The Voices of St. Paul's

the voices of st. paul’s St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 6050 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208 Introduction The histories of congregations are often told through the lenses of their buildings and clergy. Eras are defined by which building the congregation used or by the successes — or failures — of the clergy person who led the congregation at a particular time. Sometimes important events are highlighted to illustrate a turning point in the life of a faith community. Often missing from these histories are the voices of the people who actually make up the congregation. When these personal experiences are lost, the true story of a parish cannot be told. Without these stories we do not hear the true impact that a parish community has on those who seek God both within and without its walls. What you will read and experience in these pages are the voices of the true St. Paul’s, the people who — whether for decades or only a few months—sit in the pews, come to the altar for nourishment, participate in and lead our ministries, reach out to the neediest in the world around us, generously give to make our mission a reality and bring to our community a spirit of love, welcome and acceptance that transforms strangers into friends and friends into brothers and sisters in Christ. This booklet is, in a very informal sense, a continuation of the story told in the official parish history, Blessings on Thee Old St. Paul’s written by Alice Roettger and Joseph Thompson in 2000. While it doesn’t contain the detail from the official records of the church as the history does, it continues in the spirit of that history by telling the personal stories of the people of the parish. This is, in the words of Meredith Nicholson from the 50th anniversary of St. Paul’s in 1916, “a response of many voices testifying gratefully to what this structure of brick and stone has meant to everyone who ever enjoyed the shelter of these walls.” The Rev. John E. Denson, Jr., D. Min. Rector “Our reason for telling stories is not simply to repeat the past but to bring the past into the present for the sake of the future.” ~ Carl Dudley Our charge as members of the St. Paul’s 150th Anniversary Committee was to work together to identify ways to commemorate and celebrate this significant milestone in the life of the arish.P The Voices of St. Paul’s is a collection of remembered stories that provide a glimpse into our past. They are expressions of appreciation for the diverse and inclusive community we have become. Together they convey the deep faith that binds us together and strengthens our commitment to ministry in the world. Community, meaning, connection, journey, care, acceptance, welcome, warmth, endurance, belonging, change, resilience, leadership…these are some of the themes that surface throughout these stories. The voices you will “hear” as you read these reflections capture the collective meaning of St. Paul’s historical identity, vocation and an emerging future to which we aspire. Embedded within the collection of stories gathered are three important elements of history — observation, documentation and memory. In reading them we hope you too will experience the transcendent presence of God’s love and grace, and the powerful and transforming nature of this love in the members of St. Paul’s. Voices of St. Paul’s Project Committee Stephanie Denson, Mary Anne Winslow, Katherine Tyler Scott St. Paul’s 150th Anniversary Committee • Kate Appel • Doug Rogers • Carrie Bernhart • Bev Ruebeck • Rick Bernhart • Fred Ruebeck • John Denson • Fred D. Scott • Stephanie Denson • Katherine Tyler Scott • Alice Roettger • Mary Anne Winslow We are deeply grateful for the support of the 150th Anniversary Committee and others whose expertise and assistance made The Voices of St. Paul’s a reality: • Michael Jack • Emily Morgan • Barbara Haberman Mihal • Mike Morgan • Ryne Webb introduction - 3 - the voices of st. Paul’s Essays are in alphabetical order by last name. See page 43 for an index. Rick and Becky Adams We are longtime members of St. Paul’s. I was baptized here in 1952; Becky was confirmed after our marriage in 1976. I’ll share a few, out of many, highlights of our life at St. Paul’s. We’ve been pretty active, particularly in St. Paul’s Choir. Our three children were all choristers. What a great experience for all of us that has been! In 1987, all five of us went to England on a choir tour where we had the privilege of being choir-in-residence in York Minster Cathedral, Ely Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. We spent a week in each of those amazing, sacred, historical churches, singing daily Evensong and a choral mass on Sunday. In each of those places, we were graciously received and thanked for being a part of its history. St. Paul’s has been the church home for many of our extended family as well. On many Sundays in the 1980s and early 1990s, four generations of our family worshipped here. In this age of social mobility, this is a unique distinction for which we are very grateful. While St. Paul’s was undergoing major renovation, we held our regular Sunday services in the Parish Hall! We brought over our old altar (now in the Chapel), and adapted to the space nicely. For Easter Sunday, our neighbors at the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation (IHC) invited us to worship in their synagogue. What a wonderful, meaningful gesture. Many IHC members were on hand for our service, respectful of and interested in our worship, and genuinely pleased we were there. A historic and most memorable Easter for us. We love worshiping at St. Paul’s, as we gather on Sundays to celebrate the ancient rite, and the beauty of the liturgy, music old and new, that connects us with our Christian heritage. Our new, renovated liturgical space reflects our connection with our past and our moving into the future. Nancy Miller Aiken [A St. Paul’s Memory] When my family first started attending St. Paul’s, we attended the old church downtown. My parents, Henrietta and Ray Miller, sang in the choir and when we were old enough, my sister Sally Miller Peck and I came too and sat in a pew, sometimes with my Grandmother Jones. I loved listening to the choir sing. The organ was pretty old as I recall; it was a pretty old church! The plans for the new church had to be shelved due to World War II building material restrictions, but we were able to rent the American Legion Hall in Broad Ripple. We managed to make it into something resembling a place to worship, but no choir or organ here! There was an old upright piano that was workable, and the rector at that time, Dr. Burrows, would play when it came time to sing the hymns. He would put his foot on the “loud” pedal, and leave it there during the whole hymn, playing the same chord all the time, or so it sounded. It was pretty awful. We all sang as best we could with it. Finally one Sunday Margot Griffith turned to my Mother and said, “You know how to play the piano! Do it.” And so she did. Down the road a Junior Choir for girls was started, and eventually my mother became the director. It was my pleasure to sing in that choir. What a sweet memory! Andrea Allen When I finally decided to visit St. Paul’s after years of putting it off, I didn’t know what to expect. I found a warm, caring community that opened their arms and welcomed us in. It felt like home. St. Paul’s has become an integral part of our lives. It’s the faith-based community I wanted my children to be a part of, just like St. Andrews was for me during my childhood. I’ve always believed that a church is not a building but a community of caring people. St. Paul’s and its members wholeheartedly embody this. Kate Appel [My Many Blessings] A long time ago a friend suggested we give St. Paul’s a try. Our 10-year-old daughters were good friends and that was the age to start the choir, so we all agreed to give it a go. Well, the girls and my friend didn’t make it past the first two weeks but, as a long time singer and lapsed church attendee, I was hooked and have stayed. Why? I love the Episcopal liturgy; I was raised in the Episcopal Church. By attending church regularly I love the weekly reminder of my moral responsibility to help my fellow man, the environment and ourselves. It is a time to stop and pause, think and listen. I love the music and how it enhances the weekly service. I learn a lot about music and Christianity being in the choir. Most important is the community created in the choir and the parish. Standing up in the choir loft we lead, participate and observe. Being behind the organ and the laity is a wonderful vantage point to see the congregation as a whole – the families in the way back and on the sides, the parent walking the infant or toddler during the service, the older and longtime parishioners in the front, the visitors on the fringes, the infirm, the general ebb and flow of the parish due to the time of year, but also the noticeable growth! The youth and the families are a visible sign to me that others are finding a home here too.

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