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We Make Plans and God Laughs?
It just so happens that this Sunday’s anthem offered by our wonderful choir is a rendition of the familiar hymn “Seek Ye First”.
Once again, we are reminded that our most faithful decisions arise from seeking, taking steps, listening, and being open to redirection.
We can meander down that rerouting path aimlessly. Or we can hold on to the seek-ye-first vision and find the divine hand guiding our steps; often in ways that were not what we imagined.
As most of you know, after months of due diligence and consideration, we finally presented a visual of our re-imagined front steps. We have already raised over $90,000 in leadership gifts (thanks to some of you) and have started working on potential grants (thanks to Margo Terwilliger and Jim Rains!)
As your Vestry knows, that Sept. 20 presentation caught the eagle eye of parishioner Nick Payne, who discovered a problem with the engineering figures. (God bless you, Nick!) The actual grading of the slope was much steeper than presented. Rather than bemoan the glitch, or take even more time going back to the drawing board, we pivoted to a safer design – similar to what was presented, however requiring some steps.
“Not my will, but thy will be done.” the ultimate act of trust, praying for divine wisdom and purpose over personal comfort or fear. We are now moving forward with a modified design.
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We move forward to zoning and getting bids on this revised design now because:
- We long for this welcoming front entrance and have been quite patient in the process.
- Your Vestry has done considerable due diligence around improved construction materials and design (less porous and better draining).
- The revised design mitigates against winter weather slips and falls.
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We have enthusiastic appreciation for our presence on the Green and the new design for our front entrance from Preservation Connecticut and have been invited to apply for a significant Barlow Grant that is due in December. Bids for the work must go out now.
I, for one, am grateful and I deeply honor the patient and courageous decisions made by your Wardens, Treasurer, and Vestry, to take all of this into account and make the call, so that we can move forward. I pray that all of you will be as visibly and vocally supportive as well.
We started with a need (safer front steps that did not require ongoing expensive annual repairs) and a vision:
doing whatever is necessary to re-create an outward and visible sign of God’s inward spiritual grace, that – we seek and pray and act – is the essence of St. John’s Episcopal Church in New Milford, CT.
May God's grace continue to work in and through us.
Blessings,
Rev. Lisa
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Last Sunday (Oct. 11) we kicked off our annual Stewardship/Pledge Drive campaign for operational expenses - the time of year when we take stock of the importance our parish home - St. John's, New Milford, Ct. - in our lives.
This year’s theme is “Rise Up and Build”— a call to come together, strengthen our parish family and build a future filled with faith, hope and purpose.
To get us started thinking about what St. John's means to us, Stewardship co-chair Nikki Young took a "Ministry Moment' to share with us the role St. John's and the parish family play in her life and to get us to start thinking about how we can all use our time, unique talents and our treasure in the coming year to fulfill that promise of a faithful, hopeful, purposeful future.
After the service, we headed upstairs to the Parish Hall to the luckiest of potlucks. We thank all who attended and all who contributed to a bountiful spread.
Below are photos of the pie chart of expenses we incurred in 2025 fulfilling our mission and hosting the ministries of our guest building users, as well as a list of things we and our guest hosts do to better the town and world around us.
Pledge cards will be in the mail box next week. Extras will be available at church starting Oct. 25.
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Celebrating Bonnie
On Saturday, Oct. 3 , we celebrated the life of long-time parishioner Bonnie Lawrence, who passed away on Aug. 3 of this year.
A crowd of 200 people came to pay tribute to Bonnie, who was well known and much loved at St. John's and throughout the New Milford community.
After the service for Bonnie a friend of hers named Pamela wrote on our church Facebook page: "The service for Bonnie was fitting. Faith, love, friends, family, kindness. All of that represents Bonnie."
We could't agree more.
A special thanks to all who helped with the reception afterward and thanks to Flora Quammie for the accompanying photo.
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YOUTH GROUP FOR ALL AGES
Pumpkin and Apple Picking
at March Farm
160 Munger Ln, Bethlehem, CT
Sunday Oct. 25
meet at the Farm at 3:30 pm
For more information reach out Jen Kamp
| To Support St. Johns AND Literacy Volunteers on the Green! | | |
***Due to an almost sold-out evening
a THIRD seating has been added***
A Coldplay Musical/Candlelight Experience
Coming to New Milford
at St. John’s
Saturday, Nov. 14
3 seatings: 4, 6 & 8 pm
Click here to book your tickets A Coldplay Candlelight Experience
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Next Food Collection - Oct. 21
Our next food drop-off will be Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to noon.
The food will be delivered to Our Daily Bread Food Bank.
We're in front of the church to collect your donations of non-perishable foods and personal-care items on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.
Please remember that you can always bring in food on Sunday mornings and place your offerings in the donation baskets behind the last pew in the church.
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Men's Night Out - Oct. 27
The St. John's Men's Group will gather for their monthly night out on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 6:00 p.m.
They'll be going to The Abbey. See their menu here.
If you'd like to join us, please email Bill Kamp here.
| | From the Episcopal Church | | |
For Those Wondering
Where The Episcopal Church (TEC) Stands
on Civil Engagment
From the TEC Website
Why Engage?
We believe it is a duty of Christians to care for our neighbors in all ways—those we come across in our daily lives and those whose lives we have the opportunity to shape through our advocacy.
Our theology challenges us to love the world without succumbing to its unhealthy patterns. One way we do this is by seeking to transform the world’s injustices in pursuit of the flourishing we believe God intends for all of creation.
As we carry out civic engagement, we aim to build strong partnerships and deepen our relationships. We build communion with those around us, especially those who are suffering. These connections help us offer the world a vision of Christianity that is redemptive and restorative: a way of hope, peace, love and joy.
We believe that all people bear God’s image and should be treated with dignity. The revelation of Jesus Christ’s life, death and resurrectio compels us “to seek justice, freedom and the necessities of life for all people,” as stated in our catechism (p. 848).
Wherever you live in the world, there are many ways to engage—at the local and community level, in your state or province, or to your national government.
We invite Episcopalians to learn about how they can live out their faith, serve others and work to support Gospel values. You can support your neighbors through engaging in ministries, urging support for siblings around the Anglican Communion and The Episcopal Church and advocating to your elected officials.
Why engage? Because, as our catechism says, “all people are worthy of respect and honor, because all are created in the image of God and all can respond to the love of God” (p. 846).
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Presiding Bishop Calls the Now-Cancelled Plan to Live Stream Execution 'Reprehensible in the Extreme'
President Donald Trump said Thursday his administration has cancelled U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to live stream the military firing-squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan.
Bipartisan backlash against the plan led to the decision to cancel the live stream.
Among those who pushed back agsinst the original plan to make the execution available for viewing was Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe.
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Join us at 5 p.m .for a service of beautiful music, inspiring words, and Holy Communion in the language of the Celtic Christian tradition led by the Rev. Tuesday Rupp, and accompanied by Pete Miserendino on guitar- our friends from St Paul's, Woodbury.
Contemporary and contemplative, a beautiful offering to God.
Following worship, join us at 6:15 p.m. for dinner - a time of community, conversation, and wonderful food!
Come for worship and-stay for dinner, or just come for dinner. Your choice. All are welcome!
In lieu of a ticket price for dinner, we welcome your generous donation at the table. All proceeds will go the CW Campership Fund, offering need-based financial assistance to our campers and retreatants.
Gather your family, organize a parish carpool or extend an invitation to a neighbor and make plans to join us at camp.
The event runs from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Registration is required.
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Prayers for The Ill, Homebound or Those In Need
For parishioners: Andy Cabell, Bob Lawrence, Carolyn King, Pat Greenspan and Paul Talaska.
For family: Andy (brother of Carolyn King), Theodora (mother of Tamara Wallace), Christine (daughter of Paul Manfredi); Brendan (family member of Donna Sullivan), Gary (uncle of Amie Altemus), Maureen (sister of Margo Terwilliger), Linda (niece of Herb St. Jean), Artie (brother-in-law of Paul Manfredi).
and friends: Debbie (Paul Talaska's caregiver), John, Vanessa, Steve and Sandy (friends of Jim and Linda Rains), Dawn, Christian, Lynn (friends of Paul Manfredi); Rich and Jeanne (friends of Estelle Tortora), Holly, Tessa, Johanna and Rich (friends of Carolyn King), Steward, Maria, Dennis and Douglas, Mark and family (friends and family of Lise Smith).
Remembering the people of the Ukraine and the Middle East. For the lives lost and the lives upended by war, including members of the military.
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The next regular issue of St. John's Connects will be published on Nov. 6.
If you have something to share in the next newsletter, please send the info to Ron Vallo by Wednesday, Nov. 4.
| | Ya Say It's Your Birthday! | | |
Upcoming Birthdays
Brad Kamp (10/18); Parker Deppen (10/19); Lise Smith (10/20); Annie Hartman (10/24); Karen Larson (10/25); Paul Talaska (10/26); Joshua Violette (10/27); Sam Shackelford (10/6);
Jens Larsen (10/10); Amanda Colarusso (10/13);Tim McQueen (10/15); James McQueen (10/16)
Anniversaries
Brad and Jen Kamp (10/20)
Congrats to all who are celebrating!
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OUR MISSION STATEMENT
We are committed to creating a welcoming, safe space for all people to explore life’s big questions and cultivate fellowship. This commitment stems from our understanding that God loves us all for who we are, and we invite you to explore that truth with us.
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