Spirit of the Eagle – February 2013
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST PARISHIONERS – LILLIAN AND JESSE CORNISH
Two to Love
There’s two to wash, there’s two to dry,
There’s two who argue, there’s two who cry.
One’s in a mud puddle having a ball,
The other holds a crayon, another marked wall.
Some days seem endless, patience grows thin.
Why was I chosen to be a mother of twins?
The answer comes clear at the end of the day,
As I tuck them in bed and to myself I say,
There’s two to kiss, there’s two to hug,
And best of all, there’s two to love!
Rector’s Reflections
In recent months your Vestry has undertaken many projects to improve the physical appearance and structure of our Church building. This month you will see new carpet in the Sanctuary and that is just the latest of many improvements your representatives have undertaken to enhance our worship and fellowship experiences in our wonderful Church building. At this time I want to express my sincere thanks to your Vestry for their dedication, commitment, and sacrifice to our Parish. Thank You All!!!
+Yours-In-Christ, Fr. Bryan Newman
Healing Service for January
Our monthly Healing Service will be conducted on, Sunday, Feb. 17th, after Mass. It is inspired by St. James words, in his New Testament Epistle, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. Pray for one another, that you may be healed.” If you wish to be Anointed and offer your prayers for any that are suffering or are ill please join me after Mass on the 20th for this rewarding and reassuring service.
Vestry Meeting
Our Vestry Meeting for February will be held on Tuesday, the 19th, at 6:30 PM. If you are a member of the Vestry please make plans to be present. If you are a parishioner with particular business you would like to be discussed or if would like to attend yourself, please approach any member of the Vestry or Fr. Newman and let us know you will be attending.
Spiritual Tidbits for February from Father Tim
Man’s soul is the taker of God only; anything less than God cannot fulfill it: wherefore earthly lovers never are fulfilled. The rest therefore of Christ’s lovers is when their hearts are fastened by desire and thought in the love of God; and loving, burning and singing, contemplate Him.
Richard Rolle, 14th Century English Christian Mystic, The Fire of Love, Chapter XI
•••
Valentine (Feast Day February 14th) was a Roman Priest at a time when there was an emperor called Claudius who persecuted the Holy Church. Claudius also had an edict that prohibited the Christian marriage of young people. This was based on the hypothesis that unmarried soldiers fought better than married soldiers because married soldiers might be afraid of what could possibly happen to them, their wives and families, if they died in battle.
It was a very permissive society in which Valentine lived. Polygamy would have been much more popular than just one woman and one man living together. And yet some of them seemed to be attracted to the Christian faith. The church thought that marriage was very sacred, between one man and one woman for life, and that it was to be encouraged. And so it immediately presented the problem to the Christian church of what to do about Claudius’s edict. The idea of encouraging them to marry within the Christian church was what Valentine stood for. And he secretly married the soldiers because of the edict. Valentine was eventually caught, imprisoned and tortured for performing marriage ceremonies against command of Emperor Claudius the second. There are legends surrounding Valentine’s actions while in prison. One of the men who was to judge him in line with the Roman law was a man called Asterius, whose daughter was blind. Valentine was supposed to have prayed with and healed the young girl with such astonishing effect that Asterius himself became Christian as a result.
In the year 269 AD, Valentine was sentenced to a three part execution of a beating, stoning, and finally decapitation; all because of his stand for Christian marriage. The story goes on to say that the last words he wrote were in a note to Asterius’ daughter. He inspired today’s romantic missives by signing it, “from your Valentine.”
What should Valentine means to us at St. John’s? We need to remember that there comes a time where one may have to lay his or her life upon the line for what you believe. And with the power of the Holy Spirit we can do that — even to the point of death.
We also need to stand our ground now – today – when it comes to the real meaning of Valentine’s Day compared to what the modern day secular world has turned this holy day into. I have nothing personally against romance, red flowers, red balloons, red teddy bears, or chocolates in hearts of red.
However, it is up to each of us to teach our loved ones the true meaning of this day; that the Christian church was founded where the red blood of the martyrs fell. ~ Father Tim
•••
And from the time it [Julian’s vision] was shown, I often desired to know what was our Lord’s meaning. And fifteen years and more after, I was answered in spiritual understanding, with this saying: “Would you know your Lord’s meaning in this thing? Know it well: love was His meaning. Who showed it to you? Love. What did He show you? Love. Wherefore did He show it you? For love. Hold yourself therein and you shall know and learn more in the same; but you will never know nor learn another thing therein without end.”
Thus was I taught that love was our Lord’s meaning. And I saw full surely in this and in all that before God made us He loved us; which love was never slaked, nor ever shall be. And in this love he has done all His work; and in this love He has made all things profitable to us; and in this love our life is everlastingly fixed. In our making we had beginning, but the love wherein He made us was in Him from without beginning; in which love we have our beginning. And all this shall be seen in God without end; which may Jesus grant us. Amen.
Julian of Norwich, 14th Century Christian Mystic, Revelation of Love, Chapter 86
Makes a modern Valentine’s Day card sound a little shallow doesn’t it?
~ Father Tim
February Spirituality Class
Please join the Spirituality class on the 24th of February as we continue our discussion and understanding of Fasting and Abstinence. By the 24th we will be well into Lent and will have tested our strength at eliminating a vice and building a virtue. Our goal is to draw closer to God. Will we make it to Easter? I believe we will. ~ Father Tim
•••
There is always the possibility of a fresh start. The fire of love from the altar of the Sacred can touch you and stir you to life again, however dead you feel. There is no need to go to some special place for celestial surgery. There is plenty of opportunity for purification in any ordinary life! Of course it is true that, for the prophet Isaiah, the cleansing was done through an extreme and dramatic method. A burning coal brought from the altar by an angel touched his lips. But in the New Testament story, when peter asked to be cleansed, Christ simply knelt before him, and gently washed his feet.
I love each of you and pray that your February is full of gentle blessings.
~ Father Tim
Annual ‘Fat Sunday’ Pancake Supper
On Sunday, February 10th our annual Pancake Supper (an Anglican tradition) returns, courtesy of the Men of the Parish, who will prepare a delicious pancake breakfast for our Church family. Please come and join us after Mass.
The Flight of the Eagle
In Fr. Stork’s original newsletter ‘the Spirit of the Eagle’, he had a section called the ‘Flight of the Eagle’ where he related his activities for the past month. Below are the visits and other events I made in the month of December. I prayed with them and gave them Holy Communion and Anointed them when needed. +Fr. Newman+
1/1 Visited Fr. Al & Kathy Hougham @ home
1/1 Visited Susan Moore @ University Hospital
1/6 Visited Ethel Fahlbush @ Villa Springs.
1/10 Visited Susan Moore @ Highland Springs
1/13 Visited Geneva Schmitt @ her home
1/20 Visited Susan Moore, Elsie Rankin, and Janet Dosch @ Highland Springs
1/20 Visited Geneva Schmitt @ St. E’s Edgewood
1/27 Visited Susan Moore @ home
1/27 Visited Geneva Schmitt @ St. E’s Edgewood
1/31 Visited Helen Lenz @ St. E’s-Edgewood
Family Promise (formerly IHN) ‘Homeless to Hopeful’ event
A Night at the Movies emceed by Mr. Geoff Davis
Family Promise, formerly IHN, will be holding an event emceed by Mr. Geoff Davis on Friday, February 22 from 6-9 p.m. at Notre Dame Academy Theatre, 1699 Hilton Drive in Park Hills KY. Ticket prices are: Adults: $15 and Students: $5. The evening includes an award winning documentary about homeless families; with local individuals sharing their story of how having shelter has assisted them towards housing. There will also be basket raffles, door prizes, refreshments, and more!
February Birthdays & Anniversaries
Sally Whalen – Birthday – February 6
Ruth & Mike Lenz –Anniversary – February 16
Carrie Moore – Birthday – February 18
Louise Becker – Birthday – February 18
Isabella McHale – Birthday – February 20
Bob Petrie – Birthday – February 23
Mike Whalen – Birthday – February 27
Jack Murray – Birthday – February 28
End of Month Club
The St. John’s End of the Month Club will be meeting at 1 p.m. on Thursday, February 28 at the Cold Spring Barleycorn’s. We look forward to seeing you at Barleycorn’s to share fellowship and a good meal!
New Orleans Style Gratitude Dinner on February 17
A Gratitude Dinner is going to be hosted by a few of our parishioners after Church on February 17, featuring Jambalaya, red beans, rice and other Cajun favorites. This will allow everyone to share their blessings, while collecting some funds from the offering bowl for Fr. Newman’s discretionary fund. Feel free to bring a dish or dessert if you like.
Altar Guild is Growing!
Many thanks to Kim Marshall for stepping up to join Joyce Murray and Eileen Hanson as members of this very important ministry. If you would be interested in joining the Altar Guild, Joyce would be more than happy to train you until you feel comfortable doing it on your own. Just as in the case of our ushers, it would be ideal to have a rotation of four individuals to each serve one week each month. Thanks again Kim!
ACW News
The ACW is looking forward to a productive 2013 under the leadership of new President Judy Boughner. Special thanks to Judy Boughner for assuming this role and to Judy Hulsey for her leadership in the past.
All women of the parish are members of the ACW and dues are $5, payable to Treasurer Brenda Strong.
During the December ACW meeting, it was determined that the ACW and ACM would combine groups and efforts. Therefore, all men are also members and encouraged to attend monthly meetings. Dues for the men are $5 as well, payable to Treasurer Brenda Strong.
Lenten Soup and Salad Dinners
Lenten Soup and Salad Dinners will be held on Wednesday’s during Lent, after Mass and Stations of the Cross. There will be a sign up sheet in the parish hall for volunteers to contribute a soup and salad dinner. Please consider signing up to volunteer as well as joining us for prayer, reflection and fellowship. Dates of dinners are below:
February 20 – Kathy Hougham and Judy Hiltenbeitel
February 27 – Joyce Murray and Judy Hulsey
March 6- ?
March 13- ?
March 20- ?
March 27- ?
Among other ACW events are: 1.) The Spaghetti Dinner will be held in April with a date to be determined and will be a parish event that all are welcome and encouraged to participate in the planning and executing. 2.) The ACW looks forward to spring and a retreat to be held at Judy Hulsey’s house (date and details forthcoming). 3.) A clean-up of the kitchen cabinets will also occur, spearheaded by Judy Hulsey with a date to be determined. Items cleaned out will be stored for future sale during the Dayton Community Yard Sale.
Junior Warden’s Report
As you probably have already noticed, the new carpet has been installed and the carpet crew from Hadley Carpet did an amazing job in just three days. As part of the reassembling process of this project, the pew seat cushions have been thoroughly vacuumed and freshened and the Church has been dusted, cleaned and polished. Many thanks to Lori and Rich Seyberth for handling this huge project from start to finish. They also did a great job of rebuilding the pedestal for our Baptismal Font.
The mold problem on the walls in the choir room has been addressed and the room has been tidied up. All vestments of active choir members and servers are now labeled and kept in the area closest to the door. The piano and office furniture have been moved around to accommodate room for a table so some of the older children can gather to talk or maybe watch the TV that has been donated by Eileen and Rick Hanson. Please make an effort to leave this table clear so the kids can use it in the future.
Due to an estimator’s miscalculation, the parish hall roofing project is on hold, so we will get a few more bids and then award the job to the best bid voted upon by the vestry. With the weather being a factor, we hope to have the new roof by the end of March at the latest.
Although the date (sometime in May?) has yet to be set, now would be a good time to remind you that SJC will once again participate in the City of Dayton’s ‘City Wide Yard Sale’. This event netted us $600 in 2010 and nearly $400 in 2012, so let’s all try to bring a few items in for this event.
While almost all donations you may have are welcome, please ask yourself the following question, “Will this sell, or is it junk?” before dropping it off in the open area of the furnace room. A good rule of thumb for deciding what to put in a yard sale is: If it hasn’t been used in 2 years you probably don’t need it, so please take the time to browse through your basement, garage or attic to see what you can find. All proceeds from this event will be put into our general fund and used for an agreed upon project here at St. John’s.
Speaking of the City-Wide Yard Sale, the vestry will be discussing the idea of holding our Community Cookout on the day of the yard sale instead of doing it after Church on a hot summer day. This way we will be sure to have a lot of people to feed and interact with, to show them the kindness of the people we have here at St. John’s.
“If we ever forget that we are One Nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”
-Ronald Reagan-
Until next month,
Mike