The St. Paul's Epistle
July, 2005
Contents
Letter from the Rector
Receptions
The Gift of Faith - Sundays for Children
Could Your Stewardship Involve Knitting?
The Pllana Family Becomes US Citizens
St Paul's ECW Bridge Marathon
St. Paul's Day at Seabreeze is Coming Up
Antiques Show Was a Success!
Water for Sudan Update
Vestry Notes - June
Dear Members and Friends of St. Paul's:
During my 3 ½ month Sabbatical leave this Summer and Fall I have appointed Associate Rector Tom McCart as Head of Staff. His responsibilities include monthly meetings with the Wardens, chairing Staff Meetings, Music Staff Meetings and the Worship Commission, attending Parish Operations Council monthly meetings, Investment Policy Committee and Stewardship and Communications meetings, and advising and supporting the New Member Ministry Commission and Human Resources Committee.
Our Curate, Leslie St. Louis, will attend Mission I Funding and Christian Education Meetings, while also being the Clergy Liaison and support to RAIHN and Christian Dialogue and Contemporary Issues.
In case of a pastoral emergency, one of the clergy is always on call through the church pager.
To give us a running start for Fall the entire St. Paul's staff had a Planning Day on June 7 under the excellent leadership of Canon Steve Lane. Preliminary plans and procedures, as well as an 18 month calendar, were just some of the fruits of our labor.
I give thanks to the faithful and inspired leadership of your Vestry, as well as the care and planning of the St. Paul's staff, who are all dedicated to carrying out the mission and ministry of this wonderful church.
I look forward to an inspiring and revitalizing sabbatical, and sharing my experiences during the Advent Series in December.
Faithfully yours,
The Rev. Frederic Reynolds
Rector
Receptions
You probably have already thought of this, but if you haven't… With the Parish Hall renovations well underway, it is impossible to hold any function there, including receptions following funerals or memorial services. Small receptions may be able to be accommodated in Wainwright Hall depending upon circumstances.
The Gift of Faith - Sundays for Children
Participating in Sunday morning programs, children come to know the Word of God and live out their faith with the church community.
Looking ahead to school year 2005-2006, children will experience age-appropriate learning and worship:
- Infants and toddlers play in a loving environment with skilled care givers.
- Children pre-school through grade 2 learn through Godly Play with stories, crafts, song and prayers that God loves us all.
- Youngsters in grades 3-6 make new friends and get to know stories from the Bible as they celebrate the seasons of the church year.
- Young People in Middle School, grades 7-8, embrace the joys and responsibilities of incipient adulthood with the curriculum for Rite 13.
- Students in grade 9 look at the role of Christ in their everyday life, the Church and the world as they prepare for Confirmation.
- High Schoolers continue the journey to adulthood through discussion and service.
Come to the Back-to-School Breakfast on Sunday, September 11 from 8:45-9:30 to join friends and newcomers, register for classes and meet teachers. Classes begin at 9:45 with everyone joining the congregation for the Eucharist at 10:40.
Barbara Warner
Could Your Stewardship Involve Knitting?
The Churchwomen have been supporting the ministry of the Seamen's Institute in New York City for many years by knitting scarves and caps. This is a ministry that helps thousands of seafarers of all nationalities with services that run the gamut from clothing, transportation and legal advice to religious services.
If you enjoy knitting and would like to help, please contact Mary Jane McKnight (248-0393) for the knitting directions and yarn. The projects are simple and fun - and could be done by parishioners of all ages. Among our faithful knitters are Ann Clarke, Mabel Coleman, Fran Kerr, Caroline Lee, Jan Lincoln, Jeanette Lyons, Dorothy Phillips and Gloria Weller. Join us, won't you?
The Pllana Family Becomes US Citizens
In early May, Behlul Pllana and his family became US citizens. It was a moving experience for them and for me, their invited guest. This is the second naturalization ceremony I've attended and it is unforgettable. The ceremony was held at RIT in a large tiered auditorium. I lined up with the Pllana family for the long wait to enter and one last check of their documents. A military honor guard marched in with the flag. Some speeches followed listing the rights of American citizenship and all raised their right hand and were sworn in. The Pledge of Allegiance followed. The room was electric with pride, emotion, hope and relief. I wondered what thoughts were going through the heads of each. Every one of the over 180 participants had lived a story and had struggled in some way to get to this day. The Star Spangled Banner resounded deeply to all… "land of the free and the home of the brave." The judge then went into the audience and gave each new citizen his document and a handshake.
The Pllana family lived on the third floor of Wainwright Hall for 3 years before buying their own home on Royalston Street in Rochester last September.
Nancy Frank
St Paul's ECW Bridge Marathon
St. Paul's ECW Bridge Marathon has just completed its sixth year. Members meet in their homes during the winter months. They are hosts for four of the months and guests for four. If you are interested in joining the fun starting next fall please call Larry or Mary Jane McKnight (248-0393) before August 1. No degree of excellence is required - just so long as your partner enjoys playing with you.
June Hasty
St. Paul's Day at Seabreeze is Coming Up
Mark your calendars now for the third annual St. Paul's Day at Seabreeze on July 30, presented by Shalom! The ticket price of $15.00 includes an all day ride and slide pass as well as the use of a pavilion (food is not included). This saves you $5.00 off a regular ticket, or $1.00 off a kid pass. Tickets will be available from Nancy Curtis starting in mid-July. Everyone is welcome! Here are a couple of points to remember:
- You can buy as many tickets as you like. Bring friends and family!
- You can return unused tickets to the church office up to three days after the event for a full refund.
- You can buy tickets up to and including the day of the event. If you do not get tickets from a Shalom member in advance, you can purchase them at the Group Sales office at Seabreeze, near the main entrance. Mention the St. Paul's group.
Hope to see you at Seabreeze!
Antiques Show Was a Success!
The Antiques Show Committee met on June 12 for their wrap-up meeting. After enjoying a delicious luncheon (thank you, Jerry DeLuccio), Fred opened the meeting with prayer. Gwen Cheney, treasurer, gave the financial report and announced that the total profit for distribution was $18,575.35. Of this, 25% ($4,643.84) went to ECW, and the remainder was divided in half with $6,965.76 earmarked for the educational foundation being set up for the Lost Boys, "Hope for Sudan." The remaining funds were distributed as follows:
| Tools for sextons | $100 |
| Church flatware | $375 |
| School #9 | $500 |
| Day Care Scholarships | $1,000 |
| Carpeting | $3,000 |
| SPY Mission Trips | $1,500 |
| Godly Play equipment | $500 |
The largest amount, for carpeting, is intended to be used for the upstairs hall in the Sunday School wing, and, if funds permit, re-doing another one of the classrooms. This long-term project was begun several years ago with the replacement of the stair carpeting, and continued last year with the refinishing of the floor and purchase of an area rug for another of the classrooms.
After a closing prayer offered by Jerry, the committee adjourned with good feelings about the 56th annual Antiques Show and Sale.
Gail Bush
Water for Sudan Update
This is the first well drilled by Water for Sudan in the Lonariik region of North Tonj in southern Sudan. It is in the village where Salva was born and raised. There is a continuous line all day and all night of over 100 people waiting to fill their gourds and jerry cans with clean water from the well. The photos show Salva at the well and a dusty young villager drinking from it.
A total of five wells have been completed and are currently serving over 17,500 people. Two additional wells were planned but not completed this year. These and others will be completed when Salva returns in six months.
Vestry Notes - June
- Tim Pyper demonstrated to the Vestry the work that needs to be done to restore the organ.
- The Vestry authorized a commitment of up to $300,000 to pay for the tonal work and releathering work on the organ.
- The Vestry authorized the expenditure of up to $6,000 for the replacement of light bulbs in the Church, contingent upon the concurrence of the Senior Warden, including any reasonable cost overruns.
- The Vestry approved the allocation of funds for the purchase of furniture, kitchen equipment and projection equipment in connection with the renovation of the Parish Hall, and approved the expenditure of up to $650,000 for the entire project, provided that the scope of the project is not expanded.
- The acceptance of the gift of an automobile was approved.
- The recommendation of the Human Resources Committee and the Parish Operations Council for a salary range for the position of Maintenance Supervisor was approved.
- The Vestry approved a Vestry Self-Evaluation form prepared by the Human Resources Committee, subject to change after implementation of the self-evaluation process in the next year.
- The Vestry approved an Unusual Mission Opportunities Fund grant of up to $3,000 per year for three years to help Michael Lolwerikoi cover his Ph.D. program expenses.
- David Fetler's request for placards that suggest the amount of a donation for attendance at the Elijah Concert was approved.
- The proposed allocation of funds received from the 2005 Antiques Show was approved.
- The Vestry adopted a resolution of thanks for the work of Alice Eldredge and Gail Bush on the Parish Life Commission.
- A resolution authorizing the Rector and the Wardens to make and report on non-substantive interpretations of the stewardship confidentiality policy was approved.
Les Kernan, Clerk