St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church Sudbury, Massachusetts January 2015

From Our Rector by The Rev. Barbara Williamson

B y now you have read or heard about the process of inquiry initiated by

the Sudbury Clergy Association in hopes of assessing how we are

doing as a town, particularly with respect to the tenor of public discourse as

citizens and officials engage differences of opinion and approach about

what the right thing is and how best to achieve it. The official press release is located elsewhere

in this edition of the Mantle.

The article in the Sudbury Town Crier for Thursday, December 18, 2014, (http://

sudbury.wickedlocal.com/article/20141216/NEWS/141217714) has led to fear, anxiety, rumors, and anger as well as

interest, hopefulness, and relief. This should come as no surprise. The public discourse around the article mirrors the

public discourse around anything that comes before the town. There will be a variety of responses. This is normal. The

Crier’s news article in many ways raised more questions than it answered. So it is no wonder that the rumor mill is

grinding away.

One source of fear on the part of some is engaging the Harvard Negotiation and Mediation

Clinical Program (HNMCP). Check out their website: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/

hnmcp/. For some it sounds like we are bringing in the big guns to whip Sudbury into

shape. On the contrary, HNMCP is about assessment, inquiry, conflict resolution,

negotiation, mediation, and facilitated dialogue. They will assist all of us to find common

ground. As the HNMCP Director, Robert Bordone has said, “Whenever communities of

care seek our assistance, we approach the work with humility, curiosity, listening, and

deep empathy for all stakeholders. We hope our engagement will identify ways that

community members can better engage their differences with respect and civility.” The

Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts has engage HNMCP for a number of projects.

You might ask how anything significant can be accomplished in the three and a half months from the end of January

through the middle of May. This initial inquiry may give the town the information and tools needed to move forward

unaided. It may also be that a second phase is indicated such that we engage the Harvard Negotiation and Mediation

Clinical Program again, say, next fall or the spring of 2016, to continue the work we have begun together.

The Sudbury Clergy Association, like everyone else, has the best interests of the town at heart. As a group our purpose is

to work for the well-being of the community we all love. We have no other agenda. We are not out to advocate for one

position or another. We simply seek to see what the citizens and town officials might be doing differently or better in the

process of engaging differences of opinion or approach.

And for us at St. Elizabeth’s, is not that our vocation as Christians, to live out our faith in a way that seeks reconciliation

and peace, not at the expense of truth but in pursuit of truth? If we as citizens and town officials cannot find a way to

work together for the good of Sudbury, how can we expect our legislators to work together for the good of the state or

the country? And who knows? Maybe the little movement of good will we start will spread throughout the region and

beyond.

Barbara

The Sudbury Clergy

Association, like everyone

else, has the best interests

of the town at heart. As a

group our purpose is to

work for the well-being of

the community we all

love. We have no other

agenda.

The Mantle January 2015

2

Wardens’ Words by Jeremy Perisho, Co-Warden

We are blessed by the gift that is Christ!

We are blessed in this period of Advent and throughout the year by all the gifts of time, talent and treasures. We had the gifts of celebration with the 100-year anniversary of the construction of the Cram Chapel named for Saint Elizabeth of Hungary and the 50-year anniversary of the construction of Saint Elizabeth’s Church. Several other noteworthy gifts in 2014 were: The first full year of Jack Clark’s Assistant Rectorship, and the myriad activities and

responsibilities she now leads and fulfills The development of the Stephen Ministry Program

Over 50 children participating in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, over 60 youth participating in Journey to Adulthood program and a wildly successful ASP trip

Over 8 baptisms An expanding outreach:

Fill the Ark Heifer Project Blackstone School Soup Kitchen Be Safe o Giving Tree and Ecclesia Ministries

Small groups for adult fellowship, Bible Study, and spiritual deepening. Our amazing efforts of our creative worship team

The re-imagined Ash Wednesday Service for adults and the new Ash Wednesday Service for children The re-imagined Palm Sunday Service Casual outdoor Eucharists and cookouts during July Children’s participation in the 10 AM Sunday Eucharists when there is no church school Backpack Blessing Family friendly service—children helping with Eucharist Tweaks to the services for the Season of Generosity All Saints’ Day: guest preacher Bruce Rockwell; remembrance of loved ones COGS Switcheroo; special chapel Eucharist for Atrium III with Barbara The Longest Night service (Blue Christmas)

Over 20 choir members and musicians, not to mention 10 members of the Youth Choir About 150 families in our church, included 9 new families this year

We welcome the New Year and we welcome all our families to our church. We celebrate the gifts of a compassionate community and the gift that is Jesus.

Jeremy

Save the date!

Mark your Calendar for

St. Elizabeth’s Annual Meeting, Sunday, February 8

following the 10 AM Service

Committee Reports are due on January 9

January 2015 The Mantle

3

O ur December meeting was called to order at 7:00

with an opening devotional led by Jeremy Perisho.

Her devotional invited us to explore risk taking. She

borrowed an exercise from the Mission Institute within the

diocese. We watched a short video about a parish within

the Diocese that stepped outside the bounds of comfort to

welcome at-risk youth into the church for recreation. This

later evolved into an active ministry to young children,

and eventually growth in the overall parish population.

We explored times in our own lives when we felt that we

may have been presented with a risk, and whether we

acted out of comfort or if we extended ourselves outside of

the comfort zone. We also explored times when we felt

welcomed or welcoming and those times when we

possibly could have been more welcoming.

Our discussion transitioned directly to the 2015 budget.

We were given a comprehensive and thoughtful budget

review by Stuart Hamilton, visiting from the Finance

Committee. He was assisted in this presentation by

Treasurer Cheryl Franke and backed up by committee

members Michael Comer and Steve Kenney. Thanks to the

hard work and dedication of a stellar Finance Committee

we were able to vote on and approve the budget as

presented. We were informed by those who have been

around the block a few times that this was the first time in

recent memory that the vestry voted and approved the

budget well in advance of the new fiscal year. Kudos to a

job well done to the team!

After a hymn and a break which included skillfully crafted

Christmas cookies, we moved into the updates portion of

our meeting. Jeremy informed us that all open at-large

positions for the 2015 Vestry have been filled. Youth

Vestry, Convention Delegates and Deanery

Representatives are still pending. Michael updated us on

the Design Committee. He reports that they will be

meeting with architects to review conceptual designs for

the updated worship space in early January.

Barbara wanted to highlight during the Rector's report

how grateful she and the Sudbury Clergy Association feel

to be accepted by the Harvard Negotiation & Mediation

Clinical Program in an attempt to promote civility among

public discourse in the town. Jack updated us on Outreach

and Liturgy activities in her report. There was a small

turnout for the Advent quiet day, but it was well received

by those who attended.

Cheryl reviewed the November financials and highlighted

that pledges received to date are still behind what was

pledged for the year. This is an uncommon occurrence for

this point in the year but she is still hopeful that more 2014

pledges will be paid before year-end. We voted on and

approved the November financial statements.

After dealing with other loose ends, the meeting was

adjourned, right on time, with a prayer.

Kiersten

Vestry Notes by Kiersten Varner, Vestry Member

Celebrating Birthdays in January ...

Don Neal, Emily Fisher, Gus Merhige, Meg Striepe, David Pease, Barbara Williamson, John

Ciccarello, Art Huston, Kristin Kimble, Michael Comer, Caroline Tinsley, Madeline Liberman,

Cheryl Franke, Carol Phalen, John Merhige, Marcy Wilkins, Ernest Acevedo, Julia Minassian,

Richard Rourke, Mary-Michael Merhige, Emily Chafe, Josh Mitchell, Caleb Mitchell, Ben

Lepordo, John Brackett, Stephanie DeJesus-McNeill, John Romain, and Nicholas Wilkins

Birthday Blessings to You!

The Mantle January 2015

4

W e are delighted to have Susan DeMichele join Level 1 as an Assistant Catechist!

Help Needed: Parents, please remember to sign up to help in the Level 1 or Level 2 atrium.

There should be a sign up sheet outside each atrium that shows which Sundays helpers are still

needed. Thank you.

Transitional Atrium: Susan Dewey, Sarah Duffy, Eric Becker

This fall the Transitional Atrium has been exploring the atrium and its materials. We have learned about the objects on

the prayer table—the tablecloth, the bible, a statue of the Good Shepherd, a candle and a snuffer—and the articles of the

Altar. We know that we light the candle to remind us that God is with us in a special way when we are together. We

also learned about making a silence in order to listen to God and to others. We have been exploring the Good Shepherd

as Christ who cares for us and protects us always. In addition we have also learned about the Liturgical Colors and the

seasons of the church as well as our location on Earth relative to the Holy Land where Jesus lived. We have also talked

about our Baptism and how the light of Jesus lives inside of us. In December we have been learning about “Advent”

and the process of “getting ready” for the birth of Jesus.

Level I: Ruth Griesel, Suzie Kornblum, Susan DeMichele

This fall in Level 1, the children were introduced to the special table in the atrium known as the Prayer Table, which

they may adorn with cards, flower arrangements, or other expressions of their love for God; Practical Life work, which

encourages the child’s sense of competence and confidence; and the Liturgical Calendar and the special colors of the

church year. These presentations acquaint the children with the symbolic colors and cyclical nature of the liturgical

season.

We spent much of October on the altar and articles used on the altar during the Eucharist—preparation of the cruets

and preparation of the chalice. This work encourages the development of hand/eye coordination, as well as fuller

participation in the liturgy. Then we turned to turned to our location on Earth and the regions of Israel, before hearing

the presentation of the Prophecy of Place, Bethlehem, the Prophecy of the Light, and the Prophecy of the Mother, all

which introduced the children to the idea of waiting for the coming of the Christ child just as the people in Jesus’ time

were waiting. In January, we will conclude the Nativity series with the Adoration of the Magi.

Level II: Kihm Sanders, Emmy Cole, Mara Huston, Derek Zurn

Level II has covered a lot of ground this fall, beginning with Salvation History. We discussed with the kids what history

meant, how a history is compiled and recorded, and how future generations learn about it. We also discussed the

meaning of the word “Salvation”, and how Salvation History has grown and spread. We presented the Fettucia, a long

“time ribbon” that displays the three fundamental periods of Salvation History—Creation, Redemption, and Parousia.

We found our current place in history on the ribbon (in Redemption), and spoke of the future, and the promises that

Jesus made to us. After that, we did some geography, and learned about the land of Israel. We talked about where it is

in the world, how big a place it is, and how the Bible focuses on this region in the development and growth of Salvation

History.

We moved to Books of the Bible, and found out that the Bible is one huge book composed of many smaller books. We

talked about the different books, what they meant, who wrote them, and the differences between the contents of the Old

and New Testaments. Finally, we finished with the Advent Season, with its attendant synthesis extensions of the

Infancy Narratives. We learned about the Advent Wreath, why the candles are different colors, what the colors mean,

and the order in which we light them. We discussed Isaiah’s Prophecy of the Hills and Valleys, and how it describes

building a road to God. We finished by defining some of the obstacles that can get in our way on the road to God, and

how we can effectively remove them.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atrium News compiled by Susan Berry

January 2015 The Mantle

5

Level III: Kris Wile, Lisa Kenney, Angela Crocker

The students in the level 3 atrium started the year learning about the Plan of God and contemplating their unique place

in our salvation history. They then turned to a month long Old Testament bible study focused on the creation stories in

Genesis. During Advent they explored the teachings of Jesus with the presentation of gospel parables and challenging

“wonder” questions related to the parables. The students continue to be engaged in the material and amaze us each

week with their remarkable insights and spiritual growth.

Susan

O ur Advent music, the Longest Night and two Christmas Eve Services were all

outstanding. Our musicians in Advent: Jonathan Wood, Bert Drop, Clarissa and Andrew

Briasco-Stewart and Nancy Morgan added lovely vocal and instrumental solos to our Sunday

worship. On December 22nd, when we celebrated the Longest Night, Mandy Fleming sang a

hauntingly beautiful solo as we inaugurated this service. Christmas Eve the Youth Choir sang for

the Pageant Service which was one of the best ever. At night we had instrumentalists: Thomas

Small, Tim and Adam Howard, Clarissa and Andrew Briasco-Stewart and Bonnie Brown as well as solos by Graham

Daley and Georgie Johnson who with the Adult Choir made exquisite music for Christmas Eve. We owe a debt of great

thanks to all of these talented people who came together to make glorious music.

Looking forward to February 17th, we are again planning a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and Talent Show, so dust

off your songs and improvisations to be ready for this wonderfully fun evening with a Mardi Gras theme.

In closing I will share with you a Christmas poem written by my father, Pastor Ted Conklin, in 1946.

Christmas Meditation

One Star in the sky is enough when the Star is Hope:

From the night of despair we have found our sure release.

In a futile struggle the soul need no longer grope:

One Song in the heart is enough when the song is Peace.

One Child for the world is enough when the child is Love;

Now the polished armor of hate is a broken shell.

In manger now, or in palace, like heaven above,

One word is enough - one word - Emmanuel!

. . . may it truly be "God with us" wherever we are.

Mary Sue

From the Organ Bench by Mary Sue Willie, Music Director

The Mantle January 2015

6

O ne year ago this month, our four Stephen Leaders

made a trek to Florida to train for establishing a

Stephen Ministry. Your Stephen Leader team members, as

you will recall are: Barbara Williamson, Jack Clark, Stuart

Pease and Susan Newlin.

Over the past year we have made tremendous progress: the

ministry was established, using grant money from the

diocese and contributions from our parish budget, we have

recruited and are now engaged in training a wonderful set

of Stephen Ministers. In this we have been working with

the Sudbury United Methodist Church. Your Stephen

Ministers in training are: Ruth Griesel, Steve Kenney, Jim

Peters, Jim Newton, Nancy Morgan and Kris Wile. We

anticipate graduation and commissioning on a Sunday in

March.

Stephen Ministers have been studying and practicing a

wide range of skills - everything from the basics of

Christian Caregiving, to sacred listening, to praying with

each other and our future care receivers, to learning how

and when to refer people to community resources. Their

role will be to walk with fellow parishioners facing life

challenges. These ministers will be a real gift to our parish.

Stay tuned to hear

more about how the

Ministry will work

in our parish.

Here are a few

reflections from one

our Stephen

Ministers-in-training about the program:

“I don’t think I realized what the face of Stephen Ministry was

all about. Its thoughtful training has strengthened my

commitment to the program. Each week, I feel a deeper

commitment to the ministry and my Stephen Ministry

community. I enjoy sharing and listening to the concerns of my

fellow Stephen Ministers in training. I have a deeper

understanding of what it means to listen non-judgmentally and

to listen with the utmost discretion; protecting and insuring the

care receiver’s confidentiality and privacy. Perhaps the

unexpected gift and tool that I have experienced is how

differently I listen to my own needs, the needs of my family, and

most of all the direction God may be leading me. “-Nancy

Morgan

St. E’s Stephen Ministry—One Year Later:

This year, we will once again have two Ash Wednesday services.

At 4:00pm, we will have an interactive service designed especially for children. They will be invited to move through different stations in the church that help us to think about what Lent and Ash Wednesday are all about, culminating in the imposition of ashes at the altar.

At 7:30pm, we’ll have a service much like we had last year. We’ll be invited to write down the things we’d like to let go of this Lent, the things that are getting in the way of our relationship with God, and to throw them in a fire burning outside the church. Then, at the end of the service, the congregation will be enveloped in purple cloth, symbolizing our welcome into God’s arms and the arms of our community. And, of course, there will be the Imposition of Ashes and Eucharist.

We hope you can join us for one of these two powerful services!

Ash Wednesday—February 18th

January 2015 The Mantle

7

In the fall, several of Sudbury’s clergy participated in a round of conversations on Israel/Palestine hosted by Rabbi David Thomas of Congregation Beth El. The discussions were excellent, informative, and helped to build collegial relationships.

The clergy hope to take a next step by inviting our congregations into conversations around the shared reading of texts. While still in the planning process, we would like to invite Sudbury's faith communities to gather around Genesis on five Wednesday evenings from 7:30 - 9:00 PM in February and March. The dates are still in play, but should be set by sometime in early January. A time of arriving, welcoming and fellowship at 7:00 PM would precede the evening's program.

The shape of each evening will be similar. In order to begin promptly at 7:30 PM, participants will be asked to gather in small groups around tables. The leaders will devise some method for helping participants sit with folks from congregations other than their own. For the first 15 minutes, four or five clergy will engage in a roundtable conversation about that evening's text with all the folks present eavesdropping.

The purpose of this initial conversation is two-fold: to share observations about the meaning(s) of the text, and to model healthy small group multi-faith conversation. Then for the next hour participants will engage in conversation in small groups, using questions prepared in advance to help stimulate discussion. The final 15 minutes of our allotted time will give those gathered the opportunity to share observations from their table discussions with the whole group.

Needless to say, we will be unable to cover the entire book of Genesis in five evening sessions. Our thought at this writing is that chapters 1-3 might well be all the ground we could cover, but that we would be prepared to dip our toes into the Noah stories and chapter 12 if time allowed. Furthermore, if this experiment goes well, we could see planning future sessions to continue the shared reading of Genesis.

Stay tuned for the confirmation of these details as well as additional information about the selected dates and locations of our gatherings.

Multi-faith Bible Study: A Shared Reading of Genesis

The Giving Tree with its tags before parishioners take them and then purchase, wrap, and return

the requested gifts for members of Boston’s unhoused community, students at the Blackstone

Elementary School in the South End, and families in Sudbury who would otherwise go without.

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The Mantle January 2015

10

My College Essay

By Erica Treese

I ’ve rolled out the Fettuccia more times than I can count. The Fettuccia is a long ribbon that represents creation

and it’s an important symbol used in the children’s program at my church. The youth program there is one of the

best in the diocese, and I’ve been a part of it since I was a child. I’ve played amidst clay Jesus figures, acted out the

Last Supper, and made plenty of last-minute banners to carry around at the annual Crop Walk for Hunger. It was

always assumed, or rather I had always assumed, that I would go on the famous Appalachia Service Project, or ASP,

in high school, especially because many of my friends had experienced and loved it. ASP is a trip to a rural

Appalachian area where a group of young adults and chaperones spends a week repairing homes and getting to

know the families living in them.

Looking back, I signed up not really knowing what I had gotten myself into. As the summer trip drew nearer and

nearer, we learned more and more about the area we’d be visiting, the people we would be meeting, and the work

we’d be doing. I started getting nervous as the school year came to an end, and eventually I was so apprehensive I

wasn’t sure if I was going to make it through the week. When we left for the trip, however, my nerves started to

simmer down; each mile we traveled, each joke my work crew told, and each game

of cards we played helped sooth my rapidly beating heart. By the time we got to

Wise County, Virginia, and to the school where we’d be staying, I was no longer a

tightly wound bundle of nerves. Throughout the trip, I had to tackle various tasks

I had never done before, both independently and with my work crew. These duties

included figuring out how to cut and install kitchen molding, how to horizontally

slice huge sheets of corrugated tin, and how to complete a shower in under two

minutes, ensuring that every girl had a turn. These tasks took practice and time,

but eventually I learned how to do all of them with grace and good humor.

These experiences guided my transition from childhood to adulthood. On this trip

I discovered that I could be resourceful and content without my family. I could

make new friends even though I didn’t have a lot in common with them. I could

do things that I would have never have done in a million years if it weren’t for ASP, such as crawl into cabinets

during installation. I now have skills both personal and practical, that before ASP, I hadn’t believed I needed or

wanted.

This transformation continued after ASP when I was asked to join the vestry, essentially the board of directors, of my

church. I am one of two youth members in a group of a dozen adults. As a youth vestry member, I have all of the

responsibilities and privileges of a regular member: I can vote, I have a key to the church, I make Sunday morning

announcements as Vestry Person of the Day, and I participate actively in meetings. I regularly discuss church

financial matters and responsibilities with a group of adults with whom I have virtually nothing in common, other

than our mutual interest and love for our place of worship.

From these meetings, I have learned how to communicate effectively as an adult. While I don’t feel like a full adult

right now, and I know I probably won’t for a while, I do feel that I am on my way to becoming a thoughtful,

levelheaded, responsible adult in the future. My ASP and vestry experiences have prepared me for college and

beyond, and have given me the confidence and sense of purpose I need to fulfill my role as an adult.

I could make new friends

even though I didn’t have a

lot in common with them. I

could do things that I

would have never have

done in a million years if it

weren’t for ASP ...

January 2015 The Mantle

11

Sudbury, MA: December 15, 2014: In recent months, members of the Sudbury Clergy Association (SCA) have shared

concerns about the apparent decline of respect and civility in much of the public discourse in town. In order to assess

the validity of this perception, the group is seeking advice from the Harvard Negotiation and Mediation Clinical

Program (HNMCP) to develop and implement a process of inquiry to better understand how citizens and officials

communicate with one another.

Sudbury has a very active and engaged clergy association. For many years, the clergy and religious professionals

from Sudbury’s houses of worship have gathered for prayer, fellowship and conversation about the common good.

Each month is devoted to a specific topic such as care for the poor, the well-being of the children and youth or seniors

of Sudbury and outreach programs for those suffering from addictions. Participants also plan and lead town-wide

Interfaith Thanksgiving and Ecumenical Good Friday Services annually.

The clergy’s partnership is also evident in the combined work of the town’s congregations. The visit of Roman

Catholic Cardinal Sean O’Malley to the Sudbury United Methodist Church in January, 2014 was the result of the good

work of the association as was the recent event at the Memorial Congregational Church where seven congregations

came together to package over 40,000 meals for those in need.

Given that the Clergy Association is founded on respect for one another and promoting civility in the community,

members were concerned about the appearance of disrespect in the town’s public forums and wondered if there was a

way to test the accuracy of that perception.

Karen LaCure, of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church and the moderator of the SCA reports, “Two participants of

the group, Rev. Barbara Williamson of St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church and Rev. Richard Erikson of Our Lady of

Fatima Catholic Parish had each worked separately with HNMCP on previous projects. They saw first-hand the

resources, approach, and expertise of the program’s faculty and students. At their suggestion, we invited

representatives from HNMCP to a meeting to share their experience assisting other communities with similar

concerns.” That meeting led to the Clergy Association inviting leaders and students of HNMCP to assist in creating

and applying a process of inquiry into the nature of public discourse in the town. Relying on their expertise, the SCA

plans to reach out to a representative cross-section of citizens using listening sessions and focus groups. The project is

expected to run from the end of January through early May.

“The goal,” says Rev. Williamson, “is simply to test our perceptions by asking citizens, town officials and committee

members along with other representative stakeholders how we are doing as a town as we seek together to secure the

well-being of the community we all love.”

Rev. Erikson says, “It is so encouraging to gather with my colleagues in Sudbury to work toward the common good.

Even though we come from diverse religious perspectives, I have been inspired by the unity we have in love and care

for our community. I am hopeful that our collaboration with HNMCP, and especially our listening sessions, will be

helpful to our association and to our community. Respect for one another is at the foundation of our clergy

association and at the heart of this project.”

“HNMCP is deeply honored to have been invited by the Sudbury Clergy Association to provide counsel and advice

based on our experience in negotiation and conflict management,” notes Prof. Robert Bordone, Director of the

Harvard Negotiation & Mediation Clinical Program. “Whenever communities of care seek our assistance, we

approach the work with humility, curiosity, listening, and deep empathy for all stakeholders. We hope our

engagement will identify ways that community members can better engage their differences with respect and

(Continued on page 12)

PRESS RELEASE: Sudbury Clergy to Explore Town Civility

Local Clergy Group to Engage in Town-wide Listening Project

The Mantle January 2015

12

Dickens Dinner Kitchen Crew

Master Chefs Prepare the Feast!!

civility.”

The members of the Sudbury Clergy Association care deeply for the town they serve. They look forward to meeting

with and listening to their congregations, town leaders, and citizens from all walks of life to continue working towards

the common good.

(Continued from page 11)

Above (L to R) Michael Comer, Ian Springsteel, Larry St.

George, Arlene Stevens, David Varner, Dave Mitchell

and Art Huston

Below (L to R) Walter Morgan, Will Dewey, David Varner,

and either Emily Dewey or Anna Melora St. George

Left (L to R) Walter Morgan, Dave

Mitchell and Larry St. George

January 2015 The Mantle

13

Safe Church Policy

at St. Elizabeth’s Church

All volunteers working with infants, children, adolescents, young adults and at risk parishioners are required to

complete either an online or group Safe Church training certified by the Diocese of Massachusetts. Online training is

available, at no cost, to all volunteers at St. Elizabeth’s. You must also have had a CORI check done within the past 3

years. Please contact Peg in the office at office@st-elizabeths.org to get certified.

Chargers Chili

(Meat or Veggie)

Countdown Corn-

bread

Football-

Fritos Touchdown Treats Totals

(Feeds 4-6) (Full Pan) (1 bag) (Assorted, nut-free)

All Items $15 veggie / $18 $5

$5 $10

Qty. Total $ Qty

. Total $

Qty. Total

$ Qty. Total $ Total $

Name:

Phone or E-mail:

Pickup is on Sunday, 2/1 after 10 a.m. service in Parish Hall.

It's that time of year again!

Sunday, February 1st is Super Bowl Sunday.

In what has become an annual tradition, J2A will be offering a Super

Bowl halftime feast for you and your family.

Our 2015 offerings:

Meat or Veggie Champion Chili (serves 4-6): $18 meat/

$15 Veggie

Countdown Cornbread (one pan): $5

Football Fritos: $5/bag

Touchdown Treats (1 dozen assorted, nut-free cookies and brownies): $10

This is a J2A Pilgrimage Fundraiser, so please consider buying for the neighbor who could use a kind bowl o'chili or

two, or maybe some extra servings to freeze.

You can place an order by completing the order form below and submitting it, along with your payment, to a member

of the J2A team. A table will be set up at coffee hour on Sunday, 1/11,1/18, or 1/25 to collect orders.

J2A Super Bowl Chili Fundraiser

The Mantle January 2015

14

Watch the video created to commemorate the 50th

Anniversary of St. Elizabeth’s here:

http://st-elizabeths.org/church50.shtml

And the video created to commemorate the 100th

Anniversary of St. E’s Chapel on May 18, 2014 here:

http://st-elizabeths.org/chapel.shtml.

To view photos of the October 5th celebration, go to:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/timweldon/

sets/72157648013977439/

Enjoy!

Can you take a moment to let us know what you think about

social media usage at St. Elizabeth's?

The Communications Committee is currently exploring how St. E's can effectively use social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter,

YouTube, Flickr, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.

Do you use social media? If so, we invite you to fill out this quick online social media survey form and let us know which sites you

use, and send us your ideas on how we can best to utilize these networks. Survey Link: http://st-elizabeths.org/

socialmediasurvey

The Communications Committee will be meeting in January to discuss social

media. We invite anyone interested to attend. For more information, email Paul

Grous at webmaster@st-elizabeths.org.

The St. Elizabeth's Communications Committee:

- publishes the monthly Mantle newsletter

- coordinates St. E's news with local media outlets

- updates the communications bulletin board in the Parish Hall

- manages the st-elizabeths.org website

St. Elizabeth's Bad Weather Alerts Service

St. Elizabeth's can notify you in the event church

services/activities need to be cancelled due to bad

weather. You must opt-in to receive St. E's alerts as

text messages sent to your cell phone or via email.

Subscribe to the St. Elizabeth's Church bad weather

alerts service: http://st-elizabeths.org/alerts

If you need help with the alerts service, please

contact webmaster@st-elizabeths.org.

January 2015 The Mantle

15

Free Consultation on

Personal Financial

Concerns

As a pro bono service to his fellow

parishioners, Bob Dawson, a Certified

Financial Planner, will make himself

available at St. E’s in the Multi-Purpose

room from 4 to 5:30 pm Wednesday,

January 7th and Wednesday, January

21st.

The consultation is open to anyone who

needs assistance with any financial issue

or challenge. These may include

unemployment, managing debt,

financing college education, retirement

planning, investing, long term care,

social security, budgeting, getting

organized as well as wills and estate

planning. If you would like to meet with

Bob, please contact him first at

r.dawson1@verizon.net to schedule a

time.

Volunteer Opportunities @ St. E’s

St. Elizabeth's has a proud history and culture of volunteerism and

service. We invite you to explore one or more of the various volunteer

activities available across our parish. Click here to see how you can help:

http://st-elizabeths.org/volunteer.shtml

Thank you for making a difference!

Looking to share the love to the wider world both near and far?

If so, the outreach committee is gearing up for an

exciting and faith filling 2015. Join us at our next

meeting on January 11 @ 11:30 am in the Multipurpose

room. In the meantime, please reach out to David

Varner (dbvarner1@gmail.com) if you have any

questions or ideas about outreach.

Creative Worship Team Meeting

The Creative Worship Team will meet

on Sunday, January 4th at 11:30 AM in

the Multi-Purpose Room to plan wor-

ship for Lent, including Ash Wednes-

day and Holy Week. All are welcome!

Cancer and Caregiver Support Group at Sudbury United Methodist

Sudbury United Methodist Church hosts a Cancer and Caregiver Sup-

port Group on the third Wednesday of every month from 6 – 7:30 pm

at 251 Old Sudbury Rd. (Rt. 27), Sudbury, MA. Cancer patients, can-

cer survivors, and caregivers are all welcome to attend in a confiden-

tial, safe, caring, non-hospital environment. The purpose of the group

is to provide prayerful support through listening and sharing to those

who have had cancer touch their lives. The group is open to all faiths

and all communities surrounding Sudbury. For more information

contact us at SUMC.MA.Cancer.Care.Group@gmail.com.

Loaf and Ladle

Our next Loaf and Ladle, a bimonthly fellowship

luncheon for parishioners who are 55 and up, is

coming up on Tuesday, January 6th. This month,

we're planning to screen another movie, and discuss it

over lunch. Please RSVP to jack_clark@st-

elizabeths.org by January 2, and let her know if you're

able to bring soup, bread, or a dessert.

St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church invites seekers to share the joys and challenges of a journey of faith. Following the teachings of Jesus Christ and guided by scripture, tradition, and reason, we proclaim by word and action the love of God. We seek to serve and praise Christ in all people by celebrating the greatness of God's creation and all its creatures, helping those in need, and striving for justice and peace in all areas of our common life.

One Morse Rd., Sudbury, MA 01776 978-443-6035

www.st-elizabeths.org

The Rev. Barbara S. Williamson, Rector

barbara_williamson@st-elizabeths.org

The Rev. Jacqueline Clark, Assistant Rector

jack_clark@st-elizabeths.org

Mary Sue Willie, Director of Music

cvmswillie@comcast.net

Peg Scarlata, Parish Administrator

office@st-elizabeths.org

Walter Morgan & Jeremy Perisho, Co-Wardens

wardens@st-elizabeths.org

Save the date for …

January 4 Creative Worship Meeting, 11:30 (Multi-purpose Room)

January 6 Loaf and Ladle Luncheon

January 9 Annual Committee Reports Due

January 11 Outreach Meeting, after the 10 AM Service (Multipurpose Room)

January 23—25 Winter Weekend

February 8 St. E’s Annual Meeting and Brunch (Parish Hall) after the 10 AM Service

… And that's just the beginning.