The Advocate. From the Rector

Transcription

1 St. John Episcopal Church phone: (717) The Advocate J A N U A R Y MONT H L Y A D V O C A T E From the Rector This newsletter is intended to update the members of St. John Episcopal Church on all of the things going on in our parish. I N S I D E THIS I S S U E : Sunday Forum Fundraisers in 2016 Winter Weather Policy Staffing Update Concert Series St. Nicholas Pouches Ballroom Dancing & Etiquette Classes Freezer Sale Nov. Financial Report Jan. St. Zita s Guild Count Us In! Family Ministry A new year invites us to consider new ways to be good stewards of our lives. Many of us welcomed the new year with resolutions to exercise more, be more careful about what we eat, spend more time with family and friends. All of these resolutions and many more like them have to do with being stewards of the gift of life. Our health, our relationships, life itself is a gift and we are encouraged to use this gift well. The beginning of a new year marks time for us human beings who are well aware that our life span is limited. Being a steward of time implies that we consider well how we make use of this gift. One of our daughters is known to remark when questioning how time is being used, This is a minute I ll never get back. In an age when computers do most of our communicating, studies indicate that we are becoming less and less connected with each other and the world around us. Being in community, sharing in the fellowship of a faith community, learning together, sharing communion and even playing together enriches our lives. I encourage you to be intentional about your participation in the life of St. John. Each and every one of us is an important link in the community whose name we bear. I invite you to join me in resolving to make my life richer and blessed by faithful participation with my brothers and sisters known as the parish of St. John in York. Wishing you a blessed new year! David+

2 P A G E 2 Sunday Forum A series of tapes related to the Old Testament continue to be shown in the Guild Room during the 9 AM Formation Hour. In the chapel, adults are invited to join us for a discussion of moral decision making as a Christian in today s world. We are privileged to have a number of parishioners willing to share their perspective on making moral decisions based on their professional lives and daily practice of their faith. The schedule for these discussions during the Epiphany season is as follows: January 8 Introduction David Lovelace Living in two worlds Janet Brown 15 Respectful Conversation David Lovelace 22 Engineering/Construction Jim and Karen Gleba 29 Psychological Community Elaine Lovelace February 5 Educational Community Scott Hamilton 12 Legal Community Stephen Linebaugh 19 Medical Community John Mathai 26 Episcopal Church David Lovelace Fundraisers in 2016 Thank you to all who shared in the variety of fund raising efforts in These funds where designated to the Building Fund as we begin to live into the wonderfully renovated building. The Pig Out, Catch the Spirit Gala, Quilt Raffle, Gala Auction, Ham-It-Up, Mitten Sale, Let Your Light Shine and Cookie Walk produced $23,006. Every dollar we raise is money we do not borrow to pay down the debt for the construction. Beaver Street Affordable Housing St. John s parish was a leader in the renovation of properties on the 100 block of North Beaver Street in order to provide affordable decent housing to deserving families. Over the years we have been fortunate to have good tenants and three of our tenants were able to move into their own homes because we provided a hand up. Currently all three Beaver Street properties are rented to families. This ministry is one of the outreach efforts that earned our parish recognition by the Episcopal Church as a Jubilee Center for Ministry. Winter Weather Policy The Parish Professional Staff will follow the York City School policy for delay or closing due to winter weather during weekdays. In regard to services, the Rector or Senior Warden will be responsible for determining whether or not services are cancelled. If you are attending a meeting at the church and question whether or not the meeting is cancelled, please contact the leader of that particular group. In all instances, use your best judgment and caution when traveling. Information will be made available by checking WGAL.com.

3 P A G E 3 Welcome to Catherine Sowers Catherine Sowers joins the parish staff in January as the Financial Administrator. Catherine comes to us with experience in the non-profit world of finance. For over twenty years she worked as the Director of Accounting and Finance for the Art Institute of York. When the Institute closed, she worked as Accounting Manager for the Strand- Capital during the transition stage for the center staff. Cathy has excellent recommendations from her places of employment and we welcome her to St. John. Gina Keiser has been part of our parish staff since January, We are grateful to Gina for her excellent work on our behalf and wish her well. Seasonal Thank You To Peter Partridge and Jackie Lang who assisted us to share the story of St. Nicholas of Myra with our children. To all who shared in the second annual Cookie Walk and to Erin Boswell for organizing the sale this year. To all who shared in the beautiful liturgies of Christmas the clergy, our choirs, acolytes, lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, greeters, ushers, altar guild and the parish staff. To our children for the terrific Christmas pageant and for all their preparation. To those who shared their musical talents with us at the early service on Christmas Eve: Emilyn Bedell, Gianna Bird, Samaria Dowling, Keliyah Drayden-Sellers, Alex Gleba, Sarah Gleba, Alexandra Grove, Anna Herr, Christine Houck, Lily Houck, Olivia Kelshaw, Neva Kirk-Jadric, Aaron Lutz, Roman Nugent, Sergio Paul, Khora Pawelczyk, Nathan Pollard, Ruby Rodriguez, Chloe Rose, Grace Strayer, Andrew Trembly, Abigail Trembly, Kayleigh Vedder, Abigail Wood, Kaden Wood, and Brian & Anne Moul. To the men of St. John who made repairs in the church and around the building to insure the safety of all who participate in the life of our parish. To the wonderful group of gardeners who cleaned up the church grounds before the cold of winter set in this year. Please note the Parish Office will be closed January 1 & 2. Happy New Year!!!

4 P A G E St. John s historic sanctuary is a downtown destination for chamber music as we host a variety of outstanding performers in our annual concert series. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us to experience these superb musical performances. January 29, 2017 PM Jocelyn Swigger & Sunderman Conservatory Piano Students February 26, 2017 PM Choral Evensong sung by the St. John Choir followed by P.C. King & York Brass players March 26, 2017 PM Principally Harps April 9, 2017 PM Tim Warfield & Friends Jazz Appreciation Month Concert July, AM Community Independence Day Service featuring First Capital Brass St. Nicholas Pouches Thanks to all who participated in the spirit of St. Nicholas by returning a quarter filled pouch. The pouches raised $778 which was shared equally between Make-a-Wish Foundation and Olivia s House. Green pouches will be available for pick up in January. In the spirit of St. Nicholas, we fill the pouch with quarters for each month one for January, two for February, three for March and so on. On the Feast of St. Nicholas in December, we return the pouch to the church to be shared in response to a need in our community. Freezer Sale Huge Success Thanks to our 60 parish volunteers and the coordination of the Freezer Sale Committee, this year s Freezer Sale grossed $15,210. After expenses, the net income from the sale is $12,57. The Freezer Sale/Bake Sale raises money to continue our support for ministry beyond the parish. Ballroom Dancing & Etiquette Classes at St. John beginning January 16, 2017 Elementary Essentials Program (Grades -7) Mondays 5-6 PM & Youth Culture Program (Grades 8-12) Mondays 6-7 PM Each program begins with 6 weeks of ballroom dancing followed by 2 weeks of etiquette. Cost is $100 total for 8 weeks and pre-registration is required. Formal attire is required (jacket/tie for boys, dress for girls). A brochure with registration form is available on the St. John website ( under the Downloads or Church News tabs. FROM THE PARISH REGISTER Death Unto God s gracious mercy we commend Viola Margaret French

5 P A G E 5 FINANCIAL REPORT OF SUNDAY COLLECTION NOVEMBER REPORT Actual Monthly Collection $ 30, Budgeted Monthly Collection $ 31, ********** Actual Year-to-Date Collection $305, Budgeted Year-to-Date Collection $33, Average Nov. Sunday Attendance 12 Average 2015 Sunday Attendance 156 January St. Zita s Guild Volunteers Altar Linens Ministry 1 st Sunday Ann Kordenbrock 2 nd Sunday Polly Stetler 3 rd Sunday Jane Linebaugh th Sunday Ruth Delp 5th Sunday Ruth Delp Kitchen Ministry Sylvia Salerno Need more information regarding St. Zita s Guild? Please contact me at ministrycoord@stjohnyork.org to find out what will fit your interest and your schedule. Thank you, Alison Vedder Capital Campaign Update Count Us In! We welcome 2017 in a magnificent new facility equipped for ministry to serve our parishioners and the people of York now and for generations to come. The vestry has tasked members of the Capital Campaign Committee with developing strategies to address the costs incurred for the building project. The parish is currently making interest-only payments until August 2017 at which time the line of credit will transition into a mortgage. Our short-term goal is to reduce the amount on our line of credit to under 2 million dollars by August 1 to obtain the most optimal interest rate. Secondly, we need to generate a cash flow stream through multiple year pledges to support manageable mortgage payments. The first phase of the campaign involved asking vestry members to make a new pledge commitment and we are pleased to announce that effort alone has already raised over $100,000! Those who made leadership level gifts to the previous campaign are currently being invited to consider a new pledge, after which a parish-wide initiative will be launched in February. Our Next Great Step of Faith raised 1.7 million dollars from 110 parish families and every person who walks through our doors benefits from those gifts. The fulfillment of the original pledges is well ahead of schedule. Our theme and goal with this new campaign is to come together as a parish and say Count Us In! Just as many hands make light work, support from a broader base of the parish will help us to complete this journey that was begun in faith. Every dollar raised in this campaign will be one fewer dollar that needs to be repaid later and one more dollar impacting the present and future mission of St. John s. Much more information will be presented in the coming weeks. Current members of the Capital Campaign Committee are Fr. David, Kendall Menzer, Jim Gleba, Linda Davidson and Anne and Brian Moul, assisted by Pastor Glenn Miller, Director of Development for Spiritrust Lutheran. Parishioners are invited to contact any committee member with questions and ideas.

6 P A G E 6 Jennifer Morris, Director familyministrystjohn10@gmail.com Sunday s 9 9:15 AM Hey kids, join Rodney for music on the 2nd floor. Children will practice and occasionally perform during church. Sundays 9:15 9:5 AM Godly Play K-2nd Grade Living the Good News 3rd 5th Grade Journey to Adulthood (J2A) 6 12 Grade Formation classes are available for youth of all ages on the 2nd floor. Saturday, January 21 We had about 80 participants in our first event this year. Another breakfast is scheduled for January 21. You are welcome to join us for breakfast and participate in activities. We will also need kitchen helpers to serve breakfast. Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. - Romans 10:17 To all the children who took part in the Christmas pageant and their families. To all who helped put the pageant together. To the Miller Family for bringing baby lambs for the pageant. To Alison Vedder, Art Miller, JoAnn Taylor, Sean Morris & Shawn Lauer for helping with the December Dadventures breakfast. Children are invited to join us on Friday, February 10. Parents can drop off/pick up anytime 5:30 8:30 PM in the parish hall. Dinner will be provided. Take this opportunity to have a quiet dinner with your Valentine while your children have fun with friends. RSVP by contacting Jen or sign up at the church. We need to have accurate numbers to solicit enough help for the children. Thank you for your support of our previous fundraisers. Our next sale is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, January 15 after 10 AM worship. St. John Youth are planning to host a youth game night including a live game of Clue. The funds from our fundraisers will be used to host this event, which is tentatively scheduled for Friday, February 2. We appreciate your support and prayers for our planning process. St. John Episcopal Church (717)