This Week at St. Paul's

Money is a Spiritual Matter

There are challenges that we all face with the rising cost of living. Your generosity helps the Parish meet the costs of our Vision and Mission as a parish and it’s appreciated and makes a difference in people’s lives. We continue to provide many ways for people to make offerings to the Parish and will explore other ways.

“We appreciate the dedication that members of the parish have made with their financial contributions, as well as offering time and talent in various ways to enhance the life of the parish and our commitment to showing God’s call to love and justice.” (From an earlier message from the Parish Wardens.)

Perhaps it seems odd or even wrong to say that money is a spiritual matter, but the Bible spends a great deal of time addressing matters of wealth and money and the effect these things have on our general well-being.

            St. Paul’s Parish has benefited from wise investment and frugal budgeting. However, we can all see that the numbers of people making financial offerings to the church has diminished over the years. This is a situation facing religious groups all over the world. It is not unique to St. Paul’s. What is unique is that we have an opportunity to do something about it. The Executive Committee and the Parish Council have worked hard to develop a realistic budget for 2026. We are working with the Bishop and others in the diocese to develop a plan. We hope to soon begin wider conversations in the Parish to see how best to utilize our property assets so that we can continue to carry out our Vision to show the transforming love and justice of God.

            In the face of so much misinformation about God and misuse of the Gospel our Vision and Mission is all the more important. A voice speaking out for all people, for love, forgiveness, mercy and justice needs to be heard in this world.

            Please continue to participate in the discussions as we make a plan for the future of St. Paul’s and the fulfilling of our Vision.

The Bible mentions money or related topics 

(wealth, debt, giving, etc.) 

in around 2,300 verses. 

It’s official: 

• A date has been set – John’s retirement as rector and as Archdeacon of PEI will be effective July 1, 2026.

Book Study

• Our Book Study book, Invitation to a Journey, By Robert Mulholland jr. have arrived and are available at the back of the church. Book Study will be meeting on Thursdays at noon, in the chapel, beginning on Feb 10.

Bible Study

• This Thursday, at 5pm, in the chapel we will be discussing Micah 6:1-8, Psalm 15, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, and Matthew 5:1-12. All are welcome!

Coming Up

• The Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper will be on February 17 at 5:00 pm in the parish hall. We need a crew to set up; a crew to cook and serve; and a crew to clean-up.

• Bring in your Palm Crosses: If Shrove Tuesday is coming up that mean that you can (if you want) bring in last year’s Palm Crosses (these are used to make ashes for Ash Wednesday).

• Ash Wednesday: Lent must be creeping up quickly, so on Ash Wednesday the Prince Street Lenten Series (They Were There) begins and we are hosting the first one on February 18. That evening at 7:00 pm we will have a Celebration of the Holy Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes.

Suggestion Box – 

• We now have a suggestion box at the back of the church. We would like your suggestions for improving the financial health of the parish.

Book Nook – 

• At the back of the church, in the window well, nearest to the breakout room, we now have a small library of spiritual books. These can be borrowed by anyone. If you have any books to contribute, give them to Amanda or John. Thanks!

Afterwards: 

Coffee Time is improved with COOKIES

• Thankfully, many people generously provide cookies or other snacks to go with the coffee, tea and juice. It helps the conversation along. However, occasionally, we haven’t got any cookies. So, we ask people to contribute on the first Sunday of the month: things that can be kept in the freezer and brought out at our Sunday social time.

St. Paul’s Parish Promotion

• We have begun posting a series of social media posts, advertising the church as a wonderful venue to rent for events. We will be adding the parish hall to these promotions soon. When you see these posts, please like and share. This will allow more people to see them and spread the word.

Concert

Richard Wood & Friends East Coast Kitchen Party

The show that will knock the frost right off your socks!

• The evening features Richard WOOD with Brent Chaisson and Kimberley Holmes. Special guests include KINLEY, Shane Pendergast, Ava & Lily, and Jonny Ray Arsenault, along with College of Piping Dancers and the Wood Family Fiddle Award recipient, Samuel Richard.

• Advance seats can be purchased online via RWood.ca or by phone at 902-330-3293. At St. Paul’s Church, Fri, Jan 30, doors open at 6:30 with show starting at 7:00 PM.

• Advance Ticket Price: $35.00 / Door Ticket Price: $40.00

Instruments – 

You may have noticed that we often run out of instruments, for the offertory n hymn, before we get to the back of the church. If you have any small instruments (like rattles, or tambourines, but no wind instruments) that you would be willing to part with, we would love to add them to our musical tickle trunk!

Transitions & Celebrations

• We have slides scrolling before the worship service and this is a good place to acknowledge the transitions we should acknowledge. If you like your celebration acknowledged, just send the relevant information to Amanda (stpauls@pei.aibn.com). An accompanying photo would be great too. Please note, we cannot show transitions without the consent of the individual(s) involved.

Outside the Offering Envelope

Our Time and Talent matter too!

• There are all sorts of things that we often do for others that we don’t think of as an offerings to God. But they are offerings and they help to create a wide community of love and mercy.

• Please remember to write something on the outside of an offering envelope something you’ve done in the past week or so, or something that you plan to do in the next week of so that is a reflection of our non-financial offering to God.

• To help inspire one another we will (when appropriate) share these offerings on our social media platforms. Everything you do out of love is a reflection of God’s Holy Spirit in your life. 

Volunteers! - 

• We are looking for anyone who feels that they have some time and talent as event volunteers. They would be responsible for opening and closing the church and being present during the event in case they need a hand. It’s an easy way to help out AND see free concerts! Contact Amanda at 902-892-1691

How do people start attending Church?

(source churchgrowth.org)

• A friend’s invitation 86%

• Organized Visitation 6%

• Invited by pastor 6%

• Advertising 2%