As your Rector, I am planning to attend—and I would love for members of Saint Paul’s to consider joining us.

According to the official invitation, General Council will convene on Wednesday, June 10, with a Communion service at a local Richmond church, and conclude by Friday afternoon, June 12. The majority of the meetings, meals, and sessions will be held at the Omni Hotel in downtown Richmond.

What Is General Council?

General Council is the highest legislative and deliberative gathering of the REC. It is where:

• Bishops and clergy gather for worship and fellowship
• Lay deputies represent their parishes
• Reports are received
• Churchwide business is conducted
• Major transitions—such as episcopal installations—take place

This year is especially significant. The Diocese of the Central States will host Council for the first time, and the opening Communion service will include the installation of a new Bishop Ordinary.

Why Should Lay Members Consider Attending?

While every parish must elect lay deputies and complete a Parish Certification Form, attendance is not limited to clergy or official representatives. Faithful members of our parish are welcome to attend.

Here’s why I think it would be valuable for some from Saint Paul’s to join:

1. To See the Broader Church

It is strengthening to witness that we are part of something larger than our local parish in Los Altos. The REC spans dioceses across the United States and Canada.

2. To Deepen Anglican Identity

For those interested in Anglican theology, liturgy, and church governance, General Council provides firsthand exposure to how our Church operates.

3. To Invest in the Future

Lay voices matter. Representation at Council ensures that parishes like ours are present in the ongoing life and direction of the Church.

4. To Combine Fellowship and Learning

The schedule includes:

• Daily Morning Prayer
• Business sessions
• Fellowship meals
• A formal banquet
• Opportunities for informal conversations with clergy and laity from across the Church

Practical Details

• Dates: June 10–12, 2026
• Location: Omni Hotel, Downtown Richmond
• Hotel Rate: $172/night (group rate, subject to availability)
• Registration Deadline: April 30, 2026

Full Council registration (including meals and banquet) is $525, though partial attendance options are available.

More information and registration links are available at:
www.rechurch.org (see General Council page)

A Pastoral Invitation

At Saint Paul’s, we are committed to building what lasts—locally and generationally. Attending General Council is one way to strengthen our ties to the wider Church and to bring back insight, encouragement, and perspective to our parish.

If you are interested in attending—either as a voting lay deputy or simply as an observer—please speak with me soon. We will need to elect lay representation in accordance with Church canons, and registration deadlines are approaching.

Let us represent Saint Paul’s faithfully in Richmond.

General Council 2026

Tentative Schedule

(Subject to change)

Wednesday – June 10

• 6:30–7:30 am – Breakfast (at hotel)
• 7:30 am – Charter buses to church start
• 8:00 am – Clergy Vesting begins at church
• 9:00 am – Communion Service at Derbyshire Church (Hunter Classical Christian School)
• 11:30 am – Buses return to hotel
• Noon – Lunch & Women’s Day Meeting (at hotel)
• 1:45 pm – Business Sessions (at hotel)
• 4:45 pm – Break
• 6:30 pm – Reception (at hotel)
• 7:00 pm – Formal Banquet Dinner (at hotel)

Thursday – June 11

• 7:00–8:00 am – Breakfast (at hotel)
• 9:00 am – Morning Prayer & Sessions (at hotel)
• Noon – Lunch (at hotel)
• 1:30 pm – Business Sessions (at hotel)
• 5:00 pm – Break & Dinner on your own

Friday – June 12

• 7:00–8:00 am – Breakfast (at hotel)
• 9:00 am – Morning Prayer & Sessions (at hotel)
• Noon – Lunch (at hotel)
• 1:00 pm – Final Session (if needed)
• 3:00 pm – Adjourn (whenever business is finished, which may be earlier)

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Many Christians today experience Lent as something that descends upon them rather suddenly. One Sunday follows another in the ordinary course of winter, and then, almost without warning, we find ourselves marked with ashes and summoned to fasting, penitence, and self-examination. Such abruptness, however, was not the mind of the historic Church.

In her older and wiser practice, the Church prepared her people gradually for the great fast. She did so not only by private exhortation, but by the steady ordering of time itself—through a short but purposeful season known as Pre-Lent, or more familiarly, the –gesima Sundays.

The 1928 Book of Common Prayer, standing squarely within the Western catholic inheritance, preserves this older rhythm. Though later revisions set it aside, the –gesima season remains a striking example of pastoral good sense and theological sobriety—one which deserves careful reconsideration in our own day.

The Shape of the Pre-Lenten Season

The Pre-Lenten season consists of three Sundays immediately preceding Ash Wednesday:

• Septuagesima
• Sexagesima
• Quinquagesima

These Sundays form a deliberate transition between the brightness of Epiphanytide and the austerity of Lent. They impose no fast, nor do they yet mark the faithful with ashes. Rather, they begin a gentle but unmistakable change in tone. The Church, as it were, lowers her voice and bids her children attend.

Septuagesima Sunday

Septuagesima Sunday is the first of the Pre-Lenten Sundays. It falls roughly nine Sundays before Easter and three Sundays before Lent. The name, meaning “seventieth,” refers symbolically to the number of days before Easter. Though the reckoning is not exact, the intention is clear enough: the Church is beginning to count.

With Septuagesima the liturgical atmosphere shifts. The Alleluia disappears from the services. Green vestments give way to violet. The lessons and collects begin to speak more plainly of labor, exile, and mortality. Without alarm or severity, the faithful are reminded that the season of penitence draws near.

Sexagesima Sunday

Sexagesima Sunday, the second Sunday of Pre-Lent, continues this inward movement. Its name signifies “sixtieth,” again in a symbolic sense. By now the turn toward Lent is unmistakable.

Quinquagesima Sunday

The final Sunday before Lent is Quinquagesima, so named because it falls exactly fifty days before Easter. It stands at the threshold.

Quadragesima and the Church’s Use of Time

The –gesima Sundays find their meaning in what follows. Quadragesima, the ancient name for Lent, marks the forty-day fast that recalls our Lord’s temptation in the wilderness. Together, these seasons reveal the Church’s careful pedagogy.

Time is not left unformed. It is shaped and ordered:

• –gesima: preparation for discipline
• Quadragesima (Lent): discipline undertaken
• Pascha (Easter): victory and joy restored

The Pre-Lenten season exists because the Church understands human nature. She knows that repentance is learned gradually, and that spiritual discipline bears fruit best when the ground has first been prepared.

Ancient Roots and Roman Practice

The observance of a Pre-Lenten season can be traced to fifth- and sixth-century Roman usage. By that time, the forty-day fast of Lent was firmly established, yet pastors recognized that many of the faithful entered it poorly, or not at all, unless they were first led toward it.

The 1928 Prayer Book and What Has Been Forgotten

The 1928 Book of Common Prayer was the last American prayer book to retain the Pre-Lenten Sundays in their full and proper place. Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima appear there not as curiosities, but as integral parts of the Church’s year.

Later revisions—especially those of the mid-twentieth century—extended Epiphanytide to the very doorstep of Ash Wednesday. While this made the calendar simpler to explain, it also diminished its depth.

Why the –Gesima Season Still Matters

The –gesima Sundays remind us:

• that repentance is approached, never rushed
• that discipline requires preparation
• that joy and fasting belong to their proper seasons
• that time itself is one of the Church’s chief teachers

In an age impatient with restraint, the Church once trained her people to wait. The wisdom preserved in the 1928 Prayer Book remains available to us still. For those willing to receive it, the –gesima season offers a more measured, humane, and deeply Christian entrance into Lent—one that honors both the holiness of God and the frailty of man.

The post The Pre-Lenten Season “Gesimatide” first appeared on Saint Paul's Anglican Church - Los Altos.

The post The Funeral of Mr. Lester A. Burdick of Sunnyvale, California (1932-2026) first appeared on Saint Paul's Anglican Church - Los Altos.

“Sacraments ordained of Christ be not only badges or tokens of Christian men’s profession, but rather they be certain sure witnesses, and effectual signs of grace, and God’s good will towards us…”
— Articles of Religion, XXV

What Are the Sacraments?

The word sacrament comes from the Latin sacramentum, meaning a mystery. In the life of the Church, sacraments are moments where God’s grace meets us in visible form. They are outward signs that reveal an inward work of God—a tangible way God gives us what we need for life and salvation.

The Book of Common Prayer defines a sacrament as “an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, given by Christ as a sure and certain means by which we receive that grace.”

What Is Grace?

Grace is simply the gift of God’s love—unearned, undeserved, and freely given. It’s by grace that our sins are forgiven, our hearts are changed, and our lives are renewed. Scripture says:

“and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”
— Romans 3:24

If we could earn it, it wouldn’t be grace. But God delights to give it.

The Seven Sacraments

In Anglican tradition, we speak of both the two and seven sacraments. The “Two” —Baptism and Holy Communion—are called the “Sacraments of the Gospel,” because they were directly commanded by Jesus for all Christians. The other five “commonly called sacraments” are sacramental rites that mark key moments of calling, healing, and commitment in the Christian life. They are Confirmation (laying on of hands), Holy Matrimony (marriage), Holy Orders (ordination), Penance (Confession), and Anointing of the Sick (Unction) These sacraments are recognized as true means of grace, instituted by Christ and practiced by the Church.

1. Baptism

Baptism is the beginning of the Christian journey. It’s where we are born again by water and the Holy Spirit, washed of our sins, and united with Christ.

What happens? We are baptized with water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
What’s given? New life, forgiveness, and adoption into God’s family.

“We have been buried with him by baptism into death… so we too might walk in newness of life.”
— Romans 6:4

2. Holy Communion (The Eucharist)

In the Holy Eucharist, Jesus feeds us with His own Body and Blood. This meal strengthens us for the Christian life and deepens our union with Him.

What happens? Bread and wine are offered, blessed, and received.
What’s given? The life of Christ—His Body broken, His Blood poured out—for us.

“My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.”
— John 6:55

This sacrament keeps us grounded in the cross, nourished in grace, and looking forward to His return.

3. Confirmation

Confirmation is the strengthening of the faith and promises made at baptism. Through the laying on of hands by a bishop, we receive the Holy Spirit in a deeper way for Christian maturity and witness.

“Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”
— Acts 8:17

This rite is often a step into adult faith and commitment in the Church.

4. Holy Matrimony

Marriage is a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman, reflecting the love of Christ and His Church.

“This is a profound mystery—but I am speaking of Christ and the Church.”
— Ephesians 5:32

Marriage is about love, faithfulness, the raising of children, and the mutual sanctification of husband and wife. Christ honored marriage at Cana and continues to bless it through the Church.

5. Holy Orders

Some are called to serve the Church in ordained ministry—as deacons, priests, and bishops. Holy Orders is the sacrament that sets them apart through prayer and the laying on of hands.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit.”
— John 15:16

Ordained ministry exists to preach the gospel, teach the faith, celebrate the sacraments, and shepherd the flock of Christ.

6. Confession (Penance or Reconciliation)

Sometimes we carry burdens too heavy to bear alone. In sacramental confession, we open our hearts before God and hear His word of pardon through a priest.

“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven.”
— John 20:23

Confession offers healing, peace, and a fresh start. It’s a grace-filled reminder that God never turns away a repentant heart.

7. Anointing of the Sick (Unction)

In times of sickness or weakness, the Church offers prayers and anointing with holy oil for healing and comfort.

“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church…”
— James 5:14

This sacrament brings strength to body and soul and reminds us that Christ, the Great Physician, is near to those who suffer.

Final Thoughts

The sacraments aren’t empty rituals. Through them, Christ continues to heal, feed, forgive, and call His people. They are gifts of grace that shape and sustain the Christian life.

If you’re new to the Church or returning after time away, know this: the sacraments are for you. They are signs that God is still at work—and He welcomes you into His grace.

The post A Catechumen’s Guide to the Sacraments first appeared on Saint Paul's Anglican Church - Los Altos.

Feast of Ss. Mary and Martha

Choristers gathered to celebrate the Feast of St. Mary and St. Martha with a special service of Holy Communion. We gave thanks for these faithful sisters of Bethany—one known for her quiet devotion at the feet of Jesus, the other for her active service in His name.

Evensong Finale (1 August 2025)

Watch the beautiful conclusion to Choir Camp at St. Andrew’s, featuring our talented choristers from Saint Paul’s! A moving service of sung prayer, Scripture, and praise—offered by voices lifted to the glory of God.

We’re proud of their commitment to growing as musicians and worshippers, and grateful for the mentors and directors who invested in them. Be sure to listen for their renewed joy and confidence as they sing in the weeks ahead!

The post Choir Camp Photos 2025 – Lake Almanor (Chester, California) first appeared on Saint Paul's Anglican Church - Los Altos.

📄 Click here to download the bulletin for Trinity VI (July 27, 2025)

The Collect (Trinity VI)

O GOD, who hast prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass man’s understanding; Pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday’s Hymns & Readings 

Opening Hymn:
Praise to the Living God (Leoni)

Old Testament:
Genesis 18:20–33

Psalter
Psalm 138 (responsive reading)

Epistle:
Colossians 2:6–15

Gospel:
St. Luke 11:1–13

Pre-Sermon Hymn:
Lord, Enthroned in Heav’nly Splendor (Bryn Calfaria)

Offertory Hymn:
My God, How Wonderful Thou Art (Windsor)

Communion Hymn:
Come Down, O Love Divine (Down Ampney, choir)

Post-Communion Hymn:
Now Thank We All Our God (Nun Danket)

Closing Hymn:
For All the Saints (Sine Nomine)

🙌 You’re Invited

We invite you to worship with us this Sunday at 10:30 AM. Whether you’re new to Anglican liturgy or a lifelong Christian, our hope is that you’ll encounter Christ through the beauty of reverent worship.

📍 St. Paul’s Anglican Church – Los Altos, California
🌐 Plan Your Visit | Learn About Holy Communion

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