of St.

Johns in Pine Meadow

St. Johns mission is to nurture all people in their spiritual growth, in their Christian education, and in their relationship with God. The Rev. Salin Low, Rector September 2012

Of fountain pens and the church

While Bill and I were in Florida for his grandsons college graduation, we met one of Geoffreys friends, a college graduate herself who is attending graduate school in physical therapy. Somehow the conversation turned to fountain pens, which Geoff and his friend had evidently discussed. The friend seemed totally mystified by the whole idea of such pens. Shed never heard of a pen you have to fill with ink. Dont they all come with ink already in them? Whats with the metal tip? They look too precious to take with you every day. Id hate to lose one. All the way back from Florida, Bill, who rarely writes with anything but a fountain pen, was completely dumbfounded that a college graduate would not even know that fountain pens exist. Its clear that Geoffs friend views the world and whats in it very differently than Bill and I. What was also clear was that learning about fountain pens didnt mean that a young woman could see much point for them in her life. As St. Johns gears up for the beginning of the academic year, I wonder if the church spends too much time taking care of spiritual fountain pens ideas and practices that are not part of the world of those under 40 and that are presented in such a way that they seem too fragile or precious to be of much use in the rest of life. I have invested my life in the belief that the Gospel of Jesus Christ conveys a timeless truth about the love of God, a truth that can strengthen the lives of believers with new purpose and direction every day. But its evident that there are lots of people - young and old - who consider the Gospel as much a part of their lives as fountain pens. In preparing for the coming year, we have been trying to go beyond the way weve always done things to plan programs and activities that will be more helpful to young and old alike as they live in todays world. Well start the year with our usual welcome back registration and picnic on September 9. In addition on that day we will be having a parents meeting for those in Church School. Well also be asking adults what topics they might like to study or discuss to help with their formation. Later in the fall well shift the schedule a bit to allow greater opportunities for adult learning, children and youth to attend worship with their parents, teachers to worship more fully. We believe these changes can help all of us to strengthen our faith. Thanks to Deacon Denise and members of the Vestry, there are also new outreach efforts inwhich you can participate. These will be focused mainly on areas close to where we live, so that we can see ways to love and help our neighbor throughout the week. In these ways and others we are trying to demonstrate that the Gospel imperative to love God and our neighbor isnt simply a quaint notion from another time like a fountain pen. It is the way we can shape our lives to give them greater meaning. It is the way we can see God in our lives and make him known in the lives of others. See you in September and through the year!

Bits & Pieces

HOW WERE DOING SO FAR
JULY 2012 RESULTS
Operating Income Operating Expenses $ 11,211 $ 17,191 $ 105, 802 $ 113,347 Prayer Requests Requests are handled confidentially through the office during the rectors absence. Prayers will continue for a month unless other time periods are specified. You may fill out a prayer request form or call the office at 379-3062. Wednesday Evening ServiceIts the new Sunday. Please join us at 7:30 on Wednesday evenings for a quiet service offering time for reflection and prayer. Anointing for healing of mind, body and spirit is offered following communion. Church Office Hours Office hours will be 8:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday beginning in September. Greeters at 8 or 10 AM Chalice Bearers & Readers at 8 AM Speak with the rector or call the office (379-3062) if you would like to become a greeter at either the 8 am or 10 a.m. service. You will serve with a partner and be on the rotation approximately once every 6 weeks. Complete instructions will be provided. We also have openings for Chalice Bearers and Readers at 8 AM.

Year To Date
Operating Income Operating Expenses

Please remember to keep your pledge current during the summer months, because we have no provision for endowment withdrawals in 2012. Note: If you use online bill pay, you could schedule summer pledge payments even if you will be away. Sue Bremer, Treasurer

Shopping Cards
An Easy Way to Help When you buy shopping/gift cards through St. Johns, you are making a contribution that does not cost you financially. It may take a little planning. Orders are taken the 1st and 3rd Sundays, and cards are delivered on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. Order folds are available in the narthex and can be placed in the lockbox at any time.

Calling All Acolytes

In September we will train new acolytes and torchbearers. For the coming year young people in the 5th grade and up will be included. Adults are also encouraged to serve as crucifers or 8:00 a.m. chalice bearers. Create your own mite box to collect loose coins. The accumulation of small gifts can make a big difference in the work of the church. Bring your coins to the church anytime to be combined with others gifts and presented at the altar on the first Sunday of the month. The August offering was $174.00 All current acolytes and torch bearers are asked to contact the office by September 4 and let us know if you plan to continue serving and if you have particular scheduling needs. Email the office (office@reddoors.com) or call 860-379-3062.

PARISH REGISTER
(Broadly Defined)
The register is broadly defined, because there are events in the lives of parishioners and their families which are not recorded in St. Johns register. It is good, however, for us to hear about these events in each others lives. Let the office know about happenings in your own life and in the lives of other parishioners, especially hospitalizations.
Births August Ezra Hinman (Son of Amy & Tom Hinman) (Grandson of Barbara Hinman) Baptisms Jessica Dawn Hinman Warren Peter Hinman Grayson Daniel Hinman

PETERS RETREAT
Upcoming Date September 22nd
Go with a group to take dinner to an AIDS residence in Hartford. Each month a group from St. Johns coordinates and serves a meal. The Alibozeks will coordinate the September Meal. Special thanks to Laura & Bruce Wearne, Jean Welcome & Denise Adessa for taking the August meal. Contact Deacon Denise with questions about this ongoing outreach project.

Many thanks to the summer greeters for a super job providing snacks and coffee at the 9:00 am service. Special thanks to all garden care volunteers for their many hours of work in the Gill Memorial Garden this summer. Thank you to Rose Osborne for meeting with the roofing contractor to review the status of the church roof. Many thanks to Mac Wilson for assisting in the repair of the church elevator. Special thanks to Ron & Joan Caine and Tom Chappell for cleaning the church. Thank you to Jill Smith for coordinating the Blood Drive and for those who helped! We had 23 donors this year. We baked! We registered! We gave! We prayed! Many lives will be enriched. Thanks to everyone who helps with the mission and ministry of St. Johns.

Return of the Pencil Boxes

We have been asked once again to help provide pencil boxes filled with school supplies to needy children in Hartford. $5.00 will outfit one box. Donations can be sent to the office or placed in the pencil box located in the church between September 2 & September 30. Remember that without our help these children will have nothing new for school.

Coffee Hour Hosts

10:00 a.m. Service
This is an important part of our ministry of hospitality to visitors, to children, to one another. Coffee supplies other than cream are available in the kitchen. Baked goods are terrific, whether home baked or purchased whatever works for you. A sign-up sheet for the fall is posted in the parish hall. All parishioners who attend the 10 a.m. service are requested to host at least once this fall.

Mailing Address & Email for College Students

Please share this information with the office, so we can keep in touch with college students while they are away from St. Johns.

September 9 Church School & Choir Return at 10 Picnic Parents Meeting

September 15 Church in the Park 2 pm Bushnell Park September 16 New Hartford Day 11-4 Brodie Park

September 28 September 23 Farewell to Pat Luncheon Following 10 am Italian Dinner & Songfest Silent Auction 6pm Brodie

P. O. Box 27 Pine Meadow, CT 06061 Phone: 860 379-3062 www.reddoors.com

Address Correction

The Episcopal Church Were Here For You

Sunday Worship 8:00 & 10:00 a.m. September
Wednesday 7:30 pm

Welcome Michelle Piekos New Parish Secretary

Michelle has been training for her new role since early August, in order to prepare for Pat Wards retirement in September. Michelle has extensive bookkeeping experience, which is needed in our office. She is a hard worker and willing to learn our particular way of doing things. Thanks to Pats extensive documentation and nearly 17 years of experience, Michelle should be off to a good start. Michelle is a lifelong resident of the area and already knows some of you. Stop by the office to meet her and to help her learn about St. Johns.

New Hartford Day

September 16

Amber Alert Sign-Up

St. Johns will once again be participating in this annual event. This year we will be sponsoring a session to sign up children for the Amber Alert data base, which provides information to police departments in the event there is a missing child. The equipment is provided by the Rotary Club of Avon-Canton, and we need to have a couple of people in our booth throughout the day. We would also like baked goods to give to children after they are signed up. Contact Judy Jones (nunijones@yahoo.com or 860-7388775) for further information or to help.

September 2012
St. Johns ChurchCalendar of Events
Anniversaries in Italics

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri
1

Sat

Holy Eucharist 8 & 10 AM

Labor Day

Anne & Bud Buttrick

7:30 PM Holy Eucharist 8:00 PM AA

Tracy & Scott Hoskins

8:30 PM AA

Holy Eucharist 8 & 10 AM Church School Begins 10 AM

10

Debbie & David Althen

11

12

7:30 PM Holy Eucharist 8:00 PM AA

13

14

8:30 PM AA

15

Church by the Pond 2 PM

16

Holy Eucharist 8 & 10 AM New Hartford Day11-4

17

18

19

7:30 PM Holy Eucharist 8:00 PM AA

20

21

8:30 PM AA

22

Peters Retreat

23

Holy Eucharist 8 & 10 AM

24

Vestry 7 PM

25

Peggy & Ralph Hitchcock

26

7:30 PM Holy Eucharist 8:00 PM AA

27

28

8:30 PM AA Italian Dinner/ Songfest 6 PM

29

30

Holy Eucharist 8 & 10 AM

September Birthdays 9/1 Mary Lemp 9/3 Lucie Martocchio 9/3 Stan Moraski 9/5 Donna Brehm 9/6 Mae Makarevich

9/9 9/11 9/12 9/14 9/16 9/17

Susie Horn Brad Bremer Gina Russo John Budny Paula Jessen Grace Frey

9/18 9/18 9/20 9/20 9/20 9/24

Mark Jessen Joan Rock Ginny Hoffmann Barbara Hinman Salin Low Mary Healey

9/25 9/29 9/30

Bill Welch Carol Wilson David Althen

The hospitality committee served pancakes at coffee hour on August 5th to welcome David Owen as supply priest for the month.

On July 25 Jessica Hinman and her two sons Warren and Grayson were baptized at St. Johns. Proud husband and father Peter was in attendance.

Mac and his grandson Jake have been busy with church maintenance this summer. Thanks for helping with repair of the church elevator and lawn mowing.

Homecoming
Church by the Pond/Lunches in the Park: Saturday, Sept. 15. 2 pm. The outdoor Eucharist Service at Bushnell Park in Hartford begins at 2 pm followed at 3 pm by the distribution of lunches (prepared in the morning by members of St. Johns) to the homeless. Please come to the Service (near the Carousel) where Salin will preside and stay to hand out lunches if you'd like. Theres a collection box in the narthex for the following: Shampoo, Soap, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Combs and/or Brushes. These items will be given to Church St. Eats Coordinator Rose Eagan-Fichera, for distribution the following day. The Open Door Soup Kitchen in Winsted is very much in need of Volunteers for the 3rd Saturday of each month from 9am - 1pm. The Soup Kitchen supplies all the food needed for the lunches from private and corporate donations so we would not need to provide any of the food ourselves. We would cook/ prepare whatever was on the menu right there on site earlier in the morning, serve lunch from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm and then clean up. We already have volunteers for our first Saturday, October 20. Sign Up sheets will be posted in advance for Saturday, Nov. 17th and Dec.15th. They are also looking for volunteers on Monday mornings anytime between 9am -11am until 1pm. Or if you'd like to help by answering the phone on Thursdays and/or Fridays, please feel free to contact the Director, Carrie Delaney, at the Soup Kitchen (860-738-2449) between 9am and 1pm. Northwest Literacy Volunteers of Winsted is looking for tutors for all ages. You make your own hours! If enough interest is generated, the director is will to come to St. Johns to train. If you would like to explore this ministry, please let Deacon Denise know (860-408-1316). Children Youth Families

Sunday, Sept 9th

Church School 10:00 AM (children join the service at The Sign of the Peace) Worship 10:00AM Parents meeting following worship Join us to discuss Children and Youth Ministries in our Parish, take a look at the fall calendar, and hear about enrichment programming scheduled for this fall Followed by our Fall Family Picnic Please bring side dishes to share Registration Forms Now Available Go to www.reddoors.com and click on Misc. tab or Contact Linda L. Snyder at: 860-738-9029 Email: llsnyders4@charter.net