Middle School Boys, Mark Your Calendars! 
Join Tim on Saturday, May 17, for a showing of Prince Caspian at the theater in Bluffton. We’ll grab some greasy burgers and fries before we head home, too. Look for more details next week.

Food Drop-Off:  If you prefer, you may drop off your dish at the Waterfront Park before church. There will be a “drive-thru” drop-off table set up behind the Marina Office. Just drive up and someone will be there to take your dish. Remember to label your dish with your name. We ask that you please not bring your dish to the Parish Hall.

The audio from Saturday night, 2/23/08, by John Guest is now available for you -
Click Here

The Sermon by John Guest on 2/24/08 is now available for you -
Click Here

Baptism

Membership in the visible Church is bestowed by God’s action through the sacrament of Holy Baptism in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. People of any age may be baptized. If a person has been baptized by water (symbolizing spiritual washing and renewal) in the Name of the Trinity through the ministry of any Christian body, the Episcopal Church recognizes that baptism and does not require, or even permit, rebaptism unless there is strong doubt of earlier baptism.

Confirmation

The word “confirmation” is derived from confirmare, which means “to strengthen.” The Rite of Confirmation, the laying of apostolic hands on baptized believers, strengthens persons through the action of the Holy Spirit at the time they assume personal responsibility for their baptismal vows. Confirmed persons do not “join the Church.” They joined or, better, “were joined to” the Church in baptism. But now they publicly renew their promises to receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord and accept for themselves the responsibility for Christian belief and life previously accepted by others on their behalf. Then through the sacramental action of the laying on of the bishop’s hands, their status as mature and responsible members of the Christian community is signified.

In addition to the Rite of Confirmation for those baptized as children, the Church provides special forms for the bishop to use when admitting to the Episcopal Church persons who were confirmed in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches and for blessing persons who desire to re-affirm their baptismal vows.

To hold office in the Episcopal Church, you must be confirmed.

Letter of Transfer

If you are a member in good standing of another Christian church, a letter of transfer request form may be obtained in the office and sent to your former church.

Information collated from The Episcopal Church: Essential Facts.

Helping God’s People Manifest His Kingdom
through Discovery of their Spiritual Gifts and Effective Places of Ministry

Have you thought during quiet moments of reflection about the meaning and purpose to life, your life? Have you wondered what role joy and fulfillment should play in evaluating whether you have truly found your purpose? Have you yearned to do something that would “make a difference”? Do you realize that God has designed you for your own unique mission or path … and that joy, fulfillment, and purpose are only possible when you both know and are pursuing the path that God planned just for you?

St. Helena’s Department of Lay Ministry is available to assist you in considering these questions from a biblical perspective. We believe God places a desire to make a difference in our hearts and it is our joy to assist in helping you discover your path.

Our favorite way to help parishioners “discover” their answers is through LAMP: Lay Ministry Pathfinder. During our small group LAMP Discovery Weekend, offered three times a year, 12-15 men and women gather for meals, small group discussions, and engaging Bible study. We look at the biblical understanding of who we are in Christ, how we can be effective stewards of His grace, what spiritual gifts God has given so that His people may be cared for, His name glorified, and that the world may know Him. Participants discover their own spiritual gifts and their style (preferred way of working). They also discover, or begin to discover, their passion–that unique desire God has placed in their hearts. After completing Discovery, they meet with a LAMP coach who helps them assimilate their discoveries into a plan for pursuing their path.

This 10-hour series is usually held over the course of a Friday evening and Saturday day.  There is also a Thursday night series. Call Diane Hawkins at 522-1712, ext. 215, for dates of upcoming LAMP Discovery sessions.

Parishioners are also welcome to schedule time to meet with Diane Hawkins, Director of Lay Ministry, at any time by calling the parish office. Please, come, join us as together we discover who God has created us to be and how He reaches out in love through us!

Lectors and Lay Eucharistic Ministers

Lectors read lessons during the services. Lay Eucharistic Ministers have been trained and are licensed by the Bishop to assist with Holy Communion. They also read the prayers.

Contact: Shirley Parsons,  524-7382 o

Altar Guild/Flower and Wedding Committees

The Altar Guild is divided into six committees working two months in each year. The Flower Committee arranges the flowers for the altar and side altar. The Wedding Committee is a small group of women who are assigned on a rotating basis to help couples with their weddings. They consult with the bride and direct the rehearsal and the wedding.

Contact: Jean McCaleb, 524-2421
Mary Royalty, 838-7500
Isabel Fulton, 525-6093

Ushers assist the clergy and congregation at  worship services, funerals, and other occasional  events. They serve an average of once a month.

Contact: Bob Hartzog, 525-9205

Acolytes

Young people, age 11 through high school, serve as acolytes in the procession and at the altar during Sunday services. At times, they are also asked to serve at weddings, funerals, and other special services.

If you are interested in serving the Lord in this special way,
If you would like to be a Crucifer (the person that carries the cross),
If you would like to be a server at the altar, assisting with the service,
If you would like to serve at weddings and other special ceremonies of the church, and,
If you are 11 years old, or older, and haven’t completed high school,
Then call John Barber at 525-1316 about joining the acolytes of St. Helena’s.

Contact: John Barber, Acolyte Master, 525-1316, Frank Axmann, Assisting, 524-5158

The 6:00 p.m. service of Holy Eucharist is for anyone who prefers a more casual liturgy and music. Whether you’ve just spent the day on the river, getting back into town, or looking for a new church home, come just as you are! After the service join us for pizza, fellowship, and Bible study. Volunteer opportunities abound assisting clergy as readers, Lay Eucharistic Ministers, altar guild, ushers, and the hospitality committee.

Contact: Nancy Pickering, 986-1153

Adult Discipleship Brochure

Church Office:
507 Newcastle Street
Beaufort, South Carolina  29902

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1043
Beaufort, South Carolina  29901

Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Phone: (843) 522-1712
Rectory: (843) 524-6301