Dear Friends in Christ:

You are welcome here, every Sunday at 11 am!

St. Paul’s is a lively gathering of God’s people around the Gospel-centered promise of grace, a “Reconciling in Christ” congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in NW Washington, DC. 

St. Paul’s is a gospel centered gathering of God’s people, focused on living thankfully in light of God’s gracious love, gathered in prayer for the world, and actively working for justice and peace locally and globally. Join us for worship this Sunday and often! 

PLEASE NOTE THAT WORSHIP SERVICES HAVE BEEN CANCELED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.  PODCASTS OF SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE  here

 

To join our mailing list, please click HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

Simply Giving: Click Below

 

  

 

CONTACT INFORMATION

Phone	202-966-5489
Email	office@stpaulslutherandc.com
Address                   Like us on Facebook                          Follow us on Twitter     and Instagram	4900 Connecticut Ave. N.W. Washington, DC 20008   We are located between Ellicott & Everett Streets NW, between Murch Elementary School and the Fire Station.                                                                 St. Paul's Podcasts available online!

 

From Pastor Walker's Desk:

"I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus." (1Corinthians 1:5) 

It was so good to see you on July 5. I got so excited as I watched the congregation gather on the lawn with chairs and mask. Yes, it was hot, but we had just enough shade. Of course, this is not the gathering that we want, yet we are gathering in person as a congregation.

 Since the last time we gathered in person in early March, the staff of St. Paul's has had to pivot quickly. I was glad the congregation had the technology and the history of providing podcast services and we continued with that. After Easter we began adding YouTube videos to our offering of services. With the help of Chad Wells and his awesome video editing ability we have been taping our services a week in advance. That is why you were able to have a full service outside in person on July 5 and a full service on YouTube. Joy has been providing bulletins and the links to these in e-news and on our website. 

We have also been able to offer devotions, Storytime on Facebook Live and because of the incomparable Director of Congregational Life, Lisa Wackler, a complete 5-day virtual VBS on our YouTube channel. Check out these offerings if you haven't already at  St. Pauls Lutheran, Washington, DC. Keep watching, there is another VBS offering coming your way. 

  Now another pivot: starting on July 12 we will have available on YouTube and podcast a Service of the Word; we will also have an outside in person service on the lawn, weather permitting, that will include Holy Communion - contactless, of course. Please bring your lawn chair and wear your mask.

 Because we will not be able to pass an offering plate, we have a new way to give during worship service. You can pick up your phone and text to give to St. Paul's. Our text2give number is 844-262-6943. Please register, so that you may participate during offering. You may still send a check by mail or sign up for online giving.

 At this time, Matt and Sonja will provide only instrumental music because singing even in masks, may increase the spread of the corona virus. They are working on creative music offerings. We will keep you informed.

 Again, it was such a joy to see faces on Sunday even if only behind masks.

 Be well, be safe, be blessed 

Pastor Andrea

Click here to view the Phase 2 Guidance for Places of Worship in DC.

 

PS - Remember to send your pictures and your six-word story. 

Link to St. Paul's You Tube page here - PLEASE SUBSCRIBE!

" For more information from the DC Metro Synod on Coronavirus, please click HERE.

For up to date information in the District of Columbia: dchealth.dc.gov/coronavirus                  

 

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"Contactless" Communion

"O taste and see that the LORD is good; 

happy are those who take refuge in him." 

--(Psalm 34:8)

 

View videos on opening the communion pack and properly wearing your face mask on St. Paul's You Tube page here. Don't forget to subscribe!

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A Message from St. Paul's Council President

Dear members of St. Paul's,

I MISS YOU!!!  I really do.  Pastor Andrea and the staff have been doing an incredible job of continuing to fill us with the Holy Spirit each week through podcasts, Facebook Live, contactless communion, and many other virtual and social distancing events. As important as that has been, I think we can all agree it is not the same. St. Paul's is my family, and I deeply miss connecting with everyone at worship on Sunday mornings, through the many fellowship opportunities after worship and throughout the week, at the food pantry - and even at church council meetings!  I don't know when those days will return and what it will look like, but my heart aches to be back at St. Paul's.  Although we can't be together right now in person, our church council will once again be reaching out to the congregation to check in, have a chat, and make a connection. I encourage you to answer the phone if you have the time, return the call if you miss it, and enjoy the opportunity to reconnect with your fellow parishioners.  And if you don't hear from us by the end of June, it is probably because we have outdated contact information for you, so please call or email the church office to update your information!  God bless and keep every one of you, and I hope and pray to see you all soon. 

Kate Belinski

Council President

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Adult Sunday School (on zoom) to begin July 11th or 12th - Vote on a date and time!

 

Hi all,

After getting input from a good number of people, I've decided we will do Adult Sunday School on Zoom Sundays at 8am. Hopefully those for whom that time was not their first choice will still be able to make it work (at least once in awhile? 🙂). We'll probably change again in the fall if the service times change again.

The new book we'll be starting is "Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water and Loving the Bible Again" by Rachel Held Evans. This week we'll start with just discussing the introduction and some time to get to know one another. As always, reading the book ahead of time is not required in order to join the discussion!  All are welcome - we hope you'll consider joining us! Use this link to join our zoom discussion on Sunday at 8am:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81179051247?pwd=Ykh1Y1RFM2JFS0pjMUJicmo5VkQ0UT09

Meeting ID: 811 7905 1247
Password: 855174

Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water and Loving the Bible Again
"Rachel Held Evans invites readers on a journey of rediscovery as she explores the magic of the Bible, engaging the old, familiar stories in new ways that honor the past and enlighten the present." Evans was raised in Evangelical churches in Alabama and Tennessee, but struggled to reconcile her image of a loving God with the ways the Bible has been used to justify violence and condemnation of groups of people. She also struggled to reconcile her intellectual observations about the world with the literalist interpretation of the Bible she was taught. After a long personal journey of doubt and discovery (which she chronicles in her memoir, Searching for Sunday), this book is Rachel's look at the Bible with fresh eyes, ready to be inspired again. 

Here is a link to purchase and/or read more about the book.

https://rachelheldevans.com/inspired

It is also available to download for free from the DC Public Library and on Kindle for $2.99

Hope to see you all on Sunday at 8am!

- Donna

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Send Us Your Selfies and Family Photos!

We are still hanging your pics in the Church's Chancel, so you can "be" in church, even though you can't be in church!  We will continue to do this as long as we can't be together physically!  Send your selfies to Lisa Wackler!

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You have this, because God has YOU.

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Confirmation News and Notes

While we've had to delay affirming the baptism of this year's Confirmation Class until October, we will start our new class in September!  Confirmation is a two-year program for students in Grades 7 and 8, and is where we learn about our faith, what Lutherans believe, and the stories in the Bible that inspire us.

 If you are a rising 7th grader, and are planning on joining the class, or if you (or your parents) have questions about the class, please contact Lisa Wackler.

 We look forward to seeing you (virtually or in person!) in September!

Congratulations to All of Our College and High School Graduates!

 

StLuthRefA  SLRA is the combined Youth Group of St. Paul's, Luther Place, Reformation, and Augustana Lutheran Churches. As part of our "Stirred and Spurred" theme this year, our monthly meetings have focused on the fruits of the Holy Spirit from Galatians 5: 22-23:  "By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  There is no law against such things." Recently, we focused on "Gentleness:  Requirement or Option?"  To see the home study guide for this lesson, please click here. We are also starting the planning stages of next summer's  ELCA National Youth Gathering in Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 29th--July 3rd, 2021.  The National Youth Gathering is for high school students (rising 9th grade--just graduated).  Contact Lisa Wackler  if you think you'd like to attend the Gathering, and for more information about how YOU can stay connected with SLRA during this time of social-distancing! ___________________________ Worship Assistants It's never too early to think about ways that you can serve the church when we can gather again! Complete a survey to let us know your interest by clicking HERE. ___________________________ Daily Devotions for April, May and June Available through the church office. If you are interested in receiving one of the following Daily Devotions booklets, please let the office know and we will mail one out to you.  Christ in Our Home The Word in Season Hopeful Living Call the office (202.966.5489) or email Joy Belew with your request. Please specify which one you would like mailed to you - we have limited supplies of each.  ___________________________ Prime Time Center Canceled Until Further Notice.  We will be providing updates as we know them.  If you would be interested in reaching out to Prime Time attendees to see how they're doing, please let Lisa or Joy know! ___________________________

 

 

Prayer Shawl Ministry Virtual Meeting!

Please join the zoom meeting (information below) for our remote shawl ministry meeting. You can join via video or just audio and if you have any questions about using zoom please feel free to reach out to Amy at 301-602-4729 or amy.mbaumgardner@yahoo.com - we can do a test run in advance.

What a great time to learn to knit or crochet as well!   Or maybe you are interested in the quilts that Carol Wake has been doing for world relief efforts. We have teachers available for 1x1 or group sessions - feel free to have a friend sign up with you!   We are also researching the best online free videos. We can get you supplies so please don't let that get in your way.

Our shawl ministry gifts are SO warmly received - it is a very rewarding way to serve.

Please know we will "quarantine" all work created during the crisis and follow CDC guidelines for safety of recipients.

Join Zoom Meeting
 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89614546223?pwd=RDdiTVFPVmFNZUlGRFRvQnpPNUdmUT09

Meeting ID: 896 1454 6223
Password: 776491 

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Youth Choir Practice on Hold Until Further Notice

If you wish to join the youth choir or would like more information, please contact director Marcia Perez .

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MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLERS LOOKING FOR SERVICE HOURS:  Please contact Lisa Wackler Community Service or SSL hours! 

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Website Work for St. Paul's

We are planning for some web redesign and expansion. Please let us know what you would find useful on the congregation's website. What's missing? What do you use? If there is old and bad info, please continue to point us to that as well. But do talk to us! It makes our work better. 

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New Benches for Portico Garden

We would like to thank both Lynn Adkins and Bruce Pihlstrom for their wonderful generosity in the purchase of the two new black steel memorial benches that were installed recently in the Portico garden. Not only do they look perfect in their setting, but the benches are also comfortable and functional. In fact, we are pleased to note that many visitors to St. Paul's have already been able to enjoy using the two benches. 

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Donors Needed for Altar Flowers

Please contact Joy Belew to reserve a date. Thank you. 

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TELLERS NEEDED!

We are looking for people interested in volunteering for this very important church function.  It consists of a two member team that works on Sundays after church or Monday for about 1 or 2 hours collecting, counting and recording the offering.  The teams are assigned a month at a time, usually 3 or 4 months a year (depending on how many teams we have).  Sundays can be switched with other teams.  Training and written instructions are provided.  Please contact Paula Stewart 410-956-7117 or the church office to volunteer.

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Christ is Risen!

ALLELUIA!

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Sunday, July 5th, 2020:

 

Please click HERE for the service bulletin.

Please click HERE to access for the service podcast.

Please click HERE to see the service on YouTube.

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WEEKLY SCHEDULE AT ST. PAUL'S

While we are physically away from each other there are ways that we have decided to be church together during this time.

Mondays at 3 pm - Storytime with Pastor Andrea (for children) via Facebook Live. Friend her at Pastor Andrea Walker to listen in.

Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12 noon via Facebook Live - Prayers and devotions with Pastor Andrea.  Friend her at  Pastor Andrea Walker to participate.

Beginning this Sunday, July 5th, there will be one outdoor worship service at 10 am. Please bring your own chair or blanket and wear a mask. There will still be a video and podcast of the service for those who are unable to be there. In cases of inclement weather, we will pre-tape/video some organ music and the gospel and sermon and post those.  

Let's continue to keep each other in prayer. 

Pastor Andrea 

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Introducing GivePlus Text!    You can now make a contribution with text!

Simply send a text message to St. Paul's GivePlus Text number, 844-262-6943, with the amount you would like to contribute. Within a few minutes, you'll be sent a text with a link to register. Click on the link and enter your cardholder name and debit or card information. Once your registration is complete, you will receive a text verification and a receipt of your donation via email.

For future giving, send a text with the amount you wish to give, and it will process automatically! You can even text "repeat" to make it a recurring donation. Text giving is one of the fastest and easiest ways to give. 

To learn more watch this video or click here  to view a pdf "Quick Guide to GivePlus Text". 

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The Summer of Ministry Service Starts This Sunday!

While the pandemic has put some limitations on our ability to gather in large groups and maintain physical distancing guidelines, our desire to serve our neighbors is without limitations!

Starting Sunday, July 12th, we will offer the Summer of Ministry Service (formerly Six Sundays of Summer Service) in a virtual format.

Each week we will post a new video about the church's work, whether that work is here in DC, in our country, or around the world.

Below is the tentative schedule for presentations:

July 12th: The St. Paul's Racial Justice Working Group

July 19th: Lutheran Disaster Relief

July 26th: BRAWS (Bringing Resources to Aid Women's Shelters)

August 2nd: ELCA Advocacy

August 9th: Friendship Place

August 16th: Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

 Videos will be made available through our website and enews.

For questions, please contact Pastor Andrea or Lisa Wackler.

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Grace and Peace to you from the newly formed St. Paul's Racial Justice Working Group. 

Sue Hollar and Amy Moorhus Baumgardner are coordinating building the St Paul's Racial Justice Working Group.  The working group will help our community educate and become involved in issues of racial justice - including the education that we seek to become better informed on these issues, especially on current thinking.  

Save the dates:

Racial Justice at St Paul's: Listening/ Brainstorming Sessions

(More info to come in a video soon!)

Friday July 17th, 12-1 pm

OR

Sunday July 19th, 3-4 pm

Questions or thoughts? Please email them to us at StPaulDiversity@gmail.com, or contact us individually.

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Breaking News:  St. Paul's Announces  A New Vacation Bible School!

What's twice as nice as ONE Vacation Bible School? A SECOND Vacation Bible School!

ELCA World Hunger has re-tooled their popular Vacation Bible School curriculum, On Earth As In Heaven, to make the format more friendly in a virtual environment.

On Earth As In Heaven focuses each day on one part of the Lord's Prayer and one of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, and the central promise of a just world where all are fed, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Families who register will be sent the links to the program's video content, and PDFs of suggested crafts, games, songs,--even snacks!-that reinforce the day's message and featured country!

Registered families will be sent a link to participate in a Small Group Activities via Zoom with Pastor Andrea or Lisa which will be held the week of July 27th-31st at 11 am. The Small Group Activity will consist of questions, online activities, and the Bible Story.

There is no fee to participate, but families are strongly encouraged to send a free will offering to St. Paul's or ELCA World Hunger.

Want to register or have questions? Contact Lisa Wackler at lwackler@stpaulslutheradc.com.

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Thank You for "Attending" This Year's Virtual Vacation Bible School!

We had a great week last week studying in detail Jesus' Parable of the Sower, and just what it all meant.  We talked about seeds, what they needed to grow, and what we need to grow and share God's love.  We sang some great songs, had fun activities to do at home, and heard about Pastor Andrea's garden!

 Worried that you missed out on the fun?  Check out all of our VBS offerings of last week on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/c/StPaulsLutheranWashingtonDC

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Still smiling, still standing, still carefully "social distancing" after more than two hours of rehearsing and recording on a recent Saturday:

Soprano section leaders Karen Brunn (left) & Marcia Perez (right) recorded five Eastertide solos and duets with us on April 25th for splicing in to pending service recordings. Karen & soprano Carol Beebe also supplied some initial solo recordings on zero notice in mid-March, as regular in-person church services were suspended for the pandemic. And other choir section leaders, choir members, & some instrumentalists from the congregation are also lined up to supply musical offerings to add to the future Service of the Word recordings that are our current Sunday worship. We are grateful for their help! Especially because generating & editing recordings with a small staff & not-quite-correct equipment makes these simplified services considerably more complicated and time-consuming to produce. Classic live Lutheran liturgies are usually about 60% music, so we look forward to the future Sundays when we can all interact in a full liturgy, with the choir (!), with communion, once again. 

---Sonja Kahler & Matt Larson, music directors

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Kids:  Here's How You Can Share the Good News!

Thanks to Auden and her folks for sending us a photo of their beautiful crosses!  Share the Good News of Jesus' resurrection with your neighborhood!

A beautiful cross done by Abby!

And these by Sofia and her family are terrific, and so colorful!

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Download and Color Your Own Stained Glass Cross HERE, and Hang it in Your Front Window or on Your Door!

Don't Forget to Send Us a Picture of it!

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ST. PAUL'S HAS CANCELED ALL  ON-SITE WORSHIP SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

 

St. Paul's Podcasts available online! 

 

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Regular Worship Times at St. Paul's

 

9:45 am--Sunday School 

11:00 am--Service with Holy Communion

 

And don't forget!  The church nursery is available  in room 111 every Sunday during the 11 am worship service.  Let us give you a break when you need it!

 

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FOOD PANTRY UPDATE

 

 

The Food Pantry at St. Paul's continues to serve the community on the first and third Saturdays of the month, from 10 am until 12 noon.

We've seen an increase in demand for our services, as we see the pandemic's effect on our local economy.

Here's how you can help:

Donate food.  At this time, we are only accepting shelf-stable items.  Consider donating any of the following:

• Hearty soups or stews
• Canned pasta dishes ( e.g., Chef Boyardee ravioli)
• Dried pasta
• Pasta sauce
• Rice
• Dried or canned beans
• Canned meats (tuna, chicken)--urgent need for this right now!
• Peanut butter
• Cereal or other breakfast grains (oatmeal, grits)
• Canned fruits or vegetables
• Boxed macaroni and cheese
• Granola and/or cereal bars
• Small "pop top" meals or single-serving sized items (e.g., tuna fish in pouches) for our homeless clientele
• Toilet paper
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Toothpaste

Donate paper grocery bags from Whole Foods or Trader Joe's.  We are trying to limit the amount of physical contact at the Food Pantry, so the bags are pre-packed.  Bags with handles are preferred.

Donate money.  To make a donation to the St. Paul's Food Pantry, please visit our donations page by clicking HERE.

If you have any questions about the St. Paul's Food Pantry, please contact  Lisa Wackler.

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LITURGY and CHURCH MUSIC in this TIME of CORONAVIRUS

(with apologies to Gabriel García Márquez, Nobel Prize-winning author of the novel and film, 

Love in the Time of Cholera)
 

It must be a little like how voiceover actors feel, as they and a few colleagues sit in recording studios with scripts on their laps, preparing integral but unseen parts of a screenplay that, with the magic of editing, will fit into the larger movie as it features live action and additional, visible characters.

As the church staff prepares this week to record the 10th service podcast since March 15th (3 Lent), we thought you might be interested to learn more about how these services are happening.

As in most weeks, Pastor crafts her sermon, Lisa writes the children's sermon, prayer petitions and announcements, Joy patiently produces the bulletin, and we choose and practice music.

Then at the end of the week, lately on Saturdays (but on multiple days during Holy Week), the five of us assemble at our now-regular stations in the chancel, keeping abundant physical "distance" and each using separate microphones throughout the service. 

We can't see you, sing with you or shake your hands, but we know that you're out there waiting to follow along with the service.

We are grateful to be able to attend church, ourselves.

And we know, from checking the statistics available for each podcast, that listeners from other states and countries have been tuning in to St. Paul's for Holy Week and Eastertide:

from at least California, Ohio, Illinois, and Pennsylvania; and from India, France, Colombia, and South Africa.

The Easter paraments and Alleluia banner are up, the paschal candle is standing in the center of the chancel, and photos of St. Paul's members who've sent in selfies are on display.

Not visible here are our microphones, standing farther back in the center aisle, to better record the prelude and postlude music on the gallery organ.

Pastor says a prayer, someone presses the "record" button, and the service begins.

With just the five of us to sing hymns, we are using mostly the softer stops on the front organ, while hoping that all of you listening at home will sing along.

Absent the choir and other musicians (whom we dearly miss, but who will not be able to safely gather to rehearse at church for some time), we have worked to add whatever musical variety we could: some of our kids' musical skills (euphonium and organ, so far), a soloist singing and recording four pages of the Easter-Vigil Exsultet at home (Thank you, Gail!), two soloists gamely hurrying in to church the evening March 30th, with no notice, to record four solos for Holy Week and Easter 2 (Thank you, Carol and Karen!), music from the big organ, and some family-ensemble music recorded at our house.

Maundy Thursday morning music: our son took this photo of us and our daughter recording "Slow Tears" by Rhonda Larson, a piece originally for alto flute, piano and synthesizer, but which works at least as well with C flute, piano and organ. 

After the service ends-or at least the spoken sections and hymns in the current format-someone turns off the recording.

We may then record additional music at the church on either organ, with our own microphones.

Then Matt patiently edits the recording by patching in any additional music done earlier, adjusting volume levels, and making any other necessary small adjustments.

We hope that some of the familiar sounds from St. Paul's are providing some comfort and a feeling of continuity while worship as we all know and prefer it is suspended for everyone's safety.

-Sonja Kahler and Matt Larson, music directors

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FROM STEWARDSHIP...

 Please get your intention cards into the office!

Please return your intention for giving to St. Paul's in 2020. This is an important opportunity to start the new year in a strong position, helping St. Paul's achieve a sustainable financial program. This is one of our top congregational priorities. Thanks to all who have returned their cards already. To date, we have received 50 forms.

NOTE: If you pledged online, please also take the time to fill out a paper intention form as well so we are able to have all of the information in one place. Thank you!

Questions may be directed to Mike Charlton or Rod Larson .

Intention Form - Click here  

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ST PAUL'S PRIME TIME CENTER IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

Click HERE for more information about the Prime Time Senior Center.

 

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TEXT MESSAGE FROM A VISITOR TO ST. PAUL'S

 Recently we received an interesting text message about St. Paul's from a work friend and colleague of Matt's; he was one of the numerous visitors who attended the cantata service on November 24, Christ the King Sunday. With his permission, we quote it below.

But first, a little background. This friend trots the globe for Internet work. He loves classical music and will travel a distance to hear music that interests him. He and his family live in Loudoun County, VA. 

 On October 28th, 2018 he drove in to St. Paul's to hear the Reformation cantata service. He heard Pastor Omholt preach a quite ecumenical, next-to-last sermon at St. Paul's. On November 24th, 2019, the day after returning from a trip abroad, this friend once again drove in to St. Paul's to take in the music. A few days later he texted Matt:

 "So I went to a funeral mass today in Pennsylvania. Boy, what a difference from St. Paul's. The way I explained it to my wife, at St. Paul's there was (for me) a palpable sense of community. The congregation, the musicians, the chorus, and the clergy all pray together as a family. At this Pennsylvania church, it was a priest and deacon and a singer (not sure of the title; in Judaism she would be called the cantor) all talking TO the mourners. Very aloof and cold compared to what I, a stranger and a non-Christian, felt at St. Paul's."

This friend visited St. Paul's in appreciation and anticipation of fine music, and he left additionally impressed by the participatory power of the liturgy. He will return again for music, and because he is now interested to hear our new pastor...

 -Sonja Kahler & Matt Larson, music directors

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Mar-Lu-Ridge

Summer Camp 2020

Please click HERE for an important message about the 2020 Summer Camp Season, or visit www.mar-lu-ridge.org for more information.  _______________________________________________________________________

 

 

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