NEWS
St. Paul’s Prayer Shawls go to the House of Ruth
12 adult and 9 children’s prayer shawls were given to the House of Ruth by Dona Peters. Thank you to the Prayer Shawl Ministry for making it happen!
The St. Paul’s Martyrs Win Trivia Night!
A small group from St. Paul’s occasionally attends the Trivia Night at Pherm Brewing in Crofton. The St. Paul’s Martyrs won the January 8th game on the very last question (fun fact: Florida is that has military veterans serving as the Governor and Lt. Governor). The team was made up of David and Cynthia Kamioner, Phil Consuegra, Mike Devadason, Nathan Bailey, Aidan McWhirter, Justin Horst, Emily Trout, and Fr. Wesley Walker. Congrats to the St. Paul’s Martyrs!
Raynaldo Brown’s Christmas Party Serves Over 35 Families in Annapolis
Raynaldo Brown had his annual Christmas party to support needy children and families on December 20th. This is a charity the Outreach Committee has supported for years. This year over 35 families were served dinner. Santa and Mrs. Clause came with lots of gifts for the kids and each one received 2 presents. St. Paul’s had about 5 volunteers to help with all the fun! Thanks to all for the continued support.
St. Paul’s Newcomers Class Starts January 7th!
“All possible care must be taken, that we hold that faith which has been believed everywhere, always, by all.” -St. Vincent of Lerins
January 7–February 25
Wednesdays
Evening Prayer at 6p (optional)
Sessions at 6:30p
Description: Catechesis is an ancient Christian tradition of education where believers are equipped to better understand their tradition so they can know God better and make him known to those they encounter. At St. Paul’s, we intend to promulgate this tradition in the context of the Anglican tradition. A successful catechesis will provide participants with an understanding of Anglican history, ecclesiology, theology, worship, authority, and spiritual formation based on age appropriate standards.
Outline:
Week 1 (Jan 7): Who Are We? Anglican Ecclesiology, Apostolic Succession, and the Threefold Ministry
Week 2 (Jan 14): How Did We Get Here? A History of Continuing Anglicanism
Week 3 (Jan 21): What Do We Do, pt. 1? The Eucharist and Baptism
Week 4 (Jan 28): What Do We Do, pt. 2? Reconciliation, Confirmation, Matrimony, Ordination, and Unction
Week 5 (Feb 4): How Do We Pray? The Rule
Week 6 (Feb 11): How Do We Think? Scripture, Tradition, and Reason
Week 7 (Feb 18): How Do We Live? The Church Calendar + What’s Expected of Me as a Church Member + Confirmation
Week 8 (Feb 25): Instructed Eucharist
From the Rector’s Bookshelf: True Love: Sermons for Advent by The Rev. Canon Glenn Spencer
The Rev. Canon Glenn Spencer, True Love: Sermons for Advent. The Anglo-Catholic Pulpit. Earth & Altar Press, 2025. ISBN: 9798273890121, x+60pp. $12.50.
Fr. Glenn Spencer, Rector Emeritus of All Saints Church (APA) in Charlottesville, VA
Fr. Glenn Spencer is the Rector Emeritus of All Saints Anglican Church (APA) in Charlottesville, Virginia where he served as the Rector for thirty-five years. Fr. Glenn is the way I got to St. Paul’s and for that, I am eternally grateful to him. I remember visiting All Saints multiple times over the years and, during one of those visits, he told me about an APA parish in Annapolis, Maryland that was looking for a younger priest to bring on staff and that he could make the connection if I wanted. I’m very glad I took his recommendation!
This book is short, but dense. There is a nice foreword by Bp. Chandler Holder Jones, the Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Province of America and our diocesan Ordinary who reminds us that “whether we consciously recognize it or not at any given time, that we are today in a struggle to recover and promote the old paths, the Old Time Religion” (i). Fr. Glenn’s preaching is characteristic of that recovery. The collection of sermons begins with The Sunday Next Before Advent, “Stir Up Sunday” as it’s often called, and extends through the whole Advent season. A great feature that augments the sermon is a list of questions after each homily that can be used for personal reflection or group study.
Historically, there have been many great Anglican preachers: Lancelot Andrewes, John Donne, Jeremy Taylor, John Wesley, John Henry Newman, Edward Bouverie Pusey, Henry Parry Liddon, Austin Farrer, Michael Ramsey, and many others. In modern times, it often feels like Anglican preaching has fallen into a state of disrepair. Preaching should not be confused with sentimentality, stand up comedy, academic lectures, or motivational speeches; it is the sacred task of proclaiming the Gospel to the Church. In this respect, Fr. Glenn is an expert preaching and his style is a blend of multiple things. They are learned, but not inaccessible, Catholic, but with an evangelical fervor, situated in a parish setting, but containing transcendent truths. If you’re looking for a book to serve as your Advent companion, consider getting Fr. Glenn’s book of sermons!
