St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Special Lenten Services
8 a.m. Rite I, Dec. 3, 10, 17
10:30 a.m. Rite II, Dec. 3, 10, 17, 24
Special Lenten Services
8 a.m. Rite I, Dec. 3, 10, 17
10:30 a.m. Rite II, Dec. 3, 10, 17, 24
The 44th Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service.
Photo courtesy of Anthony Montagno, music director, Trinity United Church of Christ.
Coming up at
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Keeping and sharing the faith
"May we commit to each moment, as an opportunity to begin again, an opportunity to be grateful together -- grateful for each other, grateful with each other."
the Rev. Rev. Gordon McKeeman 
More than 200 people -- Christians, Jews and Muslims -- gathered at St. Paul's Tuesday night for Stark County's 44th annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service.
The evening centered on the core message woven throughout the world's dominant faiths, to love our neighbors. The evening included prayers from various traditions and began with this pledge: Creator God we are of many religions but of one faith in you. We pray that the love with which you created each of us will in fact develop in us a true unconditional love for one another, for our friends and for our enemies...as you have taught us to do. We pray for an end to violence, which so offends your law of love, and we humbly ask for your forgiveness and mercy that we may grow in your love. We have gathered here to rightfully give you thanks and praise; for our cosmos , our world, and our humanity; for all we are, for all we have, and for all we are yet to be, as we would be nothing without you. Amen Deacon Mark Fuller of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church organized the gathering of faith leaders. The Rev. Robin Woodberry, priest-in-charge of St. Paul's, delivered the homily, St. Paul's Music Director Edward Grimes conducted the community choir and St. Paul's Musician Emeritus William Kendrick led the anthem "Come You Thanksful People Come," that he composed for the interfaith effort several years ago. The free-will offering collected more than $1,300 to seed next year's all-volunteer Thanksgiving Baskets Downtown distribution. A reception and fellowship followed the service in the Guild Hall, and the St. Michael's chapter of the Knights of Columbus sent everyone home with Thanksgiving blessings and a loaf of freshly baked bread. A big thank you to the leaders of this year's service, including: Canton City Lutheran Parish, the Rev. Diana Thompson Christ Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Ben George Church of the Covenant (PCUSA), the Rev. Kathryn Ophardt Islamic Society of Northeast Ohio, Br. Jaffar Juma Romanian Catholic Diocese, St. George Cathedral, Bishop John Michael Botean Shaaray Torah Synagogue Hazzan Bruce Braun, Spiritual Leader Fr. Ed Keck Retired, helping at various parishes and with Pax Christi St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church Deacon Phil Tischler, Jeff Fricker, Music Director St. Paul's Episcopal Church, the Rev. Dr. Robin Woodberry, Edward Grimes Music Director William Kendrick (MD Emeritus) Temple Israel Rabbi David Komerofsky Trinity United Church of Christ Anthony Montagno, Music Director Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Greater Canton Deborah Kotte, CLM Zion United Church of Christ the Rev. H. Paul Schwitzgebel (Ret.) You can find the entire service by clicking here to link to our Facebook page.
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Our mission
St. Paul’s is an exceptionally welcoming Episcopal community in downtown Canton, grounded in faith, called by God’s Love to minister to the world.
St. Paul’s is an exceptionally welcoming Episcopal community in downtown Canton, grounded in faith, called by God’s Love to minister to the world.
A rare and joyous day
Clergy, congregants, family and other well-wishers pack St. Paul's to celebrate the ordination of the Rev. Robin Woodberry
Clergy, congregants, family and other well-wishers pack St. Paul's to celebrate the ordination of the Rev. Robin Woodberry
Bishop Mark Hollingsworth Jr. presents newly ordained priest, the Rev. Robin Woodberry to a crowd of nearly 200 at St. Paul's Saturday morning (June 3). Rev. Woodberry is the fifth generation of pastors in her family and her mother, Gena Thornton, delivered the homily. Rev. Woodberry's husband, Anthony, helped her don her priestly vestments. Photo by David Rotthoff.
Clergy from different denominations and throughout the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio gathered with Bishop Hollingsworth for the laying on of hands during the Rev. Woodberry's ordination. Photo by David Rotthoff
Nearly 200 people gathered at St. Paul's Saturday morning to celebrate the consecration of the Rev. Robin Woodberry to the priesthood.
Robin's service of ordination is the last planned by Bishop Mark Hollingworth Jr., who is retiring. Celebrating with him were clergy from differing denominations and from throughout Ohio, including Robin's mother, the Rev. Gena Thornton, who delivered the homily. Robin is the fifth generation of women clergy in her family.
They were joined by family, friends, congregants and friends of St. Paul's and of Robin's. The choirs of three churches -- St. Paul's, St. Timothy's Massillon and Christ Church Hudson -- joined together for the service with works including "The Work of Love," an original piece composed by Andrew Bolden for the day.
Robin has been deacon-in-charge at St. Paul's since last summer, following her ordination as a transitional deacon, a step toward the priesthood. A native of Youngstown, she was licensed a minister in the Baptist tradition in 1995 and ordained 10 years later at New Bethel Baptist Church. She holds a doctor of ministry degree from the Southern Bible Institute and Seminary in Augusta, Ga. She is the former nominating chairperson for the National Board of Church Women United and executive director of the Mahoning Valley Association of Churches.
She became a member of the Episcopal Church in 2017, and began her seminary studies at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, Calif. She has completed her studies at Bexley Seabury Seminary in Chicago, has been elected to the Episcopal Community Services Committee and serves on the church’s Commission for Racial Understanding.
Here is message from the Rev. Robin Woodberry, St. Paul's new priest-in-charge
There will never be enough words to say how completely grateful and thankful I am to each one who has been a part of this journey. Whether you played a role at the beginning, in the middle, or in the last few weeks, I would not be here today if it were not for you. I thank you for your prayers, your words of encouragement, your spiritual direction, and your love. To my family who has given the most so that I could do what God was asking of me, thank you for your sacrifice of love! I give honor to my ancestors and the four generations of ministers on whose shoulders I stand.
To my husband Anthony, we had no idea what we were in for when we got married 37 years ago, but God did. I could not have served in ministry had you not been there with me. I praise God for you! To the Ordination Committee who pulled together such a memorable occasion in such a short time, thank you!
And, to this great St. Paul’s family, God heard your prayers, brought us together, and set us on a path to do great and mighty things, in Jesus’ Name!
I love you all, Robin.
Robin's service of ordination is the last planned by Bishop Mark Hollingworth Jr., who is retiring. Celebrating with him were clergy from differing denominations and from throughout Ohio, including Robin's mother, the Rev. Gena Thornton, who delivered the homily. Robin is the fifth generation of women clergy in her family.
They were joined by family, friends, congregants and friends of St. Paul's and of Robin's. The choirs of three churches -- St. Paul's, St. Timothy's Massillon and Christ Church Hudson -- joined together for the service with works including "The Work of Love," an original piece composed by Andrew Bolden for the day.
Robin has been deacon-in-charge at St. Paul's since last summer, following her ordination as a transitional deacon, a step toward the priesthood. A native of Youngstown, she was licensed a minister in the Baptist tradition in 1995 and ordained 10 years later at New Bethel Baptist Church. She holds a doctor of ministry degree from the Southern Bible Institute and Seminary in Augusta, Ga. She is the former nominating chairperson for the National Board of Church Women United and executive director of the Mahoning Valley Association of Churches.
She became a member of the Episcopal Church in 2017, and began her seminary studies at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, Calif. She has completed her studies at Bexley Seabury Seminary in Chicago, has been elected to the Episcopal Community Services Committee and serves on the church’s Commission for Racial Understanding.
Here is message from the Rev. Robin Woodberry, St. Paul's new priest-in-charge
There will never be enough words to say how completely grateful and thankful I am to each one who has been a part of this journey. Whether you played a role at the beginning, in the middle, or in the last few weeks, I would not be here today if it were not for you. I thank you for your prayers, your words of encouragement, your spiritual direction, and your love. To my family who has given the most so that I could do what God was asking of me, thank you for your sacrifice of love! I give honor to my ancestors and the four generations of ministers on whose shoulders I stand.
To my husband Anthony, we had no idea what we were in for when we got married 37 years ago, but God did. I could not have served in ministry had you not been there with me. I praise God for you! To the Ordination Committee who pulled together such a memorable occasion in such a short time, thank you!
And, to this great St. Paul’s family, God heard your prayers, brought us together, and set us on a path to do great and mighty things, in Jesus’ Name!
I love you all, Robin.
Above: During the litany, then-Deacon Woodberry lies full length and face down on the floor as a gesture of humility and devotion. Right: Bishop Hollingsworth offers the prayers of consecration, which include: "May she exalt you, O Lord, in the midst of your people; offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to you; boldly proclaim the gospel of salvation; and rightly administer the
sacraments of the New Covenant. Make her a faithful pastor, a patient teacher, and a wise
counselor. Grant that in all things she may serve without reproach, so that your people
may be strengthened and your Name glorified in all the world. All this we ask through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for
ever and ever." Photo by David Rotthoff
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Among those participating in the ordination were the Rev. Gena Thornton, Robin's mother (left rear), and Maureen Woods Major and Jon Coventry (right rear), whose own journey to the priesthood began at St. Paul's. Photo by David Rotthoff
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To view the entire service, click on this Facebook link.
For more images of the day and information on ordination, go to the "more" tab or click here.
For more images of the day and information on ordination, go to the "more" tab or click here.
What's an Episcopalian?
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 and YouTube channel 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
