May/June 2005

Dear Friends,

Peace be with you. We will be ending the program year at St. Anne's with a flurry of activity which there is no need to repeat here. Please read this newsletter carefully, as there may be some information near and dear to you. The deanery -wide Confirmation is next Thursday at St. Anne's in Lowell. This is a first for us so we are anxious to see how it all works out. Also a first is the mentoring program they studied under the direction of several parishioners. The nine Confirmands also attended a Vestry meeting and helped out in the Thrift Shop both of which they all seemed to enjoy.

We have also completed an eight-week video program entitled Via Media - the American Episcopal Church's response to Alpha. It certainly was provocative pushing buttons and encouraging people to think out of the narrow boxes we are all comfortable in. There were two discussion groups: one Tuesday morning and another Thursday evening. The goal in these video series is always to stretch our minds. The Tuesday morning group is now reading The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd and will discuss it on May 10.

This is also the first year we have been asked to host our local veterans for the Memorial Day Service at the 10:00 service on May 22. This will be a real gift to all of us.

Another new addition is the toddler room next to the Atrium, which will be coordinated by the M.O.M.'s group. Kim Packard will be working in there as well. Soon it will have a microphone so the service will reach them. The sanctuary is now wired to record our services on CD's and we look forward to being able to give these CD's to shut-ins in the near future.

It will also be a treat to know that the sanctuary is now air conditioned so hopefully attendance will not suffer because of the heat.

This is the last newsletter until the September issue. There are so many people to thank for so many things it's not possible to list them. This is a sign of a truly wonderful parish that so many people give of their time talent and treasure. Thank you! Thank you!

As we begin the slower rhythm of the warmer days may you find time for rest, renewal, and refreshment, and may you know always how special each of you is to this family of God.

Blessings

Peggy