November , 2004 Vestry Report

All Saints and The Show Stoppers
The Feast of All Saints was celebrated on Monday, November 1st at a Solemn Festival Eucharist, with splendid music and hymns, followed by a Pot Luck Supper and live entertainment. The group of senior performers–singers, dancers, and instrumentalists–appropriately called “The Show Stoppers.” joined us for the Eucharist and dinner and entertained us with lively show tunes. Their performance was a gift to thank the parish for giving them free rehearsal space in the church.
Christina Conroy, a certified music therapist, formed the group some twelve years ago at the Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center. Four years ago they moved to the Caring Community Senior Center. Now independent, they chose a new name for the umbrella group, Music Gives Life, and they can be heard on Tuesday mornings rehearsing in the church.

All Souls Day
All Souls Day, or the Feast of the Faithful Departed, was celebrated the following evening on Tuesday, November 2nd, with a Sung Requiem. The Parish Necrology, including the personal necrologies submitted by parishioners, was read as a part of this liturgy. Unfortunately, this very personal and moving service was very poorly attended by parishioners. Only 22 people, including the altar party, were present.

Marilyn Barney
As many of you know, Marilyn Barney collapsed and died at home unexpectedly on Sunday, October 24. A memorial service was held at St. John’s on Wednesday, November 1st, attended by her siblings, nieces and nephews, members of the Order of St. Helena, to which she once belonged, and friends, co-workers and parishioners from both St. Paul’s, Brooklyn, and St. John’s in the Village. Her cremated remains will be buried in Rhode Island. A former St. John’s parishioner, Marilyn had moved to Brooklyn and transferred to St. Paul’s Church some years ago. Several months ago she came back to St. John’s and had moved into the Markle Residence just a few weeks before her death at the age of 49. She will be missed. Requiescat in pacem.

Church Shades
We are still working on getting shades for the three windows on the south side of the church, which open onto the courtyard, so that the people sitting on that side of the church on a sunny morning do not have to keep on their sunglasses during the Eucharist. Although we have found a place which will custom-make and install suitable shades, the narrowness and long length of these windows makes this a difficult project. Another consideration is manual roll-up (expensive) versus mechanical roll-up (exceedingly expensive).

Milestone Birthdays
Father Lloyd Prator turned 60 on Veterans Day (Thursday, November 11th), so we marked this occasion in the parish on the Sunday preceding. The vestry provided altar flowers in the rector’s honor and a birthday cake at the coffee hour following the 11:00 Eucharist. Rosemary O’Shansky celebrated her 60th birthday on Friday, November 12th, and the parish sent roses to Rosie on her special day.

Farewell to David Bell
David Bell, who as Assistant Choir Master has led St. John’s children’s choir for the past three years, has resigned due to his teaching schedule. His many contributions to St. John’s were honored in a special coffee hour held on Sunday, October 31 after the 11:00 Eucharist. Present and past choristers and their parents, together with parishioners, came to honor David. The parish presented him with an inscribed leather prayerbook, and the children also presented him with gifts. Our new Organist/ Choirmaster, Gordon King whobegan his duties on Sunday, November 7th, will lead the children’s choir as well as the adult choir.

About Parish Funerals
Funeral attendance at St. John’s has sometimes been disappointing. You are reminded that attendance at funerals for parishioners and other members of the St. John’s community is nothing less than the duty of every member of the community. How well one knew the decedent, or that one “doesn’t do funerals” are not appropriate considerations or excuses, especially in a small community.

Epiphany Pot Luck
Mark your calendars. The Feast of the Epiphany, also known as Twelfth Night and The Three Kings, will be celebrated on Thursday, January 6th at 6:30 pm. and will be followed by our traditional Pot Luck Supper. We will also be inviting The Show Stoppers, whose performance we so enjoyed on All Saints and who are now resident at St. John’s, to join us.