Volume 10 Issue 10 St. James Episcopal Church The...

Volume 10 Issue 10 THE NET

December 2014

The Net

St . James Episcopal Church

St. James Mission Statement

St. James is called to serve God, Christ, and the community of Greater New London.

Adopted by the Vestry May 2001

From the Rector’s Desk

As many of you know, I’ve safely returned from my trip to Scotland … just in time to

conclude another liturgical year (the Last Sunday after Pentecost, November 16). I’ve

shared with some of you how wonderful the trip was … but also how exhausting. The Rt.

Rev’d Dr. Robert Gilles, Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney, along with my host, the Very Rev’d

Dr. Emsley Nimmo, Rector of St. Margaret of Scotland and Dean of Aberdeen and Orkney,

kept me very busy. For those who thought I was on vacation, I’ve quite publically called it a

“busman’s holiday” (for those unfamiliar, here’s a definition: a vacation or form of

recreation that involves doing the same thing that one does at work).

Actually, in the midst of the trip, running from one activity/event to another, it struck me that

it offered me a very real opportunity to experience the life of a priest in the Scottish

Episcopal Church, which I hadn’t experienced while in Scotland on sabbatical six years

ago. So, I had the opportunity to attend a regular Cathedral Chapter meeting, with all the

Cathedral Canons and Bishop Gilles. I was a guest at their annual Clergy/Lay Reader

Conference for two days in Banchory (about nineteen miles west of Aberdeen). I attended

their Companions in Mission Conference in Perth (some 85 miles

south). I was able to visit and celebrate the Eucharist at two or

urban parishes in Aberdeen (at St. Mary’s and St. John’s), along with

con-celebrating a Sunday Mass at St. Margaret’s. I was able to do

several hospital visits, along with a full day of geographically

dispersed pastoral calls, seemingly throughout Aberdeenshire. And,

of course, I was present at the Sung Eucharist on the Feast of Samuel

Seabury (November 14) at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Aberdeen,

where a new mass setting by Paul Mealor received its world

premiere, and I was vested and seated as an honorary canon of the

Cathedral.

Of course, it wasn’t all work! I had the honor of co-hosting a dinner

at St. Margaret’s Rectory for Bishop Gilles and his wife Liz, and

Holiday Office Hours 3

Birthdays 4

Thanks 5

Holiday Activities 6-7

Music 9-10

Outreach 12-13

Financial information 14-15

Inside this issue:

THE NET Volume 10 Issue 10

The Net …

is the newsletter of St.

James’ Church, New

London, Connecticut.

It is published eleven

times a year

(September through

June, and a Summer

issue) for the

information and

edification of St.

James’ members and

friends.

Submissions are always

welcome, and should

be submitted by the

tenth of the month

before publication.

While your submission is

always welcome, we

would prefer to receive

it by e-mail, or memory

stick in Microsoft Word

format (Word 97-2003

or later).

Please continue to

forward your

submissions to the

Church Office or email

them to: [email protected]

We also welcome your

comments and

suggestions. This is your

newsletter.

76 Federal Street

New London CT 06320-6601

860-443-4989

www.stjamesnl.org

another Cathedral Canon, the Rev’d Canon Isaac

Poobalan and his wife Amudha. I attended a dinner given

by Bishop and Mrs. Gilles. Canon and Mrs. Poobalan

invited me to a dinner. And, the Rt. Rev’d Frederick Darwin

(a former Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney) and his wife

Roma hosted a wonderful lunch. And accompanying Fr.

Emsley to Edinburgh, I got an opportunity to visit two

Scottish Episcopal churches (St. Mary’s Cathedral and St.

John’s), with a several hours spent at the National Museum

of Scotland.

But the most memorable events were those in which I was

with our Scottish brothers and sisters. While many here at

St. James ask about those we pray for every Sunday (Fr.

Emsley and the St. Margaret’s family), I met any number of

people who had similar comments to ours: “It is nice to put

a face with those in our prayers!”

While I was deeply honored to be named an honorary

Canon of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, at its heart the event

was about connections—connections between several

urban parishes (St. James, St. Margaret’s, St. Andrew’s);

between parish families; and, between individuals—

through regular prayer.

My thanks go out: to Fr. Emsley for hosting me for a long

two week interval; for the hospitality of the clergy and lay

people of Aberdeen and Orkney who made me feel at

home; and for capping the liturgical year with a “high”

during the clothing and seating as a Canon at the

Cathedral Church of St. Andrew.

As we enter this new liturgical year (beginning with the first

Sunday of Advent, November 30), we are called into a

season of anticipation; a time of waiting for the Advent

(coming) of our Messiah, Jesus Christ the Lord. As the world

around us grows ever more secular, as our congregations

(in this nation and Scotland) struggle to witness to our faith

in the God who created us (as opposed to the god of

money, or career, or wealth, or possessions), let us strive

together to keep this Advent holy. Let us focus on our

preparation for the arrival of our Messiah. Let us slow

ourselves down from the chaos, and quiet ourselves from

Rector’s Desk, cont’d


the turmoil of this holiday season. Let us seek to be present to the call of God, the voice of

one crying in the wilderness …

“Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of

light, now in the time of this mortal life …”

(from The Collect for the First Sunday of Advent, BCP 211)

Rector’s Desk, cont’d

The calendar during Advent is

much more than the place to

count down Christmas

shopping days.

The exciting Advent poster, at

both entrances of the Church,

includes suggestions for each

day focusing on the mind, the

soul, the heart, and strength.

Living Well through Advent

is fun to read and a

reminder of the true

meaning of the season.

“Give us grace to cast

away the works of darkness,

and put on the armor of

light.”

from The Collect for the First

Sunday of Advent,

The Book of Common Prayer, p. 211

Advent 2014 Calendar Advent began Sunday, November 30

Bishop Gilles asking Fr. Michel to confirm his ordination and

installation vows.

The newly installed Canons, Lisa Eunson and Fr. Michel, with

Bishop Gilles, and the composer of the newly-commissioned

Seabury Mass, Professor Paul Mealor.


December Birthdays The names on this list reflect the information as recorded in the Church database. Is your

name (or a family member’s name) missing? If so, please contact the Church Office and

provide us with the accurate information!

6 Joan Jones

6 Elizabeth Ahnell

8 Sade Velez

9 Victoria Brennan

13 Nicholas Streeter

15 Carole Shores

16 John Dillon

16 Lucy Patterson

18 Lynda DeVivo

19 Ines Granville

19 Hayden Fraser

22 Joy Hewitt

22 Michael Culbertson

23 Mary Hulme

27 Anaya Collins

28 Martha Delancy

As we enter the holiday season, the Parish Office

will observe the following holiday schedule:

Wednesday, December 24—Office closes at 12:30

p.m.

Thursday and Friday, December 25

and 26—Christmas holiday—Office closed.

Wednesday, December 31—New Year’s

Eve— Office closes early.

Thursday, January 1—New Year’s Day—Office

closed.

Regular Parish Office hours resume Monday, December 29, after Christmas, and Friday,

January 2, after New Year’s Day.

Regular Parish Office hours are 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.

Do you have some spare time this holiday season? Do you have “extra” family members

home for the holidays? Are you looking for a place to help out? There is much to do—extra

bulletins, The NET, and many other end-of-year items—as we prepare to close out the year.

To volunteer, please call Ellen at the Parish Office, 860.443.4989.

Holiday Parish Office Hours


To Those who’ve already made their offering for God’s work in the world, through their 2015

pledge.

To Jerry Miller and the Budget Committee for their hard work on the 2015 budget.

To Ron Steed and the Stewardship Committee for challenging us to new giving levels for

2015.

To Grace Barnum, Stephanie Brandon, and Ed Janusz for their hard work creating our new

Parish ministry listing and pledge card.

To All of the volunteers for another year of helping us produce, prepare, and mail The NET.

To Florence Bath, Mary Ellen Harris, Jean Rogers, Jean Uguccioni, and Greg Rice for their

time preparing the Stewardship packets for mailing.

To Sue Chojnacki for providing coverage in the Parish Office while Ellen was on vacation.

To the Capital Improvement Committee for continuing to keep on track with all the major

improvements necessary for the Church, Parish Hall, and grounds.

To All the volunteers who help us succeed with our all Parish outreach ministries.

To Martha and Ralph Anderson for trimming and weeding our grounds during the summer.

Thank you to my church family for all the cards, concern, and

prayers for me on the recent death of my daughter. You truly

made a very sad time more bearable.

Deanna Bossdorf


Christmas Poinsettias and Greenery Now that Advent has arrived, we think of many tasks that have to be done in our own lives

and in our Parish life. One of these takes place on Sunday, December 21, with the

Greening of the Church. There are a number of ways that you can participate in this

tradition, but one way is by giving memorial donations for friends and family or thanksgiving

donations for the blessings in your life. These donations are used to purchase the Christmas

decorations. The memorial envelope is attached but if you should mislay it, we will have

more in the Church or the Office—the deadline for inclusion in the Christmas list is

Wednesday, December 17. Thank you.

The Altar Guild of St. James

Greening of the Church & Carol Sing

Wassail Party What good is work, if you can’t use it as an excuse

to party! Immediately following the Greening of

the Church (Sunday, December 21, right after the

10 a.m. service), all the workers are invited to the

Rectory for a Wassail Party. There will be fires in the

fireplaces, tables overflowing with food, warm and

spicy wassail to drink, and lots of good fun and

fellowship. All, regardless of age, are invited.

Please plan to help with Greening the Church, and

join us as we relax together, and enjoy some casual

fellowship at the Rectory.

beautiful and bring a splash of color into the

otherwise drab wintertime. The Altar Guild will

acquire everything we need, then they just

need our help hanging and arranging it. Bring

gloves, garden shears, and comfortable

clothes – and join us right after the 10 a.m.

service (about 11:30) in the Church. This year,

we are planning on having Andrew and Travis

at the organ console, and we invite everyone

to join in the Carol Sing—and then join the fun

at the Wassail Party.

Part of the wonderful tradition of the

Anglican Church is the “greening” of the

Church, in preparation for Christmas. It is

traditionally done after services on the

Fourth Sunday in Advent (December 21

this year). Evergreens, representing the

ever-flourishing life found in Christ, are

arranged throughout the Church: in small

clusters, in roping, in wreaths, and

occasionally even in whole trees.

Together, we can make the Church


Christmas greeting cards and picturesque note cards

featuring our Tiffany windows are for sale. St. James

ornaments and cookbooks are also available for purchase

just in time for the holidays, to have for your own use or to

give as gifts! All items will be in the Parish Hall on Sunday,

December 7 for the St. Nicholas Fair or at the Parish Office

during normal business hours. Prices start at $2.50 each

and the pricing improves with the quantity of cards you

buy.

Holiday Cards and Ornaments

Advent Parish Brunch—Join us!

Our Menu:

Pancakes

Sausage

Fruit Cup

Juice and Coffee/Tea

December 14 is our next monthly Parish

Brunch (after the 10 a.m. service), cooked

and served by the Men of St. James. We ask

a $3 per person donation—little enough for a

wonderful meal with good friends and great

fellowship. So, don’t miss it!

Volunteer for Flower Delivery to Shut-ins

If you would like to help

brighten Christmas for

members of our Parish Family

who are homebound or in

healthcare facilities, how

about taking one of our

poinsettia plants from our

Christmas decorations to him/

her? Select someone who is

near to your home or office,

and it won’t take much time

at all!

A sign-up sheet can be found in the

Parish Hall. Please put your name

next to the name of the person to

whom you’d like to take a plant. If

directions are needed, please

contact Ellen in the Parish Office,

860.443.4989.

Plants may be delivered

immediately following the Christmas

Day services or anytime during the

week after Christmas Day.


The next regularly scheduled parish baptisms will be on Sunday,

January 11(the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord), as part of our

regular 10 a.m. service. If you know of someone—child or adult—

who is ready to become an “official” member of Christ’s Church,

now would be an appropriate time. Anyone considering infant

baptism, would need to have both parents and godparents

attend a pre-baptismal counseling session, while adults being

baptized are asked to have their sponsors attend with them. The

pre-baptismal counseling session will be Saturday, January 10, at

10 a.m. For more information or to schedule a place in the class,

please contact Fr. Michel.

Baptisms

Welcome Our Newest Members

Bentley Emmett Prejean

Remi Almando Calderon

Vestry Highlights The Vestry held its regular meeting on November 4.

A copy of the preliminary budget for 2015 was reviewed with the final one ready for Vestry

approval in December and Parish approval at the Annual Meeting in January. Music on

Whale Oil Row has been successful with attendance averaging between 28 and 46

people. Vestry and all Parishioners are reminded of a concert on Friday, December 5 at

7:00 p.m. featuring Raymond Nagem, associate organist of New York’s Cathedral of St.

John the Divine. The Nominating Committee will meet for suggestions of prospective

officers which will be voted on at the Annual Parish Meeting in January.

Respectfully submitted,

Jan Dargel,

Parish Clerk


Please plan to join us on December 14 for our traditional Service of Lessons and Carols for

Advent. This year we’ll present some well-known favorites, such as Handel’s And the Glory

of the Lord from The Messiah, as well as works of a number of other prominent composers,

including J. Rutter, C. V. Stanford and R. Vaughan Williams. This service provides a

marvelous opportunity to enjoy the peaceful spirit of Advent, away from the bustle of

Christmas preparations.

As it turns out, Lessons and Carols will be our first service with our new organist Jonathan

White. An alumnus of the University of Oxford, Jonathan spent a year as Organ Scholar at

Canterbury Cathedral, and has been actively involved with the Royal Society of Church

Music. He is currently studying for the Master of Arts in Religion degree at the Yale Institute

of Sacred Music, with a concentration in religion and music.

There will be a reception after the service; please take that opportunity to

chat with the choristers and Simon, and meet Jonathan.

We hope to see you at Lessons and Carols! Respectfully submitted,

Katherine Brighty

Anglican Singers

Advent Lessons & Carols


Friday, December 5 at 7 p.m.

Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992):

La Nativité du Seigneur

Raymond Nagem, organist

Messiaen’s La Nativité du Seigneur (The Birth of the Savior) is arguably one of the most

important organ works of the twentieth century. Its devotional nature is remarkably direct,

for Messiaen possessed a deep-rooted faith and a penetrating theological insight, which

both illuminated his creativity and gave a strongly spiritual dimension to all his work.

Although not initially a part of the Parisian organ tradition, Messiaen grew up artistically

within it and came to explore the organ’s sonorities and tonalities in a radically different

way.

Raymond Nagem, one of the leading organists of his generation, is Associate Organist at

the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, and a C.V. Starr Doctoral Fellow at The

Juilliard School, where he teaches the survey course in organ literature and is a student of

Paul Jacobs. Mr. Nagem earned his B.A. from Yale University, where he studied with

Thomas Murray, and his M.M. from Juilliard. He has previously held positions at The Parish

of All Saints, Ashmont (MA), and Christ Church, New Haven. In addition to his

responsibilities for service playing and choral accompaniment, he works regularly with the

Cathedral Chorale and the Choristers.


Andrew Howell,

Organist/Choirmaster

Music on Whale Oil Row

Spontaneous Art on a Sunday Morning On November 23, a surprising event took place at St. James following the 10 a.m. service.

Plein Air painter, Charles Reyburn, a life-long parishioner, walked into Church carrying a

large roll of about 20 "oil sketches" of local vistas he had painted. They included one

showing St. James Church topped by a dramatic sky, another a quiet forest path at

Groton's Bluff Point, and another, a peaceful view from New London across the Thames

River to the other side including some of the Electric Boat facility. Charles quickly taped

these paintings to the walls around the Parish Hall and amazed the Coffee Hour visitors.

Athough Charles calls them "sketches", these works are really masterful paintings on paper.

They show his unique ability to capture the light and cheerful colors he finds in many

picturesque local scenes. Thank you Charles for sharing your sizable talent with us in such a

refreshing way. It was truly "A Happening"!


Would you like prayers said for the health

of a loved one? Would you or someone

you know like prayer support

during a particularly

challenging time of life? Do

you want to offer special

thanks for a new grandchild

or other joyous event?

St. James Prayer Chain would

be happy to pray with you.

The group prays for the

people included in the

Prayers of the People each

Sunday. We also pray for those who are

listed in our Morning Prayer Journal found

in the front vestibule on Sundays. Please

Prayer Chain Ministry

call Grace Barnum (860.236.5447) to add

name(s). It is up to you how specific you

make the prayer request.

You can simply give us a

name or more information

about what they need

prayers for, as you see fit. The

people in the Prayer Chain

keep the information

confidential.

You can also assist with this

ministry by speaking to

Grace Barnum. We ask you

to remember the people you pray for daily,

but how or when you pray is up to you.

Each Sunday we adorn the Altar with flowers (except during Lent), light a Sanctuary

Candle, and consume bread and wine. The Altar Guild pays for these from gifts given by

members, family and friends of St. James. If you would like to assist one week, an Altar

Flower donation is $45; sanctuary candle $5; and, communion wine or communion wafer,

$10 donation. Your donation can be made as a memorial honoring someone deceased, or

as a thank-offering to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or other special event in your life.

As always, more than one person can make their offering in any given week. If you’d like

more information, speak to any member of the Altar Guild, or contact the Parish Office.

Some Giving Opportunities


Christmas Wish List for Adopted Families

We are adopting four families this year—two of whom are in residence at the Covenant

Shelter . We are also providing art supplies to the programs offered at the Covenant Shelter

for children.

The Christmas Tree in the Parish Hall is chock full of ornaments.

Please select an ornament with a requested item that you will

then purchase, wrap, and label with that ornament

attached.

All wrapped gifts should be brought to Church any Sunday,

or dropped off at the Parish Office no later than Wednesday,

December 17 at noon. Gifts will be distributed later that

week to our adopted families.

For anyone who may not have the time to shop, monetary

donations will be accepted. Please make checks payable to

St. James with “Christmas Wish List-Family” in the memo line.


Grace Barnum, Deanna Bossdorf, and Pat King,

Giving Tree Committee

St. James Quilters

We are happy to welcome three new members, Pandora Barnwell, Jo-Anne Foster, and

Margaret Muralllo. We would love to see even more individuals come and join us.

Our mission is to make quilts for the children at the Covenant Shelter and for the Visiting

Nurses Association (VNA) Nurse Family Partnership (which cares for new mothers) .

Our meetings are on the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(EXCEPT FOR DECEMBER, WHEN WE WILL BE MEETING THE FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAY). You

don't have to know how to quilt—we'll teach you. Please contact me at 860.443.0590 for

information.

Don’t forget to attend our St. Nicholas Fair on Sunday, December 7, in the Parish Hall after

the morning services. All proceeds benefit our mission as well as Parish needs.


Mary Chartier,

Chair


Thanks to everyone who donated hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves. A very special thanks

to all the knitters who provided us with over 150 homemade hats, mittens and

scarves. Their special talents are deeply appreciated.

We were able to deliver over 225 sets to the elementary children in

New London, the Covenant Shelter, and families that our Parish is

supporting for the holidays. There are many happy and warmer

students thanks to your generosity. A special thanks to my

committee: Barbara Skinner, Lori Sarkett, and Theresa

Bokoff. Many thanks and God Bless!


Sue Chojnacki,

Chair

This holiday season, we are requesting donations of new white socks for the

Homeless Hospitality Center Shelter guests (male and female). Our goal is to

“gift” each guest with three (3) pairs of socks. They may be wrapped (please

note on the outside of the package if they are men’s or women’s—if unisex,

no marking needed) or unwrapped. All donations should be received by

Wednesday, December 17. If you would like to help with sorting and wrapping at the

Greening of the Church on Sunday, December 21, all are welcome.

Socks for HHC

The Jumble Shoppe is decorated for

Christmas. Come see our array of

beautiful Christmas ornaments and

decorations available for purchase.

The shop will be closed December 27 in

observance of the Christmas holiday.

We wish all our volunteers, supporters, and

patrons a blessed and healthy Christmas.

Jumble Shoppe

Hats, Mittens, Gloves, and Scarves


Weston Priory Retreat

Is your current (2014) pledge up

to date? Please make sure that

your 2014 contributions are

caught up as we approach the

busy holiday season.

The Vestry and Stewardship

Committee ask you to prayerfully

consider the ways—Time, Talent,

and Treasure—that you can

support St. James as it seeks

to do God’s work in our

community and the world.

Alma Peterson,

Pledge Secretary

Pledge Up-to-Date?

Advent Quiet Morning

Deanery Advent Quiet Morning—Saturday, December 13, The Rev’d Rachel Thomas will

offer a quiet morning, from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at St. David’s Episcopal Church (284

Stoddards Wharf Road, Gales Ferry). A donation of $20 is requested for those who are

able. Contact the Parish Office to register 860.464.6516.

Retreat weekend in Weston, Vermont

December 12-14.

A special get-away for anyone who would

like to enjoy a beautiful setting for

relaxation, reflection, and a choice of

services at the Weston Priory.

Lodging is at the Colonial House Inn at a

cost of $60 per night/per person. Car

pooling is available. For reservations

contact Grace Barnum 860.235.8701 or Ellen

in the Parish Office at 860.443.4989.


ST. JAMES CHURCH

TREASURER'S REPORT

November 4, 2014

Total Income:

Total Expenses:

Net Ordinary Income:

$299,707

$91,639

Summary:

Investment Summary:

$3,076,393

Summary:

Parish Financial Update


Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

New London, CT 06320

Permit No. 236

St. James Episcopal Church

76 Federal Street

New London, CT 06320-6601

Postmaster: Time Sensitive Material, please deliver immediately.

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED.

Christmas Service Schedule

Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24

7:00 p.m. Family Service and Holy Eucharist with Children’s Homily

(Planned for those with children, or those who simply want to get home early.)

10:45 p.m. Choral Prelude

11:00 p.m. Festive Choral Eucharist (A “traditional ‘midnight’ mass” with music and a little incense.)

Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25

10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist

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