September 3, 2020 Determination Letter

My Dear Kindred in Christ,

COVID numbers remain high this week, with even more of our counties in the Orange zone, though a few (notably Elkhart and Lake counties) in lower parts of that zone than they'd occupied for many months before. I would draw your attention to particularly high numbers reported for September 2 in several counties. Whether that is a result of particular events or a reflection of testing patterns remains to be seen—this uncertainty is why we try to look at averages and trends.

Indoor gathering remains a challenge, especially because infection numbers, and therefore plans, can change on short notice. We appreciate your steadfastness and resourcefulness in responding to these changing circumstances, especially as we prepare for the cooler and then the downright cold months to come. If your faith community is taking a more cautious approach than you would like, please keep in mind that the more cautious approaches allow for more safe and consistent service planning. Your patience and flexibility make all the difference.

Loosening of the restrictions on outdoor gathering in the orange zone has allowed a number of parking lot services to take place in areas that have not been able to gather in person for months. We appreciate the amount of care and consideration that has gone into insuring that all the other guidelines (distancing, masks, cleaning and shortening of services, just to name a few!) have been implemented at these services. Who knew that our clergy and lay leaders would be developing expertise in the technical requirements for am/fm broadcasting!

May your faithfulness to God and to one another be a blessing to you in the days ahead!

Terri

The Rev. Canon Terri L. Bays, PhD.
Missioner for Transitions and Governance
Emergency Response NGO/Government Liaison

LIVE from St. Paul's - August 30, 2020

Introducing Tithe.ly - An Online Giving Option

We are excited to introduce Tithe.ly - an online giving option! With recommendations from both The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) and two other congregations in our Diocese, we have setup an online giving account with Tithe.ly. This online portal allows you to donate to St. Paul’s quickly and easily. You can use a credit card or your bank account. You do not even need to setup a Tithe.ly account in order to contribute. (You are welcome to do so to save time on future contributions if you’d like.)

The link for our St. Paul’s specific giving portal is https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/2319049 and can be found via the DONATE button on the upright corner of our website (https://www.stpaulslaporte.org/) The screen should look like the one below:

You are welcome to give one time, or setup a recurring payment if that is more convenient to you. You will also have an option to “Cover the Fees” of making an electronic donation if you so desire. (The fees for this service are based on each transaction with a $0.30 flat transaction fee + 2.9% of the amount donated.)

Of course, St. Paul’s will always welcome cash and checks, which have no explicit fees. If that is how you prefer to support your church community, please continue to do so. We also recognize that in this expanding virtual community making an electronic donation is much easier for people joining us from all around the country! (And that is a delightful opportunity for us.)

All contributions, whether in person or electronic, will be properly receipted at the end of the year for IRS tax purposes.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Mother Michelle (priest@stpaulslaporte.org) or Treasurer Sue Cummings with any questions. We have tested the link and the original donation made was delivered safely and promptly to our checking account!

Blessings!

News from the Red Doors - August 28, 2020

Great News!

In a joint leadership meeting with the Diocesan staff and Clergy/Lay Leaders of the Diocese on Wednesday it was decided that the risk of having 10 household units in church, following all of the necessary masking and social distancing guidelines, was acceptable for congregations in the ORANGE category.  This was voted on by the 34 people in attendance at the call.  (In Green or Yellow categories, we can have nearly 30.)

So the wonderful news is that we can have 10-15 people this Sunday, in-person.  And we will still live stream.  The people below are registered. 

If you'd still like to attend, you may register here (https://forms.gle/UNV2NsiT1C8aNM5r9) or by calling Sandra at 219-362-5618.

---

This Week at St. Paul's
Mother Michelle Walker

Dear St. Paul's Family,

Today as I sit to write a weekly reflection, I am called into prayer in a powerful way.

• For the people facing the landfall and continuing destructive forces of Hurricane Laura, and possibly Hurricane Marco ...

• Lord in your Mercy - Hear our Prayer.

• For an end to this pandemic, and the strength to endure until our new "normal" emerges ...

• Lord in your Mercy - Hear our Prayer.

• For an end to the wildfires in California, and the resources to care for those affected by it ...

• Lord in your Mercy - Hear our Prayer.

• For an end to the senseless shooting/murder of black people, and the violent responses to those events, for an end to racism period ...

• Lord in your Mercy - Hear our Prayer.

• For a way forward in our current political environment, for an election that is honest and true, and for a leader who holds God in his/her heart first and the welfare of our country second ...

• Lord in your Mercy - Hear our Prayer.

• For ourselves and our families, for our individual prayers of all kinds and our continued faith in a God that loves us so ...

• Lord in your Mercy - Hear our Prayer.

As a young person growing up in the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) I enjoyed a good amount of Gospel music.  My great-aunt even sang in a Gospel trio that recorded several records.  Sometimes when I find myself ruminating on a sermon, or reflecting up on a situation, one of those songs drifts straight into my head.  And stays there.  

In the midst of these prayers I/we offer for the world, the words of Isaiah 40:31 float into my mind on a melody drifting in the wind:

but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
    they shall walk and not faint.

Today I offer that as a collect to these prayers written.  As we wait for the Lord to answer these prayers, and the many others we offer, may the words of this verse and the melody of this song continue to strengthen us along the way.  After all, the best thing we can do, sometimes the ONLY thing we can do, is PRAY!

(And if you'd like the melody of that Gospel song in your head as well, you are welcome to enjoy this version from YouTube:  https://youtu.be/YIVY48x0syQ )

Blessings!Mother Michelle
priest@stpaulslaporte.org | 219-575-0226 

August 27, 2020 Determination Letter

27 August 2020

Dear Sisters, Brothers, Siblings,

Grace and peace be with you in Jesus, the Light for all people!

I want to begin this Pastoral Letter by thanking you for your steadfast faith and witness during the COVID 19 Pandemic. We are now into our 24th week since arriving at the consensus to suspend all in-person worship on 13 March 2020. While we have leaned into the experience of Virtual Worship with all its challenges, like you, I long for the opportunity to gather safely for in-person worship. I especially want to thank our missioners for their good and faithful ministry in helping us adapt...from plotting the daily COVID 19 positive cases for each county to providing the most current communication and informative infographics to preparing for our two virtual conventions this fall...our common life as the Episcopal Church in Northern Indiana continues!

We know more about managing our lives safely in this pandemic now than we did in March. In addition to the 4 criteria in our Pastoral Plan for Regathering, we also made use of the color coding formula of Green (<1 case per 100K); Green -Yellow(5 or less new cases per day per 100K); Yellow (>1 and < or equal to 10 new cases per day per 100K); Orange (>10 and < or equal to 25 new cases per day per 100K) and Red (> 25 new cases per day per 100K) to further assist us in determining the possibility of in-person worship county by county. We have had three ordination services which have helped identify what additional best practices need to be in place for in-person worship. Adhering to protocols for gathering safely for in-person worship like ours, the dioceses in Michigan have allowed for in-person worship using the lower number of 25 % of full legal capacity OR seating with 6’ between household groups.

Taking what we have learned into account, the missioners and I offered the “Michigan adaption”for consideration during our Clergy and Lay Leader Zoom Call yesterday, 26 August. After considerable discussion, most of the clergy and lay leaders supported adopting the “Michigan adaptation” for our diocese. This will require some additional work in reaching a specific number, given the size of each of your worship spaces. However, it could make it possible for more of us to begin gathering outdoors or indoors for in-person worship as we approach September. I want to underscore that how and when this adaptation begins in your faith community will be decided by the clergy and lay leaders of your faith community.

The infographic below describes,in greater detail,the number for indoor worship, given your county’s color determination as well as outdoor worship for your county, given the color determination.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call on me.

Every blessing,
Doug
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Douglas E. Sparks
VIII Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana

LIVE from St. Paul's - August 23, 2020

News from the Red Doors - August 21, 2020

This Week at St. Paul's
Mother Michelle Walker

Dear St. Paul's Family,

Today, as I sit to write our weekly newsletter, I find it curious the amount of flexibility that we all must embrace during this pandemic time.  The numbers in LaPorte County were close enough to dipping below the ORANGE category that I was excited (for about 12 hours) about the possibility of having 10 or so people in church on Sunday.  Thursday's numbers, however, were high enough to squash those hopes.  I just love having any of you in church ... as many as we can safely have!  Here's to praying that next week has a better prognosis.  For this Sunday, August 23rd, we are live stream only.

While we may not be meeting in person for church this Sunday, there is a lot going on in and around the church.  As you will see in the sections below, maintenance has been performed on the rectory fence, the landscaping has been spruced up, and we will soon have a new and more efficient boiler.  It's wonderful to see how projects keep moving forward, despite the pandemic.

In other news, I continue to look for ways to be make myself present within the community, to generate excitement and curiosity about our wonderful congregation.  On that topic, and with the vestry's support, I have applied to become a member of the Rotary Club.  Former mayor Leigh Morris had personally invited me and I found the meeting to be informative and a good way to network within the community.  I am eager to see what this opportunity might bring.  I'm proud to represent St. Paul's and find it delightful when some people are caught off guard to discover I am a female priest.  I welcome your prayers on this endeavor with the Rotary.

Lastly, on a personal note, I have the first baby leaving the nest this weekend!  On Sunday, directly after church, we will be moving our eldest, Elizabeth, into the dorms at Grand Valley State University (Allendale, MI).  I'm sure I don't have to tell you what an emotional roller coast of a day, week, that will be.  We are as confident as we can be regarding the move and the safety offered at GVSU.  Your prayers are again appreciated.

Dear Ones, please know that I am here to listen to you, to pray with you, to sit on the benches outside of the parish hall and watch the cars drive by.  It has been an extremely unique experience of becoming your priest over these months ... mostly from this office or from the broadcasting end of a live stream.  Please don't hesitate to reach out to me with your life's joys, or sorrows.  I am available as much as I can be.  You are in my prayers daily.

Blessings!

Mother Michelle
priest@stpaulslaporte.org | 219-575-0226 

Our Junior Warden is BUSY!

Our Junior Warden, Tom Robinson, has been one busy fella this past week and more.  Thanks to him, and a few volunteers he recruited, the fence that surrounds the backyard of the rectory has been repaired.  Yes, we know it doesn't match perfectly and have plans at some point in the future to fix that.  For now, the yard is secure.

This is all part of a plan to list the rectory for rental.  Yes, this is a new adventure, as our priest and family has always lived there.  And yes, being landlords is not our first mission as faith community.  On the other hand, we also want to be good stewards of the property and grounds at our disposal, which means putting this beautiful home to good use for the church and hopefully a wonderful family.

The home itself is in good shape, requiring only a cleaning at this time to make it ready for listing.  The door between the rectory and the church will be secured for the protection and privacy of both the church and the tenant.  The garage will be included as part of the rental.   We are asking $1,400 per month.

If you know someone perfect for this home, please let Tom Robinson know right away.  He is most easily reached by cell at 219-898-5013.  Please also offer a prayer for a dependable and respectful tenant.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the Terra Verde Garden Club for their amazing and dedicated work at keeping St. Paul's looking beautiful. This week they moved mountains of mulch around the landscaping (pictured and also by the rectory).

We are incredibly blessed by their ministry. Please express your appreciation to them by letting our St. Paul's Terra Verde members, Irene Konieczny and Sue Cummings, know.

Already Thinking About Cold Weather

After many months of conversation, and the attempted solicitation of several bids, the vestry decided at the July meeting to move forward with replacing our current decades-old boiler (that is frequently requiring expensive repairs) with TWO smaller units costing approximately $27,250. The two smaller units will be more cost efficient both in terms of future repairs and the ability to run only one of them when the weather is milder.  All Seasons will begin work next week.

Due to the savings incurred for the period of time we were without a half-time priest, we currently have enough money in the checking account to cover this necessary capital investment.  (Praise God!)  And with your ongoing faithfulness in sending in your contributions (please keep doing this!), we hope we will need NEITHER to ask you for additional funds to cover our yearly expenses NOR to dip into our investments to pay for operational expenses.

Please know the vestry and financial leadership are working diligently to reduce expenses wherever possible and to make wise decisions about when we may need to make investment withdrawals.  We are incredibly blessed by each and every one of you who continue to support St. Paul's financially, during this pandemic and beyond.  Thank you!  

With all of that information, IF you would like to show your gratitude for a warm church in which to worship (at some future point, hopefully soon!) you are welcome to do so with a monetary donation designated for the boiler.  Please send it to the church office (708 Harrison Street).  Otherwise, be thankful for this wonderful news and consider how God might be calling you to support St. Paul's in the coming months and years more fully or differently!  (And that is NOT about money only!)

- Mother Michelle, Sue, and Sandra

August 20, 2020 Determination Letter

My Dear Kindred in Christ,

Even as our statewide numbers remain high, the situation in some of our counties has started to improve. We give thanks for the role your vigilance has played, both in keeping those numbers lower than they would otherwise have been and for bringing them back down after a spike. May the slight downward turn we have seen in recent days continue! In light of recent numbers, we have two requests to make of you. 

The first is to ask your county health departments whether the numbers for large residential schools that do their own testing (universities and private boarding schools) are being included in your county's statistics. We know, for example, that statistics for tests done at the University of Notre Dame are not being included in the St. Joseph County statistics. This is worrisome, since those students do potentially infect faculty and staff (not to mention employees of businesses near the campus), even more so than, say, inmates in our state prisons potentially infect prison staff who then go out into the community. Knowing whether the county numbers reported to the state include these institutions can help us more accurately gauge the risk in your area.

The second request is that you provide us with feedback on how the various steps you are taking are working out. As we consider the effectiveness of our guidelines, it can be helpful to know what turned out better than expected or gave rise to some unforeseen good, what works just fine, what requires a work-around, and what needs to be re-thought. Because we realize that all these precautions take time and energy, and that people are impatient with the restraints, we want to make sure that what we're doing is, as far as we can tell, actually doing the work we intend for it to do.

May God grant you steadfastness, strength and courage in all you do,

Terri

The Rev. Canon Terri L. Bays, PhD.
Missioner for Transitions and Governance
Emergency Response NGO/Government Liaison

https://ednin.org/ednin-blog/2020/8/20/august-20-determination-letter

LIVE from St. Paul's - August 16, 2020

News from the Red Doors - August 14, 2020

Dear St. Paul's Family,

This past week has been a wonderful week of rest and time spent with family as my eldest prepares to leave for college on 8/23 and my youngest started 11th grade this morning.  I've welcomed these treasured days before a life transition for my girls.  Thank you for your prayers for safe travels.

As you've probably already noticed, or suspected, LaPorte County remains in "the Orange".  This means we will live stream only this Sunday (8/16) with our crew of 3-4.  We will be in the church on Sunday morning to do so.  Please tune into our Facebook page to watch us live.

Prior to COVID-19 (which is hard to imagine at this point), I'd had the intention of conducting a short interview with each of you as part of my getting to know you process.  I desperately wanted to conduct these in-person, and have held off from doing the interviews in hopes that we might be able to do that soon.  After the first 3 months of my time at St. Paul's I believe it prudent to cease waiting for in-person meetings and commence phone interviews.  I hope to find a time that works for you over the next month or so to ask the following questions:

1. What do you love MOST about St. Paul's?

2. What dream(s) do you have for St. Paul's?

3. Tell me about a Holy Spirit moment you experienced at St. Paul's.

4. How can I/St. Paul's better support you spiritually (or otherwise) during this time of social distancing?

These questions are simply opportunities for us to get to know each other better - to develop relationship.  You are welcome to ask questions of me as well!  I will start at the end of the alphabet (Edward and Doris Zeese, be ready!) and hope to have lovely conversation with each of you.  I'll work around your schedule to the best of my ability.

In the meantime, know that you are in my prayers.  Be safe.  Wear your masks.  Pray for an end to this pandemic and for the health of us all until then!

Blessings!

Mother Michelle
priest@stpaulslaporte.org | 219-575-0226 

PS.  Fr. John received both his St. Paul's commemorative plate and the monetary gift this past week.  He was surprised and delighted by both.  He sends his appreciation along with a note indicating the plate has been put in the traditional place of honor atop my 1918 Bush and Gerts upright piano here in my living room.  Thank you!