Weekly Newsletter

8:00 am:          Holy Eucharist with Reflection (Chapel)

9:00 am:          Church School (Lower Level)

                       Adult Education: (RE)Introduction to St. Paul's (Great Hall)

                       Mission Sunday: Collection of School Supplies (Middle Room)

                       Confirmation Class (Lichtenberger Room)    

10:00 am         Holy Eucharist with Sermon and Choir and Blessing of the Backpacks (Sanctuary)

11:15 am         Coffee Hour (Courtyard)  

11:30 am         M. O. P. Speaker: Nadia Alawa from NuDay Syria (Lichtenberger Room)   

• Mission Sunday and Blessing of the Backpacks

We will be helping the B-READY after-school program at St Stephens in Boston. We're looking for the following items for their students: 

• 45 pencil boxes (hard plastic cases that fit multiple pencils and glue stick and erasers, etc.
• 45 2-inch three ring binders with a plastic cover to slide a piece of artwork into to personalize the folder

• a few backpacks

• any amounts of construction paper, poster boards, dry erase markers, tissues, hand sanitizer, protractors, pencils, pens, highlighters, loose leaf paper, graph paper, notebooks, glue sticks and regular white glue 

All items will be collected and blessed at the Blessing of the Backpacks this coming Sunday. Students of all ages: please remember to bring your backpacks, briefcases, totes, etc. to church this Sunday for a blessing!

NuDay Syria

Do you know how St. Paul's responded to the crisis in Syria? Please join us this coming Sunday at 11:30am in the Lichtenberger Room when Nadia Alawa, co-founder and president of NuDay Syria, will speak about their work in Syria. NuDay Syria is dedicated to providing humanitarian and development aid to specifically Syrian mothers and children. They also help resettle families with no breadwinners and provide sponsorships to Syrian orphans.

Tuesday, September 19         Vestry Meeting                       7:30 pm (Lichtenberger Room)

Wednesday, September 20    Choir Rehearsal                      7:00 pm (Choir Room)  

Thursday, September 21        Greeters Ministry Cookout       6:30 pm (Rectory)     

Saturday, September 23        Chalice Bearers Training         10:00 am (Sanctuary) 

Each Sunday, adults gather in the Great Hall for 50 minutes of faith formation. The subjects range from history to theology, liturgy to social justice, scripture to contemporary faith stories. All are welcome. Coffee is provided!

September 17 -- (RE)Introduction to St. Paul's. Helpful for newcomers and longtime members alike, we'll discuss an overview of St. Paul's; our leadership, ministries, and exciting plans in the works for the year ahead.

September 24 -- What is a Deacon?  Our new Deacon, the Ven. Pat Zifcak will lead a discussion on the history of the Diaconate and role of the deacon in the Church, and here at St. Paul's.

October 1 -- No Adult Education

October 8 -- Drinking from the Well.  We'll share insights gained at the Parish Retreat for those who were not able to be there, and share resources for ongoing spiritual nourishment in our lives.

Looking ahead --

November 12 -- Hidden Brookline.  During the 9:00 hour we'll discuss the history of slavery in Brookline and our town's role in the underground railroad. After church, we will participate in a walking tour led by Hidden Brookline. Those with mobility challenges can join us in cars and meet us at each stop on the tour.

There will be no yoga class on September 18, as Martha Curtis, our Hatha Yoga Teacher, is on vacation. Class will resume on Monday, September 25 at 7:00 am in the Lichtenberger Room.If you dream of starting your Monday mornings in a calm and peaceful way, please consider joining us! Stretches and yoga postures are designed for all levels...no prior experience with yoga is necessary.  

This is our first week of church school! We will meet downstairs and spend time getting to know each other for our first week together. If you haven't registered your child for church school, there is still time. Please click HERE to fill out the form!  

Blessings, Maggie Taylor

Director of Children and Youth 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Chalice Bearers (a.k.a. Eucharistic Ministers) serve the cup of consecrated wine during Holy Communion at our Sunday Eucharists. On Saturday, September 23, at 10-11:30 am, there will be a Chalice Bearers' training for individuals interested in becoming a Chalice Bearer/Eucharistic Minister here at St. Paul's. We will meet in the church sanctuary. (Current Chalice team members who wish a review are also welcome.) If you are interested in joining this service to St. Paul's, please RSVP to Jill Seiler-Moon, Parish Administrator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Maryann Kurkjian, Chalice Bearers Coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Spiritual Book Group will gather again on Tuesday, September 26 at 7:30pm in the Lichtenberger Room to discuss Bryan Stevenson's "Just Mercy."
Please join us!

Our October selection is "The Book of Joy" by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. We will meet on October 24. Same time and place! 

Every year St.Paul's MOP committee awards grants to approximately 20 non-profit organizations doing GOD's work in very diverse fields from Boston to Guatemala. If there is an organization you would like us to support, then please invite them to apply. Information about the application process and forms can be found on our church website. Our next deadline for applications is September 30. If you have questions please speak to Matshai Motimele or Tim Hintz or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Would you like to donate flowers for the altar in memory of a loved one? We have an opening on October 8. If you are interested, please contact Maureen Carter for details at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

We have two open dates for baptisms at St. Paul's, October 8 and November 5, 2017. If you would like to schedule a baptism, please be in touch with Jill, our parish administrator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or you may call the parish office 617-566-4953.   

Lola Children's Fund

Allie Haley, founder and director, will speak on October 22 at 11:30am in the Lichtenberger Room. The fund provides funding to Lola Children's Home in Mekelle, Ethiopia, a community program for HIV-affected families. The children's home provides residential, day care and outreach services to HIV-affected children, many of whom were left without family or government support after their parents' deaths.

The New Sanctuary movement is active in the Boston area. Undocumented people can seek sanctuary in churches to avoid being deported by immigration officials. This movement largely involves families who are trying to stay together. St Paul's does not have the facilities to house a family. But several other churches do, for example there is a family in sanctuary in Cambridge at this time. The churches that can house families are calling for secular groups and other congregations of all faiths to provide support for them in their efforts. The support varies with the needs of the family but can include grocery shopping, tutoring, or taking kids to school. As well, there is a need for 24/7 presence of volunteers in the sanctuary.

Eliza (when she was here), Kate Kelley, and I have attended some meetings about these issues.

We would like to tell you about what is happening locally in the sanctuary movement. Through education and discussion we can find out if members of St. Paul's want to get involved; either as a community or as individuals.

We are planning some discussion meetings in the fall. Please let us know if you are interested in this effort.

Thanks,

Simon Lejeune This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.      Kate Kelley This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/53S7BLY

Click here to view the server spreadsheet. If you need to make a change, please find someone to swap with and let your ministry leader know so that the server spreadsheet can be updated. 

Memorials, Celebrations, and Prayers

Memorials  We pray especially for Alan Robert Geyer, Corinne Nelson Ransone, Philip Gordon Ransone, Steven Raymond Williams, Robert Pershing Geyer, and Beverly Ransone Geyer, in whose memory the altar flowers are given, and for the repose of the soul of Gretta Taylor Chambers, Madeleine Taylor's aunt, who died this week.

Celebrations  We remember and celebrate the birthdays of Brett Foster, Rebecca Schultzberg, Glen Schultzberg, Torrance Dunbar, Randy Gioia, Alison Biedron, Jim Batchelor, and Heather Flewelling.

Prayers

Maria P., Don S., Linda S., Jennifer L., Felina R., the Children and Staff of Mil Milagros, Gladys J., Tim G., Camille J-F, Debra, Janet R., David F., Kendall G., Ruth R., Paul, Alexander T., Gerke V., Kim L., Lavinia J., Deborah F., Jackie S., Kitty C., Betty K., Alissa P., Jane K., Whitney, Erika, Susan P., Abigail B-L, Laura S., Fran C., Nan C., Allan K., Marilyn G., and those in the military: Lucas S., Hana L., and Jamie C. 

Scripture Readings

Wherever you are on your journey with or toward God, you are welcome and invited at St. Paul's!

Abundant Blessings,

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Brookline