Shining Our Light

by Doug Heim

Family and friends of St. John’s, 

It is difficult to choose just one moment where the light of Christ shone within and through us this past year. As one of your Wardens through a time of uncertainty and earnest trial, I saw how many lanterns were set alight, each illuminating a portion of our collective path out of our modest wilderness, like a trail of torches making sure no one would lose their way.

It began as so many of you found new ways to shine while we navigated our former Priest, Tom Mousin’s, sabbatical. The lights shone perhaps brightest when he, recently returned, was badly injured in an accident, and your love for him and one another was a feeling to behold. But as Tom’s recovery required sustained support in our mission here, even more impressive to me was how many folks continued to burn the oil of their time and talent like a sanctuary candle.

Finally, when we discovered that our transition was not at an end, but a beginning, dozens of you cheerfully said “Here I am, Lord,” to this special place- persevering in long-standing roles, fulfilling new roles and shining your light even as the path required more of you.

I’m proud to have been one lantern among you. It was one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done to serve with and for this Parish as a Warden. Like shining a light on a mirror, I received every lumen I gave. 

So, having indulged me in many metaphors, I hope you will tolerate one further. Join me in giving what oil you can this year to our common sanctuary. We are given the fire from the Lord, but it is up to us to keep, foster, and grow it in his Lighthouse.

Yours with gratitude,

Doug Heim

Note:  Each week during our annual stewardship campaign, a parishioner will offer a reflection that will be printed and handed out on Sunday and reprinted in News and Notes for the following Thursday’s email.

The Feast of All Saints

Celebrating All Saints!

All Saints Day is Friday, November 1st, and we will celebrate The Feast of All Saints
on Sunday, November 3rd.  On Sunday, November 3rd, we will remember all who
have passed away in the last year.  If there is a name you would like included, please
notify the office.

I Sing a Song of the Saints of God

Lesbia Scott, British, 1898-1986 , I Sing a Song of the Saints of God, Composed 1929, Published to the Episcopal Hymnal 1940, John H. Hopkins, American, 1820-1891, Melody, Grand Isle.

1 I sing a song of the saints of God,
patient and brave and true,
who toiled and fought and lived and died
for the Lord they loved and knew.
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen,
and one was a shepherdess on the green:
they were all of them saints of God, and I mean,
God helping, to be one too.


2 They loved their Lord so dear, so dear,
and God’s love made them strong;
and they followed the right, for Jesus’ sake,
the whole of their good lives long.
And one was a soldier, and one was a priest,
and one was slain by a fierce wild beast:
and there’s not any reason, no, not the least,
why I shouldn’t be one too.


3 They lived not only in ages past;
there are hundreds of thousands still;
the world is bright with the joyous saints
who love to do Jesus’ will.
You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea,
in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea;
for the saints of God are just folk like me,
and I mean to be one too.

Saint John’s Episcopal Church
27 Devens Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Telephone: (617) 242-1272

Church Office Hours are Tuesday & Thursday 8 am to 3 pm.
stjohns02129@gmail.com

The Role of the Interim Priest

The Interim Priest’s Responsibilities

The Interim Priest represents and extends the ministry which is the Bishop’s pastoral and canonical responsibility for congregations in leadership transition. The Interim
Priest shall lead the parish as pastor, priest, and teacher, sharing in the councils of
this congregation and of the whole church, in communion with our Bishop.
 
The Interim Priest is a priest trained to assist parishes during a time of transition,
especially during the period between the leave-taking of one rector, and the calling of
another rector. It is an intentional ministry of sustaining the direction and ministry of a
congregation as defined by the vestry; reviewing the past, assessing the present, and
evaluating the future.

However, it is expected that the ministry during the interim period will be
different from that experienced by members of the parish under the previous
rector.
 
The major goal of the Interim Priest’s ministry is to prepare the congregation for the
next phase of their life together.
 
To this end, the Interim Priest shall:

* Help the congregation deal with a sense of loss and any unresolved issues arising
from the departure of previous clergy.

* Deal with internal conflicts, if any, and help heal any divisions within the
congregation.

* Help the Vestry, lay leaders, and staff make such changes as may be needed to
align parish life and administration, with generally accepted standards in our Diocese.
Ensure that Officers, Vestry and, (as far as possible), Congregation are aware of and
can access all resources available to them through TEC or Diocese. 

The primary tasks of the Interim Priest shall be to:

* Work with the Vestry and other lay leaders to maintain the regular schedule
of worship services and preaching, education, pastoral care and pastoral offices,
(weddings, funerals, and baptisms), while increasing the flexibility and resiliency of
the parish in liturgy and music, by offering opportunities to experience different forms
and styles of worship.

* Calling upon the sick and shut-in, visiting newcomers, and ongoing administration
of the parish, while increasing the parish’s commitment to pastoral care by lay
members.

* Supervise all parish staff in the exercise of their responsibilities and ministries, for
which they shall be accountable to the Interim Priest. If it is necessary in the interim
time to hire or terminate staff, the wardens shall take those actions, given their
canonical responsibility for the parish, between rectors.

* Support the Vestry in its responsibilities.
 
The Interim Priest is expected and encouraged to participate in regional, diocesan,
and church-wide responsibilities, as well as, community endeavors. Further, time
given to such work shall be understood as an integral part of the Interim Priest’s
ministry in the parish. It is understood that the priest is frequently called upon to
attend meetings, teach workshops and do other work for the benefit of the entire
Church. Such work is considered as having benefit to the parish as well, and is
considered a normal and necessary part of parish work.+

Next week: What is the Vestry’s responsibility in the Interim Period?

+From “Covenant of Ministry for Interim Priest – Letter of Agreement”
Diocese of Massachusetts, signed by Wardens and Priest, approved by Vestry

From Our Wardens

Dear Saint Johns,

The Vestry would like to formally announce that we have progressed to the next step in our transition! The Search Committee has been formed, a vital step in this process. The Search Committee, along with the Vestry, and our Search Consultant, Jane Redmont, will be meeting on November 9th to finalize details that will drive the creation of our Parish Profile and the posting for our new Rector.

A separate e-mail will be going out later this week with more information, including our committee members, a step-by-step description of the remaining tasks, and a tentative timeline. Please know that this next phase, the creation of our profile, is best achieved when ALL of Saint John’s are represented and engaged. Each and every one of you has something valuable to offer, whether that is time, talent, opinion, or moral support.

Thank-you, and we look forward to celebrating this process together!

Best,

Sarah and Catherine