Weekly e-pistle 08/21/15

August 21, 2015 This Sunday, August 23rd   Holy Communion - 10 AM   All are welcome to receive Communion!  In today's gospel many people take offense at Jesus' invitation to eat his flesh and drink his blood; even many of Jesus' disciples peel off. This is the backdrop in John's gospel for Peter's confession of faith. "To whom can we go?" asks Peter, in words we sometimes sing just before the gospel is read. "You have the words of eternal life." In order to take such a stand, as Peter and Joshua did, Paul tells us to arm ourselves with the word of God. We pray in the Spirit that we might be bold ambassadors of the gospel. At our presiding bishop's request, we will continue to pray throughout the summer for an end to racism. Book Study - 9 AM  The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in an Age of Colorblindness - Chapter 6          Sunday's readings:  Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18; Psalm 34:15-22; Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6:56-69 Other Happenings:   Our Budget, Our Mission Plan: Help Plan for Our Future! The finance team needs your help to craft a budget that truly supports our mission and ministry. To that end, we will hold a series of hands-on workshops after worship. We will begin this Sunday by identifying all the congregation's resources -- money, property, relationships, and others. As stewards of these resources, we have a responsibility to use them effectively and imaginatively for the sake of the gospel. Please be part of the conversation on Sunday. Attention Youth 5th Grade & Older! You are invited to be an acolyte! Training is Sunday, September 13th, immediately following worship. There will be time to learn about the tasks, practice what acolytes do, and ask lots of questions. Most of all we hope it will be a way for you to more deeply discover the gifts you have for being a leader in our congregation. See you there!  Brown Bag Ministry: We have been giving out quite a few Brown Bags lately, both at St. Paul's and to hungry people we encounter when in our cars.  This is a real blessing to those who rarely get a well balanced and nutritious meal.  We ask for donations as it costs about $4.00 to put together a bag.  You can either put donations in the jar in Fellowship Hall or make out a separate check to St. Paul's designating it for the Brown Bag Ministry.  Your compassion and generosity will be blessed. It's time to donate school kits for Lutheran World Relief! Lutheran World Relief has made a plea for school supplies. We will be taking the supplies to the annual "In-gathering" early in October. Please include the following for each kit: 5 spiral notebooks (70 pages) Ruler; scissors Pink eraser 5 pencils 5 pens 18 or 24 box crayons If you don't have time to shop, you may make a donation. $25 buys 6 school kits. Questions? Call Anita Patten at 707.745.0648. I Was Hungry, I was Thirsty, I was in Prison and ... Learn how faith and justice are intertwined in a hungry world!  This educational workshop by the Sierra Pacific Synod Hunger Network explores both the life-saving work of the ELCA Hunger Appeal, and how reforming mass incarceration policies and practices is crucial to ending hunger and poverty in this country. If there is an interest, a parallel children's program will be offered. Keynote speakers: Dr. Ryan Cumming, Hunger Education Director of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal; Laura Magnani, Director of American Friends Service Committee's Bay Area Healing Justice Program in California and coauthor of the AFSC publication, "Beyond Prisons: A New Interfaith Paradigm for Our Failed Prison System."  WHEN: Saturday, October 24, 2015, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. WHERE: Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, Davis, CA Sunday's chancel flowers are given to the glory of God by Robin Slusher in celebration of Dee and Harold Fix's 70th wedding anniversary. Congratulations, Dee and Harold! Serving God on Sunday, August 23rd   Presiding Minister: The Reverend Pamela Griffith Pond Assisting Minister: Dean Ahlberg Crucifer: Kim Hervey Lector:  Jody Schumacher Cantor: Dean Ahlberg Ushers: Don Ockrassa & Cindy Poehls Fellowship Hosts: Kim Hervey & Jody Schumacher Sacristans: Corie Hervey & Matthew Hervey Flowers: Robin Slusher This Sunday, August 23rd This Sunday, August 23rd 9:00 a.m.  10:00 a.m. 11:45 a.m.  Book Study Eucharist Budget Workshop   Monday, August 24th Bartolomew, Apostle  Wednesday, August 26th    7:00 p.m. CODA  Friday, August 28th  Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, died 430 Moses the Black, monk, priest, Desert Father, died 405    Sunday, August 30th 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 11:45 a.m. Book Study Eucharist   Budget Workshop   Christ's Care List Healing of body, mind and spirit: Vera Bennett Cassie Bremer (Jessica Nelson's daughter)  Marty Clark   Margaret Cole Wayne (Vera Bennett's friend) Carleen Embree Dee Fix  Harold Fix Helen Gainey (Vera Bennett's friend) Shirley Gonsalves Bessie Hawkins (Vera Bennett's friend) Mary Heitz Sheldon Heitz Anna Hervey Donald Hervey Sam Hervey Irene Ficsor (John Patten's sister) Jan Jackson Pr. Karen and Dave Johnson (Pr. Pamela's colleague and her husband) Louisa Johnson Cassy Kapsalis (friend of Judy Faye) Caryl Kroan Rick Kroan Loree Lucas Carol Massie (friend of Valda Rose)  Raul Matasol (friend of Pr. Pamela & Dave Pond)  Pr. Larry Nelson (John Patten's friend) Luna Nightshade  Nikkie (Vera Bennett's goddaughter) Pr. Jennifer Obermueller (Pr. Pamela's colleague) Jeanine Pai (Marian Smock's niece) Anita Patten Dean Pollock (Jody Schumacher's brother) Justin Pollock (Jody Schumacher's great nephew) Alissa Princewell Gary Schumacher Angelika Shanley Pr. John Sumwalt (Pr. Pamela's colleague) Bill & Betty Valentine (Vera Bennett's friends) Schiann Towle (Lisa and Dwayne Olson's daughter) Steve West (Don & Louisa Johnson's friend) Frances Wieber (Marian Smock's sister)      Our pastoral call process and each member of the call committee: Judy Faye, Chair Vicki Pyle, Secretary Frank Gonsalves Don Ockrassa Jessica Nelson       We also pray for: Safety in our community An end to racism and other injustice Mother Emanuel AME Church, Charleston, SC  St. Paul Lutheran Church, Columbia, SC A just and lasting peace in the Holy Land Those serving in the armed forces  St. Paul's Lutheran Church The Reverend Pamela Griffith Pond, Interim Pastor 415.847.8030 (cell) pastorpamela@live.com 1300 Tuolumne Street Vallejo, California 94590

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