S t. J a m e s E p i s c op a l C h u r c h. The NET. St. James Mission Statement

Transcription

1 S t. J a m e s E p i s c op a l C h u r c h Volume 10 Issue 11 THE NET Page 1 The NET Dear Friends in Christ, St. James Mission Statement St. James is called to serve God, Christ, and the community of Greater New London. From the Interim Rector s Desk February 2017 Adopted by the Vestry May 2001 February 1 is the one year anniversary of my coming to New London to begin, as Interim Rector, a ministry with the people of Saint James Parish. My life and work in New London has been filled with challenge and with rewards. The challenge involves getting to know the patterns and the people of Saint James Parish, and of New London. Please do know that the welcome and on-going response of the people of Saint James, and of the New London Community has been both heart-warming and exciting. Thank you all. In some respects my time in New London has been a coming home to the area of Connecticut in which I have deep family roots, having grown up in the Pawcatuck area of Stonington. Stonington is the town in which my family has lived since 1649, having before that lived for a few years in Pequot (now known as New London). What fun to find streets named for the Miner family in New London and Waterford! Inside this issue: Interim Rector s Desk 1-2 Outreach 3-6 Birthdays 7 Music 7-8 Lent 9 Vestry Notes 10 Stewardship 11 Saint James Church, New London, is a venerable Parish, dating from Saint James is important in the history of the Episcopal Church in the United States as the Parish of which The Right Reverend Samuel Seabury, the first American Episcopal Bishop, served as rector, in the last years of the 18 th Century. Bishop Seabury served Saint James concurrently with being the first Bishop of Connecticut. His earthly remains are entombed in Saint James Hallam Chapel. The Seabury family Coat of Arms is displayed in the Chancel of Saint James Church as a companion to the Coat of Arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut. Nearby a stained glass window illustrates major events in the life and ministry of Samuel Seabury. My tenure as Interim Rector anticipates the writing of a new chapter in the history of Saint James. That chapter will include the tenure of the new Rector who will be called to provide Spiritual and

2 Page 2 THE NET Volume 10 Issue 11 The Net is the newsletter of St. James Church, New London, Connecticut. It is published eleven times a year (September through June, and a summer issue) for the information and edification of St. James members and friends. Articles are always welcome and should be submitted by the tenth of the month before publication. While your input is always welcome, we would prefer to receive it by e- mail or CD-ROM, in Microsoft Word format. Please continue to forward your submissions to the Church Office or them to: st.james.parish@snet.net We also welcome your comments and suggestions. This is your newsletter. 76 Federal Street New London CT Interim Rector s Desk cont d Administrative leadership for Saint James as the Parish continues to witness, and to live the love of God made known in Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the living God, the God of the living. Soon, the next Rector of Saint James will be called by the Vestry. As I write these notes Saint James Transition Team (AKA Search Committee ), is in the process of carefully reviewing information from 10 possible candidates for Rector. Next steps in the call process include telephone conversations, electronic and personal interviews, reference checks, and much prayer. Out of that process will come two or three individuals, deemed as qualified to be Rector of Saint James by the Transition Team, whose names will be presented to the Vestry. The Vestry then will make the final choice of one to be called to minister with the people of Saint James as Rector. Once the person to be called is decided, and the Bishop of Connecticut endorses that decision, the call is made. The usual pattern is that once the call is made, all the terms negotiated, and the call accepted, there will be a 30 day notice period, followed by the arrival of the new Rector. My time in New London will end two Sundays before the arrival of the new Rector. The services of a supply Priest will be procured for those two Sundays. Please know that the people and the continuing ministry of Saint James Parish will continue in my thoughts and prayers. Faithfully in Christ, Fr. Bob The Rev. Canon Robert J. Miner, Interim Rector

3 Volume 10 Issue 11 THE NET Page 3 Farewell dear friends Claudia Nielsen December 23, 2016 M. Elizabeth Johnston December 27, 2016 Theodora Belknap January 3, 2017 Local Safe Church Training Safe Church training is required by resolution of St. James Vestry, for all parishioners in positions of leadership (i.e., new Vestry, Wardens, Officers, etc.) and for anyone involved with our youth. All those needing Safe Church training are expected to take the training as soon as possible. Copies of the certificates of completion are required to be kept on file in the parish office. There is no cost to attend training sessions begin in March. Please go to the following link on the Diocesan web-site for more information, dates of classes and to register online The Supper Group of St. James Join us for fun, food, and fellowship!!! Come join the fun! Been thinking about it? Now s the time! Next Gathering: Friday, February 17 6:00 PM Where: Johnny s Peking Tokyo, 12 Coogan Blvd., Mystic Who: All who enjoy spending a fun evening with new and old friends Sign-up Deadline: Wednesday, February 15 Call Lori Sarkett at or Ellen at the parish office No big commitment, just join us when you can Rides available AND encouraged!

4 Page 4 THE NET Volume 10 Issue 11 Community Meal Extra hands are needed for Saturday, March 4 to assist with the Community meal. We are definitely going to be short-handed and Dan Ivey will be unable to do a good part of the meal preparation, serving and cleanup. Please contact Ellen in the parish office at if you are able to help out. Thank you! Jumble Shoppe News The Jumble Shoppe currently features a winter sale on women s and men s pants. We have a considerable back log of winter clothes of every kind, so please consider delivering winter clothes to Good Will or another charity of your choice. Donations of bath and bed linens, small appliances, decorative items and costume jewelry are always welcome. Please deliver donations during shop hours or check with Dorothy at to arrange for drop-offs. Donations left at the door are frequently ruined by weather or scavenged passersby. Come by and visit us on Tuesdays or Saturdays, 10:00 AM to1:00 PM. Volunteers are welcome any time. We always have organizing and sorting to do. Read the Annual Report for a list of charities and missions supported in We hope to do even better in the coming year! Thank you for your support. Dorothy Sieburg, Manager Parish Outreach Project It s that time of year when we provide coffee for the residents of the Covenant Shelter. We collect coffee, tea, hot chocolate, sugar and sugar substitute, non-dairy creamer, and juice boxes for the children. Your donations may be brought to church any Sunday during the month of February or during the week you may bring them to the parish office during office hours. Final collection date for items is Monday, February 27. Thanks! TO ENSURE DONATIONS GO TO THE RIGHT PLACE, PLEASE CLEARLY MARK YOUR DONATIONS COVENANT SHELTER

5 Volume 10 Issue 11 THE NET Page 5 Refugees and Migration: Across the Street and Around the World March 4, St. John s Episcopal Church, 679 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford Presented by Companions in Mission Ministry Network Schedule: 9:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. Registration, Coffee and Music 9:30 a.m. 9:45 a.m. Welcome 9:45 a.m. 10:45 a.m. Keynote Address by: Allison Duvall, Program Manager for Church Relations & Engagement, Episcopal Migration Ministries, The Episcopal Church 10:45 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Break 11:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Panel Discussion moderated by Bishop Ian Douglas o Allison Duvall, Program Manager, Episcopal Migration Ministries o Chris George, Executive Director, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services o Resettled Refugee Family and/or Sponsoring Parish 12:00 p.m. 12:30 p.m. Lunch Allison Duvall, Program Manager for Church Relations & Engagement, Episcopal Migration Ministries, The Episcopal Church 12:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Workshop 1:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. Workshop 2:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Closing Worship Gathering with Music Workshops: 1. Getting Started in Mission Don Ghostlaw and The Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell 2. Funding Opportunities for Mission Bill Schrull, Leslie Jones, Alan McCollom, UTO Representative 3. When Helping Hurts Gus Schlegel 4. Cultural Sensitivity and Money Matters The Rev. Tom Furrer 5. A Conversation with a Resettled Refugee Family and Sponsoring Parish Registration: Eventbrite (link to come) Display Tables: Contact Grace Barnum at gracebarnum@att.net

6 Page 6 THE NET Volume 10 Issue 11 Seabury Companeros & The Episcopal Diocese of Ecuador Central Partners in Mission Seabury Companeros de Ecuador Ministry Network is once again embarking on a Mission Trip to Ecuador August 3-14, 2017 Have you ever felt that nudge, that call, to learn more about the opportunity of joining others as a participant, a Partner in Mission, with other missioners from Seabury Companeros de Ecuador and our brothers and sisters within The Diocese of Ecuador Central? This will be the ninth summer mission trip to Ecuador. Any skill level needed. ALL skill levels welcome only your heart and desire to be part of building relationships of companionship between Seabury Companeros and a local Episcopal community are needed. We have had travelers ranging in age from ALL are welcome!!! We work together; we pray together; we laugh together; we experience a greater sense of God s mission in the world and in our lives together. And, we establish life-changing relationships with our Ecuadorian friends. THINK ABOUT IT, PRAY ABOUT IT, JOIN US IN THIS LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE Learn more: Sunday, February 19 at St. James 1:00 PM Info Contacts: Grace Barnum gracebarnum@att.net Dan Ivey danivey@live.com Please note date change Covenant Shelter Awards Dinner Charlie Duffy, an active member of our parish family has been chosen to receive the Merrill- Fontaine award from the Covenant Shelter for going above and beyond supporting members of our homeless community within the New London area. A dinner will be held on May 12, 2017 in his honor at the Port N Starboard banquet facility located at Ocean Beach Park in New London. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available. Please note: Event date has changed from April 28 to May 12.

7 Volume 10 Issue 11 THE NET Page 7 February Birthdays The names on this list reflect the information as recorded in the Parish database. Is your name (or a family member s name) missing? If so, please contact the parish office and provide us with the accurate information! 2 Lillian Beeler 3 Alaysia Thomas 10 Deborah Carter 11 Deanna Bossdorf 12 Roger Nelson 17 Joanna Delancy 19 Timothy Breitenstein 20 William Crawford 25 Millie Deurloo Some Giving Opportunities Each Sunday we adorn the Altar with flowers (except during Lent), light a Sanctuary Candle, and consume bread and wine. The Altar Guild pays for these from gifts given by members, families and friends of St. James. If you would like to assist one week, an altar flower donation is $45; sanctuary candle, $5; and, communion wine or communion wafers, $10. Your donation can be made as a memorial honoring someone deceased, or as a thank-offering to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or other special event in your life. Contact the parish office or an altar guild member for more information. As always, more than one person can make their offering in any given week. If you d like more information, speak to any member of the altar guild or contact the parish office. Musical Note: Will Cooper, our Organist/Choirmaster was away on Sunday, January 22 to attend the premier performance of a scene from his sacred opera Hagar and Ishmael.

8 Page 8 THE NET Volume 10 Issue 11 Choral Evensong at St. James February 26, 2017 Transfiguration Sunday 5:00 PM At 5:00 PM on February 26 the Last Sunday after the Epiphany The Anglican Singers will offer a service of choral evensong that includes a motet by the Renaissance German-Czech composer Jacob Handl; Preces and Responses by Jacobean composer Richard Ayleward; Herbert Howells beloved Worcester Service; and Herbert Sumsion s luscious tone poem, They that go down to the sea in ships. As they were last year, the Singers are pleased to be joined by the Calvary School Choir of Calvary Church in Stonington, an ensemble of treble and adult singers dedicated to the curriculum of the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM), under the direction of Choirmaster Joseph Ripka. Please join us for this service and for the reception that will follow in the parish hall. Respectfully submitted, Anne Carr Bingham Secretary Silent Movie Night Music on Whale Oil Row Sunday, March 12 at 7:00 PM My Best Girl (1927) A silent romantic comedy film Starring Mary Pickford and Buddy Rogers. Robert Humphreville, organist Bring the whole family! Please help to defray costs by making a generous offering. Free popcorn for all!!!

9 Volume 10 Issue 11 THE NET Page 9 March 1 Ash Wednesday Worship: 7:30 AM Holy Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes (Church) Noon Holy Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes (Church) 7:00 PM Holy Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes & Choir (Church) March 3 Stations of the Cross The celebration of the Stations of the Cross is especially common on the Fridays of Lent. St. James will honor the tradition by offering the Service of the Stations of the Cross each Friday beginning on March 3 at 5:30 PM in the Church. Come join Christ and your brothers and sisters in faith on his journey to the Cross. March 8 Lenten fish dinner Watch for the complete Lenten schedule in the Sunday announcements, parish website and the March newsletter. March 8 Adult book study We will be discussing Presiding Bishop Curry s book, Crazy Christians. Books are available for $13 in the parish office. Please sign-up for the study and to order a book by February 20 in the parish hall after worship or contact Ellen in the parish office. Vestry Notes The Vestry met on January 10 in the Seabury Center Parlor. The following topics were discussed: (1) There is a need for a preschool teacher for Church School due to the wide range of ages of the children. A NET article will discuss the need in more detail. (2) The Lord s Pantry needs a person to help unload the food truck on Tuesdays from 8:30 to 9:30 Am. (3) The Transition Team conducted a mock interview with a local Rector in preparation for interviews of candidates who have applied to St. James. It is hoped that the review of resumes and the initial Skype interviews will begin soon. (4) Preparations for the Sunday, January 29, Annual Meeting are underway. Parishioners are reminded there is one service on that day at 9:00 AM with the meeting to follow the service. (5) Ron Steed will be ordained a Deacon at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford at 10:00 AM on Saturday, January 28. A sign-up sheet is available for those wishing to attend via carpooling. Jan Dargel, Clerk

10 Page 10 THE NET Volume 10 Issue 11 Ronald Scott Steed The Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas, Bishop Diocesan and The Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens, Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut presided at the Liturgy in which Ron was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons in Christ's One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church on Saturday, January 28 at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford. Maintenance & Repair We have had much trouble and continue to struggle with elevator issues. Since the initial problem in September, we have been unable to go a full week without needing a service call. Final payment is being withheld until we get a full month of operation without a failure. The tree on Federal Street was finally cut down by the City of New London. Thank you City of New London. Repointing of the masonry in the undercroft to repair damage caused by the broken city water main and replacement of tile in the Jumble Shoppe foyer has been completed. Respectfully submitted, Walter J Chojnacki Church School GOOD NEWS!!! CHURCH SCHOOL IS GROWING! Church School is growing! We now have two small but distinct groups of children- one group consist of preschoolers and the other of children in upper elementary/early middle school. As you can imagine, they each have different educational needs the preschoolers need more activity/playtime with materials appropriate to their ages and less story time, whereas the older children are ready for more in-depth learning. St. James wants all the children to come to Church School, and we want to be available for their families. Thus, there is a need for a preschool teacher to run the class simultaneous to the class of the older children 9:30 AM on Sunday morning. Please prayerfully consider this request to teach the children are delightful. Materials to aid you are available in abundance. If making a weekly commitment is a concern, let s talk and work together to develop a plan. Please contact Jan Dargel at or Fr. Bob to discuss your thoughts and/or concerns. I can assure you teaching our children is a rewarding experience!

11 Volume 10 Issue 11 THE NET Page 11 A Very Special Thanks The Interim Rector, Wardens and Vestry would like to express their special thanks to those who agreed to give a portion of their gifts back to God making a financial contribution to the mission and ministry of St. James. The people listed below have completed and submitted Pledge Cards through January 19. Our pledge total for the current year is almost the exact same as the amount for last year $163,529. Reminder letters have gone out to parishioners as needed. If anyone needs to complete a pledge form for this year, they are available at the church entrances or in the parish office. We believe our information is correct, however if you have submitted a pledge, and your name was not listed here, please contact our Pledge Secretary, Alma Peterson at or Ellen in the parish office Alborghetti, Marci Anderson, Martha Anderson, Patty Anderson, Ralph Anderson, Stephen Barnum, Grace Bath, Florence Benson, Judy Bingham, Anne Carr Bingham, Robert Kim Bossdorf, Deanna Boulanger, Arthur Brandon, Stephanie Brennan, Garrett Brennan, Victoria Brewster, Geraldine Brewster, John Brighty, Katherine Burdick, Ann Burdick, Reid Chartier, Mary Chartier, Ray Chojnacki, Sue Chojnacki, Walter Clark, Thomas Connell, Mary Jane Dargel, Jan Delancy, Joanna Dooley, Carol Downes, David Downes, Deborah Drew, Kristine Duffy, Charles Dunning, Alma Dunning, Sharon Dunning, Stacy Evans, Shirley Godfrey, Eleanor Griffin, Andrea Harris, Mary Ellen Harry, Barbara Hewitt, Joy Hewitt, Peter Higgins, David Hislop, Arlene Hulme, Steven Hulme, Mary Hurley, Awo Hurley, Steven Jones, Grace Jones, Joan Kepner, Charles Kepner, Janet King, Dick King, Pat Kobrin, Nancy Koczera, Gary Kydd. Henry Kydd, Rose Lee, Patricia Locke, Otelia Luddington, Kendall McCarthy, Effie McCoy, Carol Miller, Gerald Miller, Kathryn Miner, Glee Miner, Robert Miskell, Edna Monagas, Marilyn Murallo, Margaret Olbrys, Robin Palzere-Rae, Emma Patterson, Bruce Patterson, Carol Percy, Marilyn Percy, Stephen Peterson, Alma Peyton, Evelyn Pierce, Marcia Rae, William Rice, Greg Roberts, Edwin Robinson, Joan Vestry s Stewardship Statement Rogers, Jean Saari, Carlton Saari, Sheila Sarkett, Lori Sherman, Barbara Shores, Carole Shores, James Sieburg, Dorothy Sieburg, William Skeffington, Beverly Skinner, Barbara Skinner, Bruce Smith, Frederic Stanley, Mary Jane Stanley, Peter Steed, Ron Steed, Roxanne Streeter, Nicholas Theis, Diane Vogel, Nancy Vogel, Thomas Wardwell, Lyn Welsh, Barbara Welsh, Robert White, Mary Wilcox, Marianna Woodward, Carla Ysordia, Renee The Episcopal Church teaches the biblical tithe as the standard of stewardship. The Vestry of St. James believe that they and all parishioners strive to understand and meet that goal as they personally are able. Adopted by the Vestry, November 15, 2004

12 Page 12 THE NET Non-Profit Organization Volume 10 Issue 11 U.S. Postage Paid New London, CT Permit No. 236 St. James Episcopal Church 76 Federal Street New London, CT Postmaster: Time Sensitive Material, please deliver immediately. ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED.