Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Page 1 Thanksgiving 2018
Thanksgiving 2018
Newsletter
Greetings,
“Gratitude, that is, to be properly grateful, is the most primary of all religious attitudes.” - R. Rolheiser.
In the BCP Collect for Thanksgiving we say thanks “ for all that is beautiful in creation”....
“but above all we thank thee for our spiritual mercies in Christ Jesus.”
We cannot be grateful for just those things we consider to be to our benefit. We must be grateful for all,
good and bad. Each day we need to give thanks for the good earth on which we live. Our world is changing
rapidly and mankind has been responsible for these changes. Nature has been kind to us but for too long our
gratitude has been based on entitlement, celebrating what we have taken from creation.
We need to do an about face; not only to be grateful for creation, but, also, to encourage stewardship of
the earth; and not only, being aware of what we gain, but also, how we can give back, sustain, and nurture the
earth. Think for a moment what we give back and how that is changing the life on the planet. We give back
garbage and sewage!
Giving thanks, implies recognition, not only of the gift, but al-
so, of the giver. That practice of gratitude can, in a very real way,
lead to a practice of self-restraint, of taking from the earth only what
we need.
Acknowledging the gifts that surround us, creates a sense of
satisfaction. Society drills into our head, telling us we must have
more. To practice contentment is a radical act in a consumption driv-
en society.
Our gratitude, for creation, has to be more than a formula of
words. Thanksgiving Day is one holiday where we do not exchange
gifts, it is a time to feast and be grateful for all we have been given
by God. A time for us to reflect on what we can do FOR creation.
Alvin+
Priest In Charge’s Message
Page 2 Thanksgiving 2018
Cathy Ramey has folded her archive research coat and is no longer active with the Heritage Ministry.
The Heritage members will greatly miss her dedication and knowledge in accessing archival information.
Good Luck, Cathy.
The Heritage Committee is looking for new members to help with the important role of record
keeping, archive preservation, and research into our historical records for those wishing to follow their
family trail as it was impacted by St. John’s Church. Should you be interested and/or want more infor-
mation please contact Roger Demone through St. John’s Office. Submitted by Roger Demone, Chair Heritage Committee
Heritage Ministry
Music At St. John’s
A note from Barbara…..
Our music program was an active one during the summer months. We took a
break from regular weekly rehearsals but each Sunday morning our choir pews were
filled by both regular choir members and those who return to be with us during the sum-
mer months. It is always a joy to welcome back our good friends. There were 9
“Wednesdays at Noon’ presentations to enjoy, 2 this year in collaboration with Musique
Royale. Our next series will take place in Advent on December 5, 12 and 19. These will
be followed by ‘Julia’s Music’ at Harbour View Haven, providing much enjoyment to
the residents there. Chancel Choir is now back in full swing and this year we anticipate
meeting on Thursday evenings at 7 pm for regular rehearsals. Wendell continues to pro-
vide valuable assistance at rehearsals and church services as well as enhancing the role of music in our Sunday
School.
Musique Royale has a number of concerts of interest this fall. They are:
‘My Favourite Things’ with Robert Kortgaard and Julie Nesrallah
Sunday, October 28 at 4 pm
Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra with pianist Kathryn Wagner
Saturday, November 24 at 7 pm
Togni, Reilly and Lucyk Trio
Saturday, December 1 at 7:30 pm
A King’s Christmas with Paul Halley conducting King’s College Chapel Choir
Saturday, December 15 at 4 pm
Capella Regalis Men and Boys Choir - To Bethlehem with King’s Thursday, December 20 at 7 pm
New members are warmly invited to join either the Chancel Choir or St. John Ringers, conducted by
Sharon Hill. We would love to hear from you.
Warm regards,
Barbara
Page 3 Thanksgiving 2018
Wardens Reflections
In this Thanksgiving Reflection, we are pleased to report that MARY IS BACK! Our prayers have been
answered and she comes back to us with a clean bill of health! We would like to take this opportunity to thank
Maureen Brown who selflessly stepped in at the last minute and kept the office going in Mary’s absence.
Thank you Maureen!
Also with Joseph Carnevale continuing his battle to recovery, we are pleased to have Paul Woodley back
as Church Sexton and Hall Custodian. 2018 certainly hasn’t let up and remains an incredible busy year, it is
certainly not a “typical” year.
We started the summer with a wrap-up of the visioning process in May. (see article in this Newsletter
related to the Shared Vision).
The output of this effort not only provided us with a path forward towards a positive and hopeful future,
it also provided us with the basis on which to define the characteristics of a new rector that would not only
support the vision but would lead us down this inspired path.
A Search Committee was elected at a Special Congregational Meeting in early May and used the Shared
Vision as the basis to define the key characteristics we would look for in a new rector and the interview ques-
tions and steps to properly assess anyone who would submit their name as a candidate. It made the job of get-
ting alignment around one candidate so much easier.
During the balance of year, we will be preparing to welcome a new rector into our parish in January
2019. This will include getting on with some actions prior to a new rector joining this journey with us. The
rectory will be freshened up, as all of the candidates we interviewed saw the rectory as a cornerstone of their
parish ministry. Yes - the rectory is coming back to return as an integral part of our day-to-day life as a church
community.
We can not let this opportunity go by without expressing our deepest appreciation and gratitude to Rev.
Alvin, who has selflessly stayed with us through this period as our spiritual leader, allowing us the time to
heal, strengthen and undertake the search for a new rector in the best way possible.
Advent is just around the corner. with many music events anchoring an invitation for the community to
join in sharing our faith through this period. We have had our share of challenges, yet have we been bestowed
with many blessings. We have cried together, we have laughed together and we have celebrated together. It is
what families do. As we look through to the end of this year and into the next, there are so many reasons to be
excited about our opportunities, to give thanks for what we have together and for what we will create together
in our journey into the future.
Respectfully Submitted;
Wardens Robert, Blake and Duncan
St. John’s Lay Readers
Do you have a calling? Or even a small inclination to want to have a role in the services unfolding before
you in the apse on Sundays?
If so there is a place for you in the St. John’s Lay Readers group. We are in urgent need of several new
Lay Readers to assist in this important ministry.
Don’t know enough about what is required, no problem. Full training, coaching, and mentorship is avail-
able, all you have to do is express an interest and we will take it from there.
Anyone interested in either becoming a Lay Reader or knowing more about what it entails can
contact Roger Demone for more information and help.
Page 4 Thanksgiving 2018
Next Steps Toward Our Shared Vision
In the Summer Newsletter we provided a summary of the key elements of our Shared Vision following
several months of meetings and the involvement of over 130 of our parishioners.
Following this process we were excited about the opportunities contained in our vision and the strong
uniform voice that could be heard across the entire parish. However, over the past several months, what gener-
ated as much excitement was that during the search for a new rector, to a person, each of the candidates inter-
viewed described the Shared Vision as a key reason that they submitted their candidacy. Our vision was de-
scribed as well thought out, inspiring and filled with hope. They simply wanted to be a part of it.
We ended the article, in the last newsletter, on our Shared Vision with the following paragraph: “While
this describes our Shared Vision, it must be emphasized that a plan is only a plan until you do something with
it.
As Father Alvin Westgate states at the end of every service: “And now the work starts, as we go out
into the world to love and serve the Lord”. So, its time to roll up our sleeves, celebrate our rich heritage and
embrace the journey into the future.”
While most of the summer months were absorbed with the work of the Parochial Committee, it is now
time to heed Father Alvin’s words and “go out into the world to love and serve the Lord”. It’s time for action!
While, we certainly understand that there will be many actions that will be better left to work together with a
new rector, there are also many areas that we can tackle now. Our new rector would expect nothing less of this
parish.
The Parish Council and the Vision Team met early in September to discuss the Shared Vision, identify
potential obstacles we would face in this journey and what actions could, and should, be taken now to help rise
to the challenge.
Because Parish Council needs to take a leadership position in putting action to our vision, our focus in
this meeting was to identify actions that would fall under the responsibility of the Parish Council. Some exam-
ples were:
Changes in the way the Parish Council agenda is structured over the course of the year to ensure there is
balance between the time spent on parish administrative areas and time discussing core program elements
and their alignment with our shared vision
A recommendation to create a Communications Ministry that can take our communications to another lev-
el, both internally and externally (community).
Identifying ways to create an inventory of individual skills, strengths and blessings within our parishioners
to better leverage and meet the passion of all who would like to be more involved in some sort of activity
within our parish and the needs of our mission as a church.
Ways to measure the progress on the journey toward our vision. This will become even more critical as the
Diocese works to integrate the progress on each Parish’s missional work in the calculation of our allotment
(what we pay the Diocese on an annual basis)
Vision Committee – we decided to maintain our current Vision Team to support and work with all minis-
tries and committees in this journey together towards our shared vision of the future
Our plan is to continue to fine-tune these actions through October and November in collaboration with
the chairs of our various ministries and committees and other parish leaders. As we pull these actions together
we will share these plans with the parish to ensure we are all on the same page as we march together towards
our vision.
In further action that is taking place in this journey, we are repurposing in the area in the basement of our
Parish Hall that had once been a day care. This will be used by our Sunday School as an additional space (the
Page 5 Thanksgiving 2018
cleanup and re-organization is already underway!) as well as a room that can be used for child care to enable
our young parents an opportunity for a more active participation in church events. This was determined to be a
huge obstacle to a stronger engagement of our young families in many of our activities.
And, of course, once our new rector is in place early in the New Year, we will work together to continue
to define actions that broaden the scope of the work in our journey towards our shared vision.
Again, we must continue to emphasize that this is a journey. It will not and cannot happen over night.
But we will move forward with purpose and passion to close the gap between where we are today and our
shared vision of the future.
As we stated at the start of each of our vision meetings, this is NOT our vision. It is the mission that our
Lord has set us on. As per our prayer:
“Enable us to hear your voice and to see in our mind’s eye your vision and will for us, that we may
arise with courage and conviction, affirming with the prophets of old: “Your will, O God is our dearest
desire. We, your people, stand ready.”
Respectfully submitted by St John’s Vision Committee of;
Emmi Fraser, Jane Ritcey, Wendell Eisener and Duncan Crowdis
Next Steps Toward Our Shared Vision - Contd.
Summer Tour Guide Program
As we approach the end of our Tour Guide Season for 2018 I want to bring you up to date. We have had
an excellent visitor season although not as busy as last year.
We opened our doors on Victoria Day weekend with the arrival of guests from the first cruise ship, the
Pearl Seas, which was docked in Halifax.
Two of our student guides Graeme Russell and Taylor Butts began their tour guide jobs the following
week as they learned to welcome visitors and explain the history of St. John’s … always a challenging time as
there is much to memorize from history dates to the story of the restoration! Our third guide, Jade Ley who
was with us last year, joined the team at the end of June at which time she completed her Grade 12. The guides
have done a super job and we are most appreciative of their dedication and work ethic throughout those hot
summer days!
Also, our thanks to Peter Allen and Nona White for ringing the chimes throughout the week.
Everyone loves to hear them ring from the bell tower!
So from May 21st to September 15th we have welcomed over 19,000 visitors! We will continue with the
program until sometime late fall. Our supportive volunteers are on deck with their expertise and enthusiasm
and we thank them immensely for participating in this outreach ministry.
Submitted by Jane Ritcey
Tour Guide Committee
Page 6 Thanksgiving 2018
Sunday School
News from our Youth Ministry
For those of you who missed the Sunday School closing in May, we have an impressive picture (above)
that shows all. The students received their certificates of attendance, leadership received certificates of appre-
ciation from the Parish Council and the finale, the singing of “This Little Light of Mine.” Thanks to the Con-
gregational Committee for organizing another delicious BBQ as the kick off to what turned out to be a summer
of great warm weather for continued outside family gatherings.
The whole youth ministry is bursting with excitement with all our new plans for this coming Sunday
School year. We will continue following our regular curriculum for Christian Education on Sunday mornings
and in addition to this we will have scheduled activities
each month to provide opportunities to encourage not
only own Sunday School students but also to the com-
munity at large, to come together during the week. We
understand that Sunday mornings are not a good time
for all families to join us so this is a way to touch base
with their families in faith in their busy schedules.
Another exciting happening this year is the possi-
bilities that lie ahead with our new space downstairs in
the parish hall. We are slowly sorting through the piles
of inventory which will be followed by some elbow
grease, scrubbing and hopefully a fresh coat of paint.
We are still in the idea phase of how we are going to
enjoy the space and the many happy hours of fellowship
for all ages.
In an effort to expand our Christian Education pro-
gram for our older teens and adults this fall we will
begin an intergenerational book club which will discuss
Sunday School Closing Ceremony—May 2018
Summer Camp
Wendell with youth from Lunenburg, Mahone Bay & Chester
Page 7 Thanksgiving 2018
a variety of religious based novels and books. On select days throughout the year we will gather in the hall for
fellowship and conversation. Stay tuned for more information.
Our attendance has been strong for the month of September and we are pleased to report that we have
four new students joining us. We are also pleased to have Lorne and Anne Spence join our leadership team for
both teaching and musical support ...thanks guys.
Over the summer we held three leadership meetings and a very successful summer day camp. Fifteen
children from St. John’s, Chester and Mahone Bay, four volunteers (Louise, Audrey, Rena and Wendell) and a
head coordinator from the diocese centre were in attendance. Our volunteers played, sang and served their
wonderful baked goods, receiving well deserved praise from Hiliary, as the best team of all the summer
camps….way to go St. John’s!!! Wanda Bush, a local resident who plans to open a new baking business, heard
of our event and donated a chocolate cake. Sooo good!!! Yummm. Hiliary lead us through two lovely worship
sessions, craft activities, parables with life lessons, reflection, and outdoor activities. Thanks to Wendell, we
had lots and lots of music and giggles. He taught the children faith based songs several times during the day
and a few silly songs which now, has left me with an earworm. “The Wrinkled Prune Song”.
Wendell is committed to integrate the children naturally into our congregational worship. They will start
by learning some simple chants to be sung during the Eucharist with the assistance of the choir. He will also
work with them from other sources of music suitable for them and the congregation. The focus will be to have
the children become more familiar with all parts of the service so that they can participate throughout. He and
Barbara will collaborate to make sure it will be enjoyed by everyone. Lorne Spence and Hughie Fraser will
provide musical leadership as well. We have so much talent and willingness to share!!!
We have Sunday School families take turns and sign up for - fourth Sunday - of the month throughout
the year and we will still continue to do so, however, there are many duties to go around. In the spirit that this
service is for all families of all ages, not just the Sunday School, we are striving to encourage everyone espe-
cially those who may not necessarily be a part of our youth ministry at this time, to sign up for - fourth Sun-
day - family service duty day. This is providing an opportunity, for example, for those families that may not
have the time or inclination to be there each Sunday morning but, are willing to come together once throughout
the year to share the duties of readings, collection and greeting at the door. This would be especially nice for
families with older children who have grown, have families of their own but, are no longer living nearby. If
they are coming to town on a specific weekend and could make this their Sunday morning at St. John’s just let
us know. So, if you have a special date that you want reserved to be part of our fourth Sunday service, please
contact Brooke Nodding at [email protected]
Some of our upcoming events include:
October 12 - Intergenerational Community Evening - Random Act of Kindness
October 23 - Parish Wide Book Club - Adult book selection is The Red Tent by Anita Diament - Youth Book
Selection is “Does My Head Look Big in This” by Randa Abdel-Fattah (Not entire book. Details to follow)
November 9 - Intergenerational Community Evening #2 - Random Act of Kindness
November 18- Decorating Bandstand Christmas Tree
November 24 - Pilgrimage to the Trees
December 14 - Stories Under the Stars
Submitted on behalf of the Youth Ministry
Rena Demone/ & Emmi Fraser
Sunday School Continued
Page 8 Thanksgiving 2018
Phone: 902 634 4994
Email: [email protected]
St. John’s Anglican Church
81 Cumberland Street
PO Box 238
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Canada B0J 2C0
we’re on the web
www.stjohnslunenburg.org
ACW Flea Market & Luncheon Canteen
"St. John's A.C.W. will be hosting a Flea Market and Luncheon Canteen in the Parish Hall on Satur-
day, October 20, from 10 am - 1 pm. There will be many Treasures and a large Bake Table filled with
"goodies" to purchase. The Luncheon Canteen this year will feature A.C.W.'s famous LOBSTER ROLLS,
Haddock Chowder and home-made desserts. Come and have fun shopping and enjoy the good
food. Donations from parishioners, for the bake table, including pickles, jams, jellies, etc. would be greatly
appreciated. All donations for the flea market tables should be new or gently used. No large appliances or
large furniture items please. Proceeds from this event will be given to St. John's to support the on-going work
of the church."
Madagascar School Project
Kathy Lucking reports that big things are still happening at the Madagascar School Project.
Currently they are working on a big water project that will bring water from a source in the mountains to
the school project. The water will flow through a 1.8 kilometre long underground pipe and is costing approxi-
mately $9000 Canadian.
The project has hosted 80 teachers for a teacher training session for a week at the school in September.
They slept on the floor of classrooms on mattresses and attended daily conferences, working groups, and dis-
cussion groups. They had five trainers who came from stARTInternational, Emergency Aid For Children and
were from Italy, Spain, France, England and Switzerland. They did a great job teaching about creative peda-
gogy.
In July a big perma-culture project took place with 100-150 parents coming for a week, to break ground
and start vegetable gardens to feed the school.
One hundred and twenty one villagers attended the first
Community Led Development meeting. The hope is to work to-
gether to develop small enterprises. To start the process they
bought two rice fields, completed a rice storage shed, and filled it
with 30 tons of rice paddy to be used as part of the staff salaries.
The local village youth group has grown to 57 members.
Their mandate is to help development wherever they can and so
far they have helped in the building of a church, carrying sand
and mixing cement for the construction.
Meanwhile here in Lunenburg County, a group of people in
the Blockhouse, Lunenburg area have formed à Madagascar
School Project Support group to help with the project.
If anyone has an interest in joining this support
group they can call Kathy at 613 363-9199 or 902
683-2660.
