St. Andrew’s NET
January, 2009
PASTORAL LETTER
Dear Friends in Christ,
What a joyous Christmas season it has been! Our children treated us to their version of the story of Jesus’ birth, sang many carols and a rousing version of Happy Birthday; two dozen or so braved the ice to celebrate His birth at the midnight service. While they are two very different services, the wonder of it all remains the same. And we continued the celebration with our service of Lessons and Carols. It has been a time of great joy at St. Andrew’s in no small part to the work of so many – altar guild, music ministers, snow shovelers and you who came to worship.
Now as we enter the season of Epiphany we have work to do. At the midnight service I encouraged any present that were there just because it was Christmas to continue the journey with us. No one who just attends on Christmas and Easter can know the whole story. Our task now is to invite and re-invite our friends and neighbors to join us on a regular basis to find out what we know – that regular worship makes a difference in your life; that meeting Jesus on his earthy journey invites a closer relationship with God and our neighbors.
Your vestry and I are focusing on a vision for the parish so that we will know the direction of our work more clearly. Your input is welcome as we do this work, for it is vital that we know where our ministry passion lies. God will give us what we need to do the work if our interest is there. I urge you to pray about the mission and ministry of St. Andrew’s and to share your thoughts with the vestry or with me. As we enter the New Year, I will have regular office hours so feel free to drop in for conversation. Office hours will be posted and announced in the Sunday bulletin.
God’s blessings to you,
Jean
PASTORAL CARE
If you are looking for pastoral care please don’t hesitate to contact someone on the Pastoral Care Team:
Sybil Hazen 626-8678, Marion Parks 626-7213, Jocelyn Burrell 748-5247, and Robin Bergman 633-2871. (Sybil and Marion head up this group.)
Pastoral care is the work of the congregation – this is our group of facilitators -- all of us should feel encouraged to send notes or make phone calls when we see the need. We also must remind ourselves to reach out for help when we need it.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Ecumenical progressive supperwill be Sunday January 4 starting at 5pm. The meal will start at St. Andrew’s with soup. Dinner will be at North Congregational Church and dessert will be at St. John’s.
Armand has spent the last year or more preparing to become a deacon in the Episcopal church. His training is over and he will be ordained as a deacon at a service at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Burlington on Tuesday evening, January 6th, 2009 at 7 p.m.
Vestry meeting January 8 at 6pm
St. Andrew's Annual Meeting is on January 18. Sarah will be coordinating the report. These are the reports needed:
Senior and Junior Warden
Treasure Report
Stewardship Report
Music Ministry
Worship and Worship Leader Ministry Team
Christian Education
Pastoral Care
Altar Guild
Please email the reports no later than January 15.
