Beloved,

I never thought I'd write this, but there is something about Zoom worship that I miss. There is a certain intimacy that Zoom encourages and at no time was that more felt than in our Zoom coffee hours. Initially we tried to have everyone talk together in one large group, but then moved to random breakout rooms, allowing groups of 7-10 spend some quality time getting to know each other. These were so successful that many of our new folks admitted to feeling part of the family by spending this quiet time with a few different people each week, getting to know them in ways that "normal" coffee hour does not always allow for. I, too, was thrilled to have time in different small groups each week. The Zoom breakouts also gave folks who had not been able to be in church pre-pandemic, a chance to commune with their fellow worshippers and be full participants in the gathered body of Christ.

Now, before you get your dander up, as my Mom used to say, we have no plan to bring back Zoom church. We do, however, have a plan to bring back Zoom coffee hour! We are proposing a weekly Afternoon Tea with the Dean and/or Deacon each Wednesday from 3 - 4 beginning next week. This is a time for anyone to drop in and chat with us and with each other. A chance to continue the beloved community beyond Sunday morning worship and to include those who are only able to be with us virtually. All are welcome at this Afternoon Tea, and all topics are open for conversation!

Look for the Zoom link below and on our website, and think about joining us for a minute or 60.

In Christ's love,

Greta+ 

Beginning this Sunday, September 26, the links to access Morning Prayer and Compline online will change. Please use the following link to join us for those services via Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86759359527?pwd=Z0lDUUNNVTRSVm9yd0JzSkRXQysydz09.

Morning prayer continues to take place in person and via Zoom.

The Zoom links will stay the same going forward, and will work for both Compline and Morning Prayer. As a reminder, the use of Facebook live has been discontinued.

After today's morning prayer service, please delete the old links if you had bookmarked them - they'll no longer work. Morning Prayer and Compline information on the St. Paul's website will be updated to reflect this change this afternoon.

Here at the Cathedral, we've been missing coffee hour - that incarnation of Christian community and communal bonding that contributes to our sense of holistic well-being as a parish. This casual weekly gathering will be hosted by Dean Greta Getlein and/or Deacon Stan Baker, and offers a chance to gather, reconnect with old friends, and meet new ones.

Barrie Montross will join the St. Paul's vestry in October, taking the spot left by Betsy Beaulieu, who moved to Connecticut at the end of this summer.

Many thanks to Betsy for her participation in the vestry, and to Barrie's contributions going forward!

Beginning in January 2022, the Cathedral Square Corporation welcomes Chol Dhoor and Nancy Snyder as new members of its board of directors.

Chris Davis, who served as president of the board, is stepping down at the end of this year. Thank you for your years of service, Chris!

Cathedral Square is an independent, nonprofit and nonsectarian organization established in 1977. The organization began when the Cathedral Church of St. Paul donated a portion of its land to build a residence for seniors of modest means and people with disabilities, which church leaders identified as a priority social need in the area.

On September 8, our Cathedral Social Justice Committee hosted UVM Professor Dr. Stephanie Seguino, who gave an informative online presentation related to her work on the Burlington Police Commission, and outlined changes she felt would increase the availability for quick response to mental health needs, which make up the majority of calls to the police in our community. This capacity would also enable police officers to respond to crime, violence, and abuse situations more efficiently. Here is a link to her one-hour presentation, followed by a link to the Police Commission resolution.

On Tuesday, September 28, at 6:00 the Police commission is holding a public hearing at Burlington City Hall Contois Auditorium, at which comments on the resolution will be welcomed. Deacon Stan Baker and some other members of our Social Justice Committee will be attending. Those not able to attend the hearing who would like to comment can send comments by email to: Shannon Trammell, strammell@bpdvt.org.  

If you are talented at clerical work, FedEx billing protocols, bow-making, creating large charts, making phone calls, sales promotion, crafty with cones and glue guns OR you would like to learn, let me know as soon as possible. My phone 862-3575, cell 734-9349 email ppills949@gmail.com.

-- Penny Pillsbury

Participation in the class does not obligate students to be confirmed. Those participants who want to be confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church will make their commitments at the Easter Vigil. Anyone interested in confirmation should reach out to the Dean.

This Sunday is the Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost. Click here for the latest edition of The Sunday Paper, a weekly publication for children that includes Scriptural images, and stories that relate the Gospel to the Old Testament, the life of the church, and their own lives.

All children aged four to 11 are welcome to join us for Church School. If you are planning to participate or have any questions, please email Katie Gonyaw, our Children's Formation Coordinator.

Join us this Sunday, September 26 as we celebrate the Holy Eucharist at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. in person. Our 11:00 a.m. service will be live streamed on the Cathedral's YouTube channel for those who would like to join us virtually.

You can view or download the order of worship for the 11:00 Eucharist here.

Morning Prayer, Monday through Friday at 8:30 a.m. In Person and on Zoom.

Compline, Sundays and Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. on Zoom.

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

At Cathedral Square Assisted Living, we are in need of volunteers to serve and clean up dinner meals on the following days:

At Cathedral Square Assisted Living (3 Cherry Street, Burlington). All shifts are from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm)

If you can help please let Maria King king@cathedralsquare.org know.

Join us this weekend for Unlocking God’s Grace & Hope, a Zoom and in-person conference hosted Sept. 24 to 26 by St Mary’s in the Mountains Episcopal Church in Wilmington, VT, located in the scenic Green Mountains, between Bennington and Brattleboro, near the Massachusetts border.

For more conference details and to register ($35 in person, $20 on Zoom), visit our website at smmvt.org/evan-conf-2021, which includes the options of secure online payment through the Diocese of Vermont.

In light of the continuing rise in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in Vermont, the diocesan convention events originally slated to take place on Saturday, November 6 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul will now take place online.

The business portion of diocesan convention will be held as planned, online via Zoom on Thursday, November 4 beginning at 6 p.m.

The bishop's address, worship, and other programming will take place online via Zoom and YouTube Saturday, November 6. Watch future issues of the Mountain for more information about the agenda, starting time, and how to join.

Online registration is now open. The deadline for registration is Friday, October 15.

If you are a delegate and unable to attend convention, it is your responsibility to notify the diocesan office of the change.

The business session of convention will take place online via Zoom on Thursday, November 4 at 6 p.m. In order to participate in the business session of convention, delegates will need a dependable internet connection and access to Zoom (see technical requirements). Clergy or delegates who anticipate connectivity or technological challenges that might make it difficult to participate in convention from home are asked to email communications@diovermont.org. The business session will be broadcast online for viewing by the general public.

·    A call for Resolutions

·    Instructions for preparing resolutions

·    The form for submitting resolutions to convention

Watch the diocesan website for convention updates.

This weekly e-newsletter is circulated on Fridays. Please have your pieces submitted to Jennifer Sumner at admin@stpaulscathedralvt.org by noon on Wednesday. Thank you.