SUNDAY MORNING SCHEDULE
| 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I | 10:15 a.m. Dotting the Map |
| 9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II | 11:20 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II |
GENERAL INFORMATION
New to St. Paul’s? Welcome! Please let us know you are here by filling out a visitor card in the pew. Stop by our Connecting Station in the narthex (lobby) to chat and find materials that might help if you are new to St. Paul’s or The Episcopal Church. Join a tour of our campus on the third Sunday of the month after the 9 a.m. service to learn more and meet others. Contact Mary Kintz, our Community Connector, at mary.kintz@stpaulscary.org to find out more about us!
Kids in Worship at St. Paul’s: Children are always welcome in our worship services without exception, but if parents should wish for a space where your kids have more room to move around during the service, you are welcome to make use of the Comfort Room (glassed-in room at the rear of the worship space from which you can still hear and see the service). Ask an usher if you need help finding it. Also, our Kids’ Club (free nursery care) is available during the 9 a.m. service, and infants/toddlers through 36 months (3 years old) are welcome to attend.
Accessibility: St. Paul’s strives to make our services and programs comfortable and accessible to all. Ushers and Greeters are available to help. Please let us know how we can work together to improve your experience here.
HAPPENING TODAY – OCTOBER 25, 2026
Children’s Chapel: Children 3 years old through 5th grade are invited to process to Children’s Chapel during the 9 a.m. service, returning to their families for announcements. Today, Deacon Erica will lead a special tour to the Memorial Garden.
Dotting the Map: Join us in the chapel as we Dot the Map, marking where we’re from on one of three maps: the world, the nation, and North Carolina. Celebrate with some classic NC treats and learn more about the geographical makeup of our community, gathered here by God’s grace. Children and youth, we need your dots, too! Everyone is encouraged to take part.
Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) 6th–12th grade: Join us at 4:30 p.m. in the youth wing to set up for the carnival!
Halloween Carnival Featuring Carnival Games, Chili, Trunk or Treat: Celebrate Halloween from 5-7 p.m. with youth-led carnival games and prizes, a Chili Cookoff in the parish hall (hotdogs and potluck, too), and Trunk or Treat! Put on a costume and decorate your car to join the fun, or just come and enjoy the festivities.
Clergy Clash Obstacle Course, our Final Event of Brighter Days Ahead: At 6 p.m. during the Halloween Carnival, watch Fr. Jay and Deacon Erica compete in a battle of skill, stamina, and will as they race through a thrilling (albeit safe) obstacle course on the playground. Donate to either “Team Jay” or “Team Erica” – who will get the bigger head start?
PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Celebrating the Rev. Candy Snively: The Rev. Candy Snively, the voice of our Gospel and our vibrant, compassionate companion for more than two decades, is retiring from active ministry as a deacon at St. Paul’s and you are invited to celebrate with her as we gather on Sunday, Nov. 8 for one main service at 10 a.m., followed by a reception in the parish hall. Find info on how you can contribute memories/tributes and gifts on the display in the narthex.
Upcoming Adult Forums: Join us Nov. 1 in the chapel for a celebration of All Saints’ Day, featuring the work of our Memorial Garden ministry. On Nov. 15, we’ll welcome Sarah Jean Barton, ThD, an occupational therapist and Duke Divinity School professor who studies theological ethics, with special attention to disability, liturgy, and pastoral care.
Gathered in Grace Stewardship Campaign: Share fellowship, conversation and connection as we celebrate the many places we come from—across countries, states, and communities— the spiritual journeys of our lives and the grace that brings us together as one community in Christ. After Dotting the Map today, please sign up for one of our gatherings:
Election Day Prayer Vigil: St. Paul’s will be open as a House of Prayer for all people for an election day prayer vigil on Nov. 3, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. We are asking people to help us pray during all hours that the polls are open by signing up to cover one or more 15 or 20-minute block in advance (link is on the church website), beginning remotely at 6:30 a.m. Anyone is welcome to be in prayer at the church between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., regardless of advance signup; drop-ins are encouraged. Prayer resources will be available for any who need them; you are welcome to pray however and wherever you choose. Stay with us as we conclude our vigil with a service of Holy Eucharist at 7 p.m. in the church.
Election Day Service of Holy Eucharist: Join us at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 for Holy Eucharist with Propers for the Nation.
Hospitality Team: We are seeking volunteers with a passion for hospitality to assist in organizing coffee hours, newcomer events and special celebrations in our parish. If you want to share your love of St. Paul’s with others by being part of this hospitality team, please contact Community Connector Mary Kintz at mary.kintz@stpaulscary.org to learn more.
Call for Vestry Nominations: 2027 is going to be a very important year for St. Paul’s as the vestry, the core elected lay leadership group of the parish, builds our vision with Fr. Jay as we move forward together. We are seeking volunteers to join our next vestry class. The vestry meets monthly and gathers for an annual weekend retreat for the meaningful, necessary work that underpins all we do at St. Paul’s. Confirmed adult members in good standing are able to serve on the vestry. Learn more about the work of the vestry by speaking with current vestry members (listed on our website). To nominate someone, or for any questions, please contact wardens@stpaulscary.org. The nomination period closes on Oct. 25.
Thanksgiving Food Drive for NeighborUp: The transitional kindergarten class of St. Paul’s Preschool is helping NeighborUp collect food for their annual Thanksgiving Dinner Basket drive through Nov. 15. Support their efforts by dropping off goods in the narthex (lobby) in the labeled container. Needed items are listed on flyers in the narthex as well.
St. Paul’s Creation Care Ministry: The Creation Care Ministry at St. Paul’s is being re-constituted! Help us define the new path of Environmental Stewardship, Eco-justice, and Creation Spirituality for our parish. Through our collective efforts of prayer, learning, action, and advocacy, this ministry will explore how we can honor and respect creation in all we do. Please join us to find out more at our next meeting, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. Find a signup on the St. Paul’s website, or contact Joe Rabenstine at joseph.rabenstine@gmail.com to be added to the meeting invitation.
Updating our Veterans List: St. Paul’s has a custom of expressing gratitude for faithful military service by listing the names of veterans, living and in memoriam, in a special posting on the Sunday closest to Veterans Day. We are in the process of updating that list and invite you to include your veterans by emailing Natalie Sroka at natalie@stpaulscary.org by Nov 1. Please let her know the name and the branch of military service to be listed for any additions. If you were on the list last year, you do not need to notify us again.
Baptism at St. Paul’s: Our next date for celebrating baptism at St. Paul’s will be November 1. Please contact Natalie Sroka at natalie@stpaulscary.org if you need information about baptism for adults or children.
EYC (Youth) Service Project Supporting ASP: St. Paul’s Youth have scheduled a fall service opportunity in the afternoon on Sunday, Nov. 8 (after celebrating Candy’s retirement), to support the 2027 Appalachia Service Project (ASP) mission trip. This is a fall cleanup workday: parishioners and neighbors hire a crew of youth and adults to do yard work and other suitable outdoor projects around their homes in exchange for a donation to St. Paul’s ASP Ministry. Please contact Stephanie Hirschy at shirschy@yahoo.com if you would like to hire a crew. We estimate being able to support five clients.
Spiritual Retreat for Seniors (65+): Join us on Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the youth wing, for “Living Your Best Life: Exploring Life, Loss and Legacy,” a retreat for seniors. Limited to 30 participants, the retreat will be led by parishioner Fr. Frank Hubbard, assisted by Nancy Fierke, Howard Loughlin, Joyce Loughlin, and Glenda Swann. The day includes a catered Mediterranean lunch (free will cash offerings accepted). To learn more and register, contact Fr. Frank Hubbard at therevfah50@hotmail.com. Transportation can be provided upon request.
Save the Date for these events:
Nov. 22: Annual Meeting & Vestry Elections Dec. 5: Advent Quiet Day with Fr. Robert Fruehwirth
Nov. 30: Celebration of New Ministry, 7 p.m. Dec. 6: Advent Lessons and Carols, 4 p.m.
We pray for Sally, Janet, Carl, Martha, Chuck, Henry, Althea, Louane, Mauricio, Allison, Ben, Jack, Bob, Claudia, Marsha, Travis, Savannah, Kathryn, Jackie, Ted, Renee, Xavier, Lambert, Scott, Sue, Kathy, Barbara, Larry, Zachary, Ken, Carter, Anne, Kevin, Jon, Kathleen, Farley, Jenna, Sophie, Tim, the Jackson family, Stephen, Laurie, Mary Marsha, Patrick, Kirsten, Joyce, Stann, Tytus, Malcolm, Barbara, Ann, Rob, Betty, Jim, Zemiria, Henry, Carol, Evelyn, and Stephanie.
In the prayers for the deceased, we pray for John Daniel.
If you have a name you would like to include on the prayer list, or a ministry event that you would like to announce in this printed bulletin, please send information to announcements@stpaulscary.org. Names included in the prayer list will remain for a month, and we are happy to extend at your request. Please note that there is a 2-week lead time on printed announcements.