Letter from the Rector – June 26, 2026

Dear Good People of St. Paul’s,

Welcome.

On hot, humid days, days before bottled water was ubiquitous, one of the seven kids in my family of origin would run inside when people came to collect the trash to get a cup of ice water for them. I’m not too sure when we started this practice. It was the 80s, the summers of just hanging around in the neighborhood. Between riding bikes, playing capture the flag with the neighborhood kids in our front and back yard, having tea parties in forts, making our voices sound like robots in front of the fan, we would see when the truck was coming down the street and do what we can to make our ridiculous climate a bit more bearable for those who had to work in it.

This week’s gospel is about welcome.

Connected with last week’s of going out to help and serve others in need, this welcome of others in this gospel starts small, with a cup of water. A cup of water for culture that is known for hospitality is a low bar, the least anyone could do. And yet, that’s where we start. We just start somewhere.

We welcome people: into our lives, into our church community, into our ministries. By doing that, we demonstrate God’s love and care for all people.

So offer a cup of water to someone who is thirsty, say hello to someone who might be lonely, or just treat the next person you have contact with in a way you would like to be treated, with dignity and respect. In doing so, you offer God’s welcome to them.

In Faith, Love, and Service,

holly+