Welcome to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church!

We welcome all into our facilities (whether you have been here before or are seeking a worship home) for in-person worship, meetings and gatherings.

As Episcopalians, we are members of the world-wide Anglican Communion. At times we are referred to as’ that church started by Henry VIII so he could get a divorce’. Come visit and you’ll find out there is much more to us than a cranky old ancestor. Theologically some suggest we are progressive – instead we think of ourselves as keen on social justice issues, fairness, justice and equality for all folks. Worship-wise, or liturgically as we refer to it, we have a well-defined service that includes scripture readings, hymn singing, praying, preaching and sharing holy communion.

The only way to know if we are a good fit for you, is to try us out. We welcome all and pressure none. The most important thing is your relationship with God and we encourage you to find the place where it will grow most fruitfully. For more information about St. Paul’s, its ministries or anything else, feel free to email the rector, Karen Lewis at rector@stpaulslansing.org or contact our parish office at 517-482-9454.

Blessings to you and yours,
Karen+

Sunday Service

The Fifth Sunday in Lent
March 17th, 2024

March 10, 2024

Dear All,

In studying this Sunday’s lectionary, particularly the reading from Numbers, I’m reflecting on the deepness of Lent. What I mean by deepness is the opportunity to dive into the depth and breadth of the love sent to us through the death of our Lord.

Let me explain a bit more. Ponder for a moment the Israelites, who wouldn’t stop complaining about their lives. They didn’t like the water. They didn’t like the food. They didn’t like the detour around Edom. Seems they had forgotten what life was like as a slave in Egypt. It’s one thing to complain against Moses, but to complain against God, well you see what happens next. God sends poisonous snakes to shut them up. If you are bitten, you die. Seeing this, the Israelites immediately repent and plea to Moses to intercede for them with God. Whew!

God instructs Moses to make a bronze serpent and raise it high on a pole. Now, anyone who is bitten, just looks at the snake and is healed! (Yes, this is where the symbol for medical arts, the caduceus is derived from.) Makes sense, doesn’t it. The treatment for a venomous snake bite is antivenom – made by injecting venomous snake toxins into horses or sheep and then harvesting the antibodies produced by the donor animal. The cure for snake bites is snakes. Healing comes from that which also kills.

Seems to be also true for death. Death heals death. We, as Christians, believe that life comes through death – the death of our beloved Lord, Jesus Christ. It is through the ultimate love of our God that Jesus’ death is the cure for our death. Something to ponder during Lent. We are healed – made whole – by what kills us.

Next Saturday at 10:00am we are having a workshop on planning a funeral. To plan ahead of time is a gift you can give to your family. We don’t like much to talk about death. It seems that we believe if we don’t talk about it, it won’t happen. We know better. Eventually we all must die.

This week two of our beloved parishioners died: Jim Clark and Jeanne Stout. They will be much missed. Neither one was afraid to die – through their faith they understood that death leads to new life by the death of their Savior.

Lent is the time to ponder death. It is also the time to ponder redemption and resurrection. They go together. I invite you to join our workshop next Saturday. I invite you to ponder your own death, struggle as you might, and know that you are loved and redeemed by the death of one who loves and values us just the way we are.

Don’t forget to say your prayers.

Blessings to you and yours,
Karen+

St. Paul’s This Week

ST. PAUL’S UPCOMING EVENTS – March 17, 2024

This Sunday is the Fifth and final Sunday of Lent prior to the beginning of Holy Week with Palm Sunday.

If you are interested in Baptism, Confirmation or Reception into the Episcopal Church, see Karen+. Our bishop will be here on April 21st for her visitation and will be available to offer these sacramental acts.

Next Wednesday Noon Zoom Book Study Our April book study is scheduled for April 3 & 10th. Our April book is Christ in Crisis? by Jim Wallis. In preparation for Jim Wallis’ visit to St. Paul’s on May 8th, the group is reading this book. In Christ in Crisis? Jim Wallis provides a path of spiritual healing and solidarity to help us heal the divide separating Americans today. Building on “Reclaiming Jesus”—the declaration he and other church leaders wrote in May 2018 to address America’s current crisis—Wallis argues that Christians have become disconnected from Jesus and need to revisit their spiritual foundations. By pointing to eight questions Jesus asked or is asked, Wallis provides a means to measure whether we are truly aligned with the moral and spiritual foundations of our Christian faith.

Our Wednesday Night Zoom Bible Study is on break until April 3rd.

Looking ahead . . .

March 22nd God in the Movies at 6:30pm join us to view The Quiet Man. Notice the change of date due to Good Friday being the last Friday of the month,

Altar Guild Breakfast and Making Palm Crosses on March 23rd. This is your chance to learn how to make those small folded crosses you receive on Palm Sunday. All are invited to attend.

Palm Sunday, March 24th, Guest Preacher at the 10:00am service is the Rt. Rev. Bonnie Perry

Maundy Thursday Friendship Meal at 6:00pm. Maundy Thursday service at 6:15pm. Please sign up for the meal so we have a head count. All are asked to bring a dessert to share. Donations will be accepted to offset the cost of the meal.

Easter Breakfast! Once again our wonderful caterer will provide a special breakfast as a gift to the folks of St. Paul’s. This includes such goodies as candied bacon, French toast, eggs, etc. All are invited to join in the meal including any family or guests you might be bringing to the Easter service that day. Breakfast will be served from 8:30am – 9:30am. You must sign up!!!

Sacred Ground April 1st Zoom

An Afternoon with Kitty Donohoe – Save the Date: Ann Arbor based Singer, Songwriter and Author Kitty Donohoe, will perform a free concert at St. Paul’s on Sunday, April 7th at 3:00pm.

April 13th If Music Be the Food concert at 7:00pm. Join us for an evening of delightful music performed by MSU music students. Please bring canned goods for the First Presbyterian Food Bank.

Sunday April 21st the Rt. Rev. Bonnie Perry makes her official visitation to St. Paul’s.

Sunday, April 28th the Soul Squad will meet following the 10:00am service.

…May 8th – Author Jim Wallis will join us at St. Paul’s at 7:00pm to discuss his new book, The False White Gospel – Rejecting Christian Nationalism.

May 11th – Bed Build!!!! You will hear much info in the future but put the date on your calendar. We will build beds for the smallest in our community so that no children goes to sleep at night bedless.

May 18th – Red Cross First Aid Training

June 2nd – Graduation Sunday

June 9th – Service and cook-out at Frances Park


We also need folks to sign up to be greeters, coffee hour hosts, ushers, etc.  As we return to in-person activities our need for volunteers has returned.  Don’t be shy!

Online Giving

St. Paul’s is pleased to offer electronic giving options for your regular pledge payments or other contributions to the church.

You may still contribute by check but now you may give securely by clicking: ONLINE GIVING. If you prefer, you can also give to a specific fund online.

You may also contribute on your phone by texting stpaulsegive to 73256 followed by your gift amount. For example; stpaulsegive $25.

You can also select the option to help us cover the processing costs. For example, a $100 gift with an optional processing fee of 3% will be $3. You will receive full credit of $103 on your gift.

Here is a video to explain the process (unmute for audio instructions):


Upcoming Events



Monthly Calendar Link

Worship Services

Sunday Services at 10 am.

Our Sunday worship services are conducted both in-person and virtually. Virtual services may be found on our Facebook page, this website, and YouTube.

218 West Ottawa
Lansing, MI 48933

Sunday parking in Roosevelt Ramp off Seymour

.