Epistle

From the Rector
Lent at St. Paul’s

My dear parishioners and friends of St. Paul’s,

Since I have just returned from a month’s vacation, that means several things: First, I would like to thank Fr. Humphrey, Melva Willis, Fr. Anthony Moore, our honorary assistant clergy, our staff and volunteers, and our wardens for keeping everything running so smoothly while I have been away. In fact, probably more smoothly than usual! Secondly, it means that I am past the deadline for the Epistle, so this will have to be short and sweet and fast!

By the time you receive this, we shall already be in the course of Lent, and I know that you will have seized with great enthusiasm and anticipation all the Lenten offerings that are available to you. I also assume that you have devised a Lenten rule to assist the work of God’s Grace in this holy time. It’s never too late to do this, and the clergy are happy to assist you in any way.

I shall be leading the Lenten quiet day on Saturday, March 10, beginning with Mass at 9:30 am and ending with Simple Benediction at 2:30 pm. There will be three meditations as well as the opportunity for silence, conferences, and confessions—a time to “be still and know” the Lord.

The great feast of the Annunciation falls this year on Monday, March 26, transferred from the previous day, which is a Sunday. The Annunciation is the beginning of the story of the Christian Revelation, and its importance cannot be underestimated. It falls also on the Monday before Holy Week, so with the enormous obligations of the following week for all concerned in mind we shall offer a Sung Mass with incense on Monday, March 26, at 6.30 pm.

The first day of April is also Palm Sunday and marks, of course, the start of the most powerful and important week of the year. You will be hearing much more about our schedule for that week. Here let me just give you a heads up to make sure that you give absolute priority in your calendars and in your home and work lives for the liturgies at 6:30 pm on the evenings of Maundy Thursday, April 5, and Good Friday, April 6, and at 9.00 pm on Saturday, April 7, when Bishop Montgomery will be with us to celebrate the great Vigil of Easter and to baptize, confirm, and receive the reaffirmation of baptismal vows. We are indebted to him and to Bishop Chane for making it possible for all this to happen in the parish at the Great Vigil, thereby reflecting so powerfully the experience of the early Church gathered around the bishop for the defining and most important liturgy of the year.

I, of course, expect each and every one of you to be present for these three days, the Triduum Sacrum, when we are renewed in the eternal mysteries of our religion. Each year, I assure you that if you attend these liturgies faithfully with an open heart and mind you will be changed. In addition to all this, I am delighted that we shall have as our preacher for these three days the Rev’d Canon Martin Warner, canon pastor at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Many of you remember and know him from his previous visit to us when he was the Administrator at Walsingham and also from his wonderful book, Known to the Senses, which was the object of our study in the rector’s forum last year. I’ll go so far as to say—and make myself unpopular with the other clergy who will read this from other parishes—that you will find no finer offering for Holy Week anywhere in the Episcopal Church as will be offered in your own parish church. As invitations to the coronation of a British Sovereign say, “All excuses set aside” —and these liturgies are the crowning of the King and Savior of all.

See you in church! And I look forward to another powerful and transforming experience with you all in these most holy days. You’ll hear more in the April Epistle, but the point is made for the moment!

Blessings, thanks, and love in Christ,
Andrew Sloane +

Parish Participates in Diocesan “Urban Adventure”

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

—Luke 4:18-19

St. Paul’s Parish has assembled a team of parishioners and Foggy Bottom residents to participate in the “Urban Adventure” series sponsored by the diocesan Committee on Urban Ministry. The Committee originated five years ago, after the Bishop of Washington, John Chane, met with Bishop Barbara Harris to discuss how the Church should respond to human suffering within the diocese. The Urban Ministry Committee was chartered by the Diocesan Council in October 2005.

Five forum sessions are scheduled during 2006-2007. The first session, attended by 25 local churches, was held at the Church of Epiphany, September 16, during which Bishop Chane discussed the challenges of urban ministry and his commitment and priority to this evolving ministry. Maureen Shea, Director of Government Relations for the Episcopal Church, spoke to the difference between charity and justice and emphasized the need for long-term vision and sustained attention in addressing the complexity of urban issues. Forum participants also had the opportunity to brainstorm together about their experiences and perceptions regarding relevant public policy issues, obstacles to effective justice work by churches, and strengths of church-based mission initiatives.

The second “Urban Adventure” session, held on February 3 at St. Augustine’s Church, was equally well attended and focused on the first dimension of urban ministry, as defined by the diocesan Committee on Urban Ministry, congregational development. This session was led by noted author and speaker Anthony Robinson, who described the “post-Christendom” “post-modernist” context in which churches operate today that results in more complex “adaptive challenges” requiring learning and change, versus “technical problems” that are clearer and simpler to address. Mr. Robinson emphasized the importance of continually asking ourselves “why are we here?” and remaining focused on the main purpose of churches, to transform lives and “make Christians.” The next three forum sessions will each be devoted to the remaining three dimensions of urban ministry as defined by the diocesan Committee on Urban Ministry: community connection (April 21), service (June 2), and justice (September 25).

After much discussion among the St. Paul’s Urban Ministry Team, other St. Paul’s parishioners, and Fr. Sloane, the team has decided, in addition to attending the urban ministry sessions, to survey the current programs offered by churches and institutions for the homeless in Foggy Bottom/West End, and exemplary programs for the homeless in the greater D.C. area.

St. Paul’s Urban Ministry Team members include parishioners Arnitta Coley, Susan Dirstine, Susan Granum, Tina Mallet, Joe Manson, Gay Merrill, Jane Stephenson, and Ed Stephenson and community members Jackie Lemire and Jackie Durham. If you would like more information, or to become involved in the project, please speak with any member of the urban ministry team, and/or email Jane Stephenson at ed.jane@verizon.net. [JS]

Dedication of “Our” Clinic in Protección

On Sunday, February 4, I was proud to be able to represent St. Paul’s at the dedication of the first stage of the new health clinic in the tiny village of Protección, in the remote mountains of the Department of Santa Bárbara, Honduras. I was the one who received all of the thanks actually intended for all of our parishioners who have given so much of their own time, energy, and money to support the efforts and fundraisers for the clinic. Those efforts have to date provided more than $20,000 to buy supplies for the villagers to construct this building, which will mean so much to the people of the village and those who walk there from miles around for the loving care of an incredible young doctor—who himself walks for miles to tend the sick in this clinic three days every week.

These thanks were expressed in the sparkling eyes of the beautiful children, whom all of us who have visited them have learned to love dearly. Thanks came from the mayor of the village and the burly working men who have donated many hours of their time and energy to the actual digging and building that have gone on there. Toothless grandmothers with hugs and kisses gave incredibly heartfelt thanks for our help, as did the teachers in the two-room village school, Dr. Waldo Madrid and Padre Israel Monge and his family.

The celebration began on Saturday night, when Padre Monge and his family and I arrived in the village about 9:00 pm. That’s when the Padre sent up the first of the whistling fireworks, a rocket bursting into the air, as a signal that it was time for a fiesta. We were up early in the morning to finish the preparations for the fiesta including decorating the inside and outside of the clinic. On the hill above the church and the village square, the people had constructed a temporary porch with a thatched roof of palm fronds for protection from the intense sun. This is where Bishop Lloyd Allen would celebrate the 10:30 am Mass starting the festivities of the day. Rather than church bells, this morning people were called to church by more rockets whistling into the air and providing squeals of delight from some of the children—and cowering and covering their ears from others.

John Presley’s little protégé, Marvin, was the proud cross-bearer, leading the procession up the hill from the front of the church. He was followed by three acolytes for the occasion, a visiting Honduran priest, Padre Monge, the Rev’d Susan Blue, rector of St. Margaret’s, Dupont Circle (a parish that has donated a great deal to Protección, including the doctor’s salary, for many years), and Bishop Allen. During the procession and a few times during the Mass additional rockets were set off to be sure everyone’s attention for miles around was with us.

Most of the service was in Spanish, but after the Gospel reading in Spanish, the Rev’d Susan Blue read it in English. Also, in his sermon, Bishop Allen repeated several of his remarks in English for those of us who were visiting, including Chris Beall and another parishioner from St. Margaret’s. The actual dedication and blessing of the clinic took place after the sermon, when Bishop Allen began rapping on the door of the clinic with his staff to be let in by the senior warden, who was inside the locked door. As usual, the Mass was filled with the heartfelt singing by all of many of our now-favorite Honduran songs, accompanied by the guitar of our friend Herman.

After Mass, the festivities moved to the village square, with festive music provided by four men playing the marimba. There were a few brief speeches, and the exchange of gifts, followed by food, some of which was greedily stolen by some of the hungry dogs who are never in danger of being overfed. Then one of the highlights for me was a presentation by eight of the children dressed in beautiful folk costumes, who did a great job with several folk dances.

Driving back to San Pedro Sula for our journey home was a bit more eventful than we could have hoped. The driver of the car I was in had never driven a four-wheel-drive vehicle before, and the brief verbal instruction she had been given before the trip was not enough for her to be able to make it up the first steep hill when we left Protección. Thankfully we were following our experienced friend Sandra Hernandez, who soon realized we were not behind her and returned to rescue us, and all was well from then on. [JAS]

2007 Mission Trip to Honduras

As it has done in each of the past three years, the diocese will be coordinating a mission trip to Honduras this summer. The mission group will depart Saturday, July 28, and return Sunday, August 5.

Won’t you join us? You can either stay in one community to work on an existing project or else visit several Honduran congregations to assess potential opportunities for a future relationship either on behalf of your parish or individually.

Some ongoing projects include school or clinic construction, reforestation, environmental education, a basic grains cooperative, and women’s crafts. Tasks range from hard physical labor to giving elementary students some basic notions of English.

To find out more, please join us for an orientation meeting on Sunday, March 25, at 5:00 pm at St. Alban's Church (Satterlee Hall, Trenbath Assembly Room—on the grounds of the Cathedral). If you can’t join us then, but would like more information, please contact Dick Marks (301-589-4927 or richardpmarks@aol.com). [TM]

New Parishioner Profile—Kate Bittinger

Kate Bittinger has lived in a number of places in her life, growing up in New Jersey and New Hampshire, and living in New York, Chicago, Boston, and Paris. And in all these different places, she has worshipped in a variety of Protestant churches, from Presbyterian to Quaker. But Kate was baptized an Episcopalian and attended Episcopal services on and off through her life. Of all the different churches she has attended, St. Paul’s has the most dynamic music and fullest liturgy, she says.

Before her move to D.C. last summer, Kate was very active at Trinity, Copley Square, a large, urban Episcopal church in Boston. She was involved in several of Trinity’s urban social ministries, particularly its prison mentoring program called Partakers. One major program of Partakers was the financial sponsorship and mentorship of several inmates obtaining their college degrees “behind bars” through a program set up by Boston University. BU professors taught courses inside state prisons, and the Partakers team helped mentor the students, providing encouragement to prisoners struggling with being away from their families and friends, dealing with life incarcerated, and trying to achieve something while in prison. As part of the Trinity Partakers team, Kate would write to and visit a prisoner enrolled in the college program.

Talking to the prisoners she worked with, Kate was struck by how comfortable they were with talking about their faith in God, both drawing on the conviction of their faith or questioning what plans God had for them. Kate was impressed by the prisoners’ ability to talk openly about their faith and was prompted to think more deeply about her own. “Although I had been a Christian my whole life, I hadn’t consciously thought that much about what it meant. Moreover, I wasn’t sure which tools I could use to help me place this ministry into a larger context,” she says. During Partakers meetings, Kate remembers the team often talking more about their prisoners’ journeys than about their own.

Kate met her boyfriend, Robert Eikel, a St. Paul’s parishioner, at a party in Boston in August 2005, and they began dating long-distance, visiting each other nearly every other week. Faith was a central part of their relationship from the beginning, as they discussed their religious backgrounds and what drove their relationships with God. When Robert and Kate started dating, they tried different churches together, discussing their strengths and weakness, and what really mattered to them in terms of practicing their faith and finding a Christian community.

Robert introduced Kate to Anglo-Catholicism through St. Paul’s and the Church of the Advent in Boston. Kate first visited St. Paul’s during a Columbus Day weekend visit to D.C. in 2005. As someone seeking greater understanding and awareness of her faith, and especially the role of the Church, she felt that the Anglo-Catholic tradition had a lot to offer. The services challenged Kate intellectually and spiritually—and also physically, she adds, “as my tolerance for standing has increased quite a bit since attending Anglo-Catholic services!”

Kate moved to D.C. last summer and thought about trying other parishes for a while, but kept coming back to St. Paul’s. This was partly because of Robert and his sister Catherine’s ties to the church, but she also was attracted to the strong sense of community here. “People at St. Paul’s have always been extremely warm and welcoming to me, even as I felt slightly out of place, not sure when to cross myself or genuflect during services.”

Perhaps sensing her confusion and need to better understand St. Paul’s, Kate remembers Catherine Eikel, Karin and Colin Tooze, and others telling her about the Pilgrims class and how much it had changed their lives. In September 2006, she and Robert enrolled in the class to enhance their faith and connection to the Christian community.

Partway through my Pilgrimage year, Kate expresses gratitude for the dedication and patience of Fr. Sloane, Edie Davis, her sponsor Jeanne Smith, and the entire Pilgrims team. “Being a Pilgrim this year has meant so much more than just attending weekly classes; it has given me a connection to St. Paul’s and an identity as part of a larger group moving together to draw closer to Christ,” she says. Kate looks forward to continuing the journey as she prepares her confirmation candidacy. In addition to Pilgrims, she also participates in Carpe Deum’s weekly Bible study and social gatherings.

In her professional life, Kate is an analyst doing public policy research for Congress at the U.S. Government Accountability Office. She enjoys reading, cinema, and visiting art museums in her free time and she also loves the outdoors. In fact, she hopes to compete in her second triathlon later this year. Say hello to Kate on Sundays at the 11:15 am Mass. [BK]

January Vestry Notes

The vestry met on January 23. In the rector’s absence, the senior warden, Linda Wilkinson, chaired the meeting.

Treasurer Polly Peckham was not at the meeting, but her treasurer’s report was presented by the wardens. The treasurer’s report contained year-end figures for 2006. In 2006, the parish received 284 pledges totaling $810,895. Actual pledge income for the year was $790,298. (The stewardship co-chairs will investigate why there was a shortfall between pledges made and received.)

Total operating income for the year was $890,600, representing 108.3 percent of the budgeted amount. Total operating expenses for the year were $793,435, representing 98.2 percent of the budgeted amount.

Matthew Leddicotte reported on the goals of the stewardship portion of the long-range plan, and compared where we are with where we should be, according to the plan. Roy Byrd focused on the time and talent goals of the stewardship plan. He discussed the advisability of a parish time and talent campaign, with the ministries fair in the fall as its capstone. He also brought up the idea of a recruiting campaign, aimed at getting more people involved in parish activities.

David Schnorrenberg gave the final report on the 2007 stewardship campaign. As of January 23, the parish had received 282 pledges totaling $850,390 for 2007. This amount exceeded the campaign’s goal of $825,000, and included pledges from 30 new pledgers.

Lynne Walker reported on behalf of the finance committee. Increases in staff salaries had resulted in increases in insurance costs, which would have resulted in a $1,515 deficit in the 2007 budget. The finance committee recommended increasing the plate line item to bring the budget back into balance, which the vestry approved.

The finance committee also recommended transferring the remaining 2005 surplus (in the amount of $224) into the reserve fund. The vestry approved this.

The vestry also approved a resolution designating a portion of the curate’s compensation as a housing allowance.

David Schnorrenberg nominated Dennis Hensley to fill the vacant seat on the parish endowment board, with a term expiring in 2010. The vestry approved this nomination.

The vestry also approved expenditure from the memorial fund to purchase a new paschal candle stand in memory of Carol Niswander.

Alistair Nevius, on behalf of the commission on evangelization, nominated Paul McKee to be the treasurer for the commission. The vestry approved this nomination. At Lynne Walker’s suggestion, Alistair also moved that a line item for the commission on evangelization be added to the funds balance report, separate from the operating budget. The vestry passed this motion.

Rhoda Geasland reported that Catherine Ballinger had agreed to join the commission on mission outreach board to represent St. Paul’s to the Georgetown Ministry Center.

Alistair Nevius circulated an updated version of the vestry policies, and the vestry discussed several questions he had regarding the policies. The vestry appointed a taskforce consisting of Alistair, Matthew Leddicotte, and Brian Hoyle to review the policies and make recommendations for changes.

Finally, the vestry appointed a nominating committee (earlier than usual, this year), consisting of the outgoing vestry members—Matthew Leddicotte, Lynne Walker, Lucky Ajueyitsi, and Rhoda Geasland —plus a fifth non-vestry member to be appointed by the rector. [AMN]

Commission on Mission—2006 Update

Now in its third year of operation, St. Paul’s Commission on Mission (CoM) continues as the parish’s primary vehicle for outreach activities to help meet the needs of the poor and disadvantaged at home and abroad. In 2006, the CoM disbursed over $75,000 on the parish’s behalf. Funds came from a variety of sources, including pledge income, fundraising events whose proceeds were matched from the Carwithen charitable bequest, donations from individual parishioners, and grants from outside institutions. Following are highlights of 2006 activities in each of the principal mission areas.

Hunger/Homeless

St. Paul’s Grate Patrol and the Salvation Army Grate Patrol are entering their 24th year of service! One would expect that in a city with as robust an economy as ours, the number of people sleeping on the street would decrease over the years. In fact, the reverse has been true. We serve many more people now than in 1983. St. Paul’s prepares and distributes to homeless neighbors almost 400 meals every weekend. In addition, we cook a meal for 100 persons once a month that is distributed by the Salvation Army. Total Grate Patrol expenses run to over $20,000 a year. In 2006, the parish also contributed $3,000 to Georgetown Ministries and $500 to Iona Senior Services. These activities require a host of volunteers—20 per week for our Grate Patrol alone—and we are always in recruitment mode. Please join us on a one-time or regularly scheduled basis.

A couple of recent Hunger/Homeless ministry highlights:

The Grate Patrol (and the whole parish) switched last spring to Bishop’s Blend coffee—a delicious, free-trade brew that channels 15 percent of its profits to the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund.
Flint Hill High School, whose students go on the Grate Patrol once a month, collected a huge supply of new winter clothing in December. Hats, gloves, socks, scarves, and outerwear were given out on Christmas Eve and also shared with other organizations such as Miriam’s Kitchen and SOME (So Others Might Eat).
St. Paul’s provided dinner and overnight volunteers for Georgetown Ministries’ winter shelter one night in mid-January, when our neighbor St. Stephen Martyr Parish was shelter host.

Stevens Elementary School

In 2006-2007, we continue to have dedicated tutors from St. Paul’s Parish and the Foggy Bottom community who work with individual or small groups of Stevens Elementary School students after school every Tuesday or Thursday. A St. Paul’s volunteer serves as a music teacher in the school two days a week, not only teaching every class at least once a week, but also assisting in integrating music into other school activities and special events. This year for the first time a system has been developed to recruit Stevens students for the St. Paul’s Boys and Girls Choirs.

A delightful “pen pal” program was initiated in which first graders at Stevens wrote to and received letters and pictures from first grade students at the school in Honduras where Jo Stelzig is currently teaching. And Stevens continues to receive in-kind donations including high quality books, maps, and binders thanks to the generosity of individual St. Paul’s parishioners. Over $4,000 in parish funding has purchased drums and books and paid postage for the pen pal initiative.

Additional tutors are needed. For more information please contact Jane Stephenson at ed.jane@verizon.net.

Habitat for Humanity

Having provided substantial assistance to the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita ($12,000 in 2006 alone), the CoM Board voted to direct the remaining funds set aside to support Habitat for Humanity to that organization’s activities on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. A check in the amount of $3,800 has just been sent to the Habitat office in Biloxi.

Honduras

The new medical clinic in Protección, for which St. Paul’s raised approximately $20,000, was dedicated on February 4. Jo Stelzig represented the parish at this event and the Rev’d Susan Blue, rector of St. Margaret’s, Connecticut Avenue, was present to represent her congregation. St. Margaret’s has provided the doctor’s salary in Protección for many years, and parishioners from both parishes have worked hand in hand on the clinic. Jo is also teaching second grade at an Episcopal Bilingual School in Tela, Honduras. See the CoM bulletin board in the Parish Hall for great photos and see Jo’s article above.

The Episcopal Diocese of Honduras has been visiting us as well, in the person of Fr. Albert Brooks, Canon of the Cathedral in San Pedro. Tina Mallett and Geoff Suiter attended a dinner in his honor January 28, bearing St. Paul’s best wishes and a Commission on Mission t-shirt and stickers! We brought away much more, in the assurance that in Fr. Brooks we have a most amiable and helpful contact with the Diocese of Honduras. Though the official diocesan relationship is due to complete its three-year term this year, the expectation is that all parishes will continue the ties established under it. Fr. Brooks will be working to facilitate those contacts, and he heartily recommended that we come down and see what is going on in this rapidly growing corner of the Anglican Communion.

Malawi

St. Paul’s efforts have focused on the establishment of an Anglican convent in Luwinga, a daughter house of the Community of St. Mary in Greenwich, New York. Our contributions in 2006 of over $17,000 have helped fund a new well and water distribution system that will provide safe drinking and irrigation water for the convent and, in a later phase, to the village beyond. Our donations will also serve as seed money for the construction of guest quarters at the convent so the Sisters can share their expertise in sustainable agriculture with visitors and host retreats for local clergy.

With eight Sisters already at Luwinga, including a newly trained novice mistress, the Community is set for further growth. In June, the parish was fortunate to be able to meet a number of those Sisters when they accompanied Mother Miriam from Greenwich and the Dean of the Cathedral of Northern Malawi on a visit to Washington. The annual Malawi bake sale in October raised over $3,000 for the convent and was matched from the Carwithen bequest.

Get involved

The CoM depends not only on the financial support of parishioners, but on their active involvement as well. Volunteers are needed to chair the annual Honduras plant sale (April 28-29) and Malawi bake sale (October 28). We also need people to staff both events. We are also seeking one or more volunteers to review the parish’s past involvement with Habitat for Humanity and make recommendations as to its future. And Grate Patrol and Stevens School volunteers are needed as well. [AK]

Feast Days in March

St. Joseph
Monday, March 19
6:45 am                  Morning Prayer
7:00 am                  Low Mass
5:30 pm                  Devotions at the Walsingham Shrine
5:45 pm                  Evening Prayer
6:00 pm                  Low Mass

The Annunciation of Our Lord (transferred)
Monday, March 26
6:45 am                  Morning Prayer
7:00 am                  Low Mass
5:30 pm                  Devotions at the Walsingham Shrine
5:45 pm                  Evening Prayer
6:30 pm                  Sung Mass with incense

Lenten Quiet Day
Saturday, March 10
Conducted by Fr. Sloane
9:15 am                  Morning Prayer
9:30 am                  Low Mass
          Silence begins. Refreshments in the Guild Room
10:30 am       First meditation
11:30 am       Second meditation
Noon                      Noonday Prayer
          Lunch (bring your own)
1:00 pm                  Third meditation
2:30 pm                  Simple Benediction of the Most                                              Blessed Sacrament
          Silence ends

March Birthdays

1        Gary Greene
4        Mary Jo Clark; Betty Eckart; Michael Hendron
5        James Larsen
7        Scott Hanoian
8        Robert Jones; Nancy Bush; Sarah Peckham
9        Jo Stelzig
10      Jeremiah de Michaelis
11      Emilie Curtis; Tanya Betsy
12      John Klein
13      Peter Martin; Shawn Shafer
16      Robert Groves, Jr.;
          Alfred Lawrence Toombs; Cassandra Metzger
18      Eugene Stone; Douglas Wood; Frederick Williford;
          Charles Toftoy; Laura Mixter
21      Tina Mallett; Anne Bagley; Naomi DeVries Pomerantz;
          Sebastian Braw-Smith
22      Anna Stillner
25      Suzanne Cox
26      Catharine Little; Bronwen Okwesa; Alan Palm
27      Omotunde Johnson; Frederick Grill
28      Bette Spencer; Michael Guishard
29      Susan Holleran; Nedra Agnew
30      Linda Wilkinson
31      Hugh Guishard;
          Christian Crane

If you have a March birthday that was not included, or if there are any mistakes, please contact the parish office. [MW]

Parish Statistics

Transfers In: John David Yoder and son Cody Shane Yoder from St. Thomas the Apostle, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Cal.
Anne Reamer from Truro Church, Fairfax, Va.
Lawrence Campbell from St. Michael and All Angels, Tallahassee, Fla.

Transfers Out: Eve Wilkins to Ascension and St. Agnes, Washington, D.C.
Victoria Russell to Memorial Episcopal Church, Baltimore, Md.
James E. Patterson to All Saints, San Francisco, Cal.

Annual Plant Sale

Save the date: The third annual parish plant sale to benefit Honduras will be held at the church on April 28 and 29.

The Epistle
A monthly publication of St. Paul's Parish
K Street — Washington, D.C.

Editor Alistair M. Nevius
Assistant Editor Allison Freeman
Desktop Publisher John Walker
Designer David McGaw
Contributors Benjamin Kong, Tina Mallett, Ann Korky, Andrew Sloane,
Jo Stelzig, Jane Stephenson, Melva Willis

Submissions Invited
We welcome the submission of articles, comments, and suggestions. Manuscripts and correspondence can be dropped off at the church office or e-mailed to the editors at nevius@erols.com. Electronic manuscripts are preferred. Articles accepted for the Epistle are subject to editorial revision.

SAINT PAUL'S PARISH
Washington, DC 20037-1797
phone 202-337-2020
fax 202-337-7418
e-mail info@StPauls-Kst.com
Web www.StPauls-Kst.com

Parish Staff
The Rev'd Andrew Sloane, Rector
The Rev'd Nathan Humphrey, Curate
Mark Dwyer, Music Director
Scott Dettra, Assistant Music Director
Melva Willis, Parish Administrator
Frederick Murdock, III, Maintenance Manager

The Vestry
The Rev'd Andrew Sloane, Rector
Linda Wilkinson, Senior Warden
David Schnorrenberg, Junior Warden
Greg Capaldini, Secretary
Polly Peckham, Treasurer
Lucky Ajueyitsi, Rhoda Geasland, Matthew S. Leddicote, Lynne V. Walker; Alistair Nevius, Geoffrey Peckham; Roy Byrd, Catherine Eikel, Brian Hoyle, Ann Korky

Our Mission
St. Paul's Parish seeks to restore all people to God and to each other, through Sacramental Worship and Christlike lives.

Deadline for next issue
Monday, March 5