Advent is upon us. We will continue the Wednesday evening Undercroft work crew, and throughout the Advent season we will also begin a Thursday evening choir practice at 6:30.
Mark your calendars: December 5 will be our monthly covered dish luncheon, immediately followed by our annual Parish meeting. The annual meeting is a time to reflect on our 2010 accomplishements and plan for 2011.
We will celebrate the "Hanging of the Greens" after Mass on Sunday, December 19. Following the morning service, there will be a soup luncheon, after which we will decorate the nave in preparation of Midnight Mass.
The highlight of the season: Christmas Eve Midnight Mass. We will begin with music at 10:30 PM; the service begins at 11:00 PM....High Mass, complete with incense, full choir, and a sung service.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
St. Francis Day Observed
Our annual "Blessing of the Animals" service drew 58 dogs, 3 cats, and over 65 people this year. We appreciate all the hard work by the ladies who made dog treats, people treats, and gift bags for all attendees. A special THANK YOU to STARBUCKS for providing the coffee and tea.
CONGRATULATIONS to ANITA GRAHAM, winner of the quilt raffle.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Choir "Workshop" Scheduled
We welcome the choir from St. Luke Episcopal Church in Knoxville, who will be joining us for the workshop. All choir members are highly encouraged to attend this event.
We are pleased to have Dr. Harry M. Switzer lead this event. Dr. Switzer has an M.S. in Music Education, a D.M.A. in Vocal Performance, and over 35 years of experience in directing, composing, and conducting choral music.
Among the topics covered will be following the director, posture and breathing, individual vocal production, achieving good sound and blend, and making music interesting.
To all who are currently choir members or those who are considering choir membership: Please make every every effort to attend this event, it will be worth your time!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Mass 101
To those of us who have been Episcopalians for some time, there are things that we do on Sunday mornings that are just automatic. Personal acts that help us experience worship such as the sign of the cross or genuflecting are often not familiar to those who walk in to St. Paul's without prior experience in liturgical worship. This short article is offered to shed a little light on those practices.
1. Posture: We typically stand up for praise and the reading of the Gospel lesson, kneel for prayer and to receive the Holy Eucharist, and sit for instruction. It is common for those who are physically unable to kneel to stand during times when others are kneeling. This physical movement keeps us involved in the service rather than having us simply sit throught it as mere observers.
2. Genuflection and Bowing: Genuflection is the act of briefly kneeling on one knee as an act of reverence. To bow or genuflect is a proper way to reverence the altar when passing by it or before being seated in your pew. It is also a tradition to bow slightly when the processional cross passes by your pew, and at certain times during the Creed (at the name of Christ and mention of the Virgin Mary).
3. The "Sign of the Cross" is done by touching the forehead, breast, left shoulder, and right shoulder, thus marking the cross upon oneself. It is generally done with the first two fingers and the thumb, denoting the Holy Trinity. There is no simple rule as to when the sign of the cross should be made, but it is customarily done any time there is a reference to the dead, at the beginning and ending of prayer, at any reference to a blesing upon oneself, and when the priest approaches you with the Holy Eucharist and/or after receiving . The easiest thing to do if you are not familiar with when to do the sign of the cross is to watch the people in the chancel during Mass to see when they do it.
4. The "Sign of the Cross" at the announcement of the Gospel lesson is often done three times, once on the forehead, once on the lips, and once on the heart. This is to denote the prayer for God to "write his words in my head, on my lips, and in my heart".
These are just a few of the basics... by no means an exhaustive list. As you will notice, some people practice all of these things and some almost none. These are personal acts that are not required of anyone. It is perfectly acceptable to attend and take part in the service while omitting any or all of them. I hope this article has offered some insight.
1. Posture: We typically stand up for praise and the reading of the Gospel lesson, kneel for prayer and to receive the Holy Eucharist, and sit for instruction. It is common for those who are physically unable to kneel to stand during times when others are kneeling. This physical movement keeps us involved in the service rather than having us simply sit throught it as mere observers.
2. Genuflection and Bowing: Genuflection is the act of briefly kneeling on one knee as an act of reverence. To bow or genuflect is a proper way to reverence the altar when passing by it or before being seated in your pew. It is also a tradition to bow slightly when the processional cross passes by your pew, and at certain times during the Creed (at the name of Christ and mention of the Virgin Mary).
3. The "Sign of the Cross" is done by touching the forehead, breast, left shoulder, and right shoulder, thus marking the cross upon oneself. It is generally done with the first two fingers and the thumb, denoting the Holy Trinity. There is no simple rule as to when the sign of the cross should be made, but it is customarily done any time there is a reference to the dead, at the beginning and ending of prayer, at any reference to a blesing upon oneself, and when the priest approaches you with the Holy Eucharist and/or after receiving . The easiest thing to do if you are not familiar with when to do the sign of the cross is to watch the people in the chancel during Mass to see when they do it.
4. The "Sign of the Cross" at the announcement of the Gospel lesson is often done three times, once on the forehead, once on the lips, and once on the heart. This is to denote the prayer for God to "write his words in my head, on my lips, and in my heart".
These are just a few of the basics... by no means an exhaustive list. As you will notice, some people practice all of these things and some almost none. These are personal acts that are not required of anyone. It is perfectly acceptable to attend and take part in the service while omitting any or all of them. I hope this article has offered some insight.
Friday, August 13, 2010
"WE CARE"
Volunteers are needed for the "WE CARE" Committee. The committee is charged with coordinating our ministry efforts to members within the congregation. The church is growing, and we need to be sure that our sick and shut-in folks are taken care of. Anyone wishing to volunteer is encouraged to see the "We Care" coordinators, Rachel Clarke and Carolyn Thomas.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Five Years
On a sultry August afternoon in 2005, the first Episcopal Mass was held at St. Paul's. Since that day, we have grown and accomplished much.
We will take time to commemorate our first five years with a special service, followed by a covered dish luncheon on Sunday, August 1, 2010.
We are also publishing the history of our first five years, in the words of the congregation. All Communicants are encouraged to contribute a paragraph or two to this project. The deadline for submissions is July 25.
We will take time to commemorate our first five years with a special service, followed by a covered dish luncheon on Sunday, August 1, 2010.
We are also publishing the history of our first five years, in the words of the congregation. All Communicants are encouraged to contribute a paragraph or two to this project. The deadline for submissions is July 25.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
GIANT RUMMAGE SALE
Our annual Church-Wide RUMMAGE SALE will be Saturday, June 19. We welcome volunteers to help sort and price items for sale the week before the sale, and we welcome volunteers to help out the day of the sale. We will be grilling hamburgers and hot dogs on Saturday for those helping. See the Junior Warden for more information.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Undercroft Renovation Update
Work is coming right along on the Undercroft renovation project. The guys are in the process of putting up the walls. Before things get hidden behind the walls, here is a picture of the foundation stones original to the 1857 construction. The floor of the nave is supported by these big hand-hewn beams.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Opportunities
Lots going on at St. Paul's here lately. Here are some things we need help with....
The renovation project for the Undercroft is well under way. The wiring should be finished shortly, and then we will need help putting up the wallboard, ceiling, and trim followed by painting. Work days are scheduled for Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings. See Treva B. or David F. for more information.
Diane S. and Jackye T. are their volunteers are busy working on the "green space" near the rear parking lot. There is a sign-up sheet posted on the bulletin board for those who would like to purchase a tree or plant in memory or honor of a loved one. Anyone with a "green thumb" is invited to come and help with this project.
Calvin has enlisted the help of the Civil Air Patrol in cleaning up the old slave cemetery next to the rear parking lot. Plans are to clear and level the lot, followed by re-setting the grave markers and re-seeding the grass. Please see Calvin or Lee R. if you are interested in helping with this project.
We are looking for someone to volunteer to do the quarterly newsletter, "St. Paul's Epistle". If anyone is interested on taking on this project, please see Father Swann or one of the Wardens for more information.
The choir is always looking for new victims....or, ah, "Volunteers"....yeah that's right...."Volunteers"...that's the word I was looking for. At any rate, show up for choir practice at 9:15 Sunday mornings and you will be welcomed.
Look for pictures of the Undercroft renovation project coming to the blog soon....
The renovation project for the Undercroft is well under way. The wiring should be finished shortly, and then we will need help putting up the wallboard, ceiling, and trim followed by painting. Work days are scheduled for Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings. See Treva B. or David F. for more information.
Diane S. and Jackye T. are their volunteers are busy working on the "green space" near the rear parking lot. There is a sign-up sheet posted on the bulletin board for those who would like to purchase a tree or plant in memory or honor of a loved one. Anyone with a "green thumb" is invited to come and help with this project.
Calvin has enlisted the help of the Civil Air Patrol in cleaning up the old slave cemetery next to the rear parking lot. Plans are to clear and level the lot, followed by re-setting the grave markers and re-seeding the grass. Please see Calvin or Lee R. if you are interested in helping with this project.
We are looking for someone to volunteer to do the quarterly newsletter, "St. Paul's Epistle". If anyone is interested on taking on this project, please see Father Swann or one of the Wardens for more information.
The choir is always looking for new victims....or, ah, "Volunteers"....yeah that's right...."Volunteers"...that's the word I was looking for. At any rate, show up for choir practice at 9:15 Sunday mornings and you will be welcomed.
Look for pictures of the Undercroft renovation project coming to the blog soon....
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Holy Week Schedule
PALM SUNDAY, March 28: Procession and Mass 10:30 AM
TUESDAY, MARCH 30: Baptism Service, 6:30 PM
MAUNDY THURSDAY, April 1: Mass and Stripping of the Altar 6:30 PM
GOOD FRIDAY, April 2: Stations of the Cross, The Solemn Collects, and Holy Communion from the Reserved Sacrament, 12:00 Noon
EASTER SUNDAY, The Day of the Resurrection, April 4: Anglican High Mass 10:30 AM
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