At about 7:15 PM, just as the May 26 neighborhood barbecue was winding down, the 15 or so people still on the front lawn were stopped in their tracks by the very loud pop pop pop of gunfire. The sound came from Mott Street and Michigan Market, shown below. Witnesses saw people running out of the store, chasing someone away from the church, down Mott. (Photo below). We learned later that a fifteen-year-old boy was shot. As far as we know, he is in critical but stable condition in the hospital.
We are living in a world of increased gun violence. No one is immune to it, but our church has experienced more than our share lately. Our Alderwoman, police officers, and state representatives are working hard to mitigate the risks.
Here is what we are doing to keep you safe:

• Our building has 24/7 video monitoring and a security system.
• Our leaders are vigilant in keeping doors locked when needed while maintaining access and hospitality on our grounds.
• Parking for families and children in our parking lot enhances the safety of our families.
• Michigan Market is on the radar of our civic leaders and police department. The level of crime surrounding it has been noted and is being responded to. Pastor Rebecca regularly communicates with our civic leaders about our concerns.

St Paul's is a community called to serve Carondelet. Our well-being is not rooted in a false sense of safety but in the confidence that God will never leave or forsake us. Jesus has invited us to be his people in this place, and here we continue to stand, proclaiming Jesus' gospel of hope, love, and transformation. While we remain vigilant, we will not let fear overcome our calling to be the church in this place.   -- Pastor Rebecca



A MESSAGE FROM DEACON BARBI
I have watched fear grab hold of some people at St Paul's for the last few months. The effects of recent gun violence in our parish’s neighborhood have been far too close for our comfort. For many of our parishioners, this is far from normal. Some of us live in areas where the sound of gunfire is simply not heard. Others live in neighborhoods where it is a common daily sound. These days, with so much gun violence both individually and in mass shootings, our heads are telling us to be very afraid.


 My biggest fear is that we might let this affect attending St. Paul’s. If you are considering this, I must ask these questions: Do you still go to the movies or to restaurants? Do you still gather at large venues -- concerts, picnics, the Mall, etc? Do you allow your child to go to school?


 If the answer to any of those questions is yes, then the next question is what is causing you to be afraid? Because mass shootings happen all the time. Every. Single. Day. Yet we have not changed any of our habits. This is a Heart Call to action. Gun violence affects people's lives in St Paul’s neighborhood every week, whether we are there or not. What will we as a neighborhood church do to help our neighbors, some of whom have no choice but to live there? This is a wake-up call for us, not to flee but to get to work.
​

 Jesus said, “Do not be afraid.” Jesus said, “Do not fear.” It’s not that we will never be afraid; the question is how will we face our fear. How will we walk faithfully, living and loving as Jesus did?
 
Love always, always Love.
Deacon Barbi

For St. Paul’s, our identity is summarized in our motto: Believe. Befriend. Be.Loved.  These values are reflected in the features common to all communities and enhanced by our faith in Jesus Christ.  
 
Like all communities, we share these characteristics:          Ask yourself...
 
Shared identity.   St. Paul’s community members share a sense of belonging defined by our common commitment to a life of faith expressed through liturgy and sacraments. We embody our faith by caring for our neighbors, the earth, and one another as we participate in worship and church activities. Where and how often do you participate? 
 
Interdependence:  Like every community, there are clusters of friend groups and family groups at St. Paul’s. There are also groups that gather for a common cause: Adult Formation, free-range choir, committees, and teams each provide mutual support.  Have you found your place for relationships?
 
Communication:  With the help of Metal Priestess, our communications specialist, we have gotten better at getting the word out about how we honor Jesus in worship and in action.  But we all need to be communicators!  Sharing prayer concerns, inviting friends, celebrating life events, and sharing opinions and ideas enriches us all and enhances our sense of being loved and belonging.  Communication is essential for building and maintaining relationships at St. Paul’s. Are you communicating your joys and burdens with the community? Are you feeling connected and informed?
 
Diversity: One of the sweetest things about a church community is the diversity of ages and the socio-economic status of its members. We are also diverse in our gifts and capacities.  As we grow in relationships, we learn to appreciate the gifts of those who are different from ourselves.  This is one of the key reasons Jesus so emphatically modeled inclusion as a discipleship practice. How are you honoring those different from you at St. Paul’s and intentionally befriending them?
 
Shared spaces: We have a beautiful worship space and parish hall. We have a lawn that accommodates barbecues and events. There are so many ways our spaces cultivate community.  What spaces do you use most and least (if you attend in person)?  What insights does that give you about your participation in community here?
 
Collective action: We regularly host neighborhood meetings, support air quality monitoring, and share resources with our neighbors in need. We have determined that serving the poor, and sharing food, books, and Narcan/Fentanyl test strips supports our values.  How else might we advocate for our community?
 
St. Paul’s is so important!  The Bible tells us that the church is the embodiment of God’s very self (I Corinthians 12:27)  That’s a high bar!  So often we don’t meet it. But when we do, we become a city on a hill, a beacon of light in darkness, hope bringers and the voice, eyes, hands, and ears of Jesus Christ in this world. Our job is crucial. 
 
Participating in a church community may feel optional, but for Christians, it isn’t.
 
We need each other, and the world needs us now more than ever.  I’m so glad to be with you in this community!  
 
God is at work among us, and the adventure is full of joy, hope and blessing. Thanks be to God.

Discernment is something we often talk about but easily misunderstand. The word isn't Christian jargon for decision-making.
Discernment considers not only THE decision but HOW the decision is made. It takes into account the following:

1.      The ways we behave around the process
2.      How we cooperate with others involved
3.       The information we gather (or prefer to ignore)
4.      Our personal (and congregational) history

Discernment is a process.

Almost always, there is a decision that must be made. There is no choice. Something must be done. Discernment is a choice to focus on the process and the decision. And that requires time and intention. As a community, it requires each of us. As we continue our discernment about what to do with Heigham House, here are things we need to commit to:

• Open ourselves to God's work in the process. If we have already decided for ourselves, we are closing ourselves off from what the community and the Holy Spirit might be doing. Opening ourselves means relinquishing our priorities and opinions and letting God lead.
• Open ourselves to learning. When we hear from all perspectives and learn about all possible options and their costs/benefits, we celebrate the richness of our options and have greater peace about the outcome. Soon, you will receive a link to all the information gathered so far about the house. You will receive updates as the teams collect more information. Please commit to staying informed.
• Choose to love over fear, distrust, and anxiety. For some of us, it's hard to live in the limbo of a decision. For others, it's hard to trust that others are acting transparently and with the same good intentions we have. Some just want it to be over; thank you very much. Wherever you fall, this is an excellent opportunity for self-reflection and growth – the beauty of discernment!  

 
Please hear me when I say this:
In the Heigham House decision, my only non-negotiable commitment is our shared spiritual growth. 


Yes, I have an opinion on what is best, and you've heard it because I'm your Rector. But the decision is the congregation's, not mine. The spiritual growth of each member of our community is my concern. And this kind of process is exactly where growth happens.  If you observe yourself acting up, take time to evaluate what is going on inside.

We love to discuss growing the church in numbers, but big congregational decisions are also crucial for our spiritual growth. 
​
As Christians, love is at the heart of our discernment. If we love one another (even those we disagree with), we'll not only get the decision made; we'll be a stronger and more faithful community. That's the real goal!


-- Pastor Rebecca

The live stream for Palm Sunday glitched out and the sermon was not recorded. Fortunately, it was written as if it was an excerpt from a book written in the future.  Here it is in written form. May you laugh, may you cry, may you find yourself in the story, and may you find your way to Jesus who loves you so much.

THE SERMON:

An excerpt from A Short History of the Second Coming by David Josephus. 

On December 25, 2026, Jesus Christ returned to earth. Around the globe, the event was experienced as a blinding flash, causing a sonic boom heard worldwide.  News outlets expounded on the event, and scientists searched for an explanation.

In the United States of America, the country on which this history focuses, the media obsessed over the economy and low consumer spending at Christmas, and few paid much attention.

It wasn’t until the following week that Americans began to take note.  A man entered a mega church in Texas and yelled that they had turned God’s house into a shopping mall. Then he grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed the coffee bar. The event was recorded and posted on social media and went viral as  #Jesus2.0.

Soon, the man had gathered followers. Everyone he encountered seemed to heal from something. The visible healings were captured on cell phones and also went viral.  Soon, he appeared and disappeared all over the country. News outlets stationed reporters around the country but supporting the public’s fascination proved difficult.  

This would-be messiah appeared all over the world.  There was much speculation about who he was and how he managed to travel so quickly. Conspiracy theories arose about who was financing him. Leaders suggested it was a hoax created by the Illuminate, the Republicans, the Democrats, the Chinese, or the enemy of choice.

Jesus 2.0, as people called him, became a sensation. Whenever and wherever he appeared, thousands of people hopped planes, jumped in cars, and hurried to be near him.  There were compelling reasons to believe he was who people claimed him to be. First was the infectious nature of the miracles. Wherever he went, healings of all sorts abounded. Thousand of videos found at #Jesus2.0 support this. 

Second, he said mysterious and enigmatic things remarkably like Jesus of Nazareth but also distinctive and unique. For example, at the Athens, Georgia, Botanical Garden, Jesus 2.0 healed a grove of Black Ash trees destroyed by the emerald ash borer. He spoke to those gathered as above them, leaves exploded into fullness on the branches. Every phone recorded him saying, “You are held in the embrace of your mother, in the blanket of her protection, in the life of her womb, do not forsake her.” 
 
Pundits and theologians went viral trying to explain or refute the meaning of his words. Pro-life conservatives printed T-shirts, as did Mainline Protestants, secularists, and members of the Wiccan community. 

Suffice it to say, the interpretation of his statement varied widely.

Similar to the historical Jesus from Nazareth, Jesus 2.0 kept company with outcasts.  Two drag queens were often seen in photos. One has subsequently written a best seller, entitled, The Gospel of Roxanne.  An IRS executive, a meth addict, and several formerly incarcerated people comprised his closest American disciples. 

Preachers and politicians attempted photo ops and appearances with him, but when they showed up, Jesus 2.0 repelled them.  When Pastor Constantine Exavier of Holy Savior, ASA 14,000, Fort Worth, Texas, arrived with his entourage, Jesus 2.0 immediately condemned him as an idolator. He said, “You worship a book, and for that, your hatred burns. Love is a fire that will never die.”

Pastor Exavier went on television and condemned Jesus as perverting hell into heaven.

 When the Presiding Bishop of a mainline denomination visited, Jesus 2.0 stepped behind a crowd of parents with their infants and never said a word to acknowledge her presence.  On the subject of Jesus 2.0, she was subsequently silent.

Jesus 2.0 offended everyone by the company he kept. No one could distinguish their friends from their enemies. 

That could explain why every partisan group recoiled from following him.  The Republicans rejected him for demanding more entitlements and hanging out with socialists. , and conservative Christians rejected his vague universalism and lack of Biblical authority. Both groups began accusing him of being a sham or the antichrist.  
By the end of the second year, most Conservatives lost interest. But Socialists, Pagans, Anarchists, Democrats, and Mainline Christians still flocked to every Jesus sighting. They hung on every word, tweeting and re-tweeting, flooding the internet and social media with Jesus' selfies and pithy but confusing quotes. 

However, it wasn’t long before Jesus 2.0 offended them too.

It began with a report released by the Pew Charitable Foundation providing the statistical frequency at which Jesus 2.0 performed miracles, for whom, and where.  They revealed that 75% of miracles and sightings happened in impoverished neighborhoods, with the vast majority of miracles happening to people of color.  

Soon after, an Instagram reel went viral. In it, Jesus 2.0 turns his back on an attractive well-heeled white woman after she has worked hard to push through the crowd to see him. She stands crying into the camera while behind her; Jesus 2.0 straightens the back of an elderly black man, who begins jumping up and down with joy.  Jesus disappears into the crowd, leaving her behind.  From the video, #so -unfair was born.

White people were disappointed with Jesus 2.0.  He did not meet expectations, and he insulted their leaders. Resentment grew, and Polls confirmed it. #so-unfair had 25,000 posts in its first week.

Within a year, most of those attending white mainline churches had lost interest in Jesus 2.0. 
In February of 2028,  a significant political event turned many toward Jesus 2.0 again: the President was preparing to dissolve social security. Liberals and even some Republicans, were up in arms.

When the streets filled with marchers, there was Jesus 2.0.  First in Los Angeles, then in Boston, Chicago, and St. Louis.  Polls showed Jesus 2.0’s popularity rise.  Protests signs read: “Jesus says keep Social Security!”  and, “I’m with 2.0.”  

For the historical record, we have no evidence that Jesus 2.0 said anything about Social Security, for or against. 

Nor, technically, did he protest the President.  Instead, he spoke quietly with the marchers and healed those who asked. 

Soon, organizers became annoyed.
They complained that he diverted people from the true purpose of the action. Instead of chanting and yelling, people were shushing each other so they could hear.

When the president invoked marshall law and imprisoned protesters in every major city, all eyes turned to Jesus 2.0. 

 It was spring and, coincidentally, the week of Palm Sunday.  The Christian Century and Christianity Today, churned out headlines predicting the return of the King. 
Although quite different, they shared a hope that this could be the beginning of the Biblical Millenium when Jesus 2.0 would establish the reign of God.

 The Tonight Show, the Daily Show, and even the PBS Newshour had special features and guests pondering the likelihood of a divine coup.  Saturday Night Live had its highest ratings in decades as Woody Harrelson and Alec Baldwin hosted the cold open posing as Jesus 2.0 and the president.

On  Sunday morning, Palm Sunday, 2028, at sunrise, social media notifications lit up with news that Jesus 2.0 was on the Washington Mall.  By 9 am, the stretch of lawn from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capital was full of people.  Former President Trump tweeted that attendance did not compare to his inauguration, but others disagreed.  

By noon, the press captured footage of Jesus 2.0 driving a borrowed all terrrain vehicle.  Tongues wagged about damage to the lawn, and speculation abounded about whose ATV it was.

Those in the crowd chanted “Je-sus for President, Je-sus for President!” and “Hosannah in the highest!”

Leaders took the stage to speak ardently about overthrowing the current government, and installing Jesus 2.0 as Divine King. They named universal access to miracles, the fulfillment of manifest destiny, and Jesus’ preference for Americans 
as clear indications of God’s allegiance to America.
 

Then Jesus 2.0 climbed off the ATV and stepped onto the platform.

The short speech he gave to the thousands gathered and the millions watching sealed his doom.

The transcript is included in the appendix and will not be provided here.  

However, we must name that the offense Jesus 2.0 gave was not one of commission but omission.  

He said nothing revolutionary or partisan. In fact, the most striking feature of the speech was its ordinariness. 

Adding to the disappointment, that very day, an explosive article was printed in the New York Post proving that Jesus 2.0 hadn’t arrived on Christmas Day 2026 during the sonic boom,  but was born 33 years ago to a single mom in Akron, Ohio.  His adoptive dad was a postal carrier. 
#bummer

Jesus 2.0 was arrested for fomenting insurrection and, the trial expedited.

Crowds gathered outside of the supreme court on, coincidentally, Good Friday.  When Justice Sotomayer presented the majority opinion, Jesus 2.0 stood beside her wearing an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs.
 
Millions watched on television.  Social Media blew up. Again, expectations rose.  Jesus 2.0 would fulfill his Millenial mission and supernaturally overthrow the government, establishing the reign of God.

But as the Justice read the majority opinion, nothing happened.

The thousands of people standing along the steps and extending along the road, the millions watching with bated breath, saw only a short, uninteresting man in handcuffs. They had expected a savior, a revolutionary, a flash of light and the start of divine supremacy.  
Instead, there was only the feint sound of the wind and the mundane noise of traffic.

They could not forgive him for being ordinary.

Rage and disappointment poured through the crowd and social media. The expectation for an overthrow was so high, the hopes for change so immediate, that Jesus 2.0’s silence and inaction
drew forth universal hatred. 
Polling afterward showed an astonishing 89% support for his execution - a historically bi-partisan opinion.

The crowd before the supreme court were mostly liberal democrats, mainline protestants, and left-leaning ideologues -- all  oppose the death penalty.  Yet, they cried out for blood.
 They had expected Jesus 2.0 to overthrow the government using power, but Jesus 2.0 did not do it. Either he refused to use supernatural force or he couldn’t.  For either reason, they hated him and wanted him dead, and the government complied.

On the day of execution, most of the American population was at church except those watching championship football or shopping the Easter sales.  Gallup polls showed very few people watched. Even in person, just a handful of people attended.  

The president tweeted, “Today, we’ve killed an enemy of the people, a terrorist to our country, and a curse on our American way of life. Good riddance.”

The most compelling image left from that day won the 2029 Pulitzer Prize. In it, a short Hispanic woman weeps as she presses against a young black who lifts his face to the sky; his mouth hangs open in an agony of grief. Behind, we see the familiar faces of Jesus’ closest followers. One holds a sign saying, “This is not the end!”

By Pastor Rebecca Ragland

REPORT FROM THE HH PRESERVATION COMMITTEEOn Friday February 8, the first committee meeting searching into the preservation of the Heigham House (HH) was held. Those present were: Mary Ellen Bell, Karen Watts, Angela Breeher, Debbie Myles, and Madeline Nader. we did a lot of brainstorming and decided the first thing to do was to have the house evaluated. Several ideas for the house were presented. These ideas are being researched by members of the committee and will be discussed at our next meeting. The committee also discussed the parking problem again. Several suggestions will be looked into.
-- Respectfully submitted Mary Ellen Bell


LETTER FROM CARONDELET HISTORICAL SOCIETYThank you for writing to us about your property at 6522 Michigan Ave. We understand the cost to keeping and maintaining a building built in 1894. However, the Carondelet Historical Society feels strongly that buildings and homes over 100 years old and especially those with owners who have been prominent residents of Carondelet ( Doering / Poepping ) should be protected. As you know once a property has been torn down it can never be replaced.
We hope you will consider this as you make your decision.
Sincerely,
Dave Bouchein
President Carondelet Historical Society



LETTER FROM CARONDELET COMMUNITY BETTERMENT FEDERATIONI’m sorry to say I am not in favor of demolishing the house and I don’t think you would have much luck getting a permit to do so. There are historic restrictions since it sits within the Carondelet National Historic District.
 Have you considered listing it for sale?
 Fred Hessel Jr.
Executive Director
Carondelet Betterment Foundation
​
 FROM THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESUnder Federal Law, the listing of a property in the National Register places no restrictions on what a non-federal owner may do with their property up to and including destruction, unless the property is involved in a project that receives Federal assistance, usually funding or licensing/permitting.

Sometimes it feels like the spiritual high of Christmas is followed by a black hole called January and February. The lights, carols, and baby Jesus get put away until next year, and it’s just bleh.

There are seasons in every life when God seems absent. What do we do in those times? How do we reclaim hope and joy? In the next few weeks, I’ll be exploring some strategies. Here is one: cultivate laughter.

​Laughter may just be our first form of prayer. Babies laugh months before they speak. Their laughter is fundamentally a connection to their high power – their parent! Studies have shown that the biggest gut buster for babies is Peekaboo. Learn More

Peekaboo is fundamentally about relationships.
I’m here for you. No, I’m not. Yes, I am! 
Hoo hoo ha ha ha! Hillarious!

Maybe God plays Peekaboo with us. Are we, God’s children, looking for the surprise return of God’s sweet presence? Are we confidently waiting and ready?

Laughter is relational. Ever feel the burn of someone else not laughing with you? I remember being in a theater, watching a movie that Scott and I found hilarious. We hooted with laughter until we noticed that no one else was offering even a chuckle. Awkward!

Laugher requires vulnerability. Nobody looks respectable when their mouth is agape, their head is thrown back, and they're making weird sounds. Cool! We need not take ourselves seriously.

Friend, if you feel the bleh, trust that God is still present and will suddenly show up to surprise you with joy. As you wait, cultivate laughter. God is your loving creator and parent, this game of spiritual peekaboo will end well!

-- Pastor Rebecca

The house was constructed in 1892.  According to the City, the parcel is zoned F commercial.

Thanks to the research of Stacey Smith, we now know when our current parking lot was installed.
In a 1987 Parish Profile created for a Rector search, the members identified parking as a significant issue in sustaining our growing membership. The report named the reluctance of members to move forward on addressing that need as a growth area.  Aerial photos show the current lot was installed 2004 - 2005, seventeen years later.

Thanks be to God, we have two groups gathering facts, and considering every possibility so we can discern whether to renovate and rent or remove and replace in a timely manner. 

​Liability of a Vacant House 
On Sunday, January 29, some members drove into our parking lot and saw a disturbing sight: A cluster of people were sleeping underneath an emergency blanket. On the step below them was what appeared to be a semi-automatic rifle. When Pastor Rebecca was alerted, she went out and woke them up. They were all familiar guests at our meals. The gun was a toy. The adjacent picture shows items they left behind. Several bags were abandoned under the porch. Pastor Rebecca worked with Barry to remove it all and clean the property of both trash and human waste.

Volunteer to move our discernment forward
Vestry member, Maryellen Bell has volunteered to lead the discernment work on Renovating/Renting the building. If you would like to join her, please get in touch with her or email the church. office@carondeletchurch.org.
Vestry member, Kathy Watts has volunteered to lead the discernment around Removing/Replacing the building with parking. If you would like to assist her, please get in touch with her or email the church.

At our Vestry retreat,  Feb. 18, 2023, we will create a timeline for the decision. Please continue to pray for the Holy Spirit’s leading! Let's love one another well through this process. To love one another is our highest call and most significant decision.

As we continue praying about the future, it might help to chart all the Pros and Cons of keeping or removing the Heigham House. Here is a chart for keeping the house: Pros (left column) and Cons (right column).

For those who favor razing the house and putting in parking, these are the next steps:

• Reach out to the Historical Society for a meeting or, at the very least, email to present our proposal.
• Reach out to the neighbors along the block - especially Dave and the other homeowners across the street. A letter and invitation to give feedback by calling, texting, or emailing one of us would be sufficient.

 
NB: Permission from the city will have to wait until after the decision is made and a bid is accepted. This is according to our Alderperson, Jimmy Lappe.
 
For those who favor renovating and renting out the house, these are the next steps:

• Find a partner who will commit to a long-term presence in the building and whose presence can generate income significant enough to cover loan repayment and add income to the general fund.
• Present this potential income-earning partner(s) to Vestry.
• Procure bids for renovation.
• Present the bids to Vestry. 
• Identify a member of the parish willing to commit to five or more years serving as a volunteer building manager.
• Identify alternative parking options.

If you are interested in joining a task force to take action on these steps, please email the office to let us know.  We will make sure you receive support and get connected with others.
 
God is working among us. Let’s continue to discern and pray.
Pastor Rebecca
 

For many years (I’m not exactly sure how long), St. Paul’s has had an annual budget deficit. We’ve survived because saints of old provided a bequest that enabled us to pull from our “savings” and replenish our “checking.”. We withdraw funds from the Diocesan Investment Trust (DIT) each year to pay our general expenses. In addition, we have been receiving $20 – 30 K annually from the Diocese to supplement my salary. 

When I began at St. Paul’s in 2018, we had a deficit of $66k that year. That was $66K withdrawn from the principal of our DIT. In the four years I have been Rector, we have managed to reduce the deficit year over year. For 2022, we hope to have reduced the deficit to c $50K. We’ve done this through increased pledge income and decreased spending. For 2023, our pledge income went down just a tad, and we’ve about hit the bottom of our capacity to reduce costs. We can’t cut more from our programming and facilities costs, and inflation is increasing.

Here is the bottom line: the parish cannot be sustained if we continue to live with deficit spending. At the current rate of deficit spending (c $50K yr), we will be forced to close our doors in about five years. That’s hard news. Hopefully, it’s not new information. But we’ve only really talked about our culture of deficit spending at the Annual Meeting. That's needs to change.

I see it like this: The ship of St. Paul’s is in iceberg water. We’ve got an iceberg straight ahead. If we don’t address it, we’ll hit it. If we hit it, we will have to abandon the ship. So, what do we do now to prevent that future?

As an immediate step, I have volunteered to reduce my hours. Beginning in 2023, I will be working three-quarters time. This reduction in hours will save us $22K. In a future essay, I’ll let you know more about what that will mean. Be assured it will not affect our community life.

Removing 6522 Michigan/Heigham House would eliminate $7K in annual fees for repairs, and utilities. It may also generate income from increased parish hall rentals.

These steps will not eliminate our deficit, but they will help.


However, we need all hands on deck. This is not a fearful situation. It’s an opportunity! We can pull together and watch what God will do! We have an on-time God who will provide for our needs according to God’s riches in glory (Phil. 4:19). We’re not abandoned, and we’re not alone. 


We have tons of resources as a community and in the Diocese. And the Holy Spirit guides us. Becoming financially stable is part of our growth process. 


In the coming weeks, you will receive another survey. It will ask you for ideas, thoughts, and solutions you may have about our situation. In the meantime, talk to your vestry or clergy about your feelings, views, and opinions. Please complete the survey about discerning the plans for Heigham House. And keep giving to St. Paul’s.


Jesus calls us to share this voyage and do all we can to ensure that our ship makes it across the sea on the last day. I pray we will be like those who have gone before us, invested and committed to keeping St. Paul’s as an inheritance for future generations. That’s part of the adventure!


--Pastor Rebecca