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September 2013

A few weeks ago, area high schools, MTSU, Conference USA, the Southeastern Conference and all of college football kicked-off the football season. On September 8 St. Paul’s officially kicked-off our capital campaign, Mission & Ministry: A Work of Faith.

Two things really excite me about this campaign. The first is that it is grounded in gratitude, revealed in prayer and built on faith. What this campaign is ultimately about

is ministry that changes lives, not bricks and mortar or dollars and cents. The second is the people who have stepped up to take leadership roles in the campaign. This is an outstanding group of people who have answered the call to serve in this ministry. Each has a specific area of responsibility. Is my honor to introduce your campaign leadership team.

Kickoff Time!

James K. Polk Van Zandt Rector

Our MissionAbridgement of a sermon preached by the Rev. Colin Ambrose on Sunday, August 25, 2013

Have you ever googled your own name? Have you ever typed your name into Google to see what would pop up? I did this not too long ago. My computer was in front of me and I obviously had nothing better to do, so I typed my name into the search engine. But just as I was about to click the search button, I paused and thought to myself, what do I hope to see? What do I want the “world wide web” to proclaim about me? I’ve been thinking about this question ever since. It’s a question that has helped me think about my own sense of purpose. What am I trying to achieve? What does success mean to me? What does failure look like? Or again, what do I want to see when I google my own name? (By the way, when I did click that search button, I discovered that there is another Colin Ambrose who is a famous chef on Long Island. Unfortunately, Google thinks he is significantly more important than I am.Now why do I bring this story up? Well, I bring it up because in our reading from Jeremiah, chapter 1, we heard the story of a man receiving mission and purpose. Jeremiah is a young man, living his life, just like us. I’m sure he had a certain vision for his life. He had things he wanted to achieve, a purpose in life, when, all of a sudden, God enters the picture and changes everything. God enters the picture and gives Jeremiah a new purpose and a new mission. What I want to argue is that Jeremiah’s experience teaches us about our own sense of mission and purpose. We learn two truths. First, mission and purpose for a Christian begins with a call - with external communication - with a summoning. Second, God drives our mission. Once God gives us our mission, He empowers us and makes it possible for us to achieve His purpose for us. First, mission begins with an external call. In the New Testament, we meet a former tax collector named Matthew.

Colin Ambrose,Associate Rector

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN LEAdErSHIP TEAMRector: James K. Polk Van ZandtCampaign Chairs: Alicia & Alex HollisCoordinator: Marcie RichmondCommunication Chairs: Art Growden & Mary Beth WilsonAdvance Commitments Chairs: Bill & Kathy Jones, Bill WhitesellPrayer Chair: David RoweCelebration Chair: Cheryl BeasleyGratitude & Ministry Chairs: Anne Davis, Ken & Lisa Halliburton, Rick CantrellYouth & Children Chairs: Mary Armour O’Reilly & Joan KleinleinConnections Chairs: Dan & Carole Felciano, Mike & Marlene BeckerMission Strategist: Kristine Miller, Horizons Stewardship Company

Obviously the leadership team will not be able to do this alone! You are all invited to pray a simple prayer, “Lord, what do you want to do through me?” Then take time to listen to God’s answer – and respond accordingly. Be open to helping with the campaign, if you are able, when asked. But most importantly, be open to what God wants to do through you.

Blessings,Polk+rector@stpaulsmboro.org

Proposed Parish Hall & Education Building

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Now if you went to Matthew and asked him, “Why did you begin to follow Jesus? Why did you make his mission your own? Why did you redefine your life around him? Were you looking for a more meaningful life?” “Were you looking for personal fulfillment?” If you asked Matthew these questions he’d say, “No. I wasn’t looking for anything, except tax money. Jesus came looking for me. I was summoned. I was called. For Christians, mission and purpose begins with a call, a summoning. This is a simple truth, but it’s important for us to name this because it is so contrary to the ways of the world. In the modern world, we are taught from very early on that we get to choose our purpose. We get to choose our mission in life. If you go to a baseball player, whose mission is to be the best baseball player there is (that’s what he wants to pop up on Google) and you ask, “Why did you choose this mission?”, he’s going to say, “I love baseball. I’m really good at it and it makes me happy. That’s why I’ve chosen this mission.” This is how the world thinks about mission. We get to choose. In fact, most people believe that they are living the life they have chosen. This is one of the definitions of the modern world. In the modern world you can choose the life you live. Choice has become the defining human characteristic. We worship choice. This has not always been the case. Five hundred years ago, if you went to a blacksmith and asked, “Why are you a blacksmith?” He’d answer, “My name is Smith. My father was a blacksmith. I didn’t really have a choice.” In our age we reject this kind of thinking. Stanley Hauerwas, who is one of the great theologians of our age, writes, “The story of modernity is that we should have no story other than the story that we choose, when we had no story.” The truth is, we don’t like having anyone choose our mission and purpose for us. We have been taught that we get to do this. So it’s difficult for us to receive mission from God, from the God who meets us in Jesus. We just don’t like it; it’s unnatural. Maybe we want God to point us in the right direction. Maybe we want God to inform our mission, but at the end of the day we want to choose it.

As a side-note, I’ll say theologians like Hauerwas point out that the idea that we can choose our purpose is ultimately a lie. We don’t live in a vacuum. We don’t construct our own story. rather, we enter a story, whether or not we’re aware of it. We enter a story that’s already been constructed. Either we enter God’s story, or we enter a story the world has created.The second point I want to highlight is that our mission is driven by God. God empowers us and makes His mission possible. We see this with Jeremiah. God says, “Go to whom I send you. Speak what I command you to speak. I’m the one behind this.” And then God gives that promise. He says, “I’ll be with you. I’ll make sure you can do this.” God follows these words with the beautiful vision of God touching Jeremiah’s mouth and physically placing His words on Jeremiah’s tongue. About a week ago, I was sitting with a retired Methodist bishop and he was sharing stories about his own ministry, sharing what he’d learned during forty years of being a pastor. At one point he said, “Colin, what I continually see are churches or individuals who shrink their mission to fit a world in which Jesus is not present.” We shrink our mission to fit a world in which Jesus is not present.remember those WWJd bracelets? About ten or fifteen years ago it was popular to wear bracelets with the letters WWJd. The letters stood for “What would Jesus do,” and these bracelets were meant to remind you to ask continually, “What would Jesus do in the situation I find myself.” What that’s basically saying is, “Well, we know that Jesus is dead. But we like him. We like his way of life and his teachings. So if Jesus were here, if he were actually here, what would he do?” That’s not what a Christian is supposed to ask. We’re not supposed to ask, “What would Jesus do.” We’re supposed to ask, “What is Jesus doing?”, and then ask, “How do I play a part in what he is doing?” You see this so clearly in the Book of Acts. It’s called “Acts of the Apostles,” but we should really should call it “Acts of Jesus” because it’s Jesus who is driving everything. It is Jesus who is empowering the church to act. “Hey, Church, why did you baptize the Samaritans? Why did you pick that Nazi Paul to be your

chief spokesman to the Gentiles? Why did baptize that Ethiopian?” And the Church would respond, “Well, it wasn’t our idea.” Phillip is by himself when an angel comes to him and says, “Go to the desert at noon,” which, by the way, is not when you want to go to the desert. So Philip goes and he’s told to approach a chariot where there happens to be an Ethiopian reading a scroll of Isaiah. They start talking and by the end of it the Ethiopian is baptized. This is the story the Scriptures tell: Jesus acting and empowering his church. This is why we proclaim “Christ is risen!” remember? This is what we proclaim at Easter. “Christ is risen!” And so we need to become less embarrassed about the miraculous We need to trust that Christ is risen. We need to be dependent on him as we seek to live out the mission he gives us. We cannot fulfill his mission ourselves. In fact, our mission should be so bold and so risky that, unless Christ is risen, we will fail. Let’s go back to that first question. If you googled your own name, what would you like see? What are you seeking to achieve? What’s your mission? What is your purpose in life? The promise of God is that He has a mission and purpose for each one of us. We meet this in Jesus. Jesus invites us to make his mission ours, to put his yoke upon ourselves. And of course, for each one of us, how that plays out in our lives is going to be a little different. This takes discernment and listening, but it’s Jesus’ mission we share in. God is putting His creation back together again in Jesus, and there is nothing more meaningful, nothing more exciting, nothing more important, than to be part of this mission. There’s no greater mission that we can choose for ourselves. Today you are invited to accept this invitation. Every time we gather to hear God’s promises, every time we gather to receive the promise of Christ coming into our very lives at Eucharist, we are also invited to take his mission upon ourselves. And so I invite you accept it. What is your mission? Be like Jeremiah who accepted the empowering mission of God.

Colin+associate@stpaulsmboro.org

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Vacation Bible School 2013

Grecian columns graced the sanctuary of St. Paul’s church this summer as we completed another successful Vacation Bible School. This year VBS highlighted the theme “Athens: Paul’s dangerous Journey to Share the Truth.” We saw a record enrollment of over 100 St. Paul’s kids in our morning session and 57 children from the Franklin Heights public housing community in the afternoon. Offering the Franklin Heights kids the opportunity to attend our VBS was an outreach project of the St. Paul’s Youth Group, with our youths from grades 6-12 acting as volunteer group leaders for the participants. Some of the older Franklin Heights kids are also now stepping into leadership roles as well. Each day Siegel High School teacher/coach Phil Young picked up a busload of kids from Franklin Heights and brought them to St. Paul’s for a day of fun and learning. The kids received snacks and then participated in all the same activities and lessons. Each day, the children ate foods familiar to Greeks of biblical times, and worked on crafts that paid homage to the story of Paul’s journey to Athens. They also sang songs at the daily celebration that highlighted messages like God loves us all, God loves us and takes care of us, and God loves us even when others don’t. The children received daily Bible lessons about how Paul was willing to risk everything he had and everything he was to share the good news of Jesus.

They spent time with their Oikos (“family” in Greek) and attended the daily celebration in our make-believe Athens in St. Paul’s sanctuary. At craft time in St. Andrew’s Chapel, they created lyres in the music shop and scrolls with the Greek alphabet at the scribe shop.

They contributed their own experiences encountering God with their own written “God Sightings.” Each of the day’s Bible passages was highlighted on a tag that they added to a book ring adorned with their own decorated Shrinky-dink. None of it would have happened without the help of a great roster of volunteers before, during and after the event. I want to especially thank the “new” Celebration Leaders, Amy Burns and Kristin Hartland, who after much encouragement, stepped into this important role and brought their energy to the days songs and messages. Among those who worked both sessions every day to make it happen, deedee Tidwell led the craft activities with help from Joani Beckwith, Kirby Jeffreys provided the security to assure a safe VBS, Youth Minister Steven Lefebvre and Youth Volunteer Brian Crow for the entertaining team of Paul and dionysius, and dierdri Matteson for keeping our kids active in the Arena Games. Jennifer Kates again employed her handiwork that made Athens come to life. In the kitchen, Cunny Prytula and her team kept the children fed with multiple snacks and meals. Laney Golden and her organized team again kept registration running smoothly. An enormous thank you goes to all the other adult and youth volunteers who rose to the challenge of shepherding the Franklin Heights kids through an experience they have now come to look forward to. Many of the kids who

attended this year were attending St. Paul’s VBS for the third time. It was a tremendous help to have teacher volunteers, like Charlotte Young, Martha Canada and Janna McClain on hand from the City school system to provide a familiar face to some of the kids. Our VBS outreach project was for our children to donate school supplies, backpacks, personal care items, and snacks to low-income and disadvantaged children from Franklin Heights. We leveraged that into a month-long effort that was able to supply over 110 children in grades K-6 from Franklin Heights with a new backpack and everything their schools required to start the year. We even had enough donations to supply 7-12 graders with much of what they needed as well.

In addition to a record number of children, we also had a record number of volunteers to help lead them. We saw plenty of new church members and parents make this one of the highlights of their summer. To them we say we hope we didn’t scare you off and we expect to see you next year. Some of you I had to talk into helping or leading – you know who you are! As the number of kids that attend St. Paul’s and VBS continues to grow, the need for volunteers will rise as well. Please prayerfully consider volunteering next year. Thank you all. Your work gives the kids of our church and our community a memory that will last a lifetime, and our outreach puts some children who are less fortunate on equal footing with their peers for the start of the school year.

Ca’Tricia Robinson

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In 2003 my parents and I drove up from Chattanooga on a hot, muggy Saturday in August. I was 18 and

embarking on the next phase of my life after graduating from high school. I was nervous, excited, and hopeful all at once. As we passed by the newly erected sanctuary and sign for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, my mother exclaimed, “Oh look! It’s so close to campus!” I wasn’t sure at that moment how involved I would get with church, but I grew up Episcopalian and wanted to continue the traditions I had come to love. The next Sunday was my first at St. Paul’s and I was introduced to Father Tim Jones, who was then the associate rector

and campus minister. He invited me to the Tuesday Night Breakaway service for Episcopal Campus Ministry, and from that day on I was a regular Tuesday night attendee. Throughout my time as a student at MTSU I was involved with ECM and it proved to be a stable force in my life. I grew so much spiritually, I asked tough questions, I explored my faith, and I did it all upstairs in St. Margaret’s Hall with a group of dear friends who loved, supported, and prayed with me. I met friends who came from other traditions, who stumbled into the Episcopal Church for the first time and fell in love with our liturgy. I examined and questioned my life and faith with others in ways I had not done in high school and in a context that was completely different than what I had grown up with. Ten years later, almost to the day, I’m still at St. Paul’s, leading and serving and being. My time in ECM serves me well as I look at the ways we can provide ministry opportunities on the MTSU campus. See, it’s through campus ministry that the church supports a rising generation of leaders, provides necessary community and a place for mentoring and spiritual formation, and is a source of imagination and vision for the future of The Episcopal Church. I would definitely not be the same person that I am today had I not had those regular encounters on Tuesday nights with my faith community. In our Baptismal Covenant we make a promise to support others in their life in Christ. This is a serious commitment and it doesn’t stop at high school graduation! Through campus ministry we continue supporting those young members of the church, those future

leaders and decision makers who, like me, look back at campus ministry as a pivotal time in their spiritual formation. It is an investment in the leadership, life, and growth of the church. College students are in a transitional point in their lives—it’s confusing, it’s messy, and for many it’s the first time they have a chance to ask those deep, personal faith questions in a completely different context. Having a peer community that is stable, loving, and supportive makes a huge difference during those times that individual faith and religious commitments are challenged, explored, and strengthened. Best of all, campus ministry gives us an opportunity to exemplify our signs around town that declare ALL are welcome. Seekers, Cradle Episcopalians, and anyone else who desires to deepen their connection to God and the Christian community. Students are recognized, challenged, supported, inspired, and engaged in honest dialogue about their faith. This fall we have many exciting opportunities to engage our faith on the MTSU campus. Our Methodist friends at The Wesley Foundation have offered to let us use their space (and kitchen!) to provide weekly meals and worship. For those of you that remember The Listening Station, a ministry of compassionate listening on campus, it is coming BACK! If you want to lend a hand (or an ear) in support of this vital ministry, please contact me. I’d love to have you on board!

Kathleen Clarkcampusministry@stpaulsmboro.org 615-691-3663

Our ministry in the Franklin Heights public housing community continues to expand as a team from St. Paul’s Youth Community recently held an Art Camp for children there. At the suggestion of staff at the Family resource Center, Siegel High senior Jessica Beckwith conceived, planned and led the three-day camp for kids of all ages at Franklin Heights. The children produced a number of art projects to both take home and display at the center, and in all, about 20 kids attended.

Assisting Jessica with her project were Youth Community members Vinny Cantrell, Adam Inman, Andrew Telford and Nathan Nelson, and adult volunteers Ca’Tricia robinson, rick Byrne, Brian Crow, Joani Beckwith and Tethi Inman. Some of the campers showed unique talents with their handiwork, but what mattered most were the smiles on everyone’s faces as they worked together to complete their projects. The event also strengthened community bonds for all who participated.Art Camp at Franklin Heights

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Pilgrimage Begins September 30Our faith exploration program for adults, called Pilgrimage, will begin Monday evening, September 30, 2013. It will continue for a total of nine consecutive Monday evenings. Each session, held in the Parish Hall, will start at 6:30 and end at 8:00; child care is provided as needed. Pilgrimage offers an environment of

trust and shared ideas in small group settings. We will provide to each Pilgrim and Sponsor the book “Welcome to the Episcopal Church” as the basis for some of our discussions. Led by david rowe, some of the topics covered will include the history of the Episcopal Church, Christian/Anglican culture, Hebrew scripture, New Testament, our Prayer Book, and why we do the things we do. Preparation for Confirmation or reception into the Episcopal Church was the original intent of Pilgrimage. But many have participated, through the years, just for the experience and the

opportunity to explore their faith. registration forms are on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall and on the table in the Narthex. If interested, please fill one out and place it in the Pilgrimage mail box in the Parish Hall, or give it to a Greeter at the Welcome Table. remember, too, we need sponsors. If you have been through Pilgrimage, please consider this ministry. Sponsors should also fill out a registration form (green paper). With questions, please contact Joyce Adkins, 631-2869, or joyce1010@bellsouth.net.

Backpack Project for Franklin Heights You can excuse the kids from the Franklin Heights public housing community if they are walking around school looking a little proud this year. That’s because every K-6 child got a new backpack filled with all their required supplies thanks to a successful effort at outreach by the entire St. Paul’s community. Ca’Tricia robinson organized the drive by identifying the school supplies (with the help of Martha Canada who teaches these kids at Cason Lane) that would be required by boys and girls in every grade, and obtaining a list of every K-6 grader that lived in Franklin Heights. She then placed copies of those lists on a bulletin board near the nametag kiosk at St. Paul’s and encouraged everyone to grab a list and go shopping: get an

appropriate backpack and fill it with what was on the list. Folks who didn’t want to shop could just donate cash. Church members took the idea and ran with it. Within two weeks, about 70 completed backpacks were donated. Kiffin McCoy collected money from the Young Adults Ministry and filled 10 backpacks. reid Halliburton and his grandfather Blake Tidwell gathered the funds that had been donated and went shopping twice, picking up a bunch more backpacks. Ca’Tricia also obtained donations of school supplies from the Sanford subsidiary of Newell rubbermaid, which makes Sharpie pens and other items in Shelbyville. St. Paul’s Youth Community members Caroline Young , Catherine Ann Young, Titus Williams and Jessica Beckwith stepped up to help sort the backpacks and finish filling them with supplies before passing them out. On the big day, St. Paul’s volunteers rick Byrne,

Brian Crow, Joani Beckwith, Jessica Beckwith and Kiffin McCoy delivered the backpacks to their wide-eyed recipients, and Father Polk came by for a visit as well with his camera of course! In all, over 110 backpacks were passed out to smiling, happy kids and their families on Aug. 2 at the Franklin Heights Family resource Center, meeting the need for every child that lives in Franklin Heights. Additional funds raised were then used to purchase additional supplies to meet most of the need for 7-12 graders living at Franklin Heights. This will make an immediate difference in these kids’ education as they start the year on the same footing as their more fortunate peers. This was an outstanding collective effort, a blessing to the children and a fulfillment of our mission to the community.

On June 9, 2013, we experienced a beautiful Confirmation/Reception service. Pictured above (back row, left to right): Fr. Polk, Joseph Womack, Rick Barnes, Nick Yates, Jon Baker, Angela Telford; (middle row): Bob Guill, Joe Trotter, Tom Frost, Brandi Yates, Drew Stock, Jill Simmons; (front row): Dustin Odom, Janice Martin, Hillary McNeese, Meg Frost, Diane Baker, Allison Stock, Ryan Simmons (holding Leighton), and our Bishop. (not pictured: Susan Greenall)

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Impact on Mission & Ministry Megan Boekeloo

Coming back through US Customs, the agent asked, “How was Haiti?” My response was simply, “Hot.” Haiti is not a forgiving place to be in the summer. The streets are crowded and dusty, there’s loud music playing all day, the sun is constantly trying to scorch our skin (I freckle and burn, there is no tan for me), the bugs are biting us, the majority of our group was sick at one point or another, and did I mention that it’s hot? I don’t mean we went out and planted some trees and it was hot, then we came back and relaxed in the air conditioning. Air conditioning in Haiti? Think again. There are some fans, when the government decides to provide electricity, which varies from day to day. And yet, as we all sat there covered in sweat, bug spray, and sunscreen, the Haitian people cooked our meals, washed our clothes, and danced circles around us (some of them quite literally.) Our group of ten stayed at St. Simeon in Croix-des-Bouquets. This is a complex

with a school, church, and living area. The entire time we were there, there were always at least 10 Haitians around the campus. Some of them lived there, some of them worked there, some were hanging out with us, and some were children who just wanted to be entertained during the day and a place to sleep at night. The church there was a place of meeting. I don’t mean a once a week meeting, I mean a constantly evolving group of people living in community. We had the opportunity to worship with them Sunday morning, and they had lunch after the service. It was nice to see that tie to our own parish of spending time getting to know each other. They were there to worship God, and they understood that part of worshiping God is loving each other. It was about being in community and making sure everyone had at least one meal that day. (They also had attendance cards, but I’m not going to push that one on Polk too much.) In all seriousness though, how many of us know everyone in our service? I think we do an excellent job of having a strong parish life at St. Paul’s, but there are plenty of people I have never introduced myself to that I see every week. Next week try something out for me, look at everyone at your service on your side of the aisle. What percentage of people do you know? Now, take the people you know and count how many you have had at least a 30 second conversation with in the last month. do we really know each other? I’m not asking you to have a conversation with everyone every week, but think of how much stronger our community would be if we all chatted with 4 people each week. What if 4 people each week asked you how your week was, and they actually cared about the answer?

Going to Haiti is about building friendships. We are not here to save the poor helpless Haitian people from all of their problems. (Ask anyone who planted trees with them on this trip, the Haitian people are not helpless.) That being said, we also are called to more than just turning a blind eye and telling them to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. I truly and wholeheartedly believe that we are here to partner with them. When a friend is in trouble you don’t give them enough to live on for the rest of their life, but you also don’t ignore them. You help them fill in the gaps where they need it. Haiti doesn’t need us to come in and change their culture, put their farmers out of business, and give them new technology they have no use for. When your friend is in trouble, you ask them what they need. The work that Pere Val and Carmel, among others, are doing down there is helping their fellow Haitians. Haiti needs to heal Haiti. We need to ask them what they need, and then help them achieve their dream. I believe in a Haiti where people are healthy and have the opportunity to earn an honest living. I believe in a Haiti where mothers have the education to feed their children well, rather than helplessly watching them wither away before their very eyes. The Haitians know how to do it without destroying their economic structure and culture, but they are asking for our help. The Kingdom of God is about making and being friends. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are more than just friends already, and yet that alone does not fulfill our relationship with each other. Fulfilling our role takes effort, sacrifice, and respect. I have friends here and abroad, and I want to do what I can, however small, to support them. Will you help me?

We are very excited to announce that diane Baker has accepted the new staff position of St. Paul’s Children’s Ministry Coordinator. With the number of children in our community continuing to grow, the Vestry decided to create a part-time staff position to oversee our children’s ministries and to help develop

and coordinate our children’s m i n i s t r i e s volunteers. diane will serve as an advocate and communicator, as well as fielding q u e s t i o n s and concerns

regarding our programs to achieve greater success for our children. diane lives in Murfreesboro with her husband, Jon and her two children,

Ty and Maggie. A parishioner of St. Paul’s, she graduated from the College of Charleston with a BA in Elementary Education and an MEd. in Special Education. She has worked most of her life educating children, either as a classroom teacher or as a tutor. She currently works part time with the Academic Interventionist at discovery School, where her children attend. She volunteers her time as a Girl Scout leader, a Cub Scout leader, a VBS leader, a Catechesis helper and with various activities at school.

Diane Baker, New Children’s Ministry Coordinator

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“Music Lessons” We’ve got the organ, the choirs, and the hymnals. We sing the psalms, the Gloria, the Sanctus, and a whole bunch of hymns. Ever wonder where all this stuff came from? How music came to be a part of worship? Why some music is “sacred” and some isn’t? Or maybe just “Why the heck is she playing that? We’ll explore these questions and more in How Firm a Foundation: A History of Sacred Music led by Angela & dale Tipps. Sacred music has a rich tradition and history. In this course, we will examine the development of Christian music from medieval chant to today's praise

choruses. We will listen to musical examples by composers from Bach to Gaither, as well as singers from Mahalia Jackson to Casting Crowns. You’ll hear from someone with an unparalleled behind-the-scenes perspective to the exciting life of a church musician’s spouse. Come join the discussion of the role of sacred music, not only in the liturgy, but in our everyday life.

Oct. 20: The Grandeur of Early MusicOct. 27: Church Music and the reformationNov. 3: religious Music in the New WorldNov. 10: Gospel Music in AmericaNov. 17: Contemporary Christian Music

Have ideas for articles about life at St. Paul’s? Photos from a group event? Send them to:communications@stpaulsmboro.org

St. Paul's men's softball team won a divisional championship this summer. Two of our church 's players celebrate the win, Hap Parsons (L) and Jeremy Jackson (r).

The Vision for St. Paul’s Youth Group 2013/14 When I arrived in September of 2011, I had a very particular vision for St. Paul’s Youth Ministry. My first year goal was to take the youth ministry of St. Paul’s from the periphery to the center of our church life. I saw a youth group, like most other churches, as silo program, operating on its own accord, in a building on the edge of campus, like a boarding school for our young Christians. I felt deeply convicted about hanging our youth ministry back on the St. Paul’s family tree. I did this by making youth ministry an on-going topic of discussion in vestry meetings. I communicated all of our activities in church publications. I invited members of our congregation to serve our teens. And most importantly I worked to harmonize the youth group with our church mission statement: to worship God and bring all into a loving

relationship with Jesus Christ. This was the method to my madness. With a pickaxe and hatchet, I sculpted and shaped a new kind of youth ministry here at St. Paul’s. Some of my actions were bold, some actions were critical errors in damaging or removing sacred cows, and some ideas fell flat. However, I believe firmly at the end of the 2012 school year, my mission was accomplished and St. Paul’s Youth Ministry was very much at the center of our church world. At the beginning of the 2012 school year, Fr. Colin and I began the Christian Ed season with a co-led parenting class we called Sticky Faith. The theme of this class encouraged families to be highly intentional about articulating a faith story for their children and emphasized the importance of raising kids in a Jesus-centered community. The class seemed to be a success, however, shortly after the class parents were coming to me with frustrations about how difficult it was to get their kid motivated to come to church. Aside from the typical excuses of busyness, homework, and needed family time, the lack of want-to was something I hadn’t anticipated. By the end of the school year, I found the parents were only echoing the tension that I was experiencing as I was having trouble getting anybody to come to youth group. What I realized in all of our theological discussions, our building perfect programs, and fine-tuning our communications, we forgot the most important element: The community!

Community is the foundation of our Christian formation. The body of Christ is what forms our morality, teaches us how to love, and draws others into the fold. Fun programs, fancy logos, and clever ideas divorced from community get consumed, leaving us to constantly be feeding quarters into the proverbial program machine. I believe I am echoing Paul’s words from 1 Corinthians 13: If you do not have love, everything good in this world is meaningless and futile. With the youth ministry firmly placed in the center of our church family, our vision this year is to create space and opportunity to build community. Every program and gathering is for the purpose of giving our teenagers the tools to love one another and belong together. I believe that a strong youth community will draw new families into the church. I believe our current families will have an easier time making time for youth group and Sunday morning church. I believe God’s will for the lives of our young people will become abundantly clear. I believe in community. As always I invite you to join us in this mission. If there is one thing we do extremely well here at St. Paul’s it is community; we love each other, gather often and enjoy one another’s company. I invite you to teach us how to do the same.

Shalom.Steven

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

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

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My, How Time Flies!

It has been a busy Spring and Summer for all of us, but it is now time to move forward.

Our Pre Lenten Pilgrimage to the Holy Land is about seven months away. Unfortunately, international travel requires early booking so the carriers can plan for the arrival of pilgrims. Educational Opportunities – our Christian based tour host, has told me that they are having a record year with early registrations and they have

even closed up some of the groups traveling in 2014. I heard that message loud and clear. This journey is too important to put it off for that year and time that never comes. Today is the day. Until we experience the Holy Land, some of our Christian formation will be lacking. You have read about the Holy Land and you have tried to picture

the experience in your life, but only when you stand there will you know the truth – you will know why the land is holy. Have you ever thought about what it would be like to be in Jesus’ prison at the home of Caiaphas? Have you ever imagined what it would be like to take a boat journey on the Sea of Galilee? What is the wilderness really like? All these you will experience and many, many more. Take the time now to fill out the application and attach a $300.00 per person deposit. Apply for a Pass Port if you have not done so at this date. Please communicate with me. My cell phone is 615-631-7000. My email is wisegene@bellsouth.net.

God Bless You, Gene Wiserector Emeritus