Saint John’s

The Episcopal Church

in Pine Meadow, CT

February 2019 Issue

 From the Rector
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As I write here from the parish office, the wind is roaring and
my phone tells me that it is -5 degrees outside. The idea of
making my way home does not seem attractive, despite know-
ing that a warm welcome awaits.
Recently, folks have been asking about the scheduling of clas-
ses, meetings, and worship during difficult weather and if it
wouldn’t it make sense to reschedule meetings and even wor-
ship. My response has always been that “I am willing to cancel
meetings for a stiff wind, however we will always gather for
worship.” On this, the 10th anniversary of my priestly ordination,
I can say that those words remain true.
Making our way out in the midst of difficult conditions for a
meeting does not make sense and the risks involved in gather-
ing sometimes outweigh the benefits. It is my hope that each of
you uses your best judgment in deciding whether or not to ven-
ture out. You are the best judge of whether or not it is right for
you. I will always respect your decision.
As a priest, I have come to a different decision about cancela-
tion of our Eucharistic worship. Certainly there will be times
when the closing of roads or a surprise storm will make it im-
possible for me to get to St. John’s. I do take every precaution
to ensure that if there is inclement weather predicted, I get my-
self to within walking distance of the church. That is the deci-
sion that I have made for myself. It is my hope that each of you
uses your best judgment in deciding whether or not to venture
out. You are the best judge of whether or not it is right for you. I
will always respect your decision.
The reason that I try so hard not to cancel the Holy Eucharist is
best explained by the quotation by Dom Gregory Dix in the
facing column. I am trying my best to obey the command that
Jesus gave his disciples to do this in remembrance of him and
to fulfill the promise I made to God and Bishop Ahrens ten
years ago at my ordination – to week by week, and month by
month…faithfully and unfailingly just to make the plebs sancta
Dei—the holy common people of God.
Thank you for the pleasure, privilege, and responsibility of serv-
ing as your priest.
The Rev. Sandra L. Cosman
St. John’s Monthly Donations Schedule
February – Socks and Underwear –
Distributed to The Open Door Soup Kitchen, Winsted, CT.
March – St. John’s Little Free Pantry Supplies
From Dom Gregory Dix - The Shape of the Liturgy
At the heart of [Christian worship] is the eucharistic action,
a thing of absolute simplicity— the taking, blessing, break-
ing and giving of bread, and the taking, blessing and giv-
ing of a cup of wine and water, as these were first done
with their new meaning by a young Jew before and after
supper with His friends on the night before He died… He
had told His friends to do this henceforward with the new
meaning “for the anamnesis” [recalling] of Him, and they
have done it always since. Was ever another command
so obeyed?
For century after century, spreading slowly to every conti-
nent and country and among every race on earth, this
action has been done, in every conceivable human cir-
cumstance, for every conceivable human need from in-
fancy and before it to extreme old age and after it, from
the pinnacle of earthly greatness to the refuge of fugitives
in the caves and dens of the earth. Men have found no
better thing than this to do for kings at their crowning and
for criminals going to the scaffold; for armies in triumph or
for a bride and bridegroom in a little country church; for
the proclamation of a dogma or for a good crop of wheat;
for the wisdom of the Parliament of a mighty nation or for
a sick old woman afraid to die; for a schoolboy sitting an
examination or for Columbus setting out to discover Amer-
ica; for the famine of whole provinces or for the soul of a
dead lover; in thankfulness because my father did not die
of pneumonia; for a village headman much tempted to
return to fetich because the yams had failed; because the
Turk was at the gates of Vienna; for the repentance of
Margaret; for the settlement of a strike; for a son for a bar-
ren woman; for Captain so-and-so wounded and prisoner
of war; while the lions roared in the nearby amphitheatre;
on the beach at Dunkirk; while the hiss of scythes in the
thick June grass came faintly through the windows of the
church; tremulously, by an old monk on the fiftieth anni-
versary of his vows; furtively, by an exiled bishop who had
hewn timber all day in a prison camp near Murmansk;
gorgeously, for the canonisation of S. Joan of Arc— one
could fill many pages with the reasons why men have
done this, and not tell a hundredth part of them. And best
of all, week by week and month by month, on a hundred
thousand successive Sundays, faithfully, unfailingly,
across all the parishes of Christendom, the pastors have
done this just to make the plebs sancta Dei—the holy
common people of God.
 Children’s Ministry
Newsletter
Godly Play
Our Epiphany season began with
a wonderful pageant on Jan 6th
where we listened and saw our
young members of St. John’s pro-
claim the Good News of Christ’s
birth. They began our Gospel sto-
ries of God’s presence in the world
in Christ.
During this season our children will
be hearing and wondering about
the parables of Jesus. We are for-
tunate this year to have a long
Epiphany season so we will be
able to hear many that time does
not always allow. During February
our stories will be:
The Good Shepherd, The Good
Samaritan, The Prodigal Son, and
The Mustard Seed.
March 3rd is Pretzel Sunday, when
our children make pretzels in
preparation for Lent which will
begin with Ash Wednesday,
March 6th.
On Ash Wednesday our family
friendly service will be held at
6:00PM where our children help us:
Cut and burn the palms from
previous years to make
the ashes for the service.
Bury the ALLELUIA for the season
to be brought out on
Easter with all it glory.
Red Door Youth meets once a
month on Thursday evening and is
open to anyone acolyte age and
above. We will be meeting:
February 28th, March 28th, April
25th, and May 23rd from 4:30pm
to 6pm.
Linda Snyder
Christian Formation Specialist
Dates to Note
Day of Racial Healing, Justice,
and Reconciliation Our ECCT An-
nual Convention in 2018 ap-
proved a resolution setting aside
the second Sunday in February (in
2019 this is Feb. 10) "as a Day of
Racial Healing, Justice, and Rec-
onciliation, during which parishes
are asked to begin a conversation
about the sin of racism in our lives
and in the world. Please plan to
join us for this important time in the
life of the Church.
Trinity Episcopal Church – Choral
Evensong – February 24th at
7:30pm. For more information, see
Halyna.
Red Door Youth - Mark your cal-
endars -February 28th, March
28th, April 25th, and May 23rd
from 4:30pm to 6pm. Middle
School students and up are invit-
ed.
Vestry Meeting – Our vestry next
meets on Thursday, February 28th.
Please hold us in your prayers.
NWR7 Mardi Gras Concert – Tues-
day, March 5th join us for an
evening of jazz and ice cream!
Ash Wednesday Services – March
6th at noon and 7:30pm
Happening #3 – A Ministry of ECCT
for teens and by teens – March 8-
10th.
Save The Date – 7th Annual Spring
Training & Gathering – Saturday,
April 27, 2019 -9am-4pm, Lincoln
Middle School, 164 Centennial
Avenue, Meriden, CT.
Confirmation, Reception, and Re-
affirmation of Baptismal Vows
Classes – will begin after the
Christmas. Please see Mother
Cosman if you are interested to
discuss dates and times.
Safe Church Training – St. John’s
will be hosting a Safe Church
Training Class on May 4th from
9am-4pm. Registrants need to
arrive at 8:30am. Lunch and re-
freshments will be provided.
Please see Sandra or Michelle with
any questions. Please register at:
https://safechurchtrainingbasicfull
day542019pinemeadow.eventbrit
e.com/
Bishop’s Visitation – The Rt. Rev.
Ian Douglas, Bishop Diocesan, will
be with us on Sunday, June 23,
2019. During this time the bishop
will meet with the vestry and par-
ish leaders and lead worship, in-
cluding Confirmation, Reception,
and Reaffirmation.
Celebration for 50th Wedding An-
niversaries – Sunday, May 19; 3:00
PM – 5:30 PM, Christ Church Ca-
thedral will host a Golden Wed-
ding Anniversary Celebration for
couples married for fifty years (or
more). Liturgy will include renewal
of marriage vows and commemo-
rative certificates for all couples. A
reception will follow. Bishops
Douglas and Ahrens will preside at
this joyful service. Please contact
the office if you are interested.
ST. JOHN’S LITTLE FREE PANTRY -
Cooler temperatures have arrived!
While we continue to stock our
inside Pantry with many food
items, here are just a few sugges-
tions for stocking our outside LFP
during the cooler months: Hand
Warmers, Chap Stick, Kleenex,
Gloves, Hot Cocoa, Toothbrushes,
Playing Cards (new or used),
Cough Drops, Coloring Books, Vit-
amin C Drops, Hygiene Products.
Coffee Drinkers and Morning
Snack Lovers Needed - If morning
noshes are part of your way of
being in the world, please consid-
er signing up to host coffee hour!
2019 Altar Flowers – The 2019 Cal-
endar is up in the narthex for Altar
flowers sign up. Suggested dona-
tion is $60. Also, if you would like to
have the Sanctuary Candle burn
in someone’s memory, please
contact the office.
 CHRISTMAS AT ST. JOHN’S

ST. JOHN’S CHOIR

ST. JOHN’S ALTAR GUILD-POLISHING

CHARLOTTE DUFOUR RECIPIENTS

EPIPHANY PAGEANT
 Open Door
Soup
Kitchen
Join our team
for February
16th at St.
James in Thank you to Cynthia Welch and the members of the
Winsted. Altar Guild for their loving care of our sanctuary and
9:00am– polishing the silver, putting wreaths on the door and
1:00pm
decorating the Church with Christmas Flowers. Thanks
to everyone who contributed to the Christmas Flowers.
COFFEE HOUR FOLLOWING SUNDAY Thank you to Halyna Petronchak & The Choir for
SERVICES – their hard work preparing the music for Lessons &
A sign up sheet is posted in the parish hall. All parish- Carols and for the Christmas Services. Thanks to Ron
ioners who attend the 10AM service are requested to Caine, Tom Chappell, Bruce Wearne, Bob Os-
host at least once this fall/winter. Coffee supplies other borne, Jeff Linton, Nancy Butler and Rick Smith
than cream are available in the kitchen. for cleaning the church. Thank you to our Soup
Kitchen Crew for their hard work. Thank you to
PARISH REGISTER – Contact Information, Barbara Hinman for folding all the newsletters
Birthdays & Anniversaries Needed Please email throughout the year. Thank you to Beth Coates for
Michelle, our Parish Administrator at the Parish Office at coordinating the Jesse Tree. Thanks to all the elves
for helping sort the gifts. Thanks to everyone who
office@RedDoors.com with updates of your email and
donated gifts, money and food, for Christmas Meals.
phone contact information. Also, we love to honor folks The collection was a wonderful success due to your
on their birthdays and anniversaries. Please let us know generosity. Thank you to Jamie & Chris Snyder and
the month and day, so that we can celebrate with you! Linda Snyder for all their hard work with the Epipha-
ny Pageant and thank you to all the volunteers. Thank
St. John’s Community you to Linda Snyder for coordinating our updated
shares our prayer requests Godly Play schedule and supporting our Godly Play
leaders. Thank you to Ginny Hoffmann, Betty
via our weekly email. Castonguay, Winnie Pratt, Howie Martin, Nancy
Please contact Anne Hall Butler, Nancy Gibson, Joanne Ritchie and Mary
at annechall@att.net or the Fiorillo, our office volunteers.
Parish Office to be added
to the list. Thanks to everyone who participates in the mission
and ministry of St. John’s.
PASTORAL CONTACT THE PARISH OFFICE TO ADD YOUR THANKS TO
VISITS AND HOME THE NEXT EDITION OF THE PORTAL.
COMMUNIONS
Please email the office at of-
fice@RedDoors.com if you -
also contact Mother Cosman if TREASURER’S NOTE:
Parish Finances YTD as of February 3, 2019
you enter the hospital.
2019 Pledges $177,455 2019 Budget: $208,809
Al-Anon Meetings – Are you bothered by some- Pledges Received:
Pledge Goal:
$ 11,987 YTD Actuals:
$ 13,650 Operating Revenue: $
one’s drinking? Al-Anon can help. Please join us on Difference: $ -1,663 Operating Expense: $
Friday mornings at St. John’s Parish Hall at 10:00am. Difference:
Operating Revenues and Operating Expenses numbers will be
available after close of January.
Thanks to everyone for their generous giving. If you have not
HEALING EUCHARIST – Thursday pledged for 2019, it is not too late. Pledge sheets are in the nar-
thex. Thank you. Diane Hayes, Treasurer
evenings at 6:30pm. Please join us!
 Saint. John’s
The Episcopal Church in Pine Meadow
51 Church Street – P.O. Box 27
Pine Meadow, Connecticut 06061
RedDoors.com

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my
prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. Phil. 1

CONTACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW 2019 PORTAL DEADLINES

Saint John’s Saint John’s 2018 Vestry Publication Deadline:
The Episcopal Church in Pine Meadow Sr. Warden: Month Noon, Friday
51 Church Street – P.O. Box 27 Stanley Moraski Stanleymoraskijr@comcast.com
Pine Meadow, CT 06061 Jr. Warden:
March February 27
Ph: 860-379-3062 Anne Hall annechall81@yahoo.com
Treasurer:
April March 27
Office Hours: Diane Hayes hayesd@snet.net
Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Clerk of the Vestry:
After Hours Emergency Only: Beth Coates b.coates@charter.net May April 24
Priest in Charge 860-227-6991
Seminarian Intern: Darryl Burke - darrylburke June/July May 29
Rector: @yahoo.com
The Rev. Sandra Lee Cosman, M.Div. August July 24
E-Mail: Sandra.Cosman@gmail.com Members:
Ryan Patch (2020) patcher4680@gmail.com Sept/October September 4
Secretary: Virginia Hoffmann(2020) 3mccabe8@gmail.com
Michelle Piekos Jeff Linton(2021) lintonj@charter.net November October 23
E-Mail: Office@RedDoors.com Christopher Olson(2021) cjolson7@yahoo.com
Mary Fiorillo (2022) marefio45@gmail.com
December/January November 27
Music Director: Susie Horn (2022) susanhustonhorn
Halyna Petronchak @sbcglobal.net
E-mail: Halyna191@gmail.com
ECCT Delegates:
Christian Education Specialist: Robert Osborne rkosborne_98@yahoo.com
Linda L. Snyder Anne Hall annechall81@yahoo.com
Email: llsnyders4@charter.net
Mission & Outreach Ministries: Deadline for
Web sites: Laura & Bruce Wearne moseyworks@gmail.com the March
St. John’s: www RedDoors.com Portal is noon, February 27th
facebook.com/stjohnspinemeadow/ Altar Guild: Word limit is 250.
ECCT: EpiscopalCT.org Cynthia Welch welchcbma@sbcglobal.net Send information to
office@RedDoors.com
Intercessory Prayer List Requests: