Category: Worship
Rector’s Blog: “Prophets”
Prophets By Charlie Dupree Welcome to the season of Advent, St. Paul’s! The beginning of a new church year. Interesting, isn’t it, that a prominent feature of the season of Advent is “the prophet.” What is a prophet, exactly? The prophets were people who claimed to have been contacted by the divine. The Greek word […]
Read More
Rector’s Blog: A Few Thanksgiving Poems
A few Thanksgiving poems Blog post by Charlie Dupree What does thanksgiving look like? Turkeys? Stuffing? Sweet potato casserole? Well, maybe. Throughout the centuries, poets have tried to capture with words the nature of thanksgiving. The poetry below by Gerard (1844-1898 ) and Mary (1935-2019) highlights for me the observant quality of being thankful. Nothing […]
Read More
Rector’s Blog: God is Present in Each “Each”
God is Present in Each “Each” By Charlie Dupree When I was a seminarian, I often wondered to myself, “What does a priest do all week?” After all, most people attend church only on Sundays, which is when we see a priest most “in action.” What do they do Monday through Saturday? Here’s a look […]
Read More
Rector’s Blog: My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning . . . (Psalm 130, verse 6)
My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning . . . (Psalm 130, verse 6) By Charlie Dupree When the days get shorter, I have to admit that I get a little anxious. I like the light. I like sunshine. I like dusk at 9pm and I like for the morning […]
Read More
Rector’s Blog: (Y)our Stories
(Y)our Stories By Charlie Dupree For the past several weeks on Sunday mornings, members of the St. Paul’s community have been telling their stories. But the stories they’re telling are not just the typical stories we might exchange over drinks or during casual introductions. These are stories about faith. “What is your first experience of […]
Read More
Rector’s Blog: For All the Saints
For All the Saints By Charlie Dupree November first is known as All Saints’ Day. Since November first often falls on a weekday, the church allows us to celebrate it on the Sunday following. This Sunday, therefore, St. Paul’s will celebrate All Saints’ Day. In the early church, the feast day was kept to remember […]
Read More
Rector’s Blog: Observations from the HRI Pilgrimage
Observations from the History and Reconciliation Initiative Pilgrimage to Alabama by Charlie Dupree The first thing that happened when I entered Dexter Avenue King Memorial Church in Montgomery, Alabama was a hug from the greeter at the door. “Wow, what a greeting,” I thought to myself. “Is she going to hug everyone who enters the church?” Sure enough, that’s […]
Read MoreRector’s Blog: An Instrument of Peace
An Instrument of Peace This past week, the church celebrated the feast of St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226). When we celebrate the saints, we not only recall the ways that they were examples of the faith, we also celebrate the very fact that they were human! They weren’t always perfect, these saints. Take Francis, for […]
Read More
Rector’s Blog: Becoming
Becoming By Father Charlie In her book, Becoming, Michelle Obama shares stories of the joys and challenges of being the first lady, a wife, a mother, and the first woman of color to be in this role. I can’t imagine the stressors involved in raising a family and maintaining some sense of normalcy in this […]
Read More
Rector’s Blog: Another Day, O Lord…
Another day, O Lord… By Father Charlie The following prayer is one of my favorites. It’s tucked away in the service for the Ministration to the Sick (BCP, 461). The prayer sits quietly… its wisdom building and building… In the Morning This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, […]
Read More