Parish leaders conduct Mutual Ministry Review
And make plans for change in the next 2-3 years
St. Paul's Vestry members and committee chairs met Saturday in a day-long session to review our common life at St. Paul's and to plan for the next few years. The morning session was dedicated to a Vestry Mutual Ministry Review, an examination of parish life and activity required by all parishes. It produced, among other things, a list of vital and moving activities at the church.
The afternoon session included committee chairs who are not Vestry members. At that session participants brainstormed new advances that would expand on current offerings both inside and outside the church.
Expect to be hearing much about this day's effort in the coming weeks and months. Each suggestion made at Saturday's session was assigned to a group or a committee or an individual who will develop the concept and present it for consideration by the larger church.
Happy St. Alban's Day!
One of the founders of our Anglican heritage: St. Alban
Although those who occupy St. Paul's (and many other Anglican churches) are not "Anglo" by background, the heritage of our church certainly is focused on the British Isles. June 22nd is the feast day of St. Alban, who is the protomartyr, or first martyr, of Great Britain.
Alban encountered a Christian priest during the time of persecution of the faithful in England. He hid the man, and was converted to Christianity. He then decided to change clothes with the priest to help buy him some time for his escape. As one might expect, the authorities heard that the priest had been hiding there and went to arrest him. They were not pleased with the deception and threatened to punish Alban as they would have punished the priest. (Torture followed by beheading).
Alban's "out" would be to renounce his new Christian beliefs and return to pagan worship. He refused to recant his beliefs and was sentenced to be beheaded. On the way there, the bridge, being occupied by a great crowd, was too crowded for him to use. This meant he had to arrive at the execution grounds another way. So he parted the river, and he and those guarding him crossed. This unnerved the executioner who threw down his sword and would not chop of Alban's head.
The executioner also was then was sentenced to be beheaded.
When they got near the place, Alban was thirsty, and a spring issued forth and his thirst was quenched. After both men were beheaded, the authorities were in awe of the men's courage and that they had things the witnessed. The persecution ended as a result of these things.
It is a powerful beginning to our Anglican tradition, dating from the late 3rd or early fourth century as it does. We may not have the life threatening challenges of the priest, Alban and the first executioner, but each day is a challenge for us, and given these examples, I hope we can all rise to our own daily challenges.
--Warden Pete Bedrossian
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