Save The Date

FROM THE RECTOR

On Monday of this week, St. Paul’s turned 174 years old. Happy birthday to us! Actually, this was the 174th anniversary of the organizing of the Episcopal community that eventually would become St. Paul’s. Episcopalians had tried to start a church in Fayetteville several years earlier, but their efforts were undone by rancor that spread throughout the congregation. Although our parish would not be formally recognized by name until a few years later, on May 23, 1848, the group of Episcopalians who would become the people of St. Paul’s met and organized our church.

That means we have one year to plan and execute a celebration worthy of 175 years of ministry, and I think we should find ways to celebrate all year long. For several months, our staff and vestry have been thinking about ways that we can mark this anniversary. Holding a festive banquet is the easy part, and, although we do not know any of the details yet, you can go ahead and save the date for that dinner on May 23, 2023. But, in order to truly mark this august occasion, we need to find other ways to celebrate, and we would like your help.

This Sunday at 10:00 a.m., we will kick off our 175th anniversary celebration in the Adult Forum with a conversation about our history and how we might celebrate throughout the year. Who should be asked to share stories from our past? Who will dig through the historical records and draw from them salient details worth revisiting? What parts of our history need more attention than others? How will we confront those chapters that are less honorable than others? How will we learn more deeply the history of our church so that we might embrace and learn from our spiritual ancestors in this place?

How will we celebrate using the liturgies of the church? Will we have a procession around the historical bounds of the parish? Will we celebrate Communion on the site of the first church structure on Meadow Street? How will we remember in prayer those who helped build and shape our congregation? What offerings of gratitude will we present to God throughout the year? What prayers will we incorporate into our weekly worship in order to prepare us for this celebration? Will we ask the bishop to come and bless our congregation as we embark on the next 175 years of ministry in Fayetteville?

Are there any creative ways we might celebrate this anniversary? Will someone commission a painting or a piece of music? Will the choir offer a special concert? Might someone write a poem, story, or play to capture the ethos of St. Paul’s? Will someone photograph the windows in our church and publish a book that describes the artistry and symbolism of each one? Will our children create works of art that express how God has guided our parish throughout the years? Will we ask artists to imagine what the Episcopal Church will mean to this community in the years ahead?

Join us in this week’s Adult Forum and share your ideas. A celebration like this can take on as many directions and endeavors as there are people to lead them. What part will you play? You do not need to wait for someone to deputize you in an official capacity before you can contribute to our 175th anniversary celebration. As an occasion to mark the breadth and depth of ministry in this community, this effort is best led by all of us—everyone who contributes to the life of St. Paul’s. We have an entire year to find ways to give thanks for all that God has done in and through our church, but this is more than an occasion to look back at our history. This is an opportunity for us to celebrate what lies ahead. Come and be a part of that celebration.


Yours Faithfully,

Evan D. Garner

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