Thank You

Thanks to your generosity, St. Paul's donated more than $5,000 in January to the following organizations:

King Street Youth Center

United Thank Offering (UTO)

UVM Home Health and Hospice

Central Vermont Refugee Action Network (CVRAN)

Vermont Interfaith Action (VIA)

Joint Urban Ministry Project (JUMO)

Migrant Justice

Spectrum Youth and Family Services

Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity Warmth (CVOEO)

Lake Champlain Committee

Feeding Chittenden

Dismas House

This Week in the Adult Forum

Adult Forum this week prepares us for the days ahead as we investigate the Season of Lent. Why does Lent have more than forty days? From what exactly are we praying deliverance in the Great Litany? Come find out this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Discussion is encouraged. All ages of adults are welcome.  

Lenten Dossal Going up This Sunday

We could use your help! Inviting folks to join the ‘Team’ in mounting the Lent dossal, this Sunday, February 11 immediately following the 11:00 service.

This takes about 30 minutes to accomplish and is definitely the easiest to do. Anyone wishing to help/learn about how this is done, just gather at the bottom of the steps and we’ll be happy to include you in the process! 

Thanks ahead of time. Judith 

Celebrate Shrove Tuesday with us!

We will celebrate Shrove Tuesday at St. Paul's this Tuesday, February 13. Historically, Shrove Tuesday was a day of indulging in the rich, fatty foods that were traditionally abstained from during Lent. Making pancakes was a way to use up butter, milk, sugar and eggs before the 40-day fast.

This year, we'll gather downstairs in the Parish Hall starting at 6 p.m. Our celebration will begin with prayers, singing, and the burning of palms, followed by a pancake supper and the burying of our Alleluias!

This year's celebration will once again feature Pam Van de Graaf ‘s “pamcakes” with butter and maple syrup, bacon and sausage, fruit cider and coffee/tea. This all depends on parishioners donating ingredients for the feast (see below). If you already signed up to bring something please bring it on Sunday, if possible. Questions: Penny Pillsbury 802 734-9349 or home 802 862-3585.

The Parish Hall fridge can house your donations CLEARLY MARKED "Shrove Tuesday." You can also bring in your palms from last year to be burned. Thank you!

Let the good times roll! 🎉

Shrove Tuesday Food Contributions - Where the Gaps Are

Thank you to all of you who have signed up to bring some of the feast to Shrove Tuesday’s “Pam cake” supper; however there are some food items still needed. 

Three pounds of sausage links (one could be vegetarian)

****NOTE TO THOSE BRINGING MEATS: If you're dropping off before Tuesday, place them in the parish hall fridge marked SHROVE TUESDAY OR hand them directly to Pamela Van de Graaf who will be cooking them at home. **

Juice or Cider 28 oz containers: Need four 

Large bag of Apples

2 Dozen Eggs

Questions or anything else: Penny Pillsbury 803 862 3575  

email  [email protected]

Ash Wednesday is February 14

On Ash Wednesday we will receive ashes, smudged on the forehead in the form of a cross - the ashes of those palms that were blessed last Palm Sunday. If you have palms at home from last year's service, feel free to bring them to the church anytime between now and Feb. 13 to be burned to make this year's ashes.

Ashes are a primary, irreducible symbol of our mortality. Furthermore, there is a symmetry to this ritual act: Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent; Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week; what grew up and turned green came down, died, and was burned to ash. 

There will be two services on this day, at 12:15 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. All are welcome. 

2024 Adult and Youth Confirmation Classes

We are still collecting names for those adults and youth (high schoolers ages 16 and up) for those from any background who are interested in taking the next step in their Christian walk.

Adult and Youth confirmation will meet separately, with schedules to be determined depending on the group's needs.

Youth confirmation will take place over two Sunday afternoons: Sunday, February 18; and Sunday, March 17. Both sessions will meet from 1:00 to 4:00, with food provided. The Confirmation class will be co-facilitated by Deacon Stan Baker and Rose Bacon. Confirmation will take place at the Easter Vigil, Saturday evening, March 30, by Bishop Shannon MacVean-Brown. Please contact Deacon Stan Baker at [email protected] for more information. 

We will read, pray, study, and reflect on our faith journeys as we explore the basics of the Christian faith and the Episcopal church. Those who want to be confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church will make their commitments at the Easter Vigil on March 30. 

If you are interested, speak to a clergy person, or email the Cathedral office at [email protected].

Welcome Ministry Seeks Sub for Red Apron Duties

Dear 11 o'clock service attendees:

Would any one of you be available to help with the Welcome Ministry Red Apron coffee hour team on February 18th and again on a Sunday in March?

If so, please contact either Miriam Burns:[email protected] or Penny Pillsbury:[email protected] 

Blessings,

Miriam 

Cathedral Office Closed February 26 - March 1

The Cathedral office will be closed February 26 through March 1 to accommodate staff vacations.

Recycle Your Wreath Ring

To those of you who purchased a wreath from this year's wreath project: Did you know that the greens are compostable and the metal ring is reusable?

Deconstruction is easy. Place a trash can or tub under wreath, find the hanging loop and untwist. Keep unwrapping, the greens will fall off into tub. You'll have a year's supply of florist wire, compost the greens. Bring the ring back to church, label "Penny P," and put under the Narthex table. Our wreath supplier loves to reuse them.

Join Our Team of Lay Liturgical Ministers

If you or your child are curious about becoming an acolyte, usher, verger, crucifer, reader, chalice minister or subdeacon, we invite you to consider how you might enjoy serving in the liturgy at St. Paul's.

We could use a few extra volunteers in each role, particularly at the 9 o'clock service. You can serve as frequently or infrequently as you like, and assignments are generated using an online scheduler, which makes the process easy and allows for last-minute schedule changes.

Please let us know if you are interested in learning more or signing up to participate. Most roles involve a brief training, which can be scheduled at your convenience.

Contact Jennifer in the Cathedral office at [email protected], or 864-0471.

Lenten Book Study Offering: Start Date CHANGED to February 20

Are you interested in learning how colonialism has affected the history of the Episcopal Church? Are you wondering if there is a way to make the Church more diverse and to attract new members? If so, you are in luck!

During Lent, St. Paul’s will be offering a zoom-moderated book study of The Church Cracked Open – New Hope for Beloved Community. The book is authored by The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers who is a Canon to Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and spearheads Episcopal efforts around evangelism, racial reconciliation and creation care.

We pushed back the start date of this discussion group so as not to conflict with the Shrove Tuesday celebrations.



When: Tuesdays, February 20 - March 19, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Where: On Zoom! Registrants will receive the link a few days before the first meeting.

Who: Discussions will be moderated by the members of the initial Sacred Ground Circle: Miriam Burns, Ann Meyer, Mary Schreiber, Susan Stock, and Shannon Williamson.

How: To sign up or if you have questions, email the Cathedral office, or Susan Stock.

Reading The Church Cracked Open will give us insights about how we can follow Jesus' extravagant love by loving the face and voice of God which we see and hear in the presence of others. It will give us tools to trust the perspective and wisdom of people who are least respected. As we go from Lent to Easter, we will have gained additional skills to help us become a beloved community in Vermont.

The book is available on multiple platforms for ~$17.00 and there will be scholarships available if that enables you to attend. Please contact Jennifer Sumner at [email protected] if you want to discuss a scholarship.  



All are welcome. In order to plan the discussion, we ask people to register by email ahead of time. You can reach Susan Stock and the rest of the facilitator group at our emails - [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].

Input Sought: Director of Music and Cathedral Arts Search

At the Annual Meeting last Sunday, we asked for your input on two sets of questions:

How does music intersect with your spirituality; that is, what does music bring (or not) to your relationship with God?, and;

Thinking about our music tradition:

• What is one thing you wish would never change?
• What is one thing you would like to or would be ok with changing?
• What, if anything, could we let go of or let lie fallow for a while?

If you didn't attend the annual meeting or have thoughts about these questions, please email them to the Cathedral office: [email protected] so that the search committee can take them into consideration.

Loving Creator, we know you to be with those who yearn for and find your presence in creative arts like music: Be with this Cathedral in our search for a Director of Music and Cathedral Arts and grant to those in the search process glimpses of your divine beauty, that they may discern and choose a candidate who will inspire our spirits and uplift our hearts in worship; we ask in the name of the Holy Name that has inspired unceasing hymns of praise. Amen.

Food Allergies at St. Paul's

We are so grateful to everyone who contributes to make coffee hour and our potluck gatherings festive. Did you know that within our community there are some members with food allergies?

Please keep contributing, but take a moment to label homemade or store bought items you bring if they contain peanuts or tree nuts.

Thank you for helping to keep our community safe and healthy!

Stuck in Vermont Features Deacon Susan McMillan's Vet Clinic

Check out this short video from Eva Sollberger's Stuck in Vermont featuring St. Paul's Deacon Susan McMillan's Vet Clinic, located in Burlington's Old North End!

https://www.sevendaysvt.com/arts-culture/stuck-in-vermont-the-old-north-end-veterinary-clinic-has-kept-costs-low-to-help-pets-in-burlington-for-almost-20-years-40043996

Weekday Celtic Prayer with Anam Cara Sojourners

Beginning Ash Wednesday, February 14, the Rev. Kim Hardy and the Rev. Dr. Fred Moser will lead reflection, prayer, and music on Mondays through Fridays on Zoom at 8:30 a.m. with Anam Cara Sojourners.

The resource for this season of reflections is Being Here: Prayers for Curiosity, Justice, and Love, which is available at your local booksellers or online.

In Being Here, acclaimed poet and theologian Pádraig Ó Tuama offers a thoughtful collection of prayers and essays to focus attention in a world full of distractions. Featuring thirty-one collects—an ancient five-fold form of prayer—this unconventional devotional invites readers into a daily rhythm of connection and creativity.  

RSVP to [email protected] to receive the Zoom link. All are welcome.

Voices From Ukraine Free Community Events

Voices from Ukraine VT (VFU-VT) is a volunteer-led, month-long collaboration among Vermonters and Ukrainians overseas to introduce community members to the art, images, stories, culture and food of Ukraine, a sovereign nation invaded by Russia in February 2022.

Activities: Ukrainian participants sharing their art and stories include children, teens and adults currently living in Krakow, Poland, as refugees and Ukrainians who remain in their country despite Russian occupation and bombardments. Library activities, tailored to children, youth and adults, include story times, films, hands-on art activities, live video discussions with Ukrainian participants and a Ukrainian Children’s Art Show Opening Reception at the FLETCHER FREE LIBRARY on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. including food highlighting flavors of Ukrainian culture.

Schedule/event info: https://www.facebook.com/VoicesFromUkraineVT



Film Series: VFU-VT is hosting four, free film screenings with cookies and short film discussions during February. The curated series, designed to foster audience members’ understanding of Ukraine’s historical experience with Russia, features:

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10th, 12:00 p.m.

Mr. Jones (2019) by Agnieszka Holland

118 minutes (Ages 14+)

SOUTH BURLINGTON LIBRARY

180 Market St., South Burlington, VT

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17th, 12:00 p.m.

Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom (The Maidan Uprising in Kyiv) (2014)

102 minutes (Ages 14+)

SOUTH BURLINGTON LIBRARY

180 Market St., South Burlington, VT

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24th 12:00 p.m.

20 Days in Mariupol (2022)

94 Minutes (Ages 14+)

FLETCHER FREE LIBRARY

235 College St., Burlington, Vermont

Questions: Katherine Stamper, volunteer, [email protected], 802-825-5983