St. Paul's by the Sea Episcopal Church

06/03/2026

We're thankful to Food Lion in Ocean Pines for donating about 300 pounds of food, including fresh bread, meats, and desserts, to our Maryland Food Bank.

These donations help feed our neighbors through our community kitchen, pantry, and shelter ministries, ensuring no one leaves hungry. Their commitment to strengthening our community is greatly appreciated.

06/03/2026

As Pride Month begins, I find myself reflecting on the words, “Hate, it appears, is the true heresy.”

Whether it takes the form of rejection, exclusion, or failing to honor another person's dignity, hatred is contrary to the Gospel. Again and again, we see Jesus moving toward people who had been pushed to the margins, reminding them that they were beloved by God and belonged within the community.

At St. Paul's By-the-Sea, our welcome is not a slogan or a marketing statement. It grows out of our understanding of the Gospel.

We know that many LGBTQ+ people have experienced rejection, hurt, or exclusion in the name of religion. We grieve that reality. We also believe that the Church is called to something better.

We are an Episcopal church that welcomes people of every race, background, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, and life experience. Not because we all think alike, but because we believe God's table is larger than our differences.

Our community includes LGBTQ+ clergy and parishioners, as well as family members, friends, and allies. We worship together, serve together, pray together, and share life together. We give thanks for the many gifts they bring to our community.

This Pride Month, we give thanks for the faith, courage, and witness of our LGBTQ+ siblings. We recommit ourselves to being a church where people can encounter God's love, ask honest questions, serve their neighbors, and grow in faith without hiding who they are.

Whoever you are, and wherever you are on your journey, you are welcome here.

06/01/2026

Looking for a meaningful way to support our community?

Become a St. Paul’s By-the-Sea volunteer and work in our community kitchen or food pantry. We have openings many days of the week, all during morning/midday hours.

In order to volunteer you must attend volunteer training - to learn about our mission, food safety, and policies & procedures of our Outreach Ministries.

Our next volunteer training is Tuesday, June 9 at 12 PM. Please email [email protected] to sign up!

06/01/2026

Today during our Faith Bites conversation after church, we reflected on the mystery of the Holy Trinity through this beautiful icon by Kelly Latimore.

The Trinity reminds us that God is relationship. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist in an eternal community of love.

In the icon, we see symbols of home, life, and growth. We see faces that reflect the beautiful diversity of humanity. We see a rainbow tablecloth that reminds us of God’s covenant with creation and the wide embrace of God’s love.

But what captured our attention most was the open place at the table.

The Trinity is not a closed circle. God is always making room. Room for those who are searching. Room for those who doubt. Room for those who have been hurt. Room for those who have felt excluded. Room for every beloved child of God.

The mystery of the Trinity is not something we can fully explain. It is something we are invited to experience. At the heart of the universe is not division, fear, or power—but love. A love that welcomes, heals, reconciles, and calls us into community.

May we be people who reflect the life of the Trinity by creating spaces where all are welcomed, all are valued, and all know they belong.

There is room at God’s table for all of us.

🌈❤️

Happy Trinity Sunday!
“God for us, God alongside us, God within us.”

~Fr. Richard Rohr

Designed and Commissioned by Dr. Mark Bozzuti-Jones.

Signed Giclee Prints, Digital Downloads and Prayer Candles: kellylatimoreicons.com

05/30/2026

🎙️ Ocean 98 Morning Show Interview with Pastor Jill Williams
What is Shelter By-the-Sea? How did it begin? What is the full story?
If you've followed recent news coverage, this interview provides important context about the ministry of Shelter By-theSea, the circumstances that led to its creation, the challenges we've encountered, and why St. Paul's By-the-Sea remains committed to serving our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
Pastor Jill shares how this ministry began, what we are doing each day and night, the impact it is having in our community, and the ongoing conversations about how we care for neighbors experiencing homelessness.
At its heart, Shelter By-the-Sea is about living out the Gospel: feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, and ensuring that our neighbors have a safe place to sleep.
We are grateful to Ocean 98 for the opportunity to share this story and help our community better understand this work.
We invite you to listen, learn, and share.
❤️ Feed the hungry.🏠 Shelter the unhoused.🤝 Love our neighbors.
https://youtu.be/iNgNSvM_dqc?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/iNgNSvM_dqc?feature=shared See less

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05/28/2026

Today we welcomed church leaders, ministers, outreach directors, and lay leaders from across our community for a luncheon to discuss our shelter ministry and how we can work together to better serve our neighbors.

We are deeply grateful for the spirit of collaboration, compassion, and shared commitment in the room today. These conversations matter. When communities come together with open hearts and a willingness to listen, lives are changed.

At St. Paul’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church, we believe no one should face hunger, homelessness, or hardship alone. We are thankful for every church, organization, volunteer, and community member walking alongside us in this work.

Together, we can continue building a community rooted in dignity, mercy, and radical welcome.

05/25/2026

Until we get our washer and dryer installed, we are in need of pillows and clean, gently used bedding for Shelter By-the-Sea.

If you have items to donate, please drop them off at the church during our open hours:

7 AM- 3 PM

302 N Baltimore Ave
Ocean City

Your generosity helps us provide comfort, dignity, and a warm welcome to our guests. Thank you for supporting this ministry.

05/24/2026

Join Us for Brunch Today at 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.!

🍞 French Toast
🥩 Ham Steak
🍳 Eggs

Today in church, we reflected on a simple but powerful question: What language does your life speak?

As we prepare for Pentecost, we remember that the Holy Spirit spoke through many languages so that all could hear the good news. Yet the language of the Spirit is spoken through more than words. It is spoken through compassion, hospitality, kindness, justice, and love.

This Memorial Day weekend, we also pause with gratitude and remembrance for the women and men who gave their lives in service to our nation. We honor their sacrifice and pray for all who continue to carry the weight of that loss.

May our lives speak a language of gratitude, community, and care for one another.

Come hungry, bring a friend, and pull up a chair. There is always room at the table. ❤️🕊️🇺🇸

05/22/2026

“We are blessed because we are invited to touch the wounds of Christ every night the shelter is open.”

This clip from Pastor Jill’s sermon gets to the heart of why we do what we do.

The work of Jesus happens when we come down the mountain and into the world—to feed the hungry, shelter those without shelter, and walk alongside those who are suffering.

If you want to encounter Christ, don’t just look up. Look around.

Take a few minutes to watch this powerful message.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

05/20/2026

HUGE congratulations to our seminarian Beth Lake! Such important work that is so needed in our community and in the church! We are so blessed to have her as a true leader in our congregation ❤️

The Episcopal Evangelism Society is delighted to congratulate our Spring 2026 E-21 Grant recipients!

These grantees represent the creativity, courage, and faithfulness that continue to inspire us across the Church. From trauma-informed ministry and youth discipleship, to public witness, contemplative practice, and new expressions of belonging, these projects embody the many ways God is inviting people into deeper relationship, community, and hope.

We are deeply grateful for these leaders and the ministries they are launching and strengthening. Please join us in celebrating them and praying for the work ahead.

Congratulations, Spring 2026 Grantees!