Rector Page

(To read the latest sermons, check out the Sermon Page)

May 3, 2023

A BIG THANK YOU! Thank you to all who helped with the bishop’s visit. A huge thank you to Stacie for organizing the dinner and for her and Chako for providing the fabulous brisket that was the main course.

ADULT AND CHILDREN’S FORMATION: Will meet this week at 9:15. Adult formation will continue the “What Paul really said about women” presentation.

NEIGHBORHOOD GARDEN: As part of Bishop Hector’s visit he blessed the garden. Hector was very impressed by the many outreach programs that we are involved in. Click here for video update.

CALLING ALL ACOLYTES, EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS, LAY READERS AND USHERS: Now that we are past Easter there are quite a few open spots in our Sunday service schedule please click here to log in and claim your spot.

ORDINATION OF LE ANNA BRUN: Le Anna will be ordained a transitional deacon on June 24th at 10:00 a.m. at the Cathedral downtown. The service will be livestreamed. Watch for details as we get closer. Joyce Davis and I will attend in person as her sponsors.

April 26, 2023

THE BISHOP IS COMING: Reminder that this Saturday, April 29th, Bishop Hector will be joining us at 5:00pm for his annual visitation to the parish. We will baptize 3 new members and Confirm 2 adults. All are invited even if you haven’t signed up. We would like a full church for the bishop. Please click here for potluck sides needed We do need several volunteers as acolytes and chalice – see below.

ONE SERVICE APRIL 30: Because of the service Saturday night we will have one service Sunday morning at 9:30am. It will be a Rite 1 service but we will have music.

ADULT AND CHILDREN’S FORMATION: Because of the single service on Sunday, the formation classes will not meet.

NEIGHBORHOOD GARDEN UPDATE: Click here to see a video from last Sunday and see what Josh our gardener has been doing on this great project.

OUTREACH VOLUNTEERS: The Outreach Counsel is gathering information about where church members currently volunteer their time. The purpose of this effort is twofold. First, we’d like to have a better understanding of the various outreach opportunities available in our community. Second, this will allow us to acknowledge the work being done by St. Paul’s members in the community at our Outreach Sunday event scheduled for October 29th. There will be a form in the Narthex this Sunday to fill out or email Joyce Davis directly to have your volunteer efforts included.

April 19, 2023

THE BISHOP IS COMING: Reminder that next Saturday April 29 Bishop Hector will be joining us at 5:00pm for his annual visitation to the parish. We will baptize 3 new members and Confirm 2 adults. There will be a dinner and reception afterwards in the Parish Hall. Please click here for potluck sides needed. We do need several volunteers as acolytes and chalice – see below.

ONE SERVICE APRIL 30: Because of the service Saturday night we will have one service Sunday morning at 9:30am. It will be a Rite 1 service but we will have music.

ADULT AND CHILDREN’S FORMATION RETURNS: We will return this Sunday with a series on What Paul really said about women in the bible. Over the next several weeks we will look at some of the famous verses about women and get the real story behind them. Children’s Chapel and Sunday school for our young folks returns this week as well.

SPRING CLERGY CONFERENCE: Mark is at the spring clergy conference Tuesday-Thursday this week at Camp Allen. Bible Study and Wednesday theology lunch will resume the following week.

April 12, 2023

MANY THANKS TO ALL: Thank you to all of you who made Holy Week happen. Altar Guild for the work all week long and the beautiful altar for Easter. Fellowship for helping with the Maundy Thursday dinner and service. Stacie Perez and family for spending almost as much time at church as I did. Everything from the dinner to Easter Egg Hunt, providing the Easter bunny and then running the livestream Easter morning. To Laura B and all her help with the Easter Egg hunt. To the choir and music staff for the wonderful music all week long. And of course to all who helped with the worship, lectors, acolytes, eucharistic ministers. And finally to the Adcocks for the wonderful champagne reception after the Easter Vigil. If you didn’t come you missed a great service and wonderful reception. The participation of so many people warms my heart and I am truly grateful. This is what makes us a great parish.

ADULT AND CHILDREN’S FORMATION RETURNS: We will return this Sunday with a series on Women in the Bible. Over the next several weeks we will look at women in both the old and new testament. Children’s Chapel and Sunday school for our young folks returns this week as well.

SPRING CLERGY CONFERENCE: Mark will be at the spring clergy conference Tuesday-Thursday next week at Camp Allan. Bible Study and Wednesday theology lunch will resume the following week.

April 5, 2023

MAUNDY THURSDAY APRIL 6 It’s not too late to sign up for the Maundy Thursday service. Even if you don’t sign up, come anyway! We will start in the Parish Hall for an Agape Meal and the first half of the service with foot washing. After that we will move to the church for the last communion of Holy Week and the stripping of the altar. The meal and foot washing is great for families. We will have several stations and each family can wash the feet of their members. Sign up here for the agape meal.

EASTER VIGIL: The Easter Vigil will start outside under the canopy at 7:30. You will want to get a candle as we will light them from the new fire that will be kindled outside at the start of the service. Then we will process into the church. We have 2 baptisms scheduled for that evening and a special reception afterward. The Rev. Wendy Wilkinson will be joining us to play trumpet for this service. Stay and join us after the Vigil for the Alleluia Extravaganza celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. We will be having a champagne toast and small desserts.

EASTER EGG HUNT: The Easter Egg Hunt sill start at 9:45am. Meet in the parish hall. This event will happen rain or shine. We will have a wet weather plan in place!

SPRING GROUNDS DAY: THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP: Thank you to all who showed up and got the playground in great shape.

NO ADULT FORMATION: Adult Christian formation will not meet Easter. We will return the Sunday after Easter with a series on Women in the Bible.

EASTER APPEAL: Please prayerfully consider an additional Easter gift to our operating funds. We are doing better than anticipated so far this year and we want to keep our income up to meet our expenses. We are keeping as tight a lid on our spending as possible, but we need your gifts to keep us growing. Click here for a word from our Senior Warden.

March 29, 2023

THANK YOU: Thank you to all who expressed concern for my health. I’m not exactly sure what happened last Sunday. I was absolutely fine at 8:00 and then dizziness and nausea hit me at 10:15. I still think a reaction to an antibiotic may have had something to do with it. I tested negative for COVID Sunday afternoon and everything else was normal. Talked with my doctor. I have been taking it easy for the first part of the week, working from home some so I’m sure to be fully recovered for all the events of Holy Week.

SPRING GROUNDS DAY: April 1 We really need your help!!! No fooling, we will have a spring clean up day. Besides general grounds work the playground needs some attention. Families are invited to help us with some mulch and other projects. Please bring rakes to help respread the mulch and possible spread some new mulch.

NO ADULT FORMATION: Adult Christian formation will not meet Palm Sunday or Easter. We will return the Sunday after Easter with a series on Women in the Bible. This Sunday please come at 10:00 to enjoy Dr. Oby’s performance-see below.

PALM SUNDAY 8:00: We will begin outside under the overhang for the blessing of the palms and then process into the church (weather permitting). I still need 3 readers for the passion story.

THE LIFE OF CHRIST: On Palm Sunday at 10am in the sanctuary, we invite you to The Life of Christ (arr. Roland Hayes) with Dr. Jason Oby. This celebrates the day of the moveable feast that commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Join us on a spiritual journey through Life of Christ and other spirituals that sings to the divinity that lies with each human being.

PALM SUNDAY 10:30: After Dr. Oby’s 10:00 prelude we will move to the labyrinth for the liturgy of the Palms followed by a procession into the church.

MAUNDY THURSDAY APRIL 6: I am planning to do the same Maundy Thursday service as last year. We will start in the Parish Hall for an Agape Meal and the first half of the service with foot washing. After that we will move to the church for the last communion of Holy Week and the stripping of the altar. The meal and foot washing is great for families. Families with young children who cannot stay for the entire service, can come for the meal and foot washing and leave when needed. We will have several stations and each family can wash the feet of their members. Sign up here for the agape meal.

EASTER VIGIL: Stay and join us after the Vigil for the Alleluia Extravaganza celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. We will be having a champagne toast and small desserts.

March 22, 2023

SPRING GROUNDS DAY: April 1 No fooling, we will have a spring clean up day. Besides general grounds work the playground needs some attention. Families are invited to help us with some mulch and other projects. Please bring rakes to help respread the mulch and help get the playground and other areas looking good for Easter.

EPISCOPAL 101: Sunday will be a video on the English church during the reformation and then how we formed the Episcopal Church after the American Revolution.

ARE YOU READY: This Sunday is the final session in the series – Wills, POAs and other needed documents. More information below.

SAVE THE DATE: Maundy Thursday, April 6th: Looking ahead to Holy Week I am planning to do the same Maundy Thursday service as last year. We will start in the Parish Hall for an Agape Meal and the first half of the service with foot washing. After that we will move to the church for the last communion of Holy Week and the stripping of the altar. The meal and foot washing is great for families. We will have several stations and each family can wash the feet of their members. Sign up here for the agape meal.

March 15, 2023

SPRING GROUNDS DAY AND PALM CROSS: April 1 No fooling, we will have a spring clean up day. Besides general grounds work the playground needs some attention. Families are invited to help us with some mulch and other projects. Please bring rakes to help respread the mulch and possible spread some new mulch. We will also have Palm Cross Making in the Parish hall. All activities will begin at 9am.

EPISCOPAL 101: This Sunday we will finish up on the instructed Eucharist. Then we will look into the prayer book about baptism and confirmation. BTW there are quite a few folks in the class who are already confirmed but are learning new information. The following Sunday will be a video on the English church during the reformation and then how we formed the Episcopal Church after the American Revolution.

ARE YOU READY? Session two is the Dementia Umbrella. A speaker from Amazing Place will give us an overview of dementia and information on programs that they offer to support memory and memory care givers. Just let Jennifer know that you are planning to attend.

LENTEN QUIET DAY: Wendy and Mark will offer a Lenten Quiet Day retreat this Saturday, March 18th from 9:00am-1:00pm. This will be a time of prayer, guided meditation closing with a Eucharist. Time will be provided to walk the labyrinth and the Stations of the Cross.

BAPTISM DATES: Easter is a traditional baptism date. We will have a Vigil Service on Saturday night before Easter and that is the preferred service but we can also do it at the 10:30am on Easter morning. The other Baptism date is April 29th with Bishop Monterroso. See the next article for details on the bishop’s visit. We have baptisms scheduled for all of those days so just let us know if we need to add your name to the list.

SAVE THE DATE: Maundy Thursday April 6 Looking ahead to Holy Week I am planning to do the same Maundy Thursday service as last year. We will start in the Parish Hall for an Agape Meal and the first half of the service with foot washing. After that we will move to the church for the last communion of Holy Week and the stripping of the altar. The meal and foot washing is great for families. We will have several stations and each family can wash the feet of their members.

SAVE THE DATE, THE BISHOP IS COMING: Bishop Monterroso will be making his visit to our parish on SATURDAY April 29th at 5:00pm. He will be baptizing and confirming members at that service. If you would like to be received or confirmed in the Episcopal Church, please contact Mark.

March 8, 2023

EPISCOPAL 101: This Sunday will be an instructed Eucharist. How is our service designed and why do we do what we do on Sunday? Come join me and find out. BTW there are quite a few folks in the class who are already confirmed but are learning new information. The following Sunday will be a video on the English church during the reformation and then how we formed the Episcopal Church after the American Revolution.

ARE YOU READY? First session on funerals and funeral planning will be this Sunday at 5pm. There is still room for additional people for any of the programs. Just let Jennifer know that you are planning to attend.

LENTEN QUIET DAY: Wendy and Mark will offer a Lenten Quiet Day retreat Saturday, March 18th from 9am-1pm. This will be a time of prayer, guided meditation closing with a Eucharist. Time will be provided to walk the labyrinth and the Stations of the Cross.

SAVE THE DATE, THE BISHOP IS COMING: Bishop Monterroso will be making his visit to our parish on SATURDAY April 29 at 5pm. He will be baptizing and confirming members at that service. If you would like to be received or confirmed in the Episcopal Church, please contact Mark.

WELCOMING VISITORS: We are having a wonderful number of visitors over the past few weeks. You all do a wonderful job, but please be extra conscious of making visitors welcome. If they seem to be confused by our service help them out if they would like the assistance. Encourage them to fill out a visitor card and help them meet me or the Vestry on Duty.

March 1, 2023

SCOUT SUNDAY THIS WEEK: This week we want to acknowledge the Boy and Girl Scout troops that we sponsor. Members of the troops will be in attendance, helping out with readings, in the procession and as ushers. Scouting is a very important program for our parish and community.

EPISCOPAL 101: For those wishing to be confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church we will be starting an Episcopal 101 class this Sunday. We will cover a wide variety of topics with more of a focus on church history for a couple of the sessions. Join us at 9:15am Sundays in Lent.

ARE YOU READY?: Please be sure to sign up for these three important sessions. See details below or on the handout in the narthex.

BAPTISM DATES: Easter is a traditional baptism date. We will have a Vigil Service on Saturday night before Easter and that is the preferred service but we can also do it at the 10:30am service on Easter morning. The other upcoming Baptism date is April 29th with Bishop Monterroso. See the next article for details on the bishop’s visit. We have baptisms scheduled for all of those days so just let us know if we need to add your name to the list.

SAVE THE DATE, THE BISHOP IS COMING: Bishop Monterroso will be making his visit to our parish on SATURDAY, April 29th at 5pm. He will be baptizing and confirming members at that service. If you would like to be received or confirmed in the Episcopal Church, please contact Mark. There will be a confirmation class during Lent in preparation during the 9:15am formation time.