of Saint Johns in Pine Meadow

Saint Johns mission is to nurture all people in their spiritual growth, in their Christian
education, and in their relationship with God.
January 2016
Dear Friends,
It would appear that winter is here at last!
As I write, the Gill Memorial Garden is becoming cloaked in snow and the flurry of snowflakes are dancing outside my office
window. My drive to Pine Meadow past the Barkhamsted Reservoir and the Saville Dam has seemed to be a slow motion glimpse
of the approach of winter. First the water levels began to decrease and the shoreline began to take on a new shape character with
sandy edges of the lake appearing first followed by small islands in the midst of the water. As the water receded, a new character
seemed to emerge and things that had been hidden all spring and summer were revealed. This journey to Pine Meadow each
morning mirrors the journey that we have been making into relationship with each other as priest and parish and also mirrors the
journey that we are making together into a renewed relationship with our community. It has been a blessing to be engaged in
finding out what God is up to in Pine Meadow for our first year together!
This past Sunday, I spoke with the community gathered at eight oclock for worship about Jesus walking into the water at his
baptism at the River Jordan. Jesus waded into the waters of baptism and into a ministry that would lead to many places, conversations, relationships, and conflicts, miracles, revelations, and challenges that he would never have imaged as he stood listening to
John the Baptist that day.
I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of
his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his
threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.
Johns words were a challenge to those gathered for repentance and baptism that day just as they are a challenge to all of us. Jesus responded to Johns words by wading into the water for baptism and in the process his life was changed inexplicably. By
wading into the waters Jesus embarked on a journey that would take him to villages and homes and to Jerusalem and Calvary. He
brought healing and hope and compassion and understanding as he and they came into communities.
At Jesus wading into the waters, God broke open the heavens and with the Holy Spirit proclaimed, You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased. Friends, it is time for each of us to remember that we too are called to wade into the water. It
is time for Saint Johns as a parish to journey deeper into relationship with the community of Pine Meadow and with each other.
We too are Gods beloved. When we wade into the waters God is well pleased!

The Rev. Sandra L. Cosman

REMINDER:

COMING SOON:

SAINT JOHNS ANNUAL MEETING

AND COMBINED WORSHIP

LENT MADNESS!

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24TH AT 9:00 AM

SEE LENTMADNESS.ORG
FOR MORE INFORMATION

PLEASE JOIN US!!

Bits & Pieces

HOW WERE DOING SO FAR
Operating Income:
Operating Expenses:

Nov. 2015

Nov. 2014

$ 13,868
$ 14,633

$ 11,108
$ 8,217

YEAR TO DATE
2015

Operating Income:
Operating Expenses:

$ 156,500
$ 175,233

2014

$ 141,328
$ 163,401

Larry Espinet, Treasurer

Next IngatheringJanuary 10th

The total for 2015 is $275.89. Bring coins anytime. We will keep them safe.

SCRIP A way to help Saint Johns and simplify

your life! The Scrip Program is a simple way for
Saint Johns to benefit from your regular purchases
at select retailers at no cost to you. Here is how it
works: If you purchase a scrip card (gift card) here
at Saint Johns in the amount of $50. You receive a
gift card for $50 for that store and our parish receives a percentage of your card purchase. The gift
card is the full value of your purchase and we receive a donation from the retailer. It is that simple.
Stop & Shop cards are available on Sundays for purchase and a listing of many other retailers is also
available. Easter gifts, birthday presents and everyday expenses can all benefit Saint Johns and you
can save a trip to the store!

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

1:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
Prayer RequestsIf you wish to have prayers for
any reason, intercession, thanksgiving, etc., please
contact Anne Hall (annechall@att.net), with the
names and all the information. Prayer is part of
our concern for one another. For pastoral emergencies, please contact the Parish office at (860)
379-3062 or office@reddoors.com
Winsted Food Pantry - Please dont forget to bring
in non-perishable food items for the hungry that live
among us.
Offering Envelopes for 2016The envelopes for
the coming year are in the narthex. If you have not
requested envelopes and would like some, please
contact the office. Please consider your offering envelopes for cash donations that you want to be included on your contribution statement.
Committee Reports Due For all committee chairpersons, please email your year end report to: office@reddoors.com as soon as possible.
Flower Chart Posted in NarthexSign up for the
Sunday of your choice. Cost is $60.00, or you may
bring flowers from your garden in the summer. The
office will contact you about memorials.

PARISH REGISTER
(Broadly Defined)

Let the office know about happenings in your own

life and in the lives of other parishioners, especially
hospitalizations, so Mother Cosman can contact
those in need of comfort.
Death
Gytha Rock Darconte
(Sister of Jill Smith)
John R. Sullivan
(Father of Jill Healey)

Rhythms of Grace
Worship for Families and
Individuals with special needs
Our monthly next worship will be on Sunday February
7th at 1:00PM. We are looking for worship leaders
AND participants. All people are welcome to join us
in the service. Rhythms begins with a gathering activity then on to storytelling and response activities. We
re-gather and process upstairs to gather around the table for Eucharist and receive a blessing and then dismissal. Worship is around an hour. If you would like
to learn more about this experience speak with Linda
Snyder, visit the website: www.rhythms-of-grace.org
If you may know of someone who might be interested
in joining us please take a brochure in the back of the
church or give them our contact information above.

PETERS RETREAT

Thanks to those who help.!

To learn more about participating in this important

outreach program, please contact Laura Wearne at
(860)307-3031. We take the fourth Saturday in all
months, except November and December, because
of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Stay tuned for
more information in 2016.

Coffee Hour Hosts

10:00 AM Service
A sign up sheet is posted in the parish hall. 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. All
parishioners who attend the 10 a.m. service are
requested to host at least once this winter. See
Candy Flaherty for more information.

Special thanks to Ron Caine, Tom Chappell,

Bruce Wearne, Bob Osborne for cleaning the
church.
Special thanks to Joanne Ritchie, Betty
Castonguay and Ginny Hoffmann for their volunteer work for folding all the weekly programs.
Thank you to Anne Hall for providing the
weekly Prayer List.
Thanks to our Soup Kitchen Crew for their hard
work.
Thank you to Diane Hayes and Larry Espinet
and Team for doing such a great job on Stewardship.
Thank you to Pat Sepples for snow removal and
sanding the walks.
Many thanks to Beth Coates for coordinating the
Jesse Tree. Thanks to all the elves for helping sort
and/or deliver gifts. Thanks also to everyone who
donated gifts, money and food, for Christmas
meals. The collection was a wonderful success due
to your generosity.
Thank you to Donna Colavecchio and the Altar
Guild for polishing silver, putting wreaths on the
doors, and decorating the church with Christmas
flowers. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the
Christmas flowers.
Thanks to Barbara Hinman for folding all the
newsletters throughout the year.
Thanks to Blake Hall for his hard work throughout the year working on the contribution statements
and the weekly reports.
Special thanks to Halyna & The Choir for their
hard work preparing music for Lessons & Carols
and for the Christmas Services.
Special thanks to Ken Krohner for donating the
beautiful Christmas Tree.
Special thanks to Tom Chappell and Bruce
Wearne for putting up the Christmas Tree and replacing the lights in the Altar.
Special thanks to Diane Hayes and Linda
Snyder for all their hard work with the Epiphany
Pageant and thank you also to the volunteers.
Thanks to everyone who helps with the mission
and ministry of St. Johns.

January 2016
St. Johns ChurchCalendar of Events
Anniversaries in Italics

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Fri

Thu

Sat

14

15

16

10:00AM Al-Anon Craft Session for

8:30 PM AA
Pageant Props
9:00AM

3
Holy Eucharist
8:00 & 10:00 AM
Nooma9:00 AM

6
8:00 PM AA

Rhythms of
Grace1:00PM

10

11

12

Holy Eucharist
8:00 & 10:00 AM

13
8:00 PM AA

Epiphany
Pageant

Bible Study
10:00AM
6:30 PM
Holy Eucharist

Bible Study
10:00AM
6:30 PM
Holy Eucharist

10:00AM Al-Anon
1-4PM HomeSchooling Group
8:30 PM AA

10:00AM Al-Anon
1-4PM HomeSchooling Group
8:30 PM AA

Rehearsal for
Epiphany
Pageant 9:00
10:30 AM

Open Door

Joan & Ron Caine

17

18

19

Holy Eucharist
8:00 & 10:00 AM
Confirmation
Class11:30 am

24

20
8:00 PM AA

25

26

Holy Eucharist
One Service
@ 9:00 AM

27
8:00 PM AA

Annual Meeting
10:00 AM

21

22

23

28

29

30

Bible Study
10:00AM
6:30 PM
Holy Eucharist
Vestry 7:00 pm

Bible Study
10:00AM
6:30 PM
Holy Eucharist

10:00AM Al-Anon Peters Retreat

1-4PM HomeSchooling Group
8:30 PM AA

10:00AM Al-Anon
1-4PM HomeSchooling Group
8:30 PM AA

31
Holy Eucharist
8:00 & 10:00 AM

January Birthdays
6-Jan
7-Jan
9-Jan
9-Jan
10-Jan

Caroline Bremer
Anne Radziewicz
Gavin Hester
Maggie Stull
Laura Frey

10-Jan
11-Jan
12-Jan
14-Jan
15-Jan
18-Jan
18-Jan

Josette Carter
Mac Wilson
Blake Hall
Leah Alibozek
Peter Pobuda
Peggy Budny
Chloe Gargiulo

20-Jan
20-Jan
22-Jan
22-Jan
23-Jan
24-Jan
25-Jan

Luke Nelson
Alexander Sabolcik
Donna Colavecchio
Lois Moraski
Heather Odlum
Lorraine Hart
David Childs

25-Jan
28-Jan
28-Jan
29-Jan
31-Jan

Rikki Gath
Judy Jones
Austin Marek
Henry Ross
Frances Frigon

Quiet Evening at Saint

Johns

AdventLessons & Carols

Epiphany Pageant

ANNUAL MEETING
SUNDAY, JANUARY 24
Following the Combined 9:00 AM Service
Committee Reports
Election of New Vestry Members/Officers
Deanery Reps/Diocesan Delegates
Discussion of Our Financial Condition
Charlotte Dufour
Lifetime Service Recognition
Childcare for the Annual Meeting: During the annual meeting we will hold a special time for children in
the parish hall while their parents attend the meeting.

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 Holy Eucharist
8:00 a.m. & 10 a.m.
Thursday Holy Eucharist
With Healing Prayers 6:30
p.m.

Godly Play: Godly Play will continue after the Epiphany Pageant (on 1/10) with a number of parables
during the season of Epiphany. Parables are stories that Jesus used to teach his followers about a number
of issues/topics/way to live. This was not a new form of teaching at the time but a frequency used way,
leaving the listener to wonder the meaning of the story/parable. We will do the same during our retelling
of Jesuss parables . . . We will wonder/ponder the meaning of these words.
.

Our Godly Play program would like to thank The Gargiulos for their very generous donation of the complete story of Joseph and his family. We are very excited to have this in our collection!
During the Annual Meeting, which will be held on January 24th, there will be child care available for all
ages. There will be more information as we get closer.