Newsleeks

A newsletter for St. David of the Hills Episcopal Church

January 15, 2012

 Newsleeks is published on the fifteenth of each month. We welcome your suggestions for announcements and other items of interest that you would like to see covered. Contact Charlie Vervalin, Editor, at 687-7646 or chvervalin@earthlink.net.

 

Living Faith Circle

            Join us at 11:15 a.m., after the Sunday fellowship gathering, for Living Faith Circle’s open discussion. The weekly LFC sessions deal with various subjects related to Biblical truths and spiritual growth.

            Please direct any questions or requests regarding LFC topics to Marcia Ford (chair, Faith Formation Committee), 352-5765 or ford2200@gmail.com.

           Leaders regularly scheduled for LFC are: first Sunday, Charlie Vervalin,; second Sunday, Marcia Ford; third Sunday, Karen Lege; fourth Sunday, Marcia Ford (until a regular leader for the fourth week is determined); fifth Sunday (when there is one), a potluck meal will be served right after the worship service. No LFC on that day.

 

Attend Annual Meeting on January 29

By Carolynne Forster, Senior Warden

     The St. David’s Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 29, right after the worship service. For the accompanying luncheon, bring a potluck dish to share. Prior to the meeting you will receive, by e-mail, the Annual Report. But please plan to attend the meeting. The Vestry will be prepared to answer your questions about any aspect of the Parish’s business and activities. Moreover, the Diocese requires that a quorum of parish members be present in order to hold Vestry elections and transact other business.

Bell-Ringing Program a Huge Success

     A sizable group of St. David’s folk rang the Salvation Army charity-kettle bells during the holidays.   

      The red kettles, placed at the entrances to Walmart and City Market, took in $26,411, about $2,500 more than in 2010. This figure does not include a gold coin valued at about $500, which an anonymous donor contributed, wrapped in a twenty-dollar bill. All of the money will be used for charitable purposes in Teller County.

      Don Butzlaff worked tirelessly to organize and coordinate the St. David’s effort. He also played an over-all role in helping the Woodland Park Rotary Club sponsor the bell-ringing program. As a result, Rotary named him “Bell Ringer of the Year,” and he was given a beautiful plaque as an expression of appreciation. Congratulations, Don.

     Rotary also presented to St. David’s a certificate reading: “In Appreciation of Your Support to the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign, from Pikes Peak Rotary Club—for Doing the Most Good.”  

Pastoral Care Update

     Please keep everyone informed of who is receiving pastoral care, the nature of the care, etc. For this to work, parishioners should let a pastoral care committee member know what’s going on in that regard. Committee members are Charlie Vervalin, Sue Congiardo and Anne Cowles.

     Ministering for pastoral care is, by definition, such things as visiting or phoning an ill person or even sending them a note or card; also helping someone with a need such as transportation to the doctor’s office; caring for someone’s animals or domicile when they cannot do it; doing domestic chores for a person who is indisposed, etc. In other words, any helping-hand activity is pastoral care.

     With such information about who is pastoring whom (also why, when and how) we can maintain an accounting of all such activities. This will let the entire parish know, but should also inspire others to become involved in pastoring.

 

Have an Announcement for Tidbits?

     If you have a message or announcement for Tidbits, please contact Anne Cowles at anne.st.davids@gmail.com. Anything that parishioners should know about upcoming events is fair game. IMPORTANT: please submit your info by noon Tuesday. And kindly take the initiative to inform Anne of what should be published. Announcements are of great value to our parish, but she cannot always know what needs to be publicized.

 

Sanctuary and Altar Flowers Glorify God

      Experience the satisfaction of purchasing flowers in celebration of a special event in your life or that of a loved one. Sign up for flower donations on the bulletin-board chart next to the food table. Please give your $25 check to Nancy Congiardo or place it in the offering basket on any Sunday, with a note that the money is for flowers—and the date. The flowers will be given to you after the service. Thanks to the Altar Guild for preparing the beautiful bouquet arrangements.

       Special thanks to those who donated poinsettias to decorate the sanctuary during the holidays.

      We appreciate all who help to beautify our church and thus glorify God.

       Blessings to all of you for your generosity.

          

Make Prayer Requests Known

      St. David’s values the opportunity to pray for your family and friends during the Prayers of the People portion of the Sunday worship service. Prayers for these people will also be offered by individual parishioners during the week. Write the names of persons for whom you seek prayer on the Prayer Request sheet, which is in the Parish Hall on the table next to the nametags board.

      Please pray for those on the current prayer list, which is published in the weekly Tidbits. (Tidbits is included as a supplement to the bulletin that you receive at Sunday services.  It is also sent to everyone on the St. David’s e-mail list).

 

Thrift House Needs You

      There is an ongoing need for volunteers from St. David’s to help at the ECW Thrift House (TH), a charity-based Colorado Springs retail shop.

      Persons who have recently served and are scheduled to serve, are: Georgina Boysen, Michele Dexter and Sue Congiardo.

      More help is needed. Please sign up on the bulletin board located next to the church entry door. (Shifts are on the second Saturday of every month from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Additional information can be obtained from Michele Dexter at 330-8680 or ecw.stdavidofthehills.com; and also from TH, at 632-5278.

      ECW (Episcopal Church Women) of the Pikes Peak Region operates this non-profit retail store. All income is shared proportionately among forty different charitable organizations.

      All types of merchandise are sold by TH, and clothing vouchers are available through each Episcopal church, which provides assistance to missionary organizations and those in need.

      TH has an outstanding reputation and has served the community since 1958.

      Donations are gently used re-saleable items, and all contributions are tax deductible.

            

Well Deserved ‘Thank You’s’ . . .

• Thank you to the 4-H Foundation for financial support of St. David’s. Thanks also to visitors from San Antonio who placed a very large donation in the offering basket on Christmas Eve.
• St. David’s parishioners provided fifteen Christmas gifts to needy children at Gateway Elementary School. Thanks to Lonnie and Ann Davidson for organizing this charitable effort.
• Our members donated twenty- five pounds of food and household item to Community Cupboard, in December—plus a $100 check from an individual member. Thank you, on behalf of CC.
• Thank you to Michele Dexter for playing piano at the worship services, in the absence of our regular and much-appreciated organist, Georgina Boysen.
• Thank you to everyone who helped to green the church for the holidays and helped to de-green everything and clean the church, after the holidays.

• John Ford has offered to reorganize and classify, for easy location and access, the books and literature on the bookshelf in the fellowship hall. Thank you for doing this for the parish, John. St. David’s has long had a need for this.
• Fred Lege deserves a thank you for coordinating the ongoing collection and mailing of boxes of goodies for St. David’s own soldier (Paul Davies) and his fellow troops. And thanks, too, for all who have, and will, participate in this.
• Thank you to Anne Cowles for preparing the beautiful Christmas Eve service (72 attended) and the bulletin, and for coordinating the very special music. This was a HUGE task for Anne, requiring many hours.
• Thank you to the worship assistants for the Christmas Eve service, and to those who provided pies for the post-service fellowship.
• Thank you to Janie Hessong for taking over the scheduling of the monthly ECW dinners. Locations and dates are posted on the bulletin board next to the church entrance.
• Thank you to those who have been cleaning the church. Want to help? There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board next to the food-table in the fellowship hall.
• Fr. Fred Poteet, director at Cathedral Ridge, has graciously offered to take the Eucharist to anyone from our parish that is homebound. He will also offer spiritual counseling (limited to a few sessions per person, due to diocesan policy) to individuals, for a nominal donation. Contact Marcia Ford for more info: 352-5765 or ford2200@gmail.com. Thank you, Fr. Fred.

 

Make Yourself Heard

       Want to address the Vestry? St. David’s Vestry meetings are held to conduct all of the parish’s business. If you wish to address the Vestry, or to simply “sit in” on a meeting to see what typically occurs, you are welcome to attend. But please let Senior Warden Carolynne Forster or any Vestry member know in advance. Meetings are usually held on the first Wednesday of the month, starting at 5:30 p.m.

                  What Did Newsleeks Miss?

       Did Newsleeks fail to publish something that should have been included? Please contact Charlie Vervalin at 687-7646 or chvervalin@earthlink.net. An addendum can be mailed separately to include the information. Thanks.

 

St. David’s Vestry and Committee Chairs*

Carolynne Forster:  Senior Warden and Clerk

Don Butzlaff: Co-Junior Warden

Dick Lass: Co-Junior Warden

Charlie Vervalin: Fellowship/Pastoral Care

Joan Simmons: Stewardship

Lonnie Davidson:  Treasurer

Marcia Ford: Faith Formation

Nancy Congiardo: Assistant Treasurer

Jane Lass: Worship

 

*Please see the Church Directory for phone numbers and e-mail addresses. Copies are available on the Fellowship Room bookshelf.