St. Paul's Enews

09/23/26

**REMINDER FOR OKTOBERFEST**

Send us an RSVP as soon as possible so we know how much food to provide.

To sign up:

Call the Parish Office at (805) 643-5033

or email us at

office@saintpaulsventura.org or point.sexton@gmail.com

Yodel-ay-hee-hoo!

It’s almost here! Oktoberfest is just around the corner, and we’re celebrating with a huge event. Come on down and join us for the festivities!

Saturday, September 26, 2026 @ 5:30 pm

Here’s what you can expect:

- Authentic German food and beer (provided by Ventura Coast Brewing Co.)

- German music and dancing

- A Feuerzangenbowle (fancy fire-lit mulled wine!)

- And more!

So don’t miss out on the fun! Get your tickets today and join us for Oktoberfest!

Tickets are $30 per person, ($75 per family: 2 Adults and child/children 12 and under) It’s best for planning if you get them in advance.

Send cash or check payments to the parish office. If paying by PayPal, scan the QR code.

Let's get pepped for PEP!

St. Paul's "Pickup Evening Prayer"

at the Labyrinth with Rev. Drew Darby

Thursdays at 5:30pm

Put some PEP in your step! Join us for a very casual “Pickup” Evening Prayer on Thursdays at 5:30, starting September 10th! Pickup Evening Prayer means come as you are and when you can—you don’t need to bring anything, except your smartphone or a prayer book if you want: no commitments necessary, like a driveway basketball game! We will be praying the evening office on the Labyrinth, so using a smartphone app rather than a physical book is suggested. We’ll get you in and out in less than 45 minutes, and hopefully you’ll be walking away with a little pep in your step and God’s love in your heart! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Aidan Colbert or Deacon Drew. See you there!

Baptism Announcement

"We will be doing baptisms on All Saints' Day service on Sunday, November 1. Baptism is the rite of initiation into the Christian community. In keeping with ancient practice, we baptize both adults and children (including infants). If you know of someone who would like to be baptized or if you are not baptized and would like to be, we invite you to take this step into the fullest expression of our shared sacramental life.

Speak to Father Anthony if you would like to know more and to make arrangements with the church office to be part of the All Saints' Sunday baptisms."

- The Rev. Canon Anthony Guillén

Pets take center-stage!

Join us on October 4th, 2026 for our Annual Blessing of the Animals!

Service will be in Kahler Hall

REMINDER: Please have your pet(s) on leash or crated during the event!

Our New and Improved Nursery

"The nursery is now equipped with a brand new WiFi TV, thanks to a donation by John and Ginny Dilworth. Patrick Van Horn and Joseph oversaw the purchase and installation of the TV. The M&M's cleaned out the room, including all the furniture, shelves, and toys. We now can offer parents and guardians of little ones an optional place to experience the service while not in the confines of the sanctuary.

Thank you."

-- message from Pam Klebaum

Sept. & Oct REACH Project: Supporting Local Fieldworker Families

We are collecting food and household items that will be distributed to local fieldworker families who continue to be impacted by current ICE operations. Poder Popular, a vital community organization in Santa Paula, distributes food and necessities to families in need. Please only purchase the items and sizes on the suggested list. The items have been selected to respect the needs of the families and the sizes that can be easily packed and delivered. Shopping lists REACH bags are available on the table in the narthex.

Food:

Dried lentils (1-lb bags)

Oatmeal

Spaghetti noodles

Canned goods: tomato sauce/past, Carnation evaporated milk, tuna

Household items:

laundry detergent pods

2 packs of paper towels

4-6 packs of toilet paper

Size 2 diapers

This Sunday's Gospel

09/27/26

Matthew 21:23-32

The Parable of the Two Sons

Members of St. Paul's Vestry, along with the rector or the priest-in-charge, play both spiritual and administrative roles in the church organization. They meet regularly to discern the parish's mission and oversee its activities.

You may click the button below for the highlights of their most recent meeting.

A copy is also posted on the bulletin board in the narthex.

Vestry Meeting Highlights

Pastoral Care Team Update September 2026

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

It is an exciting time in our church right now, with all of the great things going on in our parish community, and the Pastoral Care Team is no different. We are bringing Communion and fellowship to our siblings in Christ who cannot be with us physically in church, as well as praying for all of you in our church family and doing what we can to express the love of Christ for you in tangible ways.

In August, we also expanded our team with some stellar new members who bring a wealth of experience to our pastoral ministry. Our current team consists of Kathleen Crookston, Lisa Cross, John Dilworth, Grace Dunlevy, Ernie Fickerson, and Virginia Hernandez, as well as myself.

Our current major projects include training our new Eucharistic Visitors, building a regular Eucharistic visiting schedule, getting a birthday-card-writing regime started, as well as reviving a system for tracking the bulletin Prayer Intentions.

If you have any pastoral care or spiritual needs, or prayer requests for our Pastoral Care Team, please do not hesitate to let the office know or email us at our Pastoral Care email address: pastoralcare@saintpaulsventura.org. And please know that we hold you in our prayers.

From all of us on the Pastoral Care Team, we wish you blessings and peace!

Sincerely,

Deacon Drew Darby

... “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”

- Matthew 20:28 (NIV)

Do you wish to serve?

There's always plenty of room at St. Paul's for those that would like to share their time, talents, skills and knowledge or lend a hand on occasion. If you would like to get involved in some way, shape or form, please reach out to the Parish Office and we'll get you connected.

Pastoral and Eucharistic Home Visits

If you or someone you know is homebound and cannot come to church to receive Communion, or is otherwise in need of a pastoral visit, please notify the office to request pastoral care.

Prayers

Almighty and merciful God,

We give you thanks for the gift of life and for the blessings that surround us each day. Grant us health of body, peace of mind, and happiness of heart. When we are weary, renew our strength; when we are troubled, give us courage and peace; and when we are joyful, remind us to be grateful for your abundant blessings.

Guide us in all that we do, keep us mindful of those who need our care, and help us to share kindness, compassion, and love with one another. May your grace sustain us, your wisdom guide us, and your presence remain with us always.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Daily Prayer Services

Book of Common Prayer

Save the Dates

Regular Weekly and Monthly Meetings

First Monday Book Club, 5:30 pm online (1st Monday of the month)
Family to Family, 9am prep, 11am serve, 303 N. Ventura Ave. (3rd Monday of the month)
Men's Group Bible Study, 6 pm, Rincon Brewery in Ventura (every Tuesday)
Women’s Journey in Faith Group, 5:30 pm, Library (2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month)
Finance Meeting (3rd Wednesday of the month)
Vestry Meeting (4th Wednesday of the month)
Next, 10/20: Buildings and Grounds Meeting, @ 1pm, library (monthly on Tuesdays)
Thursday Bible Study, 10 am, Library (every Thursday)
Men's Group Breakfast, 7 am, Black Bear Diner (every Friday)
Women's Bible Study, 9 am, on Zoom (every Friday)
Children's Choir Practice, 11:45 am, Choir Room (every Sunday)
Fair Trade Sale, after church in Kahler Hall (monthly on the 3rd Sunday; next 10/25)

Events up ahead

09/01/26 - 10/20/26 Fall Series: The Track Less Taken, with Rev. Drew Darby, Tuesday Evenings @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Ongoing: Pickup Evening Prayer with Rev. Drew Darby, Thursdays @ 5:30 pm, Labyrinth
Ongoing: After the Amen; every third Sunday @ 12 noon, Community Room
09/26/26 Oktoberfest, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm, Kahler Hall
09/27/26 A Celebration of Father Greg Larkin, @ Coffee Hour in Kahler Hall
10/04/26 Blessing of the Animals
10/18/26 Stewardship Sunday
11/01/26 All Saints Day and Day of the Dead, Baptisms
01/09/27 Rev. Drew Darby's Ordination to the Priesthood - SAVE THE DATE