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St. Paul’s has a rich heritage of lay ministry, which we continue to affirm and strengthen. Many members of the congregation serve as lectors, lay readers, chalice ministers, members of the altar guild, and several share their gift of music on Sundays and for special services throughout the church year.
A primary focus is children’s ministry. We have an active Sunday School program and dedicated parents who volunteer to teach, supervise and provide snacks for the weekly classes. Children who are at least nine years old are invited to become acolytes. These youngsters provide an important ministry to the congregation and serve at the altar on a regular basis. We coordinate and sponsor an ecumenical Vacation Bible School during the summer. We encourage our children and youth to attend diocesan camp and youth events, and our Rector serves as a camp chaplain at Camp Tuttle each summer.
Our Parish House is used by a number of community groups for a variety of activities which include AA meetings, board meetings, piano recitals, Halloween parties and other seasonal gatherings. The facility is a wonderful resource for us and for our community.
St. Paul’s offers an annual Oktoberfest celebration to the people of the Uintah Basin. Several hundred people attend the event, enjoying local entertainment and traditional German food and beer. Being part of the set-up crew, helping serve during the event, and cleaning up/ storing decorations and equipment is a great community-building experience. Proceeds from Oktoberfest are donated to various charities.
Our congregation is small, but dedicated to serving others. In recent years, our outreach projects have included participation in Operation Christmas Child; Trees for Charity (local charitable event); the “adoption” of several local families for Christmas; financial support sent to United Thank Offering, Episcopal Relief and Development (formerly the Presiding Bishop’s Fund) and Mary’s Hope (operating out of the Diocese of Colorado and ministering to adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse). We also collect aluminum can tabs to support the work of Ronald McDonald House and host bicyclists from Bike Aid each July. St. Paul’s provides pastoral and financial assistance to a number of needy families and individuals in the community through the clergy discretionary fund.
In early 2007, St. Paul’s entered into a shared ministry agreement with St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Rangely, CO, a creative outreach through which St. Paul’s clergy will provide sacramental and pastoral services to the people of St. Timothy’s and the community of Rangely. The shared ministry project is conducted and funded under the dual-jurisdiction of the Diocese of Utah and the Diocese of Colorado.
St. Paul’s continues to be a visible presence in our community, offering worship and Christian education in our unique Anglican/ Episcopal tradition. We are well aware that we carry on the traditions of a missionary church and diocese here in the Uintah Basin. |
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