Dear Friends in Christ -
I was over in the parish hall this evening, and the place was teeming with activity. People doing everything from washing dishes to steaming the new curtain to setting up a sound system to folding napkins to making signs.
There was quite a lot of positive energy - and a little grumpiness as well. It's understandable. It's now less than 48 hours before show time and everyone wants their contribution to be good and their efforts to pay off in the form of (1) fun and (2) successful fundraising.
In the midst of all this, I want to call us to a "seventh inning stretch." As you know, in baseball the 7th inning stretch is the time when people rise in the stands and - at least in many parks - sing "Take me out to the ball game", a hymn to the joy of the game. The song is sung by everyone, whether or not their team is winning, to recall the joy of the game itself.
For our 7th inning stretch, here's a good word from the apostle Paul, who knew a lot about keepin' on keepin' on: "So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith."
Hang in there - and continue serving the One who called you. Your reward will be great!
Blessings,
Janet+
Friday, May 8, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
HELP WANTED
Dear Friends in Christ -
Help is needed with food preparation for the Talent Show. If you have an hour or two to spare on SATURDAY morning at 10:30 a.m., food preparation will be happening in the parish kitchen. If you've ever wanted to see what a pile of 400 meatballs looks like, this is your chance!! Good fellowship and fun are a FREE part of the deal!
If you have any questions, please contact Jayne Bolton at jayne_bolton@att.net.
Blessings,
Janet+
Help is needed with food preparation for the Talent Show. If you have an hour or two to spare on SATURDAY morning at 10:30 a.m., food preparation will be happening in the parish kitchen. If you've ever wanted to see what a pile of 400 meatballs looks like, this is your chance!! Good fellowship and fun are a FREE part of the deal!
If you have any questions, please contact Jayne Bolton at jayne_bolton@att.net.
Blessings,
Janet+
National Day of Prayer
Dear Friends in Christ -
Millions of people around the country and throughout the world are lifting up their voices in prayer today on this 58th National Day of Prayer. What are we praying for? We're praying for our country and for our world. We're praying for peace and guidance. We're praying for grace and truth.
Tonight, people from throughout Shelton will gather in our Old Church at 7:30 p.m. for a Community Candle-light Vigil of Prayer. No preaching; just living our voices in prayer, in song and in Scripture, in petition and in thanksgiving.
I wanted to share with you the key verse from Scripture and the official prayer for the day:
Psalm 33:22 - "May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you."
Father in Heaven, we lift our eyes toward Your Throne, where You reign in righteousness. Your Word assures us that when Your people cry out in sincerity and humility, you will never turn a deaf ear to us. We call upon You now, seeking your forgiveness and favor. Look over this fevered landscape and heal us, Lord. [We bow our hearts before you], for we know where our help comes from. Unite these States again in devotion to You, and blur every dividing line. Do not give us over to our sins. Give us, instead, over to passionate prayer that moves Your heart. ‘May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You.’ In the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
(Prayer by Beth Moore, 2009 NDoP Honorary Chairman, adapted)
Faithfully,
Janet+
Millions of people around the country and throughout the world are lifting up their voices in prayer today on this 58th National Day of Prayer. What are we praying for? We're praying for our country and for our world. We're praying for peace and guidance. We're praying for grace and truth.
Tonight, people from throughout Shelton will gather in our Old Church at 7:30 p.m. for a Community Candle-light Vigil of Prayer. No preaching; just living our voices in prayer, in song and in Scripture, in petition and in thanksgiving.
I wanted to share with you the key verse from Scripture and the official prayer for the day:
Psalm 33:22 - "May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you."
Father in Heaven, we lift our eyes toward Your Throne, where You reign in righteousness. Your Word assures us that when Your people cry out in sincerity and humility, you will never turn a deaf ear to us. We call upon You now, seeking your forgiveness and favor. Look over this fevered landscape and heal us, Lord. [We bow our hearts before you], for we know where our help comes from. Unite these States again in devotion to You, and blur every dividing line. Do not give us over to our sins. Give us, instead, over to passionate prayer that moves Your heart. ‘May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You.’ In the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
(Prayer by Beth Moore, 2009 NDoP Honorary Chairman, adapted)
Faithfully,
Janet+
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
An answer to prayer, perhaps?
Dear Friends in Christ -
I was praying at my desk this afternoon, finishing up preparation for tonight's Bible study ("Living Victoriously in Difficult Times"), when the phone rang. It was someone from our parish who wanted to pass on news that there are some job openings available.
My heart sang because of this caller's kindness and thoughtfulness to reach out with that news. I felt like this might be a direct answer to prayer for at least one of you - or for one of your friends, so I'm passing this along . . .
HealthNet has 25 phone center jobs available through Kelly Services. The contact person at Kelly is Deanna Nemec - 225-8990.
Whether or not this sort of job is meant for you or someone you know, may this be a sign to you that God is always working to provide for our needs - even when we can't see it.
Faithfully,
Janet+
I was praying at my desk this afternoon, finishing up preparation for tonight's Bible study ("Living Victoriously in Difficult Times"), when the phone rang. It was someone from our parish who wanted to pass on news that there are some job openings available.
My heart sang because of this caller's kindness and thoughtfulness to reach out with that news. I felt like this might be a direct answer to prayer for at least one of you - or for one of your friends, so I'm passing this along . . .
HealthNet has 25 phone center jobs available through Kelly Services. The contact person at Kelly is Deanna Nemec - 225-8990.
Whether or not this sort of job is meant for you or someone you know, may this be a sign to you that God is always working to provide for our needs - even when we can't see it.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Leaning Forward by Looking Back
Dear Friends in Christ -
Today is Cinco de Mayo. People think of Cinco de Mayo as "Mexico's Independence Day," but actually, that's not true. The celebration of Mexico's independence from Spain is held on September 16th. So what's Cinco de Mayo all about? Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of an unlikely victory - when a small band of Mexicans took on and defeated a French army that had not suffered a defeat in 50 years.
Especially in a time of crisis - like the current Swine Flu epidemic - it's important to remember that Our Lord is the King of unlikely successes, and made joyful living possible through the victory of his resurrection from the grave. Remembering victories of the past can help draw us into the future in a positive way, with HOPE, a resource so valuable that you can't buy it with money.
As we look into the future of the coming week here at St. Paul's, it's a time of gathering as a community for three IMPORTANT events:
1. THURSDAY - Community Candlelight Vigil for the National Day of Prayer - 7:30 p.m. - Old Church (PLEASE COME PRAY!)
2. SUNDAY - Mother's Day Breakfast - 9:00 a.m. - Parish Hall (MEN EMAIL BYRON IF YOU CAN WORK THE EVENT - byron.peterson@emerson.com) (SIGN UP IN THE PARISH OFFICE IF YOU'RE COMING TO THE EVENT - 929-1722 or stpauls@stpaulsct.org)
3. SUNDAY - 4th Annual Youth Talent Show - 4:00 p.m. - Parish Hall (IF YOU NEED TICKETS, THERE'S A WAITING LIST - CONTACT KAREN NASH - 386-9432)
Our HOPE is that God will use all of these events to draw us together as one and to show us more of the power of His VICTORY over everything that might oppress us or draw us away from Him.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Today is Cinco de Mayo. People think of Cinco de Mayo as "Mexico's Independence Day," but actually, that's not true. The celebration of Mexico's independence from Spain is held on September 16th. So what's Cinco de Mayo all about? Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of an unlikely victory - when a small band of Mexicans took on and defeated a French army that had not suffered a defeat in 50 years.
Especially in a time of crisis - like the current Swine Flu epidemic - it's important to remember that Our Lord is the King of unlikely successes, and made joyful living possible through the victory of his resurrection from the grave. Remembering victories of the past can help draw us into the future in a positive way, with HOPE, a resource so valuable that you can't buy it with money.
As we look into the future of the coming week here at St. Paul's, it's a time of gathering as a community for three IMPORTANT events:
1. THURSDAY - Community Candlelight Vigil for the National Day of Prayer - 7:30 p.m. - Old Church (PLEASE COME PRAY!)
2. SUNDAY - Mother's Day Breakfast - 9:00 a.m. - Parish Hall (MEN EMAIL BYRON IF YOU CAN WORK THE EVENT - byron.peterson@emerson.com) (SIGN UP IN THE PARISH OFFICE IF YOU'RE COMING TO THE EVENT - 929-1722 or stpauls@stpaulsct.org)
3. SUNDAY - 4th Annual Youth Talent Show - 4:00 p.m. - Parish Hall (IF YOU NEED TICKETS, THERE'S A WAITING LIST - CONTACT KAREN NASH - 386-9432)
Our HOPE is that God will use all of these events to draw us together as one and to show us more of the power of His VICTORY over everything that might oppress us or draw us away from Him.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Something Special at - where else? - Church
Dear Friends in Christ -
If you're looking for opportunities to connect more deeply with your children/grandchildren, church today will be an answer to your prayers.
Linda Snyder (Missioner for Adults and Children) and Emily Perow (Missioner for Youth) will be at St. Paul's today - to worship and pray with us, and to share their wisdom about how to help our kids grow in knowledge and power and love.
After church, grab some good stuff at coffee hour and come down to the double classroom to hear more about how to help your kids - of all ages - from toddlers to teens - know God.
Blessings,
Janet+
If you're looking for opportunities to connect more deeply with your children/grandchildren, church today will be an answer to your prayers.
Linda Snyder (Missioner for Adults and Children) and Emily Perow (Missioner for Youth) will be at St. Paul's today - to worship and pray with us, and to share their wisdom about how to help our kids grow in knowledge and power and love.
After church, grab some good stuff at coffee hour and come down to the double classroom to hear more about how to help your kids - of all ages - from toddlers to teens - know God.
Blessings,
Janet+
Saturday, May 2, 2009
The Gift
Dear Friends in Christ -
Today, a whole bunch of folks from St. Paul's joined a bunch of folks from other churches and worked down in Bridgeport at Sister Theresa's daycare. The gift of time and energy that folks gave completely renewed the daycare, making the space larger, brighter and all-around better for the kids. But if you ask the folks who worked down there - from the guy who came down to cook egg sandwiches for morning coffee break to the guy who has worked for weeks to organize the whole thing - they would talk about RECEIVING a gift, not giving one.
That's the power of love - and the privilege it is to work for God.
Faithfully,
Janet+
PS - If you weren't able to help out today, there may still be an opportunity to help out tomorrow. Come to church to hear more details!
Today, a whole bunch of folks from St. Paul's joined a bunch of folks from other churches and worked down in Bridgeport at Sister Theresa's daycare. The gift of time and energy that folks gave completely renewed the daycare, making the space larger, brighter and all-around better for the kids. But if you ask the folks who worked down there - from the guy who came down to cook egg sandwiches for morning coffee break to the guy who has worked for weeks to organize the whole thing - they would talk about RECEIVING a gift, not giving one.
That's the power of love - and the privilege it is to work for God.
Faithfully,
Janet+
PS - If you weren't able to help out today, there may still be an opportunity to help out tomorrow. Come to church to hear more details!
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