The Eagle - June 2006

How remarkable that, as one ages, time goes faster. Do you suppose this is some sort of law of Newtonian Physics? Last Summer just arrived only a month or two ago...didn’t it?

Regardless, I, as always at this moment in the calendar year, have an abiding and deep sense of gratitude for the "church year" just passed at Saint John's. So many wonderful things have happened...so many wonderful people have been involved in so many undertakings... so many glorious liturgies have been celebrated...so many new friends have been made.

I pray for each of you that the months of Summer will bring a time of relaxation and peace...that you will truly be able to slow down...smell the roses...read...reflect...pray.

And that, in the midst of that, you may be graced to glimpse and experience that peace which passeth all understanding.

Sunday School Graduation

Sunday School Graduation and a chance to express our gratitude to those who have taught in the Sunday School will take place at the 10.00am service on Sunday, June 4^th. We hope that as many members of the Parish as possible will be present to mark this moment in the life of our Parish.

A Day of Rest, Renewal, & Prayer ~ The Anglican Fellowship of Prayer along with the Oratory of the Little Way will be holding two one day conferences entitled, “A Day of Rest, Renewal, & Prayer” to be held at the Oratory located in Gaylordsville, CT on Friday, June 16, 2006 and a second day on Saturday, June 17, 2006. The cost to attend one day is $50.00 per person. The conference leader will be Rev. Dr. Gail Paul, Executive Director of the Oratory. Rev. Paul will lead attendees in guided meditations, sharing and soaking prayer. This will be a wonderful day for all Anglican pastors or lay persons to revitalize their faith and refresh their spirits. Space is limited to 25 people each day and registration is advance required to attend.

Overnight accommodations are available at the Oratory for an additional cost of $50.00 per person per night. Attendees are asked to bring a bag lunch; breakfast will be provided for overnight guests. To register please contact The Anglican Fellowship of Prayer at (860) 408-1539 or email elaird@prodigy.net.

Childcare in the Undercroft ~ During the summer it is our intention to have childcare during the 10.00am service in the Undercroft in order to allow as many families with young children as possible to attend church. We hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity.

Summer Coffee Hours ~ Please do take a minute to sign up to do Coffee Hour once during the Summer. These need not be elaborate affairs. Lemonade and cookies on the terrace would be a wonderful way to have a chance to greet one another after the 10.00am service. A sign-up sheet to indicate your willingness to do this is on the bulletin board.

Loaves & Fishes ~ Our day for Loaves & Fishes is Friday, June 16^th. Please sign up for cooking food or delivering it and serving it at Loaves & Fishes. The sign-up sheet is in the Parish House. Please have the pans of food delivered by Noon on the 16^th. Please note: we are needful of volunteers to help with serving on that day. It will not take a great deal of your time, but it will be a tremendous help at the Soup Kitchen.

Rowan Greer’s New Book ~ Our good friend, The Reverend Rowan Greer, who so generously gives of his time throughout the year at Saint John’s has just finished a new book. It is published by Herder and Herder and can be ordered at the Hickory Stick. It is entitled Anglican Approaches to Scripture (from the Reformation to the Present). It is described on the book jacket as follows, “In this remarkable book, award-winning author, Rowan A. Greer weaves together historical detail and theological sensitivity to present a multi-layered Anglican tradition of what scripture is and how it is to be interpreted.” Dr. Ellen Davis, professor of religion at Duke Divinity School, comments as follows, “A lucid historical study. Not just Anglicans but the whole divided church should make use of Rowan Greer’s careful work.”

Randall Balmer Ordained ~ On Saturday, May 20, at the Cathedral Church of Saint John in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Randall Balmer was ordained Deacon by The Right Revd Dr. Jeffrey Steenson. Since his arrival here in January, Randall has become a wonderful asset to Saint John's functioning liturgically as well as leading the Adult Forum late this last Winter. He will continue to offer his time here, and we are most fortunate for his assistance and generosity in giving of his gifts on our behalf. Please go out of you way both to thank and congratulate him.

Wine Tasting to Benefit Saint John’s ~ Bill Fore, proprietor of County Wines & Spirits on Route 202 has been kind enough to volunteer to host a wine tasting at Saint John’s on June 16 at 6.00pm. Bill is a member of Saint John’s and a most knowledgeable wine expert. We hope you will take advantage of a chance to benefit Saint John’s and to have a most enjoyable evening. For more information or to purchase tickets please call County Wines & Spirits at 860-868-2181.

Outreach Committee ~ The Outreach Committee approved the following additional grants for 2006: Susan B. Anthony ($500), Fistula Foundation ($500), Doctors Without Borders ($1,000), Children’s Mission of St. Paul’s/St. James’ ($500) and The Bishop’s Fund for Children/5K Race ($500).

“’Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Malachi 3:10-12

Like the people of Malachi’s era, many of us today fear giving away what we have and what we worked so hard to acquire. God’s message on giving, however, is consistent: in giving we will be mightily blessed. Many of us know well the blessings that come when we give generously with thanksgiving.

To date, 119 families have made a pledge to St. John’s Church; 13 of those families are new pledgers. Our budget calls for a 10% increase in pledging. Of the 40 families who increased their pledge, six families increased their pledge by 10%, and 27 increased their pledge by more than 10%. Increases of 15%, 25%, 30%, 150% and even 200% have come in this year. Clearly, we can support our church. We have the capacity, love and thankful spirits to carry out St. John’s mission.

Our 2006 pledge goal is $269,500. So far we have received $230,340 in pledges. We need an additional $39,160 to meet our operating costs. About 20 families who pledged last year have not yet pledged this year. If all of those families pledge the same amount that they pledged in 2005, we would receive an additional $27,723. Consequently, we anticipate a budget shortfall of between $12,000 and $40,000.

As we engage in a deeper exploration of Christian stewardship and its place in our relationship to God, may we experience more fully how we are held in His loving hands and realize that our gifts and our selves are the media through which God reaches out to hold others.

Vestry News ~ The regularly scheduled meeting of the Vestry took place May 21, 2006.

Stewardship: Winston Fowlkes reported that phone calls made by members of the Vestry have had good results.

Music Notes ~ May was a month of varied musical activity at St. John's. On the 7th, Evensong for Eastertide took place and was both well attended and beautifully sung. As ever, the choir, even in the busiest of times, rises to tip-top form and produces a service of grace and dignity - for which I am abidingly grateful.

Then we geared up for the major effort of the St. John’s Chorale Spring Concerts. The setting up, taking down, re-setting up, re-taking down, (etc. ad infinitum) of our new stage platforms was in itself a nightmare worthy of an extensive column all by itself. The piano was moved back and forth so often that I awoke one morning just prior to the performances completely incapable of remembering where, precisely, the instrument was. (Thank you, Steinway technicians, for building pianos that can take it!) But putting all the rannygazoo aside, our efforts were abundantly repaid with two splendid concerts. Judging from their response, the gratifyingly large audiences appeared to have enjoyed themselves thoroughly.

On the 4th of June, the feast of Pentecost, we will offer the final Evensong of our current season. Featured at this service will be C. V. Stanford’s setting of the Evening Canticles in C Major. Stanford made several settings of these canticles during his lifetime, but the one in C Major - his last - has always seemed to me to be his very best; mature, reflective, and simply beautiful. Please make every effort to attend, and join us in celebrating this important feast.

Two weeks after this, on Sunday, the 18th of June, at 4 PM, the Saint John’s Concert Series will present as the final event of its current season, Chorus Angelicus under the direction of Mr. Paul Halley. I’ve had a look at the proposed program, and I can tell you that it promises to make for an afternoon of pure enchantment.

And finally, I feel I should mention an event which, although not taking place within the precincts of St. John’s itself, may be of interest to many of you. On Friday evening, the 23rd of June, at 8 PM, the Saint John’s Chorale will reprise it’s May Concert at Music Mountain. So for any of you who may have missed it, or might like to hear it again, here’s your chance. Music Mountain is located in Falls Village, CT., and I’d be delighted to offer directions on how to get there, except for the fact that I’ve not got any clear idea about it myself. Roughly, I think you just get in your car, head for Quebec, and stop a long, long time before you get there. (Actually, I think it’s only about 30 minutes north of Washington.)

Thence onward to July and - finally! - the good old summertime. Speaking of which, my very best wishes to all of you for a relaxing and a rejuvenating one.