Send Whom?

By Ginny McBride, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Virginia, MN

And the Lord said, “Go.”
And I said, “Who, me?”
And He said, “Yes, you.”
And I said, “But I’m not ready yet, and I have orders to get out and customers coming, and you know I don’t like to do that sort of thing ...”
And He said, “you’re stalling ...”

And the Lord said, “Go.”
And I said, “But I don’t want to.”
And He said, “I didn’t ask if you wanted to.”
And I said, “Listen, I’m not the sort of person who pushes my beliefs on other people ... besides, what will they think ...”
And He said, “Baloney.”

And yet a third time the Lord said, “Go.”
And I said, “Do I have to?”
And He said, “Do you love me?”
And I said, “Look. Lord, I’m scared. I know some of those people will laught at me ... they’ll cut me in little pieces ... I can’t take it all by myself.” And He said, “Where do you think I’ll be?”

And the Lord said, “Go.”
And I sighed, “Here I am. Send me.”

Virginia “Ginny” McBride is a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Virginia, where she is a LayReader and member of the Vestry and the Altar Guild. Ginny has also been past Senior Warden and Charwoman at St. Paul’s. This comes from her time in Cursillo.

Pat's Pastoral Notes ...

The Rev Patricia Gillespie

Living the Questions

Can we afford to continue the Episcopal tradition on the East Range? Could we have a Lutheran pastor? Is total ministry something we really could do ourselves? Could we share some ministry with Hibbing and/or Grand Rapids? Who will be our priest? When will we decide? How will we serve our communities? Where will this all lead us?

At a recent gathering of folks from five churches, we talked about “chaos” about “journeying in the wilderness.” The Bible teaches us about wilderness time – Moses, Elijah, and John the Baptist are called to the wilderness; even Jesus himself is sent by the Spirit into the desert. The wilderness is full of uncertainties and dangers – lots of questions. And God is out there in the wilderness. The promised land, the “still small voice” of God, the Messiah, and new life were found at the end of journeys in the wilderness.

I believe that in this transition time of questions God is calling our churches to new life. I hope it will be for us not only a time of questioning but also a time of prayer and hope. “Be not afraid!” as the angels like to say. Wherever the journey takes us, God is there waiting for us.

Pat +

East Range Episcopal Churches' News

Seekers

An open group for reflection and discussion gathering on Sundays at 12:15 at St. Paul’s. Everyone is welcome. In early June we reflect our own faith and ministry in our personal lives and in our diocese. In the second part of June we begin a video lecture series by Amy-Jill Levine of Vanderbilt on Great Figures of the New Testament. Dynamic, scholarly, and entertaining stories of the foundations of our faith.

June 4: Spiritual but Not Religious - Discussion
June 11: Total Ministry in MN - Video
June 18: Overview and John the Baptist - Video
June 25: Mary, Joseph, Magi, and Shepherds - Video

Region II Meeting

The next Region II Meeting will be held on Saturday, June 3, from 10 AM to about 2 PM at St. Edward the Confessor Episcopal Church, Duluth. The meeting will address the upcoming General Convention and upcoming projects in the Diocese of Minnesota. Also, St. Edward’s will be closing in July, so this will be an opportunity to say good bye.

Lunch will be served. Meetings are open to anyone interested. If you would like to carpool, contact Chuck Morello (218-744-1615).

Safe Church

The Rev. Alice Olson from Duluth will be with us on Thursday evening, June 8 at 6:00 pm at St. Paul’s. This is an opportunity to discover ways everyone in our churches can better support and nourish our children. The training is open to all who are interested and would be especially helpful for parents and grandparents. Wardens, vestry members, clergy, and those in possession of keys to our buildings as well as anyone working with our children are expected to attend this training. Those who cannot make it to our own East Range session, should contact Pat to find out times and locations of other sessions.

Library Blessing Open House

Pat’s farmhouse is 100 years old this year and ready to celebrate. The library is a relative infant, having been reconstructed from a garage over the past three years. Now that the shelves are filled with 11,000+ books it’s time to welcome friends for a blessing. Friday, June 16, at 7:00 pm will begin an open house at Beaglewood Farm (4418 Highway 99, Aurora) with a blessing at 7:30. Tippet, the blind raccoon residing on the library porch, and her friends invite everyone to join us for the festivities.

Shared Future Options Meeting

On Saturday, May 13, our three churches met with representatives from Christ Church (Grand Rapids) and St. James (Hibbing) to discuss how all five churches might cooperate to solve our present problems and initiate cooperative new directions. About 20 people came to this first meeting along with interested clergy: Sandi Holmberg (Canon Missioner and convener of the meeting), Pat Gillespie, Walt Gordon, and Doug Morrison-Cleary. In all approximately 20 people entered into an enthusiastic, open, and hopeful exploration of how the five churches might help each other toward better serving our individual and broader missions.

Since the meeting was primarily to assess interest and brainstorm possibilities, no decisions were made But the unanimous feeling was that we should continue this process of coming together in new ways. A second meeting tentatively was scheduled for Wednesday, June 28 at 6:30 p.m. at St. James. (Fall back date: July 13).

A ListServe has opened on the internet accessible to all with e-mail capabilities. It is for general discussion of issues and ideas concerning new cooperative ventures between the Episcopal churches of the greater Range. If you wish to be on this list and partake in the dialog, please give your e-mail address to your Senior Warden or Pat who will forward them to the list convener (the Rev Doug Morrisson-Cleary).

If you are interested in attending the future meetings, please check with your Vestry or Pat for the exact time and date.

Joint Vestry/Bishop’s Committee Meeting

Vestry and Bishop’s Committee members and all others interested will meet on Tuesday, June 13 at 6:30 at St. Mary’s in Tower for our regular quarterly meeting. Please remember that there are no “facilities” at the church and, if necessary, allow time for a stop at a friendly, local convenience store.

Transitions

Sylvie Rose born to Catherine McBride and Russell Bergum on May 8.

ECW Notes

The Women of the Church will be starting summer workshops the second and third Wednesdays of June (14 & 21) at 12:30 PM at Marlene Munig’s. We will be working on items for a special fall project. More information will follow. There will be things for all to do. The fourth Wednesday (June 28) will be our lunch at the Coates Hotel restaurant to share information.

Environmental Stewardship Commission Meeting

The Summer Solstice meeting of the Minnesota Episcopal Environmental Stewardship Commission (MEESC) will be held on June 8-10 at the Mary Brown Environmental Center (MBEC). In addition to the regular meeting, the Commission and the Steering Committee of the Mary Brown Environ-mental Center will be hosting an ice cream social for neighbors on June 9. Details on the ice cream social will be distributed via e-mail and on the MBEC Webpage (www.env-steward.com/browncenter).

If you would like to attend some or all of the meeting, please contact Mary Groeninger (218-365-3364), Chuck Morello (218-744-1615), or Gail Sheddy (218-365-4914).

Retreat at the Mary Brown Environmental Center

On June 2-4 the Rev Tom Harries will be leading a retreat, Attending to God through Nature, at the Mary Brown Environmental Center. It will be a contemplative retreat with walking meditations, silent contemplation, readings and discussions. Cost is $60 per person, meals not included. To reserve space, call the Rev Helen Hanten (218-728-2000)

Preachers’ Group

The next Preachers’ Group meeting will be on Wednesday, June 21 at 6:30 PM at Beaglewood Farm (4418 Highway 99, Aurora). If you are interested in preaching or finding your voice, contact Pat (218-638-1206).

75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church

From June 13-21 deputies and Bishops of the Episcopal Church will gather in convention in Columbus, OH, to debate and pass resolutions on various matters before the church. Three years ago this convention was in Minneapolis and many of us attended some portion of the event.

So, what are the issues of the 75th General Convention?

Election of a new presiding bishop

The presiding bishop is elected by the House of Bishops. The election is confirmed by the House of Deputies. The presiding bishop’s term is nine years.
The presiding bishop is the “primate” or chief bishop of the Episcopal Church, but he or she does not have any authority to dictate to other bishops.
The election normally takes place in a church. This election, which is closed to the public, takes place in Trinity Church, Columbus, on Sunday, June 18.

The interpretation and authority of Scripture

Anglicans look to Scripture, the traditions of the Church and our reason – the so-called threelegged stool.
The Episcopal Church is currently debating how much weight each of those three things are given and how we interpret Scripture.

The role of the Anglican Communion

The Anglican Communion is a community of 38 autonomous Churches, including the Episcopal Church.
The issue is how to balance our autonomy with our relationship with other Churches in the Communion.
Since 2003, the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion has been debating:
What are the qualifications and disqualifications for leadership in the Church?
How do we interpret Scripture as we come to decisions in this and other matters?
How do we balance our baptismal promise to recognize that all people are equally children of God and worthy of dignity and respect with the call of all of us to holiness and repentance?
How do we live in community with other Churches in the Anglican Communion when our contexts for life and ministry and our views of the world are radically different?
How do Episcopalians who deeply and faithfully hold different points of view on this issue live in community with one another?

The General Convention also will deal with many issues that won’t make the front page of the Mesabi Daily News or CNN, but which are in many ways more far-reaching and critical to the world at large. Issues like racism, hunger, genetic testing and research, and the environment are just a few. Convention also will consider adjustments in the Canon Law of the Church and consider adopting the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) – the cycle of readings used by most Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist and other churches. Some congregations in our Diocese have been using the RCL on a trial basis since 2000. (For more information on the readings in the RCL, go to the Vanderbilt University Website.)

The structure of the Episcopal Church is quite similar to the structure of the government of the United States. Many of the framers of the U.S. Constitution by day were framers of the canons of the new Episcopal Church by night. Our church has two houses (Bishops and Deputies), much like our Congress has two houses (Senate and House of Representatives).

Some people mistakenly believe that General Convention Deputies are delegates representing their diocese. General Convention Deputies are deputies not delegates. They represent a diocese, but are deputized to make educated voting decisions not based on a constituency in their diocese, but based on their prayerful consideration of each question and issue and the dictates of their conscience.

The Anglican Communion (as we know it today) came into being after WWII. It does not have a central authority such as the Pope, and relies on our choosing to be in communion with one another, sharing a common ecclesiology, heritage, theological principles, and creedal beliefs. While we share a Book of Common Prayer tradition (though Pro-vinces have books designed for their own unique contexts), the language and style or worship will vary from province to province, thus reflecting our lack of centralized authority and provincial responsibility in reflecting the local experience of Christianity.

St. John's Episcopal Church News

(Submitted by Jane Kingston)

St. John’s Reminders and Notices

Wanted: Fire Safe for original Parish Record books – please contact Jane Kingston. Thank you!

Vestry Notes

From the meeting of May 2, 2006:
• Expenditures $2306.48, receipts $628.00, monthly deficit $1678.48, checking account balance $12,213.84.
• YTD actual expenditures $10,331.84, YTD receipts $4953.16, YTD shortfall $5378.68.
• A $9 discrepancy on ACG is being resolved.
• A check for $390 from the Erickson Fund was delivered to Gail Coon, representing 1/3 of the total cost for three student parishioners to attend Music Camp in July.
• The 3-point congregational meeting with Sandi Holmberg at 6:30 PM on 4/18 at Saint John’s to discuss Total Ministry and future options was well attended.
• Intertribal Worship Service at St. Paul’s: Liz Lenich is working with Jeff Nelson to pick a date (not May 21), perhaps on a Thursday evening. JKingston to check with St. Paul’s.
• Jane and Tom will attend 5-Church meeting 10:00 AM May 13 at St. James Hibbing to discuss future options.
• GHallstrom and NHarvey will set a date to clean our church prior to Bishop’s visit July 22-23.
• TKingston proposed purchasing a hasp/padlock for steel cabinet as a record repository. JKingston will research relevant Business Practices for Small Churches in order to properly manage records. We also need a fire safe for our two original Parish Record books, the older of which is quite large.
• $50 was sent to ERD. Thank you - Good effort!
• TKingston initiated discussion regarding future as of 1/01/07, as the 3 year period the parties originally discussed when the covenant with Mother Pat began is now up. He summarized by saying results at Saint John’s have not been good, that we need to move ahead, and that Mother Pat should resign or the covenant must be changed. TKingston made motion to ask for Mother Pat’s resignation (no support). JKingston stated the existing covenant is not sustainable past the end of this year, and asked whether we, as a vestry, would approve the current covenant as of 1/01/07 and on, to which the consensus was “no.” Mother Pat reminded us that she, on more than one occasion, has recognized that business as usual is not an option, and that January 1 will represent a new beginning of some kind. However, she is not willing to hand over her resignation. Mother Pat is willing to work in a mentoring position ¼ time plus supply (as she described in February) for ministry development, which would not include time spent on either vestry or pastoral activities. TKingston stated the future of the church should not be solely dependent upon Mother Pat’s approval of our future vision. TKingston’s motion “That existing 3-Point covenant with Mother Pat be dissolved as of 1/01/07, but not the 3-Point association” passed (5 aye, 1 abstain). Mother Pat noted that if she does not agree to resign, and the church wants the covenant terminated, the vestry must address the issue with Sandi Holmberg, and go through the Bishop, to talk about consequences of dissolution of pastoral relationships.
• Voted to utilize the “Noah’s Ark” method to work in pairs in order to solicit in person all congregants’ opinions on Saint John’s future after the 5/13 “5-Church” meeting.
• Approved Pat’s request for vacation June 27 & 28 (Florida family visit) and August 19-22 (Miranda’s wedding!).
Rector’s Report:
• Mother Pat provided March’s vestry retreat handouts.
• Pat highly recommends our congregation view the 1998 video on Total Ministry (Jane agrees), best after the May 13 meeting but before we go out in two’s.
• Mother Pat is pleased to see our church is taking our future options seriously.

News of St. Mary's Episcopal Church

(Submitted by Mary Groeninger)

Wednesday Night Discussion Group

The Wednesday Night Discussion Group will continue to meet throughout the summer. Our June discussion will begin with Nickled and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich. E-mail Mary for a discussion schedule or to be put on the group’s e-mail list. The group meets from 7:00-8:30 on the 1st Wednesday of the month at Ely Presbyterian and on the 3rd Wednesday at the Mary Brown Environmental Center. Feel free to join in whenever interest and time allow.

Service Schedule Change

Services in Tower will begin June 3. Service times are Saturday evenings, 5:00 PM in Ely and 7:00 PM in Tower.

Estate Sale

An Estate Sale will be held Friday and Saturday, June 16 and 17, at the Mary Brown Environmental Center. All proceeds will benefit the Center. There will be lots of stuff for sale, from antiques and collectibles to household items. More information available online.

News of
St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Vestry Notes

Notes from the meeting of May 9, 2006:

Planning: Agreed to by the vestry:
1) June 3: Region II meeting (St. Edward’s, Duluth)
2) June 4: Baptism (during 10:30am service)
3) June 4: Welcome to Summer Potluck (following the service)
4) June 13: 3-Point vestry meeting at 6:30 p.m. in Tower
5) June 16: Open House at Beaglewood Farm at 7 p.m.
The vestry agreed St. Paul’s will host an ice cream social for the neighborhood in July following a Sunday service. A date has not yet been set.
Restoration:
Marlene discussed arrangements for blessing the new stained glass windows and celebrating donors. Tentatively, the vestry would like this to fall on Sunday, July 23, when the Bishop will be here.
Rector:
Pat was absent from the meeting to attend Clergy conference. She left items for the vestry to discuss:
1) The vestry agreed the Total Ministry video viewed at the vestry retreat in Ely should be shown for the entire congregation. A date was not set pending outcomes from the meeting of our three churches with those in Grand Rapids and Hibbing on May 13.
2) The vestry agreed to check the church registry against the current directory so that those not ‘officially’ members of St.Paul’s may be invited to have the Bishop receive them as members on July 23.
3) The vestry agreed that its members should talk individually with others in the parish to learn their thoughts and concerns about options for the future of St. Paul’s.
Old & New Business:
1) Lynne announced that Christine Stuckey is agreeable to replacing Joanne LaPatka as 3-point treasurer should all three churches agree. The vestry unanimously endorsed Christine as a candidate for that position.
2) Much of the meeting was a discussion of the future options of St.Paul’s with most of it centered on the pros and cons of Total Ministry. The vestry was concerned that some in the church feel the decision about our future directions is a vestry matter. The vestry reaffirmed that nothing will be decided in this regard except by the membership as a whole.
3) David read a letter from Rae Lynne Koivu submitting her resignation from the vestry. It was accepted with regret.

Altar Guild Luncheon

On Tuesday June 20 the St. Paul’s Altar Guild members will meet for a pot-luck salad luncheon at 12:30 PM at the Guild Hall at St. Paul’s. Please let Carol Morello (218-744-1615) know if you will be unable to attend.

MS-Bike Ride

It is that time again, time for Larry Killien to be getting in shape, trying to drop those winter warmth pounds and getting ready for another MS bike ride.

“This year I will be riding the MS-150 in June,” Larry said. “I intended to ride the TRAM (The Ride Across Minnesota) in July but could not fit it in.” This change does put some extra pressure on him to without delay try to:

Get in some type of shape.
To attempt to drop a few pounds.
To try to raise funds for the MS research and health care in a shortened period of time.
Find folks to ride with.

The MS-150 is June 10-11 starting in the lovely town of Proctor, near Duluth, to Maplewood, near St. Paul, MN. The first day about 77 miles, is mostly bike trail with an overnight in Hinckley. Day 2 starts on rough county and township roads, the middle section is on bike trail and the end is again on county roads.

“I hope that you will support my goal of supporting MS with a donation;” Larry requested. Checks (made out to the MS Society) can be sent to Larry Killien at 830 7th Ave. N.E. Chisholm, MN 55719. or you can e-pledge by going to the MS Society web site, clicking on the e-pledge link, enter Larry’s name and state and take care of it right there.

If you would like to ride with Larry or have any questions, give him a call (218-254-2487) or send him an e-mail at Cheryl@quiltinbuddies.com.

“Thank you very much for your support of my 14th year of riding for MS!!!” Larry concludes, identifying himself as “One bent rider” because he’s now riding a recumbent bicycle.

Lose your Gloves?

If you are the party who left a pair of gloves at church on Palm Sunday, please contact Julia Toms at 218-225-2500.

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Living the Questions