The East Range Epistle September 2004

My Summer Reading by David Kess, Friend of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Ely, MN       Recently I have been gifted with several books of a religious nature from different friends: The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren; Here and Now by Henri Nouwen; The Ragamuffin Gospel, by Brennan Manning; and Credo, by William Sloane Coffin.     All the books caused me to reflect on the legalism, the moralism, and the mean-spiritedness that has crept into social discourse of late.  Because it seemed to relate more directly to the current political situation, Credo appealed to me the most, and I would like to share with you a few quotes that touched a chord with me.     “So when we anguish over any human violence done to innocent victims, we ask of God, ‘How would you let that happen?’  It’s well to remember God at that very moment is asking the exact same question of us.”     “It is not because we have value that we are loved, but because we are loved that we have value.  Our value is a gift, not an achievement.”     “Sometimes I think it is God’s pain, not God’s peace, that passes all understanding.”     “There are people and things in this world, and people are to be loved and things are to be used.  And it is increasingly important that we love people and use things, for there is so much in our gadget-minded, consumer-oriented society that is encouraging us to love things and use people.”     William Sloane Coffin has a long-standing reputation as a social activist.  If his theology is too much so for you, you may prefer what Brennan Manning does in The Ragamuffin Gospel, blowing the dust off shopworn theology.  Or how Henri Nouwen shows that God reveals himself in very ordinary everyday encounters.  God, he says in Here and Now, is constantly choosing new places to dwell and call us.      “God has reasons for creating you,” says Rick Warren in the very popular Purpose Driven Life.  This book is in the genre of self-help books and might be right for you if you are looking for answers rather than the challenges Credo gives.  These four books certainly convinced me there really is something for everyone.   David’s article is used this issue of the Epistle in lieu of an article from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, which was not received.

In this Issue My Summer Reading Pat's Pastoral Notes East Range Churches Notes St. John’s Notes St. Mary’s Notes St. Paul’s Notes General Notes The East Range Epistle is based on each congregation's input and assistance.  It is published in hard-copy and on the Internet for the East Range Episcopal Churches. Please send comments and input to St. Paul's Episcopal Church P.O. Box 376  Virginia, MN 55792     Via Media is Coming to St. Paul's           via media represents a renewed commitment to evangelism in the Episcopal Church. One of the lessons of General Convention is that the Church needs to spread the message of an inclusive, powerful, passionate God to all people. Our churches have experienced a tension between  “traditional” and “progressive” ideals in the weeks following the prophetic actions of General Convention.  For more information click on the logo above.

East Range Churches' News

WHO: 
Interested Women from East Range Episcopal Churches and Spirit of the Lakes (Hermantown and Cloquet) or elsewhere;
Retreat Leader: The Rev. Patricia Gillespie

WHAT: 
Seeking God with Medieval Women Mystics:
    Prayer and Reflection: directed and free, individual and community. Learn about God at work in the lives of medieval women and in our own lives.
    Fun & Food, Rest & Silence: group time and individual time.

WHEN: 
September 15-18, Wednesday to Saturday.

WHERE:
Moved by request from the Boundary Waters to the more comfortable wilderness of Dorothy Parish's cabin on Lake Kebetogama. Outdoor options available also.

HOW: 
Register with Pat by Sunday, September 5. Materials and food = $45.00;
Lodging = A big smile and thank you to Dorothy.  Packing List available after Sept 5.

Questions to Pat (218-638-1206)

WHO:
Members and Friends of East Range Episcopal Churches, Spirit of the Lakes Episcopal Churches, and Home on the Range Community Dance Association

WHAT: 
Worship, Food, and Fun for all ages. Come for part or stay all day.

WHEN: 
Saturday, September 11

• 10:00 am Bibliophiles welcome to help move, sort, and unpack large library
•   4:00 pm Gather
•   5:00 pm Holy Eucharist, St. Mary’s at the Farm, outdoors weather permitting
•   6:00 pm Chuckwagon Dinner; Carol Draper and Linda Davis, cooking and coordinating. Carol promises that this year’s menu will be better than the fantastic spread we had last year
•   7:00 pm Barn Dance, Home on the Range Community Dance Association; for all ages with instruction for beginners.  Music and Calling by Circle of Friends

HOW:
Let Linda (218-744-5484) or Pat  know by September 9 if you plan to attend or if you’d like to help with preparations. (You are welcome even if you neglect to RSVP, but it will help Linda and Carol to have a guesstimate of how many to expect, so they have time to get extra vittles if needed.) Donations are encouraged and ‘alms baskets’ will be handy to help with expenses for food and music, with any extra going toward the ministries of the East Range Churches.

    The September meeting is Sunday, September 5, from 1 to 3 PM at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Virginia.

ECW News

    The next Diocesan Convention will be held at the Convention Center in St. Cloud, MN from Friday, October 29 to Sunday, October 31.  Regional Caucuses and special hearings will be held on the 29th and the Business Meeting on the 30th.  St. John’s Episcopal Church in St. Cloud will host the festive Eucharist Service on the 31st.
    Each of our congregations has a voice at the convention through our Lay Delegates.  These volunteers gather three times each year as part of Region II (Northeast Minnesota) to work on issues pertaining to our area.  These same volunteers gather once each year as the legislative body of the Diocese of Minnesota to work for the common good of all our congregations.
    The polity of the Diocese of Minnesota is divided into two bodies, Lay Delegates and Clergy Delegates.  Some votes are taken by body (Clergy or Lay) and having someone to speak for our congregations among the clergy is important to help them understand our unique needs.
    We owe thanks for the volunteer efforts of Mary Groeninger (St. Mary’s) and Chuck Morello (St. Paul’s) for representing their congregations and to Pat for representing the concerns of our churches.
    When you have concerns or ideas you want to pass along on various issues, talk to your Lay Delegate. If they are not available, talk with Pat.

   Deadline for input to the October issue of The East Range Epistle is Wednesday, September 15, to your congregational contact.  Processing is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, September 22.

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

• October: St. John's
• November: St. Mary's
• December-January: St. Paul's

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

    St. John’s Vestry did not meet over the Summer.  The next scheduled meeting is on Tuesday, September 21, at 6:30 PM at the church..

    A great big THANK YOU to Lauren DePaulis for taking on the grounds keeping duties!

Lectors and Lay Readers Wanted!

    We are in great need of additional Lectors and Lay Readers at St. John’s.  Although they are not among the most time-consuming contributions, they are each critical aspects of our services.  PLEASE consider taking part in this way – you are needed!

St. Mary's News (Submitted by Mary Groeninger)

St. Paul's News

    From Pam and John McIntosh to folks at St. Paul's for all the prayers and good wishes during John’s recent hospital stay.

    Unofficial Minutes of the Vestry Meeting of July 13, 2004

Committee Reports:

• Planning Committee announcement and discussion of events
• Sept. 11:  Chuckwagon Supper & Barn Dance at Beaglewood Farm
• Oct. 19:   3-Point vestries and pizza party at St. John's
• Date TBA: Progressive Dinner at Sand Lake
• Date TBA: 3-point audit
• Outreach Committee: David Allen read an appeal from St. Paul's Anglican Church in Athens, Greece for funds to help with their being a welcome center for English speaking visitors to this year's Olympic Games. Vestry approved  a contribution of $100.
• Buildings and Grounds: Andrew Hill, who is mowing the grass for the summer has asked that he also be employed to shovel snow this winter. Vestry approved that employing Andrew year-round at $10 per week to handle mowing, raking, shoveling, etc. with Spencer Salsbury as back-up.
• Restoration Committee: the Mock family has offered to pay for one of the three new stained glass windows we have commissioned for the front of the church building as a memorial for Joan Mock. The vestry thought it would be good to publicize the other two as opportunities for other memorial gifts.

Rector’s Report:

• Pat asked the vestry to have the minutes thank Cheryl Killien for her work on the grant proposal.
• Pat announced her vacation schedule:    August 18-26; September 25-30; December 28-30.  The Vestry asked Pat to see if Margaret Thomas, Steve Haptonstahl, and/or Nick Hill might conduct the Sunday services she will miss.
• Pat asked to be reimburshed for the $150 expenses for the visitation training she conducted. Vestry approved payment of $150 from our education budget with the understanding that St. James' portion of the expenses will be paid to our education funds when received.
• Pat reminded Vestry that registration for EFM is still open
• Pat said that the fall women's retreat may be held at Dorothy Parish's cabin rather than as a canoe trip.

Old Business: 

• Pat reported that the PFLAG information meetings on June 22 at the church and June 23 at Arizona's restaurant drew interested participants who agreed that regular meetings at St. Paul's were desirable. The 2nd Sunday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the church was chosen as the regular meeting time. Aimee Brown has agreed to take initial leadership for the group along with Barbara Strickland.
• Repairs to the rectory upstairs bathroom might be better done this fall. Since the Vestry previously made a commitment to have this work completed by the end of the summer, it was agreed that we should keep to that decision if at all possible.

New Business:

• Ginny displayed coffee mugs with a St. Paul's logo that we might give to new attendees at church. The vestry liked the idea. Ginny will explore pricing more completely.
• The Vestry will not meet in August unless there is important business needing attention.

    Heads Up!
    Treasures, Trinkets and Slightly Used Sale by St. Paul’s ECW to be held in September - date to be determined.  You may leave boxes downstairs at the church, marked for the sale, during the summer. No clothing, please.  In late August or early September we will take several days to prepare for our “Treasures... Sale”

    We are planning an Altar Guild training session in October.  Tentatively, we’ll hold the meeting on a Sunday after service  Please let Carol Morello know (218-744-1615) which Sundays you will not be available.  Complete details will be in next month’s Epistle.

• 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.