news

St.

Paul’s

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCHApril 2010 — VOLUME 35, ISSUE 4

Strange scriptural verse for Easter isn't it! The last time we heard it was in the service ofLessons and Carols, the Sunday before Christmas. Taken from Isaiah, it served to remindus how the coming of the Christ Child might give new light to our dark lives. The season ofEpiphany followed, and we heard numerous stories reminding us of how the coming ofthe Christ changed people's lives in the time of Jesus and how it can/should change peo-ple still. In Lent we have tried to examine ourselves to see where the light has been pre-sent and where we have changed, but also where we have not changed and still "walk indarkness."Now comes Easter. A few days ago, when the weather was warm and the sun bright, Iwalked downtown to meet a parishioner for lunch. I wore no jacket because it was sowarm. On the way back I walked on the east side of Capitol Avenue where the tallbuildings blocked the sunshine. I looked across the street and on the other side the sunwas still brightly shining - it was so inviting. I said to myself, "What am I doing on thisside of the street - the sunlight is so much better over there." Even though it was the mid-dle of the block, I dodged the traffic just to get to the sunlight - it was so inviting.

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By The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller

Church EventsApril

AUNDY

HURSDAY

GAPE

EAL

OOD

RIDAY

CUMENICAL

ERVICE

ASTER

ERVICES

B&PW

OOD

OLLECTION

ITY

LOOD

RIVE

OUTH

ROUP

UTING

Great Vigil of Easter

By The Rev. Dr. Richard Sauerzopf

At 7 p.m., on April 3, Easter Eve, we will celebrate the Great Vigil of Easter. The service, which is also called the Pas-chal Vigil, is the Church’s oldest known liturgy. We will begin with the lighting of the Paschal candle. As we welcomethe light of Christ into our lives together in this way, we will hear once again the story of God’s salvation of his peopleIsrael, and of his promise of redemption for all of his people. And then, for us, it will be Easter. As we complete ourworship together, we will celebrate our first Easter Eucharist. And so, we will worship together with great joy in themystery of our salvation, which Christ has given to us not only that we might live, but that we might live most abun-dantly and everlastingly, with God in Christ glorified, being filled with the Holy Spirit in the mystery of that life of theTrinity, which is love. Please join us, so that we might move together from the time of preparation and healing, which isLent, to the joyful celebration of life in love, which is Easter!

The people who havewalked in darkness have seen a great light

Isaiah 9:

Confirmation Classes

This year’s Spring Confirmation for the Lansing area is scheduled for May 8, at 10:30 a.m., at All Saints', East Lansing.As always, it offers people the opportunity to come before the Bishop and declare your intention to God and thisbranch of the Church. Three options are available. The first is to confirm your Baptismal vows. This is for those baptizedas an infant and now ready to "Confirm" those vows as an adult. The second option is to be "received" into this branchof the Church. Perhaps you were baptized or confirmed as an adult in another branch of the Church? This is the oppor-tunity to be welcomed into this Episcopal branch. Finally, there is the opportunity to "reaffirm" your commitment to Godand the Church. We all should take these opportunities during the course of our lives because it often gives the HolySpirit a willing heart to work with.In any case, if you are considering Confirmation, Reception or Reaffirmation, a class is offered on three successive Sun-days from April 18 - May 2. It will begin at approximately 11:30 a.m. and last until 1 p.m. Refreshments will be pro-vided and nursery care will be available if needed. Make reservations by contacting one of the clergy or calling theChurch office.

B&PW

By Nancy Rudd, President

The April meeting of the B&PW Guild is Tuesday April13. We will meet in the Hill Room at 6 p.m. for dinner,business meeting, and fellowship. Our program thismonth will be given by our own Steve Lange on the lifeof St. Paul.Please call

Debby Pierce

for a reservation. Dinner is$8. Please join us for an evening of delicious food andgreat companionship.

Some Time Away

By The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller

Our office manager, Kathleen Johnson, will be taking abit of well deserved vacation from April 8-26. She willbe in Florida visiting a new grandchild (born January3) whom she has not yet seen. While she is away, theoffice duties will be covered. Do not hesitate to callwith your normal concerns.In addition, I (Fr. Weller) will be away visiting my owngrandchild from Sunday evening April 4 through Fri-day evening April 9. Again, any needs you may havewill be met. In case of emergency, call

Jeff Kressler

,Sr. Warden, or

Sally Lawrence

, Jr. Warden.

KnowSomeoneWho WillMiss Easter Communion?

If you do, contact theChurch office of one of theclergy with the name, andwe will contact that personand see that his or herneeds are met.

Good FridayEcumenical Service

St. Paul's in pleased to host this year's GoodFriday Ecumenical Service on April 2. It will be-gin at noon and will last approximately 90 min-utes. The service will be followed by a soup/salad luncheon provided at no charge.Our preacher will be The Rev. Michael Dunkle-berger for Christ Community Church (formerlyFirst Baptist). Participating churches will be Un-ion Missionary Baptist, First Presbyterian, Cen-tral United Methodist, and perhaps North SidePresbyterian. This will be the only service forthe day. There will be not be a 7 p.m. service.

KnowSomeoneWho isGraduating?

If you do, please contactthe Church office with aname. In this season ofGraduation we try tohonor all those who haveachieved an accomplish-ment.Page 2

Maundy Thursday Ecumenical Agape Meal

By The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller

Once again, St. Paul's will be inviting some of our ecumenical friends to join us forthe meal that binds all of Christianity together. On Thursday, April 1, we have in-vited Central United Methodist Church, Christ Community Church (Formally First Bap-tist), and Judson Memorial Baptist Church to join us for the Agape Meal. We willgather at 6 p.m. and begin dinner at 6:15 p.m. This commemoration of the Last Sup-per will be followed by the traditional foot washing memorialized in the Bible, aswell as the Garden Experience and concluding with the ceremonial Stripping of theAltar in the Church.Please plan on attending and making your reservation by calling the Church office or signing the guest list on Sundaymorning.

Hosts Needed for Dinner Groups

By Sally Lawrence, Jr. Warden

Parishwide dinner groups have been successful in thepast, and we would like to bring them back. They area great way to integrate new members into our familyand have some great fellowship. We need to beginthis process, however, by identifying those who wouldbe willing to host or co-host a group, sometime in May.If you are interested in hosting, please contact

SallyLawrence

Deb Pierce

Newcomer’s Class

By The Very Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller

Not sure what St. Paul's is all about, even though youhave been a parishioner for 10 years? Only been herefor a few months and are considering joining? Want toknow more, but aren't sure if this place is for you?Sounds like you need to come to a Newcomer's Class.Don't let the name fool you. We want to know you andmake ourselves better known to you, regardless ofyour status. Consider attending the class on Saturday,May 15, from 9-11 a.m. at the Church. Some fun—nopressure—questions asked and some answered.Even if you can't come to the class, consider attendingthe Newcomer's Dinner on Friday, May 21 at 6 p.m.This is one more offering to allow us to meet and greetone another in a less formal way than the Sundaymorning Peace. Sign up is by calling the Church officeor signing the guest list on Sunday mornings.

Easter Services

Sunday, April 4

8 a.m. Sunrise Service with Music10 a.m. Full Choral Eucharist

Save these Dates

June 6 Graduations SundayJune 13 Parish PicnicJune 21-25 Tentative dates for Vacation BibleSchoolJuly 21 Deanery Picnic and Eucharist atHawk Island ParkPage 3