Growing Together in God’s Love 10 pm Eucharist Together in God’s Love Decmber 2015 Volume 4...

Growing Together in God’s Love

Decmber 2015

Volume 4 Issue 12

Calendar highlights:

Wednesday, December 2

7 pm: Advent Taize Service

Saturday, December 5

9 –3: Holiday Fair


7 pm: Advent Program

Thursday, December 10

6:30 pm: Women’s Book Group

Tuesday, December 15

7 pm: Vestry Meeting


7 pm: Advent Program

Sunday, December 20

Noon: Caroling

From Mother Jenni

Advent: Take Time to Reflect and Prepare Dear People of St. Andrew’s,

Time has rolled around to another Advent: the first season of a new li-

turgical year; a season that begins at the end; a season

dressed in blue and penitence; a season adorned with

greens and a four-candle wreath marking the weeks of

the season of coming into greater light, waiting, antici-

pating and preparing for redemption already given in

Christ’s nativity and looked forward to in hope for His

coming again.

Advent, an extended vigil for Christ’s coming,

is usually so full of busy-ness we overlook its signifi-

cance and meaning. So intent are we on preparation of

externals - gifts, decorating, food, drink, festivity - that

we overlook the preparation of our own hearts, their care by self-examination

and repentance, their encouragement by living thankfully (Continued on Page 6)

Inside this issue:

Holiday Fair 3

Music in December 4

Youth Matters 5

Church School 5

Reflections 7

Faces of our Faith 7

Church School, Youth Staff Hired 7

Women’s Spirituality 8

Kitchen Nears Completion 9

Online Sermons and Music 9

Treasurer’s Report 10

Summary of Vestry Meeting 10

Seen Around Church 11

ECCT Convention Brings Changes

Clergy and lay leaders from most of the 168 parishes in Connecticut

gathered in Cromwell the weekend of November 13-14 for the annual conven-

tion of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut (“ECCT”). Mary Merkle-Scotland

and Lynn Milner represented St. Andrew’s as voting lay delegates, and Mother

Jenni attended as our interim rector.

Twelve resolutions were adopted including a resolution from the floor

urging ECCT parishes to work together in co-sponsoring 30 refugee families,

through the refugee resettlement agency IRIS, in 2016.

The convention adopted two resolutions paving (Continued on Page 2)

Christmas Services

Christmas Eve, Thursday

5 pm Eucharist

10 pm Eucharist

Christmas Day, Friday

10 am Eucharist

Convention (continued from Page 1) the way for a new governance system for ECCT.

Six newly defined regions will replace the 14 deaneries currently in place. Each region will hire a half-

time missionary to coordinate region-level projects. The ECCT budget approved at the convention includes

funds to cover the cost of the six missionaries in the coming year. St. Andrew’s will be part of the Southeast

Region, which includes nine parishes along the Shoreline from Madison to Stonington and another nine par-

ishes as far north as Haddam and Yantic.

The new governance structure will officially recognize the work of many parishes and parishioners

committed to a variety of collaborative inter-parish ministries such as Episcopal Church Women (ECW),

Faith Behind Bars and Camp Washington to name a few. Groups like this will be designated members of a

new “Ministry Networks”system.

A new Mission Council will replace the Executive Council. Members of the new council will include

the bishops and officers of ECCT, nine members from the newly constituted Ministry Networks, and twelve

members from the newly defined six regions (one clergy and one lay member from each region). The Council

will serve as ECCT’s governing body between annual conventions.

A complete summary of the convention is available on the ECCT’s website: www.episcopalct.org/

news/annual-convention-2015-report/

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

Staff Officers Vestry

Jenni Matheson, Interim Rector Gary Naegel, Senior Warden Mark Auletta

[email protected] [email protected] Art Criddle

Barbara Gibbons, Parish Administrator John Armstrong, Junior Warden Lucinda Embersits

[email protected] [email protected] Kristen Garnett

Grant Underwood, Music Director Cathy Golden, Treasurer Colleen McHugh

[email protected] [email protected] Alan Miller

Mary Merkle-Scotland, Youth Minister Louise Beecher, Clerk Rebecca Rastetter

[email protected] [email protected]

Shelby Auletta, Church School Coordinator

[email protected]

David Mikus, Sexton

[email protected] Webmaster: Terry Sinclair

Anita Spear, Preschool Director Messenger Editor: John Armstrong

[email protected] Photography: Alan Miller, John Armstrong

Taize for Advent Come prepare for the holiday season with Advent

reflections and the soothing sound of Taize music.

Wed, December 2 at 7 pm in the sanctuary

https://www.episcopalct.org/news/annual-convention-2015-report/

https://www.episcopalct.org/news/annual-convention-2015-report/

mailto:[email protected]











Volume 4 Issue 12

Fun for Everyone but We Need Your Help

Holiday Fair Rings in the Christmas Season!

Fun, food, bargains, pictures with Santa, music, holiday decorations, did we say ‘food?

—you will find all that and more at the Holiday Fair on Saturday, December 5. From 9 to 3 that

Saturday the Christmas spirit takes over at St. Andrew’s—Farmer Hall, preschool classrooms,

the choir room, narthex, even the sanctuary. This happily anticipated festive event kicks off the holiday sea-

son every year for many Madison residents.

Fair Chair Maira Rieger and the many volunteers on her fair team hope that every parish family will

find a way to join the fun. Cookies, pies and cakes baked the day before the fair are especially welcome.

Please drop off your baked items on Friday, December 4. Helping hands to decorate and set up the day be-

fore and clean up afterward are also needed. Different rooms need different kinds of gently used items. Con-

tainers are now set up in Farmer Hall. Items may be donated until Wednesday, December 3.

Besides the goodies and bargains there will be plenty of fun activities:

Attic Treasures Check your basement or attic. We can use pieces of china, good glassware, silver, brass, wrought iron, antiques, serving dishes, and home décor items.

Basement Bargains One man’s trash, is another’s treasure, just be sure it’s clean and not broken.

Theme Baskets Groups within the church often choose their own theme and create a unique bas-ket. Or individuals can donate one of their own choice. Contact Donna Johansen at [email protected] if you plan to donate a theme basket. Tickets for the finished bas-kets are sold the day of the fair.

Christmas Shoppe We sell gently used Christmas and holiday decorations — for the tree, the house, and the table.

Bottle Shop Anything that you can put into a bottle or jar: coins, candy, jam, lotion, wine. Kids love buying bot-tles as gifts for their brothers, sis-ters and parents.

Jewelry, etc… Clean out your jewelry boxes and closet shelves to donate necklaces, pins, ear-rings, scarves, belts, hats, gloves, and purses.

Nearly New Books We can use children’s books, cookbooks, best sellers, fiction and non-fiction. Also, CDs, tapes, music-related items, and computer games go in this room. But please, NO

magazines or encyclopedias.

Kids Toys & Games Gently used toys, games and sports equip-ment will be for sale in this room.

Furniture Plus Medium/small furniture items (end tables, tables, etc), tools (new or used that do not require fuel) all in good condition.

Bake Shoppe Kitchen goodies are needed! Pies are the #1 seller, followed closely by cakes, breads and cookies. Also, we welcome sugar-free alternatives. Each family is encouraged to donate at least one baked good. Donations should be dropped off on the day before the fair on Friday, December 4.

Tiny Tree Decorating Contest

Fun for families and individuals of all ages! Pick up a "tiny tree" in late November from Brenda Naegel during coffee hour and bring it back deco-rated the day before the fair. Trees will displayed the day of the fair so fair-goers can vote for their favorite. Prizes will be awarded and decorated trees will be donated after the fair to homebound parishioners.

Crafts Room Children will have fun making various craft projects. Parents can assist their children here.

All-Day Cafe Enjoy coffee and treats all morning — and fabulous homemade lunch specials, too!

Photos with Santa No appointment necessary —11 am to 1pm, digital proofs provided in one week.

Elfie Selfies

Kids and adults will have a great time posing as an elf and posting their selfies online to share with friends and family.

Wreaths

Wreaths—freshest of the fresh—will be on sale all day.

Handmade Gifts

Vendors will display hand-crafted jewelry, decorative wreaths and hand-painted luminarias.


Music at St. Andrew’s: December, 2015

“Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,

and the world is about to turn!”

— Canticle of the Turning

As we watch and wait for Christ’s birth, we make music to anticipate and glorify his coming.

Anthems for the 9:30 Service in Advent

11/29/15 Advent 1 “Advent Kyrie” S&CC

12/6/15 Advent 2 “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” Sr. Youth Choir

12/13/15 Advent 3 “A Star Will Soon Shine” S&CC

Advent 3 “Wind Through the Olive Trees” Jr. Youth Choir

12/20/15 Advent 4 “The Rose / Lo, How A Rose…” S&CC

Of Musical Note

Opportunities to Sing In Sr. Youth Choir in 2016: Our vibrant, hardworking, and boisterous youth choir has

boy and girl singers from grades 2-8 with a current active membership of 12. Youth choir rehearsal prioritizes

hard work and there is a special emphasis on sight-reading so that singers will learn to become independent

musicians. Small-group auditions and an optional meet-and-greet (and sing!) with the current choir will be

held in early January. No prior singing experience necessary. Email Grant Underwood if your child is inter-

ested in singing: [email protected].

Advent/Christmas Singing for Guest Singers: ‘Tis the season for singing… with the Spirit & Chancel Choir

for Advent and Christmas (December 3 – December 24)! Seasonal visitors welcome. The fun begins Thurs-

day, December 3 at 6:30 pm in the Choir Room. Anthems include a jazzy rendition of “Of the Father’s God

Begotten,” an open-chord Kyrie, a French lullabye, Bette Midler Advent hymnody, and more. See Grant for a

schedule.

An Advent Concert of Worship and Music will take place 4pm Saturday, December

12. Our preschoolers will be there, Youth and S&CC

choirs will sing, instrumentalists will play, and there

will be prayers, carols, fun, choirs, youth, adults, and

families! Mark your calendars and join our church fam-

ily for a night of fellowship and fun. To get involved in

the concert itself email Grant at

[email protected]. Get ready to sing, laugh,

worship, celebrate, and pray!



Volume 4 Issue 12

Youth Matters Here at St. Andrew’s

The Middle and High School Youth Groups at St. Andrew’s are alive and well, thanks in large part to the efforts of parent coordinators, Sandy Butler, middle school, and Lynn Milner, high school. These amazing women have teamed up with Mary Merkle-Scotland and other parent volunteers to bring monthly youth activi-ties to the teenagers at St. Andrew’s. Our young people will soon be baking for sick children - and parish shut-ins for the holidays. Our family caroling is scheduled for the 20th of December and youth and families are encouraged to join the fun leaving after a light lunch of soup and sandwiches following church school. Bring out the tambourines! Instruments welcome! This will be our final youth activity for 2015!

Registration for the Youth Services Opportunity Project ( www.YSOP.org ) is open to our confirmation can-didates and high school youth and is happening at this time. It is a powerful way to learn about homelessness and the challenges faced by food insecure families every day. This trip is scheduled for March 25-26, 2016 (Good Friday-Saturday) and will be run in collaboration with the Madison Interfaith Youth Coalition (MIYC). The MIYC recently sponsored a fun and engaging progressive dinner in November for high school youth and the homeless immersion on the Green in October. If you would like more information about youth events, please contact Mary ([email protected]). We use the Shutterfly online community to post pictures, post forms, communicate with group members and maintain our calendar of activities.

In addition to YSOP, plans are underway for the 28th annual diocesan trip to the Dominican Republic, July 16-24th. A $500 deposit made out to St. Andrew’s is due by January 30. Please let Mary ([email protected] know if you are interested in participating this summer. Students work together to plan and execute a week of vacation Bible school - in Spanish - for 100-150 children, aged 4-14 in the barrio next to Santa Margaritas parish in Santo Domingo! Make new friends, practice your Spanish and be amazed by the love and energy of the these amazing young kids - and who knows, you might even stretch your faith muscles a bit!

Got work? iI you are interested in helping plan or chaperone the summer mission trip, please contact me. I am in the process of finalizing dates and location and will need a handful of helpful adults who are able to take a week off from work and who enjoy the wonderful energy of our high school youth. Dates soon!

Mary

Have you heard of a Jesse Tree? The Jesse Tree is named from Isaiah 11:1: "A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots." It is a kid-friendly way to tell the story of God in the Old Testament, and to connect the Advent Season with the faithfulness of God across 4,000 years of history. Generally "branch" can refer to offspring and "root" to parents - think family tree. Children are often referred to as "fruit." The symbolism of the Branch is woven throughout the bible. A Jesse Tree serves as a sort of advent calendar. However, it is more than just a countdown to Christmas. Beginning November 27 there are daily scriptures to read, starting with creation and ending with Christmas. It’s geared toward kids, so scriptures are short and easy, and the symbols hung on the tree visually connect to the scripture.

Keep an eye out for our Jesse Tree which will be going up for the advent season. On December 6 Church school youth will be making ornaments with symbols such as a dove, a scallop shell, a carpenters hammer, a

shepherd’s crook, a crown, and a lamb to hang on the Jesse Tree.

Also, as we approach Christmas, look for our mitten tree in the Nar-thex. As our outreach project for the holiday season Church School is collecting mittens and hats to put on our mitten tree! During Church School we will be talking to kids about sharing and giving to the less fortunate. While you are hitting those Christmas sales, please remem-ber to buy an extra hat or mittens!

Shelby

http://www.ysop.org



Mother Jenni (continued from Page 1)

and mindfully as heirs of God and siblings to Christ. One of Advent’s

goals is to prepare ourselves as a dwelling place for God’s love in

Christ.

One antidote for holiday (originally from Holy Day) stress is

to give ourselves the gift of five minutes a day -- not more, not less --

to prepare our hearts for our Lord’s coming. Advent has been called

‘the little Lent’, so it’s a time for soul care and soul growth. The fol-

lowing are just a few suggestions (by all means, make up your own --

what’s most important is setting aside designated time daily) on how we can create in our longing, harried

hearts, a room prepared for our Savior.

•One of the Daily Devotions appropriate to the time of day (See Book of Common Prayer, pgs. 136-140)

•Be still -- listen to God’s voice, not telling God anything just listening for what God has to say to you.

•Choose a word or a few words or an object on which to meditate (like “Light of the World” or “Jesus,

Lamb of God”, or just the Holy Name alone, or you may light a candle, or use an icon, like a Madonna

and Child) - say the word or phrase over and over silently to yourself, or quietly regard the object before

you. You may also choose a hymn text and pray with the lyrics.

•Reflect on times or memories when you’ve felt God’s presence. If there are people you connect with

those events, remember them and give thanks for them and/or the event. Is God asking something of

you?

•Pray with the suggestions from your Advent calendar. You can make a domestic daily ritual of lighting

the number of candles on your Advent wreath appropriate for the week and praying the collect from the

First Sunday in Advent - or by following the designated prayers or scripture from your calendar. All of

this may precede the blessing of the evening meal (if that’s when you light your candle/s) or may be done

at a separate time.

•Make gifts of goods, food or alms to folks who need them.

•Make various self-assessments to determine what your soul needs: e.g. regular quiet; more living fully;

some thinking outside yourself; less concern about things you can do nothing about; some study with

scripture; deeds of mercy; the courage to will and to persevere; openness to joy and wonder; learn how to

articulate the faith that is in you.

•Select a favorite Advent hymn. Pray with the text.

•Reconcile with someone.

•Contemplate redemption. What needs redeeming in you?

May you all be blessed this Advent with an awareness of the light and life of Christ present and active

in this parish and in your lives of repentance and joy. And may the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you

and scatter the darkness from before your path; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and

the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.

God’s peace and generosity be with you all,

Volume 4 Issue 12

Faces of our Faith: Mark Auletta

A Blessing to Be Part of this Parish”

I grew up in Torrington, CT as a devout Catholic, attending church every Sunday with my family. I

attended Catholic school for 13 years, kindergarten through high school. Looking back, my education pro-

vided me a solid foundation in Christian values. I learned at a very young age about devotion to God and

treating others with respect. My wife, Shelby, introduced me to the Episcopal church. We were married at

Trinity Episcopal in Seymour and have been members of Episcopal parishes

in Middletown, CT and Cohasset, MA.

After moving back to Connecticut in 2006, we started our search for

an Episcopal church on the shoreline with a thriving youth program. I re-

call the Sunday we walked into St. Andrew’s, only to be greeted by Mary

Merkle-Scotland. For those of you who know Mary, she was not only wel-

coming, but enthusiastically convinced us that there was no better church

school on the Connecticut coast, than St. Andrew’s. It has been such a bless-

ing to be part of this parish. Our Christian youth education and music min-

istry are without question, exceptional programs for our four children. I

remember a priest telling me as a child, that the church is not the building,

but rather the people. Here at St. Andrew’s, we are all part of a special con-

gregation of people, who care about one another and strive to live the life of

Christ.

Reflections of the Spirit

“Let It Shine, Let It Shine, Let It Shine”

“I grew tired of being scolded every Sunday morning, so I quit the church.” That, in a nutshell, is a

story I heard at the ECCT convention about a young woman, a “millennial,” who left one of our sister

churches in Connecticut. I have to confess that for years, decades even, I felt similar “vibes.” In the Gospels

Jesus speaks on occasion of the need to be reborn: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he can-

not see the kingdom of God.” Seizing on words like that, preachers over the years chided me for my short-

comings, and urged me to become a new person, a different person, a better person.

Ever since I was a child, I heard that I needed to find more faith, pray harder, give

up my worldly ways. Traditional Christians of course may have taken those same

words as words of exhortation and encouragement. But what I felt, like that young

woman, was futility. . . and criticism. I may control what I say, what I do but I don’t

control the depth of my faith. All of us have heard stories of radical conversion—

people having visions, or intensely religious experiences of revelation that change

them. Those are unasked for, unanticipated events that just happen. But many of us

plod along in our spiritual lives, thinking, praying about God and our inner lives but

never experiencing radical rebirth. In fact, more likely, our attitudes toward right

and wrong, our convictions about the meaning of our lives have evolved shaped by experience, observation

and, heaven forbid, logic. God and faith are ingredients but not the only ones. (Continued on Page 8)

Reflections (continued from Page 7)

Recently though, I had a revelation, an insight that Jesus may have meant something quite different

when he said we need to be reborn. In this view Jesus is calling us not to become someone different but

rather the person we truly are. Jesus sees God, love, goodness in all people. With his teaching he is calling each

of us to reach down deep inside and bring it out, and be the person we were born to be. How often, for ex-

ample, have I spoken in anger and then said to myself, “That’s not me, that’s not the person I want to be.

Why did I say that?” From this perspective the frustration I felt over the years when preachers called on me

to become a different person disappears. Now I hear words calling me not to be someone else, not someone

new, but to be the person hidden inside yearning to come forth.

Most important, here at St. Andrew’s I feel supported in this spiri-

tual journey to birth the person I want to be. At St. Andrew’s from the

pulpit, in prayer and in conversation during coffee hour I hear messages

of openness and support—never scolding or criticism. Thinking back to

that young woman who left her church, would that I could invite her to

come visit with us some Sunday!

This way of understanding brings to mind the hymn This Little

Light of Mine. Remember how the words go: “This little light of mine, I’m

going to let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.” I only wish it were not so often considered music

sung by, for and about kids. There is a glow in each of us—may it burst forth and bring light and love to the

world.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

Women’s Spirituality Book Club

The Women's Spirituality Book Group will be discussing the novel Gilead

by Marilynne Robinson on Thursday, December 10 at 6:30. Twenty-four years af-

ter her first novel, Housekeeping, Marilynne Robinson returns with an intimate tale

of three generations from the Civil War to the twentieth century: a story about fa-

thers and sons and the spiritual battles that still rage at America's heart. In the lu-

minous and unforgettable voice of Congregationalist minister John Ames, Gilead

reveals the human condition and the often unbearable beauty of an ordinary life,

and “manages to convey the miracle of existence itself.” The book is available in

hardback and Kindle versions from Amazon, and can also be found in the public

library. Please RSVP to Rebecca Rastetter ([email protected]) by De-

cember 8 and let her know if you need childcare.


Volume 4 Issue 12

Kitchen Nears Completion

The new kitchen is rapidly nearing completion. As of the end of November, the floor, ceiling, cabi-

nets, wiring and most of the plumbing are all in place along with a new dishwasher, range and stove, and

coffee-maker. The goal is have a hood over the stove installed and have the kitchen up and running by the

Holiday Fair.

Hymns, Sermons, Music All Available Online Did you miss Sunday morning worship and want to hear the sermon? Do you

yearn to hear Here I Am Lord or some other music that Grant and his choristers fre-

quently sing on Sunday? Chances are you can find it on the St. Andrew’s website! For

some time now we have been recording sermons as well as selected musical solos and

singing by the choir and congregation. The growing body of material includes both

audio recordings and video clips.

Here are some recent recordings and a link to them:

•Musical “collage” of the First Sunday in Advent:

http://www.standrewsmadison.org/Advent1.html

•Teens who went to the Dominican Republic describe their experience:

http://www.standrewsmadison.org/sermons/audio_sermon_11_29_15.mp3

•Jenni’s November 29 sermons:

http://www.standrewsmadison.org/TeensTalkMission.html

For the entire list of what’s available visit http://www.standrewsmadison.org/sermons.html

http://www.standrewsmadison.org/Advent1.html

http://www.standrewsmadison.org/sermons/audio_sermon_11_29_15.mp3

http://www.standrewsmadison.org/TeensTalkMission.html

http://www.standrewsmadison.org/sermons.html

Finance Committee Report and Financial Update

October 2015 Monthly

Income Year-To-Date YTD Budget

Annual

Budget

Total Pledges 15,507 166,352 170,170 204,200

4% from Endowment 3,550 39,050 35,430 42,520

Supplement from

Endowment 0 25,000 58,330 70,000

Fund-Raisers 0 14,712 20,830 25,000

Other Income 350 3,482 4,580 5,500

Total Income 19,407 248,596 289,340 347,220

Expenses 29,917 284,092 281,220 337,455

Difference -10,510 -35,496 8,120 9,765

Summary of November Vestry Meeting

Farmer Hall Kitchen Renovation. Vestry Warden Gary Naegel reported that the only uncertainty re-

maining in the kitchen renovation project concerned the special hood that will be installed over the stove.

Naegel reported it needed a slight redesign that would have to be approved by the town. He said the redes-

ign was scheduled to be reviewed – and hopefully approved - Wednesday, Nov 18.

Nominating Committee. Kristen Garnett reported that the committee seeking nominees to the Vestry

had met the previous Wednesday and found candidates to fill a one-year and a three-year term, but was still

seeking a candidate to fill one more three-year term.

Lighting. Interim Rector the Rev. Jennings Matheson suggested that the front of the church be lighted

at night to make it more visible. The Vestry also decided to look into the possibility of installing a light pole

in the back parking lot.

Advent Services. It was announced that weekly Advent services will begin Wednesday, Dec.2 with a

Taize service at 7 p.m. The other Advent services will be held Dec 9 and 16, with a potluck supper at 6:30 and

the service at 7 p.m. They will last about 45 minutes.

Christmas Pageant. John Armstrong reported that the St. Andrew’s pre-school had taken over the

responsibility of organizing the church’s Christmas pageant this year. The pageant will take place at 4 p.m.

December 20.

Volume 4 Issue 12

Seen Around the Church

St. Andrew’s Church

232 Durham Road

Madison, CT 06443

Mailing Label

NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID GUILFORD CT PERMIT NO 283

The Messenger the monthly newsletter of:

St Andrew’s Episcopal Church

in Madison, CT

Phone: 203-245-2584

On the web: www.StAndrewsMadison.org

Jenni Matheson, Interim Rector

[email protected]

Gary Naegel, Senior Warden

[email protected]

Barbara Gibbons, Parish Administrator

[email protected]

Grant Underwood, Music Director

[email protected]

Mary Merkle-Scotland, Youth Minister

[email protected]

David Mikus, Sexton

[email protected]

Anita Spear, Preschool Director

[email protected]

Come Worship with Us on Sundays

All are welcome!

Services at 8 am and 9:30

Sunday School 10:15 - 11:00

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Be a Star!

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Growing Together in God’s Love 10 pm Eucharist Together in God’s Love Decmber 2015 Volume 4...

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