St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Canton, Ohio
All are welcome!
Sunday services begin at 10:25 a.m. in person or online
(Please note that St. Paul's livestreams and posts all our services on Facebook)
(Please note that St. Paul's livestreams and posts all our services on Facebook)
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The ordination of our new Deacon-in-Charge, 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
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 Keeping our eye on the Covid numbers
Updated May 25, 2022: Stark County and the rest of Ohio have seen an increase over the last two months in the average number of Covid cases. Daily reported cases are now averaging nearly 150 in Stark County, still well below the high back in January of 772; the community risk level remains low. It is, however, believed the reported case numbers are artificially low because many people who take home tests do not report the results, but hospitalizations and community spread also remain low. (Click here for the latest numbers.)
The St. Paul's Vestry continues to encourage those who can to get full 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. 
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.
Bishop Hollingworth on the Russian invasion of Ukraine
February 24, 2022
Dear colleagues and friends, The news reports emanating from Ukraine bring directly into our homes and hearts the terrifying reality of war. With it come emotions that including anger, fear, and helplessness. We feel these both for ourselves and for all those more immediately in harm’s way. It seems unimaginable that, as an advanced civilization, we are unable to find ways to move toward peaceable resolutions that, in the words of our baptismal covenant, “respect the dignity of every human being” and protect the vulnerable and undefended. It is hard to accept that destruction and death constitute an acceptable way to find stability and security. We may be thousands of miles from where the missiles are launched and the bombs land, but we are all complicit. In continually succumbing to a we/they construct in addressing our local, national, and global differences, we are inevitably led to polarization and destructive results. I offer this not in judgment, but in confession. It remains our common human condition. As disciples of the one who said, “Peace I give to you, my own peace I leave with you,” we turn to him now for guidance and help. We hold before him our human brokenness that keeps leading us into dehumanizing behavior, and we offer our broken selves back to the God who has given us this life to share. Our prayer for the victims of this attack on Ukraine and our prayer for those who have initiated it must be accompanied by our prayer for ourselves, that we will give ourselves to peace. Such willing self-sacrifice is at the heart of all intercession. Indeed, God can do anything, but always demands our participation. The answers Jesus gives to our prayers at this moment will doubtless cost us. They will require us to pick up the peace he has given us, his own peace, and make the same sacrifice of ourselves that he made for us. They will require us to hear what God needs of us to incarnate the peace of Christ in our own lives and be willing to pay the price. Let us, therefore, pray for peace; for the safety and comfort of all victims in this time of fear and devastation; for those in leadership and those carrying out their orders; and for ourselves, that we will give all that we are to the peaceful resolution of all conflict: Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that in tranquillity your dominion may increase until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 258) Know that you are in my prayers, The Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr. Bishop of Ohio |
This Wednesday: Do something about gun violence
The Diocese of Ohio is hosting three 60-minute Zoom conversations about how you can actively respond to this epidemic of gun violence in our country. The first conversation was on Wednesday, June 8 offering the opportunity to discuss what we can do in our close personal lives, within ourselves, as well as our interactions with families, friends, neighbors, and coworkers?
The second conversation will be on this Wednesday, June 22, at 7 p.m. and will focus on what to do in our local congregations. This conversation will include participants from across Province V. The third conversation will be on Wednesday, June 29 at 7 p.m. and will focus on what can be done in support of community and political initiatives. While this event is free, registration is required. Click here for more information about the campaign and to register. Celebrating ‘a good shepherd’
The Rev. Dr. Erwin M. Smuda
Jan. 28, 1936-May 24, 2020 At Saturday’s (June 18) memorial service for the Rev. Dr. Erwin M. Smuda, Bishop Mark Hollingsworth remembered Fr. Erv as a good shepherd, one who served Episcopal and Lutheran churches over a half a century with humility and without pretention, someone who was accessible, patient, constant and calm. “Like The Good Shepherd, Erv knew his sheep and his sheep knew him,” said Bishop Hollingsworth. And the parishes to which he was called “inevitably followed him to a healthier place.” 
Fr. Erv served churches in his native Minnesota and in Ohio. And after retiring from more than 30 years of full-time ministry, he took on the role of interim at 10 churches, easing them through times of transition. Among them were three Episcopal churches in Stark County: St. Paul’s, St. Mark’s and St. Tim’s.
Fr. George Baum, now the rector of St. Tim’s, likened Fr. Erv to John the Baptist, “preparing the way and making the path straight.” Fr. Erv brought “stability, stasis and essentially middle ground” to the churches he served, and “I’m forever grateful … for his making the rough roads smoother.” Fr. Erv was serving as interim at St. Paul’s when he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease, Bishop Hollingsworh noted, robbing him of the voice “to which so many turned for confidence and stability.” He died two years later, in 2020, at age 84. Born the youngest of five in Minnesota, Fr. Erv and was a teacher, youth advisor and director of education before earning his master’s of divinity degree at Concordia Seminary. He served Lutheran churches in Wyoming, Minn., and in Middleburg Heights before coming to Canton as senior pastor of Zion Lutheran Church. He earned his doctor of ministry at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago and became president of the Canton Association of Churches. Erv’s survivors include his wife, Jan, son Jonathan and daughter Rachael. Assisting Bishop Hollingsworth in Saturday’s service were both Episcopal and Lutheran clergy, including retired Lutheran Bishop Abraham Allende. Bishop Hollingsworth called the gathering “two branches of the Jesus movement … the best of who we are as a church.” Fr. Erv’s ashes were inurned in the Columbarium at St. Paul’s with this prayer: “May his soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.” Click here for a link to the memorial service for Fr. Erv. 
A letter from Bishop Hollingsworth on the shooting at an Episcopal church in Alabama
Dear colleagues and friends,
As the tragic consequences of gun violence continue to plague our country, we add to our prayers the people of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, and the Diocese of Alabama. We commend to Almighty God the souls of the two victims who have died, and to Jesus’s healing care the one injured and all those who grieve. As well, may we commit ourselves ever more fully to advocating for effective gun safety legislation and reducing the culture of violence that continues to put God’s beloved at risk. While we hear throughout holy scripture the encouragement that we not be afraid, we pray that our fear may be replaced with the courage to act boldly. Please consider joining with fellow communicants of the Diocese who are participating in the three Zoom conversations about gun violence. The second conversation will be held on Wednesday,June 22 at 7:00 p.m. and will focus on what to do in our local congregations. This conversation will include participants from across Province V. The third conversation will be on Wednesday, June 29 at 7:00 p.m.and will focus on what can be done in support of community and political initiatives. More information is available. While this event is free, registration is required. As well, I encourage every congregation to offer a book study of our colleague the Rev. Rosalind Hughes’s excellent book, Whom Shall I Fear? Urgent Questions for Christians in an Age of Violence. I reiterate my offer to reimburse any congregation for the cost of the books. May the Holy Spirit empower us to act with increasing confidence in God during this season after Pentecost. Gratefully, The Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr. Bishop of Ohio Welcoming the newest member of the St. Paul's family
Fr. Christopher Hofer welcomes the newest member of the St. Paul's family with the baptism of Baylor Monroe Wade during our celebration of Pentecost More photos are on our news page.
Up next at St. Paul's:
St. Paul's welcomes Fr. Christopher Hofer+
Fr. Christopher Hofer+ joined St. Paul’s as our supply priest beginning Sunday and his message was a simple and crucial one: Take time to stop and hear the still small voice of God. And if you don't hear it the first time, circle back and try again.
Fr. Christopher already met many members of the family of St. Paul's when he officiated at the funeral of Nancy Pelger on Friday, April 29. And even before that, he knew Canton well. Fr. Christopher lived in the Canton South area while earning his bachelor’s degree at Walsh University and master’s at Kent State. He was marketing director for United Ways in Akron and Canton before attending the General Theological Seminary, where he earned his master's in divinity. His ministry included the Episcopal West Side Shared Ministry before he became rector of The Church of St. Jude in New York. And while he was in Ohio, he was a board member for the Episcopal Community Services Foundation and Community Corners. He now lives in Cuyahoga Falls. Please welcome Fr. Christopher+ to the St. Paul’s family! Fr. Phil: The dictionary definition and much more
 Marilyn Dickinson was among those wishing Fr. Phil's blessings at a luncheon following his final service Sunday.
In his final service at St. Paul’s, Fr. Phil reiterated his call for strength in mission and the fight for justice -- and thanked the people of St. Paul’s for our four years together.
In the luncheon that followed, the people of St. Paul’s and other friends of the parish thanked Fr. Phil for going far beyond the dictionary definition of a supply priest. Barb Anderson said Fr. Phil’s presence energized a range of efforts, from spiritual development to rejuvenating parish organizations such as the Lazarus Society; from helping to lead the antiracist work of Courageous Conversations to supporting Altar Guild in a way she hasn’t seen over her nearly four decades helping to lead that mission. Sadly, she noted “too many of us learned of Fr. Phil’s pastoral gifts” as well, as he supported parishioners through the loss of loved ones. Even in the worst days of Covid, she said, “Fr. Phil has done far, far more than fill the pulpit on Sunday mornings” -- though he did a good job of that as well. “May the road leading you away from St. Paul’s be paved with blessings,” Barb said, “… as you have blessed us.” David Lewis, the Vestry member who worked most closely with Fr. Phil over his three years as senior warden, thanked him for his guidance and presented him with a new Webster’s dictionary – making it clear the parish was listening to the homework assignments Fr. Phil often worked into his sermons. In his response, Fr. Phil said it was an honor to have served on the leadership team of St. Paul’s and marveled at the organic and spiritual growth of Courageous Conversations. He credited the late Deb Shamlin as “the midwife and instigator in a positive way,” enlisting St. Paul’s in the fight against the corrosion of racism. He thanked our partners, Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church and StarkFresh, and urged the parish to continue “fervently praying for the Holy Spirit” to guide the effort. As he turned to Mt. Olive Pastor Eric Howard, he thanked “a treasured friend and colleague.” In the final prayer, Pastor Howard thanked God “for the witness of Fr. Phil” and asked God to “Bless and Keep us all now, as only you can.” 
For more photos of Fr. Phil's farewell, go to our News page by clicking on this link
If you have news to share about any aspect of life at St. Paul's, please be sure to report it to Peggy at stpaulsoffice@att.net. Also, please have your announcements to the office by Tuesday morning for publishing in the Sunday bulletin.
St. Paul's newsletter
Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page for the April 2022 parish newsletter, which includes a photo montage from Holy Week.
Anti-Racism Train-the-Trainer Session
The Commission for Racial Justice is seeking new people to bolster our ranks of those leading the two day Seeing the Face of God in Each Other Anti-Racism training. We are holding a Train- the-Trainer session at Bellwether Farm on May 20 and May 21 (Friday and Saturday). Your expenses for the training will be covered and trainers are paid to lead the training. If you are interested, please complete the Anti-Racism Trainer Application Form by May 6. If you have questions, please contact Allison Hauserman at abhauserman@yahoo.com or Margaret D’Anieri at mdanieri@dohio.org.
“I don’t want to work for God like some kind of nice boss. ... I want to live with God, now and forever. Evangelism is joining God in whatever God is doing in the world.”
The Rev. Dr. Tricia Lyons Please note: St. Paul's livestreams and posts all its worship services on its Facebook page
By entering St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Canton, Ohio, and by your presence here, you consent to be photographed, filmed, livestreamed, and/or otherwise recorded. Your entry constitutes your consent to such photography, filming, livestreaming, and/or recording and to any use, in any and all media for St. Paul's and The Diocese of Ohio. If you do not agree to the foregoing, please do not enter this area.
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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
