St. Paul's 2021

  Reflection November 22 was the day my stepfather died. None of you would know that. He was the love of my mother’s life and for many years was a father figure to me. It was also of course the day that John Kennedy was killed in 1963, an event that many of us have etched in our memories. What many people don’t realize is that it was also the day that Clive Staples Lewis died. He was more commonly known as C.S. Lewis. I first encountered Lewis’s writings when I was in junior high. One of the priest chaplains at a church summer camp gave a talk on the novel  Perelandra . He described it as a metaphor for what human life might be like without sin, or at least with sin completely redeemed. It was perhaps the first time in my life that I became aware of a piece of fiction trying to communicate the most significant things about life. I subsequently read every piece of fiction that Lewis wrote and most of his nonfiction work. He became a key figure in my own conversion to Christian ...

  To the saints at St. Paul’s, Monroe, NC I said last Sunday that we would be scheduling Christmas this past week. It has been a busy week and it will end with a virtual diocesan convention. We did, however, map out the basic schedule of worship for Advent and Christmas. Date Note Advent 1: Nov. 28 Begin consecrated wine from individual cups Advent 3: Dec. 12 8 am Eucharist Advent 3 10 am Lessons & Carols   (with communion from Reserved Sacrament) Christmas Eve 4:30 pm Music Christmas Eve Eucharist 5:00 pm Beginning with Advent, you will also receive via email a series of “thought questions.” These are intended to allow the congregation to participate in our preparation for confirmation at the Bishop’s visit in January. You will receive self-reflective questions in 4 areas: Where is God in your life? Where is God already moving? Where are the forces holding back God’s grace? What truths do you embrace and desire to vow to God? Where is God calling you to proclaim and perfo...

  November Rector Report The Rev. Dale C. Hathaway The highlight of the last month was the baptism of the Colt's grandchildren. It was a satisfying experience for me and I think for others as well. Nicci and I have slowly begun to reintroduce regular office hours. As I have continued to spend some time at the church, I've had the opportunity to meet some of the people coming and going, particularly those involved with Loaves and Fishes . I'm one of those occasions I got to meet Michael Moore who is the head of Loaves and Fishes. I am eager to learn how the ministry fits into the larger ministry of the church. One of my general concerns with the office and administrative work of the church has to do with the way in which files and technical tools are located in personal accounts rather than in the Church's own accounts. From my perspective I note the following: Sharing files in Google drive seems to be a good way to make things available to others, e.g. the vestry, and t...