From the Dean & Rector

Beloved,

I've been watching the beans, peas, onions, and potatoes we planted a couple of weeks ago make their bright green (well, purplish for the potatoes) appearances up through the dirt that held them (some of which still seems to be under my fingernails). Every two days I think, will it rain or do I need to water all these living things?

Tending to growth is, of course, something we do constantly - with our children, our loved ones, our gardens, our pets, and even ourselves! In the church, we tend to our growth as Christians as we come together daily or weekly, take in scripture and think on it, participate in making Eucharist (which means, giving thanks), and seeking opportunities to be of service to one another and to our various communities and to those in need.

Our spiritual growth requires the waters of God's unending love and mercy to help us push up out of the ground and blossom. This summer, I pray you find that water here at the Cathedral, at home in your garden, staring at the night sky, swimming in a deep lake, crafting a beautiful meal, and more. Pay attention. Savor the embrace of the One who loved you first and will love you last. Find God in all of the things that bring you joy, and feel God's presence and love for you in all the things that aren't so great.

The waters that rained down on us in our baptisms are the same waters of love and mercy that we can shower on everything around us that needs tending, and are the same waters that continue to shower down on you. Believe it. Live it.

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

Greta+

Summer Social Justice Speaker Series: What's Going on in our Community?

One of a deacon's roles is to bring the needs of the outside world back in to the church. With that in mind, our deacons are organizing presentations by local social justice leaders to take the place after worship in lieu of Adult Forum throughout the summer.

Coffee hour will be upstairs, so grab a cup of coffee and a treat and join us in the Nave, where we will meet and hear from people and organizations dedicated to improving our community in a variety of ways. Discussion will be encouraged: we'll have a chance to learn and ask about their missions, their needs, and their accomplishments.

This Sunday, we will hear from Matt Van Wagner, the new Director of Outreach and Development at the Joint Urban Ministry Project (JUMP). While St. Pauls was one of the founding faith communities back in 1988, JUMP is now an interfaith collaboration of more than 20 faith communities. JUMP is a safety-net resource for our neighbors who are vulnerable and JUMP tries to help with people's immediate needs including helping with utility bills, food and clothing vouchers and personal care items. Please stay after the service and learn more about JUMP's great work in our community.

On August 11, Mark Redmond from Spectrum will be our Summer Social Justice guest. Stay tuned for more speakers as they are arranged.

This summer's speaker series accompanies our Social Justice Outreach fundraising. We will hold an ingathering on Discipleship Sunday, which takes place on Sunday, September 8 this year. To donate, you can drop a check in the offering plate with "Social Justice Outreach" on the memo line, or you can make an online donation via the Cathedral website here using the Social Outreach line.

We will announce more speakers in the coming weeks. Hope to see you after the service!

Parking at St. Paul's

Next time you're at the Cathedral, you might notice signs at each of the parking spots on the hill. We have reached an agreement to rent these spaces to workers on the CityPlace project down the street during the day on weekdays.

There will be a few spots reserved for St. Paul's parking. If you are stopping by the Cathedral and there is no parking available, you can park along the Memorial Garden wall (please pull over so that cars can still get around the circle), or please use the lower lot.

We still have the ability to close the lot for Church functions (funerals, heavenly parking, etc.) as needed.

This regular income will help us meet our financial goals, and takes advantage of an underutilized asset of ours: downtown parking! If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to the Cathedral office at admin@stpaulscathedralvt.org.

Epiphany Dossal Revision Project

Liturgical artist and St. Paul's parishioner Judith McManis is beginning work on the Epiphany Dossal (which goes up in January each year) and could use a little help. Work will take place in the downstairs space a couple of mornings each week, beginning this Tuesday, (June 11) about 9:00 (after Morning Prayer) and stop when we’ve completed the task for the day or 12:00 noon, whichever comes first!  

Step 1: Enlarging a drawing into a full-size paper pattern - actually an easy task, just need to be able to follow directions (mine) and use a ruler and pencil!

Step 2: ? will come in their turn.

Did you know? Dossals play an important liturgical function in the church, drawing the eye and establishing the altar as the focal point. At St. Paul's, the dossals change with the liturgical season, and are usually coordinated with other decorative pieces, such as the frontal and clergy vestments.

Juneteenth at St. Paul's

On Sunday, June 16 there will be a worship service in celebration of Juneteenth, commemorating the day when 250,000 slaves in the state of Texas, which became the last bastion for slavery during the final days of the Civil War, were declared free by the U.S. Army.

Bishop Shannon will be with us for worship, and we will gather for a special vigil after the service.

Sunday, June 16 at 10:00 a.m. If you have a camping chair, bring it for the vigil that follows the service. We hope you will join us!

Lost and Found Cleanout

Please check the moveable closets in the South Porch for items that have been left behind at the cathedral. There are a number of nice jackets, umbrellas, sunglasses, and hats/gloves there that have accumulated over the months.

Any items remaining here on Tuesday, June 18 will be donated.

If you think you left something behind here and are not able to come and pick it up before then - just let us know and we'll hold onto it for you: admin@stpaulscathedralvt.org.

The Parents Circle - Families Forum

St. Paul's Co-Sponsors Event

Ohavi Zedek, in collaboration with St. Paul's and other local faith communities, is thrilled to organize The Parents Circle – Families Forum program June 23 at 11:30 - 1:30.  

The Parents Circle – Families Forum is a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization made up of more than 700 bereaved families. Their common bond is that they have lost a close family member to the conflict. But instead of choosing revenge, they have chosen a path of reconciliation. American Friends of the Parents Circle – Families Forum shares the human side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the American public in order to foster a peace and reconciliation process.

This interfaith event will take place at First Unitarian Universalist Society Burlington at 152 Pearl Street. We will first come together to eat a simple lunch (outside weather permitting), then go inside to be joined on Zoom by two individuals, a Palestinian and an Israeli; both bereaved members of the Forum. They will share their stories of loss and their unique choice of reconciliation.

RSVPs help us plan for the right amount of food. Please sign up here. This event is free ~ donations will be accepted to help defray the costs of food and the fee that goes to support the Parent Circle and their amazing work.

Our guests via Zoom will be:

Ofer Lior, who lives in the Western Galilee, Israel. He has spent his career facilitating and coordinating joint activities between Israelis and Palestinians, most recently coordinating the Center for Learning and Dialogue in the Nes-Ammim community in the North of Israel. Ofer’s brother Oren was killed in 1989 during his time in reserve duty at the Jordanian border. He has been active in the Parents Circle for about 15 years and has participated in many Dialogue Meetings.

Laila Alsheikh, who lives in Bethlehem in the West Bank. In 2002, her 6 months old son, Qussay, became ill and Israeli soldiers prevented Layla from taking him to the hospital for more than five hours. Qussay soon died from the lack of timely treatment. Laila joined the Parents Circle in 2016. Following her son’s death, she never thought of revenge, but rather has devoted her time and energy to ensuring a better, more peaceful future for her children.

This is part of a series of projects of Ohavi Zedek focused on peace and dialogue in the wake of the tragic events that have been unfolding in the Middle East.

Justice Speaks: Pollinator Protection

Vermonters have tried since 2018 to limit the use of neonicotinoid insecticides (or neonics) on corn and soy seeds and as spray applications in order to protect pollinators in Vermont. These pesticides are very toxic to pollinators and to birds, and contaminate soil and water. Vermont beekeepers have experienced losses of bees, and scientists are seeing troubling losses of wild bee species and some birds. You can read more about that here.

H.706 was passed by strong majorities of both the VT House and VT Senate this year. While it was considerably weakened from its original form, it still represents an important step forward to protect pollinators. 

Yet Governor Scott has vetoed this bill, based on misconceptions promoted by the Agency of Agriculture that bee populations have improved, doubt that enough non-neonicotinoid treated seed will be available for farmers after the law is passed, and fear of possible legal action by pesticide corporations Syngenta or Bayer. 

On June 18 VT Legislature will hold a special session to over-ride some of Governor Scott’s vetos. Please urge your representatives to over-ride his veto of H.706 to protect pollinators. I

Celebrate pollinators at the Pollinator Celebration Day, June 22, at the UVM Horticulture Farm in South Burlington!  Visit this link for more info and a map. 

For the pollinators,

Sylvia Knight

Heavenly Parking July 3

For about nineteen years a dedicated and changing crew has promoted the CCSP parking lot as the easiest in-and-out spot for access to the July 3rd Burlington waterfront fireworks. Over the ensuing years, it has become not only the premier parking spot, but also somewhat of a tradition for many families.

Volunteer staff will arrive early afternoon on Wednesday July 3 to close off the lot with barricades so that we can assure full availability. By 4:00 p.m. we are ready to greet visitors, some of whom have been coming from New York since the initial year. The slow pace from 4-7 p.m. allows greeters, friends and visitors fellowship time with appropriate snacks and beverages. We have filled the lot every year with a mad scramble beginning at about 8 p.m., when folks desperately seeking a spot form a line to get in. Then we really go to work. As darkness spreads, anticipation heightens and the community energy soars, we continue to patrol the entire grounds to assure safety for everyone and the church property. By 9:50, the fireworks are over and those who have parked with us are headed home clearing traffic far before others.

Reservations and online payment are accepted until Friday, June 28 from congregation members for whom we try to give prime parking – please send an email to Maureen (maureensrees@gmail.com) to reserve spaces; and should you need to cancel call her at 802-233-4431. Spots cost $25 per car, and all funds are donated to St. Paul's Outreach Ministries. If you are unable to pay online, please plan to bring cash or check to the event to make bookkeeping simpler.

We look forward to celebrating together, and of course would love to have you join the set up and attending team. Consider volunteering for this fun event to keep the tradition going forward.

New Director of Music and Cathedral Arts Hired

We are pleased to announce that Peter Stoltzfus Berton has been offered and accepted the position of Director of Music and Cathedral Arts at St. Paul's. His first Sunday with us will be July 7.

Peter's previous position was as the Founding Executive Director of The Choir School of Newport County, and Chapel Organist of St. George’s School, Middletown. He holds degrees from The University of Michigan School of Music and the Yale University School of Music. Integral to his training was serving as Assistant Organist at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit, Trinity Church on the Green, New Haven, and Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue (1993-1995). Prior to his appointment in Newport in June 2014, he developed intergenerational choirs at St. John's Church, West Hartford CT, All Saints Church, Worcester MA, and Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims, Brooklyn Heights, NY.

Peter brings with him a wealth of experience in developing young choristers, in church music, and a lot of ideas about the Cathedral Arts program. We’re really looking forward to having him with us at St. Paul’s.

Love in the Time of Fentayl Screening, Discussion

When: Jun 12, 2024, 7 to 9:30 p.m.

Where: Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Lake Street, Burlington, VT

Join your neighbors for a screening of the 2022 film Love in the Time of Fentanyl followed by a panel discussion on Overdose Prevention Centers. The film screening and panel discussion will take place on Wednesday, June 12, at 7:00pm at The Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, courtesy of Main Street Landing, host sponsor for the event. Doors open at 6:30pm.

The 2022 film, directed by Canadian filmmaker Colin Askey, chronicles "A group of misfits, artists, and drug users who operate a renegade safe injection site in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Love in the Time of Fentanyl is an intimate portrait of a community fighting to save lives and keep hope alive in a neighborhood ravaged by the overdose crisis." The film will be followed by a one-hour panel discussion and Naloxone (Narcan) training for interested community members.

For more information or to help spread the word, please contact Christopher Haessly, Church Street Marketplace Commissioner, at chaessly@burlingtonvt.gov.