St. Paul's News
Let us Pray: The Collect for the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost
Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. |
News in Brief
Interior Ancient mosaic of Christ Pantocrator in Monreale Cathedral, Italy
By cascoly2
By cascoly2
Upcoming Worship & Events
This Sunday at 10am — Holy Eucharist in the Sanctuary
with Fr. Christian Baron
Coffee Hour following 10am Worship
with Fr. Christian Baron
Coffee Hour following 10am Worship
A Letter from the Priest in Charge and Wardens
Dear beloved disciples at St. Paul’s, Oakwood,
We are writing to you today with news from your vestry pertaining to the future of clergy leadership at St. Paul’s.
St. Paul’s has been faithful in the midst of a very difficult time in the history of this parish. Your vestry has worked hard to sort out a path forward. It is rare for a parish to find itself in the spot that we find ourselves and so finding a road map has been nearly impossible.
And, you should know, your vestry has done some very difficult work. They have shared their experiences of the last year (and longer) and what future they see God calling us into. The vestry has laughed and cried. They have disagreed respectfully and been generous with each other. They have struggled to sort out their own personal feelings from what may be best for this place at this time. They have been faithful to their responsibilities as leaders in a complex system, learning quite a bit about the canons of The Episcopal Church along the way.
The vestry has learned a lot about technicalities in the canons of the Diocese of Southern Ohio and the canons of the Episcopal Church. Particularly, they have learned a lot about some of the specifics of planning for the future with the uncertainties of having a rector who has been prevented from being present in the parish he has been called to serve.
Over the last several months, feeling the anxiety of the parish and among the vestry, your elected leaders have determined that there is an extremely low chance of Fr. Dan being able to return to St. Paul’s as a healthy and effective pastor. As you might imagine, this opinion was not held universally.
The vestry welcomed Joe Dehner, the diocesan chancellor (lawyer), during our August meeting, to learn about the intricacies of the canons in circumstances in which a vestry and rector are unable to agree to a separation. In most cases, the separation of a rector relationship is simple: the priest leaves for another parish or is asked to leave. But in a case where the parish wishes to separate and the priest does not agree, either party can enter a process with the diocese to force a separation, following Canon XVI in our diocesan canons.
At the September Meeting, the vestry took a significant amount of time for each member to share their perspective about next steps without fear of judgment or reprisal. Your vestry was open and honest. They disagreed. They prayed for wisdom. And at the end of the conversation the decision was made to initiate help from the bishop in severing the relationship with the Rev. Daniel McClain through Canon XVI section 24: If for any urgent reason a Rector or Vestry desires a dissolution of the pastoral relation, and the parties cannot agree, either party may give notice in writing to the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese. Whenever the Standing Committee is the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese, it shall request the Bishop of another Diocese to perform the duties of the Bishop under this Canon.
The vestry walked out of our September meeting sad but unified.
Since that moment, we’ve received a response (and a great deal of prayer) from Bishop White, and met with members of the diocesan Standing Committee earlier this week. Fr. Dan will have the opportunity to meet with them as well, if he chooses. Next, the Standing Committee will meet with the bishop, and the bishop is charged to respond with what is called a “godly judgment” determining whether the relationship will be ended.
Our next steps are to wait and to pray. We wait and pray for the next steps in this canonical process and we wait and pray for Fr. Dan and his family. We pray for one another, the whole community that is St. Paul’s. We ask your prayers for the vestry, and to offer them your compassion and gratitude for the difficult charge they’ve been given.
If you have any questions please reach out to a vestry member (including the wardens) or Fr. Christian.
May God have mercy upon us and bless us as we are transformed,
Jay Woodhull - Sr. Warden
Mike Miller - Jr. Warden
The Rev. Christian Baron - Interim Priest in Charge
We are writing to you today with news from your vestry pertaining to the future of clergy leadership at St. Paul’s.
St. Paul’s has been faithful in the midst of a very difficult time in the history of this parish. Your vestry has worked hard to sort out a path forward. It is rare for a parish to find itself in the spot that we find ourselves and so finding a road map has been nearly impossible.
And, you should know, your vestry has done some very difficult work. They have shared their experiences of the last year (and longer) and what future they see God calling us into. The vestry has laughed and cried. They have disagreed respectfully and been generous with each other. They have struggled to sort out their own personal feelings from what may be best for this place at this time. They have been faithful to their responsibilities as leaders in a complex system, learning quite a bit about the canons of The Episcopal Church along the way.
The vestry has learned a lot about technicalities in the canons of the Diocese of Southern Ohio and the canons of the Episcopal Church. Particularly, they have learned a lot about some of the specifics of planning for the future with the uncertainties of having a rector who has been prevented from being present in the parish he has been called to serve.
Over the last several months, feeling the anxiety of the parish and among the vestry, your elected leaders have determined that there is an extremely low chance of Fr. Dan being able to return to St. Paul’s as a healthy and effective pastor. As you might imagine, this opinion was not held universally.
The vestry welcomed Joe Dehner, the diocesan chancellor (lawyer), during our August meeting, to learn about the intricacies of the canons in circumstances in which a vestry and rector are unable to agree to a separation. In most cases, the separation of a rector relationship is simple: the priest leaves for another parish or is asked to leave. But in a case where the parish wishes to separate and the priest does not agree, either party can enter a process with the diocese to force a separation, following Canon XVI in our diocesan canons.
At the September Meeting, the vestry took a significant amount of time for each member to share their perspective about next steps without fear of judgment or reprisal. Your vestry was open and honest. They disagreed. They prayed for wisdom. And at the end of the conversation the decision was made to initiate help from the bishop in severing the relationship with the Rev. Daniel McClain through Canon XVI section 24: If for any urgent reason a Rector or Vestry desires a dissolution of the pastoral relation, and the parties cannot agree, either party may give notice in writing to the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese. Whenever the Standing Committee is the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese, it shall request the Bishop of another Diocese to perform the duties of the Bishop under this Canon.
The vestry walked out of our September meeting sad but unified.
Since that moment, we’ve received a response (and a great deal of prayer) from Bishop White, and met with members of the diocesan Standing Committee earlier this week. Fr. Dan will have the opportunity to meet with them as well, if he chooses. Next, the Standing Committee will meet with the bishop, and the bishop is charged to respond with what is called a “godly judgment” determining whether the relationship will be ended.
Our next steps are to wait and to pray. We wait and pray for the next steps in this canonical process and we wait and pray for Fr. Dan and his family. We pray for one another, the whole community that is St. Paul’s. We ask your prayers for the vestry, and to offer them your compassion and gratitude for the difficult charge they’ve been given.
If you have any questions please reach out to a vestry member (including the wardens) or Fr. Christian.
May God have mercy upon us and bless us as we are transformed,
Jay Woodhull - Sr. Warden
Mike Miller - Jr. Warden
The Rev. Christian Baron - Interim Priest in Charge
October Movie Night
October 30 at 6pm
Serendipity (2001) stars John John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale, Eugene Levy and John Corbett. The official definition of serendipity is: an apparent aptitude for making fortunate discoveries accidentally. What is serendipity really? Magic? Destiny? Luck? You decide after watching this charming Rom-Com that is still refreshing after 20+ years.
Join us for a light dinner at 6:00. Movie at 6:30 and popcorn throughout.
Serendipity (2001) stars John John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale, Eugene Levy and John Corbett. The official definition of serendipity is: an apparent aptitude for making fortunate discoveries accidentally. What is serendipity really? Magic? Destiny? Luck? You decide after watching this charming Rom-Com that is still refreshing after 20+ years.
Join us for a light dinner at 6:00. Movie at 6:30 and popcorn throughout.
Music at St. Paul's
The fall season is upon us and the sounds of singing surround St. Paul’s once again. The adult choir is back in full swing, rehearsing now on Sunday mornings following coffee hour. Please consider joining us. New faces are welcome at any point throughout the year. We are a friendly and inviting group and would love to make music with you. No prior experience or training is required. If you have any questions, please contact Director of Music, Cara Whitby, at 937-293-1154 or cara@stpauls-dayton.org
We are looking forward to sharing not only the sounds of singing, but also flutes, trumpets, and handbells in the weeks leading up to the start of advent. Please mark your calendars, as you will not want to miss these musical offerings:
10/27: Former St. Paul’s member and flautist, Jeanne Harman, will join us on the offertory anthem, “Just As I Am,” by John Carter
11/3: The All-Saints’ Day liturgy will be a joyous musical experience, with former choir members joining us, along with trumpeter, Aaron Moen, and members of our handbell choir (music is made possible through special funding that day by the Magill family)
Blessings on all of you and may we raise our voices and spirits in song and thanksgiving to the Lord!
We are looking forward to sharing not only the sounds of singing, but also flutes, trumpets, and handbells in the weeks leading up to the start of advent. Please mark your calendars, as you will not want to miss these musical offerings:
10/27: Former St. Paul’s member and flautist, Jeanne Harman, will join us on the offertory anthem, “Just As I Am,” by John Carter
11/3: The All-Saints’ Day liturgy will be a joyous musical experience, with former choir members joining us, along with trumpeter, Aaron Moen, and members of our handbell choir (music is made possible through special funding that day by the Magill family)
Blessings on all of you and may we raise our voices and spirits in song and thanksgiving to the Lord!
October Birthdays
Happy Birthday to those born in the month of October!
Cara Whitby 10/01
Paige Benedict 10/04
Muriel Hunt 10/10
Eva Kelsey 10/11
Bea Cox 10/11
Fred Setzer Jr 10/12
Lawrence Welsh 10/13
Joseph Cairo 10/14
William Coffin Jr. 10/15
Elizabeth Coffin 10/15
Julielle Hamblen 10/18
David Schmutz 10/22
Kim Zorniger 10/26
Mary Anna Conley 10/27
Nancy Downey 10/27
Don Barrett 10/27
Sue Falter 10/28
Suzy Hardin 10/29
Bruce Benedict 10/30
Cara Whitby 10/01
Paige Benedict 10/04
Muriel Hunt 10/10
Eva Kelsey 10/11
Bea Cox 10/11
Fred Setzer Jr 10/12
Lawrence Welsh 10/13
Joseph Cairo 10/14
William Coffin Jr. 10/15
Elizabeth Coffin 10/15
Julielle Hamblen 10/18
David Schmutz 10/22
Kim Zorniger 10/26
Mary Anna Conley 10/27
Nancy Downey 10/27
Don Barrett 10/27
Sue Falter 10/28
Suzy Hardin 10/29
Bruce Benedict 10/30
Church Finance
St Paul's Episcopal Church
Financial Executive Summary - September 2024
Provided by Randy Young
Total income including plate and pledge was $21K for the month of September vs budgeted $35K for a <$14.1K> unfavorable balance.
Expenses were 44.8.K actual vs $43.7 budgeted for a <$1.1K> unfavorable balance.
Total monthly expenses exceeded income by <$23.9K> unfavorable balance for the month.
Year to date income through September was $314.5K> vs YTD expenses of <$419.8K> for a YTD unfavorable balance of <$105.2> for period of 1st through 3rd quarters of 2024.
*(Amounts shown are rounded up or down to the nearest $100)
Summary: Income is expected to exceed expenses during the 4th quarter of 2024 as a large proportion of pledge income is normally received in the 4th quarter. September income was supplemented by usual and budget interest earnings we receive on a quarterly basis. Randy and Bob have begun work on the 2025 budget. They will be reviewing all contracts and subscriptions the church has obligations for and will give the Finance team a report of such at its next meeting in November.
Financial Executive Summary - September 2024
Provided by Randy Young
Total income including plate and pledge was $21K for the month of September vs budgeted $35K for a <$14.1K> unfavorable balance.
Expenses were 44.8.K actual vs $43.7 budgeted for a <$1.1K> unfavorable balance.
Total monthly expenses exceeded income by <$23.9K> unfavorable balance for the month.
Year to date income through September was $314.5K> vs YTD expenses of <$419.8K> for a YTD unfavorable balance of <$105.2> for period of 1st through 3rd quarters of 2024.
*(Amounts shown are rounded up or down to the nearest $100)
Summary: Income is expected to exceed expenses during the 4th quarter of 2024 as a large proportion of pledge income is normally received in the 4th quarter. September income was supplemented by usual and budget interest earnings we receive on a quarterly basis. Randy and Bob have begun work on the 2025 budget. They will be reviewing all contracts and subscriptions the church has obligations for and will give the Finance team a report of such at its next meeting in November.