UPCOMING ONLINE
June 21 Pentecost 3 Sunday Service @ 10 am; Coffee Hour @ 11 am
June 22 Christian Living in Times of Pandemic Adult Education @ 7 pm
June 22-26 Morning Prayer weekdays @ 9 am
June 23 Intercessor Training @ 7 pm
June 24 Bible Study @ 11 am
June 28 Pentecost 4 Sunday Service @ 10 am; Coffee Hour @ 11 am
June 29 Christian Living in Times of Pandemic Adult Education @ 7 pm
June 30 Reopening Task Force Meeting @ 7 pm
July 5 Pentecost 4 Sunday Service @ 10 am; Coffee Hour @ 11 am
July 6 Christian Living in Times of Pandemic Adult Education @ 7 pm
View Sunday Services Without Using Facebook
Our Sunday online service can be accessed through our St. Paul’s website. Go to the website (www.stpaulsbenicia.org) at 10 am or a minute before and click the purple box that says CLICK THIS BOX FOR SUNDAY SERVICE AT 10 AM. This will take you to the live service.
—Betsy Zampa, Communications Coordinator
Christian Living in Times of Pandemic Adult Education Continues June 22
Led by the Reverend Arthur Holder, PhD, Monday evenings, 7-8 pm on Zoom
COVID-19 is not the first global pandemic that the Church has faced in its history. Each session in this series will begin with a brief story about a Christian saint who lived in a time of plague or pestilence. Then we will discuss the parallels with our current situation to see if we can find some inspiration and guidance for us today. Check your Friday email from St. Paul’s for secure Zoom log-in information.
- June 22 – Julian of Norwich: All Shall Be Well
- June 29 – Martin Luther: Caring for Self and Neighbor
- July 6 – Constance and the Martyrs of Memphis: No Greater Love
If you missed the first session, here is a link to the recording.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9s9emhy5d5qn1bp/Ceolfrith%20and%20Bede.mov?dl=0
To view or read the psalm of lament included in the course, pause the recording at 14:00 and watch this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvRkEOUdgL8. Or you can just read that psalm of lament here: https://www.methodist.org.uk/about-us/coronavirus/prayers-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/a-psalm-of-lament-and-praise-in-a-time-of-coronavirus/ Then you may go back to finish watching the recording of the class.
Intercessor Training
Tuesday, June 23 at 7pm — Zoom
Have you ever wanted to write or deliver the Prayers of the People? Or are you just curious about prayer in general? All are welcome to attend this training, and LEMs are especially encouraged. You’ll hear from three experienced intercessors about their process of writing prayers and learn how we pray as a church. Check your Friday email from St. Paul’s for secure Zoom log-in information.
Rev. Annie on Vacation
Please note that Rev. Annie will be on vacation June 29-July 5. Since she will be visiting high-risk family members, she is sheltering at home leading up to her departure date. She’s available by phone, Email, and Zoom.
Morning Prayer – Weekdays at 9 am
This half-hour service of scripture reading and prayers will start your day off on the right foot. It’s a wonderful anchor in uncertain times! Check your Friday email from St. Paul’s for secure Zoom log-in information.
Bible Study – Wednesdays at 11 am
Join us as we dive into next Sunday’s readings while enjoying fellowship, deep conversation, and entertaining tangents. Remember – you can always call into the meeting by phone, no computer required! Check your Friday email from St. Paul’s for secure Zoom log-in information.
Re-opening Task Force Update
The St. Paul’s Re-opening task force met on Tuesday, July 9. We discussed many aspects of reopening, such as outdoor services, the number of people we can accommodate safely, how to handle music, and disinfection of our spaces. We’re looking at diocesan, state, and county guidelines through the lens of loving God an our neighbors, and thinking about how we can offer our legendary St. Paul’s Benicia hospitality in this new world.
We decided to check in with the parish with a survey. Please watch your digital and snail-mail inboxes in the coming week and give us your thoughts. Your input will help us to plan a re-opening that makes sense for our community.
The task force is comprised of worship committee and Wardens, and includes the following people:
Rev. Annie Mertz – Rector
Rev. Beth Gaines – Deacon
Yann Jouvenot-Sells – Sr. Warden
Kim Rodekohr – Jr. Warden
Glenn Walp – Traditional Service Music Director
Mark Sackett – Contemporary Service Music Director
JoAnn Souza – Parish Administrator
Andria Reid – Director of Children’s Education
Beckie Pelkey – Youth and Family Ministries Coordinator
Donna Patey – Grateful, Glad, and Giving
Steve Rodekohr – Usher Ministry
Catherine Harrod – Flower Guild
Lorraine Ndusha – Altar Guild
Relay for Life
Due to restrictions on large gatherings, and for the safety of all participants, this year’s Benicia Vallejo Relay for Life is going virtual! St. Paul’s Holy Strollers will be joining our community online to fight cancer. Please mark your calendars for an online event Saturday, August 1 — more details coming closer to the event. This will be St. Paul’s 20th year celebrating, remembering, and fighting back against cancer.
How can you get involved? Donate online and/or sign up for the team and fundraise online http://main.acsevents.org/goto/StPauls, or if you would like to donate via check, make payable to American Cancer Society and send to me.
Create luminarias at home. Photographs will be organized into a virtual luminaria ceremony that will be shown during the online event. If you would like to honor or remember a survivor or loved one lost to cancer, let me know!
Send an email or call me with number of luminaria bags you would like to create. Mark and I will bring you a DIY kit with luminaria bag, felt pens and stickers, and more information. If you need help with photography, we can assist with that as well. Suggested donation is $10, but any amount is fine, and we have sponsorships if you would like to make a luminaria and are unable to donate this year.
For more information and to participate in luminaria making, contact Laura Peabody-Park.