January 2015 Newsletter

January 2015

St. John’s mission is to nurture all people in their spiritual growth, in their Christian education, and in their relationship with God.

of St. John’s in Pine Meadowof St. John’s in Pine Meadow

This Sunday, the Sunday after Epiphany, the children of our parish will preach the Gospel by participating in the Annual Christmas and Epiphany Pageant. I share the fol-lowing poem for your meditation and contemplation. May the Epiphany season be for you and those you love a jour-ney into greater awareness of God’s light in the world and in our lives.

Epiphany -by Walter Brueggemann

On Epiphany day, we are still the people walking. We are still people in the dark, and the darkness looms large around us, beset as we are by fear, anxiety, brutality, violence, loss — a dozen alienations that we cannot manage.

We are — we could be — people of your light. So we pray for the light of your glorious presence as we wait for your appearing; we pray for the light of your wondrous grace as we exhaust our coping capacity; we pray for your gift of newness that will override our weariness; we pray that we may see and know and hear and trust in your good rule.

That we may have energy, courage, and freedom to enact your rule through the demands of this day. We submit our day to you and to your rule, with deep joy and high hope.

This poem and many others may be found in Walter Brueggemann’s book, Prayers for a Privileged People (Nashville: Abingdon, 2008), p. 163

A Message to the People of St John’s: Dear Friends,

My heart has been truly warmed this holiday season by your loving and gracious welcome into the community here at St. John’s. Thank you for the many kindnesses you have shared and for the warmth of your greetings. It is a great gift to learn the story of this place and to hear so many remembrances of warm memories of this place. I have already begun my own treasure trove of things I love about this place and its people! It is a great privilege to be called to journey with you as your Priest in Charge. I am humbled by the opportunity to preach the Gospel, share prayer and the Sacraments, and to participate in God’s Mission in the world with this wonderful community. I have already been blessed to join in the Rhythms of Grace ministry and to meet with the community gathered for our Wednesday Night AA meeting, and I look forward to participating in the many activities supported by our community. The Rev. Sandra L. Cosman

ANNUAL MEETING SUNDAY, JANUARY 25

Following the Single 10:00 AM Service

Committee Reports

Election of New Vestry Members/Officers

Deanery Reps/Diocesan Delegates

Discussion of Our Financial Condition

Charlotte Dufour Lifetime Service Recognition

Childcare for the Annual Meeting: During the annual meeting we will hold a special time for children in the parish hall while their parents attend the meeting. There will be snacks and activities for all children during the meeting.

HOW WE’RE DOING SO FAR

Nov. 2014 Nov. 2013 Operating Income: $ 11,108 $ 20,370 Operating Expenses: $ 8,217 $ 13,282

YEAR TO DATE

2014 2013

Operating Income: $ 141,328 $ 153,339 Operating Expenses: $ 163,401 $ 167,190

Larry Espinet, Treasurer

Bits & Pieces

Shopping Cards An Easy Way to Help

Now Available for Immediate Purchase $100 Stop & Shop Cards

When you buy shopping/gift cards through St. John’s, you are making a contribution that does not cost you financially. It may take a little planning. Or-ders are usually taken the 1st and 3rd Sundays, and cards are delivered on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. Or-der forms are available in the narthex and parish hall and can be placed in the lockbox at any time.

Church Office Hours — Office hours are 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Prayer Requests—Requests are handled confiden-tially through the office or by speaking to the Rev. Sandra L. Cosman. You may fill out a prayer request form or contact the office. If you would like to be a part of the prayer circle, please call the office. Prayer is part of our concern for one another.

Offering Envelopes for 2014—The envelopes for the coming year are in the narthex. If you have not requested envelopes and would like some, please contact the office. Please consider your offering en-velopes for cash donations that you want to be in-cluded on your contribution statement. Committee Reports Due In January—For all com-mittee chairpersons, please email your year end re-port to: [email protected] by January 15th. Flower Chart Posted in Narthex—Sign up for the Sunday of your choice. Cost is $60.00, or you may bring flowers from your garden in the summer. The office will contact you about memorials.

PARISH REGISTER(Broadly Defined)

Let the office know about happenings in your own life and in the lives of other parishioners, especially hospi-talizations, so Rev. Sandra L. Cosman can contact those in need of comfort.

Birth Christopher Anthony Truss

(Grandson of Debbie & Wally Truss)

Death Catherine Patch

(Mother of Lucie Martocchio & Paul Patch)

ANNUAL MEETING JANUARY 25TH Following the 10 a.m. service Be Sure You Can Vote

The voting list will be posted in the narthex by Jan-uary 11th. Please check it to make sure your name is included. Every year we find errors and omis-sions. If your name is not on the list and you want it to be, please speak to the rector before January 25, and come to the meeting to exercise your vote.

Special thanks to Ron & Joan Caine, Tom Chappell, Bob Osborne, Bruce Wearne, and Rick Smith for cleaning the church.

Thank you to Pat Sepples for snow removal and sanding the walks.

Many thanks to Beth Coates for coordinating the Jesse Tree. Thanks to all the elves for helping sort and/or deliver gifts. Thanks also to everyone who donated gifts, money and food, for Christmas meals. The collection was a wonderful success due to your generosity.

Thank you to Donna Colavecchio and the Altar Guild for polishing silver, putting wreaths on the doors, and decorating the church with Christmas flowers. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the Christmas flowers.

Thanks to Barbara Hinman for folding all the newsletters throughout the year.

Thanks to Kathy Jakubowski for folding the many bulletins throughout the year.

Thanks to Blake Hall for his hard work throughout the year working on the contribution statements and the weekly reports.

Special thanks to Halyna & The Choir for their hard work preparing music for Lessons & Carols and for the Christmas Services.

Special thanks to Ken Krohner for donating the beautiful Christmas Tree.

Special thanks to Tom Chappell and Bruce Wearne for putting up the Christmas Tree.

Specials thanks to Candy Flaherty and her elves for delivering cookies and cards to our shut-ins.

Special thanks to Linda Snyder for all her hard work with the Epiphany Pageant and thank you also to the volunteers.

Thanks to everyone who helps with the mission and ministry of St. John’s.

PETER’S RETREAT

Thanks to those who help.!

Coffee Hour Hosts 10:00 a.m. Service

This is an important part of our ministry of hospital-ity—to visitors, to children, to one another. Coffee supplies other than cream are available in the kitch-en. Baked goods are terrific, whether home baked or purchased—whatever works for you. A sign up sheet is posted in the parish hall. All pa-rishioners who attend the 10 a.m. service are request-ed to host at least once this fall.

Rhythms of Grace

First Sunday of Every Month At 1:00 p.m.

Rhythms of Grace is designed to meet the needs of families with children on the Autism Spectrum and with other special needs. Those who help feel it is a rewarding experience to work with children and families who need the attention and who are new to St. John’s. Contact Linda Snyder at [email protected] for information.

Once again it is time to plan for this ministry. We take the fourth Saturday in all months, except No-vember and December, because of Thanksgiving and Christmas. We are looking for volunteers for 2015 on the fourth Saturday beginning January 24th. Please contact Laura Wearne with a date that you would like to volunteer for Peter’s Retreat. She can be reached at (860)307-3031. Thank you!

The Episcopal Church We’re Here For You

Sunday Worship

8:00 a.m. & 10 a.m.

Address Correction

P. O. Box 27

Pine Meadow, CT 06061 Phone: 860 379-3062 www.reddoors.com

news from

church school

Have You Seen Our Stars?

Sunday, January 11 at 10 am

Pageant, etc. • Lunch • Cake

All children & youth are invited to take part. Speaking and Non-Speaking parts.

Contact Linda Snyder ([email protected])

for info or to volunteer.

Church School will resume with our annual Epiph-any Pageant January 11, 2015. Anyone interested in being in the pageant, please contact Linda Snyder. Godly Play will resume on January 18th with the story of Baptism. Intermediate classes will now meet the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month.. Linda Snyder ([email protected])

Next Ingathering—February 1st

The total for the year to date is $539.06. Bring coins anytime. We will keep them safe.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Office Closed

2 8:30 PM AA

3

4 Holy Eucharist 8:00 & 10:00 AM

5

6

7 Holy Euchasist 7:30 PM 8:00 PM AA

8

9 8:30 PM AA

10 Rehearsal for Epiphany Pageant 9:30-11 a.m.


Epiphany Pageant and Lunch

12

13

14 Holy Euchasist 7:30 PM 8:00 PM AA Joan & Ron Caine

15

16 8:30 PM AA

17 Open Door


19

20


22

23 8:30 PM AA

24 Peter’s Retreat

25 Holy Eucharist One Service @ 10:00 AM Annual Meeting 11:00 AM

26 Vestry Meeting

27


29 30 8:30 PM AA

31

January 2015 St. John’s Church—Calendar of Events

Anniversaries in Italics

January Birthdays

6-Jan Caroline Bremer 7-Jan Anne Radziewicz 9-Jan Gavin Hester 9-Jan Maggie Stull 10-Jan Laura Frey 10-Jan Josette Carter

11-Jan Mac Wilson 12-Jan Blake Hall 14-Jan Leah Alibozek 18-Jan Peggy Budny 18-Jan Chloe Gargiulo 20-Jan Luke Nelson 20-Jan Alexander Sabolcik

22-Jan Donna Colavecchio 22-Jan Lois Moraski 24-Jan Lorraine Hart 25-Jan David Childs 25-Jan Rikki Gath 28-Jan Judy Jones 28-Jan Austin Marek

29-Jan Henry Ross 31-Jan Frances Frigon

Documents

January 2015 Newsletter