St. Paul’s Spring/Summer Page
St. Paul’s United Church 11526 76 Avenue Edmonton, AB T6G 0K7
(780) 436 1555 stpaulsunited@telus.net www.stpaulsunited.org
Love Without Borders...That We May Know Each Other April 2008 - August 2008
Love without Borders:
That We May Know Each Other.
Getting to know each other is marvelous:
a privilege, a grace and a daring thing. You belong here at St. Paul’s. So does your neighbour in the pew, and your homebound church friend, and the friends who have passed beyond the border of this life. What a grace and a mystery.
When you look at the ceiling in the place where we worship together, can you see the overarching beams, like ribs soaring over your head? Look up. Can you see how they meet at the top? Can you imagine the building upside down, the beams like the ribs of a big ship, sailing on an ancient prairie sea, holding us?
Many of us came to Canada on ships, surrounded by a motley crew of family, friends and foreigners.
Do you remember? Have you heard the stories?
A ship of passengers, sailing to an unknown land that would become refuge and home.
Home. This is your spiritual home. Bless you for offering holy hospitality to one another, and to me. Together in God we live and move and have our being.
We recognize that in this spiritual home we have much in common: compassion, generosity, concern for this planet, worry for future generations, a yearning for the sacred. We also have many differences that keep things entertaining!
What is truth? Pilate asked Jesus.
Faithful answers to that question abound. Is there one truth? Does it change? What wisdom can we learn from other traditions of faith? What about literalism in understanding the Bible? What unknown land are we sailing toward?
These are great questions. As we answer them, we remember that we are traveling together, in the grace of the Holy. We journey in the mystical communion of those who have gone before, and generations who will follow. We answer them with holy hospitality, open to one another and the blessings we are.
That means we answer the questions truthfully. We speak what we know. In the spirit of holy hospitality, we listen to one another and in this daring thing, we risk changing our own minds and deepening our faith.
And how do we dare this? This ship moves on the breath of the Spirit, the Ruah, the winds of God that bring us together in holy intention and divine trust. It is a big ship, sailing on an ancient prairie sea.
Look up. We are held in a love that holds us
… and moves us along.
In peace,
Reverend Catherine MacLean
Chicago in June …
This summer I will attend my third and final residency in the Association of Chicago Theological Schools Doctor of Ministry in Preaching. The seminaries have created a program that enhances life in congregations with attention to the academic art of sermons to deepen my ministry with you. My 30 classmates and I will enjoy three weeks of classes and worship: I expect to hear about 40 sermons and preach five! Participating in my work through the year is a Parish Project Group: Susan Richardson (chair), Diana Coumantarakis, Ruth Glancy, Katharine Moore (from Knox-Metropolitan), David Oberholtzer, Frank Robinson and Sheila Wright.
The four papers I wrote this year have these titles:
Ankle Bones: Integration from the Sole Up
Illumine the Pathway Home:
Preaching Apologetics on Remembrance Day
Ezekiel in the Mid-Winter Blues:
Faith Seeking Understanding
Sermons in Stones:Doctrine as Building Blocks
for Preaching in a Non-Confessing Church
Next year I write a professional paper, the purpose of which is to offer something worthwhile to peers in ministry. Graduation is scheduled for June 2009.
It is such a pleasure to engage this work with you: thank-you for your interest, support and blessings.
Catherine
Nurturing Our Spiritual Nature
Recently, on a walk around Belgravia, I noticed, nestled up against the cinder block foundation of a house a newly opened to the early spring sun, two tiny yellow flowers. With my regrettably limited botanical knowledge I could not tell you exactly what kind of flower they were. Can crocuses be yellow? I do know that they looked so freshly bloomed that I could have convinced myself that they had done so just for me only moments before I beheld them.
Surprisingly to me, I felt an unexpected surge of joy upon seeing them. Joy that brought to mind words akin to the realization that, “Ha! Ha! Spring has now officially sprung!” In the days that followed, I have often thought about these two little flowers, how fortunate I felt to have experienced them that day, but also how they brought together nature and nurture.
Even with my untrained eye I could see that these flowers were not planted there by a human hand - they were just too close to the foundation. There was something almost inevitable about the life they had coursing through their cells, life that just had to be. Their seeds had somehow,
mysteriously, yet naturally, sought and found a place that had just enough light, warmth moisture for them to take root and grow into mature flowers. Who knows how long their seeds may have lain dormant before this very spring? In spite of many potential obstacles, nature had conspired to allow them to live and bloom gloriously.
Hardly looking like a strain of flower native to the area, I was aware that at some point in time a human hand had chosen this particular type of flower and planted the ancestors of “my” flowers that provided the necessary seeds. Thus, there was a strong hint of conscious human nurture in this natural beauty. Conscious human nurture had also played a role allowing "nature to take its course" in its most positive sense.
It occurs to me that within each of us is a spiritual seed that yearns to find the right place to grow, bloom, weather storms and do its share to provide life to the future. A community of faith can be that place.
Without (hopefully) going too far with the botanical image--" church is a garden of beautiful flowers" and so on -- our youngest ones are indeed provided with a "nursery" for them and their parents. By the way, our nursery at St. Paul's will be undergoing some work in the near future. Please stay tuned for more on this nurture venture!
People's spirits are nurtured in worship both Sunday worship and for other sacred occasions. Learning opportunities, ongoing ones like Bible Study, special ones like May's workshop on the Biblical Mary provide nurture at a different level. Cell groups allow people from within the congregation to nurture each other. Cell groups are about to reappear flowerlike very soon with a few opportunities this Spring, then more in September and next January, reflecting their seasonless ability to help people grow and flourish. For more information on what is available visit our website or call the church office.
Finally, having been nurtured within our church, we have the opportunity to go stronger and joyfully beyond the 'garden' of our church into the wider world each in our own families, communities, workplaces and groups of affinity. But also we go as people of faith together with others from St. Paul's beyond our shared borders to work alongside Ross Wein and his initiatives toward fully accessible camping at Pigeon Lake, to our May Habitat for Humanity build as only two examples.
As we grow together, may we have many opportunities to realize that “Ha! Ha! God's Spirit has sprung in us!” May we also have the satisfaction of knowing that others beyond our church community can also say “Ha! Ha! God is alive and working our world!”
May God bless the nature and nurture of all our spirits during this season of growth.
With awe and respect,
Reverend Dirk Jessen
What is a Young Adult?
Recently I had someone I was sure knew better ask me what the difference is between young adults and the Emerging Generation. Weren’t they the same group of people?
The short answer is no. They are different generations of people BUT sometimes they overlap not only age wise but more importantly in their stage of life. Young Adults are the demographic of people between the ages of 18 and 30 yrs of age. The “Emerging Generation” as they are called in the United Church are people between 30 – 45.
The demographic of Young Adults is an emerging North American phenomena that no longer describes a few exceptions to a usual pattern but a large group of people who more represent an emerging norm for this age group. Young Adults may be in any or all of the following circumstances: in post secondary education, not settled into a particular career path, often searching for a career path by trying different kinds of work, this is frequently combined with travel abroad for anywhere from three weeks to many years. They are single and searching for an intimate relationship often moving through many relationships in quest for one person to “settle down” with, frequently they still live at home or are experimenting with different kinds of living arrangements with friends or in community.
As you can see by the above description some young adults fit some parts of the description and not others. That is what makes this age group very challenging to work with. However, marriage or long term commitments, buying a home, having children, and settling into a particular career are what characterize the “Emerging Generation” on whom the United Church of Canada has been putting its focus over the past several years. In particular marriage and children thrust young adults into the Emerging Generation in the church and into a stage that the church knows better.
There was a period in time not more than 40 years ago when the change from adolescence to adulthood (as described by the Emerging Generation) was relatively quick. The transition happened roughly between the ages of 18 – 24. In the early 1900s it happened between ages 16-20. So if you are not aware of this development or never experienced it, it’s not surprising. For many cultural reasons that time period has expanded considerably and so have the numbers of people in the demographic who are taking longer and longer to find a home of their own, a career path, or settle down with a long term partner. Not infrequently people in other age groups find themselves with more in common with young adults than their peers: when a marriage or long term relationship ends, when they are forced to change career paths, when they aren’t able to have children or when they choose to focus on a career and remain single.
There are parallel spiritual issues that go along side of these life circumstances. For these people there is uncertainty with regards to what my purpose and place in the community are and these become particularly critical when a person is transient in dwelling, work and relationships over a long period of time. Where do I belong and what is my value. These questions are particularly difficult when one is not earning a living while they are in extended studies or looking for vocational work. Our culture values only those who earn a living; for example, the GNP is based only on those who have an income. The media encourages young adults to spend their money on entertainment and travel neither of which give one a sense of purpose or value over time. We have also entered into a time when formerly trusted institutions such as religion, government, education, healthcare and so on are quite rightly held with suspicion because of glaring failures in those institutions to live up to the trust people put in them. This heightens other questions normal to this age group. What can I trust in and what do I believe? (apart from what they are told to believe by church, education, media)
All of these factors and more contribute to a sense of chaos in culture and life that sets in place a longing in young adults to find solid ground on which to base their lives. The church, if it addresses those needs and speaks to the experience of young adults, can provide a much needed way to address all of these issues. However it cannot expect many young adults to respond to invitations to make long term commitments because they are frequently transient. Regularly attending worship and other rituals are not likely to happen when they are required to work Sundays and weekends. If they don’t feel their life experience, needs or questions are being addressed in worship then there is even less motivation to attend. The emphasis on entertainment in our culture has also affected what people expect from the church and their attitude toward religion. Sports and entertainment coupled with lots of disposable income compete with religion as it often falls into the optional category of activities alongside entertainment in their lives.
The course I took in March on Spiritual Formation in Youth and Young Adult Ministry answered many of the questions I have lived with as I have forged into young adult ministry at St Paul’s. It also revealed that many of the stumbling blocks I encounter are because of the broad expanse of life experiences for people between 18- 25. This coupled with cultural issues such as individualism, materialism and a focus on entertainment continue to make this a very challenging but essential ministry of the church. Far more churches need to take up the challenge to offer the well of spirituality to this generation of people who crave it.
BIG Church Garage Sale
Saturday, May 24, 8.00 am - 2.30 pm
With the end of the Flea Market there has been a felt gap in our community life. The Cuba Connections group has joined forces with old hands in Flea Market organization Maureen McMillan, Sheila Love and Lance Love to bring to you the May Garage Sale! We are accepting items now and are asking that you bring them to the church. The toddler room can be used a temporary space but ideally the stage is where most things will go. Unfortunately we will not be providing pick up this year.
We are hoping to have many things to sell and will need many hands to help sort and set up during the week of May 19 – 24. Watch for sign up sheets in the church friendship room over the next few weeks.
Proceeds from this sale will be split between the Cuba Connections and previously supported outreach groups.
We welcome your donations and your support. If you have further questions or concerns please contact Maureen McMillan or Denise.
Cuba Connections
A small but VERY enthusiastic group of youth have booked their flights to Cuba for July 10 – 24. This is nearly the hottest time of the year in that country but also a good time to connect with youth there who are also on summer holidays and travel around the country together. The participants are: Molly Wreakes, Lydia Stewart, Jarius Godfrey, Denise Walker, Mariah Chan and Anna Brownlee. The leaders are Diana Coumatarakis, Gord Oaks and Denise Davis Taylor.
We will be flying into Havana and will have a chance to visit this historic city before we head to Veradero where Iglesia Presbyterianna is located. We will be staying at the church, helping with their summer vacation bible school and other local projects as well as visiting the rural areas. Details are ongoing as our itinerary comes together.
As before, the most important part of this Experience is to CONNECT with Cuban people and learn from them about their faith, history, culture, language, interests, concerns and so on. Music will be one of the things we all have in common and we are very fortunate to be able to have Gord Oaks Jr. with us to help us prepare and connect with each other musically. Talking about our faith and what it means to us will be a bigger challenge but games and singing and working together will help with that.
Thanks again to those who donated to our Salsa Silent Auction and came to eat and dance the night away with us. We raised $2,633.00 with that event.
We sent thank you cards to those we knew who donated but we received many anonymous donations which added to the success of the evening. Our upcoming Garage Sale May 24 will be our next big Fund Raiser and so once again we welcome your donations and your help with this event. As in years past some of the group are more able to cover their costs than others. If you are moved to assist them in covering their costs we would welcome donations to the church. Please put Cuba connections on the memo line.
Thank you for your support as we grow in faith and learn to live our faith in the world.
Denise Davis Taylor DM
From the Chair
It is so feeling like spring…and it is encouraging to see the snow disappearing and the tulips peeking up in those bare spots in the flower beds! It lifts our spirits, doesn’t it?
I am happy to bring you news from the Official Board which, this year, will meet the third Tuesday of each month except for July, August and December.
Our first meeting on March 18 was an Orientation Session in which the Board members were introduced to the many aspects of St. Paul’s operations: the role of the Trustees, the Executive Committee, Board, Standing and Ad Hoc committees (12 in all), Presbytery representation, and the St. Paul’s Foundation. The Treasurer provided a financial overview and it was clear from the discussion that stewardship, which concerns all members and adherents of St. Paul’s, requires our increased attention this year. Care of and for our congregation was a second area of interest that arose from discussion of the presentations.
Prior to the Orientation Session, the Committee Chairs got together over a pizza supper for some general discussion. It was also an opportunity to introduce four new committee Chairs: Joyce Halferdahl – Membership, Miriam McClymont – Faith Lift, Jenny Peetoom Heida – Spiritual Nurture, and Coleen Falk – St. Paul’s Connectors (communications group) and get them connected with this leadership group. As many, if not most, activities in St. Paul’s involve more than one committee, knowing each other and working seamlessly together will keep things humming along!
To begin this year, the Official Board will continue to focus on four priority areas set at the Board retreat last fall: Governance, Nurturing the Congregation, Social Action and Finances. A number of activities within these areas are being championed by committees and you will continue to hear about them as they progress. In addition, the 60th anniversary activities, to be developed, will need our attention.
I look forward to working with the Board and all of you this coming year.
Happy Spring!!
Heather Peden, Board Chair
From the Music Loft
POSTLUDE
On January 27 David Oberholtzer played his last
service as the organist "on staff" at St. Paul's.
(Rest assured, we have not seen the last of David, as he is already booked to play services this summer!) The service included favorite hymns of David's, horn and piano duets with Mary Fearon, and a sung blessing from the choir.
At the end of the service Jennifer McKercher Rott spoke about David's contribution to the life of St. Paul's (David was the musical director from 1986 to 1989 and then returned in 1994 as organist) and then David shared some stories about his life as an organist. He then proceeded to the back of the church accompanied by a pre-recorded "Music á lŕ David" postlude and received people's gratitude for his gift of music and well-wishes. Cake and refreshments were served in the Friendship Room . The choir enjoyed a party that evening where they could honour David - and he, in turn, honoured the choir in his own way! David leaves us with many memories and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
INTROIT
Karen Epp began her position as organist at St. Paul's in February. Many of you will know Karen from the many times that she played in David's absence over the years - particularly in the summers before he retired from teaching.
The choir has enjoyed their association with Karen when she accompanied them in rehearsals. Due to this past association, her unflappable personality, and her musical competence, Karen's transition into the position here has been very smooth!
Here are some interesting facts about Karen... Her first degree is a Bachelor of Sacred Music from the Canadian Mennonite Bible College (of her three degrees, this one, she said, was the hardest!) Then she went on to get her Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Toronto, and her Masters in Organ Performance from U of T.
Karen and her husband David moved to Edmonton 21 years ago. David is an administrator in the Department of Research at the University of Alberta. They have two children - daughter Marla is in her 4th year at
university studying French, and son Eric is in grade 11 at Old Scona. Marla plays the violin, and we are very fortunate that she enjoys sharing her musical gift in worship.
Karen was the Music Director for 8 years at First Presbyterian Church in Edmonton. She took one year off - and during this break she read the complete works of Carl Jung... (Karen wonders who on earth would be interested in that tidbit!). She then was responsible for the music at Garneau United Church for 12 years. She possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience and we are delighted to have Karen on staff.
WELCOME, KAREN!
Joan Townend
Racecourse Community School
There have been some exciting developments for the Racecourse Community School for orphans and vulnerable children in Kitwe, Zambia this new year. The first block of the new school building is now complete and the grade 5, 6 and 7 staff and students of the Racecourse School have begun putting it to good use. The students have been enjoying the sunlit classrooms and new desks, and the teachers are very excited to have an administrative office where they can leave classroom supplies over night. The School Board is finalizing plans to begin construction of the second school block.
There are an ever increasing number of groups and individuals getting involved in fundraising for the Racecourse Community School from here in Canada. We had a very successful and fun 4th annual Racecourse School Fundraising Dinner, and people from all over the place have been contributing funds through such things as coin drives, bake sales, concerts and so much more. Thank you to all of those involved in fundraising and sharing the good news about the Racecourse School.
At St. Paul's, we will be seeing a few changes in the administration of the Racecourse Community School Fundraising Initiative as Heather MacKenzie will be heading to Halifax in June to attend Dalhousie University for their Masters of Arts in International Development Studies.
Heather will continue to manage the Fundraising Initiative from Halifax, while studying the Community School Movement in Zambia for her Masters Thesis. In her absence, her father Ian MacKenzie will be heading up the Fundraising Initiative at St. Paul's and he will serve as a point person for any questions or concerns that St. Paul's members and staff may have. Triona Richmond and Mike Wilson will also continue to serve as coordinators for the Fundraising Initiative here in Edmonton, should anyone wish to be in contact with them regarding Racecourse School Matters.
The Fundraising Initiative is well on the way to achieving our 2008 fundraising target of $20,000 and we anticipate having a lot of fun with you all in the process!
For more information www.racecourseschool.com
News from the Affirming Committee
We now have a large St. Paul's vinyl banner available to be used for signage, identification and display purposes inside our building. The banner is also suitable for use at external events such parades or church barbeques and rummage sales. Check out the balcony in the sanctuary... during the youth rally the banner hung from the railing at the back of the church. Thank-you to Ruby Swanson for facilitating the making of the banner.
Terry Kaasa
The Quilting Bees
The Quilting Bees, as of April 30th, will be taking a rest until September. We want to thank everyone who have taken packages of squares and made tops for us. It has truly sped up our project. Some of you have added your own material to make a more interesting top, we thank you for this. One person has gone the extra mile and even made some stuffed animals which will donated to a wonderful Society. A sincere thank you to everyone for your help from the entire
Quilting Bees.
St. Paul's Foundation AGM
Some years ago, George Ford & Glynn Edwards knew that they could make a difference to those in need of housing & shelter in Edmonton. The apartment blocks east of the church provided low-cast housing to Seniors and upon their sale the funds were invested with the Edmonton Community Foundation. This foresight and years of volunteer management, today continues to allow St. Paul's Foundation to follow the vision of these founders. Spring 2008 Grants have been issued to assist three agencies in our community:
- $25,000 to Bissell Centre towards building a commercial kitchen in their old building, where meals are prepared by volunteers
- $8,000 to Oxford House, who run six houses for those recovering from addictions and are now reintegrating into the community. They will be adding two bedrooms and refurbishing bathrooms.
- $20,000 to Pilgrim's Hospice, who found that all the plumbing pipes have needed to be replaced in their building. This community hospice is a respite to assist people with terminal illness and the family that care for them.
Come to the AGM on April 27 to hear about funds distributed in 2007. $98,000 was allocated last year to assist with back packs for homeless teens, bathroom renovations at YESS, new mattresses for Operation Friendship tenants, and matts at Hope Mission. Our Minister's Benevolent Fund receives funds from the Foundation to assist people with damage deposits. Come and hear more of the work of St, Paul's Foundation next Sunday following worship service.
Sheila Brown
St. Paul's Connectors
St. Paul's Connectors is a new, ad hoc, committee of the Official Board. Our overall purpose is to enhance communication and information between members of St. Paul's, the wider Church and the community.
We are looking for members who have a gift or passion for communication to join the committee. If you would like more information please contact the office for my phone number.
Thank you, Coleen Falk
Sabbatical Cell Group:
Rest, Renewal and Delight
(yes, pleasure!)
Sabbatical is a component of many of our working lives. This cell group will examine the religious root of sabbatical, and see how we might engage these principles. You may have retired and have wisdom to bring to our group. You may be currently on sabbatical and welcome a time to reflect. You may be anticipating sabbatical and be glad of company as you make plans.
Catherine MacLean will bring resources to this cell group. Timing will depend on your preferences; we can get started this May or wait until August or September.
Please call to be part of it: 436-1555
Our Organ
Our organ plays the melodies of our faith and the hopes of our spirits. An organ always speaks of the communal identity of a church, and it evokes something personal: you can name it for yourself. Along with the piano, our choral harmonies and various trumpets, violins, cellos, flutes and drums, the organ lifts our voices and hearts. In the fourth century Augustine said:
When we sing, we pray twice.
Our organ was installed with love 30 years ago. It had a life span of 25 years. It is tired, and worn out.
The Worship Committee, at the request of the Board, will coordinate a plan to move us forward. You will hear more as we carry on. In the meantime, feel free to speak our Worship Committee chairperson Jim Stewart, our
Board Chair Heather Peden, or Catherine MacLean.
Membership Committee
If you have a picture in our terrific new Photo Directory, you may have picked up your copy. Additional copies are available for $15.
One of the results from this endeavour is that the membership committee would like our home-bound members to receive a friendly phone call on a regular basis. You may be home bound yourself.
If you would enjoy phoning others please let the committee know. Please call:
Joyce Halferdahl or
Margaret Russell
Spring / Summer Calendar
May 3 Saturday The Enigma of Mary Magdalene
led by Esther Oaks and Bonnie Carter
May 4 Sunday Communion, Mary Magdalene con’t
May 11 Sunday Pentecost
May 13 – 23 Tuesday Garage Sale Preparation
May 19 Monday Victoria Day
May 20 Tuesday Official Board meeting
May 20 - 22 Habitat for Humanity
May 24 Saturday Cuba Garage Sale
May 29-June 1 Thursday Alberta and Northwest Conference Annual Meeting, Sherwood Park
June 1 Sunday Choir leads worship
June 8 Sunday Gilchrist Tea
June 13 - July 4 Catherine’s Study Leave
June 15 Sunday Congregational Barbeque
Children’s Program winds down
June 17 Tuesday Official Board meeting
June 22 Sunday Faith Lift leads worship
August 15-17 Water Women Weekend
August 29 Autumn/Winter Newsletter Deadline
WORSHIP LEADERSHIP:
July 6 - 27 Reverend Dirk Jessen
August 10 - 31 Reverend Catherine MacLean
VACATIONS:
July 6 - August 5 Catherine MacLean
July 25 - August 19 Denise Davis Taylor
July 28 - August 25 Dirk Jessen
The staff of St. Paul’s United Church send heart-felt thanks to all who made this past year a success in so many ways.
A MOST ENJOYABE AND RELAXING SUMMER TO ALL!!