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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 December 2012

How the light gets in


Those of you who have been at St. Johns as long as I have may remember a Christmas Eve sermon I gave based on the following lyrics from Leonard Cohens song Anthem Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering There is a crack in everything That's how the light gets in. So if you are worried that you cannot do all the things that Martha Stewart suggests for the perfect Christmas or even the things that you remember as being essential to the season when you were growing us, take a deep breath. Allow Gods holy spirit to fill your lungs and soul. And remember that the less than perfect Christmas, the one with all sorts of cracks of things left undone, may be the one when there was more time for the light of friendship, for time spent with loved ones, for a greater appreciation of all the gifts God has given us, at Christmas and Easter and on every ordinary day of our lives. I wish each of you an Advent season when you have time to prepare your hearts for the coming of Gods love and a Christmas season in which you have the opportunity both to express that love and to hear the loving expressions of others.

Some years it seems harder than others to get into the Christmas spirit. Maybe its a bit harder for me this year because Thanksgiving is the earliest it can be, and Advent, the liturgical season of preparation, doesnt even begin until 10 days later. In homes where there is illness or broken relationships or anxiety about finances, it can also be difficult to feel cheerful and excited about Christmas or other supposed occasions of cheer. The thought of shopping or getting out the holiday decorations can be exhausting and leaving a feelBlessings and Peace, ing of regret rather than joy. Cohens words help me remember that the gift of Jesus at Christmas is Gods way of telling us that we dont have to be perfect at Christmas or any other time. In fact it is in our very imperfections that we are able to accept the gift of the risen Christ as one doing for us that which we cannot do for ourselves, bringing forgiveness for our failures and a reminder of Gods abiding love for us.

Bits&Pieces

HOW WERE DOING SO FAR


OCTOBER 2012 RESULTS
Operating Income Operating Expenses $ 18,881 $ 18,974 $ 157,918 $ 165,211 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. Church Office Hours Office hours are 8:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Give the office a giftcomplete your 2012 pledge before Christmas. The office will be closed between Christmas and New Years. Christmas Flower Envelopes Enclosed Donations can be given in celebration of a person or event, not just for memorials. Please return your envelope to the office by December 13. Altar Guild meets on Saturday, December 15 at 9 AM to polish the silver and brass for Christmas services. Please make every effort to attend. Please call Donna at 860-379-4643 with questions. Diane Hayes will sell her bead jewelry and Christmas ornaments the first two Sundays in December after each of the services to benefit the parish. Drum Circle will resume on the second Sunday of each month starting January 13th at 4:00 PM.

Year To Date
Operating Income Operating Expenses

Sue Bremer, Treasurer

Annual Appeal Results


103 pledge cards were distributed 72 pledge cards returned 43 pledges increased 9 pledges decreased 20 pledges unchanged Total amount pledged to date : $150,364 Pledge Goal for 2013: $192,145 If you have not returned your pledge card, please do so as soon as possible. Thank you.

Shopping Cards
An Easy Way to Help

Now Available for Immediate Purchase $100 Stop & Shop Cards

You Can Change St. JohnsThe November offering was $95.02. We collect all month so feel free to bring in at any time and bless it on the first Sunday of the month. The total to date including November offering is $846.46. Prayer Shawls: If any of our knitters have prayer shawls finished by early December, please bring them in.

Special ShoppingDec.
Double Help for St. Johns Weekly Card Sales Cards sold every Sunday thru Dec. 16. Card percentages for St. Johns doubled. Shop with cards or give them as gifts while also giving to ministry.

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. Special thanks to Gordon Ross and everyone involved in the Fall Garden Clean Up. Special thanks to Ron & Joan Caine, Rose Osborne and Tom Chappell for cleaning the church. Thank you to the following parishioners who have returned their 2012 pledge cards: Denise Addessa, Larry & Leah Alibozek, David & Debi Althen, Ann & Robert Atwood, Eileen & Dick Bartram, Donna & Stephen Brehm, Sue & Brad Bremer, Nancy Butler, Anne & Bud Buttrick, Joan & Ron Caine, Lenore & Kevin Case, Betty & Henry Castonguay, Tom Chappell, Ellen & David Childs, Donna & Gary Colavecchio, Larry & Kristie Espinet, Candy Flaherty, Barbara & Peter Freigant, Laura Frey, Fran & Roger Frigon, Julie & John Gargiulo, Nancy Gibson, Anne & James Hall, Blake & Sue Hall, Joyce & Paul Halladay, Diane & Guy Hayes, Jill & Michael Healey, Barbara & David Henri, Barbara Hinman, Peggy & Ralph Hitchcock, Ginny Hoffman, Susie & Gray Horn, Tracy & Scott Hoskins, Sherri & Mel Johnson, Brian & Susan Jones, Judy Jones, Marie Keefe, Joe Kenney, Bobbie & Ken Krohner, Helen Kurau, Nancy & Jeff Linton, Salin & Bill Low, Mae & Iggy Makarevich, Howard Martin, Lucie & Louis Martocchio, Sanna & Mert Messenger, Lois Moraski, Suzi & Stan Moraski, Luke & Christine Nelson, Rose & Bob Osborne, Norma Pappalardo, Barbara & Paul Patch, Sue & Don Phillips, Gary Pontelandolfo, Winnie & Leon Pratt, Maureen & Phil Prelli, Molly Sexton Read, Kathy & Andy Riberdy, Joanne Ritchie, Joan Rock, Caren & Gordon Ross, Nancy & Joe Russo, Jill & Rick Smith, Maggie & Peter Stull, Wes Todd, Meg & Joe Toro, Debbie & Wally Truss, Laura & Bruce Wearne, Cynthia & Bill Welch, Carol & Mac Wilson. Thanks to all who helped with Peters Retreat this year. Stay tuned for an invitation to help in the coming year. Thanks to everyone who helps with the mission and ministry of St. Johns.

NEWS FROM DEACON DENISE


Literacy Training will be held at St. Johns on Thursday, December 13, 2012 from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. If you have not already signed up and would like to attend, please let Denise know. Knitting Group On the first Sunday of the month, we get together after each of the Services during coffee hour to knit. If you want to give it a try, Denise is able to show you the basic knitting stitch that youd need to learn in order to make a simple scarf or prayer shawl. Come join us!! Open Door Soup Kitchen will be on Saturday, December 15th from 9 AM1PM. This is the start of a new ministry for St. Johns! Volunteers will be needed for the 3rd Saturday of every month. A minimum of 5 people are needed to participate each month with either cooking, serving, answering phones, and/or stocking canned foods, etc. There will be sign up sheets on the board downstairs for January-June 2013. Please sign up as often as you are able!

Coffee Hour Hosts Needed


10:00 a.m. Service
This is an important part of our ministry of hospitality to visitors, to children, to one another. A sign up sheet is located in the parish hall.

December 9th
Holy Eucharist @ 8am Lessons & Carols & Eucharist @ 10am

Christmas Worship

Christmas Day
Holy Eucharist @ 10am

Christmas Eve
Family Service @ 5pm (Children help with nativity) Festival Eucharist @ 10pm (Caroling & Anthems @ 9:45)

December 30th January 6th


Festival of Epiphany Holy Eucharist @ 8 am Pageant & Eucharist @ 10am Luncheon & Cake Morning Prayer @ 10am Sermon & Hymns

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

JESSE TREE
Has Arrived!!!! Return Gifts By December 9th
Take a tag and purchase a gift for a needy child. This is an annual outreach project at St. Johns. We will provide a stocking, a gift, and an item of clothing for 25 children. Cash donations will be accepted to provide a holiday meal for each family (approximately 12 families). Anyone interested in helping with sorting and delivery of the gifts may call the office at 379-3062 or contact Beth Coates at 379-2488 or b.coates@charter.net.

news from

church school

Advent II at St. Johns December 9th


Ingathering of Jesse Tree Gifts Lessons & Carols 10 AM Service Lunch and Preparing for Christmas Activities Christmas Caroling at Valerie Manor January 6thEpiphany Pageant - 10 AM Service. The format will be similar to last year with children, youth and adults taking key leadership in the pageant.

December 2012
St. Johns Church Calendar of Events
Anniversaries in Italics

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri
1

Sat

Holy Eucharist 8:00 & 10:00 AM

Holy Eucharist 7:30 PM 8:00 PM AA

8:30 PM AA

Holy Eucharist 8:00 & 10:00 AM Lessons & Carols at 10:00 AM Jesse Tree Gifts Lunch/Caroling

10

11

12

Holy Eucharist 7:30 PM 8:00 PM AA

13

14

8:30 PM AA

15

Open Door Altar Guild Polishing 9:00 AM

16

Holy Eucharist 8:00 & 10:00 AM

17

Vestry 7:00 PM

18

19

Holy Eucharist 7:30 PM 8:00 PM AA

20

21

8:30 PM AA

22

23

Holy Eucharist 8:00 & 10:00 AM

24

Christmas Eve Services at 5 & 10 PM Office Closed

25

Holy Eucharist 10 AM

26

Office Closed

No. Service 8:00 PM AA James & Holly Hall Office Closed

27

28

8:30 PM AA

29

Sue & Brad Bremer

Office Closed

Office Closed

Morning Prayers & Hymns 10:00 AM Barbara & David Henri Kathy & Stephen Jakubowski

30

31

Office Closed

December Birthdays
Larry Espinet 7-Dec Halyna Petronchak 7-Dec Frank Misiorski 11-Dec Zachary Marek

1-Dec

17-Dec 17-Dec 17-Dec 17-Dec 18-Dec

Alan Welch Alan Welch Reid Gargiulo Louis Martocchio Tracy Hoskins

20-Dec 22-Dec 23-Dec 25-Dec 26-Dec

Lucas Alibozek Drew Warren Marita Chicoski Gayle Moraski Max O'Neill

28-Dec 29-Dec 30-Dec 31-Dec

Danny Hoskins Ralph Hitchcock Robert Atwood Meg Toro

Thanks to Deacon Denises efforts, four new lay Eucharistic ministers, Carol Wilson, Gary Pontelandolfo, Jill Smith, and Donna Colavecchio, have been trained to take communion to folks who cant get to church due to illness. Bob Osborne was already a LEM and will continue to take communion as needed.

After having a wonderful time on a hike in October, Gary Pontelandolfo and company decided to take a hike at Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton on Nov. 5.

We know Thanksgiving is coming when we make stone coup. Kids bring ingredients, chop, and combine them. Linda taught them about the soups meaning while it cooked. Afterward we all enjoyed the fruits of their labor!

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