This Week at St. Paul's - June 17, 2010

If your children/teens are at all interested in attending one of the diocesan summer camps, please pick up your phone right now and call the office. Senior High applications need to be in immediately (we can help you with that), and the deadlines for Junior High and Sleepaway are quickly approaching. For the first time this year, St. Paul's has one member of our staff on staff at each of the camps, so we'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. Thanks!

Parish Picnic - June 27!!

Our annual Parish Picnic will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 27 at Sunset Park (just down the street from the church at the corner of Harris Hill & Wehrle).

Hot dogs & hamburgers will be provided. Please bring tableware for yourself & your family, drinks, and a dish to pass.

We hope to see you there!

Clarence Day in the Park

St. Paul's will be grilling hot dogs and hamburgers at Clarence Day in the Park on July 3, at the Town Park on Main St. We need folks to sign up for shift to grill and/or serve, between the hours of 1 and 7 pm. Sign up on the poster in the Parish Hall. Thanks!

Christmas in July

The first Sunday in July - July 4 - we will celebrate Christmas in July - yes, we will indeed celebrate Christmas - Christmas readings, Christmas music, Christmas decorations - it will be Christmas in July - as Jesus was laid in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn - please bring a new pillow, sheet set or blanket for the Buffalo City Mission for those who today have no place to lay their heads.

CAMP!

The Diocesan Summer Camp program provides youth with a chance to expand their faith, discover their gifts, make new friends and have a good time.

There are three camp sessions:

Senior High Conference on the campus of SUNY Fredonia for those entering grades 10 - 12 & the class of 2010. Our parish secretary, Liz Brauza is on staff for this camp. The focus is on living your faith. The cost is $345. Senior High Conference is June 27 - July 3. There is still a little bit of time left to sign up for Senior High. Please see Pastor Vicki or Andrea ASAP!!!

Junior High Camp is at the Dunkirk Conference Center for those entering grades 7 - 9. Pastor Vicki is on staff and will take the first three youth from St. Paul's to sign up down with her. The focus is on how we can use our gifts and talents to make changes in our world. The limit is 30 for this camp so sign up quickly. The cost is $330. Junior High Camp is August 8-14.

Sleep Away Camp is at the Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center for those entering grades 3 - 6. Deacon Dan is on staff for this camp. This is a safe, nurturing introduction to the camping experience. The cost is $115. Sleep Away Camp is August 18-21.

We have had a few donations of scholarship money for camp. Please don't let cost keep you away from camp - see Pastor Vicki if cost is an issue for you.

New Diocesan Ministry Center to be Established

On Monday, June 14, 2010, three canonical bodies of the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York, the Trustees, the Diocesan Council and the Standing Committee, met and agreed in principle to move the Diocesan Office from it's current location at 1114 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo to a site located at 1064 Brighton Road in Tonawanda, NY. The decision was made with a certain heaviness of heart as many in the diocese have a great fondness for the building that has housed the diocesan offices since 1951.

"This move signals a shift in perspective and a new vision for our ministry in the 21st century," said the Rt. Rev. J. Michael Garrison.

At last evening's meeting three proposals detailing various degrees of renovation to the Tonawanda property were presented. Moving the diocesan office to the site of a functioning parish or simply remaining in the building on Delaware were also discussed, along with the option of selling the Tonawanda property. Clear consensus for renovating and moving to the Brighton Road site was reached. Diocesan trustees are now charged with adopting one of the three proposals and formulating a plan for total financing. Proceeds from the eventual sale of the existing diocesan office will be used to fund renovations at the new diocesan ministry center.

Five major factors drove the decision. The first was handicapped accessibility. The Delaware office is not handicapped accessible, and structural restrictions prevent any cost effective plan to do so. Due to the structure and age of the building wiring to support 21st century communications is difficult to install. Limited storage space has forced the staff to use bathrooms as file rooms. Plus, staff members are separated onto several floors, limiting collaborative efforts. Finally, the potential to accommodate gatherings of up to 200 people at the Tonawanda site addresses an identified need for increased, on-premises meeting space and expanded programming.

"I am very excited about moving forward with this project," commented Jim Eaton, chair of the task force and treasurer of the diocese. "We will be welcoming a new Bishop next year, and it is important that he/she see we are committed to a vision of growth. Being able to work within an updated facility is a key part of that vision."

The diocese considered relocating its office five years ago. At that time, the expense involved ultimately quashed the move. The current availability of the diocesan-owned facility in Tonawanda that can be renovated to suit the diocese's multiple needs has enabled the deferred dream to become a reality.

Renovations at the new ministry center are expected to be completed early in 2011.

Submissions for "This Week"

If you have information to submit for this newsletter, please send it to Liz at paulspals@gmail.com, no later than 9 am on Wednesday of the week in which you would like it to appear. Thanks!