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The
East Range Epistle
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by Linda Davis, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Eveleth "On the following day, when they
came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig
tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When
he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for
figs. And he said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again."
And his disciples heard it.
Seems like a pretty un-godlike thing for Christ to do! He knows each tree bears fruit only in its season, and that things don't happen until their time... what He does here isn't very Christian - it isn't even very nice. So what's the deal? Does He want to show the apostles a miracle? Then command the tree to bear fruit, right now, no matter what the season - that should get their attention! But...that isn't what He does... Is He trying to show them His powers? Again, command the tree to bear fruit - perhaps oranges rather than figs - and add the power of those words of creation to all the healings He has performed - that would impress them! But... He doesn't seem to want to do that, either. What is Jesus trying to do here? What’s His point? Jesus could have made the fig tree produce fruit with a simple word, but by cursing it, He shows the apostles the true power of words. They can hurt. Their damage goes down to the root, not easily fixed, undermining the whole thing. Words can destroy - and sometimes, when those angry, hurtful words are ours, that destruction to another can’t be undone with a simple apology... In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1: 1) Words. So incredibly powerful. He made the earth simply by pronouncing its existence. He brought it forth out of the nothingness, out of the darkness, and created all creatures and manner of things upon it simply by stating “This is.” And then He took those words, and, out of all the creatures He made, somehow, He thought we should have those same words - and that same power to create with words - and He gave us this amazing and wonderful gift! I believe that He gave us words to communicate and draw closer to Him and to each other. I think He intended for us to use these words to build bridges to join us together... and I am saddened to see that we've instead chosen to use those same words to build walls and barriers and separate ourselves from each other and from Him. We see this in the papers, the editorials, the syndicated columnists, the letters to the editors, and the pundits on television... Our leaders no longer write their own speeches. We're electing people whose own words we've never even heard. We applaud and reward those who put the best "spin" on an event by elevating to an art form the ability to use innuendo and half-truths to manipulate people into behaving and reacting in a proscribed manner. Words are used to prey on people's fears and to separate us into camps of "us" and "them". We quote, with admiration, the words from a scathing, bitter diatribe spoken in anger... and we use our words to belittle and destroy our opponents... What would happen if, instead of using words to destroy, we used them to heal... to build up... to create.... to unite? What if we chose to use our words to grow peace; planting seeds of love and compassion and empathy? What if we choose to not sow apathy... and no longer harvest anger and hatred? What changes could we bring to our world? |
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Ready or not, Here I Come?
That's not a threat; it's an invitation, and I hope you won't be hiding. In October and November I will be visiting with parish members and friends of our churches. I want to hear your stories and your hopes and dreams for our churches and for yourselves, to consider how together we might bring those dreams to reality.
As I look forward to our October 12 "Celebration of a New Ministry" I am very aware that I do not begin this ministry alone. I need all of you to minister with me, building up our churches.
This visit is not a hidden agenda for those big, scary church words: evangelism (spreading the good news of God's love), stewardship (caring for what God has given us), or ministry (doing the work God gives us all to do); yet our time together may include all three, because that is part of what it means to "be church" together.
I hope you all will welcome, as I do, this chance for us to get to know each other as part of our journey together in Christ. I look forward to hearing something of the journey that brought you here.
May God hear our prayer on October 12, "Everliving
God, strengthen and sustain Pat, that with patience and understanding she
may love and care for your people; and grant that together they may follow
Jesus Christ, offering to you their gifts and talents . . . " (Book
of Common Prayer, Celebration of New Ministry)
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East Range
Churches' News |
Celebration of New Ministry
On Sunday, October 12, at 4:00 pm the Rev. Canon Stephen
Schaitberger will officially institute and induct the Rev. Patricia Gillespie
as our rector. Ginny McBride will preach. There will be a choir.
Food and fellowship will follow. Come celebrate!
Questions on the Food and Fellowship should be directed
to Marlene Munig at 218-741-3077, or Dorothy Parish at 218-741-1613.
Welcome the Newly Baptized!
Eric McIntyre of St. John’s, and Lauren Hill of St. Paul’s, were both baptized as our newest members of the body of Christ on Sunday, September 21, 2003.
Thank You
Thank you George and Marlene for hosting our 3-point picnic again this summer. A good time and delicious food was had by everyone - and what a perfect ending to the day to attend church at St. Mary's, Tower, with organ music and singing of hymns!
A time of study, prayer, fellowship, and reflection on God's activity in our lives. Scripture, spiritual writings, or movies (on the big screen!) will focus our reflections. First and third Wednesdays. 7:00 - 9:00 pm at St. Paul’s.
The Minnesota Episcopal Environmental Stewardship
Commission met at St. Andrew’s-by-the-Lake Episcopal Church in Duluth on
September 18 and 19.
The Commission expressed appreciation for the work
of Mary Groeninger and Pat Gillespie in supporting the Children’s Envrionmental
Day Camp at Kawishiwi in August and the members also discussed implementation
of the environmental resolutions from General Convention within the Diocese
of Minnesota. In the next few issues of the Epistle we will address
each of these issues and the possible impacts on our congregations.
If you are interested in learning more about this
primary area of concern (one of seven) of the Diocese of Minnesota, contact
Chuck
(218-744-1615) or visit the Commission’s Website at www.env-steward.com.
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).
Diocesan Convention
This year’s Diocesan Convention will be held at the
Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC) on Friday through Sunday,
October 24-26.
Visitors are welcome ($25 entrance fee). The
Convention runs from 3PM to 10PM on Friday and 9AM to 5PM on Saturday.
Sunday will be a Eucharist Service at 9:30 AM at the DECC, followed by
a fellowship hour.
If you have questions about what this Convention
does or what will be discussed, contact St. Paul’s Delegate [Chuck
Morello (218-744-1615)], or Pat
(218-638-1206).
November Epistle
Deadline for input to the September 2003 issue of The East Range Epistle is Wednesday, October 15, to Carol Morello (218-744-1615, or fax: 218-744-1635). Processing is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, October 22.
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) |
Vestry Notes
(submitted by Nancy Harvey)
The following was discussed at the Vestry Meeting of September 10, 2003:
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St. Mary's News |
Bishop's Committee Highlights
(submitted by the Rev Pat Gillespie)
The following was covered at the Bishop's Committee Meeting of September 13, 2003:
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St. Paul's News |
See the ECW entry.
Vestry Notes
There is no information available from the Vestry Meeting of September 9, 2003.
Thank You
(submitted by Pam McIntosh)
Thank you to Danny Neff and his family and scout troop and church members who worked so hard in transforming our church yard into a magic flower garden at St. Paul's for us to enjoy and admire.
During and after the recent General Convention, I was asked this question several times. Here is what I have told some of you already:
The Episcopal Church, USA, is structured as a representative democracy, in a way very similar to our federal government (after all, many of the framers of our Constitution were also what we would now call Episcopalians). There are two houses (House of Bishops, which can be considered like the US Senate; and House of Deputies, which can be considered like the House of Representatives), The House of Deputies consists of 4 clergy and 4 lay individuals (called Deputies) from each Diocese. There are also, usually, 4 alternates. In Minnesota, these Deputies to General Convention are elected at the Diocesan Convention two years before the next General Convention (our next election will be at the Diocesan Convention in October 2004).
Each congregation in the Diocese has its input and voice through the delegates they send to Diocesan Convention and through their clergy. These individuals vote for the Deputies the Diocese of Minnesota sends. The position of Deputy to General Convention is open to everyone, so you may run for that position next year. However, to be elected, you need to be known throughout the Diocese. Generally, this is done by being a Delegate from your congregation to the Region and Diocesan Convention. These Delegates to Diocesan Convention have a voice in the vote for those who will represent the Diocese of Minnesota at General Convention (to be held in Columbus, Ohio, in June 2006).
The East Range Episcopal Churches could have up to four votes in this election process. Over most of the last seven years, we have had only one vote, the delegate from St. Paul’s.
The only way to influence decisions of the Diocese
of Minnesota is to participate in the process. If you want to have
your voice heard, talk with Pat and your Vestry to ensure that your congregation
selects a delegate at the next Annual Meetings in January.
| Stewardship: All that I
do with all that I have after I say “I believe”.
Time is running short for you to be involved with stewardship of The
Epistle.
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