Senior Warden's Report
By Ray Warren
Happy New Year! So far 2021 appears to be channeling its predecessor, but let us hope better days are ahead.
One way you can help your parish, and the tellers who count contributions, is to remember to write 2021 on your contribution checks. Every year several contributors fill out checks with the prior year (for example, “January 10, 2020”). This causes real issues. A check that is, on its face, a year old may not be negotiable and the staff or volunteers have to track down the donor and ask for a new check.
Checks written in the latter part of 2020 are fine. (For example, December checks just arriving for one reason or another.) It is the ones apparently a year old (due to misstating the year) that cause issues.
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Kudos to Wendy Niven, Dave Eyer, Greta Philips-Ford, Tim Peterson and all others who helped get the church back in normal order after Epiphany. It was beautifully decorated and now is beautifully restored to non Christmastide order.
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I strongly urge you to consider attending the church projects day on Saturday as outlined in Junior Warden Greta Philips-Ford above. I confess I've never attended one because I'm usually beat up by Saturday. But I hope to drag myself out of bed to get over to the church.
As we know, stewardship involves both time and treasure. Right now, volunteer labor represents both. These are outdoor activities - socially spaced. You'll be safe. And you'll make a real contribution.
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Please keep in mind that the St. Paul’s community is large and includes locals, seasonal locals, seasonal visitors, and old families that have moved away (but keep their allegiance here).
Each month the staff prepares a list, pulled from our records, of the birthdays and anniversaries. The list is published in this newsletter and the weekly church bulletin. The names for a given week are also highlighted in the Prayers of the People at worship. I think this is an important way to stay connected with one another.
But staff are only human. I know we are going to make a mistake. At some point we are likely to publish a birthday for somebody who has died. Alternatively, an anniversary will appear when one party has died, or the couple has divorced. I fear that every month.
Unfortunately, when a person gets divorced, the “to do” list doesn’t usually include “update marriage information with church database”. Likewise, especially now that many do not attend in person, a death may not be noted unless specifically conveyed to the office.
We are human. We do look at the lists. We do our best. We hope never to make such a mistake. But if we do, please be forgiving, let the office know, and we will make the correction right away.
On the other hand, if you want to add your birthday or anniversary (and are a regular attendee of and contributor to St. Paul’s), send the appropriate information to the church office.
Several stalwart members made important end of the year contributions. I will be getting out personal thank you notes as soon as possible. But, publicly, from the bottom of my heart I offer thanks on behalf of the entire parish. You have made it possible for St. Paul’s to move forward this year and well into the future. Special thanks to John Sangston for assisting in receiving several of the stock transactions.
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Pray for peace and healing in our nation and, please, stay safe. Several members have already received the vaccination. Help is on the way. Let us not let our guard won now.
