The East Range Epistle May 2003

    It was the middle of winter when I first saw St. John’s; it felt like home. I had the same feeling in the sanctuary at St. Paul’s and again with my first glimpse of St. Mary’s. Although I can be “at home” in many places, only a few bring that sense of homecoming. It is familiar and warm; I want to snuggle in and stay; it is a safe place for laughter, tears, and life.

    Like clothing, you can tell a lot about people from the buildings they call home.  But “home,” like “church,” is really about people rather than buildings; it is about family. We see that in familiar Bible stories:  Ruth found her home with her mother-in-law, Naomi, wherever she traveled.  For the prodigal son, “home” was not wealth or estate or a fatted calf, but a welcoming father and a sulking brother.  Home is where, like it or not, one is his or her truest self.

   I believe I have found a home with you.  The enthusiasm of your search committee, the wisdom and prudence of your wardens, and the warm welcome of your vestry members called me home.  I am so much looking forward to getting to know you all.

    The evening I met with your vestries, when one Gail phoned me at another Gail's motel to extend a call to ministry, I literally danced for joy in the parking lot.  Then, going to my room,  I was deeply touched to discover a bucket of lovely goodies (and, yes!, chocolate) already waiting for me in my room.  The note said, “With love from your family of the East Range Churches.”  I am coming home.

    People from my past are in disagreement about whether I'm moving to the Wilderness or the Promised Land. For some of us those can be the same – that place where we can discover our truest self.   You, the people of my future, seem to understand that  I'm moving to God's country.  Thank you for welcoming me home.

East Range Churches' News

    The Spring Clean-up of the section of Hwy 1 was scheduled for Saturday, April 26 at the Pike River Bridge at 10 AM.  If the clean-up did not occur due to inclement weather, Saturday, May 3 at the same time is the rain date. Questions to your Vestry.

    The next Region II Meeting will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2003, at St. James Episcopal Church, Hibbing.  The meeting will begin at 10 AM and should end by 3 PM.

    The major topics of discussion will be the first review of the Triennial Budget for the Diocese of Minnesota and the “Plant a Tree Project” of the Environmental Stewardship Commission.

    Visitors are welcome.  If you are interested in car-pooling, contact Chuck Morello, St. Paul’s delegate (218-744-1615).

    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.

    Registrations are now being accepted for the General Convention Youth Event, “Count Me Faithful.” The event will run from Wednesday, July 30 to Sunday, August 3 and will cost $125 for registration and $10 for housing at St. John the Evangelist Church in St. Paul.
   Information and registration forms are available on the Count Me Faithful website.  Registration deadline is Friday, May 30.
    Additional information available from Wendy Audette, East Metro Missioner for Faith Formation (651-228-1172, ext 13).

    The next issue of the Epistle will be a combined June and July issue, followed by a separate issue for August.  If you have events scheduled for July, make certain you get them in by the deadline for the next issue (May 14).

Deadline for input to the June 2003 issue of The East Range Epistle is Wednesday, May 14, to Carol Morello (218-744-1615, or fax: 218-744-1635).  Processing is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, May 21.

The schedule for the lead article for the next three issues of The East Range Epistle is:

• June-July: St. John's
• August:  St. Mary's
• September: St. Paul’s

St. John's News (Submitted by Nancy Harvey)

The following information was covered at the Vestry Meeting of April 14:

• The Covenant with the potential new minister was discussed.  The Vestry is looking forward to Pat Gillespie
• The Vestry is still looking for a groundskeeper
• Megan Hagberg will provide service music for the summer

St. Mary's News

    Saturday Services at St. Mary’s in Tower will be only on May 17 and 24 at 4:30 PM..
    Sunday Services at St. Mary’s in Ely will continue to be at 9AM at the Presbyterian Church.
    For more information, contact Jim Charles (218-753-6565) or Pat Gillespie (at the office in St. Paul’s [218-741-1379]).

St. Paul's News

    Members of St. Paul's may get a box of printed and numbered offertory envelopes if they wish.  We have many boxes and you just need to ask Shirley Olson (218-749-6080) or Gail Coon (218-744-5138) or Rae Lynne Koivu (218-749-3922).

In May, St. Paul’s Churchwomen will continue meeting each Wednesday at the Guild Hall at 12:30 PM.  Come join us for something to interest everyone, and not always work (we meet for lunch every third Wednesday).  For information, contact Dorothy  (218-741-1613).  Everyone is invited.

The updated directory for St. Paul’s is ready for pick-up.  Please help us save postage by making an effort to pick your copy up by May 4.

The following was covered at the Vestry Meeting of April 21:

• The Covenant for the new priest was read and then accepted by the Vestry
• Starting in May Vestry Meeting will be on the second Tuesday at 6:30 PM

• The Three-Point Budget of $24,000 for 2002 will be continued into 2003.
• $400 be transferred from Outreach to Bev's Magic Penny Fund.
• There was discussion regarding the possible change from the hiring of a full-time priest to one of a part-time hiring.   It was also suggested that a committee meeting would be held with the Canon Missioner on the occasion of his visit on Jan 5
• Approval was given for a filing cabinet to be used for the storing of church music.
• Planning Committee suggested that a prayer list be maintained for use during Services
• Decided that all names on the list for St. Paul's Directory be retained.
• A donation of $50 be made to Elder Services Network to assist in defraying expenses for the "Groceries to Go" program.
• Decided not to support the “Plant a Tree Project” as requested by the Environmental Stewardship Commission.
• Youth Committee reported on a very successful TEC with over 100 participants.  Two of the youths who attended had been injured in a vehicular accident on their way home

The following was covered at St. Paul's Annual Meeting held on January 19, 2003:

• ECW sale of Christmas trees and crafts at the unique sale netted $1,955.
• Ham Dinner realized a profit of $3,150.
•  Northern TEC is strong despite a consistent youth program at the Diocesan level
• For Lent there will be Wednesday Evening Prayer services followed by discussions and presentations.
• Input from all three congregations to The Epistle has been lacking.  A suggestion to cut down on expenses was to make The Epistle available online for those with Internet access
• The Magnetic Church outreach idea to mail The Epistle  to local libraries (which are then required to make them available) was instituted in May 2002.
• Elections:  The following were elected to the positions indicated:

• Search Committee reported that it might become necessary to broaden the search to look for a part-time priest for 70 to 80% of the time.
• There had been a drop in the number of pledging units, with a consequent drop in the amount of offerings being received by the church.
• The present support to the Three-Point budget can be maintained and the budget item for The Epistle  should be increased rather than cut..
• The Rectory loan had been repaid in full, also the 1997 Fair Share to the Diocese had been paid.
• Discussed and referred to the Vestry the cost-saving measure of replacing the existing room thermostat with a programmable one.
• The proposed budget for 2003 was accepted.
• Out of the discussion concerning income and expenses a motion was passed to task St. Paul’s Search Committee members to recommend changing and broadening their agenda to include searching for a less than full time priest.
• Discussed the possibility of using a Lutheran Priest as either Supply or half time Interim.
• Motion passed to recommend to the Three Point that there be the appointment of an Interim Priest to provide pastoral care and help us to grow in numbers.

Other links of interest:

• the Diocesan Commission on the Environment.
• the Episcopal Church.

This page maintained for the East Range Episcopal Churches by . Address comments on typographical errors to Chuck.