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October 2020 Volume 46, No. 8

From the Rector:

Rev. Walter Hobgood

Where is God in your life?

This is not a rhetorical question but a serious question. In the midst of a global pandemic,

which impacts all of us, social injustice and unrest, natural disasters and nothing but

unsettling news on our 24-hour news stations, it’s easy to become depressed and

discouraged. It’s hard for us to see God’s Love in our daily lives. I find that it is helpful to

take time each day to reflect on the question: where did I experience God in my life today?

I have never failed to recognize at the end of the day, looking back, a time or event or a

conversation where God was present. What is more difficult is to make time for this to

happen. In this time of the pandemic, I have found that I have to work at this. Creating

space for quiet reflection or prayer, going for walk, being with friends, talking with family

and reaching out to people in need are some of the ways I create space to experience God’s

presence in my life. It involves eliminating the clutter and noise level of daily life and

focusing on what is important to others and how I can best serve. Where is God in your life

today?

November 6 - 7, 2020

Young Enoughs

Serving at Sunday Evening with our Neighbors at First Methodist on

Sunday, Sept 20.

St. Paul’s Delegates

Tony Blakey

Leigh Brooks

Lynne Parks

Deborah Johnson– alternate

Next time you see Cullen Richardson, please give him a

big thank you for sanding and beautifully polishing our

front entrance brass handrails where thousands of

hands have grasped as parishioners and visitors have

entered our church. Cullen also sanded and painted

the newels that support the railing. We are blessed to

have skilled communicants that give freely of their

time, talents, and treasures.

THANK YOU!

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St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Vestry Meeting Minutes Tuesday, August 18, 2020

5:00 PM - Parish Hall

Present: Pam Reynolds, Senior Warden; Carol Fullerton, Junior Warden; Jim Hendricks; Roy Brown; Dunn Stapleton; Shanna Ader-hold; Angie Barber Absent: Annabelle Stubbs, Ned Newcomb, Mary Helen Morgan Also present: Dave Orlowski, Treasurer; Nealy Stapleton, Clerk Senior Warden Pam Reynolds called the meeting to order at 5:03 pm. A devotional was read by Jim Hendricks. Approval of the Minutes Dunn Stapleton reported the trustees of the Endowment have approved the transfer of the three Endowment accounts from Ray-mond James to Marcus, Inman Daniel Wealth Advisors (MID). Dunn made a motion to amend the July minutes as follows: “Ned made motion to move Vestry Discretionary Fund and Lucy Yancey Walters Memorial Garden Fund to Marcus, Inman and Daniel Wealth Advisors.” Shanna seconded, and the motion to approve the minutes as so amended passed unanimously. Treasurer’s Report Dave Orlowski reported tithes and offerings for the month are under budget by $10,252.67. Year-to-date, tithes and open offer-ings are over budget by $1,638.15. The Garden Maintenance account is over budget, but the account will be reimbursed by the LYW Garden Fund for some expenses. The copier expenses are over budget due to the number of mail outs. MID Wealth Advisors recommended to the Finance Committee that the Vestry needed an investment policy to give MID direction as to how to invest the Discretionary and the Memorial Garden accounts. Shawn Hendley will draft a policy for consideration. Senior Warden’s Report

Pam said the city of Albany is now charging $25 per false alarm for the security system. Pam has had the security system checked out in order to try to avoid more false alarms.

Bishop Logue has verbally approved Fr. Hobgood’s contract to be St. Paul’s interim priest, but Pam is waiting for the bishop’s signature on the contract. Pam is working to find a place for Fr. Hobgood to live during his time with us. He expects to work in Albany Saturday-Tuesday most weeks. The Vestry expressed its excitement for Fr. Hobgood agreeing to serve our parish in this capacity and its appreciation to the Bishop for his encouragement.

Fr. Hobgood has asked if vestry meetings can be changed from the third Tuesday of the month to the third Monday of the month. The Vestry enthusiastically agreed to accommodate Fr. Hobgood’s request.

There was initial discussion about making Barney’s Run a virtual run. Old Business Annabelle submitted the following report:

Michael E. Clark, PE, MEC&A, Inspection and report for damage: Submitted draft report July 17. Pam, Scott, and Annabelle met with Mike August 5 via Zoom and asked for more complete

and specific list of damage inside and out with precise location details “punch list” style. August 11, his two staff members came and re-inspected all roofs and every nook inside. Expecting to receive detailed report this week. As an overview, Mike informed us that in every roof, it’s underlayment that provides water protection, and the tiles serve

to protect the underlayment. Our underlayment is “at the end of its life,” and so whether CIV pays for a new roof, or we do, our roof needs to be replaced.

Hope is that his report will insure CIV covers all damage due to hurricane. Jody Usry, Edifice Consulting, Inspection and maintenance:

July 31 – the core study of several flat roofs was completed. Next step is a moisture survey of any problem roofs to locate wet insulation using an infrared camera. Our parish hall roof

needs a survey and we signed a contract for $1,000 with Ediface. Survey conductor has been rained out twice but will come ASAP.

Continued on page 3

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Continued from page 2 Protecting the Parapet Walls over entrance:

Per advice of Mike Clark, Richter Roofing will cover parapet wall with removable copper after bricks are repaired, and cover top where cross was blown off. Waiting for bids from Richter and mason Mathew Harrell.

Junior Warden’s Report

Carol said the church passed its safety code inspection. Still to be inspected are the fire extinguishers. Golden’s will come for that inspection.

After water damage in the St. Paul’s Room, the room has been cleaned and can be used again.

New Business 2020 Diocesan Convention – the Vestry needs to identify and elect three delegates to attend the virtual convention

November 5-7, 2020. The request for church members to self-nominate will be placed in E-pistle and church bulletins, and priests will be asked to announce this opportunity during services.

Internal Audit – Dunn made a motion to accept the Internal Audit report submitted by the Audit Committee, Angie seconded. The Internal Audit report was approved unanimously.

12-Step Request – The Women’s group and Al-anon have asked to meet upstairs in the Youth house. Pam said the first step is to obtain approval from Bishop Logue in order for the groups to meet inside due to the pandemic. Angie made a motion to proceed by asking the bishop for his approval. Roy seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously.

Other Shanna announced the diocese will have activities for middle and high school students this fall. The Blessing of the Backpacks will take place Saturday, August 29 from 9-10 am. It will be a drive-thru event at St. Paul’s for

all students, teachers, and paraprofessionals conducted by the Rev. Ann Heinemann. Angie Barber read the closing devotional. The meeting was adjourned at 6:05 pm. Please note the new meeting day. The next Vestry meeting will be Monday, September 21, 2020, in the Parish Hall. Respectfully submitted, Nealy Stapleton, Clerk

St. Paul’s resourceful Co-chairs of Ladles of Love,

Patty Woodall and Deborah Johnson, reinstituted

early in September, Thursdays nutritious lunches

consisting of multiple protein-filled sandwiches,

fresh fruit, tasty snacks, and a beverage. They feed

an average weekly of 60 of our neighbors. Here is

another shining example of stewardship in action.

THANK YOU!

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OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS

October Anniversaries

9—Charles and Debbie Godwin

14—Dunn and Nealy Stapleton

17—Joe and Pat Burger

19—Buck and Lisa Davis

September Memorials

David Turner

Bill & Molly Swan

Albany Episcopalians support NAMI Walk Your Way 2020—October 3-10 Please join your friends, Albany Episcopalians for NAMI, in support of the National Alliance on Mental Illness for their annual NAMI Walk Your Way. The goal of the walk is to bring awareness to mental health issues and to raise money for the continued programs offered in our community by NAMI Albany. You can support the NAMI Walk by joining our team, participating in the activities, and or writing a check. St Pauls has generously budgeted $1000 for the 2020 Walk. Click on the link on our website or found in the online Ministry to join our team or donate. Our team continues growing each day as we work toward our goal to support NAMI.

Below are activities planned during the NAMI Walk week October 3-10? We will be following safe CDC protocols.

Oct. 3 7:30-10am Exchange club Fairgrounds NAMI members will distribute mental health information and “Hopeful Rocks” at drive through health fair.

10am-1pm St John and St Mark’s. Walk the outdoor Labyrinth as you meditate or make Anglican Prayer Beads in Primo Hall.

Donations of non-perishable food or hygiene supplies will be collected to give to neighbors in need. Please bring your mask.

Oct.4 Youth opportunity to make Anglican Prayer Beads for themselves or to be used for the NAMI Fundraiser and paint “Hope Rocks” that will be placed along the NAMI Walk Your Way route from St. Paul’s to the Riverfront Park. Prayer beads and “Hope Rocks” will be made at St. Paul’s at 4:00pm in the parish hall. We will socially distance. Please wear a mask. All supplies will be provided.

Oct.10 –World Mental Health Day- 10:30-12, walk from St Paul church to Riverfront Park and back. Please bring your Mask.

Those unable to participate in the above activities can support NAMI Walk Your Way by walking around your block, knitting a scarf as one of our members is doing to be given to one of our friends we serve at the soup kitchen, or whatever you can dream up. If you choose to do your own thing please send me a picture.

14 Alice Aderhold

Nathan Bell

15 Robert Wehner

17 Joyce Wetherbee

18 Curt Hall

19 Jolee Dorsey

Bill Harrell

20 Emily Rutledge

Jay Ventulett

21 Mary Helen Morgan

24 Frances Bell

Emily Seymour

25 Rachel Darby

30 Ivy Bell

Jim Bullion

Carson Orlowski

1 Holladay Miles

2 Menard Hall

3 Cole Blakey

John Dixon

4 Hannah Orlowski

Lucy Richardson

Molly Swan

7 Nancy Chambless

Hunter Rowand

9 Brandon Rutledge

10 Talley Bass

John Bell

Anthony Fiorito

12 Willa Inman

13 John Inman, Jr.

Ted Wright

On each Monday the altar flowers are rearranged

by some gifted angels: Marilyn Moore, Becky

Distefano and Kate Johnson and then a cohort of

angels with “wheels” deliver those fresh

bouquets of love to various parishoners.

THANK YOU!