I grew up Episcopalian. I was an acolyte. I joined my parish's Youth Group and at a very young age I considered the priesthood as a career but the fact that I would sometimes nap during the homily dissuaded me from pursuing that calling seriously. And later, there was also a time when I was away from the church, this church, the Episcopal Church or any church for that matter. There was a time when I was sure of things and being sure didn't necessarily include God. My philosophy then was about Humanism and other nonsecular beliefs. But that philosophy did not make me feel whole and I felt the need to look for something more. And so I started on a journey that I thought would last for a few years. I planned to visit each church in Southington; synagogues and mosques and temples too. It was to be a spiritual quest! On the first Sunday of this journey, I walked down Berlin Ave and headed downtown. I took a right onto Main Street and attended a service at a church I'd never entered in a denomination that seemed comforting. I took home the fliers, the pamphlets, the leaflets. I thought I'd attend the next week's service too, but instead I woke up a bit earlier, left my house and took a left onto Main Street. It was that Sunday I entered St. Paul's.
So how has St. Paul's transformed my life? Well, the change happened subtly and immediately; it was the sense of returning home and fumbling for a key, but then realizing the door was already opened. It happened subtly that morning, from the first strike of the organ as I rose from my pew automatically and heard the familiar sound of the parish rising from their pews. It happened again as we spoke the Lord's Prayer and the syncopated "esses" were sounded at the same time as we said: "And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us". Those things were subtle reminders that I was home again and that my "journey" would be cut short.
And it happened immediately. From that very first visit when I was so welcomed by the Newcomer's Committee to the openness of so many people welcoming my family into parish life, it happened immediately. I found myself suddenly involved in a community. I met new people who were always there to listen and to share their stories. Cloudy nights in the Pumpkin Patch conversing about God are transformative. Chaperoning teens and tweens in the middle of the Apple Harvest Festival is transformative. Watching my children being baptized was beautiful. Standing beside my family within a parish and each of us, all of us, having a reason to give back, to serve and to love is life changing.
How has St. Paul’s transformed my life? In every way and it has been wonderful!
Where have you met God in your ministries with St. Paul's or maybe where has God met you?
God is everywhere. He is there feeding the hungry and our J2 kids were blessed to be there in body and spirit. He is there in the communion bread and he is present in the wine and I am blessed to serve as a Eucharistic Minister. He is there expanding His ministry and I am blessed to serve on the Vestry and He is there in reflection and I am blessed that He hears my prayer. He was there with me walking my son home after Friday evenings at Stepping Stones and I am blessed to serve as a Youth Leader and He is there when my family walks to church and we are blessed to be members of St. Paul’s.
I am blessed that St. Paul’s affords us the opportunity to participate in so many ministries that bring us closer to God, a God who is everywhere.
So how has St. Paul's transformed my life? Well, the change happened subtly and immediately; it was the sense of returning home and fumbling for a key, but then realizing the door was already opened. It happened subtly that morning, from the first strike of the organ as I rose from my pew automatically and heard the familiar sound of the parish rising from their pews. It happened again as we spoke the Lord's Prayer and the syncopated "esses" were sounded at the same time as we said: "And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us". Those things were subtle reminders that I was home again and that my "journey" would be cut short.
And it happened immediately. From that very first visit when I was so welcomed by the Newcomer's Committee to the openness of so many people welcoming my family into parish life, it happened immediately. I found myself suddenly involved in a community. I met new people who were always there to listen and to share their stories. Cloudy nights in the Pumpkin Patch conversing about God are transformative. Chaperoning teens and tweens in the middle of the Apple Harvest Festival is transformative. Watching my children being baptized was beautiful. Standing beside my family within a parish and each of us, all of us, having a reason to give back, to serve and to love is life changing.
How has St. Paul’s transformed my life? In every way and it has been wonderful!
Where have you met God in your ministries with St. Paul's or maybe where has God met you?
God is everywhere. He is there feeding the hungry and our J2 kids were blessed to be there in body and spirit. He is there in the communion bread and he is present in the wine and I am blessed to serve as a Eucharistic Minister. He is there expanding His ministry and I am blessed to serve on the Vestry and He is there in reflection and I am blessed that He hears my prayer. He was there with me walking my son home after Friday evenings at Stepping Stones and I am blessed to serve as a Youth Leader and He is there when my family walks to church and we are blessed to be members of St. Paul’s.
I am blessed that St. Paul’s affords us the opportunity to participate in so many ministries that bring us closer to God, a God who is everywhere.