Starting August 3rd, 2025, our adult catechesis class will explore the provocative and insightful book Against Christianity by Rev. Peter J. Leithart — a series of short essays that challenges conventional categories of theology, culture, and the Christian life.

In this five-week series, we’ll wrestle with the book’s bold claims and thoughtful provocations, guided by Fr. Steve Macias:

📘 Weekly Topics:

• Week 1 – Against Christianity
• Week 2 – Against Theology
• Week 3 – Against Sacraments
• Week 4 – Against Ethics
• Week 5 – For Constantine

Rather than tearing down the faith, Leithart invites us to rethink what it means to be the Church — not as a private spirituality, but as a public, embodied, and sacramental people. His “theological bricolage” pushes against the compartmentalized and secular assumptions of modern life, calling Christians to live fully and visibly as members of the City of God.

ABOUT PETER LEITHART

Dr. Peter Leithart is the President of the Theopolis Institute and serves as the organizing pastor of Immanuel Reformed Church. A theologian, pastor, and prolific writer, Dr. Leithart is known for his rich biblical insights and creative theological reflections.

He is the author of numerous books, including On Earth As In Heaven (2022), God of Hope (2022), Creator (2023), and The Glory of Man (2024). His acclaimed two-volume commentary on Revelation was published by T&T Clark in 2018. He also writes regularly for First Things and on his Substack. Dr. Leithart has pastored churches in Alabama, Idaho, and most recently in Birmingham, Alabama. He previously taught theology and literature at New St. Andrews College for over a decade.

He holds degrees from Hillsdale College, Westminster Theological Seminary, and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge. Peter and his wife Noel have been blessed with ten children and twenty grandchildren.

Whether you’re a long-time member or exploring Anglican theology for the first time, this discussion will be rich, accessible, and rooted in Scripture and tradition.

📍Where: Saint Paul’s Anglican Church – Parish Hall
🕰 When: Sundays at 9:30 AM (Starts August 3, 2025)
📖 Book: Against Christianity (available at CanonPress.com or Amazon – $15)
👥 Led by: Fr. Steve Macias

✨ All are welcome. Come with your questions, a pen, and an open mind.

The post New Adult Catechesis Series: Against Christianity by Peter J. Leithart first appeared on Saint Paul's Anglican Church - Los Altos.

📄 Click here to download the bulletin for Trinity V (July 20, 2025)

The Collect for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity

GRANT, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

📖 Scripture Readings

1. Old Testament:
   Genesis 18:1–14
   The Lord appears to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre; the promise of Isaac is given.
2. Psalm:
   Psalm 15 – Domine, quis habitabit?
   “Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? Or who shall rest upon thy holy hill?”
3. Epistle:
   Colossians 1:21–29
   Christ in you, the hope of glory; Paul’s ministry of proclaiming Christ.
4. Gospel:
   Luke 10:38–42
   Mary and Martha — “One thing is necessary.”

🗓 Parish Announcements

• 🍽 Fellowship Meal: Following Sunday’s service in the Parish Hall
• 🕯 Wednesday Evensong & Dinner: July 23, Dinner at 6:00 PM
• 📚 Membership Class (August): Contact Fr. Macias to join
• ✍️ AM Catechesis (Sundays at 9:30 AM): Against Christianity by Peter Leithart begins August 3

🎶 Hymns of the Day

Opening Hymn:
🕊 “The God of Abraham Praise” – Leoni
(285 / 338) | Based on the Jewish doxology | Text: Thomas Olivers, c. 1770, alt.

Pre-Sermon Hymn:
🕊 “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee”
(462 / —) | Latin, 12th century

Offertory Anthem:
🕊 “Come Down, O Love Divine” – Down Ampney (Choir)
(376 / 482) | Text: Bianco da Siena (d. 1434), Tr. 1867

Communion Hymn:
🕊 “Let Thy Blood in Mercy Poured”
(190 / 275) | Greek origin, Tr. J. Brownlie, 1907

Post-Communion Hymn:
🕊 “And Now, O Father, Mindful of the Love” – Unde et Memores (Choir)
(189 / 290) | Text: W. Bright, 1874

Closing Hymn:
🕊 “Crown Him with Many Crowns” – Diademata
(352 / 149) | Text: Matthew Bridges, 1851

🙌 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

The post Trinity V: Worship Guide first appeared on Saint Paul's Anglican Church - Los Altos.

“When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.”
— Luke 24:30–31 (ESV)

It was in the breaking of bread—a simple, shared act—that Jesus revealed Himself. Not in a sermon, not in a miracle, but at a meal. This moment, echoing the Last Supper and anticipating every Eucharist since, also sets the pattern for something else the early Church cherished: the agape feast, or love feast.

At Saint Paul’s Anglican Church, we continue that same rhythm of fellowship each week. Every Sunday after the liturgy, we gather in the Parish Hall for a shared meal—potluck-style and full of warmth, laughter, and conversation. Most weeks, we spend more time around the lunch table than we did in the pews.

For some, it’s a chance to debut a new dessert—especially if special Sunday calls for something sweet. We have bakers known for their sourdough and cooks who go all out with organic, gourmet entrées. There’s usually a fresh pot of coffee, a bottle of wine or sparkling cider passed around, and plenty of stories and updates from the week.

Around those tables, we do more than eat. We encourage each other, swap parenting tips, get advice on work and marriage, share prayer requests and struggles, and make plans to show up in each other’s lives. It’s where the Church continues to be the Church—one bite and one conversation at a time. It is an essential part of our community. Especially in the fast-paced disconnect of Silicon Valley culture.

Why We Do This

Our weekly meal is an intentional Christian practice, rooted in Scripture and history.

The Book of Acts describes the first Christians as:

“And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts.”
— Acts 2:46 (ESV)

These were more than meals. They were extensions of the communion shared in Christ. In fact, St. Paul refers to the agape in 1 Corinthians 11, correcting the Corinthian church for turning the meal into a selfish, disordered event. He exhorts them to eat in a manner worthy of the Lord and to recognize the body of Christ among them.

“For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.”
— 1 Corinthians 11:29 (ESV)

A Practice of the Early Church

The Didache, an early Christian text dated to the late first or early second century, offers prayers and guidance for communal meals, showing that the Church gathered not only for worship but also for shared fellowship around the table.

Tertullian, writing around A.D. 200, described the Christian agape as:

“Our feast explains itself by its name. The Greeks call it agapè, i.e., affection. Whatever it costs, our outlay in the name of piety is gain, since with the good things of the feast we benefit the needy.”
— Apology, Chapter XXXIX

Though formal agape feasts eventually diminished, the impulse remains. Whenever believers share a meal in the love of Christ, they continue the fellowship and unity modeled by the Apostles and nurtured in the early Church.

What It Looks Like Today

At St. Paul’s, our post-service meal is simple, but it’s always enough. Children laugh. New visitors find a seat. Burdens are shared. Prayers are whispered between bites.

It’s not a liturgy, but it’s liturgical. It’s not a sacrament, but it is sacramental. It’s a small but powerful way we live out the hospitality and communion that Christ first revealed—not just in the breaking of the bread at the altar, but also at the table of fellowship.

So if you’re reading this, consider this your invitation. Come join us this Sunday—not just for the Word and Sacrament, but for a plate of food and a place at the table. We would love to see you there.

The post Why Our Church Has a Fellowship Meal Each Week—And You’re Invited first appeared on Saint Paul's Anglican Church - Los Altos.

What Is a Synod?
A Look Inside the Anglican Tradition of Church Governance and Fellowship
By Rev. Steve Macias

Each year, churches across the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC) gather for a special event known as a Synod. As part of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), our dioceses follow a historic pattern of shared governance and spiritual unity. But what exactly is a synod—and why does it matter?

A Gathering of the Church

A diocesan synod is the annual meeting of clergy and lay representatives from all parishes within a diocese. It serves as both a business meeting and spiritual convocation. During Synod, delegates come together to:

• Worship through Morning Prayer and Holy Communion
• Hear teaching and encouragement from bishops and clergy
• Review ministry reports and diocesan updates
• Vote on key matters such as budgets, leadership, and resolutions

This process is a vital part of the Anglican tradition, where the Church is governed in community—not by bishops alone, but with the prayerful counsel of both clergy and lay leaders.

A Joyful Opportunity for Fellowship

Synod isn’t just a meeting; it’s also a joyful gathering of the Body of Christ. Meals are shared, friendships are renewed, and new connections are formed across parish lines. It’s a chance to see how our local ministry fits into the broader work of the Reformed Episcopal Church.

Saint Paul’s at the 118th Synod

This year, Saint Paul’s Anglican Church is excited to participate in the 118th Synod of the Diocese of Mid-America, to be held October 8–10, 2025, at Good Shepherd REC in Tyler, Texas.

As a newly received parish in the REC, this will be our first opportunity to take part in Synod and witness how our diocese gathers for worship, governance, and mission. It’s a meaningful milestone for our community.

Want to Learn More?

If you’d like to learn more about Synod, how it works, or how you can attend, please reach out. Whether you’re a confirmed member, curious observer, or someone discerning a deeper role in our parish, Synod offers a chance to engage with the wider Anglican and Reformed Episcopal Church.

Let us continue to pray for the unity and strength of our diocese as we look ahead to this important gathering.

The 118^th Synod of the Diocese of Mid-America will be held Wednesday, October 8 – Friday, October 10, 2025 at Good Shepherd REC in Tyler, TX.   The schedule will be similar to last year’s Synod,  beginning mid-afternoon on Wednesday and concluding midday on Friday. 

Travel:

For those traveling by air, Tyler does have a regional airport, but you might be better off flying into Dallas Love Field (DAL) or DFW International and renting a car.  It is about a two-hour drive from Dallas to Tyler.

Hotel:

We have a block of rooms already reserved at the Hilton Garden Inn in Tyler.  The rate is $124.00 per night, including breakfast.  You can book your room now by clicking the following link: https://group.hiltongardeninn.com/49jfph

HILTON GARDEN INN TYLER

220 Grande Boulevard

Tyler Texas 75702
(903) 509-1166

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