Messages from the Rector
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Watch all Daily Messages from Father Wilson here
THIS WEEK
Sunday, August 16, the 11th Sunday after Pentecost
Services led by the rector, and with music, will return next Sunday.
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Program
Live Streamed on the parish Facebook page HERE
Officiant and Preacher: The Rev. Dr. Mauricio Wilson, rector
10:00 a.m. Choral Eucharist Program
Live Streamed on the parish Facebook page HERE
Officiant and Preacher: The Rev. Dr. Mauricio Wilson, rector
Christopher Kula, Music Director.
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Program
Live Streamed on the parish Facebook page HERE
Officiant and Preacher: The Rev. Dr. Mauricio Wilson, rector
10:00 a.m. Choral Eucharist Program
Live Streamed on the parish Facebook page HERE
Officiant and Preacher: The Rev. Dr. Mauricio Wilson, rector
Christopher Kula, Music Director.
Early August 2020 Hello, fellow St. Paul’s parishioners! As always, we hope that you are all well and adapting to the ever-changing world of Covid-19. What is the Regathering Task Force up to? The Force is strong at St. Paul’s! The Regathering Survey is finished, parish-wide telephone calls are under way, and a provisional master plan to address Diocesan, state, and county requirements for future in-person outdoor and indoor worship is in the process of being sent to the Diocese for approval. Since livestreaming of services will be with us for some time, Fr. Mauricio and others are exploring improved audio and video systems. What did the Regathering Survey show? The complete results are not yet available, but preliminary findings from the 42 responses (a very good rate, by the way), show that most respondents have participated in the 10 a.m. service and about half have attended Compline. 90% of the respondents would like improved streaming technology, and we hear you (see previous paragraph). Fr. Wilson’s daily blessing is very popular. There is strong interest in an on-line Bible study group and in a social justice book club and in maintaining the Food Pantry. At this time, people feel more comfortable with outdoor rather than with indoor worship. What about the School? St. Paul’s School, in conformity with the state and county guidelines, will not be reopening physically in the near future, but they are working on several possibilities for bringing children back to campus if and when it is allowed. Temporary barriers, a little over five feet high, are being installed throughout the School, in their gym, and in the Parish Hall so that “pods” of children can remain separated. At this time, the School has no plans to use the Church. The School and Church personnel will be isolated from one another. When can I worship at St. Paul’s? As you might imagine, the answer is: stay tuned. Outdoor worship for a small group, without communion, coffee hour, or bathroom access and with participants bringing their own chairs, will come first, perhaps in September; folks over 65 and with underlying health issues will be discouraged from attending. In the meantime, you can check the website to join a service on-line and/or view a recorded version. And in case this all sounds pretty grim, take a look at one priest’s lighthearted offering on YouTube, forwarded from LENS, the Episcopal News Service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFduNE4pXAQ All are welcome, and we are in this together! Carolyn Knapp, Correspondent for The St. Paul’s Regathering Task Force |
THE PANTRY OF HOPE CONTINUES ITS WORK!
St. Paul's is carrying on with Facebook steams of weekly church services and providing food to our neighbors through the work of our Food Pantry. We are only able to continue this work because of your financial gifts and volunteer time. Thank you for all the work you do to donate to the effort!
JOIN the Chat via Zoom!
Between 2 Services: 9am Coffee Hour Every Sunday!
Grab your morning beverage & join us for coffee & conversation. We can talk about the Sunday readings, pray together & enjoy each other's company.
Coffee Hour meeting # 838 0536 9552 Email or Facebook PM Pam for the password. Hosted by Pam & Scott Buckingham, via Zoom. Every Saturday: Happy Hour, 5pm
We miss our friends!
Grab your evening beverage and let's get together for some fellowship & conversation. Happy Hour meeting # 838 3156 3923 Email or Facebook PM Pam for the password. Hosted by Pam & Scott Buckingham, via Zoom. |
Did you miss church on Sunday or want to see it again?
Watch services for the 9th Sunday after Pentecost, posted below. More on the Church Services page,
Vestry Report, from the July/August 2020 Newsletter
In order to keep the Parish informed of the work that the Vestry does as the elected volunteer leadership of the church, we will be reporting monthly on the Vestry meetings and sharing a written summary each month in the bulletin and newsletter.
As a reminder, any member of the Parish may attend Vestry meetings which are every fourth Tuesday of the month, unless otherwise noted, and the full minutes of the meeting are available to parish members upon request by contacting the parish administrator or a member of the Vestry.
What follows is a summary of the key decisions made by the Vestry at the May 26, 2020 Vestry meeting.
Your Vestry: Allison Sass—Sr. Warden, Bill Davis—Jr. Warden, Erica Terry-Derryck—Clerk, Ann Gregory—Treasurer, Dylan Versteeg, Sergio Prieto, Lisa Strait, Will Cowart and Sharon Pilmer
As a reminder, any member of the Parish may attend Vestry meetings which are every fourth Tuesday of the month, unless otherwise noted, and the full minutes of the meeting are available to parish members upon request by contacting the parish administrator or a member of the Vestry.
What follows is a summary of the key decisions made by the Vestry at the May 26, 2020 Vestry meeting.
- An update was given on the Lay Discernment Process for Stephen Tiffenson
- There was discussion of moving the 150th anniversary celebration to begin with the 150th anniversary and carry on through the following year, rather than culminating with the 150th anniversary given the COVID-19 pandemic
- Church giving levels have been relatively stable which is positive given that there has not been in-person worship since March 2020.
- St. Paul’s Episcopal Church applied for and received a $56,397.97 P.P.P. loan that will enable the church to maintain its current operations through the summer without accessing funds from its investments.
- The loan will not have to be repaid if the federal requirements are met around how the dollars can be applied (salaries and operations primarily).
- The food pantry continues to serve residents while volunteers and staff adhere to social distancing guidelines. Donation needs have been outlined and will be shared with the Parish.
- A committee has been formed to discuss the plan for reopening the sanctuary to parishioners for in-person worship with a recognition that some form of online access to Sunday and other services continues.
- An update was given on the initial meeting of the Regathering Committee which met on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 to discuss the development of a plan to possibly reopen the church to parishioners with framework and guidelines to be based on Diocesan, county and state guidelines.
- The church is going to get an estimate to see what it would cost to install a more permanent system to continue broadcasting services, even once in-person worship is able to resume.
- Outgoing St. Paul’s Episcopal School Head of School Josh Stern gave an update on the school’s current plans to reopen their campuses to students in August for in-person instruction.
- The plans include use of the Parish Hall as instruction space which would make it unavailable for Church use and some plant improvements that need to be made in order to increase the number of hand-washing facilities.
- Plans to extend the Montecito Avenue entrance are still on hold as the City of Oakland has not yet approved the building plan.
- There will be continued discussions between the church and school about opportunities to share cleaning services and use of the sanctuary space as large-groups gatherings such as chapel will not be allowed.
- The Sesquicentennial committee is reaching out to the Lake Merritt Hotel to allow the deposit for the celebration event to either be refunded or to be used at a future date since it’s not clear when an in-person gathering of this type could be held.
- Despite no in-person gathering for worship, parishioners have continued to make donations enabling the church to keep summer operations going.
- The Vestry voted for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to become sponsoring members of the Union of Black Episcopalians.
- Fr. Mauricio will be on vacation starting July 5 for three weeks. Anne Jensen and Christian Harding will independently hold services when Fr. Wilson is away and the choir will be on break during this time.
Your Vestry: Allison Sass—Sr. Warden, Bill Davis—Jr. Warden, Erica Terry-Derryck—Clerk, Ann Gregory—Treasurer, Dylan Versteeg, Sergio Prieto, Lisa Strait, Will Cowart and Sharon Pilmer