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Beloved,

June 23rd is our very first St. Paul’s Pride Sunday. This is our way of honoring the national Pride month. The Rev. Shelly Fayette will be our celebrant and preacher. Many of you will remember Rev. Shelly when she was the assistant rector at St. Paul’s. The 10.00am liturgy has been planned by our St. Paul’s Pride Fellowship.

God created diversity.

On Sunday we will also be praying for our beloved sister Adele Keaton. Her funeral service is at 1.00pm on June 23rd . We pray for her husband Charlie and her family.

We always find God in the midst of life. God’s presence and God’s love are there at all times. Listening, seeing is the key.

With my prayers,

Simon+

Walk in Love:

Thoughts from the Stewardship Committee

The Episcopal church calendar moves through seasons -- this is the Green Time. We are all part of God’s Green World. We care for our plants in the summer so that we and others may eat. God intends for us to share the coming bounty of the harvest. God has given us a world of beauty to make us happy. In return, we have responsibilities to others and to God.  What are the moments or memories in your experience of nature that break through and reveal God’s love?

Vestry Corner

2024 Vestry Members:

Johana St. Clair, Sr. Warden

Chuck Chamberlain, Jr. Warden

Jeanne Clark

Nancy Gordon

Hollie Groves

Barb Leque

Rob Owen

Liz Mills

Elaine Sanchez

Betsy Steinberg

Cott Thompson

Michelle Wardrip

Linda Gilbert, Clerk of the Vestry

Dick Rankin, Treasurer

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Click here to view Vestry minutes, reports, and updates on our website!

Click here to view COVID-19 updates from the Oregon Health Authority.

Watch services online:

Parish Events and Information

Craft Classes & The Craft Faire

Starting June 22nd

The Parish Life Group will be hosting a series of “sharing sessions” (aka classes) to get ready for The Craft Faire in December. We are also encouraging you to gather for fun, fellowship and learning!

Many of you have fabulous creative talents already and we are looking forward to seeing your beautiful gift items. But if you’d like to learn more or learn a new craft, these sessions are for you. It’s a two-fold benefit, you learn a new skill and you make high quality gift items for the Craft Faire.

We will gather on the fourth Saturday of every month starting June 22. The session will last from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Bring your own lunch. Materials will be provided for you to make items for the Craft Faire. 

Men, women and children are invited! Come join the fun!

The first class will be how to make artisan, handmade Christmas Cards. Our leader for this first session will be Hope Heusdens. Please RSVP your attendance to Hope by June 20.  hopeheusdens@sbcglobal.net

If you have a skill you would like to share with others in the upcoming months contact Robin Ellis at: parishlife@stpaulsoregon.org

St.Paul's Pride Mass

June 23rd

St. Paul's Pride joyfully invites you to celebrate Pride Mass with us on Sunday, June 23rd, at the 10am service.

June has been celebrated as Pride Month in the LGBTQ+ community since 1970, and was officially recognized in 1999 by President Bill Clinton. Celebrations, marches, parades and festivities are held to uplift LGBTQ+ people's pride in being who they are, in a world that still so often says that is wrong or unholy. This year, St. Paul's Pride is celebrating both our LGBTQ+ identities, and also our belovedness by God and our belonging in our church community. We're so excited to celebrate with you.

Please wear your most joyful attire- sparkles, glitter, etc. bring all the fabulousness to this special day. Rainbows are also an excellent choice.

Expect there to be the kite, a disco ball, gender-inclusive language in the Eucharistic prayers, and more LGBTQ+ folks than might normally attend St. Paul's (we're inviting our friends & other affirming churches). We're also being joined by our former associate the Rev. Shelly Fayette and several Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

After Mass we'll have a tie-dye party on the patio, in anticipation for marching together with the Diocese in Portland Pride on July 21st. We'll have white t-shirts available for those joining the contingent, or you can bring your own!

If you have any questions in advance, please reach out to pride@stpaulsoregon.org.

Newcomer's Dinner

June 29th

Saturday, June 29th at the home of David and Hope Heusdens

If you are new to St Paul’s, please join us for an evening of food, fellowship and sharing of information about St Paul’s and it’ ministries.

Please RSVP by June 22nd to newcomers@stpaulsoregon.org and include any dietary restrictions.

If you can’t make this one, don’t worry! There will be another one in the fall!

Social Gospel Ministry

June 29th

St. Paul’s Social Gospel Ministry has two invitations for you all! On June 29th we are going to barbecue a dinner for our community partners, the young adults living at Turner Rd. Church at the Park. It would be great if a crowd of us went to enjoy a meal with these wonderful neighbors! We would be setting up about 4:00. Contact me if interested: Barb Leque 541-571-2075, tbamjk@gmail.com.

Also, our ministry is having a meeting at 1:00 July 1st. We have David Woods, the vice principal at S. Salem High coming to shed light on what support is needed for our neighborhood youth. You are all welcome to discover what our ministry does to serve the community.

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Church at the Park Outcomes

January - March

Church Outside in July!

Starting July 7th



During the month of July we will be offering a family-friendly worship service outside under the trees! We will gather from 9:00-9:30am on the High Street lawn across from Bush Park. Feel the grass under your feet as we sing songs, hear scripture, pray and have Communion. Bring your blankets or camp chairs and a snack to share after the service! Please contact Amy amy@stpaulsoregon.org for more information.

Chi Yo

Accepting orders until July 12th!

St. Paul's is continuing with the 38-year tradition of selling Chi Yo during the month of July. Chi Yo (rhymes with “I know”) is a delicious Vietnamese spring roll made from scratch in the St. Paul's kitchen. Over 150 volunteers come together to prepare this tasty treat. The need to support the work of Helping Hands is as important as it has ever been. Proceeds from Chi Yo sales also help support scholarships for St. Paul’s musicians to travel and attend music camps and workshops. Our Chi Yo ministry team has been given the green light to prep, roll and fry our delicious Vietnamese Spring Rolls. Everything will be done to maintain personal safety and (as always) professional-grade food safety. 

We invite you to pre-order frozen or fresh-cooked Chi Yo (Meat or Veggie): by the dozen = $40, or half dozen = $24. 

Please contact the Chi Yo team at stpaulschiyo@gmail.com. Let them know the type and quantity of Chi Yo you want by July 12, 2024. The team will respond with instructions for payment and pickup/delivery the weekend of July 19 - 21. 

Thank you for your support!

SPARK 2024: Ukraine!

July 15th - 19th

St. Paul’s Rhythm and Arts for Kids returns this summer! This beloved week long day camp allows children ages 6-11 to experience the music, art and culture of a different country right here in Salem. Each day from 9am to 2pm campers will be immersed in the literature, songs, arts, animals, geography and food of Ukraine! 

One of our projects during SPARK this year will be creating Ukrainian flower crowns! We are asking for donations of faux flowers and ribbons of all colors and sizes. If you would like to contribute to this project please contact Amy Goerger amy@stpaulsoregon.org. Thank you!

Would you like to sponsor a child to attend SPARK this year?? The registration fee for one child is $150. Any donations will go towards providing full and partial scholarships for campers in need! Contact Amy Goerger amy@stpaulsoregon.org for more information on how you can help.

Click here to register!

Community Meditation

Fridays

Our St. Paul's Bookkeeper, Dawn Blythe, will be hosting a once-weekly guided community meditation on Fridays at 12pm! Everyone is welcome and attendance is free! 

The meditations will be held in the Prayground. Chairs and cushions will be provided to any and all who need them! Each session will be between 30-40 minutes long.

These meditations are open to anyone in the community to attend and will be considered non-denominational. The focus of these meditations is to provide a calming, non-judgmental, and relaxing space with which to learn de-stressing mindfulness techniques to use in your everyday life. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Dawn at 

dawn@stpaulsoregon.org.

Hope to see you there! 

Community Caring

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Do you have some community appreciation that you would like to share? Send your shout outs to karina@stpaulsoregon.org to be included in an upcoming newsletter!

Church Grounds Help Needed

Do you like to be outside enjoying God’s creation? We could use help doing weeding, pruning and watering our beautiful church yard and courtyard.

If you have a few hours to spare, please contact Julia Battle 337 280-4207 and we can divvy up the work or join together and visit while we work.

Bless the Beasts and Children

Donations Needed

The Arches Project is in desperate need of dog food. If you can help support our community members and their pets, please donate wet or dry pet food directly to Arches at 615 Commercial St NE, Salem, OR 97301. 

You can also email Mary Kim Wood at mkwlawoffice@gmail.com to coordinate a delivery.

A Note from Mary Kim:

A few years ago, I spotted a man walking in a crosswalk downtown. He had a big pack on his back and sitting on-top of it was a half-grown cat with a little collar and a rope harness fastening her to the pack. I knew the unhoused community had dogs and for many years I'd been taking dog food to Arches so they could help feed people's dogs. I never knew this community also kept cats. 

Since Arches had other people who fed dogs, I started taking them cat food. Over the years we got it down to a system where Arches would call me when they were getting low and I'd bring them more cat food so they wouldn't run out. 

The last time I did that, they called me back that afternoon to say someone had abandoned a cat on their stairs. I went down and picked up the cat who has now had her shots, is waiting for her surgery, and will then move into her forever home in Eugene. 

Earlier this week Arches called me asking for a picture of me and the cat for their newsletter. I went by the Arches office to get an email address and in chatting with them learned that they are seriously in need of dog food. Whomever used to donate it isn't and I can't support the dogs on top of the cats. 

I told Arches I'd check with St. Paul's and see if there was anything we could do to help. I know the blessing of the animals isn't until October, but if people would like to donate dog food I know that Arches could really use it right now. 

Social Gospel

The Social Gospel Ministry would like to announce that we have decided to adopt Church at the Park as our new food bank to receive our donations. The Turner Rd. site’s kitchen will soon be delivering meals to all the sites and they will be needing food and funding. Our vestry has approved this decision. We will also be sending C@P our remaining balance in the Jason Lee fund, about $11,000, as this food bank has been closed. If you would like to donate funds to C@P’s food bank, please send your check written to Church at the Park at: PO Box 109, Salem, OR 97301 or give online here.

Our church will no longer have a food bank fund. But the cart will remain in the narthex to collect food and it will be delivered to C@P. Thank you!

In the Beauty of Holiness:

An Invitation to Dedicate Altar Flowers

The beautiful floral arrangements adorning our altar for Sunday services are the generous gifts from parishioners like you. Flowers are often given in dedication of celebration of anniversaries, memory of departed loved ones, or in thanksgiving for a special blessing in your life.

To select a Sunday or learn more, please call Judy Rankin at 503-931-3512.

Payment can be made online (click here!) or in person by cash, check, or card at the St. Paul's office. If paying by check, please include ‘flowers’ and the date flowers were on the altar in the Memo line. The cost is $100.

The Word

The email address for The Word has changed. Please send all articles to this email address, effective April 17th, 2024.

theword@stpaulsoregon.org. 

Move out Kits

Salem Youth Collective along with Social Gospel Ministry would like to invite you, St. Paul’s, to participate in a joint ministry effort to offer aid to our neighbors. Family Promise, a local organization who provides temporary housing for unsheltered families, is working with local youth groups to create “Move out kits”. These kits will furnish the permanent homes the families eventually move into with the supplies needed. Next to the drinking fountain in the narthex will be a clothes hamper and framed poster on the wall displaying the supply need list. Please deposit your contributions in the hamper or set beside it. We will transport the supplies to the storage garage. Family Promise has a wish to have 15 of these kits (between other congregations along with us) in the near future. Thank you very much for your generosity and love for our neighbors!

Please contact Amy amy@stpaulsoregon.org  if you have any questions.

Dot the Free Pantry:

Community Mutual Aid

Follow Dot_thefreepantry on Instagram to stay up-to-date on ways you can take direct action to love our neighbors!

A friendly reminder that Dot is a pantry and not a clothing exchange or library. Please only share unexpired food and small toiletry items there. Thank you!

St. Paul's Children, Youth, and Families

Parents and Guardians please complete a NEW Annual Permission form linked below for each child participating in St. Paul's Children, Youth and Families activities.

Little Wonders and Godly Play are on Summer Break!



Our gatherings will resume in the fall. Stay tuned for some outdoor worship opportunities during the month of July. Scroll down to check out the summer opportunities for children and youth! It's not too late to register. Look for links below. 

Church Outside in July!



During the month of July we will be offering a family-friendly worship service outside under the trees! We will gather from 9:00-9:30am on the High Street lawn across from Bush Park. Feel the grass under your feet as we sing songs, hear scripture, pray and have Communion. Bring your blankets or camp chairs and a snack to share after the service! Please contact Amy amy@stpaulsoregon.org for more information.

SPARK 2024: Ukraine!

July 15th - 19th

St. Paul’s Rhythm and Arts for Kids returns this summer! This beloved week long day camp allows children ages 6-11 to experience the music, art and culture of a different country right here in Salem. Each day from 9am to 2pm campers will be immersed in the literature, songs, arts, animals, geography and food of Ukraine! 

One of our projects during SPARK this year will be creating Ukrainian flower crowns! We are asking for donations of faux flowers and ribbons of all colors and sizes. If you would like to contribute to this project please contact Amy Goerger amy@stpaulsoregon.org. Thank you!

Would you like to sponsor a child to attend SPARK this year?? The registration fee for one child is $150. Any donations will go towards providing full and partial scholarships for campers in need! Contact Amy Goerger amy@stpaulsoregon.org for more information on how you can help.



Click here to register!

Camp Firelight! 2024 Vacation Bible Camp

Grades K-5th

August 26th-30th

9am-12pm

Cost: $10/child or $20/family (scholarships are available)

St. Paul's and Westminster Presbyterian Churches are teaming up this year for Vacation Bible Camp. The camp will be held at Westminster and registration is open now. Click here to register your child now. Payments can be made in person at the time of camp or online here. Please include VBC in the Memo.

There are many volunteer opportunities for older youth and adults! If you'd like to be a part of this fun-filled week please contact Amy Goerger amy@stpaulsoregon.org.

SPY (St. Paul's Youth) 

Grades 6-12

Our regular 2nd Sunday monthly gatherings will be on summer hiatus. Please stay tuned for pop-up activities and we look forward to the next program year beginning in September!

SPY meets at 4:00pm on the second Sunday of each month beginning in the fall for fun, service projects and conversation about life and faith. Dinner will be at 5:00pm on those Sundays. Parents/guardians, please let me know if you can help provide a meal for one of our dinners next year. Thank you!

Salem Youth Collective

SYC End of Year Survey

We have had a fantastic first year of Salem Youth Collective collaboration! Please fill out the survey linked below to give us feedback as we make plans for next year. Thank you!

Youth Survey

Parent Survey

Move out Kits

Salem Youth Collective along with Social Gospel Ministry would like to invite you, St. Paul’s, to participate in a joint ministry effort to offer aid to our neighbors. Family Promise, a local organization who provides temporary housing for unsheltered families, is working with local youth groups to create “Move out kits”. These kits will furnish the permanent homes the families eventually move into with the supplies needed. Next to the drinking fountain in the narthex will be a clothes hamper and framed poster on the wall displaying the supply need list. Please deposit your contributions in the hamper or set beside it. We will transport the supplies to the storage garage. Family Promise has a wish to have 15 of these kits (between other congregations along with us) in the near future. Thank you very much for your generosity and love for our neighbors!

Please contact Amy amy@stpaulsoregon.org  if you have any questions.

City Camp 2024!

*The registration link has been closed. Please contact Amy amy@stpaulsoregon.org directly if you want to attend! 

Youth (rising 6th graders through rising 9th graders) are invited to register as campers. High school students may register as resource staff. If you are participating in CET you can still join us for afternoon/evening activities: half-time, half-price!! Please contact Amy Goerger for more information.

Click here to register!

Cost: $125/student

Diocesan Youth Overnight-Lincoln City

Save the Date: August 3-4

Grades 6-12

Registration link coming soon!

We're hiring! Children & Youth Ministry Assistant

With Vestry’s approval of a Children and Youth Ministry Assistant, we are looking forward to filling this position soon and expanding programming in 2024! If you or someone you know might be the perfect candidate for this position please consider applying or passing along the information.

The job description can be found here.

Children's Bulletins



Here are some fun ways for children to engage with the scripture readings each week.



The bulletins may be printed off and games accessed online.

• Ages 3-6 Children's Bulletin
• Ages 7+ Children's Bulletin

There is a secret code on the front cover page that is unique to our church and allows SAFE and secure access to online games to reinforce the message for the week. The games are geared toward all age levels so everyone can join in the fun!

        Step 1: Print the age-appropriate bulletin with a secret code on the front.

        Step 2: Enter the secret code at Games.ChildrensBulletins.com

        Step 3: Pick a game and play!

Weekly Birthdays

June 20th

Sheila Brewington

Judy Heltzel

Faith Hill



June 21st

Susan Hildebrand

June 23rd

Pam Hutchinson

Madison Hall



June 24th

Carter Nelson

June 25th

Clara Miller

June 26th

Barbara Steinberg

In Loving Memory

Wendy Francis

James Gordon Douglas

Bob Wright

Thomas Keck

John Irvin

John Torwick

Cover Image, Juneteenth, by quilt artist Renee Allen. This quilt of cotton fabric, cotton thread, acrylic paint and colored pencil includes machine applique, hand painting, hand-drawn applique, and machine quilting. It measures 66” x 62.5’. The artist uses her art to amplify of the voices of the soft-spoken. The tactile quality of fabric enables her to create and exhibit the emotions of her subject matter. This quilt celebrates the reading on June 19, 1865 by General Gordon Granger in Galveston, Texas the following decree: “The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with the Proclamation from the Executive of the United States all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer.” This quilt was part of the 2015 nationally traveling exhibition And Still We Rise: Race, Culture and Visual Conversations.

St Paul's Episcopal Church | stpaulsoregon.org