Dean’s Letter: Ten Years of Marriage Equality

Hello St. Paul’s, On June 26, 2015 I was in Phoenix, on the last leg of a cross-country trip with my son. We were at a gas station early that morning when my son’s watch beeped with the news that the Supreme Court had decided in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage across the nation. As … READ MORE…

Music Update

Hello St. Paul’s, As we head into the summer months, we want to update you on the cathedral’s music ministry. As you know, our choirs are sounding magnificent this season, perhaps the best in a long time. This is due in large part to the presence of our staff singers. We do our best to … READ MORE…

Dean’s Letter: Ascension, Rogation, Pentecost

Hello St. Paul’s, As the Easter season comes to a close, the Church celebrates Rogationtide, Ascensiontide, and Pentecost. The Rogation Days are traditionally observed on the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday following the Sixth Sunday of Easter. This year that would have been May 26-28. Rogation is a word meaning prayer, but over time the Rogation … READ MORE…

Dean’s Letter: Three Holy Days

Hello St. Paul’s, By now we are well into Holy Week, the center of our year and our faith. We have celebrated the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and we have meditated deeply on the mystery of his Passion, as recounted by St. Luke. Now we turn to the Triduum, the three holiest days. … READ MORE…

Dean’s Letter: Palm Sunday

Hello St. Paul’s, It seems like just the other day that we were imposing ashes and launching into the season of Lent, but here we are already on the verge of Holy Week, the center and heart of our year. Palm Sunday is a complicated day that attempts to commemorate not only the entry of … READ MORE…

Dean’s Letter: Hearing Scripture

Hello, St. Paul’s. One of my favorite Collects goes like this: “Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life …” We hear it … READ MORE…

Dean’s Letter: The Shape of Our Liturgy

Hello St Paul’s, Anyone who attends an Episcopal Sunday service more than once or twice knows that we have a certain structure to our worship services. The Book of Common Prayer is a great treasure, not least because it provides this structure, so that clergy don’t have to invent the service from whole cloth each … READ MORE…

Dean’s Letter: Lent Formation Offerings

Hello St. Paul’s, Lent is a time to focus our faith and deepen our commitment to Christ. Please sign up for one or more of our Lenten formation offerings below. See you on Sunday!Your Sister in Christ,Penny “Make Me an Instrument: A Guide to Civil Discourse” Sunday Forum at 9 am, Five weeks, March 9-April … READ MORE…

Dean’s Letter: Finding Inner Peace

Dear St. Paul’s family, I am sure you are aware of the generally heightened sense of anxiety that surrounds us these days. I certainly feel it, and maybe you do too. There is plenty to be anxious about: the recent wildfires and climate change; the graffiti on the church walls and hostility to progressive denominations; … READ MORE…

Dean’s Letter: Adjusting Our Worship

Hello St. Paul’s, In the course of developing our new strategic plan we have heard a call for reining in the length of our 10:30 Sunday morning service. As our post-pandemic attendance has increased, so has the time needed for administering Communion, and this call is a timely reminder not to take for granted the … READ MORE…