St Pauls Episcopal Church, Fairfield, CT

Spiritual Development

Sunday Fellowship

Recognizing that our life as a community of faith rightly provides time for simply “checking in”
with each other, the first Sunday of each month features Café St. Paul’s, a time for all-parish refreshments and fellowship, in the parish hall. Every Sunday, refreshments are also available in the Gathering Area, to accompany conversation there and in the connecting Gallery

ca. 1950 window, St. Mary's Chapel, St. Paul's.

The Faith and Life Forums (fall & winter months only)

Sunday Morning Faith and Life; Forums and Fellowship
Sundays 10:30 am - 11:15 am

Fellowship and growth in Christian faith are the twin aims of the “time between the services” again this year. The first Sunday of the month brings back Café St. Paul’s, a time for general fellowship and conversation. Church School and Confirmation classes also meet during this time.On the other Sundays, Faith and Life Forums connect questions about life as we live it together with the teachings and practice of the faith that is our heritage. Throughout the year, various speakers will address themes that focus on finding and nurturing a faith-grounded stance to help anchor us day by day in our chaotic and challenging world.Plans are to explore our Episcopalian doctrines and worship along with our Christian heritage more generally, and also to seek an understanding of our neighbors’ faith—other varieties of Christianity as well Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, or Buddhist faith and practice. We are planning also to look at how we as Christians can appropriately respond to challenges ranging from those of the family and workplace to society, politics, and the environment.

The Faith and Life Forums meet between the 9:15 and 11:15 services, roughly 10:30 – 11:15, in the Parish Hall. Everyone high school age and older is welcome. Speakers will make presentations, followed by questions and answers, discussion and conversation.(Left) The Rt. Rev. Wilfrido Ramos-Orench, Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Connecticut, answers questions concerning current issues among Episcopalians in our Diocese.

Related Web Sites:

Daily Office Online
"The Online Daily Office exists to give busy people a way to participate in Morning and Evening Prayer including the reading and psalms for each day (along with a bit of music!). You will also find Noonday Prayer, Compline,and Devotions for Individuals and Families here. These rites are based on The Book of Common Prayer."
http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html

The Episcopal Church and Visual Arts
"The Episcopal Church offers a program to encourage visual arts in the life of the Episcopal Church. Backed by a grant from the Presiding Bishop, The Episcopal Church and Visual Arts has created five online exhibitions on its Web site, www.ecva.org, and has begun to generate energetic conversations about the role of visual arts in our spiritual journeys."
http://www.ecva.org/index.htm

Forward Movement Day by Day
"Forward Day by Day" providing daily meditations based on readings from the Bible appointed by the lectionaries. An official publication of the national Episcopal Church."
http://www.forwardmovement.org/

The Lectionary
;A Liturgical Calendar For Upcoming Weeks With Links to the Lessons From the Episcopal Lectionary."
http://www.io.com/~kellywp/index.html

Online finger labyrinth (from Grace Cathedral.org)
Online Finger Meditation Tool
http://www.gracecathedral.org/labyrinth/interactions/index.shtml

Spirituality & Health.com
Published by Trinity Episcopal Church, Wall Street, New York, this site is loaded with meditations and interfaith teachings. The daily e-mails from their e-courses are great way to start the day.
http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/items/home/item_216.html

# 70

“In the Episcopal Church you will be
treated as an adult, and the child
within you will be welcomed. ”

Alex H. MacDonnell
Diocese of New Jersey

From 101 Reasons to Be Episcopalian,
compiled by Louie Crew,
© Louie Crew, 2003, Available in bookstores or Morehouse Publishing

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