The Eagle - December 2005

It appears that, as I did last December, so I shall this December and offer as my message in this edition of The Eagle a sermon. The one I offer was preached at Saint John’s on the first day of Advent this year (November 27). It comes with my deep and abiding hope that you will have a blessed Advent … and a glorious Christmastide.

I found it almost unspeakably sad Friday to pick up the morning paper and find in the local news section a large photograph of the front of a discount store on Route #7 in New Milford . The picture was taken in the dark with the aid of considerable artificial lighting. Across a wide expanse of parking lot, one beheld the front of the store and, at it, dozens, literally, dozens, of human beings standing in the cold of the dawning day…in a line…shopping carts at the ready…waiting for the store to open.

It was Thanksgiving morning…Thanksgiving morning! Dear God, I thought, to what is it coming? That men and women would do such a thing in the interest of buying some gadget…or toy…or, is it now all the rage (?), I think, “X-Box…”

Oh, it’s not so much the fact of people rushing about to purchase gifts…that has always sort of carried with it a bit of Bing Crosby or Norman Rockwell…but, rather, the fact that human dignity…the sense of what might truly be important…in that picture, was reduced to waiting in the freezing cold to buy something that plugs into the television set.

It is, I suppose, utterly predictable…and I beg your forgiveness for such predictability…for one occupying a pulpit on the First Sunday in Advent to bewail such behavior. I suppose, equally predictably, my little blurb in the Eagle next week will probably do as it has in December for close to twenty years and urge us to a quieter contemplation of the approach of the Nativity than we perhaps might otherwise make.

I do try to remain hopeful in this regard, but some days it is more difficult than others. One confronts that picture in the morning paper or one falls into conversation with another or others…as I did just yesterday in the case of a couple from our Parish whom I met in the Washington Market who said, and I quote reasonably accurately, “We don’t know what we are going to do. The month is filled up, and we cannot figure out how to fit one more thing in!”

I assumed we were speaking of November and was somewhat horrified to discover that we were, in fact, speaking of December.

We each, I suppose, have our own manner, literally or figuratively, of lining up outside the discount store.

At the risk of pedantry, I remind us that Advent takes its meaning from the Latin, adventus…a coming…an approaching. And I would suggest that the proper response to something approaching…especially something as small and delicate as the birth of a child…is to await it. And waiting demands patience...being still…marking time.

None of these seems terribly to be held in high esteem in this present world. We are, it seems, to be “doing something…bettering our lot…being productive…whatever” You know, “If you’re not going forward, you’re going backward.” I would suggest that reflects a rather poor understanding of physics.

Being still is a physical…and far more importantly…a spiritual…possibility. It is, in fact, an absolute spiritual necessity. We cannot hear that still small voice that seeks to speak to our hearts and minds and souls if we are not still...if we do not listen…if, in the words of the Gospel, we do not “watch.”

The world makes this difficult. There is much to distract us. We live in an age when it is terribly difficult to avoid the demands, changes, and pressures that confront us on every side.

The world is too big for us. Too much is going on, too many crimes, too much violence, too much excitement. Try as you will, you get behind in the race, in spite of yourself. It is an incessant strain to keep pace…and still, you lose ground. Science empties its discoveries on you so fast that you stagger beneath them in hopeless bewilderment. The political world is news seen so rapidly you’re out of breath trying to keep pace with who’s in and who’s out. Everything is high pressure. Human nature cannot endure much more!

Life has never, from the beginning of recorded history, made it a simple matter for a human spirit to break the bonds of earthly demands, commitments, and routine and ascend into that freedom for which it so longs.

Who and what and how each of us hears…waits upon…does…watches for…is up to each of us.

The difficult part is that we cannot hear or wait upon or watch for everything. We must make choices, for there is only just so much time allotted us in each day…and, to put an even finer point upon it…allotted us in this life.

The use to which we put every moment of our lives is the only use to which that moment can be put. Nothing else can fit into it…and, once it is used up, it is gone forever.

We just sang the great Advent hymn, “Come thou long expected Jesus” In it we avowed that we believe Jesus was “born to set [his] people free.”

I wonder what it is from which, and for which, our hearts and souls and very beings might wish to be set free…and if the days ahead might offer a time in which there is time for that to happen.

Please mark your calendar and plan to attend the Christmas Pageant at 10.00am and then to gather in the Parish Hall for something we have never done at Saint John’s before.

· Decorate the mitten tree created by the Sunday School. (Bring new mittens to put on the tree to be distributed to those in need.)

· Finish the collection of the coats and toys destined to reach those in need in New Milford and Bridgeport that was started at the beginning of Advent.

· Have the children share their lunch at special tables in the Library and create Christmas projects for their family holiday.

· Join the Youth Group, leaving from the Parish Hall at 1.00pm, to spend an hour caroling for some of the shut-in members of Saint John’s .

As well as a chance to hear about some of the marvelous activities that are occurring at Saint John’s from some of the individuals involved with them.

This will be a delightful occasion…and a wonderfully unique moment in Saint John’s 212 years for young and old to gather for a joyous time together. We look forward to sharing it with you.

Christmas Pageant

This year’s Christmas Pageant will take place at the 10:00 a.m. service on the 18^th of December. Bruce and Helena Fifer have agreed, once again, to direct the Pageant, and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts for their generosity in doing this.

For those who will be participants in the Pageant (and every child at Saint John’s is hereby invited), there will be a meeting in the Undercroft on Sunday, the 11^th of December, right after Church. At this time costumes will be distributed and the initial discussion regarding who will take which roles will take place. The following Saturday, December 17^th, we will gather in the Parish House at Noon for pizza and will then adjourn to the Church for Pageant rehearsal. While it would be great if interested participants could be at both gatherings, we’ll figure out a way around it if you could only get to one…but please do try to get there for both of them.

The Pageant is a wonderful part of our life at Saint John’s , and we eagerly anticipate it again this year.

Advent Lessons & Carols ~ On December the 4^th at 5.00 p.m., Saint John’s will host the Deanery Service of Advent Lessons & Carols. This marvelous service, crafted decades ago at Cambridge University by Eric Milner-White, is one of the gems of the Anglican Church and offers a beautiful opportunity to hear the word of God in readings related to the Advent of our Lord and to rejoice in the music so many talented individuals have composed to celebrate this event. The Clergy from the Parishes of the Deanery will read at this service, and The Right Reverend James Curry, Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese will be the Officiant. The Altar Guilds of the Deanery will receive special recognition at this service and a lovely reception will follow. Please mark your calendars to be here for this evening.

Services for Advent and Christmastide 2005-2006 ~ Services ofAdvent and Christmastide are detailed on the Parish answering machine (868.2527).

Christmas Flowers ~ If you wish to request that individuals be remembered at Christmas in the service leaflet for the Christmas services, please call the Office. If you would like to contribute to helping with the decorating of the Church at Christmas in the name of these individuals, you may also do that. Simply send a check payable to Saint John’s to PO Box 1278 , Washington 06793 noting the name of the individual(s) you wish remembered. We must receive names absolutely no later than 9.00am on Monday, December 19^th.

Sunday School Coat Drive ~ The young people of the Sunday School have decided that they wish to undertake a most wonderful outreach project. They need your help. Please bring in coats for individuals of all ages (either new or in really good condition) and put them on the coat rack in the rear of the church. The Sunday School, assisted by the Outreach Committee, will see that these go to folks in need in Bridgeport (through our relationship with Saint John’s Church there) or in New Milford (through the overnight shelter there).

Christmas Toy Drive

This year we will be collecting toys for the Food Drive that serves various organizations in this area. Among them are organizations such as the Senior Center , PAL, Veterans of CT, The Santa Fund of New Milford , and a number of others. In total, over a hundred families received gifts and non-perishable foodstuffs through this effort overseen by Don Claydy, who has dedicated his time to this for well on to twenty years. There will be a box in the Baptistry very clearly marked to receive your gifts of new unwrapped toys and non-perishable food items. Last year, through Mr. Claydy’s efforts, 56 food baskets were delivered to those in need in this area of Litchfield County and over 500 kids received approximately five Christmas gifts they might otherwise not have received. We urge you to take time between now and December 18^th (the fourth Sunday in Advent) to bring in your gifts and food. This is a wonderful effort on behalf of those in need in our area by one man who has made a personal campaign out of doing all he can to bring light into the ofttime dark worlds of people who live practically at our very doorstep.

Stewardship for the year 2006 ~ In the week before Christmas you will receive the Vestry’s request for your support of Saint John’s during 2005. If you have not done so as of yet, we ask that you take time to review this request. Your support of Saint John’s is essential to our continued strength, and we pray that your response will be generous. If you do not receive this letter and wish to receive one, please call the Office (868-2527) and let us know. We will send it right along.

Layreaders, Chalice Bearers, Acolytes and Ushers ~ Please be aware that any member of the Parish who is interested in becoming involved in any of these ministries should feel free to contact the Rector and let him know of that interest. You would be most welcomed and your gifts received with gratitude.

We have a special need this year for new Acolytes. A number of our more senior corps members have gone off to college. Any young person in fourth grade or above would be welcomed to become involved in this ministry in the life of Saint John’s . Please contact Father Ficks (868-2527) for additional details.

Announcing the Formation of the

Planned Giving Committee

Tom Daniels, Chairman

Winston Fowlkes, Tom Hollinger, Stephen Morris,

Mary Schinke, The Revd Robert Ficks III

The mission of this committee is to assist parishioners who seek to perpetuate the ministry of Saint John’s Church by making gifts through a will or charitable trust to our endowment fund. The endowment fund has helped our Parish thrive for generations. Please contact the Rector or any member of the Committee if you have questions about planned giving.

Loaves & Fishes ~ Our day for Loaves & Fishes is December 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 in need 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. Please give the Office (868-2527) a call to find out more about how you can help in this way.

Adult Forum ~ The final meeting of this Autumn’s Adult Forum took place on November 20^th. Under the Reverend Rowan Greer’s able leadership, the forum has been a wonderfully successful, informative, and provocative arena during the entire Fall. Father Greer’s gifts to us of his time and his wisdom… not to mention his great good humor… are a precious part of the life of this parish church. We are deeply in his debt for this kindness and look forward to continued meetings with him in the future.

Vestry News ~ At its regularly scheduled meeting of Sunday, November 20, 2005 the following received attention:

· The recommended operating budget for 2006 will be presented at the December meeting.

· The December meeting will be transferred from the 18^th of December to the 11^th of December at 11.20am in the Parish House Library.

· Stewardship - The Vestry agreed that an appropriate way to mark the end of this year, welcome the Advent of Christmas, and celebrate the life of Saint John’s would be to host a luncheon on the 18^th right after the 10.00 am service. Invitations will be sent to all Parishioners. It is hoped that this will provide a fine source of fellowship and a wonderful beginning to the Christmas season.

· Ted Bent reported on the events of the October Diocesan convention noting that he felt that it was an extremely productive gathering and one that handled a number of very delicate issues with skill and gentleness. Mary Schinke echoed Mr. Bent’s sentiments.

As noted, the next meeting of the Vestry will be December 11 at 11.20am in the Parish House.

News of the Sunday School and Youth Group

The Sunday School ~ The second term of Sunday School began on the first Sunday of Advent. The teachers this term are Rob Guida, Phil Gorrivan and Donna Wright. Erin Koslosky continues to provide childcare for the very smallest members of the Parish. Life in the undercroft is busy to say the least. The ministry of those who teach there is one of surpassing importance and we are deeply in the debt of the men and women who give of themselves in this incredibly important ministry.

The 6^th–9^th grade group ~ The 6^th- 9^th grade group has met four times under the leadership of Bett Alter. Numbers attending have varied all over the lot from 2 or 3 to 9 or 10, but it does seem that the group is forming some sort of reasonable cohesion and, under Bett’s guidance and leadership, we are everso hopeful that it will become an important part of the ministry of this Parish to our young people. The December meeting of the 6^th– 9^th grade group will be on the 11^th of December at 10.00 am in the Parish House Library.

Youth Group ~ A number of wonderful activities have taken place for the Youth Group, chief among them, a Haunted Hayride and Halloween Festivity that was enjoyed by a considerable number of young people. Leaf raking at Sarah McLean’s (snowed out on November 27^th) will hopefully take place on December 4^th. Gather at the Parish House after church for a modest repast and then off to Sarah’s for some raking. Bring a rake and a change of clothes. Christmas caroling for shut-ins will take place at 1.00pm on the 18^th. Everyone who would like to be involved is more than welcome to attend. The Youth Group is again planning their fundraising Grinder Sale for Super Bowl Sunday on February 5, 2006.

Prayers for the Sick ~ We find that there is a tendency occasionally, for those who asked to have people prayed for, to forget to let us know when those prayers might be discontinued. In light of this, it seems appropriate once a year to begin afresh. With this in mind, on the second Sunday in Advent we will remove from the Prayer List names which we are unable to identity in the Office and ask that, if we remove a name you wish continued on the Prayer List, you take a moment to call the Office (868.2527) and make that request.

Hold on to your hats! This is surely a red-letter day in the brief history of my contribution to these Chronicles, because for once I actually have a topic of substance to discuss. To wit:

Beginning on Christmas Eve and running throughout the season of Epiphany, we will be breaking in a new musical setting of the Eucharist - well, hardly new, since it was written in the mid 1920s, but new in the sense that it will be the first time most of us will be hearing it. The music was composed by C. E. S. Littlejohn about whom, I’m sorry to say, there doesn’t seem to be much known. His dates are 1879-1959, which makes him an almost exact contemporary of Healey Willan (1880-1968), whose beloved service setting we will be retiring for a while. Mr. Littlejohn was organist at Hunstanton Church in Norfolk ( England ) and during the years between 1946 and 1954 he was Hon. Librarian of the music library at the Royal School of Church Music at Canterbury . His musical style, much like Willan’s, is dignified, tuneful, and always deeply responsive to the ancient texts of our Communion liturgy.

The reasons for introducing this new setting are two: First of all, it seems only right and proper that fine settings of the Eucharistic Rite, of which Mr. Littlejohn’s is but one of many, be given a chance to be heard and to illuminate the experience of worship in their own unique ways. Secondly, it seems high time we allow the Willan service, which we’ve been singing now for many consecutive months, a chance to rest. I have enormous respect for Willan’s music and have loved his Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena (the setting we use) since I first heard it nearly 35 years ago. But while a certain amount of repetition produces a comforting familiarity and affection, I fear that too much repetition runs the risk of creating sonic wallpaper. That is the point at which one begins singing the music as a mere mechanical exercise without actually hearing it at all - a fate no good music deserves!

Unfortunately the printed music for the Littlejohn service is not to be found in our Hymnal 1982 (unfortunate but not surprising, given the profound indifference that was lavished on that portion of the book by the sages who compiled it). However, we will be providing sparkling clear copies of the music on cards which will live in the pew racks alongside the prayer books and hymnals. We do ask that these cards, when they eventually appear, not be taken out of the church, so that they will be available for use week after week. Enthusiasts who might like to take the music home with them for more intensive perusal, will find paper copies available at the entrances of the church.

For those of us whose musical sight-reading abilities may not be what they once were, the recommended method for learning this (or any) new setting would be simply to follow along on the printed cards and listen to the choir for the first few weeks. I’m convinced that the eminently singable nature of Mr. Littlejohn’s music will allow it to be quickly and easily assimilated, and you’ll know it before you know you know it. And from knowing it to liking it will, I earnestly hope, be a very short step.

But now, as I feared from the outset, this article has rambled on far too long. See what evils get unleashed when one has a ‘topic of substance’ to discuss! I shall do my best to correct this fault in future Eagle contributions.

Before I wind down completely, though, here are a few dates and times to be duly noted:

Sunday, 4 December, 5 PM - Service of Advent Lessons & Carols, Friday, 9 December, 8 PM and Sunday, 11 December, 4 PM - The Saint John’s Chorale Christmas Candlelight Concerts, with works by Britten , Victoria , Liszt, and Bold, featuring Marc Antoine Charpentier’s Messe de Minuit pour Noël (Midnight Mass for Christmas Eve).

And, oh yes. In case it may have slipped your mind, Christmas this year will be on the 25th, lasting, I believe, all day. You might like to make note that we will be including a few carols at the 10.00 am service on Christmas morning.

So we’re off and running headlong into another ‘holiday’ season. My sincerest wishes to all of you for a merry, a happy, and (most of all) a peaceful one.