A Farewell to the Rev’d Drew Baker
We bid a fond farewell to the Rev’d Drew Baker last Sunday, February 19, 2023, as he leaves us for a new job at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
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Whoever you are, wherever you are on your spiritual journey, and whatever else it is that you seek in a Church community, it is our sincere hope that you find God’s gracious welcome with us at St. Paul’s. In so many ways, we do not all look alike, think alike, or even act alike here. But in one thing we are certain that we are all the same: God graciously welcomes us all.
In the Episcopal Church we acknowledge that God is present in every occasion of our lives. Some of these we mark together with special celebrations of worship to highlight the ways in which God is always at work throughout the events of our lives. As Episcopalians, we believe that these observations reveal God’s grace to us in new ways.
As Episcopalians, we believe that all baptized people are called to minister in the Church. Everyone has a different role. Our clergy serve as the spiritual leaders of our congregation, our staff is responsible for overseeing our program ministries and day-to-day responsibilities, and our vestry is responsible for parish decision-making.
We as Episcopalians believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. St. Paul’s is part of the Episcopal Church, a church that is both rich with ancient tradition and relevant to life in the 21st century. We believe that God loves you – no exceptions.
We believe in following the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the whole world.
Our parish’s motto is this: “To Know Christ and to Make Him Known.”
“Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.”
– 2 Corinthians 9:7-8
As Christians, we acknowledge that what God has generously offered us is nothing short of life through Jesus Christ. Participating in that life means learning to generously offer our lives. Each time we gather we are presented with the opportunity to support others in recognition of God’s offerings. This support takes shape in many forms with financial gifts being the backbone that builds our church community and generates opportunities to offer our lives in our parish. All are encouraged to participate in giving money for the ministries of our parish as a sign of our share in God’s work among us and through us.
Annual commitments pledged to St. Paul’s support our operating budget, which directly supports worship, formation, community and global outreach, building and grounds, staff and other programs. Annual commitments are crucial to the work of St. Paul’s. We strive to maintain a balanced budget each year, with every dollar accounted for and put to good use in the people, places and plans of our parish.