Jan. 5, 2024

Worship Schedule

Sundays at 10 a.m.

(with Morning Prayer once a month)

In person and live-streamed on YouTube

Church School - (Resumes Jan. 7)

Godly Play Sunday School 10 a.m.

Teen Text Sunday School twice a month

Adult Bible Study

twice a month after Coffee Hour

(Next one Jan. 14)

A New Year – A New Liturgical Season

"By the leading of a star, you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face." (Opening Collect for the Feast of the Epiphany)

This Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, honoring that great event when the Wise Men found the very presence of God in Bethlehem.

The word, “Epiphany” simply means manifestation, appearance, revelation. Although we tend to think of this Feast Day as a celebration of the discovery of the Christ Child by the Wise Men, epiphany can also mean any revelation that points to the presence of God in our midst.

Given the realities of life these days, some honest searching for epiphanies, for some bright shining stars of God's revelation, seems to me to be the work that we – as people of faith – are sent out from this place to do.

In telling the story of the wise men’s visit to Bethlehem, the writer of Matthew’s gospel captured the theological imagination of his readers – not only the originally intended audience, but all who have ever heard the story since. Indeed, many Christmas cards, paintings, poems, and songs show the power this narrative has in inviting imaginative interpretation. While details in the scripture are sparse, prayerful seekers of God’s truth over many centuries have filled in the blanks with vivid pictures.

For instance, it was tradition, not scripture, that transformed the wise men into kings clothed in lavish robes and impressive turbans. And although Matthew never says how many visitors there were, tradition added this detail too; and now we almost always count them as three, the carol “We Three Kings” permanently etched in our minds.

Tradition even provided names for the wise men – Gaspar, Melchoir and Balthasar – and identified them as representing different races and even different ages of men.

Matthew doesn’t even tell us what happened to the wise men after they left for home by another road. And yet tradition spins a tale suggesting that the course of their lives were forever changed. According to legend, after Jesus was crucified, St. Thomas traveled east to India to share the resurrection experience. The people there had already heard about the miraculous birth, thanks to at least one of the wise men, and were eager to hear the rest of the story.

So, what, then, does Matthew actually say about the wise men?

He simply says they were wise, with minds and hearts open to new learning. When they saw the Star, they wanted to find out more and they sought guidance.

They were seekers. They hungered to find the One who was the Way, the Life, and the Truth. And they were Gentiles, originally thought to be outsiders of the Judaic faith, allowing God’s promise to be God for us to spread throughout the world.

Those who are seekers of God’s purpose, truth and wisdom, no matter what their faith tradition, class, race or age, will eventually find the very presence of God in their midst.

Matthew also tells us that the magi left the familiar and journeyed to another place where they encountered the new and the foreign. What was true for the magi is true for us as well.

If we learn anything from our own experiences, it’s that life requires change; learning from the familiar past and seeking insights from the new and unexpected future. We are always on some kind of a journey with change as our constant companion. Perhaps the theological imagination surrounding the magi, by the grace of God, can be our guide. 

Epiphany and New Year Blessings,

Rev. Lisa

Bishop Ahrens Will Be With Us

Sunday Feb. 25!

Bishop Laura Ahrens will be visiting on Feb. 25 and we're hoping to make it a memorable day.

We will talk more in vestry and at the Annual Meeting about how we might have a truly festive service and feast following. What do we want to share with Bishop Laura about who we are as a faith community, and where God is leading us next?

It's time to bring our hopes into light!

Mark your calendars. Let's plan a real party!

In her note reminding us about the visit, Bishop Laura says, "I am eager to spend time with you so that we might discern together how it is God is calling us deeper in relationship and shared ministry."

Note the "us" in her words. One of the gifts of the Episcopal tradition is that we do not walk our journeys alone. Thanks be to God!

Stay tuned for more details and start imagining ways we can celebrate the joy that is St. John's Episcopal Church in New Milford CT.

As many of you already know, parishioner Olga Krten, mother of Jiri Krten, passed from this life on Dec. 20 after a long illness. Her family was with her as she passed

A service remembering and honoring Olga's life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 6 (that's tomorrow) at St. John's at 11 a.m.

Jiri and Kang Sung we are sending prayers and love to you, your mom and your family at this time!

You can read Olga's obituary here.

A Remembrance of Mom Through the Loving Eyes of Her Son

(printed with Jiri's permission, to be read at Olga's funeral)

Olga Eva Krten’s life is a testament to the quality of her person, and to the power of God to change lives, restore hope, and bring us all to Eternal Life. 

She was born in the city of Liberec in Czechoslovakia on January 22nd, in the Year of Our Lord 1943. Her life bore the marks of two tyrannies that blighted the 20^th Century. She was born under the Nazi occupation of her homeland and, later, witnessed the Soviet invasion of 1968.

When my father determined that his family should not live as slaves in their own land, and that he should bring them to live in the free West, he did not do so without the proper consent of his beloved wife. My mother, a brave and loving woman, agreed to risk all to ensure that I, her son, would live and prosper in liberty. When my father asked, she said, “Yes.” I believe with all my heart and soul that God guided these profoundly good people along the right paths all the days of their lives. 

Those of her friends from the Judeo-Christian tradition should take heart that my mother’s life embodies the very essence of God’s love and power to care for us.

The Jewish Bible deals with Exodus, the story of how God took His people out of Egypt into the Promised Land, out of Slavery and into Liberty. In the Christian tradition, God’s love for His people came to embrace the whole Earth. The New Testament speaks of how God has taken His People out of Death, and into Life.

My mother’s life is a testament in its own right to God’s continued love for all of us. Through His Divine Providence, my mother took her son out of Tyranny and into Freedom, out of Death and into the Life we have enjoyed these many years in our new beloved land, the United States. Thanks to her goodness, our son will live in Freedom all the days of his life. 

When in time she grew ill and her body became a tomb for her soul, God mercifully freed her and brought her forth to see Him with her own eyes, not as a stranger but as a friend. May we all rejoice in her story.

God Bless Her. 

Join Us for the Annual Meeting

Our Annual Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 28, following the 10 am service that day. The annual meeting is a great time to take stock of what God has been up to through us in the past year and where we are being led to go next. Moving back from survival to celebration!

Potluck Brunch Included

We always find excitement and learn more about each other while sharing a meal. Stay tuned for details about what goodies you might bring.

Vestry Nominations

We'll be voting for vestry members, officers and convention delegates at the meeting. We will have bios and pictures out soon.

Our 2024 Budget

Our 2024 budget will be presented at the meeting.

At the December Vestry meeting, Sharlene Zagozewski led a review of the draft 2024 budget. There are always a few unknowns to sort out (budgets are our best, educated guesses lived into with faith) but enough was known to develop a solid final version of the budget.

Pledge income is expected to be about $135K in 2024. Some additional contributions from past years are no longer expected. (parishioner deaths and a few retirements from fulltime work). However, we have a few new pledgers, and always strive to encourage 100% participation.

At the moment, and despite our constant effort to reduce costs, St. John’s will be forced once more to plan on a deficit budget, which will include a 4 percent withdrawal from our investment income to help cover our operational expenses. 

It’s true that the 2023 deficit is turning out to be considerably less than planned; it’s not clear whether or not this will be the case in 2024. So the Vestry and the Finance Committee are keeping a close eye on both income and expenses as we head into the new year. 

All of this will be discussed more fully at the annual meeting, guided by our collective hopes and dreams for the new year ahead.

Church School Resumes Sunday

At quick reminder. Church School, both Godly Play and Teen Text, will resume on Jan. 7 (this Sunday), after a break for the holidays. They will meet - as usual - at 10 a.m.

Youth Group Gathering - Jan. 21

Members of the St. John's Youth Group will be gathering on Sunday, Jan. 21 at 4 p.m. in the Parish Hall for some indoor winter fun.

The kids will be treated to a chocolate bar, ice cream and board games. We hope to see you there.

Bible Study Group - Jan. 14

Our Bible Study group's next gathering will be Sunday, Jan. 14.

We will be discussing the second Epistle of Peter.

We'll meet in the library following the service, after a brief time at Coffee Hour. New faces are always welcome!

Next Food Collection - Jan. 17

Our next St. John's Food Drop-off will be Wednesday, Jan. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The food collected will be delivered to Our Daily Bread Food Bank.

We're in front of the church to collect your donations of non-perishable foods and personal-care items on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.

Please remember that you can always bring in food on Sunday mornings and place your offerings in the donation basket next to the last pew.

Men's Night Out - Jan. 30

The monthly Men's Night Out will be resume on Jan. 30. We're still working on a venue and we'll update you via Connects and during the announcements in church.

If you'd like to join us please see Bill Kamp, or email him here.

Women's Night Out - Feb. 6

The next Women's Night Out will be Tuesday Feb. 6 at 6 p.m at La Piccolina, on the Green. You can see their menu here.

If you'd like to join us, please email Mary Vallo or Sue Denino. Or, let them know when you see them in church

Note to St. Johnsians (and other local folks): The documentary below will play locally for one day only - Tuesday, Jan. 23 - at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the AMC Theatre in Danbury.

Documentary Inspired by Presiding Bishop due for Nationwide Premiere Jan. 23

[Episcopal News Service] A nonprofit movie company led by Episcopalians is about to unveil its biggest project yet. Its feature-length documentary inspired by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s message of unselfish love is headed for a nationwide theatrical release on Jan. 23.

The film, “A Case for Love," is expected to appear in at least 1,000 theaters for the one-day initial release. More dates could be added if large numbers of moviegoers turn out for the premiere.

The nonprofit, Grace-Based Films, also hopes to generate interest from streaming services.

“There’s a hunger for stories like this,” director Brian Ide told Episcopal News Service.

He founded Grace-Based Films with fellow members of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Beverly Hills, CA, some of whom worked in the film industry.

Grace-Based Films started as an All Saints’ ministry. Now, as an independent nonprofit, it plans to devote revenue from “A Case for Love” to funding future storytelling projects.

You can view the trailer here.

Prayers for The Ill, Homebound or In Need

Parishioners: Katie, Carolyn, Peter, David, Arthur, Anna, Jean, Joy, Joan, Josie, Helen and Sonok 

For family and friends: Linda, Carrie, Dennis, Douglas, Kevin, Billy, Charles, Rich, Holly, Matt, Artie and Dorothy

For those who have died: Olga Krten, mother of Jiri Krten. Community leader and former St. John's parishioner George Buckbee.

For the people of Ukraine. For the lives lost and the lives upended in the war there.

The next issue of Connects will be published on Jan. 19.

If you have something to share in the next newsletter, please send the info to Ron Vallo by Wednesday, Jan. 17.

Upcoming Birthdays

Lilly Altemus 1/6); Carolyn King (1/13); Aimee Altemus (1/15); Gabrielle Javois (1/22); Gabe Larsen (1/23); Jason Lee (1/25); Flora Quammie (1/28)

Congrats to all who are celebrating! Enjoy your big day!