Dean's Message for August 28, 2025

Author:
August 27, 2025

As I write this, the temperature is 64 degrees and rain is gently falling. Occasionally, the wild weather in Oklahoma turns our way! This weekend, we will mark the end of the summer season with our last summer schedule services (8 and 10 am). Next Sunday, September 7, we will have our annual Rally Day to start our new church school year (moving back to services at 8, 9 and 11:15 am), as well as our Ministry Fair. We are looking to fill a few specific jobs (more on that below), but if you have ever considered becoming an usher, a reader, a church school teacher, a lay eucharistic minister, or any of our many other guilds, circles and groups, this is your chance! In the Book of Common Prayer, there is what we might call an FAQ section, but which in Episcopal-ese is called the Catechism. One of the questions is: "Who are the ministers of the Church?" The first answer is "lay persons", ahead of bishops, priests and deacons (see p. 855). The ministry of the laity is further described: "to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ's work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church."

There is a place for you at St. Paul's!

The Very Reverend Katie Churchwell +, 15th Dean, St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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