A priest of the diocese asked me recently, "So, what's new at St. George's?" I realized that in the ten minute break we had in our session together that there wasn't enough time to answer his question.  There is a lot new at St. Georges's, and thanks be to God, it's good.  They say spring is the time for new growth. There's even a color called new green.  There's new green here.

In the past months we've welcomed Mother Laurie, Mother Karen, and are preparing to welcome Maureen Demler and Scott Underhill as deacons assigned to this parish following their ordination on May 30th.  Their first weekend with us will be June 27th-28th.  Deacon Lynne and Deacon Bob continue to fathfully serve with us and Deacon Al Harding, a young 87, faithfully continues to give the dismissal at the 8:00 am Sunday Eucharist.  These clergy bless us with their ministry and their presence!

Last November, we began conversations about improving our website.  We have just received the new version for review which primises to be easier to use and capable of sharing information quickly.  Rich Dominelli has blessed us with his vast IT experence and is workig with me and the wardens for a web site that truly communicates St. George's to the web.

Greenfaith, the ecumenical environmental group which meets here, and members Fran and Gene Gordon, worked with me during the year for ways to communicate good stewardship of creation.  We celebrated Rogation Sunday with a blessing of plants and seeds you brought to the church for your home gardens, and the procession to and blessing of the new parish garden.  The food grown there will be given to those who can benefit from fresh vegatables, or sold to raise funds for charity.  Either way, what we grow will be given away.

Last September we constituted an Investment Comittee to oversee and advise the Vestry on the prudent use of gifts of stock or significant capital given to St. George's.  The committee met at least once a month under the capable leadership of Russ Giambelluca.  Russ has moved to sunny California to accept a position at The University of California and we will miss him and his family.  But Russ helped us to design and investment policy tailored for St. George's long term benefit.  The Vestry has approved the policy and the Investment Committee is implementing it along prudent investment guidelines for the benefit of St. George's.  The committee worked very hard for the year and we are blessed by their efforts on our behalf.

We have a feasibility study underway, led by Gene Gordon and Phyllis Aldrich, for a parochial school to be established at St. George's.  It's easy to go from concept to micro-management in thirty seconds and we are in the beginning stages of this.  As this continues to take shape, I'm sure we'll all hear more.

And so I'm still not done but have run out of space.  In the midst of the new green, gratefully keep saying your prayers.

Fr. Henry