Beloved,

"Come away by yourselves and rest awhile." (Mark 6:31)

I am heeding the advice of our Savior and leaving on vacation next week. I will be back in the office on August 21. In the meantime, please welcome The Reverends Kim Hardy and Fred Moser as celebrant and preacher on August 9 and Kim as celebrant on August 16. Deacon Susan McMillan will be back and with you on those dates also.

I pray each of you is also able to find times of rest and renewal in these summer days.

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

Greta+

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who joined us for lunch at last week's Last Sunday Lunch.

Taizé Closet Clean Out

Many thanks to Judith McManis and Rose Bacon for their work cleaning out the Taizé closet. Items that are being decommissioned will be displayed in the Parish Hall and are free to a good home.

There is a nice selection of ceramic bowls, candles and candle holders - check them out next time you're at the Cathedral.

Beware Email Phishing Scams

Please use caution when opening 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. Most importantly, do not click on any links in these emails! 

If you have questions about the validity of an email you have received, check the sender's address. If it is not from @stpaulscathedralvt.org (or @diovermont.org in the case of Deacon Susan McMillan), don't open it! Please also don't hesitate to reach out to us in the Cathedral office: 802-864-0471, or admin@stpaulscathedralvt.org if you suspect fraudulence.

Seeking Missing Tea Towels and Potholders

Did you bring home the tea towels and potholders from the Parish Hall kitchen? If so, we need them back! Some of them belong to That Cake Stand and she is missing them.

Thanks for returning them to the Cathedral in a timely fashion.

Young Adults Table Friday August 7

YAT resumes after our Summer Break...

If you are between ages 20ish - 40ish, please take your seat at the St. Paul's YAT (Young Adult Table) on the first Friday in August, the 7th at 6:00 p.m. Catering will be from The Wise Fool, and childcare is provided. Together we are finding and engaging conversations we may only be able to have here - please join the gathering.

To help with planning, please RSVP to Karen Brightly at 323-385-2034 by Wednesday, August 5th. (but if you are able to join last minute, please do - we will have plenty of food!)

Holly Rees Joins Cathedral Staff as Children's Formation Coordinator

We are pleased to announce that Holly Rees, long-time parishioner, is joining the staff at St. Paul's as Children's Formation Coordinator.

Holly brings a wealth of experience, enthusiasm, and creativity to the role, and we're thrilled she'll be joining us!

New Date: Summer Grounds Cleanup Day

On Saturday, August 22, from 9:00 a.m. to 11 a.m., we’ll be working side-by-side to help keep the Cathedral's grounds beautiful and welcoming for our community.

Whether you can stay for one hour or two, your helping hands can make a big difference! Bring your gloves, clippers, yard waste bags, rakes, and a willingness to serve. All ages are welcome, and no special experience is needed.

Redevelopment Project Q&A at Adult Forum

On Sunday, August 23 we'll have representatives of the Task Force and vestry available to provide an in-person update on the progress we've made so far on the proposed redevelopment project.

Join us after worship in the Parish Hall and bring your questions and comments.

Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival and Cathedral Arts Present Bach in Church

Join us for this free concert on Tuesday, August 25 at noon at the Cathedral.

The program includes:

Bach, Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major

Dai Wei, Weighless for solo violin

Bach, Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor

Featuring artists:

Bella Hristova, violin; Wendy Warner, cello.

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

Bishop Shannon Visitation at the Cathedral Sunday, August 30

One of the many responsibilities of the Bishop is to make an official visitation to each of the diocese's congregations.

The Bishop’s Visitations are intended to support the pastoral care of the diocese in regard to both temporal and spiritual affairs of the parishes. We come together to build relationships, join in the sacrament, and

talk together about the congregation and its mission and vision for being a faithful, healthy, effective, and sustainable bearer of the love of Jesus in the community. 

The Bishop will preach and preside on that Sunday, as well as joining us after worship during Adult Forum time, and the Last Sunday Lunch.

Cathedral Redevelopment Corner

Mark your calendars and join us for the redevelopment project Q&A during Adult Forum on Sunday, August 23 after worship in the parish hall. Grab a cup of coffee and hear updates, share ideas, and identify your hopes and fears for the future of the Cathedral property.

*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)

COTS Back to School Bonanza

The COTS Back to School Bonanza is a free, kid-centric community event where any Vermont student in need can get ready for a successful school year in a dignified, stress-free, and fun environment. The goal is to foster confidence through selecting school supplies, a backpack, first day of school outfit, getting a haircut, and more!

A carnival-style event, kids will enjoy a bounce house, face painting, a magic show, DJ, and summer treats.

You can help by donating new school supplies, running a school supply drive, or attending this free community event.

Learn more at cotsonline.org/backtoschool

Saturday, August 1, 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Parking lot at 95 North Avenue

Burlington, Vermont 05401

Celebration of Life for Oliviah and Rylin Ross

Dear People of God,

The Rev. Deacon Jonathan Ross and Chelsea Ross have invited our diocesan household to a communal Celebration of Life for their daughters, Oliviah and Rylin.

Jonathan and Chelsea invite us to gather with them at:

The Celebration of Life, Saturday, August 15th, 10 a.m.,

at the gymnasium of the Hazen Union High School, Hardwick, Vermont.

Bishop Shannon will be speaking at the Celebration. The service will be followed by children’s activities and food, family-friendly, and families are very welcome.

Our prayers continue for Jonathan, Chelsea, and their family.

Grace and Peace,

Canon Susan

Strengthen Your Community, Volunteer at Cathedral Square!

Cathedral Square is dedicated to providing quality housing and support to those aging in Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle counties. Our affordable housing locations cater to older adults and those living with disabilities. 

We are in need of volunteers to perform a wide variety of tasks to help residents and strengthen community bonds. Volunteer drivers to bring residents to appointments, grocery shopping, or events. Companions to go on walks, socialize, help clean, or watch sporting events. Individuals interested in leading group activities, board games, crafts, or exercise. Whatever your skillset, whatever your time commitment, you would be making a huge impact! 

Those interested in volunteering at Memory Care at Allen Brook will receive training in Best Friends Approach to Dementia Care. 

To learn more, and find our volunteer application, visit cathedralsquare.org/volunteer. 

Please email completed forms to Jay McCormick at mccormick2@cathedralsquare.org and Cathie Cassano at cassano@cathedralsquare.org. 

Vermont Racial Justice Alliance Launches First African Landing Day

The Vermont Racial Justice Alliance (VRJA) is excited to announce First African Landing Day - PRESS ON! 

This annual commemoration will take place on August 22, 2026, at the Intervale Center from 12:00 till 5:00 p.m. in Burlington, Vermont. There will be food, music, dancing, speakers, exhibits, drumming and a youth “hang-out” area. All are welcome. The 2026 theme, "Press On," is inspired by the Adinkra symbol Owo Foro Adobe—a timeless call to steadfastness, prudence, diligence, and the courage to accomplish the impossible.

As our nation celebrates its 250th Anniversary, we are reminded that the American promise has always been unfinished. For more than sixteen generations, American descendants of slavery have continuously pushed this nation closer to the ideals it has proclaimed but has too often failed to fulfill. Today, we see the pendulum of truth and justice swinging away from the progress forged through the sacrifice, courage, and blood of those upon whose shoulders we stand. Now, in a time when civil rights are being weakened, weaponized, and challenged once again, history has called our generation to that same sacred work. 



This First African Landing Day, we embrace the challenges before us. Though many see uncertainty, hopelessness, and despair, we see responsibility. We must once again reconstruct what has been lost and become the architects of a new America - an America worthy of our ancestors' sacrifice and our children's future. It is the same hope our ancestors carried more than 407 years ago when they first arrived on these shores. We must PRESS ON!

First African Landing Day is an annual VRJA cultural empowerment commemoration. It was established to recognize and highlight the resilience and contributions of African-Americans since 1619; to acknowledge the impact that slavery and laws that enforced racial discrimination have had (and continue to have) on the United States and to educate the public about the arrival of Africans in the United States.” On August 24th, 2019 Vermont Governor Scott proclaimed that the 4th Saturday of August “shall be henceforth recognized and commemorated as First African Landing Day in Vermont.”

The 1619 Traveling Exhibit will go on display at the Richard Kemp Center on Saturday, August 1, at 6:00 p.m., immediately following a community discussion on health and wellness. Additional details on other display locations will follow.

As we ramp up for this event we could always use a hand. There are tons of ways that you can help and of course we'd really appreciate it! Here is a place where you can sign up to volunteer or register to table. Please take a minute and let us know how you would like to be involved. Options for sponsorship and early supporters can be found here.

Get free tickets here.

Diocesan Convention Nominations Open

Deadline October 23

Nominations for positions to be elected at the 2026 Diocesan Convention are now open and may be submitted through JotForm. The deadline for submission is October 23.

The 2026 Diocesan Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont will be held in three parts: the Pre-Convention Meeting on October 29, the Program Day at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul on November 7, and the Business Meeting on Zoom on November 14.

Elections will take place for the following bodies:

• Brookhaven Learning and Treatment Center Board of Trustees
• Commission on Finance
• General Convention Clergy Deputy
• General Convention Alternate Deputies
• Rock Point School Trustees
• Standing Committee
• Trustees of the Diocese
• Provincial Synod Delegate
• Provincial Synod Alternate Delegate

To learn more about each of these bodies visit the diocesan website.

Nominate yourself or another now online.