THE. You Are Who You Eat Part I. August 19, 2012 Pentecost 12-Proper 15 (John 6:51-58) By The Rev. Ken Howard

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1 THE VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9 St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, The Rev. Ken Howard, Rector Fall Schedule, Sunday Services: 10:00 am, 5:00 pm You Are Who You Eat Part I August 19, 2012 Pentecost 12-Proper 15 (John 6:51-58) By The Rev. Ken Howard --- Jesus said, My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. --- Okay. So here s a heads-up. This sermon will be a twoparter. It sorta hasta be that way, since the Gospel passages for this Sunday and next Sunday overlap. So to give the passages their due, this week my sermon will focus mostly on what Jesus said, and next week I will focus on how people responded. I know what you re thinking Wonderful a cliffhanger. Now I gotta come back next week. And all I can say to that is, A preacher s gotta do what a preacher s gotta do. So what is Jesus trying to get across with this text? Our problem is that this text has become so familiar to us so iconic that we tend to see in it what we expect to see. We view this text through the lens of communion, the liturgical, sacramental rite that we share every Sunday. We experience it through its familiarity A place to belong! A place to become.! Lunch Bunch to Sponsor Talk on Vaccinations for Seniors The meeting at St. Nick s Episcopal Church on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm is fast becoming a habit with several parishioners and their friends from the adjacent neighborhood and community. These monthly meetings are organized by The Lunch Bunch, an arm of St. Nick s Outreach Ministry. For the past four months the group has been bringing together home alone seniors, caregivers and others COMMUNICANT SEPTEMBER 2012 and the comfort it gives us the sense of communion we feel when we participate in it the connection it helps us feel with God and each other. Taste and see, the words of one of our hymns go, speaking of experiencing the goodness of the Lord. Our sense of taste can be very discriminating. It can also be confused by what we are accustomed to tasting. It can also be extremely evocative, bringing forth feelings, images, and associations. It can also be overpowered by what we tasted just before. So to really taste the significance of what Jesus is trying to impart to us with this text, we have to clear our palates and imagine what images and sensations and associations it evoked for those who were hearing it for the first time. "I am the living bread that came down from heaven, he said. And in the minds of his hearers an image would have formed of the manna that God provided their ancestors every day during their forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Called mahn hu literally what s that because they never figured out exactly what it was or how it got there this mysterious (Continued on page 6) who find themselves at home in the daytime, to share a potluck lunch, fellowship and thanksgiving. All persons from the surrounding Darnestown/ Germantown neighborhood are welcome to join in. The food is tasty and ample and the fun is good. All are welcome to bring their appetites, their friends, and their favorite dish to share. At the last two meetings the popular BINGO was on the after lunch menu, with prizes as a bonus. The next meeting scheduled for September 18th will feature (Continued on page 6) Inside this issue: News Briefs: 60 Ahead! Terri Murphy s Ordination Vestry Decisions Editorial: Remembering the Celestial Communion The Children s Page 3 Save the Dates 4-5 Milestones 5 You Are Who You Eat... Lunch Bunch to Sponsor Welcome Back Sunday... Back to School Lunch Ideas

2 Page 2 THE COMMUNICANT SEPTEMBER Ahead! Fr. Ken hits the big 6-0 on September 19, 2012, and he has decided that he wants to celebrate the "big one" big time by requesting 60-themed gifts be given to St. Nicholas Church in his honor. The St. Nick's leadership has designated from now through October as "60 Ahead", a time in which to give 60-themed gifts to St. Nick's. Gift ideas: buy and/or lay 60 bricks in the planned labyrinth on the church lawn, baked 60 treats for fellowship, buy 60 trees for our forestation area, pull 60 weeds from the rain gardens, buy a 6.0 foot wide portable partition, give $60 towards any of the above, or come up with a creative 60-themed gift idea of your own. We will report on what we have received at the Annual Parish Meeting on Sun., Oct.28. For more information, contact: David Maglott at dbmaglott@gmail.com or Karin Remington at or at remingtonk@acm.org. NEWS BRIEFS Ordination of Terri Murphy Diaconal Ordination of Terri Murphy: Sat., 9/22, 10am-noon, at the Washington National Cathedral, followed by a gathering in the Bishop s Garden and capped by a 1pm reception at Church of the Ascension, Silver Spring which is co-hosted by St. Nick s and Ascension. All of the parish is invited to attend these events and to contribute to the success of the joint reception. Those who are unable to attend have an opportunity to honor Terri at the 10am service and fellowship the next day, Sunday Sept /15/12 Vestry Meeting Decisions Steve Siegmund, Karin Remington and John Kraft, retiring Vestry members, were appointed to the Vestry Nominating Committee. The Outreach Committee was given permission to display a banner about Lunch Bunch meetings on the roadside (but not in the Great Room). EDITORIAL: Remembering the Celestial Communion The nation bid farewell recently to astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon. While the moon landing was broadcast and watched by millions, less well-known is another historic event on that day Fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin brought the Reserved Sacrament with him, and after requesting a few moments of radio silence, he said, I would like to invite each person listening in, whoever or wherever he may be, to contemplate for a moment the events of the last few hours, and to give thanks in his own individual way. Then, he and Neil Armstrong received the first Communion on the moon. Aldrin wrote later, In the radio blackout, I opened the little plastic packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup. Then I read the Scripture, I am the vine, you are the branches. Whosoever abides in me will bring forth much fruit. Eagle s metal body creaked. I ate the tiny Host and swallowed the wine. I gave thanks for the intelligence and spirit that had brought two young pilots to the Sea of Tranquility. It was interesting for me to think: the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements. (source: - your articles by the 15th of the month to The Editors, at newsletter@saintnicks.com. We reserve the right to edit all s and letters for length, style and clarity. Thank you.

3 Page 3 VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9 The Children s Page It is Sunday School time again... The ten words at the bottom of the page are hidden in the puzzle. Your job is to find them. They may be vertical or horizontal, backwards or diagonal. Good Luck! Z I D F W X Q G D N L Y A P L A Y M A T O L S P S B C H X E O D A C A C H L M A H O I H L H I N S C C G N R O U L I U H S L T I H R D G N E V N C S C C R I D R M C K T I H E O A L Q X U W N U N F Y Q children play Christ Saint church School Godly Sunday Nicholas teacher

4 Page 4 THE COMMUNICANT SEPTEMBER 2012 September 2012 Events and Activities Messy Church Begins: Fri., 9/7, 7-8:30pm a new youth program for grades 4-6 to have fun, make some noise and share stories of faith. Check the calendar on our website, for the dates of the future monthly meetings. Contact: Terri Murphy at or Christianformation@saintnicks.com. Welcome Sunday with Baptism and Blessing of the Backpacks and Briefcases: 9/9, 10am and Potluck following the service. We are inviting all of the new residents in our area by postcard to join us on this day in learning about our church, services, and ministries while signing-up for Christian formation. Potluck fellowship lunch follows the service. Parishioners should bring a dish to share. Contact: Sharon Barbee, or office@saintnicks.com. Second Sunday Potluck Fellowship: Sun. 9/9 following the 5pm service. What we bring is what we eat. El Hogar Mission Trip Orientation Meeting: Sun., 9/9, 6:30-8pm is for those interested in participating in our El Hogar Mission Trip for the summer of Come and learn more about the work, process and requirements for participation. Contact: Terri Murphy, or Christianformation@saintnicks.com. Protecting God s Children, Wed., 9/12, 6-9pm, is a training designed for clergy, staff, youth leaders, and any adult working with children. Attendees receive instruction about preventing and recognizing child sex abuse. This class is required by the Church for all who work with children. Contact: Fr. Ken Howard at or rector@saintnicks.com or Terri Murphy at or Christianformation@saintnicks.com. Youth Group Begins: Fri., 9/14, 7-8:30pm for youth in grades 7-12 for learning, discussion, food, and fun. Off-site activities will be scheduled throughout the year. Check the calendar on our website, for the dates of future monthly meetings and activities. Terri Murphy at or Christianformation@saintnicks.com. Lector Workshop: Sat., 9/15, 10am-1:30pm. Lectors and those interested in improving public speaking skills for ministry are invited. The workshop will be facilitated by Ray Glover, editor of the Hymnal 1982 and former professor of music at Virginia Theological Seminary and will be held at St. Nick s. Lunch will be served. Contact: Curtis Farr, or Curtis.farr@gmail.com. Kick-off Sunday: 9/16, 10am. We begin our program year schedule with one worship service and Sunday school for Pre-K through 3 rd grade at 10am. Sunday school children will join their parents during The Peace to allow participation in communion. Fellowship celebrating Fr. Ken s 60 th Birthday follows the service. EFM Class Begins: Education for Ministry, Mon., 9/17, 7-9pm, Pre-registration and payment required. Check the calendar on our website, for the dates of the future monthly meetings. Contact: Barbara Miles or barbaramiles07@verizon.net or Terri Murphy or Christianformation@saintnicks.com. Lunch Bunch Potluck: Tues., 9/18, noon-3pm, our September speaker will be Dr. Angie Cost, who will speak about her specialty, vaccinations for older adults! Occurring every third Tuesday this monthly gathering of at-home during the day adults and their caregivers is open to the residents in the communities local to our church. Parishioners please sign-up to provided food for this luncheon and invite your at-home during the day neighbors to attend. Contact: Karen Kucik at Karen_Kucik@yahoo.com [Karen(underscore)Kucik].

5 Page 5 VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9 Wednesday Vespers Begin: 9/19, 7-7:30pm and continues every Wed. during the program year. Deaconal Ordination: Sat., 9/22, 10am-noon, at the Washington National Cathedral. All of the parish is invited to attend the ordination service at which our much loved parishioner and Director of Christian formation, Terri Murphy, will be ordained. Everyone is also invited to a jointly hosted reception at Church of the Ascension, Silver Spring following the ordination. The reception is hosted by Ascension and St. Nicholas. Those who are able to participate by providing food should contact Mindy McCartin at mindymccartin@comcast.net, those who are able to provide transportation for Terri s family members to the reception and then to their hotel following the reception should the church office ASAP at office@saintnicks.com. Service of Commendation: 9/23, 10am, commending Terri Murphy s work among us as a Vocational Deacon, with fellowship following the service. This is an opportunity for those who are not able to attend the ordination and reception to honor Terri. Fellowship: Mindy McCartin at mindymccartin@comcast.net. Evening Communion w/blessing of the Marriage of Suzy and Jason Arnette: Sun. 9/23, 5pm service w/ reception following. Wednesday Formation Begins: 9/26, 7:30-9pm and is offered every 1 st, 2 nd and 4 th Wed. of the month during the program year. Blessing of the Animals: Sun., 9/30, 10am. Bring your properly secured animal to this service for a blessing. Franciscan Monastery Tour: Sun., 9/30, 1:30-3:30pm for all youth and their families. Terri Murphy at or Christianformation@saintnicks.com M I L E S TO N E S Congratulations to the following parishioners on their wedding anniversaries this month: Janice & Song Yi who celebrate on 9/7 John & Diane Schmid who celebrate on 9/15 Steve Ericson & Alicia Frechette who celebrate on 9/16 Debbie & Tim Firestine who celebrate on 9/16 Please see calendar insert listing activities and events for October 2012 For Calendar Updates, please visit our website: and click on Calendar

6 Page 6 THE COMMUNICANT SEPTEMBER 2012 You Are Who You Eat (Continued from Page 1) meat substitute represented for them the mysterious life-giving power of God. This miraculous bread, fed to them daily by the hand of God, was what kept them alive as a people for forty years in a desert that might otherwise have killed them in a matter of days. This was the bread of life and Jesus was saying if you ate of his body if you consumed him you to would live. And not just for forty years in whatever desert you were in, but that somehow you would live forever. To live forever! Imagine the excitement! But wait did he just say to eat his body? But that s Jesus did not wait for the shock of that image of cannibalism to set in before unleashing his second punch: Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life. Now that was the real shocker. Jesus was asking them not just to consume his body, but his blood, too. This was unheard of. If you know nothing else of Kosher laws, you may know this There are two main things that make meat Kosher: One, the animal is killed as humanely as possible. Two, the blood is removed from the meat. And just to be clear, the removal of the blood was not because of the eww factor, nor was it for any practical reason for that matter. The reason the blood was removed was a spiritual one. The Israelites believed that in all animals humans included the life was in the blood. This was not just undifferentiated life force. It was the very essence of life. It was part of what made each kind of animal what it was. And because each breath of God was uniquely creative, it was what gave each animal its unique personality, humans included. In fact, it was what gave each human being their soul. It was respect that led the Israelites to remove the blood: a way of returning the unique God-given essence of each animal back to God. To do otherwise to consume the blood was to mingle that animal s essence with your own. That s exactly what Jesus was asking his hearers to contemplate: to mingle Jesus life force what gives him eternal life and what makes him uniquely Jesus with their own, and to undergo the transformation that they believed would take place: to begin to take on the very characteristics of Jesus and, by extension, God. That s really what Jesus is asking us to do when we celebrate communion. Except we have no equivalent concept. Perhaps the closest thing we have today is the emerging technology of gene therapy, in which we attach bits of DNA to a specially engineered virus and inject it into the patient, where the virus then delivers the DNA at the cellular level, ultimately changing the characteristics of the individual: eliminating a defect, transferring a resistance, or enhancing certain characteristics. Something happens in communion. Something mysterious and indefinable. Somehow, in the act of communion, Jesus becomes part of us. And somehow, that sets off in each of us a transformation that makes us more and more like Jesus: not carbon copies, not cookie cutter replicas, but a uniquely transformed new creation. So I invite you to think on this as you take communion today, as you leave the service, and as you go about your lives in the week ahead. You have probably seen the little wrist bands with the initials WWJD. Well, those wrist bands have it almost right. What I want you to consider is this. Whenever you find yourselves thinking about what to do, ask yourselves, What is Jesus calling the emerging creation that Jesus is growing in me to do? It doesn t fit easily on a wristband. But it is what Christ is equipping you to do. Lunch Bunch to Sponsor Talk (Continued from Page 1) guest speaker, Angie Cost, Ph.D., who will speak on The Importance of Vaccinations for Seniors. She is expected to cover all types of Influenza (the Flu), Shingles, and Whooping Cough, among others. Angie is a parishioner of St. Nick s and has researched and written extensively on that area of public health. Karen Kucik (telephone ), is the chief organizer of this well appreciated arm of the Outreach Ministry. Rose Mahan is the chair of the Ministry. Karen would love to hear from you that you plan to attend.

7 Page 7 VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9 Welcome Back Sunday & Kick Off Sunday Fall is rapidly approaching, and with it everyone will be shifting into a higher gear. Kids and adults will be coming back from summer vacations. Kids will be heading back to school (or going for the first time). Adults will be shifting from vacation mode to work mode (if they haven't already). Many people will be coming back to church. Some will be coming back from summer church vacations (as Robin Williams once said, "Episcopalians are the only denomination who believe that God trusts them enough to take the summer off"). Some may be coming back to church after a longer absence (perhaps after a period of healing and/or searching). Others may be coming to church for their first time ever. We want to gear up to welcome them all. We make our transition to fall in two steps. The first step, on September 9, will be our "Welcome Back Sunday." This is the day we figuratively "throw our doors open" to the wider community and welcome them to make our home their own. We have a "Blessing of the Backpacks and Briefcases" at our 10am service to ask God's blessings on our various vocations, be they school or work. After church, we welcome our guests and renew our friendships, register children for Sunday school and youth for Messy Church and Youth Group, and share information about and volunteer for various ministries of the church during our time of Fellowship. The second step, on September 16, will be our "Kick Off Sunday". Our Godly Play Sunday school for children who are PreK - 3rd grade will be open to receive children. Parents escort their children to the classroom/office before the 10am service starts and we will have them back to the Great Room in time for Communion. Our choir will be back in full force, uplifting our praises with their musical voices. Then immediately following the service, at 11am, we will have a special time of welcoming fellowship. With a single main morning service to kick-off, we will find it easier to keep our focus on worship and welcome. Yes, the single 10am morning service is official. You may recall, in Ken s final "Message from Fr. Ken" before leaving on vacation, he passed along that the overwhelming consensus of the congregation was that the costs and promises of a single morning service outweighed the costs and promises of two services. A single 10am service, combining the best elements of the 9am and 11am services, as we have this summer, was where we were headed for this fall. The leadership had its ears open for input as we made our plans over the summer: plans for the worship service, as well as for fellowship and Christian formation activities that happen on Sundays after the morning service, and on other days and times. We will continue to welcome your feedback and suggestions as we move forward with the 10am service this fall.

8 Page 8 THE COMMUNICANT SEPTEMBER Back to School Lunch Ideas 1. Kid-Friendly Sushi It's a new school year, and the kids have new clothes, new backpacks and new lunch boxes. But what about their lunches? How do you keep those new and fun? Here are some ideas to make school lunch the most exciting time of the day for your young ones! This isn't your normal brown bag lunch! Make kid-friendly sushi roll-ups, wrapping up julienned carrots, cucumber, hummus, and turkey and slicing it like a sushi roll. You could also include a thinly sliced apple to take the place of ginger! 2. Pack a Bento Box Forget the prepackaged Lunchable-style meals. Purchase a bento box, which has several small compartments that you can fill with fruit, carrot sticks, kidney beans, lunchmeat, cheese, raisins, crackers and other less processed options. 3. Pasta Salad Add frozen peas with a pasta salad. The peas will gradually defrost and keep things cold in the process. 4. Sandwich on a Stick Make a sandwich skewer! Cut up cubes of bread, cheese and lunch meat. Slide the cubes on a skewer with other foods such as a grape tomato, an olive, a pickle or a piece of lettuce. Add a little container of mustard for dipping. 5. Home-Made Hummus. This Mediterranean dip is made from chickpeas (protein power!). Very delicious and easy to make, this dip can accompany cut up veggies, crackers and whole grain breads. Kids love to dip their food. You can get hummus at the grocery store or make it yourself. (Source: patch.com) Sunday Services Fall Schedule 10:00 am Holy Eucharist; 5:00 pm Contemplative Service Germantown Road Darnestown, MD We are a spiritual home, a safe haven, grounded in Scripture and centered in life, where we are nurtured and challenged in our journey of faith. We welcome all people to join us in worship and prayer, and in joyful service to the community around us. We believe that the only sufficient basis for Christian community is Christ s love for us. We experience that the power of Christ s love can hold us together in the midst of great adversity. THE COMMUNICANT Germantown Road Germantown, MD Tele: Fax: office@saintnicks.com Newsletter deadline is generally FIFTEEN DAYS BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH. Send articles to: Rev. Ken Howard at rector@saintnicks.com The Editors at newsletter@saintnicks.com Audrey Thompson at audreyt58@gmail.com Cara Poirier at cara.littlewood@gmail.com Suzy Arnette at suzy@arnettes.net Permission is given to reprint original articles, so long as This Newsletter and the authors are both credited St. Nicholas Episcopal Church.