SAINT PAUL EPISCOPAL CHURCH
"A Jubilee Ministry Center"
P.O. Box 96
340 Locust Street, Columbia, PA‚ 17512-0096
717-684-8496
717-684-2560 (fax)
In the name of Christ, we offer you welcome to our church. May those who sorrow find comfort; the weary, rest; the troubled, peace; the stranger, friends; the unhappy, joy; and to all, the sense of God's presence in this Holy Place.
Please note that the next scheduled time for Baptism is Sunday, January 15 (Feast of the Baptism of our Lord). Please call the parish office (717-684-8496) to schedule a meeting of the parents and, if possible, the godparents, with the Rector.
December 2011 and January and February 2012
We, as a Parish Family of Saint Paul, are in the midst of a discernment process. We are, as a family, discerning our future as a family. We are finishing the 4th year of our current Five-Year Mission and Ministry Plan and need to be ready to begin 2013 - yes 2013 prepared to continue to Build the Kingdom of God here on earth. The only way we were able to accomplish the vision of our current plan was to build it from the ground up. Top-down strategic planning is a waste of time because it simply gets no buy-in and just becomes a dusty binder on a shelf. As we develop our next Five-Year Mission and Ministry Plan, the Mission and Ministry Committee chaired by Tracy Witmer, the Senior Warden and advised by David Morath, Consultant, have begun well. Every person in the parish was given the opportunity to meet in small groups with the members of the committee to share their feedback, their hopes, their fears, their challenges, their suggestions, etc. on how we should move forward in our pilgrimage together as a family.
A couple of things are clear. Finances are a challenge due to our size and the economic environment. While it does not make it any easier, we know that most other church communities in our area and beyond face the same financial challenges. The concern I have is that we will allow finances to drive the mission and ministry of our parish family. While we should acknowledge the challenge, we need to emphasize what we have and use what God has given us in new and creative ways. Some thoughts for consideration: First - we have an abundance of active retirees - how can we make use of their time and talents to build the Kingdom. I don't mean just have them do all the volunteer work - but would some be willing to think outside the box and do ministry in ways that they have done ministry before? As Evangelizers? Preachers? Prayer Leaders in communities other than Columbia? Foundation builders of the Kingdom in communities aht Saint Paul's used to have a presence in?
Second - we have good, solid, faithful people - over 70% attend Eucharist on a weekly basis. How can we get people to see the importance of continuing education in the faith - not just the sermon on Sunday but in other ways that are intentional, quality opportunities to grow as Christians and to learn how to be better builders of the Kingdom.
Third - we have a full communion relationship with the two Lutheran parishes in Columbia. How can we further work together to maximize our financial resources, our building resources, our people resources, etc? If the Call to Common Mission - the full communion agreement that we have with the Lutheran Church - is to mean anything it should be implemented while local Episcopal and Lutheran parishes are healthy. Why wait until a local Episcopal or Lutheran parish is on life-support and ready for hospice before we think about working more closely together. The Call to Common Mission is being wasted by inaction and a lack of vision at all levels of both denominations.
Fourth - There is the Western Rim of the Lancaster Convocation. This was a true grass-roots development. The whole concept and implementation of the Western Rim came from the people in the 5 local Episcopal parishes. It did not come from the bishop, Congregational Development or any other upper-level committee or commission. It was not even the idea of any one Rector. It was the people who believed that together the five small parishes could do more together that we could do alone. A companion parish relationship among five local parishes - what a concept?
Now, none of these thoughts are without challenges. Money in our society is a real problem. Bills and staff have to be paid. Buildings require maintenance. Programs need supplies, teachers, advertising, etc. But we have been given much together so why not build together> Our people are often stretched to the limit. 100% of the work at Saint Paul's is being done by 95% of the people - not too much more we can do. However, there are ways to leverage our work with the work of others. Fully implementing the Call to Common Mission requires all sorts of permissions from on-high in the diocese or synod. Even the companion parish relationship in the Western Rim gives pause to those who like things the way they are now. Permissions and authorizations often are hard to come by because those in authority did not have the idea to begin with (passed down from on high) or they are fearful that somehow they will lose control. But we are too far down the road into a new century to keep or return to a provincial way of doing church.
As we continue our parish discernment process for our next Five-Year Mission and Ministry Plan we must not be crippled by fear, small-mindedness, provincialism, or even denominational polity. We must, as Paul says, "Boldly Proclaim the Gospel!" In the good times and in the face of adversity; in times flush with the stewardship of time, talent, and treasure and in the times of abudance in scarcity; in times of permissions and authorizations and in times of stepping outside the box and just doing it; in times of confidence and support and in times of fear and opposition.
On Sunday, November 27 we began a new church year - the First Sunday of Advent. Think about how you will enter this new year. Think about a new year's resolution or two in support of your spiritual life and in support of your parish family. How will this new year of prayer, worship, liturgy, education be different from the past year? How will you grow in your faith? How will you help build the Kingdom of God? How will you go forth to preach and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ? A new year brings new opportunities - let's continue to work in a spirit of family to reconcile all things to Christ.
Peace and Blessings!
Patrick+
If you are a member of Saint Paul's, we hope that you find this web site useful and helpful to keep up-to-date with what is going on in the parish. If you are a non-member, we hope that our web site will entice you to come and pray with us and find out what really makes Saint Paul's such a great place - it's warm and loving people. If you are searching for a church, we hope that you will join us on our faith journey.
If you have a pastoral need, whether or not you are a member of Saint Paul's, do not hesitate to contact us and let us help you in any way that we can. If you would like the Rector to visit you, or would like a home communion / visit please call us and let us know. If you or a loved one are in the hospital, please call us so that we can come and pray with you or your loved one.
We welcome comments and feedback on our web site. If you have suggestions for parish activities or programs, please let us know.
GET DIRECTIONS TO THE CHURCH:
Go to the bottom of the Mail List - Request Information Page and click on the Map to Saint Paul Link
