The Tentmaker

April 25, 2018

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Daphne, Alabama

Message from Thack

Last Monday I had an orientation meeting for those going to the Holy Land. Those

making the trip are a mixed group of folks from St. Paul’s, Daphne, St. Paul’s, Foley, St. John’s,

Monroeville, and Church of the Advent, Lillian. Everyone seemed to get along very well and

most were reluctant to leave when the business was concluded. I was pleased by the

participants’ level of enthusiasm about the trip and some expressed their spiritual aspirations

connected with this pilgrimage. It became clear to me after the meeting that these folks are not

tourists, they are pilgrims.

The desire to be a pilgrim is deeply rooted in human nature. Since the earliest times,

pilgrimages to holy places have been made for various reasons. Some go on pilgrimages as acts

of devotion, penance or thanksgiving, or to seek blessings or miracles. For others, it is like a

retreat, a time away from home and the regular routine to concentrate on the spiritual life

without distractions — a time for prayer and meditation, learning and enrichment. Regardless

of the motivation, a pilgrimage is a sacred journey in which God is encountered through the

places, people and situations a pilgrim meets. The physical journey coincides with an inner

spiritual journey that reflects the concept of life itself as a pilgrimage towards heaven.

I have made three pilgrimages in my life. Two were to the Holy Land, first in 1995 and

more recently in 2010. The third pilgrimage was walking the El Camino de Santiago (The way

of St. James) in Spain in 2007. Each pilgrimage was a unique experience and I was blessed

beyond words on each occasion.

Pilgrimage has been part of the Christian tradition for centuries. Years ago, people went

on pilgrimages in larger groups for safety, to protect themselves from bandits on unfamiliar

roads in foreign lands. Today, many prefer to go in groups for ease in travel, to enjoy the benefit

of a local guide, to have the opportunity to celebrate the Eucharist and share in other forms of

communal prayer, and to experience fellowship with other believers.

There are a number of things that a pilgrimage is not. It is not a vacation, a time to sit

back, take it easy and relax. It is not a commercial tour, a time for sightseeing, entertainment,

cultural experiences and fine dining. It is not a shopping trip, a time to go to specialty stores to

get mementos and souvenirs for yourself and gifts for family and friends back home.

A pilgrimage normally has some of these elements, but the itinerary is designed around

the spiritual goals and objectives of the trip. The sites we will see have been specifically

selected from passages found in the Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament.

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There are three premier pilgrimages that have been made by Christians for centuries.

The pilgrimage that ranks above all others is to walk in the footsteps of Jesus in the Holy Land.

The major sites we will visit there include Bethlehem (the birthplace of Jesus); Nazareth (his

childhood home); Capernaum and the area around the Sea of Galilee (the location of his early

ministry); and Jerusalem (his final destination).

The second-most revered pilgrimage is to walk in the footsteps of St. Paul. He made

three missionary journeys and covered an immense amount of territory in Turkey and Greece.

The main sites are Ephesus in Turkey and Philippi, Thessalonica, Corinth and Athens in

Greece.

The third significant pilgrimage is to visit the foundations of the church in Rome. After

Rome, there are some other highly-esteemed spiritual destinations: El Camino de Santiago, in

Spain; Notre Dame, Chartes, La Salette and Mont-Michel in France; Oberammergau and the

great cathedrals of Munich and Cologne in Germany; Canterbury in England; Goa in India;

Mount Nebo in Jordan; and Mount Sinai in Egypt.

We will depart for the Holy Land on Tuesday, May 1 and return on Saturday, May 12. I

invite your prayers for the pilgrims as we make this journey. Regardless of the motivations of

our pilgrims, it is my hope they realize their expectations and are blessed from the experience.

More importantly, I hope we all come away from the experience feeling closer to God and

strengthened in our faith.

Peace, Thack

Congratulations to our “Cool Computer Guys!”

Ross Moore is a teacher at Spanish Fort Middle School. His teaching responsibilities also

include being the Faculty Advisor to the Technology Student Association (TSA). Recently, Ross

took a team of 26 young people to the TSA State Competition in Birmingham. It was the largest

team participating in this state event. Several of our young people scored well at the

competition. Ian Anderson’s team took the first-place prize in Website Design; Liam Brown’s

team took the third-place prize for Coding; and Joshua Dedrickson’s team took the fourth-place

prize for System Control Technology. Ross Moore won the first-place prize for Faculty Advisor

for fielding the largest team in the competition. Congratulations to Ian, Liam, Joshua and Ross!

Thack

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A Note from Elizabeth Faust, Christian Education

Wednesday Night Live

Because we have so much going on this summer, I want to go ahead and get out WNL summer

schedule out for everyone! We will meet May 2nd from 6-7:30pm in the courtyard. After that we

will go to a once monthly schedule until we go back to school. We welcome any up and coming

3rd graders too!!!

May 30

June 27th

July 25th

August 8th

For those who are or will be new to Wednesday Night Live: we are a group of 3rd-6th graders

who meet on Wednesday nights from 6:00-7:30 for compline, bible study, dinner, and tons of fun

and crazy activities! If you would like more information please ask!

Graduate Recognition Sunday

We will be recognizing our 2018 graduates at both services on May 20th. If you would like to be

included please email me a picture of your graduate by Wednesday, May 9th. We will have a

picture of them out on campus that day! Elizabeth Faust - ea.fst@hotmail.com

VBS REGISTRATION

It’s never too early to register for Vacation Bible School! There are so many volunteer

opportunities in need of your help and not all of them require you to actually be there at VBS!

From costumes and set design to Bible Story and Group leaders, there is something for

everyone! You can pick up a registration or volunteer form in the Narthex or register online at

vbspro.events/p/stpaulsdaphne

We’re going to have a great time!

MAD Camp Dates: July 9, 11, 12

(Music Arts and Drama Camp for middle- high schoolers)

VBS Dates: July 16-19th

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Chapel News!

Lately in chapel we have been talking a lot about miracles, and more specifically about miracles

that happened before Jesus and are happening around us even today! We’ve had so much fun

taking a look at the world around us from a different perspective. We are also working on bible

verse memorization!

A BIG THANK YOU to Court and Susan Hurst, Emily and Kenny Sheets, and Kristina

McKenna for providing delicious snacks for us for the last few weeks! And THANK YOU to

Ms. Liz Ray and Elizabeth Podgers for helping out with Chapel lately!

***8:00 chapel will take a break for the summer beginning May 27th but will resume with the

start of the school year in August. We will still have Sunday School at 9:15 in McCann for

K-4th grade!

St Paul’s VBS 2018- Babylon

July 16, 2018 — July 19, 2018

9:00 am — 12:00 pm (CDT)

St Paul’s )

Join Daniel—torn from his home and forced into the king’s service. Explore exotic sights and smells in a Babylonian bazaar! Kids and adults will find that they’re not much different from Daniel and his friends, who kept their faith in a faithless culture.

For more information please call or email

Elizabeth Faust

251-404-0537

ea.fst@hotmail.com

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On April 15, 2018, the Thrift Shop held a Celebration of Giving luncheon to honor the volunteers, employees,

and charities that received monetary awards. Approximately 80 people attended the celebration and shared a

meal of salads, rolls, and dessert. To honor two of the attending charities, Judy Ollinger spoke about how the

Spanish Fort Fire Department helped her husband, Marty, after an automobile accident, and Becky Spann

spoke about her experience adopting a dog from the North Baldwin Animal Shelter.

Chairperson Edith Henry presented each charity with a monetary gift to be used in their operations.

Additionally, Edith presented checks to the, Pre-school, cooking ministry, building fund, and several other

church outreach ministries. Jane Shoultz received the Lifetime Award service and Jo Moran received the

Nifty Thrifty Award for her service contributions to the Thrift Shop.

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VESTRY AND

OFFICERS

Term Ending

December 31, 2018

Davis Daniel

Jim Jackson

Janet Norman

December 31, 2019

Sue Cody

Alice Frederick

Michael Koepp, Jr. Warden

Tom Walker

December 31, 2020

Bill Harrison, Sr. Warden

Liston Jones

Boyd Miller

Donna Nolte

~

Walker Jackson,

Youth Representative

Martha Lathan,

Clerk of the Vestry

Airrior Norwood,

Treasurer

ST. PAUL’S SERVICES:

Sunday Worship

Holy Eucharist, Rite I

8:00 am

Holy Eucharist, Rite II

10:30 am

Wednesday Worship

Holy Eucharist, Rite I

7:00 am

Holy Eucharist, Rite II

with Healing Service

Wednesday

12:00 pm (Noon)

BIBLE STUDIES

Sunday

Christian Education

Children (McCann)

Adults (Malone Hall)

9:15 am

Tuesday

Men’s Bible Study

(Malone Hall)

7:00 am

Wednesday

Morning Bible Study

(Library)

10:30 am

Great Wednesday

(Malone Hall)

6:00 pm

Supper and Study

We are currently studying

A Journey through Acts

Church Website

www.stpaulseasternshore.com

Email Address

officestpaulsdaphne@gmail.com

Phone

251-626-2421

Fax

251-626-2456

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Prayer Requests Immediate Prayer Requests:

Margie Cowart, Elaine Glover, Margie Kelley, Betty and David Lee, Freda McDonald, Pat McKeown,

Ack Moore, Jr., Mary Ann Peters, Peggy Possien, Don Reece, Drew Rushton, Shannon Rutledge,

Bennie Savage, Cathy Slagle, Kathy Rabito Street, Jim Walker, Sharon Walker

Ongoing Prayer Requests:

Paul and Ellie Anderson, Marie Baggett, Pat Brislin, Lil Brown, Clayton Brunson, Clare Castleman,

Jim Council, Margaret Cummins, Jerry DeLoney, Wanda Hall, Ron Harrison, Trevor Hawkes, Susan Hill,

Theresa Johnson, Olen Lambert, Andy Lipps, Jim Lonnergan, Dick McBride, Allen McKnight,

Drew McPherson, Joey Pecarrere, Joe Plasteres, Al Rawls, Eleanor Reeves, Loren Rudolf, Ruth Skaggs,

Phyllis Springen, Steven Stack, Gene Stealey, Jed Steber, Albert Thompson, Sallie Thornton, Bill Waid,

Jane Watkins, Caroline Yearty, The Rev. Samford Turner,

Almighty God, who hast promised to hear the petitions of those who ask in thy Son's Name: We beseech thee

mercifully to incline thine ear to us who have now made our prayers and supplications unto thee; and grant

that those things which we have faithfully asked according to thy will, may effectually be obtained, to the relief

of our necessity, and to the setting forth of thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer, page 834

For the Departed: John McKeown, Clare Moran

Father of all, we pray to you for all those whom we love but see no longer. Grant to them eternal rest. Let light

perpetual shine upon them. May the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer, page 498

For Those Serving in the Military:

Matthew Cheatham, Jackson Deaton, Michael Duchesne, Christopher Dukarm, Chris Evans, Diana Evans,

Landis Fouts, Deron Frailie, Steven Grey, Matthew Harris, Rusty Henry, Karen Hubley, Daniel James,

Matt Jones, Daniel Lambert, Chris Lessard, David McMillan, Patrick Mong, Bryan Quinn, Neil Quinn,

Justin Ramsey, Taylor Santa Cruz, Neill Sevelius, Derek Siegel, Andy Tuttle, James Wallin, Brad Yonkers

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at

home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and

temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding

presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Book of Common Prayer, page

823

For those with Birthdays: April 25-30

(25) Clara-Catherine McDonald, (26) Toni Turpen, (27) Tom Walker, Patricia Carter, (28) Mary Frances

McKibbon, Ann Stone, Necie Borroni, John Bryant, (29) Lloyd Gardner, Evan Watson, Daniel Brown

O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on your servants as they begin another year.

Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their

lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Book of Common Prayer, page 830

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St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 28788 North Main Street

Daphne, Alabama 36526

The Rev. Thack H. Dyson, Rector

Paul Anderson, Church Musician/Organis t

Elizabeth Faust , Chris t ian Educat ion

Terri McMil lan, Adminis trat ive Assis tant

Joan McKnight , Staf f Assis tant

Mark Cost low , L i fe Center Sexton

Tina Erickson, Youth leader

Mary Haulard, St . Paul’s Preschool —251-626 -2774

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

8:00 a.m. — Noon (Friday)

Church Telephone: 251 -626 -2421 Fax: 251 -626 -2456

E -mail : off icestpaulsdaphne@gmail .com

Thrif t Shop Telephone: 251 -626 -6102

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