The East Range Epistle April 2004

Jesus said, "For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you."    (John 13:15)

    Jesus said so.  So of course we will try to do it.  We’ll try to love as he loved us.  That’s what he means, right? .... Well, yes, he did say to do that. And certainly we should be trying to do that. But this particular saying is about washing feet.
    For some of us the thought of footwashing makes loving, even loving  our enemies, seem by comparison pretty easy.  We like to think we can love people at a distance.  But footwashing is really up close and personal.  Maybe too close and too personal.
    But Jesus loves people up close and personal ... the dust of the day’s journey, the sock fuzz between the toes, and the smell of old socks in the locker room.  Wherever we've been and however we got here, he kneels  before us and gently loves us clean.
    Jesus, the Lord of lords, King of kings, Savior of the world kneels  before us as a lowly servant. And he asks us to do the same for one  another.
    It is difficult for us, as it was for Peter, to show the messiest parts  of our lives to someone whose love and respect we desire.  It is  difficult, too, to  kneel  reverently as a servant before someone else’s messy life.  But most difficult of all may  be to realize that together we have been given the power to clean up that mess.
    Jesus has given us the grace to make one another clean again.
    Our baptism has made us clean and holy. But again and again we make messes of our lives.  Footwashing reminds us that when we approach one another as servants, willing to kneel reverently before the messy feet of our neighbor, we can wash away the mess.
    The humble kneeler then sees in their own hands the feet of Christ, just as the one humble enough to welcome the washing will recognize  Who it is that kneels before them.

East Range Churches' News

    At the dismissal from the liturgy, “our worship is ended and our service begins.” Strengthened by word and sacrament, we are sent out into the world to serve God and God’s children. “B4 We Go” is an informal Bible Study lunch gathering – four “B’s”: Brown Bag Bible Bunch –  to reflect on Scripture and how it applies to our lives in the world. B4 We Go gathers after coffee hour at St. Paul’s, from noon until 1 pm, bring along your own lunch.  During the “Great Fifty” days of Easter – Sundays, April 18 to May 23 – we will discuss the readings we heard in worship. If there is interest, the group may continue to study specific Bible Books or themes of the group’s choice.
 

    On Sunday, April 4, 2004, we will move into Daylight Savings Time.  Please set your clocks ahead one hour before you turn in on Saturday night.  If you forget, you will get to church in time for coffee hour! (Ask ahead where the Palms will be stored)
 

Palm Sunday (April 3 and April 4):

•  April 3, 4:30 PM, St. Mary’s, Ely
•  April 4, 9:00 AM, St. John’s Eveleth
•  April 4, 10:30 AM, St. Paul’s, Virginia

•  7:00 PM, St. John’s, Eveleth

•  1:00 PM, St. Paul’s, Virginia

•  7:30 PM, St. Mary’s, Ely

•  April 10, 4:30 PM, St. Mary’s, Tower
•  April 11, 9:00 AM, St. John’s, Eveleth
•  April 11, 10:30 AM, St. Paul’s, Virginia

    The liturgical-year, seasonal version of the “After Pentecost?” discussion group for April and May, with a focus on new life, living as “an Easter people.”  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. 7-9 pm:

• April 7 – Holy Week Break
• April 21 – Bible: The Resurrection Stories
• May 5 – Tradition: Celtic Spirituality

     The weekly craft meetings will be held on Wednesdays at 12:30 PM at Dorothy Parish’s residence.  The monthly luncheon will be on the 4th  Wednesday of the month at Arizonas in the Park Inn.. For information, contact Dorothy Parish (218-741-1613).

    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 #4 to Grown your Church: Church Appearance”.  This issue, we will look at Reason #3 from his speech (done in countdown fashion, like David Letterman’s Top Ten lists)

Reason # 3 to Grow your Church:  Attracting the Unchurched

    In any week in the U.S. half of the population has no contact with the faith community.  While we used to think we were a Christian culture, fully half of the people have no contact with any faith community!
    Research tells us that among 35-40 years olds, only 29% (less than one in three)  have connection with the faith community.  In the 25-30 age group, 23% (less than one out of four), have any contact with the faith community.
    We live in an increasingly unchurched country.  What is our responsibility here?  We all know people who don’t go to church or don’t have a faith community.  We know where they live; even their phone numbers or their e-mail address.  We all could give the names and addresses of four people who are not connected with the faith community. We could double the church in a week if we just began to use that information.
    The opportunity abounds.  It’s very easy to talk about counting the ones that are in the door.  But our responsibility is to count the ones who aren’t. It may be a wonderful thing for a congregation to have a full church on a Sunday.  But we also have to count the thousands in our ministry area that aren’t there and always make attendance relative to the number who did not attend.
    Our responsibility isn’t just to transform the lives of those who find us, but Jesus sent us out to transform the world.  The opportunity is great and the harvest truly is plenteous.

Next Issue: Reason #2: Our Children don't go to our church anymore.

   Deadline for input to the May issue of The East Range Epistle is Wednesday, April 14, to your congregational contact.  Processing is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, April  21.  Effective March 1, 2004, only electronic submissions will be accepted by the production editors.

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

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

1.  Articles should be in electronic format (MS-Word, WordPerfect, Wordpad, Notepad, RTF, or as text inside an e-mail).  Appearance of faxed materials, telephonic input and hand-written notes depend upon the time availability of your  congregation’s Epistle Contact:
   St. John’s: Jane Kingston (218-744-3833)
   St. Mary’s:
   St. Paul’s:
(If there is no contact listed for your congregation, talk to your Vestry on how to submit information).

2.  Deadlines have been established to make it possible for you to receive the Epistle before the new month starts.  The Epistle goes to the printer on the Monday before the “folders, spindlers, and mutilators” process it.  Input received late may not make it into the desired issue.  With the travel schedule that Chuck and Carol have, information submitted directly to them may not be seen by them in time.  The best way is to use your congregation’s Epistle Contact.

3.  If you wish to help with the production of the Epistle, or if you can be your congregation’s contact for receiving input, please call Pat (218-638-1206) or send an e-mail to Linda Davis.  This would be an excellent way to use, improve or enhance your word processing skills.

St. John's News (Submitted by Jane Kingston)

    As in past years, Maundy Thursday service (7 PM on April 8) will be held at St. John’s.  The Three-Point choir will be making a special appearance, and participation by the entire St. John’s Altar Guild in stripping the altar at the conclusion of the service is appreciated.  Another Altar Guild reminder: please return any purificators you may have to the Church –  thank you!
 

• The Senior Warden confirmed that our insurance policy is up to date, despite the delayed receipt of our policy and billing.
• Both Wardens and Tom Kingston attended the Three-Point retreat held in Mt. Iron in February.  They reported that attendees were advised of the canonical requirement that “no action, except for adjournment, may be taken at a meeting of the Vestry unless either the Rector or one Warden is present.”
• Directors/Officers liability insurance coverage was discussed, and consensus reached that it is not necessary.
• Mother Pat will be providing mentoring services to Hermantown and Cloquet on a 1/5 full time basis, rendering her absent on three (3) fifth Sundays in 2004.  Therefore, Morning Prayer services will be conducted May 30, August 29, and October 31, and there will be no charge to either St. John’s or St. Paul’s for Pat’s services on the 1st Sundays following these dates.
• The draft 2003 Parochial Report was presented and finalized as presented.  Dick Harvey will forward same to Diocese and National in New York.  Assuming acceptance by the Diocese, our Assessment for the Common Good will increase from $1,260 ($105/mo) in 2004 to $2,018 ($169/mo) in 2005, or a 60% increase.
• Dick Harvey will investigate a painting estimate for the exterior church trim, windows, etc.
• Kathy Leathers and Dick Harvey are researching cost savings for our pledge envelopes ($149/Year).
• Mother Pat recommended convening a Three-Point transitional audit meeting to allow parish treasurers to review/audit each other.
• Regular Vestry meetings are changed to the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM.  The next Vestry meeting will be Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at 6:30 PM.

St. Mary's News

        St. Mary’s will hold its final Lenten Activity Day on Saturday, April 3 from 3-4:30 PM (before our 4:30 PM Palm Sunday service).  We will be crafting crosses – carving soap, bending nails, folding palms, and cutting and layering paper.  All are welcome!  Call Mary Groeninger (218-365-3364) for more information.
 

St. Paul's News

    The following items were discussed at the Vestry Meeting of March 9, 2004:

• There are plans for a choir for services on Palm Sunday and/or Maundy Thursday and refreshments to follow Easter services, as well as other possible events for May and June.
• If Paul Schlauderaff cannot help make the actual needed roof repairs, he will advise others on what needs to be done, where, and how. Also, the Junior Warden will be advised that kitchen sink is leaking.
• There will be a TEC Weekend beginning March 19 at St. Paul’s in Duluth.
• The Episcopal Church, USA, has made available two of the much acclaimed Episcopal Church ads at no charge to every contributing parish.  The Vestry discussed sharing in an ad project with the other 3-Point congregations.
• The Vestry went on record endorsing Pat’s assuming a 20% position supervising the total ministry teams of the churches in Cloquet and Hermantown.
• Pat said she would like to see us move toward an audit procedure by which churches would vouchsafe each others' books.
• Abbie has had difficulty contacting sources for information that might help us decide if and how to host a PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) group at St. Paul's.  She said she had a few more leads, and the Vestry asked that she pursue them.
• The Vestry approved that Pat may purchase plastic sleeves to be inserted in Prayer Books to hold orders of service, special music, etc.
• The Vestry suggested that St. Paul’s form a committee of volunteers to help with hospital and home visitations of the sick and home-bound on a regular, consistent basis.  A sign-up sheet is posted outside the church office for those wanting to join this important ministry.

• the Diocesan Commission on the Environment.
• the Episcopal Church.
• the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota.

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