November 2023 - Parish Notes

Parish Notes

November 2023 • Vol. 66 No. 3

Clergy Jeanne Leinbach, Rector jleinbach@stpauls-church.org Brandon Ashcraft, Associate Rector bashcraft@stpauls-church.org Gabriel Lawrence, Assistant Rector glawrence@stpauls-church.org Patricia Rose, Assistant Rector prose@stpauls-church.org

Staff Lois Bell Handbell Choir Director Brenda Burton, Controller Daniel Colaner, Organ Scholar Lauren Dockery Director of Children’s & Youth Min. Kelsey Ferguson Director of Children’s & Youth Choirs Ethan Greenberg, Sexton Steve Halasz, Sexton Kevin Jones, Director of Music Paul McCuen, Sexton Pam O’Halloran Director of Operations David Osburn Carillonneur

STEWARDSHIP AT ST. PAUL'S 2024

Annual Stewardship Pam O'Halloran

Our 2024 Annual Stewardship Campaign kicked off on October 29. The goal of this campaign is to support the day-to-day operating needs of the parish for the coming year. Your gifts each year ensure that our essential programs and services are supported, the buildings and grounds are maintained, and our mission to seek, serve, and love God is fulfilled.

While the just-completed capital campaign will help us address major capital projects, expand our outreach ministries, and grow our endowment to protect the long-term health of the parish, it does not support any of our critical dayto-day needs.

How will we steward your 2024 annual fund gifts to St. Paul’s?

We know that you entrust the leaders of St. Paul’s to steward your gifts to the church carefully and thoughtfully. It is our goal to ensure that all resources are directed to support the core missions of the church: • Meaningful worship and uplifting music that, in community, connect us to the divine.

• Christian formation that prepares all ages for a deeper life in Christ.

Amber Patton Administrative Assistant

• Compassionate pastoral care to parishioners suffering loss, illness, fear, and hopelessness.

Karel Paukert, Artist-in-Residence

• Impactful outreach to those beyond our walls.

Sylvester Person, Sexton Nathaniel Powell Director of Communications Jenni Thomas Administrative Coordinator

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 2747 Fairmount Boulevard Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44106 (216) 932-5815 www.stpauls-church.org info@stpauls-church.org Pastoral Care Line: (216) 238-4001 2

Parish Notes | November 2023

• Fostering a sense of community in all that we do; inviting, welcoming, and connecting with those who come through our doors.

Commitment Sunday Join us on Sunday, November 19, for our annual celebration of Commitment Sunday. At each service, 7:45 a.m., 9 a.m., and 11:15 a.m., we will welcome and give thanks for our collective financial support of the church that makes possible all that we do. Festive celebrations will follow the services in Tucker Hall.

CLERGY REFLECTION

Meet Gabriel Lawrence The Rev. Gabriel Lawrence

Dear People of St. Paul’s, I am thrilled to accept Jeanne’s call to serve among you as Assistant Rector! I so appreciated the warmth and spirit of welcome I felt from the search committee, clergy and others during the call process. I look forward to being a part of such a vibrant community.

This spirit of welcome I experienced from you all during the call process is not new for me, though. I lived in Cleveland in 2008-2009 and worshiped regularly at St. Paul’s. Though raised in other Christian traditions, St. Paul’s was the place where I knew I wanted to become an Episcopalian. I specifically remember the warm hospitality I experienced at the annual Epiphany dinner for newcomers. This spirit of hospitality eventually carried me into the offices of Rev. Alan Gates and Rev. Lisa Hackney where I had my first conversations about discerning a call to ordained ministry.

A little bit about me before I arrived at St. Paul’s: I was born

and raised in Nashville, Tennessee — Music City, U.S.A., and so music is rooted deeply in who I am. For the last decade, I have lived and worked in the Diocese of Georgia as a parish musician.

In addition to parish music, I have worked as a composer as well as a community organizer, coordinating Beer and Hymns groups. (Feel free to ask me about those!) In 2019, I left parish music to head to seminary at the School of Theology in Sewanee, Tennessee where I earned a Master of Divinity degree.

During my time in seminary, I particularly enjoyed managing the seminary garden and co-founding a Creation Care Committee. I’m really looking forward to getting my hands in the dirt with the Lay Weeders!

As Assistant Rector for Newcomer, Engagement, and Hospitality ministries, I am eager to work with you in continuing to cultivate the spiritual community and radical welcome for which St. Paul’s is so well known. I also look forward to getting to know each of you. If you’d like to meet for

coffee, share dinner, or perhaps enjoy a walk around the Coventry neighborhood, don’t hesitate to reach out. I am delighted God has brought me back to Cleveland Heights and St. Paul’s to join you and my fellow clergy in working toward the further building up of God’s kindom on earth!

With a heart full of joy and excitement,

Cover Photos: This issues cover photos are some of our favorite moments from Youth Group and our St. Francis Day Pet Blessing on October 8. Want to get involved with a ministry? Contact a member of the clergy! Do you have a photo to share? Send them to Nathaniel, and you just might see them on social media, or around the church: npowell@stpauls-church.org.

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Celebrating

Will iam Byrd Sunday, November 19

Kevin Jones On Sunday, November 19, beginning at 3:30 p.m., St. Paul’s will host “Celebrating William Byrd.” As a prelude to Evensong, Stephen Plank will play an organ recital on the Hradetzky instrument featuring some of the keyboard music of Byrd. Choral Evensong follows at 4 p.m., featuring responses, canticles, and anthems exclusively by Byrd.

William Byrd, a prominent composer of the English Renaissance, left an indelible mark on the world of music through his exceptional compositions. His life and work, which spanned the late 16th century, contributed significantly to the development of English music and influenced the course of Western classical music. Byrd was born in London c. 1543, during the tumultuous reign of King Henry VIII. He was fortunate to come from a musical family and received his early musical education from his father, Thomas Byrd, a musician of some note.

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Byrd’s talent was quickly recognized, and he went on to study music probably under Thomas Tallis. Byrd’s apprenticeship with Tallis nurtured his musical abilities and provided him with the foundational knowledge to create innovative compositions. Byrd’s work was heavily influenced by the religious and political context of his time. He lived during the English Reformation, a period of great religious upheaval, which saw the Church of England break away from the Roman Catholic Church. Byrd was a devout Roman Catholic in a Protestantdominated England, which presented unique challenges and opportunities for his musical career. Because of his protection by the Queen, he became a prolific publisher of many of his own compositions, quite notably the Mass for Four Voices (1592), the two volumes of Gradualia (1605 and 1607), and a plethora of keyboard works including the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book.

Byrd’s compositions have left an enduring legacy in the world of classical music. His mastery of counterpoint and harmonic invention profoundly influenced future generations of composers, including Henry Purcell and even later luminaries like Benjamin Britten and Ralph Vaughan Williams. William Byrd’s life and music are emblematic of the transformative power of art and creativity in the face of adversity.

His remarkable compositions showcase his technical skill and emotional depth. Byrd’s influence on subsequent generations of composers and his significant role in the history of English music are unquestionable. His legacy, characterized by both the beauty and complexity of his compositions, continues to inspire musicians and listeners today, making him one of the most prominent figures of the English Renaissance.

Advent at St. Paul’s www.stpauls-church.org/advent

Worship Advent Lessons and Carols Sunday, December 10, 5 p.m.

As part of the quiet reflection and joyful expectation that our yearly observance of Advent brings, this candlelit service of scripture, hymns, and anthems moves us from the Creation story, to prophecy, to the coming of the Kingdom of God. The Handbell Choir begins at 4:45 p.m., carols and hymns are sung by the Senior, Youth, St. Cecilia, and St. David Choirs, congregational hymns feature prominently throughout the liturgy, and a carillon concert follows. A freewill offering will be collected to benefit our non-profit community partners. This service will be livestreamed to our website at www.stpauls-church.org/live.

The Longest Night

Wednesday, December 20, 6 p.m.

As the longest night of the year approaches, we remember those in our world confronting sadness and grief who feel disconnected from the joyful spirit of the holidays. Our Wednesday 6 p.m. Eucharist on December 20th will be a “Blue Christmas” service with music and candle lighting. We’ll lay our burdens before God, pray for healing for ourselves and those we love, and hear the hopeful message of the light that shines in the darkness.

Formation Creating Sacred Art as A Window to Heaven

Sundays in Advent, 10:15 a.m.

Please join us for a fascinating 3-part series on the ancient devotional art of icons. On December 3, our featured speaker will be Clara Pinchback, a third-year doctoral student studying Late Antique and Byzantine art at Case Western Reserve University.

Our speaker on December 10 and 17 will be Dr. Justin Wilson, a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in Art History Leadership at the Cleveland Museum of Art and Case Western Reserve University. All forums begin at 10:15 a.m. in the dining room.

December 3 • Creating Sacred Art as a Window to Heaven, Part 1 Clara Pinchback December 10 • Creating Sacred Art as a Window to Heaven, Part 2 Justin Wilson, Ph.D. December 17 • Creating Sacred Art as a Window to Heaven, Part 3 Justin Wilson, Ph.D.

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Fellowship All Things Advent

Sunday, December 3, 5 p.m.

Join us for fellowship and fun. There will be a soup supper, dessert, and all your favorite Advent activities. Make Advent wreaths, plant waiting bulbs, play games, and stuff stockings for children served by Fostering Hope. Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 3, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. We suggest a donation of $5 per individual or $25 per family.

Greens Workshop

Thursday, December 7, 5:30 p.m.

The Eliza Backus Guild invites you to its annual Greens Workshop on Thursday, December 7, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Dining Room. Make a holiday centerpiece, boxwood tree, and/or an evergreen swag for your door — everyone goes home with a unique and beautiful decoration for their home! The workshop is open to all, including children. A light supper will be provided. The cost is $35 for one arrangement and $65 for two. If you prefer to make a boxwood tree, holiday centerpiece, or evergreen door swag at home, you can pre-order a to-go bag for any project for $30. One dollar from each arrangement will go to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church for outerwear for children in need.

If you have a question, don’t hesitate to contact Lee Deininger (440-289-9044 or leedeininger@ ameritech.net) OR Sally Bosley (216-832-1817 or bosley.sally@gmail.com). Preregistration is appreciated by contacting Lee or Sally or by visiting our website: www.stpauls-church.org/Greens23.

Outreach Fairhill Partners For more than 20 years, St. Paul’s has partnered with Fairhill Partners’ Kinship Care program to provide holiday gifts to children being raised by their grandparents. In the coming weeks, we will have names and wish lists of the children available on designated Sunday mornings.

Once you have a wish list, you can purchase, wrap, and deliver the gifts to the vestibule outside the Parish Office. Julie Dornback and Jennie Kaffen will take it from there, ensuring your generosity brings Christmas joy to its intended recipient!

Watch for more information to come in St. Paul’s Weekly and Sunday Notes.

Loaves & Fishes

Wednesday, December 13, 5:30 p.m.

The Loaves and Fishes ministry will serve its annual festive Christmas Dinner on Wednesday, December 13, at 5:30 p.m. Continuing a tradition begun last year, we’ll serve the residents of Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries Men’s Shelter, 2100 Lakeside Avenue, partnering with volunteers from St. Christopher by-the-River Episcopal Church of Gates Mills. We’re seeking volunteer casserole makers, cookie bakers, transporters, and servers. To learn more about this event and how you can participate in joyous Christian community this Advent/Christmas season, please contact ministry co-chairs Carol and Jeff Spero: cjmspero@ gmail.com.

Want the most up-todate information?

Then be sure to visit our Advent and Advent Outreach Hubs on our website: www.stpauls-church.org/advent www.stpauls-church.org/adventoutreach

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Parish Notes | November 2023

Winter Warmth for the Bahati Family The Refugee Ministry Team continues to support the Bahati family in the many needs of settling into a new country, including housing, learning English, and navigating medical systems. As winter approaches, the family will be acclimating to a much colder climate than they’ve ever lived in. The parish is invited to participate in a drive to collect new or gently used winter necessities including coats, snow boots, hats, gloves, and blankets for the 7 family members. More details will be coming soon in St. Paul’s Weekly and Sunday Notes. If you have questions, please contact Tom Wise (trwiseiii@ gmail.com) or Rev. Patricia (prose@stpauls-church. org).

Fostering Hope At our All Things Advent event on December 3 (see page 6), we’ll stuff stockings to be delivered to children in foster care across Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. This project supports Fostering Hope, a local non-profit whose mission is to “connect and enrich youth who live in residential treatment and foster care with unique experiences of hope and healing.”

The Fourth Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 24

10 a.m. • Holy Eucharist Christmas Eve

Sunday, December 24

4 p.m. • Christmas Pageant and Holy Eucharist 9 p.m. • Christmas Lessons and Carols 10:30 p.m. • Festival Holy Eucharist Christmas Day

Monday, December 25

10 a.m. • Holy Eucharist The First Sunday of Christmas Sunday, December 31

10 a.m. • Holy Eucharist

Open Doors Academy The Holiday Heart giving program matches individuals to ODA families to help provide gifts during the holiday season. Your generosity will give an ODA family the kind of holiday we would want to provide for our own families.

To participate, you are encouraged to complete the form found on our website by November 10 (www.stpauls-church.org/AdventOutreach). For more information, including FAQs, consult the flyer found using the same link to our website or contact Joe Hollings, ODA’s Director of Engagement, at jhollings@ odacle.org or (440) 231-1395.

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AROUND ST. PAUL'S

Parish Events Parish Notes Event Submissions Submissions may be emailed to Nathaniel Powell, Director of Communications: npowell@stpaulschurch.org. • Submissions must include: Title (max 50 to 60 characters); date; and a description (max 500 characters, links are exempt). For more information, we will set up a page on our website (max 250 to 300 words). • Photos: a photo or graphic or suggestions for a photo or graphic. Only photo files with a minimum pixel dimension of 1080 x 1080 will be published.

Worship Service of Remembrance

Wednesday, November 1, 6 p.m.

Recognizing the losses and grief so many of us carry privately, St. Paul’s will hold its annual Service of Remembrance to honor those whose deaths have touched our parish family this past year. Through music, prayer, readings, and a candle-lighting ritual, we will hold our loved ones and one another in God’s presence. The service will be held on Wednesday, November 1, at 6 p.m. in the Nave.

All Saints Combined Service Sunday, November 5, 10 a.m.

On this feast that celebrates the great fellowship of saints, we’ll gather as one St. Paul’s community for a festive combined worship service at 10 a.m.

Following the service, gather in Tucker Hall for the Saints Hall of Fame, a time of education, fellowship, and snacks.

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Invitation to Holy Baptism Holy Baptism is full initiation into Christ’s Body the Church, and all who are interested in baptism for themselves or their children are invited to contact the Rev. Brandon Ashcraft (bashcraft@ stpauls-church.org). We will celebrate baptism on the following dates, which are those days in our Church Calendar especially set aside for baptism.

We are also happy to explore other possible dates, as necessary: January 7, 2024 • The Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ March 30, 2024 • The Great Vigil of Easter Diocesan service at Trinity Cathedral May 19, 2024 • The Day of Pentecost

Christian Formation The Forum The Forum will be take a break for the month of November and will resume on Sunday, December 4 for the Advent Forum Series. You can learn more about it on page 5.

Contemplative Prayer Join fellow seekers and spiritual pilgrims at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays in the Chapel of the Cross for a holy hour of Contemplative Prayer (also called Christian Meditation) and reflection. The virtual groups meet on Zoom on Fridays at 10 a.m. and Mondays at 7 p.m.

To express interest or learn more, contact Dave Rodney (rodney.dave@gmail.com) or Laurie Rodney (lauriewsr@gmail.com).

Bible Study

Thursdays, 9 a.m.

Join the preacher-on-deck at 9 a.m. on Thursdays in the Sanders Room for a deep dive into the scriptures for the upcoming Sunday. Drop in anytime; no RSVP is needed.

Children and Youth Ministries Talent Show Auditions

Beginning Thurs., November 2, 6 p.m.

This fall, C.A.S.T. is holding a St. Paul’s Talent Show! Parishioners, friends, and community members of all ages and stages of life are invited to stand up and show off on stage! All acts should audition to participate, though you do not need to have your act polished or perfect for the audition! Please prepare a simple description of your act and at least 30 seconds of your plan. Auditions are Thursday, November 2, from 6 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, November 4, from 1 to 2 p.m. The talent show is on Saturday, December 2, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Help Tell the Christmas Story!

The St. Paul’s Christmas Pageant is a wonderful tradition and a fantastic opportunity for all of us to live into the Christmas story. This year, we will have just one pageant at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Children in preschool through 3rd grade are invited to play angels, shepherds, and sheep — no auditions necessary! 4th through 6th graders will receive more information about auditioning for speaking roles and rehearsal schedule. We also invite parents to volunteer and guide the younger children during the rehearsal and the pageant. All participants must be at the rehearsal on Saturday, December 23, from 10 a.m. to noon. Please email Lauren Dockery to sign up to participate in the pageant: ldockery@stpauls-church.org.

Fellowship Herb Harvest Sale

Sunday, November 12

Our annual Herb Harvest Sale will be in Tucker Hall on Sunday, November 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is a great time to shop for holiday hostess gifts! All of your favorite items from the past will be back, including homemade breads, jellies and jams, moth chasers, lavender sachets, soups, herbal flavorings, and chutneys.

Funds from this sale help us sustain the beauty of our St. Paul’s gardens. Cash or checks, please! It is not too late to help bake loaves of bread or other bakery items. For more information, contact Susan Blackwell at susanmblackwell@hotmail.com.

Pancake Breakfast

Sunday, November 12

The Men’s Council will serve pancakes, french toast, sausage, fruit, coffee, and juice from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. $10 per adult, $6 per child, $25 for a family of three or more. All You Can Eat! $1 off if you order early at www.menofstpauls.org.

Music and Art Youth Evensong at Trinity Cathedral

Wednesday, November 8, 6 p.m.

The Youth Choir will lead a service of Choral Evensong at Trinity Cathedral at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 8. Accompanied by Todd Wilson, the service will feature music by women composers and poets including Sarah MacDonald, Jessica French, and Kelsey Ferguson. All are welcome for this contemplative evening service.

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AROUND ST. PAUL'S

Parish Events A Celebration of Karel Paukert November 17, 6:30 p.m.

On Friday, November 17, beginning at 6:30 p.m., St. Paul’s will come together to celebrate and thank Karel Paukert for his 44 years of service not only to St. Paul’s but also to the wider musical world. The evening begins in the Nave where several former students will present a concert in honor of Karel. At 7:30, the celebration moves on to Tucker Hall where the Parish Fellowship Committee will host a party filled with food and beverages. Live music by jazz greats Reed Simon and Jackie Warren will accompany the festivities, and there will be a few remembrances of Karel as well. Suggested donation of $25 per person is requested. If you would like to make an additional financial gift in honor of Karel, all donations will benefit the Friends of Music of St. Paul’s. Please RSVP on our website: www.stpauls-church.org/ Paukert.

Celebrating William Byrd

Sunday, November 19, 3:30 p.m.

Organist Stephen Plank plays a pre-Evensong recital featuring the keyboard music of William Byrd. Choral Evensong follows at 4 p.m. The Evensong will be sung by the Senior Choir featuring the responses by Byrd, Byrd’s Second Service, and the verse anthem, “Teach me, O Lord.” The Evensong will be accompanied on the Slajch Positiv organ with the choir singing from the Chancel. A modest reception will follow in the Rotunda.

N.B. White Gallery Fall Show Now through November 26

The Fall Show in the Nicholson B. White Gallery features the works of these talented Ohio artists: textiles by Helen Murrell, paintings by Martha Shiverick, and ceramics by Brian Sarama. The show runs until Sunday, November 26.

Apollo’s Fire: Fire and Joy

Saturday, November 18, 8 p.m.

J.S. Bach and Vivaldi loved to create moods — fiery, serene, or joyful. Apollo’s Fire principal players step into the spotlight in this program featuring double concertos, a Bach Oboe Concerto, and rarely-heard sinfonias. Meet the viola d’amore, an instrument of love! Purchase tickets by visiting their website: apollosfire.org/event/fire-and-joy/.

Pastoral Care

The Pastoral Care Team is available for all parish pastoral needs. If you or someone you love needs pastoral care, call us at (216) 238-4001.

Opportunities to Care for Each Other Being part of a church community means we’re given a chance to offer care to one another in times of need.

Here are two great ways to both seek and offer care: Transportation Ministry • Help parishioners by providing rides to church events, doctor visits, and other appointments.

Meal Ministry • Prepare and deliver a home-cooked meal to a church member experiencing a short-term transition or difficulty.

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Contact Rev. Brandon to sign up and learn more: bashcraft@stpauls-church.org.

Outreach Loaves and Fishes

Second Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m., and Fourth Mondays, 5:30 p.m.

The Loaves and Fishes ministry serves two meals a month at local homeless shelters. Anyone interested in preparing food or serving our guests may email Jeff and Carol Spero at cjmspero@gmail.com.

Around the Diocese Annual Diocesan Convention November 10–11

The 207th Annual Diocesan Convention will be held November 10–11, in Wooster, Ohio. The Annual Convention of the Diocese of Ohio is the legislative body that approves the diocesan program and budget, elects persons to various groups that serve the diocese, adopts resolutions on various issues, and approves changes in the Constitution and Canons of the diocese. To learn more, visit the Diocese’s website: www. dohio.org/convention.

Call for Vestry Nominations

At the Annual Parish Meeting on January 28, 2024, we will elect four Vestry members for 3-year terms. Following our parish bylaws, the Rector appoints a Nominating Committee, which delivers to the Rector, by the December Vestry Meeting, a list “setting forth the names of as many qualified members of the Parish as needed to fill the positions in the Vestry to be voted upon at the succeeding annual meeting of the Parish.” This year’s Nominating Committee consists of Andrea Turner, Chair, Jennie Kaffen, Bill Powel, Jim Ptacek and Tres Roeder. They welcome nominations from the Parish. A form for nominations is available on our website along with a Vestry position description: www.stpauls-church. org/Vestry. Address nominations to Committee Chair, Andrea Turner, and deliver them in a sealed envelope to the Parish Office or send them by email to act_one@sbcglobal. net. All nominations should be received no later than Wednesday, November 22.

St. Martin’s Pews Available for Purchase As previously announced, we are replacing the pews in St. Martin’s Chapel with chairs to allow for a more versatile worship space. These chairs are made of heavy wood with upholstered seats, kneelers and hymnal racks, stained to match the existing pews, and connected in rows. They are expected to be delivered in the late fall. In the meantime, plans are underway for repairing the slate floor once the pews are removed and for finding alternative uses for the pews.

Unfortunately, storage of the pews will not be possible. Some of the chapel pews will be repurposed within the building. For the remaining, we are exploring options for selling or donating them to another church, and many will be available to St. Paul’s parishioners to purchase for a small fee.

Pews can be shortened to any length and still retain both end caps. If you have interest in purchasing a pew, please contact Pam O’Halloran at pohalloran@ stpauls-church.org or (216) 238-4008.

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stpauls-church.org

@stpaulscle • (216) 932-5815