June 2010

Dear Friends, 

My friend Elisabeth wrote yesterday to say she’s had quite a week: her daughter's confirmation, an older son's college graduation, and younger son's prom. This weekend they are heading toward the “prom” son’s graduation. And throughout it all, an influx of relatives to join in the celebrations. Staggering, isn’t it? Elisabeth says she hasn’t had time to make sense of these events yet, but knows her family is going through a groundswell of transitions. I think that’s a great expression for what so many of us experience this time of year. We’ve got graduations, soccer tournaments, end-of-the-year concerts, dance recitals, music banquets, sports banquets, confirmations…the list goes on and on. Not only parents attend these events, either, but grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends. These events touch many lives. Here at Church of Our Saviour, we had our annual Children’s Service this past weekend, a time for marking the end of the church school year, recognizing students and thanking teachers. Yet another heartfelt ceremony at a time of so many ceremonies. We are in the midst of a groundswell of transitions.

That’s what ceremonies do, of course - they mark transitions. And every transition, no matter how joyful and full of promise, brings a sense of loss, too. Elisabeth says she hasn’t had time to make sense of the enormous changes sweeping her family. But when she does, she’ll probably feel sadness along with the joy. Loss and new life. And that’s what we experience together every week at church. Not just during the big, ceremonial occasions, like Christmas and Easter, but every single week when we celebrate the Eucharist. In those ancient words we acknowledge the sacrifice Jesus made for us all, and celebrate the renewal, the new life, we have in Him. It can feel sad, humbling, encouraging, and life-giving all at once, because each week we remember together the ultimate transition Jesus helps us make, toward new and unending life in him. That’s a transition infinitely worth experiencing, practicing, recreating, and remembering again and again, because we need to keep crossing over, keep reminding ourselves to listen to Christ’s message.

So, in the midst of this season of transitions, let’s give thanks for the Eucharist, our weekly reminder of the most important transition of all.
      

Peace,

Rev. Kate +

            
THE WARDEN’S WORLD
by Sandy Almeida
March 2010    
      

I am very excited to be your next Senior Warden.  I am looking forward to working with you and for you with Rev. Kate and the new Vestry.  I want to thank Rita and Darryl for their hard work this past year as our Wardens.  And thank you to Rita for continuing to oversee the roof and interior repairs project.  It seems like it is never going to end, but the roof is complete and the interior repairs will begin soon, working around the Easter season.

I would like to welcome to our new vestry members Debbie Fiore, Jack Patricio, Richard Martel, and Tim Soderstrom, and returning vestry member George Paiva. 

My goal for 2010 is to maintain the fiscal stability of the Church.  The Budget that was presented at the Annual Meeting had a slight deficit.  In reality, pledges are lower than last year.  As of this writing there are 58 Pledges that total 77,272.00.  Today's economy is uncertain and not everyone is comfortable pledging.   Jobs have been lost, hours reduced and hourly wages have been cut.  Your giving, whether it is pledged or not, is what helps us to maintain our Church and I want to thank you for your support.

Fundraising is an additional way for us to meet our goals.  The Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper was a wonderful event.  Thank you to all who helped, from preparing, to attending, to cleaning.  There are two more suppers planned.  The Corned Beef and Cabbage Supper on Saturday March 20th, and a Chow Mein Supper on Saturday April 24th. 

The Christmas Bazaar is scheduled to be held in November.  Other successful events that we have had are the Bake Sales, the Golf Tournament and various other suppers. 

It is my hope that there will be other types of events planned as well.  If you have any ideas for an event, let's discuss it.

I hope that you will support these and any fundraising events in whatever way you can.  They are a certain amount of work, but they are also a great deal of fun, working together in fellowship as a community.  Please help in whatever way that you can - planning - working - contributing - attending.  Every part is important to make any event successful. 

I also want to mention that if anyone has any questions, concerns or ideas, please talk to myself or any of the vestry members.  We are here for you. 

Let us look forward to a Blessed 2010.