The Severn Light PROGRAM YEAR START-UP. St. Stephen s Episcopal Church Severn Parish Crownsville, Maryland FALL PREVIEW 2009 IN THIS ISSUE:

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1 The Severn Light St. Stephen s Episcopal Church Severn Parish Crownsville, Maryland FALL PREVIEW 2009 IN THIS ISSUE: Program Year Start-Up Page 1 From the Pastor Page 2 Lighthouse Shelter Page 3 Christian Formation Page 4 Church School Begins Page 5 ASP Page 6 Archives New Name Page 6 Why Do You Pledge to the Church? Page 7 Musical Notes Page 8 News Page 9 VBS Page 10 September 13 Church School Open House at 9:30 am Classes begin at 10:00 am September 27 Ministries Fair (Parish Hall) after each Service August 30 Christian Education/Youth Ministry Mission Team (Woodward Hall) 9:10 a.m. September 6 Contemporary Music Group (Parish Hall) 9:10 am September 20 Confirmation Class at 9:10 am (Woodward Hall) Youth Group at 4:00 pm (Parish Hall) September 3 Guild Meeting at 10:00 am Circle Meeting at 7:00 pm September 9 My Brother s Keeper at 10:30 am Senior Choir at 7:30 pm **This newsletter is either ed to those who have online capabilities or sent through the postal system for those who don t. If you have a delivery preference, please let the church secretary know. October 4 Newcomers Coffee Hour 11:15 am Blessing of the Animals (St. Francis Garden) 4:00 pm PROGRAM YEAR START-UP

2 PAGE 2 FALL PREVIEW 2009 THE SEVERN LIGHT Fall Preview We look forward to the start of a new program year in September. Please note the start up dates for many of our ministries that are listed on the front page as well as throughout this newsletter. It is a good time to renew relationships with members of the parish and with the Lord. There are many good ministry opportunities for every generation of this parish family. Called together in the name of Jesus Christ we gather for prayer and worship, Christian Education and many ministries of service. Please join us. Rector s Education Circle God s Story of Salvation: as told in the Lectionary Bible Readings and the seasons of the Church Year. This program is Part II of our program on The Holy Eucharist that was begun in our last Lenten Program. In the first part, we focused on the Holy Communion. In this second part, we will focus on the Liturgy of the Word which is the first half of the Holy Eucharist. The program will be held on selected Sundays in between services in the Parish Hall from 9:10 9:50 a.m.: Sunday, October 25th The Old Testament, the Psalms, the Epistles, the Gospel a rich garden of Biblical Teaching Sunday, November 1st How Scripture tells the story in the Church Year Sunday, November 22nd A case study-the Scriptures of Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas As with the first part of this program, this study is especially valuable for those who have liturgical ministries such as Lectors, Altar Guild Members, Chalice Ministers, Lay Eucharistic Visitors, and Choir Members. How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? (NIV Psalm 116: 12) Volunteer opportunities abound. We include the needs of the Lighthouse Shelter on page 3, as an example of a community organization that we can support. The Crofton Christian Caring Council has received 501.C3 non-profit status, making contributions tax deductible for supporters. See Page 6 for the results of the Appalachia Service Project work week.

3 THE SEVERN LIGHT FALL PREVIEW 2009 PAGE 3 The Lighthouse Shelter 206 West Street Annapolis, Maryland Wish List of Current Volunteer Opportunities, Update August 10, 2009 Current Services Needed: 1.Handyman services: painting, moving heavy objects, taking things to the dump, interior and exterior property maintenance. Move and transport items to shelter or transitional apartments. 2.Carpet installation: installing new or gently used carpet in our transitional house. 3.Barber/Beautician Services: Facilities are provided for trained students or current barbers/beauticians to provide hair services to our clients at the shelter 4.Mentoring: Mentor both men and women during their process to self sufficiency (3 month commitment and background check required) 5.Children s Tutoring: Tutor children at our shelter and transitional properties in subjects such as Math and English (3 month commitment, background and fingerprinting required) Volunteer Needs: Please call to schedule a training and/or shadow date Pantry Captains: Day Captain will work for 2 1/2 hours anytime during designated day. Duties involve accepting food donations, stocking pantry shelves and freezers, filling pantry bags for issue to needy, assisting with issuing lunches to walk-in patrons, issuing pantry bags to patrons, breaking down bulk food stuffs, assisting with recycle program and supervising and training other volunteers or community service volunteers. Training dates available. (Commitment needed) Lunch Captains: Weekdays 10 a.m.-12 p.m., plating leftovers to hand out for lunch, distributing bagged lunches, documenting how many lunches were distributed (Commitment needed) Job Center Volunteers: Assist with soft skills employment training in our employment center (3 month commitment required) Items Needed: Take Out/ Deli Containers 2 push lawn mowers for our transitional properties Milk crate containers for produce pick-up 2009 calendars Deodorant, Q-Tips, Razors Job kits: Pads of lined paper, map of Annapolis, phone book, transit schedule Bus tokens: Physically purchased at the Transit Office at 308 Chinquapin Round Road. 25 for $20. USB sticks Multi-Vitamins for adults and children Transit maps for Annapolis, Baltimore and Washington, DC Ongoing Needs: Prepared bagged lunches: , including a sandwich, drink, and snack, dropped off by 10:30 a.m. or the night before (please call for schedule) Nonperishable food items and paper products If you or someone you know is interested please contact: Holly Mallonee: mallonee@annapolislighthouse.org OR volunteer@annapolislighthouse.org

4 PAGE 4 FALL PREVIEW 2009 THE SEVERN LIGHT BISHOP RABB played an active role with the Standing Commission for Lifelong Christian Education to develop the following Charter which was adopted by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church this summer as a guiding standard for the future.

5 THE SEVERN LIGHT FALL PREVIEW 2009 PAGE 5 WELCOME TO THE CHURCH SCHOOL YEAR!! CLASSES BEGIN Sunday, September 13 th at 10:00 a.m. OPEN HOUSE for Church School will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 13th. Registration papers are on the table in the Parish Hall or available on-line. We are asking that EVERY child be registered for every class in order to have updated information and enrollment files. The Church School staff members are EXTREMELY proud to engage our children in the Good News of Christ. Over the coming year, the teaching staff for the First Grade through Fifth Grade classes will again coordinate their curriculums. They will use the Episcopal Church program, ALL THINGS NEW. This program can be reviewed at the publisher s website: We feel this is both a colorful and user-friendly curriculum that is thoroughly scriptural and liturgical. The Nursery will continue during all 10:00 AM Services. The Preschoool/Kindergarten classes will be using a curriculum prepared by their teacher, Margaret Duffy. The Middle School program will be using FaithWeaver from Group Publishing. Faith Weaver incorporates Bible Study with real life applications to learn how the Bible impacts each of their lives. The High School class will continue with a series of lessons also published by Group. The Confirmation preparation group will be using published and found materials chosen by Father Hagerman. We are truly looking forward to the coming year and the opportunities to further engage the entire Parish Family in Church School activities. We encourage input and suggestions and welcome all individual involvement and support. As always, keep us in your prayers. PEACE ~ Berney Jaroch-Hagerman, Church School Superintendent Dates to Remember August 30 Christian Ed Mission Team Meeting (all teachers and volunteers working with youth) September 13 Open House and Classes start September 20 1st Confirmation Class (9:10); Youth Group Meeting (4:00 p.m.) Tweens and Teens: Log onto our FaceBook page. Link can be found on our home page at:

6 PAGE 6 FALL PREVIEW 2009 THE SEVERN LIGHT ASP 2009 SUCCESS Our "ET" travelers have returned from Logan County West Virginia. Once again we have been part of the Appalachian Service Project efforts to help those less fortunate to be "Safer, Drier and Warmer". We are grateful to report that we had no major injuries but gained very humbling memories that will stay with us forever. Those of you who where able to attended the dinner and slide show grabbed a glimpse of our experience. We will be looking for and encouraging those young and young at heart to join us next year. The Lord reminds us in Scripture that we must care for each other. This opportunity with the ASP organization provides such an opportunity for us. We are eternally grateful that our congregation has been generously supporting this effort to our youth since our first journey in the summer of Through God's grace and your continued support we will continue to serve and be part of this ministry. IHL Sheri LaFleur The Name for Our Church St. Stephen s Episcopal Church-Severn Parish was unanimously approved at the May 18, 2009 meeting by the elected members of the Vestry. The name Severn Parish was entered in the Report to the Diocese of Maryland Convention, May Throughout the years, many deeds, land records, surveyor maps, bylaws, tax and bank records, legal documents and voluminous correspondence were identified as St. Stephen s Church of Severn Parish, St. Stephen s Church, Vestry of St. Stephen s Parish and Vestry of Severn Parish. Webster s Dictionary defines Vestry - a room in a church;.a church s administrative body. Articles of Amendment for a Religious Corporation, State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland, will be submitted to change the charter for the name of the Church to: St. Stephen s Episcopal Church-Severn Parish. Prior to this action, the name change shall be provided to the Voting Members of the Church for favorable action at the February Annual Meeting (Article VI, Amendment to Bylaws, approved by the Vestry January 17, 2005). Jean Sunday Archivist

7 THE SEVERN LIGHT FALL PREVIEW 2009 PAGE 7 Why Do You Pledge to the Church? You may be one of the many people that I have been accosting with this question for the last couple of months (sorry!) and you may even be one of the several that have answered it for me (thank you!). Early results are in (keep them coming please!) and they are somewhat different than I expected. Allow me to digress; some time ago Father Hagerman was talking about stewardship and he mentioned that it would be nice to know the answer to this question of just why exactly, do our parishioners pledge to St. Stephen s. I thought that if I asked people to answer it and send me a little note about it that the answers would make a good base for the stewardship articles that I write from time to time and would be a good way to really get to know the people of our little church on a deeper level and in so doing, create a more effective and responsive stewardship campaign this year. Simple enough. So I floated the question and asked for a response from the groups of parishioners I am around the most, the Vestry and officers, a few folks from the choir, others that I correspond with for one thing or another, and the committees I sit on. I suppose in retrospect I am not surprised by the answers I have received so far but I was a little surprised by what I did not hear. I did not hear anything about tithing with the accompanying debate about whether it really meant 10% of your entire income and should this figure be calculated on gross or net earnings and should you include your tax refunds and can you deduct the charge from your CPA and the mileage you drive to church and what about that extra Christmas and Easter offering and the Fall Dinner? I have not yet heard anything about obligation or duty or requirement or even the scriptural mandate to give, all of which certainly would be good and valid reasons to pledge. I did get a couple of responses that were very realistic and practical (and well, Episcopalian) as in Hey, we have bills, salaries, and service work as well as Christian education to pay for and we don t want the place falling down around our ears!, and I did expect some of that but that was not the loudest voice I heard from the replies; the loudest voice by and large was much simpler and heart warming. It was joy and gratitude mixed with what could only be defined as true Christian charity. Things like I have been given so much by God, by the Church, by the people I worship with and love that I can t imagine not giving back and The Church was there for me when I needed it and I want it to be here for others in need of healing and forgiveness. I was blown away by the people of St. Stephen s who give to the Church for the same reasons that all true gifts are given; out of generosity and love. And also out of boundless gratitude for their faith and redemption, their Church community, and each other. There is a business saying that the money you make is some indicator of the value you provide to the market which is perhaps somewhat true in a strictly economic sense. However, I submit that it is the way you give and why you give regardless of your income that is the best indicator of the condition of your heart. As we begin to enter the Fall Stewardship Campaign, I would ask that we all begin to ask ourselves Why do I pledge to the Church? (Or perhaps, Should I begin to pledge to the Church? ) And listen carefully to the answer. It might surprise you. I want to personally thank all of you who continue to maintain your pledges or who are trying your best to do so and to the folks who give through the Plate and to special projects which are very important parts of our financial base as well. Please don t forget about the new Preservation Fund for our historic Church home and may God richly bless you all. Shaun Laughlin St. Stephen s Stewardship Chair I was blown away by the people of St. Stephen s..

8 PAGE 8 FALL PREVIEW 2009 THE SEVERN LIGHT Musical Notes Musical Notes, by Don Chandler, Organist-Choirmaster (August 18, 2009) Can it be that summer is over?? With Labor Day still (far) in the future, it s hard to believe, but true all the same. Hot weather took awhile to arrive this year; will it take as long to leave? I traveled to the west to see my kids and just to re-create by touching base in Idaho, my original home, sight-seeing, hiking, exploring, reminiscing in the Sawtooth mountains, Caldwell, and Boise. Weather had been cool and relatively rainy, so Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota and Nebraska were all very green and beautiful! On my trip, meeting a number of Mormons, I was reminded of my musical debt to them and to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir program we used to listen to each Sunday. That program was a major source for my ideals of church choir and organ music: clear choral tone, clear yet traditional style in organ playing. We are fortunate at St. Stephen s to have Choirs and organ of very clear tone. The commitment of congregation and Choirs to quality music is clear and profound. Choir rehearsal begins Wednesday, September 9, at 7:30 p.m. We sing each Sunday at the 10:00 a.m. service, with pre-rehearsal at 9:30 a.m. Membership is open to singers high school age and older. Special events this fall include the Naval Academy Choral Fest and a joint concert with Seton Parish, both in November. Returning members please inform me if you do not intend to be in choir this season ( ; ddpctuner@aol.com). Spirit Singers, our youth choir, directed again this year by Mrs. Amy Laughlin, will resume rehearsals on Sunday, Sept. 20 after the 10:00 a.m. service. Please direct questions to her: ; amy.laughlin@earthlink.net. Questions about the Contemporary Music Group should be directed to Father Hagerman at the church office ( ; swh51us@yahoo.com). I hope your summer has been safe and restful. I hope to see you soon! Yours for Church music, Don Chandler Recap for music start-up dates: Sunday, September 6 at 9:10 a.m. Contemporary Music Group Wednesday, September 9 at 7:30 p.m. Senior Choir Rehearsal Sunday, September 20 after 10 am service Spirit Singers Practice

9 THE SEVERN LIGHT FALL PREVIEW 2009 PAGE 9 AEROBICS Ladies of the parish, you are invited to join the Jacki Sorensen Aerobic Dancing classes that will be held on designated Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-8 pm in our Parish Hall, beginning September 1. This will be a full body workout with warm-ups, floor work, aerobic exercise, and cool downs to a variety of music. No experience is necessary. You will need an exercise mat; hand held weights are optional. There will be 17 sessions in all at a cost of $94. The cost for drop-ins will be $7. per session. You are free to come to the first class to try it out at no charge. Plans are in the works for a mini-winter term. For more information, you may call instructor Judy Schummer at GUILD TO MEET The Guild of St. Stephen s begins their program year on Thursday, September 3 with Eucharist at 9:30 a.m. and meeting to follow at 10:00 a.m. It is imperative that all members attend, as the budget for 2010 will be discussed. New members are quite welcome. They meet the first Thursday of the month from September through June. CIRCLE MEETING St. Stephen s Circle will meet on Thursday, September 3 at 7:00 p.m. in Woodward Hall. For any questions, contact Vicky Wolf. MY BROTHER S KEEPER Wednesday, September 9, is the start date for the ministry of My Brother s Keeper. Their work mainly involves making quilted sleeping bags for the homeless but they will find a job for anyone who shows up regardless of sewing ability! All ladies of the parish are invited to join them. Eucharist and Healing is celebrated in church at 10:00 a.m. and set up begins around 10:30 a.m. working through til 1:00 p.m. Bring a bag lunch for break time. They meet on a weekly basis from September through the end of May. Questions can be referred to Joan Langenfeld at ALTAR GUILD The Altar Guild of St. Stephen s will hold their Annual Breakfast Meeting on Saturday, September 19 at 9:00 a.m. Corporate Communion and Installation of new members is planned for the 10:00 a.m. service on October 11. FALL DINNER The first Saturday of November will be here before you know it! Keep November 7 free for you to attend and /or volunteer to help with our Annual Fall Dinner. Turkey and all the trimmings will be served from 3:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Take-out dinners will be available as well as a Bake Sale for more goodies to bring home. HOLIDAY BAZAAR & SILENT AUCTION November 21 is the date for our Holiday Bazaar with Silent Auction. Hand-made items, holiday décor, lunch, bake sale all in one place. What more can you ask? Auction items are coming in already and they include 4 tickets to see the Annapolis Symphony s presentation of Peter and the Wolf/Green Eggs and Ham; a $50. certificate for the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts which can be used for classes, shows, or gallery purchases; and a gift from the H & S Bakery in Baltimore. And we have only just begun!! Look for the next issue of THE SEVERN LIGHT in early October

10 St. Stephen s Episcopal Church PAGE 10 FALL PREVIEW 2009 THE SEVERN LIGHT Severn Parish 1110 St. Stephen s Church Road Crownsville, Maryland Phone: st_stephens@verizon.net Office Hours: MON-FRI 8:00 am to 5:00 pm The Rev. Steven W. Hagerman, Rector CHURCH SCHOOL September 13 Open House at 9:30 a.m. Classes begin at 10:00 a.m. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2009 I am so pleased to use this larger mailing to extend my deepest THANKS to the Parish Family for our 2009 VBS. It was a huge success and the stewardship support of the Christian Education budget allowed us to provide a first-class program for the week. The volunteers were extremely dedicated and generous with their time and talents and the week would not have been possible without them. The outreach project completed on Family Night of VBS was intended for the kitchen at St. Stephen s. Before you know it, work will be underway for our 2010 VBS planned for the week of June Peace ~ Berney Jaroch-Hagerman