Ware Episcopal Church

Bring your dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, horses, fish, frogs and iguanas to Ware Church on Sunday, October 3rd at 9:30 a.m. for the Annual Blessing of the Animals. This service will be held outside the Parish House Chapel due to larger numbers of animals and parishioners attending. In addition to a special worship service, each animal will receive its own blessing. Can't get your pet here? Then, please bring a picture and your pet will be included in the service. If you plan to stay for the 10:30 service, please remember to have plenty of water for your pet and to leave your car windows open at the top.

The service also includes an ingathering of pet food for the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society. On any given day the Society feeds cats, dogs, chickens, rabbits, and even a horse or two. The gift of these food items helps this important group continue to feed stray pets and animals.

This special day honors St. Francis of Assisi, a thirteenth century friar who was the founder of the Franciscan Order. This religious order is marked by a simple rule of life that forgoes most worldly comforts and identifies with the poverty and sufferings of our Lord.

Every All Saints' Day during the Prayers of the People, the names of the loved ones of our parish family are read. To have your loved ones included with "those who have gone ahead of us in faith", please list their names and return a request to the Church Office either in person or by U. S. Mail no later than Wednesday, October 27th.

To mail your request, please send it to Ware Episcopal Church, P. O. Box 616, Gloucester, Virginia 23061-0616.

Dr. Ed Long will be providing leadership for a workshop at a national Colloquium entitled Peacemaking in Time of Terror , Violence and War at Stony Point Conference Ground in New York. Following that workshop he will be preaching for the chapel service of the Drew Theological School and discussing his last book at a luncheon of that community. A week later he will be one of the recipients of the distinguished alumni awards given each year by Union Theological Seminary in New York. The Sunday between the two weeks, he will be preaching at Ware.

My answer to the question of 'how are things at Ware" was to respond by saying, 'busy.' This month we begin by blessing our pets - our companions in our daily lives. Conclude the Vestry nomination process for the annual meeting on November 21st. Organize our Foyer Groups. Begin the parish planning process. Work on the Every Member Canvas. And finally celebrate All Hollows' Eve with our children. There's lots to do and more for everyone!

In the midst of these activities we need to continue to be people who center on our faith. The real question is seeking to find what ministry our Lord is calling us to do. It's as simple as asking, "Lord what do you need me to do." and as rewarding as being involved with ministry to others.

In asking, "Lord what do you need me to do." we are praying for strength, guidance and the presence of our Lord in our lives. The gift of prayer is that it does not change God, but it changes us. In the Gospels, Jesus celebrates our spiritual growth and the changes that occurs.

Activities are fun but don't forget in whose name we do them. May the Lord be with you and yours.

Senior Choir members and anyone interested in joining the Senior Choir are invited to an informal rehearsal at our first "Monday Night Vocals" on October 25th at 7:30 p.m. at Dee Johnston's home in West Point. This is an opportunity for you to learn music fundamentals and receive singing coaching in a very informal setting-which translated means "it's going to be fun!" If you plan to attend, please call Dee at 804-843-3447 to reserve your spot.

The Ware Episcopal Youth Committee, open to all members, 7th - 12th grades, will be busy this month. The youth will meet on Sunday, October 3rd at 9:30 a.m. Then on October 17th, they will be involved in a fundraiser for the March of Dimes. On Sunday, October 24th, they will be hosting the annual Halloween Party in the Parish Hall. Read about these two events elsewhere in the newsletter

On Sunday, October 17th at 3:00 p.m., Ware's youth will be participating in the Walk America for the March of Dimes. The youth group will be walking 5 miles at Beaverdam to support this cause. They need the help of the congregation to make this event a success. There is a donation sheet in the Parish Hall if you want to support their efforts. Also, if you would like to join their team in the walk, call Judy Doyel-Fulk at 693-6135.

Parish Halloween Party

Sunday, October 24th, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.*

Wear you favorite Halloween costume

Prizes
Games
Lots of Treats
Costume Contest

Another special event brought to you by the Ware Church Youth Group

The 113th ECW Annual Meeting is Thursday, October 21st at St. Stephen's in Richmond. Afterwards there is an overnight retreat at Roslyn. Registration begins at 3:00 p.m. There is a wine and cheese reception at 5:00 p.m. with dinner and a program to follow. The Rev. Grace Cangialosi is the retreat leader. The theme is "Here I am, Lord, is it I Lord?" Registration deadline is October 4th. Forms are in the office.

You are invited to explore the teachings and meditations of Meister Eckhart in a 4-week long study meeting in the Parish House Wednesdays, 6:30 - 7:45 p.m in the Youth Room (not the Parish Library as originally planned), beginning on October 13th.

Using the text, Praying with Meister Eckhart, by Wayne Simsic, the study will explore Eckhart's thoughts and meditations. The text outlines a series of discussion questions and exercises as a framework for individual spiritual reflection, meditation and sharing.

Copies of the text will be available by October 1st through the church office at a cost of $10. Please call Jennifer James at 693-2961, Anne Clark at 693-4026, Nell Jones at 693-5632 or the church office at 693-3821 with any questions.

The Ware Church Prayer Group gathers for fellowship, prayer and the Holy Eucharist at 10 a.m. on October 13th in the Chapel. After the Holy Eucharist (which is open to everyone in the church), they gather in the Library to pray for friends and church members. For prayer requests, call Bruce Forsberg (776-7734), Anne Clark (693-4026), or Jane Van Leeuwen (693-3500).

On the first Sunday of every month Ware Church receives gifts of food and other personal items to restock the shelves at the Salvation Army Food Closet. At this point, the Pantry needs boxed cereals, broth and toilet paper. Gifts for the Pantry can be left in the office or taken directly to the Salvation Army. Thank you for your contributions.

The Ware Vestry will meet this month on Tuesday, October 12th in the Parish Library at 7:30 p.m.. Pick up your packets on the church porch on Sunday, October 10th.

On Sunday, November 7th, the Episcopal Church Women will receive the Fall Ingathering of the United Thank Offering. Blue Boxes for your gifts that fold and jingle in your pocket may be found on the church porch table. For your convenience, UTO envelopes will be included in the November issue of the Grapevine.

Daylight Savings Time ends on the last Sunday of October. Remember to set your clocks back before you go to bed on Saturday, October 30th or on Sunday, October 31st when you awake.

Come to Ware's African Team Ministries Holiday Sale and do lots of Christmas shopping! There will be African jewelry, books, toys, knickknacks, and copies of Ware's history. The sale opens after the early service on Sunday, November 7th and continues all morning. The Ware Youth will be wrapping gifts that day as well as selling Christmas wreaths.

There will be a Parish Grounds Clean-up Day Saturday, October 9th, beginning at 8 a.m. Bring a good pair of work gloves, your saw, loppers, clippers and a pick-up truck to help with the clippings. All help is appreciated. Remember, the more helpers we have, the faster the work goes! Lunch is provided for everyone!

The Cemetery and Grounds Committee will meet Saturday, October 9th at 10 a.m. If you can not attend, please call Kenny Wiggins.

Giving statements for the 3rd quarter will be mailed the first week of October. If you have questions about your statement, call Pete Roane, 725-9250 or the church office, 693-3821.

Yes, Ware still has a fax machine; however, we have been receiving a lot of unwanted faxes (you know the type-free vacations, health care coverages and stock tips to mention a few). The decision has been made to keep the fax machine turned OFF unless the office knows that a fax is expected. You may still send and receive faxes if you let us know first so that we can turn on the machine.

Ware Church still has a few of the Christmas ornaments commemorating the 350th anniversary. The ornament, a three-dimensional brass copy of the Church building, sells for $15.00.