| A Midweek MessageMarch 10, 2021Hello good people of St. Paul, I am excited to share with all of you a reflection from my good friend and colleague, Rev. Evan Clendenin who is an Episcopal Priest who resides in Olympia, WA. I hope this message finds you doing well, blessings to you and your loved ones as we see the seasons begin to turn. I hope you enjoy his message. Remember we have now returned to in person worship for both Sunday (10AM) and Midweek (7PM) Worship. All services will also be livestreamed, please join us however you feel most comfortable. A special thank you this week to everyone who helped out with Easter Eggs this past Saturday. -In Peace Rev. Aaron Baughman (interim pastor)  *IN PERSON MIDWEEK WORSHIP TONIGHT!*Same social distancing guidelines apply as to our sunday worship. Join us for in person midweek service at 7PM. You are also welcome to join us via our live stream. A huge thank you to everyone who came out to help out with Easter Eggs on Saturday!     To only slightly paraphrase psalm 19, included in the Sunday readings for the third Sunday in Lent: “The law of the lord is perfect, complete, entire; it revives, makes life more whole.” And Jesus is the lawgiver, the giver of words that invite us into renewed, more whole, and holier life. We might miss it in the feisty telling of the Sunday text-Jesus ‘cleansing’ the temple- but pay attention. …My father’s house… And in the reading from Exodus, we hear the beginning of the law given to Moses by God, whom Jesus calls ‘my father.’ Notice two positive commandments: honor your mother and father and remember the sabbath and keep it holy. The first is a good reminder to make room in your heart and soul for parents and ancestors. They like you are humans, creature of the earth, humble humus beings. So honor them, give them and your heritage some credit and forgiveness too. Let God help you esteem and make room for them in presence and in memory, just as you might hope be esteemed by those who come after you. The second is another kind of room-making. Keep a place, a time, a day, holy, devoted to looking and listening and praying our way back to this one matter of death and life,- paying attention to the life God has given within us and put us within, and responding to it from a revived soul. Everyday in body, mind, heart, we can practice this awareness. We can keep daily appointments for silence, praying with scripture, singing, reaching out to God. And we can devote one, whole, entire day, to what helps us remember better the life that God has put within us, and what helps us let it be holy. Maybe this is a foolish proclamation. Consider those who feel little opportunity for rest right now, on whose labor we depend. Maybe to some of them prayer and sabbath are at best a luxury and at worst an unreality they think they can’t afford. Consider yourself. Foolish maybe, but I for one need to hear this: the one thing we all need is to hear the voice of God that revives the soul, helps us to make room for the whole of who we are and who others are, with truth and love. What kind of place, what kind of time will you devote to this? And is it a place, a time, you can invite others to also be? – Rev Evan Clendenin (Olympia, WA) |
 This coming Sunday will be in person and livestream We have have returned to in person worship. If you do not feel comfortable joining us in person, we will continue to live stream our services. Please remember that all social distancing guidelines still apply. Please wear a mask and sit in only the open pews. Please no congregating before or after services. We look forward to seeing you in person! Instructions to watch Live StreamYou don’t have to watch it live. You can watch it anytime during or after the service.You can go to youtube.com and search: “St. Paul Lutheran Church New Rome, OH” You can subscribe and get an email when we are live. It is also posted on our website and Facebook page.Facebook-www.facebook.com/stpaullutherancolumbusohiochurch website: http://stpaulnewrome.comAt-Home Communion for Everyone Would you like to participate in communion from home? St. Paul is now offering at home communion to everyone who is worshiping from home. Simply send an email to Jeanine at jeanine_secretary@sbcglobal.net or call her at 614-563-3230 to sign up communion kits will be blessed by Rev. Aaron before distribution. Be sure to note how many people are in your family. If you are interested in helping with distribution please let us know! |
Midweek Message from Rev. Aaron Baughman: (3/10/21)
- Link to service: (3/10/21) Lent Service @ 7:00 pm
- Link to service: (3/14/21) 4th Sunday of Lent @ 9:55 am