IN SPITE OF IT ALL

-Challenges and Triumphs

Of 2020-

Annual Report: Year 2020

Presented

January 24, 2021

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Cambria, CA

Agenda

Call to Order

 

I. Declaration of Quorum Sr. Warden

 

II. Opening Prayer Canon Mark

 

III. Approval of Agenda Sr. Warden

Action

 

IV. Minutes from Annual Meeting, January 26,2020 Sr. Warden

Action

 

V. Priest’s and Senior Warden’s Message Sr. Warden

VI. Vestry Nominations

Confirm Jr. Warden & Clerk, and new Vestry members

F. Johnson & A and B Cichowski (to share) for 1 yr. term;

S. Anderson & R. Behrens for 3 yr., and L. Butterfield 2 yr.

Action Sr. Warden

 

VII. Financial Overview Canon Mark

2021 Budget

Motion to Recommend for Vestry Approval Sr. Warden

Forgiveness of PPP loan pending

Will apply for 2021 PPP loan from Mechanics Bank

 

VIII. Questions from the floor Canon Mark/Sr. Warden

 

IX. Selection: Convention Delegates (11/2021)

 

X. Closing Prayer and Adjournment Canon Mark/Sr. Warden

 

 

 

2020 Meeting Minutes: 2019 Report Year

 

Date: January 26, 2020 Location: Parish Hall Time: 11:10 am

 

Call to Order/Declaration of Quorum

The meeting was called to order by Ann with a Declaration of a Quorum.

 

Opening Prayer - Fr. Barry Turner offered a prayer written by Edward Arthur Burroughs.

 

Approval of Agenda and Minutes - A motion was offered to approve the agenda. M/S/P: Julian/Nancy/Unan. A motion was also offered to accept the minutes from Annual Meeting, January 27, 2019. M/S/P: Stevely/Frank J./Unan

 

Rector’s and Senior Warden’s Messages - Fr. Brian Palmer’s Rector’s Message appears in the Annual Report as does the Senior Warden’s. Ann noted that Fr. Barry’s sermon today emphasized the importance of love. Ann also thanked the Vestry and cited a number of individuals and ministries for special thanks. In turn Leonard Kohout thanked Ann for serving as Senior Warden. Ann also cited Admiral William McRaven’s book Sea Stories and offered some quotes from the book which were very emotional to read: “life is fragile”, “help as many people as you can”, and “never give up”.

 

A plea for additional coffee hosts was made by Ann Glaser.

 

Treasurer’s Report - Georgianne presented the Treasurer’s Report and presented the Treasurer’s 2020 Budget which appears in the 2019 Annual Report. A motion was made to recommend the budget to the Vestry. M/S/P: Nancy/Carol S./Unan. It was noted that four to five people have given advance pledges at this time for the full year.

 

Vestry Nominations - Dave and Karen Pearson were both nominated to serve three-year terms on the Vestry. The expiring terms for the Senior Warden Ann Glaser, the Junior Wardens Leonard Kohout and Mary Brockman were proposed to be extended through June 2020, to allow for a smoother transition of leadership during the first few months of Father Mark’s time here. It was moved to elect the nominees and approve the extensions of terms. M/S/P: Carol S. / Georgianne / Unan.

Stevely Anderson has completed her three-year term and Julian Crocker his special one-year term, and will leave the Vestry at this time. It was noted that in June 2020 the parish will need to elect three people to replace Leonard and Ann, as well as Mary.

 

Financial Overview - Steve Allen described the plan and status for finding and hiring a bookkeeper to replace Georgianne who is retiring.

 

Questions from the floor - There were no significant questions from the floor.

 

Closing Prayer and Adjournment –A prayer was recited and the meeting was adjourned at 11:45 am by Ann.

 

Next Vestry Meeting - February 16, 202011:15 amChurch Library

 

-Steve Allen, Clerk of Vestry

 

 

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A Year Like No Other

The Rev. Canon Mark Hall

I have not yet completed one year with you, but considering the year, it seems like a lot longer.

 

Annual reports from my experience have been designed to highlight the numbers and accomplishments that reflect on a “successful” year in parish life. Usually we brag a bit about goals achieved and the positive products of our church programs.

 

Instead, we reflect this year on isolation, disruption, upset, disappointment, upheaval, and continued uncertainty on both personal, political, economic, and community levels. It has been a year unlike any I have lived before. However, I don’t have the experience of a very long life, so perhaps this year, in comparison with others in history, wasn’t as bad, but that doesn’t mean that our experience wasn’t challenging.

 

We need reminders of impermanence, signposts to our mortality, and false value disrupters, so that our humility might increase, and our pride take a lower place in our hearts. And we need setbacks to remind us that we are really not in command of our lives, but subject to larger and more dynamic forces in this world. And, perhaps more importantly, that this world is only a shadow of greater reality that we see only dimly yet will one day experience more fully.

 

And, now for the numbers. We celebrated Holy Eucharist on 17 Sundays, and had another 14 Eucharistic celebrations. We did 35 Sunday Morning Prayer services, all of which were on Zoom (of which I knew nothing about until this year!). In addition to these Sunday and Holy Week and Easter Week services, we had three burials, and we are awaiting the opportunity to celebrate the lives of two of our active and well-known members of our congregation (Bill Baker and Jim Wilson) once we can remember their lives communally. Our average Sunday attendance was 25, and this lower number is indicative of the confusion and turmoil of the beginning of the pandemic and our inability of counting attendance without seats in the pews for multiple weeks.

 

Our financial situation also reflected the dismal theme of the year. Our income was approximately $42,000 less than our expenditures. We made up this difference by withdrawing $10,000 from our investment fund, the $21,000 Payroll Protection Plan Loan from the Small Business Administration (this was a forgivable loan) and having $12,000 less in our checking at the end of the year than we had at the beginning. We responded to this reduction in income by Michelle cutting back on some of her hours, and from your priest reducing his pay from one half time to one quarter time. Both of these actions occurred in August. Our budget going forward into 2021 requires a withdrawal from investment funds of $17,000 which may be reduced if we can secure another PPP loan.

 

What might we do going forward? We need to explore more cooperation and cost sharing with other congregations in the deanery, with Safe Harbor, and additional previously unconsidered ideas. Our old models of ministry and parish life are not going to be sustainable without major modification.

 

What blessings have we had this year? Many of us have found that connecting electronically on Zoom really has been useful and sustaining. We conducted a Stephen Ministry training very successfully on Zoom and continued our book study and social time weekly. This is a resource that will continue to be a part of our parish life.

 

We welcome Stevely Anderson, Ann Glaser, Loretta Butterfield, and Julian Crocker as newly minted Stephen Ministers in the congregation. They are available for one-on-one ministry of listening and caring to those in our community who are suffering loss or personal struggle in their lives. If you know of a need in this area, please call your priest.

 

We welcome Ed and Joy Valadez into our parish community, who are retired teachers.

 

We give thanks for Ann Glaser who served well as our Senior Warden throughout this difficult extended year of leadership on the vestry. Michelle continues to be a marvelous model of a parish administrator.

 

As your priest, I am grateful for your welcome, patience, spirituality, and faithfulness.

 

 

 

 

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Senior Warden’s Report

Ann Glaser

2020 has been a very challenging year for St. Paul’s Church here in Cambria. After Father Brian Palmer’s retirement on 12/31/19, we began the year with Father Barry Turner serving as our supply priest each Sunday for six weeks.

 

On February 16, 2020, Canon Mark Hall officially began serving as Priest-in-Charge. Previously he had met with Michelle, our Parish Administrator, with Georgianne, our Treasurer and with me as Senior Warden. That very first Sunday Mark met with the Vestry. At that time we scheduled the annual Vestry Retreat for March 2nd. The Retreat was held in the Library and Garden at St. Paul’s

 

The Retreat turned out to be the last in-person meeting of the Vestry for 2020. When COVID 19 became a major problem, Bishop Lucinda Ashby, new Bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real, ordered the end of all in-person meetings and worship services. Thus, since April, all Vestry meetings have been by Zoom. Unfortunately, one member of the Vestry, Fran Conklin, could not manage Zoom meetings, so had to resign. Rosie Behrens agreed to serve in Fran’s place.

 

At the Retreat, the Vestry chose four goals for 2020:

1. Implement budget process leading to the Budget in Balance

2. Develop Stephen Ministry Program; begin classes.

3. Recruit new members; develop more concrete ways to track follow-up

with visitors

4. Develop a team of Clergy to help St. Paul’s when Mark is on vacation.

 

Progress on Goal 1:

Canon Mark previously served as treasurer in the Diocese of San Joaquin, so he has added his expertise to our financial processes by analyzing the budget each month. Georgianne has continued keeping records of pledges and facility offerings plus all expenditures as she writes checks each month. The Diocese encouraged our parish to apply for a PPP loan to help pay for salaries and some utilities, so as Senior Warden, I was given that responsibility by Pacific Premier Bank, the recipient of loan applications in Cambria. Fortunately that is the bank St. Paul’s uses. The original loan was for eight weeks then was extended to twenty-four weeks. We were granted a loan of $20,985. With the extended time, we used it exclusively to cover salaries. We have not yet managed to get the budget in balance, but we are carefully analyzing expenditures versus income. With the pandemic and church attendance mostly by Zoom, pledge income is down and no contributions come from occasional visitors. Both Mark and Michelle have cut their time to help, but both are crucial persons for St. Paul’s.

Progress on Goal 2:

This goal has been fully met. Canon Mark and other Stephen Ministry leaders including Don Dallmann, conducted the course by Zoom, meeting each Thursday from 9:30am to 12:00pm or so, for 20 weeks. This is an ecumenical program to train Christian care givers who will be able to serve within our county, working voluntarily on a one to one basis when assigned by our priest or minister. The program is nationwide, involving several different denominations, conducted with careful supervision after extensive training. St. Paul’s now has four graduates of the program: Stevely Anderson, Loretta Butterfield, Julian Crocker and I. Canon Mark was the leader of this extensive course.

 

Progress on Goal 3:

Since COVID 19 hit, we have been limited in any access to visitors, but we did implement new ways to contact members of St. Paul’s Parish. Each Vestry member has been responsible for contacting five or six households each month by phone or email. Sometimes we had specific information to distribute; sometimes we asked for input, but always checking on the wellbeing of each person. This will be extended to follow-up with visitors once we reopen the sanctuary.

 

Progress on Goal 4:

We barely got started with this goal when COVID 19 hit. Our original arrangement with Mark, who agreed to come out of retirement to work with us on a halftime basis, was that he and Susan would be able to take extended trips to Mexico to go sailing. The pandemic changed all that. Hopefully 2021 will enable Mark and Susan to refresh their love for sailing.

 

Very special thanks to Mark Hall, our amazing Priest-in-Charge for agreeing to work with us. His vast experience has helped him to be unflappable as our guide through this difficult year.

 

The worship services by Zoom have provided a different way for us to interact and participate in the service. Other Zoom meetings have kept us in touch with one another. Special thanks also to Michelle Costa, our valuable Parish Administrator, to Georgianne Jackson, our dedicated Treasurer, to our co-Junior Wardens: Leonard Kohout in charge of buildings and technology and Mary Brockman for managing our gardens, along with Jeff Rodriguez (lead volunteer from Safe Harbor). Also, my thanks to Kate Hepworth for providing beautiful music by Zoom, along with soloists Barbara Dallmann, Michael Green (Safe Harbor), Marylyn Villeneuve and Sharkey Warrick. Additional thanks to Nancy Allen for providing food to individuals as well as at our few outside services; to Jane Mettee for taking over leadership of St. Paul’s Helpers, and Loretta Butterfield who inspired us to deliver Christmas cards with an inspirational coaster in lieu of our Annual Cookie Outreach, a way to reach out to those in need of TLC within Cambria.

 

As I conclude my service as Senior Warden, a huge “Thank You” for giving me the privilege of serving in this capacity. This has been a very challenging learning experience and an opportunity to work closely with priests, members of St. Paul’s and other persons in our Deanery and Diocese. Ultimately, I have learned a great deal about our church, our faith, our parish; receiving much inspiration from the caring, loving persons at St. Paul’s. We may be a small church but we have great love that we share with each other. Thank you, one and all. -AG

(2020 Year End)

 

(2021 Budget)

Junior Warden-Grounds

Mary Brockman

The highlight of the year regarding our grounds was the restoration of the Labyrinth and the surrounding area. We are most grateful for the donations given to the Huntley Lewis Memorial Fund that made this important maintenance project possible. During her time in Cambria, Huntley had been quite involved in not only the creating of the Labyrinth, but also serving as the Labyrinth’s steward for several years. Thanks also to Luis Plasencia and his skilled crew who did the actual work on this restoration project.

Two other Episcopal churches incorporated the labyrinth into their retreat time on campus: St. Stephen’s Vestry, and a prayer group from St. Benedict’s.

 

Two new bird feeders, plus the ongoing filling of them with seed, were anonymously gifted to our garden by a community member that frequents our campus. It is a joy to have finches, doves, hummingbirds and other winged friends darting around, in and out of trees, which adds to the beauty of our blessed outdoor space. A red bud tree was also anonymously donated in honor of former rector Father Brian Palmer’s service to our church.

 

Safe Harbor member Jeff Rodriguez continues to devote four to five hours most weeks, expertly caring for our grounds. He rakes, cleans, prunes, hauls water, and when needed, removes shrubs that have completed their life span. Many thanks go to Jeff for his time and work.  Thank you also to the parishioners who provided their green bins for organic overflow when needed.

 

Another significant project tackled last year involved a large dead pine tree on our Eton Road frontage. Steve Allen worked with the County on this issue. (More on this is found in Leonard Kohout’s report.)  Many thanks go to Steve Allen for overseeing this important and potentially hazardous tree removal project. In the same frontage area, shrubs that had not survived the drought or had completed their life cycle were removed. We also spread bark on the hill below the sanctuary and about the garden.

 

We continue to employ a number of strategies to support the diversity of animals and plants in our garden, while trying to also develop methods to deter the deer that enjoy our garden buffet.

 

Our professional grounds crew, led by Luis Plasencia, continues to keep high profile areas well groomed including our bougainvillea heart, parking lot hedges and the shrubs encircling our Memorial Garden.

 

We continued to welcome “drop in” visitors to our outdoor spaces this year despite COVID isolation mandates (or perhaps because of them); and those that left notes or phone messages all expressed their appreciation for the beautiful labyrinth and gardens.

 

Volunteers and a supplemental water supply are always key components in our grounds maintenance plans. Our beautiful grounds and gardens are truly a blessing, but their care is up to all of us. So please consider becoming a water sponsor or volunteering in the garden, either on a future clean-up day or as a regularly scheduled “gardening angel”.  Working together we can keep our garden open to parishioners and visitors alike.  

 

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Facilities Maintenance and Technology

Leonard Kohout, Co-Junior Warden

 

In 2020 we continued marching on, doing our best to maintain our facilities. It has been a strange year, but things did happen at St. Paul’s. As always, with an aging building there are things that need to happen to keep it maintained properly.

Fire extinguishers were inspected and renewed by the vendor in February/March. One was found to not be serviceable and a like replacement was requested and installed in the church Admin Office.

 

Furnace filters were replaced as required in the sanctuary, and in the parish hall.

 

Gutters. The rain gutters at St. Paul’s were cleaned by Jeff Rodriguez as needed. He volunteers much time to St. Paul’s and we are grateful for his skills and help.

 

In the late summer/early fall, I noticed that one of the twin pine trees on the Eton side of the property was unhealthy. It became a topic of discussion at the Vestry meeting and Steve Allen stated that he believed that the tree could be removed by the County. He arranged for a visit, they inspected the tree, and it was found to be located close enough to Eton Road, to be a concern. Steve reported back that the County would remove the tree at their expense, and it was taken down shortly thereafter with no cost to St. Paul’s.

 

Telephone issues. Occasionally throughout this reporting period, there have been failures in the phone system. I have logged into the AT&T system and tweaked some of the options to better serve the needs of our Parish Administrator. Also, there were several events this year with the telephone lines not being available for outgoing calls, and Michelle notified me via texting. Power spikes and fluctuations are more than likely the culprits and a reset of the telephone communication gateway solved the problem and telephone service was restored.

Security issues. A recurring problem we had at St. Paul’s in 2020 was unknown persons arriving on campus, using our water and our electricity, and leaving trash. We have had our patrols stepped up by the Sheriff’s Office and they periodically roll through. Jeff Rodriguez removed handles from the faucets. I have since ordered water valve locks to keep unauthorized users from using the water. Matching like key devices will be installed at the time of this writing.

In the maintenance of the church’s modems, routers, and signal repeaters on campus (which periodically need some care), I have found that our internet is a popular spot for gamers to try to connect to obtain system access. It happens on the average of once or twice a week, and those individuals have yet to gain access.

We investigated a security camera system, and at this time a like system is cost prohibitive. “Life like” camera devices are mounted on campus. Cost is minimal and they need to be replaced to be a continued deterrent. I ordered replacement cameras and signage. They have recently arrived and will also be installed this week. The devices have proven to be a deterrent in the past, and the Sheriff’s Office has contacted us to view our “camera footage” in several local crime cases.

In an aging facility there are many problems to overcome. One major theme that seemed to occur throughout the year was water, or the lack of control of water. One Sunday morning, I received a text from our Music Director, informing me that a leak had occurred in the sanctuary. I arrived shortly thereafter, as I was already scheduled to set up for the musical portion of the Zoom service. I shut off the feed service pipe to the tank in the women’s restroom, as water had made its way into the hall area of the church. I mopped up what I could and then after the service, brought in a carpet cleaner system to extract the water, then later shampooed the area. The feeder pipe to the toilet was fixed and repaired by our volunteer, Jeff Rodriguez.

 

I replaced a flapper on the toilet in the men’s room in the parish hall to keep it from running on a continuing basis. Jeff had also done the same previously, along with replacing the caulking at the toilet’s base.

The faucet in the Administration’s kitchen had shown major signs of wear and tear and chronic leaking due to hard water issues. It was replaced.

 

Just this past month, the kitchen faucet in the parish hall that was replaced last year, was leaking into the cabinet area. Jeff was on campus at the time and was able to remove the water from under the sink and add a temporary drip pan, until I could respond. Once Senior Nutrition was done with their work for the week, we shut off the water to the problem sink, I contacted Potter’s Plumbing, and on Monday of the next week, they came with their specialized tools and repaired the leak. One final thing with water: On the average of once a month, I have fed the sump pump with an enzyme and a degreasing agent to keep it working in tip top condition. I am happy to report that we had no backups in the office bathroom in 2020!

 

I have power washed the facility and washed the windows two or three times this past year. For the most part it is in good shape. But age and weather are not on our side.

COVID-19 brought us some new challenges. Although the sanctuary was not in use for most of us, nature played a part in keeping us busy. One day, I received a call from our Parish Administrator, expressing a concern about a bee problem. She wasn’t kidding. I contacted one of our local exterminators who we have worked with on wasps, and found in the sanctuary hundreds of bees in a frenzied search for their queen. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on what side you are on, I was informed that bees are not allowed to be exterminated in our state. Williams Horticulture advised me to simply let nature take its course. Without a queen bee in the area, the colony would collapse and die off. It appeared that they had been looking for her for some time, and in fact had begun to die out. We posted “Do Not Enter” signs on the doors of the sanctuary. Within hours of not finding the queen the colony did collapse and began to die off. I later vacuumed them up, as most of them had died. I must say, it truly was something I had not experienced before in my many travels in this world.

 

Again, at another point we found that “creepy crawlies” had invaded our sanctuary due to underutilization. I acquired several safe bug bombs to fumigate the area, and our bug problem has since become a nonevent.

 

With COVID-19 came new challenges, new rules came into play, yet we found a way to stay connected. Like many, we decided out of necessity to go virtual. I found that our TechSoup Support organization offered discounted rates (50% savings) when requesting several Zoom licenses for an annual fee of $75.00 each, which was a significant savings from the regular price of $150.00 per license. I then also procured several webcams for use for broadcast, and one for the Parish Administrator’s office. Later we would procure a few more cameras and loan them to members of the congregation to allow some members of the congregation to connect via Zoom.

 

We advised parishioners on where they could download their Zoom software. Some members of the congregation requested assistance and so I visited their homes (practicing safe distancing), installed the software, configured their systems and gave them basic instruction on how the Zoom software worked. I set up Zoom listings with each member of the congregation’s email address and basic information for a Zoom account which is maintained on the master account in digital format. Accounts were set up for the IT/Administration, Canon Mark, the Senior Warden and the Parish Administrator. Each of these individuals has the capability to initiate Zoom events in “larger” groups, with unlimited duration.

Initially a limited group of people: Canon Mark, an acolyte, a reader, and an Altar Guild member would conduct the service in the sanctuary. My cell phone, laptop computer and a webcam I invested in, became some of the new tools we used to connect with those who were not allowed to visit the sanctuary. We found connections through Zoom and Facebook Live. I also recorded the service on our digital system and later edited and uploaded it for viewing on our website, as I have done for years. My iPhone provided the digital connection with my “hotspot” as an internet connection for Facebook Live, and for also streaming our restricted service with Zoom, keeping us connected, as the internet service for St. Paul’s at the time was limited to the office area.

As time progressed, due to more COVID restrictions, we decentralized activities with Morning Prayer. Canon Mark would often send out invitations to gather for Zoom Morning Prayer services with no music. Later, I invested in a high-speed router, and several repeater devices which carried the signal from the office area, to the parish hall, the sanctuary, and the upper and lower parking lots of the church. Later with permission of the diocese and the county, we were able to include a musician, and added a soloist or two. We experimented with technology, and I found adding medium priced professional microphones and tweaking some of the audio settings allowed for (again with permission) soloists in the sanctuary with Kate, and Canon Mark either in his office, or at his home conducting Morning Prayer services.

 With COVID restrictions and screening protocols we conducted a few outdoor lower parking lot services. Safe distancing protocols and screening logins, temperature taking, etc. allowed us to have several (after Morning Prayer) communion services (wafer only) in the parking lot. We also had our Blessing of the Animals outdoors as we normally do.

 

The Christmas Eve service via Zoom and Facebook Live was conducted in the Garden Overlook/Lower Parking Lot. Social distancing did occur, everyone was screened, and temperatures were taken. Our Music Director, Kate Hepworth, arranged for several musicians and our soloists to perform. She also brought a keyboard and an amp. I brought my PA system, including wireless and wired “mics” for the service: a wireless microphone for Canon Mark and the readers, and wired “mics” for our soloists through the PA system. With a few adjustments and a learning curve we found what did or did not work, and adapted to make things work. It was a memorable occasion that none of us will soon forget.

 

Zoom has been a great way to keep connected through this period of isolation. Canon Mark broadened the Zoom schedule to add coffee hours, a weekly happy hour, a book club, a Stephen’s Ministry class, and Vestry meetings. Senior Warden Ann Glaser hosted St. Paul’s Helpers with Jane Mettee, and I even hosted Morning Prayer once. It was fun and interesting. Zoom keeps us connected as a parish, and we are grateful for another item in the “toolbox”.  Thank you to all at St. Paul’s. It has been an interesting and challenging year for all of us.

St. Paul’s Helpers

Jane Mettee, Coordinator

After briefly changing our name to St. Paul’s Angels in 2019, we have adopted our former title, “St. Paul’s Helpers” once again. Current members include Ann Cichowski, Ann Glaser, Karen Pearson, Marylyn Villeneuve, Nancy Allen and Jane Mettee, Coordinator

We decided to do things differently this year. In years past, one person was on call each month to make phone calls and answer referrals. In 2020 we have worked as a team with each member making contact and assisting as the needs came up. In this way we are reaching more people each month. We have a list from Michelle Costa and Ann Glaser of single people living alone and people with medical problems or other needs. We have all made phone calls working off this list. We have made some visits but they have been very limited due to COVID-19 safety measures.

Ann Glaser has a morning email check-in with five single women who live alone. Our nurse practitioner, Karen Pearson, is helping people with some medical problems. We have provided transportation or have run errands for people who cannot drive. We have taken food to church members including delivery of 7 turkey dinners provided by the Cambria community at Thanksgiving. Nancy Allen has made spinach quiche and husband Steve has delivered it to parishioners. Homemade chicken soup was delivered to two home bound seniors. We are in touch with each other by phone and email as needed.

We meet monthly on Zoom to discuss our activities and plans. Ann Glaser was our 2020 Zoom hostess. Karen Pearson will be our Zoom hostess for 2021.

 

Altar Guild

Barbara Marks, Directress

 

The purpose of the Altar Guild is to prepare the church and altar for worship services. Members care for the vestments, linens, communion vessels, candles, and flowers.

At present there are five members: Sue Johnson, Ann Glaser, Eunice Wilson, Steve Allen, and Barbara Marks.

Five parishioners donated flowers for the altar. The usual donation drives for Easter lilies and Christmas poinsettias were not held since we were holding no inside services during those church seasons; however we are hoping to offer lily sponsorships for Easter.

In 2020 we prepared for 12 Sunday or holiday services in the church. There was one memorial service. All of these services were held prior to the implementation of COVID-19 restrictions. Because of the new rules, we changed to virtual services on March 22. Initially, six Sunday services were presented online. Parishioners could drive to the upper parking lot to receive communion (wafer only). Five services were prerecorded for Holy Week, and five for Easter Week. On May 3rd we began broadcasting Morning Prayer remotely on Zoom.

On November 1 (All Saints’ Day) and November 22 (Christ the King), Communion was celebrated in the lower parking lot after the Zoom service. On Christmas Eve afternoon, the entire Holy Eucharist service was held in the lower parking lot.

 

“Cookie” Outreach: COVID Didn’t Stop Us!

Staff Report

 

Regardless of COVID, or maybe because of it, the Church kept its commitment to reach out to those who might need some extra cheer during the holidays. It wasn’t wise to hold our traditional Cookie Outreach effort, so Loretta Butterfield came up with a special way to share our cheer and good will with others in the community with a safer gesture of love: cards, small inspirational booklets, and even inspirationally worded coasters.

By the thank you notes that were sent back to the church, recipients seemed especially grateful for their surprise blessings. One woman called the office sharing that she had fought COVID for over 2 months and that the experience had left her weak, depressed and feeling especially alone. She wept as she expressed her thanks to our thoughtful volunteers. Other recipients were those that had lost a spouse or family member, or who would be alone during the holidays.

All in all over 80 cheer packages were distributed. Many thanks to Loretta Butterfield and her team of elves that assembled and delivered packets this year.

PHOTOS

In 2020, the Diocese Welcomed Bishop Lucinda

Staff Report

 Bishop Lucinda Ashby was consecrated as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real on Saturday, January 11, 2020, having succeeded Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves who retired and moved back to the East Coast.

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions regarding indoor church gatherings, the Bishop has remained active in her outreach to the churches and clergy within the diocese, predominantly using Zoom to stay in touch and to conduct virtual visits to the parishes. By summer 2020, longtime Assistant to the Bishop, Mary Beth Powell, had retired and Kirstin Nielsen was named as her replacement. Bishop Lucinda will hold a virtual visit and coffee hour with St. Paul’s on January 31.

 

 PHOTOS

Parish Administrator’s Message

During the past year, routines have had to change to adapt to the new challenges of social distancing and other important measures that are necessary due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I am currently working only two days a week, which helps the church financially during this slower time, and also allows our accounting volunteers one more day per week to safely work in the office if needed. I am also personally doing the cleaning of the lower building each week to ensure the most sanitary environment possible for staff and visitors during the COVID crisis.

In 2020 we lost five members– three from death and two who moved. The good news is that we also welcomed three members: The Rev. Canon Mark Hall and Ed and Joy Valadez.

A reminder to please notify the office whenever your contact info changes, as I am currently working on an updated member directory.

 

Hosting the Community During a Challenging Year

During a year when most routines were turned upside down because of COVID-19 restrictions, there was a sharp decline in the number of groups and participants hosted on campus, with most groups’ members meeting remotely. However, we continued to host the Senior Nutrition program (which currently offers home delivery only) a small group of 4 which meet on Wednesdays for Women’s AA, and a group of 4 meeting on Saturday mornings for another recovery meeting. All have been instructed in our strict sanitation guidelines which they must observe to use our facility. The Monday night Children of Adult Alcoholics, the Saturday morning Al-Anon group, the twice monthly Grief Support Program as well as Safe Harbor’s congregation will continue to meet remotely via Zoom until deemed safe to gather on campus by the State and Diocese.

Personnel– In 2020, Kate Hepworth celebrated her 10th anniversary as our Music Director. We are very grateful that she continues to share her talents with us.

Average Sunday Attendance (ASA)– Without distinguishing which type of Sunday worship was held, or whether the attendance was on a Sunday that was pre-COVID or during, our ASA was 25 people. During 2020 we changed our service time from 9:30 am to 10:00 am to make participation easier.

I wish to thank all of the outgoing Vestry members for their efforts and continuing support. Special thanks to St. Paul’s Wardens Leonard Kohout, Mary Brockman and Ann Glaser; all with which I worked closely and who were always readily available to address issues within their area of responsibility.

(Gosh, Leonard, I think I had your number on speed dial most of the time!)

Thanks for the help!

 

( The Year Ahead (Holy days will be observed via Zoom unless announced otherwise.)January 31 Bishop’s visit via ZoomFebruary 15 Vestry RetreatFebruary 16 Canon Mark’s 1 year anniversary with St. Paul’sFebruary 17 Ash Wednesday March 13 Set clocks ahead at night for Daylight Savings TimeMarch 28 Palm Sunday; Holy Week beginsApril 4 Easter SundayDecember 24 Christmas Eve ServiceNote: Vestry will meet the 3rd Monday of each month at 10 am, beginning in February.)

Our Changing Church Family

Now with the Lord: Bill Baker, Connie Helps and Jim Wilson

Joining our Church Family:

The Rev. Mark Hall and Susan Hall

2300 Cienaga St. #20

Oceano, CA 93445

krametoc@cell2000.net

209.609.7044

Ed and Joy Valadez

2200 Tully Place

Cambria, CA 93428

joy2read24@gmail.com

Phone: Will publish in official Annual Report