Annual Report

January 31, 2021

2331 E. Adams St. • Tucson, Arizona 85719 • (520) 327-6857 http://www.gsptucson.org• www.facebook.com/gracestpauls

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Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Thirtieth Annual Parish Meeting

and Meeting of the Corporation

Via Zoom Noon

Sunday, January 31, 2021

Agenda 1. Welcome and Greeting

2. Opening Hymn: “Glory” (Common and John Legend, from Selma)

3. Opening Prayer

4. Reception of 2020 Minutes

5. Ministry Leadership Changes

6. Introduction of Vestry Candidates:

7. Nomination of Delegates to Diocesan Convention (5 elected + 5 alternates)

8. Balloting

9. Hymn: “We all are one in mission” (No. 778, Wonder, Love, and Praise) (on page 3)

10. Financial Report and Presentation of 2021 Budget

11. Joseph’s Pantry Report

12. Sanctuary/Migrant Update

13. Social Services Report

14. Adult Spiritual Formation

15. Children, Youth, & Families Report

16. Senior Warden’s Report

17. Rector’s Report & Awards

18. Ballot Results

19. Chancellor’s Report

20. Other Business

21. Closing Hymn: “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (No. 599, The Hymnal 1982) (on pages 4 & 5)

22. Dismissal

Deacon: Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everlasting stream. Alleluia! Alleluia! People: Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Alleluia!

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Hymn, “We all are one in mission” (No. 778, Wonder, Love, and Praise)

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Closing Hymn, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (No. 599, The Hymnal 1982)

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Clergy The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Reddall, Bishop of Arizona The Rev. Steve Keplinger, Rector The Rev. Dr. Richard Mallory, Associate Rector The Rev. Mary Delaney, Priest Associate The Rev. Joe Fitzgerald, Priest Associate The Rev. Steve Kelsey, Priest Associate The Rev. Donald Eager, Deacon The Rev. Chris Ledyard, Deacon The Rev. Nancy Meister, Deacon The Rev. Lynn Marie Hunter, Interfaith Minister Laurie Finn, Postulant to the Diaconate

Staff Jane Click, Pianist; Director, Lieto Ensemble Will Dekoevend, Facilities Assistant Argelia El-Khayat, Nursery Worker Christina Jarvis, Music Director Pamela Spears, Parish Administrator Jessica Swift, Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries; Social Services Leader David Wachter, Organist; Publications Manager James White, Sexton

Consultant Patti Morrison, Bookkeeper

Wardens & Parish Officers Phil Johnson, Senior Warden Wil Harri, Treasurer Cynthia Sorrensen-Carter, Clerk of the Vestry Rob Rauh, Chancellor

Vestry Members Term ending January 2021 Karen Hanson; Jim Steinman; Ric Wood

Term ending January 2022 Kim Braun; Rita Magdaleno; Rod Warfield

Term ending January 2023 Dennis Kirchoff; Betty Rathbone; Beatrice Washburn

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Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Minutes of the Twenty-Ninth Annual Parish Meeting

January 26, 2020

Call to Order 12:00 noon 1. Welcome and Greeting: Senior Warden Phil Johnson welcomed congregation to the meeting. 2. Opening Chant: “When Israel was in Egypt’s land” (Go down, Moses) (No. 648, The Hymnal 1982) 3. Opening Prayer 4. Reception of 2018 minutes: _________________ motioned that minutes be accepted as submitted.

Motion was seconded and passed unanimously. 5. Ministry Leadership Changes 6. Introduction of Vestry Candidates: Vestry candidates were _________________ for ____________. 7. Nomination of Delegates to Diocesan Convention: Grace St. Paul’s will select ____ candidates and

_____ alternates. a. Candidates are put forth. b. ____________ put forth a motion to close nominations. Motion was seconded and passed. c. Ballots were made available.

8. Balloting: The congregation submitted ballots - ______________ and ______________ served as counters.

9. Hymn: “All who hunger gather gladly” (No. 761, Wonder, Love, and Praise) 10. Financial Report and Presentation of 2019 Budget presented by Treasurer Wil Harri:

a. (discussion? Notes?) b. Marilyn Abraham motioned to accept financial report as submitted. Dick Kelbaugh seconded

and motion was passed. i. Congregation submitted 1 nay.

ii. Congregation submitted 2 abstain. 11. Joseph’s Pantry (JP) report was presented by Andrew Gardner:

a. JP operates 6 days per week, 9am – 2 pm. b. Andrew thanked the many JP volunteers, who serve tirelessly. c. Andrew pointed out that JP supplements Community Food Bank commodities, which are fewer

due to budget restraints. The goal is to meet guests’ specific needs when possible, and to offer items that guests cannot get elsewhere, perhaps that “spice up” a normally bland diet.

12. Sanctuary/Migrant Ministry report was presented by Marjorie King: a. The Ministry gives opportunities for the practice of radical hospitality. b. The Ministry holds a regular Prayer Vigil for Migrants. c. Marjorie thanked the Ministry volunteers. d. Christmas cards written by parishioners were very well received by detainees in Eloy. Many

thanks. e. There is a large number of migrants stopped in Mexico. The Ministry supports a new multi-

denominational shelter on the border. f. Monthly classes will be offered beginning Spring 2020. g. This Ministry is not a line item in the GSP budget.

13. Green Church (GC) Ministry report was presented by Angel Wang. a. GC has established good connections with other churches and organizations. b. The “Pledge for Creation Care” campaign was very well received. c. GC hosted an interfaith Creation Care Festival at GSP. d. Adamah Garden is continuing. e. GC hosted an exhibit at the 2019 Diocesan Convention. f. Creation Care is the theme of the 2020 Diocesan Convention. g. Facebook Groups that support GC:

i. Green Episcopalians

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ii. Creation Care & Healing the Earth h. AZIPL SAGE Award (???)

14. Social Services (SS) Ministry report was presented by Deb Tinajero. a. Deb told two inspiring SS thank you success stories. b. Deb urged the congregation to complete and/or add to 2020 GSP pledge. The SS Ministry work

is vital and ongoing, and making an impact for Tucson’s vulnerable populations. 15. Children, Youth, and Families (CYF) report was presented by Pastor Kimberlee. 16. The Wardens’ Reports

a. Senior Warden – Phil Johnson i. Thank you to Milton for the wonderful projection screen!

ii. Thank you to Angel for Creation Fest! iii. Thank you to Larry Washburn for taking leadership of GSP’s part in the Episcopal Peace

Fellowship. b. Junior Warden – Kevan Perry

i. There are now first aid kits across the GSP campus. ii. There is other infrastructure and repair work forthcoming. Please be patient,

especially in light of upcoming critical, expensive roof repair. iii. Martha Whitaker moved, Christina Jarvis seconded, motion to re-elect Kevan.

Approved by acclamation. 17. Rector’s Report and Awards were presented by Fr. Steve Keplinger.

a. GSP’s new branding is now officially: “Earth/Social/Migrant JUSTICE” b. Rector’s Award goes to two individuals who represent new GSP energy:

i. Harlan Hokin ii. Betty Rathbone

18. Ballot Results: a. New vestry members are: Betty Rathbone, Dennis Kirchoff, Beatrice Washburn. b. Dick Kelbaugh moved, Wil Harri seconded, motion to accept the following 2020 Diocesan

Delegates and Alternates. Motion passed with 2 opposed: i. Delegates:

1. Nanalee Raphael 2. Beatrice Washburn 3. Steve Mattix 4. Betty Rathbone 5. Laurie Finn

ii. Alternates: 1. Francesca Jarvis 2. Dennis Kirchoff 3. Karen McVean 4. Kim Braun 5. Ric Wood

19. Chancellor’s report was given by Rob Rauh. There is a lawsuit naming a priest who was briefly at St. Paul’s parish approximately 50 years ago. The trial is set for November 2020. The case is currently in settlement. There is a no cost representation by the insurance carrier by Snell and Wilmer. The suit seeks $1million+. The most likely settlement amount is in the low ten thousands of dollars. The circumstances for re-filing the case were barely met; the case may be dismissed.

20. Closing Chant: “Lift every voice and sing” (No. 599, The Hymnal 1982) 21. Meeting closes with ________________ offering the dismissal.

Meeting Minutes respectfully submitted, Martha Farnham GSP Parishioner

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Rector’s State of the Church Annual Report, January 2021

The Rev. Steve Keplinger

It was right up there with the most difficult decisions I have ever made in my life. It was the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, back before we even had that name for it. We had already decided to halt all in-person church services and events. But the big question on my mind was our ministry to the homeless and disadvantaged. Do we just shut down? That was easily the safest route. The last thing we could do was put our volunteers at risk for contracting the virus. But doing so, of course, would mean that the very people who are most at risk would lose the only support they had. How could we do that and live into our mission? How could we do that to the people who relied on us so much?

To assist in making this decision, I called folks in the same situation around town. Most were shutting down, making me even more concerned about our guests. But I particularly remember my conversation with the President of Interfaith Community Services. He said to me, “Here is what we are doing right now.” Call me back in an hour and it might be different. He proceeded to talk about the safety measures they had put in place, which were all guesses as to what was best.

That is what it was like in those first days. Andrew Gardner, Holly Shinn, Phil Johnson and I put our heads together. We decided to immediately eliminate our in-person dining, cut back to three days a week and institute a policy where we only let one guest in McBride Hall at a time to get their groceries by picking up a box that had been pre-prepared for them. No human contact. We decided to keep the shower ministry open, using a plan of disinfecting every inch of the shower area between each shower. I decided to shut down the Social Service Ministry at that time.

As more data became available and Jessica Swift came on board, we refined our methodologies, eventually opening Social Services again using a socially distanced system in the hall. All of our volunteers were under 35 to reduce the risk more. We could not have operated without them.

We scrambled into livestream mode for our Sunday services thanks especially to Bruce Anderson. We went to Zoom for our weekday services and meetings. We set it all up in ten days.

In the most challenging time in all of our lives, this is what I will always remember. Despite the danger, we kept serving those in need safely. Second, we came up with beautiful ways to keep us all connected to God and each other that were so powerful and moving that we will probably be doing them forever.

Of course, the pandemic was just the beginning of our challenges in 2020. The global climate crisis played out in multiple ways, systemic racism reached a head, environmental catastrophe, intense political polarization, dysfunctional and unethical leadership, and a broken immigration system that destroyed thousands of people were on the forefront of it all. Never has Grace St. Paul’s tagline of Earth Justice— Migrant Justice—Social Justice been more appropriate and important.

This is the other area in which I am so proud of this community. Throughout the past year, we kept our eyes on all of these and kept them in the forefront of the nation. When we saw atrocities, we stood up against them. When we heard hateful rhetoric, we did not let is stand unchallenged. We spoke truth to power throughout the year, even when, especially when, no one else was doing so. After the events at the Capitol on Epiphany, 2021, the judicatory leaders of the mainline religious establishment in Arizona came out with a letter condemning those actions. In that letter, they made this statement:

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“To that end, let us offer our own first step of repentance: we, as leaders, have sometimes chosen the easier path in not publically denouncing words and actions that we saw as contrary to the Gospel. We did not want to be accused of bringing partisan politics into the church; we did not want to alienate our members. Our silence has enabled the escalation of rhetoric and violence. Neither the rule of law, nor the following of Jesus are partisan endeavors; and we pledge to speak and act more courageously on behalf of the Gospel today and in the days ahead.”

I am so proud of the GSP community that we never chose the easier path. I am so proud that we never once shirked our responsibilities to stand up against the constant attacks on the Gospel and our world, despite the threats we faced as a result.

The other major challenge for the world during this year and the foreseeable future are the financial ones. Here again, all of you stepped up to get us through it all. I cannot thank you enough for your financial support last year and this one to keep all of our critical ministries going.

Finally, it was during the Meet the Vestry Candidates session on January 24 that I realized that GSP received another gift in the challenges of this past year. All five of the candidates spoke of the deep love they have for this parish. If anything, we have all become closer during this time of forced segregation.

This is an incredibly loving, healthy, resilient parish. I am so grateful to be a part of this community that lives the Gospel so powerfully. Thank you all for creating it. I have no doubt we will continue to “change the world” in 2021.

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Senior Warden’s Report to the Congregation, January 2021

Philip Johnson, Senior Warden

It continues to be a great honor to serve as the Senior Warden for Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. I have been privileged to serve in this position for the last two years and I truly appreciate the strong support I receive from our congregation.

The members of the Vestry have supported and inspired me greatly during the past year. The dedicated individuals in our Vestry have worked especially hard to fulfill GSP’s mission and to meet the needs of our parish. Three members are retiring from the Vestry this year: Ric Wood, Karen Hanson, and Jim Steinman. Their integrity and contributions to GSP have been enormous; I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with each of them. I would also like to express my gratitude to Rod Warfield and Kevan Perry. Rod left the Vestry last year after being appointed as the Democratic Party Precinct Committeeman for Precinct No 67 in Pima County/Tucson AZ. Kevan, who had been serving as our Junior Warden, left Tucson to pursue an opportunity in another state; we have yet to fill his position. Finally, Father Steve and Father Richard, as always, have been a source of great inspiration and support to me. We are extremely blessed to have them GSP.

It goes without saying that the biggest issue to confront us last year was COVID-19; unfortunately, it remains a primary concern. The pandemic completely reshaped how we worship, provide our ministries, and go about our day-to-day business at GSP. Last March, Bishop Reddall created a COVID-19 Task Force. The Task Force established Phase I guidelines for church ministry and worship. These included the following: a recommendation for churches to offer online worship services, a reduction in

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volunteers/staff for essential ministries, and a reduction of staff in church offices. Our clergy, staff, and volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure that these guidelines were met. In addition, the Bishop’s Task Force established Phase II guidelines and required each congregation’s Vestry to prepare a plan for how they would be enacted. To address this requirement, we established our own COVID-19 Phase II Task Force. The members of this task force were Martha Whitaker, Jill McCollum, Joanne Mallet, and myself. Our Task Force worked hard over a number of weeks to develop GSP’s Phase II plan; it was truly an honor to work with these dedicated, highly qualified individuals. The Phase II plan was subsequently presented to the Vestry for approval and then sent to the Bishop’s Task Force for final approval. GSP has been implementing the plan since last September.

Although the pandemic posed many challenges for us, we were, nevertheless, able to accomplish quite a few things in 2020. These include:

Paul Impey was approved to enter the postulancy by our discernment committee; this was later approved by the Diocese. Paul is now at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific.

Jessica Swift was hired to be the Social Services Leader and Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries. I am sure many would agree that Jessica’s contributions during her short tenure with us have been ENORMOUS!!!! Thank you Jessica!!

Continued, albeit reduced due to the pandemic, services for our pantry and social services guests. Thank you to Jessica, Andrew, and all of our volunteers. This would never have been possible without your combined efforts!!

Live streaming Sunday worship services. Thank you to Bruce Anderson, Betty Rathbone, and Jessie Thrall for making this happen!! Thanks also to our organist, David Wachter, and choir members Christina Jarvis (GSP Musical Director), Harlan Hokin, Susan Marcus, Spencer Hunter, and Ann Stephens (Please forgive me if I missed a choir member!)

Outdoor Sunday worship services. Unfortunately, the outdoor worship services had to be cancelled due to a spike in coronavirus cases. Hopefully, we will be able to offer these services again soon.

GSP Today with Rector Steve. Informal get-togethers with Father Steve, via Zoom, every Monday at noon.

The addition of numerous virtual services and meetings: Children and Family Sunday School, Migrant Prayer Vigil, Tuesday Evening Prayer, Guided Meditation, Antiracism meetings, Thursday Morning Prayer, Thursday Morning Bible Class, Spirit Now Worship, Centering Prayer, and Friday Night Prayer.

GSP certainly faced many challenges during the past year; however, with God’s guidance we adapted to them and we remain stronger than ever! Thank you for your continued support of GSP. I am sure that our accomplishments will be numerous in 2021 and I look forward to addressing new challenges as they arise.

Peace,

Phil Johnson Senior Warden

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Treasurer’s Report to the Congregation, January 2021 Wil Harri, Treasurer

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Clergy Compensation The Rev. Steve Keplinger: annual salary $70,200, annual pension payment (estimate) $11,515, parish-provided housing and utilities The Rev. Dr. Richard Mallory: annual salary $20,500 (all of which is designated as housing allowance), annual pension payment $3,690

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Vision – Mission – Ministry

Open to All

Office Welcome Team (OWels) These volunteers consistently represent GSP in its best light. In normal days, they welcome visitors and members enthusiastically, answer questions, direct phone calls, offer a friendly ear to folks who just need to chat, and even bake tasty treats for visitors and staff. During COVID-19, they are limited to answering the phones & welcoming visitors. These volunteers help the office run smoothly, and the office staff is very, very grateful to them!

I wish to express my gratitude to the members of the Office Welcome Team prior to COVID-19.

Morning Crew: Margie King Jim Steinman Marilyn Abraham Ann Schlumberger Joyce Henderson

Afternoon Crew: Halsy Taylor Matt Riley Anne Cushman Sharon McKenzie

John Banks & Kevan Perry consistently covered openings as needed.

Then COVID-19 hit Tucson. Many of the volunteers needed to step back because of the risk.

Words cannot express my gratitude to Harlan Hokin & Joyce Henderson who have been covering the office phones since basically mid-March! They both have definitely gone way beyond their call to serve.

Submitted by Pam Spears, Parish Administrator

Welcome Ministry It was a pleasure to serve as greeters in Mc Bride Hall till March 15, the last Sunday we were able to be together as a congregation.

Deb Tinajero, Michelle Clark, Donna Johnson and Bruce Anderson were faithfully present with smiles and information about our community of faith, action and justice.

Submitted by Carol White

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Vision – Mission – Ministry

Food for the Journey

Adult Spiritual Formation Even though—for the moment—we can’t sit together in the Bloom Room or the Weeks Room, or mingle at our usual coffee hour in McBride Hall, Adult Spiritual Formation marches on. All are invited and encouraged to participate! ASF events, classes and conversations are all easily accessible by Zoom and from the GSP website [gsptucson.org]. One click under the “What’s Happening?” column will take users to “Virtual Services and Meetings” and “What’s Happening this Week (e-Blast!)“ GSP’s Facebook and YouTube pages can also be accessed directly from the “Welcome” column.

Some highlights:

Zoom chat with the Rector [and others] Mondays at noon on “GSP Today.” No topic is off the table!

Zoom “Between the Lines: Scholarship & Depth Psychology Meet Sunday’s Lectionary” facilitated by our Associate Rector, Dr. Richard Mallory. Thursdays at 10 a.m.

Dr. Chuck Dickson continues to produce new educational Power Points under “Virtual Adult Education.” Available any time on GSP’s YouTube channel.

We have attempted to simulate short, casual coffee-hour conversations with “GSPeople” videos. Available any time on GSP’s YouTube channel.

Check out the “Earth Justice—Migrant Justice—Social Justice“ for news of our outreach efforts. Also, find the entire series of videos of Father Steve teaching “Episcopal 101.” Both are available at any time on YouTube playlists.

Submitted by Harlan Hokin

Bessie Edgar Memorial Altar Guild Altar Guild Teams:

Team #1 Jane Thrall, — 7:45 a.m. service Marilyn Abraham, Kay Buckler— 10 a.m. service

Team #2 Gwen McCaffrey— 7:45 a.m. service Barbara Morehouse, Sr. Alexandra Zarris – 10 a.m. Service

Team #3 Ann Schlumberger—7:45 a.m. service Karen McVean, Nancy Smith— 10 a.m. service

Thanks to a group of terrific and talented volunteers of this ministry who are responsible for readying the church for all services. They have wash and iron linens, clean and polish brass, fill oil canisters, change church colors, remove wax when needed, prepare all the elements used for communion each Sunday, set up for baptisms and funerals, and give extra time for holiday services.

This has been an unusual year for the Altar Guild because of the pandemic which has caused the church to close its doors except for a few. The Altar Guild has missed being able to be a part of their ministry since the middle of March. They actually have expressed missing polishing and cleaning, imagine that, but miss even more all the comradery we have with each other.

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Karen McVean and I have been doing the altar duties for the livestream service, plus the decorating for the seasons with the help of James White.

Flowers on Sunday are provided by Arizona Flowers. Flower decorations for Christmas and Easter are put up with the help of the Altar Guild members, their spouses, and James White.

When church starts in house services again I hope GSP members will consider joining this ministry; both male and female are welcome.

Respectfully submitted, Jane Thrall

Children, Youth and Families There are many things we can be “ho-hum” about this year, but the children, youth, and families of GSP are not one of them! One would imagine that coming on board to a new church during a pandemic would be a drag, but in reality, it has given me a slow and meaningful start to building relationships.

In February, GSP said goodbye to Pastor Kimberlee with a lovely breakfast send-off. I am grateful for the work that she put in with the Sunday School program and children’s ministries. Under the tutelage of Jim Kane and with the help of Madeleine Caldwell, we were able to continue the Love First curriculum on Zoom. Many of our other fearless Sunday School leaders stayed on board and helped us adjust to life online. We ran a social justice curriculum over the summer, which made beautiful connections to the current Black Lives Matter movement.

Outside of Sunday mornings, we stayed connected through “Kids Hang Out”—a weekly Zoom gathering over the summer. Families of GSP and in the community were invited to participate in a monthly anti-racism program, rooted in Christian love, that the Diocese and Arizona churches collaborated on called “Respect the Dignity of All: Kids Engaging Racial Equity”.

A huge “Thank You!” goes to our Sunday School leadership team for their hard work and dedication during the pandemic. I’m also extremely grateful for the kids who logged in, giving us grace as we learned a new medium and giving me a chance to get to know them.

We sadly did not get to have a big Easter celebration, send any kids to Chapel Rock, do a Mission Trip, have camp, and kick off the new school year with a party, but I cannot wait until we get to schedule those things again! In fact, I am working with the Chapel Rock planning team on camp in the hopes that it will happen in some form.

Although there were losses and letdowns due to things out of our control, I was happy to be able to visit with a few families as I dropped off supplies for various activities to their homes.

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A highlight this year was resurrecting the drive-in movie! With the help of James White and Fr. Steve, we constructed a drive-in movie theater in our very own parking lot. Thirteen families and parishioners attended to watch “Coco” under the stars. I am sure we will do this again!

Even with a pandemic, the youth group has been quite active. We were able to safely meet outside at the park to make BLM signs and discuss the impact of the movement on each person present—that

was where I really got to know Fiona Fischer, Achol Magot, and Marissa Bury. The park became a favorite meeting place—we did yoga, hung out, and we met to make cards for the kids at Camp Genesis (the week at Chapel Rock dedicated to kids with family members who are incarcerated).

We then moved our gatherings from the park to the GSP labyrinth—we lit the labyrinth with solar lanterns and were led through meditation by a guest instructor, talked about forgiveness (which included breaking tiles and using the broken pieces to form something new), and learned about the Pagan holiday of Mabon on

the Autumnal Equinox (making corn husk dolls showcased the talents of our youngest member, Lilly Krug). For a time, we were able to move into McBride Hall—wearing masks and running the swamp cooler kept things COVID-19 safe. We had lots of laughs in there from playing charades and Pictionary, to carving pumpkins and building gingerbread houses.

Apiu, Fiona, Marissa, and Lilly came on a hike at Sabino Canyon in November and we look forward to doing a full moon hike this spring.

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One of the scariest things we did together was go to Terror in the Corn around Halloween-time. Apiu, Achol, Angeth, Adit, Ngang, Marissa, and Fiona drove all the way out to Marana just to be chased by a man with a chainsaw and to race through haunted houses and corn mazes screaming! By the end of the night, they were taking selfies with the demons, evil clowns, and possessed dolls.

I had wonderful helpers this year—Betty Rathbone assisted the group over the summer, and Sarah Andrews and Will Brinckerhoff helped out during fall and winter. Sarah and Will are former youth group members from my very first experience as a youth minister at St. Alban’s when I was in college. They are now fully formed adults who have a lot to offer our younger members. It has been a beautiful full-circle moment to have them as peers helping me with the youth.

My hope for 2021 is to continue to build and strengthen my one-on-one relationships with the kids and youth. I hope to continue to be a support to families and to see our family engagement increase. I will work toward new creative ways to connect and make sure we keep in our favorite events as we are able. Thank you all for your continued support of our young members and their families.

Submitted by Jessica Swift

Choir What a difference a year makes! My annual report last year was full of news about the choir and special music for events organized by a busy church, with thanks for the many people keeping the program ticking over.

This report will be much shorter, alas. The good news is that we carried on. We started the year strong, with the following choristers and music staff:

Adult Choir Members (all or part of the year): Bruce Anderson, Steve Black, Phyllis Cameron, Richard Cameron, Dave Coatsworth, Liz Durham, Rick Hanson, Joyce Henderson, Harlan Hokin, Miriam Huber, Spencer Hunter, Francesca Jarvis, Phil Johnson, Cricket Kelbaugh, Dick Kelbaugh, Jill McCollum, Karen

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McVean, Susan Marcus, Barbara Morehouse, Wendy Pipentacos, Barbara Pritchard, Betty Rathbone, Sam Reynolds, Patty Rushing, Ann Stephens, Jane Thrall, Angel Wang, Pete Weiblen, Jeff White, and Laura Worcester.

Music Staff: Christina Jarvis, Director of Music; David Wachter, Organist; Jane Click and Jean-Pierre Gabriels, Pianists; and Rosalie Cassiday and Jean-Pierre Gabriels, Substitute Organists.

We sang through the Epiphany season and into Lent. Then came the intimation that singing together wasn’t safe, following news about choirs in Washington and Europe that suffered from superspreading events, with many sickened and some dead. We were blessedly able to sing for Tom Ham’s memorial service on March 5, but March 15 was our last Sunday as a full choir. Organist David Wachter had hand surgery and was out for several weeks, returning to the organ bench in time for Easter. We are grateful for his full recovery and for his great good will and musicality throughout this trying time!

Thereafter, we moved to livestreamed services, and music for Palm Sunday and Holy Week was sung by a quartet, some combination of Ann Stephens, Wendy Pipentacos, Susan Marcus, Harlan Hokin, Spencer Hunter, or me. Wendy, Susan, Harlan, Spencer, and I sang on Easter Sunday. Thereafter, per instructions from the Diocese and the advice of our COVID-19 committee, the number of people present in the chancel was lowered, so only two singers participated in the services, with rare exceptions, through Late Pentecost/Creation Season and Advent. Harlan Hokin and I were the standard combination, but Susan Marcus, Ann Stephens, and Wendy Pipentacos filled in for me from time to time. To maintain a COVID-19 bubble, the pool of singers was kept small. Phil Johnson participated on guitar as needed.

In the meantime, Jane Click and Jean-Pierre Gabriels have been recording music for SpiritNow and SpiritSong services, respectively, which are held on Zoom. The choir has Zoom meetings on Sundays at 4:00 to support each other through this bizarre time in our lives.

Thanks to all those who contributed their musical talent this year during a time when they could have just curled up in their jammies and never opened the door. Some of us are paid to stick our necks out, but not the volunteers. Harlan in particular has been there week after week. Bless you all!

With deep sadness, I report that the choir lost two dear people this year. First, Cathy Wolfson, who sang in the St. Paul’s and Grace St. Paul’s choirs for over 40 years, died of cancer at the end of July. Susan, Harlan, Spencer and I sang for her outdoor memorial service in October, and GSP choir anthems and a work on which Cathy was soloist with the Arizona Repertory Singers, all recorded in previous years, were broadcast to the assembly so that the choir and the ARS could be present in some form. Then, Laura Lundy, who sang alto with us for a time, contracted COVID-19 in December and died the day after Christmas. Her memorial is next November; we are hoping that by then, the choir will be restored to the chancel.

For a while, it looked as though the case numbers might be improving, so I ordered singer’s masks, eager to expand the musical ensemble. We had a quartet for Christmas Eve (Susan, Harlan, Spencer, and I) and included clips from previous Christmas Eve services. The music for the Christmas Day livestream also included clips from past years. Alas, the numbers shot up again and we have gone back to two singers per Sunday.

Two people deserve the highest accolades and special thanks for their dedication throughout this Time of Corona—Bruce Anderson and Jesse Thrall—who have organized livestreaming and recording of the services. It is impossible to thank them enough! Jesse has been religiously (so to speak) recording every Sunday 10:00 service and all the special services for something like 20 years. He helped find really great clips to use for some of the services. Thanks also to Betty Rathbone, who occasionally fills in for Bruce, and James White, also helps keep things running during livestreaming services.

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It is my earnest hope we can all be back together again soon and the annual report in January 2022 will relate more variety of musical activity, but this is where we are, and thanks be to God. May we all stay safe until the vaccines are a done deal.

Many blessings, Christina Jarvis, Music Director

Eucharistic Assistants, 7:45 a.m. The lectors, acolytes, and chalice bearers at the 7:45 Sunday service faithfully discharged their responsibilities until GSP paused in-person services due to the pandemic. A new coordinator of these positions will be needed as I am stepping down after 25 years in that role. I am very grateful to those who have so generously volunteered as lay assistants for the early service.

Respectfully submitted, Ann Schlumberger

Grief Ministry Grace St. Paul’s grief ministry provides a place of solace, like a best friend, where you can fully express your feelings of loss or how lonely you feel and where people will listen. This ministry goes beyond one-to-one and group grief pastoral care, and our memorial connections.

In addition to the Good Grief Group, individual grief support is offered on a in-person, 1:1 basis. For 2020, we provided 1:1 spiritual support with individuals as needed and when the Grief Group was not being held.

A Grief Group was started in February 2020, postponed due to COVID-19 and thinking we would be able to meet in person soon, and then restarted/completed April and May 2020 through ZOOM. Confidentiality did not seem to be a problem with this arrangement. In order to encourage understanding in the group’s purpose and activity:

“Grief can be an important part of our spiritual journey. This group will be a safe place to explore our grief experience and its potential for spiritual transformation. This group is experiential with music, guided meditation, prayer, short readings, as well as opportunities to share. All kinds of grief experiences including the loss of an animal companion are welcome.

As a form of 1:1 support, as appropriate, we will send a card to those receiving memorial connections support from our Grief Ministry. Usually, we receive a referral through the church office following a memorial service or a ministry member receives a referral directly. This ministry is for those members of Grace St. Paul’s, their family members, or close friends needing support, and/or for those whose animal companions have died.

Currently, those who are providing the memorial connections are (in no particular order): Marilyn Atha, Laurie Finn, Brother Chuck Hannan OSF, Pamela Mallory, Ann Schlumberger, Carol Willans, Christina Jarvis when the deceased is a choir member, and Rev. Chris. During 2020 we served many individuals with in-person or written memorial connections, praying and walking the grief journey with them. As in the past, this year’s report will not contain a specific number of recipients in order to avoid “objectifying” this sacred ministry. Needless to say, this is a great ministry you can do from home: materials/cards are provided, reminders are sent, and we need YOUR help. Please contact Rev. Chris or another Grief

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Ministry member if you’d like to join us. We will help you as to what to write, provide name/address and relationship to the grieving GSP member and our community.

A unique feature of this meaningful ministry is that group and individual support is available for those who grieve the loss of a companion animal. (See Animals and Spirituality Ministry annual report for more information.)

If you would like to be a member of this spiritual ministry, please contact Rev. Chris Ledyard. For 2020, and until she (temporarily left for Deacon Formation internship) Laurie Finn was assisting with the organization and keeping the communication records up to date on the providers and recipients of Grief Ministry memorial connections. Additionally, Laurie served as co-facilitator of the annual Grief Group. We are looking forward to her return and contributions to this ministry.

Please do contact a member of this ministry, including Rev. Chris Ledyard at mach8350@hotmail.com or the Church office, for support through your grief and/or loss process.

Submitted by Deacon Chris Ledyard

Guided Meditation For many years GSP has offered a Tuesday evening mediation in person. Now in light of COVID-19 that is no longer possible. Since May this format has been changed. Now a guided loving-kindness mediation based on the work of Sharon Salzberg is being offered on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. online using Zoom. In addition to a steady core of regulars, we’ve had people join from New Mexico, California and Washington.

So if you would like to join a group of relaxation and compassionate mediation, please visit our meeting at: https://zoom.us/j/97338942835 .

May you have ease of well-being.

Respectfully submitted, Lynn Marie Hunter

Intercessory Prayer Team Jill McCollum and Rev. Chris Ledyard are co-facilitating this ministry. Jill or Rev. Chris send out prayer requests via email to the Intercessory Prayer Team (IPT) members when the requests are received anytime during the week/month. This is a confidential request. Information is not shared with anyone else not an IPT member. It is not the same list that is published in the Sunday service bulletin’s prayer listing.

Jill and Rev. Chris take turns handling the requests depending upon schedules. So, we request that you send prayer requests to this email address: prayers@grace-stpauls.org. It’s interesting in that some requests come from people outside of our Grace St. Paul’s community. We have honored all requests.

Please keep your prayer requests relatively brief and concise. Prayers may be for parishioners, family members, friends, acquaintances, and/or animals. As in the past, this year’s report will not contain a specific number of requests in order to avoid “objectifying” this sacred ministry.

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If you would like to join this Team—please send an email to that same address listed above with your name and email address.

We thank all of the GSP parishioners who participate and support this ministry.

Prayerfully, Jill McCollum and Rev. Chris

Lectors, Chalice Servers, Subdeacons, 10 a.m. HAPPY 2021 TO ALL,

Regretfully I cannot write a report as I have in the past.

I would like to thank ALL our participants in our ministry for your understanding, patience and willingness to “serve,” on the few occasions when it was possible.

WE all know this continues to be a most challenging topsy-turvy time. Thanks and BLESSINGS to our rector and the “crew,” who has made being together virtually via Zoom possible. This keeps us connected and engaged with our parish family as best we are able during this trying time. We DID celebrate Holy Week, Easter and a beautiful Christmas together. Blessed Gifts of Thanksgiving.

We will see this through and when the “right” time comes, we will rejoice together with grateful hearts. In the meantime take care, be safe and continue staying connected.

Peace and blessings, Willie Schlentz

Pastoral Care Pastoral Care like all ministries has been directly impacted by COVID-19 for most of this year. Because of the public health policies of social distancing and the policies of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, all of our support has been through telephone or mail contact. At the beginning of March we expanded our telephone support beyond those on our pastoral care list. We have extended telephone support to family members as well in some cases.

As of this month most facilities remain on “lockdown” and do not even allow visits from pastoral care members or clergy unless the person is dying or receiving Hospice services. Then the visit is allowed after receiving a COVID-19 negative vaccination. We are hoping this will let up as residents receive vaccination but this is not happening quickly. We have delivered Sunday bulletins to people living in care facilities.

Telephone contact has been our main avenue to lessen social isolation. We have recommended and helped some parishioners to connect to weekday services, online meetings or classes including our live streamed Sunday morning service at 10:00 A.M. However we discovered that not everyone has computer or smart phone access to these.

In May biweekly “Prayer Hours” for meditation and prayer in the Sanctuary began on Tuesday and Thursday morning from 9-12. This was approved by the COVID-19 Task force under specific guidelines. Deacon Nancy Meister coordinated the volunteers who were hosts. They were Carol White, Nanalee Rafael, Marjorie King, Anne Sunderland, and Lynne Albright. While the prayer hours helped a small number of people, especially over the summer months, it was not widely accessed. This program ended with the beginning of our parking lot service on October 18.

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The Pastoral Care leadership team included Laurie Finn until she left in September to complete a six-month diaconal internship at St. Matthews Church. Deacon Chris Ledyard is a leader of pastoral care through Grief Ministry and the Intercessory Prayer team (see separate reports). Deacon Chris offers individual grief counseling. Jill McCollum helps Chris with Intercessory Prayer. The Healing Touch Ministry has continued with Miriam Huber and Patricia Dickson offering healing touch from a distance.

Thank you to Alysha Collins who answers urgent calls to our emergency number which Is (520) 668-6857. We ask people to call the office number during the day at (520) 327-6857.

The Pastoral Care team includes Alysha Collins, Ann Schlumberger, Chris Eastoe, Don Eager, Br. Chuck Hannan, Mary Delaney, Ann Schlumberger, Nanalee Raphael, Stephen Hymel, Yvonne Maynard, Kay Buckler, Miriam Huber, Pat Dickson, Lynne Hunter, Carol White, Carol Willans, Virginia Zuelow, Laurie Finn, Steve Kelsey Richard Mallory, Steve Keplinger, Chris Ledyard and Nancy Meister.

In the coming year we look forward to vaccinations and the opening up of care facilities and the possibility of regular in person visits and worship. If you want to receive support from pastoral care, please call the office at 327-6857 and you will receive a call from one of us.

Submitted by The Rev. Nancy Meister

Spirit Now — Worship in the Spirit of the Emerging Church The Spirit Now service began the year meeting for an informal service most every Thursday evening at 6 p.m. in McBride Hall. Steve Kelsey is our clergy leader, and the group usually numbers 8 to 16. We continue in our exploration of alternative liturgy and in our use of readings from many and varied spiritual traditions. Members attending support one another in taking turns to plan and lead services, in a contemporary and imaginative spirit, emphasizing music, meditation and music. On the first Thursday of the month, our service (“Spirit Song”) uses the Taizé tradition and met in the Chancel. On the third

Thursday of the month, we had a simple (“finger foods”) potluck and “planning circle” following the service.

Yet … guess what happened in March, 2020. As health precautions kept us from meeting in person for the remainder of the year, we drew on the various talents of our members (especially that of Jeff Ingle), and we moved into a Zoom format, settling on 5:00 p.m. every Thursday. We are grateful to Jane Click who, with technical support from Kathy Creath, recorded chants and Preludes for our weekly worship. Jean-Pierre Gabriels recorded music for our Taizé services. Our many creative and active members of the Spirit Now community, contributed regularly in planning and leading our weekly services, as well as for the “Potluck” services we developed, and for our special services such as a special, “virtual” observance of Ascension Thursday, and a “virtual Ofrenda” (as part of the observances of the Dia de los Muertos – Day of the Dead). The challenges of continuing our steady beat during the

pandemic has elicited much creativity and spiritual nourishment.

JOIN US whenever you can … Thursdays at 5 p.m. -- @ https://zoom.us/j/948146775

Steve Kelsey

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Ushers

Joke: I have fulfilled my lifelong dream of becoming an usher! I guess that I like to put people in their place!!

I was the usher lead for all of 2020, although like everything else in 2020, it wasn’t the same!

We ushered our “normal” team weekly pattern through March 15, and Pia’s ushers served every week through that date as well. This covered 11 Sundays, including Ash Wednesday and one memorial service. Star ushers—those who served each of their assigned Sundays plus substituted or served at a special service—included Michele Clark, Jean Marie Keplinger, Shari Murphy, Cynthia Sorrensen-Carter and Mark Weber. Thank you so much!! Those ushers with perfect attendance (every assigned Sunday) included: Dianne Bret Harte, Jeanne Fearson, Lisa Jones, Sharon McKenzie and Kathy Roberson. Thank you!!

We started Live-Stream Services on March 22, eliminating usher services for COVID-19 and keeping our in-person attendance to a minimum. Then for five weeks in the fall, the Church held Outdoor Services, including one memorial, in which one usher per event would serve. That was especially “unknown” to all of us, so a very special thanks to those ushers who braved : Beatrice ML Washburn, Cynthia Sorrensen-Carter, Katie Reynolds and Jean Marie Keplinger!

Not to forget ANYONE, here is a list of all other ushers from 2020:

Robin Beelen — early service Pia Cuneo — early service Jay Elliston Anton Faynberg Craig Garver Ron Knutson Jane Nakazato Peggy Scott — early service Steve Streeter Jane Thrall — early service Francisca (Kika) Weber Virginia Zuelow

Not sure what 2021 will bring, but hopeful for in-person services and seeing all your bright and shiny faces once again! Thank you again to ALL ushers!

Submitted by Joyce Warfield

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Vision – Mission – Ministry

Change the World

Animals & Spirituality At Grace St. Paul’s, we are providing an excellent opportunity to care for God’s creation through the Animals and Spirituality Ministry. Our mission statement reads as follows: “The Animals & Spirituality Ministry—focusing on the goodness of God’s creation and embracing our role as loving, responsible caretakers of God’s creation, with an emphasis on all animals.” The mission statement includes all animals throughout the world including farm animals and endangered species.

Our ministry is different in that meetings are rarely held, as most of our communication is done through emails. If you wish to be added to the mailing list, send your name and email address to The Rev. Chris Ledyard at mach8350@hotmail.com. When we meet, it’s usually during a project such as arranging for the community microchipping of dog and cats we did in 2019, as well as packaging the food for the animals of our Pantry guests. Emails consist of updates, and forwards from other listservs on animals, i.e. endangered species, farm animals, companion animals, training, etc.

Here’s a brief, non-inclusive review and commentary of what we have accomplished this past year and plan to continue in 2021:

Community events:

Microchipping of dogs. In conjunction with two community agencies, a low-cost microchip your dog was hosted by this ministry in February 2019. We were unable to do this due to COVID-19.

One major collection of dog and cat food for Joseph’s Pantry guests: the congregation donated over one ton of dog and cat food in 2020. Thanks to assistance from Ministry members and the Grace St. Paul’s congregation, it was either delivered or dropped of the church office due to COVID-19. The food was re-packaged primarily through the efforts of Shari Murphy. This is a multi-ministry project including Joseph’s Pantry, the GSP Communications team, Youth ministries, and parish staff including David Wachter and Pam Spears. Your generous contributions have made this successful.

Becoming a pet food resource: As of three years ago, Grace St. Paul’s has made the commitment to never be without dog or cat food. Joseph’s Pantry is now listed as a food resource for dog and cat food. This is why your food contributions are so important throughout the year, and should not be limited to food drives.

Your Animal Memorial Garden: was blessed by the GSP community in May 2015. Our annual companion animal celebration of life/memorial service/burial has not been held due to COVID-19. When we’re back on track: The animal guardians will again choose whichever fits their comfort level: a community burial service, an individual service, and/or a memorial plaque. It is a truly spiritual experience! We currently have more than 50 cremains buried in the garden, of dogs, cats, lizards, birds, etc. The plants are watered on a regular basis, providing a peaceful space; however we then had increased visitors (rabbits and javelinas) who ate the flowering plants. To address this issue, we are now planting only rabbit resistant

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plants. Due to a very generous contribution, and assuming approval by the Vestry, our Sexton will be installing a water source for the garden. Hopefully, there will be another unexpected generous donation that would allow us to put in automatic watering system This would greatly enhance an opportunity to put in plants that would attract birds and butterflies, and to fulfill a plan from the original drawings to put a natural barrier between the walkway and the garden. We hope you will consider this spiritual opportunity for the burial of your companion animals. Also, we encourage people to contact the church office to have a memorial plaque posted on the memorial wall.

Annual community Celebration of Life/Memorial/Burial: was not held this year due to COVID-19

Blessing of the Animals service—in conjunction with Father Steve, ZOOM, and the Christina, our choir director. We had an in-home service. There were plenty of dogs, cats, horses and lizards, with fun and love as the operative words. The Liturgy was just awesome, and all were welcome regardless of animal or animal guardianship status. All were also invited to bring pictures of one’s deceased animals for further blessings and remembrances at this service.

Pastoral support for those whose pet has died, in the form of memorial services as well as one-on-one support has occurred throughout the year. Some have come to the annual Grief group. We are looking forward to continuing this ministry throughout 2021. As we learn about adoptions, sickness, and deaths, we send a notification and prayer to the Animal and Spirituality ministry members, and Intercessory Prayer Team via email so a community prayer may be raised-up for the animals and their companions. Additionally, as part of the Grief Ministry, memorial cards are sent to those from GSP who have lost a companion animal, as we learn about it.

Names of ill or deceased animals listed in the weekly GSP Sunday bulletin. This is arranged through David Wachter in our church office and will continue through 2021. Please let David and/or Rev. Chris know as you experience or hear of a companion animal who is ill or deceased.

Collection of blankets and towels for Pima Animal Care Center residents: Molly Johnson has been instrumental in coordinating this ministry, from weekly delivery of our donations to developing the bulletin announcements. However, this has slowed down due to non-in-person attendance and no coffee hours to accept contributions. Your generosity for this ministry is appreciated by the animals at PCCC. Your contribution provides comfort and an important sense of security – which enhances the opportunity to become adoptable to a forever home.

Development of a crisis resource list—we need a listing of people and/or organizations that can help with pet needs during short-term, crisis situations. It is not an organized/standardized effort yet. This is an area that has included ministry members and Grace St. Paul’s members who were able to contribute time, effort, and space. Animals and Spirituality Ministry members and other congregants have been able to provide short-term foster care while the congregant has been in the hospital, sick, etc. We encourage all companion animal lovers who are currently with pets in their lives to have a crisis plan with names, phone numbers, and email addresses in place, where you have already arranged for your pet’s care while in the hospital – which can happen suddenly and not be pre-planned.

Ministry Inventory: During our April 2017 meeting, it was decided to have a minimum of an annual meeting to conduct an inventory of what we do, what we do well, where and how we can improve, and consider what else we could be doing for taking this ministry to the outside world. Due to COVID-19, we did not have a ministry in-person meeting during 2020.

Other Projects: Another special project was putting articles in the Briefly and the Bulletin, written by various members so people can understand what we do as a Ministry. Sinead Jackson has been an active person with this. Lastly, we have a list serve/blog which is sent at least once a week with Animal news,

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or items related to Animals/Care of Creation. You are welcome to join, just let us know your email address thru the Church office or Rev. Chris.

There are many unnamed people who work with/for this ministry and do whatever/whenever they can to further the spiritual interest in the love and compassion of God’s creation as expressed through our companion animals and all animals on earth. We, including the animals, are grateful and appreciate your contributions and services!

Please contact us through the Church office when we can be of service.

Submitted by Animals and Spirituality Ministry

Anti-Racism to Ally: A Spiritual Journey This group was formed in response to our Baptismal Covenant for social justice, the call from our Bishop and the GSP community for a further and deeper examination of systemic racism and how to become an anti-racist. The structure and mission of the group is very interesting: heeding the calls to look at ourselves in the context of the White culture, we have been and are focused on a self-examination of our participation in (and the rejection of) white privilege and systemic racism, and the impact of that on our spiritual journeys.

Initially we began with a weekly meeting in 2020 to discuss the results of our online, individual study and work on the 21-day challenge developed by Eddie Moore, Jr. This developed into many enlightening discussions, resulting in self-reflection. Following the 21-day challenge, we decided to follow the suggestions and advice from the 21-day challenge and other Black leaders: don’t limit yourself to a Book Study….and think you’re solved the problem. Additionally, we wanted to learn in our minds and souls how to be anti-racists and to progress becoming allies. So, the group decided that each of us would read our own book related to white privilege and systemic racism. For the reminder of 2020, we discussed and shared in our group meeting as to what was learned, what was experienced in our hearts and souls, what action could be taken re: white privilege and systemic racism, and of course, how our spiritual life was affected.

Starting in January 2021, we began to include the various aspects of our faith tradition in relation to white privilege and systemic racism. We are going to be reading assorted articles related to this, and also begin to reach out to the community-at-large to discover what actions can we can do i.e. sign petitions, raise awareness at GSP and in the community at large. We’re interested in becoming anti-racists and allies, and not limited to being a book study.

We have decided to open the group up to anyone who would like to join us. We meet on Zoom, once a month, on the third Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. If this sounds intriguing and you want to learn and experience more about yourself and from others on this type of spiritual journey in a safe environment, please contact Rev. Chris through the church office. You’d be more than welcomed!

Submitted by Deacon Chris Ledyard

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Bread from the Pantry “I love the bread run (as I call it) and feel privileged to do it, because it’s such a tangible mitzvah: Pick up bread; deliver it; the next day or soon thereafter, it’s keeping someone alive. So much more concrete than writing checks, which I also do, but which I don’t find as satisfying. Writing a check is an abstract gesture. Bread is older than writing, as old as religion, to which it is so integrally connected.” — Fenton Johnson

2020 started well with seeking new volunteers in February. That changed in mid-March, when Beyond Bread’s Campbell location adjusted to COVID-19 restrictions and decreased the amount of donated bread at the end of the day. Closing times changed for a while before sticking with 6 p.m. on weekdays and 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Throughout the transition, all the bread volunteers adapted when plans changed, often without advance notice.

The storage bins in the outdoor shed were replaced near the end of April. Around the same time, Jessica Swift became Social Services Leader and began to provide guidance for bread ministry issues while adopting new safety protocols. This

became vital when outdoor dining became available at Beyond Bread in May and increased the amount of bread toward pre-pandemic levels.

All this is possible because of the dedication of several people who make my job as coordinator easier. I share the names of some of them. The ones who aren’t on the list include those who prefer to volunteer anonymously, non-parishioners, the family and friends of the named volunteers who help in pickups or deliveries, and most of those who accepted the invitation to volunteer in February but pulled back because of COVID-19.

The following names aren’t sorted in any particular order. Some pick up and store the bread, some sort and deliver them, while a few can do all those tasks! They either volunteer regularly, helped during part of 2020, or are ready to step in when needed:

Stephen Hymel, Donald Eager, Jim Steinman, Martha Farnham, Fenton Johnson, Craig Allen, Mary Allen, E. Leonard, Kitt Leonard, Martha Durkin, John Leonardo, Rebecca Dickinson, David Coatsworth, Wendy Pipentacos, Laurie Finn, Jeff Ingle, and Nancy Meister

Finally, here’s another volunteer’s perspective about the meaning of this ministry’s work:

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“Having been a new volunteer pre-COVID-19 and a relatively short-term volunteer (due to COVID-19), I can say I was positively astounded by the amount of good accomplished by a fairly small group of volunteers. Sorting and tying up those giant plastic bags of bread gave me a better understanding of how important the basic foodstuff is to so many people. I was honored to be part of the efforts. I look forward to returning either post-COVID-19 or post-vaccination.” — Laurie Finn

Glory to God,

Sharon McKenzie

Green Church Green Church activities of note this past year include partnering with well-known Tucson organizations, and joining local and state organizations. Many of our activities have occurred online as well as in Zoom meetings.

There is a brand-new Baja Arizona chapter of Arizona IPL that we now participate in.

So far the initial meeting, “Caring for our Sonoran Eden” focused on the City of Tucson’s Climate Emergency declaration and our shared experiences on incorporating creation care into the life our of worshipping communities.

As you may know, our Canon for Creation Care, Pam Hyde has created anew a diocesan Creation Care Council on which Fr Steve and I serve. This year’s Diocesan conference was online only, and we made a draft comparison of attendees’ gasoline transportation usage from the preceding year.

We have joined the Sustainable Tucson committee on Charitable and Faith-based outreach in order to help churches help green their grounds and their operations.

Our first project was the Kidane Mehret Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Tucson. Our team visited and advised the church on rainwater harvesting, grading their parking lot to automatically water their trees, planting additional trees, more efficient heating and lighting on their premises. We are continuing to reach out to other houses of worship around greater Tucson.

Activities are already starting to ramp up in January. Look forward to further creation care activities in 2021 and you are invited to look for general creation care news on Facebook groups Green Episcopalians and Creation Care and Healing Earth.

Submitted by Angel Wang, co-chair

Healing Touch Healing Touch is a relaxing, nurturing energy therapy. Gentle touch and/or projected healing energy assists in balancing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Healing Touch practitioners are certified by the Holistic Nursing Association.

During 2020, before Grace St. Paul’s church closure for COVID19, Monday evening Healing Touch clinic provided 72 healing sessions for an average of eight clients per evening plus two dogs. Healing Touch

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practitioners included Joan Brundage, Alan Brundage, Kathy Creath, Patricia Dickson, Elizabeth Durham, Miriam Huber, Vicki Mills, and Billie Schelble.

In September, 2020, Healing Touch practitioners Joan Brundage, Alan Brundage, Patricia Dickson, Elizabeth Durham, Miriam Huber, Vicki Mills, and Billie Schelble. began Distance-Healing-Touch via ZOOM on Monday evenings. During 2020, this group routinely provided distance-healing to at least ten GSP clients as well other friends and family. Other concerns included in the distance-healing sessions were issues like health care workers, peace and love in the country, peaceful transition of power in the government, and promotion of world peace.

Grace St. Paul’s Healing Touch practitioners also provided visits to parishioners in hospitals and nursing homes.

Submitted by Miriam Huber and Patricia Dickson

Joseph’s Pantry

Summary. 2020 was a difficult year for both pantry volunteers and for the pantry community. With

exceptional commitment from volunteers and support from GSP staff, we were able to continue to serve our neighbors and to keep them fed. Because not all volunteers could safely work in the pantry during the pandemic, we shifted to a three-day-a-week schedule, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. with showers on each day.

In previous years, the café was a highlight of the Joseph’s Pantry community. It was a safe place to sit, rest, and enjoy a cup of coffee, a piece of fruit, and the breakfast food donated by parishioners as well as rescued from grocery stores by the Agency Market at the Community Food Bank. In 2020, there was no safe way to continue the café, so we switched to pre-packed lunch bags which could be safely distributed while still observing social distancing.

As you would imagine, 2020 has been a year of unexpected challenges that were met with the exceptional work of volunteers and staff. Our longest serving volunteer, shopper, and leader, Holly Shinn, continued to ensure the pantry is always stocked with food that nourishes our community. Holly’s devotion to the pantry is second to none. Volunteer Joe prepared our pre-packed lunch bags three days a week, every week, all year. Volunteer Elaine was in the pantry every week, but also helped community members fill out the paperwork to receive their pandemic survival checks. Our sexton, James White, installed a handwashing station in the breezeway for the health of our community. Jessica Swift, our Social Services Leader and Director of Children, Youth, and Families calmly handled the myriad of challenges and crises that go hand in hand with trying to provide vital social services during a pandemic. I am so proud to be a part of this team that does such exceptional work under such difficult circumstances.

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Activity 2017 2018 2019 % change

People served by JP 4666 3546 5030 +41%

People served by CFB 2,136 3,485 1570 -55%

Volunteer hours 1857 2359 2830 +20%

Bags of pet food 1032 1551 1319 -15%

Showers 2725 1724 2181 +27%

Daily food 5293 6635 6619 -0.2%

Small JP bags 1435 1346 1629 +21%

Large JP bags 643 486 596 +23%

Small CFB boxes 1100 779 701 -10%

Large CFB boxes 455 272 139 -49%

Extra large CFB boxes 97 34 51 +50%

CFB Food Box Program

We are a distribution site of the Community Food Bank’s implementation of The Emergency Food Assistance Program, TEFAP, which is partially funded by both the Arizona Department of Economic Security and the US Department of Agriculture. This program provides a once-monthly box of food for individuals and families whose income is below 185% of the federal poverty level. The amount of food varies by household size. This food is provided at no charge to GSP. It is, in general, only a supplement to an individual or family’s food for a month. A recent box contained four cans, one each of vegetable soup, apple sauce, diced tomatoes, and green beans; rice, beans, macaroni and cheese, and corn flakes. The food in the CFB box only lasts so long, but it is a lifeline for individuals and families whose circumstances change quickly.

Joseph’s Pantry Bag of Food Program

Because the CFB food box can last any family only a few days, we also provide a bag of food from the church. This food comes from purchases made as part of the parish’s budget; from food donated by parishioners and other community members; and, from the CFB’s Agency Market, where food donated to the CFB in quantities too small to make it into the CFB box program are distributed to agencies around Southern Arizona. With this program, we are able to provide more flexibility, allowing pantry community members to choose from options within categories, e.g. a particular kind of soup, or a particular vegetable. This choice might seem small, but it is part of a growing movement in food security circles to

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increase the dignity and respect for individuals and households at food pantries. GSP has always been a leader in this respect.

Showers

Members of the pantry community use the two showers underneath the narthex on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays throughout the year. An average of 15 showers were taken on shower days, with more people in the warmer months of the year.

The pantry also offers all members of our community, not just those that shower here, toiletries as they are donated. We often have toothbrushes and toothpaste, dental floss, soap, deodorant, and menstruation supplies. The demand for these products is steady, but the supply is variable, as we do not use any of our budget to smooth out the variation in our inventory. This service can be especially important because essential items like toilet paper, tampons, pads, deodorant, and lotion can’t be purchased with SNAP (what used to be called food stamps) and TANF (cash welfare benefits) are nearly impossible to qualify for in Arizona and come with a 1-year lifetime limit.

It is especially obvious during the summer months, but, on any shower day it is easy to see the change in a person’s body language after they have had a chance to care for their body, and we are so thankful that GSP has the resources to offer this service.

Statement of non-discrimination

Some of the people who come to the pantry have never before been to Grace St. Paul’s. Because they do not yet know that we are a loving and welcoming community, they may worry that we will not welcome them openly. To communicate the essential nature of how we wish to treat everyone, the Pantry team adopted the following state of non-discrimination:

Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Joseph’s Pantry are a welcoming community. Beyond what we are required to do by law, we seek to make every person and every family feel welcomed and respected, without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, language, religion, age, disability, property, political affiliation, marital status, class, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, or medical condition. Everyone is welcome and everyone must be treated with kindness and respect.

Bread and Coffee

Thanks to our partners in the Bread for the Pantry ministry, Joseph’s Pantry always has bread. Thanks to donations from parishioners, we also always have coffee, cream, and sugar. In 2020, we stopped our self-service coffee program because there was no safe way to do it while also social distancing. On a limited basis, we have begun to serve coffee again, but only when it is prepared by a single masked-and-gloved volunteer.

In a perfect world, we would always have enough, an abundance sufficient to simply trust the people that come to us to take what they need. We do not yet live in that abundance, but the bread and coffee serve as symbols of the world we are working towards. They also serve to create a community of solidarity and mutual aid, and it is common to step out of the pantry door and hear conversations about the Social Services Ministry, available shelters, and places to get a hot meal. It is also common to hear stories told about family members and friends, books read, and movies watched. With a cup of coffee and something to eat, people are able to relax and have a peaceful moment. A woman who has come to the pantry for years described the campus and the pantry as an oasis in the city, a place of quiet and cool and calm.

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Holiday Party

Thanks to a very generous gift from the family of a parishioner, we were again able to hold our annual holiday party for the people of the pantry community. In a normal year, we would all help pack gift bags with socks, gloves, and lotion in McBride Hall on a Sunday morning. Volunteers would cook and serve a holiday meal and we would all enjoy the camaraderie and company of a holiday brunch.

Given the state of the pandemic in Arizona, one might assume that we could not hold a holiday party this year. But, if there is any gift that the Spirit gives freely to the people of Grace St. Paul’s, it is perseverance. The youth group assembled the gift bags. Volunteers assembled holiday lunch bags so that we could hold an outdoor, socially distanced, safe holiday party. It was not the same as parties of the past, but it was a moment of defiant joy, embodying our spirit of perseverance but also our care and concern for each other’s health.

Submitted by Andrew Gardner

Primavera Dinners We had the pleasure of serving 2 meals in 2020 before COVID-19 restrictions set in. The rest of the year GSP supported this ministry with sending a monthly check for the amount we would have spent on a delicious dinner. I would like to thank Wendy Pipentacos, Dick Kelbaugh, and Larry Washburn for their service and will hopefully be cooking again with them soon when we gather again.

Submitted by Carol White

Prayer Shawls As most GSP ministries we could not meet in person. But Sharon, Yvonne, Laura and Nan continued to make prayer shawls. Every strand of yarn and every stitch in pattern was a prayer of comfort and support.

“May God’s love wrap and enfold you, Embrace you and guide you, And bring you comfort.” Julian of Norwich

Submitted by Joyce Henderson

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Radical Hospitality and Migrant Ministry Grace St. Paul has been an active Sanctuary Church since the Trump administration began its deportation of immigrants four years ago. As the United States begins a new chapter under the Biden presidency, we hope that our last long-term guest will feel safe enough to return home. This year, the GSP Migrant Ministry focused on four aspects of ministry. Thank you for helping us to help our vulnerable sisters and brothers seeking refuge and opportunity in the U.S.

1. Direct aid to migrants on both sides of the international border. With your help, we support our own Valarie James’ Artisans Beyond Borders in Nogales, Sonora shelters. With your help, we collected clothing and other material support to migrants being deported in distant regions of Arizona (Sasabe and Douglas/Agua Prieta). GSP member Rev. Delle McCormick makes weekly trips to minister to migrants at the Douglas/Agua Prieta border. GSP paid for several weeks’ groceries and legal aid educational material for a Central American community in Tucson.

2. Spiritual support of migrants and of each other through twice monthly prayer vigils and congregational Prayers of the People. This vigil, currently virtual, is open to all who wish to pray for migrants and other vulnerable people. Many of you participated in the campaign by Casa Mariposa Visitation Program and Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project to send individually written Christmas cards to detained migrants. (We wrote 344 cards.)

3. Education of church members and other Tucsonans on controversial border-related issues from a Christian perspective. We organized a study group led by Diocesan border missioner David Chavez of the books The U.S. Immigration Crisis: Toward an Ethic of Place by Professor Rev. Miguel de la Torre and Radical Welcome by Rev. Stephanie Spellers. We supported Fr. Steve and other Tucson clergy who pressured ICE and local government officials to protect detained migrants from the COVID-19 infection. They published an op-ed piece on Aug. 28 titled: Tucson Clergy: Release migrants from Eloy Detention Center’s dangerous conditions now. Currently, we update you about migration and border issues through the GSP e-blasts and bulletins.

4. Coordination with other local and national migrant support organizations. Deacon Nancy participated in the virtual Migrant Trail. We signed on to the Interfaith Immigration Coalition letter to stop detentions and deportations during COVID-19. We signed on to a letter with over 100 border region-based humanitarian aid groups, forensic scientists, human rights, immigrant rights and faith based groups in support of the Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act (S. 2174/H.R. 8772).

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In 2021, we will add the Episcopal Migration Ministries to the groups with which we work. We will continue to update you on migration and border issues as the Biden administration responds to asylum-seekers waiting in Nogales shelters to cross into the United States. Perhaps our most challenging job will be to support Tucson’s Casa Alitas shelter if many more migrants are released from detention or allowed into the country. For all of our work, we will depend on you to support us and join us.

Submitted by Margie King

Artisans Beyond Borders: Makers on the Move

Even without politics and a pandemic, 2020 was quite a year for Artisans Beyond Borders, GSPs’ binational Migration Arts ministry in Tucson, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora. Artisans Beyond Borders addresses trauma, restores grace and agency, and provides income for asylum-seekers and their families stranded at the U.S.-MX port of entry.

Unlike Grace St. Paul’s other ministries that are more rooted and place-based, we work with people on the move, migrating from one country to another; Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Cuba, and Mexico to the U.S.

What unites the artisans regardless of origin is generational family-based craft. The familiar tools of their trade—embroidery floss, crochet needles, and Mexican manta cloth—are well suited to the art of migration: light and portable, carried in the hand, make-it-up-as-you-go creativity.

What also unites the makers are the multiple scars of trauma. Every one of our asylum-seekers has been traumatized, ripped and torn from their homes and their land, destabilized by human and climate-caused violence and pushed into forced migration and family displacement.

It may come as little surprise by now that contemplative handwork like embroidery and crochet is uniquely suited to the steady, mindful business of treating trauma. Even as our initiative evolved from art & occupational therapy in a shelter in Nogales to a micro-enterprise serving asylum-seekers throughout the city, it was a welcoming, healing practice for asylum-seekers, who could often be seen embroidering on the streets.

Selling their wares gave participants the opportunity to earn a desperately needed sustenance income for their kids, and real agency through the dignity of work. The pride of original

workmanship coupled with the tranquilo of embroidering is a godsend especially as the wait to apply for asylum stretches to a year or more for many.

The artisans’ freshly hand-embroidered Mantas hanging on the line in Tucson. Photo: Artisans Beyond Borders

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From 2019-2020, the Tucson Friends of Artisans Beyond Borders (all volunteers), sold the maker’s original mantas through presentations at local churches and educational Border conferences. But like so many other businesses confronted by COVID-19, we had to pivot. We had to figure out how to transition to internet-based sales only. Thanks to the generosity of people across the U.S., many of whom watch our ABB’s presentations on Zoom and want to help asylum-seekers, the artisans’ new Etsy shop has proven a success, earning enough in sales to support the embroiderers through the worst of the 2020 and into the winter of 2021.

The other key ingredient to our success in the middle of a pandemic has been teamwork with Mexican non-profit partners in community health. Together, we help care for migrants, body and soul. With key frontline Aid workers in Nogales that help to organize and translate communications with the artisans on Whatsapp, we’ve been able to meet core goals of our mission statement: empowering families to create heritage arts, supporting solidarity among artisans regardless of their origin, and fostering real friendship and respect between artisans and their supporters across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Ongoing challenges for ABB remain. In addition to the logistics of border work in general, senior volunteers in the U.S. may soon retire and pass the baton. We are actively seeking funding for young bi-lingual Cultural Arts Workers to maintain vital cross-border connections while our neighbors wait on asylum into the foreseeable future. As immigration policy changes, we will change with it, still keeping to our core goals to uphold the dignity of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers through lifting up Cultural arts and artisanal craft on our Southern border.

Submitted by Valarie Lee James

To contact Artisans Beyond Borders with information or resources, email Valarie or Mary at https://artisansbeyondborders.org/contact-us

Social Services I have said it before, and I will say it again: GSP has the best volunteers and we could not do what we do without them!

The Social Services team started off strong, as usual, in January of 2020, seeing over 200 guests per month. Then the pandemic really hit and our team took a two-month hiatus in April and May to stay safe and assess how to move forward (Joseph’s Pantry was able to continue at three days per week throughout the whole pandemic with remaining volunteers and new recruits). Once we had our first volunteer ready and able to return, Social Services was back. Beatrice Washburn volunteered three days per week to help people navigate the new MVD system for ID’s, issue clothing vouchers, and even delve into the new world of assisting people with unemployment applications.

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Elaine, a volunteer with the pantry, was the first to initiate the stimulus help with our guests. Elaine kicked it off and Social Services continued the work—together, we helped around 50 people use the non-filers tool to register for and receive their stimulus checks from the CARES Act.

The Social Services team greeted newcomers Betty Rathbone and Will Brinckerhoff over the summer, and welcomed back old friend Jamie Ray. Debbie Tinajero has also been volunteering in-person since returning from helping her six-year-old grandson do school from home all summer. Other devoted team members include Br. Chuck Hannan, Jim Williams, Harlan Hokin, and BJ Bower. Recently, we learned of the death of Dianne Gundersen, an enthusiastic supporter and volunteer with Social Services. Dianne is remembered fondly and will be missed.

In 2020, Social Services was open six days per week from January to mid-March, and open three days per week June through December. During those hours we helped with the following:

34 birth certificates

266 clothing vouchers

over 100 IDs

50 stimulus checks

$2,265 in SunGO fare

$2,736 in discretionary financial assistance

1,265 total interactions

We were able to do these things because of the budget allotted to us from GSP ($3,000) and some grant money that we received. Due to the buses becoming free, a significant amount of funds ($700/month) was lost because it is given to us from another group solely for bus fare. Luckily, we applied for, and received, a $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona (CFSAZ) to use toward the food pantry and Social Services in order to help combat our financial stress due to the pandemic. We are very grateful for this support and hope to build a strong relationship with CFSAZ.

Our Social Services program also helps parishioners. Through GSP discretionary funds, we assisted with over $7,000 to 13 people/families. We have also helped in ways that are harder to measure—we cannot simply look at the books for these numbers. I am describing things like: a time when a parishioner paid someone else’s rent anonymously; when a community member decided to give $1,200 in grocery gift cards to our families in need; when we coordinated with six other churches to help a single mom, her young son, and her mother move into a safer apartment; or when we worked together to administer naloxone to an unconscious man and call 911, helping to save his life. Many things like this happen in a giving community such as GSP. It is important to remember that these connections have space to occur when we prioritize our social justice programs.

Thank you to each and every person for supporting our Social Services program. We want you to know that we are thoughtful with the ways we spend our budget—we try to make your money have the biggest impact that it can and we use it to lift others up. Your continued support of this program spreads the seeds of love and maintains the dignity of every person we serve.

Respectfully submitted, Jessica Swift

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Candidates for Vestry and Junior Warden The election is on Sunday, January 31, 2021 at the Annual Congregational Meeting.

The Bylaws say this about vestry elections: “Nominations to the vestry and for junior warden shall be made by a nominating committee of no fewer than five persons including two retiring Vestry members, appointed by the Rector each year, subject to the approval of the Vestry. This committee shall report to the congregation six weeks before the annual meeting. Additional nominations may be made to the nominating committee or the Rector up to three weeks before the annual meeting. No nominations from the floor will be accepted.”

Introducing the Candidates for Vestry & Junior Warden

There are four (4) candidates for openings on the 2021 Vestry. In addition, there is one candidate running unopposed for the position of Junior Warden. The candidates are:

For Junior Warden: Angel Wang For Vestry: Margie King, Sandi Nesbit, Jill McCollum, and Patty Rushing.

Margie King, Candidate for Vestry. I grew up in Tucson during the 1950s and returned here after many years living, teaching, and raising a family in other parts of the country and in China. With my husband, Jim Steinman, I attended St. Michael and All Angels and served on the Social Action Committee and the Vestry.

I was also involved with an ecumenical group of clergy and laity that visited and prayed with migrants in immigration detention. I continue to write detained immigrants. These times of prayer and personal sharing profoundly deepened my Christian faith. But such painful connections with those suffering on the margins are unbearable without support. I found such emotional and spiritual support at Grace St. Paul’s. The “radical hospitality” committee, the migrant ministry’s twice-monthly migrant vigils and our participation in community-

wide border issues support me personally so that I may continue to support one of the most vulnerable groups of people.

I served as interim senior warden in 2018. I hope for the opportunity to join the vestry in order to understand and support other GSP members, committees, and staff of the church I dearly love. Further, I believe the vestry will benefit from my representation of one of our church’s social justice ministries.

Jill McCollum, Candidate for Vestry. It has been my privilege to walk with Grace St. Paul’s for the last ten years. For me, the community has been the source of significant growth and healing. I have had the opportunity to participate in a variety of ministries during that time, including our wonderful choir, the COVID-19 re-entry task force, EFM, the animals and Spirituality ministry, one of the anti-racism groups, children’s ministry, and the intercessory prayer team. Throughout it all, you have lifted me up, helped me learn and mature, and have graciously put up with my offbeat socks and my terrible cooking. We are entering a new phase in our growth, and I want to come alongside the GSP community, to pitch in, and to show my gratitude for all that has been done for

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me. May we continue to be a light to the world. I respectfully ask you to consider allowing me to join the vestry in its future work.

Sandi Nesbit, Candidate for Vestry. Discerning God’s call can be daunting. I find peace in my belief that the decision is not mine; it is yours and God’s.

About Me: For two decades I worked in the training industry; starting as a writer and ending with my own company. One day, after a particularly difficult research assignment where the employees found themselves in an industrial thrashing machine, I walked out. I wanted to do something more useful with my life. I became ordained and served churches in Illinois and Michigan.

Dark Night: Then came the migraines. I left ministry because I felt so inadequate. As remedy, I decided to use this “down” time to make myself “more valuable and worthy.” In addition to my M-Div I now have a Masters in Spirituality, another in Transpersonal Psychology and a D-Min in Creative Arts in Ministry. I used to say I had a learning addiction.

Grace on Four Legs: God seemed to accept the limitations I put on myself. I was given the precious gift of working in creation. My late husband and I began an alpaca farm. It was marvelous. After Bob died and the farm had to be sold, I moved to Illinois and then to Tucson. But the feeling of being so very blessed lives on in me.

I was led to GSP. Here, among you, I learned to serve just as I am, not like I think I should be. If my service continues as a member of vestry I shall be honored and thrilled. If not I will still be honored and thrilled; because being here, with you, is definitely what I am called to do now.

Patty Rushing, Candidate for Vestry. I moved to Tucson (from California) in 2017 and shortly thereafter began attending GSP. In 2019, after assuring myself that GSP is my spiritual home, I joined the church and then the choir. Since then I have become a Wednesday evening meditator and a regular at Father Richard’s “Reading Between the Lines” group. I can honestly say that GSP has changed my life. The sermons, the liturgy, the music, and the community connection have chipped away at a lifetime of mistaken assumptions and misguided adaptations, opening a door within me and letting in the light. At last I feel that I am on a good path, even when it’s scary, difficult and/or painful.

Particularly during the pandemic and the frightening political situation of this past year, the GSP community has been an essential support for me, so much so that I feel called to give back in some way. I am an artist in mosaics and ceramics, a gardener and proponent of restoring desert habitat by planting natives, and a former lawyer and law school instructor. If elected to the vestry, I will use my creativity, experience and judgment as best I can to serve the people who are Grace St. Paul’s.

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Angel Wang, Candidate for Junior Warden. Angel has been with GSP since 2008. In her earlier profession, she built orbiting imagers for NASA/NOAA that produced satellite Earth shots and inspired an interest in deforestation, urban heat islands, El Nino/La Nina effects, and climate.

Angel was born in Taiwan, and grew up in California, but moved multiple times during her graduate school years and subsequent career. As a result, she has had opportunities to appreciate diverse cultures and histories and was inspired to become involved in corporate diversity events.

Now retired, she works on environmental and creation care issues. At GSP, she was involved with our solar panels, parish garden, an experimental food forest,

and various Tucson climate events and seminars.

More recently Angel joined organizations such as the Pima County Interfaith Council’s Green Team, Arizona Interfaith Power and Light. In 2017, on the Diocesan Creation Council Angel investigated the topic of “Care of Creation, Care of the Poor” from Laudato Si, and presented another divestment resolution. She belongs to Sustainable Tucson’s Faith-based committee which works with disadvantaged or other Tucson churches to help green their grounds and operations. She is blessed to belong to GSP with its strong Creation ministry and preaching.