St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Canton, Ohio
All Are Welcome!
Sunday services begin with music at 10:25 a.m.
Sunday services begin with music at 10:25 a.m.
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Honoring the life, service and mission of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
St. Paul's honored Dr. Martin Luther King with a day of worship, service and renewal.
Monday began with a special worship service at noon with our friends and partners, Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church and Stark Fresh. The service officiated by our Deacon-in-charge, the Rev. Dr. Robin, and joined by Guest Clergy Pastor Eric Howard, focused on the challenges and hope of opening our hearts to live the experiences of others, and to see and serve their needs. (To share in the service, click on this link.) From there, we joined together to work in the community, preparing foods and replacing shelves at StarkFresh and preparing the evening feast for our first in-person Courageous Conversation on Race Relations since the weeks before Covid disrupted our communal and worship life. The dinner ended with a conversation and planning for our next action steps, which get underway with our next Courageous Conversation beginning in the St. Paul's Guild Hall at 6 p.m. Feb. 21.
Waltzes, Gypsy melodies and an ode to West Virginia fill St. Paul's sanctuary
The St. Nicholas Church Balalaika Orchestra returned to St. Paul’s Sunday afternoon (Jan. 15) to fill the sanctuary with waltzes, Gypsy folk tunes, love songs and even a balalaika rendition of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
All were played on traditional Russian folk instruments, including the hallmarks of the orchestra: triangular-shaped, bevel-backed stringed instruments known as balalaikas, as well as massive dombras, accordions, a piano gulsi, tamborines, blocks and the newest addition: a flute. The instruments "are the paintbrushes and canvases with which the Russian peasant used to create the beautiful and poignant artistry of Russian folk music so treasured today," the St. Nicholas orchestra explains. Kenneth Kramer, a retired music professor from Kent State and a founding member of the Ohio Light Opera, accompanied the orchestra, which wore the elaborately embroidered costumes of 17th and 18th Century Russian peasants. The orchestra, whose home-base is St. Nicholas church in Mogadore, has been performing for nearly 40 years. The MacDowell Music Club of Canton sponsored Sunday’s concert, the first at St. Paul’s since January 2020 -- less than two months before Covid shut down most in-person performances in Ohio, the world and internationally. Click here to view the concert on Facebook. Meet the bishop-to-be
and join us at the Diocesan Winter Convocation The 2023 Winter Convocation will be held at Kalahari Convention Center in Sandusky on February 3-4 with the Rev. Anne Jolly, the Diocese of Ohio's bishop-elect, preaching the Eucharist.
The keynote leader will be Joy Skjegstad, founder and director of the Faith Communities Project, a training and resource program. Her session, "Real Connections, Listening to Your Community," will speak to best practices, creative ministries and the how-tos of churches connecting with their local communities. Among the nine workshops (click here for the link to all the workshops) will be a panel discussion including Deacon Robin titled "Where I See God Leading the Church Today." Registration will open at 5 p.m. Friday for those who arrive early, while the opening session will begin at 7 p.m.. The Eucharist will begin at 8:30 Saturday morning and the Convocation will end at 3:30 pm Saturday. Childcare will be provided. Early Bird registration fees are $35 per adult, $8 for those 17 and under, and $69 for a family. Early Bird registration ends at midnight, January 15. After that, registration fees are $49, $10, and $79 respectively. To register, click on this link. The Rev. Anne B. Jolly, first woman elected Bishop of Ohio
From the Diocese of Ohio
[Cleveland, OH] - The Rev. Anne B. Jolly was elected as Bishop Coadjutor of the Episco-pal Diocese of Ohio during the 206th annual conven-tion on Novem-ber 19, 2022, at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower. She was elected on the second ballot after receiving a majority of both clergy and lay votes. The election concludes the year-long process of seeking a successor for Bishop Mark Hollingsworth, Jr., who began his service in the diocese in 2004. Jolly is the first woman to be elected a bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio. She was one of three nominees. The other nominees were the Rev. Dr. Elaine Ellis Thomas and the Rev. Diana L. Wilcox, both from the Diocese of Newark. Currently serving as the Rector of St. Gregory’s in Deerfield, IL, in the Diocese of Chicago, Jolly feels her call is to shape the church so that God’s people are equipped to live lives of faith and share the love and justice of Christ’s “Kin-dom.” As the President of the Standing Committee in the Diocese of Chicago (since 2019), she served as the head of the ecclesiastical authority for two years while the diocese was in an interim period between bishops. She has previously served at Good Shepherd in Austin, TX; St. Paul’s in Chattanooga, TN; and Christ Church in Greenville, SC. (Click here for more about The Rev. Anne B. Jolly) Addressing the convention, Jolly said, "I’m so excited and overwhelmed and ready to be with you…I want to thank everyone who has held us all in prayer…I am eager and ready to get there [Ohio] to get to know you, to listen to you, to help us solidify a vision together about how we can do things and be a part of God’s work in changing the world.” Pending consent of a majority of the bishops with jurisdiction and the diocesan standing committees, Jolly will be ordained and consecrated on April 29, 2023, at Cleveland Public Auditorium. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will preside. She will succeed Bishop Hollingsworth later next year, becoming the 12th Bishop of Ohio. The Episcopal Diocese of Ohio was established in 1817 and is part of The Episcopal Church, a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion. It comprises the northern 48 counties in the State of Ohio, which includes more than 15,000 Episcopalians in 80 worshiping congregations. The current bishop is the Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr., elected on November 15, 2003 and consecrated on April17, 2004. Click here to link to our January 2023 newsletter
St. Paul's and unity in the Canton Community
A centerpiece of the 2022 Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic Labor Day weekend was an interfaith service downtown "for all faiths and religious denominations, a time to come together to worship, pray, give thanks and fellowship."
The service, which rain forced from Centennial Plaza to Crossroads Methodist Church, focused on the need to serve and the ability of the Canton faith community to come together to make a difference. St. Paul's Deacon-in-Charge, the Rev. Dr. Robin Woodberry, was among the preachers for the morning and emphasized the tenent of the Episcopal faith: "Love God, Love Your Neighbor, Change the World." 
The service featured the acclaimed Central State University Chorus (Robin's brother is a choral alum), under the direction of Professor Carlos B. Brown.
The service was in memory of Cecilia Ponder, who passed away last November. She spent decades serving in the medical field. An avid football fan, she volunteered for the annual HBCU Classic Football Game, and helped coordinate the Pro Football Hall of Fame Roast and the Plain Local Youth Football Leauge cheerleading squad. 
Dear colleagues and friends,
The Episcopal Church, through Presiding Bishop Curry, is collaborating with Pastor Adam Hamilton of the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS (the largest United Methodist Church in the country), inviting faith communities across the country to approach this election cycle with an intentional focus on Micah 6:8. “And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Called The Be Campaign, it encourages us to be just, kind, and humble as we exercise the responsibilities of our precious democracy. Bishops Mariann Budde and Deon Johnson of the Dioceses of Washington and Missouri, respectively, have produced resources for worship in the month of October, including alternative lectionary readings. Please know that all congregations in the Diocese of Ohio are permitted to use them. They can be accessed through the Diocesan website. As well, the Diocese of Ohio will provide two yard signs per congregation introducing The Be Campaign. These will be distributed through the Mission Area Deaneries. The graphics can also be printed and used as you find helpful. I encourage you to consider how you might integrate the baptismal disciplines of love of neighbor and respect of all in your prayer and worship as we approach election day and beyond. Gratefully, The Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr., Bishop of Ohio The ordination of our new Deacon-in-Charge, Dr. Robin Woodberry
St. Paul's parishioners joined in the celebration at Trinity Cathedral Saturday of the ordination of our new Deacon-in-Charge Dr. Robin R. Woodberry, our sponsored candidate Maureen M. (Wood) Major and three other deacons -- Leah Romanelli DeJesus, Lonny J. Gatlin and Albert J. Muller -- in the Diocese of Ohio.
The homily by Ruth Benedict Mercer was built on the importance of the deacons in helping people find hope in a chaotic world, especially given the recent mass murders in Buffalo and Uvalde. She underscored that hope differs from optimism in that it challenges and helps people to change course and become stronger. The service committed each of the five deacons to the following: "My sisters and brothers, every Christian is called to follow Jesus Christ, serving God the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit. God now calls you to a special ministry of servanthood directly under your bishop. "In the name of Jesus Christ, you are to serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely. As deacons in the Church, you are to study the Holy Scriptures, to seek nourishment from them, and to model your life upon them. You are to make Christ and his redemptive love known, by your word and example, to those among whom you live, and work, and worship. You are to interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world. You are to assist the bishop and priests in public worship and in the ministration of God’s Word and Sacraments, and you are 10 to carry out other duties assigned to you from time to time. "At all times, your life and teaching are to show Christ’s people that in serving the helpless they are serving Christ himself." Introducing the new spiritual leader of St. Paul's
We have joyful news to share with the family of St. Paul’s: Dr. Robin Woodberry has accepted our call to become the next spiritual leader of our church.
At its meeting last Friday, the Vestry unanimously approved the recommendation of the Search Committee, and Robin accepted the call Saturday. A native of Youngstown, Robin is the daughter of a pastor and deacon, married to her high school sweetheart, a mother of five, grandmother of five and had been an ordained Baptist minister since 2005. She’s also been the executive director of the Mahoning Valley Association of Churches. Like our own Jon Coventry, Robin took the path to the Episcopal church and priesthood later in life. And like Jon, she’ll be ordained into the transitional-diaconate (and become St. Paul’s deacon-in-charge) before she becomes our priest-in-charge. Robin graduated last year from the Anglican Studies program at Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, Calif. She’s completing her field work at Christ Church in Hudson, and here’s what one of her many supporters at the church shared with our Search Committee when they visited the service she officiated on May 8. “We have been privileged to journey with Dr. Robin Woodberry, our very own Candidate for Holy Orders, as she has moved through the seminary and diocesan training necessary to become an ordained priest. Her growth during this time has been extraordinary. Already a highly educated theologian, Robin is motivated by love, service to others, and a strong faith in God’s grace, which are all themes I hear in her excellent sermons and see in her interactions with our parish and staff.” Christ Church Rector Charlotte Collins Reed praised Robin’s people, pastoral and preaching skills and noted that she has facilitated Christ Church’s discussions of race and has been willing to share her own experiences “without judgment and with humor and grace.” "Her love of Jesus is obvious and her enthusiasm and energy for ministry run deep,” Rector Reed added. Robin’s coming to St. Paul’s is the culmination of more than five years of dedicated work by our Search Committee. Theirs would have been hard work in the best of times, but it was made so much harder by the challenges that a worldwide pandemic presented for our church and every church. Still, the committee headed by Barb Anderson crafted the parish profile and captured the core values of St. Paul’s – the values that ultimately attracted Robin to us. And the committee – even as some of its membership changed -- continued to advocate passionately for the right fit for St. Paul’s. We thank all the members who have served including the original committee of Barb Anderson, Jon Coventry (who began his own journey to the priesthood during this process), Douglas Colmery, Marilyn Dickinson, Olivia Johnson, Bill Kendrick, Dick Reinbold and Deb Shamlin (whom we lost to leukemia in the early days of the pandemic); and we thank those who came on board in recent weeks to help bring a unanimous recommendation to Vestry: Karen Merrin Swope, Demetrius Carrothers and Susan Phillips. Robin told Search Committee members that after her first meeting with them, she went home and prayed. And her prayer was a simple one: That God would help the people of St. Paul’s grow to love her as she loves St. Paul’s. To that, we can only say, “Amen!” Joyfully yours, The Vestry of St. Paul's Episcopal Church A letter from Robin Woodberry
Keeping our eye on the Covid numbers
Updated Sept. 13, 2022: Stark County remains at the medium community risk level for Covid. Weekly case numbers have been coming down, as have hospital admissions. But the percentage of patients with Covid among all hospital beds has gone up.
The St. Paul's Vestry continues to encourage those who can to get fully vaccinated and will continue to monitor the numbers and update our protocols based on total cases, hospital admissions, ICU beds, deaths, community spread and CDC guidelines. 
Source: Covid Act Now
We continue to urge everyone who is able to get fully vaccinated and for everyone to maintain safe-distances.
Here are the current Covid protocols for St. Paul's, effective April 25, 2022: Overall guidance: Any person who is feeling ill, i.e. sneezing, coughing, body aches, fever or other symptoms of Covid, please do not attend services or other activities in St. Paul’s. We care about your health and that of the entire congregation. Masks: Per CDC guidelines, masks are optional inside all parts of St. Paul’s. Vestry will continue to monitor the weekly community positivity rate and will revisit the masking policy if the level reaches 5 percent. Choir-specific masking policies: Choir members will have the option to be unmasked per CDC recommendations, but the music director will monitor weekly Covid statistics; if the positivity rate jumps above 5 percent, he will re-institute a masking policy. Outbreaks of other illnesses will also be considered grounds to reinstitute masking; cold and flu numbers are expected to soar as people begin to unmask. Congregational social distancing: Congregants are asked to space themselves safely. Pew materials: The Book of Common Prayer, Hymnal, Lift Every Voice and Sing and pew cards are returned to the pews. Sanitizing: The sexton will continue all sanitizing protocols, including those of the communal spaces of the church before each service. The use of Microban has been discontinued. Contact tracing will continue for each activity within St. Paul’s. Temperature taking will be discontinued. Communion: St. Paul's will continue to offer the body (consecrated bread), and Vestry endorses the reintroduction of the second kind of communion, the blood (consecrated wine), in consultation with the celebrant. Coffee hour and other social events will continue in the Guild Hall with appropriate social distancing. Masks are optional. Windows will be open whenever weather permits. |
Trinity Cathedral invites you to celebrate Absolom Jones on Saturday, Feb.11 at 11 a.m. For more, click here and scroll down. Coming up next at St. Paul's
The next read for the Social Justice Book Group is "All the White Friends I Couldn't Keep; Hope--and Hard Pills to Swallow -- About Fighting for Black Lives."
The author, Andre Henry, is an award-winning musician, writer, and activist. His work has been featured in The New Yorker and The Nation, and he writes a column for Religion News Service and the newsletter "Hope and Hard Pills." He's organized nonviolent protests in Los Angeles, where he lives. The book recounts how he stopped arguing those who dismiss and deny racism's continued legacy and offers a nonviolent path forward for people of color. Patrisse Khan-Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, called the book "a moving personal journey that lends practical insight for expanding and strengthening the global antiracist movement." The Book Group will meet next on Feb. 28, and copies of the book are available at the StarkFresh grocery store at 321 Cherry Ave. NE in Canton. 
A baptism, a confirmation and the Bishop's affirmation of the future of St. Paul's Canton
Bishop Mark Hollingsworth Jr. joined St. Paul's Dec. 4th to celebrate the Second Sunday of Advent, the baptism of Ellis Edward Wade and the confirmation of JoAnne Elaine Miller (extending, once again, the Sutek family tradition in our church).
It was likely Bishop Hollingsworth's last visit before his retirement as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, which covers all of the northern half of Ohio. The Rev. Anne B. Jolly was elected the diocese's Bishop Coadjutor on Nov. 19th, and Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will celebrate her ordination and consecration on April 29, 2023 in Cleveland's Public Auditorium. Bishop Hollingsworth became the Diocese's 11th bishop in 2004. A New England native, he served churches in Kentucky and Massachusetts before coming to Ohio. In Sunday's homily, the Bishop celebrated the inclusiveness of the Episcopal Church, but called for a place for the kind of judgment that helps us understand ourselves better so we can carry out God's work. Jesus "was like a mirror in which (the disciples) could see themselves honestly, truthfully and beloved by God." And "taking an honest measure of ourselves" remains an essential piece "if we are going to give ourselves to God that God may use us to heal the world. "You are exactly what God needs to heal this broken world, ... not because of us but because of God. And all of those things that make us feel inadequate or unworthy or afraid or ashamed, none of that matters. We need to own it, give it to God and God takes there. The service was followed with St. Paul's traditional pie day, after which the Bishop met with the St. Paul's Vestry and affirmed that he believes St. Paul's has a vital future in downtown Canton. To hear Dec. 4 service, go to St. Paul's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stpaulscanton Sharing faith and service in our Canton community
Canton's 43rd annual interfaith Thanksgiving service at St. Michael's the Archangel Catholic Church Tuesday night was our first in-person gathering since Covid disrupted us three years ago, and hundreds of people attended.
St. Paul's Deacon Robin joined clergy from about a dozen other faith groups -- churches, synagogues and mosques -- in celebrating the strength diversity offers in answering God's call to love our neighbors as ourselves. A free-will offering at the end of the service will provide seed money for next year's Thanksgiving Baskets distribution. The interfaith effort in which St. Paul's has been a key partner has been providing turkeys and other Thanksgiving fixings to hundreds of families each year for more than three decades. This year saw a surge both in the number of families signing up and the costs of the food stuffs. If you would like to contribute, you can do so by clicking on this link: www.thanksgivingbasketscanton.org Douglass became a noted orator who repeatedly challenged not only slavery, but the inaction of many who thought it was wrong to do enough to stop it.
"It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind and the earthquake," he once wrote. He also noted, "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." The book group meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. in the Guild Hall and via Zoom. The next gathering is this Tuesday, Jan. 10. All are welcome. 
Our mission: St. Paul’s is a radically welcoming Episcopal community in downtown Canton, grounded in faith, called by God’s Love to minister to the world.  Photo by David Rotthoff.
For more photos of the morning, go to our News page.
The best seats in town -- and Hall of Fame service, courtesy of St. Paul's
St. Paul's was ready at the break of dawn Saturday, Aug. 6, with hundreds of donuts, hot dogs, bottles of water and cups of coffee to help kick off the Pro Football Hall of Fame parade.
Thanks to so many for their donations of time, talent and treasure and to Carol Sutek for spearheading this year's effort. We raised just a shade under $500 from free-will offerings from the community, with that money going toward our H.O.T. lunch ministry. Decked out in our new blue T-shirts, we also spread the message of St. Paul's throughout downtown. Together again for food, fellowship and Courageous Conversations
Scores of people from St. Paul's, Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, StarkFresh and other Courageous Conversation partners broke bread together -- and enjoyed a feast of chicken, burgers and dogs, ribs and dozens of side dishes and desserts Saturday.
The summer picnic at Mt. Olive was our first in-person gathering since Covid hit two years ago, disrupting our regular monthly get- togethers. sharing food and perspectives, studyiing the impact of racism on our community. 
Please note:
St. Paul's livestreams and posts all its worship services on its Facebook page Bishop Hollingsworth on mass shootings in America: We share the responsibility
What happened in Buffalo a week ago Saturday is not an anomaly. Nor is what happened in Laguna Woods and Uvalde in the days following. This who we are.
The shooting of 13 people shopping for food at a supermarket, 10 of whom have died and 11 of whom were Black, was an overtly racist act. It was perpetrated by an avowed white supremacist, livestreamed by him on the internet, at a Tops food market in a predominantly black neighborhood that is a three-and-a-half-hour drive from his home. The murder of one communicant and the critical injury of four others at an Orange County church was another well-planned execution, apparently politically motivated around issues of Taiwanese independence. That shooter traveled almost 300 miles from another state and mingled with churchgoers for 40 minutes before opening fire. And the slaughter of 19 elementary schoolchildren and two adults in Uvalde by an 18-year-old student from a nearby school was an act of such horrific violence against the most innocent of victims that it all but defies contemplation. All of these were premediated acts of gun violence. Some will argue that each was the action of a deranged individual, which it surely was, and thereby distance themselves from it as aberrant and not reflective of who we are as a country and society, which it just as surely was not. These were three of more than 200 mass shootings in the United States so far this year. We are the most heavily armed and personally weaponized country on earth. It is not simply that the alleged killers should not have had these guns. It is not just about the shooters. We live in a society that makes it possible for them and most citizens to have guns without training, permit, or good reason. This is who we are. Nor is it simply that these were perpetrated with racist motives or values that do not reflect the morals and ethics enshrined in our Constitution and taught by all but extremist religious traditions. Throughout our history as a nation, we have made room for slavery, prejudice, inequality, inequity, hate, and, thereby, the continued expression of racism and the battle for supremacy of one demographic over another. Even in our religious communities is this so. This reality persists, and we, the people of this country, allow it to do so. This, too, is who we are. For some, defining ourselves and our country as racist and violent is anathema. Of course, this is not what most of us want to accept about our identity. We cannot help but recoil from it. But such hateful and violent acts are shameful not only for the perpetrators, but for all of us who pledge to support a safe, supportive society wherein self-sacrifice and surrender of privilege assure the rights of others to go safely to school, church, and the market. We promise equality and justice for all, yet refuse to enact laws that provide them. We likely should be more ashamed of not owning our truth and not helping one another to repair the breach. We are quick to claim national pride when something good happens. We must be equally quick to take national responsibility when something shameful does. As Jesus repeatedly showed, both in his words and his actions, love must be taught. That teaching begins in naming and owning where we have fallen short. It is a matter of confession, accepting what God knows about us. God knows that we fall short and, with God’s help, can do better. We should be indefatigable in giving our schoolchildren something more than successful Active Shooter Drills to be proud of. The violence and racism of our society are not their fault. Its repair, however, is their opportunity. An honest acceptance of where and who we are provides the only stable place from which they, and we, can proceed. 'We are quick to claim national pride when something good happens. We must be equally quick to take national responsibility when something shameful does.'
I don’t like the fact that I belong to a violent and racist society. It is a hard truth for me to accept. But time and again, we find that, without confession, without accepting the truth, we have nowhere to go because we are not starting where we are. Very often it is the realities we are most reluctant to face that provide the place where change begins. These are truths we need to own. Owning them informs our prayer, and prayer informs our action.
I encourage you, in both your personal devotions and corporate worship, to pray the Litany in the Wake of a Mass Shooting, maintained and offered by Bishops United Against Gun Violence, of which the Bishops of Ohio are members. And I invite clergy to wear orange stoles at the ordinations on Saturday and on subsequent Sundays. God knows, we can change this if we are willing to do the work. God surely does. The Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr. Bishop of Ohio |
We at St. Paul's welcome you. If this is your first contact with St. Paul's or any Episcopal church, we invite you to explore the Seekers Center, which offers a detailed look at our traditions, practices and the application of our beliefs in today’s world. Please join our church family to see us firsthand in all-encompassing, loving action.
We at St. Paul's welcome you. If this is your first contact with St. Paul's or any Episcopal church, we invite you to explore the Seekers Center, which offers a detailed look at our traditions, practices and the application of our beliefs in today’s world. Please join our church family to see us firsthand in all-encompassing, loving action.
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Giving made easier The Diocese of Ohio has partnered with Giving Tools to help with online stewardship for St. Paul's and other parishes. Please click on the church icon at left to visit our Online Giving page. Please join us for services online on our Facebook page every Sunday beginning at 10:25 a.m.
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St. Paul's Episcopal Church
425 Cleveland Avenue S.W.
Canton, OH 44702-1625
Our secretary, Peggy, remains in the office Monday thru Thursday
8:00-Noon.
There are no office hours on Fridays.
The office email is stpaulsoffice@att.net;
and you may leave a message on the phone voicemail
(330)455-0286
425 Cleveland Avenue S.W.
Canton, OH 44702-1625
Our secretary, Peggy, remains in the office Monday thru Thursday
8:00-Noon.
There are no office hours on Fridays.
The office email is stpaulsoffice@att.net;
and you may leave a message on the phone voicemail
(330)455-0286
