september 2008september 2008 st. michael’s newsletterstmichaels1714.org/september2008nl.pdf ·...
TRANSCRIPT
Inside this issue:
Page 2
• Music Director
• Important Dates
Page 3
• Church School :
Aileen Ryder—Dates—
Attention, Youth
Page 4
• St. Michael Window
Page 5
• Strategic Planning
2008—2014
Page 6
• Ministry Opportunities
• Lobster Luncheon
• Florence Bessom Higgs
Cover/back page
• Bible Study
• Worship Schedule
September Calendar
is after page 5.
Photograph by R. Williams
Happy September
Birthday to
Lavinia M.H. Oliveira
Sarah E. Comeau
Paige Thibert
Sarah Bragg
Joshua B. Robertson
Madison A. Howie
Emma Clark
From the Rector:
St. Michael’s
Newsletter
September 2008September 2008September 2008September 2008
As the summer months progressed our backyard patio became a delightful exam-ple of growth and transformation. The seedlings Sue started in the spring and subsequently transplanted into pots have flourished. By late August, our patio be-came a haven of lush vegetation with hardly space to move. The various herbs, flowers and vegetables attracted in turn: bees and butterflies, birds and spiders. Our cats reveled in this contained (and
tame) jungle atmosphere.
One day Sue discovered a large green caterpillar on one of the tomato plants. It blended incredibly with the plant. Sue identified it as a tomato hornworm. We learned that through meta-morphosis it would change into a night moth. A night moth is a precious being itself though not the butterfly we had hoped. We also quickly saw how much it ate. Such change takes great nourishment, though preferably not on Sue’s tomato plants. We removed it to an equally lush
place on public land.
Over the summer the Strategic Planning Committee has been meeting. Frances
Nilsson speaks more about the work the committee later in this newsletter. One of the questions we’ve asked is “what is the purpose of St. Michael’s?” Our purpose or our mission, we suggest, is to transform and change lives. This means our own lives, as well as those seeking renewal, healing, guidance, strength, or forgiveness through the grace and presence of God. This is as much an inner change as it is an outward change. We seek to be trans-
formed through a Christian lens. This change needs its own nourishment. Our wor-ship, offerings of formation and education, and our times of fellowship are three such
cores in which we are fed.
Recently I was reminded that the presence of God is experienced in our relationships. God’s presence is ex-perienced in numerous places, of course, but it is deeply manifested in our relation-ships. Moving into the September we gather again to renew and reform ourselves in our shared parish life. To this I say wel-come back! As always, this is an exciting and opportune time to encounter God and seek God’s grace and presence.
- Fr. Andrew
New Church School Director—Aileen Ryder
We welcome our new Church School and Youth Director, Aileen Ryder.
Aileen joined the staff at St. Michael’s in late August. You can read more
from her on page 3!
St. Michael’s Newsletter September 2008 Page Two
From the Music Director - Douglas Major
Summer of 2008 - the summer when it rained every day! For those of you who have traveled to Ireland, it must have brought back memories. The lush green earth and the most magnificent flowers that I can remember remind us all of the beauty of God’s creation. I hope you had an opportunity to enjoy it, relax, and spend time with your friends and family. __________________________________________________________________
September
11 Thursday 4:45 pm – 1st Children’s Choir rehearsal
7:30 pm – 1st Adult Choir rehearsal
14 Sunday First Adult Choir Sunday
October
5 Sunday 5 pm – First Choral Evensong
19 Sunday 5 pm – Organ Recital Series –
Douglas Major
November
2 Sunday 10 am – Children’s Choir joins Adult Choir For All Saints Sunday
Service
2 Sunday 5 pm – Choral Evensong
16 Sunday 5 pm – Organ Recital Series – Heinrich Christensen, Organist,
King’s Chapel, Boston
December
7 Sunday 5 pm – Choral Evensong
So many of you have offered, in the past, to help with our Fellowship Receptions which are held after the Even-song and Recital afternoons – thank you very much. Another program year is ahead of us. If you would be willing to host(ess) one of these evenings, it would be most appreciated. There is a sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall. – Again, thank
you for your support.
It will be a great pleasure to see all of you again. Doug
Important Dates
If you could sell your experience
For what it cost you,
You would never need Social Security.
Michaelmas Parish Luncheon
Sunday, September 28
11:30 a.m.
Parishioners of All Ages!
Come dedicate the kitchen with its new floors, appliances, countertops and more!
Celebrate with lunch and a discuss a future for St. Michael’s.
Activities for the youngest will be provided.
Reminder
The first meeting of Parish Aid
for the 2008-2009 season
will be held in the Parish Hall
at Noon on Tuesday, September 16
St. Michael’s Newsletter September 2008 Page Three
Dear St. Michael’s Parishioners,
Greetings. I have just begun work here in your par-ish as Director of Church School and Coordinator of Youth. It’s a joy to be with you. It is exciting to be working in a community with such a deep history. Clearly, you have a strong children’s ministry, thanks to the dedication of Candace, Forrest and many vol-unteers. I hope to be a support to all of you in the work of forming our children and youth. Thank you for all that you have done, and the com-mitments you have made for this upcoming year. Together I am confident we can keep the quality of
the program and continue to grow.
I am a native of Massachusetts (from Shrews-bury), yet new to the North Shore. By way of intro-duction, I would like to share a bit of my spiritual journey. Through the grace of God, I have been aware of God’s presence since early childhood. Old friends recall my interest and excitement in all things religious. In fact, they now claim they saw evidence of call to pastoral service even then; but it sure took me longer to feel it! During a college retreat, I fi-nally understood a call to accompany people along their journey to God, but it was still years until I un-derstood this to be an involvement in Christian for-mation. Following a year of service, involvement in the Catholic Worker (a movement based on hospital-ity, community, and action for the disenfranchised) and theology studies, I taught Scripture, world relig-ions, and women’s religious experiences in an all-girls prep school. It was in those years that I discov-ered a passion for education. Since then I have be-come more aware not only of my talent for children and youth work, but also my care and concern for our next generation. It feels that I have thus tumbled into the work of Christian education within parishes finding joy, fulfillment and God. I have served as a children’s minister at Church of the Good Shepherd in Acton and directed a free summer camp at St. Stephen’s in Lynn, and am excited to be here in your
beautiful seaside community.
I’m looking forward to meeting each of you. I will be working Sunday through Wednesday morn-ings, with additional afternoon hours. Please feel to stop by the Davenport House or make an appoint-ment to say hello. I’m here to support the Christian
formation of all families.
Yours in Christ,
Aileen E. Ryder, M.Div.
Church School - Aileen Ryder
Sailing into the New School Year
As fall approaches we are preparing for a new School year. Here are some
dates and events to look forward to:
Sept. 4-6 Godly Play training and accreditation in Cohasset. Contact Aileen for more information.
Accreditation is not required to teach in the
Church School.
Sept. 6 Diocesan Youth concert: Sevenglory performs in Chatham. For more information go to
News and Events at the Diocesan website:
www.diomass.org/news_events
Sept. 14 Opening Day and Registration for the Church School 9:00 am Rite 13
9:30 am Godly Play
Sept. 20 Safe Church Training at St. Paul’s Church, Newburyport.
Contact Aileen for more information.
Sept. 27 Congregational Resource Day for the Diocese. Check the bulletin board or contact Aileen for
more information.
Oct. 25 Safe Church Training at Christ Church, Ando-
ver. Contact Aileen for more information.
The Church School is looking for volunteer teachers, door
persons, and children’s hospitality (Sunday snacks).
Please consult the bulletin board in the Parish Hall.
Attention Youth
I am here for you as well! I want to hear from you ways that you want to serve St. Michael’s and what your church can offer you. Good
luck starting the new school year!
The middle school youth will continue meeting for Rite 13 at 9am on Sundays. Fr. Andrew and I are currently looking into a new program for high school youth. We will announce information about this as it becomes available. Please watch the bulletin. High school youth are also invited to stop by Davenport House to introduce themselves. The more I know of your lives, hopes, and needs, the more the new curriculum can be tailored to
you!
St. Michael’s Newsletter September 2008 Page Four
Stained Glass Windows: St. Michael
The St. Michael Window, also called the Parish Win-dow, depicts our patron saint St. Michael, protector of the people of Israel, and memorializes Thomas Evans, who
bequeathed to St. Michael’s Church its first endowed fund.
Michael (Hebrew for “who is like God?”), is robed in white1 and shown with drawn sword casting Satan out of heaven (Revelation 12:7-9, 12). Satan, who is described as a red dragon in Revelation 12:3, is depicted as an an-gel clothed in red, with no breastplate, but still armed with a sword for his
continuing havoc among mortals.
Michael is first mentioned in the book of Daniel and there described as the protector of the people of Israel: “Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your peo-ple, will arise” (Daniel 12:1). Eastern churches were dedicated to him as early as the 4th century, and in the West, he was venerated as the head of heaven’s armies and the patron of sol-diers. In Normandy at Mont-Saint-Michel, he became the patron of mari-ners. Perhaps when Sir Francis Nicholson named this church in Mar-blehead in 1722, he saw a similarity with Mont-Saint-Michel and its Eng-
lish counterpart Mount St. Michael.
Michael as the protector of the people of Israel may be one reason for the six-pointed star or hexagram in the top part of the window. Over time the intertwined triangles became associ-ated with the seal of Solomon and shield of David (Magen David) which were thought to have protective pow-ers. Among 17th century alchemists it became known as the “shield of the sons of David” and therefore the Messiah. The first use of the hexagram as an official symbol of a Jewish community was in Prague in 1354. This use increased in the 19th cen-tury with the desire to have a symbol for Judaism as the cross symbolizes Christianity. But the strong association with the Israel state did not come until the Zionist move-
ment began using the symbol in 1897.2
Alva Steffler indicates that in some Jewish interpretations the interlocking triangles
“symbolize the heavenly penetrating the earthly.”3 The six-pointed star is also known as the Star of Creation with the six points standing for the six days of creation. Frie-drich Rest suggests that the triangles emphasize the role of
the Trinity in creation.4
In this depiction we see vines growing from three sources near the points of the upward triangle. These
vines could refer to Isaiah 27:1-6:
In that day the LORD will ... kill the dragon who lives in the sea. In that day, ‘A vineyard of wine, sing of it! I am the Lord, its keeper.’ … Jacob will take root, Israel will blossom and sprout, And
they will fill the whole world with fruit.
In the bottom window panel we see four petals within a circle form-ing a compass rose radiating out as if to the four corners of the earth. The four rings of the Evangelists hold a banner with the words: “Erected by St. Michael’s Parish in Grateful Memory of Thomas Evans, Senior Warden, who died Aug. 9th, 1861.” The window was paid for by the Par-
ish Aid Society and others.5
Thomas Evans was first elected to the Vestry in 1834, becoming a warden in 1842, and serving until his death. He was a warden when the Vestry voted in 1844 to allow the “Ladies of the Parish” to build a new Vestry and lecture room, our first Parish Hall. The bequest establishing our first endowed fund came to St. Michael’s in 1872 at the death of Evan’s wife. His
will stipulated:
After the decease of my said wife I give and bequeath the income of two thousand dollars to the St. Michael’s Episcopal church, so called, in Marblehead aforesaid so long as the doctrines now taught shall continue to be taught there, and shall remain in union with the diocese of Massachusetts; the said income to be appropriated to the Rectors Salary; the principal to be securely invested and held under the management of two or more compe-
tent and responsible Trustees.6
- Footnotes can be found on
the next page Sixth article in a series on our stained glass windows.
- Frances Stith Nilsson, Historic Church Committee
St. Michael’s Newsletter September 2008 Page Five
Strategic Planning 2008—2014
What? Why? Who?
St. Michael’s Strategic Planning Committee began meeting last February to develop a framework to guide us in making decisions over the next 5 years. We have been through many changes over the last 10 years and need to re-evaluate our mission, make major capitol
decisions, and plan our 300th anniversary.
On the committee are Rob Howie, Barbara Miller, Frances Nilsson, Paul Pruett, Deirdre Rob-bins, Linda Smidt, Carri Wild, and Father Stoessel. We need your help and will be bringing you into the
conversation.
This past spring we read copi-ous materials on social trends affecting religion in the United States, trends in the Episcopal Church, and past St. Michael’s reports. The Parish reports included the 1996 Long Range Plan, 1998 Parish Profile, and the 2004 Appre-ciative Inquiry. We have also com-pared our demographics with Mar-blehead’s and, with the Historic Church Committee, captured your stories on the Time Line. A notebook with planning documents and reports
is in the Parish Library and will be updated as needed.
Tools and Techniques
After thoughtful analysis the committee has drafted two broad documents for Vestry and parish discussion:
a Strategic Change Agenda and a SWOT analysis.
The SWOT analysis distills our readings outlining broad Strengths and Weaknesses of St. Michael’s
Church, and the external Opportuni-ties and Threats that may affect our future. It suggests why it is impor-tant that we examine where we’d like to go and the need to set priori-ties to ensure St. Michael’s future as
a place of God.
The Strategic Change Agenda outlines where we are in 2008 and where we’d like to be in 2014 in
eleven broad areas:
mission, worship, education, membership, involvement, growth, clergy/lay leadership, outreach, stewardship, administration and facilities. It doesn’t say how we’re going to
get there – we will work on that soon – just where we’d
like to go in very broad terms.
—Frances Stith Nilsson, Strategic Planning Committee
Join into the conversation!
Sunday, Sept. 28
On Michaelmas the committee would like to share our thinking and engage
parishioners of all ages in a discussion of
some of the topics that have emerged.
Watch for more information!
Continued from previous page
St. Michael Window
Footnotes
1 Why is Michael shown with a gold anklet? Let us know
your thoughts.
2Scholem, Gershom. “Magen David.” Encyclopaedia Ju-daica, Second Edition, Volume 13. Farmington Hills, MI:
Thomson Gale, 2007. Pages 336-339.
3 Steffler, Alva William. Symbols of the Christian Faith.
Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Co., 2002. Page 83
4 Rest, Friedrich. Our Christian Symbols. Philadelphia: The
Christian Education Press, 1954, page 60.
6Parish Register 1852, “An account of the great improve-ments made in and about St. Michael’s Church, Marblehead,
Mass. from January 23rd, 1888 to May 1st, 1890…” Page 107.
6Vestry Record of St. Michael’s Parish in Marblehead
1833—1894. Recorded in the minutes of September 30, 1872.
St. Michael’s Newsletter September 2008 Page Five
Florence Bessom Higgs, 1905-2008
On Michaelmas 1984 the bronze statue of St. Michael was dedi-cated in the James E. Gorman Memorial Garden. The statue was sculpted and donated by Florence Bessom Higgs who died July 30, 2008 at age 102 and was interred in Virginia. Mrs. Higgs was bap-
tized and confirmed at St. Michael’s Church.
Mrs. Higgs studied at the Massachusetts College of Art and in New York City. Her sculptures have been exhibited in museums, including the Corcoran and the Smithsonian, and are on permanent display in churches and public libraries in Virginia and Massachu-setts. In Marblehead, besides our St. Michael, a farmer and his wife (in memory of her father Frank Bessom) can be found on the lower level of the Abbot Public Library; and a statue of St. Andrew at the
Church of St. Andrew.
Mrs. Higgs is survived by her sister Martha Gorman, and prede-ceased by her brother and sisters, the Rev. Joseph Bessom, OHC,
Margaret Fogg of Marblehead and Helga Chapman of Texas.
Opportunities for Ministries
There are many ways to participate in the ministry of St. Michael’s. To name just a few, the following help
with our weekly worship on Sundays.
• The Altar Guild helps prepare the church for worship.
• Sextons help open, close and “see to the church” on
Sundays.
• Ushers help seat and direct people (and collect the
offering).
• Hostess and Oblation bearers help bring the wine and
bread to the altar, and assist with coffee hour.
• Lectors help share the “word of God” through the
readings.
• Lay Eucharist Ministers help share the cup and the
also “the word” through the readings.
• Acolytes help in assisting the ministers and congre-
gants throughout the service.
Please see Fr. Andrew, or speak to
any respective participant, if you are interested.
You are invited to participate in any of these ministries.
________________________________________________________________________
Thank You All For Our Most Successful Lobster Lunch to Date!
Great weather with a 3-day weekend and hard work netted proceeds of over $15,000 for outreach ministries. Did you see the thank you letter in the Marblehead Reporter? A copy is on the Parish bulletin board. A full report with recommendations for next year was
presented to the Vestry by Barbara Miller. It’s never too soon for planning.
Lifelong spiritual guidance
through
service and celebration.
St. Michael’s Church
Officers: Sarah Bates, Sr. Warden; Barbara Miller, Jr. Warden; Laurence Pierce, Treasurer; Paul Roberts, Asst. Treasurer;
Walter Haug, Clerk
Vestry: Jack Attridge, Jeff Barnett, Vivian Bennett, David Bittermann, Louise Hunt, Anna Onishi, Paul Pruett, Christopher Riegle, Linda Smidt
Staff: The Rev. Andrew J. Stoessel, Rector; Dr. Douglas Major, Music Director; Aileen Ryder, Church School Director, Jane Maihos, Parish Administrator; Ron St. Pierre, Sexton; Donna Hingston, St. Michael’s Nursery School
Address Correction Requested
ST. MICHAEL’S CHURCH
26 Pleasant Street
Marblehead, MA 01945-3432
Phone: 781/631-0657
Fax. 781/639-2866
E-mail: [email protected]
www.stmichaels1714.org
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
Paid
Marblehead, MA
Bible Study
Wednesdays
10:30 a.m.
(following the mid-week Eucharist)
Parish Hall
Beginning September 17
The lessons for the following Sunday are read and discussed. All are welcome, no pre-requisites!
Worship Schedule
St. Michael’s Church
Sundays:
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite I
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II
Wednesdays:
9:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II
1st Sunday of Each Month (beginning Oct. 7):
5:00 p.m., Choral Evensong and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
Saint Michael’s Church September 2008
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1)
LABOR DAY
Office Closed
2)
New Office Hours
Monday – Friday
8:30 am – 12:30 pm
3)
9:30 am Holy Eucharist
11:45 am Staff Meeting
8:00 pm AA Meeting
4)
5)
6)
7) SEASON AFTER PENTECOST
Proper 17
8:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite I
10:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II
8)
3-Day Nursery
School Begins
9)
2-Day Nursery School
Begins
10)
9:30 am Holy Eucharist
11:45 am Staff Meeting
8:00 pm AA Meeting
11)
4:45 pm Children’s Choir
7:30 pm Adult Choir
12)
13)
14) SEASON AFTER PENTECOST
PROPER 18
8:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite I
9:30 am Church School
10:00 am Holy Baptism &
Eucharist, Rite II
15)
16)
7:30 pm Vestry Meeting
17)
Newsletter Deadline
9:30 am Holy Eucharist
10:30 am Bible Study
11:45 am Staff Meeting
8:00 pm AA Meeting
18)
4:45 pm Children’s Choir
7:30 pm Adult Choir
19)
5:00 pm Wedding
Rehearsal
20)
4:00 Wedding
Page Connelly &
Thadeus Mitchel
21) SEASON AFTER PENTECOST
PROPER 19
8:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite I
9:30 am Church School
10:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II;
22)
23)
24)
9:30 am Holy Eucharist
10:30 am Bible Study
11:30 am Staff Meeting
2:30 pm Lafayette
Visitation
8:00 pm AA Meeting
25)
4:45 pm Children’s Choir
7:30 pm Adult Choir
26)
27)
28) MICHAELMAS CELEBRATION
SEASON AFTER PENTECOST
PROPER 20
8:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite I
9:30 am Church School
10:00 am Holy Baptism &
Eucharist, Rite II
11:30 am All-Parish Luncheon &
Blessing of the Kitchen
29) St. Michael &
All Angels
Celebrated Sunday,
September 28th
30)