Hurricane Irene aftermath Week

People in Little Falls - especially in the Singac area - are soggy and hurting with the floods following Hurricane Irene.  Many have basements filled with water.  MSNBC News states that the National Flood Insurance Program is, itself "a disaster."  It is a regional issue that cries out for different solutions, so that flooding is not a regular event for so many.

After the communion, we pray "...send us out to do the work you have given us to do."  This is about engineers being good engineers, and teachers being good teachers; about attorneys being good attorneys, and police being good police; students being good students, and caregivers being good caregivers,  so that the whole world can be  more in line with God's dream because you offer your gifts, talents and savvy for the good of all, for the "common-wealth."  This is baptismal ministry -- the ministry of the whole community of the friends of God -- at its best. Pray not only for those suffering from the effects of the hurricane, but that others will do what they can to bring support and find solutions.

This week: 
    Tuesday:  1:00 PM   Women's Group, Library
                      7:00 PM   Communications Meeting, Library
    Wednesday:
                      7:30 PM    Taize music and prayer, Church
    Sunday:  10:00 AM   Sunday Service (Holy Eucharist), Children's Chapel and Nursery




Coming up:   Sunday, September 11:  Guest Preacher Tom Murphy for our September 11th Memorial Service, 10:00 AM. 

End of Summer.... and a Fresh Start!

Here we are at the end of summer:  breathe in the smells, feel the sun,  bask in the easy-going-ness of it all;  we are on the cusp of renewed activity and scheduling.

For those of us who have lived on an academic-year schedule, in our own schooling, in our work, and as parents and grandparents of school children, Labor Day weekend can feel like "the real" New Year's.  It's certainly a fresh start, a new beginning, with opportunity and hope as present as the tidy points on the new Crayolas I loved as a kid.

So what's your fresh start?  What can you vision, dream, hope for between now and June?

This week at St. Agnes'   

TUESDAY:    1 PM  Needlecrafters,  Library
                       6 PM  Wardens meet with the Rev. Diane Rhodes

SATURDAY:  9 AM- 2 PM:   Vestry meet for Mutual Ministry Review and Planning

SUNDAY:  10 AM     Holy Eucharist,  perhaps no Children's Chapel.

Looking ahead:  


September 11: Special Service at 10 AM: 
                        Please call the church office with 9/11 memorial names
                        Archdeacon Deborah will represent us at the Township Service

September 18:  Parish Back-to-Church Picnic




 

Vacation Bible School this Week!!

The Son Rock Bible Camp -- complete with tents and S'mores, fabulous music, and lessons about Jesus and Peter the disciple, is this week, at the United Methodist Church, from 6-8 PM.  We've been planning it for months, and there will be games and crafts as well as opening and closing times to sing and reflect.  

If you've registered, be sure to bring your children. 

If you haven't registered, be sure to bring your children - perhaps a little early, so we can get information.

Thanks to an anonymous donor, there is no charge this year for VBS materials.   We're especially pleased that this ecumenical, cooperative Bible School is in its third year, after a group of St. Agnes' folks spearheaded the program in 2009.  

Also this week: 

     Women's Spirituality Group, 1 PM Tuesday 

      Archdeacon Deborah preaches, 10 AM Sunday

Current Fundraising and Outreach: 

   * Gift card orders due Sunday the 21st

   * Checks for children and refugees of Somalia due this week.  One of you asked "What should we be doing about the children of Somalia," and we're collecting money to send through Episcopal Relief and Development.   

"Spiritual Practices: the Prequel" comes to St. Agnes' Wednesday night

We will host an exciting evening on Wednesday:  imagine a group of lay Christians talking about what keeps them alive spiritually!  This will include Ted Drake, Archdeacon Deborah's husband.  The event begins with supper at 6:00 PM, and should conclude by 8:00 PM.

If you wish to join us, call the Diocese, 973-430-9900, for information on last-minute registration.

Note, that because of this, there will not be a healing service on Wednesday the 10th.


Also this week: 
Monday, 7:30 PM, Fundraising Committee in the Library  
Tuesday, 1 PM, Needlecrafters, in the Library


Coming up next week:  Vacation Bible School, 6-8 PM, at the United Methodist Church

Lazy, hazy days of August...

This is a superb time to snatch moments to remember: with your loved ones, with God, with the beauty of creation -- packing a picnic of joys to feed your soul in the chill of winter (honest, it will get chilly).  For many, the only way to have that time is to schedule it -- so make some dates with those you love and for the things you love to do, before September comes, crunching our schedules.


This week:  
    Women's Spirituality Group,        Tuesday, 1:00 PM
    Christian Formation Committee,  Tuesday, 7:30 PM
        Download a Gift Card Order form from the Web, and plan your fall purchases...
        Last week to bring backpacks for children of St. Peter's Haven
    Sunday:  Contemporary Eucharist and Children's Chapel, 10:00 AM


Coming up:  
    Monday, August 8th:      Fundraising Committee meets
    Tuesday, August 9th:      Needlecrafters, 1 PM
   Wednesday, August 10:  Spiritual Practices: the Prequel  6:00 - 8:00 PM
      This includes supper; please call the Church Office to register
   August 15-19, 6-8 PM: Little Falls Community Vacation Bible School,
       at the United Methodist Church; please call the Church Office to register 

Peace,
   Fairbairn +