PARISH BREAKFAST OPENS 2004-2005 SUNDAY SCHOOL YEAR

On Sunday, September 12th, enjoy a Parish Breakfast at 9 a.m. in the Parish House. Everyone is welcome! Then get involved with Sunday School when the fall quarter begins at 9:30 a.m. Join a class! There is no chapel that day. After breakfast, plans for the day will be announced. Classes are planned for all ages.

This year's materials have a strong Biblical foundation with an emphasis on mission. Key to these them are the themes of generosity, kindness, compassion, respect, thankfulness and love. Materials for the adult class center on the lessons that are read during Sunday worship. Here is an opportunity to spend time learning about their major themes and possible interpretations.

The Education for Ministry program continues on Sunday evenings with members working on the Old and New Testaments and Church History. Interested in taking part in some serious study and refection? Stop by the Parish Library at 6:30 beginning September 12th. Grace Long continues as the group's mentor.

How about reading and discussing various books? The Episcopal Church Women's Book Circle meets on Thursday, September 9th at 12:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall to discuss Reading Lolita in Tehran.( It's available in paperback at Twice Told Tales.)

A NOTE FROM THE RECTOR

Dear Friends,

There are a number of exciting programs and projects that are beginning at Ware this fall. First are Foyer groups, which at their core provide an opportunity to gather for fun and fellowship. Groups like these are especially helpful to new members of Ware as it gives folks an opportunity to get to know one another. In a few days you will receive a letter from a member of the vestry explaining how one might get involved.

Also beginning this fall there will be a planning process for Ware Church. This past January's Vestry Retreat was spent learning about the congregations needs and understanding a new planning process. At its heart will be a day long planning meeting where the entire congregation is invited to be active participants. The key to its success is ensuring that the plan represents the hopes and dreams of as many members as possible. A steering committee of about fifteen or so will host the day. Want a say in what should happen at church? Then plan to join us for a Saturday early in 2005.

Also look through the Grapevine for other upcoming events and please plan to take part in them.

Faithfully yours,
Peter Worthington

MUSIC

Ware Ringers

The new handbell season begins at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 15th. Being a part of Ware Ringers is a unique musical experience to its members. Music reading is not necessary to join, but members do learn to read music quickly. Ware Ringers provide music for services throughout the seasons with special emphasis on Christmas and Easter. New members are welcome!

Senior Choir

Senior Choir resumes its regular choir season Sunday, September 5th with rehearsals each Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. The choir is open to anyone who likes to sing. The Senior Choir offers a wonderful opportunity for fun and fellowship. The music is wide and varied. There are opportunities to develop musical skills. New this season will be "Monday Night Vocals." Dee will offer selected groups from the choir additional practice sessions at her home. Interested? Contact Dee for more information at 804-843-3447.

Junior Choir

6:15 p.m. Children ages 5 and older are welcome. Each week the children sing, play games, learn to play hand chimes and participate in other fun activities. The children work on a 500-point system, earning points each week for their participation. In May when they receive their points, the choir members receive award jewelry and a special fun trip. Choir members are always "paid" a "Ware dollar" for each rehearsal they attend. They spend their "Ware dollars" at special store nights held at the end of December and May. The store, known as "WareMart," is open to Junior Choir members only. "WareMart" sells toys and lots of candy. The emphasis in Junior Choir is on fun while encouraging young children to develop a sense of real commitment and participation in the church.

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

If you wish for your birthday to appear in the monthly list, please call the Church Office.

FOOD PANTRY INGATHERING

September 5th

Help the Salvation Army to help others. Ware Church members have been bringing staples and paper products for the Salvation Army Pantry for many years. At this point, the Pantry needs corned beef, Vienna sausages, paper towels and chunky soups. The gifts are received on the first Sunday of every month. Bring your gifts on Sunday, September 5th. Of course you may always bring items in during the month and put them in the sacristy in the Parish House. There are a couple of guidelines for gifts to the pantry:

• Please no opened boxes or partially used boxes or items (even if items are individually wrapped within a box).
• Check the date on canned goods and items that you are donating to be certain that the goods are still O.K. to use.

Don't forget-the Salvation Army has moved to its new location in the Hayes Plaza Shopping Center behind Movie Scene.

SCHOOL'S IN

Watch out for our children!

VESTRY NEWS

The Ware Vestry will meet Tuesday, September 14th at 7:30 p.m. Vestry members may pick up their packets on the church porch on Sunday, September 12th.

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

PRAYER CHAIN MEETS SEPTEMBER 8TH

Each month the Ware Church Prayer Chain gathers for fellowship, prayer and the Holy Eucharist in the Parish House. (The Holy Eucharist is open to everyone in the church.) After the Holy Eucharist, they gather in the Library to pray for friends and church members. The next meeting is at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, September 8th. If you have a prayer request, please call Bruce Forsberg at 776-7734, Anne Clark at 693-4026, or Jane Van Leeuwen at 693-3500.

OFFICE NEWS

The office will be closed Monday, September 6th for Labor Day. The Parish Administrator will be on vacation September 20th - 24th.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN

The ECW Book Circle will meet on Thursday, September 9th at 12:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. We will be discussing Reading Lolita in Tehran. This book is a poignant memoir and fascinating chronicle of the lives of women in present day Iran. It is written by Azar Nafisi, a professor of literature at John Hopkins University. She left Iran to receive an education, returned to Iran to teach, and resigned her position because of the repressive atmosphere. She and a group of her best female students began to study Western literature secretly. R.S.V.P. to Tracy Lanum (tlanum@cox.net or 693-3591). It is available in paperback at Twice Told Tales.

EPISCOPAL YOUTH

September 12th after the church breakfast will be the first meeting of the Youth Group. 7th - 12th graders are welcome and encouraged to join us. We have a lot of fun activities and fund raisers plus it's a wonderful way to meet new friends. Elections will also be held. You must be a member of the group for 2 years to be considered for an office. Please think about who might best represent your group. Hope you all had a wonderful summer. See you soon.
Judy Doyel-Fulk, Youth Coordinator

FAMILY ROOM BEGINS BUSY FALL SEASON

The Family Room, a co-operative playgroup for preschool children, meets in the Parish House Tuesday through Thursday, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. during the school year. There is no cost. Over sixty families participate in the playgroup, activities, field trips and fund raisers. The Director is Sister Colleen Magill.

The Family Room has had several activities during the summer including a Make Your Own Sundae party, visits to Gloucester Point and Yorktown beaches, berry picking at Bush Neck farm, and a trip to the local bowling alley.

We are in the process of making a Family Room Scrapbook. We also have a monthly Mom's Night Out so that Mom can have some much needed adult time.

To supplement The Family Room, parents often participate in group fund raisers such as a June Yard Sale. Our dads also built a playhouse as a raffle prize. We made about $3,400 and the parents also bonded well as a group.

New families are always welcome to join us. During the school year we visit Sanders Nursing Home and the Gloucester Library Bookmobile comes to our school. For information, please call Sister Colleen at 693-3821.

SPRUCE UP THE GROUNDS

There will be a Parish Grounds Clean-up Day Saturday, October 9th, beginning at 8 a.m. The Cemetery Committee will meet that same day at 10 a.m.

GRAPEVINE DEADLINE

For October - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th

Please have your information to the office by the deadline (or earlier, if possible). We hope all parishioners will receive their issues of Grapevine by the first of each month.

FOYER GROUPS

The Vestry of Ware Church is looking into ways that members can get to know one another better. The formation of Foyer Groups is one avenue we are exploring. You may have already received the letter explaining Foyer Groups in more detail along with a questionnaire. Please return the questionnaire if you are interested in being a part of this new program. If you have questions, call Kate Cole at 695-0222.

BISHOP TO VISIT WARE FOR CONFIRMATION SERVICE

Each year one of the three Bishops in the Diocese of Virginia visits Ware Church for the Service of Confirmation and Reception. On Sunday, November 14, 2004 the Rt. Rev'd Francis Campbell Gray, Assistant Bishop of Virginia, will be here. This special service presents the opportunity for individuals to affirm the promises of faith made for them during their baptism by being confirmed by the Bishop. It is also an opportunity for those wishing to join the Episcopal Church who began their journey in faith in another Christian denomination.

In preparation for the Bishop's visit, the Enquirers' Classes will begin in September.

REGION II MEETING

Region II will meet at Ware Church on Sunday, September 19th at 3:00 p.m. The Diocese of Virginia is divided into 15 regions. Ware is in Region II. Anyone may attend the region's meetings but only the church rector and lay delegates have a vote on matters that require action.

SCHOOL CLOTHING

On July 19th a letter was sent to all members of Ware Church from the Mission Committee asking for help in providing new shoes, clothes, and school supplies for needy children in Gloucester County as the children start the new school year. As a result of your generous donations to the School Clothing Fund, sixty-nine children received new clothes and shoes. Each child was given supplies which were delivered to every school. The Salvation Army took applications July 26th - August 16th for theses children and then by August 19th, they were approved. Each child was fitted with school clothing from Wal-Mart assisted by Anne Dyal, Chairman Gloucester Salvation Army Advisory Committee, Rosa Pratt from Ware Church and Doris Luther, a Salvation Army volunteer. The Salvation Army would like to express sincere thanks to Ware Church for making the project possible and for helping so many of those in need in Gloucester County.

BULLETIN RECYCLING

Each Sunday if you do not want your bulletin, you may leave it on the church porch table to be recycled. Thank you for your help in controlling the size of the landfill.

MISSION GIVING UPDATE

In the past year Ware Church has been involved in financial giving in many areas. In addition to the budgeted items of gifts to the Gloucester Salvation Army ($2,400 a year), Gloucester Samaritan Group ($1,200 a year) and the Gloucester-Mathews Free Clinic ($1,000 a year), Ware has contributed to the following organizations and individuals.

Total for Additional Mission Gifts $12,582.59

FINANCE

The Finance Committee will meet on Monday, September 13th at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Library.