Special Meeting of the Parish for Vestry Reduction
On Sunday, July 12th at Noon, there will be a Special Meeting of the St. Paul's Church parish (aka St. Paul's Cathedral). At recent meetings of the Vestry, it has been determined that the current size of the St. Paul's Vestry is greater than presently needed. Per our bylaws, we have a Vestry of twelve which includes: the Dean, two wardens, and nine lay members of the parish. We are now hoping to reduce the size to nine members in total (reducing three lay Vestry members). In order to make this revision, a special meeting of the parish must be held not less than six (6) months prior to the Annual Meeting in January to ensure that new Vestry members may be elected at the Annual Meeting. Upon the passing of this measure, an amendment to our bylaws will be filed with the Erie County Clerk's Office per the requirements of the New York State Religious Corporation Laws.
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From the Dean's Desk
Beginning July 19, I will be taking some vacation time. In my absence, the Rev. Cn. Cathy Dempesy-Sims will be covering all Sunday services at St. Paul's. Our Wednesday Healing Masses will be covered by The Rev. Dr. Sarah Reith and The Rev. Sr. Karen Lawler. The Thursday Cathedral Cares Eucharist which is held outdoors next to "Homeless Jesus" will be presided over by The Rev. Ann Tillman. Mother Tillman will also be available in the event of a pastoral emergency. I know you will warmly welcome these clergy of our Diocese. I will look forward to seeing you in August.
- Dean Rebecca
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Children’s Christian Education: “Godly Play”
St. Paul’s offers “Godly Play: is a Montessori-based program on Sundays at 10am in the Bishop Scaife Room on the lower level of the Cathedral. Making meaning through story, wonder, and play, the program nurtures spiritual lives by honoring the centrality, competency, and capacity of children.
| | St. Paul's Cathedral, Buffalo - Holy Hikes of Western New York, a ministry of St. Paul's Cathedral, is pleased to announce its full schedule for the 2026 season. All hikes are held on the second Saturday of the month at 10am, unless otherwise announced. In July, we will hike at Owen Falls Sanctuary Trail in East Aurora. We hike rain or shine. All are welcome; carpooling will be available from the Cathedral at 9:30am or you can join us directly at the appointed hike location. | |
Reforesting Faith Book Study
What Trees Teach Us About the Nature of God & His Love for Us
In conjunction with Holy Hikes of Western New York, St. Matthias’ , East Aurora and St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buffalo will host a 5-session book study and discussion of Reforesting Faith.
The sessions will be held on Zoom for five consecutive Wednesday evenings June 10 – July 8 from 6:30-7:30pm.
5-session book study reading schedule:
6/10 - Chapters 1-3
6/17 - Chapters 4-6
6/24 - Chapters 7-9
7/1 - Chapters 10-12
7/8 - Chapters 13 - End
The Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87163407294
Meeting ID: 871 6340 7294
Passcode: 02241869
Books may be purchased on Amazon or from your favorite bookseller. All are welcome to join in.
Questions/Concerns? – Please contact Mo. Ann Tillman or Dean Rebecca Barnes
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SJAT Note Update: Summer Reading and Media List
Submitted by Estelle Siener for the Social Justice Action Team
Welcome to the Summer 2026 edition of our semi-annual book and media list – a list of some of reading and viewing that the members of the Social Justice Team found edifying and inspiring, and are recommending to others. The items are listed with those who recommended them. We’d love to talk with you about them. And we’d love to hear what you have been reading, so we can add them to our list!
(Books without a link are available at the Buffalo and Erie County Library. Items with links are either online or available at bookshop.org.)
FICTION
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(Bill) Radio Free Vermont: A Fable of Resistance: A novel by environmental activist Bill McKibben. It’s a madcap story of “band of Vermonters who decide their state would be better off as its own republic.”
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(Estelle) The Other Foot by Ray Bradbury: (Yes, that Ray Bradbury!) A short story about a White man that visits a Black colony on Mars. Freely available online.
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(Nancy B) Theo of Golden by Allen Levi: A beautiful story of the power of generosity.
- (Estelle) Revolutionary Tales, Bill Mullin
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(Estelle) Dark Testament and Other Poems: A book of poetry by Pauli Murray, the first black woman ordained as an Episcopal priest. The title poem of the history of slavery in the United States is brilliant.
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(Bob) The Ladies’ Paradise by Emile Zola. First published in 1883, it tells the creating of the Department Store in 19th century Paris, and the changes in consumer culture. It’s a tale not of the ‘profit’ on individual sales that matters, but maximizing the turnover in capital. Stay alert. The spirit of capitalism is present in every line. Read and experience.
NONFICTION
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(Chris) The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight by Andrew Leland. In addition to a moving memoir about the progression of retinitis pigmentosa, the author shares his research into assistive tools/technologies (Braille, screen readers, curb cuts) and disability rights activism. Particularly interesting to me was his consideration of whether and/or when he might use tools, technologies, and potential treatments.
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(Gary J) An Immense World: How Animals Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us: Science journalist Ed Yong explores how animals make see the world and prompt us to see with “other’s eyes.”
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(Estelle) Borders and Belonging, The Book of Ruth: a poet and a theologian, discuss in alternating chapters the Old Testament Book of Ruth, with themes of immigration and culture.
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(Estelle) Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo”: Zora Neale Hurston’s transcription of interviews of Cudjo Lewis, age eighty-six at the time. Especially compelling as an audiobook.
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(Estelle) One day Everyone Will Always Have Been Against This by novelist and journalist Omar El Akkad. The title is a tweet the author wrote three weeks after the bombardment of Gaza. It was viewed over 10 million times!
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(Bob) Private Power and Democracy’s Decline: How to make capitalism support Democracy by Mordecai Kurz, published this year. Kurz is the rare economist who is not content with a narrow ‘economic’ view, instead focusing on the human condition, especially, on dignity. Key point, for those harmed by an economic activity “standard economic reasoning cannot justify any particular compensation policy.” And the novelty, 'restoring the economic livelihoods of those harmed by public policy is justified by the political benefits, not the economic ones.’
OTHER MEDIA
- (Chris) Two of the Oscar-nominated documentary shorts.
- Children No More: "Were and Are Gone" is about an ongoing protest in Israel documenting children killed in Gaza. I appreciated the risks these activists took in showing up to protest.
- All the Empty Rooms (the Oscar winner) is about a journalist documenting the bedrooms of children killed in school shootings. I found the intimacy very moving.
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Parking at St. Paul's
Street parking is free on Saturdays and Sundays. There are also several nearby parking garages. We recommend:
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Main Place Mall Parking (221 Pearl St., Buffalo, NY 14202, https://www.mainliberty.com/parking) - This is our prefered garage for those coming to St. Paul's. We suggest that you use the entrance directly across from the Rath County Office Building, 166 Pearl, (you will notice the skywalk above) which is only a 1/2 block north of the Cathedral. Weekend parking is $6 all day. Weekday rate: $5 for 1 hr or less; $7 for 3hr or less; $12 full day. Accessibility: ADA-compliant spaces and elevator access available and 24/7 surveillance, well-lit areas, and patrolled security. EV Charging: Electric vehicle charging stations available.
Need help covering parking fees? We've got you covered! Bring your ticket from the Main Place Mall Parking with you. At the end of the service just see an usher for a voucher for your card. (If you can afford to pay, we kindly ask that you please leave this limited fund for those who can’t, thank you!)
Additional ramps we suggest are:
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Adam Ramp (343 Washington St., Buffalo, NY 14202) - 1 1/2 blocks behind the Cathedral. Weekend parking is $6 all day. Weekday rate: $2.50 hr/ $10 max.
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93 Pearl Street Garage (93 Pearl St. Buffalo, NY 14202) - A block south of the Cathedral. Daily Parking (Mon - Fri, 6 am - 6 pm) - $10 Max
There are also several open/uncovered Premier Parking parking lots near the Cathedral. These require payment at a kiosk; fees are higher. Please note, when there are special events at Sahlen Field and the KeyBank Center, area lots charge Event Rates which are significantly more than daily rates.
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Pastoral Care Ministry at St. Paul's
Recent changes have been made to the intercessions that are offered during the Prayers of the People. Names may be submitted for those who are in acute or critical need. Names will remain on the list for six weeks. Should you wish to have them remain on the list longer, that request may be made to the Dean. We will maintain a separate Pastoral Care prayer list for those who are homebound and in nursing homes, or may request ongoing prayer. This list will remain in the announcements and on the eNews, but individual names will not be included in the intercessions. We do ask that the entire congregation remember these beloved of our community in your prayers and join with us in praying for them. We hope that this will shorten the prayers while holding in our hearts and prayers, all those in need and absent from us.
In a Pastoral Emergency, please contact—The Very Reverend Rebecca A. Barnes, Dean at 646-533-1836/e-mail at deanrebecca@spcbuffalo.org; or The Reverend Elizabeth Grohowski, 212-222-8109. If you, or a family member, are in the hospital, a healthcare facility, or are home bound and would like to have a visit from one of the clergy or a member of our Pastoral Care Committee, please contact the cathedral office at 716-855-0900 or at office@spcbuffalo.org. Due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, commonly known as HIPAA, hospitals no longer automatically provide churches with names of admitted parishioners. If you or a family member are hospitalized or in a healthcare facility, you or someone acting on your behalf will need to notify the church to assure that proper pastoral care may be offered. St. Paul’s complies with all HIPAA requirements and cannot provide personal information for sick or injured members without permission of the member or his or her close family member. Additionally, if you or a loved one are hospitalized or homebound and desire regular Eucharistic visitation, please notify the parish office. Eucharistic Visitations are customarily made once per month; weekly visits may be scheduled upon request.
– Dean Rebecca
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Prayer and Pastoral Care
We lift up the following in prayer especially Lynne, Alex, Jim, Mariann, Chuck, Clark, Chris, Joe, Larry, Sean and Kevin, Sharon, Elaine, Howard, Lillian, Patty, Renee, Jim, Judy, Ann, Carol, and Shirley, and the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and those who are living in fear of or suffering from the Ebola outbreak.
We also remember all those who have died, especially Thomas, Marilyn, Priscilla, Neil, and Vicki, and those whose anniversaries of death we mark this week. We pray for them and their loved ones who remember them.
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From Bishop Stephen Lane
Beloved in Christ,
Let us pray. Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Collect for Independence Day
This week we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of our independence from Great Britain. It’s the birthday of our country, and we celebrate our freedom from tyranny and our freedom to be a people who gather, worship, speak, and govern ourselves. Our history, however messy and wobbly it’s been at times, has inspired millions of people all over the world to risk venturing here to be part of our free life, and it has pushed many other countries to move toward more participatory and democratic forms of government. The Lady with the Lamp in New York Harbor, with her torch of freedom, her sacred book dated July 4, 1776, and her foot breaking the shackles of slavery has become the icon of who we are as a nation. She welcomes the tempest-tost to the golden door.
Of course, it’s more complicated than that. Like every nation, we struggle with the forces that divide us from one another. Prejudice is real and governance is difficult, and achieving our goals of fairness and equity, equality before the law, freedom to practice our beliefs, equal access to housing, education, and healthcare, and economic opportunity for all has proven elusive. Our history with Native Americans and people of color has been shameful. But our ideals drive us on toward the hope, the golden door, the Statue of Liberty represents.
The Church has often considered itself to be apart from the culture. We claim that our baptism into Christ supersedes other loyalties, including loyalty to family or nation or culture. Yet, the Church swims in the culture like every other institution. Much of what we take for granted in the United States – religion free from government oversight, the multiplicity of beliefs and practices, the ability to choose which religion to practice – is rooted in our national culture and not available in other nations and cultures. We are blessed to be here.
The Gospel for Independence Day is from the Sermon on the Mount, and it is Jesus’ call to perfect love, to love the righteous and the unrighteous, to love our enemies. It is a call to love one another across our differences, no matter how great, because only perfect love makes human freedom possible.
May we on this momentous occasion, renew our commitment to love our neighbors and to seek God’s grace to strengthen our liberties justly and peacefully. May we celebrate what we enjoy and pledge to extend the gifts of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to all those who live here and to all who hope for the same where they live. And may we deepen our devotion to the God whose love is the source of the freedom we celebrate that, as Hymn #534 puts it, “the earth may be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.”
Happy Fourth!
Bishop Steve
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In-Person Safe Church Training
Wendy Schumacher will lead Safe Church training for anyone that needs or prefers in-person training. A valid email is needed for each person due to safe Church registration requirements. Once completed, your training is valid for 3 years.
Two dates are offered for the training at the Diocesan Ministry Center in Tonawanda.
Choose either Saturday, July 25th OR Wednesday, July 29th from 10am-3pm. (The same training is offered both dates). Lunch is included as part of your day.
To Register, CLICK HERE
Contact Shawn Slother for your Safe Church renewal date, if needed.
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Episcopal Diocese of WNY and Church News
• For news about the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York, and to sign up for emailed newsletters, go here.
• The Episcopal Church website offers resources for individuals, congregations, and various ministries.
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If you are with a group meeting on Zoom,
use the following link, unless specified otherwise:
Meeting ID: 716 855 0900 Password: 4cathedral
By Phone: 929-205-6099 Access code: 716 855 0900 Password: 535 007 8352
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St. Paul's Cathedral | 716-855-0900 | 139 Pearl Street, Buffalo, NY 14202
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