1 | WINTER 2016

The Word WINTER 2016

THE NEWSLET TER FOR THE FRIENDS OF ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

F O R M AT I O NA Message from Mother Anne:

Dear Friends,

As we begin Advent, the season of preparation for the incarnation of the Divine among us, each of us is called to bring the gift of our own self to witness God present among us. You are certain to encounter more than you ever dreamed. The manger in Bethlehem is not the end of the journey—more like a beginning.

Think of the journeys you have been on in your life. Have you traveled to a foreign country? Have you moved from your hometown to a new place? Have you explored a place not far in distance, but very different in culture from where and how you live? All of those are literally journeys—and opportunities to see your own life with new eyes.

You can take another kind of journey: a journey of the mind. Our coffee classes in the coming months will give you a chance to make a transformational journey.

• You will encounter Islam (especially as it pertains to hospitality for refugees in the literacy program) and Jewish-Christian history.

• You will hear voices from Latino and Native American perspectives.

• You can learn lesser-known Oregon history, and hear about the experience of life in rural Alaska.

• You can consider our role as a welcoming congregation to the LGBTQ community, and consider how our mission statement expresses life at St. Paul’s.

• You can also read Joan Chittister’s wonderful book, Becoming Fully Human: the Greatest Glory of God, and join a book conversation.

When you think about it, our journey to the manger, and beyond, is ultimately about becoming fully human in all of our infinite God-created variety.

We are embarking on a new year, and a new season in the life of our American community. Wherever you are on your journey of faith, you are welcome to make your home at St. Paul’s. Come worship and study, and be transformed into the person God dreams you will become.

Grace and Peace,

As our church begins hosting literacy training for refugees in January, we will be encountering people in our church halls who are Muslim. Our two faiths (Christianity and Islam) have had a troubled history and mis-understandings can happen quickly. Recent political rhetoric has not been a particular blessing to better interfaith relations, either. Please make a special point for coming to our coffee classes on January 15 (focusing on the Qur’an and different branches of Islam) and January 22 (focusing on the first 100 years of Islam and the history of relations between Christians & Muslims).

I certainly cannot claim to be an expert on Islam (though I did study Islam in semi-nary), and hope to at some point bring in a speaker on the subject. It is usually helpful to do some initial groundwork and gain some basic orientation so that time with a speaker can be richer. I hope that these two sessions can build some of that groundwork and serve as a springboard for curiosity and better understanding. Believe it or not, there have actually been times and places where Mus-lims and Christians have lived in peaceful relationship.

The Rev. Zac Harmon

2 | WINTER 2016 3 | WINTER 2016

The Word T H E N E W S L E T T E R F O R T H E F R I E N D S O F S T. P A U L’ S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H

S T E WA R D S H I P

Ab u n dA n t Ge n e ro s i t y First of all, a heartfelt “Thank you” to those of you who have already pledged. As of November 14, 2016, 42.3% of St. Paul’s parish members have made a pledge and we have met 59% of our financial goal.

The Stewardship Committee has attempted to keep the membership well informed with weekly updates distributed in many platforms referred to as Ministry Minute Flyers.

As you recall, our stewardship goals for this year at the beginning of the campaign were as follows:

• 100% Funding of our mission ($610,000 to support a balanced budget) • 90-100% Membership pledge participation (Currently 42.3% - we break bread together, let’s pledge together.) • Increase planned giving through endowment education • Quarterly formation Coffee Class updates

I want to help our parishioners deepen their understanding of “the pledge.” Pledging is something we do to honor the relationship we have with God. The pledge card is a certificate that says, “This is my intent.” Don’t be afraid to pledge because you do not know what the future holds or you are worried that you do not have “enough money” to make a pledge. We have been reporting on participation and not average pledge for this reason. This requires all of us to meet our goal. No amount is too little.

Even if you think your pledge is too little; it’s not. We pray for 90-100% participation. The dollars will fall into place if we can help everyone understand the need to participate with a pledge. We already know about 10% of our parish is not able to pledge for various reasons. But for those of us who can offer our weekly specialty coffee money, or some other sacrifice as a pledge, we could meet our need. In other words, if everyone gives from their heart what is already given to us by God, it can be powerful.

I implore each of us to spend some time in silent meditation thinking about all that God has given us. What is God’s call to us, individually? Think about all the blessings in our lives. And if seeking God is done through St. Paul’s, then pledge. It’s simple, pledge with your heart and soul. Only you know best what you can afford or commit to. But, if you haven’t yet pledged, ask yourself why?

The money you pledge to St. Paul’s is for God’s work in your life and the lives of those you share a pew with and beyond. God’s work is being done in your life through your pledge.

Participation, that is what I pray for. The Vestry and Stewardship committee have given you the opportunity to participate no matter what the amount. Do you have the resolution to join hands in our mission at St. Paul’s?

May God’s peace and abundant generosity be always with you.

Truly, Becky Nielson Junior Warden / Stewardship Chair

The parish brainstorming exercise at the Dream Together Event in May allowed parishioners to identify imporant passion projects.

C H I L D R E N

Our Children’s Ministry is thriving! Mother Anne, Father Zac, and the children are enjoying their formation time together on Wednesday afternoons. Thank you to all the parents and grandparents who help make this time possible. Thank you also to all the generous people who have stepped up to help with our Sunday School program and All Saints’ Fair. The service you provide our children is priceless.

We have received much praise from those present at the monthly 10:00 am family-friendly services. Our next event will be on Sunday, December 4, when we celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas. Please mark your calendars for the Christmas Pageant at the 4:00 pm service on Christmas Eve. All children who want to participate (yes, even visitors!) will be able to don a costume and take part.

We also hope that we will have many families attending the St. Paul’s production of the delightful (and short!) opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors, on January 7 at 7:30 pm, and January 8 at 4:00 pm.

Catherine Cox assists in an activity during the All Saints’ Fair.

E D U C AT I O N

SPY headed to E.Z. Orchards for some pumpkin patch fun after volunteering at Helping Hands.

A D U LT

What is a simple life? When is war unjust? Do the little things matter? Join Sue Dauer in discussing the book Becoming Fully Human: the Greatest Glory of God. Author, Joan Chittister, asks the simple questions of life. You may find it helpful to purchase this book now for January and read ahead in order to fully contribute in the class. Join us in this Coffee Class to explore these simple, but profound questions on February 5, 12, 19, and 26.

See the calendar page for a complete listing of upcoming adult formation events.

YO U T H

Upcoming SPY Events December 3 Poinsettia Delivery, 8:30 am December 18 SPY Movie Event: Star Wars: Rogue One January 15 MLK Event February 18 SPY Fundraiser March 19 St. Patrick’s Day Event Middle School and High School SPY: Check the E-Board and Sunday bulletin for more information about upcoming SPY events

YO U N G A D U LT

I’m really excited to announce that we now have a young adult ministry happening here at St. Paul’s. Between our Willamette campus ministry and a young adult group, now meeting monthly, we are connecting young adults to each other here at St. Paul’s and connect-ing with young adults outside of St. Paul’s, too. In the past two weeks, I have been approached by newcomers in their 20s who asked if we had a young adult ministry here to join. It was my great delight to tell them, “Yes!” and help them connect with this ministry. In-deed, just having a young adult ministry assures newcomers in their late teens, 20s and early 30s that St. Paul’s can be a spiritual home. In the Episcopal Church at large, this is a ministry many churches have been struggling to achieve. So this is a great development here, and I’m excited to see how this ministry develops at St. Paul’s.

If a young adult wants to connect with this ministry, it’s easy. Contact us at 503.362.3661 and let Mother Anne, Kati Arp, or me know, and we can add her or him to the group.

-The Rev. Zac Harmon

SPY middle schoolers volunteering at the Marion-Polk Food Share.

LookinG to Get invoLved? Join with fellow parishioners to help make a difference in our communi-ty and world. To learn more about the many opportunities at St. Paul’s, please contact Dawn Manke at dawnmanke@comcast.net.

Upcoming Opportunity: Interfaith Hospitality at St. Paul’s February 19-26 Contact: Michelle Deister (michelledeister@hotmail.com) to sign-up.

4 | WINTER 2016 5 | WINTER 2016

ProfiLe A PArishioner: kyLe MArtz

What brought you here? Why do you stay?

I have attended St. Paul’s my entire life, and I have never had a reason to leave.

What are your favorite things about St. Paul’s?

I love the community, the people who work graciously within this community, and the opportunity that it provides for everyone. The youth program is small but just the way it should be, and I can’t think of any other way to spend my free Sunday evenings. I also have always enjoyed the music here. From the primary choir to Guitars group, it is truly a blessing to make music on Sun-days. It provides me with an opportunity to give back to the church that I was raised in. This music that we make provides me with a chance to give back to the congretation, connect with my faith, and facilitate a worshipping community.

What ministries are you involved in at St. Paul’s?

I play stand up bass in the small Guitars group every month and attend SPY regularly. Over the past two summers, I have also organized and led multiple SPY hikes throughout Oregon. Each summer I have chosen both mountain and beach locations to give the group the opportunity to see the unique and incredible areas of our home state. I believe that everyone living in Oregon deserves a chance to immerse themselves in Oregon’s wilderness areas. My goal for leading these hikes was to pro-vide the members of our youth an opportu-nity to experience these inspiring areas of our state, that they would never experience otherwise.

What is your favorite hike in Oregon that you have done? This is a very hard question. I would have to say Jefferson Park via the Breitenbush trailhead on the Pacific Crest Trail.

What are your hobbies / interests?

I enjoy spending time with my family and learning from them, playing sports compet-itively, succeeding in school, making music, being outdoors, and doing it all with great people.

What is your favorite food?

Anything after football practice.

What is a little known fact about you?

I can repair iPhones. Also, I took my own Senior pictures.

The Word T H E N E W S L E T T E R F O R T H E F R I E N D S O F S T. P A U L’ S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C HThe Word T H E N E W S L E T T E R F O R T H E F R I E N D S O F S T. P A U L’ S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H

DECEMBER Sun. Dec 4 Advent II

Feast of St. Nicholas / Parish Stewardship Celebration, 11:30 am

Evensong: Manzi-Heck Duo. Soprano, Carol Ann Manzi, and Guitarist, Thomas Heck, will offer carols and canticles for the season of Advent. 4:00 pm

Sun. Dec 11 Advent III Coffee Class: Walking the Bible, 11:30 am

Sun. Dec 18 Advent IV Coffee Class: Walking the Bible, 11:30 am SPY Movie Event: Star Wars: Rogue One, Time TBA

Christmas EveSat. Dec 24 Family service with Christmas Pageant and

Holy Eucharist, 4:00 pm Holy Eucharist with choir and brass, 8:00 pm Holy Eucharist with choir and brass

(Carols at 10:30 pm), 11:00 pmChristmas DaySun. Dec 25 Holy Eucharist, 10:00 amMon. Dec 26 Office Closed

JANUARYSat. Jan 7 Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo

Menotti. Featuring Logan Fisher as Amahl and Brooke Brooks as the Mother, 7:00 pm

Sun. Jan 8 Amahl and the Night Visitors, 4:00 pm No Evensong Service this day

Sun. Jan 15 Coffee Class: What Do Muslims Believe? What is Islam’s Story, 11:30 am

SPY Martin Luther King Event, Time TBAMon. Jan 16 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday - Office closedSun. Jan 22 Coffee Class: Sibling Rivalries? Christianity

and Islam, 11:30 amSun. Jan 29 Feast of St. Paul / Annual Meeting, 11:30 am

FEBRUARYSun. Feb 5 Coffee Class: Becoming Fully Human,

11:30 am Evensong Concert: May Dudley Memorial

Organ Concert “Words of Albert Schweitzer and the Music of J. S. Bach.” Heidi Kohne, Guest Organist; Ray Phipps and Catherine Cox, Dramatists, 2:00 pm

No Evensong service this day

C A L E N DA R

Sun. Feb 12 Coffee Class: Becoming Fully Human, 11:30 am

Sat. Feb 18 SPY Fundraiser: TBAFeb. 19 - 26 Outreach: Interfaith Hospitality

(See outreach section)Sun. Feb 19 & 26 Coffee Class: Becoming Fully Human,

11:30 amTue. Feb 28 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. 5:00 pm

MARCHAsh Wednesday Holy Eucharist with ashes, (Chapel) 8:00 amWed. Mar 1 Holy Eucharist with ashes, 12:10 pm Holy Eucharist with ashes, 7:00 pmSun. Mar 5  Coffee Class: My Father Was a Wandering

Aramean: Faith & Immigration, 11:30 am Evensong: Heidi Williams, pianist, Florida

State University solo. Piano music by Frédéric Chopin, Claude Debussy, Daniel Crozier, and George Walker, 4:00 pm

Sun. Mar 12 Coffee Class: How Do We Welcome the LGBTQ Community?

Sun. Mar 19 SPY St. Patrick’s Day Event, Time TBA Coffee Class: Life in the Rural Evangelical

Context, 11:30 amSat. Mar 25 EFM RetreatSun. Mar 26 Coffee Class: Is This Land Your Land and My

Land? Indigenous Peoples and the Pacific Northwest, 11:30 am

Above: Kyle Martz poses in front of the beautiful Mount Jefferson.

Wednesday Night Soup Supper Are you missing all the flavors and fellowship?

Wednesday Night Soup Suppers are a great chance to get the cooking and dishes done for you each Wednesday night at the very reasonable bargain of a suggested donation of $3 per person, or $10 per family of 4+; but all are welcome even if you forget your wallet! Give yourself a well-deserved break during the upcoming holiday season and LET US DO THE COOKING! See you at 6:15 pm on Wednesdays! - Dawn Manke

Wednesday Night chef, Marq Swafford, takes us on occasional culinary visits to specific areas of the US, and even to different countries of the world.

sinGinG in WorshiP At st. PAuL’s

The Apostle Paul instructed the Colossians: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:16-17) At St. Paul’s Church the word is central to every note of music that is heard.

Our Christian hymnody contains some of the most tightly packed, concise doctrinal, and devotional thought of the church. Through congregational song, God’s people learn their language about God; God’s people learn how to speak with God. Songs of worship shape faith. It is, therefore, very important that a congregation have a rich “vocabulary of praise.” Simple, repetitive music such as praise choruses and Taize chants are very appropriate in worship and can be very effective in moving individuals to prayer and to praise. But it is also important for the congregation to know some of the great hymns of faith in order to have a sense that the Christian faith is both relevant and enduring, and to be enriched by the faith of the “great cloud of witnesses.” Hymns, both ancient and modern, which stretch minds, increase vocabulary, rehearse the biblical story, and teach of the nature and the mighty acts of God are essential for the congregation’s growth in faith.

The emotional power of music, rightly employed, is a vital and moving aid to worship.

Music, quite apart from an associated text, is capable of evoking powerful emotions. Hearts are stirred and feet are set tapping by a rousing Sousa march, while another melody may move people to tears. Calvin recognized the emotional power of music and for that reason included the singing (rather than the saying) of psalms in the church in Geneva. Such singing, “lends dignity and grace to sacred actions and has the greatest value in kindling our heart to a true zeal and eagerness to pray.” Music can indeed “excite piety,” and depending on its mood, move individuals to penitence, thanksgiving, adoration, love, or any one of a host of emotions. Those who love the Lord are encouraged to “sing till we feel our hearts ascending with our tongues.” It is, therefore, important that the emotional mood of a particular tune be commensurate with the sense of the text. It is also important that the emotional power of music in worship be evocative rather than manipulative, honest rather than manufactured, and that the congregation’s singing allows for a full range of emotions in worship. I give thanks for the wonderful singing congregation at St. Paul’s. Let us continually lift our voice in praise of almighty God.

Sincerely, Dr. Paul Klemme Director of Music Ministries

6 | WINTER 2016 7 | WINTER 2016

PA R I S H L I F E

Parish Life Ministries invites the membership to partake in a breakfast brunch on Sunday, December 4, at 11:30 am in celebration of St. Nicholas. The brunch will include eggs, sausage patties, hash browns, fruit, rolls, and orange juice. Java Crew will provide coffee and tea. St. Nick has been invited and will likely make an appearance bearing gold coins. Donations will be gladly accepted to support future parish life events. Stay tuned for additional information in E-Board and the church bulletin.

Join us reGuLArLy

Sunday

Church Services: 8:00 and 10:00 am, Church

Children’s Sunday School 9:45 am, classrooms. (Once a month the Children’s Choir sings at the 10:00 am service)

Middle School SPY (St. Paul’s Youth) 11:30 am-12:30 pm

High School SPY (St. Paul’s Youth) 6:30-8:30 pm

Christian Formation 11:30-12:30 pm

Evensong and Concert (1st Sunday, monthly) 4:00 pm, Church

Monday-Friday

Morning Prayer 9:00-9:30 am, Chapel

Tuesday

Women’s Bible Study 10:00-11:30 am

Knit, Pray, Crochet (2nd Tuesday, month-ly) 7:30-8:30 pm, Fireplace Room

Wednesday

Men’s Bible Study 8:00-9:00 am, Library

Children’s activities and choir practice begin at 3:30 pm

Wednesday Night Activities 5:30 pm Eu-charist followed by supper and Bible Study for adults (supervised play for children).

WO R S H I P

The Word T H E N E W S L E T T E R F O R T H E F R I E N D S O F S T. P A U L’ S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H

Upcoming Evensong Events

December 4, 2016 at 4:00 pmManzi-Heck DuoAdvent Music for Guitar and Voice.Carol Ann Manzi, Soprano, andThomas Heck, Guitar.

January 7, 2017 at 7:00 pm &January 8, 2017 at 4:00 pmAmahl and the Night Visitorsby Gian Carlo Menotti.Logan Fisher as AmahlBrooke Brooks as the MotherNo Evensong Service this day.

See the calendar page for a complete listing of upcoming Evensong events.

ChristMAs ALtAr PoinsettiAs, sWAGs, And fLoWers

Donations are now being taken. If you would like to make this donation as a memorial, please contact the office at 503.362.3661 by Wednesday, December 21, to sign-up. A sug-gested donation is $20. These poinsettias will be available for “adoption” after Christmas on Monday, January 9.

CONTACT US

Church office hours: Monday-Friday: 9:00 am-4:00 pm 1444 Liberty Street SE Salem, Oregon 97302 Telephone: 503.362.3661 Website: www.stpaulsoregon.org Facebook & Twitter: stpaulsoregon Email: stpauls@stpaulsoregon.org

Rector: The Rev. Anne Emry motheranne@stpaulsoregon.org 650.430.3318 www.sacredstory.org Office hours: Tuesday-Thursday (All other days and times by appointment) Curate: The Rev. Zac Harmon fatherzac@stpaulsoregon.org 503.798.0501 Office hours: Monday-Thursday Dir. of Music Ministries: Dr. Paul Klemme paulklemme@stpaulsoregon.org 503.490.8874

Youth Leader: Amy Goerger amygoerger@stpaulsoregon.org 503.508.1943 Adult Education: Sue Dauer dauers@wou.edu

8 | WINTER 2016

1444 Liberty Street SE Salem, Oregon 97302www.stpaulsoregon.org

Return Service Requested

To know Christ and to make Him known. NON PROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDSALEM, OR

PERMIT NO. 74

C e l e b r at e t h e b i r t h o f C h r i s t at S t. Pa u l ’ s ! December 4 St. Nicholas Brunch, 11:30 am Evensong: Manzi-Heck Duo, 4:00 pmDecember 24 Family Service with Christmas Pageant and Holy Eucharist, 4:00 pm Holy Eucharist with Choir and Brass, 8:00 pm Holy Eucharist with Choir and Brass (Carols at 10:30 pm), 11:00 pmDecember 25 Holy Eucharist, 10:00 am

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church publishes the Word quarterly. If you would like to be added to the mail list please contact us. 503.362.3661 or stpauls@stpaulsoregon.org

Visit us on Facebook: stpaulsoregon