January 2011 Newsletter
ALPHA Continues to Change Lives
Was it the wonderful food? Singing together
with Christy Burnham on the piano? Great lessons given by people we know
and love? Fascinating small group discussions hosted by experienced Alpha
leaders? Or did the Holy Spirit use these activities to spread God's
blessings over 50 participants in the Alpha Course on Wednesday evenings this
fall, drawing participants closer to HIM? This was truly an
intergenerational course with participants from 10 years old to the 9th decade
and from all walks of life.
Together we explored the fundamental topics of
Christianity: Who is Jesus, Why did He Die? Why and How should I
read the Bible? Why and how do I pray? How does God Guide us?
Who is the Holy Spirit? How can I resist evil? How can I make the
most of the rest of my life? By the end of the course, we came to agree
with Nicky Gumbel, it's founder, that Christianity is not boring, not untrue,
and not irrelevant but living, vibrant, and life changing.
We celebrated at an Alpha supper on December 8
during which participants gave testimonies that brought tears to the
eyes. This was a big undertaking which was made possible by a large
support team. There was a kitchen team who cooked, served and cleaned
up every Wednesday. There were speakers who gave the lessons. There
were small group hosts and assistants who facilitated discussion in 5 different
small groups. There were volunteers who supported the homework
club. Many did double duty.
Thank you to each one who provided support for the
course and each one who participated.
Grace
Bates
MADISON’S CHANGE
Madison’s Change was a HUGE success! I was
able to wrap all the coins except for some pennies. I ran
out a penny wrappers. I went by Liberty Bank in Old Saybrook where
Mr. Jason Smith was glad to let me use their coin exchanger at
no charge. Thank you Phil Bjornberg for recommending that
I contact Mr. Smith. The grand total for Madison's Change is...(drum
roll please)....$554.67! Madison and I can not thank you enough for
such a generous offering. This amount will
purchase gifts that will be delivered to Connecticut Children's
Medical Center in Hartford.
I will call the hospital representative that I
have been in contact with to set up a time for delivery. Once
again thank you Grace Church for supporting Madison and her desire to make
a change in children’s lives one gift at a time. Madison and I also want
to send a special thank you to every child who collected money and to the
Youth Group and the leaders who hosted a cookie & pizza
sale. If we are able to deliver the gifts before February, we plan
to have pictures of the delivery in the February newsletter.
Natasha McWhorter
BIBLE STUDIES
On Wednesdays at 7:00 pm, Larry Stankus will lead a study of the Gospel of Saint John.
On Thursdays at 1:00 pm,
Connie Schuman & Larry will lead a study of the Gospel of Saint Luke.
Please contact Larry (860/345-2839) or
Connie (860/767-1814) if you have any questions. Both groups will meet in the
Hudson Room.
All are welcome.
Coffee Hour Fellowship Ministry Needs YOU!
I would like to extend a very heartfelt thank
you to everyone for your continued attendance at our Coffee Hour after the Sunday 10 am
service in Merrill Hall. It is a time of community fellowship and also a
wonderful time to greet new visitors. I would also especially like to thank all those who so
very graciously volunteer to serve the coffee and snacks (some of you several
times a year).
I know parishioners are sometimes hesitant to
volunteer for this ministry. Presently we are very fortunate to have Charley
Bates arriving early and starting the coffee pots almost every Sunday. So if
preparing the coffee and hot water is your concern - no problem now, Charley is
there to help. Another concern seems to be what to serve. This is totally up to
you. A few boxes of doughnut
holes, a large tin of butter cookies, a few bags of chips & dip, popcorn, a
basket of fresh fruit. Anything
you feel you’d like to serve is fine.
Home baked goods are always welcomed. Also I am wondering if the amount
to serve is what stops people?
Sometimes the amount to prepare may seem overwhelming. I’m presenting several options to
Father Hoffman to overcome this obstacle, including just serving coffee or
asking parishioners to bring items so the volunteer host is responsible only
for the coffee, cream, juice, set and clean up (usually 30 minutes before the
service and 30 minutes after the Coffee Hour). If you have any suggestions,
please email me at bartuskab@aol.com or call 860/434-09482.
Father Hoffman has assisted me frequently in asking
for volunteers. The sign up sheet is usually on the side table in the
Hall. If there is a parishioner
who would like to take on the activity of calling individuals so Coffee Hour is
guaranteed, please let Father Hoffman or me know. And I am always willing to assist in helping you,
please just ask me.
In closing, I would like to once again thank
everyone for attending the Grace Church Coffee Hour and all those who serve.
You are a wonderful church family and I can’t imagine attending any other
church in this area! Thank you for
being in my and my husband’s lives!
Christ’s blessings be with you, Kathy Bartus
Greetings
from Old Saybrook’s Boy Scout Troop 51
SCOUT LAW:
A scout is… TRUSTWORTHY, LOYAL,
HELPFUL, FRIENDLY, COURTEOUS, KIND, OBEDIENT, CHEERFUL, THRIFTY, BRAVE, CLEAN,
and REVERENT.
We are happy to say the troop currently has over 50
registered boys and 15 registered adult leaders. As we grow and continue to be
a Scout-led troop teaching those values found in our Scout Oath and Law, we
will also be a Troop that in some ways will be facing the challenges of a
transitional period. After 13 plus
years of dedicated service in numerous adult leadership positions, husband and
wife, David Gregoire and Cathie Sweeney are stepping down from their current
positions. Not to worry though
church member Mrs. Melissa Walden will step in as the troop’s Charter
Organization Representative and Mr. John Puttre has taken on the role of
Committee Chair. With the support of our Troop and our sponsor, Grace Church,
the troop will continue to thrive.
The Troop would like to thank Grace Church not only
for its continued sponsorship, but more importantly, its continued support on
many levels. Providing us with a “home base” for meetings, a room to sort our
gear, and a special place to hold our Eagle Scout Courts of Honor, you have
provided comfort and stability to a growing Troop and it means a great deal to
us.
The Troop continues to provide opportunities for
young men to develop confidence, self esteem, and leadership skills through its
program of monthly meetings, camping trips, and community service such as
town-wide events, bi-annual Grace Church clean-up days,
providing/preparing Saturday
morning Shoreline Soup Kitchen meals 4 times a year, numerous regular community service events for organizations
such as the Chamber of Commerce, Lion’s Club and others, as well as its Eagle
Scout Service Projects. All of
which we expect to continue and expand upon for the benefit of our Scouts and
our community. Feel free to check out our website at http://www.scoutlander.com/publicsite/unithome.aspx?UID=3096.
SCOUT OATH:
On my honor, I will do my
best; To do my duty to God and my
country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
words to live by
Respectively submitted, David Gregoire
Past Chairman, Scoutmaster & Assistant
Scoutmaster of Troop 51
2010 Annual Reports
If you are a
commission leader, or the leader of a lay ministry,
please forward your report to
the Parish Secretary, Chris Hellier, no later then Friday, January 14.
Email them to grace.episcopal@sbcglobal.net
or deliver them to the church office.
Draft copies of the 2010 reports will
be available on Sunday, January 23, for your review. Please proof your report
and contact the Parish Secretary with any changes and corrections on Monday,
January 24.
STEWARDSHIP MOMENTS
God is love. Stewardship that is based on God’s love allows us to look beyond the faults of others while using our possessions to supply their needs (John 13:34-35). Stewardship is God’s love in action.
What are you doing with your extra this year? Are you spending it on worldly
material, are you saving it for a rainy day, or are you giving it away to those
who are less fortunate than you?
If you are unsure of what you should be doing with your EXTRA then you
need to consult your financial advisor, Jesus.
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