St. John s Episcopal Church

Transcription

1 St. John s Episcopal Church P.O. Box South Wayne Avenue Waynesboro, VA donna@stjohnse.comcastbiz.net My church is composed of people like me. I help make it what it is. It will be friendly, if I am. It s pews will be filled, if I help fill them. It will do great work, if I work. It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver. It will bring other people into its worship and fellowship, if I invite and bring them. It will be a church of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith, and a church with a noble Spirit, if I, who make it what it is, am filled with these same things. Therefore, with the help of God, I shall dedicate myself to the task of being all these things that I want my church to be. Amen. Author Unknown My church As a Priest and Interim Rector this phrase bothered me. When I heard other Priests refer to the congregation they serve as their church I thought it always sounded so possessive. Where was the mutual love and work portrayed in that phrase? After reading this prayer I understand why people say my church. Because my church can be a very proud statement. By using it people are really saying My church is what I am (or trying to be). It also conveys all of our responsibilities as a member in the Body of Christ. My church isn t just what others make it. It is the I s and the my s that make a church. It is an exciting time of the year! A time for family gatherings and feasts. A time for serving and a time for giving thanks. Our church family will be busy this month partaking in all these things. Our Annual Giving time is here and I ask that you pray and ponder on your very blessed financial support for our church. We will give God thanks and praise for your financial gifts with an Ingathering prayer and pledge card blessing during services on November 19th. My church, St. John s, is a wonderful warm place to serve. I am proud to tell others about our church. Why not tell people who we are and why we are? We are a diverse Christ-centered sometimes flawed but always blessed congregation, and for this let us all give thanks to God! Faithfully yours in Christ, Denise+

2 Coffee Hosts for 2018 From Donna Balser In the past I have scheduled a different family each week to host coffee hour after each of the services. This year, we are going to try something different. We will have a signup sheet for volunteers. The sheet will be posted beside the office door, or you can call or me and I will be happy to put your name on a date that will works best for you. This is a very worthwhile cause and we would love for everyone to be involved. This is such a great way to come together to meet people, have a little fellowship, and help out your church. You don t have to go to a huge expense. The coffee, lemonade and supplies are provided by the church. All you need to do is make coffee and lemonade and bring in a snack for after the two Sunday services. You may even partner with someone if you don t want to do both services. If you re new to St. John s, or if you ve never hosted before, this is a easy way to become involved in the life of the parish, and to meet some new people. Sign up now! Annual Parish Thanksgiving Dinner Sunday, November 19 5:30 p.m. Parish Hall November 5 Daylight Savings Time ends Turn your clocks back one hour Update from the Search Committee We have received four candidate resume packages from the Diocese. By the time you read this, we will have had interviews with each candidate. Please keep us all in your prayers as we move closer to finding that special person who will be our next rector. Bring your family, friends and a dish to share. We also need several turkeys, as we normally have around 100 people attending. Please sign up on the bulletin board near the office with what you are bringing and the number of people attending. If you can t get by the church to sign up, call Donna at or her at. Plan to attend this raucous family party! Page 2

3 Christmas Charities Disciples Kitchen Gifts From The Mission Committee St. John s has accepted an additional ministry to help Second Presbyterian Church. We will help those families that get their meals at Disciples Kitchen with some Christmas gifts. We have signed on to collect 75 pairs of men s socks, 75 pairs of women s socks, and 75 pairs of children s socks (ages 10 & under). In addition we will collect children s books for age 10 and under. Collection boxes wrapped in Christmas paper will be in the Foyer on Sundays and in the church office weekdays. This is a worthy ministry and allows everyone in our congregation to participate. December 10th is the deadline for collecting these items. Thank you for sharing your time, talent and treasures to help the less fortunate. Salvation Army Stockings This year we will have 25 stockings to fill for the needy children of Waynesboro. This is a popular ministry, and a fun thing to do to help children at Christmas. Before and after the services on November 5 we will be handing out stockings, so stop by and sign up. We have received 29 pledges todate for a total of $84,210 New 0 Increased 13 Same 13 Decreased 3 In 2017 we had a 64 pledges with total of $197,740. Please Pledge NOW! Christmas Schedule Sunday, December 24 9:00 am Combined Service Rite I with music 5:00 pm Christmas Pageant The Birthday party for Baby Jesus follows immediately after the service in the Parish Hall 8:00 pm Holy Eucharist Service Agape The Agape Fund is looking for a committee member to serve a five year term beginning in January We oversee the dispersion of about $12,000 annually to needy individuals and organizations in the local area. Meetings are the third Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Please contact the church office or Bill Eckman for info or to volunteer. Page 3

4 Episcopal Church Women News Bigger Bazaar This Year! Crafts, Books, Nearly New Items & Bake Sale Ladies & Gentlemen, items are needed to make this year the best ever. We need your help to fill the Parish Hall with crafts and food. Food Start your ovens! If you love to bake or make food items (candies, jams and jellies), we would love your help. Bake Sale items will be accepted beginning November 9. We are keeping a list of foods to be available. Give Donna or Beth Abato a call if you can contribute food to the Bazaar this year. At the bazaar we will be taking orders for cheese balls for your holiday or any day enjoyment. Other Items Beginning November 1, please bring the following items to the Parish Hall: Handmade gifts & crafts Used Books Nearly New Items Plan to Help We need help setting up and pricing items: Thursday, November 9, 10:00 am-noon Friday, November 10 1:00 pm-3:00 pm Page 4

5 Meet the Vestry Candidates Dan Jenny My wife Susan and I started attending St. John s in 1989 after transferring here with DuPont. We joined the church shortly thereafter. We loved the family atmosphere, the friendly people, and the joy of children in the church who didn t always stay quiet (and it was ok and often entertaining). The Episcopal Church was a nice middle ground for us - I grew up as a Roman Catholic, Susan was Presbyterian. Our two boys were baptized and grew up in the St. John s parish family. I am happy to say that their experience was very positive and they are now actively engaged in their local churches and community groups in San Francisco. I have served on the vestry on one previous occasion, on the Agape Committee, as a Sunday School teacher for many years, as a Sunday morning offering counter, and with other ministries. I look forward to working with our new rector to create an atmosphere that can attract new members. Ellen Reno Mike and I have been members of St. John s for the past 41 years. We raised our two children in the Church and have fond memories of them in Christmas pageants, Sunday School, Youth Group and being an Acolyte. We also remember the many pot luck suppers, breakfasts, and Thanksgiving dinners at St John s. We now have two grandchildren that are members of St John s. Over the years, I have worn many hats, including Nursery Chairwoman and Clerk of the Vestry. I am currently in the Altar Guild and teach Sunday school. Since retiring from Augusta Health in 2014, I have more time and enjoy volunteering for things like Meals on Wheels, Disciples Kitchen, ECW and Book Club. Benjamin Cooper I was born in the State of New Hampshire during a nice winter blizzard. I grew up in New England, living in Massachusetts. I was raised in the Catholic Church, going to a Catholic middle school. After high school I attended college at Uconn where I played football for a short while. I got injured and focused on school work completing a degree in computer science. I worked in IT for a bit and then went back to school to complete a degree in social studies to become a teacher. It was at this school I met my lovely wife and we started a family. We moved to Virginia in 2013 for work and I found St. John s. My wife is Episcopalian and we joined this lovely church shortly after a brief search for a Sunday home. Sally Cole I was born in Waynesboro, but grew up in southern Maryland. I was married to Ted Cole for 59 years. Ted was baptized in the little Green Church in the late 1930 s. Our two sons were the fourth generation at St. John s. I have been involved with many aspects of our church, including five years as Altar Guild Chairman. My careers have included 50 years with Cole Tool, Inc. and as a Vet Technician. I also raised and showed English Mastiffs for 35 years. In my spare time I love quilting and gardening. Page 5

6 2017 Vestry Members Amy Bihl George Buzzard Dale Diacont June Elliott Warren Elliott Kathy Garber Gerrie Kerby Richard Smith Alex Sullivan Nancy Rogers Colleen Taylor Freddie Zeh November Birthdays 1) Darryl Davis, III 8) Amanda Flora, Patrick Maneval 10) Gerrie Kerby 13) Glenna Taylor 19) Donna Donham 20) Ernest Steidle 22) Andy Purcell 26) Megan Abato, Diane Rankin, Marty Siebken 27) Elizabeth Maneval 28) Chuck Ricketts November Anniversaries 1) Steve Sisson & Kent Chrisman 4) Jack & Beth Abato If we have missed any birthdays or anniversaries please let us know so we can update our information. September Attendance st nd rd th The Mission of St. John s Episcopal Church is to worship and serve God as we: Pray, Proclaim the gospel, Promote spiritual growth, justice, peace and love. Affirmed by the Vestry, December 2008 All articles are due in the church office not later than the 15th of each month. Early items are always accepted. Thank you for being kind and on time. Deadline for December issue: November 15 Page 6