We, at St. Paul’s, have devoted the past year to celebrating our 300 years of life and ministry. Thanks to the steadfast, diligent and imaginative work of the 300th Anniversary Team we’ve enjoyed all sorts of events, activities and commemoratives. There have been special meals, talks, concerts, parades, reenactments, displays, ornaments, books, fairs and rituals – all to remember, rejoice in and thank God for the people who’ve made up this church and the things they’ve accomplished over the generations that have constituted our 300 years of life together. Thanks be to God for sustaining us through the centuries and for keeping us faithful to His call to us!
Thanks also to the many hard-working people who made it happen –the 300th Anniversary Team! The leaders of this extraordinary anniversary are listed below; many other individuals were part of the team. They’ve been creative in all their ideas and tireless in all their efforts. Thank you, thank you, thank you, three hundred times thank you! Well done, good and faithful servants!
One celebration still remains, and in many ways we’ve saved the best for the last. Our grand finale will feature a visit by the former Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend George Carey. Lord and Lady Carey will be joining us from Friday, October 19, through Tuesday, October 23. Archbishop Carey is a congenial man, gracious, unassuming, gentle spirited, faithful and learned. I first knew him during his years at the theological college I attended in Nottingham, England, where he served as a professor of New Testament studies. In many ways, though he wore the mantle of the august office of the Primate of the Church of England and of the Anglican Communion, he remains the same humble man that I knew those many years ago. You’ll be delighted to meet him and hear what he has to say.
I’ve asked the archbishop to speak on topics that are relevant and forward-looking: What in the World is God up to These Days? What in the World Does God Want from us Anyway? How to be Spiritual without Necessarily being very Religious and How to be Infectious Christians in a Culture Immunized Against It? That’s because our 300th anniversary isn’t merely about looking back. It’s a bridge between our past glories and our as-yet-unknown future exploits.
Christians are always bridge people, people who draw upon the encouragement and example of the past while simultaneously taking upon themselves the new adventures in faith that following our risen Lord calls us to engage. I am confident that the Archbishop will call upon us to move forward with faith and courage to serve the risen Christ. We’ve looked to our past, and now it is time for us to look to our future in Christ’s service. There are people to be fed, those in need of healing, companionship, hope, a home, practical help to be given, children to educate, all human conditions to be alleviated, and the good news of Christ to be communicated by word and deed to people near and far away. St. Paul’s greatest years lie ahead, and we have marvelous adventures in store for us as we follow Christ into the future!
Affectionately in Christ,Phil +
300th Anniversary Steering CommitteeChair, Diane Hoffman;
Past Chair, Mike Cerullo;
Vice Chair, Pat Carlson;
Finances, Elizabeth Grout;
Recording Secretary, Susie Leahy.
Subcommittee heads
Youth Activities, Andrew Nutt;
Liturgical Events, Helen Reid;
Musical Events, Tina Butler, Diane Hoffman;
Oral History Project, Kay Cutting;
Book Preparation, Editing, Publishing, Pat Carlson, Mimi Dyer; Library Exhibit, Pat Carlson;
Merchandise, Dick and Cynthia Carpenter;
Heritage, Natalie Hamlin, Joe Beckwith, Althea McAleer;
Quilt, Betty Ann Taylor;
Video Presentation, John Turner;
Publicity, Carol Palmer;
Village Faire, Ann Waring, Betsy Steinman;
Hospitality, Ann Waring, Betsy Steinman.