Q: What is the mission of the Church?
A: The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.
Q: How does the Church pursue its mission?
A: The Church Pursues its mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the Gospel, and promotes justice, peace, and love.
Q: Through whom does the Church carry out its mission?
A: The Church carries out its mission through the ministry of all its members. [Book of Common Prayer, BCP, page 855]
Historic St. Paul's, as community of faith, expresses itself in activities both in the parish and in our community.
Along with our common prayer and worship, we are nurtured by the warmth and generosity of our companionship with each other that expresses itself in many activities, formal and informal, beginning with the Sunday Coffee Hour. This informal gathering after the late service on Sunday morning brings parishioners and guests together under the hospitality of one of the parishioners who provides refreshments for worshippers, guests, and Sunday School Scholars.
The parish gathers many times during the year around the table of friendship for brunches after Sunday services, or Shrove Tuesday Pancake Suppers, or Budget Brunches, where there is the opportunity to discuss and share in the life of the parish administration and management with the elected leaders, or the annual Celtic Dinner on the Feast of St. Bridget of Kildare, the patron of the parish chapter of the Daughters of the King.
In response to the admonition at the Eucharist to ?Go in peace to love and serve the Lord,? the members of St. Paul's carry their faith into the local community and world, either through direct service or through surrogate outreach agencies, like Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) or the United Thank Offering (UTO). The parish is generous in its support of local community agencies, such as Interfaith, Trehab, and The Ministry of Christian Service, which address the needs of the poor, homeless, and those living below the poverty line. St. Paul's annually supports such programs as Adopt-A-Family at Christmas, sponsors the annual Easter Basket Project, collects coats, sweaters, and blankets for the Coats for Community Program, and supplies the local county school nurses with underwear, sweats, and socks for children in need.
The parish is blessed to have chapters of two international organizations: The Daughters of the King and The Brotherhood of St. Andrew.
The Daughters of the King is an Order for women who are communicants of the Episcopal Church, or churches in communion with it, or churches who are in the Historic Episcopate. Members undertake a Rule of Life, incorporating the Rule of Prayer and the Rule of Service. By reaffirmation of the promises made at Confirmation, a Daughter pledges herself to a life-long program of prayer, service and evangelism, dedicated to the spread of Christ's Kingdom and the strengthening of the spiritual life of her parish.
Prayer of the Daughters of the King
O Eternal Father, Who Has sent us your Son to teach us things pertaining to your Heavenly Kingdom, give Thy blessing, we beseech Thee, to this Order wherever it may be throughout the world. Vouchsafe that these, Thy Daughters, ever may discern Thy sacred Truth, and bear, with sturdy mind, the cross, Thy Kingly emblem, through the battles of their earthly life.
Give them strength to overcome, and grace that they may strive to spread Thy Kingdom and to gather Thy dispersed sheep within Thy fold. Pour out upon them the seven-fold gifts of they Holy Spirit, that they may never forget that it is Thy work which they are called to do, that they may think nothing, do nothing, and say nothing which may inure themselves, their neighbors or Thy Holy Work, and that amid all temptations they may be ready always to forget self in obeying Thy most blessed will.
Finally, faithful unto death, bestow Thy crown Everlasting Life upon them. We ask it all, for His sake, for whom we work, who died for us, who lives for us and interceded, Our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Brotherhood of St. Andrew is an international ministry of men within the Anglican Communion, with corporate offices in Ambridge, Pennsylvania. The Brotherhood was incorporated by Act of the U.S. Congress, signed by President Theodore Roosevelt May 30, 1908. The Acts states, "the sole object of said corporation shall be the spread of Christ's Kingdom among men." Members of the Brotherhood dedicate themselves to the disciplines of prayer, study and service.
Prayer of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew
Almighty God, who gave such grace to your apostle Andrew that he readily obeyed the call of your Son Jesus Christ, and brought his brother with him; Give us, who are called by your Holy Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to bring those near to us into his gracious presence; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
St. Paul's lives by the words of Our Lord Jesus: "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." [Matthew 25:40]
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An Outreach Project of St. Paul's
After a year of needs assessment and planning, the Outreach Committee of St. Paul's provided the seed money for The End of Day After School Program (EOD), and incorporated it as a non-profit childcare organization. The program was launched in 2002 and is currently licensed in three local elementary schools. EOD exemplifies the life of St. Paul's and its concern for the commonwealth of the community.
EOD is open to all school age children, regardless of financial circumstances. It is open every full day that school is in session, which averages 175-180 days per year. EOD allows for a variety of enrollment options, including every day, a few days a week, or occasionally as the circumstances require.
The needs and ability of the child help form the curriculum. EOD offers quality after school, including a healthy snack, recreation, social time, craft, and homework help. The staff helps with homework on a daily basis while tutors from the local Literacy Program are available twice a week for those in need of intensive work in reading and/or math. A daily fee of $8 per day for services does not cover the expenses, and EOD depends upon the generosity of the community, including St. Paul's to assist with the full costs.
EOD is licensed by the PA Department of Welfare, Child Care Services, and is a member of Keystone Stars, a quality improvement initiative for childcare agencies.
All the activities of Historic St. Paul's are grounded in prayer, the life of the parish is an extension of our prayer and worship, and we ask for your prayers as we strive to respond to the call of God to be messengers and models of the Good News:
Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for St. Paul's parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Grant them all things necessary for their common life, and bring them to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN