This Week at St. Paul's
Mother Michelle Walker
Greetings. This News from the Red Doors is rather "newsy", so please bear with me as I share several bits of information.
Marriage Policy - On Tuesday 7/20 our vestry voted to approve the proposed marriage policy. If you'd like a refresher on the process we used to draft our marriage policy, please refer to this article from our June 4th News from the Red Doors. The policy is linked here and will also be available on our website shortly.
Red Doors - I'm excited to announce that we will once again be opening our Red Doors on Michigan Avenue for entry and exit. While I know it doesn't matter as much to us since we've become used to the Harrison Street entrance, it is a sign of hospitality to our guests to have our church doors unlocked for entry. Beginning this Sunday there will be a second sign-in sheet at that entrance. If you choose to come in that way, PLEASE sign-in. We need to maintain contact tracing until this COVID pandemic is history.
Tom Lewis - Tom informed me that due to his declining health he was moving to Alabama to live with his son. He was both relieved to be going and sad to be leaving. Tom wanted to be sure to let everyone know how much he has loved and appreciated his St. Paul's family over the many years, decades, he has attended. He sends us his love and prayers, and I offered the same to him from us. His cellphone number remains the same if you'd like to reach out to him. Please keep him, and his family, in your prayers.
Communion in Both Kinds - Beginning this Sunday we will again offer communion in both kinds. It has been nearly 16 months since most of you have had the privilege of the Blood of Christ and we are thrilled to incorporate it into our Worship in a safe manner. The Worship Committee reviewed the approach and this is our pilot process. After you’ve received the Body of Christ, while seated in your pew, if you desire the Cup of Salvation then please:
put your mask on,
enter the aisle,
maintain social distancing,
approach the communion station,
wait for your turn,
pull your mask down,
receive the individual cup from the LEM (Lay Eucharistic Minister),
consume the contents,
place your cup on the tray of used vessels
reposition your mask,
return to your seat.
We are excited to try out the process and welcome your feedback afterwards. We deeply desire to offer the Communion Cup in the safest possible way. By way of appreciation, I offer extra thanks to Sandra Provan who shopped the vessels, gathered the necessary items, helped me walk through the process, and agreed to be the LEM for the first few Sundays. Once we have the process down, we'll gladly train any other LEMs that would like to serve in this capacity.
Bible Study - Our Thursday Morning Prayer and Bible Study group will reconvene IN-PERSON the Thursday after Labor Day 9/9. We will be studying Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter. We are looking for a way to also include people who might like to participate but don't find 9am on Thursday a good fit for their schedule. We are considering an evening offering (weekly) or perhaps a once a month offering either on Sunday mornings after church (I hear this has been done in the past) or otherwise. I have two requests of you at this time:
If you'd like a copy of the book, please let me know. I've been able to purchase several used copies of them on Amazon for around $10, about half price. I'll be happy to order you one.
If you'd like to attend a non-Thursday gathering, what fits with your schedule OR is your preference?
As always friends, I'm hear if you need me for prayer, counsel, or simply to sit together and be present to the Holy You are in my prayers, as I know you are in mine. Be safe and see you soon.
Blessings,
Mother Michelle
priest@stpaulslaporte.org | 219-575-0226 (c)
