Annual Meeting conversationSaint Andrew's-in-the-Valley Thursday MEMO
February 3, 2011
This coming Sunday, February 6th, we will have ONE service only at 9 AM. We hope you will join us for worship and that you will stay for coffee hour and an open conversation about Outreach and Mission, led by Duane Dale. Where do we want to focus our support for the coming year? How are we called to address the MDGs (the United Nations goals towards reducing global poverty)? All voices are welcome. (Yes, I know it's Super Bowl Sunday. Consider this your warm-up!)
Annual Meeting Follow-up: We had a lively, well-attended liturgy, parish brunch, and Annual Meeting last Sunday. Thank you to all who brought food to share and to our kitchen crew from Parish Life Committee who set it out and did the clean-up.
We now have three new Vestry members: Bob Seston, George Rau, and Phil Wallick (summer), and two new Delegates to Convocation and Convention: Cathie Lewis and George Rau.Continuing in their previous positions are Sammie Wakefield, Sally DeGroot, Gretchn Behr, and Jonathan Brady as officers. Judy Grace, Carol Tubman, and Frank Lombardi as Vestry members, and Bruce Kennedy and Kaitlyn Marshall as our Delegates to Convocation and Convention. I hope you will thank them all for their willingness to serve.
If you missed last Sunday's meeting, do remember to pick up your copy of the Annual Report. Affiliate members: Your copies are in your parish mail boxes. If you would like it mailed to you, please let us know. It is also available on the web site.
The snow storm caused cancellations of various parish meetings that are now in the process of being rescheduled. Check with your committee chairs for dates and times of the next meeting.
Readings for Sunday: Isaiah 58!-9, Psalm 112:1-9, 1 Corinthians 2:1-12, Matthew 5:13-20
Food for thought: As I mentioned last Sunday in homily/rector's report, the ability and willingness to listen deeply to each other, perhaps especially when there are significant differences in opinion, is at the heart of meaningful relationships and a healthy, diverse community. The following poem by John Fox came to me this week from a dear friend and I offer it to you:
When Someone Deeply Listens to You
When someone deeply listens to you,
the room where you stay
starts a new life.
...and the place where you wrote
your first poem
begins to glow in your mind's eye.
If it is as if gold has been discovered.
When someone listens to you,
your bare feet are on the earth
and a beloved land that seemed distant
is now at home within you.
Blessings, all!
See you in church.
Heidi+
