St. Andrew’s NET
June, 2007
PASTORAL LETTER, by Skip Hazen
This Letter arrives from your septuagenarian dish washer. Kindly read
on with presence, patience, tolerance and forgiveness…..while
staying in the moment.
Once again St. Andrews is in transition and recovery. We are
getting to know each other better through Congregational-based
leadership. St. Andrews has new heat and light and it has made a difference. Individuals on the Vestry, Committees and many in our congregation deserve special thanks.
Our Church will decide on new Leadership in the time it should take. A
decision to not accept a new leader for most of the right reasons is
okay. Regardless of comment and opinion it is necessary to acknowledge
and support an outcome that is best for the future of St. Andrews.
We often read we can be “light to the world” as well as “salt to the earth.” The Infinite Way offers
one insight into what it could mean. If we are seeking to be one with
the Father, a Presence of the Father is helpful. Whenever you leave one
place to go to another place, including your home, church or business
or returning to the same; briefly realize that a Presence has gone
before you to prepare the way. Also try to believe that same Presence
remains behind you, as a benediction to all that pass that way. If you
can believe in a divine Presence ahead of and behind you, you may find
that you are a possible “light to the world.”
Could this relate to our Mission Statement?? We are inclusive and
working toward acceptance in many areas outside of our traditions as
the Episcopal Church.
A guideline to our Church and our members is to be more fully involved
in “Faith based action.” Concerns are necessary about our
future, but we should not be held in a theory of “What is
Next??” Faith does not exist in the past or future… it
exists in the Now. As we can relate to those around us, they and we,
have experienced a loss of friends, family, health or material loss.
May our faith allow us to accept a spiritual transition, re-birth,
courage in our future, and a belief that we have purpose.
VESTRY NOTES
We discussed the Organist, Laura
Clark, and the Sexton, Susan Cheney, and agreed both services being
provided have been very good. Vestry members met with Laura on Sunday,
May 27th and invited her to continue with us. The Vestry will approve
the actual contract at their next meeting. We also discussed how to
invite people to formally be part of St. Andrew’s following a
baptism or marriage. The decision to pursue a more permanent solution
to childcare was also discussed. Until that time, childcare will be for
the younger children. Summer Sunday services will continue to be at
10am.
We would like to offer our prayers and support to Robin Bergman
who has temporarily withdrawn from her Vestry duties to care for her
family.
PASTORAL CARE
Thank you all for the many ways you
showed your love and support to my family during this time of loss and
transition. It truly made a difference. Robin Bergman
If you are looking for pastoral care please don’t hesitate
to contact someone on the Pastoral Care Team:
Sybil Hazen 626-8678, Marion Parks 748-3083, Lisa Norsworthy 695-1408, Jocelyn
Burrell 748-5247, Lin Hill 467-3308, and Robin Bergman 633-2871. (Sybil and
Marion head up this group.)
Pastoral care is the work of the congregation – this is our group of
facilitators -- all of us should feel encouraged to send notes or make phone
calls when we see the need, particularly at this time where we lack the
spiritual guidance of a priest. We also must remind ourselves to reach
out for help when we need it.
ODDS AND ENDS
Congratulations to Shawn and Loralee
Tester on the birth of a son named Timothy, born on May 21st! We look
forward to seeing him at St. Andrew’s!
Our thanks and appreciation to Tom Warren at Yankee Electronic
Solutions for the generous donation of time and material in servicing
the church computer!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
To help with childcare on Sunday mornings… see Anna Kennedy.
To help host the Diocesan Altar Guild Meeting on June 16th… see Betty or Sarah Maynard.
For Facility Maintenance… see Chip Mesics.
KIDS
KORNER, by Nene Riley
TEEN FILM SERIES: GODSPELL
Six young people (two from North
Congregational Church) participated in our final teen evening of the
school year. The theme was "play." We talked about what each of us was
looking forward to doing this summer and the importance of play in our
lives. We went over to the North Church lawn and
played ultimate Frisbee, before settling in to watch Godspell, a
musical and very playful interpretation of parables from the New
Testament. In the film, Jesus and the disciples are depicted as street
musicians, clowning, dancing and telling stories on the streets of New
York.
The chapter on "Play" from Way to
Live: Christian Practices for Teens complemented the film: "I sometimes
imagine Jesus as a jester—a quick-witted, playful guy with a big
smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. You can see his jester
skills as he tells parables that prod people to reframe their lives."
We closed with some questions that we all might consider, young and old alike:
* Who brings out the playful side of me? How do they do it?
* Do I juggle only the number of balls
I can keep under control, or do I risk adding an extra one to see how
the pattern changes?
* Do I designate a specific block of downtime in my planning calendar, after all the chores and schoolwork have been completed?
* Do I watch for opportunities to play with family and friends and animals?
* Do I see Jesus in the role of jester in my life?
Have a playful and spirit-filled summer everyone!
MARK YOUR
CALENDAR!
End of School Picnic at Keon’s, Sunday June 10th after service. Bring a chair and a dish to share!
Vestry Meeting, Thursday June 14th at 5:30pm
Diocesan Altar Guild, Saturday June 16th at St. Andrew’s
Date Worship Leader
June 3rd Preston Kelsey
June 10th Victor Horvath
June 17th Brendan Whittaker
June 24th Morning Prayer, Jocelyn Burrell
Report from the
Field, Karen Cheney
RETURN
Updated 5/27/07