Dear All;
I believe we have finally turned the corner into Summer. This means activities and such slow down at the church as many folks begin their annual treks “up north” on weekends. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT GOD DOES NOT GO ON VACATION. I believe God will also be heading “up north” with you, or wherever you are traveling.
We do have some major changes coming up so read closely:
. . . The Sanctuary will be closed beginning June 9th. After two years of planning and manufacturing, the clerestory windows (upper stained-glass windows) will be removed, and frames and clear insulating glass will be inserted in each opening. The stained glass will be removed and taken to the shop, where any repairs and cleaning will be done. After that, they will be returned and inserted from the inside of the Sanctuary. This means a very large lift will be working either in the Memorial Garden or on the Seymour Street side of the building to take out the glass windows. We will need to close sidewalks and parking spots on the street. The removal may take up to 4 weeks. So, pay attention to where you are walking.
. . . We have our annual worship and meal at Frances Park on June 15th. We will have teacher recognition that day. If you accidentally come to church for the 10:00 am service, you will find the doors locked and no one home! Of course, we will put up a sign reminding you of that event on the door.
. . . We move into the Merrifield Room for Sunday worship beginning June 22nd. That means your option of kneeling for the prayers will be very uncomfortable. Although the space is sacred, just like the Sanctuary, it seems we can and will be a bit more informal.
… Speaking of the summer, I will be heading out on Sabbatical from July 1 – September 20th. You will hear more about it over the next few weeks. Dick Hamlin and Gail Shafer will be leading your Sunday worship and offering pastoral care while I am away. The Vestry is willing and able to take on the other tasks as necessary – caring for the staff, planning for the 2026 pledge drive, overseeing any building issues, etc.
… Last but not least, this Sunday during our sermon time, we will have a presentation & conversation about St. Paul’s new Land Acknowledgment. You will learn what it is, why St. Paul’s leadership believes there is a need for one, and how it was developed. This is a prayer that will become a part of daily life – a prayer we will pray each Sunday; each parish or committee will begin their meetings with this prayer, etc. Many of us in the congregation have been involved in anti-racism coursework and the Sacred Ground program over the past several years. The Land Acknowledgment is a product of those learnings. I am eager for you to hear of this work and the resulting product.
Please continue to pray for your family, your St. Paul’s family, our government, all who are hungry or have nowhere to lay their heads at night; all who travel, and of course, for yourselves.
Blessings to you and yours,
Karen+