FOR
THE TIME BEING . . .
We are nine months into Transition Time and on track. You have democratically selected a Search Committee of seven members. As you read this note, the newly formed committee has already begun its work. Also, as you read this note, you have heard reported the results of the All Church Survey. Your responses to that survey provide a snapshot of the church that will help greatly in your self-understanding and also will inform the search process. The survey describes the minister you hope to engage and offers much information about the church that will attract that next minister.
To find the right minister is one half of the work of this time. The other half is to define who you have been over the years, who you are now, and who you hope to be. The after-church discussions initiated by your Transition Team were designed for this exploration. The next one, May 4, is on the church tradition: What is the tradition of this church? And what does that tradition mean to you individually and institutionally? The history table display for April is about the prayer book. The display looks at the constancy of the prayer book and the changes in it. The prayer book was handed down in the founding of this church as a chapel in 1861.
As always, I welcome conversations
with you about his process. I am
available by appointment to accommodate your schedule.
In faith, Rosemarie
OUR SCRIPTURES FOR THIS
SEASON
May 4: Acts 1:6–14; John
17:1–11; Psalm 68.
May 11: Acts 2:1–21; John
7:37–39; Psalm 104.
May 18: Genesis
1:1 – 2:4a; Matthew 28:16–20; Psalm 8.
May 25: Isaiah
49:8–16a; Matthew 6:24–34; Psalm 119.
MEMBERSHIP
BOOK
The
Membership Book is on the History Table on the first Sunday of every month, to
peruse or to sign. Welcome to new member Richard E. Byrd
III.
COMMUNION
SERVICE MAY 11 TO COMMEMORATE PENTECOST
By
tradition, Pentecost is the occasion of one of the four communion services the
church observes. The other services are
on Easter Eve, Christmas Eve, and All Souls Sunday. Pentecost is the birthday of the Christian
Church and initiates the church’s mission in the world. The day derives from a Jewish harvest
festival called Shavuot.
FAMILY
CHOIR WILL SING MAY 18
The
Family Choir will provide special music on Sunday, May 18, to help celebrate
the confirmation of the Reverend Joseph A. Bassett as Minister Emeritus of the
ALTAR FLOWERS FOR MAY 2008
May 4: The flowers are given
in loving memory
of Lewis F. Perry and Alice de V. Perry by their children.
May
11: The flowers are given in loving memory of Charles
Smith Cornish by his family.
May
18: The
flowers are given in loving memory of Arthur T. and Gertrude L. Nelson and of
Arthur T. Nelson Jr. by the Waldron family.
May
25: The flowers are given in loving memory of Louisa
T. Baker by her family.
Evening Forum: Oakes Plimpton, an early organizer of
community-supported agriculture, will lead a discussion of local agriculture,
globalization/isolationism, and sustainability in the parish hall at
Book
Group: We
are reading Atonement by Ian McEwan
and will gather at Susan Welch’s house (
BIBLE
STUDY
Bible study meets as usual at
TRANSITION
TEAM UPDATE
The
Transition Team continues to follow up on areas of interest identified in the
open discussion of the Supplemental Statement last fall. The next after-church discussion, on Theology
and Tradition, will take place on Sunday,
May 4, led by Lisle Baker. As a
catalyst for discussion, we will have available the recent congregational
survey results on beliefs and worship. After
refreshments at Bouillon Hour, we will gather in the parish hall.
Transition Team members: Sally Baker, Molly Batchelder, David Brooks, Bert Dane, Amy Isaac, Rosemarie Smurzynski
USHERS
May
4: David J. Gabel May 18:
Susan Farist
May
11: Nan St. Goar May 25:
Dorothy Baldini
BOUILLON
HOURS
Members
of the congregation, friends of the parish, and newcomers are invited to enjoy
conversation and refreshments following the service on Sunday, May 4.
On Sunday, May 18, there will be a
reception in the parish hall after the service honoring the Reverend Joseph A.
Bassett with the title Minister Emeritus.
(See the announcement in this bulletin.)
Please join us for the occasion.
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION
Our
new kitchen made the Easter breakfast a cook’s delight. With two ovens and the microwave going full
speed ahead, presto, everything was ready to eat and on time! Thank you to all
who contributed food and to those who precooked several of the delicious items.
Special thanks to Judie and John Wyman,
who stayed late and cleaned up all those dishes!
Once again with very little
rehearsal, the children starred in doing the puppet plays. The outstanding and portable puppet stage made
by Brian Cartwright provided a leap of enthusiasm for the puppeteers. “Oh, wow,” was the most heard response when
each child saw it for the first time.
Total chaos might have reigned backstage if it hadn’t been for Isabelle
Evans and Jessica Miquel, who (also without any rehearsal) somehow made sure
the puppeteers had the right puppets for each story. As in the Christmas pageant, the children’s
spontaneous delight in retelling the stories added an extra measure of joy in
singing “Alleluia!” this Easter. And
Brian plus guitar kept our “Allelluias” in tune as he led our Easter hymn sing.
Thanks go to John Wyman for his
technical expertise in fixing the puppet stage pull curtain. What a happy surprise to find it working the
Sunday after Easter―although
it took some sleuth work to discover the name of the generous mystery fixer!
This Easter Season we continue to
follow the lectionary readings, then act out one of the stories or retell it
with puppets. Brian continues leading us
in song in both
Happy Easter Season to all.
Joan Hunt
FROM
THE STANDING COMMITTEE
The
Standing Committee is pleased to announce the formation of the Search Committee
for our next settled minister. With 46
nominations to consider, the Committee deliberated for several weeks to select
a balanced, representative group of seven members of the church. To lead the search process, the Standing
Committee chose: Sarah Buermann, Bert
Dane, Isabelle Evans, Jonathan Levi, Werner Lohe, Dorothy Waldron, and Susan Welch. We are very grateful to each of them for
agreeing to carry out this important mission for the church.
The next item on the order of
business was to replace the members of the Standing Committee who were selected
for the Search Committee. To fill those
vacancies, the following members of the church will join the Standing
Committee: Pauline Bynum, Brian
Cartwright, Carol Lohe, and John
Welch.
Please plan to attend church on Sunday, May 18, when we will honor Reverend
Joseph A. Bassett with the title Minister Emeritus. Last fall at the Annual Meeting the
congregation voted unanimously to bestow the title, and part of the Sunday
service will be dedicated to a formal presentation. Following the service, there will be a
reception in the parish hall.
Music for MAY 2008
May 4
(Seventh Sunday of Easter)
Preludes:
“Air” (Suite in D Major) ―
Bach
“Trumpet Voluntary” ―
Heron
Anthem:
“O God, the king of glory” ― Purcell
Response: “Let
my prayer come up” ― Purcell
Anthem:
“O Lord, give Thy Holy Spirit” ― Tallis
Choral Amen: “Threefold” ― Traditional
Postlude: “Trumpet Voluntary in D Major” ― Clarke
May
11 (Pentecost ― Communion)
Preludes:
“Adoro te devote” ― Titcomb
“Antiphons III and V” ― Dupré
Anthem:
“Bless the Lord O my soul” ― Ippolitov-Ivanof
Response:
“Come Holy Ghost, God and Lord” ― Bach
Anthem:
“I will not leave you comfortless”
― Titcomb
Choral Amen: “Sevenfold” ― Stainer
Postlude: “Magnificat 6 ― Gloria” ― Dupré
May 18 (First Sunday after Pentecost ― Family
Choir)
Preludes: “Adagio in A Minor” ― Bach
“Echo
Fantasia” ― Sweelinck
Anthem:
“Sing to the Lord a new song” ― Lau
Response: “God be in my head” ― Rutter
Anthem: “The eyes of all wait upon Thee” ― Berger
Choral Amen: “A Gaelic Blessing” ― Rutter
Postlude: “Toccata
in A Minor” ― Sweelinck
May 25 (Second Sunday after Pentecost)
Preludes: “Prelude on St. Columba” ― Stanford
“Benedictus” ― Rowley
Anthem: “Sing me to heaven” ― Gawthrup
Response:
“Lord of life” ―
Anthem: “Awake my heart” ―
Choral Amen:
“Twofold” ― Traditional
Postlude: “Trumpet Tune in C Major” ― Johnson