January 2001

Dear Friends,

Peace be with you as you begin this New Year. I am at home on Sunday afternoon surrounded by snow. Somehow the snow gives meaning to winter and makes everything look so much lighter and cleaner. Thoughts come to mind of the sermon that was not given this morning about endings and beginnings and the meaning of life. The gospel lesson was the Prologue of John written most probably by the Beloved disciple who knew Jesus and was an eyewitness to the events he describes. One can imagine him around the year 100AD an old man reflecting on life and the meaning of Jesus for him and countless others and realizing that he must write this important testimony on paper for posterity. One can picture him thinking and remembering details which are so much a part of the story in the fourth gospel and deciding just what should be put to paper - and then having the support of the community for the actual writing. A profound way to celebrate his life.

Here we are on the edge of a new chapter in our own lives. It is a time to think of goals and resolutions ( if only for a short time) and to start anew. As we do this I encourage all of us to pause and think about what has meaning in life for us - family, work, career, travel, church. Celebrate it and reflect on why that is so. This comes wishing you God's blessings abundantly.

As we think about our corporate life we are mindful that the Annual Meeting is at hand. The date is January 21st following the 10:00AM service. As in the past it will be followed by a Potluck Luncheon. Those elected to the Vestry will go to the Holy Union Spiritual Life Center on Friday, January 26th and stay overnight to begin the process of praying together and working as a team. Please plan to be apart of the meeting and celebrate all that has happened at and to and for St. Anne's in the year of Our Lord 2000.

Peggy

Dear Friends,

Peace be with you. As a congregation we are still rejoicing with the entire Jeffrey family over Kathy's new heart. She is doing wonderfully well and hopes to be home by the weekend. While a lot of visitors might be taxing Kathy would enjoy very much receiving cards and notes.

The overnight vestry retreat was a good time of praying and planning for the coming year. You will be happy to hear that they have decided to prepare a breakfast for the parish family in between the services on February 18. Please put that date on your calendar.

Before you know it we will be on the Lenten journey. A schedule of offerings is included in this issue of the Good News. I am very proud to tell you that a dear friend, Sister Mary Coffey, will be joining us on Mondays from 10:00-11:30AM and Thursdays from 7:30-9:00PM to teach a course entitled, 'Reflections through Photos'. The course is $50.00 but don't let that stop you. Please let me know if you are interested.

It's 7:30PM Sunday, February 4, and as I write this I am reflecting on the day that has gone by. It began at 6:30AM with anticipation. The first Sunday of the month is designed for families to bring their children into church so they become familiar with the rhythm and flow of the liturgy. Not unlike many other first Sundays, this one was a disappointment. Families seem to think that this is a day off from church and the attendance is lower that other Sundays. If you have any suggestions about this, please share them with me. Should we go back to having church school on the first Sunday of the month?

Finally, many of you have noticed me hobbling around for the last few months. I will finally have orthroscopic surgery on February 14. Recovery time is up to two weeks, so please bear with me - and keep me in your prayers.

Peggy

Dear Friends,

Peace be with you. March has certainly come in like a lion with the bad weather and mounds of snow everywhere. By the time you receive this you may see signs of spring but they are nowhere to be found right now. In addition to the snow there is concern for Kathy Jeffrey who was rushed back to the New England Medical Center yesterday with fluid around her heart. The doctors were able to remove the fluid and stabilize her. This is a setback for the Jeffrey family. Please hold them all up in your prayers. It is very discouraging to be held back when your brain says there is so much to do with a new heart. And finally this week I had knee surgery. It's an anticlimax to the care and concern felt in the congregation. You are a wonderful parish family.

On Monday a new Lenten series will begin that will be taught by Sr. Mary Coffey entitled Reflections through Photos. It will explore how God moves in our lives and is evident in the history we photograph. I also spoke to Cantor Barry Friedman. We are beginning to plan the symbolic Seder meal, which will be on April 5th. Judy MacPherson and Marilyn Penny will be organizing that event. Please mark your calendars. It will be wonderful.

You may not have heard that Mrs. Madeline Nichols has died. There will be a memorial service for her at St. Anne's on March 31st at 11:00am. If you would like to be a part of that service please let me know. I know that many of you knew both Rev and Mrs. Nichols. I would like you to be a part of celebrating their lives at this occasion.

As always I look forward to your visits, your calls and hearing your dreams for St. Anne's Church. The knee surgery is behind me and I feel loved and supported by all of you. Thank you very much.

Peggy

May 2001

Dear Friends,

Peace be with you. By now the glow of the Easter event is past and life has settled down to the rhythm of spring. It is not too late, however, to thank you all for making the day so special. From the behind-the-scenes gardeners to the Altar Guild to the Youth Group and everyone in between. For these days to be special it involves the effort of the community. So.... thank you very much one and all.

As we move forward, there are many little ones, who will want to receive the Holy Communion for the first time and will need some preparation. Therefore, on May 6th during the 10:00 AM service, time will be set aside for that purpose. Please bring your children if you feel they are ready to receive.

With the beginning of the warm weather, we will notice a change in the Sunday attendance. There will be a multitude of reasons why NOT to come to church before going off somewhere. Please remember that your presence is important and YOU are important to the life of the St. Anne's community. If for some reason you have not been around lately - please come back. And, if you possibly can come to church before you go off to the beach, or do yard work, or go to visit friends, or go to the mall or whatever - please do. St. Anne's needs you to be a part of the worshiping life in order to be whole.

I am also aware of the many new folks in our midst and for that am most grateful. Below you will see a form asking if you would like to be involved in one or more of the ministries of the church. Please sign it and return it to me.

As always, I look forward to seeing you and hearing from you.

Faithfully,

Peggy

September 2001

Dear Friends,

Peace be with you. It was truly a gift this year to be able have a summer church school program. Thanks go out to Lisa McConarty (daughter of Dick and Pat Simpson) who was visiting from Alaska! This past Sunday the summer program concluded with a skit for the congregation in which they sang "Jesus Loves Me" in English, Spanish, Chinese and sign language. It was obvious that the experience was a good one. I am enclosing in this issue Lisa's address and e-mail address for anyone who would like to stay in touch with her.

St. Anne's is also thankful to Sharon Checrallah and Cyndi Hopkins for co-directing the church school last year. They were able to integrate a worship service into their curriculum and to invite several people to teach. Both Cyndi and Sharon will be taking a rest from teaching this year so that they can spend more time in church singing in the choir and serving as lector and LEM.

In their absence I have re-designed the church school curriculum as follows: The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program, which was for ages 3-6, will now serve ages 3-10 (up to and including grade 4). A mentoring program is in place for grades 5 and 6, which will be taught each week by a different member of the parish. Some of the topics covered will include how we got the Bible, the patriarchs, the Temple, what people ate and how they lived during Bible times, how the church came to be, how people earned a living, what Rome has to do with Jerusalem, and the Holy Wars. If you are interested in teaching one week out of the year, please speak to me. Grades 7 & 8 will be a Confirmation class and will be taught by John Geen. This will be in preparation for Confirmation on February 24, 2002 with assisting Bishop Arthur Walmsly, retired bishop from Connecticut.

For some reason many children and youth have not been faithful about attendance to the church school program. No one gains by a lack of dedication. To change this trend it will be the case this year that no one will be able to serve on the altar as acolyte or be in the youth group (for grades 2-8) unless they also attend church school. If a student (or parent) is unhappy with what the children are learning, please let me know.

Additions to our calendar for the fall include a Men's Breakfast meeting beginning on September 24, and a Newcomers reception in October. The Serendipity group will meet at the church the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month to be more receptive to newcomers. On September 9 Kathy Jeffrey will preach at both services about her journey before and after her heart transplant last January 29. A special reception will be held in her honor following the 10 AM service. The Welcome Back brunch and church school registration will be on September 16.

Thank yous are in order for all those who spent time this summer keeping up the gardens, mowing lawns and cleaning the inside of the church and Thrift shop. Thank you to Chris Dickie fir summarizing Church activities in history form for the last 20 years. And thank you to Louise Hunt for researching information on the two big stained-glass windows at the front and back of the church. It is our hope to put together a booklet on all the stained glass windows, but any information on them is conspicuously absent. I have asked Bob Worth, a former Senior Warden, for information about the windows. He has agreed to help. Because of Bob Newell and Dave Choupourian, we now have a microphone in the overflow area. This should make it easier for families to hear the services. Elsie Cann has purchased a wrought iron rail for the steps up to the Nichols room. Barbara Rogers is contributing to the cost of the outdoor outlets. This list could go on and on. So, thank you to everyone for the gifts that you bring to this church home.

Faithfully,

Peggy

October 2001

Dear Friends,

Peace be with you. So much has happened in the last couple of weeks that sometimes I shake my head in disbelief. We all continue to pray for the families of the victims of that terrible tragedy as well as the rescue workers who continue to plod on in the face of ongoing heartbreak. There is pride at being an American seeing this level of caring and watching how careful the administration is in their response to the terrorists.

Meanwhile we are trying to live normal lives doing the best we can. I am thankful to so many people for teaching the fifth and six grade mentoring class. A list of the teachers and their subjects is enclosed for your information. John Geen will be teaching the Confirmation class this year in preparation for a Bishop's visit on February 24th. They will be meeting on Monday nights at 7:30pm in the Nichols Room; the class is open to all Seventh and Eighth graders and those who are older but interested. Make-up classes will be held on Saturdays through October.

It is expected this year that all acolytes and youth group members will attend Church School and that they will attend church on the first Sunday of the month when the services will be geared to them. On October 7th there will pet blessings once again in honor of St. Francis. If you don't have a pet please feel free to bring your favorite stuffed animal.

The Serendipity Bible study group will now meet at the church on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. It is open to all members of the church. This is a lay led Bible study and the leadership is shared among the members.

We are looking forward to the leadership of Judy MacPherson as she develops a Newcomers ministry and plans a Newcomer reception for October 14th at 4:00PM. Thank you Judy. And have you heard of the Men's breakfast group the fourth Saturday of the month at 9:00am. Peter Jeffrey will be sending out invitations in the near future.

The vestry is looking forward to the All Parish Event, which will be held on Saturday, October 27th at the Masonic Hall from 5:00. Rosemary Kinser is organizing the event, which will have its share of fun and surprises. You will be receiving an invitation soon.
Many thanks for the dedication and the commitment that is so much a part of the life of St. Anne's. And as always I look forward to hearing your dreams for St. Anne's.

Faithfully,

Peggy

November 2001

Dear Friends,

Peace be with you. You will receive this around All Saints Day, November 1st. On this day we remember those who have gone before us; those who have informed us and nurtured us. We are as we are in part because of those relationships. Take the time to pause and say "thank you" in prayer.

Thank yous come from me to you for remembering that October was Rector Appreciation month. I have felt both humbled and very loved by the constant flow of thoughtful remembrances. You are a very special parish family.
At a Worship Committee meeting last week someone expressed a desire to have a rotation schedule for the prayers of the people at the 10:00 o'clock service. They would be scheduled like the lectors. If you are interested in leading the prayers please let me know.

Commitment Sunday is November 4th and your Senior Warden, Doris Hamner, will preach at both services. The commitment cards will be available in Bixby Hall following both services.
The Fall Clergy Conference is once again scheduled for mid- November (13-15). I will be away during that time but if there is an emergency please call the church. Pat will know how to reach me.

There will be two Thanksgiving Eve services this year - both on Wednesday, November 23rd at 730PM. There will be an ecumenical service at St. Mary's Church and a Service of Holy Eucharist at St. Anne's.

We are in need of someone to help coordinate the Christmas pageant and the Angel tree project this year. If you feel called to either of these ministries please let me know.
Yes, before we know it Christmas will be here. I am planning an Advent Quiet Day for Saturday, December 8th from 10:00-2:00PM. The church will be locked during this time and there will be a welcome silence. Hopefully it will be a time to pray and reflect and be still in the busyness of the season. A sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board.
This comes wishing you and yours a blessed and happy time of thanksgiving.

Faithfully,

Peggy

December 2001

Dear Friends,

Peace be with you. Today was "Quiet Day" at St. Anne's. Several of us spent most of the day in silence reading, writing, praying and walking at a slower pace around the church. The time spent was restful and centering because we were not interrupted by other sounds. Our Episcopal tradition catches us off guard in the busiest of seasons by giving us permission to slow down to take a deep breath and to pray about those things that are most important to us.

This comes with warm wishes to you and yours for the peacefulness of Advent and the joy of the Christmas season. May you be renewed in body and spirit - ready to receive the Christ-child with a new hope, a new beginning.

Please join us at one of the services on Christmas Eve.

1:00 PM	Festival Eucharist followed by a Silver Tea
5:00 PM	Christmas Pageant and Holy Communion
10:30 PM	Carol Sing
11:00 PM	Midnight Service (The Choir will sing)
	Christmas Day - No services

 

Faithfully,

Peggy