bit bet-ter. I wanted to push through – I wanted to be normal. I wanted to play basket-ball. One day during a basketball prac-tice I tried to block a guy quite a bit big-ger than me and paid for it. I hit the floor hard with my head. A couple of days later when I wasn’t sure where I was or what I’d had for lunch the school called my mom; the hospital said I suffered a concussion and the dystrophy would complicate my recovery. It wasn’t until October of my 10th grade year that I was referred to a doctor who again said, “I know what’s wrong and I can make you better.” Over the previous months many said, “…. It’s all in his head” “…. He’s faking it” and “He just doesn’t want to go back to school”. During those two years I wondered if God was listening to my prayers; if he was tired of hearing my complaints, my whining. As the school year passed I missed being with my friends, playing basketball – and just being a normal kid. One of my doctors even said it well – she said, “You miss being in your “game of life”.” That really made a lot of sense to me. I remember trying to push through, I was trying to convince myself that I was getting better yet, at the end of every day I was exhausted. Eating anything was a challenge. I began to have black outs where I wouldn’t remember what had happened the previous hour. It was a frustrating and scary time. I felt it was pointless to keep going to school because I was wasting energy and not

getting anything out of it. By the time 10th grade started the hopelessness was overwhelming. I felt like giving up. I thought I was going to have to accept this was how my life was going to be. This made me feel even more helpless and defeated. These are all the things the man by the pool must have been struggling with too. Like the story in the Gospel says, the man had been lying there thirty-eight years – there is no one to help – no hope for him. But then Jesus arrives. This is what it says, "When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.” Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk." At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. Stand up, take you mat and walk. Je-sus came to this ill man to heal him. As I reflect back on this time, just like the man from the Gospel – God brought me healing too. God was indeed listening. God brought me Wendi Watts who brought me communion; He brought Dr. Hollis to talk with my mom answer-ing questions and convincing me to eat- even if it was just a handful of peanuts or crackers after every class; He brought me a teacher who had posters from my classmates all around the dining hall welcoming me back to school; Several days when I could only attend school

for half a day, Ms. Jo Wintker came to get me and take me home; He brought me a dedicated physical therapist who spoke to my Philadelphia doctors imple-menting my therapy plan; He brought me friends who came to see me; and He brought us George who is now my “bo-nus dad”. John Wooden said, “Success is not something others can give to you.” I agree. And I would like to add, “but they can definitely help you on your journey!” So, back to the question, What will I take with me? What will I take with me when I head off to college in the fall? How has God been present in my life? How has He prepared me for what lies ahead? He has shown me that He is always with me. Scripture reminds us God loves us. He doesn’t prevent sad or bad things from happening but He is in it with us. I am sure I have many more challenges ahead of me. However, I know God will provide comfort. He will provide strength, persistence and deter-mination. We will be prepared for what lies ahead because He is with us. I thank God for the many people in my path to help me get well. I am grate-ful for having grown up at St. Paul’s. Over the years, through Sunday school, bible school, mission trips and being an acolyte I was sustained – I was taken to the pool. As I think about leaving Mur-freesboro and head to Tennessee Tech this fall, I know that I will be taking all of these gifts with me.”

Zach Ring

Got Yours?Available in the parish office for $1.

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From the Senior Warden

The Spirit at Work.Pentecost is the story of the birth of the church, when the first apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim the resurrected Lord with great power to the crowds. While the outward and visible signs are different (we don’t speak in tongues at St. Paul’s, Southern English aside!) the Holy Spirit is just as active in our church today. And that’s good, because your Vestry has some very important work to do in the weeks ahead. At our June 18 Vestry meeting, we will receive the report from the “Potential and Possibility” Study,

which will help us understand the level of financial support we could expect to raise through a capital campaign. Immediately thereafter, at our June 22 Mid-Year Retreat, we will review this information, together with the construction estimates for the proposed new Parish Hall / Christian Education building, and determine how to best move forward. Now I can’t tell you what we’re going to decide, but I am confident that our decision will be informed and empowered by God’s own Spirit. Because the work of the Spirit started long ago – not just at Pentecost, but in the formation of a small Episcopal church in Murfreesboro way back in 1892, in its faithful growth and service, and even in the process by which this particular Vestry was nominated, elected, and organized. We will continue to listen for that voice as we discern God’s plans and visions for St. Paul’s. Please pray for the Parish, and for all of the work we are doing together.

Don Clayton

PRE LENTEN

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE

I’ve been told by people who have made one of our five previous pilgrimages to the Holy Land that the Holy Land experience was the spiritual high of their Christian Journey. Teenagers and adults alike have begun to see Scripture

in a deep new way as a result of their Holy Land experience. I believe that Christians who can only take one international trip in their lifetime should make this journey a priority. With that in mind, Janelee and I will lead a Pre-Lenten Pilgrimage on February 11, 2014. We will spend time in Jerusalem, the region of Galilee, Nazareth,

Bethlehem and Caesarea By The Sea. We will go to the Jordan, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the upper room. This ten day journey will begin on February 11, 2014. The “all inclusive” cost is 3,519.00. All inclusive means – air fare from Nashville, guided sightseeing, first class hotels, administrative fees, lecture series, buffet breakfast and dinner daily, entrance fees, program fees, fuel surcharges, tips for driver and guide and Government taxes (although the Government could change the taxes). In other words everything is covered except lunches, beverages, an excursion charge for Masada and your personal shopping. If you’d like to talk it over or receive a brochure call me at 615-849-9869 or email me at [email protected].

Gene WiseRector [email protected]

Notes from AngelaChildren in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd know ordinary time as "growing" time. This summer we will "grow" our repertoire of hymns. Each Sunday during Communion at the 11:00 service, we will be singing a hymn from Wonder, Love, and Praise. Published in 1997, this is the second supplement to The Hymnal 1982 (the first is Lift Every Voice, which was published in 1993. Wonder, Love, and Praise is an eclectic collection of 200 hymns, songs, and spiritual songs. Some of the hymns will be familiar tunes with new texts, while some are new tunes as well. I hope you will enjoy singing or listening to these new friends.

Angela Tipps

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EDuCATion FoR MiniSTRy

The more things change... During the last two years of EfM (Education for Ministry), often during lesson reports or theological reflection, I have heard one person or another say, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” This might be in reference to the cycle of Israel’s rebellion and God’s redemption, or the efforts of Paul to maintain unity among believers, or the machinations of popes and politicians in during foundational councils of the church, or efforts to make up for the sins of Christians institutions of the recent past. “The more things change, the more things stay thesame.” We would do well to say the same thing about our own EfM community, though we don’t have to color it with the same exasperated cynicism. “The more things change...” The more a loved one is diagnosed with an illness... The more a child, or grandchild, or grandchildren are born... The more we get a promotion... The more we get rejected...

The more we travel... The more we stay at home... The more we share the week’s disappointment... The more we can’t wait to tell you all about it... The more life surprises and terrifies us with the eventual outcome we dreaded, or overjoys us with a possibility we couldn’t have hoped for in a millionyears... “The more things stay the same.” The more things stay the same here at EfM. The more we have mentors who make us a priority. The more we find common ground among our classmates. The more we come to depend on each other. The more we make fun of the big bad wolf. The more we look forward to being together. The more we learn. The more we explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations. The more we boldly go where.... The more we share, laugh, cry, make friends, pray for each other, and realize we aren’t so different. The more things change, the more opportunities there are for ministry. What has been my education for ministry this year? My EfM? Of course I have to defer to Paul.

Romans 8:38-39 I have become absolutely convinced that neither death nor life, neither messenger of Heaven nor monarch of earth, neither what happens today nor what may happen tomorrow, neither a power from on high nor a power from below, nor anything else in God’s whole world has any power to separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord!

Maybe as little nod to our process, I will concede that I may not be ABSOLUTELY convinced, but I am learning to ask the right questions and I am surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses.”

Charlie McClain

If EfM interests you, contact Nancy Carter [email protected], Rita Libell-Caldwell [email protected] or Ron Messier [email protected].

Education for Ministry, is a program of theological education of the School of Theology of the University of the South. It covers the basics of a theological education in the Old and New Testaments, church history, liturgy, and theology.

Have ideas for articles about life at St. Paul’s? Photos from a group event? Send them to:[email protected]

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116 North Academy StreetMurfreesboro, Tennessee 37130stpaulsmboro.org

Faith Community NursingAlso known as parish nursing, church nursing, congregational nursing, or faith community nursing is practiced in 23 countries from the United States to Madagascar to Zimbabwe. There are Jewish Congregational Nurses, Muslim Crescent Nurses, and RN’s serving in similar capacities within other faith traditions. It has been called an outreach, a ministry, a profession. The nurses in this field are often described as counselors, advocates, and teachers. The truth is that all the names and terms describe the role of a faith community nurse. This ministry and profession is performed within the context of a community of faith involving any faith tradition. It is the promotion of self-care and the care of others as an expression of God’s love. There is a focus

on wholeness through education and prevention. Faith community nursing is a practice specialty that focuses on the intentional care of the spirit, the promotion of health, and the prevention of illness within the context of a community of faith. The intentional integration of the practice of faith with the practice of nursing is so that people can achieve wholeness in, with, and through the population which faith community nurses serve. I am Jennifer McGuire, your faith community nurse. I graduated from V a n d e r b i l t School of Nursing and was a family nurse practitioner for over 10 years but now retired. I completed the “Foundations of

Faith Community Nursing” course held in September 2012 at Saint Thomas Hospital and was commissioned as a Faith Community Nurse at that time. Additionally, I just completed a 10-week course on the Art and Practice of Pastoral Care, again, at St. Thomas. Our program at St. Paul’s will initially focus on advocacy and education and is a volunteer position. You may contact me through the St. Paul’s office at 615.893.3780, my cell phone 615.417.6003, or email: [email protected]. I am available to speak with you on an individual or family basis, as well as any church groups or organizations (Men’s Group, ECW, etc).

Jennifer McGuire, Parish Nurse(The St. Thomas/Nashville Clinical Pastoral Education Partnership, in collaboration with several area hospitals and other ministry settings, provides numerous offerings for summer and extended units of CPE as well as year-long residency positions. The Saint Thomas/Nashville CPE Partnership is accredited by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.)

The mission of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is to worship God and to bring all into a loving relationship with Jesus Christ.