Saint John’s

The Episcopal Church

in Pine Meadow, CT

November 2018 Issue

 From the Rector
My Dear Friends,

For much of our time together “Micro-Sermons”

have been included in the Sunday announcements
as an opportunity for me to share an idea to con-
sider for the coming week. These quotations have
been offered in three groups and starting in Advent,
a fourth theme will be introduced.

The first set of Micro-Sermons were words that have

helped to shape me as a person and priest. It was
my hope that through these ideas you would come
to know me better.

The second set of Micro-Sermons were compiled

with a focus on our work together to increase our
involvement in the neighborhood and community,
to incorporate new members, and to increase fi-
nancial stability and transparency.

Soon, the third set of Micro-Sermons will come to an

end. For the past year I have selected quotations
from people of color, to help us hear a diversity of
voices. Listening to and considering these voices
has been a blessing to me, and I hope to you also.

Starting on the First Sunday of Advent, the fourth

round of Micro-Sermons will begin and contain a
very personal focus on our individual imperfect spir-
itual lives.

The spirituality of imperfection, our struggle to be the

unique and beloved of God that we are called to
be, is pathway into deeper relationship with God
and with each other. I invite you to digest and con-
sider these words shared by the Reverend Virginia
Army, our preacher for our Renewal of Ministry, as a
jumping off point:
“Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your
perfect offering. There is a crack in every-
thing. That’s how the light gets in.” Leonard
Cohen
Thank you for placing your trust in me, for listening to
ideas, for sharing our common prayers, and for al-
lowing me the privilege of being present in your
lives. It is a blessing to pray, celebrate, laugh, and
join in God’s Mission alongside you.
News from ECCT: St. John’s was named as one of
the 67 Parishes in Connecticut to be in "GOOD
STANDING" at the Annual Convention. Of the 161
Parishes are in less than Good Standing, and we are
one of them! The criteria are:
 All audits & financial reviews are up to date.
 Current with payments for Common Mission
Support and Insurance.
 No obligations over 60 days past due with Cler-
gy Pension Payments.
 Drawn less than 25% of our endowment over the
past two years.
 Parochial Reports for 2017 submitted.
Well done, St. John’s!
St. John’s Monthly Donations Schedule
November – Little Free Pantry Supplies
December – Jesse Tree
January – St. John’s Little Free Pantry
 Children’s Ministry
Newsletter
During our November Godly
Play we will be hearing the sto-
ries of All Saints and The return
from the Exodus. On Nov. 18th
we will come together for our
traditional Christ the King Day,
Stone Soup activity. All parents
will be receiving a letter with an
item for their child to bring to
contribute to our soup which we
will offer for coffee hour that
day.
Thanksgiving week we will take a
break from stories but we will
open the Godly Play room for
“Play” during the 10:00AM ser-
vice.
Looking ahead to Advent and
Epiphany save the dates for: St.
Nicholas Day Celebration 12/2
and the Epiphany Pageant 1/6
with rehearsal 1/5. We hope all
our children will be able to join
us for these events.
We have recently added items
such as fidgets, tactile items,
coloring and story bibles to the
back of the sanctuary for our
children who might benefit from
one of these items during our
worship services. Please take a
look and if your child decides to
use one please guide them to
use them effectively.
We also want to thank Julie
Gargiulo for again purchasing
another Godly Play story for us. It
is called Jesus and Jerusalem
and is used on Palm Sunday to
hear the story of Holy Week. We
will have it on display in the
coming weeks for all to see.
Linda Snyder
Christian Formation Specialist
Dates to Note
Fall Garden Clean-up Novem-
ber 4th: Volunteers new and
old wanted, if you have a rake
or tarp please bring it along.
Following the 10am service. –
See Anne Hall with any ques-
tions.
Veterans Day Service – Sunday,
November 11th at both services.
Please join us in thanking those
who have served in the Armed
Forces.
Stone Soup Sunday – November
18th – Our children and youth will
be making our annual Stone
Soup for coffee hour and hear-
ing the story of The Feeding of
the 5,000 and Stone Soup.
Please contact Linda Snyder
with any questions.
Food for the Poor Guest Preach-
er – The Rev. Bruce Torrey will be
with us on Sunday, November
18th for both services. To learn
more about this ministry, see
FoodForThePoor.org
Ecumenical Thanksgiving Ser-
vice – Mark your calendars for
this community gathering on
November 20th- 7pm at North
Congregational Church
.Red Door Youth - Mark your
calendars - November 29th, De-
cember 20th, January 24th, Feb-
ruary 28th, March 28th, April
25th, and May 23rd from 4:30pm
to 6pm. Middle School students
and up are invited.
Vestry Meeting – Our vestry next
meets on Thursday, November
15th. Please hold us in your
prayers.
Ecumenical Thanksgiving Ser-
vice – November 20th at North
Congregational Church at
7:00pm.
Coffee Drinkers and Morning
Snack Lovers Needed - If morn-
ing noshes are part of your way
of being in the world, please
consider signing up to host cof-
fee hour!
HOLIDAY SCRIP GIFT CARDS –
Updated Scrip order forms are
available and more information
is available in the parish hall. For
the first set of orders, please or-
der by November 11th and the
first batch will be in by Novem-
ber 18th. Thanks to a generous
donor, our profits will be dou-
bled on these dates.
Jesse Tree Coming 11/25:
Put your elf hat on! St. John’s
will once again participate in
providing holiday gifts for 25 chil-
dren from the Torrington area.
We will give an article of clothing,
toy and stocking to each child.
There will also be the opportunity
to donate food for the children’s
family for them to make Christ-
mas dinner. Please contact Beth
Coates (b.coates@charter.net or
860-806-2728) if you have ques-
tions.
Save The Date – 7th Annual
Spring Training & Gathering –
Saturday, April 27, 2019 -9am-
4pm, Lincoln Middle School, 164
Centennial Avenue, Meriden,
CT.
CHOIR
NEWS
We invite anyone who is inter-
ested in joining our St. John’s
Choir to please contact Halyna
Petronchak at:
halyna191@gmail.com.
 COAT DONATIONS-OPEN DOOR SOUP KITCHEN
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS

2018 ANNUAL CONVENTION

KNITTING/PRAYER SHAWL GROUP

SEMINARIAN INTERN – DARRYL BURKE

KEVIN CASE – NW REGION LAY PREACHER

BAPTISM – LUCAS JAMES HUDACH

 HISTORIAL SOCIETY

CELEBRATION OF MINISTRY PICTURES

 Open Door
Soup
Kitchen
Join our team
for December
15th at St.
James in Thank you to everyone that contributed delicious
Winsted. food to the Potluck Luncheon and to the members of
9:00am– the Thursday morning Dwelling in the Word
1:00pm
Group for hosting the event. Thank you to Diane
Hayes, Nancy Gibson, Anne Hall, Stan Moraski,
COFFEE HOUR FOLLOWING SUNDAY Jeff Linton, Rose Osborne, Julie Gargiulo, Linda
SERVICES – Snyder, Jill Healey, Jill Smith, Beth Coates, Gin-
A sign up sheet is posted in the parish hall as we start ny Hoffmann, Peggy Budny, Kathy Riberdy and
our Fall services. All parishioners who attend the 10AM all the Volunteers that made the Celebration of Minis-
service are requested to host at least once this try an absolutely wonderful evening. Thank you to
fall/winter. Coffee supplies other than cream are availa- Cynthia Welch and the members of the Altar Guild
ble in the kitchen. who care for God’s Altar each week. Thank you to Ja-
mie Hall & Anne Hall for working so hard on repair-
PARISH REGISTER – Contact Information, ing the front door lockset of the church. Thank you to
Birthdays & Anniversaries Needed Please email Colin Coates and James-Paul Cosman Forbes, our
Michelle, our Parish Administrator at the Parish Office at Garden Scholars for their care of the Gill Memorial
Garden. Thank you to Halyna Petronchak for coor-
office@RedDoors.com with updates of your email and
dinating our participation in our community Thanksgiv-
phone contact information. Also, we love to honor folks ing Service. Thanks to Ron Caine, Tom Chappell,
on their birthdays and anniversaries. Please let us know Bruce Wearne, Bob Osborne, Jeff Linton, Nancy
the month and day, so that we can celebrate with you! Butler and Rick Smith for cleaning the church.
Thank you to Betty Castonguay and Ginny Hoff-
St. John’s Community mann for picking up and delivering the Fresh Market
shares our prayer requests donations to the Open Door Soup Kitchen. Thank
you to Chris and Jamie Snyder for agreeing to di-
via our weekly email. rect our Epiphany Pageant and to Beth Coates for
Please contact Anne Hall coordinating our Jessie Tree Christmas Outreach in our
at annechall@att.net or the community and Sue Bremer for her leadership of our
Parish Office to be added Scrip Christmas Gift Card Program. Thank you to Di-
to the list. ane Hayes and Michelle Piekos for managing our
printing and internet updates. Thank you to Linda
PASTORAL Snyder for coordinating our updated Godly Play
VISITS AND HOME schedule and supporting our Godly Play leaders.

COMMUNIONS Thanks to everyone who participates in the mission

Please email the office at of- and ministry of St. John’s.
fice@RedDoors.com if you - CONTACT THE PARISH OFFICE TO ADD YOUR THANKS TO
also contact Mother Cosman if THE NEXT EDITION OF THE PORTAL.
you enter the hospital.
Al-Anon Meetings – Are you bothered by some-
one’s drinking? Al-Anon can help. Please join us on
Friday mornings at St. John’s Parish Hall at 10:00am. FROM THE TREASURER
Year to Date (September) 2018 2017
Operating Revenues: $146,485 $136,254
Operating Expenses: $151,477 $141,209
HEALING EUCHARIST – Thursday Difference: $ -4,992 $ -4,955
evenings at 6:30pm. Please join us! Your faithful stewardship provides for the work of God’s Mis-
sion here at St. John’s and in the world. Your generous dona-
tions are appreciated. Mother Cosman
 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 2018/2019 PORTAL DEADLINES

Saint John’s Saint John’s 2018 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:
November October 23
Ph: 860-379-3062 Anne Hall annechall81@yahoo.com
Treasurer:
December/January November 27
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 February January 30
Priest in Charge 860-227-6991
Seminarian Intern: Darryl Burke March February 27
Rector:
The Rev. Sandra Lee Cosman, M.Div. Members: April March 27
E-Mail: Sandra.Cosman@gmail.com Kevin Case (2019) kcase@cantonschools.org
Ryan Patch (2020) patcher4680@gmail.com May April 24
Secretary: Virginia Hoffmann(2020) 3mccabe8@gmail.com
Michelle Piekos Jeff Linton(2020) lintonj@charter.net June/July May 29
E-Mail: Office@RedDoors.com (2021)
Christopher Olson(2021) cjolson7@yahoo.com
August July 24
Music Director:
Halyna Petronchak ECCT Delegates:
E-mail: Halyna191@gmail.com Robert Osborne rkosborne_98@yahoo.com Sept/October September 4
Anne Hall annechall81@yahoo.com
Christian Education Specialist: November October 23
Linda L. Snyder Mission & Outreach Ministries:
Email: llsnyders4@charter.net Laura & Bruce Wearne moseyworks@gmail.com December/January November 27
Deadline for
Web sites: Altar Guild: the December/January
St. John’s: www RedDoors.com Cynthia Welch welchcbma@sbcglobal.net Portal is noon, November 27
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