What do YOU love about St. Paul?

As you may have already heard, the community of St. Paul is eager to know what inspires, motivates, and moves its members to continue the ministries it does so well. What do we love about St. Paul? It's a question everyone should answer. To that end, we would like to open up this blog as a place to share your thoughts and feelings about our community. Tell us what inspires you, gives you hope and happiness, and why you have found a home at St. Paul. After all, the voices of this church and its people are the voice of God in the world.

To post your thoughts, ideas, and feelings, please comment on this posting. There is no need to share your name; you may post anonymously if you wish.

Minutes for Mission

Beginning this fall, the Stewardship Committee invited several members of the St. Paul community to share with us what they love about our church and the many ministries that thrive here. Though you have heard these words at church, we wanted to offer them online so they you could revisit the messages and inspirations they have leant us.

This week's posting is from Jeffrey Steen. Jeffrey is a recently initiated member of St. Paul, serving as deacon, choir member, and participant in several committees. Here is his message:

I was asked this Sunday to tell you what I love about St. Paul. Through my own unique experience, I hope you can see why I have come to see this community as my family.

There is no doubt that the struggle of homosexuals in the church has been painful. Myself, once an openly gay Catholic, could not reconcile the teachings of my church with that part of myself that would not, could not, despite many injunctions, disappear. When I moved to Denver in the summer of 2005, I was riding on a renewed spirituality—one that seemed to contradict the faith handed down to me from the Catholic Church. I had always been spiritually curious and fascinated by faith—from the most personal beliefs shared with me by friends to the completely foreign beliefs of the Eastern world. I began to understand, whatever the differences: inclusion is necessary.

Shortly after I arrived, my friend introduced me to the St. Paul community. There was an instant comfort here, a warmth and welcome that was almost palpable. And since the Catholic Church had all but made my Catholic devotion impossible to continue, I needed a new home. I needed a place where I could worship the God I loved so very much, while learning to embrace the God that others see and experience in very different ways. I needed a faith community where my sexuality would not compromise my personhood and spiritual development.

Since that fall, two short years ago, I have been showered with generosity, kindness, patience, forgiveness, and most important of all—love. At St. Paul I have been not only been allowed, but encouraged to worship as God calls me to, to serve in ministry as the Catholic Church would never have made possible, to volunteer my time, energy, and resources for people who truly need them. And I know this is only the beginning.

I’m lucky enough to stand before you every so often on Sunday morning and read the scriptures. I love it—more than cooking (believe it or not), more than writing, more than pretending to riverdance at church talent shows. When I stand at this ambo, I’m reminded that I am not just a messenger, but part of the message. Pastor Kevin is constantly reminding of us this, and I’m always grateful that he does. I remember when I was a passive congregant, receiving the message, learning to humble myself for seemingly unforgiveable sins. St. Paul is not about to turn anyone away from its family, to condescend to anyone. I was once one of those approaching you, asking in so many subtle ways if I could belong. Now, I have the opportunity to open my arms to the community outside these walls, living the spirit of this church and its members. To be, as we always have said, and always will say, in the city for good.

Welcome

In the spring of 2007, several of St. Paul's members formed the Stewardship Committee to discuss practical and theological approaches to stewardship at St. Paul. Our current focus is the church debt, increasing awareness of our needs, and calling the St. Paul community to increase their giving on a regular basis so that the church might be able to continue its many life-giving ministries.

In addition to this initial goal, we have also begun a conversation on the theological foundations of stewardship. What does the Bible tell us about giving? How does God want us to give? What sort of giving does God call for? These and many other questions have been asked at our monthly meetings, driving a desire to open the conversation to the entire community. This blog was created with just such an end in mind. We encourage you to make comments and ask questions about stewardship on this blog--either those that are theological in nature, or that pertain to the more immediate needs of the church. We truly are invested in the good work of the community and we want all voices to be a part of this ongoing discussion.

Please, then, make comments and ask questions below. We will post notes from our monthly meetings and respond to your comments as they come in.

Thank you for sharing your perspective. We know that stewardship is sometimes a difficult topic to discuss, but that it must be open to everyone for true understanding to take root.

Welcome, and God bless.