Tenebrae: Service of Shadows

The St. Paul's Youth Group will be offering a unique incarnation of the Tenebrae Service this March 23rd (6pm).
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.
This service is a collection of excerpts and prayers from the devotional book Common Prayer for Ordinary Radicals by Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, and Enuma Okoro, as well as a selection of quotes and readings curated by our young people over our time together. 
We hope you will practice a devoted Holy week by dedicating yourself to deeper and more frequent communal worship.

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!

Late Fall Yg!

Nov 4	Game Day	Mystery Day
11	CinemaSport: Rudy!!	Might Run Late
13-15	New Beginnings: Live	6-8th Grade Diocesan Youth Gathering in Coeur d Alene
18	Crash Course	Tools, part 2
25	No yG: Turkey Week
Dec 2	Project Nick and Lucy Prep	Get ready for the celebration of Nick and Lucy
Dec 6	Celebration of Nick and Lucy	915 am Campbell Hall
Dec 9	Cinema Sport: the Blind Side	Go Rebels!  Might run long.
Dec 16	Holiday Party	Where oh where?? TBA

Nick and Lucy 2015!

Once upon a time, in a land far far away there was a bishop whose generosity was so legendary that his spirit is beloved across the globe.  Around the same time was a young woman who in terrible times was led out in the darkest night to share food with the poor and the persecuted.  Nicholas of Myra and Lucia of Syracuse both heard the call of Christ to live with joy and abundance. 

All people and all ages are invited to a special visitation of saints, sharing of food and preparing of stealthy gifts.  Continuing the pattern of last year we will offer the Celebration of Nick and Lucy during the formation time (9.15a) on December 6th  (No Adult Forum, No Under Empire, No Godly Play).  This will include symbolic foods and prayers and rituals.  It will also include a chance for everyone to help prepare a TAKE HOME PAK, an outreach project that embodies the spirit of Nicholas and Lucy.

We need folks to prepare and bring the following treats:

• Cinnamon Rolls 
• Quiches

We need donations of the following TAKE HOME PAK items:

• Granola Bars
• Dried Fruit
• Cracker Sandwiches
• Oatmeal Packages
• Juice Boxes
• Meat Jerky's
• Gallon Size Zip bags

Finally,  individually wrapped sweets, especially

• Chocolate Coins
• Orange candies

ADVENT Adult Formation: The Gifts of Imperfection

Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are. Choosing authenticity means cultivating the courage to be imperfect, to set boundaries, and to allow ourselves to be vulnerable; exercising the compassion that comes from knowing that we are all made of strength and struggle; and nurturing the connection and sense of belonging that can only happen when we believe that we are enough.

Brene Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

For many of us around St. Paul's it is already an Advent kind of time.  Not so much in the calendar of the church year, but in that period of strange expectation, dark unknowing and glittering hope.  We are looking back on the recent years with celebration and with concern; we are staring out into a future that is always in motion.  We are being called to reset our expectations of ourselves and of each other as we seek the noble beauty of lifelong Christian practice.  CS Lewis once suggested that there is no up or down, only out and in.  This Advent can we peel back the barriers that keep us from going further out, and further in?


We are inviting the whole congregation to an Advent & Christmas reading of 'The Gifts of Imperfection' by sociologist and storyteller (and Episcopalian) Dr. Brene Brown.  If you don't know her, a quick internet search will reveal the most popular TED talk, multiple animated expressions of her important work, conversations with Oprah and several bestsellers.  Our Advent book choice is available digitally for download, in audio versions, and in hard copies.  It was a bestseller, so second hand copies should be easy to find.  Furthermore BOOK AND GAME has 10 copies reserved for us.

This will be casually discussed at the Adult Forum on the 29th, 13th and 20th of December and on the 3rd of January.  If you have never joined in a forum, this might be the right time to do so.  Even if you are unavailable during the forum time (thank you choir members), perhaps reading this book can be your Advent commitment.  Create a sacred space for the gifts of imperfection this winter.

To the right is a word list.  A word a day list for your reflection, writing, creativity, focus or quoting.  A word a day from the book, a word a day to last you from the first day of Advent till the Epiphany.  We offer this because the traditional season of Christmas is a full 12 days.  The world may throw the tree to the curb, but we have more to do in our Christmas journeys.  
 

Fall Youth Group Schedule

The time is upon us again, TBTG!  We once more can be AWESOME.

We are funny and dorky and playful.  We are smart and friendly and faithful.   We strive to be awesome and honest.

We are gamers and players and readers and singers..we are young and we gather on Wednesday evenings at St. Paul's (Birch and Catherine, WW).

Date	What	Details
Sept 9	Wild Water Games!	Wear clothes that can get wet!
16	CinemaSport: Rudy	A ‘watch the whole movie’ evening...so we might run a tad bit late.
23	Crash Course	Humane Society
30	Project Serve	Take Home Paks and Cleaning out the Coats for Kids closet.
Oct 4	St. Francis Blessing of the Animals	1pm on the Lawn
Oct 7	Game Day	Human Chess
Oct 10	Scholarship Dinner: All Youth and Families are Needed to Help Serve the Meal	5pm to Learn How To Serve Tables Professionally
Oct 14	Crash Course*	King of Instruments
Oct 16-18	SPOKES: Youth Presence at Convention	Senior High Teens are eligible to help make our Diocesan Convention flow smoothly
21	CinemaSport: Remember the Titans	Might run late!
28	Project Serve	tba
Nov 4	Game Day	Mystery game day
11	CinemaSport: Bend it Like Beckham	Might Run Late
13-15	New Beginnings: Live	6-8th Grade Diocesan Youth Gathering in Coeur d Alene
18	Crash Course*	Tools, part 2
25	No yG: Turkey Week

Open to any and all compassionate 6-12th graders, we make no exceptions for what you think, or wear, or your heritage or your identities.  We begin with food, then we work together to clean up from dinner.  After which our activity or guest or topic of the night is explored.  When we have time there is free time for games, and we always end with check in and liturgical night prayer. 

Folks are welcome to come early and hang around to do homework or help with the tasks of the church. We always need families and friends to offer dinner for our yG crew.  Please sign up online at this link.  We are also looking for volunteer assistant leaders and chaperon's (age 19 and up). 

Generally yG follows this pattern:

• Dinner
• Clean Up
• Topic
• Free Time
• Night Prayer