The Epistle
St. Paul’s Anglican Church
Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin
The Anglican Church in North America
February, 2017
“If Only You Knew”
For the past couple of months, the Wednesday night
class has been studying C.S. Lewis’ classic Mere
Christianity. In the next-to-the-last chapter of the
book, Lewis wrote, “What can you ever really know
of other people’s souls – of their temptations, their
opportunities, their struggles?”
These are profound words which were written as an
encouragement for us to examine our own lives
rather than judge others, especially those who are
strangers to us.
In reading these words, I was reminded of a book I
read at the beginning of my ministry, and which I
have read a couple of times since then. In the book –
The Bush Still Burns – the author, who was a
college professor and chaplain, noted that his
students almost always lacked confidence in their
abilities, even though they were quite accomplished.
Even the ones who received the highest grades
would tell him of their intellectual and personal
inadequacies, leading him to observe, “They were
saying, ‘If you only knew what I’m really like.’ ”
Parish Luncheon Set for
Monday, February 6
The Anglican Church Women of St. Paul’s Church
are hosting a luncheon for members of the parish
and their guests at 11:45 on Monday, February 6.
Fr. James will be the guest speaker.
Cost is $10. Reservations need to be made with
Maggie King, or with the church office.
Well, the author did know what they were really
like, because he had been like them. Moreover,
these students, desiring to be authentic, wanted to
be known for who they really were, so the author
learned directly from them about their temptations,
their opportunities, and their struggles, to use
Lewis’ words.
As it turned out, the students usually did not know
themselves well enough, because they were more
conscientious and more capable than they gave
themselves credit for. And the author tried to help
them come to realize that truth, because that would
allow them to grow even more into the person God
designed and desired them to be.
Perhaps we, ourselves, can learn from this. We can
help others know their true worth, and they can help
us know ours, even as each of us deals with the
temptations, opportunities and struggles that are a
part of everyone’s life.
Diocesan Youth Retreat
February 24-26
The Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin is offering a
retreat for students in grades 6-12 at St. Paul’s
Church the weekend of February 24-26.
Cost is $40. Registrations are available in the
church office and are due back by Monday,
February 13.
Page 2 ] February, 2017
St. Paul’s Anglican Church
120 North Hall Street
Visalia, CA 93291
Church Office: 559-732-4821
Rivera Hall: 559-732-4822
[email protected]
facebook.com/spvisalia
SPVisalia.com
Office Hours
Monday-Thursday 8:00 to 4:00
Fridays 8:00 to 1:00
Communion Services
Sundays at 8:00 and 10:30 AM
Wednesdays at 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM
Clergy and Staff
The Rev. Richard I. James, Rector
The Rev. Paul Gibbons, Curate
Linda Smith, Parish Secretary
Antoinette Horsting, Bookkeeper
Ellen Daniels, Music Director
William Johnson, Organist
Cindy Sanders, Bell Choir Director
Tiffany Connors, Childcare Director
Michael Nagle, Sexton
Members of the Vestry
2018
Amy Cave, Wendy Johns,
Kevin Robinson
2019
Steve Carstens, Dave Francis,
Pat Hodde, Judy Ramirez
2020
Franco Bernardi, Lydia Castaneda,
Jorge Rodriguez
Delegates to Diocesan Convention
Betty Blackmon, Lydia Castaneda,
Jim Doe, Wendy Johns,
Janet Robinson, Kim Robinson
February Coffee Hour Volunteers
Thanks go to the following volunteers who are hosting the parish’s
Coffee Hours during January.
5
8:00 AM
Anne MacDonald
Pam Hubbard
10:30 AM
Becky Doe
Betty Blackmon
12
Dave & Catherine Francis
Don & Peggy Buchanan
Amy Gunn
19
Maureen Martin
Greg & L’eon Romanazzi
Norris & Lorraine McElroy
26
Jorge & Baleria Rodriguez
Randy & Didi Hammond
Additional help is needed for this special ministry, so anyone able
to help, is asked to call Paula Lucero at 625-9646 or Anne
MacDonald at 734-5419.
Friendship & Fellowship
Saturday, February 25
St. Paul’s Church is having an informal gathering for adults on
Saturday, February 25, beginning at 6:30 PM.
The gathering will be at the home of Kevin and Janet Robinson.
For directions or answers to questions, please call Kevin or Janet.
This gathering is for long-time members and newcomers alike.
And visitors and guests are welcome, too!
Those who attend are invited to bring an appetizer to
share with others and their favorite beverage for
themselves. Coffee and dessert will be provided.
St. Paul’s Anglican Church – Working to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.
January, 2017 ] Page 3
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Tuesday, February 28
6:00 to 7:00 PM
Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday.
The unusual name comes from an Old English word
related to confessing one’s sins, the importance of
which is emphasized throughout the whole season
of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday.
The tradition of having a pancake supper relates to
the practice of fasting – the fatty foods that will be
given up during the Lenten fast are used up since in
older times they would spoil before the end of Lent.
This practice of consuming fatty foods on Shrove
Tuesday gives the day a more colloquial name – Fat
Tuesday. Of course, sometimes more than just fatty
foods are consumed, as witnessed by the wild
celebrations held in New Orleans and many other
places!
While nothing wild will be going on at St. Paul’s,
parishioners are nonetheless invited to share good
food and fellowship by coming to the annual Shrove
Tuesday Pancake Supper in Rivera Hall on
Tuesday, February 28. Food will be served between
6:00 and 7:00 PM.
Cost is $6, with a maximum of $20 per family.
Children 5 and under are free. Proceeds will be used
for youth ministry.
Thank You!
Dear St. Paul Friends,
Thank you so much for your prayers, love and
support during Terry’s illness.
A special thanks to those who helped with the
funeral and special thanks to the many who gave
cookies for the reception.
You were all a blessing in a time of need. Many
thanks to Father James, Father Paul, Kashi, Bill,
Don, and Jack.
Love and Prayers
Rozz Kaiser
From the Parish Records
Baptisms
Anthony Charles Abela
Confirmations
Joel Haas
Baleria Rodriguez
Jorge Rodriguez (received into the Church)
Deaths
Maria Torres – Alex Torres’ mother
Altar Flowers Ministry
Grief Recovery Group
Additional volunteers are being sought to help make
small floral arrangements from the altar flowers,
following the 10:30 service each week. These
arrangements are then distributed to those who are
in the hospital or shut-in at home.
St. Paul’s grief recovery group meets each month at
Kashy Rowland-Smith’s home, 2743 W. Harvard
Avenue.
Volunteers would serve about once every four to six
weeks. No special skills are required. Interested
persons are asked to contact the church office.
The next meeting will be at 11:00 AM on Tuesday,
February, 14.
Newcomers are always welcome, and additional
information is available by calling Kashy.
Page 4 ] February, 2017
Tulare County CROP Walk News
by Cindy Sanders
Hello everyone! Tulare County CROP Hunger Walk
is coming soon and I hope you will join us. I will
give you all of the details about our walk in a
moment, but I wanted to give you a few details
about the CROP Hunger Walk first.
According to the CROP Hunger Walk website
(www.crophungerwalk.org), “CROP Hunger Walks
are community-wide events sponsored by Church
World Service and organized by local congregations
or groups to raise funds to end hunger at home and
around the world.”
Here in Visalia, 25% of our donations are given to
FoodLink of Tulare County to be used to fight
hunger in Tulare County. Last year, we raised
$6,122 in our Tulare County CROP Hunger Walk. I
pray that God will bless our walk this year. Our goal
is to raise $7,500.
I know that some of you may not be able to walk,
but everyone can help by supporting the walkers and
donating if you can. This year, every walker who
raises at least $150 in online (or recorded online)
donations by two weeks before the walk will receive
a special edition CROP Walk t-shirt.
Here are the details you need to know:
What: Tulare County CROP Hunger Walk
When: Saturday, March 11, 2017
Time: Register 8:30 AM Walk 9:00 AM
Where: St Paul’s Anglican Church
How long is the walk?
4.3 miles for long walk.
1.2 miles for a short walk.
How do I participate online?
1. Log on to: www.crophungerwalk.org
2. Search: Tulare County CROP Hunger Walk
3. At the bottom of the page, look for St Paul’s
Anglican Church team.
4. Click: Join team!
5. Make sure you register your own information so
that donations can be logged in for you.
6. If you are a member of another group and you
want to start your own team, you also have the
option to do that on that page.
If you need any more information, call me. Also, I
will have an information table in Rivera Hall during
Coffee Hour. There will be envelopes for checks if
someone prefers to donate in person rather than
online.
From An Essay on Criticism by Alexander Pope, 1711
The Bookful Blockhead, ignorantly read,
With Loads of Learned Lumber in his Head,
With his own Tongue still edifies his Ears,
And always List’ning to Himself appears.
All Books he reads, and all he reads assails,
From Dryden’s Fables down to Durfey’s Tales.
With him, most Authors steal their Works, or buy;
Garth did not write his own Dispensary.
Name a new Play, and he’s the Poet’s Friend,
Nay show’d his Faults – but when wou’d Poets
mend?
No Place so Sacred from such Fops is barr’d,
Nor is Paul’s Church more safe than Paul’s
Church-yard:
Nay, fly to Altars; there they’ll talk you dead;
For Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread.
St. Paul’s Anglican Church – Working to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.
January, 2017 ] Page 5
St. Paul’s Anglican Church – Working to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.