Rector Updates
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
From the Senior Warden
Farewell Celebration for Rev. Mark and Update on our Transition
Reminder that there will be a single service at 9:30 next Sunday, 4/27, followed by a reception in the Parish Hall to celebrate our time with Rev. Mark and to wish him a great retirement.
As we bid farewell to Rev. Mark on the 27th and enter our transition period toward St. Paul’s next Rector, here’s where we are now:
-During my initial meetings with the diocese, it has been advised that we plan for a supply priest at least through the Summer.
-We are very fortunate that our own Rev. Nancy Hauser and Rev. Mary Wilson have volunteered to serve in that role through August.
-Rev. Nancy will conduct most Sunday Services during that time. Rev. Mary Wilson will conduct Sunday Services on June 8 and August 24. That leaves June 15 and August 17. I’ll let everyone know when those two Sundays are filled.
-Also, please keep in mind that there are several other parishes actively searching for an interim priest as well as for a new rector.
Throughout our transition process, we will be working with Rev. Kellaura Johnson, Canon for Transition Ministry. Your Vestry will be meeting with Rev. Kellaura on Wednesday, May 7th. At that time, we will discuss our specific search timeline components such as selection of a temporary Rector, Parish Profile, HolyCow Parish Survey, Search Committee, and other pertinent matters. Joyce Davis and Tracy Meyer have produced a draft of our Search Committee Volunteer application which will be available at the appropriate time to interested volunteers.
Soon after we meet with Rev. Kellaura on May 7th, I’ll send out our next update. As questions or thoughts arise, please talk with me or any Vestry member. This is especially important because sometimes a question asked by one may be on the minds of many.
Hope to see everyone at our single 9:30am service on April 27th to thank Rev. Mark, to celebrate his time with us and to wish him a great retirement!
John Johnston, Senior Warden
Rector Page
(To read the latest sermons, check out the Sermon Page)
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
I thought I had written my last Epistle last week, but I want to take just a moment to thank all of you for the wonderful final Sunday. I’ve been looking through the notebook of memories and thoughts that you shared and I have shed a few more tears. I have enjoyed my time with you more than any other parish I have served. The hard part of retirement is leaving you, the people of St. Paul’s. You are a very special congregation.
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
This is my last Epistle at St. Paul’s. It is a bittersweet feeling as I write this. I am excited at some of what I will be doing in retirement and plans are still evolving. We have trips to England to see our granddaughter in late June and a trip to Greece and Turkey to see the places that Paul mentions. Mid May I will be going on an 8 day Ignatian Retreat in Louisiana as I take time to rest and pray about what is next. We are not leaving Katy but as many of you know we cannot attend St. Paul’s until at least a year after your new rector is called. I’m sure many Sundays we will be supplying at churches that don’t have a priest or the rector is on vacation or a sabbatical. But that will not be until the fall at the earliest.
I know in my heart that this is the time to step away, but my heart will always be with you the people of St. Paul’s. Your senior warden has things well in hand and I know you will support John as he leads you through the process. I am grateful that you will have Rev. Nancy as your supply through the summer. I know you will find comfort in her presence.
See you Sunday at 9:30!
Mark+
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Dear St. Paul’s Family:
After much prayer, discussion with Wendy, my spiritual director, people at Church Pension Group and the diocesan staff, including several of the bishops, I came to the conclusion last summer that as I approach 70 this summer that it was time for me to retire from full time ministry at some point in 2025. I had a discussion with The Rev. Christine Faulstich, Canon to Bishop Doyle, this fall about when was the best time to retire in terms of the search process and we agreed that the Sunday after Easter, April 27th will be my last Sunday as your rector.
This will allow time for Canon Faulstich along with the Rev. Kellura Johnson, Canon for Transition to get the search process started before summer so that by the end of summer you will be ready to move forward in discerning your new rector. My hope is to keep the interim as short as possible. Canon Faulstich will meet with the vestry Sunday March 9 after the 10:30 service to go over the next steps. She has been in conversation with senior warden John Johnston for the past month. In the next few months, you will hear from both of them with more details on the process.
I love this parish and all of you, but it is time to step back. I am still healthy but simply don’t have the energy after 20+ years, that I believe this parish needs at this time. I do believe that I was called to be here to get us through Covid even though none of us knew that in July 2019. We had other plans, but an experienced priest was needed to get St. Paul’s through the pandemic. We have recovered and have stabilized our budget and attendance and it is time to move forward. We, all of us, have started new ministries and opened new possibilities over the past couple of years. Now it is time for someone younger with a vision for mission to lead you, to help you grow into the parish I believe that God is calling you to be.
My plan now is to enjoy my time with you through Lent, a bishop visit, Holy Week and Easter. Then to travel with Wendy, play a lot of golf, continue my work with Virginia Seminary as a mentor/coach for clergy and eventually do supply work or maybe a part time interim.
I will miss you all. I am both sad and excited as Wendy and I start this next phase of our lives together.
God bless all of you. I will be praying for you as you search for your next rector.
Mark+