by Molly Lanzarotta, Search Committee co-chair

St. Paul’s rector-elect Jeffrey Mello met St. Paul’s parishioners for the first time on June 14 at St. Paul’s annual end-of-the-year outdoor service and picnic at Larz Anderson Park in Brookline.

Undaunted by a rainy morning, an impressive number of parishioners braved the weather to celebrate the past year at St. Paul's and welcome Jeff, who concelebrated the service with interim rector Terry McCall and was accompanied by his family, partner Paul Daigneault and their son, Ardani.

The service and picnic came off thanks to the hard work of many parishioners, including Ginny Willcox and Alan Fried who took the lead on the food, and a group of volunteer singers and musicians.

May 18, 2009 - It is with much happiness that the Rector Search Committee, Vestry, and Wardens of St. Paul's announce that after many months of discernment, and in a spirit of love and openness and through the grace of God, we have called Rev. Jeffrey Mello to be the next rector of St. Paul's, Brookline. Jeff has graciously accepted our call and will be starting as rector of St. Paul's in August.

The search committee has been getting to know Jeff- and Jeff has been getting to know St. Paul's - for the past six months.  From a field of over forty applicants, and through every stage of the search process - a phone interview, a sub-committee visit to Christ Church Cambridge where Jeff currently serves as Assistant Rector, in numerous communications with the Committee chairs, a meet-and-greet with the Vestry, and in a final interview with the full Search Committee - Jeff emerged as a leader with charisma, intelligence, varied and relevant experience, a deep spirituality, and a sense of humor. The Committee feels unequivocally and without dissent that Jeff Mello is a strong match for St. Paul's as expressed in our Parish Profile and as reflected in our life together.

Some highlights of the experience that Jeff brings to St. Paul's includes his Master's in Social Work from Simmons College and years of experience as a clinical social worker.  Jeff studied at Episcopal Divinity School and served as a seminarian at St. Michael's Church in Milton.  He received his master's in Divinity degree in 2007 and was ordained in that same year.

OUR PARISH is:

Inclusive: A progressive faith community welcoming people of all backgrounds.
Educational: A robust church school program, an active high school youth group and adult educational programs.
Musical: We love to sing and celebrate the power of music through congregational singing, choral anthems, and our children's music programs.
Accessible: A bright worship space available to all.
Compassionate: Home to the Brookline Food Pantry, and committed to contributing 10% of our church income to social justice and relief charity.
Committed: Involved in local and global ministries including our ongoing mission in Honduras.

OUR PARISH was founded in 1849 by Brookline residents who engaged Richard Upjohn to design the graceful Gothic Revival structure that dominates the corner of St. Paul Street and Aspinwall Avenue.

A fire in 1976 devastated the sanctuary, leaving only its exterior walls. In reconstructing the church, architect Brett Donham blended elements of twentieth century design, including solar heat, with the beauty of the old structure. The contrasts in the building reflect the interesting diversity within the congregation.

Among us are parishioners from around the comer and around the world, representing a wide range of professional, economic, and educational backgrounds. Our parish family includes grandparents, single adults, teenagers, and couples, with children and without. We value our human diversity and strive to learn from each other while worshiping together.

We hope you will want to join us in some way. St. Paul’s has much to share and we welcome what you can bring to our community. Perhaps one of our parishioners expressed it best when he wrote:

St. Paul’s allows you to be yourself, whether you wish to join the dozens of available activities or simply worship with us and go your way. There is room here for the individual, the activist, and the thinker / questioner. Faith and love abound!

St. Paul's is a member of the Diocese of Massachusetts and the Episcopal Church.