of St.

Johns in Pine Meadow

St. Johns mission is to nurture all people in their spiritual growth, in their Christian education,
and in their relationship with God.
December 2014

Welcome Rev. Sandra Cosman

Episcopalian Liturgical Calendar

Its official! The Rev. Sandra Cosman will be joining the St.
Johns community in early January as Priest-in-Charge. This
is an exciting moment in the life of St. Johns. After a long
and impactful tenure such as Salins it is very important to
take the time to discern the appropriate direction for our parish. Rev. Cosman is eminently well qualified to guide St.
Johns over the next few years as we prepare for the future
and the vestry feels blessed that she has agreed to join us in
this holy mission.

The Episcopalian liturgical calendar is a finely crafted work of

faith. Every year it begins again with the first Sunday of Advent, the fourth Sunday before Christmas. This annual cycle
weaves together in an elaborate pattern several thousand years
of faith: the Old Testament and the New Testament are given
shape through the Book of Common Prayer. This calendar
helps to balance the events of our lives with the eternal presence of God.

Sandra was ordained in 2007 after earning her Masters in Divinity at The Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge,
MA. Since joining the priesthood, Sandra has played a vital
role in helping a number of churches in the regional area, including Trinity in Torrington and St. Johns in East Windsor
where she has served for the past two years. Furthermore, she
is on the board of Godly Play and was the chaplain at Hartford
Hospital for a year, an experience she especially cherished. When the vestry met with Sandra we were very impressed by her warmth and sense of humanity. Later, as we
talked to people who have worked with her, a refrain
was regularly overheard; Sandra is very collaborative,
thoughtful and spiritual and, you would be foolish not to
grab her before someone else does!
While Sandra has said that she cant wait to get started, the
vestry thought it would be disruptive for both St. Johns in
Pine Meadow and in East Windsor if we tried to bring her on
board before the New Year. We have not had a chance to plan
an appropriate welcome for her yet but we will do so in the
next week or two and then share the plans with all of you. I
hope you are as excited as the vestry is and we welcome any
input you may have on how to best introduce Sandra to the St.
Johns family.

This balance has always existed between the eternal Word of

God and the pivotal events of Christianity, which, being human, are tightly pinned down in time and location. If Easter,
and the Holy Week preceding, is a paradox between the mystery of Resurrection, which stands above time as an event at
once singular and eternal, and immediate events of riotous
disorder that would not be out of place in many modern cities;
Christmas, and Advent preceding, is where the prophets of old
speak in relation to an equally singular, and very human,
event: one night and one birth. It is during Advent that we are
most strongly reminded of the ancient Judaic faiths immediate relationship to Jesus of Nazareth who was of the House of
David and the tree of Jesse. We hear the words of the prophets: Isaiah, Baruch, Jeremiah, Micah, Zepheniah, and Moses.
From Abraham we are brought down through time to the reign
of Herod and the Emperor Augustus.
What was foretold by the prophets rushes towards us, lifetimes of uncertainty, of waiting, of faith culminating in the
birth of Jesus Christ.
Advent reminds us that the distance we sometimes feel has
already been conquered. We have not only the sure faith that
He will come; we have the joyful faith that He has come.

Anne Hall,
Grace be to God and may the joy of His blessing be with each
Vestry Member
and everyone of you during this wondrous Advent season.

Gordon Ross
Senior Warden

Bits&Pieces
HOW WERE DOING SO FAR
Operating Income:
Operating Expenses:

Oct. 2014
$ 11,071
$ 8,267

Oct. 2013
$ 12,692
$ 18,295

YEAR TO DATE
2014
Operating Income:
Operating Expenses:

$ 130,219
$ 155,183

2013
$ 132,969
$ 153,908

Larry Espinet, Treasurer

Next IngatheringDecember 7th

The total for the year to date is $466.52. Bring coins
anytime. We will keep them safe.

Shopping Cards
An Easy Way to Help

Now Available for Immediate Purchase

$100 Stop & Shop Cards
When you buy shopping/gift cards through St.
Johns, you are making a contribution that does not
cost you financially. It may take a little planning. Orders are usually taken the 1st and 3rd Sundays, and
cards are delivered on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. Order forms are available in the narthex and parish hall
and can be placed in the lockbox at any time.
As in years past, cards purchased in the next two
months will have a double benefit for St. Johns ministry. Consider using the cards to purchase or use for
Christmas gifts.

Church Office Hours Office hours are 8:30 a.m.

1:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
Prayer RequestsRequests are handled confidentially through the office or by speaking to the Vestry.
You may fill out a prayer request form or contact the
office. If you would like to be a part of the prayer
circle, please call the office. Prayer is part of our
concern for one another.
Vestry Members SoughtSome of our Vestry
members will be completing their terms in January.
If you would be interested in being a part of this
ministry, please speak to Gordon Ross.
Give the office a giftcomplete your 2015 pledge
before Christmas. The office will be closed between Christmas and New Years.
Christmas Flower Envelopes Enclosed
Donations can be given in celebration of a person or
event, not just for memorials. Please return your envelope to the office by December 15th. Envelopes
are also available in the narthex.
Altar Guilds meets on Saturday, December 13 at
9AM to polish the silver and brass for Christmas services. Please make every effort to attend. Please call
Donna at (860) 379-4643 with questions.

PARISH REGISTER
(Broadly Defined)
Let the office know about happenings in your own
life and in the lives of other parishioners, especially
hospitalizations, so Gordon Ross can contact those
in need of comfort.

Rhythms of Grace
First Sunday of Every Month
At 1:00 p.m.
Rhythms of Grace is designed to meet the needs of
families with children on the Autism Spectrum and
with other special needs. Those who help feel it is a
rewarding experience to work with children and
families who need the attention and who are new to
St. Johns. Contact Linda Snyder at
llsnyders4@charter.net for information.

Coffee Hour Hosts

10:00 a.m. Service
This is an important part of our ministry of hospitalityto visitors, to children, to one another. Coffee
supplies other than cream are available in the kitchen. Baked goods are terrific, whether home baked or
purchasedwhatever works for you.
A sign up sheet for the fall is posted in the parish
hall. All parishioners who attend the 10 a.m. service
are requested to host at least once this fall.

JESSE TREE

This is an annual outreach project at St. Johns.

Thank you to everyone that helped make this possible. Thank you to all the volunteers that assisted
with this project. We were able to provide stockings, gifts, and items of clothing for children and
families.

Special thanks to Ron & Joan Caine, Tom

Chappell, Bob Osborne, Bruce Wearne, and
Rick Smith for cleaning the church.
Special thanks to Mac Wilson and Pat Sepples
for taking care of the fall clean up of the leaves and
lawn maintenance
Special thanks to Gordon Ross, Ann Atwood,
Gray Horn, Michelle & Jeff Piekos for the Fall
Garden Clean-Up.
Special thanks to everyone who helped with Peters Retreat this year. Stay tuned for an invitation
to help in the coming year.
Thanks to everyone who helps with the mission
and ministry of St. Johns.

Pictures Needed For Newsletter

Pictures are needed for the monthly newsletter. If

you have any pictures of church activities, please
contact the office or forward your photos at
(office@reddoors.com).

Prayer Shawls
We will plan on dedicating the next batch of prayer shawls in January, We are continuing this ministry, so keep on knitting and crocheting. The first
Sunday of the month, which begins December
7th, we will meet after the 10:00 am service to
knit and crochet together.

Christmas
Worship

December 14th

Christmas Day

Holy Eucharist @ 8am

Lessons & Carols
& Eucharist @ 10am

Holy Eucharist @ 10am

Christmas Eve

January 11th

Family Service @ 5pm

(Children help with nativity)
Festival Eucharist @ 9pm

Festival of Epiphany
Holy Eucharist @ 8 am
Pageant & Eucharist @ 10am
Luncheon & Cake

December 28th
The Celebration of the Holy
Eucharist @ 10:00 am

P. O. Box 27
Pine Meadow, CT 06061
Phone: 860 379-3062
www.reddoors.com

Address Correction

The Episcopal Church

Were Here For You
Sunday Worship
8:00 a.m. & 10 a.m.

news
from

church
school

Mark you calendars: Church school takes a break during school vacation.
Epiphany Pageant, January 11th - (Rehearsal Saturday January 10th) - In what has become a wonderful
annual tradition, our children, youth and adults will be presenting our pageant which focuses on the whole
story of our salvation from creation through present day. Lifting up individuals in the Old Testament, the New
Testament and in modern history who have accepted the challenge that God has placed before them and, in
doing so, have become examples of people of faith (saints) for us all.
Advent and Christmas are truly a time for us to reach out to our family, friends, and the stranger among us.
Our hope is that you and your family members will join us in community for any or all of these events, reminding us as we await and then celebrate His birth that Christ did not spend his life alone but, in community
with his family, friends and those in need around Him.
Peace, Linda Snyder

December 2014
St. Johns Church Calendar of Events
Anniversaries in Italics

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Holy Eucharist
8:00 & 10:00 AM
Jesse Tree Gifts,
St. Nicholas of
Myra Day/Lunch
Holy Eucharist
8:00 & 10:00 AM
Lessons &
Carols @ 10AM

21

Holy Eucharist
8:00 & 10:00 AM

8:00 PM AA

8:00 PM AA

8:00 PM AA

The Celebration
of the Holy Eucharist
10:00 AM

22

29

Sue & Brad

Bremer

8:30 PM AA

December Birthdays
1-Dec Larry Espinet
Halyna Petronchak
Frank Misiorski
Zachary Marek
Alan Welch

Altar Guild
Polishing
9:00 AM

Open Door

23

Jill & Rick Smith

24

Christmas Eve
Services at 5 & 9
PM

30

Barbara & David

Henri

25

Christmas Day
Service at 10 AM

Office Closed

17-Dec
17-Dec
18-Dec
22-Dec
23-Dec
25-Dec
26-Dec

Reid Gargiulo
Louis Martocchio
Tracy Hoskins
Drew Warren
Marita Chicoski
Gayle Moraski
Max O'Neill

Office Closed

31

Office Closed

28-Dec
29-Dec
30-Dec
31-Dec
31-Dec

26

8:30 PM AA
Holly & Jamie Hall

Kathy & Stephen

Jakubowski
Office Closed

7-Dec
7-Dec
11-Dec
17-Dec

8:30 PM AA

Vestry 7:00 pm

Office Closed

28

8:30 PM AA

Danny Hoskins
Ralph Hitchcock
Robert Atwood
Meg Toro
Thomas Busemeyer

27

Some great pictures of Stone Soup by Peggy Budny!!

Nancy Butlers special cornbread at the Open Door

Soup Kitchen.