st. james’ mission statementimages.acswebnetworks.com › 1 › 573 › octobernet2014.pdf ·...

Volume 11 Issue 9 THE NET

October 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

It’s October—and here at St. James we are fully underway with all those “things” that make

a new Program Year wonderful, but also a little anxiety-raising. It was a strange summer

here in New England: it seemed to go by faster than ever before, and, was cool enough

that many talk of still waiting for summer of 2014.

Fall has officially arrived. September offered us surprisingly cool nights (down into the 50s),

and very moderate (if not a bit cool) days (low 70s). So, I don’t feel too guilty in admitting

that my comforter hasn’t left my bed since spring (although it did end up on the floor a few

nights!).

Although the summer went by so quickly, many things have been accomplished at St.

James. We contracted for, and completed the roof work on the northeast corner of the

Church. Incorrectly installed synthetic slates were removed, sheathing checked and

replaced where needed, valleys reopened to improve water flow, the synthetic slates were

reinstalled, the “yankee gutter” over the Hallam Chapel entrance was

totally replaced, a new downspout installed, and the Chapel’s porch

was re-sheathed, re-flashed, with new slates installed. The

workmanship is great, and should “seal” another portion of our building

against water incursion.

Plans are already underway for additional work next calendar year, as

we complete some stained glass work, re-do the balance of the roof,

improve the drainage on the south side of the Church, and remove

some trees that were inappropriate even when first planted.

There are times when it seems all we church-people do is think about

the state of our buildings. A recent breaking news story tells of the

oldest surviving congregation in New London (The First Congregational

Church) selling its building to a new ministry (Engaging Heaven),

although will continue to use the facilities as the base for their worship

Blessing of the Animals

& St. Nicholas Fair

3

Thanks & Birthdays 4-5

Adult Ed 5

Music 8-9

Welcome Back Sunday 11

Outreach 12-

13

Capital Oversight &

Financial Information

14-

15

Inside this issue:

THE NET Volume 11 Issue 9

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.

Your articles are always

welcome and should

be submitted by the

tenth of the month

before publication.

We would prefer to

receive it by e-mail in

Microsoft Word format

(Word 98 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

and their ministry. Second Congregational Church, our

nearest neighbors, gave away their aging structure, since

the congregation has dwindled to the point of no longer

being able to continue maintaining their building, and are

now the Waterford Congregational Church, renting space

from Crossroads Presbyterian Church (Waterford). Even St.

Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church (on Montauk Avenue),

purported to be the “richest parish” in the Diocese, had to

remove their bell tower—presumably due to deferred

maintenance—since it was no longer structurally sound.

These stories remind me how blessed we are, and how

grateful we should be, for the many people who support

not only St. James and its facilities, but through their

participation and support, enable us to offer regular

weekly worship throughout the week, provide space for

other organizations to meet in clean and well-cared for

facilities, and constantly seek new ministry opportunities to

revitalize and enliven our neighborhood.

Just as the City of New London seeks to reimagine itself—

no longer a shabby, little run down New England town—St.

James seeks to continue, as it has from its earliest roots

(circa 1725) being a part of its neighborhood, its city, and

its region.

While we continue to repair our facilities—the place from

which our many ministries originate—we seek to discern

what might be missing in our community, and how we

might provide or support those things missing. We seek to

do all this, not because we are historians or antiquarians, or

even just do-gooders, but by obeying Christ’s Great

Commission: Go … and make disciples of all nations …

remember, I am with you always, to the end of the

age” (Mt. 28:19).

So whether it is blessing animals on The Feast of St. Francis,

providing meeting space for 12-step groups, offering space

for the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra to

audition new musicians, hosting a monthly Community

Meal, introducing our new Music on Whale Oil Row, or the

many other opportunities we provide or support, we do it

because we are in this unique place in New London, and

while we love and care for our buildings, mostly we do it

Rector’s Desk cont’d


Blessing of the Animals

Every year, for the last nine years, on the Sunday closest to the Feast

Day of St. Francis (October 4), St. James’ Parish family celebrates the

incredible gift of the animal members of our family — the cats, dogs,

hamsters, rabbits, snakes, etc. The way we do that is with a short

service called “the Blessing of the Animals.”

We will celebrate this special event on Sunday, October 5, at 1 p.m.

in the courtyard next to the Church.

Bring your four-footed, finned, winged, or slithering friends for this fun

and special event.

because we realize we have been given many gifts and have many to share with

others—gifts that come from God!

Rector’s Desk cont’d

The St. James Quilters are having their bi-annual fair Sunday,

December 7 after both morning services. If any committees, groups,

or individuals are interested in having a table during the fair, please

contact Mary Chartier 860.443.0590 or Marcia Pierce 860.443.5579.

All proceeds for this event will benefit the Church or an outreach

program.

St. Nicholas Fair

Farewell dear friend …

John “Jim” Kelly


To the Adult Choir, Organist/Choirmaster Andrew Howell, and Associate Organist Travis

LaCombe for the great music (and worship leadership) as we gathered on Welcome Back

Sunday.

To Walter and Sue Chojnacki, who made arrangements for our Parish Picnic; Dan Ivey for

shopping, organizing, setting up, and cleaning up; to Dan, Fred and Paul, our cooks; and to

all who attended making for a great afternoon of food and fellowship.

To All those who took the time to make awesome exhibits for Welcome Back Sunday—

honoring their various ministries.

To the Capital Improvements and Campaign Committees for their dedication and on-

going efforts as work continues on our facilities.

To Fred Smith for coordinating, shopping, cooking, setting up, and clean up of our monthly

parish brunches and to all who help serve and clean up.

To Jerry Miller for installing a higher cofferdam around the Hallam Lounge window.

To Tim Breitenstein for his many hours retouching the memorial signs and touching up

distressed wood throughout the Church.

Vestry Notes

Your Vestry held its regular meeting September 2.

Correspondence was received from the Dean of the Seabury Deanery, the Rev’d Alfred

Tisdale, Jr., thanking Fr. Michel and the Parish for our support and participation of the

August mission trip to Ecuador as well as other Deanery programs throughout the year.

The Parish anticipates hosting two nonprofit groups this fall: Environmental Justice

Symposium October 17-19 and Toys for Tots during December as a storage and distribution

center for toys.

Plans are to replace the south roof and drainage in 2015. To this end, grants will be sought

from the Palmer Fund and the Connecticut Trust for Preservation.

Respectfully submitted,

Jan Dargel,

Parish Clerk


1 Edwin Nieves

2 Gerald Miller

3 Patricia Lee

5 Gretchen Dusza

5 Lauren Goebel

6 Joan DeAngelis

7 Emma Joseph

9 Charles Kepner

9 William Ezell

10 Joan Robinson

11 Frederic Smith

13 Ethel Harrington

13 Audrey Joseph

15 Claudia Nielsen

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!

October Birthdays

16 Mildred Goebel

16 Joanna Norris

18 Hope Norris

20 Dorothy Sieburg

21 John Brewster

21 Donald Dunning

22 Alma Peterson

23 Edwin

Rottinghaus

27 Stephen

Anderson

28 Cara Butler

27 Matthew White

31 Lauren Miller

31 Sarah Jarrett

Parish Brunches Resume! Sunday, October 12 after the 10 a.m. service

Join us for a new season of incredible meals brought to

you by the St. James Men’s Group—when members of

our three “congregations”: (8, 10, and 5) gather

for good food and fellowship.

Adult Education

Wednesday, October 1, our regular Adult Education program will kick-off its new Program

Year. Our program is a 12-session course titled Saving Jesus Redux. It is a DVD-based

program with group discussion focusing on the relevance of Jesus for our contemporary

times.

Each Wednesday evening begins with Evening Prayer in Hallam Chapel at 5:30 PM. The

group then moves to the Seabury Parlor (main floor of the Parish House) for a potluck, and

we begin our study at 6:30 p.m. and ending by 8 p.m. These sessions are a great way to

get to know other parishioners and to explore a little more (than usual) about our Christian

faith. Please sign up using the sheet in the Parish Hall any Sunday or contact Ellen in the

Parish Office (860.443.4989). We hope you’ll plan on joining us!

Adult Education


Baptisms The next “official” date for Parish baptisms will be All Saints’

Sunday, November 2, 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, November 1, at 10

a.m. Please contact Fr. Michel for more information or to

schedule a place in the class.

As we start a new Program Year, and we consider our commitment to the liturgical life of St.

James, it’s time for training, (or re-training as the case may be).

Again this year, we’ll schedule review/training sessions for our lectors, chalice bearers, and

Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEMs). Lectors are those people who read scripture during our

services.

Lector training will be scheduled between services on Sunday, October 12, and Sunday,

October 19 between services and after the 10 a.m. service. Everyone who is currently a

lector, or would like more information, must attend one session. If you can not attend any

of these sessions, you must make arrangements with Fr. Michel for make-up training.

Chalice Bearers, those who offer the chalice during communion, and LEMs are also

needed. This training is conducted on an individual basis with Fr. Michel. So, if you’re

interested in assisting with any of these ministries, contact Fr. Michel for training.

Training Time is upon us …

United Thank Offering

During 2013 the United Thank Offering (UTO) awarded 48 grants for a total of just over $1.5

million toward the mission and ministry of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican

Communion. UTO grants are given to parishes and dioceses to fund large and small

projects.

The UTO program helps us give thanks daily for all the blessings we receive by dropping a

coin in a UTO Blue Box. The Ingathering will be held All Saints’ Sunday, November 2. UTO

boxes and additional envelopes are at entrances to the Church and Parish Hall.


Dean Hantzopoulos,

UTO Chair


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 call Grace Barnum at

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.

Prayer Chain Ministry

Greeters

If you can say “welcome” or “hello” then you can be a greeter!

We need greeters at the 8 and 10 a.m. services. If you can help,

please contact Sue Chojnacki at 860.440.3427. Thank you to all

who are presently greeters each Sunday morning.


Sue Chojnacki

Chair

we clean up our Church facilities,

both inside and out. We need

everyone’s help to make our Church

and our grounds more attractive

and welcoming places!


Walter Chojnacki,

Chair,

Buildings and Grounds

Fall Parish Clean-Up

Our Annual Fall Parish Clean-

Up Day will be Saturday,

October 25 this year. We’ll

begin at 9 a.m.—yes, there will

be coffee brewed and some

goodies to eat. We anticipate

finishing around noon—so

we’ll provide some lunch, too!

A sign-up sheet will be in the

Parish Hall. Please join us as


Music On Whale Oil Row 2014-15 Music on Whale Oil Row, named for St. James’ historic setting on Huntington Street, is a new

program that shares our joy in music with the whole community. All concerts are free. Come

and enjoy this varied and wonderful music in our historic church!

Fall Fridays at Noon: Lunchtime Music in a Glorious Setting!

For an autumn treat, take a break in the middle of your day and enjoy these intimate

concerts performed by regional musicians. Concerts begin at noon and last for about an hour. Come for as

long as you can. Feel free to bring food or drink with you — and then to take it away afterwards!

October 3 — Simon Jacobs, organist

October 10 — Lisa Williamson, soprano

October 17 — To be announced

October 24 — Peter Stoltzfus Berton, organist

Olivier Messiaen’s monumental organ work La Nativité du Seigneur!

(The Nativity of the Lord)

Friday, December 5, 2014, at 7:00 PM

Raymond Nagem, organist

Described as one of the most important organ works of the twentieth century, this is deeply

devotional and spiritual music. Student of Dukas, Widor, and Dupre and teacher of Boulez and Stockhausen,

Messiaen explored the organ’s sonorities and tonalities in a stunningly original way. The work will be per-

formed by Raymond Nagem, associate organist of the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York.

One of the leading organists of his generation, Nagem has been praised by The New Y ork Music Daily for his

“gorgeous . . . often hypnotic playing.”

Silent Movie Night with Robert Humphreville

Sunday, March 22, 2015 at 5:00 PM

A St. James and New London tradition: See and hear a classic silent movie with live organ accompaniment.

Get an Early Start with Early Music

Music for Three Sopranos and Continuo

Friday, April 17, 2015 at 7:00 PM

For many years, New London has been a center of early music performance during the summer months. Get an

early start enjoying this distinctive repertory with TENET, the New York-based early music ensemble hailed

by critics including the New Y ork Times and The Boston Musical Intellgencer for their extraordinary technical

skill and palpable love of the music.

Support Music on Whale Oil Row by making a donation to St. James Episcopal Church

marked for this purpose. It is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.


Our first service of Compline for the season will be on Thursday, October

2, at 9:00 p.m. Compline is held the first Thursday of each month.

Compline

Other Musical Notes:

Evensong at St. James

October 19, 2014, 5 PM

Our 2014-2015 season continues with Choral Evensong at St. James on Sunday, October 19

at 5 p.m.; this service will feature works by Howells, Rose and Tye. In addition, we’ll be

singing Edgar Bainton’s And I saw a new heaven, which is such a favorite of ours that most

of us cheered when we first saw it on this year’s repertoire list; it’s a breathtaking piece.

We hope to see you on October 19 , and have a chance to speak with you over wine and

snacks afterward in the Parish Hall!

Please note: The April Evensong has been rescheduled for April 19, 2015.


Katherine Brighty,

for the Anglican Singers

Anglican Singers

Just a Reminder

Please keep the Parish

Office informed of any

address, phone number, or

email address changes so

we can keep the Parish

Directory up-to-date with your current

information.

Please call Ellen at (860.443.4989).or send

an email to [email protected].


Welcome Verger Carol McCoy

The first Sunday in October (10/5), St. James will install its (first?) Verger. So … I hear you

asking, “Who or what is a Verger?”

It is an appointed position that typically checks on details prior to a service, freeing the

clergy to be available to greet parishioners, welcome visitors, and respond to pastoral

concerns. A Verger serves at the pleasure of the Rector—his or her duties are about 90

percent behind the scenes and 10 percent in the service.

A Verger typically interfaces with the Altar Guild and Ushers to make sure everything is in

place. The Verger makes sure readers are prepared and chalice bearers are present. They

organize the procession and may also be the Acolyte Master. If someone does not show

up the Verger finds a replacement or is prepared to fill in at the last minute.

They must be flexible, double check everything, and have an “eagle eye,” while remaining

"invisible." The Verger is always thinking a few minutes ahead as the service progresses and

watching to see that all that was planned is indeed set to occur.

Although the history of verging and Vergers goes back over 700 years, ago the ministry of

service and welcome from the Vergers of the Episcopal Church is thriving in the twenty-first

century! Generally speaking, Vergers were responsible for the order and upkeep of the

house of worship, including preparations for the liturgy, the conduct of the laity, and even

grave-digging among many other duties in the church.

In medieval times, the Verger (spelled "Virger" in older texts) was the Protector of the

Procession. The Verger led the way for the procession as it moved around the church and

into the front doors. The procession often moved through crowds of people and animals,

and the Verger was there to clear a pathway with his Virge (mace or “Staff of Office”), for

the thurifer, crucifer, acolytes, choir, and sacred ministers by swinging the Virge in front of

them.

Today’s Vergers are laypersons who serve the church in a ministry of service and welcome.

Often the visitor will see the Verger in a simple cassock moving about the church preparing

for worship. The Verger is able to respond to any inquiry concerning the upcoming service,

current program offerings, where restrooms are located, or about the history of the church

building itself.

And having a trained Verger in our Parish, a long-term member of the Verger’s Guild of the

Episcopal Church, and struggling to make our Parish more welcoming for visitors, and those

serving during the service more comfortable in their responsibilities, it seemed appropriate

at this time to capitalize on Carol McCoy’s training and talent.

Don’t miss the 10 a.m. service, October 5, when we will “give” Carol the symbols of her

Office at St. James. And, if you’d like to know even more about Vergers—or consider

training to be one yourself—speak with her during Coffee Hour.


Welcome Back Sunday


10TH ANNUAL BENEFIT DANCE GALA

Dance the night away to the hot sounds of Rock ‘n’ Soul Review

_____________________

Saturday, October 11th

, 2014 7 PM -11 PM

Ocean Beach Park ♦ New London, CT

Phenomenal Raffle & Silent Auction

Light hors d’oeuvres, Cash Bar

General Admission: $20 Seniors, Students & Military: $10

Proceeds to benefit


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. Contact the Parish Office or an Altar Guild member for more

information.

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

Hats, Mittens, Gloves, and Scarves

We have already started working on our Hats, Mittens, Gloves, and Scarves ministry, thanks

to our knitters who have handed us wonderfully knitted hats, scarves, and mittens!

Now is the time to start collecting. We will accept donations anytime. Items can be either

handmade or store bought. If you are unable to do either, we will gladly do your shopping

for you with your cash donation. Please make checks payable to St. James with “Hats,

Mittens, Gloves, and Scarves” in the memo line.

If you have questions, please contact Sue Chojnacki 860.440.3427 or Theresa Bokoff

860.444.7874. Thank you for your continued support.


Sue Chojnacki and Theresa Bokoff

Co-Chairs


You may have heard that there was flooding in the Hallam Lounge recently that occurred

when rainwater accumulated in a window well broke the window. The root of the problem

is inadequate drainage in the courtyard between the church and the rectory. We plan to

seal the window well by replacing the broken window with either masonry or glass blocks.

Jerry Miller made a temporary fix by raising the window well, but we need to resolve the

underlying cause as we continue with roof and gutter replacements.

In 2013, when we replaced the roof on the Federal Street (north) side, we also replaced the

existing gutters and downspouts and connected the church drainage system to the city’s

storm drain. Recent roof renovations on the parking lot side over the Hallam Chapel were

the next phase in fixing the extensive, complex water incursion problems that have plagued

St. James for years.

In 2015, we plan to replace the roof and install new gutters and downspouts on the

courtyard (south) side. In conjunction with the roof job, we will fix the courtyard drainage

by regrading; thinning, removing, or replacing overgrown plantings; and removing two

large birch trees that are dangerously close to our wonderful stained glass windows. We

intend to remove the trees this fall and landscape in conjunction with improving the

drainage in the spring of 2015.


Bruce Skinner,

Chair,

Capital Oversight Committee

Capital Oversight Committee Report

Vestry’s Stewardship Statement The Episcopal Church teaches the biblical tithe as the standard of stewardship. The Vestry

of St. James believes that they and all parishioners strive to understand and meet that goal

as they personally are able. Adopted by the Vestry

November 15, 2004


Parish Financials This report covers January 1, 2014 through July 31, 2014.

Total Income:

Budgeted Amount: $160,708

Actual Amount: $155,046

Amount Actual is Under Budget: $4,967

The primary contributors to this Income underrun are Pledge Income, which is $2,815 less

than the budgeted amount, and Beneficiary Income, which is $1,086 less than the

budgeted amount.

Total Expenses:

Budgeted Amount: $232,544

Actual Amount: $237,348

Amount Actual is Over Budget: $4,803

Primary contributors to the expenditure overrun are Clergy Benefits, which is $4,114 over

budget, and Church Utilities, which is $3,430 over budget. The Clergy Benefits overrun is

due to the timing of payments to the Clergy Pension Fund and should return to the

budgeted amount in the coming months.

Net Ordinary Income:

Total Income: $155,046

Total Expenses: $237,348

Net Ordinary Income: -$82,302

Endowment Income Applied: $71,345

Net Income -$10,957

Summary: Through July 31, 2014 we are $10,957 behind where we expected to be based

on our 2014 budget.

Investment Summary:

Balance 12/31/2013 $2,847,215

Balance 07/31/2014: $3,075,805

Total Value Change: $228,590

Withdrawal 5%: $71,345

Change Pre-Withdrawal $299,935

Summary: Our pre-withdrawal investment value increased by $299,935, about 10.5%,

through July 31,2014. After factoring in the 5% withdrawal, our investments are up

$228.590, about 8.0% through July 31. Most of this increase is from new deposits: $196,401

from the Ernest Wilkins Bequest and $50,000 from a Palmer Fund Grant. These funds will be

used later in 2014 for Capital Projects.


Gerald F. Miller, Treasurer

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.

Daylight Savings Time Ends:

Sunday, November 2nd at 2 AM

Advance Notice—Don’t Forget!!!!

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