St. Paul's Episcopal Church
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Are You New to St. Paul’s?
At the southwest corner of Oddie Boulevard and 12th Street in Sparks, there’s a tiny powder blue and white sign with a red cross, hanging in the shadows that says: The Episcopal Church Welcomes You Don’t blink! Or, you’ll miss it! Just around the corner, tucked behind the Sparks Library, is St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. And, we welcome you! Whether you’re a cradle Episcopalian, new to the area, or from another denomination, looking for a change, or completely “un-churched” and searching for new direction and a sense of purpose in these uncertain times – we welcome you! Newcomers often ask, “so what do you believe?” We are a Christian church, whose mission is to spread the Good News of God in Christ in our wondrous and confusing world. We believe that scripture, tradition, human reason, and our individual experiences shape us as the Body of Christ. We are a diverse people, united in prayer – united in worship. We believe in the Ministry of the Baptized. It is our mission to support one another in our baptismal vows: To continue in the Apostles’ teachings and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread and in the prayers. To persevere in resisting…
Worship Schedule
Sunday, 9:00 a.m. Contemporary Praise Service with Holy Communion Sunday, 11:00 a.m. Traditional Holy Eucharist Rite II, with Choir and Organ Music Sunday, 5:00 p.m. Traditional Holy Eucharist Rite II, without Music Thursday, 6:00 p.m. Contemplative Healing Service with Holy Communion First Sunday of the Month Family Service This service is intentionally designed to provide an intergenerational worship experience for children and adults, and encourages the active participation of all members. It includes Holy Communion, and St. Paul’s Praise Team provides music. The Family Service is held at the 9:00 service during the school year, and the 10:00 service in summer. Summer Worship Schedule (Memorial Day to Labor Day) Sundays 10:00 a.m. Holy Communion (Alternating styles) Sundays 5:00 p.m. Traditional Holy Eucharist Rite II, without Music Thursdays 6:00 p.m. Healing Service with Holy Communion
Worship Styles
St. Paul’s offers a variety of worship styles. Below are descriptions of those styles. With the exception of a few special services, all our worship offers Holy Eucharist which is also called Holy Communion. Holy Communion is the real presence of Christ contained within the blessed/consecrated bread and wine. Here at St. Paul’s everyone is invited to receive Holy Communion. Weekly Services Contemporary Praise with Holy Eucharist: This service is not a prayer book service, though the components of worship follow the order set forth in The Book of Common Prayer, 1979. This service incorporates prayers from both Episcopal supplemental sources and Anglican sources throughout the world. For the most part the liturgy for this service is “bookless” and is projected onto screens by way of computer slides. The music during this service is provided by our praise team, which includes guitar, bass, keyboard, and drums, as well as other percussion instruments. During the first part of this service the children have their own educational time but rejoin the congregation at the passing of the peace. This service is our largest service with attendance ranging from 80 to 120. Holy Eucharist, Rite II with Choir: This service uses the Eucharistic Liturgies contained within…
About Holy Eucharist
Holy Communion Here at St. Paul’s everyone is invited to receive Holy Communion. How to Receive Holy Communion The ushers will direct your row when it is time to go up for Communion. Unless you are in the front row, you can follow the person in front of you. To receive the bread, rest one hand in the other, palm upward. To drink from the cup of wine, please help guide it to your lips. If you wish to “intinct” (dip the bread in the wine), simply hold the bread up so the chalice minister will know that is your preference. If you wish, you may choose to receive only the bread. If this is your preference, please stay at the altar rail until the chalice minister comes to you, then cross your arms over your chest. After you have received the bread and wine, it is appropriate to say, “Amen,” which is a way of saying, “so be it” or “yes.” This openness is a wonderful way to acknowledge God at work in your life through the sacrament. After you have received the bread and the wine you may return to your seat. If you wish to receive Holy…
Programs
Family Programs
St. Paul’s maintains a vibrant family calendar with many various social, educational, and spiritual events for families. This page features descriptions of just a few of St. Paul’s own annual events, many of which have been traditions for decades. Other events are added as opportunity presents itself throughout the year, and we also participate in events with other parishes, as well. Please see the calendar for a complete listing of current events! Fall Season (Pentecost) Family Events Blessing of the Backpacks St. Paul’s Men’s Retreat at Camp Galilee Empty Bowls Food Pantry Fundraiser Stewardship Activities and Minisrty Discernment Sock Hop Karaoke Night and Talent Show Oktoberfest Halloween All Saints’ Carnival Trunk-or-Treat St. Paul’s Thanksgiving Day Feast Winter Season (Advent/Christmas/Epiphany) Family Events Sparks Hometowne Christmas Parade Greening of the Church St. Paul’s Christmas Pageant Lessons and Carols Sunday Epiphany Sunday Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Spring Season (Lent/Easter) Family Events Lenten Soup Suppers Bunco Baptism/Confirmation Preparation Sunday Adult Education St. Patrick’s Day Dinner St. Paul’s Women’s Weekend Easter Sunday Egg Hunt Summer Season (Pentecost) Family Events Annual Parish “Bibby’s Deep Pit BBQ” Celebration Newcomers’ Potluck
Youth Programs
Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) Our Youth Group is a joint group with the other two Episcopal Churches in the area. All youth in grades 5 through 12 are welcome to join the Youth Group Sunday afternoons twice a month during the school year. Meetings take place from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm at Trinity Episcopal Church located at 200 Island Ave. in downtown Reno. This is an afternoon of fun and formation beginning with lunch, followed by program and activities. EYC youth also plan monthly service projects, activities and events throughout the year. An annual Mission Trip is planned each summer, with participation in service projects in the Western U.S. St. Paul’s youth also participate in provincial and national Episcopal youth events. Please call our youth minister, the Rev. Kathy Hopner at 329-4279, or email her for more information. Baptism and Confirmation Baptisms occur throughout the church year on Sundays designated by the Episcopal Church, and on other Sundays in consultation with the clergy. Preparation for baptism is arranged for the baptismal candidate, parents and godparents through the clergy. Confirmation is held at the bishop’s annual visit; confirmation classes are usually held over in the winter and spring. Email our Rector, the Rev. Kirk Woodliff for more information.
Children’s Programs
First Sunday of the Month Family Service This service is intentionally designed to provide an intergenerational worship experience for children and adults, and encourages the active participation of all members. It includes communion, and St. Paul’s Praise Team provides music. The Family Service is held at the 9:00 service during the school year, and the 10:00 service in summer. Special Events for Children Throughout the year, a variety of special events are held for children at St. Paul’s. For example, each fall we begin the school year with the Blessing of the Backpacks. At Halloween we bless our pumpkins and hold a Sunday school All Saint’s Carnival. Our Christmas Pageant occurs on Christmas Eve at the 5:30 service, and all children are invited to participate. We hold an Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday, and celebrate Pentecost outside with hats, balloons and streamers. Holy Baptism Baptisms occur throughout the church year on Sundays designated by the Episcopal Church, and on other Sundays in consultation with the clergy. Preparation for baptism is arranged for the baptismal candidate, parents and godparents through our Rector. For more information please call the parish office, or email the Rev. Kirk Woodliff.
Sunday School
Sunday School is offered weekly for children from preschool through 5th grade, during the 9:00 am service. Our work is grounded in the curriculum of Godly Play. Godly Play is a way of helping children to join in the worship and life of our congregation as they develop a deeper understanding of stories, symbols and rites. We use additional materials, stories, and arts and crafts activities to supplement this program, especially for our older children. The children process to the Sunday School rooms at the beginning of the service and rejoin their families at the Peace so that they can participate in the Eucharist.
Nursery
We have an Immediate Opening for a Parish Nursery Attendant! Regular Sunday Hours: 8:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. (some Sundays until 12:30 p.m.) Summer Hours: 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Pay: $12.00 per hour St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Sparks is interviewing candidates to serve as a Parish Nursery Attendant who will provide nursery care on Sunday mornings. This is a year round position and will include additional services such as Christmas Eve and the Saturday night service before Easter. The Nursery Attendant will be given a month’s notice for these extra events. Job Qualifications: First aid/CPR certified At least three years experience working with children Three letters of reference Be able to pass background check High School Diploma required Preferred: An associates degree in Early Childhood Development or Education or be working towards a degree in ECD or Education Candidates must possess a love for and have commitment to protect and nurture children in a Christian environment as well as an ability to work with a variety of nursery volunteers. Job Description: Arrive at 8:45 am to open parish nursery. (9:45 a.m. in the Summer) Be on site to care for children infant up through 4 years old. Required activities…
News
Parish Newsletter
The Epistle is the newsletter for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. This monthly newsletter contains all the up-to-date news and information about what’s going on in the parish. Please click the links below to read up to one full year of monthly Epistles. Our digital as well as hard copy archives are maintained at the church, and go back many years. If you need access to any of this please contact the church office. The Epistle, January 2012 The Epistle, February 2012 The Epistle, March 2012
About Us
History of St. Paul’s
St. Paul’s began when the Southern Pacific Railroad moved shops from Wadsworth to Sparks, and the congregation of The Wadsworth Church followed. In 1906, construction began on a one-story church at 410 Pyramid Way. (Prior to this building, the St. Paul’s mission church had been meeting in the Engineer’s Hall on Sixth Street.) In 1926, Reverend McGowan became Vicar and built an addition – the Guild Hall – almost single-handedly! In 1935, Bishop Jenkins closed the church until Bishop Lewis appointed a vicar for St. Paul’s, resuming worship services in 1942. The women’s guilds continued to function during the time the church was officially closed. In 1950 Father Lamer was the first to offer Holy Eucharist weekly, rather than monthly. He began to hold started weekly church classes, as well. From 1953 through 1961, Rev. Sheppard grew the church with coffee hours, fashion shows, card parties, the St. Paul’s Bazaar, and a young couples’ club. By 1963, a larger church was needed, and new construction began on the current location at 12th Street and Oddie Blvd. The new church building was going to be right next to the new Civic Center that the City of Sparks was planning to build.…
Mission Statement
Directions
St. Paul’s is located at the corner of 12th and Oddie Boulevard, directly behind the Sparks branch of the Washoe County Library. From 1-80, exit at Pyramid Way and travel north. Turn left again at Oddie Blvd., and take another left on 12th. View Larger Map
Contact Us
Worship
Sunday Worship Information
How to join us for Online Worship
Holy Communion at Home
Ministries
Pastoral Ministries Healing Team Helping Hands Prayer Team Lay Eucharistic Visitors Church Life Choral and Traditional Music Contemporary Music/Praise Team Dias Con Cristo Daughters of the King Stewardship Worship Altar Guild Lay Eucharistic Ministers Acolytes Lectors Ushers/Greeters Youth Sunday School EYC Social Action RAIN Family Promise (formerly Interfaith Hospitality Network) Peace and Justice Ministries Episcopal Relief and Development Outreach St. Paul’s Food Pantry The Food Bank of Northern Nevada Camp Galilee
Donate
Links
The Episcopal Church, USA
St. Paul’s on Facebook
The Lectionary Page
The Book of Common Prayer
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