September 2004

Dear Friends,

Peace be with you. I hope that despite the rainy weather this summer that you have been able to find a time of refreshment and renewal in the slower pace,

There is a lot of excitement in the air in anticipation of the new beginnings. A new Alpha course, a new Bible study for those who have completed "Welcome to the Episcopal Church" called "The Purpose Driven Life". The annual Welcome Back Brunch will be held on Sunday, September 12 at 9 AM. In addition to the church school registration, our new cookbook will be introduced; it is entitled "The Happy Cooker". Members of various ministries will be on hand to answer any questions that you might have about them. A professional photographer will be a guest. And there will be an open house in the new decorated atriums of the Catechesis o the Good Shepherd program.

The following week, on September 19, a group of BeFrienders will be commissioned. Their ministry will be to reach out to newcomers.

This year the All-Parish Event will be held at the Masonic Hall on October 23 during the dinner hour. As a special part of the evening, a professional magician has been hired who specializes in entertaining families. So...please mark you calendar for the whole family.

There have been several fair workshops to date. This year we will celebrate St. Anne's upcoming 115th anniversary by call the fair: "A Good Old-fashioned Christmas Fair". Please plan to come in Victorian clothing and save some room for homemade relishes and other preserves at the food table. There will be a lot of other new ideas as well. The fair date is December 4.

If you haven't been in Bixby Hall lately, you will notice a brand new floor which is very lovely. IN addition, several folks have pooled their money to purchase new lightweight tables and some chairs. Thank you very much for your generosity and care of our church building.

At our last vestry meeting, Lorene Patch spoke on behalf of the need for more help in the Thrift Shop. If you feel called to give a couple of hours a week at the Thrift Shop, please contact Margaret Westerlund.

There are probably things that I have forgotten to write about, but you can see that we are all off to a fund and busy start of the new year. I look forward to seeing you all together again.

Faithfully,

Peggy