CHURCH LIFE IN ST. PAUL’S PARISH

St. Paul’s Church, the only church in St. Paul’s Parish, reflects both the colonial past and the diverse current population. Members and attendees are made up of families with a long tradition in the area as well as those who have recently made the area their home for work or retirement. Many of the members have embraced the Anglican community by joining the Episcopal Church as adults, some having been members of other faiths.

The following paragraphs describe the present ministries of St. Paul’s Church. It is recognized that all areas of parish life are subject to some change. Not only will the parish accommodate the change inherent in a new rector, but will be receptive to the logical changes that accompany growth.

Liturgy and Music We believe that worship is central to our life and ministry as a parish and we believe Christian ministry begins with worship: we gather as the community of faith to worship, to pray, to give thanks, to be strengthened in Word and Sacrament; we are then sent forth in the name of Christ to love and to serve one another.

We currently offer a Holy Eucharist service on Sunday at 10:00 AM. A midweek Holy Eucharist is celebrated on Wednesdays. With the calling of our new priest, we believe we will be in a better position to consider offering additional services on Sunday and at other times during the week and also to be more creative in our liturgical practices by taking full advantage of the richness and variety of the Book of Common Prayer. We are eager to learn more about our liturgical tradition and the Book of Common Prayer and are hopeful our new priest can provide the liturgical leadership needed to move us forward. Our worship would simply not be possible without the involvement of many dedicated lay ministers, a superb altar guild, enthusiastic lay readers, acolytes and a faithful group of ushers.

Music is an important element in the worship at St. Paul’s. We have a variety of musical offerings. The Cherub Choir for the very young sings during a Sunday service monthly. Every week throughout the school year the Adult Choir, composed of 12-15 adults and teens, sings primarily classical anthems and leads the congregational singing.

Our music is beautifully complemented by a two manual, twelve rank, pipe organ installed by Lewis and Hitchcock Organ Company in 1961 and updated in 1981 by one of our own parishioners, Mr. James R. Gros.

Christian Education
St. Paul’s has a very active Sunday school for children and is blessed with eight dedicated teachers. We have over 30 students divided into four classes (pre-kindergarten, primary, intermediate and teen). It follows the 9:30 AM service and coffee hour and is concurrent with the adult class. A nursery is provided during Sunday service and for most other services. A men’s Bible Study group meets on Tuesday mornings at 7:00 am.

The Opportunity Shop
The Opportunity (OPP) Shop, which sells donated clothing and household items priced very inexpensively or free for those in need, has filled a continuing need in the county for almost 20 years. Dedicated members work at two OPP Shop locations for many hours each week, aided by volunteers including many from other denominations. In 2002, the OPP Shop contributed approximately $50,000 locally, regionally and internationally.

St. Paul’s Masterworks Chorus
The St. Paul’s Masterworks Chorus is a well-established musical tradition and involves numerous musicians throughout the wider community. Founded and directed by the organist/choirmaster of St. Paul’s, it is comprised of 50 senior choristers from 34 area churches of many denominations and gives two concerts a year of sacred classical literature. The 40 junior choristers from 12 area churches present their own musical offerings at two concerts a year and thereby glimpse, at a young age, the works of great choral masters.

Episcopal Church Women (ECW)
The ECW is very active in many areas of the church, such as the hostess and kitchen committees, altar guild and the Spring and Fall United Thank Offering.

St. Paul’s Parish administers St. Paul’s Church. Its congregation maintains this eighteenth century church with support from the St. Paul’s Restoration and Preservation Association, an historic preservation organization. The original 1840’s rectory has been modified and enlarged to provide a large parish house with provisions for general congregational and many community organizational uses, Sunday school, nursery and offices for the rector and parish secretary.