2026-2027 Preaching Series
Join us on Sundays as we learn with seasoned local leaders, inviting us to hear how scripture inspires us to connect with our values and convictions, with one another, and with the world God dearly loves. Your questions & presence are essential to these opportunities for reflection.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2026 | 8AM & 10AM SERVICES
Robert Skelton
Director of Marketing & Community Engagement for Rebuilding Together Peninsula
As Director, Marketing & Community Engagement for Rebuilding Together Peninsula, Robert Skelton is charged with driving awareness of this nonprofit agency and securing partnership support. Over the last 5 years, this has included sponsorships with a variety of corporations across building, financial, legal, tech, health, and more - as well as fostering relationships with service and community groups on the SF Peninsula.
Prior to his work with RTP, Robert grew and serviced client relationships for multiple programs spanning advertising, sports marketing, tourism and more. Away from the office, you can find him planning a trip, looking for a good meal, or following some sort of obscure sport. Robert is back in the Bay Area after long stays in Los Angeles and New York, and lives in Belmont.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2026 | 10AM SERVICE ONLY | 11:15AM COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
The Rt. Rev. William E. Swing
Founder & President Emeritus of URI; Former Episcopal Bishop of California
Bishop William E. Swing is the Founder and President Emeritus of United Religions Initiative (URI). As the 7th Episcopal Bishop of California (1980‑2006), he led significant engagement in homeless and immigrant ministries, HIV/AIDS response, and inter‑religious outreach in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1993, at the invitation of the United Nations, he convened an inter‑faith service to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the UN Charter—an event that catalyzed the formation of URI.
Bishop Swing offers a visionary anchor for URI’s values of inclusive spirituality, inter‑faith, dialogue and peacebuilding. His global network, deep experience in faith‑community leadership, and institutional acumen provide URI counsel for scaling daily inter‑religious collaboration, ending religion‑related violence, and strengthening cultures of justice, healing and ecological stewardship.
OCTOBER 11, 2026 | 8AM & 10AM SERVICES
Bill Phillips
Film Maker, St. Paul’s Centennial Committee Chair
Bill Phillips has been part of the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church community since 2012. Over the years, he has served as an usher, lector, chalice bearer, Vestry member, Senior Warden, and Welcoming Committee chair. More recently, Bill has particularly enjoyed new formation work, co-leading The Chosen discussion series and the What’s Up With Church program. He currently chairs St. Paul’s Centennial Committee and occasionally serves coffee.
OCTOBER 25, 2026 | 8AM & 10AM SERVICES
The Rev. Penelope Duckworth
Priest, Chaplain, Author
Ordained to the priesthood at St. Paul’s in 1983 by Bishop Swing, Rev. Duckworth served St. Paul’s as Assistant to the Rector for two years and continued several decades in ministry that spanned university chaplaincy at Santa Clara University and Stanford, and parochial leadership in churches from San Francisco to Santa Cruz. She has authored several books, prose and poetry, and taught in Santa Clara University’s departments of English, Religious Studies, and Theater/Dance. She recently finished her first novel, historical fiction on Joan of Arc’s final year.
She is mostly retired and lives with her husband, Olof Hellén, and their two rowdy dogs; a West Highland White Terrier and a Wire-Haired Dachshund. They keep active with far-flung family and friends here and in Olof’s native Finland.
NOVEMBER 15, 2026 | 8AM & 10AM SERVICES
Wesley Rich Higbie
Veteran, Attorney in Natural Resources & Policy, Former St. Paul's Warden
Wes Higbie was 13 years old, one of five siblings, when his family moved to St. Paul’s. After serving in the Navy, he majored in Forestry and Conservation at UC, Berkeley, and studied law at the University of San Francisco. Wes practiced law for 45 years and was a Visiting Professor at Berkeley. He returned to St. Paul's in 1989, when he taught adult education, led Bible study, and served on the Vestry, including as Junior Warden. He and his wife Laura now reside in San Francisco.
JANUARY 10, 2027 | 8AM & 10AM SERVICES
The Rev. Thomas Skillings
Former Rector of St. Paul's
Rev. Thomas served as St. Paul’s rector from 2002 until his retirement in 2021. But he actually began serving earlier, as St. Paul’s youth minister from 1981-1982. He is grateful to have shared ministry with so many gifted and loving people during this rich time in the life of St Paul’s.
In 2021, Rev. Thomas followed his wife, the Rev. Julie Graham, to her new calling at Holy Communion Church in St Louis. In retirement he has led Circle of Trust retreats, served as part time interim rector for two years, worked with the Diocese of Missouri on parish revitalization efforts, and volunteered with the local refugee resettlement organization. He is currently a member of St. John’s in the Tower Grove neighborhood of St. Louis, and is working with their leadership as they discern their next steps in ministry.
Rev. Thomas enjoys being involved with his neighborhood community garden, learning Spanish, and seriously trying to get better at golf. He, Julie, and their son Elliot have enjoyed a number of travel adventures around the U.S. and in Europe. He looks forward to further adventures following Julie’s retirement in February 2026.
FEBRUARY 7, 2027 | **ONE SERVICE - 10AM** | 11:30AM COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
The Rt. Rev. William E. Swing
Founder & President Emeritus of URI; Former Episcopal Bishop of California
A joyous celebration of the 100th anniversary of the dedication of our church featuring Bishop Bill Swing as our Centennial Sunday preacher.
This special service will include a culminating experience of A Centennial Mass, composed by Sarah MacDonald for St. Paul’s Centennial. The congregation and Choir of St. Paul’s will be joined by a chamber orchestra and choristers from the cathedrals of St. Mark’s Seattle, Trinity Portland, and Grace San Francisco.
FEBRUARY 28, 2027 | 8AM & 10AM SERVICES | 11:15AM COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
Laura Bent
Chief Executive Officer, Samaritan House
Laura Bent has served as the Chief Executive Officer for Samaritan House since 2023 and previously served as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer for nearly a decade. Laura’s nonprofit career spans more than 35 years.
Besides her nonprofit professional experience, she has shared her leadership through volunteerism with a variety of community organizations, including the San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation, San Mateo High School, and Hillsdale High School Foundation. She is a 25-year Rotarian with the San Mateo Rotary Club, and a former board member of THRIVE (the nonprofit Alliance of San Mateo County).
Laura resides in San Mateo with her husband and two sons and lives by the philosophy that each person should “be the change they wish to see in this world.”
MARCH 14, 2027 | 8AM & 10AM SERVICES
The Rev. Katie Cadigan
Priest, Innovator, Evangelist
The Rev. Katie Cadigan is an Episcopal priest who just left her beloved job of 12 years as Associate Rector at St. Augustine by-the-Sea in Santa Monica to care for family in the San Francisco Bay Area.
At St. Augustine’s, Rev. Katie had the joy of creating innovative evangelical initiatives for the broader church: The Divine Office, an experimental spiritual community blending co-working with monastic-style spirituality; and AskTheRev, a social media short-video series featuring puppets questioning clergy about God and faith.
Check out the puppets’ videos - some featuring Rev. Sarah - on TikTok (@AskTheRev) or Instagram (@Ask_The_Rev).
APRIL 11, 2027 | 8AM & 10AM SERVICES | 11:15AM COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
The Rev. Jennifer Nelson
Deacon, Eco-Fellow, Engineer
A retired Geotechnical Engineer and Environmental Scientist who became the first female mining engineer in The Republic of Guyana and South America, and graduate of The Episcopal School for Deacons, Berkeley, Rev. Jennifer is passionate about Social/Racial/Environmental Justice, Immigration Reform, and Latino/Hispanic Ministry as part of her call to the Diaconate. She first served at St. James/Iglesia de Santiago, Oakland, after ordination until affordable housing forced her to move out of the Bay Area. She has since served in ministry in the Tri-Valley, East Bay, sharing her time between St. Clare’s, Pleasanton and St. Bartholomew’s, Livermore.
Upon retirement, Jennifer started a ministry repairing and donating computers to those in need, serves on the Commission on Ministry, the Council for Deacons, and most recently stepped away from her role as a General Convention Deputy Alternate. She currently serves as Chaplain to Retired Clergy and to the SF/SM Bay Area Cursillo Movement as well as a Client Council member for the Clergy Pension Fund, and was most recently appointed Eco-Fellow representing three dioceses within Province VIII.
MAY 9, 2027 | 10AM SERVICE | 11:15AM COMMUNITY HOSPITALI-TEA
St. Paul's Youth
St. Paul’s youth share their faith, doubt, questions, and leadership with us from the pulpit, inviting us to pray with all that is on their hearts and grow with them as we seek to love the world as God does. Come celebrate the ways we grow together in the Body of Christ as we follow Jesus together and encourage their continuing formation in faith.