St.

Paul's Episcopal Church

Lansing Michigan

St. Paul’s News

Apollo X May, 2007

By The Rev. Dr. Gordon Weller

M ost of us don’t
remember the
sequence of the Apollo
Moon flights, but we
do remember the high-
The Rev. Dr. Gordon Weller lights. Apollo XI
blasted off on July 16,
1969. Several days later, on July 20, some of
the most memorable words in my lifetime came
from the television, “Houston, Tranquility Base
here, the Eagle has landed.” And a few hours
later, “One Small Step for Man, One Giant
Leap for Mankind.” These words will forever be
etched in our human history.
As dramatic and history making as Apollo XI
was, I tend to remember Apollo X more. The
Apollo X mission was May 18-26, 1969. Per-
haps the most significant event occurred when
the orbiter made its first orbit around the moon
and came out the other side. As the spacecraft
came out of the silence of blackout, we all saw
Volume 32, Issue 5
the first color television transmission from space.
In the middle of our TV screens was an image of
the earth, about the size of a quarter and yet as
beautiful as anything ever could be. If there was
ever a moment that solidified the belief that Inside this issue:
humanity is one and this is our island home, this Calendar 12
was it. Choir Schedule 7
I bring this to our attention because this year, St. Paul’s News 8
The Day of Pentecost is May 26. It will be the Upcoming 2
38th anniversary of the Apollo X’s return to Activities
earth. In Church that Sunday morning, we will
hear the story of our human unity, under God’s Vestry News 5
parental wings, as it was told some 2,000 years
ago. We will hear the story of the people of
Jerusalem being enveloped by tongues of fire
and everyone hearing God’s saving message in
their own language. It is evidence that in the
sight of God, we are all one. It is a message
that has been told throughout the history of our
relationship with God. It is a message that for
(Continued on page 5)

Vestry 2007: The Many Faces of Welcoming

By Greg Wortley, Sr. Warden

“T o follow Christ in restoring all persons to unity with God and each other” is how we envision
our mission here at St. Paul‘s. In last month’s News I shared my deep conviction that the Ac-
tively Welcoming Church initiative is a fine expression of that mission and hopefully the cornerstone
of our growth as a congregation in the coming year. I also indicated that to be a true expression
of that mission, the welcoming of all persons to St. Paul’s and to the reconciling work of Christ must
be through many actions and on multiple levels.
Currently, there are three initiatives being worked on at the vestry level that coincide with each
other and converge with initiatives at the Diocesan, National Church and Anglican Communion lev-
els--all expressions of the many faces of welcoming. Of course, originating from our Evangelism
Committee, the Actively Welcoming Church initiative itself has us working on ways to be open, re-
ceptive, attractive and eagerly inviting to the wide diversity of citizens in the Lansing area who
are in search of an affiliation for their spiritual journeys. Beyond the welcoming initiative itself, our
Stewardship Committee is orchestrating The Gift of Generosity initiative which has us looking be-
yond the mere dollars and cents of a yearly stewardship campaign to considering the bigger pic-
(Continued on page 10)
Page 2 Upcoming St. Paul’s Activities
St Paul’s In Action
Ongoing Activities
• St. Aelred’s Guild, 3rd Wednesday, 5 PM
• Book Cart, First two Sundays, after 10 AM
• B&PW Corporate Communion, May 6, 8 AM
• St. Elizabeth, Tuesday, May 22, Noon, Merrifield
Room
• ECW, 3rd Monday, 7 PM
• Family Night Dinner, Wednesdays, 5-6 PM
• 4Fs, Monday, May 14 and 28, 11:30 AM
• Infant/Toddler Group, 3rd Saturday, 10 AM-Noon
• Men’s Golf League, beginning Thursday, May 3,
3:30 PM, Groesbeck Golf Course
• St. Paul’s Library, open every Sunday
• Prayer Group, 1st Tuesday, 5:30 PM, Choir Re-
hearsal Room
• Men’s Breakfast, 3rd Thursday, 7-8 AM, Hill Room
• Mid-Week Eucharist, Tuesdays, noon
This Month at St. Paul’s and Elsewhere
• Inquirers’/New Member Classes, three sessions
beginning Wednesday, May 2, 6:15—7 PM
• Kristine Miller visit, Sunday, May 6, at the 8 & 10
AM services
• Fundraiser for Caroline Thomas, Sunday, May 6,
after 10 AM service
• Youth Group Lugnuts Game, Sunday, May 6 Noon
• UTO Ingathering, Sunday, May 13
• Pentecost & Baptism, Sunday, May 27
• Recognition, Sunday, May 20, 10 AM
• Young Adults Group, May 20, 6 PM
Looking Ahead
• Graduation Sunday, Sunday, June 3
• Mass in the Grass, June 10, 10 AM, Lake Lans-
ing—North Park
• VBS, June 18-22

B&PW Inquirers and New Member Classes

By Barbara Richardson By The Rev. Susie Shaefer, Curate

T he B&PW Guild will gather for a corporate

communion at 8 a.m. on May 6, followed by
breakfast. Reservations are needed. Contact
Debby Pierce at 485-5446. The cost for breakfast
is $5.
Our May meeting of B&PW will be on Tuesday,
May 8 at 6 p.m. Reservations are needed for this
as well, so please contact Debby. Dinner is $8.00.
Our program is a service project, so please bring
extra greeting cards.
A re you new to St. Paul’s in the last year or so?
Would you like to learn more about the “hows”
and “whys” of what we do here—even if you’ve been
here for a long time? Then these sessions are for you!
Starting on Wednesday, May 2, we will have a three-
session series about the Episcopal Church and St. Paul’s.
The first three sessions (May 2, 9, 16) will be held on
Wednesday evenings at the church, after Family Night
dinner, from 6-7 p.m. On Sunday, May 20, we will rec-
ognize new members in the church during worship ser-
vices. A fourth celebration session will be planned for
that weekend as well, with details to follow soon! A sign
-up sheet for the class will be outside the Merrifield
Room or at the Welcome Table on Sundays.

Kristine Miller to Visit St. Paul’s

By The Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller

F or many the name, Kristine Miller, will sound familiar. Since the spring of 2006, she has been the Steward-
ship and Planned Giving coordinator for the Diocese of Michigan. She has attended several Stewardship
Committee meetings and spoken to the Vestry. She was very involved in our Every Member Canvass this past
fall. She will now address the congregation on the two important topics of stewardship and planned giving.
The visit will be on May 6. At both the 8 and 10 a.m. services, she will speak briefly on the topic of steward-
ship. Following the services, there will be a luncheon for the Vestry, Stewardship Committee and Finance Com-
mittee where we will once again explore planned giving. If you are interested in being involved in this discus-
sion, please indicate this interest by calling Fr. Weller or the Church office.
 Upcoming St. Paul’s Activities Page 3

UTO Ingathering St. Elizabeth Guild

By Kay Gallup By Debby Pierce

T he integrity of our legacy

has been maintained for
over 100 years. It was started by two far-sighted,
T he last meeting of this year will be on Tuesday,
May 22 at 12 noon. We will be in the Merrifield
Room at St. Paul's. This is the annual salad luncheon and
mission-minded women in 1889. The UTO's proud our program will be given by Dr. Lange. If you are in-
past is our heritage; the present is our responsibil- terested in joining us for lunch and the program, please
ity; but the future is our real challenge. call me at 394-4800. When you are contacted by the
calling committee, please let them know if you will be
Every penny given in prayer and thanksgiving is bring finger sandwiches, salad or dessert. Thank you.
distributed throughout the world in response to
compelling human needs. The UTO Blue Boxes are
placed at the two entrances to the church. UTO
envelopes will be in the April 29 and May 6 bulle-
tins. The Ingathering will be at both services on
Sunday, May 13.

Benefit for Caroline Thomas

By Debby Pierce, Service/Outreach Committee

S he’s been called “Courageous Caroline” and “The Princess of Jerome Street,” but to the members of the St.
Paul’s community Caroline Thomas is family, one of our own. Many of you gave blood or volunteered dur-
ing our most recent blood drive to help support Caroline in her valiant fight against brain cancer, and on Sun-
day, May 6, you can help again and enjoy a wonderful meal after the 10 a.m. service.
The Service and Outreach Committee is sponsoring a brunch to benefit Caroline. All donations collected will be
given to help defray some of her medical expenses.
Everyone from our community and beyond is invited and welcome. We ask that you sign up for brunch at the
sign-up table outside the Merrifield Room. We hope you will join us to support Caroline, her brothers, Jacob
and Josh, and moms, Carol Thomas and Mable Menadier-Thomas; and to celebrate spring with your Parish
Family.

Recognition Sunday Church School

By The Rev. Susie Shaefer, Curate By The Rev. Susie Shaefer, Curate

O n Sunday, May 20, we will welcome a group

of new members to the life of St. Paul’s con-
gregation. Many of them have completed the In-
quirers’/New Member Classes (see related article
pg. 2).
This Sunday will also be the last day of church
school, and we will take this opportunity to provide
a special thank you to all who helped make the
church school program possible this year.
Please join us in worship and at coffee hour for
special refreshments to welcome our newest mem-
bers and to thank our valued volunteers.
T he last day of church school before the summer
break is Sunday, May 20. On that day, we will
recognize our teachers who have worked with the chil-
dren and youth of St. Paul’s this year.
For Church School, we’ve been blessed by the work of
Carol Laub, Julie Fletcher, Judi Clarke, Jill Walker,
Kathy Gut, Chris and Charlie Krupka, Matt and Kym
Hall, Chris Nazar, Sue LeDuc, Tom Foltz and Lyn
Kressler. It takes a lot of energy and commitment to
carry out our church school program. Many thanks to
these volunteers who give of their time and talents!
Page 4 Upcoming St. Paul’s Activities
Graduation Sunday Young Adults: Easter in the Movies
By The Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller By Pastor Susie Shaefer, Curate

I t has long been a tradition at St. Paul’s to

honor our high school, college and advanced-
degree graduates. On Sunday, June 3 your Vestry
will provide a breakfast for the graduates and
their families at 9 AM. During the 10 AM service
there will be a short ceremony to honor the high
school grads, and a small gift by which to remem-
ber us will be presented.
Please provide information to the office regarding
any Parish-family graduates for inclusion in the
festivities and also so we can provide recognition
in the June issue of St. Paul’s News.
J oin us for the second of our two-part Young Adult
movie series. We are exploring the idea of new
life in two recent movies, “The Pursuit of Happyness”
and “Stranger Than Fiction.”
“Young Adults” generally include folks in their twenties
and thirties, married or single, kids or not. If that might
be you, then please join us on Sunday, May 20 at 6
p.m. We'll have movie snacks and then dessert and dis-
cussion of the movies. Location is TBA.
If you'd like to host (all you need is a TV & DVR player,
I’ll bring the snacks) or attend an evening, please speak
to Rev. Susie Shaefer.

Galilee By The Sea:

Vacation Bible School – June 18-22
By Pastor Susie Shaefer, Curate

C ome explore the seaside town of Galilee and learn about an impor-
tant visitor: Jesus! In this year’s Vacation Bible School, children will
experience the hustle and bustle of a seaside fishing town while learning about all the wonderful blessings Jesus
still provides for us today.
In the marketplace, children will visit shopkeepers, and learn about carpentry, fishing and jewelry making. They
will also discover what the shopkeepers know about Jesus. Our time travelers will go to synagogue and observe
the customs of Jewish families both historically and today. Daily dramas provide the “tribes of Israel” an oppor-
tunity to hear familiar Bible stories told in a new way, and devotion time will help each child translate the love
of Jesus into today’s world.
We hope you will join us for this exciting program, full of music, games, crafts and fun. Explore the town of
Galilee as we step back in time and learn how to walk with Jesus today! Registration forms are available at
church, or call the office.

Baptism Mass-on-the-Grass
By The Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller By Pastor Susie Shaefer, Curate

T he Day of Pentecost, this year on

May 27, is celebrated on the seventh
Sunday after Easter and commemorates
O n June 10, the 10 a.m. service will be held at
Lake Lansing - North Park. Come worship in
the beauty of God’s creation.
the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the
apostles. It is the time we mark the giving of the Holy A potluck luncheon will immediately follow. There
Spirit to humanity and the beginning of the Church. will be plenty of fun and fellowship to fill the af-
ternoon. Look for details in upcoming church bulle-
It is also one of the four Sundays during the Church year tins.
when we schedule baptisms. We do so because Baptism
is the rite of initiation into the Church.
If you or someone in your family would like to be bap-
tized, we hope you will contact the Church office for
additional information.
 News from the Vestry Page 5

Financial Information as of March 31, 2007

By Jeff Irwin
The total pledge and non-pledge revenue received through March 31was $76,752, which is 27.1% of the total
2007 budget. The end of March marks the end of the first quarter of the year.
In March, we booked a loss from operations of $21,936, which brings the year to date total loss from opera-
tions to $23,856.
We received $59,194 from the Lucille Penniman Trust in March. Per vestry policy, $53,275 (90%) has been
transferred to the Perpetual fund and $5,919 (10%) to the Mission and Outreach fund. In 2008, we can ex-
pect the distribution of a similar amount, which will be the final distribution from this trust.
The restricted and designated funds have recorded $9,889 in investment gain for the first quarter. Combined
with $68,142 of restricted contributions (including the $59,194 from the Penniman Trust), we have recorded a
total of $78,031 in restricted income through March 31, 2007. This brings the combined net income of the
church through March 31, 2007 to $54,175.
In March it was necessary to withdraw $20,000 from the Perpetual Fund to support operating expenses. This
leaves $20,000 still available per prior Vestry approval.

Highlights from the Vestry Meeting:
At the April 17 meeting of the Vestry, your Vestry:
• Reviewed the Welcoming Church Document
• For devotions discussed and prayed for those
involved in the Virginia Tech tragedy
• Received a thank you from Micah Jackson for
having him as our Holy Week preacher
• Accepted, with regret, the resignation of the Rev.
Susie Shaefer effective June 30
• Reviewed our financial reports (see synopsis else-
where in this SPN)
• Authorized moving an additional $50,000 from
reserved funds to operating funds when needed
• Approved the Shawver Fund bequest document
• Reviewed the Sewer Separation project. It will
begin soon. We must have a contractor separate
our building's sewers.
• Received various Committee reports
• Reviewed a "Marketing Plan" prepared by
Stephanie Van Koevering
• Reviewed Easter events
• Discussed the addition of Bill Fineout to the staff
as a Vocational Deacon
• Discussed the "Ministry Fair" happening on May 5
• Received notice from the Presiding Bishop's office
that she will not be able to be with us in October
• Discussed the visitation of Kristine Miller (Diocesan
officer for Stewardship and Planned Giving) on
May 6

(Continued from, “Apollo X,” page 1)

some reason we want to ignore.

We continually seek to divide ourselves and portray ourselves as different, unique, better than one another.
We have little regard for those who suffer. We focus on personal achievement and lose sight of the unity
that diversity still encompasses. The smaller the world has become, the more we ignore our similarities. We
have little regard for the fact that we are destroying the only home we have.
On that Day of Pentecost, May 26, we will once again remember the gift of the Holy Spirit. If this Spirit lives
in our lives, let us amend our lives to reflect that belief.
Page 6
St. Paul’s Youth Ministry
Youth Group to Lugnuts Toddler/Infant Playgroup
By The Rev. Susie Shaefer, Curate By Pastor Susie Shaefer, Curate

W e are planning another youth outing, this time to

a Lansing Lugnuts game, on Sunday, May 6.
Bring your hometown team spirit, and come cheer on the
Lansing Lugnuts!
We’ll have lunch together at church, and then (weather
permitting) walk over for the 2 p.m. game. As always,
friends are welcome to join us. Tickets cost $8. Please
sign up outside the Merrifield Room, or contact Rev.
Susie Shaefer if you would like to attend, so that tickets
can be bought together.
D o you have a child under age three? Then this
group is for you! Come get to know other
parents of young children and enjoy a short pro-
gram. The Toddler/Infant Playgroup meets on the
third Saturday of the month, from 10 a.m.-noon.
On Saturday, May 19, we plan to have a
“pampering day” for mothers. RSVPs are always
appreciated but not required. Questions? Please
contact Rev. Susie or Dianna Erickson.

Christian Summer Camp: Fun and Faith

By The Rev. Susie Shaefer, Curate

L ooking for another experience of God’s love for your children? Look
into Christian summer camp! Camp provides a unique environment
for children and youth to experience Christian community with people
their own age, all the while enjoying God’s creation. All this plus the
usual camp activities: making crafts, singing, gathering around camp-
fires, swimming and boating. This year, the Episcopal Diocese of Michi-
gan is partnering with the Lutheran summer camps—called Living Wa-
ters Ministries—to provide programs for children completing third grade up through high school. If you missed
their visit in February, stop by the youth bulletin board and check out their brochure.
In addition to summer camp experiences for youth, Living Waters Ministry offers week-long family camps. Bring
the whole family, and stay either in your own tents or in cabins at camp. The camp does all meals, as well as
programs like archery and arts and crafts, including some “kids-only” activities, to free up some “adults-only”
time. If you’re interested, or have any questions about these summer opportunities, please talk to Pastor Susie
Shaefer.

From the Worship Committee

By The Rev. Susie Shaefer, Curate

H ave you ever wondered what it would be like to lead prayers in worship or help serve the chalice at
Communion? Ask and you shall receive!
Our worship life depends on participation from various people. We need people (called lectors) to read the
lessons. We need people to lead our prayers, to help serve the chalice (called Eucharistic ministers), people to
serve as ushers and acolytes and on the altar guild. If you are interested in being a part of our worship life in
any of these ways, you don’t have to wait for the fall to get started.
For more information on any of these groups, at any time of the year, speak with one of the clergy, and we will
happily connect you with the leader of that group.
 St. Paul’s Choirs Page 7

Choir News and Dates to Remember

By Dr. Stephen R. Lange, Minister of Music

A big thank you goes to all of you who sang at the Easter services! The singing was wonderful, and I pass
on the appreciation of many parishioners who expressed their gratitude for your inspiring work. Your
dedication of time and talent helped greatly to enrich the two worship services and bless the lives of those pre-
sent. Alleluia!

It’s hard to believe that the year is winding down so rapidly. Here are a few special year-end dates to make
note of.
May 13 (Mothers’ Day) - Second Graders (former Cherubs) will move up to Boys’ or Grace Choirs. They will
sing with Cherubs first (at the beginning of the service) and then be given their new vestments, so that they
can sit with Boys’ and Grace Choirs for the remainder of the service.
May 13 - Also, Fifth and Sixth Grade Girls will move up to High School Choir after they have sung the Boys’
and Grace Choir anthem. They will vest with High School Choir for the remainder of the year.
May 16 - The last Cherub, Boys’ and Grace, and High School Choir rehearsal for the spring. (If we can work
it out, we hope to visit a retirement home with some of our Cabaret acts.)
May 17 - Chancel Choir party at the Lange’s (6 p.m.)
May 20 - Choir Banquet - Our year-end recognition of the choristers and the work they have put in. There
will be a sign-up sheet for the potluck on the bulletin board by the Choir Rehearsal Room. The banquet will
begin as close to 12 noon as possible. This is the last Sunday that the Boys’ and Grace Choirs will vest.

Singing Schedule
Date Choirs
May 7 High School
May 14 Cherubs; Boys’ and Grace; High School; Chancel
May 21 High School; Chancel
May 28 High School; Chancel

June 3 High School; Chancel

Upcoming Musical Events at St. Paul’s

O n Sunday, May 6, Michael Wright will present a senior recital at St. Paul’s at 3 p.m. Michael is a student at
Grand Ledge High School and a voice student of Stephen Lange. He will play the piano and sing several
pieces, including a duet with his high school vocal music teacher, Nancy Lange. He was named the top high-
school French Horn player in the state and will attend Michigan State University next fall. The concert is open to
the public without charge.
On Monday, May 7, Michael will join with four of his friends playing woodwind quintet music. That concert,
also at St. Paul’s, will begin at 7:30 p.m. and is open to the public without charge.
Page 8
St. Paul’s News
Thanks to You,
ERD Book Sale a Great Success
By Sue Millar, ERD Diocesan Coordinator

R emember how we pitched this year’s ERD Book

Sale as a WIN-WIN-WIN?
Thank you . . . . thank you . . . . thank you!
Also, thanks to the many people who helped sort, sell
• You won when you donated books. You opened up and store the books. It was a big job, but we had a
welcome empty space on your book shelves or good time doing it.
emptied boxes in your basement. ERD will receive over $1000—about double what was
• You won because you chose from among the many donated last year. By any measure, the book sale was
wonderful titles of “new” books to take home for a great success.
reading pleasure and enrichment.
• You won because you helped Episcopal Relief and
Development continue its compassionate aid to
those in need.

GLADE A Look Back at Our Lenten Series

By The Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller By The Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller

S ome have heard about an organization called

GLADE. These letters stand for Greater Lans-
ing Development and Empowerment. The organiza-
tion is a grassroots attempt to involve many of the
churches in the Greater Lansing area in looking for
a project of peace and justice that might not only
tie us closer together, but serve the Lansing area as
well. Several members from St. Paul’s have been
involved and may soon be asking you if you might
like to actively search for a project. Be ready to
respond. If you have questions, contact Fr. Weller.
F or five Wednesdays in February and March we
looked at what Christian responsibility might be
like if the 25th Chapter of the Gospel of Matthew were
used as a model. Among the areas we explored were
feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, assisting the
sick, visiting prisoners and welcoming the alien.
Now is the time to decide how St. Paul’s will respond to
this Gospel imperative. This response will be discussed
at a Mission and Outreach Committee meeting at 5:30
p.m. on May 21. We are hoping that this will be one of
the best attended meetings of the spring. As Christians
we are all called to respond. The question is how? The
magnitude can seem overwhelming. Please consider
attending.

Welcome to Bill Fineout

By The Rev. Dr. Gordon F. Weller

A s indicated in a mid-April letter, St Paul’s will once again have a Vocational Deacon on staff. Mr. Bill
Fineout joined the staff on Sunday, April 29.
Bill's duties will be twofold. As a deacon, he will have specific Eucharistic responsibilities. He will read the Gos-
pel, prepare the altar and give the dismissal. In addition, there are a variety of things he might do in other ser-
vices. These will be made clear after discussion with the Bishop.
In his vocational work, Bill would like to have involvement in our outreach ministry. This probably will involve
some oversight in our street ministries and Mission and Outreach Committee.
Bill was baptized at St. Paul’s. His family moved to Haslett when he was six. In the intervening years he has at-
tended several parishes. He’s glad to be returning to St. Paul’s.
 St. Paul’s News Page 9

Reactions to the 10th Becoming the Household of God Conference

Compiled by Sue Millar

I returned from this year’s Household of God Con-

ference exhilarated again by many new insights,
but also wishing that others at St. Paul’s had shared the
experience. Just as it is often difficult to convey to oth-
ers enthusiasm for a book you’ve read, a play you’ve
seen or travels you’ve taken, I have found it difficult to
communicate to others the value of these annual con-
ferences.
In an attempt to share my enthusiasm, I thought the
best thing might be to let people you know speak of
their experience this year.
Dorothy Marsh:
The Household of God. Why is it that so few people
from St. Paul’s attend this event each year? Better still,
why do the same people attend each year? From those
who don’t go, we’ve all heard the old arguments. It’s
too far. They always have everything in Detroit. You
have to stay overnight, etc.
Well, from someone who has always tried to attend
regularly, the same issues apply. I would like you to
know that you don’t have to stay overnight. Some of us
go on Friday night and some of us go for the Saturday
meeting. Is that the best way to get the full benefit of
these wonderful speakers? No, but it is still worth the
trip. Is it too far? Well, I don’t like to have to go to the
Detroit area either, but when two or three drive to-
gether there is a great opportunity for fellowship and
sharing, and that is a blessing in itself. I don’t know
what is planned for next year, but I promise you it will
be worth your time and effort to go. In fact, let’s car-
pool, right?
Libby Richardson:
I attended the "Household of God" conference with the
Rt. Rev. Michael B. Curry on March 24. It was a great
conference. Bishop Curry is an amazing speaker. He
spoke on "Keeping the Faith. Keeping it alive. The
Stewardship of Faith." The Bishop recited scripture,
answered questions and kept us all right in the palm of
his hand for about five hours. His delivery reminded
me of a Southern Baptist preacher. He was mesmeriz-
(Continued on page 10)

St. Paul’s April Prayer List

W e pray for those who are sick and in need: Beverly McEachern, Cindy Robin-
son, Richard, Audrey & Aaron Hegmon, Shelley Robinson, Donna, Grady, &
Dennis Letner, Clara Voges, Mason Hill, Lois Caswell, Brian Schray, June Wyatt, Dick
Siebert, Carol, Bernie Lynch, Judith Jones, baby Benjamin, Becky Chamberlain, Nancy
Hiscoe Clark, Elizabeth Marsden, Dezi & Penny Horvat, Charles Weaver, Kristin Kelley,
Prayer List Rich Davis, Cris Plyler, Ben Herbert, Tim Ross, Chance Collins, Caroline Thomas and
her parents, brothers & godparents, Steve, Betty Jensen, Aaron Robinson, Marjorie
Belles, Dan, Marsha & Skip Macholz, Gloria Harvat, Cindy Alvarez, Jack Siebold, Joe Manson, DakBai
DakBai, Jessica Ryan, Leon Hawkins, Irene Jones, Roger Ophaug, Richard Bailey, Fredrick Engle, Kelsey
Bauman, Daisy Dockstader, Ruth Helmer, and Esther Rivas
We pray and remember those in the Military, serving in dangerous areas: Carlos Sims
We pray for the children who completed the March Communion Class: Rebecca Rose, Lydia Rose, Andrew
Stephenson, Jane Stephenson, Henry Young
We pray for and celebrate the marriage of: Joan Bolander and Matthew Ferguson
We pray for those expecting: Ian & Brooke Broughton, Daren & Ellen McConnell, Matt Ferguson & Joan
Bolander, Brian & Amy (Fowler) Ashcraft, and Daniel & Gretchen Barnas
We pray for and celebrate the baptism of: Angelica Lynn Hickey, daughter of Patrick & Julie Hickey and
Anya Joy Heany, daughter of Justin & Julia Heany
We pray for comfort for the family and friends of Marjorie N. Goodrich and Fern Folkers who recently
passed away.
Page 10
St. Paul’s News
(Continued from, “Household of God,” page 9)
ing. Again, for the third year in a row, this conference
has exposed me to another wonderful teacher.
Susan Henderson
I have been to several Household of God conferences,
and each time, regardless of the theme or speaker, I
was inspired and challenged. This year’s speaker,
Bishop Michael Curry of North Carolina was equally
eloquent. His message, “Keeping the Faith…Keeping It
Alive,” was a call into relationship and to action.
Through stories and metaphor and imagery, he spoke
of a faith that calls us to a new way of seeing, which
brings about a new way of being, which produces yet
again a new way of seeing, which produces yet newer
being, and so on.
My husband (Chuck Millar) also agreed that the
preaching was powerful, and he is holding on to a fa-
vorite quote he brought back, and finds himself re-
peating:
"Live in the unlimited possibilities of faith, not the lim-
ited probabilities of human options.” Think about that;
it's liberating.
I have attended all 10 Diocesan Household of God Though I couldn't attend the second day of the retreat,
conferences, and this year's was one of the best. the trip to hear the first day's presentation was well
Bishop Curry combined a deep authentic biblical Chris- worth the effort and left me wanting more.
(Continued from, “Vestry 2007,” page 1)
ture of how we can practice the spiritual discipline of
generosity, and thereby be more outward looking
collectively, 365 days a year. The Adult Christian
Education and Formation Committee’s Wednesday
Lenten Series looked at several concrete examples of
Lansing area organizations “seeking and serving
Christ in all persons.” Now, the Mission and Outreach
Committee is leading an initiative whereby we ac-
tively and visibly define our service—our welcome—
to those with special needs in our community.
Converging with these welcoming initiatives locally at
St. Paul’s are the broader diocesan, national church
and Anglican Communion commitments to the Millen-
nium Development Goals. In the year 2000, over
180 countries, including the United States, signed the
Millennium Declaration—a covenant to pursue eight
objectives (the Millennium Development Goals)—so
that extreme global poverty could be significantly
reduced by the year 2015. The 74th General Con-
vention of the Episcopal Church (2003) endorsed
these goals. Moreover, the 75th General Convention
(2006) adopted them as a “mission priority” for the
coming triennium, committing 0.7% of its budget for
tianity with passionate teaching and preaching. I found
myself repeatedly wanting to say aloud an emphatic
"YES!”
Brad Deacon
In March, I had the opportunity to attend a portion of
the "Becoming the Household of God" session, the tenth
year that the Whitaker School of Theology and the
Diocese have presented this kind of workshop. I wasn't
sure what to expect, other than a promise that the
speaker was excellent and a hope that I'd leave with
some new things to consider during Lent. The Rt. Rev.
Michael B. Curry, a longtime friend of Bishop Gibbs
and now a Bishop in his own right in North Carolina,
has a rare and special gift—the ability to talk for a
long time without its seeming so, leaving people want-
ing more. He talked of the importance of faith and
how faith in God connects the Old and New Testa-
ments, the history of Christianity, and our lives in the
present. Peppered with Biblical references, current
theological commentary and large doses of humor,
Curry's talk challenged us to think about faith and our
stumbling blocks. For us, both literal and figurative
mountains often stand in our way, but from the pano-
ramic view of God, there are no mountains at all.
Millennium Goal related programs. The Convention
challenged the church as a whole to both contribute
toward and advocate: 1) cutting in half income pov-
erty and hunger; 2) achieving universal primary edu-
cation; 3) promoting gender equality and empower-
ing women; 4) reducing child mortality; 5) improving
maternal health; 6) combating HIV/AIDS, malaria
and other diseases; 7) ensuring environmental stabil-
ity; 8) and creating a global partnership for devel-
opment through aid, trade and debt relief—all con-
crete expressions of welcoming persons globally into
the transforming love of God.
This expression of mission through the many faces of
welcoming is, perhaps, best expressed by the
Archbishop of Canterbury. In the April issue of Epis-
copal Life, Rowan Williams reflects on the church’s
mission in this way: “If we’re talking about mission,
we must begin with a conviction about mission being
that set of actions and habits that makes God in Je-
sus Christ known. Mission is about helping people to
know God [who] promises absolute commitment to
the whole community and everyone within it. No one
is outside that relationship, therefore no one is for-
gotten and no one is invisible.”
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