Parish Notes September 2022 • Vol. 65 No. 1
The Rev. Jeanne Leinbach
Dear Parish Family, Welcome to a new Program Year! The Staff have been busy planning and organizing and are looking forward to engaging in a new program year with you.
September 11 is the kickoff of the new program year. We’ll return to our regular worship schedule (7:45 in St. Martin’s, and 9 and 11:15 a.m. in the nave). Formation also begins on this Sunday for children, youth, and adults. We are delighted to welcome Dorothy Moulthrop, Chief Executive of Open Doors Academy, to the Adult Forum. Open Doors Academy (ODA) is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Dorothy will share highlights of current ODA programming. We’ll hear from an ODA scholar, parent, and a volunteer, and learn about opportunities for collaboration in the coming year. From ODA’s beginning at St. Paul’s, this out-of-school enrichment program has been protecting, inspiring, nurturing, and challenging youth to reach their full potential. Please join us in Tucker Hall following the 9 a.m. worship service on September 11 to celebrate 30 years and learn the latest about this vital program.
Staff Lauren Dockery Director of Children’s & Youth Min. Kevin Jones Director of Music Kelsey Ferguson Director of Children’s & Youth Choirs Karel Paukert Organist Lois Bell Handbell Choir Director David Osburn Carillonneur Nathaniel Powell Director of Communications Pam O’Halloran Director of Operations Brenda Burton Controller Jenni Thomas Administrative Coordinator Lysa Kenney Administrative Assistant Paul
Cover Photos
Kick-Off Sunday
As announced in June, Kevin Jones, our new Director of Music, joined the staff on September 1. We are delighted to have him on board! We will have a formal welcome for Kevin at our Parish Picnic on September 18. Also, on September 18, Celebration of Ministries returns, an excellent opportunity to learn about the many ministries at St. Paul’s. We have a new offering this year: Weekly Bible Study on Thursday mornings at 9 a.m. with the clergy. We will get started on September 15. Please read through Parish Notes to learn more about these exciting events.
These are some of our favorite pics from the month of July. They include Holy Hiking, some cute shots from the Ice Cream Social, a visit from Leah Romanelli DeJesus, and the Forest City String Band. Have a photo or photos you’d like to share? Send them to Nathaniel, and you just might see them here or around the building: npowell@stpauls-church.org
Clergy Jeanne Leinbach, jkennedy@stpauls-church.orgJohnbashcraft@stpauls-church.orgBrandonjdodson@stpauls-church.orgJessiejleinbach@stpauls-church.orgRectorDodson,AssociateRectorAshcraft,AssistantRectorKennedy,AssistantRector
EthanFredSteveMcCuenHalaszTuckerGreenberg
Pastoralinfo@stpauls-church.orgwww.stpauls-church.orgCareLine: (216) 238-4001
Sextons St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 2747 Fairmount Boulevard Cleveland Heights, OH 44106 (216) 932-5815
2 Parish Notes | September 2022 FROM OUR RECTOR
A Year of Sacramental Living
What better theme, then, for our program year than these seven signs that, regardless of whether times are good or bad or somewhere in between, God is always with us. There is no better news than that.
Of course, the sacraments are not offered merely to provide shelter from our various storms. Rather, the sacramental way strengthens us and renews us so that we may live into the fullness of who God has called us to be: one body in Christ; temples of the Holy Spirit; signs of God’s mercy in a fearful and forgetful world; a people who serve the world in Jesus’ name. Or, as we say in one of our Eucharistic Prayers, “Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal.” The sacramental way, then, is a way of adventure and transformation. I hope you will join us for that adventure this program year. Our Adult Forums will explore the riches of the sacramental way, with special guest speakers such as the Very Rev. Dr. Andrew B. McGowan, Dean of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, and Professor Natalie Weaver of Ursuline College. Reading and discussion groups will offer ways to deepen your engagement. Alongside these, St. Paul’s is expanding our formation offerings this year, with weekly Bible Study, in-person Contemplative Prayer, and Small Groups. Come and see how true it is that Jesus is with us, always.
is not our only source of uncertainty these days. We live in a time of economic, environmental, and sociopolitical stress, while we regularly “hear of wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6) from the world around us. Even in the best of times, life is full of challenges, constantly in flux, and basically out of our control.
What a relief, then, that the way of Jesus is not a way of control. He doesn’t offer life hacks, political solutions, or even stress-reduction techniques. Rather, Jesus calls us — and shows us how — to be firmly rooted in the abiding presence and love of God, no matter what is happening in our lives or in our world. This is the one eternal, unchanging reality in which we can be grounded — and by which we can be sustained — amid all the changes and chances of this life; our still point in the turning world.
The Rev. John Kennedy
Look for a booklet with more information on our formation offerings on Kick-Off Sunday!
AN INVITATION
When I sat down with my colleagues in May to discuss what our theme for this program year might be, I felt uncertain. Uncertain, because we didn’t know what the state of the pandemic would be come September. COVID, after all, seems to have set the terms and tone for so much of our parish life for the last thirty months, and, back in the spring, we simply couldn’t know what kind of factor it would be in the fall. That left me uncertain about how to envision the coming year; what would we — the people of St. Paul’s — be ready for?
September 2022 | Parish Notes 3
Hungry COVID,for?ofcourse,
At the heart of the Anglican way of following Jesus along this way of peace “which passes understanding” are the sacraments. We are embodied, physical creatures and, as such, we need material and tangible signs of God’s love for us: bread and wine; water and oil; the laying on of hands; and words of forgiveness. The Book of Common Prayer says that the sacraments are “outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace, given by Christ as sure and certain means by which we receive that grace.”
4 Parish Notes | September 2022 MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT
St. Paul’s Parents
This following is an imagined letter from the future. If you read this and think, “That’s me in the letter!” please visit our website cymvolunteers(www.stpauls-church.org/ ) or talk to Lauren Dockery church.org(ldockery@stpauls) or Rev. John Kennedy (jkennedy@stpauls-church.org) about serving in the Children’s or Youth Ministry this year. Dear ThankYou,you so much for serving in the children and youth ministry this year! As parents, we want to take a moment to let you know how much this means to us.
Children and Youth Ministries
Our kids hear from us all week long, so it’s extra special for them to build relationships with you and hear you share everything from your faith journey to advice for navigating their school challenges. They also love just being with you — coloring or making bread or planning a skit. And wow, are they proud when they see you in church — and outside of church too! Thank you for coming to the CAST play and musical. Our extended families live far away and can’t always come, so seeing you helps our kids feel a sense of belonging and Thanksupport.you for taking the time to participate - whether it was volunteering for single events like the Halloween Trunk-or-Treat, or helping in a classroom once a month, or leading the lesson on four Sundays in October and April - we appreciate you! Our kids have loved getting to know you this year. When they saw your name in the leaflet on the birthday list, it was like a celebrity we know was having a birthday! Another time, one of my kids was very proud to report to his brother, “That’s my teacher!” when he saw you lectoring last month. And when we ran into you at Heinen’s…well, that was my daughter’s highlight of the day reported at dinner. Based on our own life experiences, we know our kids won’t remember every lesson, every story, or every activity. But we know that they will remember belonging to this St. Paul’s community. We know they will remember the caring adults who gave their time to help them grow in their faith. With gratitude, St. Paul’s Parents
Raising kids is a joyful challenge and not something we can do alone. We count on you and the many other volunteers for the way you build relationships with our kids. It means so much to us as parents that you are willing to spend time with our kids, telling Bible stories, leading crafts, and listening to them talk about what’s happening in their lives.
Lauren Dockery
September 2022 | Parish Notes 5 YOUTH OUTREACH
What Happened in Harlan?
If you have not yet heard, this year’s service trip to Harlan, Kentucky was an awesome, albeit arduous, experience! On the morning of Sunday, June 26, 14 high schoolers (including two recent graduates) spent time getting to know each other and learning about Appalachian history and culture before piling into two rental vans to drive to Kentucky. Everyone was bright-eyed, ready to do service and have fun. About 2 hours into the drive, we hit a rainstorm, and the dashboard in one of the vans started to flash error messages about traction, breaks, and back the back right tire. An hour out of the storm, the dashboard was still lit with alarming messages. So, we pulled over in Marietta, Ohio, and made the difficult decision to act in an abundance of caution and have the van serviced before climbing up the mountain. We stayed the night at a Hampton Inn in town. The kids enjoyed the pool and evening prayer on the patio. The next morning the adults took the van to be serviced and found out that it was in terrible condition. The local car rental agency traded us for an upgraded van (it felt more like a party bus!), and we hit the road!
The next few days would be familiar to anyone who has been on the Harlan Mission Trip. The group cleaned up a construction site for a family that lived “way up in the holler”; they used shingle strippers to pull down a roof and then reshingled half of it for a kind retired coalminer named Leon; they chatted with him about his life and his epic garden; they swam in the breath-taking Martin’s Fork Lake; they shopped at Food City and took turns preparing dinner for one another; they sang, and prayed and played under the stars. The notable difference between this and any other Harlan Mission Trip was that, on Tuesday afternoon, there was a water main break, and most of Harlan County was without water - including the cabin housing St. Paul’s Youth. The group adjusted quickly to showers at a local church and a gazillion-gallon jugs of water until, eventually the city finished the repair, and the water came back late Wednesday evening. On the morning of Thursday, June 30, one of the high schoolers woke up with a high fever. After the high schooler tested positive for COVID-19, the group packed up and came home. This was a bummer, to say the least!
The youth were resilient, brave, and determined to do outreach and be in fellowship. So, please pray for ease and success the next time the youth decide to climb their way up a mountain in hopes of doing service.
Meet Our New Music Director
Kevin Jones Dear Friends, I am honored and humbled to have been offered the position of Director of Music by the Rev. Jeanne Leinbach. It is not lost on me that, in the midst of St. Paul’s long-term commitment to a vibrant, high-quality sacred music program, I will become your first full-time Director of Music in a very long time. I am equally humbled at returning to work with my friend, colleague, and former teacher, Karel Paukert. Karel has long been a source of musical inspiration to me, and the notion of working with him again brings my soul great with Jeanne, Jessie, Brandon, and John will be a privilege as we work together to solidify the power of music in ministering to and enlivening this religious community, as well as reaching out beyond the doors of 2747 Fairmount Boulevard in doing the same. I am excited to commune together as we leverage the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual power of music and liturgy allowing the soul to soar in praise and love. We have much work to do and many goals to which to aspire. I approach this work with eagerness and anticipation. Over the coming months and years, I look forward to meeting you all: to coming to know you, to hear your stories, and to share the joy and cost of discipleship. Please be patient with me as I learn your names and faces and find a place in your faith community. I likewise rejoice in bringing my husband of 23 years into your community. Joe (on the right) and I (on the left) are both excited to be present with you. One stanza from hymnwriter Joseph Addison (1672–1719) sums up my feelings of thanksgiving: When all thy mercies, O my God, My rising soul surveys, Transported with the view, I’m lost In wonder, love, and praise. God bless you, and thank you for welcoming us to St. Paul’s.
The Senior Choir is recruiting new choristers for the 2022-23 season. Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and the choir leads the music at the 11:15 a.m. service. If you have the desire to sing great sacred music with a fine choir, please contact Kevin Jones for more information: kjones@stpauls-church.org
Kevin Jones
Love to Sing?
6 Parish Notes | September 2022
MUSIC AT ST. PAUL’S
Collaboratingjoy.
September 2022 | Parish Notes 7 17 Newcomers for the Newcomer Garden Tour and Lunch 6 New Altar Guild Members 70 Saints & 17 Volunteers Senior Saints Luncheon 3 Hikes, 38 Holy Hikers 15 Altar Guild Picnickers 30 Attended the Men’s Council Picnic 30 Marched at Cleveland PRIDE
8 Parish Notes | September 2022 14 Boy Scout Troup 22 and 5 Girl Scout Meetings 14 campers, 3 Chaperones Harlan Mission Trip 3 Graduated EFM 13 A.A., 14 Al- Anon, and 14 Overeaters Anonymous Meetings 35 Artists, and 35 Attended the N. B. White Gallery Opening 45 at Bellwether Together 6 at the St. Thomas Fifth Ave. Girls Chorister Chorus 20 Confirmed, and 6 Received into The Episcopal Church
September 2022 | Parish Notes 9 45 Campers and 21 Volunteers at the Reading Camp, Monticello 4 Diocese of Belize Counselors at Bellwether 2 Forums and 31 at the Gun Violence Forums 19 Funerals 6 EDWINS Graduates 5 Baptisms $919 Raised by the ACT II Jumble Sale 3 Weddings
100 Attended the Ice Cream Social 10 Parish Notes | September 2022 45 Open Doors Summer 7CampersTaiChi Classes 36 ODA Cooking Campers Be sure to look for our Fall recap in the coming months! Feel we missed something? Let us know by contacting Susan planetquill@roadrunner.comQuill: 16 Apollo’s Fire Rehearsals 66 at the Ballpark 18 campers, 5 counselors, and 16 volunteers at Reading Camp Bellwether
Unless otherwise noted, all forums will take place in Tucker Hall and will be livestreamed to our Septemberwww.stpauls-church.org/livewebsite:.11|Celebrating30years of Open Doors
This fall, St. Paul’s will join members of Forest Hill Presbyterian and Fairmount Presbyterian in seeking to form relationships with our neighbors in the Cleveland Heights Noble neighborhood. We plan to knock on doors, listen to concerns, and encourage our neighbors to vote in the November election. Please join Greater Cleveland Congregations in stemming the tide of voter suppression and depression and working to ensure all our neighbors’ voices are heard. For details, contact Julie Micheletti, michelettijulie@gmail.com, or Jamie Hogg, hoggjamie@sbcglobal.net.
OutreachLoaves
and Fishes
Holy Eucharist Sunday, September 4, 9 a.m. The Forest City String Band will accompany our 9 a.m. Holy Eucharist services on September 4. This service will be held out on the Fairmount Lawn or, in case of rain, in the Nave. Kick-Off Sunday Sunday, September 11 Read all about Kick-Off Sunday on page 2! Newcomer Blessing Sunday, September 18
All newcomers, those who’ve joined or rejoined the church in the past 2 years or so, are invited to participate in a newcomer blessing on Sunday, September 18 at all three services. Contact Rev. Jessie for more information: jdodson@stpauls-church.org.
Christian Formation In the Adult Forum
October 20, November 10, and December 17
Academy with Dr. Dorothy Moulthrop
Wednesday, September 14, 11:45 a.m., and Monday, September 26, 5:45 p.m. The Loaves and Fishes ministry serves two meals a month at local homeless shelters. All interested in preparing food or serving our guests may email Jeff and Carol Spero: cjmspero@gmail.com.
September 2022 | Parish Notes 11 PARISH CALENDAR
WorshipBluegrass
September 25 | A Brief History of the Sacraments with Professor Natalie Weaver
Habitat for Humanity ‘Faith Build’
Around the Parish
Beginning Setpember 11, 10:15 a.m.
Mark your calendars! We are again partnering with local faith communities to make home ownership a reality for a family. To learn more or to volunteer, email Kathy Hogg at khogg75@gmail.com Bring Hope to our Neighbors
Beginning Sunday, September 11, 8:30 a.m. Join us each Sunday for a time of coffee and conversation following service. We’ll gather in the dining room (downstairs) at 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m., and 12:15 p.m. Snacks will be available at the 10 o’clock hour. Sign up to bring treats on our website: www.stpauls-church.org/coffeehour
Beginning Tuesday, September 13, 5:30 p.m., in the Chapel of the Cross Virtual (Zoom) Contemplative Prayer Fridays, 10 a.m., Contact Rev. John (see above) Men’s Spirituality Thursdays, 7:30 a.m., in the Sanders Room Women’s Spirituality Saturday, September 3 and 17, 9:30 a.m., in the Sanders Room
Beginning Thursday, September 15, 9 a.m., in the Sanders Room Contemplative Prayer
Bible Study with St. Paul’s Clergy
TOTALCHAOSYouthIceCream
Wednesday, September 14, 10 a.m. St. Paul’s group for active retirees, Sages, will visit the beautiful and historic Hale Farm and Village on Wednesday, September 14. There are extensive gravel and some paved pathways; wheelchair access is limited. Admission, payable at the the door, is $15 with plenty of free parking. Van transportation from St. Paul’s and back to the church is available at the cost of $20 per person and is limited to 14. To RSVP and register, contact Jenni Thomas at (216) 932-5815 or jthomas@stpauls-church.org. For more information, contact Sara Cutting at sgcutting916@gmail.com
The Village Playground Party Saturday, September 10, 10 a.m. The Village is a fellowship group for families with younger children (infants to 3rd graders). Join us on the playground for a chance to play and catch up! RSVP to Lauren by Monday, September 5: ldockery@stpauls-church.org.
Children and
Party
Saturday, September 10, 3 p.m. 4th, 5th, and 6th graders are invited to kick off the start of the program year with an ice cream party on Saturday, Sept 10th from 3 to 5 pm! We’ll meet in the church parking lot at 3 pm and carpool to Mitchell’s at the Van Aken District for ice cream and fun. The cost is $5 per person. Please RSVP to Lauren by Monday, September 5: ldockery@stpauls-church.org
Fellowship Coffee Hour
Tuesday, September 13, 7 p.m. Anyone in their 20s or 30s is invited to join the Young Adult Group of St. Paul’s in Coventry for fellowship and food as we reconnect with friends and welcome new members. Please RSVP by visiting our website (www.stpaulschurch.org/youngadultgroup) or using the below QR Code to select your preferred meal. Email Allison Paetz with any questions: allison.paetz@ gmail.com. We hope to see you there! Sages Visit to Hale Farm
Young Adult Dinner and Compline
Formation Opportunities Contact the Rev. John Kennedy for more information: jkennedy@stpauls-church.org
12 Parish Notes | September 2022
Splash Into Youth Group! Sunday, September 11, 5:30 p.m. 7th through 12th graders are invited to join us for a pool party to kick off the year! Join us at the Banyard’s house (make sure to RSVP to get the address!) from 5:30 to 7:30 pm on Sunday, September 11th for swimming, ice cream, and pizza! RSVP to Lauren by Monday, September 5: ldockery@stpauls-church.org
Beginning Friday, November 18
September 2022 | Parish Notes 13
For the October edition of Parish Notes, please notify Nathaniel Powell of any submissions as soon as possible.
Celebration of Ministries Sunday, September 18, 8:30 a.m., Tucker Hall After several years of hiatus, our Celebration of Ministries will return. This ministry fair offers the opportunity to learn about and engage with the myriad of initiatives and groups within our vibrant community. From gardening to pastoral care, outreach to fellowship, join us to celebrate and discover all the ways we’re Seeking. Serving. Loving. Together. from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Parish Picnic Sunday, September 18, 5:30 p.m. After a two-year COVID hiatus, we are excited to bring back the St. Paul’s Oktoberfest Picnic. This fun all-parish fellowship event is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the start of the new program year, reconnect with parishioners and staff, and get to know our newer members. The picnic will be an excellent opportunity to meet our new Director of Music, Kevin Jones, as we continue our warm welcome to him and his husband, Joe. Join us for grilled brats, hotdogs, and “not-dogs” in the Coventry parking area behind the church on Sunday, September 18, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. There will be music, fresh cider, beer and wine, and kids’ activities. Everyone is invited to bring an appetizer, salad, side dish, or dessert to share. Friends and neighbors are absolutely welcome.
The N.B. White Gallery’s Fall Show is coming in early September. Four local artists will display work in one of our creatively curated exhibitions! The Show features unique works of watercolor, glass, photography, and mixed media. by these talented artists. Some of the artists on display are Lael Carter, Scott Goss, Jeneen Hobby, Nancy Halbrooks. Please join us for an Artists’ Reception on September 16, from 5 to 7 p.m. In the
Are you looking for ways to get to know more people at St. Paul’s? Th en please consider joining a Foyer Group. These are groups of about ten St. Paul’s members who gather regularly for potlucks in each other’s homes throughout the program year (October-June). Visit our website to sign up: www.stpauls-church.org/ foyergroups2022. Contact Rev. Jessie with questions: jdodson@stpauls-church.org.
Foyer Groups Return Beginning October 2022
Diocese2022Convention
The Annual Convention of the Diocese of Ohio is the legislative body that approves the diocesan program and budget, elects persons to various groups which serve the diocese, adopts resolutions on various issues, and approves changes in the Constitution and Canons of the diocese. This year, clergy and delegates will elect our next bishop. The 206th Annual Diocesan Convention will be held November 18 to 19, in Cleveland, Ohio at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower. Registration will be available in the fall. To learn more about the Candidates for the 12th Bishop of Ohio, visit the Diocese website (www.dohio.org) or use the QR Code.
Music and Art N. B. White Gallery Fall Show
Submissions are due Monday, September 12: npowell@stpauls-church.org
Parish Notes
Online Edition Need a clickable link? Head on over to our website! stpauls-church.org/parishnotes/
Deadlines
@stpaulsclestpauls-church.org•(216) 932-58152747Fairmount Boulevard Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44106
