September 2007

(410) 489-4411

16457 Old Frederick Road,

Mt. Airy, MD 21771

http://www.stpauls-poplarsprings.ang-md.org

stpaulsemail@comcast.net

Table of contents

Rector’s Seedlings

September marks the beginning of a new school year, even though most public schools and colleges in our region start classes near the end of August. Shopping for clothes, getting the right kind of notebooks, pencils, pens, calculators, and backpacks requires diligent atten- tion to the specifics of each school district. School begins with students experiencing a mixture of excitement and foreboding. The excitement is in seeing old friends, hoping to get a good, if not likeable, teacher, and enjoying a fresh season of sports or band or other extracurricular activity. The foreboding often reflects uncertainty of new teachers’ expectations, how difficult and demanding academic work may be, and whether one will make the team of choice.

As a teacher, I confess that I have the same mixture of feelings when the new semes- ter begins. Will the students respond to the planned sylla- bus? Will the dynamics of each class lead to a good learning environment? Will they read the assignments? Can they write cogent essays? Will the material I select be of inter- est? Will they take the mate- rial seriously? Planning and preparing material for each class helps build the excite- ment and I get really energized by the subject matter. My nervousness in facing a new class fades after the first or second week – when I have a better idea of the dynamics of the learning environment.

At St. Paul’s we will begin enrollment for Sunday School on 9 September with a specia event for children. The two classes taught by Ellen Zior and Nancy Landry will have severa assistants this year providing better distribu- tion of responsibilities. The vestry has ap- proved purchase of curricular materials to support the education of our youth. I will con tinue to provide teaching for children within the family service in addition to the regular sermon. Last year we had 23 children enrolle in Sunday School. According to our parish directory we have 36 children who could be enrolled. Invite everyone you know to come f the opening party on September 9.

Adult forum will continue at 9:15 in paral- lel with the children’s program. We will begin the year with a study of the Bible based on a course by Luke Timothy Johnson. We will ex- amine how the texts were selected to be in- cluded in the Bible. The Scriptures are a cent part of our Christian life and experience. Our life in faith is a journey. In our Episcopal trad tion our liturgy is both word and sacrament. We read four passages each Sunday from the Revised Common Lectionary. The sermon is intended to open the scriptures for our com- mon life. The sacrament is for spiritual nurtu as we grow in faith and live out our baptisma covenant.

I have the same mixture of excitement and foreboding that most students and teachers have with the beginning of a new year of for- mal Christian education. The teacher cannot learn for the student. The partnership is one of shared responsibility. It is in the mutual inter- dependent effort that learning occurs. My hope is that you will make time in your schedule for worship and education each and every Sunday this fall.

Ann+

Rainbow Camp 2007

The fourteenth Rainbow Camp was held Aug 6-10 at The Bishop Claggett Center. More than 60 children were referred by agencies in Maryland who serve HIV/AIDS patients – all the children we invite are either infected or affected by the virus. Sixty children were accepted and 52 arrived at the bus early Monday morning to be transported to Claggett. Upon arrival the campers off-loaded their personal gear, met the counselors, and were formed in groups according to age. There were seven teams: red girls, red boys (ages 7-8); blue girls, blue boys (ages 8-9), yellow girls (age 10), green girls and green boys (ages 10-12). Each team picked a team name, designed a team flag, and picked a mascot. The team names were: red boys - the red wildcats, the red girls - the red rubies, yellow girls - the cheetahs, blue boys - the blue sharks, blue girls - the blue daisies, green boys - the green grenades and green girls - the green hot chili peppers. Each team developed a cheer or skit to perform during the closing ceremony. Each camper received a hat and T-shirt with Rainbow Camp 2007 logo, which everyone wore for the off-site visit to Catoctin Zoo.

The activities on Monday included swimming, sports, crafts, and nature hike. Meals were in the new dining hall. After dinner, vespers was in the chapel, led by Mother Angela Shepherd, the chaplain for the week. Counselors and campers were housed in Powell Hall, where window fans did little to reduce the stifling heat of a record-setting heat wave. Leadership staff met after lights out (10:30 pm) to discuss revising the schedule for Tuesday to cope with the heat.

Tuesday was another oppressively hot day. All participants were encouraged to drink more and more water – from coolers placed around camp within easy access to the activities. Crafts in the long hall and swimming were much better tolerated than hiking or playing sports in the heat of the day, therefore the time in the pool and in crafts was increased. The evening program in the chapel featured the storyteller Bill Rodgers followed by vespers and bed. While campers shower and settle into bed, the leadership team ran the swim suits and towels through the dryer on the back porch of the Farm House.

Wednesday dawned hot and humid with tem- peratures soaring to triple digits. The major event scheduled was the ropes course run by Upward Enterprise. Due to the heat, the course was shortened, ending with the favorite exercise the zip line. Returning to camp for lunch at 1 pm, the campers were given free swim time to cope with the heat. After dinner the evening activity was a fashion show in which each team of campers dressed their counselors, with a contest for best costume. Sleep was difficult in the dorm rooms due to excessive heat and humidity.

Thursday after breakfast and morning devotions, the staff and campers went to Catoctin Zoo, and got caught in a thunderstorm. Drenched with rain, the afternoon field trip to the state park for swimming was cancelled due to threat of lightning. Once back and in dry clothes, the campers relaxed in the basement of North Cottage for a film, snack, and then worked on their skits for the closing ceremony. After dinner, gathered in the chapel, each team performed their team skit/cheer, and each and every camper received a certificate of achievement, recommended by their counselors. From each team, a team spirit award meant that child received the flag of their team. The overall rainbow spirit award was given to one girl and one boy who had shown the greatest compassion and acceptance of everyone, and received the counselors’ flag.

After breakfast and morning devotions, the campers boarded the bus for Baltimore. Staff remained on site to clean up, debrief, and return home – exhausted but happy to have been a part of another good Rainbow Camp.

The leadership for the camp in 2007 changed dramatically. All but two of fourteen counselors were new. Team leaders Jen Newgent and Joe Rushton were experienced and gave excellent support to the counselors. Program director for seven years, Karen Softy organized the schedule, camper teams, and helped in transitioning this position to Pastor Eleanor Holland, while Mother Angela accepted chaplain duties, and Dr. Ann Boyd became the new executive director. The staff training was Saturday and Sunday with the requisite course in Mending Creation. In addition, the staff participated in a half-day ropes course, which focused on team building. Eleanor Holland provided diversity training for all the staff.

Retrospectively, the staff were actually tired by the time the campers arrived and future efforts may revisit the training of staff to a Saturday prior to camp but not adjacent to the start of camp. Being a counselor is demanding and more day volunteers are needed to give them needed respite time. The leadership is well aware that we need more counselors, and more skills in working with the various demands of these particular children. We are grateful to the parishes in the Diocese of Maryland who sent counselors or staff: St. Matthias, St. Philip’s, St. Margaret’s, and St. Paul’s – Mt. Airy. We are grateful to St. Bartholomew’s for the gift of backpacks, stuffed with school supplies for each camper. We are thankful for the support of the Diocese of Maryland for the grant that funds the majority of the camp expenses.

In preparation for Rainbow Camp 2008, the leadership team will strive to locate more counselors and day volunteers with early childhood education and development expertise. In addition, the leadership team will visit each of the referral agencies, building better communication and collaboration with them to enhance selection of campers and timely applications, so that a deadline for registration can lead to better staffing. Keeping privacy and confidentiality foremost in mind, we tried to capture the activities of camp in pictures, to promote and advertise the camp. Due to excessive heat and limited access to air-conditioned space and pool, the leadership will investigate alterna- tive camping sites during the coming year. The budget is tight and additional sources of funding should be sought.

Theologically, I believe that Rainbow Camp is a mission with an incarnational focus. Being present, working with, affirming each camper and each volunteer is a way of being in this world that embodies the Spirit of God, in us, among us, and with us. Worship in the morning and evening is for many of the campers a wholly new experience. Offering a diverse array of activities in a safe and compassionate environment is our incarnational gift. Accepting that God is love, at Rainbow Camp we seek to love and serve every human being, respect his or her dignity, and live into our baptismal covenant.

Ann Boyd,

Executive Director 2007

Rainbow Camp 2007 Pictures

From the Altar Guild

As summer draws to a close, the Altar Guild would like to thank those who provide beautiful garden flowers for our Altar flowers. Flowers were cut from the flower garden at Larriland Farm and also the gardens of Suzanne Bourg and Jean Meisner.

Our floral designers were Suzanne Bourg an Etta Lee Spaulding.

We also appreciate the response of parishioners for the gift of Altar flowers.

Web Report

The Saint Paul’s web page receives about 30 visits a day. Not bad.

The history of Saint Paul’s seems to be the most popular topic being researched. Next in popularity is the page with Rainbow Camp information and then the sermons and Ann’s writings.

Also available is this newsletter (and all newsletters for the last few years), the calendars both monthly (I try to keep up) and the ECW annual calendar, a listing of who does what in our family, Ann’s sermons since she arrived, some of her published writings, the forum materials, and descriptions of our activities (thrift shop, the Katrina trip (see the Marc newsletter)) and favorite charities (MDGs, Heifer).

There is a new music page with a very nice picture of Jen! And a track of the recorder ensemble playing “Nearer My God to Thee.”

There is even a search function to help you find that recipe you saw some months ago.

As the page is cataloged by the various search engines (Google, Yahoo) the daily visit count is going up. I see regular visits from China, Scandinavia and France (I am afraid I can’t get much more detail than that).

And similar to this newsletter, I am always on the lookout for contributions: ideas for ar- ticles, pictures to liven up your visit, ideas on how to serve the community - including ideas on what the community is!

A pet project of mine would be to assemble a series of pictures of our Oak tree during the march of the seasons. Anyone have photos?

Coming to Communion

The majority of the parents of children currently enrolled in Sunday School elected the fall to begin the program. The materials will be ordered during August—so it is not too late to reserve books. The program is eight weeks. We will begin on Sept 23 with a pizza party for parents and enrolling children following the 10:30 service. The Rector will describe the books, the purpose of the study, and how to work as a family at home during the program. We will all meet together for a progress meeting midway through the program Oct 28 (about 12:30 pm). We will all celebrate the accom- plishment of the students who complete the course with a festive Eucharist on Nov 18 at 10:30 a.m.

Ann+

Hayride at Larriland Farm

All aboard for St. Paul’s Hayride at Larriland Farm on Sunday, September 30, 2007. The schedule of the afternoon is as follows: 4:00 p.m. Children may play in the maze 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. picnic supper at a bonfire site 5:30 p.m. hayride drive by Mr. Guy

There will be a sign-up sheet in the parish hall for hot dogs, rolls, chips, marshmallows, and soda.

Remember to bring sticks for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows.

Hope to see you at Larriland Farm on Sunday, September 30 for an afternoon of fun! In case of rain, the hayride will not be rescheduled.

Any questions, please call Dottie Streaker at (301) 829-0250.

Diabetes Walk

We are getting a team together for the Diabetes walk on October 14, 2007, in Frederick

We would love to have you join us. But if you cannot walk, then please help us with your support. There are many here at St. Paul’s who are affected in one way or another. Contact: Al Marquis at 410 549 5129 for more information

Fall Sunday School Needs

Cleaning out your craft supplies or wondering what to do with all your extra empty paper towel tubes? We are starting to pull together things for the fall Sunday school and we need supplies for our craft projects. If you have any of these items below that are cluttering up your workspace or other supplies that might be useful, we could use them for upcoming projects. Donations are accepted any time during the year. Please leave them in the parish hall marked “Sunday School” and we can sort them out to see which projects we can do. Thank you!

Pull Tabs for Shriners

Linda Barnes is collecting pull tabs for The Baltimore Shriners. The Shriners receive $0.50 per pound, which is equal to 1,450 tabs. All money is given to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, where any children with severe burns, orthopedic problems and spinal cord injuries are treated free of charge.

On the table in the parish hall there is a plastic box with a pink lid where you can leave your tabs. Only beverage can pull tabs are needed—not the large tabs from soup cans. Many thanks for your help—it is greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Pat Marquis

International Day of Prayer for Peace Friday, September 21

Bazaar Sign-Up Sheet

To let us know what you are making/dontaing to the church bazaar on Saturday, October 27, please fill in the tear-off sheet and return it to the church office. Listed are the various tables with the chair’s name and phone number. If you have any questions, call them.

Tear along dotted line.

2007 St. Paul’s Church Bazaar

Return this slip to the church office.

Name: _________________________________________________

I will make or donate the following:

_____________________________________________________________

How to Designate a Gift to Episcopal Community Services of Maryland through United Way

For the Combined Charity Campaign for City Employees and Retirees, as well as the Combined Federal Campaign of Central Maryland designate #4074.

For the Maryland Charity Campaign for State Employees and Retirees designate #0588.

ECSM operates ‘The Ark’ preschool for homeless children, ‘The Club at Collington Square’ after school program in East Baltimore, and ‘Jericho’, a work readiness program for men recently release from incarceration.

for more information please visit www.ecsm. org

Christmas shopping with the MDGs...

http://erd.servicenetwork.com/Store/CatalogList.asp

Anniversaries

If you would like to update your family’s information, please contact the church office by phone (410-489-4411) or email (stpaulsemail@comcast.net).

Birthdays

Thrift Shop

12–3 pm, Thursday, Friday and Saturday

The Fall Collections have arrived! Shop now for all your fall needs.

The Thrift Shop welcomes clean and current clothing and home goods, functioning small household appliances, and books.

Mount Airy Net

Mount Airy Net is a non-profit group that provides emergency help to those in need. If you know of someone who needs assistance, contact: Mount Airy Net, c/o Calvary United Methodist Church, 403 S. Main Street, Mount Airy, MD 21771-5346, Phone: 301-829-0472

Regular Service Schedule

Sunday

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I & Sermon 9:15 a.m. Christian Education for all ages

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II & Sermon (Family Service with hymns)

Coffee Hour Following Service

7: p.m. Wednesday Services Resume September 5

If you have an item for the newsletter, please email it to leighanne.kippeny@gmail.com.

Can You Sleep When the Wind Blows?

Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals.

Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. “Are you a good farm hand?” the farmer asked him.

“Well, I can sleep when the wind blows,” answered the little man. Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man’s work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand’s sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, “Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!” The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, “No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.”

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down.

Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed so that he too could sleep while the wind blew.

When you’re prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically, you have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life? The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm. We secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves in the Word of God.

We don’t need to understand, we just need to hold His hand to have peace in the middle of life’s storms. — Unknown

Prayer List

Pastoral Care

For pastoral care contact either the office of St. Paul’s (9-12 am Mon-Fri) at 410-489-4411, or call Dr. Boyd: cell is 301-471-1861; Hood office: 301-696-3683; home: 301-898-1711. When Dr. Boyd is out of town the senior warden, Pete McIntosh is the person to call.

St Pius X Retreat House

September 9-15, 2007

1840 Peter Cheeseman Rd Blackwood, NJ 08012-4429

(856) 227-1436

Cost: $360.00

Directed Retreat

This is a unique opportunity to grow spiritually. It is a time for a very focused “one-on-one” with God. Key to the experience is silence. Free of all the daily distractions and hustle and bustle of busy lives, it is in the quiet that one is able to deepen their connection with God. You will have an opportunity to meet daily with a spiritual director (Carol Marozzi SSJ) who will offer guidance and feedback throughout the week. Each day includes not only the daily session with your director but also liturgy and lots of time for personal prayer. Meals are also in silence.