Thank you to all who came to the Annual Meeting and helped to elect four members to the Vestry. Congratulations to new vestry member Janet Sweeting, and to reelected vestry members Julie Brogno, Mathias Nichols, and Blain Lagergren. I am looking forward to working with all of you. At our brief meeting after the Annual Meeting, the Vestry elected Nigel Jones as Junior Warden, Colin Chambers as Clerk of the Vestry, and Chip Buckner as Treasurer (non-Vestry member). I also reappointed Steve Moore as Senior Warden. Thank you to all of you for your willingness to serve. We have set our Vestry retreat for February 28 where we will continue to focus on growth, among other business, and make committee assignments.

We now turn to the month of February and the many activities we have coming up. There will be a Valentine’s Day brunch at the home of Diane and Dave Barker on the 14th, Shrove Sunday Pancake breakfast on the 15th, Jambalaya Mardi Gras Dinner on the 17th, and Ash Wednesday services on the 18th.

Also, as we get close to starting Lent, I will once again be offering Adult Inquirer/Confirmation Classes starting Sunday, February 15 at 9:15 a.m. in the Multipurpose Room in lower Founders’ Hall. This is for anyone wishing to be confirmed, reaffirmed, or received in the Episcopal Church, or who just wants to learn more about it. Confirmations will take place at the Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 4.

Speaking of Lent, it has been our custom to make some liturgical changes during the season to help us focus more on the meaning of Lent. This year we will be using Rite I for all three services. We will continue to use our current Prayers of the People. We will return to Rite II at the Easter Vigil. I hope this small change will put us in a different mindset as we observe a holy Lent. Please continue to pray for one another, for our Cathedral family, our nation, and the world.