Saint Nicholas Choir joins our worship.

Cornerstone (The CSRA Episcopal Youth Groups) meets at Saint Paul's

A place, a people, extraordinary in that we share a common purpose: to be touched by the hand of God, in whatever way we define that. We are a community of faith and the inheritors of the generosity of those who have preceded us. Our lay and clergy leadership now call us to deepen and broaden our Christian faith. We can deepen our devotion to caring for one another more expansively. God's love, through us, extends to the youngest among us and those who continue to give generously of their resources and talent. In turn, we offer beyond our curbside our time and resources. We all learn the enormity and generosity of God's love for all creation.  

How do we explain the renewed energy within our parish community? The many young voices of our Saint Nickolas and Canterbury choirs, our faithful acolytes, the dedication of our Vergers and Eucharistic Ministers, weekday and Sunday Bible studies for adults, our weeknight dinners and online study groups; the list could go on. There is a renewal of spirit in our parish community.

At the same time, our magnificent liturgies and music continue to inspire us. Our Altar Guild prepares our holy table with care and beauty. Sermons are not only thoughtful but wonderfully challenging and engaging. Our administrative staff, every one of them, are dedicated and give tirelessly of their talents and gifts. Saint Paul's is the place, and we are the people united by an extraordinary common purpose: to be touched by the hand of God.

In the past, Marsha and I have taken two wonderful trips to Italy. Our first trip was to Florence, and our second was to the small village of Stia, about 25 miles east of Florence. Day trips took us far and wide. The fantastic food, museums, churches, and cathedrals built during the Renaissance are unforgettable. Nevertheless, one thing created a haunted memory. So many beautiful and historic places of worship are now officially museums, regardless of their intricate beauty and once vital communities of the faithful. They have now become preserved shells of their rich history. I wondered, "When and how did they transition from being vibrant communities of faith to statues of elaborate, however beautiful, memories of the past?"

Then one Sunday, I found these stirring words inscribed on a wall of the 13th-century village of Raggiola:

Walking around this small stone village, I peeked in the doors of the Church of San Michele, and to my astonishment, I found a congregation of men, women, and children fully engaged in the holy liturgy of their faith. Their worship gladdened my heart. It was far from the stunning architecture of the marbled cathedrals. However, it was not only a place but a people in a place that continues to be touched by the hand of the living God.

LaRue+

Let us begin by making it clear that we believe the most important financial commitment a parishioner can make to the church is a pledge to the annual stewardship campaign.

That said, those who are seventy-two or older may be required to make a draw from their retirement account such as a 401k or IRA. The distribution is often taxable, but you may be able to give the draw directly to the church without being taxed. Talk with your financial advisor about this.

Parishioners and friends of Saint Paul’s have donated $1,720,935.77. Outstanding pledges total over $50,000--some of these are earmarked for specific items or projects and will be paid as the costs are determined. The endowment fund will receive 30% of the funds donated to this campaign. We have paid $339,975 to date.

The kitchen in Tyler Hall is being completely redone to suit our current needs including those of the Flower Guild, as well as facilitating Sunday morning breakfast and reception preparations. The washer and dryer have been moved to our new sexton workspace. The sextons will have a much larger and organized area to work from without having to use the kitchen. The old men’s room was combined with the old sexton’s closet to provide the space. The cost of this project is $324,501. The ‘new’ kitchen will be open in the next few weeks.

There are several ongoing projects that are improvements to the technology we use at Saint Paul’s. They include burglar, fire, elevator, and panic alarms as well as security cameras. We have added some computer hardware. A large component of this project is sound equipment and audio-visual tech. New fiber and cabling have been installed. Our Wi-Fi now covers the entire church campus. The cost for these projects is $129,970. Some items listed are complete and others are underway.

The bid to update the Sacristy is $35,833 with the work to begin soon.

We plan to replace the carpet in the Parish House foyer and on the stairs. We have no cost estimate currently.

Many people have given time and talent as well as their treasure to these projects. The Building Committee headed by Cameron Nixon has done an outstanding job overseeing the work. The Technology Committee chaired by Bill Ford has coordinated all the tech projects. Please thank these people when you see them.

Thank you to all of you who have supported this campaign with your generous gifts.

Projects completed and previously reported:

We need more donations to complete the campaign in a timely manner. Please consider a gift to the capital campaign after you make your stewardship pledge.

Catherine Boardman

Billy Badger

By Catherine Robertson

For more than 270 years, innumerable saints of God have worshipped within the walls of Saint Paul’s Church. Over that time, the church buildings have been damaged and destroyed by war, flood, and fire, but the spirit of Saint Paul’s has stood strong. The congregations have been, and continue to be led to Christ by a multitude of clergy who have dedicated their lives to spreading the Word of the Gospel, ministering to the needs of the people through life’s struggles, and celebrating the joys of fellowship in God.

Also important in the history of Saint Paul’s are the many lay members who have contributed to the mission of spreading Christ’s word, by working tirelessly in service to the church, as well as to the surrounding community. Though there have been thousands of saints who have trod these grounds, here are but a few who have stood out over time.

According to his obituary, William “Willie” Kitchen Miller “was one of Georgia’s eminent churchmen…,” At Saint Paul’s Church, “he rarely missed a service, and gave full support to every phase of church service.” He served on the Vestry for thirty-six years, including 3 months as Junior Warden and 14 years, 9 months as Senior Warden.

In 1916, when the Saint Paul’s Church burned in the Great Fire, W. K. Miller was serving as Senior Warden and led the Church through the process of rebuilding. In the same year, he was elected as Chancellor of the Diocese of Georgia, serving in that capacity for more than a quarter of a century, succeeding his father in that office. “A crowning contribution to his church was his indefatigable work on his history of Saint Paul’s Church…He worked at this task with unceasing energy, as though it was his one desire to complete the task before death claimed him…His death removes one of the few remaining gentlemen of the old school.”

W.K. Miller was born in Augusta in 1860, and died at the age of 87, at his home on McDowell Street in 1947. He attended the University of the South at Sewanee, the University of Georgia, and the University of Virginia. On his return to Augusta, he began the practice of law with his father, Frank H. Miller. He married Miss Martha Phinizy, to whom he was married for fifty years before her death in 1935. Mrs. Miller was also a “devoted and active member of Saint Paul’s Church, prominent in all church activities as her health permitted…and was one who never hesitated to give of her time and means to any charitable cause where her help was needed.”

as of 11/09/2022

Offerings pledged this Week $12,981.00

Offerings received this Week $7,906.00

Operating Expenses to Date $741,187.51

Operating Income to Date $842,935.12

Please contact the Parish Office to update our files.