You are invited to join a conversation about "the Irene Experience" at St. Paul's this Sunday, January 12th, from 4:30-6:00, in the fellowship hall – the second of a series of discussions begun in November 2013. Come and hear about this yearlong effort coordinated by the St. Paul's community to provide support and practical assistance to those affected by the flooding. A couple visiting our parish from NY state during this period was awestruck by St Paul’s members’ initiative, noting their community also had serious devastation but there was no such response from their churches.
Was the Irene ministry significant, rewarding, and unforgettable? Definitely! But it is equally true that in the process, God stirred us up, sometimes uncomfortably. Let's sit down together and talk about it. What happened? Share your perspective and hear from others. How did it affect us individually and as a community? What did we learn from this experience that will inform us in our future ministry and mission? How do we continue to respond to God's call to serve our neighbors?
Outreach has long been a high priority for St. Paul's parishioners. Think Upper Valley Haven, Food Shelf, Good Neighbor Health Clinic, Community Dinners, summer lunches, and more. It's crucial to process our experience of the Irene ministry because it will certainly inform and shape our future decisions about outreach. Attached is the outline of the agenda for Sunday's meeting. Please contact any one of us if you have questions.
Look forward to seeing you--
Katy Chaffee, Bev Barton, Cindy Dale, Mark Detzer, Jill Fisher, & Mark Preece