Contacts: Church office at 802-253-7578, Fr. Rick Swanson at 802-760-7787, Deacon Zarina at 802-535-7117 or Senior Warden, Dick Kraemer at 802-888-5880.
Thank you for your continuing support and generosity to St. John’s in the Mountains through your weekly, monthly or quarterly pledge.
To donate toward your pledge, to the plate, to help with the discretionary fund or to support a special ministry, just click:
DONATE. ONLINE
Note: Online, enter your special gift purpose at prompt:
“Add Special Instructions to the Seller:”.
DONATE BY MAIL
St. John’s in the Mountains, P.O. Box 1175 , Stowe, VT 05672
Whether you are mailing a check or donating online, please indicate if your gift is your pledge or a gift for a special purpose.Liturgical Schedule
Sunday, January 10, 2021
Celebrant — The Rev. Rick Swanson
Deacon and Preacher — The Rev. Zarina Suárez O’Hagin
Intercessor and Lay Minister — Nancy Johnson
Lectors — Courtney Olmsted and Jerry Wood
PowerPoint Service Technician — Peter Johnson
Welcoming in the New Year!
“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, ‘it will be happier.’”
Alfred Lord Tennyson
“Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.”
Heller Keller
“There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
C.S. Lewis
And, of course Oprah:
“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.”
Sunday, January 10, 2021 Sermon
Bill Robinson
CHECK SCHEDULE BELOW INCLUDING
KNITTERS AND SPIRITUALITY GROUPS ZOOM MEETINGS
Week’s Schedule
See Meeting and Service Zoom Log In Information Below
TUESDAY, January 12, 2021
Pastoral Care Group at 1:00pm
Zoom Knitters’ Group at 7:00pm
WEDNESDAY, January 13, 2021
Zoom Lunch this week at 12:00pm
Lectionary Study at 6:30pm
Compline at 8:00pm
THURSDAY, January 14, 2021
Spirituality Group at 10:00am
SUNDAY, January 17, 2021
Sunday Service at 10:00am followed by a
Greater Stowe Interfaith Community MLK Jr. Panel Discussion at 4:00pm
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TUESDAY, January 19
Preacher’s Guild at 9:30am
Development Review Board (DRB) Meeting at 5:00pm
TUESDAY, January 26
Vestry Meeting at 6:00pm
SUNDAY, January 31
Annual Meeting
Proposed 2021 St. John’s Budget
From Janet Patching, Treasurer:
I also put two explanatory asterisks on the slides for the questions asked today.
I had the Music expenses mixed up.
Non Clergy OTHER is the recording and production fee we pay for our music.
Additional Liturgical expense is where the Zoom fees are allocated which is why that was over budget for 2020. That is noted on the relevant slides inside the presentation also.
From Sr. Warden Dick Kraemer:
There is a 1/19/2021, 5:00 pm DRB meeting. Within the meeting the proposed change to the Farmer’s Market location and driveway configuration will be discussed. We are all encouraged to attend. Information will be posted on Click here to see the agenda and Zoom access information. To submit written position use smcshane@stoweevt.gov. The Vestry will be submitting a written document and attending.
Presiding Bishop condemns ‘coup attempt’ at US Capitol
Churchwide, bishops respond with statements and prayer services
The Vestry’s Schedule and planning as approved at the 12/8/2021 Vestry Meeting for the open budget conversation 1/10/2021 and Annual Meeting on 1/31/2021.
Due to our reliance on ZOOM during this pandemic, there is a suggested change for the process to be followed at our Annual Meeting. Dick Kraemer and Father Rick proposed that due to the difficulties of using Zoom for official voting meetings, that we alter our process for the Annual Meeting 2021. It is still necessary in order to meet the legal and canonical requirements for Annual Meetings, as well as keep in place our customary open conversations of the budget, we should hold the meetings with the following modifications:
– 1/5 Vestry Meeting Approval of a tentative budget for parish review.
– 1/10/21 Parish conversation (not an annual meeting) via Zoom to review the tentative budget. During this discussion Janet and others will present the tentative 2021 budget. There will also be a presentation of the timeline and modified process to be followed by this year’s annual meeting. A presentation of the plan for the vestry to stay in place for 2021{or until the Annual Meeting can take place in person}, eliminating the elections this January. All current members will stay in place until there is an Annual Congregational Meeting this summer.
– At a special vestry meeting to be held on 1/26/2021, the budget will once again be reviewed, all input from the congregation will be considered and a 2021 budget will be approved.
– The Annual Meeting will be called to Order after the 1/31/2021 service followed by adjournment until our congregation can meet in person. When we reconvene, we will complete the required items, i.e., receiving the yearly budget, electing new vestry members or choosing to extend the current members seats until January 2022, choose diocese delegates; as well as hear reports from the Rector, Wardens and Committee Chairs as needed.
We look forward to an open conversation on 1/10/2021 as the Vestry gathers the views of the congregational membership. In advance, I wish to thank Bill and Max for their successful Stewardship Drive and Janet and her financial wizards for the tireless work on putting together a 2021 proposed budget. Also, thanks to the Vestry members and our guests for attending our regular meetings and the many special meetings.
A Dialogue on Race, Faith and Justice
Spiritual Justice Lessons:
What We Have Learned from MLK, Jr.
A Dialogue on Race, Faith and Justice
With six local advocates for social justice in the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sunday, January 17, 2021 — 4:00pm — free & open to all
Zoom registration link (register anytime through the end of the event):
Please see stjohnsinthemountains.org for more information
Sponsor is Greater Stowe Interfaith Coalition:
Baha’i Faith, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church,
Jewish Community of Greater Stowe,
St. John’s in the Mountains Episcopal Church,
Stowe Community Church, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Stowe
Sharing and Caring . . .
stowebeautiful
Did you know that Mark Vandenberg is a fabulous photographer? Enjoy viewing a few of his beautiful photos below and then visit his Facebook page:
Parish friends, Al and Claire Stefanik are looking to rent a two bedroom home in the Lamoille region for three months over the summer. If you have a place to rent or know of a location, please email or call Fr. Rick at
rick@stjohnsinthemountains.org or 802-760-7787
St. John’s Church Directory
If you would like a copy of the updated St. John’s Church Directory, please send email with your request to Barbara Cunningham. The Directory will be sent to you via email. If you need a printed copy of the directory, just let Barbara know and she will print and mail you a copy.
Finally, if you see errors or omissions, please let Barbara know so a correction can be made. Thank you.
Thank you to everyone who has donated cloth-es. Bidi reports that Shalom Shuk manager, Karen is so very grateful to St. John’s for its continuing support ministering to the area population of refugees.
Note . . . Yes, Shalom Shuk is NOW taking household goods as well as clothing.
Please call Bidi at (802)279-6838 before dropping off clothing donations (enclosed in plastic bags) to Bidi’s home:
433 Elmore Mountain Road, Stowe, VT 05672
If you are in the Burlington area, drop your donation off:
Located behind Ohavi Zedek Synagogue,
Shalom Shuk, The Marketplace of Peace 188 North Prospect Street, Burlington, VT (802)373-4784
Shalom Shuk is open Sunday to Friday from 11am to 3:50pm (except on Jewish holidays).
Lamoille Community House
We are expecting an extremely busy season this year for a couple of reasons:
Unemployment in our community is at an all-time high.
Individuals who may have been able to temporarily stay with family or friends may not be welcome during COVID-19.
Seasonal shelters in other parts of northern and central Vermont are not reopening this year, and we are already receiving referrals from outside of Lamoille County.
Hotel vouchers will only be available if shelter beds are full.
So, as we get ready for the winter ahead, we have made some important changes at the shelter to ensure that our guests and staff remain safe, healthy, and well cared for.
Most importantly, we are working hard to keep our doors open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In past years, we have closed the shelter during the day and provided guests with transportation to Morrisville for appointments. Given that many of these buildings and services will be closed for in-person meetings, we have applied for a permit to remain open 24/7. Stay tuned! Physical Space
As a communal space, we have had to make some changes to ensure physical distancing. Each individual sleeping area will be separated by a plastic divider. In addition to a clean bed, each guest will have a small table for taking meals within their space. We will not have a communal table for meals, but will instead have individual seating, appropriately spaced in the common area so that guests may watch TV or converse with one another. The kitchen will be accessible by only one guest at a time, with strict cleaning protocols after each use.
Masks Required
Guests and staff will be required to wear masks indoors at all times EXCEPT when they are in their individual sleeping area. Social distancing will be encouraged at all times.
Meals: Dinner Donations on Hold
Regrettably, we are not able to accept dinner donations at the moment. We are so appreciative of the many people who took time to prepare and share meals with guests and hope to resume as soon as it is safe to do so!
In the meantime, guests will be provided with three, nourishing meals per day and access to any leftover food we have available.
Wish List
Our wish list looks a little different this year too! Here are a few things we could use for the 2020-2021 season:
50 clear plastic shower curtains (to be used as dividers between sleeping areas)
We are 100% confident that we can create a warm, safe, and welcoming place for our guests even given the restrictions of COVID-19. It’s not going to be the same this year (what is??), but we will rally around our neighbors who need help and serve them with the kindness, dignity, and respect they deserve.
From Roger Nicholls
Prayers
Please keep Carole Younkman, Jan Tichansky and her children Peter, Janet, Ann, Joan and David; Kristen Wells; Gail, Zarina’s mother; Ethel; Bidi; Sarah Morse’s nephew, David Sullivan; Paul, Lindsey; Leslie; Louise; Peter Beck; Ken Squire; Elizabeth Hoffman and individuals who have contracted Covid-19 and their families. Please pray for the nation and a peaceful transition of power.
From SJW Editor: Please email or call Barbara Cunningham with additions or deletions to the Prayer List
cunningham.barbara@gmail.com or 802-253-3911
Sunday Zoom Worship 10:00am
The new, required passcode for all ZOOM worship services is 802.
Please join St. John’s in the Mountains worship in community each Sunday at 10:00 am.
You may login every Sunday at 9:30 AM and stay online for a virtual Coffee Hour until 12 noon.
Join Zoom Meeting press here for joining by computer:
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,86500452806#,,,,,,0#,,802# US (New York)
Zoom Lunch / Chat ~ Wednesday at 12:00pm Noon
EVERYONE WELCOME!
Come to lunch at noon. Sign onto Zoom, sit down with a sandwich and beverage and enjoy an informal chat with Fr. Rick and friends at St. John’s and from communities near and far. (Hosted by the Pastoral Care Group)
The new, required passcode for all ZOOM meetings at St. John’s is 802.
One tap mobile +19292056099,,82121328314#,,,,,,0#,,802# US (New York)
Birthdays & Anniversaries in January
Birthdays
December 28 — Mara Siegel
January 2 — Warren Azano
January 2 — Reagan Vandenberg
January 7 — Bev Freda
January 11 — Jan Tichansky
January 14 — Roger Nicholls
January 16 — Hank Kessler
January 20 — Emily Bland
January 21 — Rich Reed
January 23 — Eileen Kraemer
Anniversaries
January 16 — Judy Pendell & Warren Azano
If you want to add your birthday or anniversary dates to the Church listing, please see Barbara Cunningham or email to cunningham.barbara@gmail.com.
Parish Contacts
If you have questions or concerns about our parish, or have a pastoral emergency, please contact:
2020 Officers and Members of the Vestry Dick Kraemer (Senior Warden), Janet Patching (Treasurer), Maria Davies, Bill Robinson, Jerry Wood, Courtney Olmsted
St. John’s in the Mountain Church | 1994 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT 05672
For immediate release to the St. John’s on the Mountains Congregation – an important update!
After an emergency meeting of the Vestry held last Wednesday on March 11, (all meetings by Zoom) and a work session held on Friday, March 13, we had an emergency meeting at 6 PM on March 17, 2020, that was attended by the full Vestry, our Priest, our Theologian in Residence, our treasurer and assistant treasurer, three members of Outreach, one additional member of the Congregation and a guest, Greg Stefanski, from Capstone Community Action.
The upshot of all of the meetings was the conclusion that, consistent with the St. John’s in the Mountains Mission, that we should make every effort to help mitigate the income loss that many in our Lamoille Communities are suffering because of the current health crisis. In that effort:
1. We approved a working relationship with Capstone Community Action (CCA) and approved a $20,000 grant from the Ann Orlov Outreach Endowment Fund to establish a “Community Fund to Mitigate Income Loss due to the Coronavirus in Lamoille County” for income reimbursement due to the current health crisis
2. CCA will evaluate all applications and pursue appropriate background research to determine assistance needed to cover household costs (utilities, food, etc.) and determine loss of employment and reason for loss for the basis of Community Fund grants.
3. All sources of assistance (need-specific, federal and state funds, unemployment funds, etc.) will be used before Community Fund monies would be allocated.
4. CCA will reach out to other community partners (faith-based and secular) and individuals to invite them to contribute to the fund with the understanding that our gift is the seed monies of the fund.
Your Vestry: Dick Kraemer Sr. Warden, Bill Robinson People’s Warden, Members, Courtney Olmsted, Maria Davies, Jerry Wood and our Priest, Father Rick Swanson
Presiding Bishop condemns ‘coup attempt’ at US Capitol
Shalom Shuk, The Marketplace of Peace
