YARD SALE SATURDAY, JUNE 5TH

Come to the Ware Church Yard Sale Saturday, June 5th at 8 a.m. ready to "shop". One person's white elephant is another one's treasure. Come and find your treasure. Proceeds will benefit The Family Room.

Everyone has something that is gathering dust or is just not needed anymore. You can still bring your items to the Parish House. Please do not bring adult clothing. Volunteers are needed for this event. If you can donate a few hours, please call the church office.

Items Needed:
• Household items: pictures, vases, knickknacks, dishes, lamps, decorations, pots and pans, canning jars, jewelry, clocks, books, white elephants, linens, etc. All items should be complete and have all parts and pieces.
• Children's Clothing and Baby Items: clean, untorn, and no buttons missing. Hanging items should be on hangers and tagged with size; always good sellers.
• Tools and electronics: hand tools, garden equipment, mowers, computers, TV's, radios, calculators, stereo systems, fishing equipment, power tools, etc.
• Furniture: items that can be readily moved and are in good repair like chairs, tables, rugs, bookcases, barbecues, lamps, picture frames.
• Toys: Always in demand. Clean, unbroken, complete items only.
• Appliances: mixers, ice cream makers, crock pots, irons, coffee makers, hot plates, toasters, can openers, processors, air conditioners, fans; functioning and with all parts and directions.

FROM THE RECTOR

Dear Parishioners,

There is something glorious about June! I'm always amazed at how many committees, activities and groups have either fewer meetings or just stop for the summer. I'm always torn by the end of summer; first because I want the summer to continue and second because it's great to get going for the fall.

While June, July and August may be students' and teachers' favorite words, summer is a time for rest, relaxation and renewal. Summer worship services at Ware are a bit more relaxed. (Fewer coats and ties and more comfortable clothes.) Choir solos, instrumental selections and weekly readings are about our Lord's ministry in Galilee. It is appropriate that green, the liturgical color for the season, stands for the growing of the church in New Testament times and in today's times.

Join us on Sundays for worship, rejoice in a slower pace, enjoy family and friends and make time to be in special places for the gift of renewal.

Faithfully yours,
Peter Worthington

HUGH C. DISCHINGER ELECTED AS HONORARY VESTRYMAN

At the March 9th Vestry Meeting, Hugh Dischinger was elected an honorary member of the Vestry. Lee Brown, vestry member and the Rector presented the resolution to Mr. and Mrs. Dischinger at their home in early April.

Whereas, Hugh Charles Dischinger was born on March 4, 1924, baptized in Ware Church on Palm Sunday being the 20th day of March 1932, and was confirmed by The Right Reverend Henry Saint George Tucker, Bishop of Virginia and Presiding Bishop on June 14, 1936,

Whereas, being confirmed on Flag Day was a sign of things to come, Hugh interrupted his education at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington to serve as a fighter pilot during World War II in the Pacific and Far East where he flew Mustangs, Aircobras, Lightnings, and our country's first jet fighter, the Shooting Star and,

Whereas, Hugh had the good fortune to marry the lovely Thelma Ann Brown of Ware Neck and be the father of two fine sons and two beautiful daughters,

Whereas, Hugh has served this Church as Boy's Choir member, Lay Reader, Sunday School student, Teacher and Superintendent, member and leader of Boy Scout Troop 111, Treasurer of the Cemetery Committee, Parish Surveyor, Vestryman, Register, Parish Trustee, Junior Warden, several times as Senior Warden and on other occasions too numerous to remember or attempts to list,

Whereas, His kindness, gentle humor and love of family, friends, church and our Lord have been an example to us all,

Now Therefore Be It Resolved that the Vestry of Ware Episcopal Church being in session on Tuesday, March 9th, 2004, wishes to thank Hugh Charles Dischinger for his eighty years of service to his country, Gloucester County and most especially Ware Church.

Be It Further Resolved that the Vestry elects him this night to be an Honorary Member of the Vestry in tribute to unfailing service and love of this parish.

PRAYER CHAIN MEETS JUNE 9TH

The Ware Church Prayer Chain gathers for fellowship, prayer and the Holy Eucharist at 10 a.m. June 9th in the Chapel. After the Holy Eucharist, they gather in the Library to pray for friends and church members. For prayer requests, please call Bruce Forsberg (776-7734), Anne Clark (693-4026), or Jane Van Leeuwen (693-3500).

AWARD SUNDAY FOR PARISH YOUTH AND CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

On Sunday, May 23rd, Ware celebrated the Youth Programs. Many thanks to Peter Hanson for coordinating the Acolytes, Dee Johnston for directing the Junior Choir, Karen Ward for leading the Sunday School, Judy Doyel-Fulk for sponsoring the Youth Group, and Kim Roj for serving as Youth Group President. Also thanks for teaching Sunday School to Ronda Bowden, Peter Hanson, Molly Hoffman, Louisa Jones, Diana Joyce, Terry Kepner, Darcy O'Neil, Allison Parker, Dawn Troutman and Jane Worthington. Finally thank you for sharing your children with us for these programs.

VESTRY NEWS

Monthly Vestry minutes along with the financial statement are posted in the Parish Hall bulletin board for your reading and information.

At the May Meeting, the Vestry saw the Church Fabric Committee presentation that was to be shared with the congregation on Sunday, May 16th and then on Wednesday, May 19th. It authorized a timber management study for about 17 acres of woodlands at the church.

The Vestry received a report about Foyer and Agape Groups to foster fellowship. Kate Cole agreed to get these groups going.

The Vestry reviewed a memorial to Mordecai Cooke, donor of the original parcel of land for the present Ware Church. The memorial will be located outside the church wall near the exit from the cemetery with these words: "Ware Church was built on this property given by Vestryman Mordecai Cooke [1650 - 1718] from his home tract "Mordecai's Mount," now "Church Hill."

The Vestry adopted guidelines for gifts and Memorial markers. (A copy is available in the Church Office or here.)

Finally the Vestry will begin its 2004 Stewardship program with a presentation by Chris Withers of Richmond at it next meeting.

HURRICANE CLEAN UP ALMOST FINISHED

Last September, Hurricane Isabell caused extensive damage to the buildings and grounds at Ware Church. Almost $45,000 has been spent restoring the property. Clean up from downed trees and branches has cost about $31,750 which was paid to three contractors. To help with these expenses, the Church Insurance Corporation awarded $10,000 for clean up and $5,000 was received from a private foundation. Repairs to the Parish House roof, handicap ramp, parking area and church wall cost about $13,250. The insurance company should pay all of this except the $1,000 deductible. Items still remaining to be finished include the installation of the Huff cemetery stone and resetting several lot markers and a memorial stone.

Besides losing the beautiful old trees, the 'Charleston Lamp' by the east gate was destroyed beyond repair. A handmade replacement has been installed. Parishioners wishing to help with the $16,750 in grounds expenses not covered by insurance may make gifts to the church for that specific purpose.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES !

Justin Blymyer
Leila Freeman
Kim Roj
Doug Wilt

PLAN NOW FOR SUMMER MUSIC CAMP

Mark your calendars for the week of August 16th for our annual Music Camp. This year's theme is "Make a Joyful Noise". Once again this year, the campers will be creating their own production during that week. They will learn songs, do rhythm activities, make instruments, compose their own psalm and make displays to use in the church for the production. It will be an action-filled week with something for every child. There will also be lots of fun-filled silly games, prizes, contests and surprises. Camp is open to any child, age 5 to teenager. Please sign up now so that there will be enough materials on hand for this fabulous week. Contact Dee Johnston or the church office.

STEWARDSHIP

Do you ever wish you had the opportunity to discuss the Sunday Lectionary readings we hear (or sometimes read) every week? After all, as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams says, "They are not a straight forward set of texts." Sometimes a little extra time spent in comtemplation can add great value to their application to our everyday lives.

Please feel free to join the Adult Sunday School Lectionary Discussion Group. We meet every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. between the early and late services. Anyone and everyone is welcome! Feel free to drop in for a few minutes or come every week. No commitment is necessary. We have a subscription to a newsletter that gives us a standard format to follow. This year we intend to keep the discussion group going through the summer months. Each discussions usually takes about 30-45 minutes. Join us in fellowship as we seek to better understand this part of our spiritual inheritance.

CHURCH FABRIC COMMITTEE

The Church Fabric Committee, appointed by the Vestry in May, 2003 has been meeting monthly to consider the report of the Liturgical Arts Committee. The Liturgical Arts Committee did their evaluation, research and report following a memorial gift to the parish by Mrs. R. Lawson Miles in October, 2000 in memory of six generations of the Taliaferro family who attended Ware Church.

The committee presented proposals to replace the carpet, pew cushions, pew kneelers and the communion rail kneeler as well as new frontals and lectern and pulpit hangings. These proposals were presented to the congregation after the two Sunday services on May 16th and on Wednesday, May 19th. Samples of the carpet and fabric were available for viewing. Virtual photographs showed the present and proposed selections. Parishioners were able to fill out comment cards with their reactions and suggestions. These cards will be presented to the Vestry at the June 8th meeting. Approximately 70 parishioners attended the meetings.

Thank you to Joanne Bartlett, Judy Cathey, Nancy Dwoyer, Anne Dyal, Beth Haskell, Peter Hunt, Susan Jenkins, Marge Masek, Mary Montague, Martha Morton, Betty Barr Ould, Margaret Perritt, Rip Radcliffe, Barbara Roane, Margie Teagle, and Kate Zullo for their work on these two committees.

AN INVITATION TO PRAYER FROM THE STANDING COMMITTEE

Archbishop Robin Eames, accepting the Archbishop of Canterbury's charge last October to lead a commission seeking a path forward for the Anglican Communion, spoke meaningfully at Annual Council of creating channels of understanding, but most poignantly, said very simply, "please pray for me."

Today, Archbishop Eames' Lambeth Commission continues the hard work of reconciliation. In the Diocese of Virginia, our Diocesan Reconciliation Commission is seeking means by which we can prayerfully reflect on our differences and discern God's will in addressing and accepting those differences. Across the Diocese, this same work of communication and understanding has been taken up, formally and informally, in parishes large and small. Throughout all this effort and work, we must not lose sight of the fact that there is One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism.

All of these efforts deserve our prayers. We ask the parishes of our Diocese to pray for the unity of the Church. We ask the parishes of our Diocese to pray for the healthful Spirit of God's grace. We ask the parishes of our Diocese to pray that God's Word may be truly preached, that God's sacraments may be faithfully administered and faithfully received, and that God's love may be shown among all by the fashioning of our lives according to the example of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Since the fall of 1999, Peter Worthington has been enrolled in the Advanced Studies Program in Congregational Development at the Seabury Institute which is part of Seabury-Western Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. This spring marks the completion of nine courses in congregational development and the completion of a church study and thesis project in Land Purchase for New Congregations. On June 4th he will receive the Doctor of Ministry degree in Evanston.

Congratulations, Peter!

JUNE BIRTHDAYS