A Message from Our Priest in Charge

Transcription

1 Trinity Episcopal Church 300 Main street Wethersfield, CT Phone: Special points of interest: Call for Christmas Flowers December Ministry Schedule Save the Date Inside this issue: Pledge Status & Adult Formation Call for Christmas Flowers & Sunday Counters December Ministry Schedule Book Clubs, Coffee Thanks, Save the Date, & Ladies Lunch Outreach Report Outreach Calendar & Online Spirituality Please Note The Monthly Calendar can be found on the website. Click Calendar on the home page Season of Advent Season of Advent A Message from Our Priest in Charge D EAR Friends in Christ Jesus, I grew up in a culturally German home, in terms of Christmas customs, and Norwegian in terms of food. We children grew up with our father s German Christmas customs. At this time of year there was no sign of Christmas anywhere in our house until Christmas Day. Santa Claus brought everything after we went to bed on Christmas Eve. Santa brought the tree and decorations, put up the tree, brought the gifts and put them under the tree, and ate the cookies and milk we left for him as our thank you offering. In the weeks before Christmas, every child in our town was busy collecting toothbrushes, toothpaste, school pencils and crayons, small toys, and other goodies for children who had nothing. We put these items in dark blue cardboard Red Cross boxes and on a Saturday before Christmas, we all trooped up to the town firehouse where Santa Claus waited for us. We gave Santa our Red Cross boxes, and in return, Santa listened to our wishes and gave each of us an orange. On Christmas Eve, the town Christmas tree, next to the train station, was lit with colored lights and everyone gathered around the tree and sang Christmas carols. The minister of the Episcopal Church always led the singing. December 2014 December 2014 Christmas dinner was always from my mother s Norwegian roots. Salt cod in cream sauce, boiled potatoes, boiled rutabagas, rice porridge, sot suppe (raisins and grape juice boiled with cinnamon sticks and thickened with tapioca), spritz cookies, and Julekaga the best Christmas sweet bread ever. As we children grew older, the traditions changed. We brought our own gifts and talents and ideas to the family celebrations, and we shared in the preparations. The food, however, stayed the same until my mother died. That Christmas, I made German Christmas dinner for my father, his first since he d been in his parents house roast goose, roasted potatoes, and sweet and sour red cabbage - and I did that until he himself died. Since then, I ve returned to salt cod in cream sauce, rutabagas, and boiled potatoes, with some green peas for color. Once in awhile, I also roast a goose. Continued next page

2 Page 2 A Message from Our Priest in Charge Continued from previous page As you remember what your own family and cultural traditions have been around this time of year, and notice how they have changed over time, I ask this of you. Please be kind to one another, and to others, and be gentle with yourselves. Be permissive of other people s ways of observing this time of year. Let annoyance with the secularization and commercialization of this season not disturb you. Rejoice when someone wishes you a Happy Holiday, or greets you with Season s Greetings. It s not Christmas yet, after all. And save your own Merry Christmas until the Eve of the Incarnation. Then, with just a little bit of mischievousness, bid Merry Christmas to everyone you see for the full twelve days after the feast! And may the blessing of the Christ Child fill your hearts and minds with love for all, today and always. The Reverend Lois Keen Pledge Status as of 10/31/2014 Total Annual Pledge $135,500 Pledge Budget 1/1-10/31 $112,917 Received Through 10/31 $95,602 Difference $17,315 Income/Expenses as of 10/31/2014 Actual Budget Income $110,993 $127,365 Expenses $169,958 $169,365 $42,000 depleted from investments to cover 2014 expenses as of 10/31/2014. Adult Formation November 2014 Adult Formation takes place most Sundays at 9:00 a.m. in the Seabury Room.* Dec. 7, 14, & 21 Godly Play Advent Dec. 28 No Session Brochures listing our programs for the year are available at the back of the church. For an electronic version, Ed Zagorski at ezagorski@cox.net. Schedule subject to change. *Sundays during which Adult Formation does not take place include December 28, January 18, 2015 (afternoon movie), and February 1 (Parish Annual Meeting). The final session is scheduled for May 24 during which we will plan for the year.

3 Season of Advent Page 3 Trinity Parish Christmas FLOWERS Please consider a donation to Trinity Parish Christmas Flowers. We gratefully accept any amount you choose to give. We suggest a donation of $ With Appreciation, Trinity Altar Guild Make your checks payable to: Trinity Parish. On the check memo line please indicate Flower Fund. Please also indicate (M) for Memorial or (T) for Living Thanksgiving donation on the lines below. Names: Given by: You may deliver your payment in three ways: Mail your check to: Trinity Parish, 300 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT Bring your check to office call first: , ext. 11 M-F 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Include with your Sunday contribution Counting on Sunday Counters The following collection counters have been scheduled for December: Dec. 7: Rose Riley & Connie Harasymiw Dec. 14: Jessie Karpf & Denise Paternostro Dec. 21: Kathy Cole & TBD Dec. 28: Kathy Cole & Don Knapp Thank you all for your assistance! Kathy Cole

4 10:00 Service Note Ministry Schedule December Dec Dec Dec Dec-14 Church Opener Joan Joseph Carol Jones Ed Zagorski Ed Zagorski Eucharistic Ministers (Family Sunday) 8:00 AM Joan Joseph Carol Jones Ann Marie Stavola Ed Zagorski 10:00 AM Denise Paternostro Sal Basile Jane-Helen Ross Ray Colburn Lectors 8:00 AM Kristin Stearley Lew Nedell Donna Brown Katherine Stearley 10:00 AM Garth Myers Jean Bruce Ellie Steidel & Melanie Hepburn Prayers of the People Judy Shaw Kathy Cole Ellie Steidel Ushers David Chellstorp Denise Paternostro Denise Paternostro Denise Paternostro Mary Chellstorp Church Closer Rose Riley Denise Paternostro Kathy Cole Don Knapp Attention Participants: Please remember that if you are unable to serve on the Sunday you are assigned, check the ministers list distributed to you so that you may find a replacement. Thank you very much. Belfry Deadlines Jan Belfry Deadline, Mon. Dec. 15 Feb Belfry Deadline, Wed. Jan. 21 Mar Belfry Deadline, Fri. Feb. 20 Page 4 December Ministry Schedule

5 Season of Advent Page 5 Trinity Book Clubs Morning Club The next Morning Book Club will be held on Monday, January 12th at 10:30 a.m. at Barbara Napolitano s home, 16 Stevens Place, Rocky Hill (2nd left uphill off Century Hills Drive). The book for discussion is Finding Emmaus by Pamela Glasner. All are welcome to join! Ellie Steidel Evening Club Trinity's Evening Book Club will meet on Monday, December 8 at 7 p.m. at the home of Marilyn Ford, 22 Holly Lane, Wethersfield, hosted by Jean Bruce and Marilyn Ford. The book for discussion is A Star for Mrs. Blake by April Smith. Joan Joseph Save the Date March 21, 2015! 3rd Annual Spring Education Sessions (Also known as Spring Training for God s Mission) This is a learning opportunity for all Episcopalians in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut and features workshops on leadership, formation, advocacy, stewardship, communications, and much more! Sessions are open to and encouraged for ALL Episcopalians in Connecticut, not just church leaders. Watch for more details in the coming months. Coffee Hour Thanks Coffee hour after the 10:00 service is always enjoyable. It s a wonderful opportunity to meet with other parishioners to catch up on family news and activities. And of course, nothing makes the experience even more enjoyable than the coffee, tea, and special pastries and sweets. Appreciative thanks go out to the Buser and Desrocher families for providing the refreshments during the month of November. Well done! Additional volunteers are needed for December. Please consider joining this rewarding ministry and sign up in Parish Hall. Thank you! Shannon McNeice Here s to the Ladies Who Lunch The Ladies Luncheon group will meet on Tuesday, December 2 at 12 noon at Elizabeth s Restaurant on the Shunpike (Rte. 3, in the same plaza as Uptown Consignment). All ladies are welcome and anyone can bring a friend if they'd like. Anyone needing a ride, please call Ellie Steidel at (860) , and to let her know if you are planning to attend. Ellie Steidel

6 Page 6 Outreach Committee Report Local / Regional / Worldwide Two Cents A Meal Ingathering (November 16) This program proves that Trinity is a giving church. We collected $413 and adding the May ingathering amount of $328 means that Trinity has donated $741 for The total amount given since 2007 is $8,934 to help alleviate hunger on a local, regional, and worldwide basis. We certainly are making a joyful noise to the Lord. Thanks to all who participated! Bakers needed for Trinity s Annual Cookie Walk Sunday, December 21 Please make your favorite cookie recipes and share your homemade treats with others. Cookies make great hostess and Christmas gifts! It was suggested that we hold this annual event closer to Christmas so the cookies will be fresher for the holiday. Laraine Wilson and her helpers will be selling after both services, so bring your goodies to the Parish Hall when you come to church that morning. The cost will be $7.00 per pound and all proceeds will benefit the Outreach Committee projects, including the Wethersfield Fuel Bank. Annual Christmas/Three Kings Toy Drive December 14 and 21 This annual event for Good Shepherd Families will assure that every child who comes will receive at least one new toy for Three Kings Day. Please bring new, safe, nonviolent unwrapped toys either the 14th or 21st. Suggested toys are books, games, dolls, cars, trucks, and stuffed animals. Family Support Center, Church of the Good Shepherd A huge thank you to the people who made our church Fair a success: the people who took responsibility for having a table, worked in the kitchen, counted the proceeds, did the publicity, and managed the raffle table, also the people who did the setup and take-down and who cleaned up the Parish Hall and the kitchen. It was a parishwide effort and everyone did a wonderful job. Thank you. Another huge thank-you to those of you who donated turkeys and money for turkeys for Good Shepherd. Maria said that 45 people would have had no turkeys this year and you certainly helped the cause. The bin of mittens, hats, and scarves is nearly half full now. By January, when the weather is the worst, we hope it will be overflowing. We thank you for those offerings too. As always and especially at this time of the year when needs are so much more apparent, we know that none of these good works would happen without each of you and we thank you all. South Park Inn On a regular basis, Shirley Steinmetz takes items to this shelter at South Green in Hartford. It s especially important as the weather gets colder. Please place your donations in the box in the Parish Hall: toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand/body lotion, spray deodorant, feminine hygiene products, and diapers (toddlers 1 yr.+), laundry soap, cleaning supplies, towels, pillow cases, twin sheets + fitted sheets. Continued next page

7 Season of Advent Page 7 Outreach Committee Report Continued Continued from previous page St. Augustine Food Bank Items to take to Hartford for this project should be placed in the box in the narthex near the north church door. Especially needed are nonperishable foods such as peanut butter, jellies, canned meats and poultry, assorted juices, canned fruit and vegetables, tuna fish, cereals, and pasta. Marilyn Ford, Chair Outreach Calendar Sunday, Dec. 14 & 21 Christmas/Three Kings Toy Drive Sunday, Dec. 21 Annual Cookie Walk Online Spirituality Wouldn t it be great to get a daily spiritual lift delivered to your inbox every day? Easy Would you like to practice Morning or Evening Prayer without leaving your house? Can do Do you want to keep up with the latest news and developments in the Episcopal world? Done Are you interested in connecting online with others in the Episcopal world? No problem How about getting Sunday readings? Or easily finding Bible passages? Or accessing the Book of Common Prayer? Piece of cake Go to the updated RESOURCE page on Trinity s website! This section has links and information to access several sites of online spirituality recommended by fellow Trinity parishioners. You can connect with the world through the ONLINE page and explore sites offering prayer, scripture, meditation, Episcopal information, news and more. Many have links with Facebook and Twitter. Some offer subscription services and/or apps to daily prayer, scripture and meditation. Click on LECTIONARY RESOURCES to get links to the daily lectionary, the Book of Common Prayer and online versions of the Bible or Go to the MISSION page to get links to Trinity's outreach projects as well as to other Episcopal outreach services. And, if you want the latest titles for spiritual growth, go to the RECOMMENDED READING page. Do you have a site or a title you would like to share? Just send the name, link to the site and any interesting information about the site or book to operations@trinityepiscopalweth.org. Easy Can do Done No problem Piece of cake Joan Joseph

8 Trinity Episcopal Church 300 Main Street Wethersfield, Connecticut Season of Advent December 2014 Please us at or call us at if you would like to be removed from our mailing list or if you would like to receive this publication electronically. We re on the Web: Trinityepiscopalweth.org Trinity Episcopal Church 300 Main street Wethersfield, CT Phone: trinityepiscopalweth.org Business Tagline or Motto Trinity Episcopal Church is an ever-evolving Christian community committed to deepening our relationship with God by: Offering worship and education for all ages Caring for and serving one another and those beyond our community Being open and welcoming