Eastertide
Eastertide — stretching a full eight weeks from Easter Day to the Day of Pentecost — is a season of paradox. On the one hand, our worship is infused with the joy and hope of the resurrection. On the other hand, our lives and the lives of so many others in the world carry more than their fair share of anxiety, stress and grief. Joy and hope coexist with sorrow and anxiety.
As I reported recently to the members of the vestry, St. Paul’s, too, is in a season of paradox. On the one hand, we’re thriving. Compared to one year ago, signs of vitality abound. Attendance is up significantly, Family Ministry is growing, guests and prospective new members worship with us every Sunday and we regularly have overflow crowds in our Faith Forums. We’re active in ways we have not been in more than three years.
On the other hand, engagement has declined. If we compare 2023 to four years ago, Easter Day attendance was down 24%, matching almost exactly the percentage decline in overall worship attendance so far this year. While in some areas of parish life parishioners offer their time and talent, in other areas too few are engaged making it difficult to sustain some of our ministries.
This season of paradox is apparent in other ways as well. For example, St. Paul’s is almost certainly more diverse today than at any point in our history. Yet we are not diverse enough if we wish our parish to reflect the multicultural mix of people who live and work in our neighborhoods.
Often our instinct during these seasons of life is to look back, yearning nostalgically for what we remember as a simpler time. Instead, I believe embracing this season of paradox will be critical as we discern God’s call for our future. So, yes, let’s celebrate our resurgence, but let’s also engage our gifts so that we can renew our community and reimagine our impact.
What is the value of St. Paul’s in your life? While you might point to particular ministries and relationships, I wonder if the most significant blessing of St. Paul’s is something deeper. When we see how divided our nation is, what does St. Paul’s offer? Communion and belonging to every person who accepts the invitation to open their hands and hearts. When the news is filled with intractable problems, what does St. Paul’s offer? A foundation of hope and faith that equips us to love and serve God and our neighbors. When so many people live with anxiety and insecurity, what does St. Paul’s offer? The abundant peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding.
This weekend we launch our annual appeal asking you to consider prayerfully what you will contribute to support our community for our next year of ministry. You might think St. Paul’s has enough, that our endowment secures our future. This is not true. The endowment secures our survival. It does not guarantee our vitality. Only together can we ensure St. Paul’s remains a living and active community.
The members of the vestry and I have already made our commitment. We invite you to join us by indicating your estimated contribution. We need you. The gift you offer will renew our community and equip us to make an impact in the name of Christ. Thank you for making St. Paul’s a priority in your life.