X St. Andrew’s Net X
January, 2010
PASTORAL LETTER
Dear Friends,
It has now been almost a year since the “great flood” destroyed our parish hall. When I look back at old photos I am amazed at the transformation. We have come solidly into the future with heating, bathroom and kitchen and into God’s plan for us in our outreach efforts. It has been an incredibly busy year with about half of it spent on the rebuilding. But we have also become much more visible in the greater St. Johnsbury community thanks to our dinners, concerts, generosity through the discretionary fund, and willingness to allow others to use our space. It is my prayer that we will continue to move forward and allow God to use our hands as God’s own in the world.
Having said that, I also think it is time for a break from “new” mission work and a time to solidify what we are already doing. It’s a time to examine the assets we have in our building and more importantly, in each other. There are so many talents among us – music, carpentry, gardening, creative cooking, event planning, etc. We must look at the glass that is St. Andrew’s as almost full! Those of us involved in Partners for Sacred Places know how important this is to our continued presence in the community as voices for God’s compassion.
Psalm 29 says,
“The LORD shall give strength to his people;
The LORD shall give his people the blessing of peace.”
Take heart, good people of St. Andrew’s! God will give us the strength to do the work we have been given to do and we will be mightily blessed in the doing!
Peace and blessings,
Jean
Senior Warden responsibilities (continued)
Diane Montague
As promised, here is the remainder of the list of responsibilities of the Senior Warden! If you would take time to read them, I would greatly appreciate it, since I need you to hold me accountable in my ministry.
Let us ask God’s blessing on us as we move into a new year of life and ministry together.
Be available to discuss any and all concerns with the rector; maintain confidentiality where appropriate
Be available to discuss any and all concerns with members of the congregation; avoid making hasty judgments, encourage complainants to speak to those involved, discuss problems with the rector
In cases where the rector, staff or vestry is beleaguered or unfairly criticized, foster understanding and reconciliation and distribute accurate information
Ensure that policies and procedures regarding employee and volunteer misconduct are in place and enforced; take any questions, complaints and concerns to the rector and appropriate authorities immediately
Take action to intervene promptly (with others as appropriate) in the event that the rector is charged with misconduct, has problems wit drugs or alcohol, or is acting inappropriately; speak with the rector and bishop as necessary and appropriate
Support the rector in taking action when employees or volunteers are charged with misconduct or inappropriate behavior
In cases where conflict imperils the pastoral relationship between the rector and congregation, the rector or a majority vote of the vestry may ask the bishop, in writing, to intervene; the senior warden traditionally makes this petition on behalf of the vestry
In cases where the rector is overworked, disregarding his/her health and well being and that of the family, encourage the rector to take corrective steps, solicit the vestry's support in reducing workload, adding staff, or funding a sabbatical as appropriate
Assist in identifying persons for leadership roles, and participate in inviting them to serve in those roles
Be prepared to assist the rector or to step in and do what is necessary (make an announcement, turn up the heat, write a letter)
With the rector, announce the bishop's pending visit and prepare a report on the spiritual and temporal state of the congregation to be discussed with the bishop during the bishop's visitation (Title III, Canon 14, Sec. 1(e))
Needed: New treasurer! John Ayers, St. Andrew's treasurer for the past several years is retiring. We need someone to step in and fill this very important position. Please speak to John if you have questions concerning the requirements of the job (it does not involve bookkeeping).
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Needed:
St. Andrew's needs a Jr. Warden. This is the person who is primarily responsible for the building. This person does not need to be able to do all of the repairs/general maintenance him/herself, just make sure that things get done in a timely manner.
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The St. Johnsbury churches are again joining together for an Epiphany Progressive Supper and Bonfire on Friday January 8th at 5:00.
We will start at the Father Lively Center with appetizers, move to St. Andrew's where East. St. J and Lower Waterford churches will join us in providing the main course, then to South Church for dessert. All will then go up on Breezy Hill for a bonfire of Christmas trees and a final carol sing of the season.
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St. Andrew’s Annual Meeting will take places January 17 after the service down on Jones Hall. The vestry will be providing the coffee hour.
All committee chairs please email your reports to Diane Montague by January 7. The reports will be available January 10 to take home to go over before the meeting.
Diane’s email is vermontague2_1@juno.com.
'A cold coming we had of it,
Just the worst time of the year
For a journey, and such a long journey:
The ways deep and the weather sharp,
The very dead of winter.'
And the camels galled, sorefooted, refractory,
Lying down in the melting snow.
There were times we regretted
The summer palaces on slopes, the terraces,
And the silken girls bringing sherbet.
Then the camel men cursing and grumbling
and running away, and wanting their liquor and women,
And the night-fires going out, and the lack of shelters,
And the cities hostile and the towns unfriendly
And the villages dirty and charging high prices:
A hard time we had of it.
At the end we preferred to travel all night,
Sleeping in snatches,
With the voices singing in our ears, saying
That this was all folly.
Then at dawn we came down to a temperate valley,
Wet, below the snow line, smelling of vegetation;
With a running stream and a water-mill beating the darkness,
And three trees on the low sky,
And an old white horse galloped away in the meadow.
Then we came to a tavern with vine-leaves over the lintel,
Six hands at an open door dicing for pieces of silver,
And feet kiking the empty wine-skins.
But there was no information, and so we continued
And arriving at evening, not a moment too soon
Finding the place; it was (you might say) satisfactory.
All this was a long time ago, I remember,
And I would do it again, but set down
This set down
This: were we led all that way for
Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly
We had evidence and no doubt. I had seen birth and death,
But had thought they were different; this Birth was
Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.
We returned to our places, these Kingdoms,
But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation,
With an alien people clutching their gods.
I should be glad of another death.
T.S. Eliot
The Journey of the Magi
FREE
SOUP & BREAD MEAL
5 p.m. EVERY LAST TUESDAY
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Main St.
St. Johnsbury
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
1265 Main Street
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
