Sunday Coffee "Happy" Hour

Coffee Hour at St. Paul's has been nicknamed "Happy" hour for its abundance and generosity of spirit. A long-standing tradition, it provides an opportunity where people gather each week following the 10:15 a.m. (or 9:30am in the summer) Solemn Eucharist for fellowship, hot and cold beverages, and light refreshments. It also offers hospitality to our frequent guests and a way to meet and connect with the community. We are blessed with wonderful coordinators of this special ministry and with the generous donations from parishioners each week. Coffee "Happy" Hour is a pot-luck occasion; following Sunday worship, be sure to come for a few minutes to catch-up with one another. To help with set-up, refreshments, or clean-up, contact Liz Skaleski or Linda O'Shaghnessy.

Evangelism

Evangelism is all about sharing the Good News of salvation found in the Gospels. Another way of looking at it is to understand that evangelism happens as “one poor beggar tells another poor beggar where to find bread.” Our Evangelism Ministry at St. Paul’s is one of invitation and one which respects the pace of the individual. We are committed to welcoming all those seeking a church community in which to explore, discover, or deepen faith and connection to the Holy. Our Greeters, Ushers and Hospitality ministers are icons of the Radical Welcome that permeates the spirit of the St. Paul’s community. We are equally committed to sharing the many gifts God has given us and in welcoming the gifts and interests that God has given you. Some of us have found nourishment in varied opportunities for worship. Others find it in the accessibility of our grounds, garden and labyrinth or a visit to Angel’s Book Nook, our onsite bookstore. Still others find it in a variety of opportunities for fun & fellowship. What you can be assured of is that we are here to help you become acquainted and integrated into God’s abundance, both as receivers and as givers of God’s grace. And, we trust enough in God to all that to happen on yours and God’s timetable!

Good Shepherds and Good Samaritans

Our Good Shepherds and Good Samaritans ministries take their example from the images of Jesus as the Good Shepherd and from the familiar story that asks us to consider who our neighbors are and how we might care for them.

Good Shepherds serve as guides and companions to newer members, introducing them and helping them find their way into the common life of St. Paul’s. They offer a personal visit to share Welcome Packets and are available as a helping hand through worship, and at coffee hour following worship, engaging guests and newcomers in conversation and introducing them to others. Shepherds are available for follow-up phone or email conversations to help with assimilation into St. Paul’s, as desired.

Some Good Samaritans offer rides to and from St. Paul’s to those without transportation or otherwise in need of assistance. Other Good Samaritans cook and freeze casseroles for those with a need for nourishing food during or following an illness, hospital stay, or other difficulty.

If you would like to participate in these ministries, either serving or receiving, or would simply like some more information, contact Anne Watkins, Associate for New Member Ministry or Wally Frey, Coordinator of our Good Shepherds. To connect with our Good Samaritans, please contact Glenn Shephard or Deacon Elena Barnum.

Small group Fellowship

One of the ways we come to know each other better is through small groups designed for fellowship and conversation. Sunday Cocktails, St. Paul’s on the Town, our Prayer Shawl Ministry and Tuesday Night Prayer Group offer several ways for you to do that – on and off the church grounds.

Sunday Cocktails

Most every Sunday, an informal group of parishioners and friends of St. Paul’s gather off-site for cocktails, soft drinks, light h’ors d’oeuvres, and lively conversation. The numbers attending vary from week to week and include a diverse mix of people, as is indicative of the membership of the parish. It is primarily aimed at adults – of all ages. Location and directions are distributed weekly via email. To be included on the distribution list, contact us.

St. Paul’s on the Town

On occasion, arrangements are made for groups of parishioners to meet for “dinner on the town” at local restaurants – often one of the rector’s favorites! The location is announced in advance, reservations are taken and each person covers his/her own beverage and dinner bill. If you are interested in learning more about “On the Town” events contact us.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

On alternate Mondays from 12:00noon to 2:00pm, a growing group of people who knit or crochet gather for a brown-bag lunch, prayer, craft and fellowship. Following a simple pattern, prayer shawls are knit or crocheted for various people in need. If you don’t already know how to knit or crochet, we can teach you! For more details, or to receive a copy of the pattern so that you can knit or crochet at home, contact Susan Kraus.

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