For over 160 years St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Central City has served as a meeting place for services, outreach programs, musical events, and social events. Our congregation, like many other small church congregations, is seeking new ways to keep our mission alive and moving forward.

Throughout the years St. Paul’s membership has grown and declined with the current population reflecting the ups and downs of Central City. We have continued to serve in a variety of ways. Hosting AA and Al-Anon, contributing to the community food bank, bringing fresh Palisade peaches to our citizens, sponsoring Central City Opera Sunday, establishing a new children’s theatre experience in collaboration with the Gilpin County Community Center, reaching out to share church services with Zion Lutheran Church in Idaho Springs, hosting weekly Zoom services, and our newest undertaking has been the creation of a Gospel Brunch and development of a Spiritual Director/ Companion program.

On Sunday November 6, at 11 a.m., St. Paul’s is launching our first Gospel Brunch. Claire Cassell will be introducing a spiritual directors pathway for our community. She will be sharing her thoughts and speaking about her experiences working in this important mission.

Cassell, in my interview on Friday, October. 28, gave me a perspective on the work she does. Walking a path with someone, companioning with them through their journey through life. Cassell emphasized the fundamental concept of being able to listen and each finding their own direction. She also spoke about finding each person’s own way and not being alone, companionship and support. We are loved, we belong just the way we are. Cassell will utilize as her foundation the Holy Spirit, grace, unconditional love, and being accepted.

Claire Cassell has been an ordained Lutheran pastor since 1982. She has served small 30-50 member churches as well as larger ones. She is currently part of the Arvada Healing Arts Center and practices Reiki, Qigong, incorporating movement and meditation. She also is working at the Lutheran Medical Center West Pines Addiction Center.

Spiritual Directors focus on finding wholeness and balance in life by connection with whatever you might refer to as God, Allah, the Universe - that which connects us all. The program has roots in many faiths. Our nation has experienced the pandemic, national tragedies, crisis in Ukraine and many local, state, and national issues having resulted in large numbers of people searching for a better path of thought. Directors/companions are not licensed clinicians. Training varies upon the practitioner’s faith, background, and education.

Our other participant will feature musician Makala Dooley. Makala teaches piano, voice, and flute at her Denver Dynamic Expressions studio. Dooley holds a degree from UNC in jazz piano and has a variety of musical experiences including a three-year tenure on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruise ships, and is a music instructor at the Denver Music Institute.

Please mark your calendars now for St. Paul’s Gospel Brunch on Sunday, November 6 at 11 a.m. The food, fellowship, music, and discovering the idea of Spiritual Directors/ Companions will be well worth your time and energy.

To find out more about St. Paul’s, check out the website at https://www.stpaulsepiscopalchurchcentralcity.org/.