St. Paul's Episcopal Church
NOVEMBER 2014
From the Interim Rector
Growing in Grace & Gratitude
who we are and how we relate to
others, and what attributes we
want to leave as part of our legacy.
I want to share this
After thinking and praying and
month about the
discussing in small groups, my top
CREDO continuing
education conference five core values came out as
I attended on October community, family, love for others,
faithfulness (both in a sense of
7-13 at the Lake
spirituality as well as
Logan Episcopal
Center in Canton, North Carolina. dependability), and creativity.
These attributes influence who I
CREDO (which is an acronym for
am, what kinds of people I want to
Clergy Reflection, Education,
surround myself with, and how I
Discernment Opportunity) is a
view and relate to the world
program of the Church Pension
around me.
Fund which seeks to provide a
holistic approach to clergy health
Regarding the rule of life itself, this
and wellness. My CREDO event
is a basically a way for ordering
was geared toward recently
ordained clergy (in their first five one’s life on a daily basis around
practices and attitudes that help
years of ordained ministry). So I
one thrive. As a priest, my rule of
spent my week with 22 other
priests ranging in age from 30 to life already includes time each day
for prayer, devotions, and Bible
61, some ordained for barely a
study. It also includes such things
year, others almost 4 years.
as having a date night each week
The conference included plenary with my wife, working with a
spiritual director, tithing to the
sessions, small groups, worship
church, gathering regularly with
services, one-on-one
clergy colleagues, keeping a 24consultations with the faculty,
hour Sabbath “day off” each week,
personal time for reflection, and
going on retreat once a year, and
opportunities for exercise,
refreshment, and fellowship. The taking vacation time with loved
plenary sessions were led by eight ones. But in reflecting on my
current rule of life at CREDO, I
clergy and lay leaders in the
realized that there were pieces
Episcopal Church on topics
missing, pieces that I wanted to
including physical and
psychological health, leadership, add in and work on.
spirituality, vocation, and clergy
One piece I decided I needed to
taxes and finances. The
add is a practice of calling a family
conference culminated in a
member once a week. My nuclear
process of creating (or
reevaluating) a personal “Rule of family is rather spread out
geographically right now. My
Life” and what is called a “Gran
parents are divorced and living in
Sueño,” (“Big Dream”), if one so
Ohio, I have a twin brother Brad
desired.
living in another part of Ohio, and I
have an older brother Mike living
I want to share with you a little
in Alabama; also my maternal
about the process for creating
one’s rule of life and some of the grandmother lives with my mother
ideas I came up with. Part of the and stepfather. Now, I know some
people are very close to their
exercise involved first thinking
about what our core values were, families and talk with parents or
what things we hold deeply about siblings or kids on a weekly if not
daily basis. That has not my personal
experience. In fact, since my parents got
divorced during my first year of seminary,
I find that I only talk with each of them
maybe once every other month, and I only
have an opportunity to visit them in Ohio
once a year over the summer. But
reflecting on my core values, I realized
that family is important to me, and I know
that I will not always have all of them with
me. So my goal is to begin talking to at
least one family member a week by
phone, to keep in better touch with them,
and to let them know that they are indeed
important to me. To be honest, I have yet
to perfect this goal in the weeks since
CREDO ended, but it is something I’m
striving to better live into.
Another new practice in my rule of life is
to exercise more and get in better shape.
I know that this is something many people
struggle with. So my new rule of life
encourages me to walk for 30 minutes or
more at least 5 days a week. I am
practicing living into this new challenge
and trying to start off my day with a 30minute walk near where I live. I can
already feel that it is helping, but I also
know that it is getting colder and the
weather is changing and I’m worried
about how the winter may affect my goal.
These are just a couple of examples of
ways that I am trying to improve my
health and wellness, specifically regarding
relationships and physical health, and
there are other changes I am planning to
implement in my daily rule of life as well.
Continued on page 2.
Inside this issue:
Jr. Warden News
2
Sr. Warden News
3
Music News
4
Upcoming Events
5-6
Missions & Outreach News
7
Parish News
8-10
Photo Pages
11-15
Duty Roster
16
ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Page 2
Interim Rector’s Article continued.
I wonder what changes you might be able to make to your own personal “Rule of Life,” to improve your wellness in the
various areas of physical health, mental health, leadership, spirituality, vocation, finances, and relationships?
I will also mention quickly more about the “Gran Sueño.” CREDO used to call this a BHAG (“Big Hairy Audacious Goal”), a
term taken from the business world. But referring to it as a “Big Dream” offers a different way to think about it. The idea is
for this to be a large project that will potentially require a lot of effort and time and involve others to accomplish. The
“Gran Sueño” I considered at my CREDO conference was a larger plan of health improvement for myself, focused not only
around exercise but around improving my diet and getting more sleep. But I also talked with other participants who were
dreaming of doing things like creating a special monastic-like order for Anglo-Catholic clergy in the Episcopal Church or
creating a retreat house and spiritual direction center in their community. And I was reminded that one of my goals for my
future ministry is getting trained and certified as a spiritual director, which would work well as a “Gran Sueño” plan. I
wonder what big dream you (or God) has been dreaming for your life, and who or what will help you begin to realize it?
My hope as I share about my personal CREDO experience here with you is that it may also spark something in your own
personal experience, and encourage all of us as we think about what holistic wellness looks like in our lives and the lives of
those we love. Just as clergy are of little use to the church when they aren’t taking good care of themselves and being good
about their personal wellness, so does this apply to all of us, each leaders in our own ways—as parents or grandparents,
teachers, business leaders, Vestry members, etc. As Jesus implores us to love our neighbors as ourselves, may we indeed
be reminded about what it means to love and care for ourselves.
Peace,
Brian+
Junior Warden News—Carl Boyce
Wood Workers Wanted! The wooden floor grates in the front of the church were made by Bruce Weaver at the time
of the last renovation. The grates are in need of repair or replacement. If you are a woodworker and can help with
this effort, please contact Junior Warden Carl Boyce. Photos of the current wooden floor grates are shown below.
ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Page 3
Senior Warden News—Stuart Ashton
Still thinking about Vestry service? I invite you to take a look at our meeting minutes. Pay particular attention to the first
item of business…the teaching. Each member takes a turn using passages from sources we have at our church or ones of
their choice. The passage is read or paraphrased followed by discussion on what the lesson is and how we can use it in
our life at St Paul’s. Our Vestry meetings last between two to two and a half hours. The teaching was first designed to
take about 10 minutes but often it goes for 20 or more and I think its because the value taken from it helps us breeze
through what too often becomes normally tedious business. There is more. It gives us the guidance we need to leave the
Vestry meeting and go about our service to our Church between the meetings.
In this the closing quarter of 2014 the Vestry is working on business preparations for 2015. The most significant and highest priority is setting the stage both financially and operationally for a new Rector. Now working hand in hand with the
Search Committee, we are providing budget information to the Chair Person so that compensation may be negotiated
with the candidates. In addition we provide travel expense authorization for any travel expenses incurred during the interview process. Our second major priority is development and approval of the 2015 Budget for presentation to the Congregation at the Annual Meeting in December where it will be voted on for acceptance by all of you. The Finance Committee is very busy constructing the proposed budget which will be based on forecasted income from pledging, plate, gifts
and fundraisers.
In other business, we are busy updating some important instruments that allow us to continue the business of the Church
with the best practice possible. Our Policy, Process and Bylaw documents have been the focus of about the last seven
years of Vestries. Much work can be credited to members that improved these documents and made them easy to read,
valid and up to date. The final work now is establishing a configuration management electronically and fixing the last few
conflicting text segments. There will be one or two items that need your approval at the annual meeting so you will see
those in the next newsletter or in the bulletin. Included in our business document updates are the contracts for our employees. The most recent document was that of the letter of agreement for our Interim Rector which, signed by the Bishop, is considered complete for now. It’s possible we will have some document of commitment for a new Rector before
the end of the year. Our contract for the Principal Musician will be updated as well for the coming year.
Finally, I would like to extend my personal gratitude to all of you for your hospitality to the Fitzhugh Family this past
month. Under the leadership of Patty Shippee, we received many expressions of thanks and appreciation by the visitors.
They were particularly pleased with the welcoming greeting from you members who were in attendance that day. I find
that this is a clear indication that we are excited about any visitor and dedicated to making their stay with us memorable.
This will go a long way in helping us achieve our goal of growth in the future.
Stuart Ashton, Senior Warden
Halloween Artwork
Well-known painter, St. Paul’s parishioner, and leader of the North Windsor Artists, Jack Darling (1911-2007), painted the
below paintings for a parish Halloween party many years ago. Enjoy, and Happy Halloween!
ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
There's Music in the Air!
Page 4
Music News—Jeannie Richardson
Our Adult Choir is always preparing music for our regular worship services. We meet every Wednesday evening at 7:00
sharp to practice the hymns and service music for the upcoming Sunday service. After that, we begin work on special music
to present for each Sunday's offertory anthem. Both Richard Rowland and Richard Frazer have sung solos in October.
Thanks! Our congregation can look forward to hearing other solo voices shortly! We are also enjoying our new music that
has just come in for our Advent and Christmas services. It is so beautiful!
The Children's Choir is meeting on Sundays at 11:00. We have a different family every week it seems, but they all are
learning the same music and one of these Sundays, when they all can be with us, you can look forward to hearing these
young voices in church!
Right now our Masterworks Choruses are polishing the music for our Autumn Masterworks Concert on Sunday, November
23, at 7:30 PM. The Junior and Youth Masterworks Choruses have begun the diligent task of memorizing their selections.
Kara Pekar keeps them on their toes every minute on Sunday afternoons. They are learning some delightful advent and
Christmas music by the well-known contemporary composers Nix, Rush & Sterling. Kirkpatrick and Patterson will be sung by
the Juniors. The Youth will sing music by Clark, Darke, Johnson and Choplin. Student accompanists T.J. Hollinsworth, piano,
and Grace Cumbee, violin, are mastering their parts. I hear them every week at lessons. Stephanie Niepraschk, the piano
accompanist for the Youth, is an inspiration to all the young singers. What a fabulous musician she is!!
Music is coming together wonderfully for the Adult Masterworks Chorus. I have so enjoyed conducting our Wednesday
evening rehearsals. We have so much fun working on challenging music! This concert will feature soprano Mollie Rerucha
in Song of Mary, based on the famous Vocalise. Op.34, No. 14 by Sergei Rachmaninoff. This song paraphrases the church's
Magnificat that we sing every Advent. Mollie has sung with our chorus for several years, but this is her first time as a soloist.
The chorus will present three selections from the advent section of Felix Mendelssohn's Christus Op. 97. Mollie will sing the
opening number When Jesus, our Lord, Was Born in Bethlehem; all the men of the chorus will join for Say, Where is He
born, the King of Judea?; and the full chorus will follow with There Shall a Star Come out of Jacob.
Our evening masterpiece will be Ralph Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Christmas Carols. I am pleased to announce that,
back by popular demand, Michael Liskiewicz will be our baritone soloist. Michael was one of our soloists for our last
concert in June. Michael began his singing career as a boy soprano, performing as a choir member as well as a soloist in
works by Bernstein, Menotti, Britten, and Mozart. During these formative years he was under the guidance of Felix Molzer,
former conductor of the Vienna Choir Boys. After transitioning to baritone, Michael continued to sing solos in operas with
different opera companies, and choral music with The Shrewsbury Chorale, The Paul Hill Chorale, the Raleigh Oratorio
Society, and the Ron Freeman Chorale. His repertoire expanded to include Handel's Messiah, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Bach's
B Minor Mass, Brahms’ German Requiem, Bach's Passions, and the like.
In place of the huge orchestra that the Fantasia on Christmas Carols is scored for, the chorus will be accompanied on the
organ by Sonya Vastek Sutton. Sonya will demonstrate that our newly restored pipe organ is truly the "King of
Instruments!" Sonya Sutton is director of music (organist and choir director) at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Washington,
D.C., where she leads an active program that includes five choirs. She was recently named music director of the World
Bank/IMF Chorus. She received her education at the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, earning Bachelor and
Master Degrees in Piano Performance and a second Masters in Arts Administration. She has served as organist and
choirmaster at several churches for over 25 years and was on the music faculty of College of Southern Maryland, directed
the Prince George’s Community Chorus in its annual Messiah performance for 7 years, and was a guest conductor for the
Kennedy Center’s annual Messiah sing-along performance. She has served as an accompanist for the Washington Choral
Ensemble and for special programs with the Cathedral Choral Society. She has conducted choirs on numerous occasions at
Washington National Cathedral, the Chautauqua Institution, and has taken her choirs on tour to England, Italy, Austria, and
the Czech Republic. As an organ recitalist she has played in many places, including St. Thomas-Fifth Avenue, St. Albans
Abbey, and the Washington National Cathedral. As a member of the Vastek Piano Duo, she won the Montpelier Music
Competition, performed on the Artists Series at DAR Constitution Hall, and at many other venues in Washington, and
around the country. Sonya and her husband, the Right Rev. Eugene Sutton, have four children in their blended family.
The concert will conclude with Turn Back, O Man by Gustav Holst and the beloved hymn Now the Day is Over sung by the
congregation and choruses.
ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Page 5
Upcoming Events
Don’t Forget to Turn Your Clocks Back!
Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, November 2, at 2 a.m. Make sure to turn your clocks back
by one hour on Saturday night!
All Saints’ Sunday on November 2
All Saints’ Sunday is November 2. This special feast of the Church offers an opportunity to
remember the many saints in our lives who have gone before us in the faith. We will
remember the names of those departed saints and souls in our own lives in our service
on Sunday. Please join us for this special holy day.
Day School Dessert Bingo Fundraiser on November 7
Come support St. Paul’s Day School at the Dessert Bingo fundraiser this Friday, November
7 in St. Paul’s Parish Hall. Dinner is at 5:30 p.m. followed by Bingo at 6 p.m. There will be
10 Bingo games with Fish Bowl Raffles throughout the evening. Bingo prizes will be the
winner’s choice of a dessert. All inclusive tickets (dinner, fish bowl raffle, and 10 Bingo
games) are $15. This is a fundraiser for the Day School, as well as an opportunity to get
together with friends. Come join the fun! Stephanie Henke
Kitchen Clean-Up on November 8
There will be a Kitchen Clean-Up Day this Saturday, November 8, at 9 a.m. A few people have
already signed up to clean the kitchen that day, but we are looking for more folks to help out.
We will be cleaning the stoves, sinks, shelves, windows, and door frames and reorganizing the
shelves. Please contact Jane Marvin with any questions.
Commitment Sunday on November 9
November 9 is this year’s Commitment Sunday at St. Paul’s. If you haven’t already, please
bring your completed 2015 pledge form (sealed in its envelope) to church that day and put it
in the offering plate during the worship service.
November Birthday Potluck on November 30
Our November Birthday Potluck will be held on Sunday, November 30 after the 10 o’clock
service. Please bring a dish to share for the potluck that day, and come enjoy some cake!
ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Page 6
Upcoming Church & Community Events
Cookie Walk/Bazaar at Peace Lutheran on November 15
Peace Lutheran Church is having their Annual Cookie Walk/Bazaar on Saturday November 15 from 9
am - 1 pm. Get there early to fill a can with your favorite homemade cookies, and shop for special gifts
for your family and friends at the Bake Sale, Gift Basket shop, White Elephant sale, Vendors and more!
Proceeds benefit the missions and ministries of Peace Lutheran and the local community!
KG Ruritan Veterans Day Observance on November 11
The King George Ruritan Club has planned its Veterans Day observance, starting at 6:30
p.m. on November 11 at King George Middle School. The event, which is supported by the
King George Department of Parks and Recreation, is designed to honor those who fought—
and continue to fight—for our freedoms. Several World War II veterans, including
parishioner Howard Yarus, will be honored, and Capt. Mary Feinberg, commanding officer
of Naval Support Activity South Potomac (which includes the Dahlgren base), will be the
guest speaker. The American Legion will help with the program and have poppies available.
The St. Andrews Legion Pipes and Drums band, based in Richmond, will perform, and the
NJROTC Color Guard from King George High School will present the flags. Boy Scouts from
King George also will attend. The event is free and open to the public, and children are
encouraged to attend.
Advent Retreat at Roslyn on December 5-6
Episcopal priest Pam Webb is offering a special Advent retreat entitled “Waiting for the
Wonder.” This overnight retreat will take place at Roslyn Retreat Center in Richmond on
Friday-Saturday, December 5-6, 2014. You are invited to take some time from the busyness
of home and work and enjoy a time of retreat, rest, and reflection. In the season of Advent
we are encouraged to prepare to receive the Christ Child in our lives. This retreat will help
you focus on the wonder we receive and celebrate at Christmas. A flyer and registration
form are posted in the Parish House at St. Paul’s or Fr. Brian can provide more information.
The cost ranges from $170-$250 depending on whether you will commute or stay overnight.
Space is limited, and registration is first come, first served.
St. Paul’s Annual Meeting on December 14
The Parish Annual Meeting and Vestry Election will take place on Sunday, December 14 after the 10
o’clock service. Please come hear about the state of parish and vote on new Vestry members for 2015.
Parish Christmas Party on December 14
It's almost that time of year again, and the Rambergs are planning their annual Christmas gift
exchange party. It will be December 14 at 4 p.m., so mark your calendar now! All you have to
do is bring a present for each person who wants to play and a dish to share. This has always
been pot-luck and it always turns out great—just ask someone who has come before. Now we
know that this is the same day as the Annual Meeting, but it worked fine last year, so we can do
it again this year. Please plan on coming—we had 40 people last year and it was a blast.
Dickie and Carolyn Ramberg, 13268 Poplar Neck Road, King George, (540) 775-0268
ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Page 7
Missions & Outreach News
Thanksgiving Baskets & Christmas Gifts
The Mission & Outreach Committee met on Tuesday, October 28 to plan how many baskets for Thanksgiving and how
many families St. Paul’s would like to sponsor for the upcoming holidays. Unfortunately, Social Services doesn’t have
the needed staffing this year, so they will not be coordinating baskets at Thanksgiving. Instead they are leaving it up to
individuals to recommend families that are in need. St. Paul’s has two families that we are going to support. We are
also asking Little Ark Baptist Church if they can recommend families in need. If you know of a family that needs a little
extra help for Thanksgiving, feel free to contact Fr. Brian. For Christmas, the Missions & Outreach Committee has
requested from Social Services four senior adults to buy gifts for. We are also going to help the same family as last year
(three adults and eight children). However, in lieu of gifts, we will be collecting money so that the grandmother and
mother can do their own shopping for these eight children. There will be a reminder about this in the bulletin in the
coming weeks. Also, we will be helping out our special family that we adopted earlier this year with gifts. There are
two adults and two children in this family. A list of their needs and wishes will also be coming soon.
Terri Gallagher/Missions & Outreach Committee
Haiti Micah Project (HMP) November 2014 Update
Please consider doing some Christmas shopping at the Ten Thousand Villages store in Fredericksburg on December 7th
between 5:00 and 7:00 pm. For any purchases made during this period, the Haiti Micah Project will receive 15% of the net
sales. In addition, this year Ten Thousand Villages will also issue 20 pre-shop passes for HMP supporters who cannot make it
that evening. You can come into the store up to five days in advance, and your purchase will still count.
As a reminder, we keep a change jar in St. Paul’s Parish Hall and have distributed tea tins for collecting change for HMP.
These funds are used by the ECW to support four children under the HMP Sponsor-a-Child program. Thank you for
continuing to support this charitable activity. The big recent news from HMP is that its Board of Directors has approved the
building of a Vocational Training Facility in Mirebalais, Haiti. We have selected a local builder/contractor who is known to
Joseph Constant, the HMP President, and our sister Board in Mirebalais. HMP has negotiated a long-term lease for a partially
constructed building in Mirebalais. To complete the first and second floor of this building will cost about $95,000. The HMP
Board has approved the first $50,000 phase of construction. We have commitments for the remainder of the construction
funds. There also have been numerous commitments from donors to provide equipment for the facility for training our
children. The end goal is to provide practical skill training for HMP children in preparation for jobs after high school, and also
to sell products in the community from the Vocational Training Facility.
Bill Taczak
Love Thy Neighbor Soup Kitchen & Food Pantry—November 16
Love Thy Neighbor meets this month on Sunday, November 16, at the King George Citizens Center.
We have found that many volunteers come for the beginning of the event but leave before it is over, meaning that more
volunteers could be used during the later hours between 3-5 p.m. Please consider helping during this time with other
volunteers from St. Paul’s during the month of November.
3:00 - 4:00 : Servers are needed to serve dinners and to refill beverage glasses. Dessert servers are also needed.
4:00 - 5:00 : People are needed to walk individuals through the food pantry and to help them carry their groceries
out to their cars.
4:30 : Cleanup begins. Table are taken down and put away. Chairs are put away. Floors are swept and mopped.
Other: You can also bake some homemade goodies for desserts!!
ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Page 8
Parish News
Rector Search Committee Update
St. Paul’s Search Committee has completed our initial phone and Skype interviews with four rector candidates, and we
have narrowed down the list to two finalists. As we work around the fall and holiday schedules of the committee
members and the finalists, it may take a couple months before both candidates are able to come meet with the Search
Committee in person. When it is possible, we will be scheduling time for each candidate to meet the committee at St.
Paul’s and to see the church. Please note that these meetings will be private and closed to parishioners who are not part
of the Search Committee. As more progress is made in our search, we will update the congregation as we’re able.
Brian Turner on behalf of Barbara Ritter
History & Heritage Night Review
A big thank-you to those who were able to attend our second St. Paul’s History & Heritage Potluck Night on Wednesday,
October 22. Our attendance was small, but the memories shared about St. Paul’s, former parishioners, and past events
were abundant.
People who were fondly remembered included Karl Bergey, Harry Berry, Jim & Anne Clapper, Jack Darling, Mary Lou Davies,
Ruth & Wes Meyers, Sue Olson, Leanne & Vince Puglielli, Ann Smoot, Bruton Strange, Jim Terrell, Morton Townsend, and
Margie Warren.
Some of the church and community event memories that were shared, in no particular order, included the ECW canned
plum pudding fundraisers, Shrove Tuesday Pancake Suppers with square dancing and talents shows, Halloween parties that
would take place in the current office space of the Parish House, the children’s choir, Morton Townsend’s fall Oyster Roast,
the Youth Group, the 24-hour Prayer Vigil, river baptisms by Bruton Strange, church picnics on the beach, Harry Berry bringing sheep to VBS with Bruton Strange having one across his shoulders, burials in a frozen cemetery and having to jump on
the coffin to get it in the ground, jokes relayed to the priest finding their way into his sermons, a parishioner backing out
onto Rt. 206, playing poker and board games at Shrine Mont, ECW Bazaars with special crafts, dried flower arrangements,
Christmas ornaments, and Sue Olson’s seashell wreaths, the youth decorating the church with running cedar greenery the
night before Christmas Eve, trumpet music from the balcony, the children’s “Holy Band,” Sunrise Easter services in the cemetery, Terri Gallagher grabbing women to come to the ECW meeting, and the “Berry Patch” on Sunday mornings.
Above all, those gathered mentioned repeatedly sentiments such as: “St. Paul’s has been a great place to raise our kids—a
very loving congregation.” And, “St. Paul’s is like a family; sometimes there are fights, but we still all come together again
and get along.” The family of St. Paul’s has been together in various ways for almost 350 years. And there are still many
years, families, events, and memories to be enjoyed in the love of God and through the power of the Holy Spirit in this
place. May we continue to share our memories of this place with one another even as we make new ones day by day.
Brian Turner
ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Page 9
Columbarium Plans Update
St. Paul’s Columbarium Committee (composed of Mindy Ashton, Katherine Lenzi, and Kirsten Nichols) gave a forum
presentation on its work on the Columbarium and Memorial Garden designs after the 10 o’clock service on Sunday, October
26. Over 30 parishioners stayed to participate in the forum and hear about the current progress. Three designs were
presented to the congregation which had been displayed in the Parish House over the past month.
The first design (“Design C”) was created by Tupelo Landscape Architects in October 2012 and first presented to the
congregation over a year ago. It offers a design in the shape of a Greek cross (mirroring St. Paul’s Church building) with
columbarium walls, benches, and a fountain in the middle. The location for this design is between the Parish House and
Church with a new brick walkway that would lead off of the current brick walkway that leads to the Church building. It
would include the existing tree already in that spot while also adding new trees, shrubs, and landscaping. The columbarium
walls would contain a total of 72 standard niches.
The second design (“Design A”) was created by committee member and landscape architect Kirsten Nichols earlier this year.
It was first presented to the congregation on St. Paul’s Day in August. It offers a brick path and walkway which circles the
current tree located between the Parish House and Church. Beyond the tree it offers a curved 3.5-foot tall columbarium
wall that would contain a total of 60 standard niches. There would also be two free-standing benches.
The third design (“Design B”) was also created by Kirsten Nichols and is very similar to Design A, except that the brick
walkway is in the shape of an oval around the tree, so that there is more room in the center to also incorporate space for a
memorial garden. The curved columbarium wall is both longer—to incorporate seating—and taller—to still contain the 60
standard niches.
After presenting these three designs, the committee fielded questions and comments. Some of the concerns offered
included the location, as some would prefer using space behind the Parish House and closer to the playground; others also
considered space in front of the church or close to the cemetery fence. Some noted that the location between the Parish
House and Church was less private, would unnecessarily surround the church with graves, and might have drainage issues.
There were also concerns with the health of the tree, damage to the tree roots, and the gas line which runs through that
spot. Others were curious about how the current designs could be modified or expanded in the future when the 60 or 72
niches were full.
After fielding questions and concerns, the parishioners gathered were invited to vote on their preferred design. Design A
won with a majority of 24 votes cast. The committee is now tasked with having the area between the Parish House and
Church surveyed and vetted for construction of a new walkway and columbarium structure. The other details of the design,
its shape, and the number of niches will be determined at a later time once the site is approved. As the committee
continues to make progress on this project, please look for more updates in the future.
Brian Turner
ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Page 10
The United Thank Offering
November is United Thank Offering (UTO) month at St. Paul’s. This means that we will be including the UTO
envelopes in the Sunday bulletins each week. You are encouraged to make a donation to the UTO using the
envelopes, and put them in the offering plate during the Offertory in the service.
So what is the UTO and why do we do it? Well, in the early 1880s, the Board of Missions of the Episcopal
Church asked the Women’s Auxiliary (now ECW) for help with missionary work at home and abroad. The
women suggested an offering given in thanksgiving for God’s blessings. This offering, given in thanksgiving by
the Women’s Auxiliary, was a new thing in the Episcopal Church. It would be called The United Thank Offering
and would include women in every Episcopal Church. In 1889, the first United Thank Offering was presented
at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. It was a small offering, just a little over
$2,000, but it helped build the first Episcopal church in Anvink, Alaska; sent the first female missionary, Lisa
Lovell, to Japan; and it even sent 25 cents to an organ fund in Liberia.
As the United States expanded westward, the women always remembered to take their small thank offering
box with them, along with their household items. The families were traveling west to start a new life in
Kansas, Colorado, or the Dakotas, and they knew that God would bless them as they traveled the unfamiliar
territory. Every day, they put an offering of a few coins in the Blue Box with a prayer of thanksgiving.
Today, men, women, and children are still putting coins in the Blue Boxes with prayers of thanksgiving. And
God’s people are feeling God’s love through grants from the UTO. Last year $1,525,407.78 was collected and
given away. These funds are providing vehicles to enhance ministries, create a senior center, plant gardens,
build churches, and support innovative ministries within the Episcopal Church and throughout the worldwide
Anglican Communion.
In 2014, both of the requests from the Diocese of Virginia were fully funded. The first request was for $49,575
for a new school vehicle for Hope and Resurrection Secondary School in the village of Atiaba, South Sudan.
The second request was for $17,000 to purchase new commercial-grade kitchen equipment for the “Bread and
Roses” community cooking classes and gardening ministry of Trinity Episcopal Church in Charlottesville.
There are always important ministry and outreach opportunities looking for grants and funding in the
Episcopal Church and Anglican dioceses abroad. Just a few coins or dollars offered at a time by many people
can make a huge difference in improving people’s lives. How can you help spread God’s love and answer
Jesus’ call to “love your neighbor” through supporting the United Thank Offering this fall at St. Paul’s?
For more information about the UTO process, please speak with me or St. Paul’s UTO rep Carolyn Ramberg.
Brian Turner
A UTO Blue Box
ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Page 11
St. Francis Sunday - Blessing of the Animals - October 5, 2014
ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Fitzhugh Family Reunion
October 12, 2014
Page 12
ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
More Fitzhugh Family Reunion Photos
Page 13
ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Page 14
Love Thy Neighbor
October 19, 2014
ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Page 15
October Birthday Potluck & Columbarium Forum
October 26, 2014
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
5486 St. Paul’s Road
King George, VA 22485
Phone: 540-663-3085
Email: [email protected]
We’re on the
Web!
example.com
Duty Roster for November 2014
Acolyte
Ushers
Chalice Bearer
Lector
Altar Guild
November 2
Mallory Gallagher Danny Brunson and
Laurence Thayer
Gayle Hock
Margaret Rice
Ruby Bales and
Joy Veazey
November 9
Zach Greiber
The Turners
Chris Knowlton
Gayle Hock
Ruby Bales and
Joy Veazey
Carolyne Ashton and
Mary Ann Cummings
Christine Peyton
Jane Marvin
Ruby Bales and
Joy Veazey
November 23 Mallory Gallagher Chris Knowlton and
Bob Brannon
Carolyne Ashton
Mindy Ashton
Ruby Bales and
Joy Veazey
November 30 Zach Greiber
TBD
TBD
Ruby Bales and
Joy Veazey
November 16 Regan Lenzi
The Bogues