October 2016

ST. PAUL’S EPISTLE 250 Hwy 2 NE • P.O. Box 1225 • Corinth, MS 38835 • 662-286-2922

In this Issue Church Family Life, p. 2 Happy Birthday/Anniversary! p. 2

St. Paul’s ornament for diocesan tree? p. 2 Our nursing home sing-ers need a name (and more voices are wel-come, too), p. 2 Who to call with news for St. Paul’s publica-tions, p. 2 Family Stories group starts Oct 3, p. 2 Calendar, p. 3 Day of Addiction and Recovery Support, p.3 Sept Sunday School pictures, p. 3 Treasurer’s Report, p. 4 Memorials, p. 4

Vote for Good News

To paraphrase Bishop Neil Alexander, it’s not what I believe about God that’s important; it’s what God believes about me. It’s incredibly good news to accept that God is serious about loving me. That despite my meant-to’s and not-yet’s and shouldn’t-have-said-it’s, God is faithfully calling me God’s own. Showing me how to peel again that tough skin of self-preservation off, and instead relate to this world in plain truth and vulnerable love. That’s good news we have to share. To accept that God beholds me and smiles, is to accept that God beholds my enemy with the same uninterrupted gaze of love. Munching on a steady diet of 24-hour news and the anxious thrum of our just-updated social media newsfeed leaves little room for the bread of life. There are many who benefit from our con-sumption of “news”, especially regarding our national life and the upcoming presidential election. Yes, many benefit; do you? Are you left full and ready to bless the world—or full of anxiety, ready to bless out the next person who irritates you? Yet when we bristle at the latest report from or about a candidate, we go back for second helpings. Drink deeply from a pool of stagnant water. I propose two tools to help us move forward in faith these next months: Let God feed you instead. “The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail” (Isaiah 58:11). Treat yourself to daily reminders of God’s faithfulness, of God’s ability to redeem even the most hopeless of circumstances. Does the day sneak away? Set yourself a boundary—no TV or social media before 7am or after 8pm. Ask a friend or spouse to hold you accountable, or join you in the fast. With those boundaries in place, time will open up for a morning devotional or prayerful review of your day. Someone more important that my favorite news pundit once said, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Feed your friends, and feed your enemies. That’s how the gospel spreads! It is likely that many, many people of your acquaintance have already heard, know, or practice the gospel. That does not permit us to stop bearing the light of Christ to one another. Remember, it’s not what your friend believes about God (or who your friend is going to vote for)—it’s what God believes about your friend that is important. And God is serious about loving that friend—even, mirabile dictu! seri-ous about loving THAT candidate. In your prayers, picture God looking with love at the person who’s getting under your skin. Criticism is okay; let it be carried by respect. Instead of accepting and carry-ing around what the news cycle dictates you should think about someone, act, speak, post, and for-give like you see things from God’s loving perspective instead.

Ann+

In honor of St. Francis

A Pet Blessing Service at St. Paul’s Outdoor Chapel Sunday, October 2, 2:00pm

If your pet does not travel well or does not get along well with other

animals, you may bring their picture, leash, collar or empty pet carrier for a blessing to go. All pets must be on leashes or in pet carriers.

All pets and their humans are welcome!

2

Share the joy and suggest a name for our nursing home singers

Can you think of a good name for the St. Paul’s folks who lead the sing-alongs at several area nursing homes? Dar-lene Grisewood says she is often asked for the group’s name when she sets up the visits . This merry band of singers, and a guitar or two, visit with residents and sing familiar, toe-tapping songs. It is a joy-filled part of our church’s outreach. Join them and share the joy! (And share your name suggestions with Darlene.)

Who you gonna call? Or text? Or email?

Do you know who to contact if you have some news or a suggestion for the bulletin, E-news or newsletter? You can always email the church office at stpaulscorinth.com, but the most direct way is to get in touch with the person who works on each of these publications. Barb Barrett updates, prints and folds bulletins. If you have traded duties on the serving schedule, have a name to put on or take off the Prayer List, or an announcement to add, please let Barb know before she makes the final edit and prints bulletins on Thursday. Cynthia Harrell works on St. Paul’s E-news, getting the weekly email ready to send when she’s in our church office most Mondays. It works best to text or email your news item or phone a request to her by Monday, when she fin-ishes and schedules the E-news mailing, though late-breaking news can be added before Tuesday afternoon. Susan Adams puts together the monthly newsletter. Depending on the time of year, most news received by the third week of the preceding month can make it into print. What if Cynthia and Susan are off hiking somewhere or Barb is out of town? Get in touch with Ann, our rector, who will make sure your news gets where it needs to go.

Church Family Life News and notes about our parish family

Jake Bland has moved to Southern Magnolia, an as-sisted living facility in Iuka. Please write or visit Jake at 1308 N. Pearl St. #3, Iuka, MS 38852. Congratulations to Nora Hughes, crowned Jr. Miss Ramer Day Queen in September. Billie Gephart was back in church recently; she is determined to keep gaining strength and partici-pate in choir. “Coach Cliff” is faithfully helping her reach her goals. Robin Grisewood is doing well follow-ing gallbladder surgery. Cynthia Harrell completed the Tunnel Light Marathon in Washington State, which in-cluded running two miles through an old railroad tun-nel—thank goodness for headlamps! Robert and Penny Nelson are moving to Kansas: 307 N. Ash St., Hillsboro, KS 67063. Dylan Nelson would love to receive mail dur-ing basic training: Pvt Dylan Nelson, Roster 328 F CO 2nd Battalion 47th Infantry Regiment 9375 Conway Dr. Ne Bldg # (3425) Fort Benning, CA 31905-4776 Add a blue dot to the bottom left corner of envelope on front; on the back flap, write Roster #328.

Happy Birthday! Frances Bullard 10/3; David Dierks, 10/7; Jake Bland, 10/12; Glennan Grady, 10/20; Donna Hamilton, 10/27. Happy Anniversary! Jan and Glennan Grady, 10/27. Is your special day missing? To add your birthday, anniversary, or news, please call or email the church office at stpaulscorinth@gmail.com.

Communion Bread Bakers

Thank you to St. Paul’s children who baked nine loves of bread for the Eucharist in September and October as their Sunday School kickoff project last month.

Have an idea for a St. Paul’s ornament?

Allin House, the Diocese of Mississippi’s home office, plans to put up a Christmas tree this year. They hope to decorate it with commemorative ornaments from par-ishes and missions from around the diocese. Canon Brian Ponder asks, “If your church has commissioned a commemorative ornament in the past (or if it plans to do so in the future), please keep the Allin House in mind. We’re looking for one commemorative orna-ment from your parish or mission church for our per-manent collection.”

Family Stories writers meet Oct 3 at 11am

Join Ryland Bruhwiler in the fellowship hall for the first meeting of the Family Stories writers’ group. Bring a mem-ory that you've written about your family or your own growing up, and we'll take turns reading them. This is not a "class" with assignments, and we don't care a darn about grammar. Just write as naturally as if you're writing a letter to someone you like a lot. We all love hear-ing about Mamaw's famous biscuits, and Uncle Fred who was a multimillionaire and wore the same pair of ratty slip-pers for 40 years, and the Labrador retriever who ran all the way into town to get Mama when the barn caught on fire (true story!). Where your family came from--or the time your skinny sister got fed up and socked the bully on the bus (true story!)--whatever! It's your story, your choice.

2 Blessing of the Animals; Outdoor Chapel, 2pm 16 Low Country Boil, Crazy K Ranch; Entertainment 5pm, meal served 6pm 17 Vestry Meeting, 6pm 25 Outreach Sunday 27 Pastoral care meeting, 2pm

3

October

Diocese of Alabama to host Oct 15 Day of Addiction and Recovery

All are invited to attend a day-long event exploring addiction and recovery hosted by the Department of Re-covery Ministries in the Diocese of Alabama on Saturday, October 15, at St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Birming-ham. Starting at 10:00am, the event includes morning and afternoon workshops, and a recovery-themed Eucharist later that afternoon. There will be something for everyone – the person living with the disease as well as the person who simply wants to learn a little more. The keynoters, Michael O’Keefe and Travis Meadows, will speak to the impact of addiction in their lives. O’Keefe, an actor best known for his role as Ben Meecham in The Great Santini and Danny Noonan in Caddyshack, is also an accomplished songwriter and au-thor. Meadows, one of the “it” songwriters in Nashville now, writes for everybody (Wynona, Dierks Bentley, etc.). He’s a great guy who tells his story with his music. If interested, register at: www.journeyday.info.

September Sunday School Last month our children baked communion bread for St. Paul’s (plus extra loaves for sampling) and harvested the church sunflowers, learning about God’s plan and care for all living things.

Low Country Boil

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Crazy K Ranch 833 N. Prather Road, Michie, TN

Entertainment 5 to 6pm; food served 6pm

Will you join the vestry in 2017?

A nominating committee will be formed soon for the 2017 vestry election. The vestry meets monthly to dis-cuss and plan both the spiritual and financial direction of St. Paul’s. All confirmed adults who are pledging mem-bers of our church may be elected to the vestry. If you’ve considered being part of the vestry team, ask a current member for more information, and let them or someone on the nominating committee know of your interest.

Invite your friends and join the fun! Calling all singers, musicians, poets and such to the pre-dinner open mic! Sunday, October 9, is the last day to buy tickets. Please sign up on the narthex list to help with entertainment, set up or meal serving, or to donate a dessert.

St. Paul's Church P.O. Box 1225 Corinth, MS 38835

Are you receiving St. Paul’s Weekly E-News? To subscribe, please email stpaulscorinth@gmail.com.

If you cannot get to church and would like to receive Holy Communion or a visit at your home or the hospital, please call the church at 286-2922.

Did you miss a Sunday? Sermons are posted on our website when available. Listen to the audio files at: www.stpaulscorinth.dioms.org/worship/sermons.html

Have you liked St. Paul's on Facebook yet?

Contact Information: (662) 286-2922 (Mon-Thurs) stpaulscorinth@gmail.com www.stpaulscorinth.dioms.org

Deadline: Please send your newsletter submission by the 21st of each month.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Sunday Schedule: 9:30 Holy Eucharist Nursery available 9:15-12:00 The Rector and Vestry: The Rev. Ann Benton Fraser, Rector Barb Barrett, Senior Warden Susan Adams, Junior Warden Cynthia Harrell, Treasurer Ryland Bruhwiler, Clerk Scott Bauer Tana Daniel Debbie Elam Jan Grady Robin Grisewood Ed Lucas Gail Vaughn

Do you receive The Missis-sippi Episcopalian? If you would like a subscription to the Mississippi Episcopalian, the monthly newspaper of the Diocese of MS, please let the church office know.

August Treasurer’s Report

Operating Fund

Building Fund Building Fund Balance 11,136 Mortgage Balance 0

Thank you for keeping your pledge up to date.

Your generosity is an investment in our ministry and fellowship together in Christ’s name!

This

Month

YTD

Budget

YTD

Actual Variance

Pledges 10,164 81,320 77,194 -4,126

Plate 615 8,056 5,670 -2,386

Memorials

In memory of Jimma Lambert, by Beth and Scott Bauer,

Barb Barrett, Renee Harmon, and Dorothy Hopkins