April 13, 2008

A “Growth Group”…is forming of Vestry and non-Vestry alike, to brainstorm about growth in our congregation. Want to be a part of it?
Call the office at 643-0197.

Newcomers’ Party…April 22nd at 5 pm at the McLean’s. Please call the office if you would like to come and haven’t received an invitation.

“Beatitudes” Adult Formation Group…….Anyone wishing to complete sessions 8 & 9 of the Beatitudes during adult formation at 9:30 am on Sunday mornings is notified that we will hold two more sessions to meet on Sunday, April 20 and Sunday, April 27. We can use Sunday, May 4 as a wrap-up/reflection session if desired.

Betsy Piper passed away on Tuesday, April 8th -- her funeral service will be held at St. Paul’s on Thursday, April 17th at 10:30 am.

African Team Ministries…..Congratulations to St. Paul’s community for their continuing and growing outreach to the global community. You raised $1500.00 to support the Church in East Africa. Our dollars will go far to support orphans, to provide medical care, and clean water, to repair and build churches, and to grow the cottage industries that provide us with such beautiful jewelry and native crafts of outstanding quality at such reasonable prices. You truly represent God’s love in action! Many thanks. Fr. Albert OSB, Coordinator.

Farmer’s Market Worker Party…attention Farmer’s Market car parkers, docents, craft table, boutique and gift shop workers: Please come to lunch Saturday, April 12th at noon or thereabouts. We want to acknowledge and thank you for giving up your Saturday mornings to the greater glory of St. Paul’s and the delight of our community.

Hospital Visitation….if you know you are going into the hospital or are in the hospital, please let the office know. Due to the new privacy laws, we are not informed by the hospital that you are a patient. There are clergy and lay visitors that are waiting to visit you while you are ill, so please call or have someone call us at 643-0197.

Christian Stahlman, one of Lan Lam’s students, will be playing at the 10:45 service today.

Parish Dinner….will be held on Thursday, April 17th at 5:30 pm in the Parish Hall. Dinner will be a pot luck. Please bring entrée, vegetable or salad, the Kitchen Committee will provide drinks and dessert. This will be a free will offering.

Farmer’s Market….the last Saturday it will be open is April 26th.

UTO In-gathering…..will be held at the services on April 19 & 20. The money collected is distributed to fulfill the needs of those in our country and the world. Thank you for your willingness to help with this worthy outreach project.

Spiritual Direction Update….Centering prayer and “lectio divina” continue as long as we have interested participants. We meet on Mondays at 9:30 am for centering prayer and follow with “lectio” at 10:30 am. All are welcome to either or both activities. No prerequisite other than an open heart receptive to listening to God in a special way! Please join us and bring a friend!

Neighborhood Gatherings….with clergy continue this month. Look for an invitation in the mail! No agenda, just a time to get to know each other a little better.

Line Dancing….has stopped for the summer. We will start again in the fall.

Avow Hospice…invites you to reflect on the gift of life through music, inspirational readings and a lighting of candles at: “Remembering…” Monday, April 21st at 7 pm at Bower Chapel, Moorings Park, 120 Moorings Park Dr. Naples. Reservations requested for this complimentary memorial service. Please call 280-5987 by April 17th.

The Shelter for Abused Women and Children… presents the program “Elder Abuse Hurts Us All” on Tuesday, April 22nd from 10:00 – 11:30 am. at the Collier County Library , Naples Branch, 650 Central Ave. To register call Patti at 643-0136.

St. Paul’s reaches out:
Habitat For Humanity…. Please join us for an interesting morning working at Habitat For Humanity, a group of parishioners volunteer the second Saturday (8 am -12 pm) of each month at the East Naples HFH building site. Call Les Pitcher 353-2196 for details.

Gas-powered Weed Whacker…the church is looking for a donation of a gas-powered weed whacker. If you have one that you would like to donate, please call the office at 643-0197.

Collier Harvest…the annual Letter Carrier’s food Drive; this year is scheduled for Saturday, May 10th. Residents of Naples and Marco Island may place any canned food donation by their mailboxes between now and the 10th of May. Letter carriers will pick up any donations. You may also leave donations of the postal branches throughout the area.

Birthdays…... Lee and Lew Vaughn (4/14), Mark Johnston (4/14) David Entner (4/15), Robert Anderson (4/16), Ruthann Olthoff (4/16) Robert Bair (4/17) Bonnie Matlack (4/19) and anniversaries, Phyllis and Frank DiFonzo (4/14), and Elinor and James Skinner (4/18).

Blessings to our Seasonal Members going north again….we will miss you!

Next Week’s readings….Acts 7:55-60, Psalm 31:1-5,15-16, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14.