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VBS 2013 – KINGDOM ROCK

It’s time to register for this year’s Vacation Bible School – Kingdom Rock

VBS will take place starting Monday, August 5 through Friday, August 9, from 9:30 am through 12 Noon – for ages 5 (entering K in Sept) though 12. Registration is $50 per child. Volunteers for VBS are needed to make this year’s VBS another successful year.

Participants and Volunteers please register online at: Registration Payment forms can be found on the back table, on the hallway bulletin board and on our website

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PRAYER CONCERNS FOR ST. JOHN’S

For the sick: Bob White, Julia Spach, Peg Conner, Phillip Wulfken, Anthony Frates, Tim Olsen, Arline Settle, Eunice Johnson, Sam Bish, Dovie Parvin, Virginia Gibney, Irena Durham, Bill Hinton, Jessica M., Isabel Vagell, LindaSorrels, Mark Bellissimo, Ann Mulrean, Katie Macaluso, Jamie Herbert, Sue Rosen, Walter,Jean Giacomini, Marylynne LaBrusciano, Jonny Light, James Lott, Mike Begy, Patti Ehrenshaft, John Gallagher,Francoise Moseley, Frank Marino,Audrey Homan, Roberta, Jay Kaknes, Fred Hansen,Christopher Madigan, Diane Brisotti, Georgeanne Green, Lu Stack, Elisabeth Weis, Yvonne Smith, Toni Grau, Claire Brennan, Lloyd Clark, Frank, Christine Bushnell, Nate Martin, Leigh Hansen, Fern Peterson, Karen Nystrom, Matthew Loghran, Joann D’Abreu, Louise Spach, Mario, Elizabeth Percudani, Marie Enz, Gabriella O’Brien, Matthew Mandolese

For the recently departed: Eileen Van Bree

The Perpetual Light is given this week In Loving Memory ofRina GiacominiSusan Terracusco,the gift of Jerry & Jean Giacomini.

To have someone entered onto our Prayer List for 4 weeks, please e-mail the church office with the person’s name as well as the requester’s name. The e-mail address is:

Last week’s attendance was:159

The Chalice

The weekly Sunday Bulletin of St. John’s Episcopal Church

June 16, 2013

From the Rector: Living for Wholeness

As I mentioned in the Chalice a couple of weeks ago, I recently participated in a retreat,called CREDO, organized by the Church Pension Fund from June 5th through 10th. It took place in the midst of the BalsamMountains just outside of Asheville, NC. The Diocese of Western NC operates a conference center in LakeLogan. With no cell phone access and a limited WiFi access, I found it both a nuisance and a blessing. In one of her essays on silence, Kathleen Norris writes about a conversation with a child who said, “Silence reminds me to take my soul with me wherever I go.” It was indeed good to take my soul into a communion with God deep in God’s creation in this retreat.

The retreat involved a lot of mental and spiritual work toward wellness and wholeness. We were asked to focus on spiritual, physical, financial and vocational aspects of our lives. The first two and a half days were packed with plenary workshops and learning sessions. Then, the next two and a half days were focused on reflecting and developing our personal goals and plans in these four areas and a grand vision (mi gran sueño).

I want to share some of my goals and plans. I would like to deepen my spiritual life further by doing more spiritual reading and writing and by cultivating a deeper spiritual relationship with my wife. I learned about healthier eating habits which I plan to implement and plan to be more diligent in daily exercises. The financial consultant helped me realize that I should have more clarity about my financial plan for retirement. Vocationally I would like to be a better preacher and a more effective congregational leader by attending more learning opportunities to improve my vocational skills in these areas.

This retreat was based on four steps of life’s journey toward wholeness: Identity (Who am I?), Discernment (What is God calling me to do?), Practice (What practices do I need to do for a healthier vocational life?), and Transformation (What do I need to change in my life to live a healthier life to which God is calling me?). I think everyone can benefit by taking this four-step reflection toward the wholeness of life. A well-known Episcopal preacher, Barbara Brown Taylor, wrote, “My human wholeness might be more useful to God than my exhausting goodness.” Jesus reveals to me not only who God is but also who I can be as a healthy and whole human being.

Summary of the June Vestry meeting

Several weeks ago, Earl Matchett expressed his desire to step down from the role of the treasurer. Earl has served the parish in that capacity for many years with integrity, commitment and tireless energy. Please join me in expressing our deep gratitude to him for his faithful service. We shared a celebratory chocolate cake in thanksgiving to Earl. After a prayerful discernment, I recommended Gordon Kertland to the Vestry as the new treasurer, and he was elected by a unanimous vote.

The Vestry heard about a recent setback on the solar panel project. When we applied for a permit from the Town, we found out that our church property is registered as a historical site. We quickly sent in our application to the town historical commission and to the Town Supervisor’s Office. We have been granted permission by the historical commission. The resolution to schedule the public hearing has been passed unanimously by the Town Board. We now await the approval by the Town Board at its July meeting. Please pray for the approval of our project. In the light of the recent New York Times article which exposed some concerns in the solar energy industry, we also engaged in a lengthy and transparent conversation about the issues raised by the article. The Vestry confidently and unanimously gave its blessing to move forward with the project. The installation will now take place toward the end of July and in August when the church is not in use by the Nursery School or the Vacation Bible School. Please continue to pray for the successful end of our solar panel project.

The Vestry, then, turned to another long discussion on the financial challenge we are currently facing. I will not elaborate on the details of the challenge as I wrote about it in the May 26 Chalice. I reported about my meetings with Bishop Provenzano and Canon John Betit on this, who lent their sympathetic ears. But, as it is middle of the year and we have already been receiving generous assistance from the Diocese for Mother Ale, it is difficult for them to find ways to further assist us in our challenge. Canon Betit said that he will try to explore some possibilities, however. The Vestry, then, had an initial discussion on some options at hand. The committee, formed at the May meeting to review our service contracts other financial details, will present its findings and suggestions to the Vestry at its retreat on June 28-29. The Vestry will develop plans to solve this challenge at the retreat and report to the parish right away.

During July and August, we will have new summer hours. Alison Roth, our parish administrator, has been accepted to take a course on training service animals in upstate New York. She is to begin this course on July 8th and will be away till the end of August. So, in July and August, the new office hours will be 10 AM to 2 PM Monday through Thursday. The office will be closed on Friday. We need help in the office especially with answering the phone. Please let the Rector or Heather Kress know if you have some time to spare.

Crises do not have to be just impossible challenges but can be opportunities for renewal and growth, when we approach them with creative and fresh perspectives. This is an opportunity to realign and restructure our financial life with mission and ministry as our priority. The real challenge for us is not the crisis at hand but how we can make changes necessary to turn the crisis we are facing into an opportunity for renewal and new growth. We have been gifted with a wonderful ministry staff—a curate, two interns, a parish administrator, a sexton and soon a new organist. I would hate to lose anyone of them at this point of our common life, especially as I think we are now ready for congregational renewal and growth. With God nothing is impossible.

Fr. Allen Shin

VISITORS AND NEWCOMERS WELCOME!

We welcome you to St. John’s Episcopal Church. Established in 1745 this historic church opens its doors to all who seek to deepen their faith, and provides warm hospitality to all. We are blessed by your presence and invite you to fill out a Visitor’s card on the back table of church.Visit the Greeters’ Kiosk in the rear of church, where Greeters are available to answer questions and provide you with a packet of additional information about church services and activities.

WHERE IS YOUR RECTOR IN JUNE?

From June 14-25 the Rector will be away on vacation with family. Mother Ale will be in charge during this period, supported by the parish interns for liturgical and pastoral duties.

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CANTERBURY SHOP

Today "Father's Day" is a Very Special Day. With good wishes to all, the Canterbury Shop will close for the summer beginning next Sunday. There is time this morning to purchase cards and gifts. May your summer also be "special,” and we look forward to seeing you in September.

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PRAYER SERVICE FOR EILEEN VAN BREE

Longtime St. John’s Parishioner Eileen Van Bree has died. Her Funeral was in Glastonbury, CT this weekend. Tomorrow, Monday June 17 at 11am there will be a brief Prayer Service here at St. John’s. Eileen will be taken immediately after this service for interment in Calverton National Cemetery.