At the July Vestry meeting, the Vestry noted much work being done by the Buildings and Grounds Committee and staff over the past month. Due to age, frequent maintenance issues, coupled with a pending change in refrigerant, the two River Room HVAC units are being replaced. We were thankful that the Finance Committee’s far-sightedness had provided a well-funded savings account for just such a purpose and we were able to quickly address what could have been a significant issue for those who use our River Room. The Building and Grounds Technology subcommittee has identified the best options for a new, more comprehensive managed IT provider and a new alarm system vendor (part of the Technology initiative in the Capital Campaign). These services and a better connectivity to the internet will help bring our technology more in the present and prepare us for future needs (think improved streaming, projection of our services to the Riverwalk, better security). 

Fr. Biddy updated us identifying options for calling an associate priest. This is an area that is a high priority for the Vestry, and we will dedicate a good bit of our next meeting to finding the best way to add needed clergy to our staff. 

At the meeting, the Vestry voted to relocate the Polk memorial to the narthex and the unanimous vote was a recognition that compromise was the best solution for the future of the Church. An email to the parish summarizing the process and the rationale for the vote was sent out earlier this week. A hard copy will follow in snail mail.

Finally, we remain aware of increasing COVID cases in our area and how this may impact us continuing to safely worship and gather together. We re-established the Gathering Safely committee (Rex Teeslink, Nancy Kotti and Ian McQueen) to guide us in merging the safety protocols from our previous metrics from the Brown School of Public Health to the CDC’s metrics. In the meantime, due to an immediate need to address safety protocols due to higher counts in our area, we provided guidance for the Church for several upcoming services and events. 

Cameron Nixon

Senior Warden

This week the CDC moved Richmond County to its High level of community transmission for COVID-19. In response, the vestry has appointed a new Gathering Safely Committee, charged with reconciling our previous mitigation protocols with the current state of the pandemic. While that new committee works, the vestry has established the following guidelines for the immediate term: 

As we have stated before, the Church is not qualified to give you medical advice or to assess your personal risk. But I do feel qualified to urge you to pay attention to the effect this recurring anxiety and disruption have on your spiritual life. The clergy at Saint Paul’s will be as flexible as we possibly can be in accompanying you spiritually as you make the decisions you need to make for your physical safety. If you have to stay home, let us bring communion to your porch. If you are weary beyond words, let’s pray together on the phone. As a culture, we are not always great at being “in this together.” But that does not mean that you are alone. God is faithful, and the church is striving for that faithfulness, too. 

Eric+ 

Pledge cards are available in the Narthex and by contacting the parish office.

You may also pledge online using the link below.

93 Increase (23 new), 6 Decrease, 40 no change

as of 07/20/2022

Offerings pledged this Week $12,981.00

Offerings received this Week $6,561.90

Operating Expenses to Date $476,359.31

Operating Income to Date $558,192.22

Please contact the Parish Office to update our files.