PREVENTING VIOLENT EXTREMISM AND COUNTERING ANTI-ISLAM BIGOTRY IN 2016. Originally scheduled for Saturday, January 23, this event will now be held today at 3:00 pm. All are welcome to attend this presentation at the Cary Institute of Islamic and Turkish Studies. More information is available at www.iitsnc.org/activities.
HATRED HAS NO GLORY, An Interfaith Open Dialogue: Sunday, February 7, 2:45 – 5:30 pm at the Cary Arts Center, 101 Dry Avenue. An opportunity “to get to know Islam and Judaism and to shun hatred and stimulate love and peace,” the program includes the film “Sitting at God’s Table,” featuring Bishop Michael Curry, Shakil Ahmed, Imam of the Islamic Association of Cary, and other religious leaders followed by a panel discussion featuring the Rev. George Adamik, Imam Shakil Ahmed, and others. Seating is limited! Reserve your seat at www.carymasjid.org. All are encouraged to attend and all are assured of being home in time for the Super Bowl.
COFFEE HOUR MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS: There is a Parish Quarterly Update today in the church following the 9:00 a.m. service. In lieu of Coffee Hour in the parish hall, coffee will be served by the Vestry in the narthex before the meeting.
Next week Care and Share will be hosting Coffee Hour. This is an in-reach ministry where members of St. Paul’s respond to short-term needs of parishioners, such as providing visits, meals or transportation. Join them for coffee and snacks in the parish hall and to learn more about this compassionate and helpful ministry.
Ministry of Mothers Sharing (MOMS) begins another class in February. MOMS is a program in which a group of women experience a 7-week journey of personal and spiritual growth. Through small group discussions and journaling, participants have an opportunity to develop self-esteem, relationship skills, and a more defined sense of their own spirituality. This class is for mothers of infants through elementary school aged children. Classes will be Tuesdays, February 16 – April 5 (no class March 29) from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. Please see the website for more information and registration forms.
ADULT EDUCATION: There will not be a forum today. Instead, today all are encouraged to attend the Parish Update in the church between services.
Next Sunday forums resume with “Refuge for Refugees,” a presentation by Grace Benson from the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants about the process of sponsoring a refugee and the vetting process used to admit refugees to the U.S.
Shrove Tuesday pancake supper will be held Tuesday, February 9th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the parish hall. This event, sponsored by the Men’s Group, is a great way to start off your Lenten journey. Come by and have lots of good pancakes with all the fixings. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children.
2nd Annual Murder Mystery Dinner: Come celebrate Valentine’s Day early on Saturday, February 6th. The St. Paul’s Youth are serving up a juicy murder mystery and dinner. They will be performing “Don Donato Brundizzi’s Prohibition Party: A Mafia Murder” and you get to try and figure out who done it. Dinner will be an elegant three course Italian meal. The event will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and child care will be provided ($5 per child, $15 max per family). Tickets are $15.00 per person and there will also be a wine cash bar. Proceeds will go towards Youth mission trips. You can make reservations on the church website or contact Leah Dail at Leah.Dail@stpaulscary.org for tickets and more information.
Senior Ministry Organizational Team
Are you worried about your medical care when you near the end of life? Are you part of the sandwich generation and dread decisions you may be forced to make? Would you like to make difficult circumstances as easy as possible for your loved ones? Join us for a presentation on Advanced Directives Saturday, February 20 at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel to learn how to approach these topics. Rich Gwaltney from Transitions Life Care will present practical tips on selecting a healthcare power of attorney and making your wishes known to your loved ones regarding your future medical care. Adults of all ages are welcome to attend. Please RSVP if you will attend to Margie Best at mwbest@bellsouth.net or 919-3033830. This program is sponsored by Senior Ministry Organizational Team.
The Women’s Study Group will meet next on Tuesday, February 9th from 12:00 -1:30 p.m. in the Bride’s Room to discuss A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence and Power by Jimmy Carter. Please note that this is a change in books since our original selection isn’t readily available at the public libraries. From Amazon: “President Jimmy Carter addresses the world’s most serious, pervasive, and ignored violation of basic human rights: the ongoing discrimination and violence against women and girls.” Come join us for a thought-provoking and lively discussion. For more information, contact Leah Dail (leahdail@gmail.com).
APPALACHIA SERVICE PROJECT (ASP) MISSION TRIP 2016: This year we will be going to Tennessee for our ASP Mission Trip from July 10th – July 16th. St. Paul’s will join other youth in rural Central Appalachia to help Appalachia Service Project (ASP) repair homes for low-income families.
ASP is about more than the home repair – ASP is about building and strengthening relationships with one another and with God. We share our skills, and we share our faith, and together we make a difference. Please contact Kevin Swann to volunteer of get more information at 919-607-5913 or swann.kev@gmail.com.
ASP is open to all high school students and rising 9th graders. We have 25 openings for youth. We need and must have 12 adults to volunteer as chaperone leaders.
Men’s Beach Week 2016: Mark your calendars now for April 17th through 24th for our annual beach trip to Emerald Isle. Sign-up sheet available soon.
Women’s Beach Week 2016: Mark your calendars now for April 24th through May 1st for our annual beach trip to Emerald Isle. Sign-up sheet available soon.
STEWARDSHIP UPDATE: So far, we have raised $875,808 from 308 pledges. Please join your fellow parishioners, and prayerfully consider an increase of your pledge this year. 2016 Budgeting has already begun and your pledge is important to help us plan for the future of St. Paul’s!
Children’s Ministries
- Children’s Chapel will be held at the 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. services today. These sessions are for children ages 3 through 2nd grade. Please follow the children’s cross processional to the youth wing.
- Clergy-Led Chapel will be held today at the 9:00 a.m. service. This Chapel is for children ages 3rd-5th grade. Please meet Dr. Cathy at the door to the courtyard during the children’s cross processional.
- Our Children’s Stewardship Basket is collecting for Stop Hunger Now. Please contribute as the children continue their collection toward our $2900 goal that will sponsor a children’s Stop Hunger Now Day on May 15, 2016. Money for this event will be collected June 1, 2015 through May 15, 2016. To date we have collected $1,451.
- We need parent assistance in teaching Children’s Chapel! Please sign up to share a simple story lesson with the children and a brief craft time. Spring 2016 Children’s Chapel sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0544aaa92ca02-2016
- We are in need of a Kindergarten Sunday School Teacher. One of our teachers is moving, and we need someone to step in and help with this class. Please contact Christine Ingram if you can help us fill this special role.
- Mark your calendars for our second annual Teddy Bear Tea! This event for our younger parishioners and their guardians will be held on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 10:30 a.m. in the parish hall. Come enjoy some special time with your little ones and their stuffed friends!
- VBS Meetings will start in February! Our VBS theme will be Heroes and Villains! Please contact Christine Ingram if you would like to help create this fun and exciting week.
- Please join us at the Ash Wednesday Service for Families. It will be held at 5:45 p.m. on February 10. This is a very casual service that is ideal for families with children.
YOUTH
- Sunday School: The lesson today is entitled “What Do I Believe? The Only Son of God.” Middle School meets in the youth wing (go straight there, snacks are provided) and High School meets in Room 10. The Education Hour is from 10:10 -11:00 a.m.
- EYC Tonight 5 – 6 pm: We will be delivering flyers and grocery bags to the neighborhoods around St. Paul’s for our annual Souper Bowl food collection. Please note the change in time and remember no dinner will be served. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes – we will be walking a lot.
- Murder Mystery Rehearsal Tonight 3 – 6: Bring your scripts and be ready to rehearse! Snacks will be provided.
- Kanuga Snow Tubing Trip February 12-14. Contact Leah to register (due by tomorrow – Feb 1) or for more information.