ST.

PAUL’S
2017
ANNUAL
REPORT

Sunday, January 28, 2018

 SAINT PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
WICKFORD, RHODE ISLAND

ANNUAL REPORT
2017

Table of Contents

Minutes of the 2017 Corporation Meeting ...........................................................1

Synopsis of 2017 Vestry Minutes...........................................................................2
Rector's Report ......................................................................................................4
Wardens’ Report....................................................................................................6
Director of Music and Organist Report.................................................................7
Sunday School Coordinator Report .......................................................................8
Christmas Baskets 2017 .........................................................................................9
Christian Action Committee Report.....................................................................10

Vestry Nominations are published as a separate document.

Financial Report is published as a separate document.

 Minutes of the 2017 Annual Corporation Meeting
St. Paul's Church, Wickford, R I

The Annual Meeting of the Clergy, Wardens, Vestry and Congregation of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, North
Kingstown, Rhode Island was held on Sunday, January 29, 2017 at St. Paul's Church. Present: Rev. Canon
Virginia Hesitand, Senior Warden Emily McKenney, Treasurer Paul Gricus, Clerk Jane Tiernan Reilly and 46
congregants.

A quorum being present, Canon Heistand opened the meeting with a hymn and prayers for the Parish and the
Diocese. She then read the Canons relating to eligibility for office-holding and voting at the Annual Meeting.

Minutes of the 2016 Annual Meeting: A motion by Peggy Todd seconded by Betty Ann Taylor to approve the
Minutes of the 2016 Annual Meeting as printed in the Annual Report carried.

Synopsis of 2016 Vestry Actions: The Synopsis of 2016 Vestry Actions as printed in the Annual Report was
approved on a motion by Betty Ann Taylor seconded by Walt Burrows.

Presentation and Election of Wardens/Vestry Candidates and Delegates to Diocesan Convention: Canon
Heistand thanked the out-going members for their exemplary service: Emily McKenney, Andrew Correia, Paul
Gricus, Wayne Tucker, Laurie DeRuosi, Jeff Manickas and Craig Stenning. There being no nominations from the
floor, the nominations were closed. The following slate of candidates was presented: Senior Warden Tom
Spink, Junior Warden Amy Sutton, Vestry- Steve Elliott, Sr., Susan Aylward, Jim Carleton, Tony Petito; the slate
was approved by a vote of acclamation on a motion by Colleen Sardelli seconded by Matt DiTomasso.
Delegates to Convention Emily McKenney, Al Shimkus, Thomasine Manickas and Mike Cerullo were approved
on a motion by Peggy Todd seconded by Betty Ann Taylor.

2016 Treasurer's Report and 2017 Budget: Treasurer Paul Gricus reported that 2016 Revenues ended $8,243
ahead of budget with Expenses at $10,321 below budget. Investment accounts netted $14,364; overall a good
year. Report was approved on a motion by Paul Gricus seconded by Doug McPherson. He presented the 2017
Budget as break-even at $543,900, with our Diocesan apportionment at 16 1/2% and Parish Outreach at 7% of
Pledged income.

Reports: Emily McKenney noted her printed report and thanked the staff and Parish for their faithfulness.
Canon Heistand highlighted portions of her printed report: kudos for our outstanding staff, gratitude for
donations, thanks to the volunteers involved in Church School, Youth and Fund-raising and ongoing
conversations with possible assistant clergy.

After a hymn and prayer of thanksgiving the meeting ended at 12:25 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Jane Tiernan Reilly, Clerk

1.
 Synopsis of Vestry Actions 2017
January: Vestry approved Treasurer Paul Gricus' 2016 report showing total revenues at $556,043 and total
expenses at $541,679. The proposed 2017 Budget with revenues at $543,900 and expenses at $543,500 was
approved on a motion by Don Sullivan seconded by Jim Soares for presentation at the Annual Meeting.

February: Vestry approved the Treasurer's Report showing revenues and expenses at approximately break
even. The Parish Parochial Report was presented by Jay Candon and approved on a motion by Jim Soares
seconded by Tony Petito. A Stewardship update reported that the 2016 pledge number was 161, totaling
$376,654. Christian Action donation requests were approved. Ken Cahill was appointed to fill in a one year
unexpired term on the Vestry.

March: Vestry approved Treasurer Jay Candon's report showing pledges behind budget amounts and expenses
well controlled. Defibrillator training is complete and CPR training is scheduled for April.

April: No Meeting-Holy Week/Easter

May: (Retreat) Vestry approved the Treasurer's Report through March amounts. April figures to be presented
for approval at next meeting. Christian Action requests were approved. Vestry discussed current status and
future plans for Sunday School, Youth Group, worship ministries and summer activities.

June: Vestry approved the Treasurer's Report showing pledge, loose plate and expenses all under projected
amounts. On a motion by Tom Spink seconded by Jay Candon the Vestry approved a contract for the cleaning
and re-voicing of the organ for $16,000. Vestry approved the Christian Action requests. The Vestry received
with joy the report that on June 6 in a service at the ONC with Bishop Knisley twenty-seven people were
confirmed, received or reaffirmed their faith.

July: No meeting-Canon Heistand away.

August: Vestry approved the Treasurer's Report showing a positive $6000 at end of July. Several property
issues at the Cottage and Rectory need attention; a motion by Jim Soares seconded by Matt DiTomasso to
attend to all items for an amount not to exceed $5000 was approved.

September: The Treasurer's report was approved showing revenues less than expected but offset by expenses
being under budget, largely due to not hiring Assistant Clergy. Christian Action requests were approved. A
Chairperson is still needed for Stewardship this year. A Vestry Financial Meeting will be held on Saturday,
October 7.

October: The Treasurer's Report was approved showing pledges, loose plate and miscellaneous donations
below projected amounts, and expenses continuing to be lower than budgeted. Stewardship Chair Jeff
Manickas presented a draft of the Stewardship Letter for Vestry discussion. Al Shimkus presented two
fund-raising proposals for the Spring 2018- a 5K Run/Walk and a Non-Black Tie Event.

2.
November: Vestry approved the Treasurer's Report; pledge and loose plate continue below budget, but
under -budget expenses keep the balance positive. The Diocesan Investment Trust saw a .2% increase in cash
distribution. Vestry discussed increasing to 8% from 7% the amount of pledge and loose plate income going to
Outreach Mission (Christian Action and Clergy Discretionary Fund). The Diocese has reduced the apportionment
figure to 15 1/2% for 2018. Stewardship Chair Jeff Manickas reported a current count of sixty-eight 2018 pledges,
totaling $236,000. Vestry approved the Christian Action requests.

December: Treasurer Jay Candon reported the budget showing a positive balance and report was approved. A
motion was approved to amend the November Minutes to show that Vestry recommended that the 2018 budget
include 8% of pledge and loose plate revenue be allotted to Outreach Mission. Vestry passed a motion to
recommend that St. Paul's Church designate $10,000 to be the clergy housing allowance for 2018 for Canon
Virginia Heistand in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code (Section 107).

Respectfully submitted,

Jane Tiernan Reilly, Clerk

3.
 Rector’s Report

What is the will of God for us? What distinguishes “Church” from any other business, social service agency or
association is that we are guided by just one thing: the will of God. One of the blessings in times of challenge is
that we can no longer afford to be distracted by assuming that we know God’s will. Our success, experience
and knowledge aren’t “working”. We come to God in prayer and ask. What is your will for us? Where are you in
this? How will we know? And, So what? What are we supposed to do with that?

Coming to God in prayer, in study, in service: asking those questions and listening for God, opens our eyes to
recognize Him. Our people, friends, vestry, staff are praying ad listening and “doing the next right thing”, as
God shows us to do. “Prayer opens pathways that didn’t exist before.” “I don’t know how prayer works, but
the more I pray the more coincidences seem to happen.” We don’t know all the answers, but we are seeing
God at work. Let’s continue to point to him, and not ourselves. It is all about God.
Some of the ways we saw God this year:

LFRI The ministry of Loaves and Fishes Rhode Island continues to be a path of blessing for All. The stories of
those who are served and how they experience God’s hope are inspirational. The experiences of those who
donate so generously, consistently and enthusiastically (and its every one of us!), keep us coming back with
joy. The additional meals and the grace and beauty with which they are donated, prepared and served is
humbling. And it all started because our Episcopal Charities speaker one year was wonderful Liz Crawley and
shared where she sees God. Episcopal Charities works: we do so much more together in God than we can
never do on our own. May God continue to bless ALL those who share in the LFRI ministry.

Christmas Baskets Please read the beautiful report-God is all over it! We continue to empower people
through our food for a week for the whole family offering! It does feel like organized chaos, but God brings
order out of seeming chaos in creation every day. We love this Tradition and all who participate, especially that
we get to share it with so many who aren’t members. “The Church is the only institution that exists for those
who are outside of it.”

Funerals It is a sacred and pastoral privilege to be able to offer this last loving gift to families who are outside
of this or any church, as well as to our own beloved friends and mentors. Thank you (and the Altar Guild and
LEMs and acolytes) who are such a caring, prayerful team. Everyone is a child of God. Funerals of all moments
are occasions we need to be reminded that we are all included. I am learning that “doing the right thing” is not
always the same as “doing things right”. Shared prayer is opening that path. God is doing something beautiful
here. The comments from families and their friends are extraordinary. One woman said “God is spoken here
and I could hear Him.” Personally, it is difficult because each soul is beloved. I have been feeling like “the angel
of death”. A clergy friend just said to me, “Please think of yourself as the angel of Life.”

NEBS and EFM and Sunday Morning Bible Study When you study the Bible retitle every story with God as the
central actor and ask what does that story say about who God is? It is amazing. Put God first and you will see
Him and feel Him in your own story. EFM is going strong with a new lay mentor this year, which is exactly how
that is supposed to be. We have had a Sunday Morning offering between the services for many months, that
features a terrific curriculum (very short homework J) and shared leadership. It is time to choose the next book
of the Bible or perhaps the Lord’s Prayer for study? Come and see. The New England Bible Study is something
new this year: no cost, minimal sharing, lots of info and flexible attendance (we have 2 interchangeable ses-
sions). If you had told me that between just these three types of offerings we’d have more than 60 people
involved, I would’ve fallen over, but we do. NEBS focuses on the New Testament this Spring, so stop by T @
9:30 a or W @ 7p.

4.
Money Talk about surprised by JOY…. The Vestry unanimously passed a balanced budget, and all agree about
goals and priorities! We have re paid our capital account(s), so that the balance is above the minimum agreed
amount. In the midst of adjusting for challenge, the vestry unanimously agreed to increase the percentage of
pledge and plate income given to Outreach to 8%. (We know we need to update the pledge form and offering
envelopes: happy problem J). Following the National Church’s reduction in assessment of dioceses, our diocesan
apportionment was lowered as well. More than 2/3 of the churches in this diocese are running deficit budgets
and relying on principal from their investments. Wisely, our diocesan leadership is trying to help them by cutting
the diocesan budget and putting more money into the hands of the churches. “Coincidentally” the amount of our
reduction is almost exactly the amount of our increase in outreach. More, while the number of pledge units is
down (we have had a lot of funerals) the average amount is substantially increased. God provides. The joy here is
the Spirit in whom we have been able to come together to be good stewards.

Vestry If you are blessed enough to be asked and elected to run for vestry, we truly are a team of committed
Christian friends. Each of us comes, prays, give and works. We are good stewards of each other and a safe place
to ask and offer. There is a sweet spirit in that chapel and I thank God.

Staff It is a privilege to come to work because each and every member of the staff puts God first and does the
next right thing for God, for St Paul’s and their commitments, in that order. Everyone puts in above and beyond
the call of duty, so we can support each other when needs arise. (And, with common sense and a sense of
humor!)

Paul Sardelli I wasn’t going to mention any names at all, in order to put all the focus on God. But, you may not
know how hard, and how beautifully, he and Bill work to keep this place lovingly repaired and running. I wonder
how much of our budget triumph is due directly to Paul, Bill, Deb, Todd, Bobby, every member of the vestry and
frankly, every member of this church who put God first.

Sorrow and Joy flow intermingled. That is life. It is also LIFE. What is God’s will for us? In the beginning of June, 27
people were Confirmed/Received/Reaffirmed their faith at the Old Narragansett Church. 27 people at ONC!! It
was a darkening evening illuminated by colonial candlesticks (from Williamsburg, Virginia) on our colonial New
England altar. The antiquity of the gentle glow enhanced the sense of timelessness as it shone on the Bishop’s
ring of his outstretched hand as he reached to offer aid to each strong and trembling soul. But in that twinkling
light, I saw only a different outstretched hand and a blaze of glory. My Mother died a few days before. After a
happy, healthy, hopeful, active day she died as she lived, saying her prayers. Her lovely hand was peacefully open
on top of a piece of Daddy’s stationery on which she had written Psalm 23, the Lord’s Prayer and her favorite
Bible verse. As the light reflected on her wedding ring, the soul’s eye could see her hand being gently clasped and
drawn forward to share in another new chapter by another Bishop who had already made the transformation.
Her bookmark, a yellow ribbon with silver ends, was in her fingers. As her initials are engraved on one side and
mine on the other, the message is meant for all of us. The gentle light of this life’s joy is a sacrament moving us to
the blazing glory of eternal life within the heart of God himself.

What is the will of God for us? I do not presume to know the answer, but I am so grateful that we are joined in
prayer together to ask. We are “led by cords of compassion”. According to Mother who prayed for us every day
and tithed to St Paul’s and to St. Paul himself:

“Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for
you.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Thank God for God and for each and every one of you, including those we do not know. God Bless You,
Always.

The Rev. Canon Virginia Heistand

5.
 Wardens’ Report

"O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on us as we begin another year. Grant that we
may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen our trust in your goodness all the days of our life; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

It has been our pleasure to serve on the Vestry of St. Paul’s Church in 2017.

There is a lot of behind the scenes work that is done to keep our church in service. Jesus’ words were that we
should love one another. Love takes many forms and one of these is service to another. The vestry is a group
dedicated to service to St. Paul’s, both members and non members of our community.

We are a vestry that tries to be directed by prayer and focus on God’s word as revealed to us in the Holy Bible.
We are blessed with the following gifts:

Increase of Outreach

Successful budget for 2018

27 Confirmations at Old Narragansett Church

Our hardworking staff at St. Paul’s: Canon Virginia Wilson, Ms. Deb Mahoney, Mr. Bill Healey, Dr. Todd
Borgerding, Mr. Bobby Tallman,

Paul Sardelli for property management

Mobile Loaves & Fishes of R.I., Christmas Baskets, Christian Action, Worship Services, Priests, acolytes, ushers,
greeters, chalice bearers, readers, altar guild, music ministries, Education for Ministry and Bible studies.

We are blessed that St. Paul’s continues to be a positive element in the community that we live in and to
others living outside of our community.

Yours in Christ,

Tom Spink, Senior Warden

Amy Sutton, Junior Warden

6.
 Annual Report: Music at St. Paul’s 2017
In the past year we have continued the tradition at St. Paul’s of offering to God our best in word, deed, and
music. The Parish Choir, an inspiring model of devotion, met weekly on Thursday evenings from September
through May, led congregational singing at the 9:30 Holy Eucharist on Sundays, Christmas, Holy Week, as and
offered Evensong on several occasions. The choir does not have regular rehearsals during the summer, but
many members join me in the gallery at Old Narragansett Church on Sunday mornings. You may notice new
faces in the choir gallery on Sundays. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, we are offering
stipend choral scholarships to a few area college students who rehearse and sing on Sundays with the choir.
I’m very excited about this new program, since it allows us to bring musicians from outside our fold into the
St. Paul’s community—it's a form of evangelization—as well as provides much needed support for the basses
and tenors of our very faithful choir. We’ve been joined on several Sundays by talented members of St.
Paul’s, including Joan Lawson, who brings her friends and hand bells on occasion, and Pat Peterson, who
offers special music on the violin and viola on occasion.

Saturday music continues to be provided on many weeks by Buddy Cavaleri and Ray Jorgensen, but we are
always looking for more people to offer music at that service. The young choristers sang this past Spring,
and I’ve been working with children on Sunday mornings, working on building numbers to where we can
once again hear them from the gallery.

Upstairs in the gallery, we’ve improved things a bit by installing proper choir pews for our singers (who had
been sitting on folding chairs for oh so many years), together with risers, which improves both sound and
sight lines. We are very grateful to an anonymous donor who made this possible. And the organ is
scheduled to be cleaned this Spring. The organ builder assures me that this will be done with minima impact
for us.

In the past year we’ve also established a tradition of offering concerts in the church presented by
professional musicians. There will continue to be about four of these concerts each year, free and open to
the public. It is another way that St. Paul’s reaches out to the community, and brings people into the church
who might not otherwise come. I’m personally grateful to the musicians who perform for next to nothing
(we take a free-will offering for them) and offer us the highest quality music in a beautiful sacred space.

I’m grateful for the support I’ve received from the Rector, the Vestry, and all of the members of St. Paul’s,
and I look forward to another year of music in the service of God.

Submitted by Dr. Todd Borgerding,

Director of Music and Organist

7.
 St. Paul’s Sunday School

Our focus with Sunday School is to examine and discuss where we see God in our daily lives. We have
examined that question by discussing our stewardship of Gods creation, how we are never alone, and how
God always cares for us. We examined how God speaks to us, and how God is always with us.

Our classes had a wonderful Harvest Breakfast in the Fall and a Pancake Breakfast in the Spring, they also
baked cookies for Loaves and Fishes, RI. The classes helped with Christmas basket and put on a lovely
Christmas pageant in December. The purpose of the Sunday School 9:00 am start time is to allow the chil-
dren to attend Sunday school, then be full participants in church at the 9:30 am service. The children
responded by becoming Acolytes, Ushers, and Greeters at our 9:30 service we would love to expand their
participation in worship. We hope to continue this participation trend throughout the year. The children
who wish to be full participants in Church have the opportunity to do so by leaving Sunday school early. We
have launched this year’s Emmaus class.

When we examine where God is in our lives we build in an examination of how Bible study can help us,
and how leveraging the Book of Common Prayer every day can lead us to see where God is. The 2017 class
was confirmed in a very special service just for St. Paul’s in the Old Narragansett Church. Our youth lead 24
adults to confirm their faith with us! We have a smart and eager class learning about where God is in there
lives and how they can fit into St. Paul’s church as confirmed adults. In all of Sunday School Education we
put God first. We learn about where God is in our lives, how we can speak and pray to Him, and that we are
never alone. I look forward to finding God at our Sunday school in 2018.

Thank You,

Matthew DiTomasso

8.
 St. Paul’s Christmas Food Basket Project for 2017

This Christmas over 200 volunteers and many more donors positively touched the hearts and lives, of 404
North Kingstown residents by donating, sorting and packing, and delivering over 7 tons of food. Because of
your generosity 107 households in town did not go hungry, but were well fed with nutritious food for many
days.

With kids on school vacation, that means no free school lunches and breakfasts. How do you feed them?
Imagine how you would feel, facing a holiday with minimal gifts, if any, and maybe a PB & J to eat, vs., being
able to joyously present a great feast to your whole family and maybe some hungry friends. What a difference
your gift has made, nourishing not only the body, but also the mind and spirit.

This is truly a community effort. Food comes from parishioner donations in December, the NK Food Pantry,
Dave’s and Roch’s Markets. Financial donations are very important, St. Paul’s purchases ALL the perishable
food, but also completing the long list of non-perishables so that all 107 families receive equally.

We thank the several hundred volunteers who took time from their hectic schedules to help with this project
and those who donated money or food along with the dedicated group that works behind the scenes to
organize and prepare for the “Magical 24-hours”. Manpower comes from St. Paul’s parishioners, local church
confirmation classes, high school and college students, Boy and Girl Scout troops, and neighbors who just want
to help. From 2 to 92, each person pitches in somehow. Like a 24 hour tidal wave, from 3pm to 3pm, the empty
parish house is filled with tables, 450 boxes built, non-perishables and perishables are picked up, hauled to the
parish house, and divided, each family’s food is inventoried and packed. Energetic youth follow the truck
through several housing areas, methodically delivering most of the gifts to seniors and families. Volunteers
deliver the remaining boxes to homes throughout town. Meanwhile others stay behind for boxes being picked
up, break down of tables, and to clean up. It’s an interesting 24 hours of organized chaos.

This is a great example of the saying “Many hands make for light work”. There is no way that a few, or even 50,
could do this. Bless you and thank you to all who helped support your community, as living examples of Christ.

Thank you,

From the St. Paul’s Christmas Basket Team: Gidget Loomis, Camilla deRochambeau, Walter Burrows, Sarah
Rosendale, Chuck Ebersole, Gail Broome, Pat Peterson, Amy Sutton and Pinkie Sweet-Holland

The following note was printed on the Volunteer Participation Sheet:

“I can only donate $1 today. I am a disabled single mom of 2 teen-girls, 1 in college. I have used the food banks
many times and wanted to give something back. I’m sorry I can’t afford more! Thank-you for letting me join
your services at church.”

From Mark 12: A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His
disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to
the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had
to live on.”

9.
 Christian Action Committee
Donations totaling $12,400 were made from the committee’s portion of Saint Paul’s outreach budget for
2017. These donations are listed below according to the general need being met, while recognizing that
some ministries address a broad range of needs that overlap.

CHILDREN $2,900 23.4%

City Camp 500
Saint Mary’s Home for Children (Christmas gifts) 900
Southern Poverty Law Center (Teaching Tolerance Program) 500
Washington County Coalition for Children 1,000

HOMELESS/NEEDY $1,500 12.1%

R.I. Good Neighbor Energy Fund 500
South Providence Neighborhood Ministries 500
Welcome House 500

HUNGER $3,000 24.2%

The Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale 500
Loaves and Fishes of Rhode Island (Emmanuel House meals) 1,000
North Kingstown Food Pantry 500
Rhode Island Community Food Bank 500
WARM 500

INTERNATIONAL $3,000 24.2%

Episcopal Relief and Development (East Africa famine relief) 1,000
International Rescue Committee 1,000
Save the Children (South Asia monsoon flood relief) 1,000

OTHER $2,000 16.1%

Episcopal Relief & Development (hurricanes Harvey & Irma relief) 1,000
South County Habitat for Humanity 1,000

In addition to overseeing distribution of funds for outreach programs, members of the committee remained
committed to various activities as individuals and as a group. Our parish continues its participation in the
Loaves & Fishes RI program, which provides food and clothing to the homeless. In addition to supporting a
monthly run of the LFRI food truck, an evening meal is provided once a month to the homeless men staying
the night at the Emmanuel House shelter. Various parish groups, as well as a few individual families, take
responsibility for one of these meals. On every trip to the shelter, we provide food for 70+ men, so we
provide 140+ meals monthly. Over 100 parishioners have donated food and participated in other ways.
Funding from the Christian Action budget helps support this program’s expenses which are not covered by
the many parishioners who are participating in this ministry.

Respectfully submitted,

Peggy A. Sagnella, Chairperson

10.