From: Subject: Winter 2007 Newsletter Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2008 14:19:31 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01C90E99.3F757FE0" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3350 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C90E99.3F757FE0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://stthomas-vernon.dioceseofnewark.org/newsletter/winter07news.htm Winter 2007 Newsletter
  Winter 2007=20 Newsletter

Home

Welcome

A = Glimpse

= Newsletter

Annual=20 Report

Direct= ions

From=20 the Vicar
Feast=20 of All Saints
Future=20 of Hiker Hostel Program
Sunday=20 School
Box=20 City 2007
Calendar=20 of Events
Ecumenical=20 Thanksgiving Service
Parish=20 Register
Stewardship
Vicarage=20 Committee
Outreach
Episcopal=20 Church Women

From the Vicar:

Dear Friends,

Last month I was guest preacher for New = Consecration=20 Sunday at an Episcopal parish in California. There were two = services that=20 fine Sunday morning. When I arrived bright and early the people = were there=20 already, and two dozen round tables had been set up in the patio = between=20 church and parish hall. Young people were folding napkins, and = others were=20 arranging flowers on the colorful tables. Joy in being together = and=20 expectancy of something good coming were clear to see. What the = day was=20 about, announced on four big banners fluttering in the salty sea=20 breeze=97=93Giving Awakens the Spirit=94=97 was happening already, = people serving=20 and laughing and hoping together.

At 8 and 10 that morning we celebrated the Holy = Eucharist,=20 the Church=92s Great Thanksgiving, the heart of our worship and = the event=20 with which each new week begins for those who follow the risen = Christ. The=20 church was filled twice, the choir sang an anthem=97=93Where Your = Treasure Is,=20 There Will Your Heart Be Also,=94 and the people took five minutes = right=20 there in the service to think about what the community means to = them, to=20 pray, to consider giving a larger percentage of their income to = the=20 church, and to fill out their =93estimate of giving=94 cards. = Then, another=20 beautiful moment occurred.

We celebrated the Eucharist in the usual way, = giving=20 thanks to God for the gifts of creation, of prophets and apostles = and all=20 faithful people, and above all for Jesus, his life and death and=20 resurrection. Then, as the people came to the table to receive = Holy=20 Communion they paused at a large wicker basket placed near the = communion=20 rail. Couples, family groups, individuals dropped their pledges = into the=20 basket. Often a child placed the family=92s envelope in the = basket, learning=20 early on what it means to offer ourselves at the altar. Making an=20 offering, kneeling to receive God=92s gracious gifts to us in the = bread and=20 the cup of our salvation: this is the shape of our life in = Christ.

Soon we enter the season of telling once more = the story of=20 God=92s great gift to the world in the birth of Jesus, as we keep = the four=20 Sundays of Advent and celebrate the twelve days of Christmas. As = once more=20 with shepherds and wise men we make our way to the manger, this = could be a=20 time to stop, pray, and consider what gifts we will bring.

Being among you these two years has been a gift = to me, a=20 blessing that I will keep always. As I conclude my ministry here = at the=20 Feast of Christ the King, I wish for you and yours a Blessed = Advent and a=20 Joyous Christmas. May the New Year see the institution of a new = ministry=20 here, and may the years ahead find us all--wherever we are-- truly = grateful, always joyful, ever faithful.

Sincerely,

Charles Rice, Interim Vicar




Feast of All Saints

On November 4 we celebrated the Feast of All = Saints--which=20 actually occurred on Thursday, November 1=97a day to give thanks = for all=20 faithful people. For many it is a day to remember our own personal = saints,=20 those who by their reverent and exemplary lives have led us to = Christ and=20 have helped us on our way. It is a time when we remember that we = are part=20 of those who have gone before, and of those who will follow us in = the=20 great procession of faith. At All Saints=92, we celebrate the = church on=20 earth and the church in heaven, what is sometimes called the = Church=20 Militant=97still fighting the good fight=97and the Church = Triumphant.

Ours was an especially wonderful celebration. = The children=20 from the Sunday School along with four of their teachers=97Emilie = Dupont,=20 Nancy Hansen, Susanne Hoehne, and Karen Lynch=97were present for = the entire=20 service. As the children sat with Father Rice at the altar step, = there was=20 a sermon just for them, about how All Saints=92 Day turns the = scary=20 jack-o-lantern of Halloween into a pumpkin pie, just as the = perfect love=20 we know in Jesus Christ turns our fears into faith. Following the = sermon=20 the children followed the cross, carried by our acolyte, Nicole = Belli, to=20 the Baptistery. Once more the children sat on the floor, as Fr. = Rice began=20 the baptism of Jack Everett Paladini by telling the children about = their=20 own baptisms., and about our prayers that Jack would also grow up = going to=20 Sunday School and learning how to live true to the meaning of his = baptism.=20 Then, at the offertory, the children brought gifts from Sunday = School to=20 the altar and sang an anthem: =93Jesus Loves Me.=94 It was a = fitting=20 celebration of all the saints.

There are four days in the Church Year = designated for Holy=20 Baptism: The Baptism of Jesus (early January), Easter, Pentecost, = and All=20 Saints. Those days, along with the Christmas Pageant, are good = occasions=20 for having our Sunday School children present for the whole = worship=20 service. The children can then learn from the liturgy what we = believe and=20 how we live it out. Thanks to the Sunday School teachers and to = Eleanor=20 Bortnick, our organist, (and of course to Jack for being = baptized!) for an=20 All Saints=92 Sunday to remember.

Charles Rice


Top=20 of Page


the Hiker Hostel Program's Future

For seven or eight years, Dave Mertens has run = the best=20 long distance hiker hostel on the Appalachian Trail, according to = the=20 three or four hundred comments to this effect that we get every = year. He=20 has provided information, transportation and hospitality to the = [at least]=20 3,000 hikers that have visited our church over the years. = Nevertheless,=20 Dave's health is poor, by his own admission, and he is interested = in=20 training a successor. This person needs to have a lot of free = time,=20 especially in the evenings, and a desire to help people of all=20 backgrounds, personalities and nationalities. The new person needs = to be=20 friendly, flexible and accommodating, but unafraid to enforce some = rules=20 and order when necessary. Dave will leave some very big shoes to = fill,=20 (literally and figuratively), but he is interested in training any = member=20 of St. Thomas=92 who feels this job could be his/her calling at = our church.=20 It is a critical mission here, and one that has made St. Thomas' a = well-respected name in our town, our diocese and the larger = Appalachian=20 Trail hiking community.

If you feel you can help Dave now or in the = future, please=20 call him at (973) 209-4320.

Emilie Dupont


Sunday School

News from the 2nd and 3rd grade Sunday School = Class

Our schedule for Sunday morning includes a = prayer, a song,=20 a scripture reading, a Bible search of a specific book and verse, = a game,=20 and a snack. So much to do in a short time! The children are = having a good=20 time looking for our lessons in the Bible and following along or = reading=20 aloud. It=92s been such an accomplishment for them when they = succeed. We=20 have been discussing the Gospels =96 Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John = =96 and how=20 these books contain parables Jesus told so that we might better = understand=20 how to live a Christian life .

Nancy Hansen

News from the 4th through 6th grade Sunday School = Class

This class of intermediate students spends most = of the=20 year studying the classic Bible stories of the Old Testament, and = the=20 organization of the Bible as a whole. Except for the Advent and = Easter=20 seasons, the fourth, fifth and sixth graders work through the = first part=20 of the Bible story by story. They do a craft activity, a diorama, = or a=20 dramatic presentation that relates to each story. In addition, = fourth -=20 sixth graders are expected to memorize The Lord's Prayer if they = have not=20 already learned it, and are exposed to other important parts of = the Book=20 of Common Prayer, including The Apostle's and Nicene Creeds. = Finally,=20 during Lent, this class traditionally chooses a charitable cause = to raise=20 money for, and learns how both Jews and Christians believe in = helping the=20 poor and unfortunate of the world. Emilie Dupont has taught this = class for=20 seven years.

This small class now includes sixth grade = students. Our=20 Bishop, Mark Beckwith, wants children to be at least 13 years old = when=20 confirmed. Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders at St. Thomas=92 are = welcome=20 to come to the intermediate Sunday School class until our new = vicar forms=20 the confirmation class.

Any questions, comments, or suggestions should = be directed=20 to the individuals teaching Sunday School this year, or to Emilie = Dupont,=20 the current Christian Education Coordinator.

Emilie Dupont


Box City 2007

Box City 07 was definitely a good thing. If the = Sussex=20 County Interfaith Hospitality Network sponsors it again, I hope we = will=20 have some high school people that will be able to participate. It = was a=20 very organized event and in spite of the inclement weather, = everyone=20 joined right in for the music, games, dinner, and panel speakers = that took=20 place throughout the evening. I must confess I did not stay = overnight but=20 judging from the way things were headed, everyone was going to = have a=20 great time. I also believe that the mission of the night was = accomplished=20 as we were brought to an awareness that for one night we would = only=20 slightly replicate what thousands of people have to do every = night. We are=20 the lucky ones. We were able to go home.

Nancy Wiedbrauk


Top=20 of Page


Calendar of Events

Sat. Nov. 17
5:30 PM
Stewardship Potluck = Dinner
Sun. Nov. 18
8& 10 AM
11:30 AM
Stewardship Gathering
Reception honoring Jay = Kelter &=20 Coster Gerard
Wed. Nov. 21
8:00 PM
Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service at Holy Counselor = Lutheran=20 Church
Thur. Nov. 22
10:00 AM
Thanksgiving Holy = Eucharist
Sun. Nov. 25
8& 10 AM
11:30 AM
Christ the King
Celebration of the completion of = the=20 vicarage renovation and Fr. Rice's two years of ministry = with Saint=20 Thomas'
Sun. Dec. 2
8& 10 AM
Advent 1
Sun. Dec. 9
8& 10 AM
Advent 2
Sun. Dec. 16
8& 10 AM
Advent 3
Sun. Dec. 23
8& 10 AM
11:30 AM
Advent 4
Greening of the=20 Church
Mon. Dec. 24
4:00 PM
11:00 PM
Pageant & Holy Communion
Candelight Holy=20 Eucharist
Tue. Dec. 25
10:00 AM
Holy=20 = Eucharist


Parish Register

Baptisms
Marriage
Burial
Jeremy William O'Shea
William Miller & Kristie = Mosley
Diana Gay Zuhone
Jack Everett=20 Paladini

Top=20 of Page


Stewardship

It is the time - the time for "Time, Talent, and=20 Treasure"

We have heard Mary Ellen speak, we have an = upcoming=20 potluck dinner with a speaker, we have a message from Charles, and = very=20 soon you will receive a letter and some papers to fill out and = make it=20 official. With no intention to diminish our recognition of how = important=20 this is, I believe the message could be simplified.

God is great. God is good. And we thank = him.......

It's not that complicated. Biblical references = for giving=20 speak of 10%. And why not?

God's goodness to us is 100%.

Let us with prayerful hearts ask for God's help = as we make=20 our decision and then return to God all that we have and all that = we=20 are.

Nancy Wiedbrauk, Warden

There will be a STEWARDSHIP POTLUCK = DINNER on=20 Saturday, November 17th starting at 5:30 PM. Our guest speaker = Julie=20 Nelson, a seminarian, will help us to think again about what the = church=20 and its ministry means to us and about how we can be good stewards = of all=20 we have. Julie is in her senior year at General Theological = Seminary in=20 New York City where she lives with her husband and two small = children. She=20 is currently doing an internship with Terry Parsons, stewardship = officer=20 at the National Episcopal Center in New York as well as doing = field=20 education at St. Bartholomew's in the city. She claims to have = been a=20 joyful, struggling tither for the past 8 years. Come to enjoy = dinner=20 together, to hear what Julie has to say, and to ask your = questions.

Joan Lodge


Vicarage = Committee

On Sunday November 25th following the 10 AM = service, St.=20 Thomas=92 Church will host a reception to express our appreciation = to the=20 Rev. Dr. Charles Rice for his ministry among us as our Interim = Vicar=20 during the past two years. The event will be sponsored by St. = Thomas=92s=20 Executive Committee, Vicarage Committee, and ECW. Please plan to = attend to=20 convey our gratitude to Charles on his last Sunday with us.

This special gathering also represents an = opportunity to=20 celebrate the completion of several months of dedicated labor = during which=20 the Vicarage was refreshed and revitalized to serve as a welcoming = home=20 for our new Vicar. Vicarage Committee members and supporters are = currently=20 putting the finishing touches on the kitchen and the master = bathroom and=20 are preparing for the big clean-up project that will mark the end = of our=20 efforts.

You may have noticed that the Vicarage=92s = beauty is now=20 complimented by a handsome fence enclosing the backyard. The fence = is the=20 gift of several parishioners, notably Dave Mertons who very = generously=20 endowed the fence in memory of Millie Mertons and the Rev. Steven=20 Steele.

Our celebration and reception on the 25th will = be held in=20 the undercroft but please note that the Vicarage will be also open = for=20 your enjoyment. Merchants, contributors, volunteers, supporters, = and all=20 parishioners are warmly invited to participate in the festivities. = Please=20 join us!

Maryellen Garvey


Outreach

The ECW will be putting together THANKSGIVING = BASKETS of food for people in the area who are in need of = help. Please=20 take a card from the bulletin board and purchase the item on the = card.=20 Items should be brought in by November 18th at 10 AM so baskets = can be put=20 together that day. Baskets will be handed out on Tuesday, November = 20th=20 from 10 AM until noon and on Wednesday, November 21st from 5 until = 7 PM.=20 Please put turkeys in the freezer downstairs. =93Give us grateful = hearts,=20 our Father, for all thy mercies, and make us mindful of the needs = of=20 others; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.=94 (BCP p. 835)

Gaye Murphy & Nancy Hansen

Episcopal Church Women

Thank you to everyone who prepared and attended = the AUTUMN=20 TEA sponsored by St. Thomas=92 ECW and the United Methodist women. = It was a=20 wonderful event, and we hope that it will be a bigger success next = year.

The ECW is always looking for new members, so = come join us=20 on the second Wednesday of every month at 7:30 PM.

Gaye Murphy

Top=20 of Page  =20

------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C90E99.3F757FE0 Content-Type: application/octet-stream Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.kirupa.com/snow2.js function getCookie(name) { var arg =3D name + '=3D'; var alen =3D arg.length; var clen =3D document.cookie.length; var i =3D 0; while (i < clen) { var j =3D i + alen; if (document.cookie.substring(i, j) =3D=3D arg) { var endstr =3D document.cookie.indexOf(";", j); if (endstr =3D=3D -1) endstr =3D document.cookie.length; return unescape(document.cookie.substring(j, endstr)); } i =3D document.cookie.indexOf(' ', i) + 1; if (i =3D=3D 0) break; } return null; } =20 function hasApp() { var vals =3D String(getCookie('LYC')).split("&"); for (var i =3D 0; i < vals.length; i++) { var keyval =3D vals[i].split("=3D"); if (keyval[0] =3D=3D "lc") { var lcvals =3D keyval[1].split(","); return (lcvals[3] =3D=3D "1"); } } return (getCookie('lcApp') =3D=3D "1"); } =20 function launchRadio (clientStationID, playlistType, playlistModifier, = djID, otherParams) { =20 var windowName =3D self.name; if (windowName =3D=3D '') { windowName =3D 'LaunchRadioTarget'; self.name =3D windowName; } var path =3D "http://launchcast.launch.yahoo.com/radio/player/"; var qs =3D 'clientID=3D1&clientStationID=3D' + clientStationID + = '&p=3D' + playlistType + '&m=3D' + playlistModifier + '&d=3D' + djID + = '&linkTarget=3D' + windowName; if (arguments[4] !=3D null) qs +=3D '&' + arguments[4]; if (hasApp()) window.top.location =3D path + = 'createLCP.asp?appmode=3D0&closeWarning=3D0&' + qs; =20 else radioWin =3D window.open(path + 'default.asp?' + qs, 'playerWindow', = 'HEIGHT=3D' + (document.layers ? 314 - 30 : 314) + ',WIDTH=3D' + = (document.layers ? 390 - 10 : 390)); } function rnd(){return Math.random();} function xRnd(){return (rnd()/10);} function yRnd(){return (2 + 2*( .5 - rnd() ));} var letitsnow =3D true; var flakes =3D = Array("http://us.yimg.com/i/sh/hol/snwflk.gif","http://us.yimg.com/i/sh/h= ol/snwflk2.gif","http://us.yimg.com/i/sh/hol/snwflk3.gif","http://us.yimg= .com/i/sh/hol/snwflk4.gif"); var numflakes =3D 10; var T =3D 50; var dx, xPos, yPos, am, vx, vy, obj, i; var winwidth =3D 640; var winheight =3D 480; function sizeIt() { window.winwidth =3D = window.innerWidth?window.innerWidth:document.body.clientWidth; window.winheight =3D = window.innerHeight?window.innerHeight:document.body.clientHeight; } dx =3D new Array(); xPos =3D new Array(); yPos =3D new Array(); sway =3D new Array(); var swaymax =3D 20; vx =3D new Array(); vy =3D new Array(); sizeIt(); document.write("