Earlier in the year, the Vestry identified as a priority the hiring of an additional priest to support the work of the clergy and staff, and to support the ministries of and the ministering to the congregation. A subcommittee of Vestry members, which also included the Rector, created a job description for an Associate Rector and presented it at the October meeting. This position will share in all aspects of the Rector’s ministry with special attention to pastoral care and furthering deepening the parish’s relationship with the congregation and our vibrant, diverse, rapidly changing downtown neighborhood. We are ready to be blessed by this person’s gifts, but it will most likely be into next year before this initial step begins to bear fruit.

The Stewardship campaign is underway, and I hope you have enjoyed and been inspired by the testimonials of our fellow parishioners. I admit I forget in the hustle of my daily life how enriching it is to support my church, and I am thankful for the gift of stewardship expressed so eloquently in those testimonials.

Concurrent with the 2023 stewardship campaign is the continued movement towards changing our approach to stewardship from its transactional purpose during an early fall campaign to a year-round awareness of its importance to our church and to ourselves as stewards. An initial step is the Vestry’s theology of stewardship statement that will set the tone. With guidance from Fr. Biddy, we hope our openness about finances and a willingness to prayerfully consider increases will lead and inspire us all to participate at giving levels that allows us to successfully reach our goals.

Lastly, we reviewed attendance metrics from the past several years, using this information to discuss how our worship attendance suffered during the pandemic. We are so pleased with the level of engagement across the Church since the start of the programming year in August, from children’s choirs to adult forum programming (weekdays and Sundays) and want to also share that each Sunday in our communal worship.

Cameron Nixon

Senior Warden

Our 2023 Annual Stewardship Campaign is underway. As the month comes to a close, we'll hear personal reflections from Laura and John Robertson and Ellen Nesbitt.

Pledge cards will be mailed next week. We are asking for all Saint Paul's households to complete and return a pledge card online or by mail by Sunday, November 13. The online pledge card is available on our website at saintpauls.org or by using the direct link below.

as of 10/19/2022

Offerings pledged this Week $12,981.00

Offerings received this Week $6,130.00

Operating Expenses to Date $702,502.88

Operating Income to Date $791,574.39

Please contact the Parish Office to update our files.