Monday, December 19, 2011

Christmas @ St. Paul's

Christmas Eve

Holy Eucharist at 5:00 pm
with the St. Nicholas and Handbell Choirs

Preludial Music at 10:30 pm

Holy Eucharist at 11:00 pm
with the St. Paul Choir


Christmas Day

Holy Eucharist at 8:00 am and 10:00 am


Sunday January 1: Holy Name

Holy Eucharist at 8:00 am and 10:00 am


Friday, January 6: The Epiphany

Potluck Supper, Epiphany Pageant and Holy Eucharist
6:00 pm

Thursday, December 8, 2011

To Tree or not to Tree: That is the question


We have, in Rhode Island, recently been subjected to what would be laughable if it were not so sad. As the Occupy Providence movement raises deep questions about economic disparities, power inequalities, and the breaking down of community; as foreclosure and unemployment rates continue to be unacceptable; as the homeless shelters in the state, including ours at St. Paul’s, are oversubscribed; as we hear, just a couple of Sundays ago, that the criterion for the final judgment will be did you respond to the needs of those who are the “least of these” in our society – we have been launched, not only by talk show hosts and letters to the editor, but even by religious leaders, into a passionate debate about what to call a tree. Yes, apparently the really important concern is what to call chopped down trees covered with lights and ornaments. The tired old canard of the “war against Christmas” has raised its mitered head.

Is it not time for the church to look no longer to the state (especially the state of Roger Williams) to prop up religious observances? Certainly, let us raise up Christmas trees – in the homes and churches of Christians (after Advent, of course). Let our children learn Christmas carols – in the liturgy and in formation programs, not in the government schools. And above all, let us celebrate the birth of the Messiah with a focus on what is truly important: the redeeming love and grace of God that becomes flesh to share and transform our lives, and in turn calls us to transform the world.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Advent Lessons & Carols




Join us
Sunday, December 4, 2011
5:00 pm

Scripture readings and music for the season of Advent

a reception follows

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Join us for Taize Prayer



Taize Prayer
Sunday, November 20, 2011
5:00 pm
a simple reception follows

Monday, October 31, 2011

The "other St. Paul's" - otherwise known as St. Paul's Cathedral, London - has had a hard week. The local "Occupy" movement set up camp a couple of weeks ago. After an initial welcome, the cathedral then shut down, citing safety and health concerns. (The last time the cathedral cancelled services was because of the Nazi blitz during WWII!). Protest and outrage ensued, and the cathedral decided to re-open, but also to share in legal moves to oust the protesters. Staff members (update: now including the Dean) have resigned in protest, and the whole situation is a mess.

Bishop Alan Wilson of Buckingham speaks here about the situation in a way one would hope a bishop would speak. Would that there were more like him, in England and elsewhere.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Celebrate All Saints' & All Souls'

Join us at St. Paul's as we celebrate these two significant days:

ALL SAINTS' DAY
(November 1)
Holy Eucharist with hymns
7:00 pm

+ + + + + + + + +

All Souls' Day
(November 2)
Requiem Eucharist with hymns and choir
7:00 pm

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Join us for Evensong













EVENSONG

for the
Fourth Sunday of Easter

May 15
5:00 pm

- a reception will follow -

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Join us for Taize Prayer


Our next service of Taize Prayer is on Palm Sunday - April 17 - at 7:00 pm. Join us for this gentle service of chant, prayer and silence. A simple reception will follow.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Join us for Evensong













Evensong for the Fourth Sunday in Lent: Laetare Sunday
April 3, 2011
5:00 pm

Music of Webster and Jones

- A reception will follow -

Monday, March 21, 2011

Celebrate The Annunciation




Join us at St. Paul's as we celebrate the Angel Gabriel's announcement to Our Lady that she will give birth to the Son of God:




Friday, March 25
6:00 pm
Holy Eucharist

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Ash Wednesday at St. Paul's













Ash Wednesday
March 9, 2011

Holy Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes

7:00 am + 12:10 pm + 7:00 pm

Monday, February 14, 2011

Join us for Taizé Prayer


St. Paul's offers a service of Taizé Prayer on the third Sunday of each month. Join us at 5:00 pm on Sunday, February 20 for this gentle time of prayer, silence and chant in a setting of icons and candles. A simple reception follows.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Marriage Equality

As Rhode Island moves towards discussion and debate about marriage equality, many assertions and proclamations of "fact" will no doubt be made with great certainty. Here is powerful real life testimony from a young man in Iowa.


Monday, January 24, 2011

The Feast of the Presentation


February 2, 2011

Holy Eucharist
7:00 pm

Join us as we celebrate the child Jesus being presented in the Temple and being recognized as the Messiah by Simeon and Anna.

Friday, January 14, 2011

4 Guys and a website

The "Anglican Communion Institute", which sounds like it must be important, but has often been described as 4 or 5 guys and a website, has spoken/written yet again. Unlike their usual prolix and scholarly appearing offerings, their recent publication is shorter and clearer (click here) - and, not unusually, contains a fundamental error (or two).

Writing about the upcoming meeting of the Primates (head bishops) of the Anglican Communion and the potential for some to boycott the meeting (some apparently don't want to get girl cooties from our Presiding Bishop Katharine or be associated with a church that would dare to accept gay and lesbian folk as full members of the church), the writers several times refer to the Primates Meeting as a "council". Of course, the word "council" has a very specific connotation in Christian discourse. One is clearly put in mind of the official and historic Councils of the Church, broad/universal gatherings of bishops to see to fundamental matters of faith and meaning for the Church - Councils of the Church that gave us the Creed, the definition of the nature of Christ, that proclaimed Mary to be the Theotokos, the Mother of God. By contrast, the Primates Meeting began all the way back in the 1970's (!) as an occasional gathering for conversation and mutual support of the head bishops of Anglican provinces who shared a particular ministry and set of responsibilities. Hardly the next of the great Ecumenical Councils of the Church. Strangely enough, in the course of the current Anglican Communion conflicts the Primates Meeting has been proclaimed (by some) to be an "Instrument of Communion", something to be listened to, even obeyed.

Furthermore, the ACI actually claims, " One ought properly to conclude that just one Primate not appearing is a terrible thing." Why? The truth is that the Primates don't have a role in the life of the Communion such that one of them deciding to miss a meeting is of great significance. If one or more choose to walk apart (to coin a phrase), that would certainly diminish their own gathering, but it surely cannot be counted as a tragic event for the Anglican Communion.

Enough with the exaggerated importance of meetings and reports. Let's get on with being witnesses for Christ in the world.