FY2026 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN | | |
ALMOST THERE...$900,000 IS WITHIN REACH
Please join the Honor Roll of 210 Households who have made their estimate of giving for FY2026 (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026). We have met $736,635.64 of our $900,000 goal. Please complete your estimate of giving today - click below, text 2026GIFT to 97000 or complete a pledge card on Sunday.
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A LEGACY OF BELONGING:
MUSIC, MEMORIES & A LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
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Over the past 12 years, I have been grateful to call St. Paul’s home. After moving here at the age of six with no connections in Indianapolis, St. Paul’s was the first place in Indiana where I was welcomed. My journey here has always been connected to the choir and the music here, whether it be sitting with my dad on the organ bench during the summer or singing in the choir itself. St. Paul’s Choir has allowed me to grow as a musician in ways I would never otherwise be able to imagine.
I have had so many memorable and valuable experiences as a part of St. Paul’s Choir; it would take a very long time to list them all. However, some of the highlights have been singing a multitude of major works with orchestras, traveling on two choir tours (one to Washington DC and one to England), getting to sing with and at the level of professional musicians, being exposed to a world of extremely high quality music, and being able to sing Choral Mattins and Evensong regularly. One of the best parts of these highlights, though, is the fact that it is completely normal to have these experiences at St. Paul’s. These rich and rewarding experiences are ingrained into the identity of St. Paul’s, and that is what makes this church such a beautiful and unique place.
While I will be forever grateful for the enriching experiences at St. Paul’s, there is another aspect of the church I am deeply grateful for: the people. Ever since I moved to Indianapolis, the people of St. Pauls, and especially the people in St. Paul’s Choir, have become like a second family to me. The friendships I have made will surely last for many years to come, and I know I can rely on other members of the choir to support me throughout my journey. These are the experiences at St. Paul’s that mean the most to me: those of forming relationships that will last a lifetime.
St. Paul’s has provided me with so many beneficial experiences, both musically and interpersonally. Thus, I wanted to be part of a project that gave back to St. Paul’s. As a part of my International Baccalaureate Diploma requirements at school, a final service project was required. This project could be anything, as long as it gave back to the community. A group of my peers and I decided to build a Little Free Library, where members of the community could borrow books from a small library and add their own books to the collection too. However, we didn’t know where to place this library at first. After some thought, I realized that St. Paul’s would be its perfect home. St. Paul’s had a community of all ages and I knew it was a place where people would appreciate the exchange of books for the enjoyment of everyone in this community.
| | Katharine Hughley, St. Paul's Indy parishioner, chorister and Choral Scholar | | |
Have you yet spotted the Little Free Library on the St. Paul's Indy campus?
| | The Little Free Library is located on Meridian Street West Drive, just north of the entrance to the St. Paul's Indy north parking lot. | | |
EVERY STORY MATTERS :: HELP US TELL OURS!
Parishioners are invited to share personal reflections as part of a new storytelling series that celebrates the unique voices in the St. Paul's Indy community. These introductions will begin to take the place of weekly rector’s reflections — highlighting the diverse journeys that shape life at St. Paul’s. Want to be part of it? Click here to email Meegan Kriner and share your story.
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READY, SET - QUACK!
Family fun on the canal:
Saturday, June 7, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Broad Ripple Village
The Broad Ripple Duck Race starts with a 5K fun run at 10 a.m. Visit the St. Paul's tent and other community sponsors from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on the Rainbow Bridge (Guilford Ave. north of Westfield Blvd.), where kids can enjoy free children's activities. At 12:30 p.m., 3,000 rubber ducks will be launched down the canal to race to the finish line near College Ave. Funding BRVA, ducks may be purchased at the race from 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Each duck purchased gets a chance to win gift cards from Broad Ripple merchants. Click here for all race details.
| | STAFF UPDATE AND WELCOMING NEW FACES | | The Rev. Yuri Rodriguez will serve as the Interim Associate Rector at St. Paul's Indy, providing much-needed pastoral and sacramental support to the parish during Beth’s medical leave and Jeff’s sabbatical. Yuri will preach at St. Paul's on Sunday, June 8 - please show her a warm welcome! If you missed last week's announcement from the Rev. Devon Anderson, please click here to read more about Yuri. | | The Rev. Mary Slenski will be a guest preacher at St. Paul's this summer. Mary has lived in the neighborhood for over a decade and participates in St. Paul’s activities occasionally with her husband, George. Ordained in 2008, she’s served congregations in three dioceses and six parishes as Interim Rector, including Christ Church Cathedral and Nativity, Indy. | | The Rev. Canon Bruce Gray will be a guest preacher at St. Paul's this summer. Bruce has served in the Diocese of Indianapolis as Rector of Holy Family, Fishers and as the Canon to the Ordinary under bishops Jennifer Baskerville Burrows and Cate Waynick. He is married to the Rev. Cathy Gray (retired from Christ Church Cathedral) and they have six children, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. | | |
MESSAGE FROM BISHOP JENNIFER BASKERVILLE-BURROWS
Remembering the Rev. Jacqueline "Jackie" Means
This week, the Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows shared the passing of the Rev. Jacqueline “Jackie” Means — trailblazer, priest and beloved servant of Christ. Ordained on January 1, 1977, Jackie was the first regularly ordained woman priest in The Episcopal Church. Her groundbreaking ministry, rooted in justice, mercy and deep compassion, touched lives across the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis and beyond — especially among the incarcerated, the unhoused and the overlooked. We give thanks for her life, her witness and her unwavering faith. Funeral arrangements will be shared when available. Click here to read the full announcement.
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WHERE IN THE WORLD IS FATHER JEFF!?
The Rev. Jeff Bower has begun his sabbatical journey walking the Camino Ignaciano in Spain. During week one of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, individuals are invited to examine their life to identify and let go of a specific sin or personal flaw. Jeff is leaving the city of Loyola, with its mountainous terrain, pleasant trails, green forests and steep inclines. He will have a chance to discover the secrets of this land where sturdy and creative men and women have gone before him. St. Paul’s Indy parishioners are invited to simultaneously enter into a season of reflection and growth. Thanks to a generous sabbatical grant awarded to Jeff through the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program, gifts are being shared with the congregation to deepen our collective spiritual formation. Click below to follow along and see more details about Jeff's journey this week. Parishioner Pete Holtz will also lead a geared for children (but open to all) session on Sunday, June 8 to tell more about "Where in the World" Jeff is; plan to meet outside (weather-permitting) after the 10 a.m. service.
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HELP US DREAM FORWARD - TOGETHER
Be part of our shared vision.
Senior Warden Jeff Kelsey invites all to reflect on four important questions about the St. Paul's Indy community and where we're headed. In this season of transition, your voice is vital. If you haven’t yet, please click below to share your thoughts and help shape the future of St. Paul’s:
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ST. PAUL'S DAY CAMP SUPPORTS FAMILIES WITH FUN & FAITH
Last week, St. Paul’s Indy hosted a vibrant Day Camp for 30 children, providing a much-needed childcare solution during the week following Memorial Day — a time when many families face limited options. Designed for children in Pre-K 4 through sixth grade, the camp offered a full day of activities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each day included snacks and lunch, ensuring that children were well-fed and energized for the day's adventures. Programming was thoughtfully crafted, catering to a variety of interests - small groups engaged in activities such as sports, crafts, cooking and more. A highlight of the camp was the inclusion of Godly Play — encouraging all to explore spiritual stories through wonder and creativity. This unique blend of fun and faith provided campers with opportunities to learn, grow and make lasting memories. St. Paul’s Day Camp is part of our commitment to creating community through play, striving for justice through affordable childcare, and sharing Christ’s love through storytelling and wonder. Future Day Camp sessions are being planned; upcoming dates will be announced soon. Click here for general details and click here to email Dan Thompson with questions.
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SACRED GROUND WRAP UP
St. Paul's Indy's Sacred Ground group worshipped on May 27 and closed out a year spent together exploring race and family histories from a faith-based perspective. Group members shared what was learned and steps that will be taken in the future. The Rev. Jeff Bower described this session as "intimate and spirit-filled." Facilitated by the Rev. Beth Scriven and parishioners Andrew Gonzalez and Laura Cummings, this group committed themselves to working for a more just world. Click here to email Laura Cummings with questions.
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HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!
In June and always, we celebrate the beauty and belovedness of our LGBTQ+ siblings. The Indy Pride Parade and celebration is Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Join others from the Diocese of Indianapolis to march in the Indy Pride Parade, staff the Celebration on the Circle booth (on Monument Circle) or do both! Click below to register as a participant or volunteer. Please click here to email Beth LaRock with questions.
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TUESDAY STUDY GROUP
Tuesdays, 12-1:15 p.m., Broad Ripple Brewpub
Starting June 10, the group is studying the book, The Tears of Things. Author Richard Rohr examines how we live compassionately in a time of violence and despair and what we can do with our private disappointments and the anger we feel in such an unjust world. All are invited to join the conversation, regardless of reading the book. Click here to email Larry Johnson with questions.
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CONNECTIONS YOUNG ADULT GROUP
Friday, June 13, 6-8 p.m., Tinker Coffee
Connections is a group for childless folks in their 20s, 30s and 40s who are interested in finding community and exploring faith. Please join for the next meeting! Click here to email Jacob Denning with questions.
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Please click on red links for available details
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Tuesdays, 6-6:45 p.m., Centering Prayer, RCR (second floor, Parish Ctr. bldg.)
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Tuesdays, 6 p.m., Slow Flow Yoga
- Thur., June 19, St. Paul's Office will be closed in observance of Juneteenth
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Sun., August 17, 11:30 a.m - 2 p.m., Mess Fest
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Thur., Sept. 11, game time 6:35 p.m., All-Parish Indians Game at Victory Field
- Fri.-Sun., Sept. 19-21, Parish Retreat at Waycross
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