A Time of Grand-Loving & Grand-Blessings
In this Epistle we continue our September series on “What I Did This Summer.” St. John’s parishioner Courtenay Altaffer shares her story of summertime with grandchildren.
Enjoy!
Torrence
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“What I did this summer”
This summer I spent a fair amount of time sitting grandchildren - some of my own and some of my sister's! Twice I kept my great nephews - Will, age 4, and his older brother, Robert, age 8, while their mother was at a meeting in Tapphannock. This is not an unusual occurrence! My nieces and nephews call it "Cooks' Camp" as I am known as Cooks to them all. The first time, their grandmother was away and the boys came for the day by themselves. We made cookies, met Great Uncle Gwynne for lunch at Hardees followed by ice cream at Bubba's. Then back down to the river for Big Bubbles. The day was humid with a light breeze from the river. Perfect conditions! A large bucket of very soapy water plus glycerin and two big wands to make giant bubbles with....large enough that Will was able to put his whole self inside of one! Of course we finished up by enjoying the cookies we had made. The second time Will and Robert and their mother spent the night with me. My granddaughter Grace, age 9, had arrived several days earlier. The next day, their older cousins, Tayloe (age 13) and Thomas (age 11) came to join in the fun. Grace had her friend Exie over for the afternoon. She and Exie had met at St. Margaret's Day Camp last summer and found out that Exie's grandmother has a cottage down the road from me. The
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boys fished off the end of their grandmother's dock next door to me - and caught a crab! Someone found a minnow in a trap and Will was happy playing with it in the kiddie pool. The girls would come and inspect the fish, but mostly played on the porch where it was much cooler.
I was also "permitted" upon occasion to take care of my youngest grandchild who was born on March 27. This is a first child for my son, Lawrence, and his wife and they have all the worries that new parents have when leaving a young one with anyone else. I have to remind Lawrence that I did raise him and he survived just fine! He must believe me because I'm taking care of this child again in a few weeks while his parents fly to California for a friend's wedding.
making fish faces
The highlight of summer for me was having Grace come stay by herself for three weeks. This was a first for her. Most every summer since she was very little, she and her mother have come for a couple of weeks. But this summer it was just Grace. Grace is very special to me - not only is she my only granddaughter, but she is named for the only grandmother I ever knew and whom I adored. We all love our grandchildren, but when you can have an extended visit with them on their own, they do crawl into your heart in such a very special way. We collected almost a quart of cicada shells. We lay out on the river bank to see the stars and look for comets. I taught her how to drive the riding lawnmower and that naps have value (you can stay up later!). We worked on a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle. Together we cooked our suppers - one of Grace's favorite TV shows being "Master Chef Jr." We baked cookies and made banana bread. I'm quite sure we went through almost a whole container of baby powder - all ladies, young and old, require powder following a bath during the hot, muggy Northern Neck summers. She came to
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church with me each Sunday, meeting Miriam Sisson the first Sunday of her visit and Eva Milsted the last Sunday of her visit. Miriam and the Sissons invited Grace to go out on the river and, later in the week, to the Richmond County Fair. Grace felt like she had met her soul mate. When we had to say goodbye, Grace and I were both a bit weepy - but she said she looked forward to coming again next summer to see me and her new friend Miriam as well as getting to know Eva. And I - I hope I have given her memories and some wisdom. There are things my grandmother taught me that I have never forgotten...may Grace say the same of me when she is my age.
Courtenay Tayloe Altaffer
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Sunday focus on Grandparenting
This coming Sunday when Bishop Jones will be with our congregations for our Diocese of Virginia bi-annual Episcopal Visitation a grandchild/grandparent duo for confirmation and reaffirmation, respectively, will include Kiersten Saison, a ninth grader at St. Margaret’s and her grandmother, Arline Hinkson, a St. John’s vestry member. A picture of them at our recent preparation meeting is offered here, along with Cherry the family pug “mix” who served as an affirming and approving presence as they prepared for their recommitment vows.
Torrence
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Last Sunday at Farnham & St. John's
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Last Sunday Farnham and St. John’s celebrated National Grandparents Day. Miriam Sisson
(grandchild)
from Farnham and Brenda Harhai
(right)
and Bill and Suzie Sisson (grandparents) led the combined congregations in a short liturgy of Grandparent/Grandchild prayers and blessing. This liturgy is linked
here
and the two prayers of blessing are offered below.
Anne Neuman photograph
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Blessing of Grandchildren
(by a Grandparent)
Dear heavenly Creator, thank you for the lives of our grandchildren that you have so graciously brought into our lives and who give us such joy and pleasure. Our grandchildren are special gifts in our lives. Bless them in their living and their being. Protect them throughout their growing years. Encourage them in faith in your love and your desire that they may live wholesome lives. Bless their inquisitiveness, their wonder of the world around them and their awe of you and your love for them. Help them to love whatever is just, true and good, following the example of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
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Blessing of Grandparents
(by Grandchildren)
Dear Lord, bless our grandparents with long life, happiness, and health. May they remain constant in your love. May their faith in you be a light in our lives. Grant them strength, patience and courage as their years go by. Guide them in wisdom of your ways that they may be your teachers and guides in the lives of their children and grandchildren. Help them to be channels of your grace for us. May they be a sign of your Divine love in our lives and living signs of your presence with us. Bless those grandparents who are no longer with us but watching over us with you. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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Attn:
St. John's ECW members
:
please bring deviled eggs and /or desserts for the bishop's reception on Sunday.
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Reminder to all parishioners:
Don’t forget to bring CANNED FOODS each Sunday. These are being collected for distribution by social services.
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Local Music
At Historic Christ Church:
September 28: Williamsburg's
Wren Masters quartet
will present
Jamestown 1619: Music from the New World and the Old, an interactive journey of eyewitness accounts and period music that transports the audience to the English landing at Jamestown. Music from Elizabethan and Jacobean England alternates with early 17th-century music from the European continent. The superb acoustics of Christ Church make this performance even more unique. Join your fellow volunteers and the public for this special event. Tickets are $35 per person available
here , at the Foundation office, or at the door. 4:00-6:00 pm. Intermission with libations.
If you are looking for live music during your luncheon meal,
NN Burger usually has a musician from 12-3 everyday.
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Music on Water Lane
November 8
The St. Margaret's School Alumnae Association presents
Music on Water Lane,
featuring a chamber ensemble with members from the Northern Neck Orchestra
(including our own Arline Hinkson)
on Friday, November 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Margaret's School gymnasium. VIP tickets are $40 and general admission is $25.
Learn more and purchase tickets by November 1.
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Sunday September 15
th
Holy Communion &
Bishop's Visitation
followed by outdoor reception & luncheon
Joint Congregation service
10:00
a.m. at
Farnham
no service at St. John's
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Sunday September 22
nd
Holy Communion
Joint Congregation service
10:00
a.m. at St. John's
no service at Farnham
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Sunday September 29
th
Morning Prayer
Joint Congregational service
10:00
a.m. at
St. John's
no service at Farnham
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Sunday October 6
th
Blessing of Animals
9:00 a.m. at Farnham
11:00 a.m. at St. John's
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Come Worship With Us
Sunday Service this week
10:00 a.m. St. John's Church
Warsaw, VA
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