I remember as a youngster going to church early on the morning of one Ash Wednesday with my parents. Not being too sure why we were in church during the middle of the week––hadn‘t we just been to church this Sunday?––I wasn‘t much enthused as a participant in the sacred liturgy. Neither was I thrilled about having been pulled out of bed so early in the morning when clearly school wouldn‘t start for another hour and a half. Couldn‘t I just get ten more minutes of sack-time?

Bring your family and come join the men of St. John‘s Episcopal Church for a Fat Tues-day pancake feed to prepare for lent. What: All you can eat pancake sup-per Where: St. John‘s Episcopal Church, Broad and Warren Streets When: Tuesday, Feb. 5th, 4:30 to 7:30 PM How Much: $5 for adults, $2.50 for children 3-12, $20 for large family Buy your tickets in advance from any Men‘s Group member or at the door.

Erin and D.J. Damberger are the proud parents of Mary Rose Damberger born November 16, 2007. She came into this world at 7 lbs. 12oz., 20 inches long and with a full head of reddish/light brown hair. It was an 8-9 hour labor but beautifully timed for the end of se-mester break. Erin was able to be at home until mid-January and is keep-ing a relatively limited schedule this semes-ter. Erin sang at Shirley Clark’s memorial service with Mary Rose in atten-dance, but if you weren’t able to visit with her then, the family plans to make a return trip to St. John’s in the near future.

Mission: To support Christ’s mission in the local, state, and national commu-nities. Matthew 25:35…”for I was hungry and you gave me food, was thisty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.” :40…”truly I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.”

St. John‘s Outreach Committee met on Sunday, January 6th. The meeting was opened with a reading and prayer.

At the Annual Meeting on Sunday, 27 January 2008, Jerry Wegman and Mike Kolbinger were elected to serve as Senior and Junior Wardens for a final year. Outgoing Vestry members Nickie VanStelten, Ann Taylor-Sundstrom and Jane Kearney were replaced by Pam Oster, Andrew West-berg and Mary Berner. The congregation also elected Delegates to the Diocesan Convention. They are Meg Stump, Alex Taylor and Bill Gray with Ann Taylor-Sundstrom acting as an alternate.

For you parents and grandparents who cringe at buying disposable diapers doomed to generations in a landfill there is a new alterna-tive. The name is Nature Baby Care. They are not in the diaper section of Target. They are on the end section on the first aisle of baby items across from the laun-dry detergent (near the cribs. etc). They are $9.54 for about 30…which is about the equivalent to Huggies or Pampers but biode-gradable. Thanks, for the tip, Jolly.

Vestry members approved a $178,810 budget for the coming year at a long work session after worship on Sunday, Jan. 12th. Expanding investment in-come is helping substantially reduce but does not end a string of deficit budgets.

Episcopal Church Women will meet Thursday, February 7, 2008 at noon at 101 Main ~ Holiday Inn Luncheon Meeting. Please join us!

During December we received $13,695 in offerings and had expenses of $12,250. We will have the year end figures in the Annual Report and will go over any questions at the Annual Meeting on Jan. 27. We will also present the 2008 Proposed Budget. The year end donation statements will be in church mail boxes by the Annual Meeting. Please let us know if there are any discrepancies or questions. Thank you, Nickie VanStelten, Treasurer Bill Gray, Bookkeeper