Growing Together in God s Love

Transcription

1 Volume 6 Issue 7 July 2017 Calendar highlights: Saturday, July 1 9:00am: CPR AED training Sun - Sat, July 9-15 H.O.M.E. Mission Trip Mon - Fri, July Arts Camp Monday, July 10 Shariya back from Sri Lanka Saturday, July 15 5:00pm: Worship in Outdoor Chapel 6:00pm: Syrian-style dinner in Farmer Hall Tuesday, July 18 7:00pm: Vestry Meeting Inside this issue: Faces of our Faith 3 Refugee Resettlement 3 Vacation Bible School pix 4 Raise the Roof in New Haven 5 Treasurer s Report 6 Summary of Vestry Meeting 6 Seen Around the Church 7 Arts Camp 8 Come Join Us for a Syrian-Style Dinner Saturday, July 15, 6pm in Farmer Hall. And learn about refugee resettlement along the Shoreline!! Growing Together in God s Love She Will Lead Us in Worship July 2 and 9 Meet Our Supply Priest Lynda Tyson The Rev. Dr. Lynda Tyson will serve as our supply priest the first two weeks of July while our rector, Shariya Molegoda, is on vacation visiting her family in Sri Lanka. Lynda is Coordinator of the Annand Program for Spiritual Formation at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, and also an associate priest with St. Thomas s Episcopal Church in New Haven. Her call to ordained ministry began in 2001, just after she and her husband, Charlie, finished building the home of their dreams in Maine a certain sign of God s wicked-good sense of humor! Prior to that fateful call, Lynda and Charlie owned a marketing communications firm in Maine for 15 years, following advertising careers in Philadelphia. Lynda earned her Master of Divinity degree and diploma in Anglican Studies from Yale and Berkeley Divinity Schools in Lynda served as a seminarian at St. Thomas, where she and Charlie had been parishioners and where Charlie was a choir member from 2002 to Lynda s other ministries included a post at The Episcopal Church Center in New (Continued on Page 2) Warden s Corner Let s Make Stewardship Year-Round Work We typically use the word stewardship once a year in the context of our annual estimate of giving campaign in the fall. The connotations are based around the need to prepare the church s upcoming annual budget and have commitments for financial support. However, there is also the possibility of supplementing financial commitments with stewardship of time and talent, which are both absolutely necessary and essential for a thriving community of faith. However, I think this context should be expanded to how we run our daily lives. The Stewardship Commission is looking to improve the annual campaign by starting and ending earlier (month of October). (Continued on Page 2)

2 Page 2 Tyson (from Page 1) York City, coordinating a program to engage youth and young adults in conversation about vocations in lay and ordained ministry. She is former Senior Associate Rector at Saint Luke s in Darien, and former Associate Rector at St. John s, Beverly Farms, Massachusetts. In 2015, she earned her Doctor of Ministry degree at Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Lynda is also a diocesan Transitions Consultant and Spiritual Director. The Tysons live in Madison and enjoy living closer now to their three married children and eight grandchildren. (from Page 2) Also, the estimate of giving form will include a roster of the many ministries of the parish to select your interest(s) from. Parishioners involved with music, altar guild, ushers, acolytes, chalice administrators, healing team, pastoral care, liturgy, Covenant to Care, mission trips, Raise the Roof/ Habitat for Humanity, loaves and fishes, Christian education, budget and finance, the endowment, annual campaign, Madison Food Pantry, refugee resettlement and support, hospitality/kitchen, buildings and grounds, annual fundraisers, welcoming, and the memorial garden frequently refer to their involvement as ministries --which they are. These activities provide stewardship that benefits the programs and individuals involved, both within and outside of our faith community. What activities would you like to become more involved in? Taking care of our beautiful parish property, and also taking care of each other, are two other forms of stewardship in action. The absence of this type of stewardship would allow our buildings and grounds to decay with neglect, and would also mean forgetting to take care of others in need in our faith community. I hope you would agree that we are not in that downward spiral, but at the same time there is still plenty of opportunity for more of us to become involved with parish ministries, and to follow the path of our beloved patron St. Andrew, the first called disciple of Jesus. Also, with the St. Andrew s community garden supplying the local food pantry now in its third year, we have the chance to recognize, cultivate, and bless an ecological ethic in our faith community, with a call for stewardship rooted in love of creation, while helping those in need with their weekly groceries. Being an active steward, and following the ministries of our faith community, is a year-round endeavor. St. Andrew s Episcopal Church Staff Officers Vestry Rev. Shariya Molegoda, Rector Gary Naegel, Senior Warden Rector@StAndrewsMadison.org Warden@StAndrewsMadison.org John Armstrong Barbara Gibbons, Parish Administrator Gary Cimmino, Junior Warden Mark Auletta Barb@StAndrewsMadison.org JrWarden@StAndrewsMadison.org Sarah Auletta Grant Underwood, Music Director Cathy Golden, Treasurer Art Criddle Grant@StAndrewsMadison.org Treasurer@StAndrewsMadison.org Ray Hencir Mary Merkle-Scotland, Youth Minister Louise Beecher, Clerk Nancy Karas Mary@StAndrewsMadison.org Clerk@StAndrewsMadison.org Anastasia King Shelby Auletta, Church School Coordinator Colleen McHugh ShelbyAuletta@gmail.com Rebecca Rastetter David Mikus, Sexton Matt Valentine David@StAndrewsMadison.org Anita Spear, Preschool Director AnitaS@StAndrewsSchoolCT.org Webmaster/Messenger editor: John Armstrong

3 Volume 6 Issue 7 Page 3 Faces of Our Faith Christian Community Hums Around the Altar and Pews I am a lifelong churched Episcopalian. In the college town in central Illinois where I grew up, weekly church was not an option. During the 50s, before the days of seatbelts, seven of us squeezed tightly in our neighbor s sedan and drove across town each Sunday to church. In my college days in a Massachusetts village, I was active in the off-campus Episcopal group that discussed the Historical Jesus each Friday over casserole dinners and worshipped each Sunday in nearby All Saints Church. In graduate school, like so many other students in those tumultuous years of the late 60s, I grew away from the church, but never my faith. With a young son in my professional years in New Orleans, I went back to church each Sunday, and I have never left. Why is Sunday church so important to me? Now in retirement, I spend time with the Lord daily in morning devotional reading and prayer. I certainly feel God near in many other places forests, lakes, mountains all the usual spots that we find restful in the great outdoors. And I relish periods of contemplation during times of spiritual retreat. But church each week remains a special time. Why? First, I am blessed as an Episcopalian, for in its churches wherever I may journey, the Book of Common Prayer greets me with the age -old prayers that resonate with memories of my past as I recite them. And then there is the spirit of Christian community that hovers and hums around the pews and altar. There is the joy of joining together to sing the hymns, hear and respond to the Scripture, listen to the words of faith spoken in the sermons, and ultimately joining with my Christian community in partaking of the Lord s Supper. Watching families grow and change over the years reminds me of the finite number of days we have to build together a Heaven on Earth in the larger community that awaits us outside the church doors. Finally, for me Sunday church is a comforting end to the work week just past, and a joyful beginning to the new world that will begin tomorrow. Helen Kitzman Effort to Host a Family Is Underway Resettlement Team Sponsors Syrian Dinner on July 15 Our dream of resettling a refugee family is advancing at a brisk pace. We have completed the "discernment" phase, and the Vestry has approved this outreach initiative, allocating $2,000 in seed money. An application has been sent to Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS) for their review. Jaime Polk, John Armstrong, and Gary Naegel recently attended IRIS-facilitated training in New Haven. To reflect our collaboration with North Guilford Congregational Church and the Clinton United Methodist Church, we have adopted the name "S.O.S. for Refugees," shorthand for "Saints on the Shoreline for Refugees." Many volunteers are still needed including chairpersons for the Employment and Transportation teams. If you feel called to this ministry, please speak to Jaime. Save Saturday, July 15 for outdoor worship and a Syrian-style dinner. That afternoon, at 5 o clock, Shariya will lead us in worship and eucharist in our outdoor chapel. Then starting at 6 o clock we will enjoy a Syrian-style dinner in Farmer Hall. Our refugee resettlement committee is sponsoring the dinner, which will raise funds to support our hosting a refugee family. The food promises to be unique and delicious!! Please join us and invite your friends. Tickets and reservations will be required. Watch for further details.

4 Page 4 This week we had nearly 70 young people (under 18) working in the garden! Fifty of them (middle-schoolers) came to us in two shifts on Tuesday and Wednesday from the Madison Vacation Bible School. They worked hard, (along with their counselors and coordinators Shelby Auletta and Mary Merkle-Scotland), weeding, planting and harvesting. We were able to send about 65 pounds of produce to the Madison Food Pantry, in their honor, in addition to 139 pounds for the Clinton pantry. Some of the boys even moved about 40 concrete blocks into position for a new compost bin! Margaret Larom, wife of Peter Larom, rector of Church of the Holy Advent in Clinton Habitat for Humanity Raises a Roof in New Haven Raise The Roof is a shoreline organization once called Madison Cares started by Mike Maquire when he was a member of St Andrew s. It supports Habitat For Humanity in building homes for deserving people who could not be able to do so on their own. When we were building the home in New Haven on June 10 we were joined by an organization of women trial attorneys, plus some individuals who came on their own as well as some prospective Habitat home owners. Habitat builds its homes to the highest standards, well above the standard building codes. Marty Gerst led a contingent from St Andrew s, including his son-inlaw s sister and her beau.

5 Volume 6 Issue 7 Page 5 Youth Matters Here at St. Andrew s Youth Events The Middle School Youth Group celebrated its end of year picnic with Color Wars on Sunday, June 4 down at the Surf Club. The group had a great time slinging color sacks at one another, playing tag, kickball, and wrapping up the season with lots of laughs and fellowship. We will start back up again in September. Leader Sandy Butler and others have a boat load of fun ideas for both service and recreational activities for next year. So if you are a 5-8th grader this coming school year, hop on board the MSYG bus for a great time!!

6 Page 6 Finance Committee Report and Financial Update May 2017 Monthly Income Year-To-Date YTD Budget Annual Budget Total Pledges 14,687 89,903 90, ,640 4% from Endowment 6,684 33,420 33,420 80,207 Supplement from ,000 Fund-Raisers 0 15,961 15,000 25,000 Other Income 0 1,575 2,292 5,500 Total Income 21, , , ,347 Expenses 34, , , ,303 Difference -12,825-25,855-16,384-4,956 Summary of June Vestry Meeting Refugees. The vestry voted to support S.O.S. (Saints on the Shoreline) for Refugees. This is a collaborative effort from a number of area churches, among them the North Guilford Congregational Church and the United Methodist Church of Clinton, to sponsor a refugee family. The group is working with IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services) which will match it with a refugee family once certain criteria (plans for housing, transportation, etc.) are set. The vestry voted to support the effort with a $2,000 donation. Five hundred dollars is coming from the outreach line item in the 2017 budget, while the other $1,500 is coming from the church s separate Outreach Fund. Fund-Raising Dinner. A fund-raising dinner to support S.O.S. for Refugees will be held July 15 at the church. The proceeds for the event will go toward funding the project s $10,000 budget. Although the refugee family sponsored by S.O.S. could come from a number of countries, the menu will feature Syrian food in recognition of the humanitarian crisis in that nation. Stewardship. October will be stewardship month. A scattergram will be created to show giving patterns in the parish. Solar. The church is looking into the possibility of obtaining solar panels. It also is looking at other energy-saving measures, such as replacing existing bulbs with LED lights. Pests. The war against mice continues. Traps are exhausted almost as soon as they are set up around the church, rectory and church school. The church has contracted with PestRx to combat the rodents. Back Parking Lot Light. Eversource has installed a light pole and light to illuminate the church s back parking lot at night. However, the Buildings and Grounds Committee may ask that the 50-watt bulb be replaced with something brighter. Louise Beecher, Vestry Clerk

7 Volume 6 Issue 7 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: Rev. Shariya Molegoda, 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 Mary@StAndrewsMadison.org 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 Service at 9 during the summer Coffee Hour but no Sunday School Mailing Label NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID GUILFORD CT PERMIT NO 283 New this year, the St. Andrew s Arts Camp will offer rising first through fifth graders an arts curriculum proven to cultivate creativity: Music and song Visual art and media Drama and storytelling Movement and game playing And it all comes with a message: Kids are the peacemakers and doers of their generation, they can create a lasting peace through active, compassionate living! Middle-school and high-school youth are invited to participate as Counselors. St. Andrew s Episcopal Church 232 Durham Road Madison, CT 06443