Comfortable Words

Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all who truly turn to him:

Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. Matthew 11:28
God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Hear also what Saint Paul saith:

This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15

Hear also what Saint John saith:

If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the Propitiation for our sins. 1 John 2:1-2

Holy Week and Easter Sunday

Join the St. Paul’s Family as we come together for worship:

• Maunday Thursday at 6:00 PM. Holy Communion and the stripping of the altar. 
• Good Friday at 6:00 PM. A simple and quiet service.....prayer and meditation. 
• Easter Sunday at 9:00 AM. Come one and come all....bring your family, friends, and even strangers! It is a time of CELEBRATION!

Holy Week is a good time to check on your knee-mail! In your prayers please remember all those who are ill or feeling poorly.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is here! 

We will be celebrating this Sunday, the 14th, at St. Paul’s at 9:00 AM.
   
Come and share the journey as Jesus enters Jerusalem..... 

Easter Flowers

Upcoming

• Lent 4 on Sunday March 31 at 9:00 AM
• Lent 5 on Sunday April 7 at 9:00 AM followed by coffee hour and Bishop's Committee Meeting
• Palm Sunday on April 14 at 9:00 AM
• Maunday Thursday on April 18 at 6:00 PM
• Good Friday on April 19 at 6:00 PM
• Easter Day on Sunday April 21 at 9:00 AM

Looking forward to seeing you for these occasions and for services each and every Sunday throughout the upcoming months as well!

First Sunday in Lent

After waking an hour earlier with the shift to Daylight Savings, and then cautiously driving through the morning’s sleet, rain, snow, it was a great comfort to begin the First Sunday in Lent with the Great Litany. As we collectively read each petition, each response and each prayer a deeper sense of Lent emerged within the congregation.

In her sermon the Rev. Marilyn Mason cautioned us regarding temptations that might arise at "an opportune time" but assured us that we could always count on God’s promise of love and protection.

We are blessed.

Seventh Sunday after Epiphany

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

In today's sermon the Rev Marilyn Mason and our visitor the Rev. Canon Elizabeth Habecker led us through the readings from the strong proclamations in Jeremiah, to the healings and teachings by Jesus on the plain, towards the Way of Love initiative currently underway in the Episcopal Church. It was a blessing to participate.

Today's readings can be found here.

More information on the Way of Love from The Episcopal Church can be found here.

Upcoming

• The "Way of Love" Kick-off on Saturday February 16 from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM at St Mary's. Learn more about this "Way of Love" event here.
• Epiphany 6 on Sunday February 17 at 9:00 AM
• Epiphany 7 on Sunday February 24 at 9:00 AM
• Last Epiphany on Sunday March 3 at 9:00 AM
• Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday March 5 at 5:30 PM
• Ash Wednesday Service on Wednesday March 6 at 5:30 PM
• Lent 1 on Sunday March 10 at 9:00  AM followed by coffee hour and Bishop's Committee Meeting

January 20th Sunday Service Cancelled

Our Sunday service for January 20th, 2019 is cancelled out of concern for the safety of parishioners and staff traveling in the bad weather.

The Bishop's visit is re-scheduled for next Sunday which  is January 27th.  That will push the Annual Meeting out till the first Sunday in February, which is February 3rd. We look forward to seeing you next week. Stay safe. And stay warm.

Upcoming

• The Epiphany - Sunday, January 6 at 9:00
• Epiphany 1 - Sunday, January 13 followed by coffee hour and Bishop's Committee Meeting
• Bishop Knisely's Visit - Sunday January 20 at 9:00 [RESCHEDULED TO JANUARY 27]
• St Paul's Day Celebration - Sunday January 27 at 9:00 followed by our Annual Meeting [RESCHEDULED TO FEBRUARY 3]

Looking forward to seeing you for these occasions and for services each and every Sunday as well!

Merry Christmas

Our Advent journey of Hope, Peace, Love and Joy has brought us at last to Christmas! Today we gathered with friends and family to worship, sing, celebrate and share at our church service and at the happy Christmas Day Dinner in the parish house. Thank you to all for being here. Blessings!

First Sunday of Advent - Happy New Year!

As part of our service today we marked the First Sunday of Advent and the beginning of the new Church year by lighting our first Advent candle and by hanging the first special decorations on our Jesse Tree. These decorations were blue anchors inscribed by each parishioner with what there is in our lives, community and world that gives us "Hope".

In her sermon the Rev. Marilyn Mason spoke of the challenges of "putting on the armor of light" and reminded us that "All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies."

Mark Your Calendars

First Sunday of Advent - Sunday, December 2 at 9:00
Christmas Eve Prayers and Hymns - Monday, December 24th at 5:00 PM
Christmas Day - Tuesday, December 25th at 10:30 and after church at noon Pot Luck
Bishop Knisely's Visit - Sunday January 20 at 9:00
St Paul's Day Celebration - Sunday January 27 at 9:00 and after church our Annual Meeting

Looking forward to seeing you for these occasions and for services each and every Sunday as well!

Memorial Service and Interment for The Rev. Dr. David P. Jenkins

The Rev. Dr. David P. Jenkins, 82, fondly remembered by many at St Paul's for his service here, passed away on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 in Florida where he was Pastor Emeritus of all Saints Episcopal Church, Ft. Lauderdale .

A Memorial Service and Interment will take place Friday, July 27, 2018 at 2 p.m. here at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 2679 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI. The Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely, Bishop of the Diocese of Rhode Island will celebrate, assisted by The Rev. Marilyn Mason, Priest in Charge at St. Paul's. All are welcome.

Read the obituary for the Rev. Dr. Jenkins here.

Holy Week Services at St. Paul's

March 29 - Maundy Thursday at 6:00 PM
March 30 - Good Friday Stations and Good Friday Liturgy at 6:00 PM
April 1 - Easter Day Service at 9:00 AM and gather for Easter Sunday Luncheon at 11:30-12:00

Christmas 2017 Services

The church is getting ready for the baby Jesus to arrive!  The Wise Men are on the move!

Here are the services in celebration of this Season:

Advent 4 - Sunday, December 24th at 9:00 - Holy Eucharist 
    After church service: help make the church ready for Christmas!
    
Christmas Day - Monday, December 25th at 10:00 - Holy Eucharist
    After church - pot luck!  

Christmas I - Sunday, December 31st at 9:00 - Lessons and Carols with Holy Eucharist

Looking forward to all of these and hope to see you!

🎄. Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas!

If you are able to join us at St. Paul's, our services will be at 5:00 on Christmas Eve and at 9:00 Christmas Day.

🎶.  We will start 15 minutes earlier on Christmas Eve  so we can sing carols.

Blessings wherever you may be and a Merry Christmas!

Atwater-Donnelly to Play on Sunday April 17th

Popular folk duo Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly will provide the music for the Sunday morning service at St.Paul's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth on April 17th.   The musical prelude will begin at 8:45 AM with the service beginning at 9:00 AM.  Refreshments and the opportunity to meet Atwater-Donnelly will follow in the adjacent Parish Hall.   St. Paul's Parish Hall also serves as the gallery for the Portsmouth Arts Guild so the current show may be viewed.

St. Paul's is located at 2679 East Main Road, across from the Portsmouth Public Library.   Parking is available in our adjacent lot.   The performance is free and open to the public.

Our Celebration of Resurrection - Easter!

As we come to the final week of our Lenten Season, we look forward to the Celebration of Resurrection - Easter! In our preparation for that celebration there is much to participate in as we journey through the week leading to that glorious day.

It is fitting that we spend the week with Jesus as we remember the events leading to Easter. We start on Palm Sunday with the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. How jubilant the crowds were to see him!  We will wave palms and sing “All Glory Laud and Honor” and participate in this great day that is the start of Holy Week.

Maundy Thursday, “Commandment” Thursday, will be our last celebration of the Eucharist before Easter. This is the Last Supper.

Good Friday is a time spent with Jesus at the cross and later in the day we continue the watch with the Good Friday Liturgy of prayer and solemn collects. Good Friday is the time we read the Passion Gospel.

The whole Aquidneck Island Episcopal Deanery is invited to Trinity in Newport for the first service of Easter - the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening.  What a glorious way to start our Easter Celebration! New light, bells, great music, and our own Bishop Nick will be there!

Then our own celebration on Easter Day at St. Paul's!

Dates and Times:
Palm Sunday - March 20th 9:00 AM at St. Paul’s
Maundy Thursday - March 24th 7:00 PM at St. Paul’s
Good Friday - March 25th 12:00 noon, 7:00 PM at St. Paul’s
Easter Vigil - March 26th 7:30 PM at Trinity, Newport
Easter Day - March 27th 9:00 AM at St. Paul’s

Atwater-Donnelly to Play on Sunday March 13th

Popular folk duo Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly will provide the music for the Sunday morning service at St.Paul's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth on March 13th.  The musical prelude will begin at 8:45 AM with the service beginning at 9:00 AM.  Refreshments and the opportunity to meet Atwater-Donnelly will follow in the adjacent Parish Hall.  The Portsmouth Arts Guild, which uses St. Paul's Parish Hall as their gallery, has reopened and their current show may also be seen at the post service gathering.

St. Paul's is located at 2679 East Main Road, across from the Portsmouth Public Library.  Parking is available in our adjacent lot.  The performance is free and open to the public.

Cereal and Study

We are bringing back the Lenten Cereal and Study suppers at St. Paul's. Cereal and Study will be held in the Parish Hall on the upcoming Wednesdays of February 17, 24 and March 9, 16. The book which will prompt our discussions is "Those Episkopols" by Dennis Maynard. Copies will be available at church on Sunday for borrowing or purchase. Donations from savings on meal costs will go to Aquidneck Island charities.

Atwater-Donnelly to Play on Sunday December 6th

Popular folk duo Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly will provide the music for the Sunday morning service at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth on December 6th. The musical prelude begins at 8:45 AM with the service beginning at 9:00 AM.  Refreshments and the opportunity to meet Atwater-Donnelly will follow in the adjacent Parish Hall. St. Paul's is located at 2679 East Main Road across from the Portsmouth Public Library. Parking is available in our adjacent lot. The performance is free and open to the public.

Blessing of the Animals on Sunday October 4th

In addition to enjoying the music of Atwater-Donnelly this upcoming Sunday we will also be doing a blessing of the animals. If you do not feel you should bring your pet, it would be appropriate to bring a picture of your pet!

Atwater-Donnelly to Play on Sunday October 4th

The folk group, Atwater-Donnelly, will play at St. Paul's Episcopal Church for the Sunday, October 4th service.  The music prelude will begin at 8:45AM with the service beginning at 9:00 AM.  The service is free and open to the public.  St.Paul's is located at 2679 East Main Road across from the Portsmouth Public Library.  Parking is available in our adjacent lot.

Following the service, there will be a reception with refreshments in the Parish Hall. Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly will be available at the gathering.  The latest show of the Portsmouth Arts Guild show may also be viewed, since their gallery is in St. Paul's Parish Hall.

Atwater-Donnelly to Play on Sunday September 6th

The popular traditional folk group, Atwater-Donnelly, will play at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church for the Sunday, September 6th service. The musical prelude will begin at 8:45 AM with the service beginning at 9:00 AM.  The service is free and open to the public.  Atwater-Donnelly plays at St. Paul's the first Sunday of most months.

St. Paul’s is located at 2679 East Main Road across from the Portsmouth Public Library.  Parking is available in our adjacent lot and alongside the Parish Hall.

Following the service, there will be a reception with refreshments in the Parish Hall.  Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly will be available. Additionally the Portsmouth Arts Guild Gallery has a new exhibit on display in their gallery within St. Paul’s Parish Hall that will be available for viewing.

Hope to see you at the service this Sunday!

Atwater-Donnelly to Play on Sunday June 7th

Popular Traditional Folk Group Atwater-Donnelly will play at St. Paul's Episcopal Church for the service on Sunday, June 7th.  The music starts with the prelude to the service at 8:45 AM.  The service starts at 9:00 AM.  Following the service, refreshments will be served in the adjacent Parish Hall and there will be an opportunity to meet Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly. The performance is free and open to the public.

St.Paul's is located at 2679 East Main Road in Portsmouth.  Parking is available in our lot at the corner of East Main Road and Church Lane.

Holy Week Services

March 29: Palm Sunday 9:00 Becky Anderson+  HC 2-C
March 31: Clergy - renewal of vows at St Thomas in Greenville
April 3: Good Friday, 12:00 with Becky Anderson+
April 5: Easter Day, 9:00 with Becky Anderson+

While there are no planned services at St Paul's on Maundy Thursday or Holy Saturday, the other Episcopal Churches on the Island have services.  If you wish to attend there, call the office of the church you wish to attend for the service times.

The Reverend Marilyn Mason

The Reverend Marilyn Mason has replaced the Reverend Paul Twelves as Priest-in-Charge at St.Paul's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth.  In addition to her new assignment at St. Paul's, the Reverend Mason also serves as Priest-in-Charge at St James Episcopal Church in Providence. The Reverend Mason will be preaching at the December 7th service. The Reverend Becky Anderson continues in her role as co-priest with the Reverend Mason.

Father Twelves continues his ministry, primarily as a supply priest at local Episcopal churches.

Attwater-Donnelly to Play

Popular Traditional Folk Duo Aubrey Attwater and Elwood Donnelly will provide the music for the Sunday Morning service on December 7, 2014.  The music intro starts at 8:45 AM with the service beginning at 9:00 AM.  The performance is free and open to the public.  Refreshments will be served in the Parish Hall following the service.  The Portsmouth Arts Guild current showing, which is displayed in the Parish Hall, may also be viewed.