Join us Wednesdays in March (Lent) at 5:30pm in the church for our traditional Stations of the Cross service that follows the last steps of Jesus to his crucifixion. After Stations we will gather in the parish hall for a soup supper, with bread and salad, and will enjoy a Lenten study led by Deacon Debbi Rhodes. ALL are welcome.
Iconography - Week 1 Progress
Week one - We traced the image onto our board, outlined the tracing with black acrylic paint, and applied the thin base coat of yellow. Next week we start with colors!
First Friday Concert Series - March 2023
Consider ourself at home with Lionel Bart's classic musical based on the Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist. The Tony and Olivier Award-winning show is one of the few musicals to win an Academy Award for Best Picture and is widely hailed as a true theatrical masterpiece by actors and audience members alike.
Footlight theatre will be presenting "Oliver!" the first 3 weekends in March. Director is Laura Meyer, musical director is Jennifer Keeley.
Some of the talented cast will be performing selections.
Oliver Cast
Iconography - Thursdays in Lent
Christ the Good Shepherd, the icon we will write together.
Christ the Bridegroom, an icon Mother Michelle created in 2016.
This Lent we will be taking a journey of Icon Writing on Thursday mornings at 9am (in the parish hall). The Orthodox Church has long used icons, special paintings of holy people or scenes, as worship and prayer. The creation of an icon is called "writing" because the icon is created meditatively and prayerfully, one brush stroke at a time. Pastor Kris Graunke, retired Episcopal priest, has held workshops for many local congregations and is thrilled to lead one for us.
Each Thursday we will gather to offer special prayers (icon prayers, if you will) and to work on our own individual icons. The size is approximately 8x10 and begins with preparing the surface, tracing the image onto the wood, and then slowly and carefully "writing" the image with paint brushes. I would never call myself an artist or a painter, but I successfully wrote one in 2016 that I'm quite fond of and keep in my home prayer space.
If you don't think writing an icon is for you, you are still welcome to stop by any Thursday in Lent (beginning 2/23) to watch a group of us do our best. If you choose to participate, a $25 donation covers the cost of supplies, which Pastor Kris will provide. I'm happy to cover that cost for anyone who would appreciate the assistance.
Ash Wednesday Service - 2/22/23 @ Noon
1000 Michigan Avenue, LaPorte IN
Join us for a service commemorating the beginning of our Lenten journey. Service begins at noon and includes the imposition of ashes to remind us of God’s amazing gift of life to us and that we are all mortal.
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From the prayer blessing the ashes before imposition:
Almighty God, thou hast created us out of the dust of the earth: Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by thy gracious gift that we are given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Community Dinner - Tuesday 2/21/23
Join us on Tuesday, February 21st at 6pm for a delicious free meal of Pancakes and Sausage. This is in honor or our traditional Shrove Tuesday meal marking the beginning of Lent. Doors open at 5:30 for drinks and popcorn.
Everyone is welcome. Bring a friend. Share this post. Hope to see you there!
St. Paul’s is located at 1000 Michigan Avenue but please enter from Harrison Street. Feel free to email priest@stpaulslaporte.org with any questions.
Scout Sunday - February 5, 2023
What joy to welcome these wonderful young men and women for the celebration of Scout Sunday. St. Paul’s is pleased to host Troop 321 and the newly reformed Pack 880 on our facilities. It was a delight to have them participate in our worship and to spend time with them during coffee hour.
First Friday Concert Series - February 2023
John Gouwens
John Gouwens will be the featured musician at the First Friday concert Feb. 3, 12:10 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1000 Michigan Ave., LaPorte.
Gouwens has served as Organist and Choirmaster of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church (La Porte) since the fall of 2019. Shortly after starting in that position, he also became carillonneur, organist, and choirmaster at The Presbyterian Church, also in La Porte.
He is a prolific composer and arranger for carillon, and also plies those skills providing relevant and enjoyable music for his choirs to sing. In the organ and carillon fields, he is renowned for his improvisation skills, which he will be including in the Feb.3 recital.
From 1980 until his retirement in 2019, Gouwens served as Organist and Carillonneur at Culver Academies, also leading the choir program for many of those years.
Throughout his career, he has been active playing recitals on the organ and on carillon, for many years at Culver, but also around the country. In the summer of 2023, he’s making his eighth carillon recital tour in Europe. Gouwens has also garnered many prizes over the years in competitions for organ playing, carillon playing, improvisation, and composition.
The program will include Toccata and Fugue in D-Minor, by J.S. Bach; Adagio in E, by Frank Bridge; The Dam-Busters, by Eric Coates; Hymn and Improvisation (hymn to be announced) and Epilogue (Saga III from Metal Angel) by Gunnar Idenstam.
There is no charge for the concert, but a free-will offering box will be available. People are encouraged to bring their lunch and enjoy the concert.
First Friday Concert Series - January 2023
Lee Knitter
Join us for our January First Friday concert on January 6th at 12:10 pm. Lee Knitter will offer a Gospel music performance with acoustic guitar.
Lee Knitter worked in a steel mill for 43 years, and has been a musician for more than 30 years. He's been on the Worship team at La Porte Missionary Church for over 16 years. Lee wants to take the Gospel into the community with his music and has enjoyed performing solo most recently. He sings Gospel and plays the acoustic guitar.
First Friday concerts are held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church located at 1000 Michigan Avenue. Concerts are free. All are welcome. Bring a sack lunch if you'd like. Hope to see you.
First Friday Concert Series - December 2022
Susie Richter (from left), Rose Marie Dure and Bob Richter
The fourth event in the First Friday Concert series at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1000 Michigan Ave., La Porte, will be Dec. 2 at 12:10 p.m.
Brother and sister Bob and Susie Richter and accompanist Rose Marie Dure will present a Christmas program. All three have have been involved for a long time in La Porte Little Theater and other area theaters for many years.
Dure is the retired director of Music Ministries at First United Methodist Church in La Porte. The Richters are both members of the Singing Company of La Porte and Susie also sings in St. Paul's Choir.
The public is invited to this free event, bring your lunch if you wish. The concert will last about 30 minutes.