CHIMES

In This Issue

Good News

Church Bazaar—

Coming Soon!

Church Campout

photos

Men’s Dinner ap-

proaching fast

Twelve St. John’s Youth enjoyed a weekend retreat at the Heifer Farm in Rutland, Ma.

What Do I Give?

“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High” – Psalm 50:14

Every year, as the church runs a season of Stewardship where we ask parishioners to pledge money for the

next year’s budget, I’m met with a few questions and some definite tensions. Talking about money makes many

clergy uncomfortable. Some even refuse to do it outright, claiming that it interferes with the vocation of offering

spiritual guidance and counsel and leading a parish in worship. I get it. But here’s the thing: our money plays a

big part of our spirituality. It can show, in some ways, what our relationship with God through the church might

just look like.

My family and I happily pledge and give money to the church because we not only feel obligated to, but we like

to! We believe in the life-giving, transformative power of our faith community and see that the dollars that we

part with each month go to helping others understand the love and hope of Jesus Christ. Just in the past 10

months, we’ve experienced hospitality, friendship, sharing, religious and musical education for our children, fel-

lowship, and lots of good food. St. John’s anchors us in the realization that God is at work right here in the mid-

dle of Larchmont. I hope that it does the same for you and your family. You have the opportunity to give back

to God from what God has given to you, to give thanks to God through monetary contributions that ensure that

not only will you be open to an experience of God’s unwavering love and hope in Jesus, but that others may

receive the same.

Continued on next page

The Monthly Parish Newsletter of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Larchmont, NY November 2015

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Many ask, what should I give? What is appropriate? This isn’t like tip-ping. This is about sacrifice. The biblical standard for giving is the tithe, which is ten percent of what you have. This is the ideal and yet is unat-tainable for many. We still have to live, provide for our families, ensure our comfort and safety. But there is a clue in all of this: there is a per-centage of your income which is an appropriate outpouring of generosity and faith to the Lord of the church. My family can’t tithe, not even close. But we sat down and came up with the percentage that works for us. Two years ago, it was 2.5%. This year it is closer to 3.5%. We hope to contin-ue to move, slowly, in the direction of the tithe. Don’t get too hung up on the details: is this before or after taxes? Do I include dividends? Those questions are between you and God. You’ll find the right percentage, the one that’s enough of a sacrifice that it feels like a thanksgiving.

Because it’s not about numbers. It’s about God. It’s about doing what

you can do to help the Kingdom become a reality for yourselves and oth-

ers here at St. John’s. When you pledge, you are making a theological

statement: this is how important my relationship is with God here at this

church. We give because we can and we give not only out of obligation

or need, but out of joy, hope, and thankfulness. Pray about what God is

calling you to give.

ALL SAINTS

We will observe the Feast

of All Saints on Sunday,

November 1 at the 8:00

and 10:00am liturgies by

remembering those dear

to us who have died dur-

ing the previous 12

months. We will include

those who have been

named in the Sunday

Prayers of the People. If

you wish to add a name

or confirm that we have a

name, please contact the

parish office.

Daylight Saving

Time Ends No-

vember 1st

Please note that

we return to

standard time on

November 1st at

2:00 am. Remem-

ber to turn your

clocks back one

hour.

The first Sunday of each month is Family Sunday!

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From the Nursery School: Fireman Charlie and Fireman Richie visit the afternoon 4's.

Voyagers We’re continuing to gather and learn more about what the Christian voyage of life is all about. WHO CAN JOIN? Any middle school student is welcome. There is no prerequisite of previous Christian education background. Students who are totally new to Christian education fit in comfort-ably. Students meet twice a month during the school year for classes and special outreach events. Classes are held on schedule Wednesday evenings, 7:15pm-8:30pm in the undercroft. Each gather-ing kicks off with pizza and prayer followed by engaging discussions, trivia games, fun and enter-taining videos, all for the students to examine current events and issues with a perspective of Chris-tian teachings. For further details contact Debra Quintana, Dir. Of Christian Ed, at dquintana@stjohnsltana@stjohnslarchmont.org Voyagers Fall/Winter Schedule November 4, 18 December 2, 16

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Please join us for the

Christmas Bazaar Preview Party

Friday, November 20th

6:30 to 8:30 pm

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Parish Hall

* Enjoy fine wines and a Scotch tasting supplied by

David Calkins and Wine Gems.

Hors d’oeuvres will be served.

* Get first crack at all the items for sale,

including jewelry, collectibles, handcrafts,

toys, sports equipment and more.

* Preview all the great raffle prizes.

$20 per adult

Children’s Activities

There will be a children’s craft and movie party in the undercroft. Children ages 3 and up can participate in

the activities and snacks will be available. Babysitting will be available for younger children in the Tot Drop

Room. $10 per child

Please RSVP: office@stjohnslarchmont.org or 834-2981

and drop off your checks so we will have adequate food

and child care.

All proceeds go to local charities through ECW Outreach grants.

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St. John’s Christmas Bazaar St. John’s annual Christmas Bazaar will be held on Saturday, November 21

st, from 10:00am to

3:00pm in the parish hall. This year’s theme is “The Snowmen’s Christmas”. There are many opportunities to help out with this wonderful community event, which raises funds for ECW Outreach grants. Here’s how you can help: • Come to the popular preview cocktail party on Friday, November 20th, 6:30–8:30pm and get first crack at bazaar items. There will also be children’s activities and babysitting in the under-croft. $20 per adult and $10 per child • Donate gently used goods: White elephant items/household goods, books in good condition (no text books), sports equipment (indoor and outdoor), bikes, toys, antiques and jewelry, and small electronics. Donations can be brought to the church during the following hours: Sunday, November 15

th, noon to 3:00pm and Monday, November 16

th to Thursday, November 19

th,

9:00am to 3:00pm. Book donations will be accepted until Wednesday, November 18th.

• Silent Auction: Do you have a vacation house that you can donate for a week or weekend? Perhaps frequent flyer miles? A round of golf? Tickets to a show? We are looking for fabulous items to be included in this year’s silent auction. If you have questions or an item to donate, please contact Jackie Plumez (834-1982 or careerdoct@aol.com ). • Make a gift basket: This year we will be auctioning themed gift baskets. Instead of making centerpieces, we are encouraging parishioners to make gift baskets with a theme, such as a gift basket for a baseball fan, animal lover, or chocolate connoisseur. Or if you would like to donate the supplies, we’re happy to assemble in a decorative basket. If you have questions or would like to donate a basket, please contact Deb Campbell (315-6492 or debcamp-bell57@gmail.com). • Handmade Table: If you knit, crochet, sew, weave or do any kind of creative activity, any item will be happily received as long as it is made by hand. If you have questions or would be inter-ested in participating or leading a workshop, contact Carole Woods (834-9485 or ctwoods@optonline.net). • All hands on deck: Finally, we ask that everyone help the week before the Bazaar by sorting and pricing items and setting up, and selling items, cooking and serving lunch, and clean up the day of the bazaar. Please help out if you can. Sign up at coffee hour or contact Bazaar Chair Deb Campbell (315-6492 or debcamp-

bell57@gmail.com )

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GOOD NEWS

A big congratulations to former curate, Chase Danford, and Giuliano Argenziano, who were married on February 21, 2015 at Grace Church in Brooklyn Heights! In August, Chase was called to Grace Church to serve as Assistant Rector and oversee ministries to children, youth, families, young adults and also to serve as an adjunct religion teacher at their school, after spending nearly two years at the International Rescue Com-mittee. Chase and Giuliano reside in Windsor Terrace near Kensington in Brooklyn. I know everyone at St. John’s wish them both lots of joy and happiness in their life together! St. John’s own Robin Ingram was asked by Bishop Dietsche to serve on the Advisory Group for the Strategic Plan for the Diocese of NY. Quite an honor, Robin will be part of the Group which is expected to be active for about a year, reflecting on each portion of a mission statement and strate-gic plan, facilitated by the Rev. Gay Jennings and Mr. Steve Smith. In his call for potential members, Bishop Dietsche said, "The work of the coming year will identify opportunities, strategies and vision for the mission we have been given that are sustainable, innovative and accessible." After be-ing asked to join the Group, Robin said, “I am very excited to participate in this as my experiences on the Standing Committee for the last three years have opened my eyes to some of the issues faced by struggling par-ishes and overworked clergy, as well as an optimism about the work and ministry that could be done in this diocese.” Congratulations, Robin, on this terrific honor, and also to former curate, Brad Dyche, who was also asked to join the committee! If you have good news about a family member or friend at St. John’s you would like to share in the next issue of Chimes, please email the de-tails to Amy Jaswal (sjaswal@optonline.net).

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Please join us to celebrate the conclusion of the

2016 Stewardship Campaign

“Stewardship 2016” Celebration Saturday, November 14

5:00 – 7:00 pm

at the home of Susan and George Matelich 6 Wildwood Circle

Larchmont

Please RSVP by email: Parish Office

(office@stjohnslarchmont.org) or

RSVP by telephone: call the parish office (914) 834-2981

(babysitting available at St. John’s, if you will need

babysitting, please include that information when you

RSVP)

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The chill and threat of

rain didn’t keep folks

away from the Church

Camp-out on Oct. 24th.

Tents, campfire,

S’mores, and more were

all a part of the fun!

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On Columbus Day weekend, a group of teens from St. John’s spent time learning about what

life is like in the developing world at the Heifer Farm in Rutland, Ma. They spent the night as

if they were living Appalachia or West Africa, doing chores, cooking their own dinner, trading

and bargaining from what they had. A good time was had by all as they learned the reality of

life for many people and why it’s important to respond to Christ’s call to love our neighbors.

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Paul Maki in Concert

Dr. Maki will be giving a concert on Tuesday, 10 November at 6 PM at St. Paul’s

Chapel, Columbia University to celebrate the recent restoration of the historic Aeoli-

an-Skinner organ. The Chapel is at the east end of the main campus, which is just

off Broadway at 116th Street. On the programme will be works by Wagner, Bruhns,

Tournemire, Widor, Sweelinck, Ireland and Vierne.

Friday, November 6: Annual St. John’s Men’s Dinner The annual and very popular St. John’s Men’s Dinner will be held on Friday, Novem-ber 6, at the Larchmont Yacht Club. Cocktails begin at 6:00 PM and dinner is at 7:00 PM. The cost of the dinner is $50 with a cash bar before the meal. If you are new to the par-ish, this is a good way to get to know the men of St. John’s. If you are an old-timer, it is a good way to renew old acquaintances. Reserve a spot by November 3. Click here to sign up online and pay via Pay-Pal. Alternatively, call 914.834.2981 or e-mail the parish office at of-fice@stjohnslarchmont.org. If calling or emailing, please also send in your check (to St. John’s at 4 Fountain Square, Larchmont, NY 10538 with a note “Men’s Dinner” in the memo portion of the check). Our guest speaker will be Bruce Gregory, founder of Stone Table Advisors, LP a credit and equity long/short hedge fund based in San Francisco. Before moving to San Francisco in 2011, Bruce and his wife Jenny lived in Larchmont for 15 years with their four daughters. He will speak about his faith and career challenges, particularly how God works through difficult and uncertain circumstances. Bruce was raised in Virginia in the Episcopal Church. He graduated from Deerfield Academy and Princeton University. At Deerfield, he became more serious about his faith largely through FOCUS a Christian youth organization similar to Young Life. At Princeton, Bruce participated in Campus Crusade Bible studies and attended Episco-pal services at the University Chapel. After graduating from Princeton, he moved to New York City and began attending Executive Ministries, a Christian fellowship group where he met his wife. Bruce and Jenny were married in 1989 and moved to Larchmont in 1991. Bruce and Jenny joined Redeemer Presbyterian Church in 1990 and were part a group of families that started Trinity Presbyterian Church in Rye in 1994.

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MAKING OUR ADVENT WREATH Where did you go? Out. What was growing? Nothing. . .not much. . .wait a mi-nute! One of the lessons of our Advent wreath is that many varieties of plants and trees bring beauty to our world even in the cold of winter. Beginning on the first Sunday in Advent, this year, November 29th, we recognize that beauty as a special kind of energy God brings into our lives. We’ve kept a custom that some churches cannot sustain any longer. Our florist provides a water-retaining form, but the contents of the wreath are entirely our doing. Many kinds of greens, berries and vines come from the Church and Recto-ry yards, but a surprising wealth of materials comes from parish yards. We have parishioners to thank for lavender, beauty berry, rosemary, seed pods, spruce with berries, magnolia leaves, an assortment of variegated evergreens nobody can name for sure, pine, juniper, cypress, yew and holly. Here are some ways you can help grow our wreath:

Volunteer for a weekday watering day. Regular watering keeps our wreath look lovely.

Get your children involved in what your family will tuck into the wreath. It’s fun to come up to Communion and notice what you’ve done.

Take a walk and notice all the winter-growing plants. For so much of the year, our yards serve as background for other activities. Slow down, take a good look and enjoy the peaceful feelings that accompany your stroll.

Leave greens and other materials in the flower room. They’ll appear in the wreath the next Sunday.

Add something during the week on your own schedule. There aren’t really any rules for this project—just pitch in. Just make sure things are dead be-fore you pull them out. We keep reserves to fill in bare spots, so don’t wor-ry if your gift doesn’t fill every inch.

Air-dry roses for December 14th. This third Sunday gives special recognition to Mary, mother of Jesus. One of Mary’s symbols is a rose. One of our team members started us on observing this special day within the season, and now we have a new tradition.

Save windowsill herbs. It’s great when our wreath smells good as well as looks good. We welcome lavender, rosemary, thyme and other Mediterra-nean herbs, in sprigs or trailing stems.

Questions: contact Janet Beal 937-0845 or Laura Hoffman 833-0009. Hoping to hear from you.

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2015-2016 Sunday School/Confirmation Class/HS Youth Schedule

November 1 Family Liturgy All Saint’s Day/ Confirmation Class, 4-5 (Rectory) 8

15

22 Confirmation Class—11:30-12:15

29 No Sunday School Thanksgiving Holiday

December 6 Family Liturgy HS Youth, 5-7 (Rectory)

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20

27 NO Sunday School Christmas Holiday

January 3 Family Liturgy Epiphany

10

17 Confirmation Class Make-up Day (11:30-12:15)

24

31

February 7 Family Liturgy

14 No Sunday School Winter Break

21

28

March 6 Family Liturgy Confirmation Class, 4-5 (Rectory)/HS Youth, 5-7 (Rectory)

13

20 (Palm Sunday Spring Break)

27 No Sunday School EASTER

April 3 Family Liturgy Confirmation Class, 4-5 (Rectory)/HS Youth, 5-7 (Rectory)

10

17

24

May 1 Family Liturgy

8

15

22

29

June 5 Family Liturgy

12 Last Day of Sunday School & Parish Picnic

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Sunday, November 8: Pastoral Care Ministry To Meet

The Pastoral Care Ministry will meet again on Sunday, November 8

after the 10:00 AM service, in the Thorne Room following coffee hour. Anyone who is interested in joining this effort to assist members of our parish is invited to attend.

If you or someone you know could use some assistance, please call Dorothy Rainier at 834.0507, or the parish office. Transportation, help with errands, meals and visits are some of the ways we can offer to help each other.

The ECW hosted their Fall Welcome Dinner at the home of Nancy Pierson. Around

40 women enjoyed an evening of food, fellowship, and community building.

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St. John’s Church

4 Fountain Square

Larchmont, NY 10538

Www.stjohnslarchmont.org

(914)834-2981

Rector

The Rev. Joseph D. Greene

Priest Associate

The Rev. Dorothy A. Greene

Director of Music

Dr. Paul-Martin Maki

Director of Christian Education

Debra Quintana

Parish Administator

Laura Rawlings

Parish Secretary

Joan Saunders

Sexton

Carlos Ortiz

Wardens

Matthew Hart

Linnet Tse

Vestry

Liz Bruce

Michael Bucci

Mary Conway

Barbara Gessler

Neil Gray—Treasurer

Sanjiv Jaswal

Jay Klancik

Victoria Maggard

Sally Noone - Clerk

Michael O’Connell

Aaron Simpson

Sue Wahrhaftig

Parish Register

Births

Robert Bragg, son of Nathan and Sabrina Bragg

Devyn Keefer, daughter of Edward and Andrea Keefer

Michael Schiavone, son of Michael and Carley Schiavone

Deaths

Tom Gallaher, father of Andrew Gallaher, and grandfather of

Kiernan, Shannon and Paige Gallaher

St. John’s Photo Policy To showcase the vibrancy of St. John’s Parish we enjoy sharing and displaying photos and videos of parish activities and events. Photos are posted on the website, church facebook pages, bulletin boards near the parish office, and church publications such as the Chimes newsletter. If you do not wish pho-tographs or videos of you or your children to be used in these materi-als, contact the parish office.

December 2: Episcopal Charities Fundraising Dinner

As the outreach arm of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, Episco-pal Charities (www.episocopalcharities-newyork.org) equips parish-affiliated outreach programs to transform the lives of people in need in their diverse communities. Through grants and technical support, "EC" supports nearly 100 programs that transform lives and strengthen communities, including food pantries and commu-nity kitchens; skills-building programs for the unemployed, recent immigrants, and ex-prisoners; health and wellness programs for senior citizens, the homebound, children with special needs, and recovering substance abusers; and a diverse group of programs for underprivileged children. Since its founding in 1996 EC has granted nearly $13 million to these programs.

EC's primary annual fundraiser to fund these grants is its annual black tie "Tribute Dinner", which is held in the nave of the Cathe-dral of St. John the Divine. This year the dinner will be held on the evening of Wednesday, December 2 and honor benefactors Jeffrey Peek of Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Anthony Walton of Standard Chartered Bank. Further details of the dinner can be found here: http://episcopalcharities-newyork.org/dinner/. If you would be willing to support EC through the purchase of a tick-et to the Tribute Dinner please reach out to Matthew Hart at mat-thew.j.hart@icloud.com. Let's try to fill out a "St. John's table" to support this great cause! Donations of any amount are also warmly welcomed.