Vestry News
Sabbatical/Renewal Leave Planning
St. Thomas’ Vestry and Sabbatical Planning Committee are using Dr. Robert C. Saler’s exceptional work, Planning Sabbaticals: A Guide For Congregations And Their Pastors (Chalice Press, 2019), to inform our planning and management of Fr. Ryan’s summer 2025 sabbatical leave. The exact dates are forthcoming as the plan matures. Among Saler’s key points from the book is this takeaway: “While pastors are not the only professionals in our society who deserve sabbatical rest, the joys and challenges of pastoral ministry are such that sabbaticals have become common and effective tools for addressing the task of spiritual renewal for pastors and their congregations.” We at St. Thomas’ are actively organizing for success and invite you to stay tuned for periodic planning updates. Please do not hesitate to reach out to a member of the Sabbatical Planning Committee with questions: Mary Clark, Pam Holley, or Bill Barns.
St. Thomas’ Vestry and Sabbatical Planning Committee are using Dr. Robert C. Saler’s exceptional work, Planning Sabbaticals: A Guide For Congregations And Their Pastors (Chalice Press, 2019), to inform our planning and management of Fr. Ryan’s summer 2025 sabbatical leave. The exact dates are forthcoming as the plan matures. Among Saler’s key points from the book is this takeaway: “While pastors are not the only professionals in our society who deserve sabbatical rest, the joys and challenges of pastoral ministry are such that sabbaticals have become common and effective tools for addressing the task of spiritual renewal for pastors and their congregations.” We at St. Thomas’ are actively organizing for success and invite you to stay tuned for periodic planning updates. Please do not hesitate to reach out to a member of the Sabbatical Planning Committee with questions: Mary Clark, Pam Holley, or Bill Barns.
Automatic External Defibrillator (AED)
One of the recommendations from the 2023 Safety Assessment conducted by the St. Petersburg, Police Department was to form a Safety Committee at St. Thomas’ and we have accomplished that. The committee is holding regular quarterly meetings and reviewing both material and procedural enhancements. We are in the process of obtaining dead bolt locks for the Sanctuary doors and a video camera to cover the Sanctuary and Chapel entrances along with the front parking lot, courtesy of a cost-sharing and Baynard Trust grant. The committee has also researched procurement of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to be installed in the Sanctuary for use in the event of a medical emergency. A source to deliver and install such a device, Zoma Tech, estimates $1,670 for the expense. The Vestry has reviewed this requirement and supports the plan as a means for one or several parishioners to contribute directly to this unbudgeted item. Would you please give this some prayerful consideration and if you are inclined to contribute all or a portion of the amount, we would be grateful. It is as simple as making a check or cash offering. For checks please indicate AED procurement in the memo line and cash may be in an envelope with a similar notation and placed in the offering plate at a Sunday service. Thank you for your consideration and support!
One of the recommendations from the 2023 Safety Assessment conducted by the St. Petersburg, Police Department was to form a Safety Committee at St. Thomas’ and we have accomplished that. The committee is holding regular quarterly meetings and reviewing both material and procedural enhancements. We are in the process of obtaining dead bolt locks for the Sanctuary doors and a video camera to cover the Sanctuary and Chapel entrances along with the front parking lot, courtesy of a cost-sharing and Baynard Trust grant. The committee has also researched procurement of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to be installed in the Sanctuary for use in the event of a medical emergency. A source to deliver and install such a device, Zoma Tech, estimates $1,670 for the expense. The Vestry has reviewed this requirement and supports the plan as a means for one or several parishioners to contribute directly to this unbudgeted item. Would you please give this some prayerful consideration and if you are inclined to contribute all or a portion of the amount, we would be grateful. It is as simple as making a check or cash offering. For checks please indicate AED procurement in the memo line and cash may be in an envelope with a similar notation and placed in the offering plate at a Sunday service. Thank you for your consideration and support!
Vestry Meeting Minutes
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
1200 Snell Isle Blvd NE St. Petersburg, FL 33704 727-896-9641 office@stthomasstpete.org Sunday Worship Schedule 8:00am - Spoken Holy Eucharist, Rite II 10:00am - Choral Holy Eucharist, Rite II |