The work day for Saturday, January 30 has been cancelled due to the inclement weather.
We will have our regularly scheduled Mass on Sunday, January 31 at 10:30 for those who can safely travel. Stay warm and enjoy the snow!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Haiti Update
For those of you who haven't read it, the Seymour Herald newspaper has a front-page article about our efforts in helping Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) with their work in earthquake ravaged Haiti. In the days since our initial donation, more funds have been coming in to St. Paul Church to forward to ERD. Some have given directly to ERD in the past week, over $100 by my count.
The Right Reverend Jean Duracin, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, has written a letter to ERD about what is happening "on the ground" in Haiti. Following are some excerpts:
I am writing to you from the tent city we have set up behind the rubble of College Ste. Pierre, our marvelous senior secondary school that is no more. As you know, we have gathered approximately 3,000 people here
alone. Across the land, the Diocese of Haiti has set up at least 21 refugee camps, caring for more than 23,000 people.
In this letter, I wish to make clear to the Diocese of Haiti, to Episcopal Relief and Development and to all of our partners that Episcopal Relief and Development is the official agency of the Diocese of Haiti and that we are partners working hand-in-hand in Haiti's relief and recovery efforts.
We in the Diocese of Haiti have a vision and a plan for this relief and recovery effort. We know the situation on the ground, we are directing emergency relief to those who need it most, and we already are making plans and moving forward to help our people.
Since the earthquake struck, we have been and will continue to work closely with two missionaries here, Ms. Katie Mears and Ms. Kirsten Muth. I have complete confidence in you and your agency.
Finally, I wish to make it plain: I know that many of our partners wish to come to Haiti right now to help. Please tell them that unless they are certified professionals in relief and recovery, they must wait. We will need them in the months and years to come, but at this point, it is too dangerous and too much of a burden for our people to have mission teams here.
Please tell our partners, the people of The Episcopal Church, the people of the United States and indeed the people of the world that we in Haiti are immensely grateful for their prayers, their support and their generosity. This is a desperate time in Haiti; we have lost so much. But we still have the most important asset, the people of God, and we are working continuously to take care of them.
The Clergy and Congregation of St. Paul Episcopal Church remain in prayer for the people of Haiti, and dedicate ourselves to the relief work of Episcopal Relief and Development.
The Right Reverend Jean Duracin, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, has written a letter to ERD about what is happening "on the ground" in Haiti. Following are some excerpts:
I am writing to you from the tent city we have set up behind the rubble of College Ste. Pierre, our marvelous senior secondary school that is no more. As you know, we have gathered approximately 3,000 people here
alone. Across the land, the Diocese of Haiti has set up at least 21 refugee camps, caring for more than 23,000 people.
In this letter, I wish to make clear to the Diocese of Haiti, to Episcopal Relief and Development and to all of our partners that Episcopal Relief and Development is the official agency of the Diocese of Haiti and that we are partners working hand-in-hand in Haiti's relief and recovery efforts.
We in the Diocese of Haiti have a vision and a plan for this relief and recovery effort. We know the situation on the ground, we are directing emergency relief to those who need it most, and we already are making plans and moving forward to help our people.
Since the earthquake struck, we have been and will continue to work closely with two missionaries here, Ms. Katie Mears and Ms. Kirsten Muth. I have complete confidence in you and your agency.
Finally, I wish to make it plain: I know that many of our partners wish to come to Haiti right now to help. Please tell them that unless they are certified professionals in relief and recovery, they must wait. We will need them in the months and years to come, but at this point, it is too dangerous and too much of a burden for our people to have mission teams here.
Please tell our partners, the people of The Episcopal Church, the people of the United States and indeed the people of the world that we in Haiti are immensely grateful for their prayers, their support and their generosity. This is a desperate time in Haiti; we have lost so much. But we still have the most important asset, the people of God, and we are working continuously to take care of them.
The Clergy and Congregation of St. Paul Episcopal Church remain in prayer for the people of Haiti, and dedicate ourselves to the relief work of Episcopal Relief and Development.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Undercroft Renovations Begin
The materials have been delivered, the heating and air conditioning system has been connected, and we are now ready to begin putting in the walls.
The first "work day" is Saturday, January 23. Anyone who wishes to help needs to be at the church by 9:00 to begin putting up the insulation and installing the metal studs for the walls.
Look for pictures to be posted here soon......
The first "work day" is Saturday, January 23. Anyone who wishes to help needs to be at the church by 9:00 to begin putting up the insulation and installing the metal studs for the walls.
Look for pictures to be posted here soon......
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Haiti Relief Effort
As you may know, The Episcopal Church is very active in Haiti. The Diocese of Haiti is one of several Diocese we have outside of the USA, and it is also the fastest growing Diocese in the Church.
The Episcopal Church has over 100 parishes in Haiti, operates over 200 schools, and has suffered terrible damage. The Cathedral is destroyed, along with the Sisters of St. Margaret convent, a college, and the only residential school for blind and deaf children in Haiti. We have several missionarys in Haiti, all of whom miraculously survived. The Bishop of Haiti survived, but his house was leveled. Pictures of him helping dig through rubble to help pull people from what was once their home have made their way to the USA.
The St. Paul Council will be sending a special donation to Episcopal Relief and Development to assist their important work. If you would like to give through St. Paul's, you may use an offering envelope marked "HAITI" and put your donation in the offering plates on Sunday mornings. ER-D will be working with our Haiti contacts in three phases: Rescue, Relief, and Recovery. Please go to http://www.er-d.org/ to learn how you can help.
UPDATE: The St. Paul Church Council has approved a donation of $200, Father Swann wishes to donate $100 from the Clergy Discretionary Fund, and the special ER-D offering this morning was $300....making for a total of $600.00
THANK YOU to all who contributed to this effort.
The Episcopal Church has over 100 parishes in Haiti, operates over 200 schools, and has suffered terrible damage. The Cathedral is destroyed, along with the Sisters of St. Margaret convent, a college, and the only residential school for blind and deaf children in Haiti. We have several missionarys in Haiti, all of whom miraculously survived. The Bishop of Haiti survived, but his house was leveled. Pictures of him helping dig through rubble to help pull people from what was once their home have made their way to the USA.
The St. Paul Council will be sending a special donation to Episcopal Relief and Development to assist their important work. If you would like to give through St. Paul's, you may use an offering envelope marked "HAITI" and put your donation in the offering plates on Sunday mornings. ER-D will be working with our Haiti contacts in three phases: Rescue, Relief, and Recovery. Please go to http://www.er-d.org/ to learn how you can help.
UPDATE: The St. Paul Church Council has approved a donation of $200, Father Swann wishes to donate $100 from the Clergy Discretionary Fund, and the special ER-D offering this morning was $300....making for a total of $600.00
THANK YOU to all who contributed to this effort.
Friday, January 8, 2010
The Lunch Bunch
The January Lunch Bunch gathering will be at the church on Friday, January 15. Betty Stenger, hostess for January, will provide the meal.
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