Dean's Message for December 11, 2025

Author:
December 11, 2025

As we move through Advent, I keep returning to our theme of Defiant Hope: Rooted, Rising, Reaching—a hope that digs deep when the world feels unsteady and reaches toward God’s promises.

We have seen that hope in action all year at St. Paul’s as we have given and served abundantly—supporting outreach, nurturing formation, opening our doors to the city, and ensuring that the light of this Cathedral continues to shine.

Our Rooted in Abundance campaign is not simply about numbers; it is about trust in what God is doing among us. Every pledge is a prayer—a commitment that says, “God is still at work here.” Together, we plant seeds that will bless generations to come.

In a world often shaped by fear and scarcity, hope becomes an act of holy defiance. It is what moves us to welcome our neighbors, to meet needs with courage, and to ground ourselves in God’s abundance as we rise to new challenges.

This Advent, may we rest in that hope—looking back with gratitude and forward with anticipation for all that is still unfolding. May we draw closer to God, to one another, and to the world Christ came to love, as we continue to be a Cathedral where hope rises, generosity flows, and light reaches far beyond our walls.

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

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