St. Paul's Episcopal Church
in downtown Canton
Sunday services begin at 10:30 a.m.
425 Cleveland Ave. SW
Canton, OH 44702
in downtown Canton
Sunday services begin at 10:30 a.m.
425 Cleveland Ave. SW
Canton, OH 44702
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We're preparing for Christmas with Reverse Advent Calendars
Advent calendars are a tradition that dates back to mid-19th Century Germans marking their doors with chalk or lighting candles to count down the days to Christmas. It's a tradition we love and embrace and one that has been updated with themes as varied bits of chocolate to Lego Spidermen hiding behind the doors.
St. Paul's is doing it own update this year by inviting everyone to grab a "Reverse Advent Calendar" from the Narthex and begin filling the paper grocery bags each day. The items we gather will be brought to St. Pauls for a Chirstmas Eve blessing, then delivered to families in our community who are in transition. Here's the schedule mapped out by the head of the effort, Jeff Nowlin. Dec. 1: Bandaids Dec. 2: Hand sanitizer Dec. 3: Toilet paper Dec. 4: Nail clippers Dec. 5: Juice Dec. 6: Deodorant Dec. 7: Toothbrush Dec. 8: Canned soup Dec. 9: Kleenex Dec. 10 Dish Soap Dec. 11: Jam or jelly Dec. 12: Pasta Dec. 13: Canned veggies or fruit Dec. 14 Paper towels Dec. 15: Pasta sauce Dec. 16: Shower gel Dec. 17: Pet food/litter Dec. 18: Tooth paste Dec. 19: Canned tuna Dec. 20: Women's personal products Dec. 21 Q-tips Dec. 22 Peanut butter or cereal. We're also hoping a few toys for children will find their way in the bags. If you can contribute each day, that's wonderful. If you can only chip in some days, that's wonderful too! The goal is to ensure we come to Christmas living out Jesus' commandment: Love thy Neighbor as thyself! Interfaith Thanksgiving Service: Loving and serving our neighbors
This presentation for Thanksgiving Baskets was delivered at the 45th annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at First Lutheran Church. Every year, the service is held at a different house of worship to celebrate our shared commitment to serving our neighbor. This year's collection at the service topped $1,200, and it will all go toward seeding next year's Thanksgiving Baskets effort.
Thank you all for coming together tonight to celebrate the messages that unite our faiths, celebrate our shared humanity and make life better throughout our Stark County community. Thank you also for the nearly 40 years of support you’ve given to Thanksgiving Baskets Downtown. We’ve adapted over the years to the realities of the likes of Covid and the economy. But at our core, we’ve remained a grassroots interfaith group made up entirely of volunteers. And what a great group of volunteers have become part of the Thanksgiving Baskets family. Each year, they raise awareness and money to feed hundreds of families in our community. And the community itself – faith groups, individuals and businesses and organizations -- respond with wonderful generosity. The effort culminates with the giveaway the Saturday before Thanksgiving and this year, we distributed nearly 900 turkeys and gift certificates to our neighbors. And once we defrosted our fingers and toes – because the only guarantee in life is that it will snow, sleet or freezing rain that Saturday – we start all over again. The big launch for next year’s effort is tonight, when the collection is dedicated toward seeding 2025. Whatever you give now allows us to begin planning so we can maximize the resources of our community to best meet its needs. We truly are greater than the sum of our parts, and your generosity is part of that greatness. Again, thank you all. For more photos of Thanksgiving Baskets distribution and registration days, click on this link. Photos are courtesy of Deacon Mark Fuller of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church.
From Mother Robin's desk: Fulfilling God's work at church and at home
In the season of Advent, we focus on our Lord who came but is yet to come again. It’s a time of expectation and hope that looks forward to a new creation and a new earth. “Advent calls Christians to live lives with an eye on the future – and an eye on the fulfillment of the work that God started in the revelation of Jesus Christ. This is an important reminder during the Advent season: We are not only looking forward to the commemoration of the birth of Christ, but we are the church expectant, waiting for God’s reconciliatory work to be fulfilled.” https:// www.episcopalchurch.org/bible-study/advent-1b/
As we move through this time of joy, hope, peace, and anticipation for our coming Christ, may we find ways to grow deeper in the knowledge of God and in carrying out the mission that God places before us all? One way is to carry our Advent connection into the Christmas celebration. Since we are having a 7p.m. Christmas Eve service, we will not be coming back for a Christmas Day service. However, on pg. 15, you will find an outline for a Christmas in the Home service in which you can still share in the true meaning of Christmas with your loved ones on Christmas Day. This service is meant to provide you with a resource that will make room for singing, and reflection around the Lord’s birth. And you can do it wherever you are and with whomever you are able. The purpose is to bring people together around the message of the greatest gift ever given and to celebrate that gift of Love in our lives. Hard copies will be made available at the church for you to take, and PLEASE take extra to share with other families. May you and your family have a meaningful and wonderful Advent and Christmas season. Flowers extend the beauty of Christmas throughout the church and beyond
Each Christmastide, the Chancel altar and side chapels at St. Paul’s are dressed in floral finery and greens to enhance the beauty of our Sanctuary and glorify God as we celebrate the Nativity of our Lord. This doesn’t happen through a miracle, or fairy dust and magic; rather it’s achieved through the generous memorial and thanksgiving gifts donated by parishioners to fund the effort. Through your generous donations, the Altar Guild is also able to deliver poinsettias to homebound parishioners after Epiphany, and -- through careful tending of the plants -- extend the “color” in the church throughout the bleak mid-winter of January as well.
However, all of the above can only be made possible by YOU! Please use the form below to indicate how you would like your contribution used (poinsettia size/quantity/roping/as a donation/as a purchase) and return it by Dec. 9 to Peggy in the office. Thank you for playing an important role in creating a beautiful visual backdrop as we celebrate our Christmas joy! 
Advent: Sharing a prayer each day even when we're apart
The St. Elizabeth Chapter of the Order of the Daughters of the King invites you to join us in prayer during the Advent season.
At 9 p.m. each evening, stop, take a minute, and say a prayer for the following: unday: St. Paul’s Church Monday: The shut-ins Tuesday: Members of the clergy Wednesday: The Homeless Thursday: Victims of violence Friday: Those in war-torn countries Saturday: Victims of natural disasters Thank you for participating. Serena Thurin, Chapter President |
This coming week
(and beyond) with St. Paul's 
Sunday, Dec. 8 Second Sunday in Advent and Football Sunday! Dress in your favorite team's colors. 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 9 Deadline for Christmas Memorial flower orders. Call the office at (330) 455-0286 or fill out the order form in the Narthex (a copy is in the lower left of this page). Tuesday, Dec. 10 Courageous Conversations on Race Relations, 6 p.m. in the Guild Hall. Wednesday, Dec. 11 Small-group Bible study exploring Advent, 10 a.m. in the Library and on-line Thursday, Dec. 12 Understanding Winter Holidays, an interfaith conversation, Mother Robin is among the presenters; 6-7:30 p.m. in the Stark District Main Library Dec. 19: A simple service to help us navigate loss and the holidays
The St Paul's family has experienced a significant amount of loss over the last two months which can make the holidays a difficult time to navigate.
Others may be faced with health challenges or worries that make the holiday difficult to celebrate. So, on Thursday, Dec. 19, at 6 p.m., we are offering a Blue Christmas service to assist with the grief and help provide healing, and hope. It is a simple service that includes music, prayer, reflection, readings, candles, and anointing oil. No communion will be served. To share the services celebrating the lives of Edward Sutek and Linda Rotthoff, you can click here or go to the Worship tab and drop down to "Previous Services."
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.
Continuing to serve the most vulnerable among us
In his post-election statement, Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe calls on Episcopalians to work and pray for justice, peace and the dignity of every human being. Click here for the complete letter and more on what the Episcopal Church stands for. Episcopal Relief & Development steps up to meet the needs of those devastated
by hurricanes 
Following Hurricane Helene, the deadly Category 4 storm that caused widespread damage throughout the southern U.S., Episcopal Relief & Development is working with church leaders within the Episcopal Diocese of Florida, the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia and the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida to support survivors.
These partnerships will help during the critical first week after impact, before FEMA support becomes available, and longer-term needs for debris removal, temporary housing, mental health support, and other services can begin. Episcopal Relief & Development also continues to support church and community leaders throughout North Carolina, Tennessee, and South Carolina as they assess the impact and determine immediate needs. Hurricane Helene created life-threatening conditions throughout the South, killing at least 160 people. Homes and other structures were destroyed by mudslides, tornadoes, and flooding. In some areas, there are significant communication issues due to a lack of cell service and power outages. Downed trees and other road blockages are preventing supplies from reaching the communities in need. Additional health concerns include a scarcity of potable water. Please pray for the people affected by Hurricane Helene and consider donating to the Hurricane Relief Fund to support their recovery. Lots of ways you can serve at St. Paul's
As the St. Paul Family continues to grow, we want to ensure that everyone has a chance to engage and assist with the work we have placed before us. To carry out this work, we need to draw upon the gifts, talents, and skill sets of everyone.
We are currently looking for people to serve in the following ways:
Remember, every member is a minister!! 
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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 [email protected];
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 [email protected];
and you may leave a message on the phone voicemail
(330)455-0286
