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| December 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CAPITAL FUNDRAISING INITIATIVE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The goal of this initiative is to provide all Saint John's parishioners with yet another opportunity to invest in the future of our church and to contribute in their own special way to its growth and development in pursuit of our vision and our mission "to teach, preach and heal in the name of Jesus Christ." All donations received during the course of this Initiative will be applied directly to helping to offset the cost of our capital improvements. For anyone interested in doing so, we are offering the opportunity to make a donation of $175 per chair in memory of a loved one or just as a donation to the church in your name. This amount represents the unit cost of one chair and collateral costs, for example, to have a memorial plaque or donor plaque, as applicable, engraved and affixed to each chair for each $175 donation. If you are interested in making such a donation and have not yet done so, or if you want more information, please contact Senior Warden Paul 401-658-4591 or pbousquet@cox.net, Donations of less than $175 will also be gratefully and thankfully accepted, and each such donor will also receive the appropriate recognition for their donation. All donations are tax deductible. If you have any questions, want more information, or want to make a donation, please contact Paul. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CONFIRMATION AND RECEPTION | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 2008 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Saint John’s 2008 Stewardship Campaign is now in full swing, a time during which each and every one of us, through prayer, reflection and discernment, commit to giving back to God of our time, talent and treasure in grateful thanks for the many gifts and blessings He has bestowed upon us as individuals, as families, and as a church community. Listen for your phone … then listen to your heart. THANK YOU Heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported the events of Founders Weekend on November 17 and 18, which marked the end of our year-long Sesquicentennial Celebration. Your attendance at and support of our 150th Birthday Dinner on Saturday, our worship service on Sunday morning, the concert on Sunday afternoon and the beautiful reception which followed (thank you to Kathy Bruno and her team!), contributed significantly to a wealth of memories we will forever hold dear. But your support went even beyond this, for as a result of your generous donations during these events, we collected over $1,500 which will be used to provide warmth and food to many of brothers and sisters in need. As Father Jeff would say, “It just doesn’t get any better than this!” Thank you! |
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| November 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DEACON MARY RECIEVES AWARD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| GRAND OPENING | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| THE GALS OF SAINT JOHN’S | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 10 was the first gathering of a wonderful social event for the women of St. John’s. We met in the Parish Hall for conversation, food and each other’s company. Many thanks to all who attended; Annie Birman; Nancy Bousquet; Cathy Chere, Lisa Coleman, Kerry Emmons, Deacon Mary Hitt, Maria Marzocchi, Melissa Masquelette, Ellen Metcalf, Marian Vieira, and Elena Zaretski. The next scheduled event is for Wednesday, September 26th at 7:00 pm in the Parish Center for a pot luck dinner. If you are interested in joining us for a casual evening, we would love to have you. For more information contact either Cindy Grenier at 401-334-1983 or by email clgrenier@cox.net or Lisa Dawson at 401-334-8320 or by email lmhardman@aol.com. |  |
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| October 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| STATIONS OF THE CROSS REDEDICATION | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As the result of a generous donation from Mrs. Georgiana Messier of Pawtucket, Saint John’s has received a set of the Stations of the Cross which will be mounted on the church’s north and south nave walls. Given that the purpose of the Stations is to help the faithful to make a spiritual pilgrimage of prayer to the scenes of Christ's sufferings and death, Mrs. Messier’s donation will make it possible for the members of the Saint John’s family, and all others who choose to join us, to truly walk in the footsteps of Jesus. In honor of this new addition to the spiritual life of our church, please join us for a Stations of the Cross Rededication Ceremony at the 10 a.m. service on September 30. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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“TIE-DYE NIGHT” FOR TEENS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thursday, September 27, 2007 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. In preparation for the October 7 Youth Service, we are inviting teens to bring a friend and come help dye items for the service, as well as make a shirt for yourself! Shirts will be supplied but if have a pre-washed white cotton shirt, or socks, etc. you'd like to dye instead, please bring it! Leave a message with Karen Coutu at 401.568-0463 or Karencc500@cox.net to let us know you and friend would like to come. If you forget it's OK. COME ANYWAY!! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ORGAN CONCERT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sunday, Sept. 16, 3:00 PM - - Jack Cook, our Organist and Music Director, will present a Wurlitzer Organ concert and variety show at the Woonsocket Stadium Performing Arts Center. Familiar "pop songs" and favorite melodies from past years will also be featured. Singers Auray Doiron and Maria Tavarozzi (T for Two duo) and Emily Luther will perform, and four very talented dancers will also entertain you (courtesy, Krylo Dance Studios). Tickets are $12, available at the box office, or by calling 401.762-4044. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GRAND OPENING | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To celebrate the completion of the renovations to the St. John’s Parish Center, a Grand Opening has been scheduled for Sunday, September 23, following the 10 a.m. service. Everyone is invited to this joyous event. | |
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| September 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MINISTRIES RECOGNITION DAY | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All Christians are called to ministry through their baptism, and each person within the Saint John's community is called to contribute to and partake of our parish life. The Saint John's Vestry and church infrastructure provide a broad-based opportunity for the effective integration of the multitude of talent, skills and devotion within the parish. In grateful thanks to those members of John’s who have answered the call to ministry, the 1st Annual Saint John's Ministries Recognition Day took place on August 25 in our Parish Center. The fellowship that was shared by all who attended was rivaled only by an incredible buffet which included grilled steaks, chicken, hot dogs and hamburgers, corn on the cob and a host of pot luck dishes. Sincerest thanks go out to Kathy Bruno and her team for planning and carrying out this very successful and meaningful event. | |
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| August 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NEW FLAGS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At the Sunday service on July 29, Father Jeff dedicated and blessed two new flags to be used at Saint John’s as replacements for existing flags which have become unserviceable, and a third flag which will be displayed for the first time. An American flag, which will replace the American flag now on display inside the church, was donated by Jerry and Sally Sherwood in memory of Ernest Whitehead and Louise Sherwood. A second American flag, which will replace the American flag which currently flies from the flagstaff in front of the church, and an Episcopal flag, which will be flown from the flagstaff with the American flag, were donated by Tom, Cindy, Elena and Kristen Mulvey in memory of Thomas J. Mulvey, Sr. We extend our thanks to the Sherwood and Mulvey families. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SUMMER PLEDGES | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (From Ken Bosland, St. John’s Stewardship Chairman) Summer has officially arrived, and with it comes vacations, family get-togethers, and other fun activities that often take us out of town. As a result, many of us cannot make church services as regularly as we would like. The smaller gatherings for our summer services often result in lower pledge donations, which makes it difficult for the church to meet its financial obligations which do not take time off in the summer. I would like to remind and ask everyone to please continue to submit your weekly pledge donations to Saint John’s on a regular basis during the summer months. If you plan on being away for a few Sundays, please try to give in advance when you do attend a service. Another option is to mail in your pledge to the church address below. When mailing in the pledge, please place your donation in the appropriate pledge envelope so that those receiving the mail will recognize it as a pledge. Thank you, and have a great summer! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ALPHA COURSE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Father Jeff is pleased to announce the successful completion of the 2007 Saint John’s Alpha Course. The course, which met for weekly sessions between April 11 and July 18, provided a wonderful opportunity to explore the validity and relevance of the Christian faith in modern life, and to use the experience to find inner peace and strength and to grow in our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Alpha serves as a practical introduction to or, for some people, as a “refresher course” of the basics of Christianity, and was centered around a talk, small group discussion, and fellowship. Congratulations to the Alpha Course graduates. | |
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| July 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SPIRIT OF SAINT JOHN’S AWARD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At the service on June 24, Father Jeff presented Junior Warden Mike Robertson and Vestry Member John Bruno with the Sprit of Saint John’s Award in recognition of the countless hours and extraordinary work they have been performing since March involving the renovations of the Parish Center. Father Jeff also recognized Mike’s wife, Paulette, and John’s wife, Kathy, for their support. Thank you and congratulations, Mike and John. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATORY SERVICE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On June 24, as part of the Saint John’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, Father Jeff and Deacon celebrated the 150th anniversary of the first Saint John’s service. This very special and, in its own right, historic service was a recreation of that first service in June 1857, to include the use of the liturgy from the 1789 Book of Common Prayer. The service was attended by three grandchildren and one great-grandchild of the Rev. William Pressey, the church’s fifth and longest-serving Rector (1893-1935), and other family members. Mr. William Moore, grandson of Rev. Pressey, was presented with a framed photograph of the sanctuary stained glass window which was donated and dedicated in 1946 “in thanksgiving for the life and ministry of Rev. William Pressey and in loving memory of Katherine Mildred Pressey” by their many friends. The service was followed by a reception in the newly-renovated Parish Center Conference Room, which included a “Then and Now” slide show of Saint John’s. Sincerest thanks to everyone who attended this very special event, to everyone who made donations for the reception, and to everyone who gave of their time to help plan and organize it. | |
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| June 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VESTRY APPOINTMENT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| From Senior Warden Paul Bousquet. It is my pleasure to announce that at its regular meeting on June 11, the Saint John’s Vestry voted unanimously to appoint parishioner John Bruno to the Vestry. John will serve out the term of Don Carlin, who resigned from the Vestry earlier this year. John has been incredibly active in a number of ministries since joining Saint John’s with his wife, Kathy, and most recently has been serving as the Parish Center Renovation Project Coordinator. His faith, leadership skills and dedication are all undeniable, and I am confident that Saint John’s will benefit significantly from John’s presence in this new role. Congratulations, John. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PLEDGES | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Summer is just around the corner. As we prepare to make our well-deserved plans to enjoy this time of the year, please don’t forget to plan for the continuation of your pledge donations during this time. While we make be taking time off this summer, the church’s bills and other financial obligations do not, so it is very important that our pledges continue without interruption across the next few months. If you won’t be attending church as you regularly do in the “off season”, we ask that you please mail in your pledge envelopes during the summer to: St. John’s Episcopal Church, PO Box 7155, Cumberland, RI 02864. You may also want to consider pledging in advance for the summer months and then pick up your regular pledging in September. Thank you for past and continued support. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HEALING SERVICE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Beginning Sunday, June 24, Father Jeff will conduct a Healing Service on the last Sunday of every month immediately following the 10 a.m. service. What is a Healing Service? The Episcopal Church has long invited those with physical, emotional, or spiritual maladies to bring their pain to the community of faith and to receive the laying-on-of-hands and anointing with oil. During a healing service, individuals come forward, state their personal need to Father Jeff, and receive from him the laying-on-of hands and anointing with oil. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WORSHIP SERVICE CHANGE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The 8 a.m. service will be discontinued effective Sunday, June 17. The last 8 a.m. service will take place on June 10. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VESTRY VACANCY | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The resignation of Don Carlin from the Saint John’s Vestry has created a vacant seat. If you are interested in being considered for this Vestry seat, the Vestry would like to hear from you. To qualify to serve on the Vestry, you must be at least 18 years of age, be a communicant of the church in good standing, contribute regularly to the church through the pledging of time, talent and/or treasure, and a willingness to serve. If you believe that you have the necessary qualities, desire and sense of commitment to serve as a member of the Vestry, meet the qualifications mentioned above, and would like to be considered for appointment to the Vestry, or if you have questions or want more information, please contact Senior Warden Paul Bousquet (401.658.4591 or e-mail pbousquet@cox.net). | |
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| May 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIVE BOOKLET | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Saint John’s Sesquicentennial Steering Committee Publicity Team is planning for a commemorative issue of an ad (Booster) booklet that will include interesting or little known facts and vignettes about St. John's. Interested parishioners are invited to contact Cindy Mulvey to have your name(s) entered on a Parish Booster page that will appear in this book. We are asking for a donation of $10 for each name, or a $25 maximum per family. Proceeds will benefit and help fund our 150th Anniversary activities this year. You can reach Cindy at 334-2004 or by e-mail. | |
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| April 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER WORSHIP SERVICESPalm Sunday (April 1): 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Maundy Thursday (April 5); 7:00 p.m. Good Friday (April 6):: 7:00 p.m. Easter Sunday: 8:00 a.m. and 10 a.m. |
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| STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN UPDATE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The 2007 Stewardship Campaign has drawn to a close. A record 65 Saint John's households have pledged, and your generosity resulted in total pledges of $93,200. Thank you so very much! Although the campaign has drawn to a close, if you have not yet submitted your pledge we encourage you to do so. Many wonderful things are happening within our church, and many more are planned. Many of you have generously contributed to make this possible. If you haven't pledged yet, please join with those who have to help Saint John's achieve its vision and to realize God's purpose for us. We are a wonderful family doing so many wonderful things in Jesus' name. Be a part of it. Thank you. | |
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| March 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PRAYER BREAKFAST | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On February 23, Father Jeff and seven parishioners were the guests of Dick Beaupre at the 11th Annual Interfaith Prayer Breakfast at Bryant University. This event, patterned after the National Prayer Breakfast that occurs every year in Washington, D.C. during the first week in February and which is replicated throughout the United States, is designed to give attendees an inspirational hour of music, prayer, and a spiritual message. Thank you, Dick, for your generosity and for giving your guests the opportunity to experience this event. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ORGAN CONCERT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Thank you to those who attended and supported the Sesquicentennial Organ Concert last Sunday, featuring Jack Cook, Paul Pelletier and Lori Maciel. Those who attended were treated to a delightful afternoon of beautiful music performed by Jack, Paul and Lori, which earned them a standing ovation. If you missed this concert, you missed a lot. Jack will perform in another concert in church on November 10. |
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| February 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MUSIC MINISTRY | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Father Jeff has named Saint John's organist Jack Cook to the position of Saint John’s Music Director. Jack extends an invitation to all parishioners to join the Choir, particularly as we prepare for the Lent, Holy Week and Easter services. Although we especially need sopranos, all voices are welcome! Jack stands ready to help all new members (and current members!) learn the music. Please consider becoming a member of the Choir, and let your voice be heard as we pray through music -- and have fun, too! To join the Choir or for more information, please contact Jack at 508-928-1588. And, on a related note, if you have any favorite hymns you would like included as part of our worship services, please let Jack know. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Installation of the Vestry | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Absent from the Installation Ceremony: Paul Bousquet and George Carrier | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SPIRIT OF SAINT JOHN’S AWARDS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Congratulations to the 2006 recipients of the Spirit of Saint John’s Award, presented last Sunday during the 10 a.m. Eucharist: Steve Grenier, John A. "Jack" Cook, Cindy Mulvey, Barry Doherty, Sue Gamache, Eileen McCarten-Jencks, Phil and Melissa Masquelette. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ANNUAL PARISH MEETING | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 137th Annual Parish Meeting of Saint John’s Episcopal Church convened last Sunday, January 28, following the 10 a.m. service. Clergy and lay leaders presented their reports on church operations and activities during 2006, and the proposed Annual Budget was presented, discussed and approved. Goals were presented, and members had the opportunity to offer comments, feedback and ask questions of church leadership. A Vestry election was also held. Paul Bousquet was elected Senior Warden (one-year term thru January 2008) and Annie Birman was elected as a Vestry Member (three-year term thru January 2010) |
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| ST JOHN'S CHOIR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| (9/10/2006), back in robes after the Summer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PROPERTY CUSTODIAN POSITION | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As previously publicized, the positions of Church Sexton and Property Maintenance within Saint John’s were eliminated effective December 31, 2006 for business reasons, and as the result of a business decision by the Saint John’s Vestry, in consultation with Father Jeff. Effective January 1, 2007 the duties and responsibilities of these two positions were combined into a single new part-time paid position to be known as the Property Custodian. We are pleased to announce that Mr. Mike Robertson was hired to fill this position and assumed his new duties as Property Custodian on January 1, 2007. Congratulations, Mike! |
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