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The East Range Epistle
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As we have talked recently about our future together and how best to respond to the challenge of finding a new rector, some in our midst have expressed anxiety. Change is often scary and so is uncertainty about the future. These fears are normal and expected. The challenge is how we respond to them. One way is to talk honestly about our concerns. Our annual meetings gave us an opportunity to express our feelings and to talk about our concerns about desires, budget, and relationships. Once these concerns are spoken out loud, they begin to lose their power over us. We can address them with greater clarity and insight when we acknowledge their very real presence and respect them as real and valid. Another response is to recognize that faith and risk go together. People of faith are risk-takers, and risk always causes anxiety. God never plays it safe with us, and our call as Christians is not a call to safety. If we are feeling some healthy fear, perhaps it is a sign that we are being faithful to a God who constantly calls us into new places where we have never gone before. The fears we experience can be portals of grace, because they motivate us to seek God in new ways. Fear keeps us praying, and when we pray we open ourselves to hearing God say, “Fear not! I am with you always.” And with that promise we find peace even in the midst of anxiety A third response to anxiety is that we not rush too quickly to resolve the tensions. Indeed, most of us don’t enjoy the discomfort of chaos. We seek comfort and relish control. The challenge is to trust that God is present in the chaos. Pick up your Bibles and read the creation stories in Genesis and the wilderness stories in Exodus. Meet a God who leads the Israelites through the wilderness and a God who holds Jesus in the dark of Gethsemane. Let God speak to us through these stories. We should remember that God is always present and always at work, whether we recognize God or not. And finally, don’t forget that we are called to work toward faithfulness, not happiness or success. All of us might want to take the time to review our Baptismal covenants and to remember why we are here and whom we are called to serve in this world. It is a time of hope even if there are feelings of anxiety.
In the meantime, strive to be patient and merciful with one another and
keep our parishes close to our hearts in prayer.
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This article, used in lieu of an article by St. Paul’s, is adapted from a letter written in October 2002 by the Rev James Cook to the members of St. David’s Episcopal Church, Minnetonka, MN. |
Notes from Canon Missioner Steve Schaitberger should return for the March issue.
+ The Rev Canon Stephen Schaitberger is Canon Missioner for Northern Minnesota, which includes the East Range Episcopal Congregations.
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Update #3
Well, it looks like we’re finally moving forward again! Although the forms required by the Diocese were submitted even before Thanksgiving, they were not posted on the National Episcopal Church’s Website until January, but they’re up there now. Linda was contacted via e-mail that our Diocese has received “a hefty pile” of possible matches. The Diocese will do a rough screen of these so we don’t waste any time – or money – contacting people who are not actually available.
Once we have a list in hand, the Committee will meet again, go through the names and profiles seeking those candidates we feel would be the best fit, and we’ll send out a letter to them, with a brief description of our churches and our needs, and ask them if they would like additional information. One neat thing is that since all but 4 pages of the packet that is sent to potential priests is already on the computer, we can e-mail them nearly everything which saves us not only postage, but time.
In addition, the two candidates who had contacted us prior to this have already received the packets and are still interested.
By the next issue of the Epistle we hope to have more information for you.
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:
St. Paul’s:
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East Range
Churches' News |
Senior High Episcopal Youth Event
(Submitted by Gail Coon)
The Senior High Episcopal Youth Event will be held
at St. John in the Wilderness Church, White Bear Lake from 6:00 PM,
Friday, February 21 to1:00 PM, Sunday, February 23. It is open for
youth in Grades 9-12
Entitled How We Worship, the event will have Music,
Dance, Taizé, Compline, Art, and Prayer. It is a youth-led
weekend in which they will explore different ways of worship. Cost
is $20.00
Application Deadline is February 14. For more
information or to register, contact Gail
Coon (218-744-5138 or 218-744-5099).
Region II Meeting
The next Region II meeting will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Duluth, from 10 AM to 3 PM on Saturday, February 22. If you are interested in representing your congregation, contact Chuck Morello at 218-744-1615 (St. Paul’s delegate) for information and a ride.
Northern TEC
(Submitted by Gail Coon)
Spring Northern TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) will be held March 14-16 in St. Cloud. Adults or high school youth who would like more information can contact Gail Coon (218-744-5138 or 218-744-5099).
General Convention 2003 Needs Volunteers
The next General convention will be held in Minneapolis
from July 30 to Aug 8. The Diocese needs volunteers to assist delegates
and visitors during the convention. Volunteer shifts are four hours
long and there are tasks to fit your abilities. Details are available
online.
Paper registration forms are available from your
Senior Warden or through the contacts on the webpage.
Diocesan Convention
At the Diocesan Convention (Oct 25-26) several items of interest were covered:.
Deadline for input to the March 2003 issue of The East Range Epistle is Wednesday, February 12, to Carol Morello (218-744-1615, or fax: 218-744-1635). Processing is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, February 19.
Epistle Contribution Schedule
The schedule for the lead article for the next three issues of is:
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St. John's
News
(Submitted by Nancy Harvey) |
Vestry Meeting
The following was covered at the Vestry Meeting of January 6, 2003:
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St. Mary's News |
Service Schedule Changes
No input received.. Please provide input to Mary Groeninger (218-365-3364).
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St. Paul's News |
Sunday School
There will be Sunday School Classes for all students during Services each Sunday in Feb. Emily Frederickson will be the leader. If there are any questions call her at 218-749-3941.
Lenten Program Ideas?
If you have ideas for a Lenten program for one or more of the Wednesdays during Lent, please contact Gail Coon (218-744-5138 or 218-744-5099) by the February Vestry Meeting.
In February, St. Paul’s Churchwomen will resume meeting
each Wednesday at the Guild Hall at 12:30 PM. Come join us for something
to interest everyone, and not always work. We are starting on a new quilt,
working on cutting squares. For information, contact Dorothy
(218-741-1613). Everyone is invited.
| In all things God works for the good of those who love him and who
have been called according to his purpose.
Taizé Meditation
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Other links of interest:
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Address comments on typographical errors to Chuck.