This Sunday at 10am —Sung Service with Hymns

Coffee Hour following 10am Worship

Hi Everyone,

As I mentioned at the Morning Prayer service last Sunday, on Wednesday, April 23, Joe and I met with Jim Rudd and Tony Rubino, the Wardens of St. Mark’s, and Melanie Slane, the Transitions Minister of our Diocese. Melanie is helping both churches find an Interim Priest who will help us transition to our next Rector or Priest-in-Charge. Originally, we were told to expect an Interim by the end of August, but Melanie gave us GOOD NEWS during our meeting in that the Interim should be available at the beginning of August! The candidate has been tentatively selected but needs to have an interview with Bishop White before we receive any other information. Melanie said she was very happy about the tentative selection and that the prospective Interim Priest is AWESOME. Melanie’s enthusiasm was contagious as all of us left the meeting pumped.

As soon as I have more information to share, I’ll let you know. Between now and the Interim’s arrival, we’re going to have as many Eucharist services as possible. We’ll also have a few Morning Prayer services. Last Sunday’s Morning Prayer was superb and I had forgotten how special they feel. The Rev. Greg Sammons will officiate this Sunday’s service, May 4th, and on May 11th -- Mother’s Day -- we will have a very special service for all the MOMs and mother figures!

Best wishes,

Paul

St. Paul’s is excited to bring back adult formation sessions to be held at 9:15 a.m. on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month. Our first session will be on Sunday, May 4th. The topic: How do we talk to people about St. Paul’s and our faith? How do we share that which is most precious to us?

The topic is very relevant to our journey through the Easter season. Mary Magdalene was sent back from the empty tomb to proclaim the Resurrection to the apostles while they were still reeling from the tragic events that unfolded in the past few days, culminating in the crucifixion of their leader, Jesus. Mary had joyous news. How did she proclaim it to the apostles? How would you have proclaimed it? We are “commissioned” by Christ to do so (Matt: 28:16-20) as Christians to the world.

This discussion will be moderated by Ruth Anne Alexander and Paul Sampson. Paul will give an update on our Interim search. Afterwards there will be a round table discussion to share with each other our thoughts about how we invite people to church with all that is going on in our church and the world. Like Mary leaving the tomb, there is Good News for us to share. Let’s share it!

The Vestry is eager to establish better communication with the Parish, and will be making the minutes to Vestry meetings more accessible. Prior meeting minutes will be posted on the website in the coming weeks. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your Wardens and Vestry members with any questions.

Do you have old or extra eyeglasses you no longer use? Please bring them to St. Paul's and deposit them in the Lions Club box in the Narthex. This will be an ongoing opportunity to help others! Thank you!

This week we hear from Vestry Member Jill Farley Davis on her journey to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church:

I began attending St. Paul’s with my parents, Barb and Rog, in 1978. Although we did not cross paths there, my husband Sam grew up attending St. Paul’s with his folks, Phyllis and Tom, and we were married there in 1988. After living in Chicago, Columbia SC, and Indianapolis, we found our way back to Dayton in 1998 and settled into a house about a block away from church with our three sons, Harrison, Weston and Bennett. Now it’s 2025, and Sam and I are empty nesters and have downsized to a condo in Kettering. Harrison lives in Columbus with his wife, Kelly and daughter, Gemma, Weston is engaged to Milanne and living in Chicago, and Bennett is moving to Nashville.

I served as St. Paul’s Director of Communications for Rector Jack Koepke (2003-2010), as well as on the Rector Search Committee that called Deborah Woolsey (2010-12), Vestry (2012-15 with Deborah Woolsey and Greg Sammons, and also 2021-2023 with Dan McClain), and New Rector Transition Committee with John Atkins (2017). In addition, I was the cook for the Youth Mission Trips to Athens, Ohio (2001-10), and very involved with the Youth Council and the MOTs (Mothers Of Teens) Group when our children were young. Some of my favorite memories of St. Paul’s include Progressive Dinners, Foyer Groups and Wonderful Wednesdays. Currently, I ride horses and do various barn chores at Greenstone Stables in Germantown. We help ex-racehorses learn new skills so they can be adopted through the Friends of Ferdinand charity. I’m also the chapter president of P.E.O., an international philanthropic education organization focused on women’s education. I’m looking forward to working with our Vestry to move St. Paul’s forward in a positive way!