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The
East Range Epistle
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by Linda Davis, St. John’s Episcopal Church
When is what you already have ... enough? During Hitler’s reign of terror, Corrie Ten Boom's family was ripped apart, with different members being sent to different Nazi concentration camps. Somehow, she and a sister managed to end up not only in the same camp but in the same barracks as well. One woman in their barracks smuggled in a tiny pocket Bible. Another hid a small bottle of liquid vitamins and an eyedropper in the hem of her coat. It wasn't much, but it would prove to be enough ... Each day the women gathered together and prayed their thanks. They thanked God for each other. They gave thanks that the barracks were overcrowded, because sleeping three or four to a bunk helped to keep them warm in the bitter winter. They thanked God for the lice that infested their barracks so badly the guards refused to enter – which allowed them to keep both their contraband Bible and vitamins from being confiscated. They took turns reading aloud from the Bible. Each night, Corrie's sister filled the eyedropper and gave each woman in their barracks one drop of the liquid vitamin. And afterwards, she and Corrie would hold the tiny amber bottle up to the light and tilt it to study the steadily decreasing level of fluid...and their eyes would meet as they wondered if there would be enough for tomorrow.... And, somehow, each day there was ... Those women had virtually nothing - yet managed to share that “nothing” and out of it gave each other strength and solace and love and the ability to go on and endure in conditions that I don't think we can even imagine. To my way of thinking, it’s a miracle. There’s no other explanation. In Jesus’ time there is the story of the loaves and fishes. A huge crowd follows Him to hear His teachings, and the hour grows late, and folks need to eat. “Send them home,” urge His disciples, who must have been getting pretty hungry themselves. “Feed them.” He commands. “Who, us??” they ask, dismayed. “With what?” “What do you have?” He asks. “Just this little bit here, 5 small fish, two loaves ... not nearly enough ...” Surely even Jesus can see this! There simply isn't enough to go around ... there isn't even enough for their own little group ... Yet there was. Somehow, that little bit of food went around the crowd, with every one taking their fill, and when all had eaten, the leftovers were gathered and filled 12 baskets. It's a miracle. What exactly was that miracle? Did Jesus literally multiply that small amount of food and make it last, like the vitamins in the prison camp barracks? Or was it a different kind of miracle that took place that day? I close my eyes and try to imagine what it must have been like to sit on that hillside so long ago. I try to feel the breeze that came off the lake, smell the air... I suppose it was much different than a breeze here - different plants and spices, no sounds of cars or motorboats... And I wonder about the people who came to hear Him speak. They were simple people, living in a sometimes-harsh land, in a hard, unforgiving time. They were survivors who depended on themselves rather than others for help. I don't think they went places without a small stash of food for their families. I think they might have had some crusts of bread, perhaps some salted fish or meat, maybe some wine in a wineskin... I think there might have been fruit trees nearby... and I think that, once they saw Jesus raising His own food in thanksgiving and preparing to pass it around, that their own hands, rough, dirty, and work-worn, reached up under their cloaks and shawls and took out the food they had carried with them, and offered it to those nearby as well. Would that be any less a miracle? Perhaps the true miracle was that, since Jesus’ actions echo His teachings, His words touched the hearts of those who listened, and their hands no longer needed to be tightly clenched fists desperately clutching what little they had, but instead opened to give... When Jesus fed the people on that hillside, He ate with them. What if we focus on what we give rather than what we might be giving up? When we give from our hearts it doesn't matter if we have a little or an abundance - what ever we have can be enough...
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St. Paul’s will host a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
in their Guild Hall on Tuesday, February 24, 2004, from 4:30 to 7 PM.
Imposition of Ashes will be at 7 PM, on Wednesday,
February 25, at St. Paul’s.
A Sweetheart of a Vestry Retreat A gathering for fun and fellowship, learning and prayer, for wardens, vestry members (old and new) and others interested in this ministry of leadership. On the Feast of St. Valentine, Saturday, February 14, from 10 am to 3 pm.. Location to be announced. Vestry members are strongly encouraged to attend; those who miss the retreat are responsible for the material covered. Spouses and others are welcome also. Please let Pat know that you plan to attend. |
Healing and Being Healed
And he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal (Luke 9:2)
When was the last time you, as a follower of Jesus, healed someone?
Every Sunday we “proclaim the kingdom” in our churches. The good news is read, preached about, and prayed about. Yet it seems that Jesus is asking something more of his disciples and the church.
Our Episcopal tradition includes a service of prayer and laying on of hands. In our churches this year we will be including in our Sunday worship, regular, monthly laying on of hands for healing.
Perhaps you think that healing belongs to other traditions – where there's a lot of loud prayer or weeping statues, then people jump up out of wheelchairs and throw away crutches. And we proper Episcopalians wouldn’t dare have that here in our liturgy
And yet we all need to be healed. “Healing” is something more than “curing” or “fixing.” In Biblical terms, “healing” means to come to a place of “shalom” – a place of peace and goodness. Healing means that we are brought to the place where God means for us to be at that particular moment in our journey.
That healing might, indeed, include a “cure” – tossing away crutches or vanishing pain. Or it might mean rolling away in a wheelchair with a broken heart that is suddenly filled with joy. Sometimes healing -- the place God means us to be right now -- may feel painful, a even a cross to bear, but always it is good. And, like the cross, it gives us new life.
The healing is a gift that is ours to share. During worship all are invited to participate. You may choose to receive laying on of hands for yourself, including loved one if you like, or you may simply be present in prayer. The gift is given. There are many ways to receive.
May we all know the healing power of God’s love in our lives.
Shalom !
Pat +
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East Range
Churches' News |
After Pentecost?
A time of study, prayer, fellowship, and reflection on God's activity in our lives. Scripture, spiritual writings, or movies will focus our reflections. First and third Wednesdays, from 7-9 PM at St. Paul's.
God has given every baptized Christian some special gifts to share. Sometimes these gifts are familiar and easily recognized, but often there are hidden surprises. Here's a chance to grow in faith and friendship as we consider our gifts. We’ll meet Wednesdays in March (3, 10, 17, 24, 31) at St. Paul’s, beginning with Evening Prayer at 7 PM and closing by 9 PM. Come discover your gifts and reflect on how to use them; learn what type of prayer suits your personality type; find ways to listen for what Scripture is saying to you.
ECW Notes
The monthly craft meetings will continue at 12:30 PM on Wednesdays at St. Paul’s Guild Hall. Come work on a joint project or bring your own to work on. The monthly luncheon has been moved to the fourth Wednesday of the month.
Region 2 Meeting
The next Region 2 meeting will be Saturday, February 28, at St. Andrew’s by the Lake Episcopal Church, Duluth. The meeting will run from about 10 AM until 3 PM. This is each congregation’s opportunity to influence what happens in our Diocese. If you are interested, contact Pat (218-638-1206).
THANK YOU!
Thanks to the generosity of our congregations, our “In the Kitchen Group” made enough money from our mincemeat sale to buy potatoes, sweet potatoes, white and wheat dinner rolls, and provide the butter pats for approximately 180 people who attended the Salvation Army's Thanksgiving Dinner.
And you didn't stop there! Through the Christmas cookie sale and your donations (some of you gave money even when there were no more cookies!) we raised $125 for the Salvation Army's Christmas Dinner.
Again, a huge THANK YOU!
The Keynote Speaker at the Diocesan Convention was the Rev Charles Fulton, Director of Congregational Development for the Episcopal Church. Last issue, we covered his “Reason #5 to Grown your Church: The Want of Money”. This issue, we will look at Reason #4 from his speech (done in countdown fashion, like David Letterman’s Top Ten lists)
Reason # 4 to Grow your Church: Church Appearance
For many of us, the church looks empty on Sunday. The old 80 percent rule, which was established in the 50s and 60s when people had to have a reason if they didn’t go to church (social pressure). Things have changed today, so that you have to have a reason if you do go to church.
Today’s rule is the 50 percent rule: if a visitor shows up and half the seats are empty, it is frightening and disturbing to the visitor. Rev Fulton, sees it as an act of courage to go to church today, not an act of pressure. Many want to go and find company.
Actually, today an overcrowded room can be reassuring that we’re not out of our minds and that there are others that will be a support to us.
Often people want to grow the church just to have it look better on Sunday morning, just to have more people sitting in the chairs. This leads to the approach, “I don’t give a hoot about Evangelism or any of that. I am interested in a few new members, though, for their replacement value.”
Rev Fulton closed with the comment that, if you want to grow the church just to have the church full, that still isn’t the best reason. We’d better worry about having a half empty building if we want to grow at all.
Next Issue: Reason #3: Attracting the Unchurched
April Epistle
Deadline for input to the April 2004 issue of The East Range Epistle is Wednesday, March 17, to Carol Morello. Processing is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, March 24. Effective March 1, 2004, electronic submissions will receive priority over telephonic or hand-written submissions.
Epistle Contribution Schedule
The schedule for the lead article for the next three issues of The East Range Epistle is:
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Finally! the new Worship Ministers Guides and Acolyte Handbooks are available in the sacristies or by asking Pat for a copy. (Thanks to Benji Neff and Dave Allen for reviewing the booklets.) Lay readers and acolytes should each have a copy of their own. Others are welcome to have copies also. One copy will remain in each sacristy. These liturgical guidelines will be reviewed periodically Pat welcomes your feedback on how our worship services work. Note the change for those who bring forward
the gifts (bread, wine, water, and/or money). The gifts are to
be brought directly to the altar and handed to the priest (or deacon, if
any). The priest will signal, with a nod and/or extended hands, when she
is ready to receive the gifts.
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Help Wanted
Carol and Chuck need some help with the Epistle.
They’re looking for ideas, contributors, and people with computers who
can take information when they are not around, either by telephone, via
e-mail, or in hand-or typewritten notes, and convert it to the electronic
medium. Knowledge of word processing is helpful but they will
also provide training if needed. This would be an excellent way to
use, improve or enhance your word processing skills. Possible ideas
would be for a team of us to alternate responsibility on a monthly basis;
or for several people, perhaps from each church, to collect any contributions
from their church, then send it electronically to us and we'll act as coordinators.
Please call Pat (218-638-1206) or send an e-mail
to Linda Davis (teshuvah@cpinternet.com)
with ideas or suggestions.
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St. John's
News
(Submitted by Nancy Harvey) |
General Notes
Our “thank yous” are too many to list. We are truely blessed within our own parish.
St. John’s is seeking an individual to be the delegate to Region and Diocesan Convention. If you are interested, speak with a Vestry Member.
The next Vestry Meeting is Sunday, February 8, 2004,
following the service.
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St. Mary's News |
No Input Received
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St. Paul's News |
Vestry Notes
The following items were discussed at the Vestry Meeting of December 9, 2003:
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Address comments on typographical errors to Chuck.
