Letter from the Rector: New Assistant Rector, Summer Worship, and Sabbatical

Dear Friends:

I am writing to you today to update you on some exciting news for our common life.

New Assistant Rector

First, I am thrilled to announce that we have called Erin Morey to serve as Assistant Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church beginning July 1, 2022. Erin is currently a Candidate for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. She is completing her seminary studies at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and will be ordained as a transitional Deacon in late May at Trinity Cathedral downtown. We anticipate that she will be ordained to the Priesthood at St. Paul’s in December. Erin will join with Laura Di Panfilo and me in sharing in the pastoral and sacramental leadership of the parish. She will also join in supporting the ministry of the Social Justice and Anti-Racism Commission and help develop our Sustainability and Creation Care ministries.

Erin is well known to the parish, previously serving as a lay staff member before she began seminary. She has a B.A. from Rutgers University and a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She lives in Mt. Lebanon with her son Max and husband Jesse.

It has long been the Vestry’s and my intention to have the parish fully staffed with three full-time priests, and I am grateful that this call will help us to continue to meet the needs of our growing parish and the wider community we serve.

The Rev. Laura Di Panfilo to serve as Associate Rector

The Rev. Laura Di Panfilo will return from maternity leave on May 31. She will be given the title of Associate Rector in recognition of her experience and service, and her growing responsibilities. She will continue to coordinate the Pastoral Care ministries of the parish, and also support the Spiritual Growth Commission. During my upcoming sabbatical, she will serve as the Head of Staff of the parish.

Supported by a generous grant from the Lilly Foundation, I will be on sabbatical from May 5-August 22. During that time, the parish Wardens will be in charge of the parish, with the Rev. Laura Di Panfilo, upon her return, serving as Head of Staff. The Rev. Cat Munz will continue to serve St. Paul’s as Interim Associate Rector until June 30. Please come to the Sunday 9:45 a.m. Adult Forums on April 23 to hear about my sabbatical plans and on May 1 to hear about the parish’s activities during that time, all surrounding the theme of "Choosing Wilderness".

Summer Worship

From Memorial Day Weekend (May 28-29) through Labor Day Weekend (September 3-4), we will return to the practice of having three worship services during the summer. The 6 p.m. Saturday service will be held in St. Margaret’s Garden or the sanctuary (weather dependent), the 8 a.m. service in the Chapel, and the 8:45 and 10:45 services will become a combined worship service at 9:45 a.m. in the sanctuary. Music at 9:45 will be led by both the chancel choir and the 8:45 band. There are plans in the works also for three “theme” masses throughout the summer like we have had in the past, featuring music drawn from contemporary sources. Please stay tuned for more on these as plans develop. Kona Ice will also make an appearance following church a number of times throughout the summer.

I am grateful that as we continue to emerge from the wilderness of pandemic life over the last two years, our parish continues to flourish and grow. I am inspired by all the ways we as a community continue to strive to Love God, Love our Neighbors, and Change the World.

Peace,

Noah

The Reverend Noah H. Evans, Rector