St. John's Episcopal Church

Established 1830

146 1st Street, at the corner of Liberty Street
Troy, New York

The Saint John's Herald

December 2011

Wishing You a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

A Very Warm Welcome to Father Steve and Angie Schlossberg, Abe, Joe and Lydia.

From the Rector's Desk

Prayer Request

Please keep Aaron Quintal in your prayers as he is off to bootcamp on January 17th. Good luck Aaron and may God be with you every moment of your journey.

Daughters of the King Retreat

... at the Spiritual Life Center January 20-21. Single or double rooms available. Singles: $119; Doubles: $89. Checks should be made payable to "Daughters of the Holy Spirit." Payment needed by Sunday, January 8th.

Please give your checks to Elissa Prout. If you are interested in more information please contact Jennifer Fisher.

Bread and Pantry Ministry

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! The support for our Food Pantry Ministry has been incredible. Because of the outpouring of caring generosity our guests on Christmas Eve morning will be able to receive something extra. It is through this ministry that the light of our savior, Jesus Christ, shines out.

To be honest, when this ministry began, I sometimes found myself judging the depth of the need of some of those who frequently visited. Unlike other food pantries we do not require any type of registration to qualify. The folks who come to our pantry on the last Saturday of the month know that what our parish family provides is distributed without question. I'm ashamed to admit that I resented what I saw as some folks taking advantage of this system. However, as our ministry has grown so have I. God has opened my eyes and my heart. I have learned that we are not feeding bellies as much as we are feeding souls.

One experience in particular changed my heart. For several months one patron had been a "regular"...in our conversations I had learned that this person owned a home and was successfully employed...So what in the world was the reason to come to our Saturday morning offerings????? Then one of those Saturdays I learned that this person was suffering from both loneliness and some serious health concerns. Life circumstances were overwhelming...fear and desolation was taking over. I offered to pray with this person, and we did. I believe that God touched both of our hearts that day...weeks later this same person told me how much the comfort and caring shown that day had strengthened them. As for me it was the day that God taught me that what we offer at St. John's through our ministry of bread (OK, how appropriate is that) and food pantry isn't so much about feeding tummies...it's more about feeding spirits. It's about letting the light of Jesus shine through us to touch the hearts of those we serve...to demonstrate the love of Christ.

So, with great humility, I say THANK YOU for supporting this effort. It is a ministry that needs to become a permanent part of our outreach efforts... and everyone at St John's has an opportunity to take part by continuing to fill the baskets with donated goods, by making a cash donation and by taking a turn to serve on a Saturday morning.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. -- Ephesians 5:1-2

Peace and blessings. Carol Daniel

The food pantry is open the last Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon. Bread ministry takes place every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

The Archives Committee Needs You!

Please lend your knowledge, time, or both to assist a new committee. St. John's has been entrusted with a 180-year legacy that needs to be protected for future generations. Contact Donna Rem at 283-1944 or tdsjr@verizon.net if you can offer expertise or have an interest in the preservation of our church documents and historical items. Any input will be greatly appreciated and your time commitment can be as flexible as you wish. The initial meeting date will be announced in the January newsletter. Please consider joining and helping this group.

New Beginnings... New Traditions

Please bring in your special Christmas tree ornament. Personalize it with your name and date  and hang it on our tree in the Thompson Room. Ornaments will remain on the tree throughout the holiday season and will be stored safely so they can adorn the tree for years to come. Each year, as our parish grows, the tree will become fuller and fuller. The" St. John's Family Christmas Tree" will become a reminder of the wonderful church family we are sharing in each other's lives. It will represent that we are all part of the most remarkable family of all--the Lord's family.

If you have any questions please contact Jennifer Fisher, Lois Hodkinson or Cindy Schmehl.

Join the Muffin Club

Wednesdays 7:30 a.m.

Every Wednesday morning, bright and early, a dedicated group of folks gather in the Thompson Room to pray for the parish and other needs. At 7:30 a.m. we have a Eucharist and Healing with Deacon Sandy celebrating. We laugh and pray and share and learn. It is a most unique service. Following there is breakfast. The menu is provided on a rotating basis by the members of the group. We are especially excited when it is Sue Palmer's turn.

So who comes...The thrift shop workers, people on their way to work, retired members, just plain folks and we have a ball. We would like think that we are solving all the troubles of our community for the discussions are often lively. But mostly we share our lives, our hopes for the parish and each other. We are usually about a dozen strong but some mornings their are many more.

Join us; it will start your day in a most uplifting way!

Looking ahead to 2012

WE NEED:

• 4 Vestry Members (till 2015)
• 1 Senior Warden (2 year term)
• Diocesan Convention Delegates
• a representative for the Metropolitan Deanery Council

Our annual meeting will be held on January 29th. Please give nomination forms found in the Narthex to Carolyn Smith, Scott Morley or Lucinda Ballard. Also, the annual meeting for the Basement on 1st street will be held Sunday, January 15, following the 10:00 a.m. service.

2011 Pledge Campaign

We are nearing the end of our 2011 pledge campaign. As we begin an exciting new chapter in the life of our parish, please remember St. John's in your year-end giving. And if you need an update on your pledge balance, don't hesitate to contact Nancy Lyon in the Church office at 274-5884 or saintjohnstroy@juno.com. Thank you for your great faithfulness.

News from the Events Committee

Thank You to Everyone Who Helped with the St. Nicholas Fair. A special thank you to Robin Prout for chairing the event and the Salmons for coordinating the luncheon. There are too many people to name who gave of their time and talent that I'm afraid I'd leave someone out. So, thank you to everyone for making the fair a success again this year! --  Lois

Reception for Fr. Steve being planned for January 8 after the Installation Service at 4:00 p.m. Please see Lois Hodkinson or any other committee member if you'd like to help with this.

Other upcoming events in 2012 include the Mardi Gras Brunch on Sunday, February 19, following the 10:00 a.m. service. Save the date!

Do you have a "burning" desire to help others? Got a "fever" for humanity?

If you've answered "yes" to these questions, then you gotta come to the "hottest" event in February 2012: Heart Burn for Haiti CHILI COOK-OFF, Saturday, February 4th, 5:00 p.m.

Prizes Awarded for:

• The Best Presentation
• The Best Vegetarian Chili
• The Most Savory Chili
• Most Creative Concoction
• Best Afterburn

Music by AirCraft DJ Services

More information coming very soon! Bring your family..Bring your friends... Bring the chili...Bring the FUN! Linda, Lucinda and Cindy S. would be more than happy to extinguish any questions you may have....

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