Episcopal Handbook: LIVE!

LIVE FROM WALLA WALLA: The Episcopal Handbook. 

Bishop Jim at Convention with some of the SPOKES Team

Perhaps sometimes and in some places called an Inquirers class, sometimes Episcopal 101.  This is a chance to learn more about the blessings and challenges of our unique tradition and practices. 

We will make a quick survey of many topics that newcomers and experienced friends have questions about: Prayerbook, Scriptural Approach, Liturgy, History, Practices and Expectations of mature Christian church membership.  It is truly for any adult friend who wants to know this tradition more completely. 

It is also a 'flipped' classroom, where much of the content is pursued independently and class time is focused on community and dialogue.  Some of the independent content is in the handbook, some of it will be in online videos and other pieces will be in online articles (which can be printed for you). Yes, independent content is also sometimes called homework!

This is the class for any adult (High School and older) who is interested in Confirmation, Baptism, Reception or Re-Affirmation.  Confirmation has a complicated and varied history, however in general we see it as an adult affirmation of the faith promised at Baptism.  Many of the adults who are confirmed in the Episcopal church were Baptized in another Christian tradition.  Reception is fairly similar in intention, however it both does not repeat an earlier confirmation, or is the way we formally make a member of a friend who was Baptized and Confirmed in other Christian traditions. A person can also choose to reaffirm, as many of us have. 

This class is open to adults and high school teens, and is an adult learning experience.  We begin confirmation in Senior High because it is by this age that our young friends are ready to invest in a mature learning approach.  There are no tests or quizzes, just people seeking a deeper understanding of the Episcopal Christian tradition and how to nurture our discipleship in this special way of being Church.

In the Episcopal Church is is Bishop's who Confirm and Receive and Reaffirm, and Bishop Waggoner will be making his final pastoral visit with us on April 17th.  This is also an day for Baptisms (the others this spring being Easter and Pentecost).  These classes will be meeting once a week from February 8th through April 11th.  The first meeting will be at 7pm, however we can discuss the timing at the first meeting.  Please contact the office to reserve your spot!

Under Empire: Star Wars Rebels, Bonhoeffer and Exile

When I was very young I went to Army base daycare after school.  About once a week they would show us current movie clips.  This was a long time ago so these clips were actual film, on a reel to reel machine that made noises while it played. 

When I was older I realized there was a battle theme to all the scenes; they must have been sent to be shown to servicemen and women, and then were passed down to the daycare.  The scenes I recall were the race scene from 'The Love Bug', the duel scene from 'The Sword and the Stone', and the battle scene where the Millennium Falcon escapes the Death Star in the original 'Star Wars: A New Hope'.  This is to say that my Star Wars universe saturation began at its earliest possible point.

One night last year I was looking for something new but easy, comforting but fresh.  So I chose to check out the new animated series, Star Wars Rebels.  The music is familiar, the ships and uniforms of the Empire are recognizable, a style much closer to the original trilogy than the more recent experiment.  This is aimed at young people; but it doesn't take more than the first 20 minutes to discover that the driving question it seeks to answer is why is there a Rebellion at all.  What is so dreadfully wrong about the functioning of Empire and what are people of conscience to do about it? 

I do not know if the faith based social justice allusions are intentional, but they are impossible to miss.  With names like Zeb, Ezra and Kanan (said like the biblical region), or Sabine (frequent name for early Christian saints) and dialogue that could be copied from Scripture, I do have to wonder. Maybe the force is with us. 

So the Sunday morning youth formation class is going to dive in.  We are going to leap into the series and into the Biblical Exile, and into the life and witness of 20th century martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  It will be fun and faithful, serious and silly, and hopefully challenging.  Even if you could care less about that galaxy far, far away, if you care about this one, then make a point to gather for UNDER EMPIRE on Sunday mornings at 915, starting September 13.

While certainly the 'youth' class, we will be issuing false 'youth' credentials to interested adults.  As much as I understand the desire for age based groupings, we learn and grow in the faith better through the sharing of multiple generations.  Our youngest friends need the witness and relationship of more than just the youth leader.  So, those of you who feel the force, contact the Rebel leader for your credentials. 

Under Empire will meet most Sunday mornings this fall, downstairs at 915am.  

• We need donations of frozen or refrigerated breakfast treats (like toaster strudels and cinnamon rolls) to fill cold morning tummies.  
• We can also benefit from the gift of various Star Wars paraphernalia, like posters and pencils and action figures and especially more Lego minifigures.
• We could use some better quality art materials like fancy drawing pencils and paper.
• Lastly, Keurig Hot Chocolates and Teas and Ciders never go wasted.  Our young friends don't usually choose the coffees.

Advice for the Parents of Graduates

The transition from home life to beyond home life can be a trying one for parents.  This May we

would like to offer our friends who are sending young ones out into the world a collection of advice. 

What good news do you have?
What do you wish you had known?

Please write your offering in the comment section below. 

This will be collected and curated into a small booklet (and kept alive here online) to be given to them on May 17 (Senior Celebration).

I haven't done this (parenting thing) so I need you to make it happen!

Ash Wednesday Prayer Centers

The practice of repentance and confession isn't just for adults.  Even young children can name things they do and say that keep them from being who they are supposed to be.  Beginning the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday practices is an ancient practice that has nurtured Christian formation for over a thousand years.   However, we also know that family schedules are difficult to negotiate.   So in 2015, on February 18th we will offer several self guided Ash Wednesday prayer stations. 

These centers/stations will include:

• the Burning of Sins, 
• Ashes to Go
• Biblical Story and
• Weaving of prayers.  

These stations are come-and-go as you need, they do not need to be encountered in any particular order, and they do not require the ability to read.  That said they are meaningful for people of all ages.  The prayer stations will be open after school until just before the evening liturgy.

Ash Wednesday Youth & Family Prayer Stations
3-6.30pm                     18 February 2015

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
303 Catherine Street Walla Walla, Washington
www.stpaulsww.org

Amazing Lives: Godly Play Fall Schedule

Godly Play is a method we use for our 'Sunday School' at St. Paul's.  Godly Play is rooted in Montessori principles and is focused on helping young people grow in their relationship with God and learn the spiritual practices of the church.  

Our Godly Play class is open to all 3-year-olds through 5th graders.  It meets beginning at 9.15 am on Sundays.

This fall we will be focusing our explorations on some of the amazing lives of the Christian tradition: Biblical figures such as Joseph and Ruth, and historical holy men and women such as Patrick of Ireland and Teresa of Calcutta.  

Godly Play "shows children how to create meaning with wondering questions arising from the Christian language system. The parables are especially useful to stimulate the creative process, but the sacred stories and the liturgical action lessons are also needed to provide a place of safety to explore from and return to. Contemplative silence celebrates the wholeness of the relationship with God, which is more than language can articulate."

Berryman, Jerome W. 
Teaching Godly Play: How to Mentor the Spiritual Development of Children

Sept 7	No Class Yet….Ice Cream Social After the 10.30a Liturgy
14	The Great Family
21	Abraham
28	Sarah
Oct 5	Joseph
12	Jonah
19	No Sunday School due to Convention
26	Patrick
Nov 2	Julian
9	Teresa of Calcutta
16	Apostles
23	(TBA)…Advent Architects after the 10.30a Liturgy
30	Advent
Dec 7	Isaiah
14	Ruth
21	Mary
28	No Sunday School due to Winter Break

DEDICATED: the New St. Paul's T-Shirt

T-Shirt Fundraiser 2014

Help send Mary and Micah to the Episcopal Youth Event this summer by donating for your exciting new St. Paul's 'dedicated' t-shirt.
These make lovely gifts for family and friends.  You need more than one! 

The shirts feature the latitude and longitude of Walla Walla (the place where we are dedicated to serving all people in Christ's name) and our historic role in the area, serving here since 1864.  What a wonderful way to remember our 150th anniversary. 

Shirts are PREORDER so that we do not waste funds on shirts that go unused.  We will print what is ordered.

To pre-order your shirts please email JAG, call the office or visit with Jane or Mary or Micah after services. Sizes are Toddler sizes as needed, Youth S-L, Unisex S-XL.  If we have at least a dozen requests for women's cut shirts we can make those as well.

Donations for the shirts start at $25.  Larger donations to support the EYE trip are also welcomed.  

• If you would like to donate for a stash of shirts to give to new babies, newcomers and guests, please let JAG know.

 Last day for orders is Easter Day, April 20th!!


Thanks to local friend Boe Designs for the hard work on the shirts.

Tenebrae..Service of Shadows: 6pm April 16th

The St. Paul's Youth Group will be offering a unique incarnation of the Tenebrae Service this April. 

Tenebrae means shadows, and the Tenebrae service begins with light and ends in near darkness.  This is a contemplative service that will be comfortable for a wide audience.

Our Tenebrae service will feature the instrumental music of our youth while wandering through excerpts and prayers from the devotional book Common Prayer for Ordinary Radicals by Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, and Enuma Okoro.  

Yg Fingerpainting Project

We are beginning what will be a long process of evolving lower hall.  Eventually we hope to have it painted and furnished. 

For now we begin with a finger painting art project. 

If you know of a boy scout troop or other folks who need a service project...let Jag know!

Yg Winter Schedule

Yg Winter Schedule.....

8 Jan	Project Paint	Art on the Wall
15	Painting Mugs and Carnegie
22	Whedon Wednesday	Jaynestown and Browncoats?
29*	Project Play Zone	Build a cardboard play-zone  (Jag gone)
5 Feb	Crash Course: Stitches	Can you fit thru the eye of a needle?
12	Whedon Wednesday	Shepherd Book Shiny enough?
19	Crash Course: Kitchen	What shall we cook?
22 Feb	Senior High Overnight	Nerdfighter Special
26	Game Day: Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii	Wiiiiiiii
4 March	Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner	Yum.  Be here by 4.15p..Youth and parents!
5 March	No Yg – Ash Wednesday
12	Whedon Wednesday	Is your library over a hellmouth?
19	Crash Course: TBD
22 March	Middle High Overnight	Hmmm.
26	Whedon Wednesday	Sunnydale High

Download a pdf!