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St Paul's Journal

Halifax, Nova Scotia Advent 1998

An Important Announcement from the Parish Council

On October 19 Parish Council unanimously approved a motion to issue invitations for architectural firms to make proposals to solve our ongoing space needs. It was agreed that any design should meet the following criteria:

· maximize our potential for spiritual development and community outreach;

· maximize our opportunities for worship and celebration as a Christian community;

· integrate into the existing church buildings and enhance their historical presence and material value;

· meet the physical space needs as described which have been discussed and developed at congregational meetings; and

· meet our support system needs and priorities (washrooms, kitchen, etc.).

In addition the council stipulated that such a project be implemented within a responsible fiscal framework.

The motion is the result of a year-long process of consultation and discussion involving nearly a hundred parishioners. In response, the following space needs have been identified:

· a multi-purpose area, integrated into our present facilities, of approximately 3,250 square feet. Some of the activities this would serve are: seating/dining capacity for 150 persons; six Sunday School class areas; a reception and social area to allow and encourage the mingling of members before, between and after services without disruption to worship; choir practice and changing areas; meeting space for

youth and evening events; and with the potential to accommodate future outreach ministries;

· support facilities adjacent to this area would include: kitchen facilities; a multi-use storage area; adequate janitorial space; and accessible washrooms; and

· reconfigured and expanded use of existing space to provide an approximately 1,100-square-foot area available for: permanent archival display and storage; a reception area for visitors; and administrative office space for secretarial, full- and part-time staff.

The development of such a design will be an enormous challenge, but also holds tremendous potential. When we look at how to accommodate our present and future activities we will be thinking creatively, as did our predecessors. We will be looking at all our buildings, including the church building, as potential resources to develop the ministries which God has entrusted to us. Here's how we plan to proceed over the next few months:

· Technical space needs information has been developed. The needs have been organized with a view to using the space available as efficiently as possible.

· Professional engineering firms have been engaged to examine the structural properties of the present church buildings to alert designers to any problem areas. (We expect that architectural firms will be able to use this information to provide basic design options.)

Please see next page.

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Important announcement
(continued)

Wardens' Corner

Patrick Hartling

As this Journal article is being initiated, we are just past the 1st of November and the annual celebration of All Saints Day. This year, there have been thirteen funerals for St Paul's parishioners. Their departure have left a gap in our community, and in the lives of their families and friends. There also are one reminder of the importance of the upcoming season of Christmas; and of our celebration of the birth of Christ.

The 250th Anniversary Committee has continued their planning for the upcoming year, the 250th details of the calendar are included in this issue. We are also including information on some of the opportunities for volunteering to support the celebration.

As is the practice, a Nominating Committee has been formed. This year we will be seeking a Treasurer (to replace Scott Ellison, who has served for over four years), an Envelope Secretary (to replace Len Hannon who has served faithfully in this capacity since 1981), as well as members of Parish Council.

To date, the fall has seen several small groups, a reading club, a ceremony for celebration of New Ministries (followed by an enjoyable reception), the Hymn Sing on November 15. We look forward to the Friday evening Feast of the King, Advent and Christmas.

May this letter find you in health and peace.

· We are preparing documentation required to solicit proposals from interested architectural firms.

· These findings are to be brought to parish council in the new year and once we receive some proposals which designers feel could accommodate these needs, the plans will be made available for your input and suggestions, with further congregational consultation.

In the meantime, we would appreciate and encourage your questions and comments on what has been proposed thus far. Please pass them along to the wardens or to parish council members, either in person or in writing.

We also ask for your continued prayers for this entire undertaking, that we may truly work together to grow as the family of God, enhance our outreach to the city around us and discern the ways and means for this to happen.

The Search Committee

Whatever this group now achieves
In responding to all of your prayers,
Now we've broken the sequence of Steves
We're delighted we've given you Eayrs!

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From the Rector

John Newton

By the time you receive this issue of St Paul's Journal, we will have embarked on an adventure. It is no coincidence that the words "Advent" and "adventure" come from the same root. Both of them mean, "Something is about to happen," that we are standing on the edge of something exciting.

An adventure in the past

The season of Advent reminds us of an adventure which took place in the past. It tells us of the long centuries over which the people of Israel waited for a Saviour. That adventure led Abraham to move to a far away land on which he had never before set his eyes. It led Moses to stand before the most powerful man in the world and demand, "Let my people go!" It led King Solomon to build a temple atop Mount Zion, to which people from every nation might flow to worship the Lord.

The progress was not always easyfar from it! There were mutinies from within and attacks from without: the golden calf, David's adultery and the rebellion of Absalom, and the destruction of Jerusalem with its citizens being led off into captivity in Babylon. At times they came close to losing all hope. Yet somehow it managed to survive: the expectation that God would rescue his people, that he would accomplish his purposes for them.

No one was entirely sure how this would happen. God had given glimpses through the prophets: "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse and the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him" "But you, O Bethlehem, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel" "To us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will

be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace"

An adventure in the future

So it was, that on a starry night in Bethlehem, on the bank of the Jordan, at the Galilean seaside, in an upper room and beneath a blood-stained figure on a cross, there were a few who recognized the signs, who saw in Jesus of Nazareth the one who God had sent to rescue the world.

Jesus has come, but the adventure is far from over. The rescue has begun, but it will only be complete when Jesus comes again as he has promised. In the most amazing turn-around in history, he conquered the power of sin, evil and death through his own defeat on the cross. And he has promised that he will come again to claim that victory, so that we and all creation may share in the beauty for which God intended it from the very beginning of time.

For me that is something worth waiting for, but there is more to the adventure still.

An adventure now

Between his first coming and his second, Jesus comes to us today and invites us to join in the adventure with him. For the first disciples the prospect held such excitement that they were prepared to leave everything to follow him. One of them wrote,

Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing

Continued on next page

page St Paul's Journal

From the Rector
(continued)

Mary Said Yes

Gretchen Gillis

The Lord said, "Mary, I'm calling:
Will you listen, do you hear me?
Will you trust me, believe me?
Will you obey me?"
And Mary said, "Yes, Lord, I will."

The Lord said, "Mary, I'm seeking:
Will you be as a wife to me?
Will you bear my Son,
Love and care for my Son,
The Holy One who is to come?"
And Mary said, "Yes, Lord, I will."

The Lord said, "Mary, I'm asking:
Will you take Joseph, my chosen one,
As husband for you,
That together you two may bring up
my Son
In the warmth of your love and family life;
Will you become Joseph's good,
faithful wife?"
And Mary said, "Yes, Lord, I will."

The Lord said, "Mary! Mary and Joseph,
rejoice!
Now my Son is your son! Rejoice, rejoice!
Creation is singing,
Angels are bringing good news of his birth
To shepherds and kings!
Rejoice, all the earth!"

"Mary," the Lord said, softly, tenderly,
gently,
"Will you pray for my Son,
Jesus my Son?
And when the time comes
Will you let my Son go...?"

And Mary said, softly, sadly, tenderly,
gently,
"Yes, Lord, I will."

in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

I hope that the season of Advent may mean more for us than carol services and Christmas shopping. May it be an opportunity for us to embark on the life-long adventure of following Jesus.

Rector's Christmas Appeal

We are receiving a steady flow of requests for assistance over the Christmas season. It is our custom to issue grocery vouchers from the Discretionary Fund together with presents for both children and adults. Gifts may be purchased by taking one of the tags from the tree at the back of the church and then buying an appropriate gift for the person whose name appears on it. Donations to the Discretionary Fund should be placed in an envelope clearly marked "Christmas Assistance". In order to facilitate delivery all donations, whether of gifts or of money, should be received by Sunday, 13 December. We are also looking for volunteers to deliver the parcels on Saturday, 19 December. Last year we were able to assist 120 needy people in 42 households.

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From the Associate Rector

Jonathan Eayrs

Reading/Discussion Group

By the time this is in your hands the newly-formed Reading/Discussion group will have finished their first novel (David Guterson's Snow Falling on Cedars) and be looking ahead to their next choice. In addition to our book discussions we are planning to view the occasional video together. Watch the weekly bulletin for dates and book/video titles. Interested? Do come and join us! Thanks go out to Barbara and Don Patton for hosting our first gathering.

Bridging the "Mobility Gap"

For many of us, being able to meet with others for worship is a matter of choice. The real challenge we face is exercising this freedom of choice in the face of all our other possibilities. The mobility most of us enjoy (and do not even notice) can take us off in any number of directionsall of them away from our church.

However, for other members of St Paul's the challenge is not exercising their choice to come to worship, but rather having a choice at all. Because, for a variety of reasons, the mobility we take for granted. The result is loss of contact with friends in the fellowship of their spiritual community. Membership in the church becomes something referred to in the past tense. Though they still believe, they may not feel any longer that they belong.

We want to bridge this "mobility gap" by linking those who have the time, interest and ability with those who require transportation to attend public worship.

You can be one of these links by volunteering to drive those able to attend, or by being a congregational companion to those

who are unable to go out. This companionship might take many forms, such as sending the occasional card and keeping that person informed of happenings at the church. Those we partner with can be encouraged to become "alongsiders" ­ making use of a simple guide kit produced by the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer. This programme recognizes the reality that those whom we might consider in need of our ministry can offer their own ministry of intercession and prayer for others.

We would like to begin building these links within our congregation in time for the next fellowship meal planned to follow the Wednesday service on December 16 at 11a.m. This will be hosted by the Jubilee Unit in the Memorial Room.

If you have the time and interest in providing transportation or would like to act as a congregational companion, would you let me know? You can leave word with Marina at the church office. And if you would like to attend, but need a lift, please let me know in the same way. A good gathering on December 16 will be an encouragement to try it again in the New Year.

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Niatirb

C.S. Lewis

This reflection, originally written in 1954, was quoted in a sermon at Christmas time last year. It aroused such interest at the time we thought we'd reprint it.

In the middle of winter when fogs and rains most abound they have a great festival which they call Exmas, and for fifty days they prepare for it in the fashion I shall describe.

First of all, every citizen is obliged to send to each of his friends and relations a square piece of hard paper stamped with a picture, which in their speech is called an Exmas card. But the pictures represent birds sitting on branches, or trees with a dark green prickly leaf, or else men in such garments as the Niatirbians believe that their ancestors wore two hundred years ago riding in coaches such as their ancestors used or houses with snow on their roofs. And the Niatirbians are unwilling to say what these pictures have to do with the festival, guarding (as I suppose) some sacred mystery. And because all men must send these cards, the market place is filled with the crowd of those buying them, so that there is great labour and weariness.

But having bought as many as they suppose to be sufficient, they return to their houses and find there the like cards which others have sent to them. And when they find cards from any to whom they also have sent cards, they throw them away and give thanks to the gods that this labour is at least over for another year. But when they find

cards from any to whom they have not sent, then they beat their breasts and wail and utter curses against the sender; and, having sufficiently lamented their misfortune, they put on their boots again and go out into the fog and rain and buy a card for him also. And let this account suffice about Exmas-cards.

They also send gifts to one another, suffering the same things about the gifts as about the cards, or even worse. For every citizen has to guess the value of the gifts which every friend will send to him so that he may send one of equal value, whether he can afford it or not. And they buy as gifts for one another such things as no man ever bought for himself. For the sellers, understanding the custom, put forth all kinds of trumpery; and whatever, being useless and ridiculous, they have been unable to sell throughout the year they now sell as an Exmas gift. And though the Niatirbians profess themselves to lack sufficient necessary things, such as metal, leather, wood and paper, yet an incredible quantity of these things is wasted every year, being made into gifts.

And the sellers of gifts no less than the purchasers become pale and weary, because of the crowds and the fog, so that any man who came into a Niatirbian city at this season would think some great public calamity had fallen in Niatirb. This fifty days of preparation is called the Exmas Rush.

But when the day of the festival comes,

Advent 1998 page

then most of the citizens, being exhausted with the Rush, lie in bed till noon. But in the evening they eat five times as much supper as on other days and, crowning themselves with crowns of paper, they become intoxicated. And on the day after Exmas they are very grave, being internally disordered by the supper and the drinking and reckoning how much they have spent on gifts and on the way.

Such, then, are their customs about the Exmas. But the few among the Niatirbians have also a festival, separate and to themselves, called Crissmas, which is on the same day as Exmas. And those who keep Crissmas, doing the opposite to the majority of Niatirbians, rise early on that day with shining faces and go before sunrise to certain temples where they partake of a sacred feast. And in most of the temples they set out images of a fair woman with a new-born child on her knees and certain animals and shepherds adoring the child.

But I myself conversed with a priest in one of these temples and asked him why they kept Crissmas on the same day as Exmas; for it appeared to me inconvenient. But the priest replied, It is not lawful, O

Stranger, for us to change the date of Crissmas, but would that Zeus would put it into the minds of the Niatirbians to keep Exmas at some other time or not keep it at all. For Exmas and the Rush detract the minds even of the few from sacred things. And we indeed are glad that men should make merry at Crissmas; but in Exmas there is no merriment left. And when I asked him why they endured the Rush, he replied, It is, O Stranger, a racket; using (as I suppose) the words of some oracle and speaking unintelligibly to me (for a racket is an instrument which the barbarians use in a game called tennis).

But what Hecatæus says, that Exmas and Crissmas are the same, is not credible. For first the pictures which are stamped on the Exmas cards have nothing to do with the sacred story which the priests tell about Crissmas. And secondly, the most part of the Niatirbians, not believing the religion of the few, nevertheless send the gifts and cards and participate in the Rush and drink, wearing paper caps. But it is not likely that men, even being barbarians, should suffer so many and great things in honour of a god they do not believe in. And now, enough about Niatirb.

Between our shelves

Here are some new titles that have come into the parish library in the Memorial Room in recent weeks:

Rediscovering Church by Lynne and Bill Hybels

The Wisdom of Each Other by Eugene H. Peterson

Disarming the Darkness by Calvin Miller

Whole Prayer by Walter Wangerin Jr

Where's a Good Church by Donald C. Posterski & Irwin Barrer

Church: Why Bother? by Philip Yancey

Black Man's Religion by Glenn Usry and Craig Keener

Grace Abounding by John Bunyan

A Grace Disguised by Gerald Sittser

The Protestant Face of Anglicanism by Paul F.M. Zahl (reviewed by Bishop Peter Mason in the Anglican Journal)

page St Paul's Journal

Children's Ministries

Jane Turcot

We celebrated my birthday this morning and all the children were excited to give me the gifts they had picked out and wrapped, just for me. It's a rare moment when they are all so intent on giving and lovingan attitude we as parents work at and hope to see grow over time into a way of living life. It took work to organize that moment for me. Peter had to take the time to shop with the boys, guide their purchases, talk up the occasion and so on. It didn't just happen.

The way I see it, one of the things Leonard and I can do on Sunday mornings is to provide parents with more tools to work with to create more of those loving and giving moments. This week in Children's Church, for example, we featured a friend we have in KenyaMoses Asila. He is the child our Sunday school has sponsored since he began school three years ago. Moses is now in grade four, an average student at Ebusiralo Primary School. He speaks Kiswahili and lives in a largely Christian community outside Kisumu, a city on the shores of Lake Victoria. It is a largely hilly farming community.

Moses is a good correspondent and tells us he helps his father by caring for goats and cattle, helping to grow their crops of corn, beans and vegetables, and helping his mother in their home. He has six siblings, so there is likely a great deal to do in that home. Moses' favourite school subjects are Kiswahili and English. Last year he underwent a special ceremony of circumcision.

So what are our children doing for Moses Asila? For one thing, their Sunday school offerings in the most part pay for his sponsorship. That provides his school fees, including some practical training in typing, mechanics and tailoring. He attends Bible lessons on Saturday and four times a year

receives a medical check-up and care if needed. He is given soap and toothpaste to promote good hygiene. In the summer, Moses wrote to thank us for last year's Christmas gift. He says, "I thank-you for the gift you sent me.. I was given Kenya shillings 766.80 and I bought five plates and five bowls. The balance of the money, I bought food for Christmas. God bless you very much."

But what else are our children giving him? Opportunity for the future. A sense that someone "out there" cares. A real evidence to him and his family that God loves them. He writes, "I send you warm greetings from me here trusting that you are fine in the name of Jesus Christ. I, together with my family, we are all right. God loves us very much and we are very grateful." Our relationship with Moses is one more real opportunity to develop an attitude of caring and giving we all want in our children. And it happens all year long. So take time to find out about him. Add him to your family's list of people to pray for. Talk him up to your children. When you give them their Sunday school offering, remember with them who it is for. Be reminded of what we have to give, and like Moses be prepared to say, "God loves us very much and we are grateful."

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Youth Ministries

Leonard Bednar

Youth Ministries: Begin where you are. Be who you are.

It has been a productive season within the children's ministries. I feel that Jane Turcot and I have worked purposefully to maintain the authenticity of the program which we have inherited and to meet the kids and their adults where they are. In patient and gentle means, we have begun to imprint our own gifts on the community which gathers to worship and fellowship at St Paul's.

Children's Church

I am happy to say that Children's Church is going very well this season with the involvement of all the children, volunteer leaders and parents. We meet on the second Sunday of the month at 9:15, in the Parish House. We have a time of worship, teaching, prayer and fellowship. We also make time for a unique craft, after which we join the adult congregation for the communion meal. On all other Sundays we gather in the church, staying for the children's talk, and then moving to the Parish House. We gather together as one assembly on these Sundays for about 10 minutes in order to give the children consistency with Children's Church and a regular opportunity for worship and to learn songs. It is my hope that the children will learn to vision themselves as part of a whole community, worshipping together. We are also conscious as leaders of the need to groom the children towards common worship with the adults. So our Children's liturgy has a recognizable parallel format to the liturgy celebrated in the main body of the church. I look forward to the time when our physical space witnesses to our oneness in the body of Christ with the whole community of St Paul's.

Youth Group

The Youth Group continues its tradition of meeting every second weekend and every Sunday morning during Sunday school. On All Saints' Day (the day after All Hallows' Eve/ Hallowe'en) we met at the home of Justine Hart (daughter of Mary Lynch and Tom Hart) where we made plaster masks of each other's faceswhat a sight! In December, we will miss one of our usual meeting times (Boxing Day) but we have been invited by two other youth groups to meet on Friday night, December 4th, at Arnold Hall (just behind Kentucky Fried Chicken on Quinpool Road), it should be a great time. Our last youth group meeting for 1998 will be Saturday, December 12th. Our first meeting in 1999 will be Saturday, January 9th.

Young Adults

Keep your Tuesday nights open if you can. I have heard from more than one person under 30 that they would like to get a group together, and after talking ideas over with some of them, we are starting a weekly gathering on Tuesday nights around 8:00p.m. Our first meeting will be Tuesday, December 1st (the first Tuesday in Advent), at the home of Rebecca and Leonard Bednar. Bring your Bible and your singing voice, we will open with some songs, discuss a Bible study format, and close with prayer. We will meet every Tuesday night except December 29, and we'll begin again in January on the 5th. There is momentum for a cottage retreat in mid-February, just in time for Lent, and a willingness for other extras each term if you have suggestions, let us know.

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Prophets Of Advent

Fiona Day

Ezekiel

I, Ezekiel, have spoke with God.
Four wondrous creatures round him trod,
Four creatures,
each four faces on their crest
That looked both North and South,
both East and West.
T'ward God the visage human was,
Behind, a mighty eagle faced its foes,
To left and right did bull and lion pose.
Four wings had each,
full flared and finely feathered,
And round their feet
four rolling wheels were tethered
With eyes that saw all thing.
Lord God, to me,
from out the heavens spoke
Hear mortal man!
My people have my laws all broke.
Now into bondage shall I lead them in
That steepèd are in wickedness and sin.
Yet to their succour, they that be my sheep,
A Shepherd shall I send, my flock to keep.
Yea! I thy Sovereign Lord
shall shepherd up my sheep;
If one be lost, then shall I naught of sleep
Until the lost be found,
and in the fold doth keep;
Good Shepherd shall I be to ye, my sheep.

Micah

Oh Israel, thy people gone astray
Art lost from out God's promised way,
To thee I bring this promised hope
That on thy people, God bespoke,
Salvation shall he send.
Thou Bethlehem in Judah's land
Shalt honoured be at God's command,
For born in thee shall be a boy
That to all earth shall give great joy,
A son of David's line.

Outreach and Mission

Sandra MacLennan

This long-standing committee of St Paul's Church has seen its numbers decrease this year. June and Tom Sellers resigned from the committee after many years of contribution. We really miss them but look forward to working with them in other areas within the church community.

The death of long-time member Lionel Temple-Hill left us all saddened. Lionel was our liaison with the Missions to Seamen, a mission that he was very close to and where he volunteered for a number of years. He kept us well informed of their ministry. We will remember Lionel.

Please see next column.

A word of thanks

Phyllis Redman is recovering slowlyfrom her heart problems, but was able to enjoy her 90th birthday. Many thanks for all the love and caring she received.

Advent 1998 page

The role of the committee is important and far-reaching with projects within the church and as far off as Thailand and Ukraineall of them interesting and worthy of our commitment.

In October we wrote to all 20 groups for which we allot funds asking for information on current and future activities. We use this information to prepare our allocations for 1999. We will keep you posted of our allocations in future Journals.

Our funds come from a percentage of the yearly offering and 50% of the Summer Fair profits. We would like to know what the members of the congregation are interested in. If you have outreach projects that you

feel should be considered, please let us know as we would be pleased to discuss this with you.

As you can see, we must add at least three new members to the committee. We meet once a month except for July and August. Each member acts as liaison with one of sponsored groups. This is not a difficult task and is always interesting. If you feel you would like to be involved, please speak with myself or the clergy or call the church office.

In the meantime, we ask your prayers for the committee as we work to make important decisions for 1999.

God's Promise Fulfilled

Denise G. McKay

It seems to be a failing in humans everywhere,
At some point, break a promise, though when made, was most sincere.
People say things rashly too, spreading things they've heard,
Not always checking out the facts, or truth in every word.
But in the earliest of years, the prophets would be heard
Proclaiming boldly what God said, truth in every word,
Because there had been messengers God sent out in those days,
To tell the prophets what to preach about man's sinful ways;
And the news of the Messiah, God's beloved holy Son,
Who would one day in future come to earth, this Holy One.
And then it finally happened, in a humble, quiet way,
God's only Son, Christ Jesus, was born on Christmas Day.
Fulfillment of God's promise to a world corrupt in sin,
That Messiah was indeed God's Word, in flesh, now entered in
The world, as then men knew it, and came to teach them love,
Of forgiveness and salvation, through him, to God above.
The Bible's full of promises that Christ has made to all
Who truly do believe in him, and answer to his call.

Written and composed with God's help.

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us"

(John 1:14, King James Version)

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Emmanuel (God With Us)

Denise G. McKay

Everywhere throughout the world Christians make it plain,
That the basis of their faith is: Christ died, he rose, he'll come again.
But the world is full of people who disbelieve it's true,
Who still look for Messiah, specially so, the Jew.
God told his prophets years before Christ ever came to earth,
About a virgin whom he'd choose for this miraculous birth,
Yet in spite of all the 'signs' come true foretelling this event,
Millions scoff at such a tale, how a saviour would be sent
In the form of a human baby, (and born in a manger stall,
Among some soiled and smelly straw, animals and all!)
But angels, shepherds, wise men, prophets, and Jesus' parents too,
All used by God, had vouched for this as absolutely true.
The authors of the Bible, inspired long ago
By the Holy Spirit's guidance, also claimed that this was so.
Millions through the centuries, whose belief and faith was strong
Acknowledging Christ as come to earth, surely can't be wrong
About his life among the ones he taught and spoke to them,
Years after his miraculous birth, until his death by men.
Many a century has come and gone since the grave was our Lord's prison,
Until he overcame his death and gloriously was risen.
And after all these many years Christians still proclaim,
That God sent Christ, his Son to Earth, and Emmanuel is his name.

Written and composed with God's help.

"and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is,
God with us." ( Matthew 1:23, King James Version)

Have You Got

The Sunday school could use donations such as:

· a guitar

· yogurt empty cups

· styrofoam trays

· sand table

· puppets

· display bookcase

The Sunday school could use the help of a volunteer woodworker or cabinet maker. Please call the church office if you can help.

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Reflections on a Broken World

Leo Frade

Bishop of Honduras

"The waters closed over my head, and I thought I was about to be cut off. I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: 'Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.'" Lamentations 3:54-56

The Lost Ship

Even after living through two weeks of Mitch and its aftermath and seeing all the horror and misery, nothing has brought it all home to me as has the news which I received yesterday afternoon. We are not sure what happened to it yet. Phantome, a 4-masted tourist schooner full of tourists enjoying the beautiful Caribbean Sea was missing. It was just another sad piece of news related to the hurricane. Well, until we got the news that a young man named Jesus, a member of our church in Omoa was among the missing in the ship. His wife and two young children don't think anymore that he was so lucky in finding such a nice job. He was my archdeacon's acolyte when he served in that area, he had been like a father to him and now he was gone into the depths of the beautiful Caribbean Sea. Another victim of the storm and not just a piece of new in a far away place.Suddenly the tragedy that the people around me have been living became mine as well.

You Are The Only Ones!

We have heard it a lot in recent days. The need is so great that there are many communities that still have to be helped. We work day and night to reach them before it is too late. Volunteers young and old labour hard to fill the trash bags with food. They gather in the cathedral and the diocesan office making such a horrible mess that makes my hard glad. Every one of those bags will mean

that somebody will eat tonight!

The story is the same when the volunteers come back covered with mud but with a beautiful smile, like the ones you get when you get to feed Jesus, when you give water to our Lord, when you get to clothe our God. "You are the only ones that have helped us, we were getting desperate, thank you, thank you!" That's what they are saying when we come with help. I am sure that eventually the government and other more professional agencies will reach them in due time. We were there but you were there also. You were there feeding our Lord because you made it possible for us to have the means to do it.

The Amphibian Invasion

It's plan for tomorrow, early like all efficient operations. The trucks are already loaded with food and the tanks are full with diesel. This time we are going to try by land and by sea.We have failed for two days by air. The Honduran Army didn't make it all the way and decided to drop the food in another community before turning back.

I can understand why. Corinto is as far as you can go until you get to Guatemala. I always enjoy when they count the offering in there. I love seeing when they separate the Lempiras from the Quetzales. It's one of my international congregations so far away from the center of both countries. We have received some messages from them. They are hungry, they need help.

This time tomorrow I should know if our amphibian invasion will work. They will drive the truck for about 2= hours, cross about 14 rivers some of them with bridges and then go by boat to Corinto. They will

Continued on next page.

page St Paul's Journal

Reflections on a broken world
(continued from previous page)

Local Devastation

We have still not been able to communicate fully with our churches in El Paraiso. We know that all of our clergy and lay pastors have survived, but we also know that some of our parishioners have had damaged homes and ruined crops. Beyond Ojo de Agua roads and bridges are washed out so that we cannot get accurate reports on the damages.

The former diocesan office in Comayaguela, the twin city of Tegucigalpa, which most recently has been the office of the El Paraiso deanery, was flooded up to the second floor. We already knew that everything in the building was ruined, including all of the Rev. Roger Hurtubise's personal goods. It is in the area of Comayaguela that is still flooded by the dam which the Choluteca River formed against one of the bridges, so we have still been unable to enter the building. We have been informed, however, that only the front and rear walls of the bulding are still standing and that the end walls are huge holes. It seems that the building itself is a total loss.

In Tegucigalpa people are beginning to return to their homes, which is not necessarily a good idea. Many of these homes are in unstable areas, and more mudslides could occur. Pray that they be kept safe. In San Pedro Sula we have been packing and distributing food to those who need it. We buy the food in bulk and then put it in smaller bags. We then make up family-sized food packages to deliver. Each bag contains 5 lbs rice, 5 lbs red beans, 4 lbs corn flour, 1 lb coffee, 5 lbs sugar, 1 lb spaghetti, 1 can tomato paste, 5 lbs flour, 1 lb shortening, 1 pkg baking powder, 1 pkg salt and 1 bar of soap.

load the food on their backs or by burro and then reach Corinto. They will have to rush though, because they need to get all the way back to where the truck will stay. That's the advantage of being a bishop, I can send my archdeacon, a missionary with the South American Missionary Society, to do this. It's, shall we say, kind of tough. Besides, last time I got in boat to help people I ended in jail, but that is another story! Right now what we need is for you to pray that the food gets to our sisters and brothers in Corinto and that my archdeacon and his crew get back safely.

A Mother's Testimony

Rosa gave her testimony last Sunday. We have a new segment in our service where we let people tell their stories as a form of community therapy. Also we get to find out what great things God has done for us. Several people shared their experience of how God had preserved them and then I saw Rosa getting up and coming to the front. I wondered why. You see, just a few days before we had buried her 21 year-old son. He was electrocuted, as many people have died these days due to the floods. What could she be thankful for?

I began to hear her as she thanked us for making it possible to find a coffin, for being there with her for the funeral, to hold her hand. Yes, he was dead but he knew the Lord, she said. He was now gone but he was with God. It was a simple faith more pure than any faith I could ever have. She was willing to thank God at all times and not just at the good times when good things happen. Even with Hurricane Mitch taking its death toll on her son she could see well that God still reigned.

Conclusion on opposite page.

Advent 1998 page

Reflections on a broken world
(conclusion)

Footnote

We cannot imagine the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch to a people for many of whom extreme poverty and deprivation already was all they knew. Even what little they had has been swept away. The rector has challenged our congregation to give $10,000 ($100 per active household) towards the relief efforts. This is not a large amount for most of us, but it can make a big difference in Central America. Please mark your donation "Hurricane Mitch Relief" and we will ensure that the amount is forwarded as quickly as possible. To date, through the generosity of a few, approximately $2,500 has been received.

Thank you for sharing with us in our pain and our hopeand tolerating my stories. But remember we still need your help in the form of contributions and prayers. Honduras continues suffering and its digging itself from the rubble. Please help us.

Come, Let Us Worship Him

Denise G. McKay

Let us worship God our Father for sending us his Son,
We'll bow down and accept this babe, as God's true Holy One.

Let us worship him, this baby, for what he's come to do,
To live and dwell among us, and our spirit to renew.

Let us grow like baby Jesus, with God foremost in our mind,
Maturing in our thinking, learning ways of being kind.

Let us follow in your footsteps, Jesus, bright and Morning Star,
Reaching out where needed, useful, as a light beam near or far.

Let us live a life abundant, learning more to be like you,
Trusting God in prayer for wisdom, searching out his will to do.

Let us thank our heavenly Father for the gift of Christ his Son,
Who would be our key to heaven, if we'd accept this Holy One.

Come, let us all adore him, baby Jesus, born today,
Thank you, holy Father God, for sending him our way.

Thank you, Father, for your love, your willingness to come
To earth to dwell among us, in the person of your Son.

Written and composed with God's help.

"...for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."
(Matthew 2:2, King James Version)

page St Paul's Journal

Christmas Services
at St Paul's Church
1998

Advent 4:
Sunday, 20 December

8:00 a.m. Holy Communion

9:15 a.m. Morning Prayer
with Sunday School
musical presentation

11:00 a.m. Holy Communion

7:00 p.m. Candlelight Service of Lessons & Carols

Wednesday, 23 December

11:00 a.m. Holy Communion

Christmas Eve

4:00 p.m. Children's Service
7:00 p.m. Holy Communion
11:00 p.m. Midnight Communion

Christmas Day

8:00 a.m. Holy Communion
10:00 a.m. Family Communion

Christmas 1:
Sunday, 27 December

8:00 a.m. Holy Communion
9:15 a.m. Holy Communion
11:00 a.m. Morning Prayer

Wednesday, 30 December

11:00 a.m. Holy Communion

New Year's Day 1999

11:00 a.m. Holy Communion

If you know of any who, because of illness or infirmity, are unable to be present for any the Christmas services, please call the church office and the clergy will be happy to celebrate Holy Communion with them in their homes. Thank you!

St Paul's Journal is published by

St Paul's Church

1749 Argyle Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3K4

Telephone: (902) 429-2240
Facsimile: (902) 429-8230
E-mail: stpauls@chebucto.ns.ca
Home Page:
www.chebucto.ns.ca/Religion/StPauls

The Rev. John Newton, Rector
The Rev. Jonathan Eayrs
Associate Rector

Mr Patrick Hartling, Senior Warden
Mrs Jane Bureau, Junior Warden
Mr Bill Day, Deputy Warden


Mr Paul Hutten, Director of
Music Ministries
Mr Leonard Bednar & Mrs Jane Turcot
Directors of Youth & Children's Ministries
Ms Marina Chapoval
Parish Administrative Secretary

Submissions to St Paul's Journal are always welcome. The deadline for the next issue is 15 January 1999.

Apology

For the first time in many, many years we have received more contributions than we were able to print. Because of space limitations, we have included only materials written by St Paul's parishioners or with immediate application to our parish life. A sincere thank you to those who took the time to submit articles. We'll try to do better next time!