volume 11 issue 5 the net page 1 st. james episcopal church...
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Volume 11 Issue 5 THE NET Page 1
May 2015
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
“All may, none must, some should.”
The quote above may sound familiar to some of you. In all the references I’ve seen, it is a
quote that relates to the sacramental act of Confession and Absolution (see
“Reconciliation of a Penitent” BCP 447). Yet it is a quote that has become part of the ethos
of the Anglican communion, especially the part located here in North America—The
Episcopal Church.
The quote has been attributed to many different people; throughout history it has been
credited to a people like Thomas Cranmer, Queen Elizabeth I, some even claiming it was
first said by Martin Luther. While often misunderstood, Confession is for Episcopalians one of
our sacraments—which is usually translated as “an outward and visible sign of an inward
and invisible change”—although one of many (five) frequently overlooked or considered
“lesser” sacraments (like confirmation, ordination, marriage, etc.).
In The Episcopal Church we usually focus on two primary sacraments:
Baptism and Holy Communion (The Lord’s Supper). Our reason for
doing this is these are the two commended to us in the Gospels, and
considered “ordained” by Jesus Christ.
In addition to sacraments, there are a variety of other “practices” that
can or may be used by some portion of our Church. Over the past
few years, we at St. James have experimented with some of these,
and others we use regularly. During the Christmas Eve service and the
Easter Vigil service we usually use incense—appropriate for “special”
occasions. For a period of time during the 10 o’clock service, we used
a Sanctus Bell. And, if you look around during any service, you’ll see
some people genuflect (that’s lowering one's body briefly by bending
one knee to the ground, as a sign of respect) as they leave or enter a
Vestry Highlights 3
Birthdays 4
Thanks 5-6
Parish Activities 7
Music 8
Outreach 10-
11
Financial Information 14-
15
Inside this issue:
Page 2 THE NET Volume 11 Issue 5
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.
Articles are always
welcome and should
be submitted by the
tenth of the month
before publication.
While your input is
always welcome, we
would prefer to receive
it by e-mail or CD-ROM,
in Microsoft Word
format.
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
pew. You’ll see our lectors “reverence” the altar as they
enter the chancel area to reach the lectern. You’ll see
others, at various times during a service cross themselves
(often at the announcement of the Gospel, or during the
Blessing at the end of the service). You might see some
bow during a portion of the Nicene Creed, when we
mention Christ’s death and burial.
There are other “events” which aren’t part of our Sunday
services, such as the weekly offering of Morning Prayer and
Evening Prayer. There are the Lenten Stations of the Cross.
And, of course, there is the availability of a mid-week
Eucharist.
For actions like these (and there are others as well), the
larger church believes they should be available, for
anyone interested in, or whose spiritual life needs or is
supported by them. But, the same church believes that
not everyone must use them, do them, or even take
advantage of them.
For me, the one “disadvantage” of the Episcopal Church is
that it welcomes and encompasses so many people with
so many traditions, that few of us have everything we
want, or everything we were used to having in our worship.
All of us should be prepared to accommodate ourselves to
some variety of practices—assuming that any action taken
just might be critical to someone else’s relationship to God.
As I talk about this, I immediately think of the early 1980s
when I was first began attending the Episcopal Church.
Despite the “new” Book of Common Prayer being adopted
in 1979, many parishes were holding on to the previous
book (1928) and its practices. Many of our parishes still had
Morning Prayer as their primary Sunday service, and for
music-lovers it was a great service—it seemed like a sacred
concert each week, with most of the “work” done by the
clergy and choir.
But with the “new” Book of Common Prayer, and a desire
to return to the historical and liturgical roots of the early
church, the weekly celebration of the Eucharist was once
again made the primary service on Sundays. There was a
renewal of the ancient practice of exchanging The Peace
(shalom), with the congregation shaking hands or hugging,
Rector’s Desk cont’d
Volume 11 Issue 5 THE NET Page 3
and offering “peace” to each other during the service. And Baptism, not Confirmation,
once again became the “entrance rite” into the church.
If one experienced a Rip Van Winkle-moment in their lives (i.e., fell asleep for forty years, or
weren’t attending an Episcopal Church regularly during the early 1980s), a return to the
then current Church probably caused confusion, if not frustration. The focus was no longer
on setting quietly and unmovingly in your pew, no longer centered only on the priest/
preacher’s words and actions, no longer focused solely on one’s own salvation. Instead the
focus was on the community of worshippers, gaining biblical knowledge and liturgical
experience, worshipping as a community, spreading the good news, and seeking salvation
for all.
When it comes to things we do around the Church, we try to be clear that we invite all to
participate—“all may.” And, in our welcoming, remind ourselves and others—“none must.”
But, for our own spiritual well-being and that of our community of faith—“some should.”
Worship (and the sacraments) is not just about us individually, and rarely an impediment to
worshipping God, but is rather about Christ’s call for each of us to “Take up our cross, and
follow him,” and to “go and make disciples of all people.”
Rector’s Desk cont’d
Vestry Highlights
The Vestry met on April 7. We were reminded the Vestry Retreat will be held Friday evening
and Saturday, April 24 and 25.
In lieu of a May Vestry meeting, Sprigs and Twigs, Inc. will present their landscape design for
our grounds on Tuesday, May 5, at 6:00 p.m. All parishioners who have an interest in the
beauty of our physical plant are encouraged to attend the meeting. There will be a
Question and Answer session immediately following the presentation.
Proceeds from our Lenten Fish Dinners are being designated towards the purchase of a
new snow blower, allowing us to better remove snow from our sidewalks. This should
facilitate our snow removal with the help of our snowplowing contractor.
Three Palmer Fund Grants were awarded to St. James totaling $42,500 . The money is
disbursed with $35,000 for roof repairs for the south Church roof, $5000 for Music on Whale
Oil Row, and $2,500 for the Community Meal Program.
Respectfully submitted,
Jan Dargel,
Clerk
Page 4 THE NET Volume 11 Issue 5
The next “official” date for Parish baptisms will be on Pentecost,
Sunday, May 24. If you know of someone–-child or adult–-who
is ready to become an “official” member of the 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 morning,
May 23, at 2:00 p.m. Please contact Fr. Michel for more
information, or to schedule a place in the class.
Baptisms
May 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
provide us with the accurate information!
25 Judy Benson
25 Caleb Sieburg
26 Gary Evans
27 Janet Kepner
27 JoAn Collins
28 Marcus Velez
29 Ainsley Pinkowitz
31 Helen Benoit
31 Theresa Bokoff
3 Barbara Calkins
5 Rose Kydd
5 Anne Carr Bingham
7 Fred Driscoll
7 David Percival
8 Ellen Merrill
9 William Sieburg
10 Arthur Boulanger
10 Emily Brewster
12 Carol Bunting
14 Margaret Murallo
14 Barbara Skinner
14 Thomas Goebel
17 Elizabeth Traggis
18 Karen Hatcher-Sneed
20 Ryan Brennan
21 Donovan Dunning
25 Thomas Clark
Volume 11 Issue 5 THE NET Page 5
Happy Mothers’ Day! —May 10
Treat Mom to our
Parish Brunch at 11:30 a.m.
Then, bring Mom to
Evensong at 5:00 p.m.
To the Altar Guild for all their efforts during Holy Week and Easter.
To Mary White for her coordination of the Easter flowers.
To the Adult Choir, Associate Organist Travis LaCombe and our Organist/Choirmaster
Andrew Howell for their excellent musical leadership during Holy Week, Easter Vigil, and
Easter Day.
To the many who enabled our Holy Week and Easter services: Acolytes, Chalice Bearers,
Counters, Greeters, Lectors, and Ushers,
To All who contributed to our Good Friday Offering, which benefits the Diocese of
Jerusalem and the Middle East. We collected $158.
To All who attended the Seven Last Words. $100 was raised to support L + M’s Chaplaincy.
To All who delivered Easter Plants to shut-ins.
To Jan Dargel for coordinating the Easter Egg Hunt for our children.
To Officers and Vestry Members for dedicating a weekend of their lives to attend the
Vestry Retreat.
Thanks to the students at Connecticut College who organized the 8th annual walk to end
homelessness which benefited the Homeless Hospitality Center and to the St. James
walkers: Walter Chojnacki, Tom Clark, JoAn Collins, Fr. Michel, Lori Sarkett and Ron Steed.
Page 6 THE NET Volume 11 Issue 5
Lent has come and gone and so have our Lenten Fish Dinners. I’ve been told the food
was outstanding and the fellowship was enjoyable.
My thanks goes out to my helpers, Dan Ivey, Krissy Bath, Florence Bath, Lily Beeler, Lillian
Rosario, Fred Smith, Joela Depass (a student from New London High School), Mathew
Calkins, Ellen Merrill, and Fred Driscoll. The dinners couldn’t take place without the
wonderful people that helped me but also the faithful people that came out to enjoy the
good food and fellowship.
A special thanks to Ms. Lillian Rosario for all the wonderful desserts she made and also for
setting the tables and keeping Fr. Michel and Ellen from tasting the deserts before it was
time.
I’m pleased to say that we made a profit this year of $1007. There are so many groups and
places in our Parish and community that could use this money. It was very hard to decide
where the proceeds should go. With help from Fr. Michel, we made the decision to have
the money goes toward the purchase of a new snowblower for our Church.
Hope to see you at our Lenten Fish dinners next year.
Respectfully submitted,
Beverly Driscoll
A Word of Thanks …
Volume 11 Issue 5 THE NET Page 7
Next Gathering: Friday, May 8 – 6:00 PM
Where: Longhorn Steakhouse 850 Hartford Turnpike (Crystal Mall)
Who: All who enjoy spending a fun evening with new and old friends
Sign-up Deadline: Wednesday, May 6
Informal dining, open menu; order what you want No big commitment, just join us when you can
Rides available AND encouraged! RSVP (name, # attending, and if you would like a ride)
Call Ellen at the Parish Office 860.443.4989. or Lori Sarkett at 860.701.0481
Join us for fun, food, and fellowship!!!
Come join the fun! Been thinking about it?
The Supper Group of St. James
St. John the Divine Cathedral New York City
St. James—New London
Invites you on a Deanery-wide bus trip
Saturday, June 13, 2015.
We leave St. James (76 Federal Street, New London)
at 8:00 a.m. and return to New London at 8:00 p.m.
We will attend Holy Eucharist at 12:15 p.m. A guided tour will follow. Meals are on your
own. There will be plenty of free time to explore, eat, and shop.
Cost of trip is $40 per person, based on a full bus, and includes transportation, gratuity, and
guided Cathedral tour. (Price will increase if bus not filled.)
Advance reservations required and will be taken until bus is filled. Payment is due at time
of reservation. No cancellations or refunds. Contact Lori Sarkett at 860.701.0481 or Ellen in
the parish office 860.443.4989 for information and reservations.
Bus Trip to St. John the Divine Cathedral
Page 8 THE NET Volume 11 Issue 5
Choral Evensong
Sunday, May 10 at 5:00 p.m.
Please join us for the final Evensong service of this program year at St. James on May 10,
when you can listen to beautiful works by John E. West and Edward Bairstow. We will also
present William Walton’s unique and exciting Chichester Service (this piece was originally
programmed for April, but there were a few too many basses with travel plans for that
weekend … ). Yes, May 10th is Mother’s Day—and what a nice outing that would make, to
bring your favorite maternal person to Evensong after taking her out to lunch or afternoon
tea!
There will be a reception after the service; please join us there, and chat with the
choristers, Simon, and Jonathan over refreshments and a glass of wine and a nosh!
We hope to see you at Saint James on May 10!
Additional Greeters are needed for the 8:00 a.m. Sunday
service.
Sadly, we recently lost one of our faithful long-time greeters,
De Maiorana, and are now down to 3 greeters.
If you can spare one Sunday morning a month to say
"welcome", please call Sue Chojnacki 860.440.3427. Thank
you.
Greeters Needed
Farewell dear friends …
March Enders
Emily “Niikki’ King
Blanche “De” Maiorana
Stacia Wojtkiewicz
Volume 11 Issue 5 THE NET Page 9
When: May 23 from 9:00 a. m. - 12:00 p.m.
Purpose: Church Clean-up Day
Reward: Donuts and coffee with a pizza party after the
work is done.
Contact: Sign-up sheet in Parish Hall or call Walter
Chojnacki 860.440.3427.
Parish Spring Clean-Up
Annual Bike Blessing
Page 10 THE NET Volume 11 Issue 5
Jumble Shoppe News
Despite some winter weather closings, sales have been good at the shop. We have been
able to make disbursements to a number of charities, among them the Bishop’s Fund for
Children. We sent $500.00 to this fund, which supports organizations serving needy children
around the State. Close to home, the Bishop’s Fund supports an early childhood program
in Mystic and the Thames River Family Program in Norwich. If you have a favorite charitable
concern you would like the disbursement committee to consider, please contact Fr. Michel
or Dorothy Sieburg. If you would like to be a part of the decision-making for Jumble
Shoppe proceeds, please join our committee! We would love the input. Other volunteer
opportunities include: sales desk on Tuesdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; sorting
and pricing, also during open hours as above; working on advertising flyers (on your own
time); planning for a Fall fashion show at the library (just beginning); helping get unused
items to Good Will in Groton. Donations of housewares, linens, and summer clothes are
now being sought. The Jumble Shoppe provides the majority of funds for all our Outreach and Mission
endeavors. Please support us in any way you can. Thanks to John Russell we’ve gotten
some fine bed linens, which are selling very well. Thanks also to David Downes for Good Will
runs. And of course a big Thank You to all our regular, faithful volunteers!
Respectfully submitted,
Dorothy Sieburg,
Co-Manager
Ecuador Mission Trip
The Seabury Deanery and the Diocese of Ecuador Central
Partners in Mission
It is back to La Mision San Pedro we go in August to be with our brothers and sisters-in-
Christ in el Paraiso de Pupusá. This year we will be working on the church AND helping
develop the community’s fish and chicken project. The community’s long range plan of
having sustainable income inches closer as we all work side by side.
Five people representing St. James will be part of the 2015 mission group. So, we’ll need
your support and your prayers! Watch for more information.
Volume 11 Issue 5 THE NET Page 11
The Ascension Day UTO In-
gathering will be on Sunday,
May 17. The UTO, originally an
offering of the Episcopal
Church Women, has
expanded to include all
members of the Church.
The original purpose, to give
thanks for our daily blessings
by dropping a coin in a UTO
Blue Box has not changed,
and continues to this
day. Please pray and reflect
on all of our blessings this past
year and offer up a thanks
offering to this worthy cause.
Please convert your coins
from the Blue Box into cash
or a check and use the
envelope inserted in this
copy of The Net for your
offering. Also, envelopes
and Blue Boxes can be
found at both the entrance
to the Church and the
entrance to the Parish Hall.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dean Hantzopoulos,
UTO Coordinator
United Thank Offering Ingathering
Bishop’s 5K Race You can now click on a
link from the home page
of the Bishop's 5K for Kids
run/walk, www.bishops
5kforkids.org, to register
for the May 9 event.
When you register, you'll
have the option to
check a box so that
fundraising pages will be
created for you. Team
leaders can create
pages as well (see the
"Become a Fundraiser"
pages on the active.com
website). Then ask your
family and friends to visit the
pages, select the name of
the individual or team from
the drop-down list, and
make a donation to support
your efforts to help kids at
risk!
The event takes place at
Webster Hill School, West
Hartford.
Page 12 THE NET Volume 11 Issue 5
Adult Ed
This year, our Godly Play classes will conclude on Sunday, June 7.
Since that is still a good month away, I’m not going to thank our
Assistant Teachers (just yet!). Our gathering, and learning will
continue each week—all the way to the 7th.
When this program year draws to a close, we will keep you
posted in future Announcements and articles in The NET regarding
our planning and when classes will start in the fall.
Godly Play (Church School)
Our latest Adult Ed series begins Wednesday, May 6, 2015. You’re invited to join a group
of your fellow parishioners as we spend four Wednesday evenings exploring the “Good
News” from St. John’s unusual perspective.
In the Gospel According to John, Jesus never tells people that they are healed. He never
says, “Your faith has made you well.” He never spits on the ground to make mud nor lays
his hands on anyone nor notices anyone laying hands on him. And yet, he heals no fewer
than five people over the course of the Gospel. How can this be? How can Jesus heal
people without speaking a word of healing or letting them know that they are healed?
And how do the healings speak to the lives of contemporary Christians?
We’ll be using materials developed by the Rev’d Adam Thomas, Rector of neighboring St.
Mark’s in Mystic, titled “Unusual Gospel for Unusual People—Studies from the Book of
John.” The course offers a video segment for each session, along with a personal
reflection guide (and daily delivered digital-content offering additional study materials). It
blends traditional Sunday School with modern, daily-delivered digital content, which will
keep readers connected with the material throughout the week. Between the daily
communication and the group gatherings, participants will immerse themselves in the
Good News.
You’re invited to join fellow parishioners for Evening Prayer in Hallam Chapel at 5:30, then
head to the Parlor for a potluck dinner at 6:00, and the course begins at 6:30. We will finish
around 8:00 p.m.
A sign-up sheet is in the Parish Hall, or you may register by contacting Ellen in the Parish
Office (860.443.4989). The registration fee, which includes the personal reflection guide
(also available as an e-book) and daily digital-content subscription is $10. Join us for this
“unusual” look at an unusual Gospel!
Volume 11 Issue 5 THE NET Page 13
Capital Improvement Committee
With the arrival of Spring our agenda and the temperature are warming up. By the time this
issue of The NET is published, our roofing contractor will have already erected staging for,
and begun the renovation of the south roof; the third and final stage. Like the north roof,
we are improving the drainage with more and larger downspouts. Following the roof
completion, the south courtyard will need new landscaping and the drainage will be
improved to get the water away from the Church and the Rectory.
The roof renovation (along the final—Lyman Allyn—stained glass window work) is the last
major project which we planned from the inception of the Capital Campaign. This is not to
say that nothing else is needed. We will take a careful look at our available funds and
other needs in order to make recommendations to the Vestry by mid-summer.
Respectfully submitted,
Bruce Skinner,
Chair
If you regularly buy items on Amazon.com, you can now support St. James whenever you
make a purchase! Amazon.com has a program called “Amazon Smile” that allows you,
whenever you make a purchase, to select a charity to support, and St. James Episcopal
Church in New London is now one of those choices.
Instead of the “regular” Amazon homepage, go to Amazon Smile: http://
smile.amazon.com/, scroll down to St. James Episcopal Church (make sure you find the
New London one (currently on page 2)), then make your purchase. For any purchase you
make through Amazon Smile, a small contribution will be made to further the ministries of
the charity. You can purchase what you want, and you’ll help St. James out!
Thanks for your support!
You can support St. James on Amazon Smile!
Page 14 THE NET Volume 11 Issue 5
Pledge Envelopes
Each year, we offer those who pledge a set
of envelopes. These make it easy for
pledgers to stay current with their pledge
(each envelope comes with a date on it).
They help St. James track pledge
payments, so we can issue a statement
declaring the amount you’ve donated to
the Church (an Internal Revenue Service
requirement for any donation over $250, to
legally deduct your donation—if you
qualify—from your income tax returns). So,
they keep us all “on track.”
In each box, there are three “special”
envelopes. The first is a “Birthday”
envelope, to make a donation to St. James
honoring your birth (might I suggest $1 for
each year of your life?). The second is for St.
James Day (July 25th), when you celebrate
the Feast Day of St. James, for whom our
Church is named. And the third, enables
you to offer something for our Parish
Anniversary (September 26th), the founding
date of St. James in 1725. Must you give?
No. Will you? That’s a question only you
can answer!
By the way, a set of Envelopes is available to
non-pledgers as well. It offers you and St.
James a way to track your giving—and,
then, we can send you a statement you can
use for your income tax returns as well!
Tax Credit for Pledges. Did you know that you may or might be able to take an itemized
charitable deduction for your pledge payments to St James? If you are pledging, you
receive quarterly statements of your payments, along with a year end statement for tax
purposes.
If you support our Parish with cash in the offering plate, we would be happy to give you a
set of pledge envelopes for 2014 for your cash so we know who to credit. That way we can
send you a quarterly report for taxes. Please see Alma Peterson or Ron Steed for details.
Charitable Contribution—Tax Deduction
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
Volume 11 Issue 5 THE NET Page 15
Parish Financials ST JAMES CHURCH
TREASURER’S REPORT
April 7, 2015
This report covers from January 1, 2015 through February 28, 2015.
Total Income:
Budgeted Amount: $45,917
Actual Amount: $40,167
Amount Actual is Under Budget: $5,750
The primary contributor to this income overrun is Pledge Income, which is $6,685 under the budgeted amount.
Total Expenses:
Budgeted Amount: $67,634
Actual Amount: $66,562
Amount Actual is Under Budget: $1,072
Net Ordinary Income:
Total Income: $40,167
Total Expenses: $66,562
Net Ordinary Income: -$26,395
Endowment Income Applied: $21,800
Net Income -$4,595
Summary: For January and February 28, 2015 we are $4,595 behind where we expected to be based on our
2015 budget.
Investment Summary:
Balance 12/31/2014: $3,170.507
Balance 02/28/2015: $3,234.488
Total Value Change: $63,981
Withdrawal 5%: $21,800
Change Pre-Withdrawal: $85,781
Summary: Our pre-withdrawal investment value increased by $85,781, about 2.7%, through February 28, 2015.
After factoring in the 5% withdrawal, our investments are up $63,981, about 2.0% through February 28.
Respectfully submitted,
Gerald F. Miller,
Treasurer
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
Page 16 THE NET Volume 11 Issue 5
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.
On this Memorial Day (May 25) we honor
those who have served our country, as well
as those currently serving.