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From the Rector's Desk
Episcopalianism 101
As all Episcopalians know, there is no "right" hour for Christian education on Sundays. There are only "wrong" hours-hours at which it is hopelessly inconvenient or even impossible for some families to participate. One solution to this perennial problem is to conduct the liturgy and Sunday school at the same time--to excuse the children from the service while the adults continue to worship. This is probably the most convenient of all possible solutions; it is incontrovertibly the most expensive. It is bought at the price of depriving our worship of the voices of children, and depriving our children of the experience of worship. And the convenience of this solution depends on there being no adult education program before or after the service.
That price is too steep for St. John's to pay anymore. This September, then, we are going to adopt a different education schedule at St. John's, confident that it will inconvenience almost everyone in the parish, equally confident that at the price of inconvenience we can enrich almost everyone in the parish. Instead of excusing our children from worship, we will keep them with us through the liturgy-intending, of course, to more fully employ them as ministers in our liturgy. Then, after the 10:00 service, we will have an education "hour" (no more than 45 minutes in duration), beginning at 11:30 a.m., for parishioners of all ages. Preschool and elementary-aged children will have classes upstairs; teens and adults will go to class in the gym, after following a short detour through the Thompson Room for coffee and a bite to eat.
The new schedule will not affect our 9:00 a.m. Bible study, which will continue to meet each Sunday morning in the Thompson Room.
Our Adult Education program this fall is entitled "Episcopalianism 101," a survey of our Prayer Book, worship and spirituality. Serving as an introduction to our tradition for newcomers and a refresher course for oldcomers, this class will also be a part of our Confirmation Class curriculum this fall.
As we begin to rediscover the mission and identity of St. John's, Troy, it is important for us to recover our tradition of Christian formation. It is certainly inconvenient. It is not inexpensive. It will cost us valuable time. But these are costs we can no longer afford not to pay. And the return on this investment will profit every part of our life together as a parish.
Fr. Steve
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Youth Summer Lunch Program -- Volunteers Needed!
St. John's is partnering with the Rensselaer County Department of Youth to host a Summer Lunch Program Monday through Friday, August 20-24 and August 27-31, from 12:00-2:00 p.m. Children 18 and under will be given free meals delivered to the church by the county's youth department. An education program will also be offered. In addition to lessons on nutrition for kids, the program will include lessons by Dyken Pond personnel on such natural wonders as insect loving bats!
Please consider volunteering your time to help the young people of Troy. A sign-up sheet is in the Parish Hall. Questions? Call Katie Brillat at 274-5884.
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Photos Needed!
Photos Needed! Our website is in the process of being redesigned and we'd like to include photos of St. John's parishioners and events. If you have any photos to share, please email them to Fr. Steve at sschlossberg@stjohnstroy.org. Thank you!
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From The Deacons Den
By Deacon Paul
We learn from the book of Ecclesiastes that for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones and a time a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend and a time sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war , and a time for peace. What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the sons of men to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time; also he has put eternity into man's mind, yet so he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; also that it is God's gift to man that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil. I know that whatever God does endures for ever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has made it so, in order that men should fear before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.
We are now into the season of summer. As God has told us he wants us to enjoy ourselves, and this is generally a time of the year that we do. The children are off from school and we as adults take our summer vacations. We hope the season never ends. But in doing so God wants us to be faithful. He never takes a vacation from us. So I think we should not take a vacation from him. Hope to see you all in church this summer. Have a happy, safe and faith filled summer.
Yours in Christ,
Deacon Paul
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News from the ARCHIVES Committee
In the Spring, our committee had a very productive assessment and presentation from Elizabeth Estey, church archive consultant and a lovely luncheon where parishioners were able to re-connect and connect with
Mr. Estey, our former Rector. We are truly grateful for their cheerful willingness to help and offer support to this work at St. John's. It will be a slow process but we have now been graciously given the necessary knowledge to proceed. Currently we are at the stage of beginning to sort according to the recommended Parish Record Outline. The Vestry approved the purchase of boxes that are now in the Archive Room.
All Committee Chairs and Group Leaders please note:
St John's should archive anything that we create!
If you are wondering, Why an Archives? Here is the answer...
Archives are the documentary evidence of the Church's action in the world...Archives document God's action in the World through the Church.
- To ensure historical records are collected, identified, organized, preserved, and made available for research use
- To preserve the continuation of the organization
- To protect legal rights of the organization
- To access the experience of others.
- To provide us with a sense of our history and cultural heritage
- To communicate political, social, and cultural values
- To put events into historical context
- To research family history
*Our greatest immediate NEED is a pair of drapes to prevent light and heat from streaming through the window. Sunlight and high temperatures will damage our historical papers, ledgers, photographs, artwork, etc. If you have old or new drapes/fabric or could sew drapes, please let us know. Contact Donna Rem, 283-1944/ tdsjr@verizon.net or any member of the Committee. They are Andrew Mace, Dawn Weinraub, Dale Baxter, Carol Daniels, George and Jennifer Firth, Elissa Prout, Patty Williams, Sue Reilly, Linda Stevens, David Hunn and Nancy Lyon.
Summer meeting date TBD. In addition to the organizing tasks, topics to be discussed will be plans to begin having the teens document oral histories from long-time parishioners and ways to showcase our historical finds.
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News from the St. John's Vestry
If you would like to keep up to date with parish news please read the minutes from our vestry meetings.
May Minutes
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The Service of Admission for Linda Muller, Robin Prout and Anne Parker will be on Sunday, September 16, 2012. Welcome ladies!
On Saturday, September 29, 2012 Russ Parker will be at the SLC conducting the workshop "Forgiveness - The Healing We all Need." Early Registration is $35 pp (includes buffet lunch). The registration deadline is 9/17 (price after deadline will be $45 pp).
Our next meeting will be September 10, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.
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BREAD AND PANTRY MINISTRY
St. John's Food Pantry
The last Saturday of the month.
9:00 - 12:00
Donations welcomed and needed:
Soup and crackers
Canned tuna and chicken
Cereal
Pasta and sauce
Coffee and tea
Peanut butter and jelly
Salad oil
Mayonnaise
Toilet paper
Cash...Checks...Grocery store gift cards
Thank you for your generous contributions and prayerful support.
Please consider becoming a Bread and Food Pantry Ministry Volunteer
Contact:
Carol Daniel 283-4836
cddaniel@aol.com
...I therefore command you,
"Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land."
Deut 15:11
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Prayer and Share Gatherings will Resume in September
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Morning Prayer and Healing Prayer
Wednesdays at 7:30 am
in the Thompson Room
Join us in the Thompson Room every Wednesday morning for a most unique service to pray, share, learn and laugh. The service is led by Deacon Sandy and includes Eucharist and Healing. A light breakfast is also enjoyed. The menu is provided on a rotating basis by the members of the group.
Please Join us.
It will start you day in a most uplifting way!
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