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The East Range Epistle
December 2002 – January
2003
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Christmas
– Past and Present
by Mary Catherine Brown, St. Mary's Episcopal Church,
Ely, MN
Many years ago, Allen and I spent the Christmas
holiday in a lovely city in the southeast of France. Avignon (population
100,000), located on the Rhône River, was a Papal See from 1309 to
1378 and home of several anti-popes until 1409. Pope Clement VI bought
full title of Avignon from a Provence countess in 1348. In 1798 it
finally became part of France. Surrounded by ramparts, it is set
partly on a high hill. Now an awesome tourist attraction, the Papal
Palace on that hill once served as residence, fortress, and church..
Christmas in France centers on youth. (The
hectic rush for food and gifts, etc., occurs on New Year’s Eve!)
Christmas Eve services feature plays and songs by children. “Bring
a Torch Jeannette Isabella” and other favorite Christmas melodies sung
in French live on in memory.
And now it is 2002. Early this Fall, the Ely
St. Mary’s group studied the Gospel lessons on forgiveness and the blessings
thereof. Today, as we reflect on our personal lives and our city,
state, and federal squabbles (petty or catastrophic), it seems we could
all use a large dose of forgiveness. This is the season for “God
bless us everyone”.
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Christmas Week Service Schedule
Our congregations have scheduled the following
holiday services during the Christmas Season:
Sunday, December 22 (4th Advent):
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10:00 AM, Christmas Pageant at St. John’s, Eveleth
Tuesday, December 24 (Christmas
Eve):
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7:30 PM, Holy Eucharist at St. John’s, Eveleth
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9:30 PM, Holy Eucharist at St. Paul’s, Virginia
Wednesday, December 25 (Christmas
Day):
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11:00 AM, Holy Eucharist at St. Mary’s,
Tower
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In this Issue
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Canon
Missioner’s Note
The Rev Canon Stephen Schaitberger
Notes from Canon Missioner Steve Schaitberger should return for the
February issue.
Steve is scheduled to be with us as Celebrant on Sunday, January 5,
2003.
+ The Rev Canon Stephen
Schaitberger is Canon Missioner
for Northern Minnesota, which includes the East Range Episcopal Congregations.
Stewardship:
All that I do with all that I have after I say “I believe”. |
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Transition
Team Notes
For the latest information, please check with your congregation’s
Transition Team member.
St. John’s:
Sue Grillo (218-744-5446)
Nancy Harvey (218-744-2599)
St. Mary’s:
Mary Groeninger (218-365-3364)
St. Paul’s:
David Allen (218-749-8703)
Ginny McBride (218-741-8302)
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Search Committee
Notes
Update #2
This will finish up with the results of the survey,
and hopefully there will also be enough room to bring you up to date with
the progress of this committee.
Sections A, B, and C dealt with questions that would
let us know what you wanted your new priest to do. No one section
was more important than another, and the questions were not in conflict
with one another, so they are rated together.
You want a priest who:
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Invites new people into the church and deals with congregational conflict
openly and constructively. (87%)
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Welcomes new ideas. (86%)
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Fosters a climate where all members feel free to express their opinions,
even when these differ from the majority (85%)
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Enables people to work together to solve problems (83%)
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Encourages congregational participation in carrying out the ministry of
the Church; and can serve in both formal and informal styles (82%)
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Shows how Christian beliefs apply to everyday moral and ethical decisions
(81%)
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Takes an active role in reaching inactive members (77.5%)
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Maintains a good working relationship with other clergy (76%)
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Encourages people to understand and act upon the relationship of the Gospel
to issues facing our society (74%)
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Demonstrates concern for ecology – God’s gifts of the Earth and its resources
(72%)
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Lets us know where he/she stands on controversial issues that may have
a biblical basis (69%)
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Continues to sharpen theological skills through study of current trends
and thoughts (68.3%)
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Would be willing to participate with other congregations in joint ministries
(67.6%)
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Communicates what is distinctive about the theology of the Episcopal Church
(66%)
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Stimulates persons to look at and meet the world’s problems with action
(65%)
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Preaches sermons that are Bible-based (64%)
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Uses a variety of Episcopal liturgies that reflect the diversity of our
Church community (63%)
You also spoke passionately about issues that are meaningful
to you – one writer in particular was exceptionally eloquent in his/her
desire for peace… social issues mean a lot to you, you truly want to make
this world a better place…
And, although there are a few problem areas, our
little churches mean a lot to you.
The Search Committee met the Sunday before last
with the Carmacks, and we received enough information to finish putting
the Parish Profile Report together. It will (hopefully) clear the
Committee tonight and be mailed down to the Carmacks on Thursday, November
14th, who will pass the information on down to the Diocese.
The gist of our report is simple: The goals of the
parish are to support and sustain the current membership by providing pastoral
care and by preaching relevant sermons that combine the Lectionary with
theology and history, allowing us to apply the lessons of the Gospel to
today’s issues; to grow our church while maintaining the current sense
of intimacy and “family”; and to develop a relationship with our children
as you teach them. (The final report is 23 pages long, and includes a brief
history, the survey results, the salary information, data on our churches
and the demographics of our congregations, and the answers to many, many,
questions about this area and our parish life.)
Some of you may have heard that another priest who
is interested in serving here and has asked that his name be included in
the pool has contacted us. We are limited in the information we can
give you about him until the Bishop’s office has made the necessary background
checks, etc.
Our next task is to go through the many sample questions
the Carmacks gave us that will bring us to the next phase of the search
– deciding which questions we need to ask potential candidates. If
you have any input – please contact one of the search committee members.
Your help would be most welcome! We will also need to put together a packet,
using much of the information described above, to enable a prospective
candidate to make an informed decision as to whether he/she wishes to proceed
with the search process.
More next issue!
If you have questions, please talk
with your Search Committee members.
| The following are members of the Search Committee:
St. John’s:
St. Mary’s:
Will
Helms
St. Paul’s:
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East Range
Churches' News |
Environmental Stewardship Commission
The next quarterly meeting of the Environmental Stewardship
Commission will be from Noon, January 10, 2003 to Noon, January 11, 2003,
at St. Edward the Confessor Episcopal Church, Duluth, MN. The full
agenda is available online;
however, the major focus of the meeting will be preparing for activities
at the General Convention in July and August.
If you are interested in attending either or both
day, contact Chuck Morello (218-744-1615).
Diocesan Convention
At the Diocesan Convention (Oct 25-26) several items of
interest were covered:.
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A special one-year budget using the new structure of the top seven functional
areas was approved. Bishop Jelinek asked that each congregation work
in one of the “Top Three” and in one of the “Next Four” from the list.
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Each congregation was asked to provide at least one volunteer helper for
the General Convention, to be held in Minneapolis next July and August.
A copy of the information andr egistration sheets is available at St. Paul’s
and will be included in the February Epistle mailed to addresses on the
Iron Range.
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Attendees at the Diocesan Convention were photographed holding new “The
Episcopal Church Welcomes You” signs emblazoned with the new logo of the
Episcopal Church. This picture will be in the January issue of Episcopal
Life. Attendees then brought the signs back to their congregations.
Signs for St. John’s and St. Mary’s may be obtained through Chuck
Morello (218-744-1615).
February Epistle
Deadline for input to the February 2003 of The East Range Epistle
is Wednesday, January 15, to Carol
Morello (218-744-1615, or fax: 218-744-1635). Processing is tentatively
scheduled for Wednesday, January 22.
Epistle Contribution Schedule
The schedule for the lead article for the next three issues of is:
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February: St. Paul's
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March: St. John's
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April: St. Mary's
Please keep the article to 350 to 450 words and send it to Chuck
or Carol Morello (218-744-1615). Deadline is the same as for
the regular Epistle production, but a few days earlier would be
nice if it must be retyped.
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St. John's
News
(Submitted by Nancy Harvey) |
Vestry Meeting
The following was covered at the Vestry Meetings of October 13 and November
10:
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There will be a priest to do a Eucharist Service every Sunday in December
and January except Dec 22 (Christmas Pageant)
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The Annual Meeting was Set for Sunday, January 19
The next Vestry Meeting is Sunday, Dec 8, following the service.
Annual Meeting
St. John’s Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 19, following
service at a special time (10:30 AM) and a Potluck.
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St. Mary's
News
(Submitted by the Rev George Porthan) |
Service Schedule Changes
From December to March there will only be one monthly
service for St. Mary’s in Tower. It will be on a Saturday, at 4:30
PM. Please check the website or contact Mary
Groeninger (218-365-3364) for the day.
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St. Paul's
News |
U.T.O. Ingathering – Sunday, November 3, 2002
To all who participated in the Fall U.T.O. Ingathering - THANK YOU!
The amount of $759.72 will be forwarded to our U.T.O. Chairman, Gurtie
E. Berkner of Lakeland, MN
Pam Brooks-McIntosh, U.T.O. Chairman
St. Paul’s Churchwomen
(Submitted by Marlene Munig)
In December, St. Paul’s Churchwomen will meet only
on Saturday, December 14, for their Potluck Christmas Party. The
party which starts at 1 PM will be at Shirley Coe’s house. For what
food to bring or for directions, contact Shirley (218-741-0253).
Please bring a scarf, mittens or hat (or combination) for needy children.
This is instead of a gift exchange.
In January, St. Paul’s Churchwomen will resume meeting
each Wednesday at the Guild Hall at 11:30 AM. Bring a bag lunch.
Come join us for something to interest everyone, and not always work. For
information, contact Marlene (218-741-3077) or Dorothy (218-741-1613).
Christmas Poinsettias
Anyone interested in providing poinsettias for the church at Christmas
can contact Gail Coon (H-218-744-5138
or W-218-744-5099). The cost is $10 each and plants may be left at the
church or taken home after the Christmas service. Please state a color
preference with your request.
Vestry News
(Submitted by John McIntosh)
There are no details available from the October Vestry Meeting.
The following was covered at the Vestry Meeting of Nov 18:
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There will be a "stone soup" for lunch on Sunday, Jan 5, 2003 following
the Service. Members will be encouraged to “bring a stone”.
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Outreach is collecting hats and mittens and also will have a box in the
narthex for non-perishable food for the needy
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$500 will be donated to the Niiji Center to assist them with financial
problems resulting from their move
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The Vestry would like to have a new Parish Directory published
Annual Meeting
St. Paul’s Annual Meeting will be on Sunday, January 19, 2003, following
the 10:30 AM Service. It is essentialthat as many parishioners as
possible attend as important decisions have to be made about - calling
a new rector - Ham Dinner 2003 - the election of new officers, etc.
Please be there!
A pot-luck sandwich luncheon will be available.
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The Advent Wreath
The Advent wreath dates back to ancient celebrations
of the Winter Solstice – that time in the year when the sun reaches its
southernmost point in the heavens and the days are the darkest and most
gloomy. Because they longed for the return of the sun’s light and life,
the ancients stopped all usual activity, sacrificed the use of their wagon
wheels and hung them up, festooned with lights and greens in their celebration
halls.
There they awaited the
return of their sun-god, thinking of the warmth and life he brought.
Celebrations culminated in the “nativity” of the sun – the turning point
of the year.
As Christians, we use the
same meaningful custom to anticipate the feat of light and life; the nativity
of the Savior. We add one light on the wreath for each Sunday in
Advent. We think of the darkness after Adam’s sin and watch the growing
hope and light as the prophets and the virgin help us prepare for this
saving birth.
- From Bits ‘n Pieces, a publication
of the Episcopal Parish of St. David, Minnetonka, MN, November 2002..
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General Notes
For more about
Other links of interest:
This page maintained for the East Range Episcopal
Churches by Chuck Morello
on behalf of 
.
Address comments on typographical errors to Chuck.
Last Updated: 02-12-05