May 2004

Dear Friends,

Peace be with you. The services on Easter Sunday were glorious in every way. Thank you! Thank you! To the Altar Guild, the Acolytes, the Choir, the Youth Group and to everyone who participated. The beautiful patriotic afghan made by Gloria Baldwin was marketed by Pat Simpson. The winning name was Edna Rideout. Congratulations! Because of these efforts the organ fund and the account for Sam Cote's mission trip to Honduras is $732 richer.

People have been so generous. Thank you Jen Bristol for the gift of a computer and all the equipment that goes with it. It will be used to keep the church's financial information. Thank you to Dick Edgar for upgrading the counter's room and the entire system. We have had a donation of new carpeting for both atriums and the overflow and Al Westerlund had painted both rooms.

We look forward to Recognition Sunday. This year the service will be led by the church school students of Lisa Kinser's class. This day also recognizes the efforts of the acolytes and the church school programs.

The next Alpha course will be offered Tuesday mornings at 9:30 AM beginning on May 11. If you are interested, please sign the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board, which is outside the overflow. You may also contact Rev. Peggy.

As an extension of the first Alpha program, we are offering another mini-course: "Welcome to the Episcopal Church". It is designed for longtime members as well as newcomers to the church. It will meet on Wednesday evenings beginning on May 5.

A new columbarium is being ordered for the Memorial Garden as almost all of the niches have been sold. For those of you who are new to St. Anne's, the Memorial Garden is for the Cremains of members and their families.

It is amazing to me that the Explorer's Preschool has been here two years. They are feeling some competition and would like to be able to use the playground. However, the playground cannot be used as long as the swing set is there. (It does not meet state regulations with respect to space and ground base.) Therefore, we will be giving the swing set away on Recognition Sunday. Each parent of our current students will have an opportunity to enter their names in a raffle. One name will be drawn to determine the winner.

As this newsletter goes to press, I am preparing to go to Richmond, Virginia from April 26 - May 3 for a CREDO (Clergy Reflection, Education, Discernment, Opportunity) conference. It is almost fully funded by the Church Pension Fund and is intended as an enrichment for clergy. During my absence pastoral emergencies will be handled by the Rev'd Tom Barrington of All Saints Church in Chelmsford.

As always, I look forward to hearing of your dreams and visions for St. Anne's.

Alleluia! The Lord is Risen!

Faithfully,

Peggy