The Network. St. James Episcopal Church

Transcription

1 The Network St. James Episcopal Church May 2014

2 Sundays Service Schedule 8:00 a.m. Rite I Holy Eucharist 10:15 a.m. Rite II Holy Eucharist Grow spiritually and spread the love of Christ Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Healing Prayers Highlights Spring Fever Bishop s Visitation, Sunday, May 18 Music Notes: Summer Hymn Requests, Psalms in Liturgy June Worship Calendar Kids Helping Kids Art in the Abbey Page Mission Statement: To grow spiritually and spread the love of Christ. Vision Statements: All of our ministries are Christ centered, joyfully sharing Christ s love. Led by our Commissions we will reach out and encourage participation to nourish spiritual growth. Using our time, talents and treasure, we will support the ministries and activities of this faith community. We will be an open, welcoming and inclusive faith community with honest and respectful communication. Our ministries will serve the community of St. James and those beyond our walls. 2.

3 From the Interim Rector Spring Fever Easter: The English word used for the feast of Christ s resurrection. According to Bede, the word derives from the Anglo-Saxon spring goddess Eostre. Christians in England applied the word to the principal festival of the church year, both day and season: 1. Easter Day: Faith in Jesus resurrection on the Sunday or third day following his crucifixion is at the heart of Christian belief. In western Christianity, Easter occurs on the first Sunday after the full moon on or after the vernal equinox (and always falls between March 22 and April 25 inclusive). Following Jewish custom, the feast begins at sunset on Easter Eve with the Great Vigil of Easter. 2. Great Fifty Days: The feast of Easter, from Easter Eve through the Day of Pentecost. The word alleluia ( praise the Lord ) is said or sung repeatedly, which contrasts sharply with the season of Lent when the alleluia is omitted. The color of liturgical vestments and hangings is white or gold. It is customary for the Paschal candle to burn at all services of the Easter season. Note: Paschal is related to Pasch, the more common term for Easter, which is derived from the Latin and Greek Pascha, which transliterated the Hebrew pesach, Passover. [Adapted from An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians, Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors (New York: Church Publishing).] We tend to think of Easter as a single day, and it is it s the day we celebrate Christ s resurrection. But as mentioned above, Easter is also a church season, so we ll be recognizing it for the entire month of May and right through the Day of Pentecost on June 8. It is said that our Christian faith includes mysteries things that cannot be logically explained, but which must be accepted on faith. Some of these mysteries are the incarnation of God as Christ and the Holy Trinity. Perhaps the most important mystery of all is the bodily resurrection of Christ. This is the foundational assertion of Christianity. That the resurrection gets a season fifty days long is perhaps an indication of its prime importance in our tradition. The resurrection isn t just academic theology it s also, and much more importantly, about the Christian life. Our willingness to step into the world as witnesses to Christ witnesses through both our words and our deeds is fueled by our conviction that our doing so will make a difference, both now and in the age to come. That conviction arises from our Christian hope in the resurrection, which says that all things not only can be made new, but that they are in fact being made new. What we see in front of us isn t all there is or all there ever will be. This, too, is a mystery. French philosopher and mystic Simone Weil wrote this: The mysteries of faith are degraded if they are made into an object of affirmation and negation, when in reality they should be an object of contemplation. If Lent is our appointed season for discipline, then perhaps Easter is an appropriate season for contemplation contemplation of the great mysteries of our faith, starting with the mystery of the resurrection. The online Merriam-Webster dictionary includes this definition of spring fever : a lazy or restless feeling often associated with the onset of spring. Lazy and restless would seem to be in opposition, though maybe not for us: in the Christian tradition, contemplation is often linked with action. During these great fifty days, if we embrace our version of spring fever, perhaps our lazy contemplation of the holy mysteries of our faith will lead us to the restlessness of discipleship. 3.

4 Worship Commission Bishop s Visitation - Sunday, May 18 Bishop Jim Curry Bishop Curry will be here at St. James for our official Bishop s Visitation on Sunday, May 18. Each congregation in the Diocese is visited by a bishop once every two years. Our three bishops take turns coming, and this cycle it s Bishop Curry s turn to visit. Following is the schedule of events for that day. Worship (8 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.) Worship will be held as usual at 8 a.m. (Rite I) and 10:15 a.m. (Rite II). Bishop Curry will preach and preside at both services. Forum: God s Mission (9 a.m.) Bishop Curry will lead an all-parish forum at 9 a.m. in the Parish Hall. He will discuss how he sees his ministry as a bishop, as well as the ministries of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, as serving God s Mission. All are invited! Refreshments will be provided! Vestry Luncheon (approximately 11:45 a.m.) After the 10:15 service (at approximately 11:45 a.m.), the Vestry will meet with Bishop Curry for lunch and conversation. Did you know? Portions of our 1979 Book of Common Prayer (most particularly the rites for Holy Communion) have been translated into French, Spanish, Vietnamese, Hmong, Ilocano, Hawaiian, Lakota, and Cherokee. It s even been translated into Latin! Since the founding of The Episcopal Church after the Revolutionary War, there have been only four approved versions of the Book of Common Prayer (1789, 1892, 1928, and 1979). You can find the Book of Common Prayer (the current and the three previous versions, and the various translations) online at Besides the portions used for Sunday worship, the Book of Common Prayer is filled with prayers for various occasions, our Episcopal Church translation of the psalter, a Catechism that broadly and concisely outlines the essentials of Episcopal belief, and much, much more. If you haven t, check it out! 4.

5 Worship Commission Music Notes Joyful Noise! Choir Joyful Noise! sings Sunday, May 4. YOUR participation is welcome as we present easy opportunities for you to sing as well as more contemporary musical selections. Join us that day to sing the song, Because He Lives, by Gaither. Come to the church at 9:45 to learn the music. All ages are welcome, and no choir experience is needed. If you are able, listen to the song on YouTube.com: com/watch?v=pjqmmbujuvg. If you have any questions, please speak to our Minister of Music, Jim Barry. Summer Hymn Requests Do you have a favorite song/hymn? During July and August we want to include your suggested hymns. There are more opportunities to sing (the choir is on vacation) during the summer, and we sing more familiar music during this time. How do you request your hymn(s)?: Look through our pew hymnals (blue: The Hymnal 1982; multi-colored: Lift Every Voice and Sing II); ask for copies of Wonder, Love, and Praise or Voices Found; or find hymns in other sources. Pick out some of your favorites. Send an to our Minister of Music: Jim Barry [musdir@sbcglobal.net], or drop a note in his church mailbox. Here s what we ll need to know: -Hymnal and Hymn # -Let us know dates of at least 2-3 summer Sundays you will be attending the 9 a.m. service. We will try to honor all requests. As we have never done this before, please be patient with us. Keep in mind, obscure songs will be harder to find and put together. During the summer watch for the * after the hymn that will indicate this selection was requested as part of our Summer Hymn Request. Due to summer staff vacations: please have your requests in by June 1. Psalms in Liturgy ;םיליהת or םי ל ה ת (Hebrew: The Book of Psalms Tehillim; lit. "Praises") is one of the most familiar books of the Old Testament. Each Sunday we recite a portion of the Psalter based on our 3-year lectionary. In brief: There are 150 Psalms Psalms fall into five general categories: hymns (songs of praise), communal laments, royal psalms, individual laments, and individual thanksgiving psalms. The composition of Psalms spanned around five centuries (earliest: Psalm 29). Psalms were used in worship and generally sung; the early Christian church adopted the use of psalms regularly in their worship. Most familiar: Psalm 23 (The Lord is my shepherd ); shortest: Psalm 117; longest: Psalm 119. Psalms were sung in Hebrew worship, although we do not have records of the music they used. Throughout the centuries the Psalms have provided a rich source of texts for composers, from early plainchant sung by monks to modern choral/vocal compositions such as Godspell (On the Willows, based on Psalm 137), Chichester Psalms by Leonard Bernstein, and Psalm 23 by Bobby McFarrin. Following the Protestant Reformation, versified translations of many of the Psalms were set as hymns to be sung by the congregation. In our hymnal (blue; The Hymnal 1982) you can find continued 5.

6 Worship Commission Psalms in Liturgy continued examples at #302 (in the Calvinist tradition from the 16th century); #687 A mighty fortress (words and tune by Martin Luther, based on Psalm 46); and #380 Praise God from whom all blessings flow (Psalm 117); and #680 O God, our help in ages past (both versified by Isaac Watts). Look below the hymns, and you will find information about their source, both words and music, with many lyrics derived from the Psalms. At St. James we use the Psalms in many ways. We read a portion of the Psalm appointed for that day during our Sunday worship, between the Old Testament and New Testament lessons. We sing hymns based on Psalms (such as #380 our Doxology). Choir anthems often have Psalms as texts (such as Hide not thou thy face, sung on Ash Wednesday, and Lead me, Lord, sung during Lent). During May we will sing the Psalm on two occasions: May 11 and 18. This will give us an opportunity to look back to the ancient practice of singing Psalms, and look forward to worshipping in a different way. The tune we will use is a style called Simplified Anglican Chant (SAC). Each line of the Psalm is sung to one note until you reach a word in bold, when you move to the next note. All very simple once you get the hang of it. SAC has been used in churches throughout the diocese for decades with great success. From community hymn singing (#432, O Praise Ye the Lord, Psalm 150); weekly recitation (Sunday services); funerals (Psalm 23); and choir anthems (Vaughan Williams O How Amiable; Psalms 84 and 90); the Psalms are a vital part of the worship here at St. James. Baptism? Baptism? The next regular date for baptism is the Day of Pentecost (June 8). If you would like to discuss baptism for yourself or your child, contact Keri+ at ktaubert1@ sbcglobal.net. Looking ahead at our worship calendar June 1 Senior Sunday ~ Featuring and recognizing our high school seniors ~ ~ Last day of Church School ~ June 8 Pentecost Sunday ~ Baptisms are anticipated ~ June 15 Final Two-Service Sunday ~ Holy Eucharist at 8 and 10:15 a.m. ~ June 22 One-Service Sundays Commence ~ Holy Eucharist at 9 a.m. (through August 31) ~ Sing to the Lord a new song* for he has done marvelous things. (Psalm 98:1) Jim Barry, Minister of Music If you have a question or a topic for a future article, please contact Jim at dirmusic@sbcglobal.net 6.

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8 Palm Sunday Vestry Eastertide greetings from the Vestry Blessings to you as we enjoy the warm weather of Spring, the longer days, and the blessing of our Risen Lord and the return of the Alleluias! We are blessed! Here are four areas that we focused on in our April vestry Meeting: 1. Ministry we discussed the overwhelming success of Art in the Abbey. (See the full report on page 12). So many members of our parish came together and worked to engage our outside community. We opened our doors and sanctuary to the community of artists and musicians and drew in the people from the region that had never been to St. James. In the vestry meeting we talked about ways to engage our parish family to do ministries in small ways that could involve more people in all of the commissions outreach, fellowship, pastoral care, communication, administration, worship, Christian education, stewardship, and facilities. You will hear more about this in upcoming months. 2. Bishop s visit we reviewed the plans for Bishop Curry s visit on May 18. This is an opportunity that only comes around once every 18 months, as the three bishops alternate Sundays to visit the 170 parishes in Connecticut. This will be a special day and an opportunity for all of us to hear what is going on in the diocese and in the national church, and to provide a broader look at the world. See page 4 for the details. Plan to spend time with Bishop Jim Curry, who has just announced his retirement which will begin in October. Go to CTdiocese. org for more information on his retirement. 3. Parochial Report this document, known as the 2013 Report of Episcopal Congregations and Missions is a report that gives factual information about our membership, our average Sunday attendance records, the number of baptisms, weddings, and funerals, and our financial information. This information is used in several ways. The attendance and membership numbers are rolled up into a diocesan and continued 8.

9 Vestry Eastertide greetings from the Vestry continued national level to show trends. The financial information is used to determine our share which goes to our CT diocese to fund their expenses and outreach. To offer a few highlights, our average Sunday attendance in 2013 was 119 slightly down from 2012 s number of 135. Keep in mind that in 2012 we had an additional service at 5pm on Sunday evenings. In 2013, our pledging units were higher at 140, while in 2012, the number had been 134. In 2013 our pledging income was $302,000, while in 2012, it had been $344,000. If you would like to see the entire report, contact me and I m glad to share it with you. 4. Transition In May, the work of the transition will shift from the Discernment Committee to the Recruitment Committee. The Discernment Committee will finish its work on the Parish Profile and will schedule a time to review it with the parish. We are waiting for a date from Bishop Douglas to come and review our findings with us. The Recruitment Committee will begin its work as soon as that has happened. And, we will schedule a parish-wide meeting to review the profile with the entire community. Stay tuned for that date and more information. Discernment Committee News The Discernment Committee has completed the Ministry Portfolio and is working on finalizing the Parish Profile. Both of these documents will be used to assist in the search for our new rector and will be posted on our website. The Discernment Committee looks forward to meeting with the Rev. Tim Hodapp, Canon for Mission Leadership and Bishop Douglas sometime in May. Christian Formation Commission Camp Washington The Diocese of Connecticut Camp and Retreat Center Children and youth ages 5 to 16 summer camp enrollment is now open! In our monthly feedback time, we noted the varied and meaningful services of Holy Week and Easter, and all of the work that goes into those services by the staff, the worship team, the choirs, and Keri+, Walter+, and Jim Barry. And, Matt Cornish for the Easter Egg Hunt, and the return of the Alleluias! Thank you to all who made it such a meaningful season. Feedback is very important to the vestry. It helps us to lead, addressing the challenges and building on the opportunities. If you have a question or an idea, or a comment, please connect with me and any of the vestry. There is no piece of feedback that is too big or too small. We are here to listen, to lead, and to do the work God has given us to do joyfully! Peace and blessings to you, Gail Lebert, Senior Warden GAILSL617@aol.com,

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11 of St. James Episcopal Church Outreach Commission Kids Helping Kids Hunger is a problem locally as well as all around the world. Here at St. James we have made it one of our priorities to help eliminate hunger. Our efforts include sending money to Haiti to fund a canteen program at our sponsored school in Portau-Prince, volunteering at Church Street Eats, cooking meals for those in need, funding beforeschool programs locally, and our bread ministry with Panera Bread. With the tough economic times comes much greater demand on our food pantries and an everincreasing number of children are going hungry. During the month of May, St. James kids are going to help other local kids by gathering kidfriendly non-perishable food items for donation to the Place of Grace food pantry in Hartford. The Outreach Committee would like to invite the entire parish to help with this effort. While all donations of non-perishable food items are welcome, we have targeted certain kid-friendly food items to be donated each week. May 4 Peanut Butter and Jelly May 11 Macaroni & Cheese/Soup May 18 Spaghetti and Sauce May 25 Cereal, Crackers **Any donation of non-perishable food will be received thankfully. Bishop s 5K May 10, 9:45 a.m., West Hartford. If walking or running is your thing, please keep in mind the Bishops 5K for Kids, a race for all ages that benefits local children in need. St. James has had good participation in this for the past several years, and we are hoping to continue this year. More information is available at and you can also register or pledge to support a walker or runner on this site. Questions? Contact Barbara Buddington, bbuddington@sbcglobal.net or Mothers Day Flowers Keep an eye out for details of our Mothers Day flower sale in your bulletins and blasts. Fellowship Commission r t in the Abbey Art in the Abbey DISCOVERY SERIES Art in the Abbey is expanding further with Experience Whistler presented by Glastonbury artist, Ed Hicks on Tuesday, May 20, 6-8 p.m. Come and see an oil painting develop stroke by stroke, and hear Ed highlight the spirit and style of the master painter, James Abbot McNeill Whistler. Ed will paint in Whistler¹s nocturne style, while he discusses Whistler¹s provocative and feisty personality, along with his tremendous influence on the art world and the culture of his time. This one-of-a-kind original oil painting by Ed Hicks will be for sale through an informal bid process at the conclusion of the event (finishing and framing will occur post event). High quality giclée prints of the demonstration painting will also be available for attendees to order at the event. Framed giclée print $ Unframed giclée print $75.00 This St. James event is free to the community with a suggested donation of $10. Light snacks and refreshments will be served. An invitation is available from Jodi and paper invitations are in the foyer. Please help St. James reach out into the community and invite as many friends, co-workers, neighbors, and family as you possibly can! For more information, please contact Sandy Ouellette at or phaseoneid@cox.net. 11.

12 !! r t in the Abbey! of St. James Episcopal Church Experience Whistler See an oil painting develop stroke by stroke, and hear inspiring words from Glastonbury artist, Ed Hicks in the spirit and style of master painter James Abbot McNeill Whistler. Tuesday, May 20, p.m. - 8 p.m. In the spectacular Sanctuary of St. James Episcopal Church 2584 Main Street, Glastonbury CT (860) Discovery Series Connecting you with artist expressions & inspirations With Glastonbury artist Ed Hicks Come and experience an oil painting develop stroke by stroke, and hear Ed Hicks highlight the spirit and style of the master painter James Abbot McNeill Whistler ( ). Ed will paint in Whistler s nocturne style, while he discusses Whistler s provocative and feisty personality, along with his tremendous influence on the art world and the culture of his time. This one-of-a-kind original oil painting by Ed Hicks will be for sale through an informal bid process at the conclusion of the event (finishing & framing will occur post event). High quality giclée prints of the demonstration painting will also be available for attendees to order at the event. Framed giclée print $ Unframed giclée print $75.00 Ed Hicks has been a familiar name in the art community for several decades. He paints open-ended landscapes and strives to give a painting just enough information to evoke a sense of place, but allow the viewer to fill in the specifics. Wyeth and the early Impressionists strongly influence his work as he attempts to capture the romance of New England with his brush. He prefers oils because their buttery consistency allows him to really work with color and texture to make a painting move, make it snap, give it that power he is after in every painting. He wants the viewer to feel something special; He wants them to say, Wow! This show is NOT just for artists, but for people who enjoy learning about those who shaped history. Ed guarantees you will not fall asleep listening to his unique perspective of this master painter and eccentric man of his time!! This event is free to the community with a suggested donation of $ Light snacks and refreshments will be served. * 100% of the event proceeds are donated to charitable organizations *

13 of St. James Episcopal Church Stewardship Commission r t in the Abbey The Second Annual Art in the Abbey event was a tremendous success this year in so many ways! The entire parish was engaged in the effort; positive relationships were developed with the community, businesses, and our local artists; fellowship was enjoyed by all; and we were financially very successful. With the majority of our income and expenses accounted for, we have raised almost $12,000 for the St. James' outreach programs. St. James' deserves a huge pat on the back! I am very grateful to the fantastic core team of volunteers that helped make our success possible. These people are my "A+" team and I hope you will join me in acknowledging their TREMENDOUS dedication and effort! This event would not have been possible without them! Janice Davis: managed all our marketing and printed materials which included the spectacular welcome advertising booklet (and all the fun facts included and the entire book layout), writing and coordinating our press releases and newspaper advertising, radio advertising, various blasts and network articles, coordinating final printing, etc. Molly Donovan: was responsible for ALL of the delicious appetizers, desserts, and nonalcoholic drinks. I'm sure you will agree that the professional quality of our food, and the beautiful presentation of it all complemented the entire event perfectly. Lisa Gleason: was the basket queen! She helped develop the basket concepts, prepared tree tags and signage, organized and prepared all the baskets for sale or auction (I think there were almost 60 of them), and followed up with every basket sale to ensure each one found it's correct home. Jill & Nick Monsarrat: these two were willing to do anything and everything sked of them! Their contributions ranged from making birdhouses, selling tickets, making and installing signage, running general errands and driving to the printer, hanging rope and wire in the sanctuary, ironing tablecloths, hanging posters, balloons, talking to other churches, coordinating high school servers, setup and clean up of everything, and giving the biggest most supportive smiles and hugs! Sarah Shannon: was my right hand woman for the entire planning and implementation of the event. She visited every artist with me, coordinated the wine tasting with Sonoma wines, helped arrange our jewelry selection with Sterling Jewelers, created the slide show for the foyer tv, managed facebook advertising, photographed art, and worked closely with Janice on the advertising booklet. Sarah helped set up the entire church display, worked throughout the event, and continued to do whatever was necessary after we closed on Saturday. In addition, she helped work through solutions to every bump in the road we hit. I can t begin to mention everyone who contributed to the success of this complex event from set up to clean up, from generous contributions to posting flyers and beyond. To you all, my sincere and heartfelt thank you! Sandy Ouellette 12.

14 Vestry and Commission Structure St. James' Episcopal Church Vestry and Commission Structure 2014 Executive Committee: Gail Lebert (Senior Warden - '15, 3rd term), Gayle Kataja (Junior Warden - '15, 2nd term), Steve Ciccalone (Treasurer - '15, 1st term), Additional Officers: Bob Dugger (Assistant Treasurer - '15, 3rd term), Ralph Urban (Clerk - '15, 1st term) Delegates to Diocesan Convention: Ed Crow (2nd term, 2nd year), Caryl Donovan (2nd term, 2nd year), Rick Edwards (2nd term, 3rd year), Becky Lee (2nd term, 1st year) Outreach Stewardship Facilities Fellowship Administration Communication Pastoral Care At Large At Large Transition Christian Formation Worship Erin Conlon ('17) Gayle Lebert ('15) Judy Knowlton ('15) Pat Goodrich ('15) Susan Wright ('17) Dan Shannon ('15) Steve Ciccalone ('15) Gayle Kataja ('15) Sandy Ouellette ('16) Cheryl Turner ('17) Nick Daukas ('15) Lauren Furtak ('15) Discernment Committee (Iype Chandy, Becky Lee) Note Writers (Allyson Kataja, Caryl Donovan) Website (Anne Ciccalone) Human Resources (Nick Daukas) Coffee Hour Grounds (Barbara Cooke) Finance (Rick Edwards) Outreach (Barbara Buddington) Nursery/Pre-school Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Intercessors (Jim Ervin) Recruitment Committee (Ed Crow, Rich Mills) Shawl Ministry (Kay Ferris) Network (Janice Davis) Policies (Joyce Reynolds) Potluck Meals (Mary Jo Logan) Building (Don Gardner) Stewardship (Jeannette Brown) Art in the Abbey (Sandy Ouellette) Pre-K - Grade 5 Acolytes (Rich Connell) Hospitality Committee (Pat Goodrich, Sandy Marshall) Meals (Barbara Massy, Mary Jo Logan) Social Media (Anne Ciccalone) Operations Men's Club (Ed Crow) Building/Interior Design (Sandy Ouellette) Planned Giving (Fred Larson) Middle School Ushers/Greeters (Aida Mishriky) Prayer Committee (Kay Ferris, Diane Obernesser) Prayer Chain (Diane Obernesser) Bulletin Boards (Sandy Ouellette) Newcomers Memorials & Gifts (Joan Mihm) High School (Lisa Gleason, Sarah Shannon) Altar Guild (Liza Ervin) Healing Prayer (Judy Knowlton) Public Relations/Publicity Adult (Erin Conlon) Flower Committee (Caryl Donovan) Women's Spiritual Support Group (Jennifer Daukas) Photography (Dan Aramini) Adult Bible Study (Clint Dixon) Music Committee (Jim Barry) EVs / Pastoral Care (Judy Knowlton) Women of Faith (Sarah Shannon) Worship Planning February 25, 2014

15 Contact Information Web site: Facebook: Phone: Address: 2584 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT Mailing Address: P.O. Box 206, Glastonbury, CT Interim Rector The Rev. Keri Aubert (x201) Deacon The Rev. Walter McKenney Senior Warden Gail Lebert Junior Warden Gayle Kataja Treasurer Steve Ciccalone Asst. Treasurer: Bob Dugger Clerk Ralph Urban Staff: Minister of Music James Barry (x204) Director of Children & Youth Ministries Matt Cornish (x202) Parish Admnistrator Jodi Lussier (x200) Bookkeeper Jeanne Kowalsky (x203) Nursery Attendant Laurie Kivney Nursery Assistant Melissa Malchiodi In an emergency or crisis, please call the church office, Press 9 at the end of the message. Please let us know when you or a family member is sick, in need of prayer or a pastoral visit. We want to serve you and need your help in knowing when this is necessary. Hospital stays are often very short, so the sooner you call us, the better the chance of our visiting you before you are discharged. 14.