Spirit of the Eagle – October 2012
Rector’s Reflections
My recent vacation was spent on the beach at Charleston, South Carolina. For me, there is nothing quite like sitting on the beach and watching the ocean to put my mind in the right place. Looking at the tide roll in again and again, a process that is never ending, and that has been taking place since the beginnings of this earth, is a great way to put things in their proper perspective. Seeing the vastness of God’s creation spread out before you, should reveal to anyone their place in this world and the imprint of God’s hand on every aspect of it. It was a good time to take stock of where I have been and where I am going, and what to do with the time God has given me. Time goes by so quickly, I have been either Priest-in-Charge or Rector of St. John’s for over two years now. We have accomplished much together in that time and there is still much to do. With your continued support and participation we can fulfill all our goals for this parish. Thank you all.
Fr. Bryan Newman+
Congratulations Fr. Butler!
While he has graciously been fulfilling the role of Curate (Assistant Pastor) for some time, it will become official at the first of the year. Your Rector and Vestry are deeply grateful to Fr. Butler for the services he has rendered to our Parish since he first came here and this position is in recognition of his talent and dedication. Congratulations to our new Curate, Fr. Timothy Butler
Bishop’s Annual Visit
His Grace, Bishop Rommie Starks is making his annual visit to St. John’s on Sunday, October 28, the Feast of Christ the King. Please plan to attend our service on that day as this is one of the few opportunities we have to show our appreciation to our Bishop for his leadership. If there is anyone who believes they might be ready for Confirmation please let Fr. Newman or Fr. Butler know so that we can assure that you are ready to come before the Bishop to be confirmed. Also, please be sure to join us after Mass in the Parish Hall for a Dinner celebrating Fr. Butler’s appointment as Curate and the Bishop’s visit. We welcome our Shepherd back to his home parish!
Wednesday Holy Communion & Choir Practice Returns
The Wednesday night Holy Communion service returned back on August 22. So far attendance has been better than in the past and for that I am grateful. Some of you have expressed an interest in a Low Mass without music. Wednesday nights will be right up your alley, because the Wednesday night Mass never has music. This service is peaceful and serene and an excellent way to gain strength for facing the rest of the week. Please join us; our service begins at 6 p.m. However, if you are musically inclined our wonderful Choir can always use a few new members and their practice begins at 7 p.m. after the Mass is concluded. So remember, you don’t have to wait a whole week to receive the grace of the Sacrament of the Altar, or to sing the Lord’s praises afterward, at Choir practice, if you desire. Please join us!
End of the Month Club
The End of the Month Club is a chance for parishioners and friends to meet at a local restaurant to share a meal and fellowship. All are welcome. Most times we meet for lunch on the last Thursday of the month. A few times a year we meet for dinner, so those who can’t make the lunches have a chance to share in this fellowship. For our October gathering, we will meet for lunch at 1 p.m. on October 25 at Green Derby Restaurant, located at 846 York Street in Newport.
Spiritual Tidbits for October from Father Tim
“I am convinced that one should tell one’s spiritual director if one has a great desire for Communion, for Our Lord does not come from Heaven every day to stay in a golden ciborium; He comes to find another heaven, the heaven of our soul in which He loves to dwell.” ~ St. Teresa of Lisieux, The Story Of A Soul: The Autobiography of St. Teresa of Lisieux
St. Teresa of Lisieux , the Little Flower of Jesus, (born 1873 – died 1897). Feast Day October, 3rd
The Hope of the Church
Please join us in our October Spirituality Class. We just finished discussing “The Hope of Jesus’ Second Coming” and will be concluding Surprised by Hope this month with our final session entitled “The Hope of The Church”. The hope of Holy Church is more than what lies ahead some day when Jesus returns. It is our experience of God’s kingdom breaking into our everyday journey of faith as we do justice, extend mercy, express love, offer compassion, and celebrate beauty… all in the name of Jesus Christ. Come and experience the hope!!!
Hope is the strength of the two pre-eminent gifts of love and faith, since hope gives us glimpses both of that in which we believe and of that for which we long, and teaches us to make our way towards our goal. ~ St. Maximos the Confessor, First Century of Various Texts, 26
Hope: the flight of the intellect in love towards that for which it hopes.
St. Maximos the Confessor (ca. 580-662)
The final state of the Christian mystic, then, is not annihilation in the Absolute [God]. It is a condition wherein we dwell wholly in God, one life and truth with Him; yet still “feel God and ourselves,” as the lover feels his beloved, in a perfect union which depends for its joy on an invincible otherness. The soul, transfused and transfigured by the Divine Love as molten iron is by the fire, becomes, it is true, “one simple blessedness with God” yet ever retains its individuality: one with God beyond itself, yet other than God within itself. The “deified man” is fully human still, but spiritualized through and through; not by destruction of his personality, but by the taking up of his manhood into God. There he finds, not a static beatitude, but a Height, a Depth, a Breadth of which he is made part, yet to which he can never attain: for the creature, even at its highest, remains finite, and is conscious that Infinity perpetually eludes its grasp and leads it on. So heaven itself is discovered to be no mere passive fulfillment, but rather a forward-moving life: an ever new loving and tasting, new exploring and enjoying of the Infinite Fullness of God, that inexhaustible Object of our knowledge and delight. It is the eternal voyage of the adventurous soul on the vast and stormy sea of the Divine. ~ Evelyn Underhill
Evelyn Underhill (6 December 1875 – 15 June 1941) was an English Anglo-Catholic writer known for her numerous works on religion and spiritual practice, in particular Christian mysticism.
For compassion is a wound in the heart, whence flows a common love to all mankind and which cannot be healed so long as any suffering lives in man; for God has ordained grief and sorrow of heart before all the virtues. And this is why Christ says: Blessed are they that mourn: For they shall be comforted. And that shall come to pass when they reap in joy that which now, through compassion and pity, they sow in tears. ~ John of Ruysbroeck, Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage
John of Ruysbroeck 1293-1381, Flemish Christian Mystic Fall is my favorite time of the year. It is something about the stillness in the air, and a fragrance that is noticeable only because of that stillness, the rustling of the leaves and the long shadows. It is the time we start noticing that another year is about to pass through our lives. It is the time we start rejoicing for what we have accomplished this soon to pass year. It is the time we start mourning what we have left behind us never to be experienced in this world in the exact same way ever again. The fall of our year is for reaping and harvesting, gathering with joy into ourselves the many moments of our lives what we have sown in tears. I pray your October, and the prior nine months, have seen more sowing with tears of happiness rather than tears of sadness.
God bless all of you. ~ Father Tim
Altar Guild
The Altar Guild is responsible for making the sanctuary ready for all services. Its members maintain the church’s liturgical requirements for services by preparing the altar, laundering linens, preserving the sacred vessels, and arranging the floral displays that beautify the church. If you would be interested in serving on the Altar Guild, or if would like to give flowers for a Mass in memory of a loved one, please contact Joyce Murray.
September Birthdays & Anniversaries
Joyce Murray – Birthday – October 14
Elsie Fowler – Birthday – October 16
Virginia Jackson – Birthday – October 16
Katie Craft – Birthday – October 17
Liz Robbins – Birthday – October 19
Steve & Juanita Marvin – Anniversary – October 23
Joan Blade – Birthday – October 25
Rick & Eileen Hanson – Anniversary – October 31
Anglican Church Men Annual Outreach Program Donations
The leaves are starting to turn, there is a chill in the air and it’s time to start planning for our annual ACM Thanksgiving and Christmas outreach programs. For years, St. John’s has assisted local families with food, meals and gifts in support of these efforts in collaboration with the Dayton Schools Family Resource Center. The need has been great over the past couple of years and it does not appear that will change with the current economic environment. We have made a difference in these families’ lives during this holiday season in the past and are fulfilling our mission of community stewardship.
The success of this program is dependent upon your food and monetary contributions. Please start bringing your non-perishable food donations to Church and placing them in the baskets in the vestibule or the parish hall. Monetary contributions can be placed in the collection plate. Contribution by check should be made out to ST. JOHN’S ACC with the memo designating ACM OUTREACH. Any questions, please contact Mike Murray. Thank you for your generous support.
Family Promise (formerly Interfaith Hospitality Network)
Three families are in the program this week. The families are: a dad and his six year-old son, a mom and her daughter age six, and her two sons, ages four and two, and mom and her eleven year old daughter. A total of $84.77 was spent on groceries for breakfasts and lunches for the week, as well as other needed items. SJC’s next rotation will be the week of December 16th. Thank you for your generous support. All donations are greatly appreciated.
Brenda Strong, Coordinator
Junior Warden’s Report
Thanks to the help of Rick & Eileen Hanson, Lori & Rich Seyberth, and Tim & Jerri Lenz, our parish hall paint project is complete. For only $183, we now have a freshly painted and de-cluttered parish hall to hold our Sunday School, Bible Study, Coffee Hours and all other special celebrations that take place at St. John’s.
We now only have a couple more projects to complete before “Old Man Winter” gets here; the first being the repainting/repairing of the louvers and metal roof of the bell tower, and secondly the installation of a few outdoor lights for the Church yard and the front of the building. The need for the lights was realized a couple of weeks ago when an eight foot piece of copper downspout was stolen from the building.
As stated in article 4.3 of our Parish By-Laws, my responsibility to everyone at St. John’s as Junior Warden is as follows: “The Junior Warden shall have responsibility for all of the property (whether real or personal) owned by the corporation or entrusted to its care.” That being said, I will not be satisfied until all of our building and maintenance needs are met.
Please make plans to attend our Annual Parish Meeting on November 11, as I will be making a motion (plea) to be voted upon by you, our Church members, pertaining to the procurement of funds from our assets to purchase the following:
- New carpet for the Church. The current carpet has seen its better days and is suspected to cause many parishioners to cough and sneeze during Church.
- A new roof for the Parish Hall. The current roof is 25+ years old and leaks, leaving the watermarks we keep covering up with stain-killer. This will cost much less than waiting around, then having to replace the drop ceiling also.
- New padded chairs for the parish hall. Everyone who has ever sat in one of our chairs for over an hour knows the meaning of “back and butt” pain.
- 3 new windows; for the copy room, Rector’s office and by the telephone. This is a case where being “Vintage” is not a good thing. Aluminum windows are obsolete.
These projects can be accomplished for much less than you would think, and would mark the completion of our building’s maintenance needs. Let’s give God’s house the same consideration as the houses we all live in.