News & Notes 10/30/08
Dear St. John’s Church Family,
I came across this quotation, and thought I’d start this issue of “News & Notes” with it. It seems to fit into the season well. “We are part of a holy universe, not its creators and not its rulers. God has done the creating, God does the judging, and God waits for us to realize that … Everything we are, everything that is said to us, everything that happens to us is some kind of call from God. In fact, everything that happens is God’s call to us either to accept what we should not change or to change what we should not accept so that the Presence of God can flourish where we are… Finding God is a matter of living every minute of life to its ultimate.
– Joan Chittister, OSB, in James Martin, ed., How Can I Find God?
Let me tell you, things are bustling around the church, as all the preparations are being made for this Saturday’s “Harvest & Holly Fair and Silent Auction!” Betsey Bolton and Mary Avrett have done incredible work for this event, and many of our faithful have been delivering items and setting them up for sale. I sure hope you’re part of this terrific event.
I don’t know how many items there are for the auction, but at first glance it seems like quite allot to me. There’s artwork created by our own Gerry Smith and Barbara Sylvester; and items donated by our own church members as well as by area businesses; there are gifts certificates and gift baskets; and more!! And I’m sure there are items that I haven’t seen yet. You’d better plan to check this out!!
I mentioned a couple weeks ago that a new feature to our fair will be Lenny Colongione’s knife sharpening “booth.” Bring those dull kitchen knives and scissors to the fair with you - drop them off before you start shopping - and pick them up before you leave. He does a terrific job, and will be charging VERY fair prices.
Breakfast and lunch will be served, too! There’ll be baked goods, and homemade candy! And you can even order your Christmas wreath - decorated the way you’d like it - to be available for pick-up or delivery on Saturday, December 6th. And there’s a room for kids to make presents for their parents. There’s the White Elephant Room, the Crafts Room, the Christmas Crafts room, Costume Jewelry and “Hannah’s Boutique!” So you see, there’s something for everyone! See you at the fair and auction!!
This Sunday morning we celebrate the saints who have gone on to glory over the past twelve months. This is All Saints Sunday. If you’ve lost a loved one in the previous year, and haven’t written their name on the Communion table cloth, please do so as you arrive for worship. This cloth will then cover the table - and be one of the ways that we honor those individuals, even as we give thanks to God for them.
As we remember the saints who have died, we’ll also celebrate the lives of the new saints among us as well. Seven folks will become Professing Members of St. John’s Church, and two will become Affiliate Members (maintaining their membership in their “old” church while holding a “formal” connection to St. John’s.) Please be sure to be present on this special, for worship, and for the special Coffee Fellowship between services!!
The District United Methodist Women will gather at St. John’s this Sunday, from 3 till 5 PM. All the women of St. John’s are invited to this event. A light dinner will also follow the program, for those who wish to stay a little later.
Members of our Finance Committee and Church Council - along with their spouses - will gather Sunday evening, too - from 6 till 8 PM - for an important meeting relating to our Stewardship program, entitled “Consecration Sunday.” We’re going to gather for this event at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Dover.
I suspect that next Tuesday will be a crazy day around the church, with the national and state elections taking place - and with St. John’s being the polling station for Ward 5 in Dover. Don’t forget - wherever you live - to get out to vote next Tuesday. Exercise that wonderful freedom that we have - which is all too often, taken for granted.
As we look ahead a little more than a week, remember that we’ll have just one service on Sunday, November 9th - at 9:30 AM. This is for “Consecration Sunday.” Pastor Bill Humphrey will be our guest preacher for the day, and he’ll lead us through our time of financial commitment for the year ahead. Sunday School will begin in the sanctuary, as usual, and then head downstairs. THEN, we’ll have lunch together - we’re making plans for 175 or more people!! We really hope everyone will stay, so we can celebrate one another, and enjoy one another’s company! If you haven’t filled out one of the small slips (available last Sunday in worship - and will be available this Sunday, too) relating to the dinner, someone will call you to ask if you’ll be coming. They need the slip filled out whether you’re coming or not. I hope you’ll be able to make it!!
Plans have been completed for a number of Advent Studies. I think there are eight (8) different studies this year. Check out the sign-up sheets in Hartford Hall for the times, subject matter, leaders, etc.
And looking even further ahead, let me mention some other things that are coming up:
Our Annual Church Conference will take place on Tuesday, November 11th, at 7 PM; the 2008-2009 Confirmation Classes begin on Monday, November 17th; our November Public Supper will take place a week ahead of normal, on Saturday, November 22nd - so we can avoid Thanksgiving weekend; and the Dover Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will take place on Sunday, November 23rd, at 7 PM, at Temple Israel on 6th Street in Dover. Finally we’ll have another special service on November 30th at 9:30 AM - a one-service-Sunday, for the “Hanging of the Greens.” There will not be any Sunday School that day.
Dee Whall shared these things with me (there are enough for future weeks, too):
Humor for Lexophiles (Lovers of Words):
-I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.
-Police were called to a day care where a 3-yr-old was resisting a rest.
-Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He’s all
right now.
-The roundest knight at King Arthur’s round table was Sir Cumference.
-To write with a broken pencil is pointless.
That’s it for this week! Have a Happy Halloween! See you at the Fair and Auction, and in church on Sunday. Remember: it’s just not the same when you’re not here. And before you come, could you offer two prayers? One is for yourself, that your heart will be prepared to meet God in a powerful way during worship. And the other is to ask who God may be leading you to invite to worship with you. Thanks!! Peace, Mark