Saint John's
The Episcopal Church in Pine Meadow, CT
THE PORTAL IN A TIME OF PANDEMIC
Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost - November 15th
A MESSAGE FROM OUR LEADERS: Anne Hall - Warden
Dear fellow parishioners,
It is hard to believe that in less than two months 2020 will be over, hard to believe that our annual consideration of stewardship and pledging is upon us, harder still to believe that back in January our biggest worries about 2020 were what to call the decade past and how to properly write our checks. There are many things about this year that I won't miss, but there is one thing that I am grateful for, the strengthening of my relationship with the parish of St John's, Pine Meadow and with the greater community within which we live.
For many years, my involvement in the parish has been one of personal piety: prayer, attendance at services, singing in the choir. These are wonderful things, prayer is the bedrock of our faith, part of our path to understanding our relationship with the Triune God, of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The Episcopal services and the music speak to our tradition, rooted in the Anglican experience but drawing inspiration from cultures throughout history and across the world.
In this challenging year though, outreach was something that I had to work on; I've never been much good at that as I am a true introvert. Yet, as Christians we are called to not only have a relationship with God, but a relationship with our neighbors as well. And if 2020 has been about anything at all, it is about community, about neighbors, about relationships both good and bad, and how we carry on those relationships.
In a year when so much has been shut down or divided; St John's has grown in outreach. Our food pantry is now supported by a monthly food drive. We have figured out how to continue the Jesse Tree Christmas gift collection, which is running right now. We have gone from never using social media, to figuring out both Facebook and Zoom; and through them have been able to contact members of the community and absent members of the parish in ways that we were not able to previously. Meanwhile, our Little Free Book Library continues to shuffle books in and out.
We have continued the Sunday morning Eucharists, walking the fine line between our need for physical community and the all too real spectre of spreading disease. We have managed to hold Morning Prayer in our garden and at Cherry Brook nursing home, respectfully socially distancing. We have kept our doors open for physical meetings of AA and Al Anon. This latter service is no small thing, I got a message this last week from a person who attends one of those meetings: they said that many of them have been shut down or gone virtual. St John's meetings have not and that has been a lifeline to at least one person and probably more than we will ever know.
We have held Communion at a time when few Episcopal Churches in Connecticut have done so.
We have been blessed to be led by Mother Cosman, whose faith is a personal inspiration for me and who has been able to lead without force and with love. We have been blessed by Michelle Piekos, without whom the office would fall apart. We have been blessed by Linda Snyder and Halyna Petronchak, who have both had to rework their jobs.
I do not know what will come in the last part of 2020 nor in 2021. I know that my own faith in God has been tried and strengthened, I pray that is the same for you. I have confidence, the confidence of seeing it with my own eyes, that the parish has remained strong in faith; for the community I have spoken of, I have been privileged to be only a small part of it, as so many parishioners have stepped forward in this year. God has given us the grace and the strength to continue on a path of fellowship and of love, may we follow in the steps of Our Saviour and may we work to the Glory of God alone in this day and the next.
In faith,
Anne, Warden of St John's
nunc cognosco ex parte
Little Free Pantry
We appreciate all food donations that people graciously donated. We cannot at this time accept clothing, boots, etc., other than food. If you have clothing, boots, etc., please feel free to contact Diane Hayes to make an appointment to bring to The ValleyThrift Shop in Winsted, CT. Thank you.
Lector Schedule through November 29th
November 15th- Liturgical Assistant - Blake Hall
Lector - Anne Hall
Intercessor - Julie Gargiulo
Congregational Responses - Ginny Hoffmann, John Gargiulo & Sue Hall
Bell Ringer - Jamie Hall
Usher for Communion - Jamie Hall
Choir - Diane & Guy Hayes
Announcements - Anne Hall
Stewardship -
Altar Guild - Ann Atwood & Molly Sexton Read
November 22nd - Liturgical Assistant - Nancy Butler
Lector - Melanie Kirkpatrick David
Intercessor - Susie Horn
Congregational Responses - Nancy & Jeff Linton
Bell Ringer - Jamie Hall
Usher for Communion - Jamie Hall
Choir -
Announcements - Nancy Butler
Stewardship - Melanie Kirkpatrick David
Altar Guild - Ann Atwood & Molly Sexton Read
November 29th - Liturgical Assistant - Gordon Ross
Lector - Larry Espinet
Intercessor -
Congregational Responses - Michelle Piekos
Bell Ringer - Jamie Hall
Usher for Communion - Jamie Hall
Choir -
Announcements - Diane Hayes
Stewardship -
Altar Guild - Ann Atwood & Molly Sexton Read
We need volunteers for the month of November if anyone is interested in volunteering for the November Sunday morning services (i.e., Liturgical Assistant, Lector, Intercessor, Bell Ringer and Congregational Responses), please contact the office. Thank you!
VIRTUAL CALENDAR - THIS WEEK
SUNDAY - 9am Worship on FBLive.
SUNDAY - 2:00PM Garden Worship in the Gill Memorial Garden, please bring your own chair and please wear a mask and follow social distancing regulations.
TUESDAY - 9am Staff Meeting on Zoom; Read It & Sleep will be every First Tuesday of the month, next Read It & Sleep is December 1st. Trivia every 3rd Tuesday of the month on Zoom with Michelle Piekos, Next Trivia will be November 17th
WEDNESDAY - 8:30am - Bishops, Clergy, & Wardens on Zoom
THURSDAY - 9:30am Leadership Meeting on Zoom; 10:30am Dwelling on Zoom; 6:30pm Evening Worship on FBLive; Vestry Check-in - Zoom - 7pm
FRIDAY - 10 to 11am - Zoom Open Office Hours ALL DAY/ EVERY DAY - Little Free Pantry and Sanctuary Open EVERY DAY - 6pm The Ringing of the Steeple Bell
ONLINE LINKS
Dwelling in the Word Link
https://files.constantcontact.com/bb996b4c001/bcead65d-66fe-4f3f-921b-f1c0577ac031.pdf
Dwelling in the Word Zoom Meeting Link
If you cannot join us for Zoom online, you may join us by phone at 1(646)558-8656 and entering the meeting code 9493034183#
Thursday Evening Prayer Link
https://files.constantcontact.com/bb996b4c001/06e5b7ff-4a30-4749-bbd7-d1fa6fd06e1c.pdf
St. John's Facebook Page for FBLive Worship
Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost -November 15, 2020 Bulletin Link
https://files.constantcontact.com/bb996b4c001/227aa04e-239e-4a02-b628-9bedc70305de.pdf
St. John's Facebook Page for FBLive Worship
Midday Garden Service - November 15, 2020 - 2:00pm Bulletin LInk
https://files.constantcontact.com/bb996b4c001/227aa04e-239e-4a02-b628-9bedc70305de.pdf
ONLINE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER LINK
Access to the Book of Common Prayer is not limited to the church. If you do not have a copy at home, a free online resource is available at www.bcponline.org
RHYTHMS OF GRACE
December 6th AT 12:30PM
Rhythms of Grace - December 6th at 12:30pm, all our welcome to join via Zoom. The Zoom information is as follows:
https://files.constantcontact.com/bb996b4c001/cd3cd1f8-01ef-4377-a9eb-3178bc60b4cd.pdf
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/94881017440
Meeting ID: 948 8101 7440
Dial by your location 1 646 558 8656
DIGITAL OFFICE HOURS
Mother Cosman will be on Zoom on Friday mornings from 10am to 11am for drop-in conversations at the following Zoom link: https://episcopalct.zoom.us/j/9493034183
Please join us!
SUPPORT MEETINGS
Alcoholics Anonymous - www.ct-aa.org
Speak to a recovering alcoholic toll free, 24/7, 1-866-steps12 (1-866-783-7712)
NARTHEX DROP BOX
For your convenience, there is now a lock box located in the Narthex for the deposit of checks, contributions, and confidential communications. The box will be checked weekly. Thank you for your continued support of St. John's!
BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY LISTS ARE BEING UPDATED
We are working to update our listing of birthdays and anniversaries for members of our parish family. Please email the important dates for you and your family to office@reddoors.com. Thanks!
AA AND ALANON UPDATE
Our regularly scheduled meetings have moved online until further notice. Please use the AA.org website for contact information. We are glad to have welcomed these groups to our parish home and look forward to welcoming them back when the stay-at-home order is lifted.
PRAYER REQUESTS
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with the coronavirus or any other health concern, the St. John's community would like to pray to you. Please forward your prayer requests to our prayer list steward, Anne Hall at annechall81@yahoo.com
CONTACT MOTHER COSMAN WITH EMPLOYMENT CHANGES
The financial and employment stresses of the pandemic real for many in our community. If you are struggling with employment or financial issues, please contact Mother Cosman at Sandra.Cosman@gmail.com or (860) 227-6991
TOWER BELL RINGING OPPORTUNITIES
The New Hartford community is ringing bells nightly at 6pm to remind us that we are not alone and that we can still be together and make our presence known. If you would like to ring St. John's tower bell, please visit St. John's Facebook page, look for the bell ringing post, and add your name and the date you will toll the bell in the comments following the post. Thanks!
GILL MEMORIAL GARDEN VOLUNTEERS
The Gill Memorial Garden is a great place to get away alone during this time of isolation. If you would like to sign up to care for the garden, it is not too early! Contact Anne Hall at annechall81@yahoo.com to volunteer now or in the coming months.
ACCESSING OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR NON-FB MEMBERS
Good News for non-Facebook Users Who Wish it Attend the Service in Real Time
Live-streamed Facebook services can be watched in real time by non-Facebook users. Here is how I was able to do it on my computer. Some variations may be required on your computers or smartphones.
Start on St. John’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Stjohnspinemeadow (The top and bottom of page want you to sign in or create new account — but the page content is visible). Move the cursor over to the left and look for “Videos” Click on it (i.e., “Videos”) The page will update to show a list of videos. Look for one that says “Live.” Most likely our clocks are not aligned, meaning the video may not have started yet. Therefore, my suggestion is that you periodically continue to click on “Videos” until the “Live” one shows up. When it finally shows up, double-click on it. This will start showing the live video. It seems that there is a short delay in the resulting video. I’m not sure if it eventually ‘corrects’, but, at least you are pretty much "in the moment” during the celebration. (Thanks to the folks at St. John's in Vernon for this clear explanation!)
RINGING OF THE STEEPLE BELL/COMMUNITY RINGING
Nightly @ 6pm at the church
Sign up on Facebook for message Mother Cosman
Please check your email regularly for changes and additions.
WORSHIP IN A TIME OF PANDEMIC
Until the Stay at Home Order has been lifted by the Governor and it has been deemed safe for us to gather for worship, we will worship together using Facebook Live. St. John's Facebook Page can be found at:
https://www.facebook.com/stjohnspinemeadow
We gather online for worship
Sundays at 9 am and Thursday at 6:30 pm
Please join us to worship God and support each other.
READ IT AND SLEEP - BEDTIME STORIES FOR OUR KIDS
FIRST TUESDAYS @ 7PM
On First Tuesday evenings at 7 pm we will gather via Zoom for story time for our kids. Put on your pajamas, curl up with your kids for a bedtime story with Mother Cosman.
Join Zoom Meeting at https://zoom.us/j/91982069802
and use the Meeting ID: 919 8206 9802
STAYING IN TOUCH
The isolation, anxiety, and fear of the coronavirus pandemic strains everyone. Please know that Mother Cosman is here for us during this time apart via phone call, Zoom conference, email, or Facebook Messenger. Please do not hesitate to be in touch if you or someone you know and love needs assistance of any kind. During this time, please reach out to your friends and neighbors and offer a listening ear.
DWELLING IN THE WORD ONLINE
Our Thursday morning Dwelling in the Word Group comes together from 10:30 am to 11:30 am to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the Gospel reading for the coming Sunday. All are welcome to join us. There is no preparation necessary to attend the group and there is no homework. In this time of isolation, it is critically important that we reach out to each other. Join us for an Dwelling in the Word Online via Zoom conference call:
https://zoom.us/j/93207727562
Meeting ID: 932 0772 7562
If you cannot join us online, you may join us by phone at
1(646)558-8656 and entering the meeting code 9493034183#
ST. JOHN'S PRAYER LIST
Among the most important ways we care for each other is by holding each other in prayer. Prayer concerns should be sent to Anne Hall at annechall81@yahoo.com. Watch for the Prayer List in your email and join us in praying for each other.
PASTORAL EMERGENCIES & OFFICE HOURS
St. John's Parish Office is open by appointment only until the danger is past. For routine items, please contact us at (860) 379-3062
ST. JOHN'S MAILING ADDRESS
We are checking our mail regularly. To contact St. John's or to make a pledge payment or donation by mail please use this address:
St. John's Episcopal Church PO Box 27 Pine Meadow, CT 06061
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