The Tempestuous Demands of a Loving God

This coming Sunday we will celebrate the Holy Trinity. This is a date that is given over to conceived doctrine. Normally, that would be a tension for me because I believe that there is a lot of doctrine that we would be better without!

But the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity is not one of those. I believe that in this doctrine we are really in touch with a deeper Divine truth.

The Trinity is simply how we try to talk about our multiple and diverse experiences of God at work in our world and our lives.

But suddenly we are faced with a huge challenge. As soon as we begin to talk about our experiences of God, we very quickly realize that mere words are not sufficient to the cause. 

More than that, we find we experience God in so many different ways that it ultimately seems impossible to capture a definitive description; it is a day when we should merely surrender ourselves to the fact there is a fullness to God that is, in the end, indescribable.  

The Holy Trinity reminds us that though we seek to domesticate God and simplify the demands of Jesus upon our lives, keeping our relationship with God’s rich, Triune life at a firm distance leads us down a pallid and dangerously mundane rabbit hole; a place where we tame these demands and build a delusion of safety around our relationship with God.

In creating this false intellectual barrier, we insulate ourselves from the flames of fire that might dance over our heads calling us into risk and radical acts of love, justice and grace. 

A true experience of God can change us forever, knock us for a loop and make us question everything we know.

I know this as a FACT! In my own life I sought to keep my relationship with God tame and controllable, substituting multiple acts of participation in my parishes multiple and varied ministries as risk and Gospel. But this was a denial of the Spirit’s wild and demanding claim on my life--I kept it safely at a distance. I cannot tell you how hard I worked at keeping my potential call to ordained ministry at a distance—safely enclosed in a prison of denial and myriad good works.

But, in the end I was no match for the power of the Holy Trinity; God’s demand upon my life became so insistent and all-consuming that I could no longer ignore it and despite my best efforts to run a thousand miles in the opposite direction, my life was thrown into chaos, demand, and risk as I was quickly packed off to seminary, leaving behind a business I had had poured my whole soul into behind me as if it had meant nothing—when for years it had meant everything!

I learned first-hand and in startling three-dimensional reality what happens when we allow ourselves the crushing vulnerability of experiencing such an encounter with the fullness of God. This encounter feels scary, but that is precisely when we get caught up in this wonderful dance with God’s amazing grace.

I think that there is a part in all of us that seeks to keep our faith predictable and tame. But if you look at those who have let themselves flow fully into God’s life, we can see that there is absolutely nothing predictable or sane about such a life.

There is something particularly poignant in Jesus’ understanding that these men and women who follow him were about to be chest deep in what it really means to experience the full force of God’s love---as well as the full force of the world’s rejection of that same love. 

Jesus may have some particular insight to our need for control; he seems to know that part of us that seeks desperately to hang on to what is familiar and safe. 

He sees that we seek safety in our ability to keep our distance from things we don’t understand or events in our life and world that ask us to make complex moral responses that are not black and white.

This kind of experience of God calls us into a whole new messy and demanding place. And this is where we meet the tempestuous reality of our Triune God. Once our eyes are opened and we begin to see the world through God’s eyes we become like stumbling infants trying to find our way in a world that suddenly looks very different.

Once we are caught up in the turbulent, all-encompassing life of God we can’t escape our need to seek forgiveness, or our need to forgive those who have hurt us. We find ourselves wanting to tear down barriers we once held sacred, and we become absolutely ravenous for God’s justice for ALL…ALL.

There is nothing that is predictable and tame about life and faith once our triune God moves out of our minds and into our hearts. 

The pull is there for all of us, the divine spark within calls us to see and acknowledge the divine that is everywhere—we can resist and often do, but our lives suffer as a result.

God wants us to be able to feel the world’s pain and sorrow and hear an insistent demand that begs our response. And, at the same time God wants us to trust joy and hope in a dangerous world.  Who wants such a life?

I hope and pray that we all do.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit! 

Mother Stephanie 

Town Hall Summary

Thank you so much to all of you who came out to give voice to your cares, concerns, excitement, and hopefulness about our potential partnership with Hospitality House. It was a full and energetic discussion with multiple points of view shared.

Chief among the concerns voiced was how the property would be maintained at its current level (referring to its outside appearance as the inside is currently in very poor condition), what condition would the property be in when it comes back to us, and what guidelines will govern the use of the house for the three year commitment—how much “say” do we have in who lives there and what is our recourse should we feel a disruption in our parish life by the activities in the home—for example the question of pets and parking.

Chief among the excitement and desire to make this partnership was that it will serve a very pressing and urgent need in our community for transitional housing for those who are temporarily unsheltered—something we stated as a primary goal in our initial Town Hall. Having the house fully renovated for the participation cost of $20,000 was also very high in people’s comments, stating the bonus that at the end of our three-year commitment we receive a building upgraded in a layout that will make it much easier to use it for future St. Paul’s ministry. In addition, it was stated as a big bonus that this partnership is with an outreach agency in our community with 40 years of experience and knowledge and who promises to be responsive to any on-going concerns.

We ask your prayers as we make this decision and again, we are so thankful for the wide range of comments you were willing to share. Your Rector and Vestry pledge to you that whatever decision is ultimately made we will be together and behind it; filled with unity of purpose and generous in grace—and we ask you to do the same whichever position of thoughts you hold. This is Jesus’ call to us, and this parish is aching for a chance to heal old wounds and demonstrate that we are, at our core, a people of love, forgiveness, vitality, and hope.

TRANSITIONS!

It is that time of the year when many significant transitions are taking place in the lives of our children, youth, and young adults as they journey (inextricably) into adulthood.

We want to hear about what is happening in the lives of those in our faith community on this exciting journey!

Please notify Mother Stephanie at rector@stpaulwilkesboro.org with your transitional highlights: Moving from elementary to middle school--let us hear about that.... celebrating an award or achievement? We want to know! Accepted into your preferred university or graduate program--let us celebrate with you. We want to join with you in these milestones.

Graduations, transitions, achievements and awards as this academic season ends--we want to hear about all of that!

We hope to publish these milestones in our E-news (with permission) and we will recognize these achievements in the course of our Sunday worship.

We are so proud of all of all of you!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Upcoming Service

May 26th, 2024

The First Sunday after Pentecost

8:30 in the Chapel

10:30 in the Church

Helping Those in Crisis:

Summer Clothing Needed!

Our Crisis Assistance Clothing Ministry is in need of the following items:

• Men’s clothing, shorts and shirts, sizes L & XL

• Ladies clothing for summer, especially sizes L & XL

• Shoes, all sizes welcome

Items for donation can be dropped off at the church office, or Ruth Harris can be contacted for assistance at 336-984-9690.

An Empty Pantry

THE NEED IS STILL GREAT

Your offerings have been coming in and we are so grateful for your response!

The need before us, however, is even greater. Please bring your items and dry goods to our services each Sunday or drop them off at the office through the week. You are always generous and highly responsive so I know we can anticipate an overflow of offerings.

LOOKING FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS IN SUNDAY WORSHIP

PLEASE REMEMBERR TO BRING YOUR DOANATIONS EVERY SUNDAY

The photo above is not staged for effect, this has been the state our Little Food Pantry on multiple occasions over the last few months AND IT CONTINUES TO BE SO.

A faithful group of parishioners work hard to keep this pantry full, but it takes all of us to fill this Pantry, day by day, week by week, month by month so that we can help all of those in our community who are increasingly suffering from food insecurity.

It may not seem like much, but I have on several occasions been present as members of our wider community came to this as a resource for their next meal.

I am inviting all of you to bring can goods, peanut butter, and other food items to worship with you every Sunday.



We will collect your offering in a basket in the Commons and bring them to the altar for blessing as we present our oblations to God. And your offerings will flow right back out into our community, through the Little Pantry, filling this desperate need.

I know your generosity and your desire to make a difference--thank you in advance to your overwhelmingly abundant response to this important need,

Mother Stephanie

Praying for our Soldiers

The month of May is Military Appreciation Month. As we continue to pray that all wars may cease and that we beat our swords into plowshares, we want to continue to prayerfully support those in uniform.

To that end, we would like to send a note or card to all of the military members on our prayer list.

If you are the family of a military member that is on our prayer list, or if you know of a military member that would enjoy a card, please send their complete mailing address to office@stpaulwilkesboro.org.

SLEEPING MATS



KEEP THOSE PLASTIC BAGS COMING

As of the end of March, the goal for 2024 is 26.3% complete!

March:

Completed - 19

Distributed - 18

YTD:

Completed - 60

Distributed - 59

Goal:

224 total in 2024

Please keep those grocery bags coming. The collection box is in the Commons.

OUTSIDE THESE WALLS

The Seniors on Stage will present their spring concert on Friday, May 31st, at 7:00 in the Wilkes Heritage Museum. 

The concert includes a great variety of music including pieces such as Can’t Help Falling in Love, Love Me Tender, Kokomo and Unchained Melody. 

Several members of St. Paul’s Choir sing with this group. Come and enjoy some delightful music! You will leave with a smile on your face!

Our Sewing Bee crochets and distributes over 200 bedrolls a year to organizations in the area that support the homeless population. For a tax deductible, charitable donation of at least $250, one of these themed, limited-edition bedrolls and a hand crocheted ASU football can be yours!

Each bedroll is approximately 500 plastic grocery bags offering a cushion and moisture barrier, while being light weight and easy to clean. The repurposed plastic is also a benefit to the environment. 

Add to your sports memorabilia or to your camping gear while helping the homeless population with your tax deductible donation of at least $250. Make your check payable to the Hospitality House located in Boone. Text 336-927-0911 or email tanyashire@aol.com for further information on how this most unique gift can be yours. 

Thank you for your generous support. 

Scripture for Upcoming Sunday Service

May 26th, 2024

The First Sunday after Pentecost

Trinity Sunday

The First Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8  

The Response: Psalm 29

The Second Reading: Romans 8:12-17

The Gospel: John 3:1-17

Processional Hymn: #362 Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!

Sequence Hymn: #366 (stanzas 1,2, and 4) Holy God, we praise thy Name

Recessional Hymn: #401 (stanzas 1-3) The God of Abraham Praise

The First Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8 

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

the whole earth is full of his glory.”

The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”

The Response: Psalm 29

Afferte Domino

Ascribe to the Lord, you gods, *

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his Name; *

worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;

the God of glory thunders; *

the Lord is upon the mighty waters.

The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice; *

the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendor.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; *

the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;

He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, *

and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.

The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire;

the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; *

the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe *

and strips the forests bare.

And in the temple of the Lord *

all are crying, "Glory!"

The Lord sits enthroned above the flood; *

the Lord sits enthroned as King for evermore.

The Lord shall give strength to his people; *

the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.

The Second Reading:  Romans 8:12-17

So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ-- if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

The Gospel: John 3:1-17

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?

No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Please remember in your prayers: All who are ill or unemployed and those who are on our prayer list.

Short-term

Rebecca Carroll, Samuel Reid-Richards, William Graham, Pat Bumgarner, Dick Sloop, Jeff Crutchfield

Long-term

Bev Cook, Beckie Mullins, Chris Privette, Ridley Martin and Family, Dennis Johnson, Jacqui Quick, Craig Freas, Emily Asel, Hannah Gray, Mary Iva Gray, Don Dorsten, Aletha Johnson, Hannah Everson, Mike Orlando, Steve Jackson, Ryan Marlow, Dot Beamon, Ken Asel, Julius Parks & Family

Armed Forces

Let us pray for the safety of all our troops, especially John Craine, Micha Duerk, Faith Lankford, Cole Griffith, Zach Necessary, Jason Westmeyer, and all others who serve throughout the world.

Please send to the church office the addresses of troops with connections to

office@stpaulwilkesboro.org, especially those abroad.

Prayer Requests

Prayer requests can be made by emailing the office at office@stpaulwilkesboro.org, or, by calling the office during regular office hours. The office is open Monday - Thursday from 8:00 to 3:30.

Prayer requests can also be made via our website by clicking here https://stpaulwilkesboro.org/prayer-lists, or using the following steps; access stpaulwilkesboro.org, then click on the "Ministries" tab, then click on the "Prayer Lists" tab.

Bulletins are printed on Thursday mornings and requests submitted after that time will not be in the printed bulletin for that week, but they may still be spoken. 

Prayer requests received by noon on Wednesday will be included in the weekly e-newsletter.

Serving in

May





May 24th - Carl Yale

May 24th - Luke Sturdivant

May 25th - Karen Shupe

May 25th - Brookelyn Hall

May 28th - Denise Sturdivant

May 28th- Jane Will

May 29th - Ridge Barton

May 28th - Stephen & Jennifer Nardini

The May/June/July issue of Forward Day by Day is now available in the

 Parish Office and the Commons.