Let’s start with a pop quiz: imagine that I say something in this sermon that you find disturbing or offensive, or even (God forbid) boring. What is your response? Do you a) make an appointment to meet with me and talk about it; b) write a letter to the bishop about it; or c) complain … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s family, One of our core ministries is that of music, and we are justifiably proud of our choirs. Here are some reflections on being a chorister from John Peeling, who has sung in our choir since 1963. When I was a young child we lived in an apartment right across the street … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s Family, One of the responsibilities of Chapter is to ensure faithful stewardship of our financial resources. Treasurer Betsey Monsell offers an introduction to our Enduring Gifts funds. As we celebrate our 150th anniversary this year, we remember those who have left lasting legacies to St Paul’s Cathedral Enduring Gifts (endowment funds) so … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s family, Chapter recently chartered a Buildings & Grounds Committee (“B&G,”) as one of the standing committees of the Cathedral. Mark Lester has graciously agreed to serve as chair. Here is Mark’s introduction to the mission and scope of the committee. The traditional responsibilities of Chapter center on what are sometimes called “the … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s family, One June 30 we will celebrate the graduation of three parishioners from the Education for Ministry program. Below is a reflection that Mark Patzman has written on EfM, entitled Finding Your Ministry Through Community. Ten years ago, this month, I first came to the Cathedral following a 20-year plus hiatus from … READ MORE…
This week we will observe the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which marked the moment when LGBTQ people in this country launched a Herculean effort of breaking down homophobia across the land, an effort that continues today. PBS has been running a documentary called the Lavender Scare, about the appalling persecution of government employees … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s family, Many of you attended at least one of our lovely Summer Social gatherings last year. They were hugely successful and now it’s time for the next step. We are already seeing some construction around the cathedral campus, and it’s going to become more and more important to bring cathedral folks together … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s family, One of the foundations of our Anglican tradition is the Daily Office, which means the short services of Scripture and prayer that all Episcopalians can do at different times of the day. For centuries, Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer have been said daily in cathedrals, and St. Paul’s is no exception. … READ MORE…
Is there no limit to the interesting situations Paul and Silas find themselves in? In today’s story, we have a fortune-telling slave girl possessed by a spirit who just won’t leave them alone. The passage says she had a “spirit of divination.” The Greek word in the original text for “divination” is POOTHian which sounds … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s family, Since early April, when we announced our plan to right-size the budget, plans have been underway to provide for the continuation of our Spanish-language ministry and our formation programs, after we lose Fr Carlos and David Tremaine. In this letter I want to update you on the Spanish-language plans. I am … READ MORE…