What's Up This Week

What's Up This Week (2/5-2/12)

2012-02-04T13:59:00.000-08:00

Coming this week:
February 5th, 10:00 -- Teens/Tweens meet with Sue Ploch
Children's Chapel in the Library
Main Service (Eucharist, Rite II) in the Church,
followed by coffee hour

February 7th, 1:00 Women's Spirituality Group in the Libarary
7:30 Vestry meets in the Library

February 12th 10:00 Children's Chapel in the Library
Main Service (Eucharist, Rite II) in the Church,
followed by coffee hour
3:30 Absalom Jones Service at the Cathedral

Pray for Peace... There's saber-rattling going on

One of my lifelong friends is a Quaker-Episcopalian, from a Massachusetts family which has given significant support both to a Friends retirement home and to the local Episcopal Church for generations. When we differ, she leaves me squirming with her critique of our willingness to resort to force and threats of force.

It's happening now. As I read the web news, I sense a ratcheting up of the language of threats in our dealings with Iran and Syria, a growing conviction that someone "should" or "will soon" attack Iran (whether Israel or the US), a demonizing of our perceived enemies. There is momentum growing for another intervention (whether by Israel or by the US) which is reminiscent of the pre-Iraq assurances of "Weapons of Mass Destruction." I remember standing on a bridge in Boston protesting this as President George W. Bush came to town.

It is estimated that the war in Iraq has cost the lives of over 100,000 Iraqis and 4482 American military, that 32,213 US military have been wounded, that over 1.5 million Iraqis are refugees, and that our running total cost has been $704.6 billion. Can our best and brightest, can Israel's best and brightest, can Iran and Syria's best and brightest, not do a better job for us all this time?

From the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel, teachings on a radical way of living as God's people:

‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others?'

Pray, dear friends, for a burst of sanity, a hint of humility, a vision of peace, and the courage to do something new, something godly in this time.

Fairbairn

What's Up This Week (1/23-29)

2012-01-24T14:43:00.000-08:00

Our Bishop's Visit on Sunday was a delight!

On Sunday, Bishop Mark Beckwith visited St. Agnes' to celebrate and preach, meet with the children, encourage the congregation to pray deeply and reach out in God's love to others, give a forum, and meet with the Vestry.

Fun highlights: Jordan Newbury holding the crozier (The Bishop had to make a "baa...baa" noise before they remembered Bo Peep), and Jocelyn Dilkes wearing the miter, slightly outsized and slippy for her.

Most moving: congregational response to the Bishop's challenge to think about and pray about our individual and congregational mission(s) in the world.

Coming up this week:
Tuesday 1 PM Women's Group, Library
Wednesday 7:30 PM Taize Service, Church
Thursday 4 PM Confirmation Teens make sandwiches for Soup Kitchen
Friday, all day Diocesan Convention
Saturday, all day Diocesan Convention
Sunday 10 AM Children's Chapel, Eucharist with healing, Coffee Hour
Teens have Christian Formation

What's Up This Week (1/8-14)

2012-01-06T15:48:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

The ball has dropped; the thank-yous for presents are sent; the first New Year's Resolution has sunk under the wobbles of the week: so now what?

Here at St. Agnes', we're talking about "mission and ministry," church-y words which point to another church-y word, "vocation." If you haven't clicked on the X button yet, let me give you a zinger of a quote from a letter I received from a nun in 1959, when I was in my twenties and trying to figure out the Alfie question, "What's it all about?"

I'd written a snarky letter to Sr. Catherine Josephine Remley, of the Order of St. Helena, trying to be ever so collegiate-ly cool about not wanting to be a nun. In her letter back, Sr. Josephine, as we called her then, spoke of her conviction that God has a purpose for each of us, something which will be done best if we move in our context, using our gifts and long suits where we sense a tug from God; and which will not be done at all, or will be done not as well by someone else, if we don't do it; and this, she said, is our "Vocation, with a big 'V'."

She continued,
"In every moment, we also have a "vocation, with a little 'v';
and as you live out your vocations in the moment,
your Vocation will become clearer in time.
Never you doubt it.
God is always calling, but we are not always listening."

Years later, The Rev. Mary Michael Simpson, also OSH, said
"I believe that what you want in your deepest self and what God wants for you are the same thing."

What a thought:
In every moment, there is something that you can do,
a facet of you letting the love of God show through,
the intersection of your gifts and context and a call,
a tug of the heart from the Holy One:
the meeting of your deepest longings and God's own dream:

In every moment, you can be making a difference -
in your family,
in your workplace,
among your friends and neighbors,
in your parish,
in your community,
in our world...
and while it will not always be "happy"
it will be a joyous new year.

   Fairbairn

What's up in early and mid-January:
Friday, January 6th: The Feast of the Epiphany
12:30 ECW luncheon, Lorenzo's, West Paterson
Sunday, January 8th: First Sunday after the Epiphany
10:00 Eucharist (Worship with communion), Children's Chapel, Elementary Education
Coffee Hour follows
Tuesday, January 10th:
1:00 Needlecrafters, Library
7:30 Communications Committee, Library
Sunday, January 15th: Second Sunday after the Epiphany
  10:00 Eucharist (Worship with communion), Children's Chapel
Coffee Hour follows
Tuesday, January 17th:

     1:00 Needlecrafters, Library
Wednesday, January 18th:
7:30 Adult Education, Library

What's Up This Week (12/12-18)

2011-12-12T13:59:00.000-08:00

Third week of Advent

The gag going around the church this week starts with the question "Why the pink candle on the third Sunday of Advent?" and the answer "Because Mary wanted a girl."

We lit two blue candles and the rose one on Sunday, Gaudete Sunday (for Rejoice!), when we remember that Christ's coming is good news for the poor, and for each of us in those places of personal/physical/ spiritual poverty.

As we wait and hope for the coming of God in our lives, consider coming to our Taize/ healing service Wednesday the 14th for a quiet, peaceful evening and prayers from friends.

Advent Resources: The Christian Formation Committee of the Diocese has daily meditations, and the Bishop is doing an online book-reading and reflection series: For information, click here.

Coming up this week:

Tuesday: 1 PM Needlecrafters'
Wednesday: 7:30 PM Taize worship

Sunday: 10 AM Eucharist, Children's Chapel, followed by

Coffee Hour and Pageant Casting/Rehearsal.

Advent Coat Drive: Do you have a clean, warm coat that you no longer need? We are collecting coats for St. Paul's Shelter in Paterson.

Christmas Services:

Christmas Family Service and Pageant 4:00 PM, 12/24
Christmas Candlelight Service 10:00 PM, 12/24
Christmas Morning Service 10:00 AM, 12/25
Feast of the Holy Name Service 10:00 AM, 1/1

Each of these services includes a Communion service, and all are welcome to receive the sacrament.

The picture is from Will and Baumer's web page, and is their Chace Advent Candle set.

What's Up This Week (12/5-11)

2011-12-07T09:05:00.000-08:00

Second week of Advent

Advent (from adventus, "coming") is the season in which we prepare to celebrate the coming of God in Jesus, and celebrate the coming of God in our lives in every moment. At St. Agnes', we're using three blue candles and one rose one, and the first two blue candles, the Prophet's candle and the Bethlehem candle, have been lit.

Ironically, for many this is a very difficult season: we can be seized by grief, spiraling with loss and the echoes of other losses. For some, the major goal of this Christmas is to get through it a day at a time. It might help to come to our Taize/healing service Wednesday the 14th for a quiet, peaceful evening and prayers from friends. "Blue Christmas" services are also a resource.

Advent Resources: The Christian Formation Committee of the Diocese has daily meditations, and the Bishop is doing an online book-reading and reflection series: For information, click here.

Coming up this week:

Tuesday: 1 PM Women's Spirituality Group
7:45 PM Vestry

Wednesday: 7:30 PM Study Group

Saturday: 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM: Advent Dinner: $15 for adults, $6 for children 5-11. CALL the Parish Office (973-256-5020) for reservations (no walk-ins, please).

Sunday: 10 AM Eucharist, Children's Chapel, followed by
Coffee Hour.

Advent Coat Drive: Do you have a clean, warm coat that you no longer need? We are collecting coats for St. Paul's Shelter in Paterson.

Christmas Services:

Christmas Family Service and Pageant 4:00 PM, 12/24
Christmas Candlelight Service 10:00 PM, 12/24
Christmas Morning Service 10:00 AM, 12/25
Feast of the Holy Name Service 10:00 AM, 1/1

Each of these services includes a Communion service, and all are welcome to receive the sacrament.

The picture is from Will and Baumer's web page, and is their Chace Advent Candle set.

What's Up this Week (11/28-12/4)

2011-11-29T13:26:00.000-08:00

First week of Advent

The season in which we prepare to celebrate the coming of God in Jesus, and celebrate the coming of God in our lives in every moment. At St. Agnes', we're using three blue candles and one rose one, and the first candle, the Prophet's candle, has been lit.

In what ways are you yearning for God this season? As Dame Maria Boulding said, "Constantly, [God] comes."

Advent Resources: The Christian Formation Committee of the Diocese has daily meditations, and the Bishop is doing an online book-reading and reflection series: For information, click here.

Advent Dinner: December 10th

Seatings at 5:00 and 6:30: Call in
your Reservation 973-256-5020

Coming up this week:

Tuesday: 1 PM Needlecraft Group

7 PM Communications Committee

Wednesday: 7:30 PM Adult Study Group: Phyllis Tickle on
"The 20th Century and Emergence"

Thursday: Gift Card Order Forms due to Nicole Dilkes or the
Parish Office

Sunday: 10 AM Eucharist, Children's Chapel, followed by
Coffee Hour; Pledge Ingathering and Blessing

The picture is from Will and Baumer's web page, and is their Chace Advent Candle set.

What's Up This Week (11/21-11/27)

2011-11-22T11:33:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving...

We will have our Little Falls Community Thanksgiving service on Tuesday night at 7:00 PM, with both Reformed Churches, the United Methodist Church, St. Agnes', and the Committed to the Word Christian Fellowship all worshipping together at St. Agnes'

In the midst of times which tempt us to fear and despair, we have so much for which to be thankful -- think for a moment, of all those who have cared for you, mentored you, loved you, encouraged you, helped you to be a better person; think, for a moment, of all the resources that have been yours: of health, strength, skill, education, gifts and talents, the opportunity to work; think of the other people and things for which you are grateful.

It's in our heritage to remember, to recite and remember the goodness of God in our lives, and Thanksgiving Day is a dandy opportunity (between the parade, the turkey, and the football game) to do this.

... and, on Sunday, the beginning of Advent, the season when we think of the coming(s) of God in our lives. Really, really truly, December isn't about the biggest inflatable Santa and the biggest credit card debt we can run up. The shopping binge doesn't have to start at the midnight after Thanksgiving Day. (And it doesn't have to be a binge, ever.)

For us as people of God, it's a time to prepare for Christmas in a different way -- by remembering the comings of God in our lives, remembering the coming of Jesus, in whose face we see the love of God, and yearning for the next comings of God.

Dame Maria Boulding, OSB, of Stanbrook Abbey wrote this stunning opening to her book about Advent, The Coming of God:

" Longing for God"
My soul longs for you in the night,
my spirit within me keeps vigil for you.
Isaiah 26.9

"If you want God, and long for union with him, yet sometimes wonder what that means or whether it can mean anything at all, you are already walking with the God who comes. If you are at times so weary and involved with the struggle of living that you have no strength even to want him, yet are still dissatisfied that you don't, you are already keeping Advent in your life. If you have ever had an obscure intuition that the truth of things is somehow better, greater, more wonderful than you deserve or desire, that the touch of God in your life stills you by its gentleness, that there is a mercy beyond anything you could ever suspect, you are already drawn into the mystery of salvation. [italics mine]

A little farther along there's another magnificent zinger:

"Creation is shot through with the self-gift of God. The divine life, the divine self-giving called grace, is the secret dynamism at the heart of creation, penetrating, lifting and inspiring it from the innermost personal core of every human being, drawing it onwards to it destiny... [grace] is sheer gift..."

May you Thanksgiving Day be one of great joy, and your Advent one of deep joy.

Fairbairn+

The picture is from Will and Baumer's web page, and is their Chace Advent Candle set.

What's Up This Week (11/14-20)

2011-11-13T10:47:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Linda Barnett for a history lesson on Sunday, November 13th, covering the years from the founding of the church until today, complete with the story of the Great Smoke Incident, the first time the fledgling Little Falls Fire Department responded to a fire after installing fire hydrants to replace the bucket brigade. (The New York Times reported this as humor on the western front.) Linda read histories, old Vestry minutes, and had pictures and programs for us.

Mark your calendars now for

The Little Falls Community Thanksgiving Service, to be held at St. Agnes' at 7:00 PM on November 22nd
The Fabulous Advent Dinner, Saturday, December 10th

Coming up this week:

Tuesday, November 15th: Needlecrafters, 1:00 PM

Wednesday, November 16th: CTTW/St. Agnes Quarterly Meeting, 8:00 PM

Sunday, November 20th: Children's Chapel and Eucharist, 10:00 AM

Archdeacon Drake preaching, The Rev. Joseph A. Harmon celebrating,

followed by Multigenerational Conversation (make-up) at Coffee Hour

What's Up This Week (10/31-11/6)

2011-11-01T15:05:00.000-07:00

ALL SAINTS:
...is the recognition that the deep connections we long for are already there, that we are connected in God with our loved ones who know this fully, that we on earth are only a small part of that community of the friends of God who have gone before us.

Sr. Rachel Hosmer, OSH, used to talk about "the roof of the church blowing open" at the Sanctus, as we join 'with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven...' Angels are somewhat a mystery to me, which may be just as well, since the biblical angels almost always start the conversation by telling the humans not to be afraid. But "all the company of heaven" -- family, loved ones, beloved teachers and coaches and healers; brave martyrs and witnesses; holy men and women from all time; wise ones from every tradition and nation and language; all holding us as we trudge on.

This I think I DO know: they live on; they live on in power and joy; and there is a connection. I love to hear stories of moments when the space we feel between this world and the next got really thin, when wives sensed their husbands, children sensed a grandparent, others their mothers or fathers.

So this week we celebrate all the saints: not just the MVP types, but all the saints, and the God who holds us all in connection.

We have new parking-lot stripes, and a much tidier parking lot, thanks to the men who came for Clean-Up Day: here are pictures of some of the work crew (and the stripes).

What's up this week:

Tuesday, 11/1: 1:00 PM Seniors' Generational Conversation

7:30 PM Vestry

Wednesday, 11/2 7:30 PM Adult Education: Embracing Emergence

Sunday, 11/6: All Saints' Day (transferred)

10:00 Children's Chapel, Teen/Tween Group, Family Eucharist

with Memorial Thanksgiving for our beloved ones

11:30 Young Adult Generational Conversation, Confirmation Group

What's Up This Week (10/24/11 - 10/30/11)

2011-10-25T18:57:00.000-07:00

Come in your halloween costume Sunday the 30th!

Deborah Rucki Drake, our Archdeacon, started by asking if the children could wear costumes to church on the 30th... And then upped the ante by suggesting that adults might come in costume also. So dress up -- to your heart's content!

Samhain, the Gaelic precursor of Halloween, was a harvest festival at the end of the harvest, and the end of the "lighter" part of the year, as the northern hemisphere moved to the "darker" part of the year. In some traditions, people dressed up, and bonfires were part of the festival. Celtic Christians put the feast of All Saints at this time when the popular culture was already having a feast of the dead.

There's a pattern here, a pattern of welcoming and embracing what we meet. The Rev. Howard Anderson, one of the keynoters at our Clergy Conference, cited Anglican theologian Richard Hooker's statement that he would "make the Christian religion an inn where all are received joyfully". The premise of the church is thar God's love is for all, and that all are welcome: it's a come as you are party.

This week:
Tuesday, October 25th. 1PM. Needle crafters meet.
Clergy are at conference Tuesday through Thursday noon.
Sunday, October 30th. 10AM. Service, Children's Chapel, Nursery Care.
Healing prayer available at the end of the service. Coffee Hour follows.

What's Up This Week (10/17-10/23)

2011-10-19T17:45:00.000-07:00

Fall -- Beautiful Colors, and the Sighs of Sorrow over Losses of Jobs, Homes, Dreams

Elizabeth Kaeton, prophetic priest of this Diocese (the Episcopal Church in northern New Jersey), writes poignantly of her day spent on Wall Street and in the park with the Occupy Wall Street people. "Tell them that it's about greed," say those who have been devastated by the shifts in the economy, speaking of the increasing gulf between the 1% who are better off and the 99% who are not. If the job description for prophets is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable, this is a time which calls us to challenge rosy assumptions about "trickle-down economic benefits" and justice. Where is our God? The Abba, the Father, of Jesus? Or the gods of worldly power and riches?

Here at St. Agnes' this week,

Remember to download a recipe submission form for our cookbook, and to forward it to Nicole Dilkes
Remember to bring canned meat and fish for the food pantry at St. Paul's, Paterson
Remember to pray for those beginning confirmation preparation
Monday: 6:30 Domestic Violence Prevention Vigil at Township Hall
Tuesday: 1:00 Women's Spirituality Group
Wednesday: 7:30 Taize Service and healing
Thursday: 7:30 Stewardship workgroup meets
Saturday: 9:00 AM Work Day starts with coffee and doughnuts
Sunday: 10:00 Eucharist and Children's Chapel, coffee hour.

What's Up This Week (10/10-10/16)

2011-10-11T15:24:00.000-07:00

Little Falls Tricentennial:
What a two week period! St. Agnes' folks have hit the pavement running:

Out in force for the Tricentennial Parade, right behind the fabulous drum section of the Passaic Valley High School Band with our new St. Agnes' sweatshirts and banner, then very present at the town picnic
Out in front of the church for a Pet Blessing on St. Francis' Day, with more new faces than members. Comment of the day: "I have to tell you that this is a Catholic dog..."
Teens and Tweens out on the front sidewalk with Sue Ploch, chalking pictures of Creation
Out for the unveiling and blessing of the new Little Falls 9/11 Memorial

Coming up this week:

Tuesday, 10/11, 1 PM Needlecrafters, in Library

7 PM Stewardship Committee, in Library

Wednesday, 10/12, 7:30 PM Diocesan Budget Discussion, in Hall

Sunday, 10/16, 10:00 AM Archdeacon Deborah preaches
Children's Chapel

Coming up soon:

Wednesday, 10/19, 6:30 - 8:30 PM Teen Express Yourself ARTS Program

7:30 PM Taize Service with Healing Prayer available

Saturday, 10/22 9 AM Clean-up Day

What's Up This Week (9/19-9/25)

2011-09-19T11:51:00.000-07:00

Following on a splendid Sunday picnic, this week we have our Episcopal Church Women meeting; a memorial service Saturday for Barbara Hendry, our former Sexton; and healing prayer at our Sunday Service.

I still remember the first and second times I was at a service which included prayer for healing. The first time, I sat very still in my pew, watching what was going on, and that evening I regaled the family with news of this strange thing they were doing at our new parish.

The second time, I knelt at the altar rail for healing prayer for a child. As the priest came to each of us, it seemed to me that we were all praying with and for each one receiving the laying on of hands. When the priest laid hands on my head, I felt a deep stirring -- something I hadn't expected and didn't understand. That night, I learned that there had been a healing: my daughter told me about an important change of heart at just that time.

How is this? We don't really know. What we do know is that it's about the goodness and love of God, about discovering God's care for us, about being drawn into the heart and presence and power of God, at which point amazing things can happen. Sometimes we realize -- weeks, even months later -- that there was a healing, that God used our openness to move for good.

Try it. Try it even if you majored in one of the sciences and are deeply suspicious of anything that hasn't been tested and measured in a lab, because this (like most important things in your life) is about love, and has a reason of its own that reason cannot comprehend. Try it for yourself, for those you carry in your heart. We'll be doing it this Sunday.

Tuesday, September 20
1 PM ECW meeting and Needlecrafters
7 PM Communications Committee meets

Saturday, September 24
11 AM Memorial Service for Barbara Christine Hendry

Sunday, September 25
10 AM Holy Eucharist and Healing Prayer
Children's Chapel and Nursery
Coffee Hour follows
Training for Readers, Servers and Eucharistic Ministers

What's Up This Week (9/12 - 9/18)

2011-09-14T08:59:00.000-07:00

"School Days, School Days"

Not "reading and writing and 'rithmetic" but Learning the Love of God.

Sunday the 18th is our Homecoming Picnic (bring a dish to pass).

This Sunday, as every Sunday, we have Children's Chapel available for children from Pre-K through Elementary School. It begins at 10:00, with an age-appropriate version of lessons, prayers, songs -- including the Hooray March, and runs for about half an hour. Following this, children may join their parents in church.

Soon after this, we will begin once-monthly classes for PreK-K, grades 3-4, and our teen-tween group.

Two evening programs will begin in October. New this year will be a series for teens, "Express Yourself," ventures in the arts, beginning on October 19th, from 6:30-8:30 with Archdeacon Deborah and Tom Lynch. For more information on that, please call Archdeacon Deborah at 973-553-1676.

On October 5th, the Adult series will start, with Phyllis Tickle's Embracing Emergence Christianity, following a pot luck supper at 6:30. Many people, in and out of the church, are sensing a sea change in people's faith practice: "I'm spiritual but not religious" may be one of the markers for this change (and for the church's need to reach out in different ways to new generations.

According to the publisher,
"Phyllis Tickle invites us to join her in examining the changing face of Christianity and culture. Phyllis surveys two thousand years of Western history, identifying the great upheavals that occur in Western culture and Christianity every 500 years. The last was the Great Reformation of the 1500's; the next is happening now." [italics SFP]

Behind the scenes, we are implementing our program as a Safeguarding God's Children parish. Every adult and youth member who works with children, as well as the entire staff and Vestry, are working through a training series so that we continue to have St. Agnes' a safe place for God's children.

This week:

Tuesday, September 12:

11:00 AM Altar Guild meets, followed by lunch

1:00 PM Safeguarding God's Children training

7:00 PM Safeguarding God's Children training

Wednesday, September 13:

7:30 PM Healing Prayer in the Church

Sunday, September 18th:

10:00 AM Children's Chapel

10:00 AM Holy Eucharist

11:30 AM Homecoming Picnic

What's Up This Week (9/5 - 9/11)

2011-09-07T10:50:00.000-07:00

Ten years later:
What has this time meant in your life?
What has changed?
What has grown?

My generation grew up remembering Pearl Harbor and what followed that destruction by an enemy -- I remember my father grimly going out into the neighborhood during blackouts in his Air Warden's hat. Today's generations are galvanized by 9/11.

We have a particular privilege this Sunday: The Rev. Tom Murphy will be with us as Guest Preacher and Celebrant, for a special service remembering September 11 and those who died. He is a gifted preacher. Please call the Church Office, 973-256-5020, by Thursday, to submit the names of those you wish to have remembered.

Please come; bring your memories, hopes, losses, and dreams for the future to God, and find the blessing.

Fairbairn+

This week:
September 5, Monday: Labor Day: Office closed
September 6, Tuesday: Needlecrafters meet, 1 PM
Vestry meets, 7:30 PM
September 8, Thursday: Safeguarding God's Children training, 1 PM
September 10, Saturday: Safeguarding God's Children training, 9 AM
September 11, Sunday: Memorial Service at 10AM with
Guest Preacher Tom Murphy
Coffee Hour follows.

We are collecting clothing and gift cards for a family who lost their house (and everything in it) in an explosion during the flood.

Food this week for the St. Paul's Food Pantry: canned meat and fish, canned vegetables

Hurricane Irene aftermath Week

2011-08-30T17:46:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-08-24T14:07:00.000-07:00

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!!

2011-08-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-09T07:10:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-08-01T06:07:00.000-07:00

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 +

Summertime -- and a week with a Taize and Healing Service

2011-07-26T09:19:00.000-07:00

We all slow down a bit for the summer: time at the Shore, time at cottages. (This is just before the August "rev up for school" season hits.)

First sign of "rev up:" Nicole Dilkes will have gift cards available for our use in buying school and fall needs. Please remember that St. Agnes' receives a percentage of your card purchases, so this is a way to support our mission and ministry without it costing you anything.

Coming up in August: our Vacation Bible School, which we do with the Methodist and Reformed churches in Little Falls, will be August 15-19, 6-8 PM, at the Methodist Church this year, for children from pre-school through elementary. Older youth are helping as Assistant Staff. Thanks to a donor who wishes to remain anonymous, there is no fee for the VBS this year. Call the Church Office, 973-256-5020 for more information on how to register your children.

Another sign: helping others for "rev up" -- we are collecting school supplies and backpacks for the children at St. Peter's Haven, this week and next.

This week:
Tuesday, 1:00 PM Needlecrafters meet in the library.
7:00 PM Communications Committee meets in the library.
Wednesday, 7:30 PM Taize Service with Healing Prayer in the church.*
Sunday, 10:00 AM Children's Chapel and Family Eucharist, followed by
Coffee Hour

* What's a Taize Service? A simple, reflective service of chants, prayers, scripture, and silence, drawn from the ecumenical religious community founded at Taize, in France. It takes about 30 minutes, and will bring your day to a peaceful, grounded close.

If you're looking for ways to be more grounded in God, consider coming for the presentation, "Spiritual Practices: The Prequel", to be held at St. Agnes' on Wednesday, August 17, from 6-8 PM. See the Diocesan Web Page, or call the Church Office for information on how to register.

Peace,

SFP+