This Sunday at a Glance

9a- Rector's Forum: “The Lord’s Prayer” Series continues
10a- Morning Holy Eucharist, 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; Writers Group, 6p; Zoom Compline, 8p.
Wednesday- Al-Anon, 10a; Lunch at Woodbury Country Eatery, 11:30a; Meditation with Rev. Tuesday, 6:30p; Zoom Compline, 8p.
Thursday- Zoom Compline, 8p.

Upstairs Restroom is nearly finished! We are thrilled to share that our new upstairs bathroom should be finished by this Sunday! Thanks to our friends at Woodcreek Builders, our beautiful new restrooms, with two private commodes and a shared sink, are ready to be used starting this weekend.

While we wait for construction on the second bathroom, please note the new door lock on the handle, which shows if the restroom is occupied or vacant (pictured below).

In the Lower Hall, tiling has been installed in the Food Preparation area. 

Although there have been some changes in our original timeline, we are on track to see the Lower Hall completed by early October. Work on the Pearson Room and second restroom will commence after the new year.

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.
Images: Upstairs bathroom sink; Upstairs bathroom commodes; lock on older upstairs bathroom; floor tiling in food preparation area in Lower Hall.

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.

Program Chairs Planning Day SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, September 12th, 9a - 1p. Program chairs, save the date for a fun, informative, and productive morning. We will get to know one another and our ministries and plan into 2027 and beyond. Brunch will be provided - details to come!

Committee Meetings.  Please note: there are no leadership committee or vestry meetings in August.

All Staff & Leadership Meetings will resume in September.

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. 

• Together, One Item at a Time, We Can Clear the List!

  Dear Friends of Community Services Council of Woodbury,

  We hope you’re enjoying the summer! While back-to-school season may be arriving a little faster than we’d like, we’re working to make sure every Woodbury student has the supplies they need to start the school year feeling prepared and ready to learn.

  The Community Services Council of Woodbury, in partnership with the Woodbury Public Library, is collecting school supplies for local students and families and we would be so grateful for your help.

  Our goal is simple: if each of our supporters purchases just ONE item, together we can make an incredible difference for children in our community.

  We created an Amazon Back-to-School Wish List based on the Region 14 school supply lists. You can choose an item from the list and have it conveniently shipped directly to us for the drive.

  Prefer to shop locally or purchase supplies on your own? We would love that too! A collection bin is available at the Woodbury Public Library for donated new school supplies until Tuesday, August 25th. 

  Whether it’s a pack of pencils, a notebook, binders, or a backpack, every contribution will help ensure a child begins the school year with the tools they need to succeed.

  Most importantly, thank you for your continued support. Time and again, our community shows how much can be accomplished when neighbors come together to help neighbors. We are incredibly grateful to have you as part of that community.

  Thank you for helping our students start the school year strong! 

  Woodbury Back-to-School Supply Drive sponsored by Community Services Council of Woodbury & the Woodbury Public Library

  Click here to shop now: Amazon.com

• Volunteer opportunity at the Fair! Looking for the perfect way to enjoy a traditional summer Fair while helping a neighboring church community? St. Mark’s in Bridgewater, where our Youth Director, Deb serves as Senior Warden, is looking for a little additional help at our tent at the Bridgewater Fair. Experience the joys of selling freshly-sliced Cabot cheddar cheese, pickles-on-a-stick (trust me, it’s silly!), and other delicious church-made jams, jellies, baked goods. Shifts are open throughout Fair Weekend - Friday, August 21-Sunday, August 23. No prior skills needed - we will train. Come and meet nearby Episcopalians…and bring a great big smile to Deb’s face. For more information message or email Deb Tickell at (623) 3407474 or deborahtickell@gmail.com. Note: Community Service Hours will be signed for participating students! Many thanks in advance!! - Deb

• 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