Wintery greetings, friends,

Yesterday a smaller than usual Timothy group met at Tina Kurrelmeyer's lovely home on the shore of Shelburne Bay and had a wonderful encounter.

If you thought The Rev. Ellen Neufeld was filled with energy, was at ease, and led by the Spirit, well surprise -- so is her husband, The Rev. Michael Neufeld.  What a pair!

They celebrated a Rite Two Eucharist with Penitential Order and Decalogue at the top of the liturgy, and Fr. Mike gave a powerful sermon on salvation and the uniqueness of Jesus as "the way, the truth and the life" -- or "the narrow gate".  His was a message not heard universally from Episcopalian priests and bishops, as we know.  He had an interesting way of setting up the path that brought so many Episcopal churchmen and women to teaching that sinners don't need a redeemer , that the primary mission of the church is something other than bringing sinners in community to God through relationship with Jesus.  It goes something like this:  If I tell you that you aren't a sinner, then you'll tell me that I'm not a sinner.  Remember "You're OK, I'm OK"?  And if we're all OK we don't need salvation and if we think we do, a number of avenues to God are available.  His was a different message and he used an opening line from John Newton, a slave ship captain who said, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Saviour." He used the readings from today's propers to remind us of God's promises, the psalmist's cry for strength, and the Apostle Paul's instruction to the young church in Phillipi to stand firm against false witness.  He ended his sermon with Psalm 27's last line:  Wait for the Lord;  be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

 In the fellowship meeting later on (which Mike and Ellen stayed for despite another same-day three hour drive), they encouraged Timothy to stand firm and asked us to pray for their congregation, St. Andrew's in Scotia, NY, to stand firm as well.

We were indebted to Kathy for accompanying our hymns on the piano and teaching us an easy spiritual "I will follow the Lord".  We also sang "Amazing Grace" and Arabella made a strong recommendation that everyone go to see it.  Ellen and Mike agreed.

A great meal followed with ham, rolls, salads, soup, shepherd's pie, mac and cheese, and fruit.  Delicious.

In the business meeting that followed:

.Treasurer's report:  July '06 thru Feb '07 revenues $3,075.00, expenses $1,639.92, net $1,435.08.  Yesterday's offering:  $300.00 including the following story.  Bill received an email from a man in South Carolina who said he had been following the vermontanglicans website) with interest and that he wanted to help support us with a donation.  It arrived in the mail with a note:  We're praying for y'all.  Love, Omar and JJ Reyes and their children Azriel and Tennyson, of Columbia, SC  29229.  This was received with great joy and thanksgiving!

.Bibles for Kenya.  John Lajza and Dwight and Bill are exploring the possibility.  Since Dean Murdoch is going to Kenya to visit Archbishop Nzimbi and Bishop Ranji in early April, we will try to arrive at a recommendation before our next meeting on April 14.  The Neufelds made a suggestion that we contact the Christian Missionary Society of Ireland (CSMI) who have people on the ground there.  They also pointed out that the people in Kenya desire relationship and it would be nice to establish a community relationship.

.Daily Bread.  These are available for March April May now.  Let Ann know if you want one mailed to you.

.Alpha idea.  Kathy Carpenter has taught the Alpha program 5 times and would like to teach one under Timothy's sponsorship if we are interested. We discussed it and decided to pursue the idea further.  Mike and Ellen said that the best setting is in a home and they also strongly endorsed the practice of starting with a meal and the bonding that goes with it.  Their general advice, in view of Alpha being for seekers:  Don't start too soon with too many" answers".

. Anglican priests willing to come and serve us:  The Rev. Gus Calvo, rector of church in Malone, NY.  Also Mike and Ellen will be happy to come again. Jurgen Liias has several good seminarians who would come.  Several people said they would like Alex Cameron to come again.  And Marnie Kaetor, too.  Dwight MacPherson is in the wings prepared to serve us, too, as he recently informed me.  We are blessed, aren't we, folks?

.Good News Initiative.  You have received an email about this from the ACN and from the NEC.  The Good News team of Michael Green+, +Keith Ackerman, Connie Boren and Daryl Fenton+ are coming to New England Convocation to do Evangelism Training in October.  Save the date:  Oct. 26-28 at Gordon-Conwell Seminary in So. Hamilton, MA.

.The 1st Annual Chapter Meeting of the New England Convocation.  February 24, 2007 in Coventry, RI.

It was a productive meeting.  Timothy members served on three of the four work groups.  The work groups' reports were presented and discussed and each was approved or adopted.  A budget of $229,448 was approved for the New England Convocation.  Copies of the reports are available from Ann or Bill Hogan.  The Calendar and Program Committee recommended three Discipleship Schools with the one on August 11-12 to be held in Vermont.

A committee was formed from the original work group to implement the recommendations.  At the chapter meeting The Rev. Christopher Leighton volunteered to have the December 7-8 Discipleship School at St. Paul's Darien, CT.  

.Now for our upcoming Timothy meeting dates:

•  Sat. April 14 at the Hogans in Shelburne.

•  Sat. May 5 at Diane and Terry's in Quechee

•  Sat. June 16 at "Thendara" in Vergennes

•  Sat. July 21 at the Martins in Jericho

•  Sat. Aug. 11-12 Convocation Event in Vermont

.Special Event!  Christianity and the Arts with The Rev. George Hobson, poet and Canon Theologian at the American Cathedral in Paris.  He is a friend of The Rev. Steve Thrall (Nov. Timothy pastor who ministers to the theatre arts community in Paris) and Arabella will keep us posted on this special occasion in the planning state.

.Peter Pierson and Mary are going to focus on what are the particular gifts in our group when they come in April.  So be thinking about yours.

.

With many thanks again to Tina for her gracious hospitality,

Ann Hogan