E-Connections October 30, 2014 В© 2014 St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 294 Main Street South, Woodbury, CT 06798 вЂў (203) 263-3541 вЂў st.paulswoodbury@stpaulswoodbury.net In This Issue: Pg 2 - Coffee House Pg 3 - Mike Davies Pg 4 - Sr. Warden Notes; Convention Pg 5 - This Week Pg 6 - Pumkin Pix Pg 9 - Outreach Pg 10 - Earth Cares Pg 11 - Readings Pg 12 - All SaintsвЂ™ Pg 11 - All HallowвЂ™s Pg 13 - Participating Coffee House Success L ast Saturday night in the Pearson Room approximately 40 people enjoyed our Coffee House featuring great music and food. Additionally our Youth Group raised $400 toward their fundraising goal of adopting a family from Safe Haven in Waterbury and providing Christmas for them. More Coffee House Pictures 2 3 Notes from the Senior Warden A t our meeting on October 21, we continued our study of Mark, 6:713, 30-44, including an exercise on communication and self-assessment. Too, we discussed our assigned reading in Cultivating the Missional Church, chapters on keeping the covenant and permissiongiving churches. Other items to note: We approved the chairsвЂ™ recommendation that the $460+ surplus from the Progressive Dinner be divided and distributed to the youth program, Capital Improvements and the RectorвЂ™s Discretionary fund to assist those in need to attend future dinners. We discussed our Stewardship program and the need to increase pledge participation while also thanking our wonderful Ministry Minute speakers! We heard plans for the December 6 Christmas Bazaar, and approved the CommitteeвЂ™s request to put the proceeds toward replacing the floor covering in the Pearson Room. Dates to note: November 2, SWIM Harvest walk December 6, 10:30-3, Christmas Bazaar Please also note: Bishop Douglas is unable to visit St. PaulвЂ™s on November 30; his visit will be rescheduled. Enjoy these beautiful but waning days of fallвЂ¦... Yours in peace, Nancy Twinem, Senior Warden MenвЂ™s Group E ach Wednesday at noon the menвЂ™s group, a growing and informal gathering of men, has been meeting for lunch at the Charcoal Chef. Please join us next week! 2014 Diocesan Convention L ast Friday and Saturday, Greg, Shahrohk, Duke Breon and Barbara Grant represented St. PaulвЂ™s at the Diocesan Convention in Waterbury. Check out the links below to see the resolutions that passed, links to videos used in presentations, and the diocesan magazine. Friday Convention Roundup Saturday Convention Roundup Diocesan Magazine CRUX As a retirement gift in honor of Bishop Curry's ministry, donors contributed a total of $10,000 to the Hartford organization, Mothers Click on the picture above to watch the BishopвЂ™s address United Against Violence. During our convention Eucharist, $2,200 was collected and will be given to the Ebola Crisis Response Fund at Episcopal Relief & Development. Next yearвЂ™s convention will be held in Cromwell. 4 A the SaintsвЂ¦вЂќ favorite hymn, often used at All SaintsвЂ™ Day celebrations is #287, вЂњFor all Who are the saints now on the вЂњGodwardвЂќ side of your life who encourage you to give thanks, not only for their lives by your examples of loving discipleship, but also by your willingness to be ever grateful for all they know (and you know) God has given you? This is our particular day to remember all the blessed saints - especially those who have gone before us here, have served God faithfully in this parish. They were good and diligent stewards - quietly and continually supporting His work in many ways while living lives of integrity and courage. May it be yet another of GodвЂ™s gifts for us to join them at the banquet when our days here are done. Let light perpetual shine upon them. Committee for Refugee Concerns Forming T he Rev. Esmail (Shahrokh) Dezhbod of St. Paul's and the Rev. Canon Audrey Scanlan would like to invite all those who are interested in working for refugee concerns to join them for an organizing meeting on Tuesday, November 18 at 6 pm at the Commons (the Episcopal Church in Connecticut offices). The Rev. Dezhbod writes: I am a refugee who came to the United States 14 years ago and when I came here I promised myself to help other refugees to find a safe place, as my family and I did. ... I have had a vision to create a committee for the refugees, in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, for some time. My vision is that this committee will be a place of advocating for all refugees around the world, encouraging U.S. legislation to continue supporting refugees, and sponsoring refugees in Connecticut by working with local resettlement agencies. If you are interested in attending or being involved, please email Jody Rodiger at jrodiger@episcopalct.org. THIS WEEK AT ST. PAULвЂ™S Saturday Sunday Nov 1 Nov 2 Monday Nov 3 Tuesday Nov 4 Wednesday Nov 5 Thursday, Nov 6 Saturday Nov 8 Sunday Nov 9 5:00 pm Holy Eucharist All SaintsвЂ™ Sunday 8:00 am Holy Eucharist 10:00 am Holy Eucharist 11:15 am Christmas Bazaar Meeting 6:15 pm Christian Yoga, Pearson Room 7:00 pm Executive Committee 7:30 am Holy Eucharist, Seabury Room 12:00 pm MenвЂ™s Lunch, Charcoal Chef 7:30 pm Fr. FredвЂ™s Class 10:30 am Bible Study, Louise SmithвЂ™s home 5:00 pm Holy Eucharist 22nd Sunday after Pentecost 8:00 am Holy Eucharist 9:45 am Church School 10:00 am Holy Eucharist 5 Christian Pumpkin Carving 6 L ast year's inaugural Harvest Walk to End Hunger was successful in helping raise over $3,000 for the food banks in Woodbury, Southbury and Waterbury! This year, the 5k Harvest Walk to End Hunger will start Nov. 2 at the Southbury Town Hall. Registration starts at noon and the walk along Main St. starts at 1 pm. Please join us again for this opportunity to support local food banks and to increase awareness of food security issues in our area. The fee is $20 per person with a free T shirt to the first 300 registrants! Children under 12 are free and the maximum per family is $50. You can register on-line and learn about us at our new website www.swim-ct.org and please visit us on FACEBOOK.COM/SWIMCT I f you have fallen behind on your pledge offering, please make every effort to bring your contributions up to date. As of September 30, our pledge income was $111,282, which is $13,818 less than the budget. Your financial support is very much needed and appreciated. Forward Day by Day The Forward Day by Day for November, December & January is now available in the pamphlet racks in the narthex and hallway to the parish hall. Forward Day by Day contains a scripture verse and meditation for each day. We have pocket size and large print versions in our racks. 7 New Alarm Instructions R ecently we completed improvements to our aging alarm system. All of our fire detectors, heat sensors and burglary alarms have been updated and are now active. It basically works the same as the old system. Green light means Go (it is OK to open the door). Red light means Stop (the system is armed and the alarm active). Everyone has the same code as before. The only difference is that each time after you enter your code, BE SURE TO PUSH THE ENTER BUTTON. S t. Paul's is pleased to announce the introduction of an electronic option for making regular offerings and special donations. Contributions can now be debited automatically from your checking or savings account or processed using your credit or debit card. Our new electronic giving program offers convenience for you and much-needed donation consistency for our congregation. When contributions are automated, the church receives funds on a steady, uninterrupted basis. You have the choice of contributing on a weekly, monthly or one-time basis. You can set up your donations by clicking on the green button to the left, or if you'd rather stop by the church office for an authorization form. To set up your electronic donation from our website: 1) Go to StPaulsWoodbury.org or click on the Online Giving button above. 2) Click on the Create Profile button, then 3) Follow the onscreen instructions to create an online profile and to schedule your 8 We Remember Richard C. Brown, Sr., 1933 - 2014 Brother of Lois Zane, Richard died this past Monday. Click here for a link to his obituary. How do you slice it? Click to find out. Update from the Outreach Committee T he Outreach Committee has been learning more about the organizations that we support. Our financial resources are somewhat limited but we are better understanding many other ways to support these very deserving groups. Recently we heard from a representative of Covenant to Care, about their functions and needs as well as their appreciation for what St. PaulвЂ™s does to support them. Kristin Daigneault is the contact person from Outreach. Members of the committee visited our local Food Bank to see what else we may offer the Community Services Program. Volunteers are always needed to help man the Food Bank as well as working on the many other fund raising functions they have. Regardless of appearances, there many local people in need. Nancy Twinem is the Outreach contact person for Community Services. Two weeks ago we were fortunate to have Melissa Malagutti from Safe Haven speaking to us about their many functions and needs. Melissa gave us a good idea of how we can assist Safe Haven, both individually and as a parish, the people they serve. Outreach committee contact person is Mariana Daniels We will continue to encourage all the organizations that we support to speak to St. PaulвЂ™s about what they do and how we can physically assist them. Stay tuned. Name Tags - Please be courteous to fellow parishioners, to newcomers and guests by extending a warm welcome to them and by wearing your name tag. And remember to wear them to coffee hour as well. 9 Only 6 weeks until the Annual Woodbury Christmas Festival and our Only 5 Weeks to Go! St. Paul's Fabulous Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, December 6th As generous donations begin to roll in and the excitement grows daily, we'd like to remind you what has been accomplished with the net profits from the last few years 1. Bazaar 2011 вЂ“ Proceeds went to Woodbury Community Services Council 2. Bazaar 2012 - Proceeds purchased a much-needed new refrigerator for the kitchen 3. Bazaar 2013 вЂ“ Proceeds purchased a new microwave and new counter tops for the kitchen. Your awesome support, with exciting and interesting and unique donations, has allowed us to create a beautiful Bazaar which our customers really love. They stop first at St. Paul's and shop, shop, shop, then they go visit the other venues and enjoy them, but it always amazes us how very many of them come back to us and shop and shop againвЂ¦.and to enjoy your delicious, donated cookies!!! Any questions about donations, call Judie Ferris 203 263 3271 Diane Heavens 203 263 2468 or Maureen Well 203 263 4892 Next Meeting of Christmas Bazaar Committee Sunday, Nov. 2вЂ¦..after 10 o'clock service Please come and join usвЂ¦.we have a wonderful time together planning and executing this happy eventвЂ¦. we need your help and you'll have fun, too. CHRISTMAS BAZAAR PLANNING MEETING Sunday, Nov. 2 11:15 am (after 10 am Servoce) Pearson Room Only 5 more weeks to work out all the planning and then put it all together into another gorgeous event on Saturday December 6 ! New member-workers are welcome....we work hard but have a LOT of fun and it's very rewarding. Any questions? Call Judie Ferris 293-25-63-3271 or Diane Heavens 293-263-2468 or Maureen Well 203-263-4892 Earth Cares There is a yellow decorated collection box on the floor in the coat area where you can place items for Covenant to Care and Safe Haven. These are two organizations out of the several that our church supports. Here are lists from which to select items to buy: Shelter Supplies Cleaning products Toilet paper Paper towels Liquid laundry detergent Dishwashing detergent Grocery cards Gift cards to Payless Journals & pens/pencils Personal Needs Shampoo & conditioner Hair brushes Deodorant Toothpaste & brushes Soap Disposable razors Diapers New Clothing Children's socks ChildrenвЂ™s underwear ChildrenвЂ™s sweatpants LadiesвЂ™ underwear LadiesвЂ™ PJвЂ™s & socks LadiesвЂ™ sweats Food Items Canned juice or jouice boxes Pasta sauce Cereal Pasta Macaroni & cheese The list is long, but varied. Please be generous - not just at the holidays, but throughout the years. Problems persist throughout the days for these clients. God bless, Bren 10 Stewardship Reflection вЂњThose who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his elect, and he watches over his holy ones.вЂќ - Wisdom of Solomon 3:9 H ereвЂ™s the ironic thing about people who are generous. Those that give freely and cheerfully do not do it to be rewarded. They do it to show their love for God and their neighbors. Yet, because of their generosity, they typically are given more than they gave away! This WeekendвЂ™s Readings Cloud of Witnesses Revelation 7:9-17 his lesson presents a vision of those who have survived great tribulation and now worship before the throne of God and the Lamb. Psalm 34:1-10, 22 A hymn of blessing and praise to the Lord for deliverance. 1 John 3:1-3 In this lesson we learn that through GodвЂ™s love, disciples are now children of God; their destiny is to be like Christ. Matthew 5:1-12 The gospel is the opening sayings of the Sermon on the Mount, words of both comfort and challenge. The values of the kingdom are quite different from worldly standards. Those who are to find blessing will know want and thirst, if not because of their own circumstances, then for the sake of others. Those who hunger for righteousness will find fulfillment, but first they must suffer persecution. T 11 12 Participating in the Services Saturday, November 1st 5 pm Ushers Pam Lehman, Lectors Chalicer Matthew Daly Lehman Betty Lou Bowles, Peter Bowles Gaby Drews Saturday, November 8th 5 pm Usher Lectors Chalicer Sunday, November 9th Sunday, November 2nd 8 am Usher Lector Chalicer Intercessor 8 am Ushers Lector Chalicer Intercessor Dick Leavenworth Dick Leavenworth Brenda Weir Lynda Jones 10 am Ushers Lectors Chalicers Acolytes Church School Youth Church School Youth Maya Brazauskas, Lois Zane Anna Culkin, Maddie Daigneault, Paige Daigneault Intercessor Church School Youth Counter Leslie Albrecht Altar Guild: Marianne Daly, Pam Lehman, Brenda Weir, Lois Zane Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Bonnie Leavenworth, Mieke Weggeman, Brenda Weir Dale White Janet Congdon, Karen Nash Norma Leavenworth Kathie Nichols, Brenda Weir Joan Wilson Dory Holmes Dick Leavenworth 10 am Ushers Julie & Tom Calkins Lectors Duke Breon, Tom Calkins Chalicer Lois Zane Acolytes Chris Culkin, Owen Hale Intercessor Ed Hord Counter Dawn Ericson Altar Guild: Marianne Daly, Pam Lehman, Brenda Weir, Lois Zane Lay Eucharistic Minister: Rich Baird Please remember to arrange for your own replacements and to keep the office informed of any changes at st.paulswoodbury@stpaulswoodbury.net. COFFEE HOUR HOSTS Nov 2 - Sue & Marty Taylor Hebrews 13:2 - Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. St. PaulвЂ™s Church 294 Main Street South Woodbury, Connecticut 06798 Office: 203-263-3541 St.paulswoodbury@stpaulswoodbury.net Website: stpaulswoodbury.org 13