We observe Lent this
year with double Prayer, sensible Fasting and direct Almsgiving.
On Fridays at 5:15 we
will have Stations of the Cross in the cold stone church, followed by Liturgy
on Good Friday.
On Sundays we will
gather in the Upper Room for Soup and discussion of "From Fear to
Love" by Henri Nouwen, Lenten reflections on the Parable of the Prodigal
Son, inspired by the famous portrait of Rembrandt, "The Return of the
Prodigal Son."
We will discuss the
previous week's reflections. Copies are available in The Lord Room.
See the Holy Week
service schedule at left.
The Hidden Power of the
Gospels: Four Questions, Four Paths, One Journey, by Fr. Alexander J. Shaia,
discussion will take place after church beginning Sunday, April 11, using a
study guide written for the book.
Copies of the Study Guide are
available in The Lord Room. Order your copy now from D. Dashem's Book Shop
across the street from St. Paul's.
Senior Warden: Don Bittner (2012)
341 Susquehanna Ave., Lock Haven PA 17745.
(h) 570-748-6868
Email:
dbitt32214@aol.com
Junior Warden: Scott Horner (2013)
1252 Snydertown Road, Howard PA 16841
(h) 814-383-4496
Email: Schorner133@gmail.com
Dawn Rafter (2013)
338
Fairview Street, Lock Haven PA 17745
(h) 570-660-5080
Email: dawnatc@yahoo.com
Mary Lou Kyle-Bittner
(2012)
341 Susquehanna Ave., Lock Haven PA 17745
(h) 570-748-6868
Email:
mkyle3@comcast.net
Tom Smithgall (2011)
772
Plunket Run Road, Mill Hall PA 17751
(h) 570-726-4104
Email: tweetymb1940@yahoo.com
Jason Bittner (2011)
39
Linnet Lane, Lock Haven PA 17745
(h) 570-660-4866
Email:
Jason@affinityconnection.com or judysmith58@yahoo.com
Father Will Lawbaugh
112
East Main Street, P.O. Box 206, Lock Haven PA 17745
(c) 410-456-5317
(o)
570-748-2440
Email: wlawbaugh@yahoo.com
Clerk of the Vestry:
Claudia Horner
1252 Snydertown Road, Howard PA 16841
(h) 814-383-4496
Email:
claudiahorner@yahoo.com
Treasurer: Charles
Conway
37 E. Bald Eagle St., Lock Haven PA 17745
(h) 570-748-4859
Email:
cconway946@aol.com
Finance Committee Chair:
Chip Foulsham
P.O. Box 117, Lock Haven PA 17745
(h) 570-748-7465
Email:
foulsham@cub.kcnet.org
St. Paul's Vestry in
December canceled the Taize' Service tentatively scheduled for Wednesday
evening, January 13.
One consideration for the decision is the
cost of heating the Lord Room. Plans to convert from heating oil to natural gas
fizzled, and now it looks like we may have to replace our 30-year-old furnace.
Following diocesan guidelines, St. Paul's will accept at least three
competitive bids and select the lowest best bid.
In other action, the Vestry decided to cut
the cost of supply priests by having lay-led Morning Prayer once a month. The
Diocese wants half-time Rectors to take off one Sunday a month to remind
congregations that they do not have full-time Rectors.
The Rt. Rev. Nathan D.
Baxter and his wife, Mary Ellen, were greeted enthusiastically by a
congregation appreciative of the fact that they had to get up at 5 a.m. and
drive here from Harrisburg.
Bishop Baxter arrived in
time to meet with the Vestry at 9 a.m. in The Lord Room, asking about our
greatest challenge and greatest accomplishment. Finances led the way for the
former; Outreach to the poor and needy for the latter. Even though we have few
children, the Bishop urged St. Paul’s to develop some kind of Sunday School, if
for no other reason than to satisfy "shoppers" or seekers with
children who may consider St. Paul’s for a spiritual home. He also liked the
idea of a Childrens Choir but suggested a single performance commitment, such
as a Christmas or Easter chorus. Father Will is to carry the idea to the
Ministerium.
While the Bishop found
St. Paul’s to be a generous and good congregation, he asked Vestry to consider
a Growth Plan to offset some of the losses of elderly communicants and people
moving away. Father Will is to come up with names and phone numbers of
consultants, starting with Archdeacon Andy France and the new head of
Congregational Development, David Pock of Williamsport, who can present St.
Paul’s with a marketing plan. "Consider an unconventional approach to growth,"
he said.
Finally, the Bishop
deplored our shotgun approach to drawing new people in and suggested instead a
.22 rifle approach, such as finding out what they want to discuss, what would
be meaningful to them? We tried "A Prayer for Owen Meany" and The Mitford
series, for example, but maybe you want "The Shack."
Vestry members were
urged to attend the leadership workshops on the Saturday before Palm Sunday and
the September Parish Administration workshops. At least the Senior and Junior
Wardens should receive the bi-weekly "Diocesan Digest."
It was evident that the
Bishop has read our newsletter and cares deeply about St. Paul’s. Mary Ellen
began her college career in our fair city, and so did diocese staffer Bill
Graffius. The Bishop spent an hour with our candidates for Holy Baptism,
Confirmation and Reception into the Church. The Guild sponsored a gala
reception for the neophytes and the Bishop and Mary Ellen in the Upper Room. He
left with compliments for the liturgical practices of St. Paul’s and our sacred
but efficient distribution of Holy Eucharist.
We come to an exciting
end of our Bible in One Year effort at St. Paul’s. We take these three Letters
and The Book of Revelation because they complement one another. For example,
did you know that the "Antichrist" is not really even mentioned in
Revelation? It is in John’s Letters as the aged Evangelist warns us about those
who may be "denying the Father, denying the Son" (1 John 2:22). And
who exactly is the Antichrist? Scholars point to the false prophet of Matthew
24:24 who performs "great signs and wonders" in the end times; or
Paul’s "man of lawlessness" in 2 Thessalonians 2: -4 who claims to be
God and brings final destruction to the world; or one of two beasts in Rev.
13:7-8 who was to rule over God’s people at the end of time before being
defeated at Armageddon.
1 John: written from
Ephesus on Asia Minor or Turkey’s west coast to the seven churches mentioned in
Rev. John warns against the heretical Gnostics who claim they have secret
knowledge, denying Christ’s human nature and claiming that all physical is
evil, all spiritual is good. Main point is found in 1 John 2:26-27.
2 John: Like a 13-verse
condensation of all 5 chapters of John’s first letter, echoing the half-verse
Fr. Will asked you to memorize: "God is Love, and those who abide in Love
abide in God, and God abides in them" (1 John 4:16b).
3 John: written to Gaius
about the false pastor Deotrephes who does not practice the O.T. super-virtue
of chesed or hospitality to strangers (3 John 5).
John writes from the
Roman penal colony of Patmos, a tiny island 40 miles off the west coast of
Turkey "for preaching the word of God" (1:9). Apocalyptic literature
began with Ezekiel and Daniel, both exiles in Iraq, to offer hope to us in hard
times.
Seven Letters to the
Churches of Asia Minor ordered by Christ, "the Son of Man."
1.Ephesus: "You
don’t love me or each other like you did at first" (2:4).
2.Smyrna: Sinners who
fire you and boycott you will be thrown into "the lake of fire"
(20:14) on Judgment Day.
3.Pergamum: The
Nicolaitan heretics urge Christians to eat the meat of animals sacrificed to
idols, and to join in pagan sex rituals. Wrong.
4.Thyatira: a Jezebel
in that church preaches the Nicolaitan heresy.
5.Sardis: "You are
dead. Wake up!" (3:12).
6.Philadelphia: In 90
A.D. the Jewish Council agreed to excommunicate from the synagogue all those
who claimed Jesus as the promised Messiah, but those shall be welcome in
Heaven.
7.Laodicia:
"Because you are neither hot nor cold, I have spat you out of my
mouth" (3:16)
Seven Seals of Doom:
"what must happen" (4:1). God holds the scroll as Jesus, Lion and
Lamb, breaks each seal.
1-4: unleash the Four
Horsemen of the Apocalypse, bringing famine and disease.
5. Martyrs in Heaven ask
for vengeance.
6. Earth quakes, the Sun
grows dark for Judgment Day.
7. Hail and fire destroy
a third of plant life as angels of death kill a third of the world’s people.
Satan the Dragon teams
up with the Beast from the Sea, the Whore of Babylon (the Roman Empire) in the city
of seven hills (Rome), and the Beast of the Earth, the Antichrist (?) whose
number is 666, Nero, who persecuted Christians in John’s time. As orthodox Jews
wear Scripture on their foreheads and hands, the Antichrist (Nero) orders
others to wear the Mark of the Beast.
Armageddon is the most
famous of John’s visions, fought in the Jezreel Valley which Napoleon described
as the most perfect battleground.
Day of Doom: Oddly
enough, only sinners are judged, not saints, and sinners are tossed into the
lake of fire, "tormented day and night forever and ever." Those
saints in The Book of Life are happy forever in "the New Jerusalem"
(21:2).
Having seen a vision of
Heaven, John has only one request: Maranatha! "Come, Lord Jesus!"
(22:20). Notice how there is no "Rapture" or "Left Behind"
nonsense in The Apocalypse. They are myths invented in the 19th century by a
preacher who read stuff into John’s Book of Revelation and popularized them.
The Vestry met on
November 15, 2009. The treasurer’s report noted that we are $3100.00 behind for
the previous month. However, monies from our investments have been used monthly
to allow for our bills to be paid beyond what we are taking in on a monthly
basis. We need more people so that we are not in deficit spending. Eileen
Dooley reported to the vestry that outreach money will be given to the Women’s
prison inmates for a McDonald’s gift certificate booklet for them to give to
their families. Also, money will be given to Heifer International for an animal
to help a village in need. Tom Smithgall resigned as Senior Warden. He will
stay on as a vestry member. The vestry has asked our financial committee to
give us a slide show or a power point showing our money situation as it has occurred
over the last 10 years. This could be presented to the congregation at the
annual meeting in late January. The Junior Warden gave his report concerning
the Gas meter change. Mr. Bill Kitchen will be putting in a transformer. He
will also inspect the boiler.
After voting unanimously
in June in favor of The Cave Proposal to provide safe harbor for the teenagers
who congregate outside St. Paul's, the Vestry, by a two-thirds vote among those
present, voted to kill the project on September 20.
A straw poll open to the entire congregation
on Sept. 13 showed two-thirds in favor of the project: 6 in favor, 4 opposed, 2
uncommited.
In other action, Vestry decided to clean up
and professionally restore The Cave room in the basement for Al-Anon meetings
which will take place at 7:30 on Tuesday evenings.
Vestry also voted to scrape and professionally repaint the ironwork in the front of the Church. Furnace
conversion to natural gas will wait until all the oil is used up. Wood steps on
the side will be replaced.
A Fall UTO Ingathering was proposed.
St. Paul's gathered at
Pine Haven, across from the hospital, at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26 for a
Pancake Supper and fellowship with area residents.
Brad Black will be brought hot, steaming pancakes to the Common Room,
Chip Foulsham hauled in some tasty sausage, Father Will fried up two pounds of
crispy sodium-free bacon, and Eileen Dooley handled the applesauce dessert. She
gladly assigned other needs, such as syrup, butter, paper products, tableware
and utinsels.
Don Bittner saw to the transport of the
residents of Whitetail Terrace for a joyous evening of food and fun!
Would you like your
child to learn to sing in a choir?
St. Paul's Episcopal
Church on downtown East Main Street now offers this opportunity. The commitment
is for a one-hour rehearsal per week and one Sunday per month when the choir
will sing during the 11 a.m. service.
Choir director Mary Lou
Kyle-Bittner said she will use a new, comprehensive teaching curriculum,
"Viva Voce," for childrens' choirs, kindergarten through second grade
and third through sixth grade, developed by Carol McClure. The author is an
alumna of the University of Louisville with a Master of Church Music from The
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
The director is a
retired elementary teacher with a minor in music.
To sign up for the
choir, call her at 748-6868.
ECW was once to be
active at St. Paul’s, but there is no one to lead it today. Is anyone
interested in leading and rebuilding this fine organization? Following are
excerpts from ECW’s latest flyer:
We are Episcopal Church
Women of all ages, ethnic origins and socioeconomic backgrounds who hold a
variety of views. However, the common denominator of our members is love of God
and the wish to do His work.
Mission - Centered in congregations, the
Episcopal Church Women (ECW) empowers women to do Christ's ministry in the
world.
Vision - Our vision for all women of the
Episcopal Church is that we become a vibrant blend of all ages, coming together
as a peacemaking, healing part of the Church. We aspire to be a God-spark:
shining and sharing the love of Christ.
For ECW news, read the Communiqué, available
programs, resources, and leadership contact information is available on our
website: www.nationalecw.org
Did you know that
there’s a wealth of Anglican theology in John Irving’s book, “A Prayer for Owen
Meany”? Father Will has a one-page
worksheet that teases out the inherent theology of the novel. Buy or borrow the
book and see for yourself. Then, when all readers are on board, we will discuss
the novel and its theology.
Whatcha gonna do with
that used cell phone? Consider donating it to Helt Funeral Chapel in Mill Hall.
Father Will was one of the first to
drop off his old Nokia picture cell phone at 232 Hogan Blvd.
Parishioner Ben Blascovich at Helt
will send it to “Cell Phones for Soldiers,” a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization
that will sell it to ReCellular which will reclaim the phones for gold, silver
and platinum from circuit boards or recondition and resell them to wholesale
companies.
CPforS has raised nearly a million dollars
already and has distributed more than half a million prepaid phone cards to
some of the 150,000 troops serving overseas. You can call Ben at (570) 748-2722 or visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com
On behalf of St. Paul's
parish, Father Will has cut back on his volunteer hours at the county lockup,
but by popular demand, the Sacrament of Eucharist is now established on the
first Sunday of each month. Two other ordained ministers, a Methodist and a
Wesleyan, alternate Sunday services for the remainder of each month.
Holy Communion is now offered to all
baptized Christians once a month at the Clinton County Correctional Facility.
__________________________________
Flowers at St. Paul’s
Your
Name___________________________
Date
Desired__________________________
(check one):
In memory of___
In honor of__
Name(s)___________________________
Type of flowers:
____Real______ Silk
Make out check for $30
to St. Paul’s
(please note that the amount has changed!) notated “flowers”, and
mail to: Phyllis Durost, 219 Kennedy, Mill Hall, PA 17751
After Easter join us for a new study group topic. We will be reading and discussing a newly
published book, The Hidden Power of the Gospels: Four Questions, Four Paths,
One Journey, by Alexander J. Shaia, PhD (available new for $17.81 on Amazon,
with used prices beginning at $11.29). Avoid shipping and handling charges by
ordering the book thru B. Dashem Book Shop across from St. Paul's. Our discussion will take place after
church beginning Sunday, April 11, using a study guide written for the
book. Everyone is welcome.
The book is based on a four-fold journey of spirit and
transformation. We are invited to study
each of the gospels with a great question of spiritual life. In other words, this is an opportunity to
live into the gospels for ourselves, contemplating questions that affect all of
us:
St. Paul's Vestry met October 18 and moved forward with a
number of new initiatives.
To prevent the
spread of germs, this flu season we shall dispense with handshakes during the
Exchange of Peace. Simply turn to a neighbor and offer a verbal peace.
Father Will is to
hand the Host to each communicant instead of taking the Host from the paten.
Those who wish to intinct (the least sanitary) will use only the intinction
cup.
A reminder: you need
not take both the Host and the Cup, just one, to receive the Body and Blood of
Jesus Christ validly.
The Children's Choir
idea was endorsed enthusiastically and the Choir Director is encouraged to
apply for an Operation Understanding grant by Oct. 31.
Vestry voter to
donate $80 to the seminary expenses of Deacon Janis Iskamp of St. James of
Mansfield, $10 per month.
Vestry voted to
donate $50 to Dr. Gary Nelson to help cover his travel expenses for his two-day
talk on Depression and Suicide at LHUP, cosponsored by PCM.
Vestry voted to
suspend the limit for Fr. Will's professional, reimbursible expenses for one
month and will take up the matter again next month. Last year's Vestry advised
him to ask for more if needed.
Vestry delayed for
one month their consideration of participation in the Gallon Challenge of the
Ministerium. St. Paul's donated $500 last year to the charitable fuel
assistance program and drew at least twice that from the fund to help
parishioners from St. Paul's.
Vestry delayed for
one month a decision to use less than half the $1,000 gift from Chris Trieres
to buy new vestments.
Vestry did not take
up a long term care insurance benefit for the Rector.
Vestry decided not to return the $3,000 grant money from The
Cave Project right away. Fr. Will asked it be returned to the Diocese on Sept.
21.
The Treasurer agreed
to inform the previous Rector of IRS audit action against St. Paul's for SS
taxes.
The Tresurer asked
Vestry to study the budget and come up with $20,000 in cuts for the next
meeting.
Vestry was informed
that Nov. 15 is the Stewardship Sunday. Fr. Will is to give the Biblical
reasons for tithing 10% of gross.
The Senior Warden
agreed to send out a Stewardship Letter to the congregation well in advance of
Nov. 15 and budget meeting of the finance committee.
The computers
donated by Krislund Camp for The Cave have been given away to the Methodist
Churches of Mackeyville and Salona, and The Newman Center Catholic Community of
LHUP.
The Ricoh Copier,
which has been sitting in the Lord Room for over a year, is being given away by
the Vestry. All it needs is a cleaning of the drum.
Good weather and a later Parade resulted in perhaps the best
year yet for our major fundraiser, the annual Strawberry Festival.
A total of $2,942.50 was deposited
into St. Paul’s account this year. While we do not have a complete breakdown,
the Cake Wheel broke $200 for the first time, and sales were brisk at the food
tent. Kids went wild at the Fish Pond, and Smoothies were better than ever. The
Guild took in more than $400 at Treasures from the Attic, pushing the grand
total well above $3,000.
A local
Boy Scout Troop was given $100 for all their help with set up and break down.
Every known email address for St. Paul’s was notified of a
new website presence for the parish, but only one parishioner responded. It was
positive!
Fifty
other friends and churches responded to the request to go to the website,
www.saintpaulslh.org and the response was 100% favorable. The Executive
Director of The Society for Collegiate Journalists picked up a spelling mistake
(Can you find it?), and Rev. Dee Calhoun loved the pictures, selected by our
dear friend Chuck Yorks. Chuck also did all the writing for the Home Page,
About Us and Contact Us, but Father Will has spent countless hours in study and
workshops since January trying to master the Byzantine art of website
development. He says Hebrew was easy in comparison to HTML and PhotoShop.
One nearby
parish spent $3,000 to build their website, and one in South Central PA spent
$1,500 for just technical advice, but ours did not cost St. Paul’s a dime.
Chuck Yorks set it up and paid for the first year out of pocket. All of Father
Will’s expenses were out of pocket as well, including 2009 renewal of the
domain and expansion through search engines. It is said that 70% of all new
people coming to St. Paul’s will come through because of a decent web presence.
It’s a necessity today, not a luxury.
You can
help by sending news and digitized photos via email to Father Will or to anyone
who wants to take over the job as webmaster. What a grand opportunity to enrich
your resume.
Parish Library New Looks With Lots of New Books
Tiffany Allen began the task of sorting and cataloging
dozens of fine books donated by the Rev. Steve Harris of Waynesboro, Ms. Jean
Garbacik of Central Texas, Father Will and Father Richard Cahoon. Jason Bitner
then finished the job of cataloging and arranging the many fine books on
spirituality and Episcopal life.
Mike and
Phyllis Durost donated and installed some permanent bookshelves, and Lynn
Bruner donated a free-standing bookcase. By the end of this month, the computers,
donated by Krislund Camp, will be set up and our multimedia parish library will
be complete.
A
simplified book check-out system is being developed so all you need to do to
borrow a book for two weeks is to write your name and phone number and that
day’s date on an index card and place it in a cigar box so others may call you
if they want to borrow the book as well.
Rev. Jeff Seeley, who replaced Father Will as LHUP Campus
Minister a year ago, has brought in four sustaining churches for the Protestant
Campus Ministry association and submits a monthly column to our Newsletter, An
Epistle from St. Paul's..
Chaplain
Jeff has also signed on as organist for Great Island Presbyterian Church,
leaving a similar position at Messiah Lutheran in South Williamsport. This
places him in Lock Haven all week. Father Will continues as a Campus Minister
representing St. Paul’s, and our Rector serves as Chairman of the Board of PCM
at LHUP.
Two
openings remain for members of St. Paul’s to serve on the PCM Board.
The big
news for PCM is rent with an option to buy a home just adjacent to the LHUP
campus, gaining much greater visibility.
Great Island Presbyterian just gave PCM
$12,000 to pay the first year's rent on the house.
Covenant UMC has issued a special appeal to its members to help PCM fix
up the old house.
Want
to read Chaplain Jeff Seeley's monthly column? Just contact us for email
delivery of "An Epistle from St. Paul's" newsletter.
The Spring 2009 Ingathering for the United Thank Offering
collected $268.07, also the best in recent memory.
UTO is one
of the best charities in The Episcopal Church, with the lowest overhead and
administrative costs.
Thanks to
organizer Claudia Horner, people of St. Paul’s gave generously this year.
Another UTO Ingathering is planned for this autumn. Coin boxes and envelopes
will be available in the Narthex.
Do we have your Date of Birth (month and day, not year)?
Do we have
your cell phone number?
Email
address?
Anniversary month and day?
The folks who are updating our Parish Directory need this
information as soon as possible.