Parish Notes and Upcoming Events

Parish Office Hours: The Parish Office is open 8-11 a.m. Monday-Friday. If no one is in the office please leave a telephone message and your call will be returned as soon as possible. Father Perry’s day off is Friday.

Bishop’s Visit - Bishop Ian Douglas will be visiting St. Peter’s on March 11th at which time he will be celebrating the Rite of Confirmation for all those enrolled in confirmation classes.

Offertory Envelopes
Temporary Offertory Envelopes have arrived from the printer. Each family that pledged will find a packet of envelopes with their name on it at the back of the church. There are also some extras for those who wish to use them. Please put your name on the envelope.

Music Notes
The Adult choir is in need of sopranos. We have only one. We would also love to have any new singers join us. If you might be interested in lending your voice, please speak with Linda Spector, our Choir Director and organist.

Parish News
Acolytes wanted! - We are in need of more acolytes, and would encourage all young people from 4th grade up, to speak to Fr. Perry to see what the Acolyte’s duties are and to see if it might be a ministry that would be of interest to you.

Confirmation/Inquirer’s classes are ongoing and are open to any youth or adults who wish to prepare for Confirmation or seek a better understanding of the traditions, beliefs and practices of the Episcopal Church. Our next meeting will be today, Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 1:30 p.m., when we will discuss, “How we make moral decisions.” Please join us!

Community Outreach
Hospice Volunteers needed – Hospice Volunteers are needed to provide companionship and support to patients as well as respite to caregivers. An hour or two given each week can brighten their lives and help them in a difficult time. If you might be interested in becoming a hospice volunteer, please contact Pat Wilson, Volunteer Services Manager at VITAS (628 Hebron Avenue, Glastonbury) at 860-494-4600 or pat.wilson@vitas.com.

Community Workshop - AHM Youth & Family Services will offer a workshop, “GRIEF: How to Help, How to Heal” on Wednesday, February 1 at Church of the Holy Family, Amston from 7-8:30 p.m. An ongoing support group will continue to meet weekly after the initial workshop on Wednesday evenings. For more information call AHM at 860-228-9488 or email Stephanie Haines at stephanieh@ahmyouth.org

Annual Meeting
Copies of the 2012 Annual Report for St. Peter's may be found at the back of the church. This copy includes reports of various commissions and committees that we have received to date along with a copy of the 2012 budget that the vestry has presented for vote at the Annual Meeting. We hope you will take some time prior to the Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 29, to review them. Note that Brian Swanson, our treasurer, will be available in the parish hall on Sunday morning the 29th at 9:00 to discuss the budget with any parishioners who have questions or concerns prior to the Annual Meeting.

An addendum to the Annual Report will be available in hard-copy to parishioners on the day of the Annual Meeting and will include any additional committee reports we may receive, resolutions to be voted on, the election slate for officers and vestry (including Rector's appointments for 2012) and the Rector's address to the congregation.

This year the Annual Meeting will adopt a new format. The business of the meeting will be conducted in the first 30 minutes followed by the Rector's address which will focus on our vision for the future. The final 30 minutes of the meeting will be devoted to small group gatherings, each led by a member of the vestry. Each group will brainstorm ideas that come in response to three questions: "How can we enrich our parish family?", "How can we expand our parish family?", "How can we (as individuals and as a parish) reach out and benefit our respective communities?" The ideas that are generated by this brainstorming session will then be conveyed to the new vestry and form the framework for our vision for the next two years.

A note for families: We will be providing activities for children of all ages during the course of the Annual Meeting to enable parents who wish to attend. Older children and youth will have an opportunity to have their own brainstorming session in response to questions similar to those posed at the Annual Meeting. Their results will be conveyed to the vestry as well.

We are excited about this new format and hope you will plan to attend. If you have any questions feel free to contact one of your Wardens, a member of the Vestry or Father Perry.