St. Paul's Episcopal Church sits in Lynnfield Center, a small New England town northeast of Boston, where it has been the Episcopal congregation of record since 1918. The parish is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and shares in the wider life of the Anglican Communion. On Summer Street the same brick-and-clapboard church building has welcomed generations of Lynnfield families for weekday prayer, Sunday Eucharist, baptisms, weddings, and funerals, and its grounds have hosted everything from pet blessings to electronics-recycling drives.
The parish's stated mission is connecting with God and each other through worship, prayer, service, and study. Its vision is freely receiving and giving our gifts in faith, hope, and love. St. Paul's is also home to the Bethlehem School, a non-sectarian preschool using Montessori principles and best practices of early-childhood education. That blend of historic Episcopal liturgy, family-centered education, and outward-looking service gives the parish its particular character.
Rooted in Lynnfield Since 1918
The Parish of St. Paul's was founded in 1918 as a community of faith in Lynnfield. A small group of interested Episcopalians met in their homes, encouraged by the tireless zeal of Ms. Gertrude Emery and others. In 1924, with the encouragement of Dr. Charles Lancaster, rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Reading, St. Paul's was authorized as a mission church. Without a building, the congregation worshipped at the Center Congregational Church for the next six years.
In 1930 the parish purchased the home of Robert Rourke, located next to the present church, and worship took place there for twenty years under the guidance of the Rev. Charles Charlton and the Rev. Stewart C. Harbinson, rector of Emmanuel Church in Wakefield. In 1949 Gertrude Emery, a continuing champion for St. Paul's, turned the first spadeful of earth for the present church building; the building was dedicated in 1950. Classrooms were added in 1959 to accommodate the growing Bethlehem School; more classrooms and a much-needed kitchen for congregation gatherings followed in 1985. Parishioners and friends purchased and installed the current cupola and bell in 1995, and a gathering space was completed in 1997. A new organ was installed in 2011.
That long partnership with neighboring congregations (first the Center Congregational Church, then the Church of the Good Shepherd and Emmanuel Church) remains part of how St. Paul's understands itself: a small parish that has always been ready to move with God's leading.
Worship with the Episcopal Liturgy
Sunday worship at St. Paul's follows the Book of Common Prayer. Visitors can expect a warm welcome, a service leaflet that helps them follow along, and a congregation that is at home with the historic Anglican liturgy. The parish celebrates the central Anglican feast days, including Christmas Eve, Easter, the Day of Pentecost, All Saints' Day, and the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord, and observes the season of Advent and Lent with special formation offerings.
At the principal Sunday service, members of the congregation hear Scripture readings, a sermon, and prayers leading to Communion. Members of the congregation come forward as they wish to receive the sacraments, or they may choose to receive a blessing instead. All are welcome to receive Communion.
Sunday Mornings and the Summer Schedule
From September through May there are two Sunday services. At 8:30 a.m. the early service is a said Holy Eucharist Rite I using traditional language, without music: a quiet Communion appropriate for those who want to begin Sunday in stillness.
At 10 a.m. the Holy Eucharist Rite II is celebrated with congregational hymns, choir, and contemporary language. The 10 a.m. service is offered both in the sanctuary and online via Zoom, with video recordings posted on YouTube. Elementary and middle school children attend Sunday school during this service, and a nursery is available for younger children. Coffee, snacks, and a chance to chat with fellow parishioners follow the service.
During June, July, and August the schedule changes: a single Sunday Holy Eucharist Rite II with music is offered at 9 a.m., both in person and online.
Wednesday Mornings and Centering Prayer
On Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. a more intimate and casual Holy Eucharist is celebrated without music. In place of a sermon, attendees discuss the Scripture readings or the saint recognized that day. Fellowship and discussion of the readings, and sometimes books of interest, follow the service. Attendees may come to one or both Wednesday gatherings and drop in as time permits.
From September through June, Centering Prayer is offered twice a week. The Monday evening gathering at 6 p.m. is held onsite and online; the Thursday evening gathering at 6 p.m. is online only. Each one-hour session begins with five to ten minutes of introduction, moves into thirty minutes of silent prayer, and closes with individual reflections or thoughts. No prior experience is necessary.
Music at St. Paul's
Music is integral to Sunday worship at St. Paul's. During the program year the choir sings anthems at the 10 a.m. service that reflect the Scriptures and the liturgical season, and the congregation joins in hymns, service music, and chant every Sunday of the year. At special services such as Easter and Christmas additional instrumentalists and other musicians add to the festive character of worship.
The choir rehearses on Thursday evenings from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. and one hour before the Sunday service, from September through June. All are welcome and encouraged to join the choir and to share a love of singing; no experience is required. The choir is supported by a professional vocal quartet of section leaders, and the program is described as traditional and Anglican in character, ranging from ancient plainsong to contemporary compositions, with a special regard for the beauty of the Anglican choral tradition. Carolyn Brett serves as Organist and Music Director.
Children, Youth, and Adult Formation
Christian formation is a central ministry of the parish. Sunday school for preschool and elementary-aged children uses a curriculum called Godly Play. Elementary and middle school children are encouraged to attend Sunday school during the 10 a.m. service, and a nursery is available for younger children.
Youth ministry is designed for young people in grades 7 through 12 and meets every other Sunday at 10 a.m. in the Great Room. The program incorporates the Journey to Adulthood (J2A) curriculum, which is centered on inclusive, relational ministry and uses Bible study, prayer, rites of passage, and outreach ministries. Lessons are arranged within the categories of Self, Society, and Spirituality. Along with this curriculum, St. Paul's youth engage in team-building projects, fun games, and individual service projects that may contribute to school-related community-service hours. The youth leaders are Kristen Scheeler and Gabrielle Morton.
Adult Christian education at St. Paul's takes several forms. The Wednesday morning Bible/book study follows the 10 a.m. Eucharist, and Centering Prayer is offered on Monday and Thursday evenings. During the year the parish also hosts evening study programs often based on books related to Biblical or religious themes, along with adult-education forums during Advent and Lent.
Paul Bowen serves as Director of Outreach and Formation, coordinating many of these programs.
The Bethlehem School
St. Paul's has long been home to the Bethlehem School, a non-sectarian preschool employing Montessori principles and best practices of early-childhood education. The school first occupied classrooms added to the church in 1959 and expanded again in 1985. Carmelina Padovani is the school's director. The Bethlehem School is an integral part of parish life. The children are a familiar presence in the building, and many St. Paul's families first encounter the parish through the school.
Creation Care and Ocean Stewardship
Creation Care is one of the most distinctive ministries at St. Paul's. The parish joins the international Season of Creation each year from September 1 through October 4, and the 10 a.m. Eucharist includes creation-focused prayers and music during that season. The annual Blessing of the Pets, held in early October on the Feast of St. Francis, takes place in the parking lot and draws dogs, cats, and their humans from the parish and the neighborhood.
The Creation Care team maintains the parish garden, which provides fresh produce for local food programs. The team has also co-hosted electronics-recycling events with Green Day Recycling. A series of Climate Cafés has brought speakers in energy, climate science, and sustainable food to the parish, and Rector Rob Bacon, himself a lifelong SCUBA diver, has led a St. Paul's Young Adult SCUBA Team that has made repeated diving pilgrimages to study the health of the oceans and to train new divers.
Outreach in Lynnfield and Beyond
The Outreach Committee identifies and organizes ministries that support people in need. Current areas of focus include:
- Amirah - supporting women recovering from prostitution, sex trafficking, and sexual exploitation, through donations of shelf-stable meals and hygiene items.
- St. Luke's Community Dining Room in Chelsea - St. Paul's prepares and serves breakfast and lunch there once a month.
- My Brothers Table in Lynn - seasonal food and juice-box collections placed on the Outreach Giving Table in the Great Room.
- Murphy School Holiday Gifts - for more than twenty-five years, each Advent the parish has provided Christmas gifts for families of the Richard J. Murphy School in Dorchester.
- Mission of Deeds - annual winter coat collection in January, with donations of new coats, gloves, hats, or funds.
- Prayer Shawls - a knitting group makes prayer shawls to give to anyone in need of comfort and love.
The Outreach Committee meets monthly and welcomes newcomers.
Sharing in the Life of the Parish
St. Paul's is lay-led in many of its ministries. Acolytes carry the processional cross and assist at Communion. Lectors read the Old and New Testament lessons. Lay Eucharistic Ministers read the prayers and assist with distributing Communion. Ushers greet people arriving for worship, distribute service leaflets, and collect the offering. The Altar Guild sets up the altar, launders linens, and maintains the items needed for worship. The Hospitality Team recruits and schedules volunteers for coffee hour and special-event receptions, and provides welcome baskets for newcomers.
The Vestry shares parish leadership responsibilities with the Rector, including finances and property management. Pastoral Care volunteers provide meals and other support to parishioners experiencing illness, loss, or hardship. The Stewardship Committee promotes the giving of time, talent, and treasure. The Communications Team publishes the weekly eCourier newsletter and Courier LITE in the Sunday bulletin, oversees the Facebook page, and sends news to local outlets. The Finance Committee, comprising the Rector, the wardens, the treasurer, the co-chairs of stewardship, and the Bethlehem School director, reviews parish fiscal matters.
Weddings, Funerals, and Baptisms
Weddings at St. Paul's are celebrated for members of the church and their families; in some instances non-members may also be wed in the church. All arrangements begin with a meeting with the Rector to discuss the date, music, fees, program, and at least three premarital counseling sessions. Weddings generally follow the Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage service in the Book of Common Prayer, with music chosen in consultation with the Rector and the Director of Music. The church comfortably seats about 150 people, and the Great Room and other spaces can be used for a reception following the service.
The parish is available for funerals, memorial services, or graveside services for parishioners and their families and welcomes non-members when space is available. The Rector generally officiates; visiting clergy may assist at the Rector's invitation. The Director of Music helps families choose hymns, organ or instrumental pieces, and soloists. Reception areas may be used for a collation after the service.
Baptism at St. Paul's is the full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ's Body, the Church, and is offered at any age. Baptisms are especially appropriate at the Easter Vigil, the Day of Pentecost, All Saints' Day, and the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord. Parents complete a Baptism information form and meet with the Rector before the scheduled service; a brief rehearsal precedes the baptism itself.
Getting to St. Paul's
The church sits at 127 Summer Street in Lynnfield Center. Off-street and on-street parking, including on-street handicapped parking, is available. The church is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, which comprises 180 congregations in cities and towns throughout eastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the islands, and that diocese is in turn part of the wider Episcopal Church, with 109 dioceses and three regional areas in seventeen nations, and the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Those who wish to support the parish financially may do so through the Realm system online or via the Realm Connect app on Apple and Android devices, or by texting "SPEC $__" to 73256 to make a one-time gift. Online worship invitations are sent by emailing the parish office. The parish office can be reached at (781) 334-4594 or office@stpaulslynnfield.org.