St Andrew s Links The Monthly Newsletter Making Connections Among the Members of St Andrew s Parish One North Main Street Kent, Connecticut 06757 Post Office Box 309 Telephone 860.927.3486 st.andrew.kent@snet.net Facsimile 860.927.3903 www.standrewskent.org Volume XVIII, Nr 2 March 2013 FROM THE RECTOR A few days ago, I received a letter from the Dean of my seminary in which he made reference to the mission statement of Christ Church Cathedral, Canterbury the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the primus inter pares of the bishops of the Anglican Communion. The statement is brief (ten words long), succinct, and profound: The mission of Canterbury Cathedral is to show people Jesus. And although this is always the task of each of the baptized, it at once struck me that intentional reflection on showing people Jesus on what this might mean for each of us is perhaps a fine way in which to keep the season of Lent which began a couple of weeks ago. John s Gospel tells the story of a group of Greeks Gentiles, non-jews, people whom no one would suppose had ever heard of Jesus, never mind being interested in him who, just after Jesus arrival in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and just days before his arrest and crucifixion, approach Jesus disciple Philip with a politely-worded request Sir, we wish to see Jesus. Philip s response was to seek out the disciple Andrew, the very Andrew for whom our parish is named, and the two of them together went to let Jesus know. There are not all that many references to our Andrew in the Gospels, and he seems to have been so self-effacing that the writers want usually to point out that he is the brother of the far more attention-grabbing Peter. The few times that we see Andrew in action he is mostly bringing people into Jesus presence, trying to introduce others to him: after Andrew and another follower of John the Baptiser meet Jesus, Andrew seeks out his brother in order to tell him, We have found the Messiah, and then brings Peter to meet Jesus. It is Andrew who brings to Jesus the boy with the five barley loaves and two fish which then feed the great multitude; and it is, after all, Andrew whom Philip appears pointedly to seek out when the ritually unclean Greeks ask to meet the Jewish teacher and preacher.
When we see Andrew doing things, he seems routinely to be showing people Jesus. Andrew may not have drawn so much attention to himself as Peter was wont to do, but what evidence we have suggests that Andrew had a reputation for making Jesus known. And his example an example of which the fact that we worship in a parish dedicated to him gently reminds us is one to bear in mind. For although the somehow larger than life figures of Peter and Paul can suggest that showing people Jesus is about somehow grand gestures, the actions of Andrew, and of Mary Magdalene who hurries to tell the others that she has encountered the Risen LORD, point to the fact that very often showing people Jesus is about simple, commonplace things such as making an introduction or bringing news. It can be about simply how we choose to live our lives, by making generosity, kindness, compassion, justice, sacrifice, and forgiveness known because of what we ourselves have come to know about the Risen Christ, about what we have heard and seen in the teacher, preacher, and healer who so moved Andrew. Whatever our Lenten discipline or disciplines may be, their intentions probably need to be about helping us to recall how differently, and perhaps even better, to live our lives remembering Jesus, and then indeed to show what our memories are. Evening Prayer will be read at 6:00 P.M. on Wednesdays during Lent: 6, 13, & 20 March. On the Wednesday of Holy Week, 27 March, the Holy Eucharist will be said at 6:00 P.M. The regular weekly celebrations of the Holy Eucharist at St Andrew s Church are: Sundays at 8:30 & 10:30 A.M. Tuesdays at 6:00 P.M. Thursdays at 7:00 A.M. & 9:30 A.M. Holy Days, Evening Prayer, and Evensongs as announced. ALTAR FLOWER MEMORIALS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR are most welcome. Please let Maureen know as soon as possible if there are those in whose memories you would like flowers to be given. The Altar Guild ask $50 for each memorial of however many names, but any amount greater or smaller is gratefully received. THE SUNDAY PAPER is a lectionary-based bulletin for children and is available, along with a small clipboard and a bag of crayons, on each Sunday in the narthex. The children may color
the pictures, drawn by Gretchen Wolff Pritchard, which illustrate the scriptural readings appointed for that morning. MITE BOXES FOR USE DURING LENT are available in the narthex. The mite boxes are for the collection of loose change, and are a reminder to make a daily gift to those in need. The monies collected benefit the Bishop s Fund for Children. In the past, the change collected in the mite boxes at St Andrew s has amounted to the largest donation from mite boxes from any parish in the diocese, and this is a wonderful history, worthy of continuation! Please plan to return your mite boxes on Easter morning or during Easter week so that the monies can be counted and a cheque prepared for The Bishop s Fund for Children. CHURCH SCHOOL LENTEN PROJECT to benefit THE SCHOOL of the GOOD SAMARITAN, CARREFOUR, HAITI Dear Friends, I'm coordinating this year's fundraiser again. For those of you who don't know, we raise funds for The Good Samaritan School in Haiti by offering inside and outside help to St. Andrew's parishoners and then donating the "payment" to the school. The chore service has multiple purposes. First, the kids help get needed work done. Second, we raise money for a school that desperately needs help. Third, having the children spend time with other parishoners other than the friends of their parents helps build connections between generations that often don't mingle. I hope that at least one of these reasons is enough for you to participate. As for my family, we consider the sacrifice of precious free time what we give up for Lent rather than something like chocolate. Victoria, Alex and I have benefited both from the considerable sacrifice of time and the friendly relationships that have developed. There is a sign up sheet for jobs in the Parish House and the requests are already lining up. Please let me know asap if you and your children would like to help tackle the chores, when you are available, and the best way to contact you. As Easter is early this year, we'll likely run into mid-april or so. Please feel free to pass this on to anyone I may have inadvertently missed. Thanks! Sarah Marshall
FROM THE PRIEST ASSOCIATE Prayer Someone recently asked me to expand on what this means: After all, Lent is a time for devoting ourselves to prayer and penitence, isn t it? What is prayer? Of course, there are a variety of responses to this question, and all of them right. For me, prayer is simply the raising of the heart to God. Whether by formal recitation of specific passages, quite reflection, or following one of any number of valid forms, praying involves our entering into deeper and closer dialogue with the Lord. I have noted, in general, that we as Episcopalians are not taught how to pray. We place a great deal of emphasis on catechesis and the theoretical study of the Word in Scripture. Our Book of Common Prayer includes many specific prayers that are meant to address a variety of situations in day-to-day life. And there are many organized, beautiful rituals and ceremonies within our tradition (also found in the BCP). All this is very good, but most people have not been taught how to pray, at least not in a practical or varied manner. At some point, I would love to organize a workshop on prayer for our parish until then, I would offer the following reflection. Faith is not a collection of words, doctrines or rituals: it is a personal relationship with God... and this comes through prayer! One goal, in developing our relationship with God through prayer, is that we may begin to overcome our troubles and anxieties, our fears and unhappiness, and gradually gain serenity. Prayer is about life and about living as our Lord calls us to live. Through living our faith and surrendering ourselves to God in prayer, our souls can become filled with a peace that words cannot describe. However, this is not easy. Just like anything in life, it takes work and requires practice, time, and commitment. At times a prayer session may seem fulfilling and beneficial, while at other times arid, boring, and even futile. I ve found that persistence and regular practice helps. Just as an athlete must train daily, so a Christian must pray daily! I invite you this Lenten season (and beyond) to commit yourself to a Sacred Half-hour of prayer every day. Provide time, during these forty days, for the Spirit to lead you into closer relationship with God. This can involve written prayer, read prayer, spoken prayer, sung prayer, or perhaps some form of meditation. I recommend a quiet, undisturbed place start with a relaxation period to help clear your mind and follow by asking God to come into your life (invocation of the Holy Spirit, call to the Father, or call to Jesus). When you feel incapable of praying do not force results! Allow three things to accompany you: Patience, peacefully accept what you cannot resolve; Perseverance, continue to pray even though you may not feel anything; and Hope, everything comes to an end, tomorrow will be better. David+
THE HOLY EUCHARIST WILL BE CELEBRATED ACCORDING TO RITE I on Sunday 3 March, at 8:30 A.M. A DISCUSSION GROUP IS MEETING on the first Sundays of the month at Noon in the Vestry Room. Several people have asked about looking into Diarmaid MacCulloch s best-selling book, Christianity: The First Three Centuries, but have felt intimidated by its prodigious size (it is a proverbial brick of a book ). The thing is in fact accessible and can be read in short bits; there is also a kind of trot on DVD. On 3 March, we will be discussing Chapter 20, Rome s Renewal, (1500 1700) and A Worldwide Faith (1500 1800), dealing with the Counter-Reformation and the expansion of Christianity in the period of European exploration. ALL are welcome! BIBLE STUDY Sunday, 10 March, 9:30 A.M., in the Guild Room We will be exploring the four Resurrection narratives: Matthew 28.1-10; Mark 16.1-8; Luke 24.1-43; John 20.1-23. Please consider the following questions for reflection and discussion: Who are the characters in each of the stories? How does the cast of characters vary from story to story? How do the characters respond to the discovery/news of the empty tomb? How do you respond to each of the stories? Are any of these stories my story? (What do they mean in my own individual life?) THE MISSION & OUTREACH COMMISSION WILL MEET at Noon on Sunday, 10 March, in the Guild Room. THE BOOK GROUP WILL MEET next on a Sunday, 10 March, at 5:00 P.M. at Lisa Jones s house, 8 Locust Lane, in order to discuss Amor Towles s novel America in the 1930s, Rules of Civility. Copies of the book are available at a 20% discount at the House of Books.
THE INQUIRERS GROUP WILL MEET next on Sunday, 17 March, at 9:30 A.M. in the Vestry Room in order to continue the discussion of the Eucharistic rite in the Book of Common Prayer. All are welcome! THE VESTRY WILL HAVE THEIR REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING at their retreat on 23 March, 9:00 A.M. 4:00 P.M. at The Rooster Tail Inn in Warren. THE BISHOPS INVITE THE MEMBERS OF THE DIOCESE TO JOIN THEM IN A MARCH IN WASHINGTON, D.C., FOR SAFER GUN LAWS on the Monday of Holy Week, 25 March. Transportation from and back to Connecticut is being arranged (the cost is $60 per person), and meals will be provided. Please visit http://2013holymonday.eventbrite.com/# for registration and further information. VOLUNTEERS FOR ASSISTANCE AT THE COMMUNITY SOUP KITCHEN IN TORRINGTON St Andrew s have agreed to provide volunteers (these have included Vicky Chess, Athenaide Dallett and Charlotte and George Hinman, Mary Dingee, Hilary Durno, Bill Dillon, George-Ann Gowan, Jane Hanley, Sid and Clare Head, Eileen Holihan, Maggie Inman, Jane Kates, Bob McDowell, Rebecca Trautmann, and Jeff West, as well as Margie O Brien, J.T. Schemm, and children from the Church School) to help with the serving and clean-up on the four fifth Sundays each year. Each day, the Kitchen provides a hot meal to many people in downtown Torrington, and those who assist find the ministry to be rewarding in many ways: please be in touch with Jane Hanley (860.927.3117) or Bob McDowell (860.927.3345) for further information! The parish are next responsible for service on Easter Sunday, 31 March. A FIFTIETH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION is planned at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford, on 5 May at 5:00 P.M. for all couples who in 2013 will have been married fifty or more years. For more information, please consult the diocesan website, www.ctdiocese.org or call Jody Wynn Rodiger at Diocesan House, 860.233.4481x10 THE MISSION & OUTREACH COMMISSION OF THE PARISH has the annual Christmas Bazaar as its major fund-raising event, and the Golden Treasures and White Elephants tables sell higher quality used items, suitable as Christmas gifts. If, however, people have some such things that they want to donate prior to the collection times for the Bazaar (mid-october mid-november) or for the summertime Tag Sale (1 July early August: the proceeds of the Tag Sale will benefit the Capital Fund of the parish), Sabine Gibson (927.4118) is willing to sell these things at her stall in the Antiques Centre in Millerton. The Centre receives 20% of the purchase price, but Sabine is happy to send the remaining 80% to the M&O Commission.
FROM THE SENIOR WARDEN Last month, among a few other things, I remembered to thank the three members of the Class of 2013 (Bill Dillon, Ryan Foote and Lisby Ritchie), who have just rotated off the Vestry, for their service on the Vestry these past three years. Each contributed a great deal to the Vestry s work and indeed to the work of the Parish more generally in many different ways. This month, I am pleased to be able to welcome our three newest additions to the Vestry (Peter Brodhead, Bernadette Ellegard and Elaine Henry), who are just beginning their threeyear terms and perhaps still wondering a bit what exactly they have gotten themselves into. Well, they will learn soon enough that service on the Vestry is really just another way to enjoy the community that St Andrew s offers to those who are fortunate enough to worship in our pews, sing in or listen to our choirs, chat with friends and new acquaintances during coffee hour, shop at the Tag Sale or the Christmas Bazaar, attend our occasional pot luck suppers or Music in the Nave events, rake leaves in the Parish courtyard, watch with amazement and amusement as the children hoover up all of the Easter eggs, ladle out meals or clean up at the Soup Kitchen in Torrington and/or stand in the sleet laughing and selling Christmas trees, etc., etc. With three members rotating off, and another three joining, we now have a new Vestry, new in the sense that three points of view will now be replaced by three different ones, and the familiar dynamic of last year s discussions will change a bit. Several former members may discover that they have a couple more hours, possibly of free time, one Sunday afternoon a month, while three new members are opening the window to see somewhat more clearly how the Parish works and, more importantly, how they can help make the Parish work. One of the early agenda items for the first meeting of a new Vestry is a quick review of the commissions that do so much to make Parish life so interesting, fulfilling, or just plain possible. There are several motives behind this. One is simply to introduce new Vestry members to the various commissions, so that they can learn what the commissions do, and who is on them. Another is for the Vestry as a whole to review the composition of the commissions, in order to remind ourselves, if we need reminding, of who is busy doing what for the Parish, and do they need any more help? And this leads naturally to the suggestion that new Vestry members, or old ones (or indeed, any Parishioner), should consider joining one of the commissions, in part to meet or get to know better its members, and in part to make sure that the Vestry is as knowledgeable as possible about what the commissions are doing and whether they need any particular support from the Vestry. The various Parish commissions, and what they do, are generally described in the Parish directory, and what they have been up to recently is contained in their annual reports found in the Agenda materials for the Annual Meeting. If you haven t had the chance to read through them, you really should. Together, they tell a great story of a Parish community that really works. I can t do justice to them in this space, but I can briefly name them (Fellowship, Mission & Outreach, Education (including Church School), Property, Pastoral Care, Stewardship, Music and the Altar Guild), and as long as I still have your attention, encourage you to find out more about them and even consider joining one (or more). Thanks be to God. Michael Chamberlin
ON THE FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH DONATIONS FOR THE KENT FOOD BANK are gathered. Currently, donations of soups, rice, side dishes (e.g. Rice-a-Roni, macaroni & cheese, &c.), and fruit juices are especially needed. Please also know that the Food Bank accepts donations of pet foods for cats and dogs. Please plan to bring a donation to church on 3 March & 7 April. THE QUALITY THRIFT SHOP NEEDS VOLUNTEERS Housed at the First Congregational Church, it is very much an endeavor of the whole of the Kent Community and provides affordable clothing and household goods to those who shop there. THE KENT COMMUNITY FUND has been established and is a source of financial assistance, as a last resort, to those for whom other options such as fuel banks, government agencies are no longer available. The clergy are able to make referrals to the Grants Committee, and those who have or know of particular needs with which the Fund might help are invited to be in conversation with the Rector or Fr David. FISH ( FRIENDS IN SERVICE HERE ) always seeks volunteers as drivers and/or telephone people, and at the moment drivers are urgently needed. For those who cannot drive, FISH provides transportation to medical and dental appointments as well as to local shops for groceries, hair-dresser s appointments, and so forth. FISH helps to make living in Kent possible for a number of people who do not drive, and it requires those willing to help to offer up several hours on a day or two each month. Please speak to the Rector or Fr David for further information. PRAISE AND HEARTY THANKS to Eileen Holihan, Ginger Giles, Rita Kho, Jerry & Rosemary Nahley, Melissa Schipul, and ALL of those who helped out with the pancake supper on Shrove Tuesday to Greg & Natalie Randall, Cynthia Hill, and all who helped with and donated to Sr Mary Lanning s Valentine s Day Weekend event for the disenfranchised in New York City. NOTE CARDS OF DETAILS OF WINDOWS IN THE NAVE AND OF THE ICON IN THE NARTHEX are available through the Parish Office at $1 each or 4 for $3.50. OUR HOSTS AT COFFEE AND IN MARCH ARE:
8:30 A.M. 10:30 A.M. 3 March St Andrew s Parish Michael Chamberlin & Margie O Brien 10 March Lori & Peter Brodhead 17 March Mary Dingee & Sue Edgerly 24 March Heni & Ryan Foote 31 March FELLOWSHIP Easter Day COMMISSION & ALL WHO ARE WILLING TO HELP The sign-up sheet for volunteering to provide light refreshments of a Sunday is on the counter of the pass-through between the kitchen and the great room. Tea and cups, sugar and spoons, &c., will already be set up, and the coffee (de-caf!) urn will be perking as well before the 10:30 service begins, but those providing sandwiches, cookies, &c., are asked also to provide milk or cream. Please remember that the refreshments need not be elaborate nor a luncheon for those who gather! Something on which to nibble whilst chatting with friends is what is needed and gratefully appreciated! It is an important kindness if those who regularly attend Coffee and offer from time to time themselves to furnish the light refreshments: please do not be shy about signing up to do so! THE GREETERS ASK YOUR HELP in identifying those who would like to receive Communion in their pews. Please be sure to let them know to whom the Celebrant and chalicist need to Communicate in the nave. USED INK CARTRIDGES FROM PRINTERS can benefit the parish. We buy most of our office supplies from Staples, and they now have a program for collecting all brands of used ink cartridges Epson, HP, &c., &c. that allows for rebates when the cartridges are brought to their stores. Each cartridge yields a $2 credit at the store: please consider bringing used ink cartridges to the parish office and helping us to reduce the cost of our office supplies!
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE S LIFE Literacy Volunteers on the Green offers instruction in reading, writing, and English as a Second Language to adults in northern Fairfield and in Litchfield Counties. All tutoring is offered free of charge by volunteer tutors who are trained by LVG. There will be a Tutor Training Program on 11, 12, and 18 March from 6:00 9:00 P.M. in the parish hall of St John s Church, Whittlesey Avenue, in New Milford. No prior teaching experience or knowledge of a foreign language is necessary, but rather only a willingness to help others to improve their literacy skills. Please call 860.355.0803 for further information. THOSE SCHEDULED TO ASSIST IN WORSHIP IN MARCH ARE: 8:30 A.M. 10:30 A.M. 3 March Greeter: Jerry Nahley David & Katherine Almquist Acolyte: Claire Head Lector: Brock Knowlton Ryan Foote Chalicist Noble Richards Jane Farnol 10 March Greeter: Betty Beatty Bill Dillon and Peter Messer Acolyte: Taylor Hoefer Lector: Betty Beatty Tony DiPentima Chalicist: Noble Richards Kathy Fricker 17 March Greeter: Brock Knowlton John Scofield and Louisa LaFontan Acolyte: John Kelly Lector: John Barton Karen Chase Chalicist Mark Davis Bob McDowell 24 March Greeter: Marty Johnson Nick & Janet Downes Palm Sunday Acolyte: Gwen Gibson Lector: Jean DiMartino Bruce Whipple Chalicist: George-Ann Gowan Rebecca Trautmann 28 March 7:30 P.M. Maundy Greeter: Brock Knowlton Thursday Lector: Noble Richards Chalicist: George-Ann Gowan 31 March Greeter: Jerry Nahley, David & Katherine Easter Brock Knowlton Almquist, Nick &
Janet Downes Acolyte: Claire Head Lector: Ron Aakjar Ryan Foote Chalicist: Noble Richards Bob McDowell, Evening Prayer will be read on Wednesdays in Lent (prior to Holy Week) at 6:00 P.M. Nancy O Dea-Wyrick COPIES OF Half a Century an anecdotal supplement to the parish history published in the 1950s, are now available at $10 each. Judy Messer, J.T. Schemm, and many others contributed mightily to the preparation of this reflection on life here at St Andrew s from 1957 2009, and the books will be sold in the Parish Office and at Coffees. And, there are new reprints of Fr Webb s 1956 history also on offer. Please see the Rector or Judy! FOUR A.A. GROUPS NOW MEET IN THE PARISH HOUSE and all are welcome to those that gather at 7:30 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, as well as at 10:00 on Friday mornings. The meeting at 7:00 on Wednesday evenings is for women only. AN AL-ANON GROUP meets on Thursday evenings, from 7:00 8:00, in the Parish House. Please remember that bequests to the parish are an important way of helping to sustain our common lives from generation to generation. The Bishops ask all of us to remember the Church in our wills. AROUND THE DEANERY AND ELSEWHERE Our Sexton, Bill McLaren, has a carpentry and handyman business and can be reached at 860.364.1474. The ROMEOS ( Retired Old Men Eating Out ) gather each Tuesday morning at 8:30 at The Villager, and all me are welcome to join them. Please know that drivers are needed to help bring breakfasters into town and return them to their homes: those who can help should call Jerry Myers at 860.927.1480. Literacy Volunteers on the Green, New Milford, invites volunteers to assist in the teaching of English to adult students. Please call further information and to register, please call 860.355.0830; and please notice that the teaching can be done in Kent, often in the Parish House.
The Northwest Chore Service, providing affordable help for the elderly or the handicapped, seeks those willing to do yard work, shopping, house-cleaning, cooking, and minor home repairs. The remuneration is $12 per hour and mileage. Please call 860.364.1003. And those who are interested in the help of a Chore Service worker, at the cost of $5 per hour, should also call 860.364.1003. The Community Soup Kitchen at Trinity Church in Torrington needs help. Volunteers to assist with food preparation, service, and clean-up as well as cash donations are needed, as well as financial support. The mailing address of the CSK is Post Office Box 852, Torrington, Connecticut 06790, and its telephone number is 860.482.0130. Habitat for Humanity of the Northwest Hills seeks volunteers at all sorts of skills levels at all sorts of tasks, including clerical work, helping with landscaping, carpentry, providing refreshments at work sites, &c. For further information, the website is www.habitatnwct.org and the telephone number is 860.435.4747. The New Milford VNA Hospice Program offers on-going bereavement support without cost. The group meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month from 7:00 P.M. 8:30 P.M. at 68 Park Lane Road (Route 202) in New Milford. The New Milford VNA provides a care-givers support group for those providing care to the elderly, the infirm, and those with dementia. There is no charge to attend, and pre-registration is not required. The group meets at the NMVNA & Hospice offices at 68 Park Lane (Route 202) on alternate Thursdays, 1:00 2:30 P.M. and light refreshments are served. In February, the group will meet on the 7 th and the 21 st. The Pawling Concert Series begins its season with a concert by the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet on Friday, 5 April, at 8:00 P.M. at the Gardiner Theater, Trinity- Pawling School. Tickets at the door are $30 for adults and $15 for students. For further information, please consult www.pawlingconcertseries.org Between 6:00 7:30 P.M. busy concert goers can purchase a light supper at The Cave, adjacent to All Saints Chapel. The St John s Concert Series, Saturdays at Seven, continues with concert by the Sebastian Chamber Players, on Saturday, 13 April, at 7:00 P.M. at St John s Church, Washington. Admission is $30 at the doors, and further information is available at 860.868.2527 or www.stjohnswashington.org
Music in the Nave Lynn Henderson & Friends I Travel Alone Saturday, 6 April at 7:30 P.M. Admission is $25 per person at the doors, and the concert will be in a cabaret setting in the Parish House. Beverages and nibbles will be served. THE DIANA HEROLD JAZZ QUARTET featuring Diana Herold, jazz vibraphonist, Grisha Alexiev, Scott Heth, & George Potts in a cabaret concert in St Andrew s Parish House Friday, 1 March 7:30 P.M. Beverages and nibbles will be served. $20 admission ($10 for families with young children) Diana will be explaining and demonstrating vibraphone technique.
STEWARDSHIP REPORT - A MONTHLY LETTER FROM THE STEWARDSHIP COMMISION- March 2013 Years ago my father gave me a great lesson in being responsible with money. When I graduated from college, my parents gave me a car. Now this was no Mercedes-Benz, but a yellow Ford Galaxie, a four door sedan, with a black landau roof. Sharp to be sure! It was used, and Dad had paid for half of it. He gave me ten stubs for the ten payments I would have to make to the bank to pay off the rest of the loan. I still remember writing a check for $41.03 each month for the next year. That lesson in budgeting was far more important to me in the long run than the car. Later I added life insurance payments and phone bills to my monthly outlays during the first year out of college. That disciplined habit became a part of my life. Pledging weekly to St. Andrew s is part of my routine. I look at it as an investment in the life of my soul! The food we eat nourishes our bodies. And the church takes care of our souls! Week by week we are sustained and uplifted by the liturgy of the Episcopal church, by the ethereal sounds from the choir, and by the thoughtful words in the homilies. The mid-week services provide a quiet moment to gather oneself and focus on things above. In short, St. Andrew s needs our pledges in order to plan ahead and meet the needs of the parish. Every year unforeseen incidents arise that require monies to help with a problem. A person suddenly in need, or a problem with one of the buildings require immediate solutions, and the church steps up to do its part. Your weekly or monthly pledge helps to ensure that St. Andrew s can continue to tend to the souls of all its parishioners. An investment in a used car is one thing, but I know that the investment in my church reaps rewards that I may never fully know. Please continue to support the parish at whatever level is comfortable for you. Ned Reade Chair, Stewardship Commission