Saint John’s

The Episcopal Church

in Pine Meadow, CT

SAINT JOHN’S GILL MEMORIAL GARDEN

June/July2019
Dear St. John's Family,

Joining Jesus Initiative – Survey Results

As communicated over the last two months via the weekly emails, the Sunday bulletin and mailings, St. John’s conducted a rapid
feasibility study in partnership with CCS (a consulting firm contracted by the diocese) to evaluate our capacity for a collaborative
capital campaign and to discuss the goals our parishioners envision for St. John’s. This was done in conjunction with the Episcopal
Church in Connecticut’s Joining Jesus initiative, which aims to support parishes in more faithfully participating in God’s mission.

The participation was outstanding with 18 families participating in in-person interviews and 36 families completing the e-survey or
paper survey. The results were extremely positive. 87% of the participants indicated a willingness to give or consider making a gift
to a possible campaign. 25 of those families indicated potential gift amounts totaling $230,100. Below are the highlights of the study.

There was concern among some of the families interviewed that this was not the right time for a campaign and/or the proposed goal
was too high. The results of the study contradict that. The high level of parish involvement, leadership, and support, along with the
enthusiasm for the proposed plans and strong gift indications make a capital campaign with a goal of $400,000 feasible. The Vestry
will be prayerfully considering our next steps in the fall and welcome your feedback.

How is St. John’s perceived by the parish?

 The most commonly cited strengths of St. John’s were the community and Reverend Sandra’s leadership. The pa-
rishioners interviewed in the study wholly support the parish.
 Concerns were similar to other Connecticut parishes: including declining attendance, an aging parish, and the de-
sire to attract young families.
 92% of the e-survey participants rated their overall perception of St. John’s as very positive or positive.

How was the proposed plan for a campaign perceived?

 Nine of those interviewed in person had very positive or positive reactions.
 Four interviewees expressing mixed reactions.
 Two expressed negative reactions. Their concerns were mostly regarding the size of the goal being proposed.
 Three were unsure of the plans.
 A few participants, both in the e-survey and interviews, hoped that any campaign would be run more thoughtfully
and with more transparency than the last campaign St. John’s pursued.

What should the funds be used for at St. John’s?

 Parishioners were most enthusiastic about the capital projects, especially replacing the furnace, increasing accessibility, and
exterior painting.
 Mission and ministries were also found to be compelling and a top priority.
 Although strengthening the endowment was found to be less compelling, it was still cited as a high priority.
 Additional priorities mentioned were cleaning the stained-glass windows, youth programming, and repairing the foundation of
the church.

How was the wider, diocese, fundraising initiative received?

 Support for Regions and Camp Washington resonated most with the participants.
 39% of those interviewed viewed participation in a collaborative campaign with the Episcopal Church in Connecticut favorably.
 Five expressed mixed reactions to the plans, one was unsure of the model, and five indicated negative reactions.
 Those with mixed or negative reactions indicated that they would rather a larger portion of funds raised stay within the parish.

Do we have the leadership and volunteer base to run a campaign?

 10 of the survey participants said that they would volunteer on a campaign committee. Another 10 said that they would con-
sider it.
 Three indicated that they would solicit gifts on behalf of a campaign and another said they would consider it.
 Participants expressed the importance of clergy and Vestry leadership in any successful campaign.

In conclusion, the most important thing that we discovered from the survey was that St John’s has, as a parish, the level of enthusi-
asm, support, and desire to grow our ministry that suggests a capital campaign might be considered in the near future. The vestry
would welcome all of your feedback and questions as we prayerfully consider what our next steps should be. A full copy of the CCS
report is posted in the parish hall.

Faithfully,

The Rev. Sandra L. Cosman, Rector

Concerts at St. John’s
Our vestry and the fundraising
committee decided to truly look
outside the box, and in faith, take
a leap into something new and
different. One of the goals of
fundraising is not simply to raise
money but to also open our doors
to the larger community so that
we may welcome more people
to our beloved and beautiful
church. To that end we are put-
ting on a set of concerts using
both the church and the garden.
The first concert will be a quartet
from the Yale Summer Music pro-
gram in Norfolk; this will be on July
14th. The second will be Chorus
Angelicus in November.
We will be selling tickets for these
events. However, there are some
upfront costs associated with the
concerts: an honorarium to the
musicians and their transporta-
tion. To that end, we are looking
for sponsors to help fund the con-
cert series, any donation is wel-
come. If we can get sufficient
sponsors then our ticket sales for
the actual events will be com-
plete profit. The total cost is $2700.
We are looking forward to these
events as a way of making St
John's better known in the local
community; the love of music
goes far beyond our own doors.
We hope to both have a wonder-
ful set of concerts and, of course
on a practical note, allow as
many people as possible to par-
ticipate in supporting the parish.
For more detailed information on
sponsorship, please contact Jeff
Linton at 860-489-8506 or at jlin-
ton1966@gmail.com
St. John’s Monthly Donations
Schedule
June – Tshirts/Shorts – Distribut-
ed to The Open Door Soup
Kitchen, July- St. John’s Little
Free Pantry Supplies
Dates to Note
Congratulations Graduates! – Join
us on Sunday, June 9th as we rec-
ognize and celebrate our gradu-
ates! Please forward the names of
graduates special to you to the
parish office.
Fathers’ Day at St. John’s – Please
join us for Pops4Pops on June 16th.
Bishop’s Visitation – The Rt. Rev.
Ian Douglas, Bishop Diocesan, will
be with us on Sunday, June 23,
2019 at 9am. During this time the
bishop will meet with parish lead-
ers and lead worship.
Welcome Bishop Ian Douglas and
Farewell and Best Wishes to Darryl
Burke Picnic on June 23rd – There
will be a picnic following the 9am
service on June 23rd. We are look-
ing for volunteers, for setup and
cleanup and volunteers for salads
and desserts. Please contact Jill
Smith if you are able to assist at
(718) 619-0678. Thank you!!
Scholarship Candidates – Please
log your hours on a clipboard lo-
cated in the vestibule cubby. See
Norma Pappalardo if you have
any questions.
Confirmation, Reception, & Reaf-
firmation Information Meeting –
today following the 9am service
in the Office Building.
Lego Christian Education – Do you
or your kids love Lego blocks? See
Mother Cosman about an oppor-
tunity to join building with Legos
and Christian Formation.
Lay Weeders – Do you love gar-
dening and getting your hands in
the dirt? Sign up in the narthex or
see Norma Pappalardo to volun-
teer in the Gill Memorial Garden.
Baptism Preparation – June 9th is
the next date appointed by the
Episcopal Church of the Sacra-
ment of Baptism. See Mother
Cosman if you are interested in
baptism for you or your child.
Save the Date – June 30th – More
details to follow.
Volunteer Opportunities – Satur-
day Mornings – Work with mem-
bers of the Open Door Soup
Kitchen Team to provide lunch for
up to 40 members of our commu-
nity who need food assistance.
Volunteer Opportunities – Thurs-
day Mornings – Work with mem-
bers of the St. John’s Cleaning
Crew to help keep our buildings
beautiful and in good repair. See
Ron Caine or Tom Chappell for
more information.
Camp Washington If you have
kids or grandkids, please consider
this summer activity. See Mother
Cosman for scholarship infor-
mation
Peach Festival – August 24th –
Peach Festival Committee and
volunteers needed. Please con-
tact the office for more infor-
mation.
Annual Northwest Region Convo-
cation – Saturday, June 22nd at
Trinity Retreat Center in Cornwall.
We need deputation for this
meeting. See Mother Cosman for
more information.
Scholarship Candidates – Please
log your hours on a clipboard lo-
cated in the vestibule cubby. See
Norma Pappalardo if you have
any questions.
Christ Church Cathedral – Hip
Hop Mass, an offering to our ECCT
youth (all ages are welcome),
September 15th 3pm, 45 Church
Street, Hartford, CT. For more in-
formation, please contact of-
fice@ccathedral.org
 Open Door
Soup
Kitchen
Join our team on Thanks to Ron Caine, Tom Chappell, Bruce Wearne,
September 21st, Bob Osborne, Jeff Linton, Nancy Butler and Rick
Smith for cleaning the church.
2019 at St. James Thank you to our Soup Kitchen Crew for their hard
in Winsted. work.
9:00am–1:00pm Thank you to Anne Hall for providing the weekly Prayer
List.
(No Open Door during the summer.) Thanks to Pat Sepples for taking care of our lawn mainte-
nance.
Thanks to Tony Mountzoures for doing all the edging in
PARISH REGISTER – Contact Information, the Gill Memorial Garden.
Special thanks to Norma Pappalardo and volunteers who
Birthdays & Anniversaries Needed Please email have made spring at St. John’s especially beautiful.
Michelle, our Parish Administrator at the Parish Office at Thank you to Ginny Hoffmann, Betty Castonguay, Win-
office@RedDoors.com with updates of your email and nie Pratt, Howie Martin, Nancy Butler, Nancy Gibson,
phone contact information. Also, we love to honor folks Joanne Ritchie and Mary Fiorillo, our office volunteers.
Thanks to everyone who participates in the mission and
on their birthdays and anniversaries. Please let us know ministry of St. John’s.
the month and day, so that we can celebrate with you!
CONTACT THE PARISH OFFICE TO ADD YOUR THANKS TO
THE NEXT EDITION OF THE PORTAL.
St. John’s Community
shares our prayer requests GODLY PLAY
via our weekly email. Our Godly Play programming year will end June 9th. We
Please contact Anne Hall would all like to thank our Godly Play leaders: Kathy Riberdy,
at annechall@att.net or the Candy Flaherty, Beth Coates, Marie Prelli-Keefe, Sue Bremer,
Peter Ficalora, and Peggy Budny. During the balance of June
Parish Office to be added (with the exception of the Bishop’s visit on June 23rd,) if your
to the list. children would like to have “play” in the Godly Play room on
any given Sunday please email me. Godly Play will begin
PASTORAL again in early Sept. Please check future newsletters for the
specific date. Anyone who might be interested in joining our
VISITS AND HOME Godly Play leadership, please contact Linda Snyder @
COMMUNIONS llsnyders4@charter.net.
Please email the office at of-
Nursery coverage will end on June 16th, Father’s Day. All
fice@RedDoors.com if you - children of any age are welcome to participate in worship
also contact Mother Cosman if services at 9:00AM during the summer. During this time the
you enter the hospital. nursery area will be renovated to meet our youngest mem-
bers needs. If this is completed and staffed earlier than ex-
Al-Anon Meetings – Are you bothered by some- pected, we will notify you through the weekly eblasts.
one’s drinking? Al-Anon can help. Please join us on
Friday mornings at St. John’s Parish Hall at 10:00am. Linda Snyder
Christian Formation Specialist

HEALING EUCHARIST – Thursday TREASURER’S NOTE:

Parish Finances YTD as of June 2, 2019
evenings at 6:30pm. Please join us! 2019 Pledges $177,455 2019 Budget: $208,809
Pledges Received: $ 86,434 YTD Actuals:*
Pledge Goal: $ 72,852 Operating Revenue: $98,170
Free Community Meals: Save the Dates! – North Difference: $13,582 Operating Expense: $69,863
Congregational Church – Friday, July 26, 2019 and Fri- Difference: $28,307
*includes all prepaid pledges
day, October 25, 2019 from 6:00pm-7:00pm. Call (860) Thanks to everyone for their generous giving. If you have not
379-2466 for more information or directions. All are pledged for 2019, it is not too late. Pledge sheets are in the nar-
welcome. thex. Thank you. Diane Hayes, Treasurer
 Saint. John’s
The Episcopal Church in Pine Meadow
51 Church Street – P.O. Box 27
Pine Meadow, Connecticut 06061
RedDoors.com

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my
prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. Phil. 1

CONTACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW 2019 PORTAL DEADLINES

Saint John’s Saint John’s 2019 Vestry Publication Deadline:
The Episcopal Church in Pine Meadow Sr. Warden: Month Noon, Friday
51 Church Street – P.O. Box 27 Stanley Moraski Stanleymoraskijr@comcast.com
Pine Meadow, CT 06061 Jr. Warden:
August July 24
Ph: 860-379-3062 Anne Hall annechall81@yahoo.com
Treasurer:
Sept/October September 4
Office Hours: Diane Hayes hayesd@snet.net
Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Clerk of the Vestry:
After Hours Emergency Only: Beth Coates b.coates@charter.net November October 23
Priest in Charge 860-227-6991
Seminarian Intern: Darryl Burke - darrylburke December/January November 27
Rector: @yahoo.com
The Rev. Sandra Lee Cosman, M.Div.
E-Mail: Sandra.Cosman@gmail.com Members:
Ryan Patch (2020) patcher4680@gmail.com
Secretary: Virginia Hoffmann(2020) 3mccabe8@gmail.com
Michelle Piekos Jeff Linton(2021) jlinton1966@gmail.com
E-Mail: Office@RedDoors.com Christopher Olson(2021) cjolson7@yahoo.com
Mary Fiorillo (2022) marefio45@gmail.com
Music Director: Susie Horn (2022) susanhustonhorn@sbcglobal.net
Halyna Petronchak
E-mail: Halyna191@gmail.com ECCT Delegates:
Robert Osborne rkosborne_98@yahoo.com
Christian Education Specialist: Anne Hall annechall81@yahoo.com
Linda L. Snyder
Email: llsnyders4@charter.net Mission & Outreach Ministries:
Laura & Bruce Wearne moseyworks@gmail.com Deadline for
Web sites: the August
Altar Guild:
St. John’s: www RedDoors.com Cynthia Welch welchcbma@sbcglobal.net
Portal is noon, July 24th
facebook.com/stjohnspinemeadow/ Word limit is 250.
ECCT: EpiscopalCT.org Intercessory Prayer List Requests: Send information to
Anne Hall annechall81@yahoo.com office@RedDoors.com