Sunday, June 23

June 20, 2019June 20, 2019 by Denise Flanagan

End of Church Year Update from the Wardens

June 7, 2019June 8, 2019 by Denise Flanagan

Dear Friends,

With Pentecost approaching on June 9, and the annual St. Mary’s picnic which marks the end of our church “year,” it seems like a good time to write with an update about all the good work going on at St. Mary’s.

This June marks a transition in our children’s programming. After over three years as our Director of Religious Education, we bid farewell, and thank, Shelby White for her service and leadership. While at St. Mary’s, Shelby implemented our Godly Play curriculum and led our youth education programs. Michael Gleason departs with Shelby, and we are grateful to him for his work, and in particular his focus on older elementary and middle school children.

Concurrently, Gabby and Stephanie Chew are also departing from their positions taking care of our youngest St. Mary’s parishioners. Gabby has been with us since her work with Marie Schlagel. We are sad that both she, and her sister Stephanie, are leaving, but also wish them all the best as they move onward, and in new directions, in their lives.

As doors close, windows open. With Paul Kolbet’s able guidance, St. Mary’s is mid-process in identifying a new Director of Religious Education. We will update you when concrete information is available. Meanwhile, the departures in the nursery have opened up an opportunity for teen (and tween) aged members of the St. Mary’s community to take on a (paid) role providing child care this summer.

It has been an active time for the Property Committee, and thanks are due to that group for their guidance, and in particular the time and project leadership of Jon Hayden. In April, a much needed new roof was put on the rectory. Work is soon to commence replacing the ramp to the Parish Hall entrance. Contracts are under consideration for functional, and more efficient, rectory heating and cooling systems. A design concept has been approved for the remodel of the rectory kitchen, with bidding for that work in process. We are grateful to Melita Holtey for her thoughtful and creative thinking regarding the best and most comfortable use of the rectory kitchen space.

As Eve Bould steps down after more than two years as Treasurer, we welcome Lynn Farnell and Ben Sayles as co-Treasurers. Eve has energetically and thoroughly carried on the work started by Charlie Stover to update St. Mary’s financial, budget and record keeping systems, bringing them up to “best practice” standards in the Diocese. We are grateful for her careful oversight and attention to these matters, which are fundamental to the the church.

While we know that everyone is tired of talking about the weather this spring, and that everyone really wants to hear from the Search Committee – remember that patience is the critical virtue here. Like a cake in the oven, a new rector will not arrive any faster however often you ask; and, if you open the oven door early, the cake may collapse. The important work of that committee is ongoing, according to plan, with Jeffrey Hughes’s and Lynn Farnell’s good leadership.

In this period of transition, we thank Interim Rector Paul Kolbet for his thoughtful ministry to our parish, to Denise Flanagan in the office for helping to keep the church running through the ins and outs of any week, to Kirsten Johnson and the Adult and Junior choirs for another year of vibrant music – and to the many, many members of our community who help make St. Mary’s the warm, welcoming place that it is.

With thanks,

Kyle Marchesseault Cécile Tucker
Senior Warden Junior Warden