Legacy Society Dinner

St. Paul’s Cathedral recently held a celebration of the 120 current Legacy Society members who have remembered their spiritual home in their end-of-life plans. On Monday, September 15 over 70 of those individuals gathered as the Schola choir sang a special Evensong service, which was followed by dinner at Croce’s on Fifth Avenue. George Kuhrts, chair of the endowment committee and member of St. Paul’s, spoke about the seven members who have died since the Society last gathered. They are: Deedra Hardman, Frank Tucker, Ellen Tufts, Elizabeth Walker, Anne Will, Marie Zadarnowski and Ray Chavez. Mr. Kuhrts talked about their involvement at St. Paul’s, his memories of them and what was important to them – their church home. His stories helped bring them to life for the group, especially for two surviving spouses who were present. The Very Rev. Penny Bridges communicated her deep gratitude to those who have thought through their estate plans and remembered the Cathedral in them. She handed out beautifully rendered wooden icons of St. Paul to all new Society members as a visible reminder of the Cathedral’s thanks.

The theme of light played throughout the evening, from the choir’s rendition of Howard Helvey’s “O Lux Beatissima,” and its peaceful sonority, to the candlelight dancing with the evening light streaming through the rose window. Instead of sitting in the pews, Legacy Society members sat in the chancel, close to the altar, which made for an intimate service. Surrounded by wood and candlelight, attendees basked in the music, prayers and words from the Dean.

In her homily, Dean Bridges honored those “whose dedication and generosity made it possible for us to sit here tonight . . . so that this cathedral can continue to shine in San Diego as a bright light of hope and welcome for future generations.”

A wide swath of Episcopalians has generously remembered the church in estate plans, as represented by the diversity of the attendees. People in their 30s to their 90s make up the Legacy Society; manifold points of view, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and political leanings compose the group. Anyone may join by simply including a clause in their wills that leaves a percentage or a fixed amount of their estate to St. Paul’s Cathedral. If you would like more information, please contact Teresa Mathes: tmathes@tmathesconsulting.com.

The Book of Common Prayer reminds all persons “to make wills, while they are in health, arranging for the disposal of their temporal goods, not neglecting, if they are able, to leave bequests for religious and charitable purposes.” (BCP p.445)

LEGACY: Resolve to make yours all it can be

Charles Hudgins asks us to revisit this updated blog, first published last year:

 I think everyone wants to be remembered, to leave some mark that says "I was here" – whether as grand as the pyramids or as simple as my father carving his initials in a tree at the edge of newly cleared ground.

How much of graffiti, I sometimes wonder, is pure vandalism and how much the sad autograph of some misdirected (or undirected) youth for whom the availability of an after-school arts program would have made all the difference?

Life presents different opportunities to each of us for making our marks. Most of us will not have as our legacy a great discovery, an acclaimed work of art, architecture, or literature, or heroism above and beyond the call of duty – not Nobel Prizes, or Pulitzers, Oscars, Heisman trophies, or Medals of Honor. The call for us is to find what in our daily lives can be made worth remembering, what among our passions we would wish carried on as a memorial to our having been, what efforts and causes we would want supported for all time.

Some obvious opportunities for rich and enduring legacies are parenting, teaching, mentoring, and ministering to those less fortunate than ourselves. There is a quiz that travels the internet asking, first, that one name the three wealthiest people in the world, the last three Wimbledon champions, the last three Miss Americas, and other such notables, and then, in contrast, the names of three teachers who aided your journey through school, three friends who helped you through a difficult time, three people who have made you feel appreciated – poignantly showing whose legacy is really important to us as individuals.

The legacy within everyone's grasp is a good and thankful life, time well spent, paying back in the measure each can afford, large or small, the blessings he or she has received. To those who love, and are blessed by, the ministries of St. Paul's Cathedral comes the ready opportunity to make provision in our life plans for continuing support after we are gone – whether it be something worthy of a bronze plaque or as simple as helping to keep the lights on.

Those who pledge gifts to the Cathedral by will or other estate plans are enrolled in the Cathedral Legacy Society. The 2012 Prayer Service & Dinner for members of the Society with the Dean will be held Saturday, January 21, at 5:00 PM. Resolve now to be in that number.

LEGACY: Resolve to make yours all it can be

I think everyone wants to be remembered, to leave some mark that says "I was here" – whether as grand as the pyramids or as simple as my father carving his initials in a tree at the edge of newly cleared ground.

How much of graffiti, I sometimes wonder, is pure vandalism and how much the sad autograph of some misdirected (or undirected) youth for whom the availability of an after-school arts program would have made all the difference?

Life presents different opportunities to each of us for making our marks. Most of us will not have as our legacy a great discovery, an acclaimed work of art, architecture, or literature, or heroism above and beyond the call of duty – not Nobel Prizes, or Pulitzers, Oscars, Heisman trophies, or Medals of Honor. The call for us is to find what in our daily lives can be made worth remembering, what among our passions we would wish carried on as a memorial to our having been, what efforts and causes we would want supported for all time.

Some obvious opportunities for rich and enduring legacies are parenting, teaching, mentoring, and ministering to those less fortunate than ourselves. There is a quiz that travels the internet asking, first, that one name the three wealthiest people in the world, the last three Wimbledon champions, the last three Miss Americas, and other such notables, and then, in contrast, the names of three teachers who aided your journey through school, three friends who helped you through a difficult time, three people who have made you feel appreciated – poignantly showing whose legacy is really important to us as individuals.

The legacy within everyone's grasp is a good and thankful life, time well spent, paying back in the measure each can afford, large or small, the blessings he or she has received. To those who love, and are blessed by, the ministries of St. Paul's Cathedral comes the ready opportunity to make provision in our life plans for continuing support after we are gone – whether it be something worthy of a bronze plaque or as simple as helping to keep the lights on.

Those who pledge gifts to the Cathedral by will or other estate plans are enrolled in the Cathedral Legacy Society. The annual Prayer Service & Dinner for members of the Society with the Dean will be held Saturday, January 22, 2011, at 5:00 PM. Resolve now to be in that number.

-Charles Hudgins