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Dear Friends in Christ,
If you walk into my office, you will immediately notice that items are starting to disappear. Photos, diplomas and ordination certificates have been taken home. By late next week the bookshelves will be almost entirely empty. I have started purging files in my desk drawers and deleting folders of old documents saved on the St. Paul’s server. I won’t throw everything out, of course. I am dividing things into four categories: save for myself, save for the next rector, save for the parish archives and delete/recycle.
I’ve cleaned out a church office twice before, but this time feels very different. I’m not leaving for another ministry. There will be no new office to hold my things. My desk at home is in a guest room, and the bookshelves are already too full to take on extra books. The house has no wall space for the large print of Rembrandt’s Return of the Prodigal Son that Stephanie gave me for our 15th wedding anniversary and has hung in my office since I served in New Hampshire.
Deciding what to hold onto and what to let go of is a strange experience when each item represents some part of the last 43 years of my life (11 years preparing for ordination and 32 years of parish ministry). The 19th century edition of the Bible given to me by my beloved Uncle Gene when I was confirmed in the Diocese of Pennsylvania. The Book of Common Prayer I used for three years in the seminary chapel. The Russian icon I bought during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with parishioners of my first parish, the Church of the Holy Comforter. The photo of the renovated interior of my second parish, Christ Church. The copy of Blessings on Thee, Old St. Paul’s, Alice Roettger’s and Joe Thompson’s history of our parish. These are the items I’m keeping. There is so much more that will stay at St. Paul’s or find a new home.
As the calendar slips into February, I am increasingly aware that letting go of the stuff in my office is the easy part. It will be so much more difficult, for both Stephanie and me, to let go of each of you who have been so central to our lives these past 13 ½ years.
The final countdown to retirement has begun. Four more Sundays. Three more weeks in the church office. Two more sermons to preach. One more Evensong to officiate. With a heart full of gratitude, I intend to cherish every moment.
Your Friend in Christ,
The Rev. John Denson, D.Min., Rector
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2025 BALLOT AND VOTING
If you have not yet voted, please do so now. Your participation is needed to approve minutes from last year's Annual Meeting, the four candidates on our 2028 Vestry slate and the Diocesan Convention delegates. All members age 16+ who have contributed to St. Paul's are eligible to vote. Voting closes TODAY, Thursday, February 6 at 5 p.m.
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ANNUAL MEETING
Due to the annual meeting, there will be no 11:15 a.m. service offered on February 9! Services will occur at 7:45 and 9 a.m. only.
Sunday, February 9, 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m., Parish Hall
All adults and youth are encouraged to attend the St. Paul's Annual Meeting after the 9 a.m. service and participate in conversation with our Rector, leadership and fellow parishioners. Youth (grades 6-12) are invited to join us during the meeting (Youth Lounge will be closed). Childcare and snacks will be available for ages infant-4 in the nursery. Ages 4-grade 5 may enjoy a kids dance party in the Lilly Room. If you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting in person, a livestream will be available via YouTube after 10:40 a.m.
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CHORAL EVENSONG AND POST-EVENSONG RECITAL
Sunday, February 9, 4 p.m., Sanctuary
Enjoy the music of William Mundy, Annabel Rooney, Orlando Gibbons and Arvo Pärt. Plan to stay for a short organ recital by Indiana University student, Evelyn Rohrbach.
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ABC CHOIR HAS RESUMED
Thursdays, 5:15-6 p.m., Music Room (second floor, Church bldg.), January 31-May 15, 2025
After an extended Christmas break, ABC choir rehearsals have resumed! ABC choir is a great way for children to develop their musical and social skills in a fun environment. Children ages 4-8 are invited to participate in fun-filled evenings of singing, musical activities and games, followed by joining the older St. Paul’s choir kids for dinner from 6-6:30 p.m. Click here to email ABC Choir Director, Emma Page with questions. We hope to see you there!
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ADVOCACY IN ACTION :: SPEAK UP FOR JUSTICE
As part of St. Paul's mission to strive for justice and share Christ’s love, the Advocacy, Equity & Justice team will provide regular action suggestions aligned with Episcopalian values. This new team is responding to a rapidly changing political climate, and input is welcome — click here to email Irma Boyett with questions or suggestions. This week’s action: Contact your state representative and urge them to support a hearing for House Bill 1030, which would repeal the death penalty. Calls and emails matter — click below for more information and make your voice heard! Click here to email Amanda Collins with questions.
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LIFELONG LEARNERS
Thursday, February 13, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Parish Hall
The rebooted “Lunch and Learn” group - now "Lifelong Learners" - welcomes others to join for lunch and a look at "Lincoln's Connections to Indianapolis" by parishioner, Alice Roettger. Please click here to RSVP to Tana Hunnicutt by Tuesday, February 11. The cost of lunch is $10/person – please click here to prepay online (indicating “Lifelong Learners Lunch” in the reason for payment field). Click here to email Ann Hinson with questions.
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DON'T MISS OUT
The Gesualdo Six is in Just 10 Days!
Sunday, February 16, 4 p.m., Sanctuary
Tickets are selling fast for The Gesualdo Six — one of the world’s premier vocal ensembles — performing at St. Paul’s in 10 days. Known for their breathtaking harmonies and exquisite precision, this UK-based group will present a stunning program that spans Renaissance polyphony to contemporary choral works. Pricing is as follows:
$30 (cash/check, available during office hours: Tues.-Thur., 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., or at the door)
$31.20 (credit card, includes processing fees)
Click below to secure your tickets now:
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LENTEN GATHERINGS
Want to get to know fellow St. Paul’s friends, maybe with some snacks or supper? Join a group of 6-12 people meeting three times during Lent (early March to mid-April) for conversation, faith-related discussion and short prayers, all exploring the playful side of pilgrimage! Each group is hosted by a different St. Paul’s household at a different time/place. A physical sign up will be available on the Welcome Table in Burrows Commons, starting Sunday, February 9. Please click here to email the Rev. Beth Scriven with questions.
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TUESDAY STUDY GROUP
Tuesdays, 12-1:15 p.m., Broad Ripple Brewpub
The group is now studying the book, A Fever in the Heartland, by Timothy Egan. This novel tells the story of the Ku Klux Klan's rise to power in the 1920s. Their domain was not the old Confederacy, but the Heartland and the West. At the peak of its influence, a seemingly powerless woman's deathbed testimony finally brought the Klan to their knees. All are invited to join the conversation, regardless of reading the book. Click here to email Larry Johnson with questions.
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COMMUNICATING THROUGH CONFLICT
Sunday, February 23, 10:15-11 a.m., Parish Hall
Join the Wellness Team in welcoming Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), Jill Frame and Dena Hein for a discussion on how to best communicate through conflict. Learn proven techniques and common misconceptions that affect our interpretation and handling of conflicts. On March 9, a couples check-in workshop will dive deeper into communicating with significant others. Click below to learn more. Click here to email Carrie Bernhardt with questions.
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CELEBRATE THE REV. JOHN DENSON'S RETIREMENT
Saturday, March 1, 3-6 p.m., Parish Hall
Join us in celebrating John at an open house next month. Help us honor his years of leadership and ministry by sharing your gratitude in multiple ways: Share a Message - Submit a line or two about John's impact on you or St. Paul’s, which may be included at the event. Write a Notecard - Beginning February 9, notecards will be available at the Welcome Table in Burrows Commons for personal messages. Send a Video - Record a short video (one minute max, vertical format) to be included in a special video gift. Give towards purse - For those who may wish to give monetarily, checks may be placed in the offering plate or gifts may be made online (memo/reason: “In thanksgiving for Rev. John Denson”). St. Paul's will present John with a check at the open house, totaling all monetary gifts. For details and to RSVP, click the link below. We look forward to celebrating together!
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SCOUT FUNDRAISER
Scout Troops 73 and 173 are offering a fundraising opportunity throughout February. Their annual Crew Car Wash fundraiser benefits the troops with 50% of all proceeds. Please consider using the link below next time you wash the salt off of your vehicles; the link must be used for the scouts to receive credit. Purchases may be redeemed at any Crew Car Wash location. Click here to email scout leader, Hilari Vargo with questions.
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PANCAKE SUPPER
Tuesday, March 4, 5:30-7 p.m., Parish Hall
Celebrate Shrove Tuesday with a delicious buffet-style Pancake Supper! Voluntary donations at the door will support the St. Paul's Community Bucket, providing funds that families may apply towards events with a cost (summer camp, Youth Group trips and events, etc.). Volunteers of all ages are needed and various timeslots are available. Please click below to view slots and sign up to help. No RSVPs are needed — bring your friends and neighbors. Children and families are also invited to gather in the Lilly Room that evening at 6:40 p.m. for an interactive station experience in observance of Ash Wednesday. Click here to email Laurie Pierce with questions.
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NOTEWORTHY DATES:
(Click on red links for available details)
- Tuesdays, 6-6:45 p.m., RCR (second floor, Parish Ctr. bldg.), Centering Prayer
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Sun., Feb. 23, 4 p.m., Three Choirs Festival at Christ Church Cathedral
- Thur., Feb. 27, 7-8:15 p.m., Youth Lounge, Richard Rohr Men's Group
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Mon., March 10, 11:59 p.m., FIA Grant Application Deadline
- Sat., March 15, Bingo
- Sun., May 4, Celebrate St. Paul's: Picnic with a Purpose
- Fri.-Sun., Sept. 19-21, Parish Retreat at Waycross
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