October 2004

Dear Friends,

As you can see by the size of this edition, there are a lot of activities coming up in the near future. This year, as in the past, the All Parish Event will be held at the Masonic Hall in Billerica Center with the hope that everyone will come - whole family units. Different this year is the addition of a professional magician/comedian, who performs for multi-generational groups. Carol Cote has volunteered to make a delicious chicken dinner, which has passed the taste test in her own home several times. So…please call the church and let us know how many from your family will be attending. Commitment Sunday follows the event on Oct. 24. Commitment cards for 2005 will be available after both services in Bixby Hall.

Other invitations are also included in the newsletter as well as some new information. For the last year have been on the board of directors of the Friends of the Council on Aging (COA). It's function is to provide funding for activities that the COA wants to pursue but cannot because of limitations in the town budget. You do not have to be a senior to support it. Enclosed in this newsletter is an upcoming-events flier with a membership form if you are interested. Another two-page form from the town concerns the public lottery for housing.

Progress on the "Good Old-Fashioned Christmas Fair" is wonderful. Ideas keep flowing and many folks are thinking about wearing Victorian dress. If you have homemade preserves, please consider giving some to the preserve table. You will enjoy a new twist to an already fine time. The date: December 4 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Many folks have asked if someone could come and talk about wills. We are pleased that Atty. Diane Cohen (Wendy Kessler's sister) has agreed to come on Tuesday, October 19 at 7:30 PM. She will talk about what is important to include in a will and some of the things that we should be thinking of as well as the different type of wills. This is an important topic at any age. There is no charge for her time.

You will notice that there are several new prayer books in the pews. We can all thank the Anneacreons, who purchased them and put them in the pews. Each year they give money specifically toward a need in the church. They are a social group with a deep interest in the spirituality of St. Anne's.

Finally, something new is brewing with the acolytes. We have invited adults to join the ranks this year. Many have always wanted to be an acolyte and were not able to for one reason or another. Welcome. There will also be a few changes to the flow of movement, which should help everyone fell more comfortable.

This letter will no doubt reach you when something else should have been included and wasn't. As always, I look forward to seeing and visiting all of you.

Faithfully,

Peggy