Dear St. Paul’s family, In a couple of weeks we will come to the beginning of a new church year and the Advent season will be upon us. Conveniently for the makers of Advent calendars, the season actually starts on December 1 this year. (That is Thanksgiving weekend, in case you are wondering). It’s been … READ MORE…
Almost every Thursday I preside at the noon Eucharist in our chapel, and almost every time we celebrate the life of a saint, someone whose life and perhaps death reflected their love of God in Christ through devotion, faith, and courage. In the Episcopal Church we don’t require evidence of miracles, only that someone demonstrated … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s family, I want to share with you some information about our cathedral finances. While money is rarely a favorite topic of conversation in the church, it is crucial that we manage your gifts in a responsible manner and that we practice transparency. Our accounting practices have come a long way in the … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s family, If you’ve ever been involved in a home improvement project of any size, you know that nothing goes according to plan. Our current Cathedral Campus Redevelopment Project is no exception. As you must have noticed, there is significant work being done in the Great Hall building: our development partner Greystar is … READ MORE…
When you hear Scripture stories, do you ever get pictures in your head? The parable of the unjust judge and the feisty widow conjures up a vivid image for me, of a tiny woman, beside herself with righteous indignation, shaking her walking stick in the face of the pompous judge who is peeking out of … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s family, As you know, almost every Sunday of the year (except during Advent and Lent) we enjoy a beautiful flower arrangement in front of the pulpit. These arrangements are far from free, and we welcome donations from parishioners to mark special occasions such as anniversaries or other special intentions. Penelope Smith creates … READ MORE…
When I graduated from high school, one of the things I remember happening first was feeling a sense of wonder. Because out of nowhere, people who I did not know started sending me money. I was amazed. But that was followed shortly by prodding from my mother: “have you written your thank you notes yet?” … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s family, Our former staff member David Tremaine recently published a version of this letter on the diocesan network. It’s a helpful reflection on our lifelong work of formation. Enjoy! Your sister in Christ, Penny What is Formation? The first question to ask when defining what we are doing in “Formation” is “Who … READ MORE…
“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it.” This week I attended our annual clergy conference in Temecula. Driving back on Wednesday, along the Temecula Parkway, I noticed a billboard looming over the highway. In enormous letters it said YOU GOTTA TRY THIS CHURCH! And underneath were service … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s family, One of the most successful cathedral ministries is our Women Together program, which was first envisioned by Nancy Tarbell ten years ago and now regularly welcomes between 60 and 90 guests at each of its monthly dinner and speaker meetings. It is an all-volunteer ministry, with a committee structure designed by … READ MORE…