Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew

Summer in the City!

admin — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 19:42:59 +0000

Sharing Our Stuff with YOU!

God said, “Look! I am giving you every plant that bears seed, and every fruit tree bearing fruit, for you to eat and enjoy.” Genesis 1:29

the feeding time

FEED THE SOUL

Worship at SPSA Every Sunday at 11 am

Lunchtime Lectionary Bible Study

This summer SPSA Bible study, led by Siobhan Sargent, K Karpen and Julia Kristeller, will come and find you. Three different times, three different places. The discussions will focus on the lectionary readings for the week.

Wednesday, July 13th 12:00–1:00 pm

Grant’s Tomb, Riverside & 122nd

Wednesday, July 20th 12:00–1:00 pm

Bryant Park, 6th Ave & 41st St.

Wednesday, August 10^th 12:00–1:00 pm

Trinity Churchyard, Broadway & Wall St.

Bach Vespers at Holy Trinity Lutheran

Sunday, August 24^th 7pm

Gather with SPSA members and friends to participate in this unique Celebration of the music of JS Bach, in the church setting for which it was composed. Marking the 261st anniversary of Bach’s passing.

At 65^th Street and Central Park West.

Vacation Bible School

Food for Faith

August 22^nd– 26^th

Children, kindergarten and beyond, and youth and adult volunteers all very welcome.Contact Julia Kristeller for info: julia@stpaulandstandrew.org.

FEED THE NEED TO MOVE

Pilates

led by Nancy Meyers (all levels welcome)

Tuesdays July 12 through August 16,

6:30-7:30 pm

A Morning Run

Led by Siobhan Sargent

Sunday, August 7^th 8:30 am

A pleasant morning run, followed by breakfast at Siobhan’s, and church.

Shall We Dance?

Tuesday, August 23rd 6:30 pm

Professional dancer, singer, personal trainer and SPSA member Cindy Thrall will show you the moves. No experience needed. Sign up: charlenefloyd@aol.com.

Half Night Bike Ride

Led by K Karpen

Tuesday, August 30^th 7:30-11:30pm

Meet at the ‘Sundial’ in the center of the Columbia Campus. We’ll head down through Central Park, then along the Hudson for the sunset, ending up in Chinatown for a late bite. High school and adult.

FEED THE APPETITE

Baby Breakfast

Sunday, July 10^th 9:45 to 10:45 am

A time for new and expecting parents, and their babies and toddlers, to gather for a bite and conversation. Play and get support in our courtyard garden. Share resources about fun things to do in NYC.

Annual Hymnsing Cookout

Saturday, July 23rd 6:00 pm (eat)

7:00 pm (sing)

In the courtyard (we’ll provide the main course; you bring side dishes, desserts and drinks). Come feed your body and your soul and sing your heart out.

Luncheon Celebration of WSCAH

Sunday, July 24^th 12:30 pm

Come to the Social Hall for this luscious lunch served in honor of the West Side Campaign Against Hunger and its many dedicated volunteers. Free.

Pancake Brunch

Sunday, August 14^th 12:30pm

Come and enjoy a good breakfast and support the effort to raise funds for Vacation Bible School.

Vacation Bible School Cookout

Friday August 26^th 5:00 pm

Parents, friends and everyone (that means you) please join us as we celebrate the end of Vacation Bible School. We’ll start early to accommodate tired kids and VBS staff and stay late to accommodate people who can’t quite make it at 5pm.

Young Adult Brunch

Sunday, August 28^th1:00 pm.

Join other young adults (18-35 years) for a bite & informal conversation in the parlor.

FEED THE BODY & MIND Wonder, Play, Create, Laugh . . .

Courtyard Reading Corner

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in July and August 10:00 – 11:30am Volunteers welcome, Contact Julia Madden,

julishnable09@yahoo.com

Art in the Afternoon for Everyone

Saturday, July 9^th2:30-5:00 pm

Come to the courtyard to let your creative side have some fun. No experience needed, just your hands and heart.

“Play Again”

Laura Heckman, Director of New Canaan Nature Center and SPSA member, will lead this discussion of the new documentary “Play Again”, about the effects of excessive ‘screen time’ on kids, and what happens when time in the outdoors is substituted instead.

Monday, July 11^th 7pm

Feel the beat—drum time

Drummer and SPSPA member, Bruce Berquist will teach us rhythms and methods of drumming. No experience needed. Fun!

Thursday, July 14^th 7pm

Wednesday, August 3^rd 7pm

Kids Night Out

Saturday, July 16^th 5:00 to 9 pm

Come join the fun, while your parents wander off on their own. We’ll have food and singing and games and art projects and

other fun activities in the courtyard. RSVP: for kids: Julia@stpaulandstandrew.org or to help: siobhan@stpaulandstandrew.org

Parenting Our Elders (and caring for ourselves in the process)

Sunday, July 17^th 12:45-2:30

A session for those giving extra care for aging/ailing parents and other elders. How do we provide care & share these precious and challenging times with our loved ones, and make sure we care for ourselves? Led by Dorothy Krauss-Eisenpress.

Half the Sky

Thursday, July 21^st 7pm

A book study and action discussion led by Jo Tiedeman on the movement to help improve women’s lives here and globally.

Tour the God Box

Monday, August 1, 12:30 pm

Amanda Mountain Rachael Barnett lead a behind the scenes tour of 475 Riverside Dr.

Babies, Balls, Bubbles, Blankets

Saturday, August 13^th 10:00 am

We will bring the balls and bubbles. You bring your babies and toddlers, blankets and picnics. Meet on the lawn behind the Soldiers & Sailors Monument (90 & RSD).

Find your song

NY Philharmonic Bassist… and SPSA member, Jon Deak will guide these two sessions as we learn about musical composition and then compose a piece of our own. Please plan to attend both sessions.

Tuesday, August 16^th 7pm and Wednesday, August 31^st 7pm.

Amazing Animals

Wednesday, August 17, 6:00pm

An all-around furry, scaly and feathery experience! Meet six live animals and discover the many wonders of the animal world. Presented by the New Canaan Nature Center. For children of all ages.

Got Something to Say?

Thursday, August 18^th 7pm

Join monologue coach and SPSA member Barbara Grecki as we explore the power of the spoken word.

Courtyard Campfire

Sunday, August 28^th 7pm

What better way to close out the summer than to sing around the campfire—in the church courtyard. SPSA member Robin Bahr will lead us in some old favorites and teach us some new ones.

FEED THE SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE

The High Line!

Led by K Karpen

Monday, July 18^th 6pm

Come explore the newly-expanded High Line Park! We’ll include a fun scavenger hunt. Meet up on the Highline, 10th Ave at 16th Street. We may grab a bite after.

Walking Tour of Harlem

Led by Sydney Johnson

Saturday, August 20^th 9am

Join Sydney Johnson for a trip to Harlem on Saturday, August 20th, leaving SPSA at 9AM. We will visit the Morris-Jumel mansion, on a hill perched high above Harlem. The Morris-Jumel mansion hosted Washington’s first cabinet meeting. Visit an African history bookstore across the street and linger on the grounds for a free afternoon of jazz thanks to Marjorie Elliot, host of the parlor jazz series.

Half Night Bike Ride

Led by K Karpen

Tuesday, August 30^th 7:00-11:30pm

Meet at the ‘Sundial’ in the center of the Columbia Campus. We’ll head through Central Park, then along the Hudson for the sunset, ending up in Chinatown for a late bite. High school and adult.

Worship at SPSA

admin — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:05:31 +0000

Come join us for our dynamic worship service.

Any Sunday at 11am.

We are a congregation committed to justice and reconciliation for all persons, regardless of age, race, economic or marital status, gender or sexual orientation. We hope your time with us may be a joyful celebration of life and faith.

Christmas at SPSA!

admin — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 17:01:20 +0000

Christmas Eve, Saturday December 24th:

7pm Family Service, 10:45pm Candlelight Service.

Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25th:

11am Worship

“The Word of God became like us and pitched a tent in the middle of us.” John 1:14

At last month’s Fall Retreat, we spent a lot of time exploring this one little verse of scripture. What does it mean that God’s word took human form and lived with us? How could it be that the creator of the universe literally pitched a tent in our lives, as the Gospel of John puts it?

At its heart, Christmas is about the incarnation, the coming of God as a human being. It is about God’s strange decision to occupy the human situation, to know firsthand the human predicament. It is about God’s determination to know us by becoming our Emmanuel: ‘God with us.’

During Advent, though, we are pre-occupied. Advent is a time of stillness, of emptiness. A time to experience God’s absence, rather than celebrate God’s presence.

We could jump from Thanksgiving into Christmas, like the rest of the culture. But we would miss the awesome emptiness of preoccupation.

~K Karpen

Saturday, December 24 CHRISTMAS EVE

7:00 Family Service

8:00 Open House at the Parsonage

10:45 Candlelight Service

Sunday, December 25 CHRISTMAS DAY

11:00 Christmas Service for all ages

Siobhan Sargent preaching

What We’re About

admin — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 20:21:29 +0000

SP&SA is a progressive, welcoming congregation with several hundred active members. We value our children and youth ministry programs as well as our outreach to students, young adults, singles and gays & lesbians.

This year was a wonderful VBS, a week long fun day camp for kids exploring the word of God and having a blast while doing it. Our theme for 2011 Food and Faith.

“Rise and shine, and give God your glory, glory. Rise and shine and give God your glory, glory. RISE and SHINE and GIVE GOD YOUR GLORY, GLORY! Children of the Lord!”

This song flooded our Chapel space in the mornings as we began our day. The space was transformed into a chef’s kitchen/cafe, an organic grocery store AND a sustainable farm! Truly a world to remember for the some 30 children that attended our Vacation Bible School this year. Most of the children who participate in our VBS do so on scholarships from the larger congregation.

Every year our VBS is also intimately connected to SPSA’s vibrant youth ministry. This year was no different with youth dedicating their time and gifts all week long. Without a doubt children, adults and youth alike were rising and shining in the glory of God.

Vital to our ministry together is our work with economically challenged families and individuals through our food pantry, our homeless shelter and our tutoring program for kids from the neighborhood.

Worship at SP&SA is different. Although the sanctuary is large, easily holding our two hundred worshippers, worship is an intimate spiritual experience.

Organized in 1834, SP&SA is constantly renewed by the power of God’s spirit, as new people bring their gifts and energy.

We welcome all and are a congregation committed to every person regardless of age, race, gender, economic or marital status, and sexual orientation or identity. Join us for worship Sunday’s 11am

We’re Reconciling!

admin — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 19:19:44 +0000

SP&SA is a Reconciling in Christ Congregation, and a member of the Reconciling Ministries Network of United Methodists. Our congregation welcomes and celebrates the diversity of God’s creation by creating a community of faith where lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals find support and encouragement.

Among other things, as a Reconciling Congregation, every year our church takes great pride in affirming that we are all children of God. With heads held high and spirits ablaze we walk in NYC’s Gay Pride Parade.

Methodists in New Directions (MIND) is the New York chapter of RMN and SP&SA is an integral part of this organization. We recently signed as a congregation the Covenant of Conscience. This covenant is furthers our visible witness that we are congregation committed to justice and reconciliation for all persons, regardless of age, race, economic or marital status, gender or sexual orientation. If you want to know more about MIND’s work or our congregation’s reconciling work, Ms. Charlotte Patton, chair of RMN at SP&SA for more information.

Methodist Students and Young Adults for an All-Inclusive Church (MoSAIC) is an organization made up of college students, young adults, and seminarians working to make the United Methodist Church an all-inclusive congregation. The group primarily focuses on advocacy work at General, Annual, and Jurisdictional Conferences, asking the church to adopt more inclusive language and policies.

The MoSAIC group at SP&SA works closely with the Young Adult and Reconciling Ministries Committees and with other like-minded young adults from seminaries, universities, and churches of all denominations throughout the New York City area and across the country.

Order “This & That: More than a Cookbook”

admin — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:10:09 +0000

United Methodist Women is now taking orders for This and That: More Than a Cookbook. Filled with tasty recipes, creative craft ideas, mission stories and more, This and That makes the perfect gift for family, friends and yourself! The 140-page book written by SPSA members and friends is being sold Sundays at coffee hour after service.

Help Make Homework Fun

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:01:27 +0000

Homework Help is a Wednesday night tutoring program run by volunteers from SP&SA, members of B’Nai Jeshurun, and neighborhood residents. We work one-on-one with about 30 children ages 7 to 17 from neighborhood schools

Devotions

admin — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 19:35:39 +0000

Ash Wednesday, February 22 “Small Beginnings” Marie Moser

Focus Scripture: “For who has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubabbel.” Zechariah 4:10 Devotion: If you are reading this, you probably know what Lent is or you have a pretty close idea of what it is. Lent begins as a solemn time. We start off with Ash Wednesday when we burn last year’s palms and receive the mark of a cross on our foreheads. For some of us, this smudge of ashes may be a foreign ritual – one we may have seen our Catholic or Episcopal friends indulge in. In fact it was a complete surprise to me when this was done in SPSA, a Protestant congregation. I subscribed to the practice, a bit awkwardly, yet was grateful our service was held at nighttime when no one could really see me. With the addition of glasses and bangs covering my forehead, I was able to disguise my embarrassment. Ash Wednesday is just the beginning of our Lenten journey. It is one of those “small things” that go into making the season a time of reflection, ritual, and sometimes “self conscious” behavior that embraces a live donkey parading down the aisle of SPSA, foot washing on Maundy Thursday, the reenactment of the Via Dolorosa while carrying a large wooden cross through the streets of midtown Manhattan, and the celebration of Easter sunrise in Central Park. The culmination of Easter ends with liturgical dancing, children in festive dresses and Sunday best suits, exuberant hats, and the robust singing by choir and congregation of “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.” Small beginnings grow to forty days of preparation through several stages of the Christian life, from the familiarity of ritual to remembrance to resurrection.

Lenten Practice: Keep a written journal or a journal of photographs during Lent that reflect nature’s changes. Lenten Prayer: Pray for those who grow flowers in a window box or maintain community gardens.

Ash Wednesday Service tonight at 7:30 in the sanctuary.

Help Us Feed Our Neighbors in Need

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:23:43 +0000

The West Side Campaign Against Hunger (WSCAH) is an emergency food pantry that fulfills immediate need with dignity and offers a pathway to self-sufficiency. WSCAH treats its customers respectfully: they choose their own nutritious groceries from shelves in our supermarket-style pantry rather than receiving pre-packaged supplies. Last year WSCAH provided food for 790,767 meals to 87,863 people.

WSCAH relies on customers to volunteer toward running many aspects of our pantry, including stocking shelves and checking-out shoppers. Last year customers logged 18,548 volunteer hours.

WSCAH takes advantage of its emergency food-contact with its customers to connect them to long-term help. The five WSCAH social service counselors meet with customers and assist them toward programs that provide long-term solutions. Partnerships, onsite and off, assist counselors in helping customers. Onsite partners register clients for food stamps, free and low-cost family health insurance and many other services. WSCAH also offers job training, ESL classes, exercise classes and other wellness services. To find out more, go to wscah.org.

Youth Ministries

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:34:28 +0000

The Youth Ministry at SPSA is a vibrant, growing, active part of our life as a faith community. With over 15 youth ages 11 to 19 active in this ministry, we always have tons of things to do. All youth in grades 6th to 12th are invited to participate in our ministry.

Most Sundays at 1:00 pm, the YOUTH meet for lunch (provided by the parents), and then have some fellowship time before going to their respective older and younger youth Bible study groups. After we study the Bible, relate the stories to our daily lives, and have lots of fun, we come back together to say good bye for the day.

The YOUTH also have lock-ins every other month, an annual retreat, an annual Youth Sunday, a work/mission trip every other year, help with our Tutoring Program on Wednesday, bake wonderful cookies for our guests, collaborate with the women’s shelter, help with the nursery and Sunday school, and are active in every single part of the life of SPSA.

For more information contact our youth pastor Siobhan.

Some of the regular programs for YOUTH at SPSA are:

Open Youth Room on Wendesday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. When the young people can come into the youth room to study, play guitar, hang out with friends…

Youth Group on Sundays from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm for fellowship, lunch, and Bible study.

Lock-ins, one in the fall and one in the spring.

Heritage of Pride March NYC the last Sunday of June, celebrating our openness to all of God’s children

Work/Mission trip every other year.

Youth Group on Sundays from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm for fellowship, lunch, and Bible study.Lock-ins, one in the fall and one in the spring.Heritage of Pride March NYC the last Sunday of June, celebrating our openness to all of God’s children.Work/Mission trip every other year.