Tuesday update – May 5, 2020

 
Dear St. Paul’s Family,

My favorite thing about the community meal at St. Paul’s is that it’s 100% free and for everyone. Not just the “hungry” or the “homeless,” but all of us. You don’t need to qualify, no one checks your ID – the food is, simply, free. To anyone – even a busy Mom/Rector who needs a night off from cooking!

This week, St. Paul’s partnered with #FoodisFreeBenicia to set up a free food stand in the city park right in front of the church. This group, which has a wonderful Facebook Page, sets up stands throughout the city so people can donate and take food as they need. They operate with the same idea. Anyone can give. Anyone can receive.

When Jesus walked among us, he did not check IDs. He did not ask for a copy of our W-2s, proof of residency, or income level. He simply ministered to those in need. He fed the hungry. He healed the wounded. And I think he rejoices at the generous spirit cropping up all over Benicia, Vallejo, and everywhere. May it continue to thrive in our hearts and our neighborhoods!

Check out #FoodisFreeBenicia at FoodisFreeBenicia.org or on Facebook at Facebook.com/foodisfreebenicia 

 

–Rev. Annie

 
     

 

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church sent this email to keep you informed of current events. If you no longer wish to receive email from St. Paul’s, simply click on the following link: Unsubscribe Unsubscribe
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
120 East J St.
Benicia, California 94510
US
Read the VerticalResponse marketing policy.
 
  ReplyForward
 


Announcements for Friday, April 17, 2020

UPCOMING
 
 
April 19     Sunday Service @ 10 am via St. Paul’s Facebook livestream worship

          Coffee Hour @ 11 am via Zoom.

 

April 20-24                 Morning Prayer weekdays @ 9 am via Zoom

 

April 21                                  Vestry Meeting @ 6:30 pm via Zoom

 

April 22                                  Bible Study @ 11 am via Zoom

 

April 26                                  Sunday Service @ 10 am via St. Paul’s Facebook livestream worship

 

April 27-May 1          Morning Prayer weekdays @ 9 am via Zoom

 

April 29                                  Bible Study @ 11 am via Zoom

 

Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter

Jeremiah 31:1-6

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

Acts 10:34-43

John 20:1-18

 

 

Links for Sunday Service and Bulletin

Sunday Service

https://www.facebook.com/stpaulsbenicia 

Bulletin  

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track/?pageNum=5&uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3Adf221b3f-eeda-42f5-ba56-174ed45f234f

 

Zoom Coffee Hour

After the service head over to Zoom for coffee hour! (It starts at 11:00 am) Please check your Friday email from St. Paul’s for Zoom log-in information.

 

SSP Raffle Drawing April 26  

We are opening up the SSP St. Patrick’s Raffle to everyone through April 24 and will be doing the drawing on April 26 as part of the after church Zoom coffee hour!  Don’t miss it.  You need not be present to win.  The raffle item photos are on our website here:  https://www.stpaulsbenicia.org/photos/.  Instructions on purchasing tickets and the process to get your tickets into the raffle item boxes will be posted on the front page of our website.

 

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! Copy the Zoom link to your digital calendar for easy access.

Please check your Friday email from St. Paul’s for secure Zoom log-in information.

 

Zoom 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! Copy the Zoom link to your digital calendar for easy access.

Please check your Friday email from St. Paul’s for secure Zoom log-in information.

 

Staying in Touch

A special thank you to those who are reaching out to our church family and friends as we all follow stay-at-home orders. Keep track of how many people you contact via text/email/cards/calls each week and we’ll add them to our congregational tally. Email your count to JoAnn by Thursday morning and we’ll publish the running total in the Sunday bulletin.

 

In the past 10 days, you’ve touched many with your thoughtfulness and caring.

Cards:  52

Calls:  31

Texts:  31

Emails:  25

 

Flower Dedications

In loving memory of Edna Aldinger, from Tom Aldinger and Rebecca Smithers, Edna’s niece .

In celebration of Joe and Michelle Ellett’s 42nd wedding anniversary.

 



Friday Announcements – March 27, 2020

UPCOMING

March 29                   Church Service @ 10 am via Facebook

April 1                         Bible Study @ 11 am via Zoom

April 5                         Palm Sunday Service @ 10 am via Facebook Livestream

April 8                         Bible Study @ 11 am via Zoom

Stay tuned for details about Holy Week services.

 

Zoom Bible Study

Join us for bible study on Wednesdays at 11 am via Zoom.

To join in, visit https://zoom.us/j/194285844.

 

Zoom Digital Coffee Hour

Following the Facebook live-stream of our service, join us on Zoom at 11 am for an experimental digital coffee hour. We’ll have a light structured conversation and lots of waving hello! Fill up your favorite coffee mug and be prepared to share all about it.

To join in, visit https://zoom.us/j/439774574

 

First Time Connecting to Zoom?

Video and written instructions:

https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting

 

Holy Week @ Home

Holy week services, including Easter Sunday, will be conducted remotely and at home. Plans are still forming – stay tuned for announcements!

 

Prayer @ Home Resources

Video:  Episcopal Church YouTube Channel – features weekly meditations from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry

Podcast:  Pray as you Go – Daily 10-15 minute audio prayer sessions from the Jesuits, based on the practices of Ignatius of Loyola.

Apps:  Prayer – Mission St. Clare – A free app with daily Morning and Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer laid out with readings and hymns. To download onto your phone or tablet, go to the App or Google Play store and search for Mission St. Clare.

Kids:  Godly Play Foundation YouTube Channel – Videos of experienced teachers telling Godly Play stories

 

Cooks Needed for Community Meal

We are still serving meals for our Community every Wednesday from 4:30-6 pm for take out only. We are practicing social distancing and also offer curbside delivery.  If you know anyone who needs a meal delivered, please let me know. Sandoval’s Mexican Restaurant provided dinner last Wednesday. Please let them know how much it is appreciated.  

We are looking for people who are willing to cook.  I will take sign ups at eloota@yahoo.com

—Donna Marshall



Tuesday Update for St. Paul’s – March 24, 2020

UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Holy Week @ Home

Holy week services, including Easter Sunday, will be conducted remotely and at home. Plans are still forming – stay tuned for announcements!

Zoom Bible Study

Starting tomorrow, we will resume our weekly bible study on Wednesdays at 11:00 AM via zoom.

To join in, visit https://zoom.us/j/194285844.

 

Zoom Digital Coffee Hour

Following the Facebook live-stream of our service, join us on Zoom at 11:00 AM for an experimental digital coffee hour. We’ll have a light structured conversation and lots of waving hello! Fill up your favorite coffee mug and be prepared to share all about it.

 

To join in, visit https://zoom.us/j/439774574

 

First Time Connecting to Zoom?

Video and Written instructions:

https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting

 

Prayer @ Home Resources

Video

Episcopal Church YouTube Channel – features weekly meditations from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry

Podcast

Pray as you Go – Daily 10-15 minute audio prayer sessions from the Jesuits, based on the practices of Ignatius of Loyola.

Apps

Prayer – Mission St. Clare – A free app with daily Morning and Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer laid out with readings and hymns. To download onto your phone or tablet, go to the App or Google Play store and search for Mission St. Clare.

Kids

Godly Play Foundation YouTube Channel – Videos of experienced teachers telling Godly Play stories
 

Dear St. Paul’s,

 

Do you have a sacred space in your home? Is there a nook, shelf, or even an entire room set aside for prayer and meditation?

When I started my first job post-seminary as a school chaplain, I was having a hard time settling in. The office I occupied was small and cluttered. My spiritual director suggested I designate a sacred space in my office – a small nook set aside for prayer, simplicity, and resting in God’s presence. So I cleared off the top of a file cabinet and set out a few special objects.

 

Even on days where I was too busy to sit and pray, when I rushed into my office to get ready for the next thing that beautiful little cloth and candle reminded me that God was present, and that the divide would patiently await my return. It brought me great comfort in a time of transition.

 

These times are calling us to reexamine how and where we worship. As we long for the Sunday when we can return to church, a sacred space in our homes can sustain our spirits while we wait.

 

Here are some tips for creating your own sacred space:

  • Spread out a cloth (a scarf, cloth napkin, or anything pretty will do)
  • Add a cross and a candle
  • Include natural elements (a vine or flower from the garden, a bowl of water, special rocks)
  • Add an object or photo that reminds you of St. Paul’s (I used our parish calendar)
  • Simplicity is key! Don’t over clutter your space

If you wish, take a photo and share it to our Facebook group! I’d love to see what beautiful spaces you all create.

Blessings,

 

Rev. Annie
 

 

 


Friday Announcements – March 20, 2020

UPCOMING 

 

March 20                   Contemplative Prayer @ 7 pm CANCELLED 

March 24                   Worship Committee Meeting @ 6:30 pm (via teleconference)

March 25                   PIE Meeting @ 3:45 pm CANCELLED

March 26                   Lenten Program @ 6:30 pm CANCELLED

March 27                   TGIFF Social Gathering @ 5:30 pm CANCELLED

MARCH 29    Church Service @ 10 am (via Facebook livestream)

 

 Online Offering Available

During this time we also ask that you continue to be faithful in your giving because our bills won’t stop coming.  Mail your pledge or click the yellow “Donate” button on our home page at www.stpaulsbenicia.org.  We appreciate your continued faithfulness!

 

New Weekly All-Parish Email on Tuesdays

St. Paul’s has launched a new weekly Email to keep you informed about our response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. It will be sent every Tuesday, and it will include information about church closures, new parish initiatives, and volunteer opportunities. Double check your spam folder or “Updates” tab in Gmail if it doesn’t make it to your inbox, or check the front page of the church website.

Our Friday Email with resources and announcements geared towards Sunday worship will continue. To be added to our all-parish Emails, please contact JoAnn, our parish administrator (admin@stpaulsbenicia.org).

To view this Sunday’s bulletin: https://www.stpaulsbenicia.org/hp_wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/March_22_20_10AMBulletin_Contemporary.pdf

 

St. Paul’s, Meet Zoom!

Thanks to a grant from our diocese, we now have an account with Zoom! Zoom is a teleconference platform that allows people to come together digitally for video conferences and conference calls. It’s a great way to “see” and meet with your friends at   St. Paul’s. If you’d like to use the account for any small group or ministry, Email Rev. Annie (rector@stpaulsbenicia.org) to get set up. Watch for new Zoom activities in the coming weeks!

 

Access to Book of Common Prayer
For those who do not have a copy, Church Publishing Inc. has made an easy-to-navigate PDF version of the Book of Common Prayer available (right click on the link to open).

 

Habits of Grace: An Invitation for You, from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry 
As we learn how to adjust our lives given the reality of the coronavirus and the request to do our part to slow its spread by practicing social distancing, you are invited to join Bishop Curry each week to take a moment to cultivate a “habit of grace.” A new meditation will be posted on Mondays through May. 

https://episcopalchurch.org/habits-of-grace?wchannelid=u3mbmc7c0r&wvideoid=tu6zecrp3s