All Saints' Messenger, our January newsletter

Join us as we celebrate all of the good work that has happened at All Saints' Church to prepare for a new chapter in the life of the parish, and we celebrate what is to come. Your prayers and presence are appreciate.

Bidding Farewell
to Deacon Holly Galgano

Earlier this week, we shared news that Deacon Holly will be leaving All Saints for a time of discernment, as she explores what is next in her ministry. We will miss her tremendously, and we are also glad that she will have some time and space for rest and renewal, while discerning where God is calling her next in ministry.

On January 22, we will gather after church to honor our time with Holly. We hope you will join us for a time to celebrate all the ways that God has moved among us as a result of Holly's ministry!

Note on the Annual Meeting

With the celebration of Deacon Holly's ministry among us, and with Fr. JK's instituion, we will move the annual meeting to January 22. We will come to order at the Peace, and distribute ballots for the vestry election. An hour later, we will close the polls. If you are planning to submit a report for the Annual Report, please submit it by January 17 (note change!). Also, if you are interested in running for Vestry, please talk with Senior Warden Joanne McGrath, Junior Warden Jim Anderson, or Fr. JK Melton. The focus of our annual meeting will be to celebrate Holly's ministry among us.

The Parish Annual Meeting is January 22. Join us for Vestry elections.

The Second Chance Thrift Shop reopens on January 3. Stop in for winter clothes and all sorts of bargains!

Remembering Parishioner Joan Gross (from Coxe & Graziano webpage)
Joan R. Gross, of Harrison, passed away Tuesday December 13. She was 78. Born in Rumford, ME, to William and Frances Ramsey. Joan worked as the Director of Recreation for New Rochelle Nursing Home as well as for the Daughters of Jacob Nursing Home in the Bronx. Joan was a former member of the Coveleigh Club, and loved tennis, making crafts, the arts, and cooking. Joan is survived by her beloved husband Frank, her loving children Michael (Paul), Nanci Micha (Fred), and Michelle Phillips. She is also survived by her 3 cherished grandchildren and her dear siblings John Ramsey and Ruthanne Ramsey. A Memorial Service will be held 10 am Saturday January 7, 2017 at All Saints Episcopal Church in Harrison. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to All Saints' Episcopal Church.

Our annual Christmas Pageant was a great success. Many thanks to all who participated! Many thanks to Sara Della Posta for organizing the pageant and to Nancy Sherman for arranging the costumes. Baby Jesus was played by Julian Zaccagnino, who was joined by parents Ali and Dan as Mary and Joseph. Julian's grandmother, Deacon Holly Galgano, provided this picture.

You can see more pictures of the day on our Facebook page. If you have additional pictures, send them our way, and we'll add them to the album.

Looking toward Lent... How about a reading group?

Lent begins on March 1, and while that is a long distance away, it is not too soon to start thinking about what might happen in Lent.

Fr. JK would like to try a reading group. We would read one chapter of a theological book each week and then gather to discuss. If interested, w ould you please fill out this four question survey to help us plan for this?

From the Priest-in-Charge

As we start a new year, I am stuck by all of the opportunity that we have in front of us. The turning of the calendar year gives us a great opportunity to reflect on what we need to do in our personal lives. The gym shows us how true this is, right? It will be jam packed for weeks. And while many will fall away, a few of those folks will hang on and the habit will stick.

I also am thinking about what might change in our common life. Certainly, change is afoot, and the biggest change is that Deacon Holly Galgano is departing to have a time of discernment for what is next in her ministry. As you know, she began sharing a sense of call to new ministry about a year ago. Holly's gracious spirit will certainly be missed. Her care for the people of All Saints' Church has been tremendous. I trust that you will join me in thanking Holly for her good work among us.

Another change will come in February, when we Meltons move into the Rectory. Other changes will come, too. I anticipate that we will have a few new volunteers in the mix this year. I hope that we can start a new reading group or Bible study or something like that. I hope we see more visitors on Sundays. I hope that we can form an Evangelism Committee to help us think about how to tell people about All Saints (and how God is active in our midst here).

What are your hopes and dreams? I'd love to hear them. Come by the office, or drop me a line. I'm available mostly on Mondays, Thursdays, and some Saturdays. You can make an appointment online (dropping by risks that I'm not available, but you can drop by, too). You can email me at meltonjk@allsaintsharrison.org or call my cell phone at 914-979-1882. I know that you have hopes and dreams for All Saints' Church, too, and I look forward to hearing about them.

God bless you, and see you in church,
JK

The Messenger: January 2017