From The Dean & Rector

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who joined us for last Sunday's Annual Meeting for your thoughtful participation and great questions.

Thanks especially to the clean-up crew, to those who brought the extra food over to the Elmwood Pods (cheers Adam, Marley and Susan!), to Katie and Katie for keeping the young people of the parish entertained, to the Vestry for the presentation and for leading group discussions, and to Karl for his behind-the-scenes work to made the technology function smoothly!

Redevelopment Project Community Forum This Sunday After Worship

If you attended last Sunday's Annual Meeting, you learned more about the potential redevelopment of the Cathedral property.

Cathedral clergy and vestry have scheduled several different ways to answer questions, hear concerns, and share excitement about what might lie ahead.

This Sunday, February 1 after worship in person

Wednesday, February 4 at 7 p.m. via Zoom

Saturday, February 7 at 10 a.m. via Zoom

Sunday, February 8 after worship in person

Voting will take place on Sunday, February 22 after worship in person and on Zoom.

Taizé Meditation for Candlemas

This hour-long candlelit service combines sung and spoken prayer, meditative 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 reflect on this feast marking the end of the Christmas season.

Join us on Sunday, February 1 at 7 p.m in person or online. All are welcome.

Parish Directories Available

The latest St. Paul's directory has been updated and copies are available to parishioners. There will be a few printed copies available on the Narthex table starting this Sunday, and electronic copies are available by emailing the Cathedral office.

As a reminder, in order to ensure confidence, privacy and promote an open exchange of information for members, the church asks that the member directory not be used for solicitation, marketing, or sharing of member information with non-members. 

2025 Annual Report Published

In case you needed proof that the St. Paul's community is practicing their Christian faith out in the world, check out this year's Annual Report and learn more about the many ways we worship, support our community, gather, and perform many small tasks that make our vibrant parish life possible.

Limited printed copies are available on the Narthex table, or you can view a digital copy here.

Young Artists Showcase Recital Rescheduled

Last Sunday's Young Artists Showcase Recital was rescheduled due to the snowstorm.

The annual Young Artist Showcase Recital of regional high school musicians performing at a high level, this year moves to "prime time" on a weekend. This free concert—with a history of more than four decades--is always engaging and enthusiastically received by an appreciative audience. 

Sunday, February 8 at 4 p.m. This is a free concert. Contributions to Cathedral Arts are always gratefully accepted.

Annual Meeting Recap

Thank you to everyone who participated in Sunday's Annual Meeting at the Cathedral. The Annual Meeting was not recorded. If you were unable to make it, either in person or online, we offer the following summary of the meeting:

• We ate a lot of good food and had excellent cake from our tenant, That Cake Stand.
• Congratulations to Miriam Burns, Karl Fandrich, Marley Skiff, and Shannon Williamson on their election to serve on the Vestry.
• Congratulations to Marley Skiff on her appointment as Senior Warden for another year, to Karl Fandrich for his appointment as Junior Warden, and to Rose Bacon for her appointment as the Clerk of the Vestry. Thanks to Shannon Williamson for her years of service as the Clerk of the Vestry.
• We heard from Kim Fitzgerald, CEO of Cathedral Square, on the accomplishments of that organization over the past year. You can view a video or their new Housing Incentive Program here.
• We learned more about the potential real estate redevelopment deal* with Stewardship Realty. The congregation broke into smaller discussion groups, each guided by a Vestry member. Questions and comments were recorded. A special meeting was called for Sunday, February 22 after worship to vote on whether to move forward with this deal.
• We closed with a prayer.

*See below for more details on the redevelopment proposal

Vermont Clergy Travel to Minneapolis

More than a dozen Vermont faith leaders traveled to Minneapolis last week to see the impacts of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown first-hand and bolster the ranks of people there who have protested against the government’s actions. Among them was the Rev. Deacon Susan McMillan, Diocesan Deacon.

Check out the VTDigger article covering their experiences here.

Coming Up in Adult Forum: Therapeutic Works

We hope you will join us on Sunday, February 15 after worship as we hear from a representative from Therapeutic Works, a local nonprofit that offers pre-trial case management, a reintegration stabilization program, and mental health and substance use assessment and counseling services for individuals regardless of income, insurance status, location, age, financial situation, or the severity of the charge.

You can learn more about Therapeutic Works here.

Shrove Tuesday Decorating

Do you like the colors purple, green and yellow? Do you like beads and masks? Did you not get your fill of hanging Christmas lights in December? Do you like to set up and decorate for a party? If so, we need YOU to help transform the Parish Hall into a festive space for the 2026 Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras celebration. 

Don’t feel creative? We need help moving tables and chairs and other routine set up tasks. All are welcome to join in the fun. Many hands make light work! We could use your hands on Monday, February 16th starting at 5:30 p.m. There is no need to sign up; just come. If you have questions contact either Rose Bacon or Karl Fandrich for more information. Thanks!

Celebrate Shrove Tuesday With Us

We will celebrate Shrove Tuesday at St. Paul's on Tuesday, February 17. 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.

We'll gather downstairs in the Parish Hall starting at 6 p.m. to eat pancakes, burn palms, and put away our Alleluias.

We will need contributions of food and help! Keep an eye out for a sign up sheet in the next few weeks, or reach out to the Cathedral office if you would like to offer your time and talents.

Ash Wednesday is February 18

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 February 14 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, at 12:15 and 7:00 p.m. All are welcome. 

Elevator Out of Service

The elevator in our building is out of service for the time being. We working with our service technicians to get the work scheduled and will have a better idea of the timeline for restoring elevator service shortly.

In the meantime, coffee hour will be held upstairs after worship using disposable cups and plates. Additionally, Adult Forum, when scheduled, will be held in the Commons Room.

Cathedral Redevelopment Corner

The Cathedral Redevelopment Corner will be a recurring item in the eNews - a place to learn more about the potential redevelopment project the Cathedral is considering. Check here weekly for updates, frequently asked questions, and other guidance on the future of this plan.

This redevelopment project before us now is the outcome of many years of discussion, outreach, and planning, beginning in 2015 with a feasibility study group that examined the potential of new construction on our Cathedral property. In 2017, a group of parishioners formed a study group that created the 2018 Urban Cathedral Study Group Report, which acknowledged the exciting opportunity the Cathedral has to participate in Burlington's plans to grow as a vibrant city and encouraged conversations among our community to imagine the future of the Cathedral - both the physical property itself and what we will become as a congregation.

Dean Getlein first learned of the work of Stewardship Realty at the Episcopal Church General Convention in 2024, at which Stewardship presented on their mission of helping church leaders and congregations understand the value of their real estate, and advise them on how to build financial sustainability for ministry through the creative development of their assets. The Vestry and Trustees have been working on plans for a sustainable future for over 18 months.

The plan we developed together establishes a long-term vision for the Cathedral property, offering us financial stability and thus the ability to continue our mission of playing a vital role in our community: as a home to the fine and performing arts; as the site of lectures and discussions on the great issues of the day; as a haven to welcome and embrace its city and its world; and to invite lively participation of Vermont Episcopalians as well as people of other faith traditions.

If you missed the presentation at Annual Meeting, please come to any one of the four forums for further conversation to learn more! Feb 1 & 8 during coffee hour; Feb 4 & 7 on Zoom (details above).

Resurrection Hope Unpacked: A Black History Month Book Study

This February, join the diocesan Racial Justice and Healing Committee for a three-week book study on Resurrection Hope: A Future Where Black Lives Matter by the Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas.

In this book, Dr. Douglas reflects on how a “white way of knowing” has come to dominate American identity and even to shape the consciousness of Christians.

Meetings will be held on Mondays February 2, 9, and 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. on Zoom and discussion will be led by members of the Racial Justice and Healing Committee. Each session will be focused on different chapters of the book:

• February 2: Chapters 1 & 2

• February 9: Chapters 3 & 4

• February 16: Chapter 5 & The Afterward

Additionally, Dr. Douglas will attend the February 9 meeting. She will participate in the discussion and be available for participants to ask questions. 

Copies of the book may be purchased directly from the publisher or on Bookshop.org. If you would like to participate but purchasing the book is not in your budget, reach out to the Cathedral. Scholarships are available.

You do not need to attend every session to participate, but registration is required. Register online. Zoom links will be distributed to registrants ahead of the first meeting on February 2.

This study is being held during Black History Month. Taking place every February, Black History Month honors and celebrates Black history and culture in the United States and across the globe. Learn more about Black History Month.

Faith Climate Action Day February 19

On February 19th, faith and environmental leaders across Vermont are gathering at the statehouse in Montpelier to raise our voices and advocate for the Earth. In a time of escalating climate crises and rollbacks or elimination of progressive climate policies at the state and federal levels, we are coming together in community, solidarity, and song to say: Later is too late. We are living our faith through our actions, standing for ecological justice for all - NOW. 

We'll gather for community dialogue, sign-making, and meetings with Representatives. The day will end with a Multi-faith Vigil for the Earth, including an invocation, singing, and candle lighting.

You can REGISTER HERE: https://vtipl.org/faith-climate-action-day-2026/

Schedule (February 19th, from 1:00-5:00pm)

1:00 - 2:30 p.m.: Community gathering, lobby training, sign-making, and dialogue

3:00 p.m.: House Session and group recognition

1:00-4:30 p.m.: Meetings with Representatives

4:30-5:00 p.m.: Earth Vigil on the Statehouse Lawn

This event is organized by Vermont Interfaith Power & Light (VTIPL), a faith-based response to climate change. To learn more, visit their website at www.vtipl.org.