Saturday, December 21, 2013

180 Years

Passing south through Portsmouth along the East Main Road you can not help but notice the small white church at the corner of Church Lane. On a Sunday morning you might see parishioners coming and going from worship. But, you would not necessarily realize that these parishioners are only the most recent among the many, many persons who have worshipped here weekly while walking in the way of the Lord over the last 180 years.

Just 5 years ago we had a large celebration of our 175th anniversary. At that time we were seeking God's blessing for our future - we have seen some of that future - and we believe that we have been blessed.

In those five years we have accomplished much. We have moved to a single service which further strengthens the bonds among those in our extended family church. We have increased our pledges more than 40 % in just the last year which greatly enhances our financial viability

Music has always been a central part of worship at Saint Paul's, whether it be the oldest and most traditional Anglican hymns or contemporary Christian music. We express our love and are loved through our music, we heal and are healed through our music, and we teach and learn through our music. We are very much making a joyful noise unto the Lord with our current music program, including the folk duo of Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly on first Sundays, and discussions about a choir in the near future.

We have seen the departure and passing of friends and family - perhaps none more sorely missed than The Rev. Hébert W. Bolles.

We have continued our interaction with the community and our outreach including: strengthening the Portsmouth Arts Guild partnership; participating in post-Katrina Habitat for Humanity Mission Trip to New Orleans; continuing our Cereal Nights; raising money in “Beads for Life” in support of women and their families in Uganda; donating food to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center; walking for CROP/CWS; supporting the Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance (GAIA);  supporting the Episcopal Charities Fund of Rhode Island as well as Episcopal Relief and Development; sharing use of the church facilities with groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Alanon, Overeaters Anonymous.

Most importantly we now have the steadying hands of The Rev. Paul Twelves and The Rev. Becky Anderson, our two part-time priests, leading our worship and helping guide us toward articulating and implementing key initiatives following our recent Strategic Planning Workshop. We are stronger for their support and for the wise nurturing of The Rev. Canon Linda Grenz and The Right Rev. Nicholas Knisely.

We are pleased to be celebrating 180 years here, we are still humbly seeking God's blessing for our future, and we invite you to share that future with us.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Sundays with Atwater-Donnelly

Learn more about our Sunday program with Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly in this article by Jim McGaw and then join with us for worship when Atwater-Donnelly return on January 5th.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Continuing Eucharistic Celebrations with Atwater-Donnelly

Our series of Eucharistic Celebrations with musical accompaniment by the folk duo Atwater-Donnelly continue at our 9AM service on December 1st. Aubrey and Elwood have been with us before and each visit was such a delight that together with them we set up this program so that others will have an opportunity to share in a unique worship experience. Please tell your family and friends, and invite them to these special services. The series continues into the spring with visits on January 5th, February 2nd, March 9th and April 6th.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Rev. Hebert Bolles Life Achievement Award

Well deserved. The Rev. Hébert W. Bolles was known and loved by many at St. Paul's. He is missed and his contribution to our parish is greatly appreciated.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Eucharistic Celebrations with Atwater-Donnelly



Beginning on November 3rd, at our 9AM service, and continuing one Sunday each month for the next five months we will have a special gift in the form of music provided by the folk duo of Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly. Aubrey and Elwood have been with us before and each visit was such a delight that together with them we set up this program so that others can share in that delight. Please tell your family and friends, and invite them to these special services. A prelude by Atwater- Donnelly beginning at 8:45 precedes the service.

Sunday November 3rd at 9AM
Sunday December 1st at 9AM
Sunday January 5th at 9AM
Sunday February 2nd at 9AM
Sunday March 9th at 9AM
Sunday April 6th at 9 AM

Monday, October 21, 2013

Blood Drive

Give hope, life, blood  with us on Monday October 28 between 3:30 and 6:30 PM. The RI Blood Center Bloodmobile will be here for the Paul's Episcopal Church Portsmouth and the Portsmouth Arts Guild Blood Drive. Schedule an appointment now .

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Strategic Planning Workshop

Today’s Strategic Planning Workshop led by the Rev. Linda Grenz was a great success. After hearing an update on a very promising growth in pledges for next year we quickly focused under Linda’s expert direction on developing a plan and process centered around select key initiatives important to the parish and to the community. Participants were unanimous in their excited enthusiasm for what we accomplished today and what we will be accomplishing in St. Paul’s future.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Celebrating Linda



Our Celebration Sunday Brunch this month was especially celebratory, and also just plain fun, as we thanked Linda Remington for her almost 10 years of service as Senior Warden at Saint Paul's here in Portsmouth. During those years Linda's heartfelt dedication to the parish, her fellow parishioners and to the community was nothing less than essential to Saint Paul's.

We look forward to many more years with Linda here among us as others step forward to help with the responsibilities of parish leadership. The festive moods of the Rev. Becky, Sandy, Linda and Marilyn (seen in the photo) capture the fresh spirit of joy that we all shared today.

Monday, June 17, 2013

New Sign in Place


Parishioners attending service at St. Paul's this Sunday were delighted to see our new sign in place. After a number of weather delays the crew under the direction of Junior Warden Jeffrey Reise has installed the sign where it is highly visible to traffic driving both north and south on East Main Road. A smaller sign letting passers-by know that our Sunday service is at 9:00 AM will be added beneath the main sign in the near future. All Baptized persons, regardless of age or denomination, are invited to receive Communion at St. Paul's. The first Sunday of each month is Celebration Sunday with a pot luck brunch in the parish hall following the service. On other Sundays we gather in the hall after the service for a coffee hour. We would be happy to see you there.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Eucharistic Celebration with Atwater-Donnelly


On June 30th, at the 9AM service, we will have a special gift in the form of music provided by the folk duo of Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly, who are well known in this area. Please tell your family and friends, and invite them to this special service.

Monday, June 3, 2013

The Rev. Paul Twelves Returns



The Rev. Paul Twelves, known to many at St. Paul's, will be joining Rev. Becky on the clergy team. We welcome him back!. His first Sunday as celebrant and preacher will be June 9th. He will also be celebrating and preaching on June 16th. The Rev. Becky Anderson will be leading the services on June 23rd and 30th.

Friday, May 31, 2013

Tree Planting for the Rev. Hébert W. Bolles

After our service on Trinity Sunday, we commemorated Memorial Day by dedicating a tree in memory of the Rev. Hébert W. Bolles that will be planted near our flagpole on the church grounds. The Rev. Bolles was well known and loved by many at St. Paul's. Thanks to Joanne Honnen who led this effort.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Learn and Lead: Hospitality for Evangelism


We are looking forward to sending a group of parishioners to the June 1st Hospitality for Evangelism workshop from the Diocese Congregational Development Committee (CDC).

Mary Parmer, a congregational coach and speaker who serves as the director of "Gathering of Leaders" which empowers young clergy, and a consultant to diocesan newcomer ministries across the nation, will be speaking about tools and resources to form a systematic, intentional newcomer ministry. Also speaking will be Linda Grenz, the Diocese Canon to the Ordinary, who has spent much of her career as a consultant as well. Linda will share her Open Doors program and ideas for how to move from being a welcoming church to an inviting church.


Breakout sessions include: • Practicality of welcoming newcomers • Open Doors – Inviting Families to Church • They’re Here, Now What? • Using your facilities hospitably • Feeding with food, nourishing the spirit.

This could be a helpful program at this point in the life of St. Paul's. We are excited to be participating. Learn more about the Hospitality for Evangelism workshop at the Diocese Learn and Lead page.