Voted to adopt a Planned Giving Policy to be shared with parish in coming weeks
Heard from Declan O’Connor and Elaine Bielenberg bout status of work being done on church and grounds
Heard from Nominating Committee that three parishioners are willing to serve as new Vestry members: Kristin Frangoulis, Chris Quigley, and Mary Rackmales
Heard that the Discernment Committee met and formed some structure.
Heard that St. Margaret’s was awarded $1,400 as part of the diocesan’s Digital Onboard Grant
The Vestry will soon appoint members of the church to serve on a Rector Discernment (Search) Committee. That committee will do the primary work and discernment necessary to enable the Vestry to fulfill its responsibility to call a priest who will bring the gifts and skills best suited to lead and serve us in our ministry in the future.
Please download and complete the attached form and return it to chruch office by November 6th.
Here we are, more than six months into a global pandemic which health experts tell us will continue for quite some time. The needles on our pines are turning brown with drought. Friends and family in other parts of the country are threatened by apocalyptic-class fires and hurricanes. The consequences of systemic racism challenge us to examine our own behaviors and assumptions, and tear at our hearts. We are in a time of unparalleled need for mutual support, prayer, human contact, and “two or three gathered together in Jesus’ name,” which is nonetheless a time when that very gathering puts many at serious risk.
St Margaret’s parish members have so far been spared by the virus at least, and we hope to continue that way. Our COVID Task Force (John+, Paul Mazur, Julian Sheffield, Elaine Bielenberg, and Chris Urick) met last week to discuss the possibility of in-person gatherings or worship. All agreed that the relatively low numbers of infection in Waldo County are no guarantee that we are safe from COVID. By continuing to persevere in following the safety guidelines given to us by our pandemic experts at the Maine CDC and beyond, we are providing protection to those we love and care for.
Because the danger of transmission in enclosed spaces with inadequate air-scrubbing ventilation particularly in cold weather when windows must be closed and heat recirculating, and given the size of our church, the vestry of St. Margaret’s has made the difficult decision not to return to inside worship and meetings once the weather cools. The vestry recognizes that this will disappoint many in our St Margaret’s community. We too long to see each other face to face; we too miss worshiping in our now even more beautiful church with its sparkling stained glass. We know that connecting through Zoom and telephone doesn’t meet all our needs for community. But the safety and well-being of all our parishioners, as well as care and love for our greater community, require that we take every measure to prevent St Margaret’s from being a source of the spread of COVID.
We, your Vestry, are working hard to provide the best Zoom worship experiences possible. Sunday’s service is followed by a coffee hour which, like all Zoom meetings, is accessible by telephone for those who cannot use a computer. We are adding weekly chats to our schedule and hope that many of you will participate, or join Compline. We also welcome suggestions about how we can connect and communicate with one another. If you have an idea for a small group that you would like to gather together, let us know and we will assist you in getting it going. Care Groups will be reconnecting as we enter Fall and Winter. We will renew our efforts to reach out to all our members via phone and e-mail. For those who need help in connecting via Zoom for the first time, we are here to help. Just let the parish office know! And if you would like to talk about the vestry’s decision, please do not hesitate to contact one of us.
Our buildings are now closed, but our hearts are open, our community is strong and our spirits are lifted by our care and love for one another.
Faithfully yours,
The Vestry of St. Margaret’s
Chris Urick and Elaine Bielenberg (Wardens), Kristen Burkholder, Jackie Curtis, Audrey Klein-Leach, Paul Mazur, Julian Sheffield, Faye Ward, Cynthia Zajac
The Vestry invites all parishioners to gather for an informal ZOOM Parish Meeting NEXT SUNDAY! Sunday, September 27 at 2 PM. This will be an occasion to connect, share and for us to receive feedback from you. Please put it on your calendars!
The Vestry met on Tuesday, April 14 via ZOOM. Following are some highlights from the meeting:
discussed suggestions for rewording of St. Margaret’s Mission Statement.
discussed how the Care Groups are working
Elaine gave an update on parish house maintenance. The BES specialists should soon be providing an in-depth report. New flooring has been installed in the lower level. Eric will soon start painting the parish hall. The parish house roof scheduled to be replaced in or around mid-June.
At last weeks Annual Meeting Part 1 elections of new Vestry members and Convention delegates were voted on by 37 parishioners. Jackie Curtis, Audrey Klein-Leach, and Julian Sheffield will join the Vestry in January. Many thanks to all nominees.
Kristen Burkholder, Linda Dunson, and Julian Sheffield will be delegates to the 2020 Convention with Faye Ward as alternate.
Thanks were given to outgoing Vestry members Cindy Frost, Ellen Kenney, and Peter Walker.
A brief update on the Building Envelope Specialist’s report was given by Buildings Committee Chairperson Julian Sheffield.
The election of three new Vestry members for a three-year term and three Delegates to 2020 Diocesan Convention will take place at the Annual Meeting, Part I on Sunday, December 15 between the services at 9:30 a.m.
The Vestry and John+ gathered for the day on May 18, 2019 for a time of reflection, sharing, and goal-making. It was a very productive day, steeped in prayer and appreciation for one another – with laughs and fun too!
We were doubly blessed on Sunday, May 12 when not only Bishop Steve came for a parish visit, but Bishop-Elect Thomas came too! It was a fun and joyous occasion with over 80 parishioners present for Eucharist and coffee hour to follow. The morning wrapped up with a meeting with the Vestry.
