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 every third Sunday of the month at 10:15 a.m. to learn more and meet others. Contact Mary Kintz, our Community Connector, at mary.kintz@stpaulscary.org to find out more about us!
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.
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.
HAPPENING TODAY – APRIL 5, 2026
Children of all ages are welcome to join us after the 9 a.m. service this morning on the playground for an Easter Egg Hunt hosted by the Children’s Ministry Committee! Stop by the Parish Hall for coffee and a light snack while the children play.
If you are visiting, we invite you to stop and chat with someone today; folks who don’t know the answer can point you to someone who might. Take time to browse our website for upcoming events, many of which are described below.
As a reminder, our Easter Offering today will support a strong foundation for our new rector, Fr. Jay Weldon, as he relocates his family from Newton, MA and enters into his ministry with us this month. Thank you for your generosity.
PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Diocesan Advocacy Day Postcards: The Episcopal Diocese of NC will hold its annual Advocacy Day at the General Assembly this spring. As part of that event, parishioners from throughout the diocese are encouraged to write postcards to their state-level representative and senator about issues that are important to them. We will have diocesan-designed postcards available at St. Paul’s during coffee hour on April 5 and on April 12. Please plan on completing your postcard then. The postcards from throughout the diocese will be collected and hand-delivered together.
ONE Wake Assembly April 11: We need a large turnout at the upcoming ONE Wake assembly on Sat., Apr. 11 at 11 a.m. at Baptist Grove Church in Raleigh. ONE Wake is now the strongest local community organizing group, and we are drawing attention from our elected officials – now is the time to act. Hear elected officials’ responses to our questions about promises they made in 2024 about bond money for affordable housing. Contact Mary Kintz at mary.kintz@stpaulscary.org to learn more; sign up today and commit to bringing a neighbor! Let us know if you need to carpool.
Celebrating the Ministry of the Rev. Sarah Phelps: Join us next Sunday, April 12 as we celebrate the ministry of our interim rector, the Rev. Sarah Phelps, and thank her for guiding us through this season of change. Stop by coffee hour to wish her well as she continues her ministry as Chaplain at Glenaire. Thank you for all your guidance, Mo. Sarah!
Community Response Group Meeting April 12: The next meeting of our Community Response Group will be Sunday, April 12 from 12:30-2 p.m. in the Youth Wing; we’ll be combining our discussion with the Refuge for Refugees Ministry at St. Paul’s. The Response Group supports those who are working in various community action groups, helping with advocacy and action around human rights issues, especially in the immigrant community. We are always open to folks who want to learn more. Contact Lynn Tovar at lztovar@uwalumni.com with questions.
Welcoming Our New Rector: Fr. Jay Weldon will be celebrating his first Sunday with us on April 26, and our vestry hospitality team is inviting all of us to participate in welcoming him and his family. We have greeting cards in the narthex if you would like to include a message from your household, perhaps including business/gift cards from local favorites, and maybe a photo to help them get to know you. We’ll present the cards to the Weldons at Coffee Hour on April 26. We will also have other ways you can help; keep watching the narthex and the parish website for more details.
Easter Season Food Drive for Neighbor Up: Help us team up with other local churches to stock important pantry items for Neighbor Up. We’ve been assigned to bring spaghetti noodles, boxes of pasta and pasta sauce. Drop items in the box in the narthex beginning this week. This drive ends May 4.
Bishop’s Visit and Confirmation – NOTE SERVICE TIME IS 10 A.M.: We are coming together as one body on Sunday, April 19 at 10 a.m. to celebrate with Bishop Sam Rodman as we all renew our baptismal vows and witness the rites of confirmation/reception into The Episcopal Church. Plan to stay after the 10 a.m. service for cake and coffee, and then attend a Bishop’s Forum in the church at noon. We will also have the Rite I Eucharist service at 7:30 a.m. that morning.
Spring Book Study on Zoom Begins April 8: Fr. Frank Hubbard, parishioner and retired Episcopal priest, will be leading a book study of “Healing,” by Francis MacNutt, beginning April 8. This volume is a primary resource for exploring the connection between the sacraments and healing. The book study will continue for 7 weeks, meeting Wednesday evenings on Zoom, from 7-8 p.m. There is an enrollment limit of 12. We would love to have join this group, please email Gerri Batchelor at gerrikairos@gmail.com to learn more.
Learn About the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray With Us: The Racial Justice Planning Group is offering two opportunities in April to learn more about the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, recorded as the first Black woman to be ordained an Episcopal priest, and a leader in the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights movements. On April 19, we will come together in the youth wing to watch and discuss the documentary “My Name is Pauli Murray.” Unlike prior movie nights, we will watch the film together, gathering from 4:30 to 7 p.m. for the movie, dinner and discussion. On April 25, join us for a half-day retreat from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice, 906 Carroll Street, Durham. We will tour the newly restored center – originally Murray’s family home – and take part in a facilitated retreat about Murray’s life and legacy. This event is free to participants, thanks to generous support from the St. Paul’s Endowment; however, gathering space inside the center is limited, so pre-registration is required. Registration link is provided on the St. Paul’s website; contact Aleta McClenney, aleta@att.net, with questions.
Racial Equity Institute (REI) Training: The Racial Justice Planning Group and the Outreach Support Team are hosting a Racial Equity Institute (REI) Phase I training on May 14-15 at St. Paul’s. REI’s two-day workshop is designed to provide attendees with a vocabulary and historical framework for racism to better understand how it damages lives in all communities. The training is open to the public; financial scholarships are available through St. Paul’s. Learn more on the St. Paul’s website or by contacting Aleta McClenney at aleta@att.net.
On the Path to HECK (Humility, Empathy, Compassion and Kindness): On the Path to HECK is a small group course for adults built around four virtues that shape how we show up for each other every day: Humility, Empathy, Compassion, and Kindness. Across eight Sunday sessions in May and June, small groups of 8-10 participants will watch curated TED talks, share personal stories, and reflect together in a space free of judgment and debate. Between sessions, optional exercises keep you engaged with the week’s theme on your own time. No experience required; just a willingness to grow. Spots are limited to two groups of eight participants. Find the registration link on the St. Paul’s website or contact Tad Richard at tadrichard@gmail.com for more information.
Men’s Beach Week Update: We have spots available during the week of Apr. 19-26 for any men interested in getting away to Emerald Isle for a break from the routine. Cost is $100/night and includes lodging and food. Please reach out to Mike McInerney (919-656-4629 or michael.k.mcinerney@gmail.com) if you are interested; we make it very easy to join in, whatever suits your style. Information is also available in the narthex (lobby).
We pray for Dave, Bob, Ann, Vickie, Mary, Noah, Sally, Parrish, Janet, Nancy, Susan, Chuck, Craig, Jack, Wanda, Carter, Anne, Ethan, Sid, Mary Jo, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Ralph, Suzanne, Ryan, Mark, Gary, Johnnie, Kelly, Jessica, Hillary, Sydenna, Vera, Sheri, Darren, Craig, Ted, Dylan, Anthony, Brad, Virginia, Carl, Judy, Sharon, Kay, Carl, Martha, Liz, Hilda, Cindy, Ben, Glenys, Kathy, Henry, Althea, Stan, Jan, Julie, Jennie, Greg, John, Zemiria, Henry, Martha, Kevin, Louise, Terri, Steve, Renee, Sean, Lauren, and Lee.
In the prayers for the deceased, we pray for Amanda, friend of Barbara Jones.
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.