This Sunday at a Glance

9a- Rector's Forum: “The Lord’s Prayer” Series continues
10a- Morning Holy Eucharist, with special “Dolly Parton” Coffee Hour
5p- Evening Celtic Holy Eucharist at St. Paul’s
8p- Zoom Compline

This Week at a Glance

Thursday- Zoom Compline, 8p.
Friday- Zoom Compline, 8p.
Saturday-
Sunday- See Above
Monday- Alcoholics Anonymous, 8p; Zoom Compline, 8p.
Tuesday- Dance for Joy meet up group, 9a; Song Circle, 7p; Zoom Compline, 8p.
Wednesday- Al-Anon, 10a; Lunch at Woodbury Country Eatery, 11:30a; Youth Group: Teens middle & high school age 6p; Zoom Compline, 8p.
Thursday- Zoom Compline, 8p.

Each week we will be sharing information about the progress made in our Parish House Renovation here in the newsletter. For more information about the project, click here.

Have you seen our new main floor bathrooms? They are all done, fully equipped and ready to use! 

Meanwhile, work on the Lower Hall continues apace. The HVAC units have been installed, the food prep area is being tiled, and the railings for the bathroom ramp are being built. Speaking of bathrooms, the Lower Hall bathrooms are also coming along quickly. We are excited to see the progress in our Lower Hall, as well as the completion of the first phase of our main floor renovations.

When the Lower Hall is completed, the first phase of our A Place to Belong Campaign will close. After the new year, Woodcreek Builders will be back to complete their part of Phase Two: ADA bathroom on the Main Floor, new flooring, ceiling, and lighting in the Pearson room and Main Floor hallways; painting both stairwells and main floor walls; new doors for the Children’s Classroom; HVAC units in the Pearson Room. The Building Campaign Committee will add new furnishings to the Lower Hall and common rooms, as well as appliances for the food prep areas, when each area is completed. 

These weekly updates are part of our A Place to Belong campaign renovations. The campaign includes: Total renovation of our Lower Hall, including: flooring, ceilings and LED lighting, window repair, mini-splits, food preparation and creative use space renovation, adding accessibility ramps, bathroom renovations (including ADA restroom), appliances, and furnishings; Upstairs renovations including: Bathrooms near the Pearson Room (including ADA restroom), new flooring from the entryway, throughout the Pearson Room and extending to the Seabury Room; new ceiling and LED lighting, painting throughout including both stairways, and new furnishings.

Parish Ministry Leadership Workday: Saturday, September 12th, 9a - 1p. Program chairs, save the date for a fun, informative, and productive morning. Brunch will be provided! We will get to know one another and our ministries, play some games, plan into 2027 and beyond, review event request forms, build our budget, discuss ministry challenges and connections across ministries.

Committee Meetings.  Thursday, September 10, Property Committee (4p); Executive Committee (5p); Finance Committee (6:40 pm).

Vestry Meeting: Thursday, September 17, 6:30 pm, Seabury Room.

Handbell Concert: Save the Date! Saturday, September 5th at 6pm

Connecticut Handbell Musicians Summer Showcase includes ringers from various towns all over the state who come together over the summer when their home choirs take a break. This “choir of orphans,” led by Assistant Director Samantha Beschta, is connected by their love of the instrument and desire to grow in technique and musicianship. 

You are invited to an evening of lively music from this group of passionate musicians, including a special performance by the renowned Handbell Trio FaLiSaD. Don’t miss  this performance guaranteed to delight audience members of all ages!

6 pm in St. Paul’s Church Sanctuary. Admission by free will offering to support CHM and St. Paul’s.

Camp Washington Community Eucharist and Dinner

Saturday, September 12th, from 5pm to 7:30pm. 5pm Eucharist/6:15pm Dinner

Contemporary and contemplative, a beautiful offering to God.

Join us at 5pm for a service of beautiful music, inspiring words, and Holy Communion in the language of the Celtic Christian tradition led by the Rev. Tuesday Rupp, and accompanied by Pete Miserendino on guitar.

Following worship, join us at 6:15pm for dinner- A time of community, conversation, and wonderful food!

Word & Spirit Book Group

The list is out! Word & Spirit Book group is starting up again on September 29th for another year of engaging and rewarding reads! This year’s theme is Journeys. Each month we will ask a different question as we read novels that explore different kinds of journeys and the people who embark on them.

Word & Spirit is a book club dedicated to exploring the nature of the sacred in literary fiction. Reading fiction has been shown in multiple studies to increase empathy. When we engage in a story from another person’s perspective, we gain insight and appreciation for the lives of others and for the human condition.

This year our meetings will take place on Tuesday evenings from 7:15-8:30pm except where date changes are noted. We will gather in the Seabury Room. Bringing snacks to share is encouraged! All of the books we will read together are available through the Woodbury Public Library and the Southbury Public Library. 

Help Wanted: Sexton Volunteers
While our wonderful Sexton, Ron Crowcroft, is away on vacation from September 2-4, we are looking for a few folks who can come to help keep our church moving along. If you are available, please contact Ron directly to coordinate days, times, and duties. Thanks!

An Urgent Message about our Little Free Pantry- Our Little Free Pantry is being used heavily right now — about 75–90% of the food is gone every two days. The large donation that recently filled our shelves has now mostly been distributed to neighbors in need, and supplies are running low again. Click here to learn more!

Members of St. Paul’s Youth Group with Rev. Tuesday and Deb Tickell (and Chicken Patty).

Welcome back to Children’s Ministries! 

As summer break draws to a close, St. Paul’s is gearing up for a new school year, with Church School, professional Nursery care, Acolytes & Children’s Choir! 

• Church School for children grades 1-6 will resume on September 13th at 10am. 

• On September 13th we will have our annual Back-to-School Blessing for students and educators as part of our 10am Holy Eucharist.

• Acolytes: Is your child interested in being part of our Acolyte Program? Please be in touch with Bart Geissinger, our Liturgical Coordinator, to learn more.

• Children’s Choir: Children and Youth are warmly invited and encouraged to be part of our Children’s Choir. Contact Kristin Daigneault, Music Director, for details. 

• Professional Nursery Care for children ages 0-5 will resume on September 13th. We’re looking forward to welcoming Nicole back! Parents and caregivers are welcome to make use of the nursery in the meantime. Please note: All children must be supervised by a parent/caregiver while children are in the nursery.

• Youth Group meetings: Incoming sixth graders, get ready!! We look forward to welcoming our newest middle schoolers at a special dinner on September 16th! Plans are underway! Details of this event and a parents’ meeting to be announced soon! Questions? Reach out to our Youth Minister, Deb Tickell, youth@stpaulswoodbury.org. For last-minute questions, text at (623) 340-7474.

As a valued and beloved member of the St. Paul’s community, we invite you to continue your support of the church by adding St. Paul’s to your estate plan. For more information, please reach out to Peter Bowles, peter.bowles356@gmail.com.

Blessings to you in this sacred, ordinary time.

In Faith,

Rev. Tuesday+

rector@stpaulswoodbury.org