From our Priest-in-Charge-
To pray is to listen to the One who calls you “my beloved daughter,” “my beloved son,” “my beloved child.” To pray is to let that voice speak to the center of your being, to your guts, and let that voice resound in your whole being. -Henri Nouwen
Well here we are in the season of fall and continuing on our journey through the Season after Pentecost. This year’s month of October leading into November is quite an eventful and maybe stressful for many. This is of course due to the upcoming election. It is our privilege to vote and though we vote individually, we are also a community who prays in the hope of witnessing God’s reign here on earth.
“As our nation approaches its Election Day on Nov. 8, we have a deep yearning for the Holy Spirit to be present in our national life. Individually, we express this yearning in a variety of ways according to personal conscience. Collectively, we are called to express this yearning through prayer.
We must pray that God be at work in our electoral process. We must pray for a peaceful transition, no matter the outcome of our elections. We must pray that the demonization of one another’s opponents which has characterized this election not be further stoked by its outcome. We must pray that all those elected on that day be moved, strengthened and guided by the Spirit, to lead us through fractious and dangerous times. We must pray in gratitude for those who, with sacrifice of self and noble intent, step up to lead our common life.”
-Bishops of Massachusetts
As we enter these next weeks ahead I am reminded of the words of St. Julian of Norwich, “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well
Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers
and privileges: Guide the people of the United States
in the election of officials and representatives;
that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of
all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your
purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP 822)
St Paul’s Church Christmas Fair 2016
9 – 3 p.m.
Mark your calendars, tell your friends, neighbors and co-workers! Post on FaceBook!
We need new items for baskets, Christmas items especially tree ornaments, jewelry, books and second hand treasures( no clothing ).
Remember if you have a new, handmade or antique item for Silent Auction,
please see Christine Mac Nally.
Do you have a favorite businesses?
See Cheryl Means, if you would like to ask for donations for the Silent Auction.
All items can be put on stage starting Oct. 8th. Church is open Monday thru Thursday from 9-1 p.m.
Leslie& Peter Kalafarski 978-390-1729 or lpkalafarski@verizon.net
LONDON GROCERS TABLE
NEEDED: Home cooked baked beans or Chili in Crock Pots. We will put them in containers at the Fair.
Jams, Jellies and Pickles and Relish
Thank you
Lil Fundeklian
The Bakery Table at the Faire will appreciate contributions from the bakers in the parish…cookies, bars, breads, cakes, brownies!
Thanks,
Jean
It’s History Night at St Paul’s
Yes, back by popular demand, coming in October, it’s History Night again. This years topic – The Next Generation, looks at those saints that followed the founders to further mold the shape of St Paul’s. Mark your calendars — October 27th.
On Thursday, October 13th, the Women’s Book Group will begin the 2016/2017 season with The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. This is the story of nine Americans and their quest for gold at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.
We will meet at 7pm in the French Memorial. Hope to see you there.
This month’s book is A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.
Book description:
This 337 page book is fiction and is available in various formats through the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium. It is also available in Kindle and Audible formats.
At 59, Ove is a grumble Gus of the first degree. Rules are made to be followed, signs are meant to be obeyed, and don’t even get him started about computers and mobile phones. In truth, Ove has been this way his whole life, but he’s gotten worse in the last four years since his wife, Sonia, died, taking with her all the color in a world Ove sees as black-and-white. Ove has decided life without Sonia is not worth living and plans to join her in the next world. But a young couple and their two children (a third is on the way) move in next door, his oldest friend and most feared enemy is about to be forcibly removed to a nursing home, and a street-scarred cat insinuates itself into his life. Suddenly, Ove’s suicide plans get delayed as he helps solve neighborly crises large and small. Though Ove’s dark mission mitigates any treacly upstaging by animals and small children, readers seeking feel-good tales with a message will rave about the rantings of this solitary old man with a singular outlook. If there was an award for Most Charming Book of the Year, this first novel by a Swedish blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down. –Carol Haggas
We met on September 8th for a lively discussion of The Boys in the Boat, the fantastic story of the American rowing team competing in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.
The rest of our book year will include the following:
Hope to see you on October 13th!
Episcopal Church Women
The ECW met on Monday, October 3, at 6:30 p.m. in the French Memorial. Sr. Sarah of St. Margaret’s Convent, Duxbury, lead a prayer bead workshop during which we learned about the Anglican rosary as we made our own.
Hostesses Paula Fines and Jean Kooken served refreshments.
If you have any questions, please call
Lili Fundeklian at 978-687-0618.
The next Peace & Justice Meeting has been scheduled for
Monday, October 17 at 7:30pm.
All are welcome!!
Reminder
KITCHEN REFRIGERATOR
PLEASE do not leave any food in the kitchen refrigerator unless you plan to use it within a reasonable length of time and the “use by date” has not passed. Rather than have the food sit in the refrigerator and go bad, please give any leftovers to someone who would like to consume them! If anything is unopened and non-perishable, it can be put in the food collection located in the vestibule. It would also be helpful if you identify who is using the food with a label. Thank you for your help in keeping the refrigerator free of unneeded foods.