The Episcopal Parish of Alton has as its mission: To live and show Christ in our midst.

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1 February 2016 The Reverend Cynthia A. Sever, Rector The Episcopal Parish of Alton has as its mission: To live and show Christ in our midst. We re on the way! Dear Parishioners: My husband Bryon and I can t wait to arrive in Alton to be with all of you! The Episcopal Parish of Alton has long held a very important place in our hearts. Byron was raised at St Paul s. I became an Episcopalian after attending church with him when we were both in college at U of I in Champaign-Urbana. The two parishes that were instrumental in my formation as an Episcopalian were St John the Divine in Champaign and St Paul s in Alton. I remember visiting St Paul s whenever we were visiting my in-laws, and always feeling welcome and cared for by your gracious hospitality and beautiful worship services. I am absolutely thrilled to serve as your new Rector. Since traveling to Alton to meet with the Search Committee and then the Vestry, I have been continually amazed at the loving care with which I have been received. And every time I get a message from the parish, my amazement and gratitude has deepened. I need to keep pinching myself to make sure that our new relationship is real, and that I m not just dreaming about the ideal parish for me! Byron and I are in the process of purchasing a beautiful home in Alton. As things stand now, we should be moving sometime during the week of March 1, and my first Sunday with you will be on March 27, which is Easter Day. This will give me time to move into my home and my office, so that I can hit the ground running. My first career was as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. My ministry so far encompasses youth ministry, children s ministry, youth and family ministry, hospital chaplaincy, serving as Youth Missioner for the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester, NY, Spiritual Care Coordinator for Hospice of Orleans (County) here in Western New York, and general parish ministry. I love program design and implementation, and helping the parish think outside the box in terms of program and worship service ideas (outside of Sunday mornings) to appeal to a wide variety of people, churched and unchurched. I have served inner-city parishes, a small parish in a nearly rural village, suburban parishes, and a 1,000+ member parish in a village just outside of Rochester, New York. To say that Byron and I are animal lovers is an understatement. We are owned by two Pugs, Mikki and Otis; two cats, Mittzy and Oliver Twist; and a rabbit named Carmel. We both love gardening, but Byron is a true master at it. The house we are purchasing is a blank slate in that regard, and we can t wait to bring some gardens to life there. We both love music. Although he is now Roman Catholic, Byron is currently in the choir at my parish, and serves as a cantor. I was in my seminary choir, and am currently sitting in on choir practice here to learn about music theory. I ve recently polished up my clarinet and am refreshing my memory on playing it, and am determined to learn to play a beautiful lap dulcimer I bought in 2005 while at the Episcopal Youth Event in Kentucky. I would also love to take voice lessons again. I love reading murder mysteries when I have time, and enjoy cross stitch and making beaded jewelry. 1

2 I d like to ask your help with a few things. First of all, I beg forgiveness in advance, because it is difficult for me to remember names. Nametags would be a huge help, but I also ask you to tell me your name every time we meet until we are both sure I really have it. Secondly, I really would like to meet all of you in small groups, so that we have a chance to truly get to know one another. Could you please talk about this with one another and think of some ways we can make this happen that will work for our parish, and then let me know? My Gold bless you richly and grant you a peaceful and productive Lenten session. Mother Cindy+ LENTEN MEMO Ash Wednesday services will be at Trinity at Noon and at St Paul s at 7:00 pm. There will NOT be a supper or program on Ash Wednesday. The weekly lenten services will begin with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 6:00 pm each Wednesday, followed by a light supper of soup, cheese and bread. The meal will be followed by an educational program. The hosts for the suppers will be: February 17 February 24 March 2 March 9 March 16 Guild of Grace ECM TMS an DOK ECW Vestry Mother Cindy, Byron, Mikki and Otis from the Vestry... Here s the Scoop to Keep You in the Loop The Vestry, at its January meeting, was largely concerned with wrapping up 2015 business and preparing for coming events on the church calendar. It was decided to continue with Wednesday night Lenten Eucharist services at 6:00 p.m. followed by soup, cheese, and bread sacrificial suppers and a brief educational offering by Father Nowlin. The schedule of supper sponsors is as follows: Feb 17 th, Guild of Grace; Feb. 24 th, ECM; March 2, Trinity Missionary Society/ Daughters of the King; March 9 th, ECW; and March 16 th, Vestry. Of course, everyone is welcome and we hope to have a large group for worship and fellowship on Wed. evenings during Lent. Sue Goers, Clerk PLEASE NOTE There will be no Wednesday Noon services at Trinity during Lent. LENTEN TRADITIONS During Lent we traditionally take on spiritual disciplines that help us draw closer to God. We hope you might find one or more of these practices helpful in your journey through Lent. Fasting: This Lent let go of the inessential to hold fast to what is essential: If you abstain from food, ask what you hunger for. Or fast from speed to embrace slowness; fast from indifference to awaken to wonder. Discipline: You might choose not to let something go, but to take something on. Devote yourself to a discipline exercise or prayer, reading Scripture or planting a garden that will help you reconnect with God, creator and sustainer of all that is life-giving within you. Prayer: Each Lent we pray, Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, O Lord. Ask for a new heart to know and love God. Pray each day that God will break your heart open to forgiveness, to peace, to the needs of the world God loves so well. Service: This Lent take the risk of asking God to work out his purpose for your life, offering yourself anew to be used in God s service. Ask God to be God and pray, Here am I, Lord, send me! Intention: Whatever practice you choose, be intentional. Be truly present to the grace of this season, which allows us to rediscover what is essential to the abundant life for which God has created us. From The Society of Saint John the Evangelist 2

3 ANNUAL MEETING The Annual Parochial Church Meeting was held on Sunday, January 24, 2016, after a delicious brunch served by the Guild of Grace. Four new Vestry members were elected to serve three-year terms: Jean Downey, Diana Enloe, Dan Plate and Carl Slaughter. Retiring Vestry members were thanked for their service: Jeff Dunnagan, Tim Eagleton, Marti LoRusso and Victor Sever. Delegates and alternates were elected to Synod, as well as Deanery representatives: Synod Delegates: Jeff Dunnagan Bill Eagleton Kareen Eagleton Diane Martin Synod Alternates: Linda Dunnagan Joseph Cobetto Ann Bromaghim Anna Potter Deanery Reps: Martha Fisher Diane Martin Copies of the 2015 Annual Reports are available in the Parish Halls. Newly elected Vestry members: Diana Enloe, Carl Slaughter, Dan Plate and Jean Downey 2016 VESTRY Rector s Warden Parish Warden Treasurer Clerk Charles Buxton Mary Molloy Donna Fisher Sue Goers Evangelism and Outreach Commission: Charles Buxton, ilcharlieb@yahoo.com Jean Downey, jldowney1@charter.net Gay Bryant, wsbagpb@charter.net Parish Life Commission: Mary Molloy, mary_molloy1@hotmail.com Charles Buxton, ilcharlieb@yahoo.com Will Lane, kawal5360@yahoo.com Finance and Insurance Commission: Will Lane, kawal5360@yahoo.com A.J. Goers, ajgoers@yahoo.com Denise St. Peters, Destpete4@aol.com Education Commission: Barb Ulffers, bbulffers@yahoo.com Lynn Hoffman, lhoff61@sbcglobal.net Property and Maintenance Commission: Diana Enloe, denloe5003@charter.net Dan Plate, rublev8@gmail.com Public Relations Commission: Diana Enloe, denloe5003@charter.net Dan Plate, rublev8@gmail.com Liturgy and Music: Carl Slaughter, .carl.slaughter@gmail.com Barb Ulffers, bbulffers@yahoo.com Telephone numbers for Vestry members are always on the back page of The Angelus. Can you find yourself in the photo below taken at the Annual Meeting on January 24? If not, where were you? 3

4 SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER In celebration of Mardi Gras, the ECM will again this year sponsor a Shrove Tuesday Pancake and Sausage Supper on Tuesday, February 9 5:00 7:00 pm St Paul s A free-will offering will taken to go to support Crisis Food Center. Bring your friends and family. ECM NEWS The officers for 2016 are: President Harold Green Treasurer Will Lane Secretary Tom Fisher Mark your calendar for our annual Fish Fry coming up on a Friday in March. CHURCH SCHOOL The Church School children raised over $600 for the Heifer Project this past year and were able to pick seven different animals to donate. They would like to express their thanks to all who helped make this project such a success. Lynn Hoffman Church School Director BOOK CLUB The Book Club meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 10:30 am at Trinity. Everyone is welcome. NEW DIRECTORY Please use the copies of the directory in the parish halls to verify that your information is accurate and up-to-date. from the Bookstore and Library Ash Wednesday, February 10, begins our Lenten season. Simple, inexpensive books of short daily reflections for Lent, Holy Week and Easter are available in the Bookstore. The poster-type calendars that we used last year for Lent and Advent are again free courtesy of the Bookstore. The Journey Through Lent 2016 Calendar has many thought-provoking quotes for the day (scripture and otherwise) and suggestions for a simple prayer or activity. Examples: February 18: Pray for your most favorite and and your least favorite presidential candidate; February 26: Comfort someone who is sad; March 16: A most thought-provoking quote from Gandhi, You Christians are so unlike your Christ followed by the question, What can we do this Lent to close the gap? Reading material for Lent is also available in the Library FREE, as well as many CDs appropriate for the season. Just a few: Easter Chants, Praying the Way of the Cross with John Henry Neuman, Marvelous Works from the St. Louis Bach Society, Praying With the Body Through Breath and Postures, several CDs from Taize, a well-known ecumenical community in France, Passion Walk Meditation with music, and many more. If you are unable to find something that calls to you in the Bookstore or Library, perhaps you may want to try the short daily reflections for the entire year in the small booklet Forward Day By Day. These booklets are free and are always available in the track rack outside the church office and in the Narthex at St Paul s and Trinity. Large print copies are also available. If you have questions, comments, ideas or requests for or about materials or other items to make your Lenten journey more meaningful, please let me know. For me, observing Lent makes Easter so much more tremendous. Diane Martin Please continue to remember in your prayers all those in need of healing. Heavenly Father, giver of life and health, comfort and restore those who are sick, that they may be strengthened in their weakness and trust in your unfailing love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 4

5 Parish Nurse Statistics for Year 2015 The Episcopal Parish of Alton-St. Paul s Church and Trinity Chapel Total number of personal contacts 203. Of total number served, 186 were members, 17 were non-members. 135 were females, 68 were males served. Age group most often served years old. Top 4 health issues of The Episcopal Parish of Alton 1. Hypertension 2. Respiratory 3. Orthopedic 4. Cardiac. 52 Referrals to MDs and/or community resources were given. Thank you again for the lovely opportunity to serve You! Parish Nurse Amy Bohn P.S. I am also enclosing some information that I was contacted about to put in the newsletter from Foxes Grove if anyone is interested: Built in 1987, Foxes Grove first opened as an individual retirement community. Then in 2007, Foxes Grove became a Supportive Living Community allowing for both private pay and Medicaid residents. As a Supportive Living Community, Foxes Grove offers assistance to its residents with activities of daily living (housekeeping, medication management, meals, and local transportation.) Residents are able to come and go just as they would in their own homes; however they have the support if they need it. Foxes Grove is not a nursing home, but does have LPN on staff during the day and C.N.A staff here 24/7. There are three floor plans available: studio, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom. Foxes Grove s Friendly staff is happy to assist its residents in making Foxes Grove their new home. Residents bring their own furnishings and belongings to make their apartment their own. The maintenance staff on site helps with repair needs as well as a beauty salon, and local transportation. In addition, Foxes Grove has many activities available to all residents, including exercise, speakers, musical entertainment, themed parties, crafts, reading groups, and cooking groups, etc. Residents must be sixty-five years or older, and complete a screening with the Department of Aging to ensure that Foxes Grove can meet their needs. Interested individuals may contact Foxes Grove at , or Stacey Noble Loveland, MA Executive Director, Foxes Grove Supportive Living Community, 395 E Edwardsville Road, Wood River, IL CONDOLENCES Our thoughts and prayers are with Mother Jane Flaherty on the recent death of her cousin, Mark McDonald; and with the family and friends of Bette Harris, whose funeral mass was at St Paul s on January 26. 5

6 February Birthdays February 4 Donna Fisher February 6 Sean Downey February 25 Bill Moyer CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED Monday, February 15, Presidents Day Vestry Rector s Warden: Charles Buxton Parish Warden: Mary Molloy Clerk of the Vestry: Sue Goers Treasurer: Donna Fisher Gay Bryant Charles Buxton Jean Downey Diana Enloe Donna Fisher A.J. Goers Lynn Hoffman Will Lane Mary Molloy Dan Plate Carl Slaughter Denise St. Peters Barb Ulffers St. Paul s Church The Episcopal Parish of Alton Trinity Chapel 10 East Third Street Alton, Illinois State Street Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-1:00 pm Telephone: epialton@episcopalalton.org Rector: rector@episcopalalton.org Website: Angelus Editor: moyerb@charter.net 6