07/24/2026
Friends,
This week's flooding has been a traumatic event for Weston and surrounding areas. Although casualties have been few, many have lost their homes or taken significant damage. Recovery will take weeks, if not months, and will require a community effort.
I am pleased to report that--despite the high water on Center Avenue around St. Paul's--the worship hall, the administrative offices, and West Hall remained dry. The basement did take on a significant amount of water, however. The water has mostly receded, and at this time the electrical and HVAC systems appear to be functioning normally. Everything stored in the basement though was probably ruined. We have contacted our insurance company, which is dispatching an Adjuster to assess the damage.
The Vestry, in consultation with Father Timothy, has decided to cancel services scheduled for this Sunday, 26 July.
While it is understandable for us to focus on the needs of our church during this crisis, it is important to remember that the entire community has suffered significantly. Our Baptismal Covenant calls on us to serve Christ in all persons and to love our neighbor. With that in mind, the Diocese is providing St. Paul's with $5,000 to assist the community with flood recovery efforts. Most of these funds will go to support the short-term and long-term flood relief work of the Lewis County Family Resource Network, either as monetary donations or donations in-kind. If, however, you are aware of a member of our congregation experiencing flood-related hardship, please let us know so we can provide them with support on a confidential basis.
As we move forward, I encourage all of you to continue looking after your neighbors and finding ways to help the community. The displays of generosity, love, and selflessness I've seen these last few days have been heartening at a time when joy has been hard to come by. I look forward to seeing you all again in church as soon as we can.
Sincerely,
Dave Abruzzino, Senior Warden