Chimes June 2024

Special thanks to our choir for their fun ABBA revival!

Making Music at St. John's

I would like to thank everyone who participated in our Summer Choir this June. We met at 9:15 Sunday mornings in June to vocalize and rehearse music for the 10:00 service in a casual, low-pressure environment. The Summer Choir added a lot to the services in June, leading the congregation in hymns and service music.

The choir program resumes in September, with the first Parish Choir rehearsal on Thursday, September 12, 7:00-9:00 PM. Have you thought about singing in the choir? We do a wide variety of music, from Bach to Bernstein, and would love to welcome new singers. Singing in a choir is a great way to keep music active in our lives, even for those who didn’t train as singers. The only requirement is a basic ability to read music. I am happy to answer any questions – just email me!

Our Children’s Choir will also resume in September, Sunday mornings at 11:15. We will begin preparations for our Christmas Pageant, which will have parts for everyone: speaking parts, singing parts (solo and ensemble pieces), and more. We will need help with set building and costumes – watch for announcements. Let’s make this a truly spectacular event!

Wishing you all a wonderful summer,

Matthew Lewis (mlewis@stjohnslarchmont.org)

HOW IS GOD CALLING YOU TO SHARE YOUR GIFTS?

Our youth programs need you! You can make a difference in the faith life of our youth. You don’t need to know everything or be a teacher. You need a willingness to help others wonder about their own faith.

St. John’s seeks volunteers for our Sunday morning programs for the 2024-2025 formation year. Our young people are the future leaders of our world. We are committed to walking with them as they grow in their faith. Our goal for the upcoming year is to work in teams for our Sunday morning programs so the commitment is not overwhelming for anyone.

Consistency is key in any formation program! Teaching teams allow for seamless transitions and encourage collaboration, cooperation, tag-teaming and community building.

Here's how you can get involved:

• TEACHER: We are building teaching teams to share the load! Make a full-year commitment and attend one training day. Our classes meet approximately three Sundays a month, excluding holidays. Our Sunday morning programs include Godly Play (ages 3 to 2nd grade) and Explorers (grades 3-5).
• TEACHER AIDE: Assist with classes by being the second or third person in the room. No responsibility for teaching, but crucial for our programs to run smoothly.
• SUBSTITUTE: Be ready to step in if one of our teachers or aides is unable to attend due to an emergency or illness.

Pray about it and see if God is inviting you to use your time and talents in this way. We need you. For questions or to sign up, please email Lori Wilson. (You will have all of the training you want so you can be successful!)

St. John's Parishioners Honored in the Community

Erin Constabile: 2024 Al Davis Award

From Riverdale Country School:

"In 1997, the Class of 1964 established an endowment to fund a faculty award in honor of Mr. Al Davis, a much-respected teacher and administrator who taught at Riverdale from 1953 until his retirement in 1987.

In selecting an honoree, emphasis is placed on a faculty member whose teaching is “an act of mutual respect, commitment, and love” and who encourages team spirit, persistence, and a sense of community.

This year’s recipient, Erin Constabile, has been a member of the Lower School faculty since 1993. She is a wise and thoughtful educator, and every student, family, and colleague who works or has worked with her is affected by her incredible attention to the individual -- what they need, who they are, and how she can take them through the early years of learning where so many foundations are set.

When I think of Erin I think of strong relationships - with her students and her colleagues. She understands the importance of building strong relationships with her students and is dedicated year after year to getting to know them on a deep level. She is genuinely interested in each student’s individual stories and interests. She connects with them on a personal level, fostering a sense of trust and belonging. She even brought Monday’s graduates letters that they had written to their future self as second graders. Erin kept those letters safely and found all of the families who were still here from her class in order to give them a letter.

I also think about Erin’s flexibility and adaptability. Over the years there has been no faculty member who has embraced change many times over as Erin - moving grades to help create and support strong teams. From PreK to K to 1st to 2nd and back to 1st - each time she has been faced with a change, Erin takes a deep breath and jumps in with her signature, “Sure, wherever you need me!” Her ability to adapt to grade level curriculum, different classrooms, different teaching partners, and the unique needs of each age group showcases her versatility.

In addition to teaching in the Early Learning division, Erin has a passion for service learning. She is an incredibly generous person who has a strong sense of community. Erin leads service initiative efforts with humility, never seeking the spotlight or recognition but letting her actions speak volumes for her character, kindness, and desire to make a difference in the world. Her willingness to go the extra mile, often behind the scenes, has not gone unnoticed—whether collecting donations, liaising with volunteers, or guiding her students in meaningful projects, she just makes it happen and with positivity.

Erin is also a lot of fun. She can turn a stressful moment into a great laugh, and with a ‘Sure!” or “We’ve got it!” has a way of elevating moments into can-do’s. She is an incredibly positive member of the community to her very core and views her work as joyful and purposeful.

To family, friends, Riverdale, and the community, Erin is loyal and always true to her word. She embodies the spirit of what it means to be a true team player who puts others before herself.

Erin, I know your mom is with us now congratulating you and sharing in this recognition for all you give the school. It is for all these reasons and more that I am proud to present Erin Constabile with the 2024 Al Davis Award."

~*~

Charles "Butch" Ulmer: The Sailing Museum & National Sailing 2024 Hall of Fame

Gary Jobson writes:

"If you were to use one word to describe Butch Ulmer, it would be thoughtful. He thinks about his words, and is one of the most respected sailors and volunteers around the waterfront. He grew up sailing on Long Island Sound and sharpened his racing skills as a Midshipman at the United States Naval Academy (Class of 1961). At the Academy, he was the winning skipper of Intercollegiate sailing’s oldest regatta, The McMillen Cup.

While serving as an officer in the Navy, he competed in the Finn Class Olympic Trials for the 1964 Games and somehow found time to do a series of offshore races in Europe, South America and the USA. After completing his service in the Navy, Ulmer joined his father’s sailmaking company based in City Island, New York. In 1969, he became President of the company when his father retired.

Ulmer Sails became one of the largest sailmakers, with 40 franchises worldwide. He raced extensively in the Maxi Yacht Class and many one design classes. He won the Mobjack National Championship (1966 and 1967); the Tempest National Championship (1967); was overall winner of Block Island Race Week; recorded wins in the Newport to Bermuda Race (1988), Marblehead to Halifax Race (1983), Miami to Nassau Race (1980), and was the overall winner of the Southern Ocean Racing Conference in 1980.

Over the past thirty years, Butch Ulmer has served as a tireless race officer running many championships in a variety of classes – including Etchells, Shields, Interclub, Stars, J109s, J105s, Block Island Race Week, 420s, Viber 640, Optimist Dinghies and the Intercollegiate Offshore Championship. He was one of the first sailors engaged in creating the Safety-at-Sea Seminars in 1979, and was responsible for creating a series of short films on safety for the Storm Trysail Club. He is a past commodore of the Storm Trysail Club, has been a Trustee of the Larchmont Yacht Club, and served on the Fales Committee at the U.S. Naval Academy. He was inducted into the Intercollegiate Sailing Hall of Fame (1970) and has received many awards for his volunteer work on Long Island Sound."

Confirmation at the Cathedral