The East Range Epistle August 2003

    Did anyone notice the priest giggling during the Nicene creed recently? It's not that I find the creed amusing; it is a profoundly serious statement, one literally to die for.  I was laughing at myself.

    There is a liturgical gesture that I perform with regularity during the creed.  You won't find it in the prayer book rubrics or even in any of the priests' handbooks.  As with most movements during worship, it began as a practical rather than spiritual gesture.  In this case, knowing that some folks don't like the service to be overlong, I am in the habit of glancing at my watch during the creed, checking the length of the sermon, so I can adjust my pace and selections for the remainder of the service.

    It is a habit I no longer think about and so I am usually able to stay centered on the creed.  But this time I was suddenly struck by the irony of my looking anxiously at the time just as we said "eternally."

    We believe that Jesus is "eternally begotten of the Father."  At every moment Christ is being made new in our lives.  The Word continues to become flesh and live among us, whether my sermon is good or bad, short or long, or never even happens at all. It's all beyond my control and yours.  God will continue to be present in our lives no matter what we do or don't do.

   There is a great relief in not being responsible for somehow "making" God present through our actions or prayer.  The relief is accompanied by a bit of anxiety – wondering just where Christ might show up next. Perhaps we should all stop watching the clocks in our lives and instead keep a lookout for Christ.  Then we might notice God at work, so that anyone can preach the surprising Good News simply and truly:   "Look right there! God is with us. Alleluia!"

East Range Churches' News

    Escape to the wilderness for spiritual reflection, relaxation, and fun. An easy BWCAW trip, but far enough in for solitude. Cost will vary from $55-95 per person according to attendance and what equipment participants have. Planned for folks 16 and older; younger retreatants are welcome if accompanied by an adult.  Scholarship help available.
Space is limited. Contact Pat (218-638-1206 or pat@motherflash.com) for details.
     + August 13-16: - Adult Retreat - Celtic Spirituality
     + September 23-26: - Women's Retreat - The Desert Ammas, Our Mothers in Faith

    A time of study, prayer, fellowship, and reflection on God's activity in our lives. One Wednesday evening session in August (20th), then in September the group will begin meeting twice a month:  first and third Wednesdays. 7:00 - 9:00 PM at St. Paul’s in the Guild Hall.

• Wednesday, August 20 - The Spirituality of the Rule of Benedict
• Wednesday, September 3 and 17: topic to be announced in the next issue of the Epistle.

    Save the date!  Basic training, refresher, and discussion for acolytes, altar guild, eucharistic ministers, lectors, lay readers, musicians, and others interested on Saturday, September 13, from 10 am to 3 pm.  Look for schedule details in the next Epistle.  If your calendar won’t allow the date, you are responsible for learning the material covered in your ministry area.  There will be a liturgy booklet published after the workshop
   If you have any questions, contact Pat (218-638-1206 or pat@motherflash.com).

    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 Arizona’s (in the Park Inn) at 12:30 PM.  The women of all three parishes are invited.
    For information or directions, contact Marlene Munig (218-741-3077).

    A Children's Environmental Day Camp for children 4 to 12 years of age is scheduled for August 19-21, at the Kawishiwi River National Forest Campground on Minnesota Highway 1 south and east of Ely. A parent or an adult must accompany the children for each day.  The fee for camp is $10/child or $15/family, and children should bring their own bag lunch. Siblings younger than 4 are welcome to attend with a parent.

    The camp will run from 10 AM to 3 PM each day, rain or shine,  under the direction of the Rev. Margaret W. Thomas, St. Edward the Confessor, Duluth, and Mary Groeninger, St. Mary's, Ely.  This is the third year of a program of activities sponsored by the Environmental Stewardship Commission and based out of St. Mary's, Ely.  The Commission hopes to conduct more programs there in the future.

    Some of the planned activities include daily nature walks, swimming, art activities, and storytelling.  Depending on enrollment, we'll split the kids into two or more groups by age for some games/activities.  If you are coming from a distance, you  can camp at the Kawishiwi River National Forest Campground or find lodging in Ely.

    If you are interested in attending, contact Mary Groeninger (218-365-3364 or e-mail to groenima@hotmail.com) for details.  Attendance is limited, so please register in advance.

    On Saturday, August 23, the East Range Episcopal Congregations will hold a Picnic at Munigs’ Cabin on Lake Vermilion.

   Pot Luck, with Dishes, Silverware, Coffee and Lemonade furnished.  Come anytime after 1 PM.  Pedal Boat, Canoe, Kayak, Boat, Sauna, and Swimming will be available.  Supper will be served at 4 PM and we will adjourn for the 6:30 PM service at St. Mary’s (Tower).

   Directions and a map are available from Marlene Munig (218-741-3077).

Deadline for input to the September 2003 issue of The East Range Epistle is Wednesday, August 13, to Carol Morello (218-744-1615, or fax: 218-744-1635).  Processing is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, August 20.

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

• September: St. Paul’s
• October: St. John's
• November: St. Mary's

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

    Your prayers and presence are invited for the baptism of Brandon Patrick Lind on Sunday, August 10, at 9:00 am at St. John's in Eveleth.  Come celebrate with parents Jennifer and Jim.

    Please check out the newly painted and tiled undercroft.  Thank you to the “movers and painters” for their time and talents.

    St. John’s wishes to thank St. Paul’s for the delicious meal served by the ECW during the visit of Bishop Jelinek.

St. Mary's News

    The August Service Schedule at St. Mary’s (Tower and Ely) is as follows:

Ely at 4:30 pm at the Presbyterian Church:
 Saturday before First Sunday -  Morning Prayer
 Saturday before Second and Fourth Sundays - Holy Eucharist, New Zealand Prayer Book
 Saturday before Third Sunday - Holy Eucharist Rite II
Tower at 6:30 pm at the church
 Saturday before First and Third Sundays -  Holy Eucharist Rite I
 Saturday before Second and Fourth Sundays -  Holy Eucharist Rite II
    There will be a Bishop's Committee Meeting scheduled in September to plan the fall schedule.

    The Rev Pat Gillespie will officiate except on the Saturday prior to the first Sunday of each month.

St. Paul's News

     The United Thank Offering (UTO) Ingathering was on Pentecost Sunday, June 8.   The amount raised for the Spring Ingathering for  the UTO amounted to $325.18.   Thank you to all of you who count your blessings in this way

    See the ECW entry.

     There was nothing significant to report from the Vestry Meeting of May 13 and there is no information available from the Vestry Meeting of June 10.

     To all of you from St. John's and St. Paul's who worked so hard on the occasion of the Bishop's visit, shopping, preparing, cooking and cleaning up afterwards     THANK YOU!
     It was a great success.   God bless each and every one of you.

    We are receiving cash donations in envelopes #97 and #186 but we have not got those numbers registered to anyone.
    Please call Shirley Olson (218-741-6080) or Rae Lynne Koivu (218-749-3922) so you can be properly credited for your contributions.
    Thank you very much!

Bishop Jelinek began the meeting with opening remarks in which he posed two questions:
 1. How do we view ourselves as a unit?
 2. What do we do out in the community to invite people to our congregations?

    He suggested a “think out of the box” alternative: The East Range Episcopal Churches could form one parish with four sites and one vestry.  Additionally, he also noted the 40% attendance rate (vs members) among the East Range Churches is lower when compared to the 60% attendance rate in other churches of comparable size.  He opined this may come from small congregations stretched thin and a single vestry might remove some of the perceived pressures.

    Discussion by the attendees on the Bishop's submissions included:
 + the search process and having to work together in a shared mission helped bring individuals together.
 + there is an importance of an Episcopal presence in each community.
 + "bigger is not always better" and the commonality lies with the priest, not the parishes.
 + a common vestry has been attempted in the past but did not work as well; however, this should not eliminate meeting together from time to time.
    As far as the Bishop's second question relating to what the congregations do to invite people to their congregations, each parish presented an example of what it does in relation to outreach:
 + outreach has occurred primarily through co-workers
 + St. Mary's (together with the Environmental Stewardship Commission) holds an annual Kids' Day Camp for elementary and preschool-aged children at the Kawishiwi State Park.
 + A Daycare facility shares the St. John's church building; however, there is no organized approach to outreach.
 + St. Paul's “Bev's Magic Penny Fund” is used for people within the Virginia community.

    The Bishop mentioned that the Diocese, when balancing all factors, did not find a significant difference in total cost of living throughout the State.  The Diocesan approach to compensation focuses on a salary range for priests, which is comparable to that of a social worker, counselor, or junior high principal, i.e., a professional with a Master's Degree working in a non-profit organization.

    He noted that the average East Range Episcopal Churches pledge is lower than the average pledge in the Diocese.  The Bishop's staff has not received some parish reports, which makes it hard for his staff to make decisions (except through informal input from Canon Missioner Schaitberger). The reports were due by January 30th.

    Bishop Jelinek concluded the conversation by making three recommendations:
 1.  Go back to joint vestry meetings three to four times a year.  Be deliberate in going about this with a distinct agenda and focus.
 2.  Three times a year, hold a late afternoon or evening joint three-parish service that is not on a Sunday, and have each service with a theme of fellowship and festivity.
 3.  Not just the parish vestries, but all East Range Episcopal Churches members congregate at least one time each year to share with each other and talk about ministry going on with each parish.

    The Bishop concluded by encouraging the East Range Episcopal Churches to strive for an “optimally frustrating relationship”, i.e., one that allows for challenge as well as growth.
 
The above comes from notes taken by Tod Swenson, Junior Warden at St. Paul’s, and abridged to fit on one page.  Complete minutes are available through your Vestry or Pat.
  Thank you Tod, for taking the time to keep us informed!
 

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.