Cathedral Church of St. Paul

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

I can assure you no one is happier to see the beginning of the fall season than me. I have avoided the extreme heat by being inside most of the summer, but I do not recommend open-heart surgery as a way to "beat the heat!" I wish to thank all of you for your prayers, visits, cards, flowers, and meals during my recent illness and surgery. I wish to especially thank Bishop Beckwith, Father Denney, Father Franklin, Matt Burns, David Laubersheimer, Jay & Shirley Stevenson, Norm Taylor, Cathy Mann, Betty Swan, Kelly Armstrong, Kevin Torgenson, Martha Bradley, John Wilson, Gerald Raschke, Kathy McDaniel, Dean Bob & Judy Dedmon, and Canon Paul & Duffy Lawson for ministering to Linda and myself and for keeping the Cathedral running smoothly. All of this support has been deeply appreciated.

This newsletter lists many of the ministry opportunities and activities that we are about to engage in as a faith community. I am very
enthusiastic about the coming year and am also grateful to Margy Smith, Sara Camp, and Dr. Norman Hinton for their willingness to
take leadership roles in Christian Education.  I hope you will participate in these offerings so that your own Christian formation will be strengthened.  I strongly urge you  to  take  advantage of  Sunday  school,  Confirmation  classes  and  all  the  adult  Christian  education opportunities. If we do not teach our children and each other a strong Christian foundation for the living out of our lives, who will do it?  

The most important task I have  as a  priest  is to  preach and  exemplify in  my life  the Good  News of our salvation through Jesus Christ. Some of  the ways I do that is through continued study of the scriptures, the Prayer Book, and the numerous Christian works available. Everything we do must begin, be supported by, and end in prayer. Let us pray for a successful year, for those in our parish who need our special prayers, and as the Rev. Martha Bradley says, "and for all those who have no one to pray for them."

Yours in Christ,

The Very Reverend Robert E. Brodie, Dean

STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE:  The Dean has formed a Strategic Planning Committee and appointed Jay Stevenson as the chair.  A complete list of members will be announced soon. 

DEAN’S FORUM:  Bring your coffee questions for the Dean to the Parlor on Sunday, September 2nd at  9:15 am.  This is an open forum on any question you may want to ask the Dean.

Current Financial Information

It is my responsibility to deliver a realistic assessment of the parish's financial situation. Frankly, we are entering into a very challenging time financially. Just because there are always clergy to celebrate Mass, the organist and choir to lead us in song, the lights are on and the air conditioning & heat keep us comfortable does not mean that we do not have to pay for these things. For this year we have had  to withdraw a total of $140,000 to supplement our pledge income to cover the operating expenses of the Cathedral and this leaves us with only $220,000 in our endowment fund. The Cathedral has been using the principal and not just the interest from the endowment for the last several years.

The nave of our church is cooled by three separate air conditioning units. The chancel area unit burned out recently and to replace it will cost $1,800. (This is a bargain rate thanks to the generosity of Larry Yoggerst, one of our parishioners.) We do not have the funds to cover this expenditure. During the August Chapter meeting, four members contributed $300 to help pay for this new unit. We are in need of additional contributions over and above our pledges to offset this unexpected expense.

We cannot continue to take up special offerings for such situations. This is not the way to run a parish. We should have sufficient funds in our budget from our pledges to pay all our expenses including emergency expenditures. The next two years are a "make-it or break-it" time for us. We will kick off our 2008 Stewardship Campaign on Sunday, September 30th and I ask  each of you to begin praying about your relationship with Jesus Christ so you can express your gratefulness through your pledge for all that God has done for you. I am certainly grateful for all He has done for me. 

The Dean

OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY AND FELLOWSHIP

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

September Birthdays

Sunday, September 2nd will be the Birthday Thank Offering at both services.  The Birthday Reception follows the 8:00 a.m. Service in the Café. 

September Anniversaries

September 2007
Those Who Serve
   8:00 a.m.

September 2007
Those Who Serve
   10:30 a.m.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH
HELPING HANDS:   Helping Hands of Springfield is a non-profit organization whose mission is” ...to shelter the homeless, provide support, promote independence and work with others in the prevention of homelessness in the community.” 
Volunteers from the Cathedral and the community gather on the 4th Wednesday of each month to prepare the evening meal for Helping Hands.  We will be gathering on Wednesday, September 26 at 3:30 in the downstairs kitchen to cook.  We then deliver the meal and help the food. We have time to share a cup of coffee and conversation so if you are looking for this type of ministry opportunity come and join this dedicated group. 

FOOD CHALLENGE—(PB, PB & J):  Our August peanut butter and jelly challenge will continue through Sunday, September 9th.     Remember if your last name begins with A through M – bring peanut butter for the South (Gospel) side of the church.  If your last name begins with the letters N through Z – bring jelly for the North (Epistle) side of the church. SO FAR PEANUT BUTTER IS WINNING!!

FEED THE CHILDREN:  We have been helping St. Luke’s Feed the Children for a year now and we are making one small change.  We will be fixing the meal on the 4th Sunday of each month.  It appears the need is greater at the end of the month rather than the beginning, so we will see how many more children for whom we can provide lunch.  September 23rd will be our next opportunity for you to join this important ministry.  Additional serving help is needed. 

PROGRAMS DURING THE WEEK

FIRST WEDNESDAY POT LUCK SUPPER …. A night you do not have to cook a full meal!!!
Want a great way to enjoy fellowship and get better acquainted with your church family in a relaxed atmosphere?  Please join us in the Great Hall on  Wednesday,  September 5th at 5:30 p.m.  Roasted chicken & drinks  will be provided~please bring or pick up a salad, vegetable, or dessert.  If you run out of time, just come anyway and bring your family.  You can be home by 7:00 p.m. 

NEW DAY FOR THE DEAN’S BIBLE STUDY: Join our weekly Bible Study on Wednesdays, beginning September 12, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.  We will begin our year with a study of the Psalms.  The Psalms are some of the most widely read portions of the Old Testament.  They are about people and the struggle  and joy of  living life under God.  And they are prayers and praises of God’s people preserved by the community of faith.  

PLAY READERS’ GROUP:  Dr. Hinton will be offering the Play Readers’ Group beginning Tuesday, September 18th.  All interested people should join him in the Parlor at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the possibilities of play choices.   

ST. PAUL’S BOOK CLUB:  The St. Paul’s Book Club meets on Tuesday, September 25th from 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.  We will be discussing “Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd.  This  book is a powerful story of coming-of-age, of the ability of love to transform our lives, and the often unacknowledged longing for the universal and a story that women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come. 
Please come even if you have not read the book!  The fellowship is great!  For a list of all the 2007-08 Book Club selections, please go to our website at www.stpaulspringfield.com. 

ALTAR PARTY/USHER & GREETERS TRAINING DAY:  When serving at the altar, one is doing just this:  actively assisting the celebrant in the worship of God.  This is an important ministry at the Cathedral and we will be having a training session for acolytes, thurifers, crucifers, torch bearers, boat, vergers, chalice bearers and sub-deacons (chalice bearers and sub-deacons must be approved by the Bishop) on Saturday, September 22 at 9:30 a.m.  This training will be for those already engaged in this ministry and anyone who wishes to join the altar party.  The only requirement is a willingness to learn and to be available on Sundays and special occasions.  Training and practice sessions will be conducted several times during the year.  If you are not already engaged in this ministry and are interested, please contact Dean Brodie.  

Cathedral Child Care News
S. Michele Rilying, Director

Cathedral Child Care was busy in August!  Our garage sale brought us in $500, which helps offset the price of our BEAUTIFUL new playground covering.  The teachers, children and I would like to thank those of you who have been donating toys and other wish list items so generously! We really appreciate all you are doing for the Center.

Child Care Classes and Teachers

The Lambs (6 wks - 15 mos) - Amy Carter & Debbie Lorene   The Ducks (2 yrs - 3 yrs) - vacant
The Tigers (3 yrs - 4 yrs) - Ellen Hiler   The Bears (3 yrs - 4 yrs) - Tracy Rivera
The Frogs (4 yrs - 5yrs) - JoAnn Roseberry   
The Kangaroos (15 mos – 2 yrs) - Linda Longworth &  Tara Sullivan

Wish List Items
Toy food, Toy plates & bowls, cups & cookware, Plastic animals, Musical instruments
Plastic storage baskets, small plastic totes, age-appropriate books, small cars & trucks
baby doll clothes, writing tablets, scrap paper 

Quarterly Board Meeting of the Cathedral Child Care center will be on Tuesday, September 11th at 5:30 p.m. in the conference room. 

Please join us for an Open House on
 Sunday, September 30th , during the Fifth Sunday festivities.  The offering for this Sunday is a children's book.  A brief overview of our program will be presented. 

September 2007