From The Dean & Rector

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the United Thank Offering in November. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to send over $400 to UTO to support their missions.

The Rev. Robert Leopold to Serve as Priest-in-Charge at St. John's in the Mountains Episcopal Church, Stowe

We are grateful to the Rev. Leopold for his time at St. Paul's. Join us on Bobby's last day at the Cathedral - Sunday, December 7 - when we will celebrate a special liturgy to mark this transition as well as a festive coffee hour, when we will thank him for being a guiding light in our community, for his sermons and their inspiration and comfort, for his compassion and understanding, and for his steady presence during Greta's sabbatical.

Pray that as he starts this new chapter in his life, he continues to inspire and touch the lives of those around him.

Christmas Altar Flowers

The St. Paul's flower guild enhances our worship and glorifies God by presenting gifts of natural beauty through greenery and flower arrangements at Christmas. Members of St. Paul's are invited to dedicate Christmas flowers in memory of or thanksgiving for a person or event. The name(s) and the occasion will be printed in the service bulletins at Christmastime. 

If you would like to contribute in memory of or in thanksgiving for a loved one, please email their names to Jennifer Sumner in the Cathedral office, or pick up a paper form next time you're at church. 

Please include payment with your request, either online or by check payable to: The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, including "Christmas Flowers" in the memo line. The suggested donation is $20.  

We ask that all names and contributions be received by Thursday, December 18 so that we can include your loved ones' names in the Christmas Eve order of worship. 

Younger Adults Advent (Holiday) Party

Friday, December 5, 2024, from 5 p.m. -7 p.m.

The Younger Adults of the parish – defined as 18+ (after-high-school) to 40ish – will gather upstairs at our Cathedral for a festive, gathering encompassing Advent and Anticipating Christmas, on Friday, December 5th, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Festive food and soft drinks will be provided.

Children are invited to dress in their pajamas for a movie night down the hall, where pizza will be provided for them. 

Advent Lessons & Carols

A candle-lit service of Lessons and Carols at St. Paul's opens the season of Advent with readings, prayers, and carols sung by the Cathedral Choirs.

Advent is a season of quiet reflection and joyful expectation. Join us for this lovely service as we are led into a time of spiritual preparation for the coming of the Kingdom of God, weaving scripture and music together to bring us toward the true joy of Christmas.

Sunday, December 7 at 5 p.m. in person and live streamed.

Christmas Giving: Spectrum Gifts with a Purpose

Marti Churchill, Keith Pillsbury and Annegret Schmitt-Johnson are serving as the liaisons from Saint Paul's for Spectrum Youth.

Spectrum is a local organization which helps homeless youth with shelter, food, training for jobs and other supports.

This holiday season Spectrum is looking for your help. Visit the Spectrum tree in the Nave and select a “catalog” listing the different gifts and their amounts. Write a check to the Cathedral in the amount of your gift, and, using one of the red envelopes provided, drop it in the collection plate. Catalog items range from $15 for a cozy pair of winter socks, a warm meal for 3 teens for $21, and counseling sessions for $125 each. You can also give via the Cathedral's website in any amount!

You can also become a mentor for one of the youth since many of them don't have any support from parents or other adults. This means you would meet for an hour or two a month to go for a walk and talk, or go to a concert etc.

Thank you so much for your help.

Happy Holidays,

Annegret.

Paul Winter's Winter Solstice Celebration

The Paul Winter Consort, with beloved vocalist Theresa Thomason, brings the timeless music of their legendary New York solstice events, in a joyous and profound celebration of the season of renewal and the greater family of life on Earth.

Featuring:

• Theresa Thomason, the Consort's long-time beloved vocalist
• Eugene Friesen on cello (who has been with the Consort for 46 years)
• Henrique Eisenmann, piano
• Peter Slavov, bass
• Bertram Lehmann, percussion
• The Cathedral Organ (organist TBA)
• Paul Winter, soprano sax

The Celebration will be held at the Cathedral on Saturday, December 13, at 3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available online via EventBrite. See this website for information about this event that began in NYC in 1980, and the video Solstice Saga. Last year it was held at the Flynn; the year before that it was a part of the Lane Series, where two performances sold out, each in under an hour.

We are thrilled that Paul and his Consort have chosen St. Paul's this year!

If you are interested in serving as an usher for one of the concerts, and are able and willing to stand for most of two hours, please email annguillot@gmail.com.

Spread Joy Caroling at Premier Rehab & Health Care

Calling all carolers!

A wonderful Advent tradition is caroling for our elders. This is a great way for all parishioners - young and old - to celebrate and share our heritage.

We will be caroling at Premier Rehab and Health Care in Burlington (formerly, Genesis house and Burlington Health & Rehab) on Sunday, December 14 at 1 p.m. We will have printed song sheets to pick up at the back of the Nave that Sunday. We'll gather following coffee hour and Sunday School and walk the approximate six blocks (or drive, but parking is limited).

This is a joyful way to renew our baptismal covenant by proclaiming by word and example the Good News of God in Christ. We hope to see many of you join in this wonderful tradition.

If you have any questions, call, text, or email Miriam Burns: 618-920-2041, smirian23@hotmail.com.=

2026 Stewardship Campaign

Thank you to everyone who has pledged to our 2026 stewardship campaign. So far we have raised $244,000 from 74 pledges.

It is not too late to pledge! The dollars pledged to our 2026 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.

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. Extra pledge cards and packets are available on the table in the rear of the church.

(admin@stpaulscathedralvt.org, or 802-864-0471). 

MealTrain for Parishioner in Need

Beloved parishioner Fran Carlson recently broke her wrist and is unable to drive or to easily prepare meals. Let us show our support for her by delivering meals for the next several weeks!

To sign up or learn more, check the link here.

St. Paul's Winter Coat Drive

St. Paul's is collecting new or gently used coats, hats, mittens, or boots to donate to our neighbors in need.

During the months of November and December you can bring items with you to church and drop them in the bin in the South Porch or in the office area, where a member of our social justice outreach team will deliver them to shelters, or hand them out to folks who may stop by the Cathedral looking for assistance.

St. Paul's Vestry

What is a Vestry and who serves on it?

A Vestry is a form of lay ministry that involves spiritual leadership and the oversight of congregational matters, including finances, property, and personnel, while partnering with the clergy. The Vestry is important for the health and well-being of the church, and can be joy-filled work that can deepen your faith and sense of community.

Vestry members are asked to participate in a meeting at the Cathedral on the third Thursday of each month, when they discuss and vote on matters related to the operations of the Cathedral.

If you are interested in serving on the Vestry at St. Paul's, please reach out and let us know! We value the input of different members of the parish community.

Coming up at St. Paul's

Mark your calendars! There are many ways to participate in parish life at St. Paul's:

• Sunday, November 30, Advent 1: Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m.
• Sunday, November 30 - Saturday, December 6: Wreath Week
• Friday, December 5: Young Adults Advent Holiday Party, 5 p.m.
• Friday, December 5 - Saturday, December 6: Wreath Pickup
• Saturday, December 6: Choir Rehearsal, 4-6 p.m.
• Sunday, December 7, Advent 2: Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m. The Rev. Robert Leopold's last Sunday with us, Festive Coffee Hour. Advent Lessons & Carols, 5 p.m.
• Saturday, December 13: Cathedral Arts presents Winter Solstice Concert, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, December 14, Advent 3: Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m. Caroling at Premier Rehab & Health Care, 1 p.m.
• Thursday, December 18: Deadline, Christmas Flowers donations and names.
• Sunday, December 21, Advent 4: Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m., followed by the decorating and preparation of the Nave, children's pageant rehearsal, and chair moving.
• Monday, December 22 - Friday, January 2: Cathedral Office Closed
• Wednesday, December 24, Christmas Eve: Pageant with Holy Eucharist, 4 p.m. Music begins, 9:30 p.m., Festal Holy Eucharist, 10 p.m.
• Thursday, December 25, Christmas Day: Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m.
• Sunday, December 28, The First Sunday After Christmas: Christmas Lessons & Carols, 10 a.m.
• Wednesday, December 31: Cathedral Arts presents New Year's Eve at the Opera, 3 p.m.
• Sunday, January 25: Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m., lunch and Annual Meeting follows.

Two Ways to Support COTS this Holiday Season

One way our church community can support COTS is donating time by volunteering at the annual December Phonathon Fundraiser. Volunteers make calls to previous supporters from Monday Dec 1 to Thursday Dec 4 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. each night. Even signing up for two hours one evening will be a big help. All volunteering can be done virtually. If you choose, on Monday, December 1, COTS is hosting an optional in-person kickoff event at 95 North Avenue with food, drinks, and a welcoming community atmosphere.  

The web site with details, more ways to help, and a link to a sign-up is at https://cotsonline.org/phonathon/

The second opportunity is to participate in the COTS Holiday Gift Card and Toy Drive. Gift Cards are preferred since they empower parents choose the best gift for their kids. You can also donate new unwrapped toys to COTS at 95 North Ave by Dec 5, 2025. More details including an on-line wish can be found at https://cotsonline.org/blog/holidays-at-cots.

Peace and Justice Center Burlington Hosts Holiday Cards to Prison

Come write a bunch of holiday cards and send them to our neighbors in prison with us! This is a great event for folks who don’t have the time to commit to being a regular pen pal, but would still like to let our neighbors in prison know that we are thinking of them! We will provide the cards, stamps, envelopes, and pens.

We look forward to seeing you!

Saturday, December 6, 2 - 4 p.m.

Peace and Justice Center of Burlington

239 S. Union Street Suite 3

Burlington, Vermont 05401

King Street Winter Clothing Collection

These folks are amazing!

King Street Laundry is at it again and will be hosting a winter clothing distribution event on Sunday Dec.14. Lots going on that day but we'll be getting some donated lightly used (or new!) winter clothing over to the laundromat before the 14th.

Keep your donations coming. ALL through this winter season, please remember our neighbors who may not have great shelter or who just don't have 'extra' money for warm clothes. Any clean donation will get to the right person! Please continue to bring your donations to church. Deacon Susan McMillan will leave a bin in the entrance for your donations!