Pantry Totals

Well we did it. We managed to break our 2010 record of over 21,000 items. This year we collected 27,362 items. Wow! Wow! Wow! Thanks to every family who participated. And thanks to STUCO for receiving the items and to all the classes who helped tote, organize and stack items at the pantry. What an undertaking. Well done, good and faithful servants. Thanks be to God!

Pantry Update: In a word, WOW! With three days left, we are already 650 items ahead of where we were last year. With increased neeeds, this is especially good news for our pantry patrons. It is an honor to participate in this very special ministry and I am certain that God is pleased with our faithful St. Paul's servants. Take a look at what we've collected thus far.

TOILETRIES

Toilet Paper mini-mountain and Kleenex

Canned food, peanut butter and major TP mountain on back wall.

This picture does not do justice to the size of that Mac and Cheese mountain.

The view when you walk in and turn the corner....makes you gasp.

Chapel Fall Rhythms......

Our annual Pet Blessing was held on Friday, October 7 with a healthy mix of dogs, cats, turtles, fish, stuffed animals, sunshine, students, parents, music and prayer. In short, all of God's living creatures were blessed! Our adorable first graders (photo above) assisted with the reading of the creation story from Genesis.

Our first Chapel Leadership Team began their term one week ago with a well-done depiction of the story of Esther. This talented group consists of Gillian Cutter, Kit Frazen, Samantha Haisitings, Morgan Ropp, Tommy Sih and Annie Tuttle. Co-captains are Gregory Wiedeman and Dominic Tutera.

Our September service club completed painting rocks that will be placed in our Pocket Park in October. Additionally we made greeting cards for our buddy, Vaughn Reardon.

A monthly intercessory prayer chapel tradition was launched. Once per month we will open the church chapel for the day, inviting individuals to drop by and offer prayer. We will welcome prayer requests and pictures for the altar. Our next intercessory prayer chapel will be held on Tuesday, October 25.

An incredibly helpful evening seminar was offered for parents this past week on "Dealing with Death and Loss" led by Claudia Ricks Hubbard from Children's Mercy Hospital. Lelt me know if you are interested in the hand-outs from the event. Additional sessions will be scheduled if there is enough expressed, committed interest.

CHAPEL

In chapel this week, we're focusing upon Miriam, the sister of Moses. By extraordinary luck we have obtained the only known snap shop available, see above. It's a remarkable image given that the year was around 1300 BCE. I honestly was unaware that color film was even available.

At a time when Hebrew male babies were being executed by the Egyptians, Moses family, like may Hebrew families was coping by hiding their babies. In Moses case, he was hidden in a basket carefully prepared to float safely tucked away in the tall reeds of the river. Miriam's job was to keep watch so that at all times the baby was safeguarded.

And as we know, it was Pharaoh's daughter who discovered Moses, fell in love with the beautiful baby and raised him as her own in the royal court. And because Miriam was watching and because Miriam spoke up, the princess unknowingly used Moses mother as his nurse and nanny. That connection allowed Moses to understand who his people really were, chosen and beloved by God.

And so we are spending this week identifying:

• who it is that has helped and continues to help sponsor us to become more than we are.



• And who is it that helps us understand our legacy as beloved, chosen children of God.

Other Notes:

Service Club is meeting after school Tuesday, September 27 in the main hallway of the south building. We will be painting rocks for our inner-city Pocket Park so please dress accordingly. Snacks will be provided for our creative group. So that we have enough rocks and snacks, please RSVP to: pbauer@speds.org.

Our October meeting will be a trip to our Pocket Park, which St. Paul's created and continues to sponsor. We will do some fall clean-up and leave our rocks as another park accessory.

Seminar: Dealing with Death and Loss: From 7:00-8:30 pm, Tuesday, October 4 Chaplain Claudia Hubbard from Children's Mercy Hospital will act as facilitator for this ninety-minute parents-only session dealing with death and loss form our children's perspective. She will help us both understand and anticipate the cycle of grief taking time to respond to questions. North MPR. To enroll: pbauer@speds.org

Divorce Support for 4th-8th Graders: At our parents request, we are offering a divorce support group on Thursdays, October 13, 20, November 3 and 10 from 5:00-6:00 pm. Pizza and drinks will be provided. This is not therapy but rather an opportunity for our children to candidly discuss, with the help of an adult facilitator, the common issues of navigating relationships between divorced parents. It's a tough balancing act and students can find themselves unhappily navigating their parents expectations sometimes at the expense of their own needs. Our facilitator is Diane Larsen, MA who has a background in social work. She will provide the frame for these conversations so that students feel safe enough to freely share. To enroll, please e-mail: pbauer@speds.org

Chapel

Lifeskills: Caring and Sharing

This past Tuesday, a hearty Service Club group of parents and students met at Grand Avenue Temple to learn more about their ministries to the homeless and participate in an act of service. As a result,we are collecting men's jeans in the lobby of either the north or south building through Friday, September 16.

In chapel, we will be reviewing the story of Daniel, a great role model for us. He did not let others talk him into behaviors that he would regret. He and God were committed to each other. Daniel was strong and courageous!

Chapel calendar note: During all-school chapel on Friday, September 9 we will be presenting service awards to the students who gave 50+ hours of service to the community during the2010-11 school year. Parents are always welcome.

Bible Study

Ephesians

Beginning Wednesday, September 7 at noon in the Garden Room of the church we will be offering a four-week, parents Bible study focusing on the book of Ephesians. Please bring a Bible, pen and notepad. All are welcome!

Middle School Bible Study

Beginning Wednesday, September 21 we will be offering a Bible Study for Middle School students from 3:30-4:30 pm. Our final session will be held on October 26. To enroll, please email Chaplain Nolan: pbauer@speds.org.

Chaplain Nolan's Blog

With the advent of another school year, I am clear that the best part of St. Paul's is our children; beloved and cherished by God, we are blessed to be entrusted with them for another year of mutual growth!

CHAPEL

We begin chapel with a review of the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector who, in the presence of Christ, was confronted with a sobering but honest self-inventory. As a result of receiving God's grace, he began the intentional work of restoring what he had taken from so many.

As we begin our year, we too will be reminding each other that we are about "caring and sharing" instead of the cultural model of "getting and taking". But when we forget, Zacchaeus is our example of one who confesses and restores.This story will provide us with a great bridge to next week's theme of forgiveness.

SERVICE

Very soon, information will be e-mailed regarding our school's Service programs. Students age kindergarten through 8th grade will be invited to enroll in the President's Volunteer Service program which recognizes annual contributions of 50 or more hours of service to the community.

Recognition of the 2010-11 students who achieved 50+ hours will be at 8:30 am in All School Chapel on Friday, September 9.

SERVICE CLUB: August 30

(Enroll: pbauer@speds.org)

On Tuesday, August 30, parents and students will take their first Service Club trip to Grand Avenue Temple, a congregation comprised of 85% homeless members. Students need to meet us at Grand Avenue at 4:00 pm prepared to learn more and participate in a service activity. The last time we went, we were allowed to wash balcony pews. It was fun! We should be done by 5:20 ish. You are encouraged to bring an offering for their boutique. Click this link to see their list of needs. Directions will be emailed to those who sign up.

Backpack Snack Packers

Reminder to our group, our first pack day is Thursday, September 8.

BIBLE STUDY

(Enroll: pbauer@speds.org)

The Parents Bible Study begins at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, September 7 in the Garden Room of the church. This study will run for four weeks and focus upon the book of Ephesians.

The Middle School Bible Study begins at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, September 21.

HELPFUL LINKS:

1. Online devotions: I heartily recommend this site as a tool to enhance your personal prayer and devotional life:

2. Daily scripture readings from the Episcopal Church. This is a helpful tool that includes dailing readings from the Old Testament, Psalms, Epistle and the Gospels.