Dear St. Paul’s,
As we prepare to enter summertime soon, it seems our building is also feeling the burden of a long winter. We completed the repairs on the parish hall stairwell which included all new joists, wood framing, cleaning out of black mold; cleaning, repairing and painting the walls in the library (as the mold, etc. had infiltrated into there); repairing and painting the walls in the Second Floor Conference Room (as the moisture had also leached into that space and caused damage), and replacing the ceiling.
During the same time period, we encountered a steam leak in the same stairwell which was the result of a leakage from a major steam pipe located right outside the front door of the parish house. BWL tore up the concrete and went digging to find a 100-year old pipe. They did and replaced it and replaced our concrete. No more steam leak.
Now we are taking down parts of the ceiling in the Van Atta Room to determine if there are any problems resulting from water leakage in there. We are hoping not to find black mold and rotted joists . . . but if it is there, we need to tend to it know. The building is old and requires much of our attention and resources to maintain its beauty and usefulness.
BUT . . . the most important thing to remind you is that today is Donna’s last day among us. Before the end of next week, she will be in her car heading to Carson City, Nevada to be the next rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in that town. This new calling will bring her much closer to her family and her next step in ministry as a rector. Let us all remember to add Donna and St. Peter’s to our prayers as they begin this exciting new journey together. Donna will be missed.
The Rev. Gail Shaefer has agreed to pick up the pastoral care work Donna was doing and I give thanks she is available to do that work. While I am on sabbatical, Gail and Dick Hamlin will be providing your Sunday worship for which I am very grateful. We know these two clergy well and give thanks they are willing to provide the coverage while I am away for July, August and the first three weeks of September.
We are starting to plan for next Fall and by request, will offer another congregational book study during coffee hour. After pondering which book to read, the overwhelming majority of the St. Paul’s Wednesday book study group selected Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times by Gregory Boyle. Ask anyone in the book study group and they will share with you this is a life-changing book. The author is a Jesuit priest who has spent more than 40 years as director of Home Boy Industries, a faith-based agency that works with gangs in Los Angeles. We will do this the first three Sundays of October.
I trust all of you are continuing your prayer life and offering prayers for those we love and those we don’t. Those are the hardest prayers to do. You all remain in my prayers.
Blessings to you and yours,
Karen+