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Beloved,

By the look and feel of it the Willamette Valley is in full spring mode. I have to say that I am really grateful for the return of some sunshine! Commuting every day from Corvallis I get to see the changes of each season, which is a beautiful and unexpected gift. I am also aware that with spring comes allergy season. By all accounts it's been a rough start for many who struggle with allergies. Having a flesh and blood physical body is never easy.

On a different note, the Vestry had their monthly meeting this week. They do an amazing job of shepherding our community, making sure the buildings are safe, taking care of the church finances and having oversight of everything we do. The big work recently has and continues to be the creation of a comprehensive plan for the maintenance of the church buildings, working on the financial sustainability of our church and the development of a complete set of policy and procedures. It may not sound like exciting work, but it is absolutely necessary if we are to have a safe and well ordered church community. Community takes effort. God bless our vestry.

And God bless you this week, enjoy some sunshine and I will see you on Sunday.

With my prayers,

Simon+

Walk in Love

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 

1 Peter 4:10 

Thank you for sharing your unique gifts and talents to serve others at St. Paul’s and our community.

From the Diocese -

Election of the Presiding Bishop

The Episcopal Church’s Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop has announced the names of the bishops it will nominate to succeed Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.

They are (pictured in top-down order):

The Rt. Rev. J. Scott Barker,

Diocese of Nebraska

The Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez,

Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania

The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe,

Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania

Episcopal Diocese of Western New York

The Rt. Rev. Robert Wright,

Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Videos of each nominee discussing a biblical image or metaphor that resonates with this moment in the life of the church and the role of the presiding bishop are available on the General Convention website. 

This page also includes photos and links to each bishop’s biography on their diocesan websites.

Click here to read more.

Vestry Corner

2024 Vestry Members:

Johana St. Clair, Sr. Warden

Chuck Chamberlain, Jr. Warden

Jeanne Clark

Nancy Gordon

Hollie Groves

Barb Leque

Rob Owen

Liz Mills

Elaine Sanchez

Betsy Steinberg

Cott Thompson

Michelle Wardrip

Linda Gilbert, Clerk of the Vestry

Dick Rankin, Treasurer

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Click here to view Vestry minutes, reports, and updates on our website!

Click here to view COVID-19 updates from the Oregon Health Authority.

Watch services online:

I'd like to thank Hope Heusdens for her work with many parts of our St. Paul's community. She came into our parish and quickly added her talents and enthusiasm to our Godly Play program, the Newcomers committee and The Parish Life Group. She steps up and is greatly appreciated!



Robin Ellis

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Do you have some community appreciation that you would like to share? Send your shout outs to colleen@stpaulsoregon.org to be included in an upcoming newsletter!

Parish Events and Information

Forward Day By Day

Large Print Forward Day By Day's are now Available.

Located in the main entrance by the literature rack on the wall.

Moms Group (with childcare!) 

April 28th



Moms are warmly invited to join us for another gathering at St. Paul’s on Sunday, April 28th from 3:30-5:00pm. We’ll take time for quiet reflection and group conversation loosely based on the book Nurture the Wow by Danya Ruttenberg, and childcare will be provided. (No pressure to read the book - just a heads-up!) Email Christa Kramer (morse.christa@gmail.com) or Julie Hall (JulieEThompson@gmail.com) with any questions. Hope to see you there! 

Join Us for Community Dinner

Join us for dinner, Connection, and Love Reminders, Wednesday nights at 5:15pm.

April 24th : Chicken with Creamy Tarragon Sauce (Register Here)

Please register by the Monday before the dinner you will be attending.

Menus may be subject to change based on supply availability. You are welcome to RSVP or order for multiple weeks, please "register" for each week. Please contact Shauna at Shauna@stpaulsoregon.org if you need assistance. 

St. Paul’s offers this ministry and welcomes donations to help cover the expenses. If you would like to donate to support this effort, please click here.

St. Paul’s Spring Rummage Sale

April 26 through May 4

Only 1 week left! We need YOU to make this the Greatest, Grandest, Most Magnificent, Spectacular of all rummage sales ever!

This is a wonderful opportunity for you to donate your treasures and your time. Please consider volunteering a few hours during the week. It is a great way to meet and work with fellow parishioners and directly help our community. To volunteer some time call or text Kay Rosevear at 503-551-3002, e-mail her at kjr2005@comcast.net or you may use our online system to sign up https://signup.com/go/VDYYukC . Please realize it takes our entire parish community to have a successful sale. Men are especially invited to be a part of this fund-raiser, especially on Saturday the 4th of May from 12 -2 pm!!

Donation dates are Friday, April 26, Saturday, April 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., as well as Sunday April 28 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. To arrange a pickup time for large items contact Dave Trietsch at 503-383-8314.

Your special pre-sale time to shop is Wednesday, May 1st from 4 to 6 pm.

See YOU there!

Weekly Men's Bible Study 

Wednesdays at 8am, a small group of men meet by zoom every week to discuss the gospel reading for the forthcoming Sunday service. We have found this to be helpful in our faith journey. Martin Loring e-mails the weekly Sunday lectionary along with commentary and a sermon previously given at another church. We then have an unstructured discussion of the gospel passage. Please e-mail Martin at m.loring5332@comcast.net to be on the e-mail list and obtain the zoom link.  

Tuesday Yoga with Colleen

Join us Tuesdays at 2pm for free community yoga!

This 45 min, all-levels class offers a mix of relaxing stretches and strong poses, with a focus on breath and an emphasis on muscles that hold daily stress.

Bring your mat (or borrow one of ours!) and wear clothes that you're comfortable moving in.

Click here to register for your first class!

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Please note the list of recommended mobility skills (such as bending, standing, and kneeling) listed on the registration form.

If you have different mobility needs and are interested in a gentler class, please email colleen@stpaulsoregon.org. If we can get a few folks interested in adaptive options, we can start a chair yoga class!

Community Caring

Church at the Park- Volunteer Opportunity

April 20th

The Social Gospel Ministry is once again, cooking dinner for the young adult residents of C@P on Turner Rd. Saturday, April 20th. Would you like to join us? It has been heartwarming providing a warm meal for these people working on housing placements and employment. We would love to have you join the fun! Please contact Barb Leque: 541-571-2075, tbamjk@gmail.com.

Personnel Committee

Next Meeting - April 22nd

The Personnel Committee is looking for three new members. We currently meet monthly on the first Monday of the month at 5 - 6 pm but that may/can change. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 22nd. Among other tasks, we review position descriptions of staff, make sure performance evaluations are performed by supervisors in a timely manner, and provide insight when needed as to personnel issues and applicable governmental rules and procedures. If you are interested, please contact Father Simon, Catherine Heaton, Wendy Walker, or Vestry Liaison Jeanne Clark.

St Paul’s Spring Work Day

May 11th

Mark your calendars! Saturday, May 11th from 9am-12pm we will be working inside and out to spiff up our church. Jobs for everyone … all ages and all abilities. Working in community for a common goal is great fun. We will provide lunch for a fun way to end our day. This is the weekend before the Bishop comes, so it will allow us to have everything top top for her visit. 

Suggestions and questions contact Julia Battle 337 280-4207 or Fr Simon. 

Church at the Park - New Oven

Bless you! St. Paul’s has offered $18,675 towards the purchase of a commercial oven for Church at the Park. It will be installed in their refurbished kitchen at their Turner Rd. site. Plans are developing to feed C@P’s 300 residents across their three sites and employ the young adults living at Turner Rd. once the kitchen is up and running. We will add this collection to the pledged $15,000 from our funds and present a check to Pastoring Executive Director, DJ Vincent, during our 10:00 service on May 5th. Thank you for all of your generosity!

Tutors Needed

The family from Afghanistan that lives in St Paul’s Walton house next to the church, is in need of tutoring help. We were asked by Salem for Refugees for assistance. There are two children ages 6 and 8 that are behind in reading and each need help. Also the father of the family is also in need of someone to help him learn English. There are materials and other assistance available to use for these jobs. 

Please contact Julia Battle @ 337-280-4307 or Jhbattle@outlook.com. 

In the beauty of Holiness: Invitation to Dedicate Altar Flowers



The beautiful floral arrangements adorning our altar for Sunday services are the generous gifts from parishioners like you. Flowers are often given in dedication of celebration of anniversaries, memory of departed loved ones, or in thanksgiving for a special blessing in your life.

To select a Sunday or learn more, please call Judy Rankin 503-931-3512. Payment is made to St. Paul’s and the cost is $100.00. On the check memo line, please write ‘flowers’ and the date flowers were on the altar. 

Art and Architecture Committee



Do you have strong interests in or experience in the arts or architecture?

The A and AC is looking for new members to help us maintain and develop St. Paul’s collection of the arts and the preservation of the architectural fabric of our church. The visual arts play a significant role before, during and after our worship services and throughout the week. If you would like to join us and learn more about what we do, OR if you know of someone having these interests and

talents whom we might reach out to, please contact Jinx Brandt, Chairperson, at Jrb60@live.com.

Library Renewal

The library needs your help. We are currently building an online catalogue of the church library holdings. If you have borrowed a book from our library, please bring it back so we can enter it in the catalogue. Returned books should be placed either in the wooden tray on the top shelf or in the plastic basket on the floor near the acolyte torches. Thanks for your cooperation. We are eager to finish the renewal of the library.

Dot the Free Pantry:

Community Mutual Aid

Follow Dot_thefreepantry on Instagram to stay up-to-date on ways you can take direct action to love our neighbors!

A friendly reminder that Dot is a pantry and not a clothing exchange or library. Please only share unexpired food and small toiletry items there. Thank you!

St. Paul's Children, Youth, and Families

Parents and Guardians please complete a NEW Annual Permission form linked below for each child participating in St. Paul's Children, Youth and Families activities.

St. Paul's Graduate Recognition Sunday

May 19th



High school and college graduates will be recognized during the 10:00am service with a reception to follow. If you are graduating or know someone who is, please contact Amy Goerger at amygoerger@stpaulsoregon.org so that we can celebrate this accomplishment!

SPARK 2024: Ukraine!

July 15th - 19th

St. Paul’s Rhythm and Arts for Kids returns this summer! This beloved week long day camp allows children ages 6-11 to experience the music, art and culture of a different country right here in Salem. Each day from 9am to 2pm campers will be immersed in the literature, songs, arts, animals, geography and food of Ukraine! 

Click here to register!

Salem Youth Collective

Grades 6-12

THIS SUNDAY!!! 

April 21st 12:30-2:30pm 

*Please note the time change.

City Camp 2024!

Click here to register!

Cost: $125/student

Salem Youth Collective Flower Fundraiser

TODAY IS THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT ORDERS!!



Westminster Presbyterian Church is hosting a flower fundraiser for youth this Spring! We are so happy to offer you BEAUTIFUL individual geraniums ($6 each) AND mix colored floral baskets (petunia and other mixed florals) from Pederson's Nursery (formerly Egan Gardens). 

All orders are due by April 18th and plants will be available for pick up on May 5th. Salem Youth Collective Flower Fundraiser Order Form 

Please make checks payable to Westminster Presbyterian Church. If you would like to arrange for plant pick up at St. Paul's, please contact Amy Goerger at amy@stpaulsoregon.org.

SPY (St. Paul's Youth) 

Grades 6-12

This Sunday! April 14th

Can you provide the meal for us this month? Pizza delivered or a home-cooked meal-we're easy to feed! Contact Amy Goerger amy@stpaulsoregon.org if you can help.

SPY will meet at 4:00pm on the second Sunday of each month beginning in October for fun, service projects and conversation about life and faith. Dinner will be at 5:00pm on those Sundays. Parents/guardians, please let me know if you can help provide a meal for one of those dinners. Thank you!

Youth Earth Day Service Project

CANCELLED

Saturday, April 20th – Unfortunately, the Earth Day, Youth Day has been cancelled. Stay tuned for information about future diocesan youth events! 

Confirmation Classes

Bishop Akiyama will be with us on Sunday, May 19th – Pentecost Sunday. In the Episcopal tradition there are three routes into full membership of the Church: baptism, confirmation and being formally received into the Episcopal Church. If you have not been baptized, then we offer baptism; for those who have already been baptized but not confirmed, we offer confirmation. For those who have been baptized and confirmed in another church tradition, we offer formal reception into the Episcopal Church. All of these bring you into full membership of both the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Communion and St. Paul’s local church community. Being in full membership means that you can serve on the vestry, or as a church officer, and vote at our Annual General Meetings, among other things.

If you are interested in pursuing spiritual membership, I will be offering 5 preparation classes. We take a dive into our Episcopal traditions, the Book of Common Prayer, our worship, the life of prayer, and daily living as well as your own questions. There will be two class times to choose from – both classes will have the same content:

Sundays after church, beginning on Sunday, April 7 th from 12noon – 1.00pm

Wednesday afternoon, beginning on Wednesday, April 10 th from 4.00pm – 5.00pm

If you are interested in exploring this further and would like some more information or you have questions, please contact me or Amy Goerger:

fathersimon@stpaulsoregon.org

amy@stpaulsoregon.org

or 541-207-5826

Save the Date: Extraordinary Young Musician Concert

May 5th at 4pm

Mark your calendars for the 2024 Extraordinary Young Musician Concert. This year the featured musician is our very own Ellie Starr, South Salem High School Senior!

We're hiring! Children & Youth Ministry Assistant

With Vestry’s approval of a Children and Youth Ministry Assistant, we are looking forward to filling this position soon and expanding programming in 2024! If you or someone you know might be the perfect candidate for this position please consider applying or passing along the information.

The job description can be found here.

Volunteers are needed!

Spending time with children in our parish is a fun and rewarding volunteer opportunity. Lessons and materials are provided. Please contact Amy Goerger amy@stpaulsoregon.org if you are interested in learning more about Children's Ministry at St. Paul's and how you might be involved. 

Children's Bulletins



Here are some fun ways for children to engage with the scripture readings each week.



The bulletins may be printed off and games accessed online.

• Ages 3-6 Children's Bulletin
• Ages 7+ Children's Bulletin

There is a secret code on the front cover page that is unique to our church and allows SAFE and secure access to online games to reinforce the message for the week. The games are geared toward all age levels so everyone can join in the fun!

        Step 1: Print the age-appropriate bulletin with a secret code on the front.

        Step 2: Enter the secret code at Games.ChildrensBulletins.com

        Step 3: Pick a game and play!

Weekly Birthdays

April 22nd

Sam Massingale

Arthur McKenzie

April 24th

Clinton Pfingsten

April 26th

Sawyer Nelson

April 27th

Alyssa Mack

In Loving Memory

Dennis Todd

Edwin Peterson

Nelda Forner

Zoe Johnson

Joe Lindsey 

Terese Labar

Chris Strum

Lynda Bush

Jose Vazquaez-Valenzuela

Wendy Francis

Cover Image: The Good Shepherd, painting by Julien Dupre (1851-1910) in the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco. “Images of women agricultural workers became a popular subject in French painting of the mid-late 19th century. Julien Dupre drew on that popular theme and moved it to allegory, with the naming of a shepherdess as the "good shepherd." Christ, the spiritual Good Shepherd, becomes a calming presence without being pictured, simply by the artist's use of sheep, staff/rod, and one who tends the flock.”

Dupre, Julien, 1851-1910. The Good Shepherd, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=54256 [retrieved April 16, 2024]. Original source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/2202377733/.

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