Growing Together in God s Love

Transcription

1 Volume 5 Issue 7-8 July August 2016 Calendar highlights: Mon - Fri, July Arts Camp Tuesday, July 19 7:00 pm: Vestry Meeting Sat - following Sun, July Mission trip to Dominican Republic Sunday, July 31 10:00 am: Farewell to Mother Jenni after 9:00 service Inside this issue: Arts Camp 3 Vacation Bible School 4 Treasurer s Report 6 Growing Together in God s Love Grow into the people God intends you to be Grateful for our time together Dear People of St. Andrew s, In beginning to think about saying farewell, the expression, God speed or godspeed, the wish that the outcome of someone s actions is positive for them, typically someone about to start a journey or a daring endeavor, kept coming to mind. It s a curious expression to us now that speed is measured in time and distance, and certainly, we always want God to come quickly to and for those folks and situations we care about. The older, original meaning also applies, as speed comes from an Old English verb speden which means to prosper. So the phrase becomes like, live long and prosper and is more of a blessing than a petition. (Continued on Page 2) Summary of Vestry Meeting 6 Seen Around Church 7 Warden s Corner Saying Farewell to Mother Jenni Mother Jenni Takes Her Leave. Sunday, July 31 will be a bitter-sweet day. Following worship, we will celebrate the all too short rectorship of Mother Jenni, and we will also wish her farewell. Last June Bishop Douglas picked her from a number of clergy in Connecticut and told us, I think you will like this woman. She is right for St. Andrew s! How right he was! The vestry met with her, and a few weeks later she was preaching and presiding over worship. Just as important, she quickly sensed we were floundering a bit in our search for leadership in the youth program. She worked with Mary Merkle, and together they figured out how to split the job in two and persuaded Shelby Auletta to take on the Sunday School part. The three of them in turn enlisted Sandy Butler and Lynn Milner to help as volunteers, and this year s youth program was outstanding. Throughout the year Mother Jenni has offered (Continued on Page 4)

2 Page 2 Mother Jenni (continued from Page 1) It is with blessing that I leave you. I am grateful for our time together and for the privilege of serving as the interim rector as you continue to create a new future. St. Benedict s, Always, we begin again is practically my motto. My consistent experience, no matter the parish, is that once priest and people celebrate the life of God together, over time and with shared community experience (the usual stuff: fellowship & learning, celebrations & fund-raisers, sorrows & changes, dealing with the past and plans for the future ) a eucharistic community is created. By grace and faith the individual communicants form into what our heritage names a holy fellowship, the mystical body of Christ. Our modern perspective calls what happens among us is that we all become, living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ and heirs of your eternal kingdom. We all walk away from God s table being fed with God s life and love, forgiven with God s mercy and connected by God s Spirit both to one another and to Salvation s Source and Author. We walk away shriven (another ancient word, meaning, forgiven) and empowered by love. Holy Eucharist s concluding prayer will be a way you will live in my memory and prayers going forward. When I share the bread of heaven and cup of salvation with other eucharistic communities, I will know you are doing that, too, and God enters our lives and makes us all God s own in the process. It s a daring endeavor, not for the faint-hearted, the outcomes, however, are more than positive; they re eternal. Fare well dear people of God at St. Andrew s. It will soon be time to say the post-communion prayer and to step out into the world with our various ministries. May God bless you and cause you to succeed. May you grow into the people God intends you to be. In the peace of Christ! St. Andrew s Episcopal Church Staff Officers Vestry Jenni Matheson, Interim Rector Gary Naegel, Senior Warden Mark Auletta Rector@StAndrewsMadison.org Warden@StAndrewsMadison.org Gary Cimmino Barbara Gibbons, Parish Administrator John Armstrong, Junior Warden Art Criddle Barb@StAndrewsMadison.org JrWarden@StAndrewsMadison.org Kristen Garnett Grant Underwood, Music Director Cathy Golden, Treasurer Nancy Karas Grant@StAndrewsMadison.org Treasurer@StAndrewsMadison.org Colleen McHugh Mary Merkle-Scotland, Youth Minister Louise Beecher, Clerk Rebecca Rastetter MerkleMaryk@gmail.com Clerk@StAndrewsMadison.org Shelby Auletta, Church School Coordinator ShelbyAuletta@gmail.com David Mikus, Sexton David@StAndrewsMadison.org Webmaster/Messenger editor: John Armstrong Anita Spear, Preschool Director AnitaS@StAndrewsSchoolCT.org

3 Volume 5 Issue 7-8 Page 3 An interfaith way to paint, play, connect! There is still time to register for this great program. Visit the church s website (standrewsmadison.org) or Grant: Grant@standrewsmadison.org 2016 ITINERARY: July 11-15, 2016 MONDAY, JULY 11 TUESDAY, JULY 12 WEDNESDAY, JULY 13 THURSDAY, JULY 14 FRIDAY, JULY 15 8:00 9:00 Counselor Training Counselor Training Counselor Training Counselor Training 9:00 9:45 Gather Gather Gather Gather Gather 9:45 11:15 Arts Block 1: Rolled Paper Sculptures Arts Block 1: Bulletin Design Arts Block 1: Cookie Sheet Monoprints and Pasta Painting Arts Block 1: God s Eye Arts Block 1: Paper Lanterns (a gift for your family!) 11:15 11:35 Story and Grace Lunch Story and Grace Lunch Story and Grace 11:35 12:05 Lunch Travel to Yale Lunch Extended Arts Lunch Center for British Art: Enhancing Observation Skills Block: Canvas Project 12:05 12:30 Dance Routine! Tour Yale Center for British Art Dance Routine! Extended Arts Block: Canvas Project Dance Routine! 12:30 2:00 Arts Block 2: Tye Dye T Shirts 2:00 pm Popsicles and 2:30 pm Games 2:30 pm Closing 3:00 pm Tour Yale Center for British Art Ice Cream Travel to Church Arts Block 2: Milk Carton St. Andrew s Ships Popsicles and Games Extended Arts Block: Canvas Project Popsicles and Games Arts Block 2: PRAISE! Banner Preparation for Sunday Closing Closing Popsicles & Prep for Sunday

4 Page 4 Warden s Corner (Continued from Page 1) wise counsel mixed with insight and humor: I m losing my mind and I don t even miss it! Above all, she modeled what it means to be a person of faith and to walk in the love of Christ. On behalf of the vestry, staff, and parishioners of St. Andrew s Church, we are both thankful and extremely fortunate for the opportunity to share our time of transition with the ministry of Mother Jenni for the past year. While her length of service was certainly a little longer than what had originally been anticipated, the strength and spirit of the church has continued to grow under her leadership. Undoubtedly we will all shed a tear or two on her last day. In the years to come may she join us at St. Andrew s when we need supply clergy. I thank my God for every remembrance of you Philippians 1: 4 Transition Team members (left to right): Mary Potenziani, Alice Hencir, Chris Abbott, Lucinda Embersits, Laura Miller, Nancy Karas, Patches Earle (missing: Albert Gonzalez) Update on Search for a New Rector. The Transition Team has completed its work, and at a special vestry meeting on Thursday, June 30 handed off to the vestry the final work of bringing a new rector to St. Andrew s. The Transition Team, led by Nancy Karas, included parishioners Chris Abbott, Mary Potenziani, Alice Hencir, Patches Earle, Laura Miller, Albert Gonzales, Lucinda Embersits and Art Criddle. The Rev. Maureen Lederman, the rector of St. John s in North Guilford and our ECCT transition consultant, guided the transition team and will continue to work with the vestry. The team s work began a year ago with preparation of the Parish Profile. When the position was announced, sixteen candidates submitted applications, including a resume and a recorded sermon. The team then conducted interviews with many candidates via Skype, and then had face-to-face interviews with a handful of candidates. In July vestry members will continue this effort, working with the Rev. Lederman and the diocese until they extend an offer to the clergy person they feel is best suited to be our next rector. Get Involved! It has been observed in rector searches and leadership transitions that parishes too often go into a state of hibernation during the process. Decisions get deferred, projects get postponed, committees lose enthusiasm. Here at St. Andrew s we are determined to avoid that trap! Here are some exciting happenings around the church: (Continued on Page 5)

5 Volume 5 Issue 7-8 Page 5 Everyone Loves Vacation Bible School! The week-long Vacation Bible School program was a great success with an estimated 174 Madison kids enrolled. A highlight of the week was time spent working in the community garden in Clinton run by the Church of the Holy Advent. My dear friends, We ve had an amazing two days in the garden, thanks to the Vacation Bible School jointly sponsored by two Madison churches the First Congregational Church and St. Andrew s Episcopal Church. Thanks to Shelby Auletta, one of the organizers of the program, for bringing 26 middle-school students on Monday and 27 on Tuesday, along with 3 teen counselors each time, to help us weed, water, harvest and plant. The children helped plant 144 cabbages, dozens of basil plants, five beds of bush bean seeds (that s 15 rows or 450 feet), and many many parsley and cilantro seedlings in three raised beds. On Monday, they picked 19 pounds of peas, and watered many dry areas. They also weeded the cabbage beds (an amazing competition happened this morning), and the raised beds and quite a few of the little flower beds at the end of rows in the southwest quadrant. Their visits gave us approximately 90 hours of labor in two days. How amazing is that??!! Margaret [Margaret Larom, wife of Peter Larom, rector of Church of the Holy Advent in Clinton] Warden s Corner (Continued from Page 4) Plans for the renovation of Farmer Hall are well under way, and construction is scheduled to take place in August. Our thanks to parishioners Cathy Golden, Gary Cimmino, Alan Miller and Bill Casey for taking on key roles in this project. Groundwork has been laid for an outstanding youth program starting this fall. Mary Merkle- Scotland and Shelby Auletta have agreed to continue on as our Youth Minister and Church School Coordinator. Four parishioners involved in stewardship last year--rebecca Rastetter, Kristen Garnett, Helen Kitzman and John Armstrong--have agreed to serve again this year but only if other parishioners, probably new to stewardship, step up to join them. Could that be you? The four of them are particularly interested in the time and talent aspect of stewardship. Nothing could be a greater gift to our new rector than to have an organized stewardship committee working to line up ushers, lay assistants, outreach organizers, greeters and all the other many positions in worship, word and work here at St. Andrew s. Please prayerfully consider the possibility of helping out with stewardship.

6 Page 6 Finance Committee Report and Financial Update March 2016 Monthly Income Year-To-Date YTD Budget Annual Budget Total Pledges 18,427 63,217 88, ,040 4% from Endowment 5,355 17,052 26,775 64,260 Supplement from Endowment 0 26,775 25,000 60,000 Fund-Raisers 0 13,814 10,415 25,000 Other Income 350 2,400 2,290 5,500 Total Income 2, , , ,800 Expenses 30, , , ,606 Difference -6,207-16,770-2,845-6,806 Summary of June Vestry Meeting New Church Treasurer. The search is underway for a new church treasurer. Cathy Golden has filled this position for the past four years, but she will retire from the job at the annual meeting in January. Vestry Warden Gary Naegel said that ideally a candidate should become a treasurer-in-training until then to work with Golden to learn the job. The treasurer serves not only on the vestry, but also on the Finance and Endowment committees. Stewardship. The Stewardship Committee for has been formed, but more members are still being sought. Serving so far are John Armstrong, Rebecca Rastetter, Kristen Garnett and Helen Kitzman. The Stewardship Committee s task is vital to the church as the run the annual campaign in which parishioners pledge their time, talent and treasure. Sunday School and Youth Minister positions. The vestry assured continuity in St. Andrew s Sunday school and youth ministry by extending the contracts of Mary Merkle-Scotland and Shelby Auletta through Merkle-Scotland holds the title of Youth Minister, while Auletta is the Christian Education Director. Sound System Upgrade. The vestry voted to spend up to $3,500 to upgrade the sound system in the church. The Music Committee wants the ability to have someone at the back of the church control the sound of the different elements in the sanctuary, possibly using a digital board and an ipad. The money will be taken out of the Music Fund. Rectory Maintenance. Buildings and Grounds Committee Chairman Gary Cimmino reported that the problems with the rectory s well water had been resolved and that a service contract was being sought with the company that made the repairs. The water had recently developed a brownish color and an odor.

7 Volume 5 Issue 7-8 Page 7 Seen Around the Church

8 The Messenger the monthly newsletter of: St Andrew s Episcopal Church in Madison, CT Phone: On the web: Jenni Matheson, Interim Rector Rector@StAndrewsMadison.org Gary Naegel, Senior Warden Warden@StAndrewsMadison.org Barbara Gibbons, Parish Administrator Barb@StAndrewsMadison.org Grant Underwood, Music Director Grant@StAndrewsMadison.org Mary Merkle-Scotland, Youth Minister MerkleMaryK@gmail.com Shelby Auletta, Church School Coordinator ShelbyAuletta@gmail.com David Mikus, Sexton David@StAndrewsMadison.org Anita Spear, Preschool Director AnitaS@StAndrewsSchoolCT.org Come Worship with Us on Sundays Services at 8 and 9:30 Sunday School 10:15-11:00 Mailing Label NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID GUILFORD CT PERMIT NO 283 Nine Young Adults Confirmed On Saturday, June 4, at a regional confirmation service at St. John s Church in Essex the Rt. Rev. James Folts, retired Bishop of West Texas, confirmed nine young adults from St. Andrew s. St. Andrew s Church 232 Durham Road Madison, CT St. Andrew s confirmands (left to right): Florie and Patches Earle (parent leaders), Justin Earle, Kyra Arena, Sarah Auletta, Anna Lang, Shelby Jamison, Maeve Merkle-Scotland, Lena Conway, Lee Jamison. Missing: Matthew Albert