Parish Life

Birthdays Dr. Warren Wacker, Elior Zaremba and Lucy Sewall .

Readings and Hymns

Hymn 401, The God of Abraham praise; 598 Lord Christ, when first thou cam'st to earth  Lessons: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35.

Our beloved sexton of 28 years, David Murray, announced this week that he plans to retire from his position of sexton at St. Paul’s.  His last day with us will be Sunday, March 14^th.  We will celebrate David’s many contributions to the life of St. Paul’s with a luncheon buffet at 1:00 p.m. on that day. Please join us in thanking David and wishing him Godspeed.

 Adult Education

Beginning TODAY the Rev. Gordon Schultz will lead a discussion on Paul, the Apostle. Discussions are @ 9:00 a.m. in the Lichtenberger Room each Sunday in Lent.  Coffee is provided.

Ministries Outside the Parish Speakers

MATCH-UP Interfaith Volunteers is one of the local charities that M.O.P. has supported for several years.  At coffee hour, Jeannie Martin, their "Strong for Life" Coordinator and their Congregational Outreach Coordinator, will talk about MATCH-UP's mission to help ease the epidemic of loneliness in Boston and Brookline by providing the gift of friendship. She will discuss how MATCH-UP, which is changing its name to ‘Friendship Works’ on March 1, connects isolated older adults and people with disabilities for weekly visits with friendly visitor volunteers; it's medical escort program, and its PetPals program bringing pets (dogs and cats) into nursing homes. This 15 minute presentation will be followed by questions and  discussion.

Steering Committee for Children and Youth

We are forming a group to discuss our ministry to and with children and youth at St. Paul’s.  Our first meeting is today at 11:30 in Jeff’s office.  If you are interested in participating in the group, please contact Jeff ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 617-566-4953).

Information on the Nicene Creed

Beginning this Lent, we will be saying the Nicene Creed recommended by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church.  Background and history of the Creed can be found on the table by the Aspinwall Ave. door.

Lenten Friday House Church

We will discuss chapters from the book “The Last Week:  What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Final Days in Jerusalem” by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan.  All interested may attend any or every Friday, may read the book ahead or join in the discussion and fellowship without having read the book.  Childcare will be provided.  The House Church is at 6:30 at the following locations: February the Brue/Fried home, March 5 the Estes-Smargiassi home, March 12 at the Kelley home, March 19 at Jim Margolis’ home, and March 26 at the Star/Coggeshall home. RSVP to Bev at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Lenten Booklet Available

We have put together a booklet, “Observing Lent at St. Paul’s.”  It includes information about the calendar of events for Lent.  Copies are available in the back of the church and on the website.

Baptisms at Easter Vigil

The next scheduled date for Baptisms is the Easter Vigil service, Saturday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m.  Baptisms have been celebrated at this service dating to the earliest years of the church.  If you would like to talk more about Baptism with Jeff, please contact him in the church office or by email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Easter Flowers

For those wishing to offer memorials or thanksgivings with Easter lilies and other spring bulbs for the Easter Season, please fill out the enclosed form or email the information to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Suggested donation is $25.00.

THE CALENDAR

February 21, 2010

Birthdays Joan Batchelor, Aiden Cheverie, Kenneth Carter, Jr., and Priscilla Donham.

Readings and Hymns

Eternal Lord of love Hymn  # 149, The glory of these forty days #143 Readings:Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13

Shrove Tuesday Thanks!

Thank you to Molly, Tim, Alan, Arlene and the many youth who offered a terrific Pancake Supper. $125 was raised for the St. Paul’s Honduras Mission trip.  Thanks to all who volunteered and to those who came to eat pancakes and sausage and to celebrate the last night before Lent.

Lenten Booklet Available

We have put together a booklet, “Observing Lent at St. Paul’s.”  It includes information about the calendar of events for Lent.  Copies are available in the back of the church and on the website.

Adult Education

Beginning on 2/28 the Rev. Gordon Schultz will lead a discussion on Paul, the Apostle. Discussions are @ 9:00 a.m. in the Lichtenberger Room.  Coffee is provided.

Ministries Outside the Parish Speakers

Each year St. Paul’s donates 10% of our budget to Ministries Outside the Parish (M.O.P.)  M.O.P. is sponsoring a series of presentations by recipients of MOP donations.  The first speaker, from InterFaith Match Up, will be next Sunday, Feb 28th at 11.15 am in the Great Hall. Do join us. More details about Match Up in next week's bulletin.

Kate Kelley and Clara Batchelor, co-chairs

Baptisms at Easter Vigil

The next scheduled date for Baptisms is the Easter Vigil service, Saturday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m.  Baptisms have been celebrated at this service dating to the earliest years of the church.  If you would like to talk more about Baptism with Jeff, please contact him in the church office or by email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Steering Committee for Children and Youth

We are forming a group to discuss our ministry to and with children and youth at St. Paul’s.  Our first meeting will be Sunday, February 28 at 11:30 in Jeff’s office.  If you are interested in participating in the group, please contact Jeff ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 617-566-4953).

Friday House Church

For several years, the community of St. Paul’s has gathered in parishioners homes on Friday nights during Lent for a simple meal and fellowship.  This year, we will meet on five Fridays in Lent: Feb. 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26, and we will discuss chapters from the book “The Last Week:  What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Final Days in Jerusalem” by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan.  All interested may attend any or every Friday, may read the book ahead or join in the discussion and fellowship without having read the book.  All are welcome to participate as much or as little as schedules allow.   Childcare will be provided. 

Serving Us Today

Celebrant & Preacher                          The Rev. Jeffrey W. Mello

Organist and Choirmaster                   Andrew Clarkson

Acolyte                                                  Pat Dunbar

Lectors                                                   Georgia Smith and Liz DeSelm

Chalice(s)                                              E. Lorraine Baugh and Alan Fried

Healing Prayer                                      Nancy Madden and Jason Fairchild

Ushers                                                   Jim Margolis

Coffee Hour                                          The Gallagher Family

Altar Guild                                             Elizabeth Choi and Viva Fisher

THE CALENDAR

February 14, 2010

NOTE: There will be no Sunday School or Adult education this Sunday because of the Holiday Weekend.

Serving Us Today

Celebrant & Preacher                          The Rev. Richard Downes

Acolyte                                                  Kendall Gray

Lectors                                                   Dixon Bain and Mike Morde

Prayers of the People                          Laura Chasin

Chalice(s)                                              Ken Carter and Masaki Norton

Healing Prayer                                      Steve Morrissey

Ushers                                                   The Carters

Coffee Hour                                          Siena Fried

Altar Guild                                             Lydia Snover and Lisa Zarikian

Hymns and Readings:

Christ upon the mountain peak 129, O for a thousand tongues to sing 493, Go forth for God 347

First Reading: Exodus 34:29-35; Second Reading 2 Corinthinas 3:12-4:2, Holy Gospel Luke 9:28-36

Parish Life

Birthdays Lynn Pittsinger and Leslie Cheverie.

The altar flowers are given in memory of Prof. Parry Moon, Andrew and Lydia Martinson, Leon Horne, and Cho Soon Choi.

Lenten Booklet

We have put together a booklet, “Observing Lent at St. Paul’s.”  It includes information about Lent, changes in our worship, and the calendar of events for Lent.  Copies are available in the back of the church or online.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and Burning of the Palms

February 16 at 6:00 p.m.

Join us on Tuesday, February 16 at 6pm for our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper.  If you're not heading to the Big Easy for Mardi Gras, come feast on pancakes, don mardi gras apparel and enjoy fellowship and revelry before Lent begins!  Ever wonder where the ashes for Ash Wednesday come from?  We'll gather together and burn our palms from Palm Sunday last year.  These burned palms, mixed with spiced oil, become the ashes for our Ash Wednesday service (see announcement about Ash Wednesday for more details). The Pancake Supper is $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12, or $10 per family.  All proceeds will benefit the Honduras Mission Trip.

Lent Starts February 17 with Ash Wednesday

There will be an Ash Wednesday Liturgy at 7:30 p.m. with Imposition of Ashes and Holy Eucharist.  Please join us as we start this reflective season together.

WANTED:  Toilet Paper Rolls!

Please bring your empty toilet paper rolls and deposit them in the box marked "Toilet Paper Rolls" in the vestibule.

The Church School also needs a 9' x 12' rug for one of our Classrooms.

Adult Education

There will be no Sunday School or Adult education next Sunday 2/21.  Instead, everyone is invited to gather in the Great Hall to make the cocoon/butterfly mobile.  Beginning on 2/28 the Rev. Gordon Schultz will lead a discussion on Paul, the Apostle.

Friday House Church

For several years, the community of St. Paul’s has gathered in parishioners homes on Friday nights during Lent for a simple meal and fellowship.  This year, we will meet on five Fridays in Lent: Feb. 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26, and we will discuss chapters from the book “The Last Week:  What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Final Days in Jerusalem” by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan.  All interested may attend any or every Friday, may read the book ahead or join in the discussion and fellowship without having read the book.  All are welcome to participate as much or as little as schedules allow.  Books are available from Jeff for $10.  (If you are ordering online, the ISBN is 978-0-06-087260-1)  Childcare will be provided.  Please watch the weekly announcements for the location of each week's house church.

Thanks from the Devotion School

Twenty-two first grade students at Devotion School in Brookline set a goal to raise $100 by the 100th day of school that they would donate to help the earthquake victims of Haiti.  The students collected returnable bottles and cans, emptied piggy banks, brought in tooth fairy money, went couch diving for change and raised more than twice their goal. Many thanks to the St. Paul's community for their support of my class's efforts to do good for others.  Jillian Starr Coggeshall

Steering Committee for Children and Youth

We are forming a group to discuss our ministry to and with children and youth at St. Paul’s.  Our first meeting will be Sunday, February 28 at 11:30 in Jeff’s office.  If you are interested in participating in the group, please contact Jeff ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 617-566-4953).

Parish Census 2010

We are currently preparing a new Parish Directory. To ensure our information is accurate and as complete as possible, please fill out a blue Household Census Form found in the back of the church or in the office.  They can be returned in the collection plate, by mail, or directly to the Parish Office.