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Annual Report
2020
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church aspires to be a loving community
of worship, education, and outreach bearing witness to
Christ’s redeeming grace.
Connect with Us:
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Clergy and Staff
The Rev. Dr. James M. Pevehouse
Locum Tenens
The Rev. Brandon McGinnis
Curate
The Rev. Deacon Alberto Melis
Deacon
The Rev. Keith Pozzuto
College Missioner
The Rev. John Wells
Retired Associate Priest
The Rev. Frank Mangum
Retired Associate Priest
Lisa St. Romain
Director of Children and Family Ministry
Sara Allison
Director of Youth Ministry
Dorothy Fisher
Chief of Staff and Parish Administrator
Brandi Goddard
Missioner for Office Management
Sarah Martin
Missioner for Communications and Membership
Paul Hicks
Sexton
Charles Watson
Assisting Sexton
Willie Sergent
Retired Sexton Emeritus
Staff Continued
Lauren Weber
9:00 AM Principal Conductor/Joyful Noise
Choir
Jenna Hernandez
11:00 AM Principal Conductor/Chancel Choir
Dr. Jeffrey Peterson
Principal Organist
Liz Dover
Nursery Attendant
M’Lissa Howen
Head of School
2020 Vestry
Curtis Cleveland, Senior Warden/Executive
Committee
Robert Braswell, Junior Warden/Executive
Committee
Chet Scheel, Treasurer/Executive Committee
Lance Harris, Clerk/Executive Committee
David Clinton
Megan Henderson
Justin Sage
Larry Lehr
Amy Grigsby
Catherine Adams
Amanda Kuehl
Bryce Adams
Lisa Clevenger
Debbie Haddad
John Moon
Michael Sullivan
515 Columbus Avenue
(Church Offices: 601 Columbus Avenue)
Waco, Texas 76701
Phone: (254) 753-4501 Fax: (254) 752–5511
Website: www.stpaulswaco.org
The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, Diocesan Bishop
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Table of Contents Clergy/Vestry/Staff Page…….………………………………………………………………..….2
Table of Contents ……...……………………………………………………………….…………3
2021 Annual Meeting Agenda ………………………………………………..……….………4-5
2020 Annual Meeting Minutes……………………………………………..…………..……….. 6
2020/2021 Budget………………………………………………………………………………..7
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s Annual Meeting Vestry Elections…………………..…………... 8
Current Vestry Members………………………………………….……………….8
Vestry Nominees……………………………………………….….…………...9-14
Voting Procedures………………………………………….……………………..…….…..…..15
Reports ………………………………………………………………………….……………... 16
Locum Tenens Report……………………………………….….…………….17-19
Curate’s Report……………………………………………………………….20-22
Sr. Warden’s Report…………………………………………………………..22-23
Jr. Warden’s Report………………………………………………..…………23-24
Program Staff Reports………………………………………….……….……......25
General Reports…………………………………………………………...….26-27
2020 Statistics………………………………………………………………………..………….28
Comparisons…………………………………………………………………………...………..29
Easter and Christmas Attendance…………………………………...……………29
2020 Marriages/Burials/Baptisms………………………………………………….…………...29
2020 Confirmations/Receptions/Renewals/Transfers……...………………..…….……………30
St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School…………………………………………………………….31-32
Notes………………………………………………..…………………………….…………33-35
2021 Office Holiday Closure Schedule…………………………………………………………36
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St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Waco, TX
2021 Parish Annual Meeting Agenda
Sunday, January 24, 2021, 1:00 PM
Virtual Meeting on ZOOM
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church aspires to be a loving community of worship, education, and outreach bearing
witness to Christ’s redeeming grace.
Only members in Good Standing have voice and vote, unless recognized by the Chair.
1:00 PM OPEN WITH PRAYER The Rev. James M. Pevehouse, Locum Tenens and Chair
"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."
I. Chair Appoints Secretary of the Annual Meeting Mr. Lance Harris, Clerk
“Move to Accept”
II. Chair Appoints Parliamentarian Mr. Andy McSwain, Parish Chancellor “Move to Accept”
III. Certification of the Quorum Mr. Lance Harris, Clerk
IV. Motion to Accept the Consent Calendar (meaning no more action is needed)
“Move to Accept the Consent Calendar”
CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Acceptance that the 2021 Annual Meeting for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is an online
meeting through Zoom and all votes will be taken electronically. B. Acceptance of the agenda. C. Acceptance of all written reports to be entered into the permanent record. D. Enter into the written record the financial statements of 2020.
V. Motion to approve 2020 Minutes “Move to Accept the Minutes.”
I. Election Process Vote for the one fulfilling the unexpired vestry term.
Vote for the five and only five new vestry candidates. First Ballot must receive 50% + 1 for election. Second Ballot must receive 50% + 1 for election. The Chair will entertain motions for subsequent ballots. Introduction of Candidates by Mr. Curtis Cleveland.
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BALLOTS ARE CAST.
Motion to suspend voting and elect by acclamation.
VI. Locum Tenens’s Address- The Rev. James M. Pevehouse VII. Curate’s Address--The Rev. Brandon S. McGinnis VIII. Senior Warden’s Address- Mr. Curtis Cleveland
Recognition of outgoing Vestry members
VIII. Junior Warden’s Address- Mr. Robert Braswell IX. Financial Report
General Remarks- Mr. Chet Scheel, Treasurer
Endowments and Income- Mr. Tod Swann X. St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School Address
Mrs. Kathleen Guy, Board of Trustee President
Motion to accept the new Board of Trustees 2021 members as presented.
Mrs. M’Lissa Howen, Head of School Address
Mrs. Dorothy Marstaller, - School Finances
· All other reports from committees or guilds are filed in the journal.
OLD BUSINESS- NONE
XI. Introduction of Deputies to Diocesan Council and final remarks- Dr. David Clinton
XII. Parish Meeting – Sunday, January 23, 2022 XIII. Closing Prayer – The Rev. Brandon S. McGinnis
Adjournment
New Vestry meets for a Zoom meeting at 2:30 PM
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2020 Annual Parish Meeting Minutes
St. Paul’s Annual Parish Meeting Minutes
January 19, 2020
Opening Prayer The Rev. Brandon McGinnis, Curate
I. Chair Appoints Secretary of the Annual Meeting Mr. Lance Harris (Vestry Clerk Pam Compton was unable to be at the Annual Meeting). unanimously approved.
II. Chair Appoints Parliamentarian James Rainey, Member of the Vestry; unanimously approved. III. Certification of the Quorum: Mr. Lance Harris
IV. Action item: Acceptance of the Consent Calendar, unanimously approved. V. Action item: Acceptance of the 2019 minutes, unanimously approved.
VI. Vestry Elections: Candidates: Amanda Kuehl (filling an unexpired term), Bryce Adams, Lisa Clevenger, Debbie Haddad, John Moon, and Michael Sullivan
a. Motion to suspend voting and elect by acclimation. Unanimously approved. b. Vestry slate unanimously approved.
VII. Rector’s Address- The Rev. Raymond Joe Waldon a. Fr. Ray spoke about his health situation. Before leaving the meeting, he announced Sr.
Warden, Curtis Cleveland, agreed to serve an extra year as Sr. Warden. Fr. James was
appointed to be responsible for the Pastoral Care of the Parish. Curtis Cleveland then
was appointed chair for the rest of the meeting.
VIII. Senior Warden’s Report – Curtis Cleveland
IX. Junior Warden’s Report – Robert Braswell
X. Financial Report
a. General Remarks, Megan Henderson, Treasurer b. Endowments and Income, Tod Swann
XI. St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School Address a. Laura Indergard, Board of Trustee President
Presented the slate for 2020 Board of Trustees candidates: Michael Alexander, Alison
Harkins, Devin Mejia, Dorothy Marstaller, Newman Richards. Unanimously approved
by acclimation
XII. Old Business - None
XIII. Diocesan Council Representatives a. Introduction of Delegates – Curtis Cleveland b. St. Paul’s Delegates – Curtis Cleveland, Robert Braswell, Heyward Green, Mary
Wentworth, and Lance Harris – Alternate.
XIV. Final words and closing prayer – The Rev. James M. Pevehouse
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2020/2021 Budget
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St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s Annual
Meeting Vestry Election January 24, 2021
Current Vestry Members
Term Ends 2021
Curtis Cleveland, Sr. Warden
Robert Braswell, Jr. Warden
Lance Harris
Megan Henderson
Justin Sage
David Clinton
Term Ends 2022
Amanda Kuehl
Larry Lehr
Amy Grigsby
Chet Scheel, Treasurer
Catherine Adams
Term Ends 2023
Bryce Adams
Lisa Clevenger
Debbie Haddad
John Moon
Michael Sullivan
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Vestry Nominees
Suzanne Alexander
Gina Ford
K. Paul Holt
Suzy Nettles
Erika Perzan
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Suzanne Alexander
Has been a member of St. Paul’s for 15 years.
Ministry Statement: Both individually and as St. Paul’s parish, we
have experienced tremendous change in the course of the last year.
From the departure of Fr. Ray to a need to move to an online worship
format, the family that is St. Paul’s has continued to love and support
one another. I would be honored to serve on the Vestry as we call a new
Rector and think about how to continue to build our community in
Christ now and into the future when we can safely gather in greater
numbers.
Activities at St. Paul’s:
• Has served on the Vestry twice serving as Recording Secretary, Clerk, and as Treasurer.
• Has previously taught Godly Play.
• Chaired a Search Committee.
Other Activities:
• Currently serves on the Diocesan Commission on Ministry
• Served on a Search Committee and on the Vestry at Trinity Episcopal Church in Houston
• Taught Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at Trinity
• Sang in the choir at Trinity
• Currently Treasurer of the Waco Symphony Council
• Member of the Executive Board of the Waco Symphony Association
Bio:
My husband, Michael, and I moved to Waco in 2006 and shortly thereafter joined St. Paul’s with our son, John.
We experienced a warm welcome here and have been worshipping with this wonderful community ever since.
With John, we have two other adult sons (Reed and Will) and are looking forward to the time later this year when
we can travel to see each of them!
I have spent the majority of my professional career working in the field of Human Resources. For the last 17 years
I have been at FTI Consulting, a global consulting company based in Washington, DC, where I am the Vice
President of HR Operations. Before the virus, I was traveling to DC a few times each month but don’t foresee that
we will return to that level of travel post vaccine. The opportunity to work closely with our teams around the world
has truly increased my understanding of many different cultures.
When John left for college in 2016, I spent a fair amount of time reflecting on where to focus my interests in the
coming years. Being a mom was and is a central part of who I have been for the last 35 years. While that will
always be the case, it doesn’t require the time it did when the boys were at home with us. What I discovered is that
I feel called to use the skills I’ve learned in the professional world to help others in our church and community.
In 2019, I accepted a request to serve on the Diocesan Commission on Ministry. This has been a fantastic
opportunity to see how the diocese works with those who have discerned a call to the priesthood. The deep faith
and commitment of many in our diocese is wonderfully evident in the workings of this group.
As I read the recent requests for Vestry nominations in the bulletins, I began to wonder if it was time for me to
consider serving in this capacity again. I filled an unexpired term on the St. Paul’s Vestry in 2011 when I served as
Treasurer and then served again from 2013-2015. I also chaired the Search Committee that called Fr. Ray. The
sense that now is the time to again offer to participate in church leadership has grown stronger as the days have
passed. If those at St. Paul’s agree, I would be honored to join the Vestry once again.
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Gina Ford Has been a member of St. Paul’s for 15 years.
Ministry Statement: I’ve never gone out for a run or race and
regretted it. Granted, some runs have been tough, or the road
conditions poor, but putting in the work and completing the miles is
wonderful, and I enjoy the sense of accomplishment. The same will
be true for serving on the Vestry if the members of St. Paul’s choose
me. I will be honored to participate whatever the future holds for our
church, and I will commit to serving with all of our parishioners in
mind. And just like running, I’ve never walked into our lovely
church and ever regretted my time spent here, and I hope to help St.
Paul’s accomplish the goals Jesus has set before us.
Activities at St. Paul’s:
• Previous Vestry service
• Altar Guild
• Benedictine Study Group
• Outreach Committee
• Stewardship Committee
Bio:
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times (Charles Dickens). Or how I spent my 2020 would be an
appropriate way to introduce myself to St. Paul’s.
The virus caused me to cancel all of the vacations my family and I had planned, and I love to travel,
especially scuba diving in the Caribbean. It also canceled or postponed many 5k and ½ marathons that I
always look forward to running. Granted, I have the speed of a tortoise, but running is a sport that usually
has tacos at the finish line (Yum).
On a positive note, the down time allowed me to read more of the 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime that I
have challenged myself to do, explore more of the Cameron Park Trails, work on my short game on the
golf course, and spoil my dogs Leia and Lucky rotten.
My husband Brian, and children Ryan, Lauren, and Alec are the joys of my life, and we look forward to a
wonderful 2021 with all the ups and downs it will inevitably have.
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K. Paul Holt
Has been a member of St. Paul’s for 40+ years.
Ministry Statement: St. Paul’s Parish has been my spiritual home for
well over forty years, and it’s a place I cherish. With over forty years in
non-profit management and fiscal responsibility, it seemed appropriate
to offer my time and talent to the parish during this exceedingly lean
time.
Activities at St. Paul’s:
• Lay Reader/Lay Eucharistic Minister since 1984
• Attendee and later registrar for Laity Lodge Retreats 1990-2007 or so
• Beginnings Sunday School co-teacher 1990’s -2000’s
• Diocese of Texas Commission on Alcohol & Drug ~1992-94
• St. Paul’s Vestry 1995-1997
• St. Paul’s Vestry 2010-2012, Treasurer 2012
• Mission Waco Thanksgiving Luncheon, since inception, missed one.
• Farewell Roaster for Rayford B. High, Jr. and Chuck Treadwell
Bio:
St. Paul’s has been my church home since the latter 1970’s. Started attending 8 am service when Bill Littleton was
Rector, and was in the first confirmation class when Rayford B. High, Jr. became Rector. We have been active in the
life of the Parish since that time, participating in Annual Parish Meetings, and providing baked goods upon request.
It has been my privilege to become a Lay Reader in 1984 and later a Lay Eucharistic Minister. My favourite services
are the Great Vigil, early Easter Sunday, and late Christmas Eve Mass. The beauty of the Prayers of Rite I are why I
wanted to become a Lay Reader. For many years, served at the 8 am service 2-3 times per month. We have continued
lay reading as a joy and offering to each Rector and take pride in helping “visiting” clergy feel at home behind the
rail.
Donna G. Miller and I were married at St. Paul’s 14 October 1989, and that began a much deeper involvement and
commitment to the Parish. Under the leadership of Mother Merry I. Rideout and Andy McSwain, I joined as a co-
teacher for the Beginnings Sunday School Class. This class started about 1990 or so, and that fulfilled a promise to
Donna to help get a couple’s Bible Study going so we could attend the 9 am service instead of 11 am.
It has been a joy to participate in the annual Mission Waco Thanksgiving Luncheon and have baked rolls for all but
one of them. Have served for all but one of them. It was terrible unfortunate that we could not hold that luncheon this
year.
My first tour of duty on the Vestry was 1995-97, and we made the Parish facilities smoke free. Chet Scheel and I
replaced the “ropes” on the bell in the belfry and discovered that there was but ONE bell, cast in 1875. Belief was that
there were two, but our single bell had two methods of being rung. Second tour was 2010-12 where we paid off a
construction note and paid down on the office building that was “interest only” for way too many years.
That was followed by conscription as treasurer of the School Board where we adopted much more reasonable
budgeting and disbursement standards to bring the income and expenses back into line.
St. Paul’s Parish is a place that I love and love to serve. It is a place where I love to worship, find renewal and
spiritual direction, and serve the Parish.
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Suzy Nettles Has been a member of St. Paul’s for 21 years.
Ministry Statement: I believe that St. Paul’s is positioned
at the dawn of a new reawakening for our parish. With an
active search for a new rector, and the deep connections many
have made during this time of pandemic, where we have had to
stretch ourselves to stay in communion with one another, I believe
we are a newly energized flock ready to take flight for Christ.
Activities at St. Paul’s:
• Lay Eucharistic Minister
• Lay Eucharistic Visitor
• Past Vestry Member
• Altar Guild
• Past Rector Search Committee
Member
• Youth Christian Formation
• EYC volunteer and chaperone on
three mission trips
• VBS volunteer and coordinator
Other Activities
• Meals on Wheels volunteer (Driver Coordinator for eight years)
• Former St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School teacher
Bio:
I have been a member at St. Paul’s for the past 21 years, having “defected” from the Baptist church. I
have been a resident of Waco since I arrived at Baylor in 1982. I am blessed to be married to Richard for
the past 34 years, and have three grown children who all grew up at St. Paul’s and still call it home.
(One of those kiddos is making me a grandmother Easter weekend 2021!)
I was a teacher for Waco ISD (Parkdale Elementary) for ten years before starting an odyssey of work
experiences: Stay-at-home mom, shop owner at Spice, started a catering company, invented a hair clip
(I have a patent!), started a cooking school for kids and franchised over 150 locations worldwide, and
finally back to teacher at our own St. Paul’s Day School. I am newly retired from teaching there, but
have been thrilled with some unique opportunities to work with students online who have needed to stay
out of the classroom due to health issues. I am eagerly anticipating adding on to my group for the spring
semester, yet hopeful all students will be able to safely get back to the classroom as soon as possible.
St. Paul’s has been an engaging, inspiring, challenging, and enduring force in my life through the years.
God has blessed me deeply with experiences and people who have walked with me in my own spiritual
path. It is my hope that I can be helpful to the leadership of our church if it is God’s desire for me to do
so.
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Erika Perzan
Has been a member of St. Paul’s for 7 years.
Ministry Statement: I feel called to serve on the Vestry at
St. Paul’s as a compliment to my participation in worship, spiritual
formation activities, Lay Committee, and our Rector Search Committee
efforts. Joining the Vestry is an opportunity to be part of the new
Rector’s journey in a deeper way. I am also excited to engage in the
conversation regarding what church might look like post-COVID.
Activities at St. Paul’s:
• Family Life Group
• Lay Committee 2019 – 2020
• Episcobasics Teacher 2020
• Friendsgiving Coordinators 2018, 2019
• Stewardship Committee 2019
• Rector Search Committee 2020 - 2021
Bio:
Erika Perzan was confirmed into the Episcopal Church in 2013 at St. Paul’s Waco. She moved here from Boston,
Massachusetts where she was an active attendee at Trinity Church in Copley Square. Her sister and family live in
Hewitt and were the main reason for her and her spouse to move to Central Texas.
Dr. Perzan is a Board-Certified Medical Optometrist and serves our local Veterans as the Supervisory Optometrist
at the Doris Miller VAMC Eye Clinic in Waco, Texas. Erika was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and was raised in
the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) Church. Erika has enjoyed raising her five-year-old son, Enzo,
as an Episcopalian at St. Paul’s and introducing him to the Way of Love and the mysteries of faith.
Erika is an active participant in our Family Life Group and has helped coordinate the semi-annual Friendsgiving
event at St. Paul’s (2018, 2019). She has served our church family as a participant on the Lay Committee (2019-
2020), the Stewardship Committee (2020), and the Rector Search Committee (2020-2021). She was also a guest
Episcobasics Teacher and participant (2020).
Erika is excited about St. Paul’s and the way we anchor our church, our parishioners, and our visitors with Texas
hospitality and an open door. She sees St. Paul’s as a steadfast community that has lots of opportunities for its
members and visitors to engage in personal and meaningful ways. One strength of St. Paul’s she really admires is
our understanding of the inevitability of change while honoring our faith practice through ritual and tradition.
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Voting Procedures
Eligible Voters
Sixteen years of age or older
Confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church at St. Paul’s
Episcopal Church
Confirmed or received members who transferred to St. Paul’s
Episcopal Church from another parish
In good standing — having attended the Eucharist three times in
the past year
Number of votes needed to elect
One half the number of ballots, plus one.
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Reports
Locum Tenens Reports…………………………….17-19
Curate’s Report………………………………………..20-22
Sr. Warden’s Report………………………….………22-23
Jr. Warden’s Report………………………..…………23-24
Program Staff Reports…………………………..……….25
General Reports……………………………………..….26-27
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Locum Tenens Report
As I write my report this year, it seems way too simple and far too trite to
say this past year has been a challenging one. St. Paul’s challenges began at
last year’s annual meeting when Fr. Ray shared about his health condition
and the next steps that he and Lisa needed to take. As we grieved together,
we began imagining what this would mean for the rest of the year. Fr. Ray
and Lisa’s sudden departure was traumatic to our parish system. With parish
and diocesan support, the leadership’s plan was to help stabilize and bring
comfort to a shocked and grieving parish.
We could not have imagined that March 15th was going to be our last in-
person worship service for several months. COVID-19 spread across the world causing a pandemic, the likes
of which had not been seen for over a century. With only a couple days’ notice, clergy and lay staff
immediately began reimagining what worship would
have to look like for the coming days. A gift of grace
was seeing how adaptable this parish was as worship
continued in different ways. That was the first of many
reminders I have received this year of the resiliency of
St. Paul’s.
Our time apart stretched beyond a few weeks and we
all saw that the yearly celebration of Jesus’
resurrection on Easter was going to still take place, but
we would not be together in our beloved nave. We
began livestreaming our worship services with a
simple iPhone. The vestry began imagining what could be possible with livestreaming worship services and
chose to invest resources in enhancing our capabilities. This kind of courageous leadership showed we
believed we could still thrive during this time.
We continued to worship together as we remained flexible and adapted throughout the late spring and
summer. We returned to in-person worship at the end of August. Our beautiful courtyard provided a space
where those who wanted to gather in-person could do so
in a safe way. After six weeks of outside worship, we
transitioned back into our nave. Health restrictions
meant our gathering was still not in a “normal” way.
However, throughout the weeks of the Fall, St. Paul’s
made witness to its resiliency and adaptability.
Beginning in December, and continuing even now in
Waco/McLennan County, we have seen a massive
increase in positive cases of COVID-19.
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The very freighting thing about this dramatic rise is the impact it
has had on our hospitals and health care workers. Because of this,
worship at St. Paul’s returned to a solely virtual format. This has
not been easy for any involved. Heartache has been felt and tears
have been shed. Yet, even through this, you all continue to be
resilient.
The resiliency of St. Paul’s, I believe, could only be possible
because of the deep and abiding faith of this parish. Being resilient
does not mean we court hardship or relish difficult moments. Even
as we struggle, we are still standing. In the midst of darkness, we
have remained faithful because God continues to enable us to be so.
I want to share now, examples of how your faithfulness continues to inspire me.
St. Paul’s has been blessed this past year with an incredible vestry. Our meetings had to be adapted, but we
worked together to stay faithful to the ministry here at St. Paul’s. I am so thankful for our Sr. Warden and Jr.
Warden, Curtis Cleveland and Robert Braswell. Their love for St. Paul’s and their faithfulness to God has
been a gift this year.
Praying together has been a significant aspect of St. Paul’s
response to this past year. Praying together the daily office has
become a regular part of worship. Program staff and lay members
have led daily prayer using the technology that is available. This
is another example of the adaptability and resiliency at St. Paul’s.
Beginning August 2 and for the next six weeks, St. Paul’s
continued the ministry of baptism. It was certainly different. Each
Sunday, one family joined the clergy in the courtyard as this
sacrament was celebrated. Many participated through livestream,
but all of us witnessed how we continued to find ways to live into
the ongoing life and ministry God has called us to.
I am so grateful for our musicians at St. Paul’s. Lauren
Weber, Jenna Hernandez, and Dr. Jeffrey Peterson continue
to offer their talents up to God. This fall we witnessed two
services of Evensong, a virtual parish hymn sing, and a
service of Advent Lessons and Carols. They adapted to how
life had to look through a pandemic. Looking at the numbers
of online participants and comments made, I know the
musical worship offered was a balm to many.
Formation opportunities continued this Fall. Adult, family,
youth, and children formation still took place. All had to lean into the frustrations of learning how to use
technology and what happens when things don’t work as they should. Our faithfulness was evident in
continuing to show up and try.
Ongoing pastoral care needs in COVID-19 meant we had to think creatively how to still minister. The vestry
led by regularly calling parishioners. Fr. Brandon and I wrote many cards and made numerable phone calls.
Some of our beloved parishioners died this past year, and we could not gather in a way that we would so
wish. Though certainly different, we did work together to join in prayer, be present in time of need, and mark
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when life in this age ended. These moments were hard, yet I believe God’s grace was given to us in these
moments of desperate need.
The office staff at St. Paul’s has been a source of encouragement to me this year. We have tried to remain
responsive to the needs of an active parish. Hours had to be adjusted, and how we worked together had to be
rethought, yet our staff was flexible and continued to serve our parish community.
Much gratitude is offered for our St. Paul’s School. Our school board of trustees, head of school, M’Lissa
Howen, faculty, and staff could not have imagined what was going to happen when all headed into spring
break last spring. Another example of resilient faith is found in our school. Faculty and staff continue to love
and serve all who come through our school. Untold hours have been spent rearranging classrooms and
planning for innumerable contingencies. St. Paul’s School, a
core ministry of St. Paul’s, has remained such an example of
faithful ministry. If you have not, please reach out to our
wonderful school board, faculty, and staff to share and show
your gratefulness for their ministry.
I cannot begin to tell you all how proud I am of St. Paul’s when
I think of how you served in our Mission Waco Thanksgiving
offering and our Angel Tree ministry. I must say I was blown
away by how you all resiliently showed up to minister to those
in need. What a joy it was to watch you live out your faith!
Thank you for continuing to say yes to God.
2020 was a year full of challenges that staggered us. We are still living with pain and heartache. As I have
shared before, I hurt because I know this parish, for whom I deeply care, is hurting. I have made decisions,
though I believe were necessary and faithful in responding to COVID-19, that have not pleased everyone.
Some of you have shared your disagreement and some your affirmation. Through it all, St. Paul’s remains
because God is with us. I could not have imagined what 2020 would look like as it began, but I will always
be grateful to God for this year of ministry and life we have shared together. I hope you always remember
how special St. Paul’s is.
I personally want to share how thankful I am for this parish as you have loved on Brandy, William, Samuel,
James, and me this year, especially as we grieved and continue to grieve the sudden death of my brother,
Dylan. You all did what you always do—share the love and grace of God because it is such a part of who
you are.
I cannot end my report without sharing how incredibly grateful I am for
Brandy and our boys. On the days that were dark and difficult, she has
been my constant companion. On the days in which my spirits soared, she
was the first to celebrate with me. Serving in ministry at St. Paul’s has
been another opportunity to live into the calling God has placed on my
life. I could not imagine following God’s call without Brandy’s love and
support. I give thanks to God for the gift of grace you have been and
continue to be in my life, Brandy, my love.
Faithfully,
The Rev. Dr. James M. Pevehouse
Locum Tenens, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Waco, TX
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Curate’s Report
It has been almost a year since I was ordained a priest in God’s one holy,
catholic, and apostolic Church. As the reader well knows, much has
happened in that time. Between Fr. Ray’s sudden departure in January and
the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic shortly thereafter, my first year of
priesthood has looked radically different than I had ever expected. I’ve said
it before, and I’ll say it again: They didn’t put this stuff in the brochure for
seminary.
For me, the year 2020 at St. Paul’s is best described as an
interregnum: a time between rulers or rules. Let me explain
what I mean by that. The title “rector” comes from the Latin
word for ruler (i.e. the rector is the one who “rules” the parish
on behalf of the bishop, giving it order). So, in a very literal
sense, with the loss of its rector, St. Paul’s entered an
interregnum at the parish level. But, when COVID-19 rapidly
spread around the globe, the whole world suddenly lost its
familiar sense of order and the rule of normalcy came to an
abrupt and bitter end. So, in a more figurative sense, under the
affliction of the pandemic, St. Paul’s also entered an
interregnum at the global level. And, yet, by the glorious grace
of God, the ministry of St. Paul’s continued in the double interregnum of 2020.
I think what I’ll remember most about how the COVID-19
pandemic affected St. Paul’s is how it disrupted and
transformed corporate worship. As a new priest, I could
count on my hands the number of times I had presided at
the altar for Holy Eucharist before the virus made such
sacramental gatherings impossibly unsafe. But even though
COVID-19 forced the church campus to close, worship was
never canceled.
St. Paul’s began livestreaming worship services less than a
week after campus closures were announced throughout the
diocese. From a humble beginning with Fr. James and I leading a spoken service of Morning Prayer using
only an iPhone and tripod in the chancel, to full Liturgies of the Word with organ and choir music captured
by five cameras discretely installed throughout the church, the digital worship life of St. Paul’s transformed
over the course of 2020. And this transformation brought St. Paul’s into the twenty-first century, seeing the
church outfitted with state-of-the-art livestreaming equipment meant to enable our digital outreach far
beyond the pandemic.
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In addition to campus-wide livestreaming and Zoom technologies
meant to empower virtual worship and online connection, St. Paul’s
also employed new technology as we began regathering in-person.
Using RSVPify to register parishioners for limited-capacity services
and contact trace if necessary, St. Paul’s resumed socially distanced
services of Holy Eucharist, first outside in the courtyard and then
inside in the nave as the infection and hospitalization rates allowed.
What is more, St. Paul’s also revived the noble Anglican practice of
praying the Daily Office each day of the week. The people of St.
Paul’s now have at least two services of prayer every day, morning
and evening. The reunion of weekly Holy Eucharist and the Daily
Office in the life of this parish is perhaps one of the best unforeseen
consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two of my “firsts” as a new priest occurred in the midst of the pandemic. I had the supreme joy of
performing my first baptisms in the church courtyard, and I officiated my first burial and committal services
at the columbarium. While these “firsts” looked very different
than I had imagined in seminary, the Holy Spirit showed up
and each liturgy was full of grace.
Like worship, pastoral care continued in a different way in the
interregnum. Despite restricted access to homes, hospitals, and
assisted living facilities, the St. Paul’s family stayed
connected: countless phone calls exchanged between
parishioners and clergy, hand-written cards and notes sent by
mail, and prayers said with the sick, the dying, and their
families via Zoom. At a time when the world was more
disconnected than ever, St. Paul’s held together in the bonds of
Christian love.
Formation also continued despite our inability to gather in
classrooms. Shortly after the pandemic forced the St. Paul’s
campus to close, I taught a class via Zoom titled “The
Threefold Rule,” which explored the relationship between
the Holy Eucharist, the Daily Office, and personal devotion.
Teaching this class revolutionized my own understanding of
the sacraments, of prayer, and of the importance of the
gathered community in the life of the Church. This class and
the Eucharistic famine during which it occurred will leave
an indelible mark on priesthood.
In the fall, I organized Episcobasics 2020, which enlisted the
knowledge and skill of a team of lay teachers and
culminated in the laying on of hands of nine people by
Bishop Ryan at her visitation in Advent. The Episcobasics 2020 class did something no other Christians have
done in the history of the Church: completing thirteen weeks of Christian instruction completely online
during a global pandemic. That is something to celebrate!
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In short, 2020 was an extraordinary year for ministry here at St. Paul’s. While I grieved the loss of Fr. Ray as
my mentor and while I have been perpetually challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been
indescribably thankful to serve as a priest in this parish. I am
immensely grateful for the leadership and counsel of Fr.
James, whose patient and steady presence as Locum Tenens
has been invaluable in guiding this parish through its double
interregnum, as well as in my formation as a priest. I am
encouraged by the faithfulness of this parish’s wardens and
vestry, its staff, and its lay leaders in the midst of great
adversity and disruptions. And I am hopeful for what Jesus
has in store for St. Paul’s in 2021 and beyond.
Grace + Peace,
The Rev. Brandon S. McGinnis
Curate
Sr. Warden’s Report
This reflection provides the Senior Warden with the opportunity to thank you
for the honor of serving as a member of great Vestry teams who have shown
their love for St. Paul’s. Completing my fourth year on the Vestry, the
memories that will always stay with me are the opportunity to work alongside
21 Vestry members, interim priest Father Bill Fowler, Rector Father Ray
Waldon, Father James Pevehouse serving as Locum Tenens, and Father
Brandon McGinnis, our Curate.
The most fulfilling blessing to me has been getting to know the Vestry
members these past four years. My charge to every member of the parish as
we move forward out of 2020 health restrictions is to consider serving on a
future Vestry. Bring your talents, whatever they may be, as a leader of St.
Paul’s Church to serve on the Vestry.
We have remained steady as a strong parish in 2020 because of the leadership shown the last three years by
Robert Braswell, David Clinton, Megan Henderson, Lance Harris, and Justin Sage. What a joy it has been
getting to work alongside these five parishioners as three-year Vestry members, and I would like to be one of
the first to say job well done. More important to me is that I will always value and enjoy a deepened friendship
with Robert, David, Megan, Lance, and Justin.
Everyone needs to say a word of thanks to our clergy – Father James, Father Brandon, Father Keith and Father
John; the church administrative staff – Dorothy, Brandi, and Sarah; fabulous youth/family ministers Lisa and
Sara; talented musicians - Lauren, Jenna, and Jeffrey; and Head of School M’Lissa Howen for keeping our
church and school operational and safe in 2020, even though we all are missing fellowship with each other.
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Your Vestry made a forward-thinking decision back in March to make a substantial investment in the
livestreaming capabilities of our church. We can all be proud of the progress made in ten months that allows
our parish to reach out to homebound members and outreach to the community. All of the special Christmas
services presented in December displayed the beauty of our nave with excellent audio presentations of prayer,
music, teaching, and worship.
For the second time in my tenure on the Vestry, we are in the middle of a new Rector search. You can be
assured that the Holy Spirit has empowered a wonderful search committee, who represent all age groups and
worship preferences within the parish. Please pray for your search committee, led by Boyce Brown as chair,
to move forward in 2021 with a spirit filled quest for our new rector, who has already been chosen by our Lord
to come to St. Paul’s.
Respectfully,
Curtis Cleveland
2020 Senior Warden
Jr. Warden’s Report
Out with the old and in with the new. What can I say other than I am
SOOO glad 2020 is behind us! We still have the COVID-19 issue to
deal with, but, like winter, this too will also pass. Reflecting on the
past year, I recall its ups and down, its trials and challenges, and how
it stretched and tested our parish. Despite it all, we have survived.
Church life will go on, and one day—hopefully sooner than later—
we will be back attending church in person, attending choir practice,
going to Sunday School, resuming activities in the Youth space, and
scheduling Parish workdays and Parish Picnics. All our campus spaces will be back in use, and a new rector will
be leading us into the next chapter of life at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Waco. This will be a good feeling, and
our campus is ready.
We began last January with an upgrade to the HVAC software that was years overdue. This new software saves
money and allows us to better control the heated and cooled space. However, as soon as this project upgrade was
completed, we had an unexpected compressor failure on the rooftop chiller unit. A $13,000 repair. Ouch.
The Vestry and the Junior Warden were put to task last year as our rector was forced into a Medical Leave of
Absence. Then along came the COVID-19 pandemic, and life on Campus changed. Your Vestry and Facilities
Committee stepped up to the task of managing a church in transition and of supporting the need for unexpected
repairs and new challenges. I thank them for their support as we faced the challenges to our budget by unexpected
equipment failures and as we fixed what was needed while we also launched a whole new level of technology on
campus.
In response to the shutdown on campus, we began Live Streaming our services online through Facebook. This
was a new, unplanned experience St. Paul’s was unprepared for. Immediately we discovered the infrastructure
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was not in place to support the Live Stream requirements. Our vestry reacted quickly and approved a proposal to
upgrade our campus with Wi-Fi all over and cables for ethernet all over the church. The obstacles were numerous,
yet we have been successful in creating the Live Streaming experience we now have today. This may not seem
like a big deal, but the pre-live stream checklist is like an airplane pre-flight checklist. Fortunately, the downtown
renovation of 4th Street and 5th Street found a contactor in need of our lot on Jefferson for material storage and
staging. The contractor has leased the property, which helps us to cover the above costs.
As the shutdown progressed, the Sextons went into a deep clean of the church. The industrial carpet machine
came out, and all the church carpets were cleaned. The pew cushions were cleaned, and all the pews had a good
oiling and cleaning. After this cleaning, all the rest of the church was cleaned; closets, basements, and classrooms
were dusted top to bottom. Every nook and cranny we could find was cleaned, straightened, and put in order.
While all this cleaning was going on, we lost another compressor on the rooftop chiller mid-year: another $13,000
unexpected repair. Another big ouch. In addition to the above work, other repairs were completed. An Eagle
Scout project was performed on campus, and it entailed cleaning up the rest of the office parking lot, placing new
parking signs, renovating the school’s storage shed, and planting two trees in the front parking lot. We also had a
Parish workday in the spring. All outside lighting fixtures were repaired or replaced, and the parking lot in the
rear was striped for fire lanes. In addition, the bridge across the creek to the playground was made safer for the
young children who cross it.
Meanwhile on the roof, we had a leak in the Narthex
and found evidence of critter damage inflicted on
the EPDM rubber roof. Apparently, critters have
been up on the roof, sharpening their claws on our
rubber roof. Not good for a rubber roof. These
culprits were verified by game cameras, and a catch-
and-release program began in the fall. So far, we
have caught four raccoons, one opossum, and five
squirrels on the roof along with one raccoon, three
foxes, and two opossums in the courtyard. Also
captured by camera on the roof was a gray fox on
December 9. Who would have thought we had a
nimble fox on campus! It has been quite a year!
Mark your calendars for a Parish workday on March 20 with an alternate date of March 27 in the event of bad
weather.
We have an excellent vestry whom I support and trust to lead us through the 2021 year. I pray for our church and
our members as we forge ahead and work together to restore our life in Christ and extend our outreach in 2021.
God’s Peace.
Respectfully,
Robert S. Braswell IV
Junior Warden
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Program Staff Reports
Children and Family Ministries Report
Lisa St. Romain In the midst of the challenges of 2020, including the sudden
departure of our rector and ministry in a pandemic, the light and
love of Christ continued to shine. Young Christians and families at
St. Paul’s adapted to a new way of experiencing formation and
programs.
As we began 2020, we celebrated Epiphany in grand style with king
cake complete with “symbolic pulls” called discoveries and crown
making in the Fellowship Room followed by burning of the greens
and a piñata in the courtyard. We could not anticipate the loss of our
ability to gather together for worship, formation, and fellowship.
As COVID 19 spread around the world, our church and local
leadership sent people home at the beginning of Spring break to
keep us safe, and my office moved home to my dining room table. I
am grateful to several generous publishing companies (Spark, Godly
Play Resources, Illustrated Ministries, and FORMA) who quickly
provided a wealth of free resources that I shared with the St. Paul’s
Community.
In Lent and Easter, ministry changed and parents were
emailed weekly lessons that included activities and crafts.
These lessons supported the weekly Godly Play stories
that I streamed through the St. Paul’s Facebook page live
each Sunday.
The successes of 2020 were many! The virtual “flowering
of the cross,” the Pentecost dove leaving the St. Paul’s
campus to visit youngsters and the video I made of each
flying it, Disciple Camp to Mars and Beyond, Trunk or
Treat, the super successful Angel Tree outreach ministry,
the in-person Las Posadas, and the lovely Christmas
Pageant video that captured the voices and images of our
children as narrators, musicians, and the wonderful
characters of the Nativity of our Lord.
Sharing God’s stories and His light in this unusual and
socially distant calendar year brought me peace and kept
me grounded. My ministry was blessed from the support
of our amazing office and program staff that shared their
skills and encouragement. I learned to work through my
unfamiliarity of technology and to find peace in giving it my best effort with God’s grace.
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Director of Youth Ministries Report
Sara Allison Like most other ministries, the St. Paul’s Youth have had
an unusual year. We started off the year with many
meetings, service projects, and a week of Spring Break
adventures, but were never able to
carry that energy over into the
summer or fall. Instead of gathering
together in the youth room each week,
we’ve been doing a mix of meeting
online and on the playground. The kids have been so adaptable and willing to try
new things, and I’m so proud of their strength and flexibility.
A few of the fun activities we were able to do outside this year include a
sweatshirt crafting day, pumpkin painting, and a hide and seek Christmas gift
exchange, among other gatherings. We studied the Beatitudes and prayed through
Compline many, many times. We are hopeful to be able to meet again as usual in
2021, carrying the things we’ve learned in this hard period with us.
General Reports
Altar Guild Report Altar Guild is made up of a group of dedicated
individuals who labor behind the scenes doing one
of the most important jobs in our church,
preparing and caring for our Altar. On Friday,
workers prepare the elements for all the Sunday
Services. The devoted group members set up and
take down the Altar for all Sunday and other
Special Services. After the 11:00 AM Service, the
Altar flowers are delivered to the ill and infirmed
by the members. The Altar Guild also prepares the
Altar for all weddings and funerals at the church.
Contact Golda Brown for further information.
Daily Office Prayer The Daily Office Prayer Ministry formed in the
midst of the 2020 pandemic as a means for our
community to gather virtually for Morning,
Evening and Noonday Prayer and Compline. The
St. Paul’s clergy, program staff, and a team of lay
officiants have collaborated to lead the parish in the
Anglican prayer tradition twice a day. The Daily
Office is streamed on Facebook Live weekdays at
9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Saturdays at 12:00 PM and
8:00 PM, and Sundays at 8:00 PM. If you would
like to join us in leading these daily prayer services,
please contact Sara Allison, for more details.
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Jenna Hernandez
11:00 AM Principal Conductor Music at St. Paul’s continues to navigate these
unprecedented times, and is managing to stay
afloat through various channels of performance.
Beginning late last spring, the Chancel Choir put a
pause on meeting due to the rapid spread of
COVID-19 across our country. This resulted in the
set up that we currently have for Sunday
mornings: two singers and an organist. Without a
weekly choral offering the decision was made to
add an extra service each month filled with music.
This began with the Choral Evensong in
September and continued with a Hymn Sing in
October. Most recently the music staff at St.
Paul’s, in collaboration with our clergy, was able
to release our 2020 presentation of Lessons and
Carols.
Going forward we will continue to find new and
exciting ways to bring musical gifts to our
congregation presently spread abroad. It is my
hope that our Chancel Choir will meet again and
make music in the coming year.
Lauren Weber
9:00 AM Principal Conductor Music in 2020 continued despite necessary
changes in format. Through March, the children
sang monthly at the 9:00 AM service with quick
rehearsal during children’s chapel. The joyful
noise singers sang twice a month. We are thankful
to have many members of the congregation
providing offertories throughout the year.
Throughout 2020 we had piano, organ, guitar,
horns, and strings present at the 9:00 AM service.
In COVID times the children offered virtual choir
offerings and many congregation members
participated in our virtual Hymn Sing and Lessons
and Carols. Looking forward to signing together
again in 2021. We can always use more people
singing and playing. If you are interested, please e-
mail [email protected].
Men’s Prayer Breakfast No one needs to hear it again, “It goes without
saying!” 2020 was a year we will remember:
Fondly? Not so? Let’s just forget? At last, it’s
over? With profound sadness? Might as well
smile?
The Men’s Prayer Breakfast at St. Paul’s faithfully
met, in person, until late March 2020 and then
COVID shut us down. Bah – Hum Bug! In
September, due to the efforts of Robert Braswell
and others, we started to meet via Zoom
technology. Late September, 2020, we tried to
socially distance and meet face-to-face and
Zoomed but didn’t cook our own breakfast – so
had to skip Mercer’s watery eggs. Since the end of
November, and until further notice into 2021, we
are restricted to meeting via Zoom only. Bah-Hum
Bug times all 25 of us.
Fear not, the Lord is still in charge. We continue
to stay in touch, prayerfully and via the Zoom
meetings and with occasional e-note discussions.
PLEASE – join us! Contact Robert
[[email protected]] and he will help
you get connected. He will also help with the
Zoom meetings on Wednesday mornings. We will
resume face-to-face as soon as it is safe.
May the Lord Bless us and help us to get back to
some realization of normal. Not our will but His
be done.
Outreach 2019 Report The Outreach Funding in 2020 was severely
limited due to limited funds but we were still able
to help Compassion Ministries, The Family Health
Center, The Cove, The Salvation Army
Waco/McLennan County and Meals and Wheels.
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2020 Statistics
62 Communion services held on Sundays
10 Communion services held on weekdays
171 Day School services held on weekdays
122 Daily Offices held on Sunday/Saturday
410 Daily Offices held on weekdays
10 Children received Christian baptism
0 Adults received Christian baptism
0 Youth confirmed
10 Adults confirmed, received or reaffirmed
9 Communicants received by transfer
2 Communicants transferred out
8 Communicants lost by death
2 Couples united in Holy Matrimony
11 Funerals conducted by St. Paul’s Clergy
1,174 Active, baptized members on the rolls at year’s end
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Comparisons
St. Paul’s Membership St. Paul’s Attendance St. Paul’s Baptisms
Active Baptized Members Average Sunday Attendance Total Baptisms
2014 1,130 2014 285 2014 19
2015 1,111 2015 291 2015 11
2016 1,127 2016 259 2016 19
2017 1,136 2017 249 2017 7
2018 1,126 2018 243 2018 5
2019 1,161 2019 247 2019 10
2020 1,174 2020 234 2020 10
Easter Attendance 455 Christmas Attendance 365
2020 Marriages 2020 Burials 2020 Baptisms
“Those whom God hath joined “Precious in the sight of the “Wherein I was made a
together, let no man put asunder.” Lord is the death of his saints.” Member of Christ, the child
of God, and an inheritor of
the Kingdom of God.”
Joe A. Hunter & Roberta Grace Murphey George Charles Barton Logan Alexander
February 20, 2020 James Reese Killion Lily Ruth Miller
Judith Ann Neville Eleanor Joy Allison Glenn Schaller & Katherine Goodnight Leta Patton Badgett Wiley James Newman
August 15, 2020 Diana Callan Braswell Thomas Whaley Adams
Sharron Leggett Karsten Nash Mooney
B.L. Barnes Indy Rowe Hartman
Charles (Charlie) Moore, Jr. Calvin Harris Glade
Vincent Ray Anderson Cooper Layne Peel
Joan Wilson Dell Harper Elle Peel
Fred Khoury
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Confirmations & Receptions
Total Confirmed,
Received, and Reaffirmed
2020
Confirmations 2020
2014 20
2015 21
2016 12
2017 12
2018 12
2019 13
2020 10
Transfers In “Whosoever will, let him come.”
Catherin McLaughlin
George McLaughlin
Cristian Bratu
Rosalie Barrera
Cody Newton
Corinne (Cosie) Newton
Keith Bilbrey
Martha Griffith
Dr. Jack Laing
Transfers Out “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.”
Elisabeth Rhoton
Christopher Rhoton
“Then they laid their hands on them, and
they received the Holy Ghost.”
Luke Bullock
Katie Larson
Connally Newman
Jennifer Peel
Receptions 2020
Jenna Hernandez
Renewals 2020
Christina Cobaugh
Robin Newman
Kira Harris
Lance Harris
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St. Paul’s Episcopal School
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
Educating the whole child in mind, body, and spirit is the mission of St.
Paul’s Episcopal School. I do not believe the school has ever faced as
many challenges to keeping this mission alive as we did in 2020.
Throughout the year, the faculty, staff, students, and families recognized
more than ever before the importance of fulfilling this mission. At the heart
of everything we do is the recognition that young minds are capable of
great things. Hand in hand with academic rigor is the belief that children
will walk with God if given the opportunity. As part of that philosophy,
our children engage in daily worship, which looked different since it was
virtual. Finally, we believe that learning and spirit mean nothing without action. Above all, we want young
men and women with the courage of their convictions and the ability to turn ideas into reality. At St. Paul’s
we strive to incorporate this mission in all that we do.
This year I began my fourth year of service as the Head of
School. The Board of Trustees and I continue to lead our
school toward a bright future. The Board continues to
emphasize remaining fiscally strong. However, the challenges
of COVID-19 brought financial challenges. The school closed
its doors to in-person instruction from March until the end of
the school year. Additionally, out of an abundance of caution,
summer programs were cancelled. A PPP loan was acquired,
which has since been forgiven. We continue to be diligent with
budgeting efforts to remain financially stable. An audit of our
accounts was conducted for the fiscal year 2019-2020, which
was a clean one, with very minimal adjustments. We continue
to work towards our goal of building an enrollment that will support the operating budget 100%, leading us
to become a self-sustaining school.
A yearlong self-study led to a visit from The Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools in February.
St. Paul’s was granted Provisionary Accreditation pending submission of an Interim Report submitted on
January 15th of this year. The report addressed the recommendations made by the On-Site Visiting Team.
The self-study and accreditation report are leading the Board of Trustees into the strategic planning
process.
St. Paul’s saw enrollment grow to 207 students by the end of the
2019-2020 school year. However, COVID adversely affected
enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year. The school opened
its doors to 167 students in August. Since August, however,
enrollment has grown to 184 students. The staff continues to
work diligently to design a creative curriculum to build a strong
academic foundation for our virtual and in-person students.
Teachers and students alike have been able to pivot from in-
person instruction to virtual learning easily. I believe we will
continue to see growth in enrollment as conditions improve in
our community.
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I am amazed at how we have attacked educating our children. I must
say I learned that you can teach an old dog new tricks. I feel confident
in saying that some of what we have learned as educators have made us
and the instruction we give better. I am deeming 2021 to be the year of
hope! I am hopeful that at some point our lives will return to what we
understand to be normal.
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised
is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23
I am hopeful that our school will continue to grow and that the teachers
will continue to teach the best and the brightest among us, our children.
Respectfully submitted,
M’Lissa Howen, M.Ed.
Head of School
St. Paul’s Episcopal School
Educating the whole child in mind, body, and spirit.
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St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
2021 Office Holiday Closure Schedule
Monday, January 18, 2021 …………………....Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Monday, February 15, 2021………………………………..President’s Day
Friday, April 2, 2021………………………………………..…Good Friday
Monday, April 5, 2021……………………………..……….Easter Monday
Monday, May 31, 2021…………………………………..….Memorial Day
Monday, July 05, 2021……………. ……....Independence Day (Observed)
Monday, September 06, 2021…………………………..……….Labor Day
Thursday, November 25, 2021……………………….…Thanksgiving Day
Friday, November 26, 2021……………………..Friday after Thanksgiving
To Be Determined…………………………….……….…..Floating Holiday
Friday, December 24, 2021 – Friday, December 31, 2021…Christmas/New Year Break
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