ITEMS OF INTEREST

I Wonder

This is an occasional column the answers interesting questions.

I wonder what is the Apocrypha and why it is in some Bibles but not in others?

"You may notice that in some versions of the Bible there are several books and some additions to other books of the Old Testament that are not usually found in Bibles used in Protestant churches. These additional writings may be interspersed within the Old and New Testaments or printed separately in a section called the Apocrypha-literally , "things that are hidden." In the first century BCE, a group of scholars in the Egyptian city of Alexandria undertook the task of translating the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek. The Greek Septuagint was the Bible used by the early Christian, who mostly spoke Greek. It was the Bible Jerome translated into Latin (the Vulgate) as that language became the language of the church. Two centuries after the Septuagint, a group of Hebrew rabbis proposed an official version of the Hebrew Scriptures for Judaism which omitted several of the books included in the Septuagint. When the reformers of the church proposed a bible, they took as the basis for their text these official Hebrew Scriptures and therefore omitted the Septuagint text included in the Roman Catholic versions."

Vicki K. Black and Peter W. Wenner. Welcome To the Bible (Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing 2007) pp. 32, 33.

If you want to read more about the Apocrypha click HERE

Clergy

The Rev. Charles Davidson

Vestry Members

Carol Anderson, Cyrus Aimey (Junior Warden), Veronica Airey-Wilson, Joyce Asiedu, Walter Benjamin (Senior Warden, Nora Brown, Terry Brown (Treasurer), Marie Brown-Harvey (Secretary),Evelyn Green, Shannon Holder, Bates Lyons, Joe Noel, Peter Marsele Terrie Thomas, Herbert Bowen (Hon)

Music

Rochelle Holder - Youth Choir

Nathaniel Baker - Music Director/Organist

Rector Emeritus

Canon Cyril Burke

Email

monicahartford@gmail.com

THE BOOK CORNER

Holes

by Louis Sachar

Stanley Yelnats and his family have never had anything but bad luck, so it's not really a surprise to him when he is falsely accused and convicted of theft. Given the choice of jail or Camp Green Lake, Stanley chooses Green Lake because he's never been to camp before. Unfortunately, Camp Green Lake doesn't have a lake and it isn't really a camp. It's a juvenile detention facility. And to build character, the warden, who paints her fingernails with snake venom, has each "camper" dig a hole five feet deep by five feet wide by five feet long every day, even Saturdays and Sundays. What Stanley and the rest of the boys don't know is that the warden isn't just building character, she's looking for the lost buried treasure of outlaw, Kissing Kate Barlow. So begins Holes, a terrific, action filled story, full of great characters with strong voices, exciting, funny scenes and enough twists and turns to keep your kids reading non-stop to the end of the book.

Louis Sachar has written a masterpiece full of humor, insight, wisdom and the triumph of the human spirit and he deserves all the award this book has won. A must read for children aged 9 - 12 and a great addition to all home libraries.

Review by Roz Levine

LITURGY OF THE WORD AND WEEKLY READINGS

Sunday, September 25, 2011: Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost

First Lesson: (Exodus 17:1-7)

Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16, Page 694, BCP

Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Philippians 2:1-13)

The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (21:23-32)

Suggested Readings For the Week

Monday 1 Corinthians 7:25-31; Tuesday 1 Corinthians 7:32-40; Wednesday 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Thursday Hebrews 1:1-14; Friday 1 Corinthians 9:16-27; Saturday 1 Corinthians 10:1-13.

Sunday, September 18, 2011: Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost

First Lesson: (Exodus 16:1-2-15)

Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45. Page 738, BCP

Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Philippians 1:21-30)

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (20:1-16).

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday 1 Corinthians 4:8-21; Tuesday 1 Corinthians 5:1-8; Wednesday Romans 10:1-15; Thursday 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; Friday 1 Corinthians 7:1-9; Saturday 1 Corinthians 7:10-24.

Sunday, September 11, 2011: Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost

First Lesson: (Exodus 14:19-31)

Psalm 114, Page 756, BCP

Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Roman (14:1-12)

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (18:21-35)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday Corinthians 1:1-19; Tuesday Corinthians 1:20-31; Wednesday John 3:11-17; Thursday Corinthians 2:14-3:15; Friday Corinthians 3:16-23; Saturday Corinthians 4:1-7.

Sunday, September 4, 2011: Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost

First Lesson: (Exodus 12:1-14)

Psalm 149, Page 807, BCP

Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Romans 13:8-14)

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (18:15-20)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday Philippians 1:1-11; Tuesday Philippians 1:12-30; Wednesday Philippians 2:1-11; Thursday Philippians 2:12-30; Friday Philippians 3-1-16; Saturday Philippians 3:17-4:7.

NEWS AND EVENTS

Welcome From The Rector

Directions To Saint Monica's

The Rector's Desk

The vestry now has its own projector. We will continue to use our PowerPoint presentation. It is obvious that we need others to be trained and be willing to help Bates Lyons who so far has done a marvelous job. The PowerPoint presentation saves us from having to print the service and the lessons. We hope you appreciate the effort being made by the vestry as we seek to use wisely the finances you give on a weekly basis for the operation of our parish.

Rescheduling Meetings

Fr. Davidson needs our cooperation if we wish to reschedule a meeting on Monday or Wednesday between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Fr. Davidson schedules interviews and pastoral counseling either before or after Prayer Meetings on Monday. He may also schedule interviews and pastoral counseling on Wednesday. He schedules events when there is no Bible Study. As a courtesy, please call Fr. Davidson to verify if he has anything scheduled.

Activity Calendar

Weekly: 1) Mondays-Prayer meeting at 6:30 p.m.; 2) Wednesdays-Bible Study at 6:30 p.m.

Special Days (Weekly): 1) Wednesdays and Fridays-Food Pantry opens 10:00 a.m. to noon.

2) Every other Thursday-Pro's and Con's Task Force at 6:30 p.m.

Special Days (Monthly): 1) First Thursday-Stewardship Committee at 6:30 p.m.; 2) Second Thursday-Vestry Meeting 6:30 p.m.; 3) Third Tuesday-Women of Valier; 4) Third and fourth Saturday opens at 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.; 5) First Saturday-Episcopal Church Women (ECW) at 12:00 noon

PowerPoint Ministry

We are currently looking for persons interested in the ministry of presenting PowerPoint during the service (8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.). Requirements:

1. Must have a laptop computer.

2. Must have a working knowledge of PowerPoint.

3. Must have access to the internet.

4. Must be reliable.

If you are interested give you name, email address and/or phone number to the Office. A. Bates Lyons will contact you to participate in a training session.

Calendars

Once again we are selling 2012 religious calendars for $10.00 each. Please consider buying these as gifts for you family and friends. See Euna Farrell or Arlette Hurdle to purchase calendars. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Vestry Retreat

Our vestry retreat will be Saturday, September 10, 2011 at Diocesan House. All vestry members are expected to attend. There will be more information in the future

Parish Committee Cruise

The Parish Committee presents a good ole' time when we cruise on the Spirit of Boston in Boston Harbor. The cruise will take place on Saturday, September 10, 2011. The trip includes transportation, a sit down luncheon buffet and meal gratuities, entertainment, time at Quincy Market and a spectacular view while cruising Boston Harbor and Boston Historic Seaport district. Tickets are$130.00 per person. Please contact Patsy for more information.

Homecoming

Our Homecoming will be Sunday, September 11, 2011. We hope to present our program for the rest on this year and 2012. Your prayers are requested as we plan.

Harvest Service

Our Harvest Service will be Sunday, September 25, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. We will welcome our former rector the Rev. Hime-Budu Shannon as our Guest Preacher.

The Harvest Committee Annual Luncheon

The Harvest Committee will hold its Annual Harvest Luncheon on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at the USS Chowder Pot IV in Hartford. The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. and tickets are $40.00. Please contact Lorraine Mapp, Olive James or Cynthia Timoll for more information.

Birthdays and Anniversaries in September

Happy Birthday to: Jennie Weaver 2nd; Ashley Cohen, Cynthia Solomon, Elaine Stewart Annie Warren 3rd; Dorothy Archer 5th; Elizabeth Martin and Ceceline Morson 6th; Kevin Forand and Concie Hanlan 7th; Bjorn Hume 8th; Jordan Rice and Joyce Samuel 9th; Cheris Lea Branch and Vina Morgan 10th; Delores Samuda 11th; Wentworth Lawrence and Kerry-Ann Stewart 13th; Marva Brito-Douglas and Alice Satchell 14th; Iman Devonish 16th; Veron Webb 17th; Pauline Scott 19th; Cisalee Harrell 20th; Leslie Hanlan 23rd; Rochelle Holder 25th; Irene Linton and Felicia Mikell 26th; Earline Bradshaw 28th.

Happy Anniversary to: Mr. and Mrs. Lewis 23rd.

In Memory For September

August: Josephine Bell 29th; Horace Davidson 30th; Jean Thomas 31st.

September: Jennie Weaver 2nd; Annie Warren 3rd; Philip Goode 4th; Kathryn Blade 8th; John Craig, Sr. 12th; Vanessa Price 15th; Milton Ross 16th; Lois Martin and Dudley Nevers 17th Ernest Thorton 18th; Luther Smith, Sr. 20th; Kenneth Walker 21st; Easton Holmes and Leslie Jackson 24th; Jacinta Davis 28th.

September 11 Memorial:

Winston A. Grant was an employee of Blue Cross and the father of two. He lived in West Hempstead, NY and is survived by his wife Joyce.

Michael Parks was 28 and he worked on the 86th floor. He was an active Episcopalian.

Condolences

We record the death of Herbert Bowen, former Junior Warden of our Church. Our prayers are with the family.

Condolences to the Green and Bailey Family.