st. james’ mission statementimages.acswebnetworks.com/1/573/novembernet2014.pdf · st. james’...

Volume 10 Issue 10 THE NET

November 2014

The Net

St . James Episcopal Church

St. James’ Mission Statement

St. James is called to serve God, Christ, and the community of Greater New London.

Adopted by the Vestry May 2001

From the Rector’s Desk

There is an old saying, “A preacher only has one sermon, and it is just preached over and

over again.” And, while the saying is a bit inaccurate, I believe there is also a great deal of

truth to it. As I began thinking about this month’s article for The NET, I immediately thought

about “community,” and its importance in our Parish life. Immediately I thought how often

that topic seems to come up in my monthly articles. So, while I’ll apologize for yet another

article about “community,” it seems such an important part of both Jesus’ message, how

he lived his earthly life, and how he calls us to live our lives—within community.

So why, at this time, might community seem so prominent in my mind? Certainly a rational

question. Maybe it is because as we enter November, thoughts frequently turn to

Thanksgiving Day and the celebration so common to American families. When I was a

child, it was one of the three “big” family days (as you might expect, the other two were

Christmas and Easter); a time when my extended family actually looked forward to getting

together, enjoying each other’s company, playing with cousins seen

only occasionally, eating (more than enough) good food, and just

being with each other.

As I’ve gotten older, Thanksgiving has become my dedicated

“retreat time,” when I head off to Holy Cross Monastery for a few

days down time, some serious time to reflect before beginning the

Advent/Christmas and Epiphany seasons, and to center myself for

the increased work responsibilities of the upcoming holidays. There,

a group of Holy Cross Associates that I usually only see at

Thanksgiving are gathered together! And it becomes more than a

retreat; it is the gathering of community formed around our love of

Jesus, our service to God, and a common relationship to the Order

of the Holy Cross.

Also, while we are a pretty self-contained Parish located in

southeastern Connecticut, here in the New England heart of

Some “news” 3

Birthdays 4

Thanks 5

Outreach 7-9

Music 10-11

Inreach 13

Financial information 14-15

Inside this issue:

THE NET Volume 10 Issue 10

The Net …

is the newsletter of St.

James’ Church, New

London, Connecticut.

It is published eleven

times a year

(September through

June and a Summer

issue) for the

information and

edification of St.

James’ members and

friends.

Submissions are always

welcome and should

be submitted by the

tenth of the month

before publication.

While your submission is

always welcome, we

would prefer to receive

it by e-mail, or memory

stick in Microsoft Word

format (Word 98 or

later).

Please continue to

forward your

submissions to the

Church Office or email

them to: [email protected]

We also welcome your

comments and

suggestions. This is your

newsletter.

76 Federal Street

New London CT 06320-6601

860.443.4989

www.stjamesnl.org

Congregationalism, each Sunday, during our Prayers of the

People, we pray for our local and extended communities.

We pray for the Archbishop of Canterbury, titular head of

the Anglican Communion (of which the Episcopal Church

is a part), and for representative dioceses and churches

within the Communion. We pray for the Presiding Bishop of

The Episcopal Church. We pray for our Diocese, our

Bishops, along with parishes, worshipping communities, and

ministries within the Episcopal Church in Connecticut (the

Diocese of Connecticut). Each week, we also pray for

ourselves, our ministries, our “Parish family members” and

their needs, a clear recognition of our communal life—and

our participation within a community of communities. As

we offer our prayers, we pray for Christ’s global church, all

the way down to this individual church, its members,

friends, and family. We offer prayers for our community

efforts at mission (e.g., The Lord’s Pantry, Healing Ministry,

Blood Pressure Clinic, Community Meal, The Jumble

Shoppe, Quilters, Vestry, and many more), seeking God’s

blessing and support for them.

But each week we also pray for our companion parish, St.

Margaret of Scotland in Aberdeen, Scotland, and their

Rector, Fr. Emsley Nimmo. This helps us keep our

communal relationship alive, as we seek God’s blessing

and support for them and their ministries. As we hold them

up in prayer, we hold them, at least temporarily in our

hearts and minds, and become more aware of the

connections between these distant communities.

As I prepare to “venture across the pond” later this month,

spending time with Fr. Emsley and our St. Margaret-family,

I’ll be there not only representing St. James Parish family,

but that of our Diocese and the greater Episcopal Church

in community with the Scottish Episcopal Church—part of

that extended community for which we pray. While the

relationship began in 1784 with the Consecration of Samuel

Seabury to the episcopate (before his return to

Connecticut as Bishop of the United States and

Connecticut), the relationship is one of “extended family,”

a true community of the faithful. Besides Bishop Seabury,

Rector’s Desk, cont’d


both the Scottish Episcopal Church and The Episcopal Church share the celebration of The

Feast Day of Samuel Seabury (November 14).

This year, I will be blessed (in your name, and to honor this extended community) to be

installed as an Honorary Canon of St. Andrews Cathedral in Aberdeen, Scotland, on The

Feast of Samuel Seabury. I will be surrounded by many “old” and “new” friends—a friend

from seminary and her husband will be there to celebrate with me, Fr. Emsley and I’m sure

members of St. Margaret’s, Bishop (Bob) Gilles, others I met during my 2007 sabbatical, and

new “friends” joining in our celebration of two communities united as one.

In our contemporary world, we often speak of “our shrinking world,” and by focusing on the

communities we are representative of, those we have some connection to, and those

we’re in relationship because of our membership in the Anglican Communion, we can give

thanks to God for calling us out of ourselves, into the struggle of Christians in an alien world,

into community with others sharing the struggle and the journey. So … invite your family

and your friends to join you in this community of friendship, and love, and service to God!

Rector’s Desk, cont’d

Daylight Savings Time Ends:

Sunday, November 2, at 2 a.m.

Reminder: Fr. Michel will be in Scotland from November 4–18. Mother Joan Phelps will be with us on

Sunday November 9 and 16. For pastoral concerns during Fr. Michel’s absence, please

contact the Parish Office (860.443.4989).

Thanksgiving Office Hours: Wednesday, November 26—Ellen will be on vacation. The Parish office will be staffed that

morning by a volunteer and the office will close at 12:30 p.m.

Thursday and Friday, November 27 and 28—Thanksgiving holiday—Office closed.

Regular Parish Office hours resume Monday, December 1: 9 :30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and

1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Some November “News”


November Birthdays The names on this list reflect the information as recorded in the Church Database. Is your

name (or a family member’s name) missing? If so, please contact the Church Office and

1 Frances Gallagher

2 Andrew Stevenson

3 Gwen Carter

7 Ellen Adams

8 Ari Shapiro

10 Jannet Vose

11 Betsy James

13 Grace Barnum

16 Emily Maker

17 Marcos Herrera

19 Stephen Percy

19 Andrew Howell

21 Rocco Brucoli

21 Josh Hatcher-Sneed

22 Maryjane Connell

23 Ethelyn Wardwell

26 Jim Shores

27 Michel Belt

30 Edward Gallagher

Farewell dear friends …

Marjorie Hazard

Richard McKittrick

Norman McPhail

Julie Paris

(daughter of Deanna Bossdorf)

Welcome Our Newest Members

Anaya J. Collins

Miles J. Collins

Alaysia J. Thomas

Robert D. Thomas


Registered voters in Connecticut may vote by absentee ballot if they are

unable to vote in person for any of the following reasons:

Absence from town of registration during all election hours;

Inability to attend polling place due to Illness or physical disability;

Active service in the U.S. Armed Forces;

Religious beliefs that forbid secular activity on election day; or

Service as an election official at a polling place other than the polling place where

they vote.

Registered voters can obtain applications for absentee ballots from their local Town Clerk or

Registrar of Voters:

New London residents: 860.447.5206 Waterford residents: 860.444.5836

November 4—Remember to VOTE!

To Fred Smith and the Men of St. James for the wonderful October brunch to kick off our

new Church season!

To Grace Barnum and Sue Chojnacki, our elected delegates to Diocesan Convention, and

Fr. Michel, for their time and effort in conducting the work of the Diocese.

To the Capital Oversight Committee—Bruce Skinner (Chair), Jerry Miller, Peter Hewitt, Peter

Stanley, Ron Steed, Fr. Michel, and advisor, Walt Chojnacki—-for six-plus years of hard work.

To The Anglican Singers for their first Evensong of the new program year and for a great

reception afterwards.

To Lori Sarkett and those attending the first St. James Supper Group of this Program Year.

To All who donated towels for the Covenant Shelter guests. Many thanks from the guests

and staff of the shelter.

To Andrew Howell, Ronald Steed, Peter Stanley, and Travis LaCombe for planning and

launching Music On Whale Oil Row, our new public music program.


Vestry Notes

Your Vestry held its regular meeting October 7.

Preparations are now under way for the 2015 budget. The Budget Committee will present

the proposed budget to the Vestry in November, and the budget will be voted on by the

Vestry at their December meeting and presented to the Parish during the annual meeting in

January. The Nominating Committee is seeking three Vestry members to serve from 2015

through 2018, along with Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Parish Clerk, Treasurer, Assistant

Treasurer, 1 Delegate to Diocesan Convention, and Parish Historian; these individuals will be

voted on during the Annual Meeting.

Sprigs and Twigs was contracted to remove the trees and shrubbery from the courtyard

along with other trees along our facilities. The trees along the sidewalks were planted by

the City of New London. The City has informed us that they are not responsible for the

damage to sidewalks caused by the tree roots.

An easy-read brochure is being created describing the various Parish ministries of St. James.

The brochure will serve parishioners allowing them to be better able to determine which

ministries are “right” to support.

Respectfully submitted,

Jan Dargel,

Parish Clerk

Parish Brunch—Join us!

Our Menu:

Eggs

Bacon

Potatoes

Biscuits

Fruit Cup

Juice and Coffee/Tea

November 9 is our next monthly Parish Brunch

(after the 10 a.m. service), cooked and

served by the Men of St. James. We ask a $3

per person donation—little enough for a won-

derful meal with good friends and great fel-

lowship. So, don’t miss it!


Once again our St. James parishioners can reach out

with gifts for “those in need” in the New London area.

Items and ages will be on the tree’s ornaments for your

selection – a special way to bring a little extra warmth to

others on Christmas.

And, the “Giving Tree” will be set up in the parish hall

earlier than usual —Sunday, November 23— for those

who like to shop early. Don’t like to shop? Gift cards or

financial donations are gladly accepted for our shopping

elves.


Grace Barnum

Co-Chair

St. James Christmas “Giving” Tree

Blessing of the Animals

This year St. James Blessing of the Animals was held in the Courtyard. Next year you and

your animal(s) can be part of this. Watch for an announcement.


Hats, Mittens, Gloves, and Scarves A basket is in the Parish Hall to collect hats,

mittens, gloves, and scarves for our annual

outreach project. The items may be

handmade or store bought.

If you are unable to shop, we will gladly

accept monetary donations and shop for

you! Checks may be made payable to St.

James with “Hats & Mittens” in the memo

line.

Items will be collected now through

November 23.

We will distribute the hats, mittens, gloves,

and scarves to students within the local

schools in Grades K-5 and the Covenant

Shelter.

If you have questions,

please contact Sue

Chojnacki 860.440.3427

or Theresa Bokoff

860.444.7874.

Thank you.

Socks for the Homeless Hospitality Shelter This holiday season, we are requesting donations of new, white socks for

Shelter guests (male and female). Our goal is to “gift” each guest with three

pairs of socks. They may be wrapped (please note on the outside of the

package if they are men’s or women’s—if unisex, no marking needed) or

unwrapped. If you would like to help with sorting and wrapping at the

Greening of the Church on Sunday, December 21, all are welcome.

Jumble Shoppe Sales continue to be brisk this fall at the shop. We are also blessed with an abundance of

donations, both clothing and housewares. A heart-felt thank-you to all our donors and

volunteers! With your help we have been able to support a wide array of missions and

charities, local and international.

We still need additional volunteers as we continue to store out-of-season clothes and find

display space for goods that are newly donated. Please consider helping out whenever

you have spare time on a Tuesday or Saturday. We also are at the shop on some Friday

afternoons to do "catch-up" organization.

Donations are welcome during the shop's open hours: Tuesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1

p.m. If possible, please bring donations during those hours, or call Dorothy Sieburg at

860.447.2896 to arrange for a delivery time. Thank you for your support.


Dorothy Sieburg,

Co-Manager


Episcopal Relief & Development turns 75

St. Nicholas Fair Mark Sunday, December 7, on your calendar for our bi-annual St.

Nicholas Fair after both a.m. services.

There will be a wonderful selection of items for sale: baby items,

quilts, placemats, wine bottle carriers, etc. made by our St. James

Quilters; yummy jams and pickles made by Beverly Driscoll; holiday

gift items from Ecuador; and many other surprises.

Do your Christmas shopping at the St. Nicholas Fair! All proceeds

benefit St. James Parish or one of our outreach programs.

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Chartier at 860.443.0590.

For 75 years, Episcopal Relief

& Development’s diverse,

faithful community has

responded compassionately

to the suffering in our world.

With your partnership, we

have grown from our

founding in 1940 as a

granting agency into a

respected international

development organization.

We strengthen local

churches and empower

communities to fight poverty,

hunger, and disease with

sustainable, locally-driven

solutions. Together, we reach

more than 3 million people

annually in almost 40

countries.

A gift to the 75th Anniversary

Campaign will help fight

poverty, hunger, and disease

worldwide in the nearly 40

countries where we

work. This most powerful way

to make an impact gives us

the ability to support our

diverse range of

programmatic work that

does not receive specifically

designated contributions.

Our international partnerships

address challenges in some

of the most remote areas of

the world, as well as in urban

environments where extreme

poverty persists. In many of

these places, the Church is

one of the few institutions

people trust and turn to for

help in the absence of

government systems and

services.

Instead of imposing “one-size

-fits-all” solutions, we support

local, long-term initiatives

that address the effects of

poverty and

disaster. Through our Asset-

Based Community

Development methodology,

we work with communities to

identify and unlock their

unique skills, gifts, talents and

resources.


Advent Lessons and Carols

Saint James

Sunday, December 14, 2014

5 p.m.

The Anglican Singers are pleased to welcome our new organist, Jonathan White! An

alumnus of the University of Oxford, Jonathan spent a year as Organ Scholar at

Canterbury Cathedral, and has been actively involved with the Royal Society of Church

Music. He is currently studying for the Master of Arts in Religion degree at the Yale Institute

of Sacred Music, with a concentration in religion and music.

Please plan to join us on December 14 for our Service of Lessons and Carols for Advent.

This year, the choir will present works from a number of prominent composers, including G.

F. Handel, J. Rutter, C. V. Stanford, and R. Vaughan Williams. It promises to be a lovely

oasis in the midst of the Christmas rush.


Friday, December 5 at 7 p.m.

Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992):

La Nativité du Seigneur

(The Birth of the Savior)

Raymond Nagem, organist

Messiaen’s La Nativité du Seigneur (The Birth of the Savior) is arguably one of the most

important organ works of the twentieth century. Its devotional nature is remarkably direct,

for Messiaen possessed a deep-rooted faith and a penetrating theological insight, which

both illuminated his creativity and gave a strongly spiritual dimension to all his work.

Although not initially a part of the Parisian organ tradition, Messiaen grew up artistically

within it and came to explore the organ’s sonorities and tonalities in a radically different

way.

Raymond Nagem, one of the leading organists of his generation, is Associate Organist at

the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, and a C.V. Starr Doctoral Fellow at The

Juilliard School, where he teaches the survey course in organ literature and is a student of

Paul Jacobs. Mr. Nagem earned his B.A. from Yale University, where he studied with

Thomas Murray, and his M.M. from Juilliard. He has previously held positions at The Parish of

All Saints, Ashmont (MA), and Christ Church, New Haven. In addition to his responsibilities

for service playing and choral accompaniment, he works regularly with the Cathedral

Chorale and the Choristers.


Andrew Howell,

Organist/Choirmaster

Music on Whale Oil Row


Fall Parish Clean-up

The fall clean-up was accomplished with ten people, but we cleaned the entire church

proper. I would like to thank Ray Chartier, Ines Granville, Tim Breitenstein, Peter Hewitt,

Margaret Murallo, Gary Koczera, Jerry Miller, Judy Benson, David Higgins, and Nancy Koben

for their conscientious work ethic and for their skills to perform the task at hand. The outside

parking lot was cleaned wherever possible. Thank you once again for your help, it was

greatly appreciated.


Walter Chojnacki,

Buildings & Grounds Chair,

Acolyte Training

We’re looking for a few good

people—interested in

becoming and willing to be

trained as Acolytes.

An Acolyte might carry the

crucifix, leading the

congregation and the Choir

into a service. An Acolyte

might assist in carrying the

Gospel Book during a Gospel

procession. An Acolyte assists

the clergy in dressing the

Altar and then assists people

in getting down from the

Chancel after communion.

An Acolyte is a critical

component of each and

every worship service.

Male or Female, Child or

Adult—you can be a part of

this ministry—by attending our

training sessions. The first

session will be Sunday,

November 2, after the 10

a.m. service. Another session

with be announced later.

For more information speak

with Fr. Michel.


Baptisms Parish baptisms will be on Sunday, November 2, as part of our

regular 10 a.m. service. If you know of someone—child or

adult—who is ready to become an “official” member of

Christ’s Church, now would be an appropriate time. Anyone

considering infant baptism would need to have both parents

and godparents attend a pre-baptismal counseling session,

while adults being baptized are asked to have their sponsors

attend with them. The pre-baptismal counseling session will

be Saturday, November 1, at 10 a.m.. Please contact Fr.

Michel (860.443.4989) for more information or to schedule a

place in the class.

Each Sunday we adorn the Altar with flowers (except during Lent), light a Sanctuary

Candle, and consume bread and wine. The Altar Guild pays for these from gifts given by

members, family, and friends of St. James. If you would like to assist one week, an Altar

Flower donation is $45; sanctuary candle $5; and, communion wine or communion wafer,

$10 donation. Your donation can be made as a memorial honoring someone deceased or

as a thank-offering to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or other special event in your life.

Contact the Parish Office or an Altar Guild member for more information.

As always, more than one person can make their offering in any given week. If you’d like

more information, speak to any member of the Altar Guild or contact the Parish Office.

Some Giving Opportunities

Advent begins Sunday, November 30.

“Give us grace to cast away the works of darkness,

and put on the armor of light.”

from The Collect for the First Sunday of Advent,

The Book of Common Prayer, p. 211


Vestry’s Stewardship Statement

The Episcopal Church teaches the biblical tithe as the standard of stewardship. The Vestry

of St. James believe that they and all parishioners strive to understand and meet that goal

as they personally are able.

Adopted by the Vestry,

November 15, 2004

Stewardship Sunday will be Sunday, November 23. When reviewing your stewardship

information this year, think about—What gifts have you been given? How do you claim

them? How then do you put these gifts to work in the world, perhaps in ways that might

surprise you? How might these look in terms of helping one another in our Parish and in the

community outside our Parish?

Respectfully submitted

Ron Steed,

Stewardship Chair

Stewardship Sunday

Would you like prayers said for the

health of a loved one? Would you

or someone you know like prayer

support during a particularly

challenging time of life? Do you

want to offer special thanks for a

new grandchild or other joyous

event?

St. James Prayer Chain would be

happy to pray with you. The group

prays for the people included in the

Prayers of the People each Sunday.

We also pray for those who are listed

in our Morning Prayer Journal found in

the front vestibule on Sundays.

Please call Grace Barnum at

860.236.5447 to add name(s). It is up

to you how specific you make the

prayer request. You can simply give

us a name or more information about

what they need prayers for, as you

see fit. The people in the Prayer Chain

keep the information confidential.

You can also assist with this ministry by

speaking to Grace Barnum. We ask

you to remember the people you

pray for daily, but how or when you

pray is up to you.

Prayer Chain Ministry


ST JAMES CHURCH TREASURER’S REPORT

October 7, 2014

This report covers from January 1, 2014 through August 31, 2014.

Total Income:

Budgeted Amount: $183,667

Actual Amount: $183,165

Amount Actual is Under Budget: $502

The primary contributor to income underrun is Fund Raising, which is $1,333 less than the

budgeted amount. Pledge Income is $2,081 over the budgeted amount.

Total Expenses:

Budgeted Amount: $265,765

Actual Amount: $265,367

Amount Actual is Under Budget: $398

Although the total expenditure is under budget, there are a few accounts worth noting:

- -Clergy Pension Fund is $2,893 over budget due to a correction of an underpayment last

year.

- - Church Utiilities are $2,803 over budget.

- - Liability and Property Insurance is $4,389 under budget due to a rate change after the

budget was adopted.

Net Ordinary Income:

Total Income: $183,165

Total Expenses: $265,367

Net Ordinary Income: -$82,202

Endowment Income Applied: $81,492

Net Income -$710

Summary: Through August 31, 2014 we are $710 behind where we expected to be based

on our 2014 budget.

Investment Summary:

Balance 12/31/2013: $2,847,215

Balance 08/31/2014: $3,141,309

Total Value Change: $294,094

Withdrawal 5%: $82,202

Change Pre-Withdrawal: $376,296

Summary: Our pre-withdrawal investment value increased $376,296, about 13.2%, through

August 31, 2014. After factoring in the 5% withdrawal, our investments are up $294,094,

about 10.3% through August 31. Most of this increase is from new deposits: $196,401 from

the Ernest Wilkins Bequest and $50,000 from a Palmer Fund Grant. These funds will be used

later in 2014 for Capital Projects.


Gerald F. Miller, Treasurer


Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

New London, CT 06320

Permit No. 236

St. James Episcopal Church

76 Federal Street

New London, CT 06320-6601

Postmaster: Time Sensitive Material, please deliver immediately.

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED.

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