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The
East Range Epistle
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by Linda Davis, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Eveleth I spent the day with a friend out at the lake where the woods come right down to the shore, taking photos of the different colors of the trees, the play of light off the water, and the way the forest and sky were reflected on the lake's surface. At one point I photographed my friend, delighted by the way the light and shadows highlighted and darkened her face, mentioning that this photo would later go into the "to be sketched" file. She remarked that she'd never been able to understand how someone could draw a three-dimen-sional picture - it just was not something she could comprehend. I tried to explain that you don't draw the person or the animal or the object, you draw the light - the way the light hits the subject; the way the light is reflected or refracted or absorbed ... ... and that got me thinking about light. Light was one of God’s first gifts to the world – He brought it out of darkness. Light is vital to us - not just because plants use it to create the oxygen necessary for us to even exist, or because of the chemical changes that occur in our bodies as we are exposed to the sun, but because the sunshine lifts our spirits. I wonder if He starts every day with the rising of the sun to remind us that each day is a new and special gift, awaiting our acceptance. Each day closes with a spectacular sunset that delivers the promise of tomorrow. And each night brings out the moon and the stars, reminding us that even in darkness we are still within reach of His light. Summer storms bring out a light show and fireworks display that also can only be imitated ... There are so many places in the Bible where light and love are equated; where Jesus, the embodiment of love, is described as the light of the world. At some deep level, light and love are joined in our minds - perhaps in our very souls. We speak of someone being in love as "glowing" or "radiant". I wonder why we can’t look upon the face of God ... and I think it’s because of that light. I think if we were to look into God’s eyes all we would see is love and ourselves – and to see ourselves mirrored that way, in God’s eyes – would not be any-thing at all like the way we see ourselves and perceive ourselves to be. And I wonder what would happen if we saw ourselves
as God sees us: as beautiful despite our scars and flaws; as perfect
irrespective of our faults; as worth loving...no matter how serious our
mistakes, no matter how often we've failed ... beautiful, perfect, loveable
... and unique! We’ve each been created to do something special –
something no one else has ever been asked to do. We each have our
own purpose; our own place in the universe; our own instrument and song
to sing in the music of life. And I have to wonder what the world would
be like if we looked at each other – and saw one another with God's eyes?
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The General Thanksgiving
I sit on the front steps of my new old farm and am overwhelmed with the beauty – of the day, of the place, of life as I face the frightening excitement of a new home, new friends, and new ministry. The feeling is gratitude.
Gratitude doesn’t mean everything is perfect. You only have to look at the water in the farmhouse basement to know that. And I know how much easier it is to whine than to give thanks. Gratitude doesn't always come easily. It takes practice to become a habit, an “attitude of gratitude.”
Gratitude is the sense that somehow, even in the face of trouble, suffering and loss, our lives and this world are good and worthy of thanks. Ultimate reality is profoundly good. For that we give thanks.
Thanksgiving is what Episcopalians do, not only in the Eucharist (which itself is a thanks-giving), but in that wonderful summary of Anglican theology, the General Thanksgiving. I confess I like the old “hearty version”: “... we, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks ...”
“Hearty thanks” can overcome whining about wet basements and broken hearts. “Hearty thanks” can remind us that God – that profoundly good ultimate reality - is right there in the midst of the broken messes of our lives.
I sit on the front steps of my new old farm, watching as a beagle runs by dragging an opened garbage bag, littering my newfound pastoral beauty. The intended scolding and frustration is suddenly replaced with hearty laughter and hearty thanks. . . . May gratitude always come so easily to us all in the face of trouble.
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East Range
Churches' News |
Special Cole Slaw Recipe
(submitted by Shirley Coe)
At the pot luck at St. Paul’s to welcome Pat Gillespie, several people requested the recipe for the salad I brought. This receipe fed everyone there with several helpings left.
First make your “crunchies”:
In ½ stick (¼ C) of butter, saute
1 package of Ramen noodles(crushed to small pieces), ½
C of slivered almonds, and ¼ C of sesame seeds.
Do NOT use the flavour packet.
Stir until amber. Blot on paper towels and set aside.
The Dressing:
Mix ½ C granulated sugar, ½ C olive
oil, and
¼ C cider vinegar and heat to dissolve.
Add 1 Tbs soy sauce.
The Slaw:
One napa cabbage, chopped fine, and 10 green onions
finely sliced. May mix this ahead of time and add crunchies and dressing
at last minute.
The crunchies and dressing may be frozen for later use if preparing only ¼ or ½ of slaw.
Worship Ministers’ Workshop
We will have a Worship Ministers' Workshop in September for training and support for altar guild, acolytes, lectors, eucharistic ministers, and lay readers. In the interim things may be a bit rough and varied as we learn how best to minister together. Your feedback about our worship is always welcome; Pat wants to hear from you.
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.
The women will be working every Wednesday at 12:30
PM at Marlene Munig’s house except for the third Wednesday, when they will
meet for lunch at Michael’s on the Course at 12:30 PM. The women
of all three parishes are invited.
For information or directions, contact Marlene Munig
(218-741-3077).
After Pentecost?
The liturgical year has a long, green, growing season
between Pentecost and Advent. This is ordinary time.
At Pentecost, we are given the Holy Spirit, and now what? What does
it mean to live a spiritual life? Perhaps you've had a sense of the presence
of God in the ordinary time of your life or, on the other hand, maybe you
wonder at times where God is in this mess that we call life.
If you’re interested in exploring how God is at work in your life, in gathering
with others for study and prayer, laughter and reflection, the “After Pentecost”
group may be for you.
“After Pentecost” will gather monthly and is for
anyone interested in reflecting on our spiritual journeys. A brief
text on the spiritual life from scripture, tradition, or contemporary writers
will be the springboard for theological reflection on what is happening
in our lives today. The text will be announced in advance in the
Epistle, for those who like to prepare or read the full text. The
text on which the discussion will focus will be read aloud at the gathering,
so ‘homework’ is not required to participate. Regular attendance
is encouraged, but occasional attendees are always welcome. Pat will
facilitate the group.
At St. Paul's, 7-9 pm, fourth Tuesdays of each month
until Advent.
June 24: St. Luke on Meeting the Risen
Christ – Luke 24
July 22: Henri Nouwen on Prayer –
“With Open Hands”
Region II Meeting
The Region II Meeting was held on May 17 at St. James’ in Hibbing (Trinity/Hermantown, St. John’s/Eveleth, and St. Mary’s/Tower & Ely were not in attendance). Key points of discussion were:
Camp Whipple
Camp Whipple (a children’s camp for children entering
Kindergarten through Grade 4 in the Fall) will be held June 25 to 28 at
Cass Lake Episcopal Camp. More details are available online
or through Canon Missioner Steve
Schaitberger.
If you are 18 or over and wish to assist at camp,
contact Canon Missioner Schaitberger.
Environmental Stewardship Commission
The Environmental Stewardship Commission will be
meeting at Gooseberry Falls State Park from Noon, June 27 to Noon June
28.
The group will overnight at the park. For
details, visit the Commission’s
website or contact Chuck (218-744-1615)
or the Rev Helen Hanten (218-728-2000).
August Epistle
Deadline for input to the August 2003 issue of The East Range Epistle is Wednesday, July 16, to Carol Morello (218-744-1615, or fax: 218-744-1635). Processing is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, July 23.
Epistle Contribution Schedule
The schedule for the lead article for the next three issues of The East Range Epistle is:
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St. John's
News
(Submitted by Nancy Harvey) |
Summer Work Projects
The undercroft floor at St. John’s will be retiled during the second week of July (7-11). Before then, the entire room needs to be repainted. St. John’s seeks volunteer painters. Please contact Nancy Harvey (218-744-2599) or Art Nichols (218-744-2823) if you’d like to wield a brush.
Thank You
St. John’s wishes to thank Gail Coon for the gift of flowers for the children at the Easter Service. They really enjoyed them.
Vestry Notes
The following were covered at the Vestry Meeting of May 12:
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St. Mary's News |
New Fair Linen
(submitted by the Rev George Porthan)
St. Mary’s (Tower) has been given a beautiful fair linen cloth, a gift of the people of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Aitkin, MN. Thanks be to God.
Summer Service Schedule
(submitted by the Rev Pat Gillespie)
The Summer Service Schedule at St. Mary’s (Tower and Ely) begins in June as follows:
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St. Paul's News |
UTO Ingathering
The United Thank Offering (UTO) Ingathering will
be on Pentecost Sunday, June 8. Last year's monies will be
granted at the triennial meeting in Minneapolis in August.
Some thoughts on things to be thankful for:
| You have a car that is still running after 100,000 miles.
You can program the V.C.R. You have friends who care how you feel. You have a fulfilling job. You can take a vacation this year. You have a cat or dog who loves you. You have just received a check in the mail. You know that God loves you. |
Questions to Pam McIntosh (218-225-2124)
See the ECW entry.
Vestry Notes
The following items were covered at the Vestry Meeting of April 8:
Restoration and Repair
(submitted by Marlene Munig)
Restoration and Repair will continue this Spring
and Summer.
The Windows above the altar will be repaired and
re-leaded.
The window above the front door and the three windows
in the foyer will also be done this year, thanks to memorial gifts from
Joan Mock’s family and Dr. Stuart Walker in memory of his wife.
It is planned to side the East side of the Guild Hall and put the final
paint on the front doors.
Work will begin on the basement which will involve
painting, cleaning, and some carpentry. Please notify the Junior
Warden (Tod Swenson) [218-780-2188] or Marlene Munig (Restoration and Repair)
[218-741-3077] if you can help.
| Stewardship: All that I
do with all that I have after I say “I believe”.
Do you want to be involved with stewardship of The Epistle?
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Address comments on typographical errors to Chuck.
