Sometimes we stumble into good theology. Let me tell you a quick story about how this happened with our upcoming Celebration of New Ministry. The Celebration of New Ministry is the liturgy that celebrates the beginning of a partnership between a parish and priest. I hope you've heard that ours is scheduled for next Thursday, February 10, at 7:00 PM. The bishop presides, area clergy attend, in normal times the church invites community partners, and in general it is a big, important party. The idea is always to make the liturgy reflect the mutuality of ministry--with the ministries of priest and people, by the grace of God, sharing the focus. But invariably, the new priest gets most of the attention. After all, the priest's arrival is the triggering event for the liturgical celebration. How we pray is how we live, and this liturgy is always struggling to embody the reality of healthy ministry together.

This probably would have happened, despite our best efforts, to us, too. Except that after we had scheduled it, we realized that this liturgy will be taking the place of our usual annual episcopal visitation. Thursday night is Bishop's Logue's only planned visit to Saint Paul's in 2022. Once we knew that, we had to scramble to assemble a Confirmation class, or ask everyone to wait another year to be Confirmed. In the process of assembling that class, we found the happy need for an adult Baptism. Thankfully, the bishop agreed to this Frankensteined liturgy and we found ourselves, almost by accident, putting together a night that genuinely will reflect our shared ministry.

On Thursday night, we'll have a Baptism and multiple Confirmations and Receptions. These will then be the context for our Celebration of New Ministry. We will be demonstrating in almost overwhelming fashion that the ministry of the priest is rooted in the ministry of the baptized. Our relationship is not primarily determined by me ministering to you (though of course that matters very much), but by us ministering together, according to our gifts and orders. This liturgy will be about the life that God is making possible at Saint Paul's through all of us: bishop, people, and priest. As a production, it will be a little messy and a little overcrammed. That's okay--ministry and life are messy and sometimes overcrammed. 

I entreat you to come and participate. In our tradition, one role of sacraments is to clarify and deepen our understanding of what is real. This evening jam-packed with sacramental action will clarify and deepen our understanding of who we are: priest and people, and all ministers together. 

Eric+

In 2018 Saint Paul’s Church building turned 100 years old. The roof had leaks and other physical plant issues were concerning. Thus, was born “The Next 100 Years” capital campaign.

Parishioners and other friends of Saint Paul’s have donated $1,532,615. Currently we have $311,429 on hand and $70,447 in outstanding pledges. 

The 2018 plan requires that 30% of the collected funds be added to the Saint Paul’s endowment. Currently $334,975 are in the endowment from this campaign. 

Your capital campaign funds first use, as per the 2018 plan, was to replace the slate roof on the Church and the parish hall. Gutter, downspout, skylight replacement and bell tower lighting were included in this work. This project costing $466,505 completed in 2018 and thanks to Dennis Bell it was within budget.

The re-leathering of our Casavant organ took place in 2020 at a cost of $75,000. 

Accessibility ramps to the Church and parish hall complement our architecture. The ramps built in 2020 cost $111,587 which was far more than our 2018 estimate. 

We completed the second accessibility project, the Tyler Hall restrooms, in 2021. The cost $202,571 was also above budget.

Design work cost $23,343 for the completed projects and $4,431 has been spent on other expenses.

In 2018 the plans included moving the church offices to the upstairs in Tyler Hall and refurbishing the current office space to use for church programs. Since then, a decision was made not to proceed with those plans.

Architectural plans to remodel the Tyler Hall kitchen are complete. A contractor has priced the job. This project includes added sexton workspace and storage. The space will encompass the old restroom and will house the washer and dryer now in the kitchen. This project should be completed in 2022. The estimated cost is $300,000.

Plans to improve the Sacristy are not yet ready but we expect to complete that work in 2022. Our budget is $25,000.

Updating technology in the Church, the offices and the River Room are the remaining projects. Technology has evolved and our uses of technology have expanded. Our budget is $150,000. Recent proposals are within this range. We will need to raise more money to fund this project and fund the endowment as committed. 

Catherine Boardman

Billy Badger

The Finance Committee and the Vestry are beginning the work of preparing the 2022 budget. Your pledge allows them to prepare a more accurate budget. If you have not yet completed a pledge card, please prayerfully consider your pledge to a momentous year. Pledge cards are available in the Narthex and by contacting the parish office. You may also pledge online using the link below.

89 Increase (22 new), 5 Decrease, 40 no change

as of 02/02/2022

Offerings pledged this Week $12,159.00

Offerings received this Week $43,834.67

Operating Expenses to Date $58,195.01

Total Income Received to Date $94,142.03

Please contact the Parish Office to update our files.