S t G e o r g e s E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h, G l e n n D a l e P a r i s h M a r y l a n d. The Wider Circle. Letter from the Rector

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1 S t G e o r g e s E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h, G l e n n D a l e P a r i s h M a r y l a n d The Wider Circle Shape a circle ever wider and a people ever free Volume 12 Number 10 October 2014 Letter from the Rector October Dates: 4; Blessing of Animals 5, 12, 19, 26; Adult Education 7; Gospel of Mark Study begins 12, 26; Sunday School 18; Fall Fling Upcoming Dates: Nov 1; Remembrance Service Feb. 22 Mar. 1; Safe Haven Mar 14-15; Parish Retreat June 7; Bishop s visitation Inside this issue: Letter from Rector 1 Fall Fling 1 Sunday School 2 Adult Education 2 Vestry Reflection 3 Pastoral Care Team 3 Study of Mark s Gospel 4 Camping Remembered 4 Parish Retreat 5 Safe Haven 5 Remembrance Service 5 RenewalWorks Survey 6 Dear Friends, Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem built as a city that is bound firmly together. Those verses are from Psalm 122 and as I read them I think about standing in the gates of Jerusalem myself in just a few weeks. You may be aware that I will be studying at St. George s College in Jerusalem in November, taking a class called The Palestine of Jesus. This is culmina- The 2014 Fall Fling is coming October 18th! On Saturday, October 18th St. George s will once again celebrate the autumn season with our 2nd annual Fall Fling! The party will be from 6-10 pm, with conversation, music, delicious bites and refreshments. Our auction format will be the same as last year s event - a Penny Social! There will be enjoyment for all. You won t want to miss it! Penny Social Auction: The Penny Social auction format differs from the silent auction format that we use for our annual Mardi Gras events. The difference is in the bidding. At the event, guest will be able to purchase tickets and enter those tickets into raffles for items instead of bidding. Each donated item will have its own raffle drawing. You can put all your tickets in for one item or spread the tickets out across a whole bunch of items! We are looking for donations for the auction. All donations are welcome services, talents, or a basket or gift. If you can donate something, please tion of a dream I have had my entire adult life, to visit the Holy Land. While I have been preparing for the trip on a personal level, particularly in the form of doing quite a bit of reading about the history of Jer- (continued on page 2) speak to Roy Peterson, or him at rpeterson@avtekstaffing.com Tickets: Tickets are available for sale! Cost is $20 for adults (plus two tickets to use toward the auction), $10 for ages Ages 10 and under are free. Vestry members will be selling tickets on Sunday mornings after both services, and you can also the office to reserve your tickets now for when they go on sale. Dannielle will be happy (continued on page 4)

2 Page 2 T h e Wid er Cir cle The Wider Circle Published monthly by St. George s Episcopal Church Glenn Dale Parish P.O. Box Glenn Dale Road Glenn Dale, Maryland (voice/tty) (fax) office@ stgeo.comcastbiz.net The Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde, Bishop of Washington The Rev. Connie Reinhardt, Rector Send submissions to: The Rector, rector@ stgeo.comcastbiz.net Jennifer Bevan-Dangel, editor jbevandangel@yahoo.com Glenn Dale Parish Vestry Karen Horrocks, Senior Warden Roy Peterson, Junior Warden Mary Frances Bruce Tom Beal Tim Dangel Terry Doyle Gene Ferrick Mary Koster Joan Marionni Lee Rowe, Clerk Ed Neuschler, Treasurer Carol Thomas, Bookkeeper Alix Volel-Stech, Convention Delegate Lee Rowe, Alternate Letter from the Rector (cont.) (continued from page 1) usalem and the reality of the political situation of Palestinians and Israelis, I have also been engaged in making preparations at St. George s. You will see that we have set up a Pastoral Care Team to handing pastoral issues while I am away, getting leaders are in place to handle services, Sunday mornings, church events, supporting the office, and generally making sure that all will go smoothly. Meanwhile, there is so much going on in October in our life together at St. George s that it is remarkable. We will bless the animals on October 4. We will engage in our annual reflections about giving with our stewardship campaign this month. We will have a great big party on October 18 as we participate in the Fall Fling (by your tickets now!). The Sunday adult education hits its stride as we explore the Apocrypha and also we begin a year-long, in depth study of the gospel of Mark. And of course, we continue with the process of the RenewalWorks program as we ask each of you to take the spiritual life survey if you have not yet done so. It is open through October 12 and the team (12 parishioners and myself) is hoping for very high participation from you. The Renewal- Works team will continue Sunday School Upcoming Dates Sunday school meets on October 12 and 26, and November 9 and 23. Adult Education Opportunities The study of the Apocrypha (those books in the middle of your bible) continues in October. The study meets each Sunday at 9:00 am in Miller Hall and all are welcome. The readings for each week All children and young people ages 4 and up are invited and encouraged to are listed below: October 5 Tobit and the Addition to Esther October 12 Judith1, 9, 11-16October 19- Wisdom of Solomon 1-3, 6-8:1, 10, 12:13-19, our work with two workshops this month led by staff at the diocese. There is such life in this place; there is such spiritual depth that I experience here at St. George s and I hope that you do as well. I am so excited to be going to Israel and at the same time I hate to be away from St. George s. I always feel like I don t want to miss anything here! Thankfully we will have a full and lively month of October together and I hope to see you at Sunday worship and at some or all of the other events. Blessings, Connie+ come these Sundays at 9:00 am in the classrooms downstairs. October 19 Wisdom of Solomon 1-3, 6-8:1, 10, 12-13:9, October 26 Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 1, 7-9, 10, 15, 27, 35, 38, plus the book of Baruch.

3 V olu m e 12 Nu m b er 10 Page 3 Vestry Reflection All Saint s Day, November 1, has become a very meaningful day for me as an adult. I now spend that day thinking of the saints who have been important in my life grandparents, parents, friends, and my late wife, Susan. Recently Alyssa and Katherine, my 4 ½ year old twin granddaughters, have been asking questions about death. One day during breakfast Alyssa asked me, Papaw, are you old, and are you going to die soon? They have experienced the loss of two pets recently and have been trying to understand this very difficult concept. Last week, Alyssa said to her Mother, I want to die so I can see Jetty and Strider (the two pets that had died) and Nanu Susan (their grandmother who died 3 years before their birth.) I was reminded of the time when we lost a dog, Blossom, a 16-year old toy poodle. Seven-year old Andrew said, The first thing I m going to do when I get to Heaven is to whistle for Blossom. As parents and grandparents, one of our responsibilities is to teach our children; but we also learn from them. Maybe children have the answer. I believe we can learn from the innocence of their faith. Jesus said in Luke 18:17 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it. Unfortunately, we all struggle with loss and grief throughout our lives. All Saints Day is a time of good remembrance and gratitude for those whom I have known and loved. When my wife Susan, died in 2007, Jennifer read a poem by Mya Angelou. Here is the last stanza. And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, Slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed. - Tim Dangel New Pastoral Care Team St. George s has set up a pastoral care team to handle pastoral issues while Connie is away in Israel in November. The members of the team are Mary Frances Bruce, Terry Doyle, Joann Prosser, and Josephine Ross. The team will have a phone number for parish- ioners to call if you need support; that number is STGEO ( ). If there is a death in the family, if you are in the hospital, if you would like Communion brought to you if you have an issue you would normally contact Connie about you are welcome to call the Pastoral Care Line and speak to one of our team members. They will be available for conversation or visits as necessary, and they will also contact a priest if requested. While +Connie is away, call the pastoral care hotline at for help from one of our team.

4 Page 4 T h e Wid er Cir cle Study of Mark s Gospel Begins on October 7 The Study of Mark s Gospel will run certain Tuesdays starting Oct 7. They will mostly meet on the odd Tuesdays each month through May. The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. With these simple words, the first Gospel of the Christian tradition was written, probably around the time that a group of Jews launched a rebellion against Roman occupation of their country. This rebellion ultimately resulted in the destruction of the Temple that had been built by King Herod and the dispersal of the Jewish people. It is with that historic and political context in mind that we will conduct a study of the Gospel of Mark this year. The group will gather on certain Tuesday evenings starting on October 7 at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary at St. George s. The class will be conducted by +Connie and Terry Doyle. We will continue throughout the year, mostly meeting every other Tuesday on most of the odd Tuesdays each month from October through May.. We will use two texts along with reading the entirety of the Gospel. These include a book by Marcus Borg, Conversations with Scripture: The Gospel of Mark, and another book that draws on the scholarship of Ched Myers entitled Say to this Mountain: Mark s Story of Discipleship.. Our aim in doing this study is to explore the Gospel in depth. In part that will involve looking at the Gospel with the textbooks that we will use. But in going beyond an academic study of Mark, we will also explore our own personal stories both as individuals and as a community as the Gospel of Mark challenges us in our personal, spiritual journeys. As the subtitle of Borg s book suggests, the aim is a conversation with scripture, as well as among ourselves. Moreover, in keeping with the fuller title of the Myers work, we will examine how we are called to discipleship and how a close reading of the gospel informs our various ministries. The books that we will use for the class will be provided by way of an Ensuring Our Future grant. Participants may also make a donation if one wishes to do so. If you are interested in more details, please consult with +Connie or Terry Doyle. Everyone had fun camping and at our outdoor service.

5 V olu m e 12 Nu m b er 10 Page 5 Parish Retreat After years of discussion, we will finally have a parish retreat! It will be held March 14 and 15, 2015, at The Bishop Claggett Center in Buckeystown, MD. The plan is to arrive Saturday morning and to leave Sunday. The costs listed below include three meals and a meeting space. Single room: $111- $121 per person Double room: $96- $106 per person Tentatively, arrival time is from 12:00-1:00, and lunch is served at 12:00. Check in would be 2:00 or maybe earlier. Financial assistance will be available upon request; the goal is for everyone who wants to participate to do so, without cost being a factor. A sheet on the bulletin board has been posted to give us an idea of how many people are interested. If you think you may want to come, please make sure to indicate this. It is not a final commitment but a way for us to get an idea of numbers in order to make a deposit and hold the space. Please look for the sheet and take a moment to indicate whether you are interested. - Lee Rowe Let us know if you are interested in attending the Parish Retreat March 14-15, 2015! Save the Date for Safe Haven From Sunday, February 22nd to Sunday, March 1st 2015 St. George s will host Safe Haven (Homeless Shelter). More details to follow, but if you would like to help take a larger role please November 1 Remembrance Service in the Chapel contact Joann Prosser jprosser@umd.edu or Gene Ferrick gene@umd.edu. On Saturday, November 1 at 7:00 p.m., St. George s will celebrate its annual service of remembrance on All Saints Day. We Fall Fling (cont.) remember and pray for all those who are buried in our cemetery, as well as anyone who has died that you would prayers for. Everyone is invited to attend this special service in the Chapel on November 1. (continued from page 1) to take your reservation at: office@ stgeo.comcast biz.net Childcare: Childcare will be offered for this event. Children are invited to gather downstairs for their own fun and games. How you can help: Setup and clean-up are the areas where we could use the most help. If you are able to assist in one of these areas, there will be sign-up sheets posted September 21. Also, buy tickets and invite your family, friends, and neighbors. Consider donating to the auction. Come and make this a wonderful St. George s event!

6 St George s Episcopal Church, Glenn Dale Parish 7010 Glenn Dale Rd. Glenn Dale, Md Phone: Fax: Mission Statement: The mission of St. George s is to build a Christian community of love and support that actively seeks and includes all people. We commit ourselves to spiritual growth through worship and education that empowers us to follow Christ s example in the world. Take the RenewalWorks Survey Today! Take the survey online at 1nOltvc As you ve probably heard by now, St. George s is participating in the RenewalWorks survey process and embarking on an important step in the journey towards continuous growth and renewal. The survey is an Episcopal planning tool that provides a process for assessing the spiritual vitality of a congregation by surveying the beliefs and spiritual practices of its members. By examining the life of the congregation in light of the survey results, St. George s will be better able to discern how the congregation is and is not inspiring and supporting people in their spiritual journeys. The Survey is open now through Sunday, October 12th at midnight. It takes approximately 30 minutes to complete on a computer or laptop (although paper copies are available). Everyone 13 and over is encouraged to participate. The survey is completely anonymous. There are several special events planned including weekly gift card raffles following hospitality every Sunday. Anyone that has completed the survey will be eligible to win and you don t have to be present during the drawing. And on Sunday, October 12th, from 11:30 1:30, we ll have a special hospitality with a light lunch and refreshments provided and computers available to complete the survey. Please consider carving out 30 minutes of your day for this important initiative to support the continued growth of St. George s. Questions? Send an to milenayang@ gmail.com or call Or ask any member of the survey team.