St. Paul's provides many ways to offer your time and talents to God's Good Work. Here are just a few of the ministries you can participate in at St. Paul's. Our charge as His people is to be good stewards of our time and talents. We hope to offer our parish diverse opportunities to answer this charge.
Mission & Outreach
"...to minister to the world beyond our doors"
The community of St. Paul's remains focused on the Great Commission...to preach the Gospel to all the world, as well as the Great Commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves. To this end, the Mission and Outreach Committee acts as a steering commission to direct the parish in both evangelizing and addressing human needs in the corner of the world in which we have been placed.
We have been involved in a variety of projects and work to support a number of other community and church groups, including:
- St. Paul's Clothing Nook: a project serving clients of Bethany Center, providing them with new and gently used clothes at no cost. Clothes are donated by parishioners and others; parish members volunteer to staff the Nook
- "Spring Boat Sail (Sale)" for the Friends of Sri Lanka, a tsunami relief group
- Pastoral Support Group to provide a helping hand to parish members and their families
- Welcoming Ministry to introduce the church to those who come through our doors in search of a spiritual home
- Mexico Mission trips by the Cathedral congregation's Mission team
Meetings are open to all parishioners to provide input and to work on specific events.
Bethany Hospitality Center
St. Paul's was instrumental in the establishment of the Bethany Hospitality Center, a walk-in day center for people who are homeless, transient, or otherwise in need. Located on the second floor of the parish Guild House at 27 State Street, Bethany Center provides a nutritious lunch, a sitting area, occasional holiday celebrations, and staff assistance for the Center's guests. Parishioners at St. Paul's are involved as members of the board of directors and as volunteers in the Center's programs.
Episcopal Counseling Service
The diocesan Counseling Service offers counseling to individuals, couples, and families and has a satellite office at St. Paul's. Appointments are by arrangement, fees are on a sliding scale according to income. For more details, call the Counseling Service directly at (518) 465-8728.
Food Pantry
St. Paul's sponsors the Community Food Pantry which currently operates from St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church on State Street. Donations of dried goods, hygiene supplies (soap, etc.) or canned food is always welcome. Please leave donations in the baskets in the Church Narthex. The items are blessed each week during the 10 AM service and then taken over to the food pantry.
Choir and Music
The St. Paul's Choristers trace their distinguished history back to the time of the parish's founding in 1804. St. Paul's Church had the first vested choir in the City of Troy, and has maintained a long tradition of fine music both for its worship services and for special musical events. The church was the site of the American premiere of Stainer's The Crucifixion around the turn of the 20th century.
For many years the choir consisted solely of men and boys but now it is open to men and women of all ages upon audition with the Choirmaster. The St. Paul's Choristers rehearse on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 7:00 PM and sing on Sundays at 10:00 AM as well as for special musical events throughout the year. These include Choral Evensong on several Sunday afternoons, as announced, our annual spring concert, occasional joint programs with other area choruses and special music for festival celebrations including Christmas Eve and Easter.
For more details, please contact Mr. Brian Hoffman, Organist and Choirmaster, at the Parish Office, (518) 273-7351, or through his web site: www.brianhoffmanorganist.com. There is a link there to contact Brian with any choir inquiries.
Nursery
St. Paul's Nursery can be found on the lower level of Martha House, room 2. It provides a haven for little ones through pre-K to play, get a diaper change and to socialize with other kids in the congregation. We hope it helps to make parents and children feel comfortable while away from home and that it makes church a comfortable family-friendly place. It is usually staffed Sunday mornings by a member from the congregation. If you would like to be considered for this ministry, see Father Gorchov for more details.
There are toys, cribs, baby changing facilities, a walker, play house and much more. It is available for use any time there is a church activity -- not just Sunday mornings!