For All The Saints. The Rector s Corner... November 2017 HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Transcription

1 For All The Saints November 2017 The Rector s Corner.... HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Dear Friends, As we enter the last two months of the calendar year, we find ourselves preparing for lots of personal travel either ourselves or others coming to visit us for the holidays. We keep all travelers in our prayers. When you find yourselves entertaining guests over a weekend we hope you ll bring them with you to church so we can all visit with each other. By now you should have received the Stewardship information including the Pledge Card for your use in identifying the amount of financial support that you will be able to provide for the church s annual operating budget for Ingathering of our Pledge Cards is scheduled for Sunday, November 5. Stewardship of Wealth Celebrating Thanksgiving Once again this year, we will gather to celebrate Thanksgiving with two other Bay Head congregations St. Paul s United Methodist Church and Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church. The service will take place at All Saints Church on Sunday, November 19, at 4:00 pm. Then, on Wednesday, November 22, at 8:30 am, there will be a celebration of the Holy Eucharist. If you will be in the area, please make every effort to attend one or both of these services. Also, if you have family or friends visiting with you at the time, please invite them to attend, too. My column in the newsletter generally ends with And, please remember, I am counting on seeing you in church! And, I truly do hope and pray just that. And, of course, I do see many of you. There are some who may be able to attend more frequently, yet do not do so for a variety of reasons. Sometimes when we have been away from church for a lengthy period of time, we feel less comfortable going back to church. You are missed. Of course, there are times when all of us must miss church on any given Sunday; however, please know that when you are able to attend, we hope you will. Cont. page 2 All Saints Episcopal ChuChurch, Church, Lake Avenue, Bay Head, NJ Phone:

2 Page 2 You Will Be Missed! While a few of the Saints of All Saints Church have already left for warmer climes, more will be leaving us for the winter in the next month or so. Please know that we will miss you and keep you in our prayers. And we look forward to your return next Spring! Happy THANKSGIVING to all of you! And, please remember, I am counting on seeing you in church! Peace, Robert The Reverend Robert A. Nagy, Rector Instruction for Holy Communion When young children begin to receive Holy Communion after their baptism is a decision for parents or guardians to make. There is no absolute minimum age. Whether your children are already receiving Holy Communion or not, if you would like them to have instruction about receiving Holy Communion, please contact the Rector. Wednesday, Nov. 1 All Saints Day Saturday, Nov. 4 TURN YOUR CLOCKS BACK ONE HOUR BEFORE BEDTIME Sunday, Nov. 5 Celebration of All Saints Day, with flowers Sunday, Nov. 5 Stewardship Sunday Saturday, Nov. 11 Veterans Day Saturday, Nov :00-3:00 St. Nicholas Bazaar Sunday, Nov. 19 4:00 pm Ecumenical thanksgiving Service at All Saints Thursday, Nov. 23 Thanksgiving Day Nov pm Supper with All Saints Church Signs....

3 Birthday Wishes.... Nov. 1 Jake Bicking Nov. 2 Chet Ehrman Karen Hewson Nov. 3 Gail Goggin Colin Mahoney John Petrie Nov. 5 Ingrid Delaney Dan Slack Nov. 6 Anthony Digilio Penny Ludovico Nov. 9 Mary Ogden Henry Ogden Nov. 12 Sherry Urner Nov. 15 Mary Peters Nov. 16 Gage Digilio James Thompson Joan Wright Nov. 18 Robert Templeton Nov. 19 Laura Beth Gartner Nov. 20 Linda Gyurko Nov. 23 Gael Habernickel Nov. 24 Kiersten Litton Nov.29 Scott McMurray u Anniversary Blessings.... Nov. 19 Cheryl & Clayton Smith Nov. 22 Susan & Ernie Scherler Sabrina & James Thompson Nov. 25 Cortney & Dave Baldwin Betty Jeanne Ed Bullwinkel Nov. 29 Gael & Duke Habernickel Thank You!.... Dear Rev. Nagy, My thanks to you and your congregation for the support of our veteran students. By bolstering the support services we provide, these students are succeeding. Seaman s Church Institute.... Warm Regards, Joseph R. Marbach, PhD. Georgian Court University Looking for knitters to support our outreach to the Christmas at Sea Program. Needed: two hands, two needles, some yarn and a desire to give some worthy seamen and women a warm hat and/or scarf for Christmas. I have extra yarn and will gladly help. Call me Joyce Cornelius

4 Page 4 Outreach.... Texas Chili Cook-Off a Nice Success All Saints knows how to enjoy a Texas Chili Cook-Off! The party was a huge success due to everyone who participated and supported the night. First, a huge thank-you to the 6 cooks: Jim Doran, Bill Gyurko, Paul Chowansky, Betty Yersin, Linda Conklin, and the winner Denise Vargason. We thank the many people who baked Key Lime and Pecan pies, plus all the corn bread and muffins; also, those who brought appetizers, salads, other desserts. We're grateful for everybody that set up and took down tables, chairs, decorations, and who worked so hard in the kitchen setting up the food and cleaning up the pots and pans later. Thanks also to Mueller's and the Bay Head Cheese Shop for their generous donations. Finally, thanks to the committee, Maureen Mulligan, Rick Hager, Julie Chowansky, Priscilla Hiby, Sudy Mayo, Lee Pope and Phyllis Kata, and a final shout-out to the enormous support given by the Outreach Committee, our Rector, and the Vestry. As you know, the purpose was originally to raise money for hurricane relief for Florida and Texas; however, once Maria hit Puerto Rico, we expanded the recipients. This event, combined with the earlier general appeal for donations, resulted in approximately $7800 to be split between the two states and the commonwealth. Our chili winner elected to direct $ 200 to the Red Cross specifically for Puerto Rico. The Vestry appropriated the rest of the funds as follows, a $2000 check, each, to the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund dioceses of West Texas, Southeast Florida, and Puerto Rico. Finally, $800 to St. Columba Episcopal Church in Marathon, Florida, a church with snowbird friends from All Saints, and with a very active outreach program; and $800 also to the Church of Our Savior, in Aransas Pass, Texas, now closed but with a strong tie to the ERD in West Texas. The nicest aspect of the evening was Bristol Hall filled with people enjoying each other s company. People from within and outside of our parish had a great time. Church School.... Many thanks to all who brought school supplies in for our backpacks. We packed them and sent them off last week. They were very much needed and so appreciated. Thanks, again!

5 Page 5 Stewardship.... God loves a cheerful giver. Thank you, St. Paul, for taking a second crack at that fractious young church in Corinth so long ago and delivering the marquee quote for the 2018 stewardship campaign here at All Saints Bay Head. (To give the Church s favorite foreign correspondent his due, see 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.) Cheerful? That probably isn t the word most of us would associate with stewardship, or the many other requests for funds we receive each year beginning about now. Why are they asking for money, and why more?, you might reasonably be asking, in a less than cheerful manner. Didn t I just write a check for the chili cook-off hurricane relief effort, the fashion show, the blue grass concert, the etc., etc. and etc.? Yes, you and so many others did. And do. Everyone involved in organizing these activities and those benefiting from your largesse thank you for each check. The community, the region, the state, the country and the world are a better place thanks to gifts from you and so many other givers. That ought to be something to be cheerful about, even if such giving is triggered too often by our fellow humans in such dire circumstances. Most of these events associated with All Saints that lead to you pulling out your checkbook fall under the exceedingly worthy category of Reaching Out, or Outreach. That, after all, is what we as Christians are taught we should do. Reach out and help those in need, reach out and touch somebody s hand, make this world a better place if you can to quote saintly Diana of Motown. To provide a forum for Reaching Out, to support our Reaching In to members of our immediate faith community, and to maintain and enhance the faithful practice of our Episcopal tradition in worship, we need to ask you to support All Saints in our annual stewardship campaign. By now, if you are on our mailing list or otherwise show up on our parish radar, you should have received a letter from the stewardship committee. We don t want to repeat that information here, though feel free to contact the parish office for a copy of the letter, or pick one up in the narthex when you enter the sanctuary. We think this is an exciting time to be a member of the All Saints community. Five years after superstorm Sandy, our Jersey Shore communities are firmly looking to the future, while not forgetting the past. Our Rector Robert Nagy is near the end of his second full year leading our flock, and is working with the vestry on multiple fronts to make the parish a more integral part of our lives, and vice versa. Lay leaders on the vestry and numerous other committees and unofficial coffee klatches are devoting an amazing amount of time to making All Saints make a difference. Most don t get the credit they deserve. On the other hand, you can usually tell who they are. They look cheerful. Join them. Please pledge your financial support to All Saints for 2018, increasing your previous pledge if you can to help us cope with rising costs. Faithfully, All Saints Stewardship Committee John Copman Richard Derrick Paul Hamelberg Scott McMurray

6 Page 6 Women s Guild.... Our October 17 Women s Guild meeting welcomed Stephen Barlow of Barlow s Farm and Garden Center in Sea Girt. His interesting program was focused on putting your garden to bed. He gave a presentation on pruning garden shrubs before the winter so that they would come back more bountifully in the spring. The ladies enjoyed his talk and we all went home with beautiful winter hardy pansies he generously brought for us. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, December 19. We will be having our Christmas party, covered dish and giving tree. Bring a dish or dessert that serves 6-8 people, $10 or more for the giving tree and a donation for St. Gregory s Pantry would be appreciated. Hope to see you there! Looking Ahead.... Anita Domino MARK YOUR CALENDARS...The Holiday begins Friday, December 1 with the Bay Head Community Walk. Business open Houses 5:30-8:30 pm. Join us at All Saints to welcome the season with our Christmas Tree lighting and Christmas cookies treats. We need volunteers to bake cookies and greeters to welcome our visitors. Any questions, please call Julie Chowansky ( ) or Piscilla Hiby ( ). WEDNESDAY CELEBRATIONS OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST Most times, the mid-week celebration of the Holy Eucharist includes a special commemoration of a particular person or event in the Episcopal Church calendar. If the special feast falls on the Wednesday, then that is the feast of the day. If it is on some other day that week, we transfer it to Wednesday. Each service takes place at the regularly scheduled time of 8:30 am and usually lasts about a half hour. All are encouraged to participate. The special commemorations are identified below. November 1 November 8 November 15 November 22 November 29 December 6 December 13 December 20 December 27 All Faithful Departed (transferred) James Theodore Holly Francis Asbury and George Whitefield Thanksgiving Day (transferred) Saint Andrew the Apostle (transferred) St. Nicholas of Myra Our Lady of Guadalupe (transferred) Saint Thomas the Apostle (transferred) Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist

7 Page 7 Staying in Touch At this year s Vestry Away Day, the group gathered to talk about a new idea for all of us to stay in touch better. Now, it was understood that we do stay in touch in many ways; however, it isn t unusual for someone to ask about how someone s doing or where someone s been. So, the Vestry went through the Parish Directory with an eye towards each Vestry Member developing a list of names of Members and Friends of All Saints with whom to stay in touch. In a way, it does what a telephone tree might do. That is, be able to communicate important information to the church quickly. Well, our weekly blasts do that fairly well; however, not everyone is listed to receive those s. Also, there was a full recognition that the notion of only hearing from the church when money was being solicited was alive and well in many congregations. So, let s call folks for other reasons, too! This new program, which is now underway, has Vestry Members contacting the people on their lists at least twice a year in addition to any regular contact that already occurs. The purpose is to make sure everyone understands that the church cares about them. This will be an opportunity to make sure the church has the correct information about you and your family members, including contact information, important dates, and more. The hope is that everyone will welcome these contacts from Vestry Members and, not only, hear important information, but also, convey important information about themselves, for example, health concerns that need prayer, life events, and more. We hope these new efforts will go a long way towards helping us feel closer to one another. You ll be hearing from your Vestry Member contact soon about this new Staying In Touch program; so please, stay in touch. THE NEXT TIMES FOR BAPTISM Here are the dates for regularly-scheduled baptisms for the remainder of 2017 and all of Of course, other Sundays are available as the needs arise. If there is someone in your family who is to be baptized, please contact the Rector to arrange for instruction. Also, these will be times for all of us to reaffirm our own baptismal vows. FEAST DAY Baptism of Jesus Sunday, January 7 Sunday, January 13 Easter Vigil Saturday, March 31, 7:30 pm Saturday, April 20, 7:30 pm Day of Pentecost Sunday, May 20 Sunday, June 9 All Saints Sunday Sunday, November 4 Sunday, November 3 contacting the rector When you want to speak with or text Robert, please use his cell phone (951) It is the easiest and best way to connect with him. Using his cell phone is much more efficient than calling the church. If he s unable to answer a call, please leave a message. Of course, you can also send an (rector@allsaintsbayhead.org).

8 Page 8 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES SUNDAY MORNING [SEPTEMBER THROUGH MAY] CHILDREN AND YOUTH: The Christian Education offerings on Sunday morning provide something for everyone from birth through high school. And, while there are different activities for children/youth at various stages of their spiritual development, there are no set ages for each activity. That is, parents are encouraged to help determine which Sunday morning activity would be best for their children. Also, adults who are interested in helping with this important ministry are encouraged to contact the Cindy McGlynn. NURSERY CARE (10:00am 11:30 am): Staffed nursery care is available for our youngest children in Bristol Hall. Children are cared for within a nurturing environment that helps even our youngest members to feel God s love. SUNDAY SCHOOL (10:00 am): This session includes age-appropriate discussion and other activities with adult facilitators using helpful materials to guide the session. ANGLICAN STUDIES [LABOR DAY THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY]: This program consists of discussions with the Rector about Anglicanism from 9:00 am until 10:00 am in the Conference Room. Topics include the Book of Common Prayer, the Hymnal, worship style, and what it means to be an Anglican. This is preparation for adult baptism/ confirmation. Also, it makes a great refresher program. Anglican Studies is a great opportunity for some great discussions. There are two tracks ; one for teens and one for adults. 2nd Sunday of the month for teens 3rd Sunday of the month for adults WEDNESDAY [LABOR DAY THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY]: BIBLE STUDY WITH THE RECTOR (11:00 am): This Lectionary-Based Bible Study, which uses the Synthesis CE material distributed on Sundays, can be a great help for us to become more familiar with the scripture that will be read on Sundays. If you would like to have this opportunity, please mark your calendar now for our one-hour times together. Following our study, we pray together using AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR NOONDAY found in the Book of Common Prayer, beginning on page 103. BENEDICTINE WAY (6:30 PM): How can I understand more about how God wants me to live? What does it mean to be more spiritual? Benedictine Way is the name for a group that gathers weekly with the Rector in Bristol Hall to explore the 1,500+ year-old Rule of Saint Benedict and Benedictine spirituality. We try to answer questions like the two above. We use Norveen Vest s book PREFERRING CHRIST during our time together. The Benedictine Way group also incorporates worship, prayer, and the use of Lectio Devina Sacred Reading. The weekly sessions begin with Evening Prayer at 6:30 pm. The program concludes by 8:00 pm. The content of each session varies somewhat according to our sense of God s call to us. In preparation for these sessions, in addition to obtaining a copy of Norveen s book, one might find value in reading Esther de Waal s book SEEKING GOD: THE WAY OF ST. BENEDICT. All are welcome to attend these gatherings as your schedules permit.