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St . Paul ’s Episcopal Church 28788 North Main Street

Daphne, Alabama 36526

The Rev. Thack H. Dyson, Rector

The Rev . S . A lbert Kennington, Priest Associate

Mary Al ice Mathison, Transi t ional Deacon

Paul Anderson, Music Ministry

T ina Erickson, Children ’s Minis try

Mary Haulard , Preschool Adminis trator

Terri McMil lan, Administrative Assistant

Joan McKnight , Staf f Ass istant

Mark Cost low , L i fe Center Sexton

Of f ice Hours 8 :00 a .m.—4:30 p .m. (Monday-Thursday)

8 :00 a .m. — Noon (Friday)

Te lephone : 251 -626 -2421 Fax : 251 -626 -2456

E -mai l : s tpauls@stpaulseasternshore .com

We worship together as we seek God, serve God ,

and share God with love and acceptance for all.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

28788 North Main Street

Daphne, Alabama 36526

Return Service Requested

US Postage Paid

Non Profit

Permit 46

Daphne, AL

36526

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The Tentmaker

A message from Thack

June 18, 2014

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Daphne, Alabama

For those who missed it, last Sunday was Trinity Sunday. As I mentioned in my sermon, the concept of the Trinity has confounded theologians for centuries. That’s why we refer to it as a “mystery.” St. Augustine said that when we are speaking of God, we should not feel self-conscious for understanding so little about God’s nature. This is because if we did fully understand God, than He would not be God. A God without mystery would have no claim to our reverence. Consequently, we should never look to the Trinity as a problem to be solved, a puzzle to be worked out or something simply to test our faith.

However, despite its mysterious nature, there is more that can be said about the Trinity. For starters, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit mean the mystery beyond us, the mystery among us, and the mystery within us are all the same mystery. Thus the Trinity is a way of saying something about us and the way we experience God. It is through the reality of the Trinity we develop our sense of reverence or awe. For example, we experience the awe filled holiness of God the Father, the Creator who “created the heavens and the earth. “ (Gen. 1:1), through the wonders of creation. Especially at this time of year, as the summer begins, a summer that will enable us to explore the joys of the natural world, we are reminded of the glory of God. Whether atop some great mountain peak, beside the roaring waves at the Gulf of Mexico, looking out over an expanse of the Grand Canyon, beside a waterfall, or simply walking in the woods, we have experiences of the greatness of God the Creator.

We also have experiences of holiness in the midst of mystery in the greatness and glory of the Son. This is most evident in Christian community in the love, care, concern and fellowship that we have for each other. When we show the love of Christ, or are the beneficiaries of that love, we are reminded of the reality of his abiding and resurrected presence. It is then we personally experience what Paul said in Second Corinthians, “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 13:13).

Finally, we experience the power of the Holy Spirit, that near presence of the Trinity, if we allow it to work among us, speak to us, inspire us, and transform us. We know the Spirit abides with us because Jesus told us so. As Jesus tells his disciples, “Remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20). This is a telling reminder of the awe-inspiring reality of the presence of God in our world. Therefore, if we live our lives with open and expectant hearts, expecting to encounter the Holy Spirit, we will.

Yes, the Trinity is a mystery which can never be fully understood. Yet its reality is palpable and can be grasped at different levels if we approach God with reverence and awe. If we simply acknowledge the glory of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, we will experience God’s transforming presence in our lives.

Peace, Thack

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Music Notes

It’s exciting! The new hymnal binders have arrived. There’s a sample cover on the credenza in the narthex. Check out the royal purple! AND we’re expecting the printing of the hymns to be finished soon, this week. Many, many thanks to the congregation for gifts so far and for the wonderful dedications made. We welcome your continued support for the hymnals.

As soon as the hymnals are in the pews, we will invite you to choose your favorite hymns for summertime worship from our 3 hymnals: The Hymnal 1982, Wonder, Love and Praise

and our new St. Paul’s Hymnals.

For those of you who love choral music, here’s a heads-up: Cindy & Tim Op’t Holt are members of what is probably the finest community choral group in the area, the Gloria Dei Chorale, conducted by Louis Daniel, who is also the musician at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Mobile. He is a really fine composer as well.

Their summer concert will take place at St. John’s on Sunday, June 29. Treat yourself to the concert and an ice cream sundae afterwards.

VBS was wonderful and I want to give special thanks to Liz Ray for helping me with the music for MAD camp and VBS itself. And a special “hats off” to the many youth who stepped up for the MAD camp and for all their assistance during VBS [which was huge!].

New Song members are travelling right now, so the group is taking a summer break. The Parish Choir is rehearsing just on Sundays for the summer at 9:45 in the choir room. Anyone who’d like to jump in for the summer is welcome to join us on Sundays.

Taize Prayer this Thursday at 7:00 in the narthex. You’re all invited to have a contemplat ive hour under candlelight, as we sing, pray together and silently as well, and listen to scripture.

Speaking of Taize prayer, on August 21 we’ll have our monthly Taize service as usual, and it will be followed by a concert in the narthex by Adam Meshejian and me. Adam is starting his second year at Faulkner and looking towards becoming an opera major. We’ll share some lovely music for voice and solo piano. Y’all come!

Paul

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Prayer Requests

Immediate prayer requests:

Chad Achee, Melanie Balhatchet, Ann Betancourt, Hayden Cox, Bill Dobbins, Connie Eddy, Catherine Funke, Amy Grayson, Ann Green, Juleigh Green, Scott Hale, Lynn Henderson, Gloria Hudson, Chuck Hurston and Family, George Jordan, Kathleen Kennedy, Don Kitt, Kathleen Lalor, Carolyn and Neil Magruder, Elsie Martin, Cheryl McKenzie, Julie McKenzie, Ack Moore, Sr., Phyllis Morgan, Don Olds, Joey Pecarrere, Genevieve Pierce, Anna Scott, Peggy Shilston, Roger Smith, Waid, The Watson Family

Ongoing prayer requests:

Ellie and Paul Anderson, Allison Badurak, Marie Baggett, Beverly Barney, Mary Katherine Bohannon, Sally Boom, Jack and Shirley Brasher, Erin and Martin Burns, Melissa Byrd, The Chaix Family, Dawn Cort, Billy and Catherine Crews, Caron Deakel, Cathy Girgen, Trevor Hawkes, Vernon and Eileen Head, Vic Hendrick-son, Lois Hollingsworth, Alice Grey Houston, Anna Irvine, Vickie Jackson, Shad James, Carol Keeney, Ann Kenney, Tracie Morrow Knight, Rob Leake, Bill and Sarah Mason, Jose and Kitty Nava, Joe and Donna Och, Madelyn Posey, Al Rawls, Marcia Rydin, David Sparks, Jed Steber, Sally Stokely, Bruce Thomason, Albert Thompson, Sally Thornton, Bill Waid, Jane Watkins, John and Darryl Williams, Mary Lou Williams, Deb Wilson, Bob and Caroline Yearty

For those serving in the military:

Adam Blackwell, Owen Neal Bradley, Matthew Cheatham, Jack Colquitt, Jr., Sam D’Addio, Michael Duchesne, Christopher Dukarm, Chris and Diana Evans, Landis Fouts, Deron Frailie, George Garner, Steven Grey, Matthew Harris, Rusty Henry, Daniel James, Matt Jones, Daniel Lessard, David McMillan, Patrick Mong, Bryan Quinn, Neil Quinn, Justin P. Ramsey, Derek Siegel, David & Elsa Stallings, Tim Tucker, Andy Tuttle, James Wallin, Thomas Wallin

For those with birthdays: June 1-30

(01) Tom Kipling, William Stickney, Jr., (02) Ginger Miller, Lynette Caldwell, Lyndsey Byrd, (03) Valerie Stickney, Zoe Beckham, (04) Collins Dunlavy, Micah Brown, (05) Connie Gonser, (07) Vernon Head, Mark Mitchell, Philip McNamara, Drue DeNeefe, (08) Amelia Stephens, (09) Columbus Posey, Pagan Mosher, Olivia Lyons, (11) Bob Yearty, Will Brown, (12) Lauren Dedrickson, (13) Mark Costlow, Nolen Brown, (14) Ansley Howard, (15) Carl Gettig, Vonnie Foreman, (17) Patricia Brislin, Jason Davis, (19) Stevi Gaston, (20) Shirley Walley, Anne Dobbins, Stacy Johnston, Michael Walker, (21) Matt Cassity, James Walker, (23) Marianne Loes, (24) Christopher Currie, (25) Mark Deakle, (25) Amelia Marron, Caroline Marron, (27) Pam Schmidt, (28) Logan Dunn, (29) Barbara Pollock, Carianne Brown, (30) Laura Ann Colquitt, Theresa Johnson, Sam Parker

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FAMILY PROMISE. Seems like ages since we have had FAMILY PROMISE at the church. Way back in Jan. Our up coming week will be Sunday June 22nd leaving Sun June 29th. Please give your calendars a look and see what works for you. As always I will put in the folks who have certain days they want to host or cook automatically. This is a wonderful ministry that you can share with your family with the summer tim-ing. Prepare a meal together, host an evening but come and be part of the giving back. Thank you. Questions: Nancy Dziubakowski 625 3406 or nkincade@yahoo.com.

FUNDING FOR THE FUTURE!

Capital Campaign News----Host sites are currently being selected and contacted for the up-coming cottage meetings. As soon as this groundwork has been completed by the capital campaign committee you will have the opportunity to sign up for a small group or cottage meeting. We have tried to make the meetings convenient in both location and time. Sign up sheets will be available in the narthex of our church. Thank you so much. Remember----FUNDING FOR THE FUTURE!

For those of you who want a good, inexpensive meal and are looking for some fam-ily entertainment with the kids out of school, we have a deal for you! Spaghetti and Bingo is the 4th Friday of each month, which means our next event will be Friday,

June 27, 2014, at 6 p.m. If you haven't been, you really should try to come this month. The spaghetti is outstanding and the Bingo is loads of fun. We have a lot of people who are not Parishioners attending, and we are seeing more of our own St. Paul's folks! Come join us! Your friends are there - you should be too!!

Dinner is served at 6 p.m. and the cost is $5 for Spaghetti, Salad, Bread, Drink, and Desert. Bingo starts at 6:30. Cards for 11 games are $20 - play them all, or share with your family or friend! Free child care is provided for the younger children,

older children are welcome to play! Hope to see you there! Remember, all pro-ceeds go to help pay for our beautiful Life Center.

2014201420142014

VBSVBSVBSVBS

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