Beloved,

What a glorious All Saints' Day we had here at the Cathedral! I am so thankful for and to each of you for your presence and your pledges of financial support. If you didn't get a chance to submit your pledge of financial support, please make every effort to do so by the end of the year. There is more information about that below.

As wonderful as it is to celebrate all the joys of being church, as we did last Sunday, it is also important to make space for the griefs we hold in our hearts, collectively and individually. This Sunday, we will observe All Souls' Day which, in our liturgical calendar, is noted as The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. On this day we will remember those near and dear to us who have died recently or not so recently, close by or far away, those known to us and those known only to God. Many of you submitted names of those who have died and we will read those names as part of our remembrance. We will also light candles and write down the names of our beloved ones who have gone before us to prepare the way. Those names will be held by me and then burned in the new fire of Easter as a testament to our belief in the life beyond this one. You are also invited to bring a memento, a picture, a flower, or any other tangible "thing" of remembrance that you will be able to place with the candles and names during the service (and then take home after the service.)

As we move through those rituals of remembrance we will hear bits from the requiem composed by Peter Berton, holding sacred space through music. The truth is that joy and pain mingle together, always, yet each needs space to be held on its own. I pray that this Sunday can be a space for you to hold what grieves you.

Beloved, you are beautiful. I love you and God adores you,

Greta+

November Young Adults Table: Tonight!!

Today is our November YAT (Young Adult Table) and we are skipping the stress, and enjoying the best part of Thanksgiving - LEFTOVERS!

Whether you make a traditional "Ross Sandwich" or your own special creation, we'll have all the traditional fixin's, turkey, potatoes and gravy, excellent bread, and sides, for you to make your own Thanksgiving "leftovers" sammie.

Please bring a song, story, poem or tale of thanks to share, and we'll experience them together

NOVEMBER YAT sharing Compline and Community

FRIDAY the 6th at 5:30

Parish Hall - Childcare provided

Please RSVP to karenbrightly@gmail.com

All Souls Celebrated this Sunday St. Paul's

Each year on All Souls Day, it is our tradition at St. Paul's to remember those who have died in the past year or two.

All Souls Day is traditionally celebrated on the day after All Saints Day - November 2 - and is the commemoration of All Faithful Departed. It is a day when faithful Christians who have died are remembered.

This year we are transferring our All Souls celebration to Sunday, November 8. If you have lost someone dear to you in the past year or two, we would like to honor them by inviting you to bring a photo or other memento of your loved one with you to worship. During the service, we will honor their lives by lighting a candle in their memory, writing their name on a slip of paper, and reading their name during worship.

St. Paul's 2027 Pledge Campaign

Thank you to everyone who has submitted your pledge. So far, we have raised over $248,000. It's not too late to pledge!

Consider what you can give - the dollars pledged to our 2027 campaign will be used to fund our operating budget - salaries, utilities, outreach programs, and much more. Donating to St. Paul's Annual Giving campaign enables us to accurately budget each year.

There are extra pledge packets available on the Narthex table, or pledges can be made online using the link here. If you would like a pledge packet mailed to you, please reach out to Jennifer in the Cathedral office (admin@stpaulscathedralvt.org, or 802-864-0471). 

Church School Update

We had a great time last week in Church School as we researched Saints and made a paper chain in the classroom of all the saints in our lives. We hope to add to this chain as the weeks go on and encourage families to come check in out when they have time, you are always welcome! 

This week we will be remembering people in our lives who have passed away. We have several books to read together to help frame our reflective time together and as we work on painting memory stones to take home. 

We hope you will consider joining us.

Taizé Meditation at the Cathedral

Join us on Sunday, November 8 at 7 p.m. for an hour-long candlelit meditation combining sung and spoken prayer, readings, and silence, allowing space to slow down and simply “be.”

Selections primarily from the Taizé Community in France supply the musical framework, with creative instrumental accompaniment. Icons and candle lighting provide additional conduits to join minds and hearts in prayer for ourselves, the community gathered, and the world. All are welcome.

The Taizé committee is seeking a few volunteers to stick around after worship on Sunday morning, November 8 to help set up. Questions? Email Judith McManis, or just show up!

Cathedral Arts Presents Paul Orgel, Bach and Debussy

Major critics praise concert pianist Paul Orgel for his “subtlety and attention to nuance,” “rare pathos,” “brilliant technique, sense of humor and fantasy,” and “warmth and beauty of sound.” The program features Claude Debussy’s complete impressionist masterpiece Preludes, Book 1, and six Preludes and Fugues from J. S. Bach’s Well-Tempered Klavier, Book 2, in an evening of dazzling contrasts and compositional prowess. 

Friday, November 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $28.65, or $12.57 for students, and are available online here.

Cathedral Arts Presents Kinhaven Fall Concert

Kinhaven is thrilled to make their Burlington debut with this fall semester concert, featuring inspiring performances by semester program students, the Trillium String Quartet, violinist Deborah Buck, and special guest artists.

Kinhaven, located on a picturesque 31-acre campus in Weston, VT, celebrates its milestone 75th Anniversary in 2027, as well as the second year of its Semester Program intensive for exceptional high school string students, in collaboration with Burr and Burton Academy (BBA). The first of its kind in the nation, the Semester Program combines high-level academics at BBA with rigorous musical training at Kinhaven, where students live, study, and perform with each other and artistic faculty.

Sunday, November 22 at 4 p.m.

This is a free concert. Donations to Cathedral Arts are always gratefully accepted.

Make Family Game Night a Holiday Tradition

Champlainopoly board games are for sale this holiday season.

This version of everyone's favorite property trading game celebrating the Vermont side of the Lake Champlain valley is a fundraiser for arts programming and education by Cathedral Arts.

Games are available for purchase at the Cathedral Church of St Paul, 2 Cherry St. Burlington, where sales tax is not charged and a quantity discount is available (two for $65; $30 each for three or more). 

To inquire or to purchase, email Director of Cathedral Arts Peter Berton.

Beware Email Phishing Scams

Please use caution when opening or responding to texts or emails that appear to be from St. Paul's clergy or staff. Often the return email address will be similar to, but not part of our network. We will never ask for your banking or credit card information or solicit gift cards via email or text. Most importantly, do not click on any links in these communicatons! 

If you have questions about the validity of a text or email you have received, don't hesitate to reach out to us in the Cathedral office: 802-864-0471, or admin@stpaulscathedralvt.org.

Cathedral Redevelopment Corner

In their October meeting, the vestry decided to retain the services of White + Burke under a new letter of agreement to solicit nonprofit and for-profit developers who may be interested in the Cathedral's downtown property. Once this agreement has been signed, the Task Force can begin discussions with potential partners to explore options for the development of the Cathedral's property.

We will continue to keep the parish community abreast of any developments as they occur.

Task Force Members: Dean Greta Getlein, Senior Warden Marley Skiff, Junior Warden Karl Fandrich, David McKay, Lisa Schnell (trustee), Caroline Henne, Shannon Williamson (vestry), Jen Sisk (vestry), Peter Anderson, Sarah van Ryckvorsel, Bert Cicchetti (trustee), Frank Guillot, Jennifer Sumner (staff)

ICE Out Vermont Funeral Procession and Sit-In

On November 6th, the ICE Out Vermont Alliance, a statewide coalition of community, faith-based, and activist organizations, is organizing a funeral procession and sit-in at key ICE facilities in Williston, VT demanding that the agency be abolished and replaced with a humane immigration system that recognizes the dignity and value of all people regardless of race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. 

All individuals are welcome to participate in the funeral procession and to express their support legally at designated areas adjacent to the sit-in. Interested individuals will meet at the NCATC (426 Industrial Ave. in Williston) at 9:00 a.m. on November 6th and are encouraged to wear dark clothing. Participants will carry coffins and tombstones and draw chalk silhouettes with the names of immigrants who have died at the hands of ICE. The walking route is approximately 1¼ miles. For more information, go to iceoutvt.org

Winooski Dismas House

Dismas of Vermont provides a supportive community for people leaving incarceration and trauma through family-style and step-down transitional housing that emphasizes relationship-building with community volunteers, college students, and international volunteers. The East Allen Dismas (EAD) house located in Winooski, VT is seeking volunteers to support providing a dinner to the house residence on a rotating monthly schedule. Volunteers and friends share the provided dinner with the residence in support of their faithful presence in the house, and who share the Dismas mission with others in the community and beyond.

If you are interested in providing a meal to the EAD house in Winooski, please contact Richard Parks via phone (802) 318-8815 or via email at rparks101@netzero.net for more information. Thank you for your consideration.