A Celtic Christmas

The Greater Tiverton Community Chorus will giving three performances of  A Celtic Christmas this weekend. These will be 7:30 PM Friday December 7 at St Michael's Episcopal Church in Bristol, 7:30 PM Saturday December 8 at St John the Baptist Church in Westport and 3:00 PM Sunday December 9 at St Theresa's Catholic Church in Tiverton. Tickets are $12.00 for adults and children 16 and under will be admitted free. For additional information call (401) 253-7987 or visit www.gtcchorus.org .

 

Like Singing the Old Gospel Songs?

An enthusiastic non-denominational group has hired an organist and is getting together to sing the old gospel songs using space at our church, Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth RI.  All are welcome. Just bring your best singing voice and come join the fun this Monday night, November 26th at 6:30 PM.

"A Christmas Pudding"

Portsmouth Community Theater presents "A Christmas Pudding" created, compiled and adapted by David Birney here at St Paul's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth on Friday November 23rd at 7 PM, Saturday November 24th at 7 PM and Sunday November 25th at 2 PM. Join us for a delightful collection of holiday readings and songs. Admission is free.

New Sign Coming Soon

Our sign was blown down by Sandy but we do expect to have a new one up very soon. The thoughts and prayers of our parish family go out to the many persons whose encounters with Sandy were so much more severe.

Cereal Nights

Our Cereal Night services this year will begin next Wednesday. Bring your favorite cereal, we’ll provide the rest. Cereal Nights will be held in the Parish Hall beginning at 6:30pm on the upcoming Wednesdays of February 29, and March 7, 21, 28. Each Wednesday night there will be a short service including Eucharist and discussion with The Rev Gordon Stenning. Then we will dine together on our cereals. Donations from savings on meal costs will go to Aquidneck Island charities.

Ash Wednesday Service

We will be having an Ash Wednesday Service at 7:00 AM on February 22nd. The Reverend Gordon Stenning will be presiding.

Shrove Tuesday

We'll be having a Pancake Supper from 6:30pm to 8:00pm in the Parish Hall on Tuesday February 21st. Come join us. Just bring yourself and a friend.

Habitat for Humanity Mission Trip

Our mission group returned from New Orleans in time to celebrate Easter with our families and in our own churches - after a week of very hard work, generous hospitality and delightful fellowship. Leaders, Carol and Meg Dutton, of Emmanuel Church in Newport did a superb job of coordinating our schedules for the week.

This house we are siding in the photo will soon be ready for the family of four waiting to move in. Thanks to Habitat for Humanity, Americorps, Episcopal Relief & Development and many other organizations helping to rebuild New Orleans the work goes on, but progress is slow. Now, five years after Katrina, there are still tens of thousands of homes that are in need of rebuilding.

What a great group we had - 15 of us, from teens to 70 - from all over Aquidneck Island. We worked hard each day, in fellowship with other folks from all over the country. A week we'll never forget.

Cereal Night

Yes, we are participating in Cereal Night again this year beginning this week. Bring your favorite cereal, we’ll provide the rest. Our Cereal Nights will be held in the Parish Hall beginning at 6:30pm on the upcoming Wednesdays of March 16, 23, 30, and April 6, 13. Each Wednesday night there will be a short service, "Thoughts on 'Occasional Offices'", with The Rev Gordon Stenning and then we will dine together. Donations from savings on meal costs will go to Aquidneck Island charities.

Mission Trip to New Orleans

Almost six years have gone by since Hurricane Katrina struck. During that time Emmanuel Church of Newport has sponsored four mission trips to the Gulf Coast to help with the rebuilding efforts. Those trips and an upcoming trip, scheduled for April 16-23, would not be possible without the generosity of many caring people. A recent letter to the editor in the Newport Daily News from Meghan Dutton of Emmanuel Church provides details of the situation in New Orleans today and of the recent greathearted response within the Aquidneck Island community.

We rarely hear about New Orleans in the news any more, yet there are still 43,000 abandoned homes left after Hurricane Katrina and an estimated 11,000 homeless - the nation's highest number per capita, according to UNITY (a non-profit organization, who provides housing and services for the homeless in New Orleans). There have been many rebuilding successes over the past years in New Orleans, yet there is still much work that needs to be done and many people who are in great need.

Richard Sardella and Patrick Fitzgerald, owners of Sardella’s Restaurant, were so gracious as to allow our group of volunteers to have a spaghetti dinner and silent auction to help us fundraise for our April mission trip to New Orleans. We raised approximately $5,000 which will help with the expenses associated with our trip. This will be Emmanuel Church’s fifth trip to the Gulf Coast. We will work for Habitat for Humanity and Episcopal Community Services - both organizations are helping to re-build the city and help those who have been forgotten. Thanks to Richard Sardella, Patrick Fitzgerald, the Rogers High School Jazz Band members: William Chilton, Chase Ceglie, and Devon Mello, local businesses who donated items for the silent auction, and to everyone who participated in our fundraising efforts.

Thanks to your generosity we are able to go back and continue with the re-building efforts, and to diminish the hunger, and emptiness, that so many people were left with in New Orleans, after Katrina. I am not sure if words can truly express our gratitude for living in such a community as the one we have here in Newport - having so many people come together to help those who have lost so much.

Our Senior Warden at St Paul's will be participating in the April mission trip with the Emmanuel Church team and there is still an opportunity for you to help as well. Donations are still being accepted and can be mailed to Emmanuel Church, 42 Dearborn St., Newport, RI 02840. Checks may be payable to Emmanuel Church and earmarked for the New Orleans mission trip.

Ash Wednesday Service

We will be having an Ash Wednesday Service at 6:00 PM on March 9th. The Reverend Gordon Stenning will be presiding.

Shrove Tuesday

We'll be having a Pancake Supper from 6:30pm to 8:00pm in the Parish Hall on Tuesday March 8th. Come join us. Just bring yourself and a friend.

Recent, Ongoing and Upcoming

We are a family-sized Episcopal church that values our ability to reach out and serve our neighbors, in the spirit of Jesus' example: loving, healing and teaching ... and we are continually engaged in these efforts. We provided Christmas for a Portsmouth family again this winter. We are participating in Cereal Night again this year. Just two weekends ago we had a "Bead for Life" demonstration and raised over $800 for women and their families in Uganda. And ... plans to participate in a Habitat for Humanity mission trip are underway.

We value diversity. Whatever it is that you feel called to do to support God's work - chances are good you will find the opportunity with us.

It would be a blessing to have you visit us, and we invite you to make St. Paul's your church.

The Bohemian Quartet Returns to St. Paul's

The Portsmouth Arts Guild once again presents the delightfully entertaining Bohemian Quartet. If you saw the group last year you will surely want to see them again this year and if you missed last year's performance you really should come this Sunday.

The Quartet, a four-piece string band comprised of a violin, viola, cello and bass, was founded by violinist, Stan Renard, in 2005 and is based in Providence, Rhode Island. Other members are Nancy Richardson on viola, Christine Harrington on cello, and John DeBossu on upright bass. The name "Bohemian Quartet" was borrowed from the original Bohemian Quartet which was founded in 1891 and disbanded in 1934. The "new" Bohemian Quartet performs a vast and unique repertoire revolving around traditional 'Gypsy' or 'Romany' music as well as traditional Eastern-European folk music. The music has been collected via recordings, transcription, interviews, and arranged by Stan. The quartet released its first CD "Word of Mouth", in 2006 and was featured on the "One World Show" produced by Robert Malin; receiving an award for "Best Music Documentary-2007" in Rhode Island. The mission of the Quartet is to create an awareness of, and love for, 'Romany' music.

The show is Sunday afternoon at 3 PM on September 12 in Saint Paul's Church. Tickets are available by calling 401-253-6682. 

Eucharistic Celebration with Atwater-Donnelly

Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly, the highly praised husband-wife duo, will perform the music this Sunday for our August 1st Eucharistic Celebration. Music will begin at 8:45 and potluck brunch follows the service. You are invited. We are looking forward to having you join us at the service and also for brunch.

New Sunday Service Schedule

Effective May 2, 2010 we will be switching to a single Sunday Service which will start at 9:00 AM.

Also, the first Sunday of each month will become our Celebration Sunday with music at the service and a pot luck brunch in the parish hall following the service.

Please join us in worship each Sunday and come enjoy brunch on Celebration Sunday as well.

The Providence String Quartet

The Portsmouth Arts Guild presents the Providence String Quartet (quartet-in-residence for Community MusicWorks) and the CMW Fellows Quartet in music of Philip Glass: String Quartet No. 5 (1991), Elliot Carter: Elegy (1943), and Felix Mendelssohn: String Quartet in F Minor Opus 80 on Sunday March 21, 2010 at 3 PM in Saint Paul's Church . General admission is $15 and Benefactor admission is $50. For more information, call (401) 293-5ART or visit www.portsmouthartsguild.org . This activity is made possible in part by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, through a grant from the National Endowment of Arts "American Masterpiece" program.

Sparky's Puppets

The PAG Performing Arts Season wraps up with a visit to a shoemaker's shop on a wintry day, a trip to the land of the Northwind, and the discovery of three magic gifts as Sparky Davis performs "Stories from Snowy Lands". Sparky's Puppets have delighted children and family audiences throughout New England for over 30 years. Join us in the magical world of children's stories brought to life by Sparky's colorful puppets and lively humor this weekend. Great for the kids! The show, which was originally scheduled for December 20 but which was postponed due to snow, is now scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 3 PM on December 27 in Saint Paul's Church with a free reception following at the Arts Guild Gallery in the Saint Paul's Parish Hall. Tickets are only $5 and are available at Clements' Market, or by calling 401-253-6682.

The Bohemian Quartet

The PAG Performing Arts Season continues this weekend with fast and furious tunes from The Bohemian Quartet. The Quartet, a four-piece string band comprised of a violin, viola, cello and bass, was founded by violinist, Stan Renard, in 2005 and is based in Providence, Rhode Island. Other members are Nancy Richardson on viola, Christine Harrington on cello, and John DeBossu on upright bass. The name "Bohemian Quartet" was borrowed from the original Bohemian Quartet which was founded in 1891 and disbanded in 1934. The "new" Bohemian Quartet performs a vast and unique repertoire revolving around traditional 'Gypsy' or 'Romany' music as well as traditional Eastern-European folk music. The music has been collected via recordings, transcription, interviews, and arranged by Stan. The quartet released its first CD "Word of Mouth", in 2006 and was featured on the "One World Show" produced by Robert Malin; receiving an award for "Best Music Documentary-2007" in Rhode Island. The mission of the Quartet is to create an awareness of, and love for, 'Romany' music. The show is Sunday afternoon at 3 PM on November 15 in Saint Paul's Church with a free reception following at the Arts Guild Gallery in the Saint Paul's Parish Hall. Tickets are available at Clements' Market, or by calling 401-253-6682.

Bishop Wolf's Visit

The Right Reverend Geralyn Wolf came for a visit to St. Paul's on Sunday November 8th. While here the Bishop presided at our 10 AM Eucharist and then met with parish members for a reception and some conversation. During her sermon Bishop Wolf addressed "giving out of abundance" and "giving out of poverty" from Mark 12:38-44 and also addressed art and spirituality. At the reception following the service we had an excellent discussion of the characteristics of parishes in transformation. The Bishop's visit has given us a great deal to reflect on during this time of "living in Holy Saturday".

Bishop's Convention Address

The Right Reverend Geralyn Wolf's remarks at the 219th Convention of the Diocese of Rhode Island have been made available at the Diocese blog site. In her remarks the Bishop asks our particular attention to "what it means to live in Holy Saturday, the ten characteristics of transforming churches, new models for evangelism, and what you're going to do about your attitude toward money". Read the Bishop's address here ...

Letter to Rhode Island from Presiding Bishop

A Letter to Rhode Island from The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori thanking the "dear brothers and sisters in Rhode Island" for our "commitment to mission, and for the faithful leadership and ministry of Bishop Wolf" is available on the Diocesan web site. Read the letter now ...

The Telltale Heart

The PAG Performing Arts Season continues with Edgar Allen Poe's classic story of murder and madness brought to life by Katie Latimer. Join us for "The Telltale Heart" on Sunday afternoon October 25 at 3 PM in Saint Paul's Church. A free reception follows at the Arts Guild Gallery in the Saint Paul's Parish Hall. Tickets are available at Clements' Market, or by calling 401-253-6682.

Superchief Trio

The PAG Performing Arts Season begins this month with the "two-fisted piano,  red hot trombone, powerful vocals and frenzied percussion antics" of Superchief Trio on September 27. The show is Sunday afternoon at 3 PM in Saint Paul's Church with a free reception following at the Arts Guild Gallery in the Saint Paul's Parish Hall. Tickets are available at Clements' Market, or by calling 401-253-6682.

September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance

On Friday, September 11, The Reverend Gordon Stenning and The Reverend Hébert Bolles will preside at the Holy Eucharist at 7:00 AM in observance of the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. Join us as we gather to honor and offer tribute to the courage witnessed on that day and those that followed. We invite all baptized persons, regardless of age or denomination, to receive Communion with us.

Hamburgers, Potato Salad and Ice Cream - Oh My!

Yes, we're having a potluck cookout this Sunday, August 30th, from 11:00 until 1:00 or so. If you're coming please let Linda Remington know and, since we've got many of the fundamental cookout food groups ... such as hamburgers, potato salad, ice cream and stuffies ... already on the menu, it would be best to also speak with Linda regarding any food you might be planning to bring.

PAG Performing Arts Season

The first Portsmouth Arts Guild Performing Arts Season begins next month. It's not too soon to be making your plans for attending one or more of the upcoming shows. There's New Orleans flavor dance blues with Superchief Trio on September 27, Katie Latimer bringing to life Edgar Allen Poe's Tell-Tale Heart on October 25, fast and furious gypsy folk tunes with The Bohemian Quartet on November 15 and a visit to a shoemaker's shop on a wintry day with Sparky's Puppets on December 20. All shows are Sunday at 3 PM in Saint Paul's Church with a free reception following at the Arts Guild Gallery in the Saint Paul's Parish Hall. Tickets are available at Clements' Market, or by calling 401-253-6682.

The Shack

A group of us at Saint Paul's are reading William Paul Young's thought provoking bestseller and will be having what are likely to be lively discussions on the book each Sunday at our adult study time between the 8:00 and 10:00 services during the month of August. The discussions will be led by the Rev. Dr. David Jenkins. Come join us.

Recent and Upcoming Activity

We've been busy at Saint Paul's this spring and we expect to be busy this summer as well.

We raised $449.80 by walking for CROP/CWS and Saint Paul's parishioners are now supporting the Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance (GAIA) .

The Rev. Dr. David Jenkins will be returning again as the visiting priest at St. Paul's this summer. He will serve at the 8:00 and 10:00 services on Sundays beginning July 19, and will be leading a discussion between services on "The Shack" by William P. Young.

A portable stage is currently being built by our friends in the Portsmouth Arts Guild. The stage will be ready for a show by the Superchief Trio on September 27 which launches a performance series hosted by the Arts Guild and Saint Paul's partnership.