Sundays
8:30am Rite 1 with closing hymn
9:30am Bible Study in Griswold Room and via zoom
10:15am Godly Play
10:30am Rite 2 with organ and choral music
After 10:30 service – Coffee hour
News
Food Share Garden
We are delighted to announce that Saint Ann’s is a sponsor of the Lyme/Old Lyme Food Share Garden where we have supported the "sponsor a row" initiative. This year volunteers donated more than 700 hours and have delivered more than 2500 pounds of fresh produce to the Shoreline Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry. Special thanks to Carolyn Kilroy for her oversight of this year’s Community Garden and her leadership as Vestry liaison for Outreach.
Mother Anita has accepted the call to serve as our 7th Rector
After accepting the call, Anita spoke to the Vestry and shared the following:
"In reflecting on our mutual ministry and the leadership of the Vestry, I am in awe of our accomplishments – not just what we have done in reaching most of our goals but also, and more importantly, in our care of one another both near and far. Thank you for caring for one another in all times and circumstances."
"Above all, I give thanks to God for calling me to Saint Ann's. I truly believe that I have been so called and give thanks that you have put your confidence and faith in both this process and in me."
Finally the Vestry would like to thank all of you who shared comments and thoughts during our listening sessions.
Your words contributed to a prayerful and thoughtful decision in calling Anita to be our next Rector.
~Your Vestry
Saint Ann's is part of the Pollinator Pathways of Old Lyme
Saint Ann's has added native plants to our property, eliminated pesticides, and officially joined Old Lyme's Pollinator Pathway.
List of native species and pollinator plants/gardens at Saint Ann’s three locations:
St. Ann's Church – perennial geranium, nepeta, oenothera, echinacea (purple coneflower), nasturtium, cut leaf coneflower (rudbeckia laciniata), black eyed susan (rudbeckia hart), zinnia, cleome, salvia, violets, oak trees, andromeda, linden (tree), oak, viburnum Hobblebush, white mulberry, sumac.
Nearly New – Phlox "David", Butterfly weed (asclepias tuberose), nepeta, bee balm, coreopsis (tickseed), purple coneflower (echinacea), violets, wild strawberry, foxgloves, sumac, rose campion, pokeweed, lilac, sugar maple, red clover, wild strawberry (frageria).
Rectory – goldenrod, elderberry, purple coneflower (echinacea), cut leaf coneflower, foxgloves.
Conn. Groups Preparing to Welcome Afghan Refugees
The Refugee Resettlement Program of Old Lyme said they are ready to welcome a family of Afghan evacuees as soon as they get the call.
Read the story here
Wrapping up the Capital Fundraising Campaign
The Capital Campaign continued into Year 4 of the 3-Year initiative with our parishioners generously bringing our total pledged to $1,452,518 against our goal of $1,300,000 and just shy of our Stretch Goal of $1,500,000.
With Phase One completed and our pledges in hand, we began planning Phase Two of the Capital Building projects. As promised, we focused on full accessibility, safety, organization of the first floor of our building and access to the lower level. Our work continued with Centerbrook and Enterprise Builders, both of whom served as reliable and committed partners to Saint Ann’s Parish.
As planned, Phase Two added two fully accessible bathrooms on the first floor. We removed the steps that separate the Griswold Room and kitchen from the rear office entrance which allowed for the first floor spaces to share the same floor level as the Sanctuary. Our rear office entrance now has improved visibility, security doors and windowed doors in the Parish Administrator’s and Rector’s new offices to align with safe church practices.
To fulfill our goal to make the entire church building accessible, the lower level of our church is now accessible to all with the addition of a lift providing access from the first floor to the Ground Level where the Nursery, Godly Play, and the Sewing Room are located.
We are very appreciative of our donors for fulling their pledge commitments. In addition to the Capital Campaign, additional funds were raised in the Lift Up Campaign led by Alden Murphy and Charlie Potts. Our parishioners generously donated an additional $76,737.00 which was required to cover the cost of the lift, landscaping, IT update, and other owner’s costs and contingencies.
The successful completion of Phase Two ensures Saint Ann’s accessibility today and for generations to follow. It will allow our parishioners and guests from the community, who cannot navigate stairs, to be able to attend all events at the church and use the facilities on our lower level.
We thank all the Saint Ann’s parishioners, donors, and friends for their support of the Capital Campaign and their confidence in our leadership of the Capital Campaign and Building Projects.
Read more about our Capital Campaign Building Projects here.
Tropical Storm Isaias Brings Down a 58 Year Old Oak Tree
This past week when hundreds of folk were without power, and stopped by to take photos of the fallen oak tree, often posing with it, they all said two things: ‘It is a miracle the way it fell away from the church’ and ‘God was surely watching over you and your flock Mother Anita.’ I readily agreed as both are true. What I did not say then, but say now – God is always watching over us, no matter what the outcome, no matter where the tree falls.
Mother Anita, 8/9/20
Initiative for Becoming a Beloved Community
Saint Ann's has formed a Task Force on racial justice and reconciliation called the Initiative for Becoming a Beloved Community. Click this link to see ECCT's work at the Diocesan level.
This group is comprised of 11 members and meets regularly. Please contact either Kathy Kronholm or Alden Murphy if you would like to be involved.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion is to look out to the world.
Yours are the feet with which Christ is to go about doing good.
Yours are the hands with which Christ is to bless all people now.
- Theresa of Avila
Mother Anita's Blessed Little Thought
From the July 4, 2020 ECCT newsletter:
This BLT (Blessed Little Thought) comes from the Rev. Anita Schell, Provisional Priest in Charge in St. Ann's, Old Lyme. She talks from the Memorial Garden at St. Ann's: opening a window to creation; following a very helpful list of guidelines for time in quarantine.
Mother Anita Interviewed on iCRV Radio
On June 25, Mother Anita was interviewed by Dave Williams on iCRV Radio to promote Saint Ann's First Annual Can-a-Thon to support the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries. Listen to her interview here:
Based in nearby Ivoryton, CT, iCRV Radio is a streaming radio service dedicated to the Connecticut River Valley (CRV). To be part of iCRV Radio and its mission to connect and grow community through engaging content, click here.
Saint Ann's Holds its First Can-a-Thon
A big thank you to all who participated Sunday in the Can-a-thon. We appreciate the time and effort from the volunteers who collected food, directed traffic, and to those who made donations. It was a team effort resulting in approximately 40 bags/boxes of food (406 pounds!) to be donated to the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries.
It was a beautiful day and so much fun visiting, while social distancing of course, with many parishioners and the wider community.
Congratulations! This was a great start to increasing our goal of more local outreach.
What would we do without our pets?
Our pets are the unsung heroes of working from and being quarantined at home amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In fact, your furry friend does more than just brighten up your day or give you someone to talk to while social distancing - research suggests pets can make you happier, healthier, less stressed and more productive.
Don't miss the chance to celebrate and thank your four legged friends at home. Send your photos to Kathy Rowe at office@saintannsoldlyme.org.
Thankfully,
Laura Lee Miller
Your Communications Liaison
