Happenings Throughout

From the Rector…

Dear Brothers and Sisters

I don’t want to sound like an “alarmist” but the unavoidable truth is that Church of Our Saviour may be dieing. It’s a death that has been coming on slowly. It’s taken several years but it is now a visible reality. Before more is said, however, you should also know that with this death there is also the very real and exciting possibility that COS has the opportunity to experience resurrection. Please try not to get depressed and please, please read the rest of this letter. As you read further, remember resurrection is the point.

We are all aware of what is happening with the economy. As this letter is being written, our State leaders are working to pass a very painful budget. This will mean cuts to the tune of $160 million in public education, toddler care, and other public services. Many of our own COS families have already reshuffled jobs, lost income, or they are trying to find new jobs - any job - just to “stay afloat”. All this impacts our parish as a whole.

Over the past 5 years COS has passed a deficit budget. We’ve managed for sometime but we can no longer sustain this type of budget process. There are several factors (some of them even positive) that have brought us to this point. Yes, we have lost members. Some who have left for their own reasons; some have moved away because of retirement or jobs, and we have had our fair share of funerals this year. Another factor - and we need to be honest about this - is that many of us are only giving token pledges to support the parish. We the leadership have also not done a good job at educating our newer families about proportional giving and what the tithe really means to the financial welfare of the parish. Many of our young families come to us and just assume since we are a Church there is money. Unfortunately that isn’t true so the $1 here and the $5 dollars there given in the plate on a Sunday isn’t really helping.

The positive news is that we have also seen an increase in young families and our records for 2009-2010 indicate many of these families along with our “regulars” are consistently in attendance for worship. Our Outreach programs are expanding and we are seeing people involved in programs and projects who are not always involved with such things.

Church of Our Saviour has lived off the generosity of its forbearers but that generosity is coming to an end. Unless we, like the State, make some painful choices there may not be a Church of Our Saviour for our kids and grandchildren. You may have already witnessed some of the decisions being made and you will read more about them in this issue of the newsletter.

What I hope everyone understands, however, is that this is not a “doom and gloom” situation. We hear every spring the words “resurrection” and “new hope”. We devote a whole Church Season talking about “life out of death”. Now is our opportunity to live those words. What can make this difficult is if we just hear the words “death”. Dieing in any shape or form is uncomfortable and messy. It is natural that we don’t want to talk or deal with anything that involves the dieing process. Yet it is Christ himself who said that through him there is life out of death. We are continually reminded that we are a people who say that in order to live one must die. So here’s our chance my dearest brothers and sisters. Here’s our chance to “raise to newness of life”. Your Rector and Vestry Leaders are extending our hands in invitation to rise up, walk the faith so that Church of Our Saviour may continue to live and preach the good news among its friends and neighbors. Here’s our opportunity to live resurrection!

Yours in Christ,

The Rev’d David R. Milam+

Food Card Program Continues…..

During Lent, a suggestion was made that we could help others by trimming our own grocery list and menu planning and buying a grocery store gift card with the difference. The gift card would then be donated to COS to have on hand to share with anyone in our community who might need a little help. Since there was a good response to this idea, the Outreach Committee would like to extend this program beyond Lent and create a year-round opportunity for parishioners to help others in this way.

Gift Cards of any dollar amount can be brought to the parish office during regular business hours, dropped in the collection plate at any service, or given to Fr. Dave or any member of the Outreach Committee. Any requests for grocery cards will be, as always, kept confidential. In these difficult financial times, one can never be certain about not being on the receiving end of needing help. How grateful we are to have brothers and sisters in Christ who care about the well-being of others.

Thank you for your donations and continued support.

Gifted Hands Ministry

…. COS Prayer Shawl ministry has begun and is starting to thrive. We have several participants sharing their time and talent to create these beautiful shawls. We all meet on Monday evenings in the parish hall from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm and share with each other our progress on our latest prayer shawl. To date, eight shawls have been delivered to our community. While we have received many donations of yarn, it is quickly being used up faster than we can keep it on hand. If you are able, please consider donating to this wondrous mission either in the way of yarn or a monetary donation. We welcome anyone who is interested in learning how to knit or crochet shawls or a seasoned crafter, who is able to share in this ministry. If you have any questions, please contact Ursula Hill at (508)947-4903 or Julie Siderwicz at (508)923-3543.

Fill-Up the Grocery Bag Ministry

Our first grocery bag fill up was a wonderful success. We could write an article to tell how much it means but the thank you letter that we received tells it all.

Dear Rev. Milam:

It is with sincere and heartfelt appreciation that I am thanking you, and the members of the Church of Our Saviour, for your very generous donation of food to the food pantry.

The sole mission of ‘St Vincent De Paul Food Pantry’ is helping feed needy individuals. It is run strictly by volunteers and has no paid employees. The number of family units receiving monthly food assistance from our pantry has risen dramatically in recent years. For example: in January 2006 the food pantry was providing food/services for approximately 39 local families; currently over 325 families units are registered and receiving monthly food assistance monthly.

Our food pantry is dedicated to serving needy individuals in the immediate community of Middleboro and was recently expanded to include individuals/family units from Lakeville. We are now receiving inquiries for assistance from individuals in neighboring towns of Rochester and Carver. The overwhelming majority of our food supplies are purchased directly from the Greater Boston Food Bank – 6,000 to 8,000 pounds weekly. Sporadically food drives are held locally at Stop & Shop- and Shaw’s and occasionally augmented with collections held at schools, churches and by youth organizations like the Boy Scouts.

When we received the call to make a ‘food pickup’ at your parish center I was fully expecting a handful of bags of food donated by a few caring individuals. I was absolutely shocked to walk into your beautiful parish center and find 25 grocery bags full of food. Please extend our gratitude to all of your parishioners who joined in this effort for the needy.

We are most grateful-as are our clients-who benefit from your generosity.

Thank you,

Richard Amber, Secretary

St. Vincent DePaul Society

Thank you all for your generous support of this ministry. We look forward to doing this again in the late summer/early fall.

The Outreach Committee

Two Birthdays Celebrated by Giving not Getting

Madison and Alex King have parents who know how to throw a Birthday party. Because their birthdays are close together, they often get one big party for the both of them. This time wasn’t any different. Church of Our Saviour’s Parish Hall was booked, balloons, streamers and tables were all decked out and the DJ arrived as planned and then the party with 30 friends all began.

There was something quite different, however, about this party. Madison came up with a unique idea and Alex, reluctant at first, soon agreed. The King family are very active in the life and worship of Church of our Saviour. Randy is currently the Sr. Warden of the Parish and his wife Kelly helps with Christian Education. Alex and Madison regularly attend classes while Madison also began serving as an Acolyte this year. We often wonder when we take our children to Church if they understand what they are being taught. We hope and pray as they attend religious education that they “get it”. It appears that Madison and Alex do.

Last May Church of Our Saviour distributed grocery bags to their parishioners and the Sunday School. Individuals took a bag home and returned them full the next Sunday. These were then distributed to St. Vincent de Paul’s food pantry here in Middleboro. What was Madison’s idea for her birthday? Instead of receiving presents why not have their friends bring dry goods? And that’s what happened in abundance.

Thanks to Madison and Alex’s generous idea several Middleboro residents will be able to feed their families. One family was so inspired by Alex’s invitation to their son they also did something unique and generous. As the King family were loading up the car to go home they found a note on the car seat. A donation was made in Alex’s name to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Budget Reduction begins July 1^st: Your Help is Needed

Because of budget issues the Vestry voted at the June meeting to reduce staff hours and salaries. These reductions take place on July 1^st and will continue for the rest of the year. We will need volunteer help to fill in the “gaps” while we work to get the budget back in order. The direct results of these cuts involve our Organist, Secretary, and Sexton positions. The Vestry will discuss the possible reduction of the Rector’s salary in September.

What exactly is being cut? As you may already notice, the day to day operating hours of the Office has been reduced from 20 hrs to 15. This means the Parish Office will be open on Tuesday with just the Rector in attendance when he is not out on visits or business. Our secretary, Fran Kulak will be available Wed. through Fri. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.. This schedule will be maintained in the summer and will not be changed when we return to our autumn programs. Unfortunately her hours may be cut to 10 when we return for the fall. We could use help in the office particularly on Tuesdays and when we have such projects as getting out our newsletter.

We need volunteers to help cut the lawn. Our Sexton, Ronnie Vaughan will continue to clean the buildings, take out the trash, re-supply, and do other maintenance jobs but he will no longer be responsible for cutting the lawns, raking leaves or shoveling the walks during winter. Our immediate need is for volunteers who have their own lawnmowers to cut the grass at the Church and when possible at the Parish Hall. There will be a sign up sheet at the back of the Church for individuals who can help.

Our Organist, Beth Anne Young will also take a reduction in hours and salary. This will not directly affect our summer worship but will have an impact on our autumn worship schedule. When we return in the fall to our regular schedule, Beth Anne will be responsible for playing at the 10 a.m. service and on holidays. She will also continue to rehearse with both the adult and children’s choirs. There will no longer be any music at the 8 a.m. service.

Feeling depressed? Please read again the Rector’s letter. Remember these challenges do not represent defeat but provide us with opportunity.

New Youth Sponsor Volunteer: New Youth Group in the Fall

Sandi Choate has agreed to undertake the task of re-initiating our Youth Group. She has identified 15 to 16 youth who could be the core of a Junior High and Senior High Youth Group. With encouragement from the Vestry and working with the Rector, Sandi will become a volunteer ministry staff person whose mission is to develop our Youth Program. The Junior High Youth Group will consist of youth in grades 6 through 8. The Senior High Youth Group will be grades 9 through 12.

Church of Our Saviour practices the two adult rule when working with youth. This means Sandi will need at least one other adult volunteer in each group to work with her. Sandi has already begun investigating resources to put together activities and programs and when possible she will also participate in training programs for Youth Sponsors. Please give Sandi your support of prayer and lend a hand when she asks for help.

ECW Notes

Janet Nichols Scholarship

Three students received scholarships this year. Rachel Gunning, Lindsay Johnson,

Laura Stagliola.

ECW Newly Elected Officers

The E.C.W. had its annual dinner meeting at Lindsay’s in Wareham. Seventeen ladies gathered around the table for fun, fellowship and to elect new officers; President: Maggie Guiliani; Chaplain: Linda Kirschner, Judy Manton; Secretary: Frances Costa; Treasurer: Pattie Stagliola; Vice Presidents; Sandi Choate and Barry Capistron. Hope to see you all at our 1st meeting in September.

ECW Potluck in July

Our Potluck Suppers will continue through the summer. Please note this Potluck is on July 24 and not on the 3rd Saturday of the month. Plans are underway to make this a joint event with School St. Methodist Church so please mark you calendar to be with us for this very special time of sharing with one of our sister churches in town. Place of the potluck has yet to be determined. Information will be given in the bulletin and the COS Update email.

CRAFT FAIR

Come join us for a crafting night!

This summer there will be two crafting nights to start preparing for the December craft fair.

The first will be held on July14th 6:30pm in the Parish Hall. On this night we will be staining fence pickets that will be used to make decorative “skis” for the holiday season. Also if time permits we will be constructing the frames for the cemetery blankets. The blankets will be decorated with live and artificial greens before the fair.

The second date will be August18th 6:30pm in the Parish Hall. On this night we will finish the cemetery blankets if need be and making snowman and snowwomen out of quilt batting.

All projects are easy and no special skill in required. If any one has any supplies they are willing to donate please contact Pattie Stagliola 508-946-4708.

Items needed would be fence pickets, chicken wire, strapping, white cotton quilt batting.

Please come and enjoy the air conditioning and fellowship!

Yard Sale

Thank you to all who donated items for the yard sale, and all who worked the yard sale. As of today, we have netted $1,125.00. Remaining items will be donated to the 4H Fair and to the Salvation Army. Left over books was placed in the book collection bins.

Nearly New Shop - Sim presented a proposal from Emery Contracting in the sum of $3,475.00. Wally and Joe were concerned that the roofers would not be stripping the shingles. The Vestry has asked Sim to obtain a price to strip the shingles and install new flashing. Thanks was extended to Rich and Sim.

Worship Committee – Betty Wainwright submitted an update to the Worship

Committee report dated May 21, 2010. The next scheduled Worship Committee meeting will be August 3, 2010 at Martha Edward’s home. Martha proposed this change of schedule to better coordinate with the Altar Guild schedule. “I am proposing that Worship Committee meet on a regular schedule, four times a year. The first week of August, November, February and May. This would work in with all of the seasons of the Church”.

Addendum to Worship report by Fr. Dave.

Attendance Report: All Sundays between 2009 and 2010: In 2010, the total attendance is 1,870 (Saturday and Sunday) for a total of 58 services up to and including May 23^,2010. In 2009, the total attendance was 1,486 (Saturday and Sunday).

Total attendance as of May 23^,2010 is 649. This figure is for weekday and private services, such as nursing homes, home communion, and funerals.

In May of 2009, the total attendance for weekday services was 584. Weekly number of services were 28, which included Wednesday services. There were 13 private services.

Christian Education Report presented by Wanda Brides-Hays.

a. The teachers will be bringing in meals for the Shepherd Ministry.

b. Wanda will be speaking to Wayne Besegai regarding “Safe Church” training for teachers.

c. Wanda has seen an increase in attendance at Church School.

d. There are 4 graduating seniors this year.

The Vestry asked Wanda to make a request to Wayne Besegai to begin tracking attendance. Fr. Dave noted that this information will be required in the future when applying for grants.

Library

Julie Siderwicz brought up the issue of cleaning up the library and creating some storage space for the Junior/Senior High Church school classes. Julie expressed that both the Church school could use some of their own and also that Outreach, specifically, Gifted Hands ministry needs some storage space for their large collection of yarn supplies. Julie offered to help clean and organize the library over the summer, with the help of volunteers and Fr. Dave (to go through all the books). Vestry gave her permission to do so and some vestry members offered their help.

Youth Ministry Discussion

Fr. Dave led this discussion explaining that a Youth Minister would need to have safe Church training and Youth Ministry training. Fr. Dave suggested that he could be an advisor.

At the present time there are funds for the youth raised in previous years. It was discussed whether a youth minister could be hired or that maybe someone would volunteer. Sandi Choate expressed her interest in helping out.

Treasurer’s Report

Total cash received is $77,804.92 to date. Total amount of cash disbursed is $97,565.67, leaving a deficit of $19,760.75.

We should be bringing in at least $9,000.00 more by this time of the year. We are down by $6,000.00 compared to last year.

(The balance sheet prepared by the Treasurer is on file attached to the official May 2010 Vestry Minutes and is available in the Church office).

The treasurer has requested a finance committee meeting. Members of the finance committee include Matt Galvin, Wayne Perkins, Donald Atkins, Michael Stagliola and our Sr. Warden Randy King.

Jr. Warden’s Report

Wally Kling is working on the flowers on the grounds. There have been many insects.

Rector’s Report

Fr. Dave reported on the Taunton River Deanery Assembly on May 23, 2010.

The following motion was approved by the Deanery:

To designate grants from the Mercy House funds to the following organizations:

The New Trading Post

Cranwood Children’s Services

Help Us Get Safe (HUGS)

G.L.O.W. in Armenia

The motion was approved unanimously.

St. Mark’s, Foxboro offered to distribute the funds.

Respectfully submitted,

Julie Siderwicz

Clerk

July Birthdays

7/01 – Shaina Thomas 7/07-Lindsay Johnson 7/08 – Richard Govoni

7/09 - Dean Anderson 7/16 – Peter Kelly 7/17 – William Choate

7/17 – Ginny Stelmach 7/17 –John Merluzzo 7/19 – Sean Ryan

7/21 – Joseph Morrissey 7/23 – Shawn Brides 7/29 – Alyssa Murphy

7/30 – Judith Manton

August Birthdays

8/06 - Peg Atkins 8/07 – Alexandra Welch 8/08 – Kelly King

8/09 – Dylan Cray 8/10 - Wayne Perkins 8/11 – Angela Pendoley

8/12 – Nicole Steeves 8/15 - David Thompson 8/16 – Julie Siderwicz

8/17 – Diana DiGiorgi 8/19 – Claire Rockwood 8/21 – Diane Maddigan

8/21 – Patrick Rogers 8/23 – Clayton Lacombe 8/24 – Marion Gunning

8/24 – Meghan Holdsworth 8/25 – Thomas Brides Jr. 8/25 – Richard Nielson

8/30 – Elizabeth Wainwright