Sword Points

Transforming Lives Through Jesus Christ Sword Points

May 17, 2018 www.SaintPaulsBrookfield.com (203) 775-9587

† May the Spirit Continue to Lead All of Us

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witness. ACTS 1:8

Dear Friends,

lease join us for our Pentecost worship this coming Sunday. In addition to our special musical offerings, we will hear from our seminarian, Steve Nagy, as he shares with us where God is leading him next. P Our coffee hours will give us the opportunity to express our gratitude to Steve for his ministry among these past two years, as well as afford us the opportunity to offer financial support toward his next mission, with a goal he has of raising $8,000 ultimately.

As Steve now takes with him his experience, support and encouragement from his time among us, may the Holy Spirit continue to lead him, and all of us, as witnesses to the Risen Christ.

Blessings,

he spirit of truth will guide you,” “T Jesus tells his followers. As faithful disciples of Christ, do we ask for and follow the Spirit’s guidance in our day-to-day interactions?

† Hopeline Baby Bottle Campaign

he Hopeline Baby Bottle Campaign has begun. T Hopeline is a Christian-based ministry supporting women during unplanned pregnancies. In addition to material assistance for the care of the newborn, such as cribs, clothing, diapers, and other supplies, Hopeline offers counseling, support, and ultrasounds performed on newly pregnant women by an Ob-Gyn trained physician. They offer post- abortion counseling to women of any age. St. Paul’s supports Hopeline through its annual “Change for Change” Baby Bottle Fundraiser. There are baby bottles at the back of the church and in Crocker Hall that we ask you to please fill with your loose change and bills and return them on June 3rd. Please Note: Checks should be made out to St. Paul’s with “Hopeline” in the memo line. For more information, contact: Lois Hunt or Bonnie Wanzer.

† This Week at St. Paul’s

Thu, May 17 - 7:30 pm - Music Night, Sanctuary Sat, May 19 - 7:30 am - Men’s Prayer Breakfast, Crocker Hall 7:30 am - John 21:12 Group, Theo’s Diner, New Milford 10:00 am - PraiseMoves, Crocker Hall 11:00 am - St. Paul’s Quilters, Crocker Hall Sun, May 20 -- The Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday 8:00 am - Traditional Holy Communion (LiveStream) (Facebook) 10:30 am - Sunday School 10:30 am - Contemporary Holy Communion (LiveStream) (Facebook) Mon, May 21 - 7:00 pm - Men’s Bible Study, Crocker Hall (LiveStream) (Facebook) Tue, May 22 - 9:15 am - Ladies Bible Study, Guild Room 5:45 pm - Boot Camp, Crocker Hall 7:15 pm - Boy Scouts Troop 5, Crocker Hall Wed, May 23 - 10:00 am - Holy Communion & Healing (Facebook) Thu, May 24- 7:30 pm - Music Night, Sanctuary Sat, May 26 - 7:30 am - Men’s Prayer Breakfast, Crocker Hall 7:30 am - John 21:12 Group, Theo’s Diner, New Milford 10:00 am - PraiseMoves, Crocker Hall Sun, May 27 - 8:00 am - Traditional Holy Communion (LiveStream) (Facebook) 10:30 am - Sunday School 10:30 am - Contemporary Holy Communion (LiveStream) (Facebook) 1:00 pm - Memorial Day Outreach

† Elizabeth & the Consolation of Philosophy by Justin Slaughter Doty

Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. - PROVERBS 8:1-4

s Queen Elizabeth I took the throne in 1558, the English Church was in peril. Her A father, Henry VII, had severed ties with Rome but had also attempted to exert total personal control over Christian doctrine in the Church of England. When Henry died, Edward VI, his male heir, ascended to the throne at a young age and reversed much of Henry VII’s modifications to the Church. Edward had been raised by devoted and knowledgeable clergymen and followed their advice by bringing the English Church further towards the reformed realm of Christianity. The first Book of Common Prayer was published during his reign and major changes, such as allowing lay people to once again drink from the communion chalice, became canon law. However, much of Britain was still hostile to these reforms and when Edward died, the Church was once again defeated by Queen Mary who was aligned with Rome. Thomas Cranmer, the first Anglican Archbishop, was martyred and many of the English Reformers went into hiding. Queen Elizabeth, taking the throne after Mary, had to mend a religiously fractured Britain and reconstruct a damaged Church. Countless people had been killed in Britain over religious disputes and tension was palpable anywhere one stepped within the British Isles. Elizabeth herself had been raised in both a reformed and catholic environment. She saw the wisdom in both sects of Christianity and wished to see Anglicanism embrace the best of both worlds - to become more like the early church of Christianity while preserving the important medieval innovations. In a time of reflection and crisis, Elizabeth immersed herself in her love of classical language and learning while she contemplated how to deal with the many problems facing the Church. She chose to spend nearly eight weeks translating an old Christian text from Latin into middle-English called The Consolation of Philosophy. It was written by a Roman named Boethius and is a true story which he wrote on his death bed. Boethius came from one of the first Roman senatorial families that converted to Christianity and was wrongly imprisoned and put to death despite his impeccable stature in the Roman world. The Consolation, by using similar literary methods as Proverbs, attempted to deal with the difficulties of evil in the world and how to reconcile suffering with Gods love. As Elizabeth translated the work, a divided Britain continued to try and pull her towards two extremes; a Puritanical-leaning religious settlement,

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(Continued from page 6) Consolation of Philosophy or a reversion back to Roman doctrine. But Elizabeth was determined to safe-guard the via media of Anglicanism, the “middle way” between Geneva and Rome. That effort preserved the beautiful mix of evangelicalism, catholicity, charisma and tradition that all Anglicans value so much. Elizabeth, being a devoted scholar in addition to reigning as queen, used her consolation in Boethius’s tract and her own personal prayer and scriptural meditations to strengthen her resolve to act as a leader. She successfully settled the religious issues within the Church of England and reigned as the first Anglican monarch. Boethius’s text is still widely read today and likewise, Elizabeth’s translation is still one of the most important ever of his work. It is a valuable Christian text to explore for those interested. “We must invoke the Father of all things without whose aid no beginning can be properly made.... Oh God, Maker of heaven and earth, Who governs the world with eternal reason, at your command time passes from the beginning. You place all things in motion, though You are yourself without change. No external causes impelled You to make this work from chaotic matter. Rather it was the form of the highest good, existing within You without envy, which caused You to fashion all things according to the eternal exemplar.” Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy

† Happy Birthday to You!

hristine Domareck celebrates Sunday! Bake a cake for C Christian Williams & Edward Licence on Tuesday. Have a blessed day everyone!

ll of them look to you to give them their food in due “A season. You give it them … you open your hand and they are filled with good things.” How’s that for a faithful steward’s reason to always and everywhere give thanks? God gives us everything we have - how can we thank him adequately except by returning a faithful share of all those gifts to him and to serve other in his name?

COFFEE HOUR HOSTS

May 20th 8 am - Karen & Bob Greeley 10:30 am - Amy Boyce May 27th 8 am - Cindy & Peter Maier 10:30 am - (Parade)

Contact Mary Allen at 203-775-6633 or [email protected].

7 † Transforming Saints of God Thursday, May 17th

Thurgood Marshall Lawyer and jurist, 1993

hurgood Marshall was a distinguished American jurist and the first African American to T become an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Marshall was born in 1908. He attended Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore and Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Pushed toward other professions, Marshall was determined to be an attorney. He was denied admission to the University of Maryland Law School due to its segregationist admissions policy. He enrolled and graduated magna cum laude from the Law School of Howard University in Washington. Marshall began the practice of law in Baltimore in 1933 and began representing the local chapter of the NAACP in 1934, eventually becoming the legal counsel for the national organization. He won his first major civil rights decision in 1936, Murray v. Pearson, which forced the University of Maryland to open its doors to blacks. At the age of 32, Marshall successfully argued his first case before the United States Supreme Court and went on to win 29 of the 32 cases he argued before the court. As a lawyer, his crowning achievement was arguing successfully for the plaintiffs in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, in 1954. The Supreme Court ruled that the “separate but equal” doctrine was unconstitutional and ordered the desegregation of public schools across the nation. President Lyndon Johnson appointed Marshall as the 96th Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court in 1967, a position he held for 24 years. Marshall compiled a long and impressive record of decisions on civil rights, not only for African Americans, but also for women, Native Americans, and the incarcerated; he was a strong advocate for individual freedoms and human rights. He adamantly believed that capital punishment was unconstitutional and should be abolished. During his years in Washington, Marshall and his family were members of St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, where he was affectionately known as “The Judge.” He is remembered as “a wise and godly man who knew his place and role in history and obeyed God’s call to follow justice wherever it led.”

Organ Prelude & Processional Hymn † About the Service ur typical service begins with an Organ Prelude. Though it is a good thing to O greet your neighbor, this is not a time or place for extensive conversation. Unfortunately our church does not have a large (or heated) narthex (entry antechamber), so we need to be respectful of others when we arrive for the service. Some folks like to use the prayer found on the bottom of page 833 in the Prayer Book or others to prepare them for worship. The Organ Prelude helps to focus us and Kirsten does choose them randomly. Try to figure out why she selected each weeks Prelude. Following the conclusion of the Prelude, we prepare to sing the Processional Hymn. This is more than simply a way of “covering” the entrance of the ministers and choir. By singing together as one of our opening acts or worship we are saying that this is something we do together, corporately. This is not just the act of an individual, but all of us together. It unifies is, right from the beginning. Which is why is is important to actually join in the song, even if you don’t think you can sing it that well - God doesn’t care how well you can sing. If you’re in the choir, Kirsten cares, but God doesn’t. This is why it’s important to be on time.

† He’s Got Your Back! by Steve Hemming

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? .” ROMANS 8:31

s many of you know, one of the primary responsibilities of my job at Worcester A Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is to coordinate all the technology for the university’s annual commencement ceremonies. It is a massive undertaking that takes several months and countless hours of effort to plan for. Last year, due to no one’s fault or negligence, a significant technological failure occurred that tainted an otherwise perfect undergraduate commencement ceremony. Because of what happened in 2018, my efforts this year had been scrutinized and placed under the microscope throughout the entire planning process. At one point, it was even suggested that I consider replacing the external Audio/Visual vendor in whom I had placed my trust in for over 10 years. Rather than fretting about the high expectations placed on me, I turned to the Lord for help. It was a simple decision, for I knew that apart from Him, I could do nothing (John 15:5). As I sought God in prayer for His guidance, He led me in a three-pronged approach as I prepared for this year’s commencement ceremonies: 1) Keep my mind on God – His word tells us in Isaiah 26:3, “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You.” The more I focused on the Lord, the less I worried about how commencement would turn out. Whenever fearful or negative thoughts came to mind, I took them captive, and gave them to Jesus in humble obedience (2 Corinthians 10:5). 2) Fix my eyes on Jesus – In Hebrews 12:2, it says that we are to fix our eyes on our Lord Jesus, who is the author and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that was set before Him, Jesus endured the cross, despised the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Rather than fixating on potential threats when contemplating commencement this year, I deliberately chose to put on “spiritual blinders” and locked my eyes on Jesus. 3) Work heartily for the Lord – Whatever we do, we are to work with our whole heart for the Lord, and not for man (Colossians 3:23). Recently, I learned that a new manager apparently has opinions about how I should do my job differently. While we are to yield to and respect authority (1 Peter 2:18), it is also written that it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man (Psalm 118:8). Because the Lord has never steered me in the wrong direction before, my hope and trust lies in Him. And as such, I diligently sought Him every step of the way as I planned for this year’s commencement. When I awoke on the appointed morning, despite the weather forecast calling for rain, I was confident in the Lord that all would go well with the commencement. I arrived at WPI before dawn to prayerfully survey the “quad”, which was the site of the ceremony. As I turned away from the quad and headed towards the campus center, the Lord presented before my very eyes this dazzling display in the sky: As I pondered the magnificence of His glory, God whispered to my heart, “I’ve got your back.” Immediately, I was certain that all would go well with the commencement (Continued on page 10)

(Continued from page 9) He’s Got Your Back! ceremony. As it was, I was the most relaxed I have ever been for a commencement, and even though it started raining hard about halfway through the ceremony, the technology worked flawlessly, and the day was a complete success, which resulted in a memorable experience for the graduates, their families, and friends. All praise, glory and honor to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Whenever you encounter a challenge that may appear insurmountable, concentrate your thoughts on the Lord, keep your focus on Him, and do all things in word and deed for the Lord Jesus, and you can be assured that God will perfect that which concerns you (Psalm 138:8), for the Lord is on your side. He’s got your back!.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

† Transforming Saints of God Thursday, May 17th

William Hobart Hare Bishop of Niobrara, and of South Dakota, 1909

William Hobart Hare was a missionary bishop to the Niobrara Territory and later the first bishop of South Dakota. Hare was born in Princeton, New Jersey, in 1838. Although he studied at the University of Pennsylvania, he never received a degree and prepared for ordination without attending seminary. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1859 and to the priesthood in 1862. He served St. Luke’s and St. Paul’s, Chestnut Hill, both in Philadelphia. He moved to Minnesota in 1863 with the hope that a different climate would improve his wife’s failing health. It was there that he first came into contact Native Americans, an encounter that would change his life and shape his vocation. Hare returned to Philadelphia in 1867 to become the Rector of the Church of the Ascension, but his personal interest in the church’s ministry among Native Americans never waned. In 1871, the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church created the Missionary District of Niobrara encompassing much of the Dakotas. A year later, the House of Bishops elected Hare to become the Bishop of Niobrara and he was ordained to the episcopate on January 9, 1873. Bishop Hare, often referred to as “The Apostle to the Sioux,” devoted himself to work among the Native Americans in the vast expanse of the Niobrara Territory. Well ahead of his time in his approach to mission work, Hare believed it was important to honor as much of the tradition and culture of the people as possible. His desire was not to destroy the fabric of Sioux culture, but to bring the gospel into the midst of it so that the people could also come to know Jesus. Instead of suppressing the customs of the people, he saw them as vessels that could communicate God’s grace. In 1883, the House of Bishops divided the Missionary District of Niobrara into the districts of North and South Dakota. Bishop Hare from that point took responsibility for what would become the Diocese of South Dakota.

† Stewardship Reflection

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.” - 1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-6

ll of us are blessed, regardless of our own individual A circumstances; God has given each of us many gifts. How we use those gifts is our gift back to God. For God’s plan to work, each must do what we are called to do and guess what – we are not all called to do the same thing!

† Men’s Bible Study Packing Them In

Find out why more than 20 men gather each week to discuss the Bible. We start promptly at 7; and end at 8 pm. If you can’t make it person (Hint: Ladies this includes you), follow us online on Facebook Live or Livestream.

y the grace of God, we had a very thought-provoking discussion of Galatians 3 on B Monday night at the Men’s Bible Study. It was faithfully led by John Tuttle, as Father Joe was at his son’s graduation. We talked about the attempt of certain Jewish Christians to add circumcision to the requirement for salvation. This was just adding an unnecessary burden to the Gentiles in the Galatian church, since all that was needed was faith in Christ. We talked about our own inclination as human beings to add things as well, to make salvation our own work instead of God’s. We get to thinking we have to “do something” in order to be saved, and then this becomes an unnecessary burden to ourselves and others. Christ already fulfilled the law for us on the cross. Our blessed assurance comes from trusting in him. Of course this doesn’t mean that works aren’t important. As James said, “Faith without works is dead.” Jesus told us to be like the sheep, not the goats - to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. The work Paul is requesting from the Galatians is to love one another and stop judging each other over external appearances like circumcision. This is very important to life in the church. - Jay Trott

† Save the Date

he Rev. Dr. Gregory Beale is coming to St. Paul’s for a T weekend of teaching mission. Please join us Friday evening at 7 pm, and Saturday morning at 10 am, as Dr. Beale opens the Bible for us with newfound depth, understanding and insights. He will also preach at both services on Sunday, June 17th. Please sign up in the back of the church and indicate which days you will attend. Beale (PhD, Cambridge) holds the J. Gresham Machen Chair of New Testament and is professor of New Testament and biblical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He is the author or editor of several books, including The Right Doctrine from the Wrong Texts? and commentaries on Revelation and 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Dr. Beale’s academic interests include the New Testament’s use of the Old Testament, the book of Revelation, the biblical-theological theme of the temple as the dwelling place of God, and the topic of inerrancy, among others.

† Scholarly Speaking

Thoughts on Ascension

hen I moved last winter it was with the intention of continuing to write W fairly regular columns for your edification (or at least amusement). Looking back, however, I see that I have produced exactly one such essay. We are, however, a bit more settled now and I hope to do a little better. Back in 1974 when Fr. Crocker at St. Paul’s and I at Sandy Hook were the newbies in the area, the diocese reorganized itself into deaneries – a structure that lasted more than forty years. Fr. Crocker and I were the two original members of the Danbury Deanery Council who remained in it to the end and many of our parishioners were also in the deanery through most or all of these years. Some may remember that in the early days we gathered for deanery-wide celebrations of the two principal feasts that rarely fall on Sundays or holidays: Epiphany and Ascension and thus often got lost in the shuffle. After a few years even these deanery gathering were also lost, but I recall one of these occasions when the preacher* emphasized the spiritual side of the new relationship between us and Christ (and with this I agree) by trivializing (and here I disagree) the physical and historical event. After all, he suggested, that whole story was set in a three-decker universe, and we all know better than that now! I disagreed primarily as I was unwilling to accept the dichotomy between the spiritual and the physical, but I also felt that the whole three-decker bit was more of a ploy than a serious argument. Ironically, it was a my favorite atheist who provided me with a real insight into the underlying fallacy. Several years later I was at a Mensa gathering in New York where the dinner speaker was Isaac Asimov, well known not only as an atheist but also as a professor of biochemistry and as a prolific writer, especially of science fiction, but in many other fields as well including a Bible commentary† that I still find very useful. On this occasion he spoke against the tendency to disregard traditional wisdom because of its association with outdated concepts such as that three-decker or a flat earth (his primary example in that speech). His point was simply that the concept of a flat earth (which was, of course, the middle deck of the universe) expressed the reality that most people dealt with in their daily lives – sailors and others for whom it would make a difference, knew from their experience that there was something more beyond the horizon and while they were not clear about all the details knew that the earth was spherical, and even had a reasonably good guess as to its size, but still treated their local area as flat. Indeed, even today when we speak of having so many acres we are computing that on the basis of a flat surface. By the same token, even though three decks fall far short of modern understandings of our cosmology, I can still stand in my back yard an look up at sun or clouds or stars, just as the apostles stood and looked up to heaven to see where their Lord had gone. And yes, even if ‘up’ may mean something more complicated than those apostles may have thought, I still believe that it is the best way to describe Jesus’ return to his Father .

Fr. Bill Loring, Scholar (Not) in Residence o you have a question you * The preacher was Byron Stuhlman, then rector of St. Mark’s D would like answered by our Bridgewater. After more than forty years my recollection of his sermon is Scholar-in-Residence? Send your indeed limited; I believe I have accurately reported my impression of it at ecclesiastical, liturgical, doctrinal, the time. †Asimov’s Guide to the Bible, New York, 1969. Since his concerns are historical or other inquiries to: historical and cultural he mentions, but does not comment on, the [email protected]. Ascension.

St. Paul’s has started a new ministry … in Portuguese! Our own Joe Bernar- do prepares a timely message that is available on our website, our Facebook page and our YouTube channel. You might want to check it out. Be sure to “like” it and share it with your Portuguese friends.

† Pray It Up

otice the Red and White prayer request cards in the N pew? Each Sunday, fill out your request, put it in the red bowl on the table on the way to communion. Then take a card from the bowl either right then or after service. Pray for that request for one week. How comforting to know that your request is being prayed for and that you are praying for someone else’s! You might just be praying for the person sitting next to you! Or, if you’d prefer - please send your request to St. Paul’s at [email protected]!

Greeters Needed

Greeting people in a warm way makes them feel good about their presence in church. At St. Paul’s, we are always looking for people who feel called to serve in this important ministry. If you are interested in becoming a greeter, please contact Pam Szen ([email protected]) or David Szen

† Confirmation

This Saturday at Camp Washington, the Episcopal Church in Connecticut retreat center, about a dozen of our parishioners will be confirmed or received with others from churches in our Northwest Region. All are welcome to join this service which begins at 3 pm at the camp in Morris, CT. 67 years ago this month on May 31, 1951 there was another confirmation held at St. Paul’s. If you read the Bridgeport Post article to the right you notice the name, Clayton Miles Ferry. Yup, that’s the same Clayton Ferry who regularly attends our 8 am Sunday service. When we mentioned the article to him, he recited all the names from memory.

† You Can Help he second Saturday of each month a group from St. Paul’s T volunteers at the Jericho Food & Clothing Pantry on Spring Street in Danbury. Please consider signing up by emailing Laurie DoBosh [email protected]. The pantry is also looking for donations of reusable grocery bags and plastic bags for the clients to put their food in. We are also looking for coloring books and crayons for the children who come with their parents to the pantry (gently used is accepted) and travel size toiletries you usually find at hotels are also needed. Please place

Paul’s own Jay Trott has just published a new novel St called Starstruck, which is available at Amazon.com. It’s a romantic comedy with a Christian theme about having the sense to accept the will of God when he makes it known to us. Jay is also looking for Amazon reviewers and would be happy to give a FREE signed copy of the novel to anyone who is willing to write a review. If you are interested, please email him at [email protected] or talk to him or Beth during coffee hour.

17 Follow Us Live The best way to participate at St. Paul’s is to attend our worship services and join in our various events. However, there are still times when you might be unable to partake because of weather or illness. Many of our services are available on Livestream or Facebook Live. It has been used by our “Snow Birds,” students away at college, parishioners on vacation and former members who have moved away. Why not introduce it to your friends who may be looking for a church and don’t know what to expect? The services can be watched live or later for up to three weeks online. Just click on the LiveStream button or tab on our website for more info.

† This Sunday’s Readings

God’s Gift of the Spirit

Acts 2:1-21 his lesson tells the story of the Holy Spirit filling the apostles and T empowering them to share the message of the gospel with people of different languages. Clearly this was a most dramatic moment in the Acts 2:1-21 life of the early church, an experience described in terms of wind and fire. From this time forward the mighty works of God done "We might all hear the in Jesus will be told to all the peoples of the earth, same words - each in crossing barriers of language and culture. our own language - but Psalm 104: 25-35,37 we will not all hear and The psalm describes the wonders of the world created understand exactly the and renewed by the Lord’s Spirit. same meaning. The Romans 8:22-27 problem with life, and In this New Testament reading the apostle Paul understands the faith, and following whole of creation to be linked with human destiny as we await our Jesus is always: What redemption. We await our adoption in hope, dependent on the does this mean?" indwelling Spirit of God who intercedes for us in all things in ways we cannot achieve for ourselves. John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 In our gospel Jesus tells his disciples that his going away will mean the coming of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit who will guide them into all truth. The Counselor-Spirit will bring true judgment into the world. Everything the Spirit declares will have been received from Jesus, even as all which the Father has belongs to Jesus. The Spirit, then, reveals Jesus who himself has made the Father known.

† Pick Up Your Copy Today! Synthesis CE Study Guides for each weeks readings will be available at the back of the church. † Sermon Shorts

here are we going? Even Einstein didn't know "W the answer. To replay all our sermons, audio and videos follow this link for the Sunday Sermons. Check out our Sermon Archives as well.

19 † Your Prayers Are Requested For…

t is such an intimate time when praying for the health and well being of others and I such a privilege. The people that we lift up to The Lord are part of our hearts for all time. Please pray for…

.....Fr. George Hall, Brenda Darling, Jean Stauffer, Lorraine Estok and other parishioners convalescing in extended care facilities...... St. James’, New Haven; St. John’s, New Haven; St. Luke’s, New Haven...... Revival at St. Paul’s and the greater Danbury area...... Communication, digital ministry, online social networks...... Ginny Beck, Clayton Ferry, Gary Stein, Joe & Barbara Hock, Sue Balla, Rose Barrett, Jim Megura, Jay Lawrence, Alex, Teresa Stacchiotti, Mary DeAnzeris, Anthony, Paul Kovacs, Denise, Lee Rybos, Sandy Chaleski, Pam Altemus, Stu Terrill, David Lindsay, Jennifer, Susan & Rhonda continued healing...... the people of the United Arab Emirates; the people of the Netherlands; Diocese of Colombia - (XI, The Episcopal Church) The Rt Revd Francisco Duque ; and our sister and brother members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil...... Christians in the Middle East facing persecution at the hands of ISIS forces. Pray also for radical Muslims throughout the world to come to know Jesus Christ...... Michael for protection from mortar attacks in Somalia with the UN peacekeeping service...... Victory Christian Center, Danbury, the recipient of our food basket collections for the month of May...... His Vineyard Christian Fellowship, Bethel, a partner congregation of the Jericho Partnership...... Social Justice...... Cathy Schrull, healing, and peace and comfort during her treatments...... Bill Beattie, founder and chairman of the Jericho Partnership, complete healing of Multiple Myeloma.

† This & That & Links (Click on pictures or red links for more info)

Links We Like

Things That Make You Think

Back Issues of Sword Points

What is Pentecost?

From the Greek meaning “fifty,” the festival of Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit to the apostles on the fiftieth day after Easter. On this day, we worship the Lord, who gives life to His Church, by decorating the church in red and by focusing on the work of the Holy Spirit.

Just For Fun ! (And Christian Fellowship)

St. Paul’s Quilters Want to Top This

In case you haven’t heard, there is a royal wedding this weekend. Our St. Paul’s Quilters are meeting this Saturday and will be watching the wedding in Crocker Hall and hold a High Tea and Scones at 1 pm for anyone who is interested in joining them. At first it was suggested that everyone wear their wedding dresses (then cooler head prevailed), and they decided to just wear † It Takes An Editorial Board their favorite hats. You might want to bring a camera Contributors to this Weeks along too. Sword Points:

ary Allen, Chris Barrett, Ron M Crowcroft, Justin Doty, Carol Ferro, Steve Hemming, Lois Hunt, Susan Iverson, Beth Miller, Nicole O’Connors, Patrick O’Connors, Mary Perry, Ken Perry, Kirsten Peterson, Debbi Pomeroy, Joe Shepley, Tara Shepley, Pam Szen, David Szen, Ron Switzer, Jay Trott, John Tuthill, Don Winkley and Gail Winkley.