January 29, 2021
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This Week's Worship Calendar
Worship January 31– February 6
Sunday, January 31 at 10am on Facebook (click HERE)
Tuesday, February 2 at 12noon on Facebook NoonDay Prayers with Rev. Ellen
Wednesday, February 3 at 9:00am on Facebook Morning Prayer Rite II with Rev. Mary
Thursday, February 4 at 12noon on Facebook NoonDay Prayers with Rev. Ellen
Upcoming Lenten Events
For All Ages
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper!
Join together on Zoom and whip up your favorite pancake batter and fixin’s on Tuesday, February 16th beginning at 6pm. We can share kitchen scenes and conversations, and even discover favorite pancake recipes! Mark your calendars now and we will send the zoom link soon.
Ash Wednesday Worship
This year, Ash Wednesday worship (February 17th) will be on-line beginning at 12noon. You may worship with us from your home or office at Click here and if you desire ashes for your home worship, we will have small packets available for pick-up at the church beginning Sunday, February 14th.
Reverse Lent calendar
Help those who are hungry and food-insecure during the 40 days of Lent through our “Reverse Lenten Calendar.” This calendar offers both food for body and soul with scriptural refreshment and a suggested food item to donate to the Chatham Community Food Distribution. This organization, supported by local houses of worship and the Chatham Borough, distributes food to families in need in Chatham. Calendars will be available on our website for you to print at home at the beginning of Lent.
Lenten Learning During Sunday Worship
Each Sunday during Lent, we will include a short segment of “Lenten Learning.” Discover why we do what we do as Episcopalians, and go “deeper” as we worship God each week.
Lenten Cooking Night on Zoom – Wednesdays in Lent
“Taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8) Join us for Wednesday evening cooking nights on Zoom! Preparing food and eating together in community is a spiritual activity that goes back to ancient days. Our time together will be a spiritual exercise as much as a social one. Each week we will prepare a different recipe while we visit together. Our delicious foods will include Lenten Pretzels, Soup, Pizza, Lenten Lemon cake, and Sweet Lenten Cinnamon bread. We will send out the Zoom link, ingredient list and recipe the Sunday before so everyone can prepare. We also encourage everyone to consider donating the cost of the prepared items to the Chatham Community Food Distribution.
To sign up please email Rev. Ellen at ellen@stpaulschatham.org. Wednesdays at 6:30 pm, February 24th through March 24th.
Especially for Families
Lenten Activities Suggested Reading List
(Click on the pictures for a link to the book.)
Faithful Celebrations: Mardi Gras through Pentecost - Making Time for God from Mardi Gras through Pentecost
Edited by Sharon Ely Pearson
Many of our experiences in life happen when several generations are together—at church, at home, in our communities. Holidays and family events are times for celebration, learning, rituals, food, and fun. This edition of Faithful Celebrations focuses on Mardi Gras/Carnival, Shrove Tuesday, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost. It includes plenty of activities to learn more about each of these sacred seasons or days in a church setting, at home, camp, or anywhere in-between.
Give Us This Day - Lenten Reflections On Baking Bread and Discipleship
By Christopher Levan
Give Us This Day offers meditations for every day in Lent, inviting us to connect faith "our daily bread" and the world in which we live, along with recipes that range from Shrove Tuesday "No-Fret Pancakes" to Easter Challah bread. Each of the 40 meditations begins with a scripture verse and a prayer.
Especially for Adults
Lenten Devotional Reading List
Interested in a Book Group?
Lent is a time for reflection on our relationship with God and how we live our lives as believers in the Christian faith. Below is a list of books you may wish to read to help you on your journey through Lent.
If you are interested in a book group with one of these titles, please contact Rev. Ellen at ellen@stpaulschatham.org. If there are enough people, we will host a weekly group during Lent.
A Path to Wholeness - A Lenten Companion
Russell J. Levenson Jr.
The ache of the human heart has always been to be made whole. The thrust of the Christian hope is that it can only come to that wholeness by way of a personal relationship with God, through Christ. This book is intentionally written as an avenue towards deepening, strengthening, and for some, beginning such a relationship during the forty days of Lent.
Pilgrim Road - A Benedictine Journey through Lent
Albert Holtz, O.S.B.
Benedictine monk Albert Holtz develops that journey theme through meditations written during a fifteen-country pilgrimage while on sabbatical. At the heart of each reflection is the lesson it teaches about our inner spiritual journey. By applying Benedict’s monastic wisdom to the everyday concerns and aspirations of modern Christians, Pilgrim Road helps contemporary spiritual seekers travel along and experience the journey of Lent in the most positive, meaningful, and fruitful manner.
Give Us This Day - Lenten Reflections On Baking Bread and Discipleship
Christopher Levan
Give Us This Day offers meditations for every day in Lent, inviting us to connect faith "our daily bread" and the world in which we live, along with recipes that range from Shrove Tuesday "No-Fret Pancakes" to Easter Challah bread. Each of the 40 meditations begins with a scripture verse and a prayer.
Show Me the Way: Daily Lenten Readings
by Henri J. M. Nouwen
Nouwen invites readers to join him on a 40-day Lenten path as fellow pilgrims, from the solemn beginning of Ash Wednesday to the joyous climax of Easter. This inspirational "search for the way" speaks directly to the heart during this time of reflection and prayer.
Wondrous Encounters: Scripture for Lent
by Richard Rohr O.F.M
Rohr's meditations on the daily readings of Lent are not for the sake of mere information, or even for academia (although the author hopes it will satisfy both), but for the sake of our transformation into our original "image and likeness," which is the very image of God. What always and finally matters for all of us is encounter!
Dialogue Circles
The Anti-Racism Community Collaborative is offering Dialogue Circles on Race: facilitated (virtual) conversations about race and systemic racism in American society. The recent spotlight on the deaths of Black men and women at the hands of police has awakened more (White) Americans to the reality of structural racism and its various forms of oppression. As a result, many White - and some Black – community members have expressed a strong desire to engage in honest, difficult conversations about race and injustice. Dialogue Circles on Race presents one such opportunity. Dialogue Circles have been offered since 2015 and have reached more than 500 community members in central New Jersey.
A Dialogue Circle (with 6- 15 participants) meets for five weeks, for two hours at a time. Co-led by trained facilitators, the group members discuss challenging readings, learn to listen deeply to one another’s experiences and move forward in their individual journeys toward understanding and dismantling structural racism. A shared commitment to attending all five sessions ensures that participants will experience the full curriculum and can develop trust and connection within the group.
Registration ends February 12, 2021.
Contact us at info@arccnj.org.
From Many, One: Conversations Across Difference
“Conversation with others across difference is not just a nice thing to do. It is a spiritual practice of love in action.” - Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
The Episcopal Church is launching a campaign, “From Many, One,” to promote a new spiritual framework for Episcopalians to engage in tough conversations with family, friends and neighbors, bridging the intense divisions that threaten to tear apart communities in the United States and beyond.
The conversations center on four questions: What do you love? What have you lost? Where does it hurt? What do you dream?
To join in the conversation, please click here for more information.
Chatham Food Pantry Needs
Can you help?
The local food pantry, hosted by Chatham United Methodist Church (located at the back driveway of the church at 460 Main Street, Chatham), has asked for donations of the following items.
Peanut butter, (sun butter but primarily peanut butter), canned protein (no tuna but please chicken, salmon, ham, etc), diapers in larger sizes (size 4 and pull ups), hygiene: shampoo/conditioner, soaps, lotions, gender neutral deodorant, protein shakes, shave cream, mouthwash, toothpaste (not huge need for brushes), dried beans-not canned, and hearty soups like stews/potato/beef chili.
Currently, our greatest needs are Enfamil Infant Formula 12.5 oz containers (yellow label), diapers size 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Monetary donations can be made through our website at www.northporch.org We have also set up a system for online purchase with direct shipping directly to us at the address below.. For your convenience, we have created an AmazonSmile Charity List where you can find a list of our most needed items for purchase. The link is https://smile.amazon.com/hz/charitylist/ls/OWZSPY2YBP5E/ref=smi_ext_lnk_lcl_cl
Shipping Address for online purchases
North Porch Women and Infants’ Center
11 South Bergen St. Dover, NJ 07801
We are so very grateful for all the support St. Paul's gives to North Porch. We couldn't do it without you! If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Ellen at ellen@stpaulschatham.org
Diocesan Study Groups and Announcements: From Our Bishop
Let’s walk bravely, boldly into the light
"For us in this time that has been pandemic, God has turned on a light," says Bishop Hughes. "We've been learning something about what the church could be. We've been learning something about who we are called to be as faithful people." click here to read the transcript.
Upcoming Events
January Diocesan-wide Gathering
“Faith Groups: Sharing our Lives, Growing in Faith” In place of January’s Convention weekend, Bishop Hughes will host an online worship, learning, and fellowship event on the last weekend of this month. On the evening of Fri. Jan. 29, we will have diocesan-wide online worship during which I will give an address focused on the new ways we are called to be church as we move out of pandemic and into God’s direction for the church. On Sat. Jan. 30, small groups of parish representatives will gather online for more information about how to use this pattern in your church and how it can deepen your faith. All are welcomed and encouraged to “attend,” links will be send out next week!
Find out more and register online.
* Due to the pandemic, Diocesan Convention is postponed until Summer 2021, date to be announced.
Bishop's Study Group: Pursuing Racial Reconciliation through Scripture, Film, Word, and Prayer
SIX TUESDAYS, JAN 5-FEB 9, 6:30-8 PM
This six-week study group will focus on building a spiritual and theological response to racial injustice. Registrants are asked to commit to attending at least four of the sessions. Find out more.
Register here by 5 PM Friday, Jan. 8.
The first session, on Chapter 1 of Philippians and the film Harriet, was video recorded and will be made available to all who register by Jan. 8.
Practicing Christ - The Way of Jesus as Transformative Practice
MON, JAN 11-MAR 1, 6-7:30 PM
Sponsored by the Diocesan Nourishing Spirituality Group and Interweave, this eight-session course will feature a rooting in Scripture, presentation, discussion, worship and a variety of spiritual practices.
Registration is required by 12 noon on Sunday, Jan. 10. Find out more.
Happening at Cross Roads
Register for Youth Retreats: February and March 2021
EXPLORE! with Cross Roads this winter at our virtual youth retreats. Over the course of a few hours, kids and youth leaders will EXPLORE the ways God is present in our world and in our lives. There are three EXPLORE! retreat dates and times for different age groups. Find all information including registration here.
Summer Staff applications now open!
No matter what exactly next summer at Cross Roads looks like, we will need trustworthy and creative young adults to help serve the Cross Roads community. Applications to work on Summer Staff 2021 are now OPEN! Learn more and apply on the Cross Roads website. You can read the most recent update about summer camp at Cross Roads here.
