We at St. Paul’s see our particular expression or local embodiment of the Episcopal Church as combining Catholic, Protestant, and Evangelical elements in an open community. Below you will find an explanation of what we understand these words to mean.
Catholic... Most people tend to understand the term "catholic" to refer to a particular church with a world-wide membership. But the word "catholic" (from the Greek kath' holou meaning “after—or according to—the whole”) denotes wholeness and fullness. It refers not so much to geography and statistics of membership as to an orientation of life and striving.
When we profess belief in "one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church," we reaffirm our willingness to participate in and exemplify God's dynamic unconditional love by looking to and working toward the redemption of all; being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21). As we understand it, to be catholic in the truest sense, a church must embody the meaning of Easter as a living incarnation of the healed, forgiven, reconciled, and re-created world.
Protestant... It is unfortunate that the term "protestant" (derived from the protest in 1529 of the reforming members of the Diet of Speyer against the decisions of the Catholic majority) retains a negative connotation. Being "Protestant" does not so much mean being against anyone or anything. Rather, the chief characteristics of classical Protestantism are the acceptance of the Bible as the Word of God containing all things necessary to salvation, emphasis upon justification by faith alone, and the universal priesthood of all believers.
However, the Reformation did instill a healthy respect for the individual and for personal freedom in the living out of one's Christian vocation. After all, God calls each of us to faith individually and that call is heard by each of us in a unique way. We at St. Paul’s believe that being "Protestant" in the best sense means respecting the inviolability of each individual's personal response to God. Evangelical... We understand "evangelical" to mean accepting and acting on the fact that the love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit invites each of us to personal conversion and participation in divine love. We understand personal conversion to be a lifelong process of cooperation with God's grace and attentiveness to God's will. In this process we are guided primarily by Christ's teaching as contained in the four Gospels, but also by the lives and writings of holy men and women of faith from generations past who have sought to walk with God and do God's will.
We see the conversion process as necessarily including personal witness and action on behalf of the poor, the needy, and the outcast of society; for the Scriptures teach us that no one is beyond the scope of God's redeeming love.
An Open Community... We believe the basis for the open community of the Church is not some sense of liberality or equality, or even the humanistic acceptance of other people. The Church's community is founded upon God's act of universal reconciliation in Jesus Christ, the sovereign initiative of divine mercy. Easter's meaning includes our striving to live into this new reality. To refuse to do so is to continue in the rebellion of self-righteousness against God.
While concern for the inclusion of all people can appear to be divisive, we need to remember that even the early Church dealt with disputes and tensions over deep theological issues. But if Christ is truly Lord of our lives, no one should discount or reject another human being, Christian or non-Christian, because of a difference of opinion. The grace of Easter will not permit it!
A Tale of Two Chapels
You've probably heard the buzz about our soon-to-be children's chapel—the kids are all excited about it; so is Mr. Pack; and so am I! In line with the spirit of the Children’s Charter for the Church (see below), the old rectory living room is being converted into a unique chapel for the children of St. Paul’s. To be dedicated as “St. Nicholas’ Chapel” in honor of the patron saint of children, the children of our church school and our preschool will soon have a place of their own for worship. We envision a space where prayer services, quiet time, and celebrations of Holy Eucharist tailored to the levels of understanding and the attention-spans of our young children can take place. Currently in church, our young people see mostly the posteriors of the adults standing in front of them. In the new children’s chapel they will learn by doing; taking on the roles of prayer leader, acolyte, reader, etc. in preparation for their assuming these liturgical roles in “big church.”
For seating in St. Nicholas’ Chapel we plan to use the historic old pews now located in Grace Chapel where they defy convenient configuration. Seating in Grace Chapel will be much more accommodating with individual chairs. A sample chair is available in the church office for your inspection. We anticipate increasing the seating capacity in Grace Chapel by 12-18 people. This becomes especially important for our 5:00 PM Saturday Eucharist.
The new Grace Chapel chairs will be constructed of contoured, laminated dark wood, with mortise and tenon joinery, upholstered on the seat and front of the back in a tasteful deep red woven pattern. They will feature an under-seat book rack (accessible from the back), and some will feature slide-out kneelers. Additional chairs will be ordered for the Adult Forum, which will move to what used to be the dining room of the old rectory.
We hope to cover most of the cost by offering parishioners the opportunity to donate a chair for only $150. A plaque thanking and naming donors will be ordered once the chairs arrive. Several chairs have already been underwritten! To donate a chair, please contact Susan in the church office or place a check with the notation "chapel chair(s)" in the offering plate.
Emil+
The Children’s Charter for the Church Nurture of the Child
Children are a heritage from the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is a gift. Psalm 127:4
The Church is called: · to receive, nurture, and treasure each child as a gift from God; · to proclaim the Gospel to children, in ways that empower them to receive and respond to God’s love; · to give high priority to the quality of planning for children and the preparation and support of those who minister with them; · to include children, in fulfillment of the Baptismal Covenant, as members and full participants in the Eucharistic community and in the church’s common life of prayer, witness, and service.
Ministry to the child Then Jesus took the children in his arms, placed his hands on each of them, and blessed them. Mark 10:16
The Church is called:
· to love, shelter, protect, and defend children within its own community and in the world, especially those who are abused, neglected, or in danger.
· to nurture and support families in caring for their children, acting in their children’s best interest, and recognizing and fostering their children’s spirituality and unique gifts;
· to embrace children who seek Christian nurture independently of their parents’ participation in the church;
· to advocate for the integrity of childhood and the dignity of all children at every level of our religious, civic, and political structures.
Ministry of the child
A child shall lead them. Isaiah 11:6
The Church is called:
· to receive children’s special gifts as signs of the Reign of God;
· to foster community beyond the family unit, in which children, youth and adults know each other by name, minister to each other, and are partner together in serving Christ in the world:
· to appreciate children’s abilities and readiness to represent Christ and his church, to bear witness to him wherever they may be, and according to gifts given them, to carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation in the world, and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the church.
