Dear Friends,
Labor Day has come and gone. Now, St. Paul’s comes back to life after a slow and easy summer. If you’ve been away enjoying some vacation or your lake house, welcome back! My name is Dan Thompson, Senior Director of Operations, or as some have more concisely entitled me, "the new Lisa." I am glad to be here and excited for this upcoming year at St. Paul’s!
I write to give you some perspective on the business of St. Paul’s. I hope to do this on a regular basis. Not necessarily providing numbers and graphs, rather just a narrative about what is going on from an operational standpoint at our beloved St. Paul’s.
Today I want to focus on some highlights of this year’s budget. In June, the Vestry voted to adopt a balanced budget for fiscal year 2023, which started July 1. The budget provides a nice balance of internal and external Church initiatives.
From a personnel standpoint, this year’s budget will allow us to hire a few new people:
- Part-time A/V Specialist, who will help with all things audio/video technology, including managing our Sunday livestream
- Part-time Youth Minister, who will focus on our teens
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Database Manager, who will hopefully allow us to track your interests in interacting with us — oh, and ask you for money more efficiently (insert winky face) — don’t say we didn’t warn you!
We believe all of these positions will help us grow in our overall professionalism and efficiencies.
The Avenue Foundation, have you heard about it? Everyone seems eager for this coffee shop to open its doors. I promise it is getting closer. Once again, this year, we were able to make a sizable impact grant to the critical mission and work of The Avenue Foundation. As we transition to the next phase of this partnership, we are eager to see where the relationship takes us!
What else, you ask? New vestments for our Choir members are in the works. An immersive, social justice pilgrimage to the south, either Tennessee or Alabama, is being considered. We have plans to add some spirit wear! That’s right, we want to give you a chance to show off your St. Paul’s pride and represent the parish when you’re serving in the community. We continue to add to the technology in our rooms, helping us to expand the reopening of our building back to pre-pandemic, “normal” use. We have plans for expanded fundraising events (again with the asking for money?!?!). We have already spent resources on Godly Play materials for Sunday School and revamped our children’s areas. Our staff is expanding its continuing education training to further bolster St. Paul’s programming. And, of course, we’ll continue to find ways to serve the world around us.
Wait, there is more!!!?!?! We had to pay for a new water heater in the Parish Hall, that’s not exciting at all and actually was out of budget, but new nonetheless, so why not highlight it, right?
Okay, that’s probably enough for now, plus my hands are cramping, typing all the great things we are getting into this year. It obviously cannot happen without your tremendous support! For that we say a sincere thank you!
Senior Director of Operations
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ADULT FAITH FORUM
Sunday, September 18, 10:15-11 a.m., Parish Hall
Where Has Barb Been?
Join us for a special forum with the Rev. Barbara Kempf where she will share a few of photos and insights from her recent sabbatical. There will also be time for questions and table conversation.
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CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT ::
THE ABEL FAMILY QUARTET AND FRIENDS
Sunday, September 18, 4-5 p.m., Sanctuary
Alfred, Benjamin, and Colette Abel join with cellist Marty Meyer and pianist Yuantong Bai to feature music of Sergei Prokofiev, Franz Schubert and Maurice Ravel for strings and piano. The Abel family are well-known to the Indianapolis community and longtime friends of St. Paul’s. All four family members are professional musicians from Indianapolis and also based in cities from Cincinnati to New York. Admission is free.
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ADULT CONFIRMATION CLASS
Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows is planning to offer the sacrament of confirmation during her visit to St. Paul's on Sunday, January 22, 2023. Confirmation is the sacramental rite in which the candidates "express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop." (BCP:860)
To learn more about the sacrament of confirmation in the Episcopal Church, click here.
Class schedule:
- Sundays, October 23, November 6 & 20, December 4 and January 15. Classes will occur after the 11:15 a.m. worship service and will last approximately 75 minutes.
Baptized adults of all ages who are interested in confirmation are invited to sign up below. Questions, please contact The Rev. Barbara Kempf. Any youth interested in confirmation, please contact Laurie Pierce.
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LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR THE FAMILY MINISTRY WAYCROSS RETREAT
Friday, September 30 at 5 p.m. - Sunday, October 2 at noon
Today, September 15, is the deadline to register to join families and friends from St. Paul's for a weekend away at Waycross CCC. This retreat, sponsored by Family Ministry, includes fellowship, worship and several indoor/outdoor activities. Programming will be designed for families with children in the household but all are welcome! Cost is all-inclusive (hotel-type lodging, meals and snacks, programming, crafts, nursery care and more) and scholarships to offset the fees are available. Questions, email Laurie Pierce or call 463.800.3073. See details and register below today:
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SACRED GROUND DIALOGUE SERIES
“Becoming Beloved Community” is the Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation and justice in our personal lives, ministries and society. Sacred Ground is a film and reading-based program that St. Paul's will host. This is open to all and is a great opportunity to learn about the history of race and racism in America, and also about ourselves, our stories and our local context. The series begins Oct 3 with a potluck dinner at St. Paul’s. The group then meets from 7-8:30 p.m. via Zoom on Oct 10, 24; Nov 7; Dec 5 & (in person) Dec 12. Questions, contact Laurie Pierce or the Rev. Patrick Burke. Learn more and register below:
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Emma Szalkie (pictured on left in first and second images) |
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PICNIC TABLES
Emma Szalkie will be the first youth from St. Paul’s charter BSA Troop 173 to achieve Eagle Scout rank.
“Eagle” is the BSA’s seventh and highest rank. As her final project, Emma chose to make made two picnic tables for St. Paul’s campus, now located near the north parking lot.
Congratulations and thank you, Emma!
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TUESDAY STUDY GROUP
The group is now studying the book, This Band of Sisterhood, by Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows (and others). With the #metoo movement, Black Lives Matter and the increased feelings of division in our country, Black clergy women in the Episcopal Church have voiced a need to come together to share their experiences and concerns. The five Black women bishops featured in this book can provide a compass for how to journey along these new paths. All are invited to join the conversation, regardless of reading the book. Questions, contact Larry Johnson. Purchase the book below:
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2022 CIVIC EDUCATION CONFERENCE
Women 4 Change Indiana equips citizens with the information needed to care for their communities in constructive ways that will enhance the state. Civic Education: The DNA of Democracy features workshops that offer in-depth learning about civic and democratic engagement. Keynote speakers are Dr. Cynthia Cherrey, President of the International Leadership Association; Rajiv Vinnakota, President of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars at Princeton University; and Sarah Evans Barker, Judge of the United States District Court. Register by September 15 for $40/early bird and $25/student tickets. Lunch is provided. This event is sponsored in part by an outreach grant from St. Paul's. Click below for details and to register. Questions, contact Katherine Tyler Scott.
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