A Word of Welcome
Are you overwhelmed? Tired, maybe even in despair from time to time at the world around us? Are you looking for hope, for genuine community where you, your loved ones, your family can connect, care for others and be cared for, and to grow in peacemaking and service?
It is my delight to welcome you to the beautiful community here at St. Francis Episcopal Parish & Community Center.
We are not all the same. We differ in age, ability, culture, history, race, country of origin, life experience and so much more. We worship in the Episcopal tradition yet we differ in our ideas about God and our preferred ways of connecting to God. We are committed to interfaith relationships and partnerships. We are a Community Center, committed to justice and service in our wider community, principally through food and environmental justice, yet we differ in our approach to political and civic life. We are different, yet we come together to build relationships across our differences, nurture and support a healthy intergenerational life together and support one another as we seek to live out our shared values of justice, mercy and humility.
You are welcome here no matter who you are, no matter where you are from, no matter if you have a robust faith tradition or no faith at all. I invite you to explore this website. Come worship. Visit us at one of our events. Meet us out in the community. I look forward to getting to know you and hearing your story.
Peace,
Amy+
Below are some of the local organizations that we partner with. We share common purpose and goals with these groups, and we are proud to work with them.
Institute for Islamic, Christian, Jewish Studies
The Rev. Dr. Amy Slaughter
she/her
Rector
About Me:
Preacher, justice seeker, Episcopal priest, community organizer, theologian, parent of three artistic young adult children. Native North Carolinian. Bookish. I believe God is up to something beautiful in this world, and I’m grateful we get to be a part of it.
My Role:
Rector is an old-fashioned word for pastor and administrative head of a church. As Rector I get to do what I love: support and nurture a faith community in the Episcopal tradition. Rectors are generalists; I get to wear a lot of hats, sometimes all in the same day. Preaching and presiding at Sunday worship, connecting one-on-one and in small groups at Welcome Table Wednesday, checking in with folks in crisis or in immediate need of care, meeting with those mourning a loss or celebrating an upcoming baptism, writing sermons, showing up at county meetings to make our neighborhood a better place and so much more. Mostly, I listen deeply – for what God is doing here and in the world, for what people need, and for how St. Francis can keep becoming a community where everyone belongs and everyone matters.
My Dream for St. Francis:
Listens to the Spirit, practices wide and generous welcome, shows up for each other and our neighbors, and isn’t afraid to ask big questions and have hard conversations.
A Few of my Favorite Things:
Hobby: Spending time by the water recharging and reflecting; journaling
Book/Movie/TV Show: Narrative non-fiction that reads like fiction – faves include Patrick Radden Keefe
Fun fact:
I come from a theatrical family and began working as an actor myself as a kid.
