March 19, 2026 l ISSUE 12

Sunday Morning

Adult Formation Conversations

Join us every Sunday in Lent

9:15 a.m. in the Parish Hall

Unbound: Seeking the Freedom of God’s Love 

This Lenten season, join our Adult Formation conversation in following Jesus through the wilderness and into the heart of the Empire. Along the way, we’ll wrestle with what it means to be truly free: to remove our masks, reject false power, center on the excluded, accept God’s love, and choose life even in the shadow of darkness and despair. We’ll meet Gospel characters like Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman at the well, the man born blind, and Lazarus, and explore how Jesus invites each of them – and us – to step into the light to claim life abundant. Each session will focus on the Sunday Gospel reading. Join us at 9:15a.m. in the Parish Hall each of the six Sundays in Lent.

Sunday service at 10:30 a.m.

in-person or online

UPCOMING SCRIPTURE READINGS

SUNDAY LEADERS

Palm Sunday, Sunday March 29 - 10:30a.m. 

Liturgy and Blessing of the Palms

Holy Tuesday, March 31 - 7:00p.m.  

Women of the Passion

Holy Thursday, April 2 - 7:00p.m.

 Liturgy of the Lord's Supper

Good Friday Service, April 3 - 12:00noon

Holy Saturday, April 4 - 8:00p.m.

The Great Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday, April 5 - 10:30 a.m.

Liturgy & Holy Eucharist

A Note From Fr. Jeff

Last Friday I attended the Christ Church Cathedral concert of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, the sorrowful mother standing and watching at the foot of the cross. The piece was the twenty-six-year-old Pergolesi's final work in 1735-36. He died at the age of twenty-six. It is a moving experience, reflecting on the pain and grief the mother of Christ endured as her son was crucified

I immediately thought of some of my most difficult encounters as a hospital chaplain, when I am present to a mother who has just lost a child, whether that be a two-day old infant, or a six-year old drowning victim, or a young teenager to gun violence, a drug overdose, or a tragic car accident or when it may be a sixty-five year old adult to cancer or cardiac arrest, the sorrow a mother endures is deep, intense, unimaginable, and indescribable. These are sacred moments of vulnerability and emotion that I have had the privilege of being present to. Sobbing and wailing are sometimes the only release a mother can express. Words cannot capture the raw emotion of the moment. I can only imagine this is exactly what Mary experienced on that Good Friday two centuries ago as her son hung and died upon a cross. 

The words of the Stabat Mater are meditative prayer to Mary and most appropriate for our Lenten reflection. I share them with you, so that you too can experience this intense emotion that our Blessed Mother endured.

-- What's Happening at St. Paul's --

Come for FOOD, FUN and FELLOWSHIP!

Meal preparers are also needed for the April 2 and April 16. 

Sign up sheet on table in lobby area.

"Women of the Passion: A Journey to the Cross,"  written by Katie Sherrod, offers participants a unique Lenten encounter. Women from Scripture who were transformed by their encounters with Jesus narrate the story of Christ's Passion through the traditional 14 Stations of the Cross. 

Experience the Passion through the eyes of such women as the widow with the mite, the woman with the flow of blood, the bent-over woman, the woman taken in adultery, and, of course, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus. This evening service sets the stage with the anointing of Jesus by a woman, his denial by Peter as described by the High Priest's maid, and the dream of Pilate's wife. Then, Station by Station, readers accompany Jesus on his journey to the Cross. Listen as the service ends with Mary's wild grief over the loss of her son and the peace she finds as she places him in the tomb. Women and men, young and old, are invited to attend this moving Holy Week journey.  

Rest In Peace, Kathy Moran

Beloved mother of Justin Vitale

A memorial service will be celebrated at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Missouri Botanical Garden

or to the charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.

Rest In Peace, Reverend Deacon Barbi Click

An announcement

from Bishop Deon Johnson

Dear Siblings in Christ,

It is with deep sadness that I share the news that Deacon Barbi Click has ended her earthly pilgrimage. Barbi died peacefully this afternoon, surrounded by her wife and children, enfolded in the love of those who have cared deeply for her throughout her life. Barbi leaves a legacy of caring for the least of God’s children and advocating for the best of who we are as followers of Jesus.

Funeral arrangements are currently being made for a time during the Easter Season.

Please continue to hold Debbie and their family in your prayers as they begin to grieve this tremendous loss. Pray also for the repose of the soul of our sister Barbi, who has now entered into the nearer presence of God, who called her to love always, always love.

Yours in Christ,

+Deon

O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our brother, Roy and sisters, Barbi and Kathy. We thank you for giving them to us, their family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Eternal rest grant unto hthem O Lord, and may light perpetual shine upon them. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.

Is There Anything Jim Harris Can't Do?

Jim could be described as a "jack of all trades" and certainly a "master of many of them!" There doesn't seem to be anything Jim is afraid to tackle, and because of that, St. Paul's comes out a winner every time. His generosity of time and talent goes off the charts! Coming soon to a front door awning near you, Jim's latest project - stitching together a new, bright Episcopal red, canvass awning for the front office door at St. Paul's. As a former nurse, Jim knows all about stitching, and shown here in these photos is his talented side-kick, former home-economics professor, Sybil Fisher, who knows a lot about sewing as well.  We are in great hands! Thank you, Jim and Sybil, for your dedication and love of St. Paul's!

Become A Camp Firebird Sponsor!

If you recall, last August 2025, St. Paul's sponsored Clyde Williams, our livestream monitor, in attending Camp Firebird, our Diocese's summer camp. Clyde had an amazing experience, along with eighty other young folks from throughout our diocese. Registration is quickly filling up for the last week of July, with even more young adults wanting to attend. It would be a very wonderful thing if St. Paul's could sponsor two or even three young people to attend this year. If each St. Paul's member could pledge $10/month, or more if possible, for the next five months, March thru July, we could easily achieve that goal. The fee per camper runs between $450-$500. Note that this amount does not fully cover the cost of a single camper. A good portion of the cost is covered by our diocese.  

In the last few years, Camp Firebird has had a name change (previously Camp Phoenix), a leadership change and a location change! Camp Directors, Compass (Katrina Moore) and Bear (Rev. Erin Pickersgill) are delighted to invite the children, youth, and young adults of this diocese to join them at Camp Firebird 2026! This year, Camp Firebird will again take place on the beautiful grounds of the United Church of Christ’s Camp MoVal in Union, MO, from July 26 - 31.  

Rising 2nd graders to 10th graders are campers, rising 11th - 12th graders are on the Apprentice Track, and 18+ young adults are eligible to be counselors.

Camp Firebird staff are the best staff in Missouri! All staff go through a safe recruiting process, are completely up to date on their Safe Church, Safe Communities training, have thorough background checks, have two references, and complete an in-person training before Camp begins. The staff also have a shared passion for supporting young people in their faith lives.

Camp days are filled with fun and structured activities, including regular meals, outside activities and group challenges, free time, swimming time, rest time, and a rhythm of prayer, worship and formation. Campers of all faiths and belief systems are welcome to attend Camp, with the knowledge that they are deeply loved by Jesus Christ. Campers will feel a sense of belonging, safety, and excitement and that Camp Firebird will be a unique extension of their parish/weekly church experience. 

This year’s camp theme is “Traveling Through Time,” as we enter into the whole church year in one week, for a truly immersive and transformational adventure! 

You are encouraged to complete a Camp Sponsor Pledge Card (available at the church) to affirm your commitment to sponsoring a few young folks at Camp Firebird! Thank you for your commitment and generosity!  

Registration to attend Camp Firebird this summer has already begun —

so don't put it off!

Registration has already begun for this summer's Camp Firebird and

closes April 30, so don't delay.



Find out more about Camp Firebird,

the official summer camp of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri.

Let's help Episcopal City Mission!



MARCH BIRTHDAYS